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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book is not just a romance novel.
This book is Milena McKay holding a sword and luring you in with a gripping story and impeccable style until you willingly fling yourself onto that sword to have your soul destroyed. More than once.
If that sounds dramatic, consider that this is a book set in Paris, about two rival ballerinas, at the Paris Opera Ballet. If drama isn't anything you can stomach, you should move on.
That being said. This book is not cruel for cruelty's sake or dramatic for no reason. No there is a finer point, as always with McKay books.
Set in the 80ies it picks up on the atrocities happening behind the iron curtain that the western world chose to conveniently ignore and still does. It picks up on the horrors of the HIV crisis, too. Not exactly the stuff of run of the mill romance novels. Then again, Milena McKay books are never just that.
She never forgets about levity when needed, and humor, too. There is spice, and true love in spades and all the tragedy makes the love story that much stronger. The two main characters are lovable, complex and feel like they could be real people. Actually, all characters do.
And if you've read any other of McKay's books you'll come across a few familiar characters. It's like visiting old friends.
There is also a part in the beginning that decidedly feels like watching a specific episode of The West Wing. I don't know if that is just my imagination but I choose to believe it is on purpose.
Is it flawless? No. But they're all insignificant compared to the brilliance of all the rest of the book.
In summary, read the book. You won't be the same but it's worth the pain.
This book is Milena McKay holding a sword and luring you in with a gripping story and impeccable style until you willingly fling yourself onto that sword to have your soul destroyed. More than once.
If that sounds dramatic, consider that this is a book set in Paris, about two rival ballerinas, at the Paris Opera Ballet. If drama isn't anything you can stomach, you should move on.
That being said. This book is not cruel for cruelty's sake or dramatic for no reason. No there is a finer point, as always with McKay books.
Set in the 80ies it picks up on the atrocities happening behind the iron curtain that the western world chose to conveniently ignore and still does. It picks up on the horrors of the HIV crisis, too. Not exactly the stuff of run of the mill romance novels. Then again, Milena McKay books are never just that.
She never forgets about levity when needed, and humor, too. There is spice, and true love in spades and all the tragedy makes the love story that much stronger. The two main characters are lovable, complex and feel like they could be real people. Actually, all characters do.
And if you've read any other of McKay's books you'll come across a few familiar characters. It's like visiting old friends.
There is also a part in the beginning that decidedly feels like watching a specific episode of The West Wing. I don't know if that is just my imagination but I choose to believe it is on purpose.
Is it flawless? No. But they're all insignificant compared to the brilliance of all the rest of the book.
In summary, read the book. You won't be the same but it's worth the pain.
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Silence can hold tremendous power. Katarina Vyatka knows how to wield it like others wield swords. Like negative space, the void of it carves precise but seemingly unattainable shapes.
For the longest time, unattainable is exactly how Katarina feels to Juliette Lucian-Sorel, despite the latter being the Princess of Paris, the Prima Assoluta of the Paris Opera Ballet. Milena McKay is the author who made me love Ice Queens and Katarina is now sharing the title of Jude’s favourite Ice Queen with the one and only Neve Blackthorne. Like Neve, Katarina is such a complicated and mysterious character, Juliette, undeniably great in her own right, never stood a chance.
When the book opens, Juliette is twenty-five and she hasn’t come up against many hurdles yet. It’s the mid-1980s and she’s at the top, worshipped and respected. Despite her former girlfriend—someone I was extremely curious to get to know as a person—having gone back to the United States, Juliette is surrounded with love, from her best friend and colleague Gabriel, from Francesca, the director of Paris Opera Ballet who sometimes shares her bed, from the ballet lovers of the French capital, the President of the French Republic among them. The tumultuous times the company is going through have spared Juliette so far. Katarina, a decade or so older, is a completely different story. Born and raised in the Soviet Union, she’s seen the worst of humanity. And while she landed on her pointe shoes, it wasn’t unscathed.
Reverence is firmly rooted in the McK-Universe, so besides getting introduced to Katarina and Juliette, or other new characters such as Gabriel and Francesca, the reader crosses paths with some we’ve encountered before, some in passing, others more closely.
Some books grab you by the throat from the first sentence. Reverence is one of them. A few words are enough to set the tone, and in true McKay fashion, they announce beautiful drama: “Her first ever glimpse of Katarina Vyatka was one of cold eyes and bloody satin ribbons.” None of Milena McKay’s novels is “just a romance”. Not that there’s anything wrong with romances that are just that, but that’s not what her books are. They all contain an element or more of societal issues, whether it’s the patriarchy, homophobia, greed—be it for money or power… This one explores all these topics through the prism of the Cold War. As she explains in one of the two afterwords (if you think you’ve run out of tears by the end the story, one or the other will prove you wrong), the ordeals Katarina went through were for a large part inspired by the author’s grandmother’s life.
When Milena McKay started talking about her idea for “a ballet book”, I was like “yay, go for it, it’s exciting!” but to be honest, any idea that may lead to a McKay book is exciting. Ballet, to me, was just a setting before I read Reverence. Now I wish I could see Juliette and Katarina on stage. McKay writes ballet the way she writes everything, with exact, perfectly chosen words that pull the reader into the scene, on stage, in the wings, in the classrooms hidden in the bowels of Palais Garnier.
There are the words she chooses, and those she elects to skip, even though they’re technically needed, favouring the rhythm of the narration, a sense of what needs to be there and what does not. As I said, there’s power in silence, and negative space is an underrated art form in writing.
I could rave for hours about McKay’s unique style, but it’s only one reason Reverence (her first historical romance!) claimed my heart. With each release, the author delivers a new feast of angst and feelings, of—sometimes self-inflicted—torment, of betrayals and deceptions. I adore Juliette and Katarina and I could be mad at her for making me fall in love with her ballerinas just so she could then torture them—and her readers—but nothing she writes is gratuitous. Everything enriches the story. Everything contributes to the characters’ growth. The suffering and the joy alike.
In this book as in previous ones, McKay laces painful situations with hope and a sense of humour that brings relief when it’s most needed. Get ready to suffer, though. Have handkerchiefs on hand. Reverence broke me—several times. Yet in the end what stays with me is how strong and beautiful and resilient these women are.
Even though I was part of the alpha and beta teams, I was still swept away when I read Reverence a fourth time for this review and I’m looking forward to a fifth when the audiobook comes out.
Also, to my utmost delight, one of my favourite artists designed the cover and inside art. I love Jenifer Prince‘s world and her style fits this story and its characters superbly.
Video review: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DA3cPsrgGkN/
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read all my reviews on my website (and please get your books from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Reverence by Milena McKay is nothing short of breathtaking—a beautifully crafted, emotionally charged story that weaves its way into your soul and leaves you forever changed. McKay’s writing is heart-wrenchingly beautiful, filled with raw emotion, intricate character development, and a Paris that feels so real, it aches. I’ve never been to Paris, and yet after reading this book, I feel like I’ve walked its streets and breathed its history. That’s how powerful McKay’s prose is—she brings the city to life and makes it an integral part of this stunning romance.
The story follows two unforgettable ballerinas, Juliette Lucian-Sorel and Katarina Vyatka. Juliette, the dazzling Princess of Paris, has everything—fame, fortune, and the adoration of her fans. Katarina, on the other hand, is escaping the suffocating Iron Curtain, desperate for freedom and will do anything to get it. What happens when these two meet on the same stage? Sparks fly, tensions rise, and their rivalry evolves into a passionate love story full of angst, betrayal, and an undeniable connection. McKay has crafted another brilliant Ice Queen in Katarina, and watching her walls crumble is both heart-wrenching and deeply satisfying.
The cast of characters is unforgettable, each one leaving their own mark on the story. From the highs of ballet success to the lows of heartbreak and betrayal, Reverence is an emotional rollercoaster that had my heart bruised and battered by the end. Buy the tissues with lotion—trust me, you’ll need them. This book grips you from the first page and doesn’t let go until long after the final bow. McKay hits every emotion on the spectrum—joy, sorrow, competitiveness, love, tragedy, and more. It’s as if you’re spinning an emotional wheel, and whatever it lands on, McKay delivers with precision and depth.
The plot twists are executed to perfection, keeping you on the edge of your seat. And of course, there’s love and angst—compelling, gripping, and all-consuming. The steamy scenes are few but powerful, adding to the intensity of Juliette and Katarina’s relationship. McKay also does a phenomenal job of connecting this book to her other works, giving a sense of familiarity while still creating a brand new world that stands on its own.
Do NOT skip the Afterwords. It’s vital to understanding the passion and intention behind McKay’s writing, and it adds another layer of appreciation for the beautiful words she’s given us. Her storytelling is a true work of art, and I’m in awe of her ability to create such emotionally complex and gripping narratives.
Reverence is an absolute masterpiece—a book filled with love, friendships, dancing, joy, tragedy, and the rawness of life. I am completely floored by McKay’s talent, and I’m so incredibly happy to have found her work. This book isn’t just a romance—it’s a journey, a ballet of emotions, and an unforgettable experience. Truly, a work of art. This review doesn't begin to do it justice but it's the best I've got after such an incredible reading experience.
The story follows two unforgettable ballerinas, Juliette Lucian-Sorel and Katarina Vyatka. Juliette, the dazzling Princess of Paris, has everything—fame, fortune, and the adoration of her fans. Katarina, on the other hand, is escaping the suffocating Iron Curtain, desperate for freedom and will do anything to get it. What happens when these two meet on the same stage? Sparks fly, tensions rise, and their rivalry evolves into a passionate love story full of angst, betrayal, and an undeniable connection. McKay has crafted another brilliant Ice Queen in Katarina, and watching her walls crumble is both heart-wrenching and deeply satisfying.
The cast of characters is unforgettable, each one leaving their own mark on the story. From the highs of ballet success to the lows of heartbreak and betrayal, Reverence is an emotional rollercoaster that had my heart bruised and battered by the end. Buy the tissues with lotion—trust me, you’ll need them. This book grips you from the first page and doesn’t let go until long after the final bow. McKay hits every emotion on the spectrum—joy, sorrow, competitiveness, love, tragedy, and more. It’s as if you’re spinning an emotional wheel, and whatever it lands on, McKay delivers with precision and depth.
The plot twists are executed to perfection, keeping you on the edge of your seat. And of course, there’s love and angst—compelling, gripping, and all-consuming. The steamy scenes are few but powerful, adding to the intensity of Juliette and Katarina’s relationship. McKay also does a phenomenal job of connecting this book to her other works, giving a sense of familiarity while still creating a brand new world that stands on its own.
Do NOT skip the Afterwords. It’s vital to understanding the passion and intention behind McKay’s writing, and it adds another layer of appreciation for the beautiful words she’s given us. Her storytelling is a true work of art, and I’m in awe of her ability to create such emotionally complex and gripping narratives.
Reverence is an absolute masterpiece—a book filled with love, friendships, dancing, joy, tragedy, and the rawness of life. I am completely floored by McKay’s talent, and I’m so incredibly happy to have found her work. This book isn’t just a romance—it’s a journey, a ballet of emotions, and an unforgettable experience. Truly, a work of art. This review doesn't begin to do it justice but it's the best I've got after such an incredible reading experience.