I enjoyed this book a lot. I was initially drawn to it as it focuses on Laure, a ballerina with the Paris Opera Ballet, however this isn't a story about pink, fluffy tutus, perfectly pointed toes and twinkly piano music. It is a story of grit, determination, sacrifice and betrayal.
I loved Jamison Shea's writing in this novel. It is rich, descriptive and weaves a vivid picture for the reader. This is, of course, a horror story, but at first this is subtle - a few references to blood and the moon and vultures that might at first go unnoticed. However, the horror element builds as the story progresses, and the supernatural elements come to the forefront. I personally found that this slow burn kept me hooked and invested in the story, although I can see how some readers may have found it slow-going at first. If you are one of those readers then I would highly recommend sticking with the book - it will be worth it!
The story itself is not what it first seems. Laure is a young, black student at the Paris Opera Ballet academy, determined to dance her very best and win herself one of the few coveted apprenticeship slots in the company upon graduation. The issue is, the world of ballet is harsh, unforgiving and, all too often, biased against people of colour. This story really does a fantastic job of conveying Laure's absolute passion, determination and unconditional love for an art that is cruel, punishing and very rarely loves you back. But just how far will Laure push herself (and those around her) to dance her way to the top?
Overall, if you enjoy creepy, supernatural, gory stories, then this is very much a book for you. If you are expecting a tame, fluffy novel about a ballerina defying the odds to make it big, then this is not the book for you.
An utterly thrilling debut read from Jamison Shea. I am interested to see what happens next!
I loved Jamison Shea's writing in this novel. It is rich, descriptive and weaves a vivid picture for the reader. This is, of course, a horror story, but at first this is subtle - a few references to blood and the moon and vultures that might at first go unnoticed. However, the horror element builds as the story progresses, and the supernatural elements come to the forefront. I personally found that this slow burn kept me hooked and invested in the story, although I can see how some readers may have found it slow-going at first. If you are one of those readers then I would highly recommend sticking with the book - it will be worth it!
The story itself is not what it first seems. Laure is a young, black student at the Paris Opera Ballet academy, determined to dance her very best and win herself one of the few coveted apprenticeship slots in the company upon graduation. The issue is, the world of ballet is harsh, unforgiving and, all too often, biased against people of colour. This story really does a fantastic job of conveying Laure's absolute passion, determination and unconditional love for an art that is cruel, punishing and very rarely loves you back. But just how far will Laure push herself (and those around her) to dance her way to the top?
Overall, if you enjoy creepy, supernatural, gory stories, then this is very much a book for you. If you are expecting a tame, fluffy novel about a ballerina defying the odds to make it big, then this is not the book for you.
An utterly thrilling debut read from Jamison Shea. I am interested to see what happens next!