Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
adventurous
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Very interesting story of twin Russian ballet dancers and how the govt controls them.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Miscarriage, Abandonment
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Death of parent, Pregnancy, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Miscarriage, Blood, Death of parent
Minor: Body shaming, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
This is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time. I listened to the audio version and was captivated from the start. The narrator did such a great job of bringing the story to life. The characters are rich and well developed and imperfect in a way that makes them human. I feel like it was a great example of how trauma is ongoing, and impacts people differently. The ending wasn’t neat, which worked because life isn’t neat, and I have been thinking about it ever since. If you love historical fiction, especially Soviet stories set in the Cold War era, this book is spectacular.
Maya and Natasha are twins, born in incredibly harsh circumstances, and raised their whole lives to be top ballerinas who represent Russia. When they reach the point in their training where performing around the world in Russia’s top ballet school is in sight, they receive the news that, due to a new law, only one family member may join and go abroad. This leads to hard choices, deception, and betrayal.
Thank you NetGalley, Mariner Books, and HarperAudio Adult for the advanced review copies.
Maya and Natasha are twins, born in incredibly harsh circumstances, and raised their whole lives to be top ballerinas who represent Russia. When they reach the point in their training where performing around the world in Russia’s top ballet school is in sight, they receive the news that, due to a new law, only one family member may join and go abroad. This leads to hard choices, deception, and betrayal.
Thank you NetGalley, Mariner Books, and HarperAudio Adult for the advanced review copies.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
ARC gifted by NetGalley
Thank you for this copy of Maya & Natasha. This is my first 5⭐ read in quite some time. This will absolutely be in my top of 2025 if not the top book!
Maya & Natasha is a historical fiction novel set in Soviet Russia spanning from 1941 to the late 1960's. Russia is famous for producing some of the best ballet in the world, and we are dropped into the intensely dark and fascinating world of ballet with the birth of twins Maya & Natasha. They enter the world with a weight on each of them that intensifies as they grow up and the cold war heats up. The story really is about the sister relationship that unfolds over the years. "They were bound together, an inevitable push and pill. Wherever Natasha moved, Maya followed".
The writing and craft of this debut is top notch. Not only is there good pacing, but the story continued to be fresh. I highlighted so many great quotes that I know I need to pick up a hard copy of this book.
If you love the arts, ballet, and sister relationships you will enjoy this. Other themes of jealousy, revenge, regret, and redemption are explored. Questions of what it is to love your country and your past, how to embrace family, and how to love the arts are asked. I found this book to be wholly satisfying and engaging.
Thank you for this copy of Maya & Natasha. This is my first 5⭐ read in quite some time. This will absolutely be in my top of 2025 if not the top book!
Maya & Natasha is a historical fiction novel set in Soviet Russia spanning from 1941 to the late 1960's. Russia is famous for producing some of the best ballet in the world, and we are dropped into the intensely dark and fascinating world of ballet with the birth of twins Maya & Natasha. They enter the world with a weight on each of them that intensifies as they grow up and the cold war heats up. The story really is about the sister relationship that unfolds over the years. "They were bound together, an inevitable push and pill. Wherever Natasha moved, Maya followed".
The writing and craft of this debut is top notch. Not only is there good pacing, but the story continued to be fresh. I highlighted so many great quotes that I know I need to pick up a hard copy of this book.
If you love the arts, ballet, and sister relationships you will enjoy this. Other themes of jealousy, revenge, regret, and redemption are explored. Questions of what it is to love your country and your past, how to embrace family, and how to love the arts are asked. I found this book to be wholly satisfying and engaging.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Child death