Pre-order

A Stage Set for Villains

Already purchased

Click to open directly in the xigxag app.

Standard price shown. Sign in for personalised pricing.

Send as a gift Get in the xigxag app

Added to cart

Continue shopping or head to checkout

View cart
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

Brought to you by Penguin.

CUE THE CHAOS. CUT THE LIGHTS. IT'S TIME TO TAKE TO THE STAGE.

Caraval meets One Dark Window in the spellbinding new enemies-to-lovers fantasy set in a mysterious theatre where godlike creatures run the show and mortals compete for immortality.

‘DARK FANTASY AT ITS MOST INTOXICATING’ #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout

The gods are dead. All that’s left are the Players . . .

The performers of the Playhouse are as worshipped as they are feared, their enchanting shows bending hearts, minds, and even reality itself. Vicious, godlike, lethal. Eighteen-year-old Riven Hesper knows the dangers better than anyone, after her own encounter with a Player resulted in a curse that is slowly killing her.

When the Playhouse announces the spectacle of a lifetime – a chance for one mortal to steal a Player’s immortality – Riven sees her last chance to live. Desperate for answers, she infiltrates the competition. There, she finds Jude, the Playhouse’s brilliant, merciless Lead Player, whose charm is as dangerous as his Craft, and strikes a deadly bargain to save her life.

But with time running out and the Playhouse’s secrets unraveling into a disturbing picture, Riven faces a grim possibility: she might not be the hero of her story after all. In fact, she may be the villain.

Because the Playhouse doesn’t just tell stories. It rewrites them.

And Riven’s might end in blood.

Vibes of A Stage Set for Villains:
Theatre setting
Who's the villain?
Enemies-to-lovers
Dark atmospheric fantasy
Mind blowing twists

Critics are raving about A Stage Set for Villains:

'As enthralling as it is unique, A Stage Set for Villains will have you spellbound!' New York Times bestselling author, Mai Corland

'Part novel, part script, A Stage Set For Villains is a fascinatingly unique world like nothing you’ve ever read before. . .that will have you riveted from the first casting call!' USA Today bestselling author Amalie Howard

'Dark fantasy at its most intoxicating. Shannon Spann delivers a world where gods crave applause, mortals bleed for love, and every truth feels like a curse. I was completely enthralled' #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout

'Absolutely thrilling. Be ready to be hooked from the first page to the shocking end' New York Times bestselling author Elise Kova

'A dark and dizzying fantasy that will keep readers enthralled to the end' Kirkus Reviews

'Rife with political intrigue and power imbalances. Riven and Jude’s sharp banter and slow-burning enemies-to-lovers romance dials up the novel’s showmanship' Publisher's Weekly

© Shannon J. Spann 2026 (P) Penguin Audio 2026

Critics Review

As enthralling as it is unique, A Stage Set for Villains will have you spellbound!
New York Times bestselling author, Mai Corland
Part novel, part script, A Stage Set For Villains is a fascinatingly unique world like nothing you’ve ever read before, where mirrors are to be feared, life-eating curses abound, and vicious humans-turned-gods called Players perform on a voracious playhouse stage, that will have you riveted from the first casting call!
USA Today bestselling author Amalie Howard
Dark fantasy at its most intoxicating. Shannon Spann delivers a world where gods crave applause, mortals bleed for love, and every truth feels like a curse. I was completely enthralled
#1 NYT bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout
Absolutely thrilling. Be ready to be hooked from the first page to the shocking end
NYT bestselling author Elise Kova
A dark and dizzying fantasy that will keep readers enthralled to the end
Kirkus Reviews
Debut author Spann skillfully leverages scriptlike dialogue and punctuated drama structures to flesh out the Playhouse’s vivid world, which is rife with political intrigue and power imbalances. Riven and Jude’s sharp banter and slow-burning enemies-to-lovers romance dials up the novel’s showmanship
Publisher's Weekly

More from the same

Narrator

About xigxag

Experience the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed for seamless discovery, purchase, and enjoyment of your favorite titles. Our flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less, providing affordable prices and the best audiobook deals without requiring a subscription. Perfect for gifting, xigxag also features convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

 

Beyond the listening experience, xigxag stands as an exciting alternative to big tech, embodying a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we ensure a guilt-free listening experience from a leader in audiobook innovation.

 

Effortlessly search audiobooks, access honest audiobook reviews that evaluate both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. Whether you prefer to download or stream top audiobook titles, xigxag provides the best possible listening experience anytime, anywhere, on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Discover the future of audiobooks today.