Reviews

The Dance Tree by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

hannahhc81's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense slow-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? No

4.75

daintydenise's review

dark emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

ciara_g's review against another edition

3.75

If I were to read this novel again, I would definitely go ebook or print... As a very basic German speaker, it was hard to keep up with the names of the characters and I felt like I was spending half the time trying to place who was being spoken about/who was speaking.

I did enjoy it; I really like Millwood Hargrave’s imagery and writing style, particularly around relationships. And my interest was 100% piqued by the concept of this 16th century dancing plague - which turns out we didn’t really learn much about in this story.

The concept of religious hysteria is so interesting but it felt like the storyline got lost alongside so many different themes and conflicts, like my god, people women couldn’t catch a break in 1500’s Germany.. 🥸

A lot going on but to sum it up, I’d describe it as a love story between a beekeeper and her bees set in an oppressively patriarchal world hiding under the guise of “religion” 🙃

pmjnewton's review

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Interesting, but I didn’t find it believable 

karenmc69's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

isabellaci's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

lisa_mcbookface's review against another edition

challenging 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? It's complicated

4.75

hannahsoothers's review against another edition

dark hopeful reflective 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? Yes

5.0

cerilou's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

motherbooker's review against another edition

4.0

In the Summer of 1518, a woman called Fray Troffea started dancing uncontrollably in the Strasbourg street. The dancing went on for weeks and she was joined by dozens more people. Nobody knew what caused the outbreak but there was much speculation. At the time, the Church saw the dancing as sinful and brought about by the devil. Some claimed it was a punishment, and the dancing only stopped when the participants were sent to a mountain shrine to pray for absolution. During the weeks of dancing, many dances collapsed and it's said that some even died. For whatever reason, those weeks caused chaos, confusion and concern for everyone in Strasbourg. So, it's easy to see why Kiran Millwood Hargrave was inspired by it.

In her version of the story, the dancing plague only affects women. It starts with Frau Troffea who suddenly starts moving her body to a rhythm only she can hear. This mania quickly spreads through other women and it builds to an overwhelming number dancing on platforms in the street. The story is mainly narrated from the point of view of Lisbet, a pregnant beekeeper who has experienced a great deal of loss in her life. Just as the dancing starts, Lisbet's sister-in-law returns from the mountains after being punished for an unnamed crime. Over the weeks, Lisbet tries to uncover the secrets at the heart of her family and deal with her own feelings and desires. Just how will that hot summer in Strasbourg change her life?

Though she doesn't participate in the dancing, Lisbet is changed by the events of that summer. She learns more about herself and her place in the world. She must face new desires and come to terms with great secrets. Mourning the loss of her unborn children, Lisbet is worried about the upcoming birth. She wants nothing more than to be a mother but is starting to realise that her place in the world is to bear her husband's children. She alone mourns the death of her previous children and the death of her mother years before. Seeing the women dancing both horrifies and intrigues her. She has been taught to follow the word of the Church but she is starting to see that the word of God might not be everything.

Throughout the book, Lisbet's narrative is woven into the brief glimpses we get of the women who have joined the dancing. We hear the stories of the different and learn of their losses, their passions and their traumas. We also see those who just can't resist the freedom that seems to come from being part of that group. This book is a testament to the variety of female experiences and how history has tried to reduce it as much as possible. It is also a book that champions the people who had to remain hidden because of strict rules. The people who were forced to deny themselves because of the superstitious and religious society of the time.

Kiran Millwood Hargrave uses this historical event to discuss themes that are still so relevant today. This is a well-written book that really brings history to life. This was even better than I thought it would be and I went in with high expectations.