Review: Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black

Title: Dance of Shadows

Published: Bloomsbury February 2013

Status: Read from January 31 to February 01, 2013 — I own a copy {Courtesy Bloomsbury Publishing}

My Thoughts:

Dance of Shadows is a young adult novel introducing Vanessa Adler, a sixteen year old ballerina who has been accepted into the elite New York Ballet Academy. For Vanessa, her dance talent is simply a means to end. Three years ago her older sister, Margaret, vanished from the Academy and Vanessa is determined to find out what happened to her. Between punishing classes and relentless rehearsals, Vanessa discovers that Margaret is not the only girl to disappear without a trace from the school, and as competition for the lead in the end of year performance, The Firebird, intensifies, Vanessa is increasingly sure that the Academy is hiding deadly secrets.

With an intriguing premise promising mystery, suspense and sublime dancing, Dance of Shadows is sure to appeal to the girls who once dreamed of becoming a prima ballerina. The plot seems to draw on elements of films like Black Swan and The Red Shoes, binding them into an intriguing, original tale of a horrifying occult conspiracy. I did think there were some minor flaws in the plot, threads that seemed to be conveniently dropped (like Vanessa’s research project and her discovery of Elly’s note) but nothing I couldn’t overlook.

Beneath the innocent facade of the elite school lurks a sinister atmosphere, one the author allows us to glimpse only periodically, increasing the readers discomfiture as the story progresses. Black builds the tension slowly, pacing the novel as to multiply the suspects and widen the depth of the conspiracy. The reader is kept off balance just as Vanessa is, unsure what to believe or who to trust.

Unfortunately I didn’t find Vanessa a particularly strong character, distracted by the handsome Zep and the hard work required to dance the lead in the Firebird, she willfully overlooks some disturbing truths. She is either unable or unwilling to link Zep’s unexplained absences, Justin’s vague warnings, the unexpected departure of Elly and the strange behaviour and possessions of lead choreographer, Josef,
I also found many of the other characters fairly one dimensional, Vanessa’s classmates are interchangeable, though TJ at least has some attitude and Justin’s man of mystery act only carries him so far.

I loved the paranormal elements of the novel, the idea of a dance so perfectly executed it thins the veil between our world another. I can’t reveal too many specific without risking spoilers but the concepts are interesting and suitably creepy.

And I loved the dance, Black describes the movement of ballet beautifully, the graceful en pointe, the fluid arch of the back and the effortless extension of limbs.

Dance of Shadows is the first in a trilogy that holds much promise and I will be interested in seeing how the story develops.

Just a note: The publicity surrounding Yelena Black’s debut novel, Dance of Shadows, has been unique, heavily utilising Facebook and book bloggers worldwide in a sustained campaign to promote it’s simultaneous international launch. I was pleased to be part of such an innovative program and think Bloomsbury should be congratulated for their creative global approach to publishing.

Earlier today I published a guest post by Yelena Black about building suspense in Dance of Shadows, make sure you check it out HERE

Read chapters 1-3 for FREE

UK readers: from Amazon | Google |iBookstore | Kobo |

AUS/NZ readers: from Amazon | Google | Kobo | iBookstore | Bookworld

Dance of Shadows will be available from Bloomsbury in the US, UK and Australia on February 12th or pre-order now!

About these ads