Reviews

The Dance Tree by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

tamutamu's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense slow-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

3.75

Une prose magnifique, surtout à la fin pendant les (rares) moments heureux de la personnage principale. Une fenêtre sur une période du moyen-âge très intéressante, mélange de faits et de fiction qui plonge dans un monde cruel et pourtant bien trop réel. Une belle allégorie de la liberté féminine, mais une lecture qui reste difficile car forcément parsemée d'énormément de choses dures et violentes (misogynie, homophobie...) Les personnages sont attachants, mais l'histoire perpétuellement tragique est parfois un peu décourageante (un peu biaisée car pas fan de drames).

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Homophobia, Infertility, Miscarriage, Racism, Dementia, and Death of parent

melnemknits's review against another edition

dark emotional

4.0

kstatema's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective 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

5.0

Absolutely loved this book, will be buying a copy. I felt like I was in another world and it was beautifully written in a way I've not read before. I was truly along for the ride and didn't know what to expect at each turn. Very emotional and tense.

queenseelie's review against another edition

emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

3.0

vanvicki's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

5.0

purpple_moon's review

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

monobella's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad

4.5

r_dankovich's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

The Dance Tree was a great combination of a novel about a community at a particular historical moment and a really deep look at one woman's life under the control of a deeply religious society. The historical information was well-researched, the book did not shy away from the issues of the time, including the entanglement of religion, politics, and social control, and the characters all felt very full-formed. The queer characters, and Eren (characterized as a "Turk") while not the main main character, did not feel like they existed to move the MC's plot or character forward, but rather to explore the gender and racial dynamics that existed in the period. For how short the novel is, it packed a lot of emotional intensity. 

geeweddle's review

4.0

4.5stars
I found this to be a very gripping read. The writing was (as expected) absolutely incredible - found myself taking my time with this one just so I could reread passages. Well developed characters and a well woven together plot. Learnt a lot historically as well.

agirllostinbooks's review

dark informative sad slow-paced

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

3.0

Well written and an interesting concept around choreomania, but not really enough focus on that.