A Stage Set for VillainsA Stage Set for Villains

This young adult fantasy novel follows Riven Hesper, an eighteen-year-old who has been cursed by a mysterious performer known as a Player. The Players, performers of the enigmatic Playhouse, possess magical abilities that can manipulate reality and captivate audiences. When the Playhouse announces a competition offering a mortal the chance to gain a Player's immortality, Riven infiltrates the event in hopes of saving her life. Along the way, she encounters the Lead Player, Jude, and navigates a dangerous world of intrigue, magic, and moral ambiguity. As the competition unfolds, Riven must confront the possibility that she may not be the hero of her own story. The novel blends dark fantasy, romance, and adventure in a richly imagined world where magic, performance, and deception intersect.