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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
medium-paced
“Most of all, she would tell Lisbet that to be a woman was a brutal, beautiful thing.”
In Europe, the summer of 1518 is blisteringly hot: crops fail and streams run dry. In Strasbourg, a lone woman starts to dance in the city square. She dances without pause or rest and is soon joined by hundreds of others, forcing the city council to declare an emergency.
Against this turbulent backdrop, the author skillfully weaves together the intertwined story of our three protagonists: Lisbet, who has lost 10 babies and who is pregnant again; her sister-in-law Nethe - recently returned from a convent where she had been sent to do penance for 7 years for an unnamed sin; and their mutual friend Ida, who is married to a powerful but cruel man. Each woman has a secret and, as the summer drags on and the women of Strasbourg continue to dance, these three women are all dragged to the edge of a precipice, forcing the bonds of their friendship to become unbreakable.
This book reminded me why historical fiction remains one of my favourite genres. The author managed to create an interesting story with flawed but relatable characters around a documented historical event, while also portraying a very realistic picture of the customs, beliefs and way of life of ordinary European citizens in the early years of the 16th century. The Dance Tree held my attention from beginning to end.
“‘There is no story.’”
“‘There is always a story.’”
In Europe, the summer of 1518 is blisteringly hot: crops fail and streams run dry. In Strasbourg, a lone woman starts to dance in the city square. She dances without pause or rest and is soon joined by hundreds of others, forcing the city council to declare an emergency.
Against this turbulent backdrop, the author skillfully weaves together the intertwined story of our three protagonists: Lisbet, who has lost 10 babies and who is pregnant again; her sister-in-law Nethe - recently returned from a convent where she had been sent to do penance for 7 years for an unnamed sin; and their mutual friend Ida, who is married to a powerful but cruel man. Each woman has a secret and, as the summer drags on and the women of Strasbourg continue to dance, these three women are all dragged to the edge of a precipice, forcing the bonds of their friendship to become unbreakable.
This book reminded me why historical fiction remains one of my favourite genres. The author managed to create an interesting story with flawed but relatable characters around a documented historical event, while also portraying a very realistic picture of the customs, beliefs and way of life of ordinary European citizens in the early years of the 16th century. The Dance Tree held my attention from beginning to end.
“‘There is no story.’”
“‘There is always a story.’”
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I’m just really enjoying historical fiction at the moment. This was more unique when compared to the plethora of (good) historical fiction novels about attitudes to witchcraft, given that it is based around a dancing epidemic.The narrative is deeply sad, but engaging. I would give this 5 stars if the descriptions were more poetic as a matter of personal preference, as the novel is very well written. In the authors note, Karen mentioned that it was written during the Covid pandemic when she had multiple miscarriages. This definitely makes sense as to why the emotional core of the novel and the fear depicted is so vivid.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Death of parent, Pregnancy
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was glorious, once again Kiran Hargrave brings the most elegant poetry to tell the most harrowing tales. As with "the mercies" this is filled with religious dread. The ominous, far off presence of reckoning evil that cannot be fled from. A shadow that defines the direction of the narrative and allows even the smallest flicker of light to shine as bright as the sun.
The single most defining theme of this novel, hardship and suffering of women in Medieval Europe, was encapsulated perfectly in the choreomania and each individual tale woven in the interlude chapters was blissfully carved into the narrative. I especially liked the direction of the church, at first embracing this as something holy before dismissing it altogether.
As much as the sapphic romance was viewed from the lens of an outsider, it still carries it's own heartbreaking weight. I liked how it was ambiguous at the start, allowing that much more of a gravity when the truth finally hits. Good lord this clenched and tore at me until there was nothing but gnawed bone.
I loved the rife themes of grief present in Lisbeth's story, the seeming lack of agency behind her life and how much she abandons herself to the bees and to that special place where she finds solace. The het romance was well written, but felt more of an exercise in contrast. Friedreich's twist was quite surprising and drew a very stark parallel to Isabel and Nethe's own story
As much as I was mentally prepared for a bad ending. This still ended in a somewhat hopeful manner. I wished this wouldve gone on for a little while longer so that I can have a dream Beth x Nethe Romance but I'm just greedy
So once again, Kiran Hargrave delivers with the most elegant of poetic prose.
The single most defining theme of this novel, hardship and suffering of women in Medieval Europe, was encapsulated perfectly in the choreomania and each individual tale woven in the interlude chapters was blissfully carved into the narrative. I especially liked the direction of the church, at first embracing this as something holy before dismissing it altogether.
As much as the sapphic romance was viewed from the lens of an outsider, it still carries it's own heartbreaking weight. I liked how it was ambiguous at the start, allowing that much more of a gravity when the truth finally hits. Good lord this clenched and tore at me until there was nothing but gnawed bone.
I loved the rife themes of grief present in Lisbeth's story, the seeming lack of agency behind her life and how much she abandons herself to the bees and to that special place where she finds solace. The het romance was well written, but felt more of an exercise in contrast. Friedreich's twist was quite surprising and drew a very stark parallel to Isabel and Nethe's own story
As much as I was mentally prepared for a bad ending. This still ended in a somewhat hopeful manner. I wished this wouldve gone on for a little while longer so that I can have a dream Beth x Nethe Romance but I'm just greedy
So once again, Kiran Hargrave delivers with the most elegant of poetic prose.
Medieval history, women and queer centered, pagan elements, bee keeping. A hard read emotionally but touching.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Racism
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This reminded me a lot of The Marriage Portrait, in that the stories felt very predictably rote, perhaps because they centered on the dullest character in the narrative.