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namitakhanna's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderfully captivating psychological thriller with great characters and lots of secrets and twists and turns that keeps misleading the reader . Highly recommend !
I would like to thank Mobius Books, Hodder & Stoughton & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
I would like to thank Mobius Books, Hodder & Stoughton & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
isabelmorbi's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
amandax777's review against another edition
5.0
Description
Swan Lake is divided into the black acts and the white acts. The Prince is on stage for most of the ballet, but it's the swans audiences flock to see. In early productions, Odette and Odile were performed by two different dancers. These days, it is usual for the same dancer to play both roles. Because of the faultless ballet technique required to master the steps, and the emotional range needed to perform both the virginal Odette and the dark, seductive Odile, this challenging dual role is one of the most coveted in all ballet. Dancers would kill for the part.
Ava Kirilova has reached the very top of her profession. After years and years of hard graft, pain and sacrifice as part of the London Russian Ballet Company, allowing nothing else to distract her, she is finally the poster girl for Swan Lake. Even Mr K - her father, and the intense, terrifying director of the company - can find no fault. Ava has pushed herself ahead of countless other talented, hardworking girls, and they are all watching her now.
But there is someone who really wants to see Ava fall . . .
REVIEW
Erin Kelly has history as the queen on psychological thrillers. Her reign continues with Watch Her Fall - a dark, disturbing tale of love, ambition and jealousy set against the theatrical preparations for Swan Lake.
The torrid tale follows the themes of Swan Lake - the father daughter relationship between Ava and Nikolai and their doomed love, the Black and White Swan - the development of Ava and Juliette, the themes of good and evil, the ambition and evil and love and magic, the only way to become a woman is to escape the ballet, the names Odette meaning wealth and Odile meaning fortunate in battle are played out in the book.
The appalling treatment of the dancers by Nikoliai, and his relationship with Ava are clearly defined. He calls the dancers his “creatures”, Ava is consumed with ambition but her fathers handling of the dancers only results in her insecurity and paranoia. From this the jealousy and resentment can only feed the rotten atmosphere within the London Russian Ballet.
The building itself is reminiscent of communist regime that Nikolai has escaped but uses to imprison his dancers. Part of the building is called the Gulag - reminiscent of sociat labour camps. This only highlights the physical demands made on the dancers, the physical torture, pain and control that Nikolia exerts over them.
The plot is possibly the most complicated written by Erin Kelly to date, and one that she has admitted may not translate to the screen. It is one that will hold your attention. Whilst the ballet is the setting for the characterisation, the plot develops in a ukranian criminal underworld. The Ballet v the ukranian underworld - which is worst??
The tale is multi layered, defly plotted with twist upon twist. It is intoxicating, poisonous and ultimately deadly. The novels themes are intertwined and entangled with Swan Lake and perhaps a little reminiscent of Black Swan, that leaves you feeling shell shocked and Erin Kelly leaves you feeling that the battle between the Black and White Swan will only continue.
#WatchHerFall #NetGalley
5/5
Swan Lake is divided into the black acts and the white acts. The Prince is on stage for most of the ballet, but it's the swans audiences flock to see. In early productions, Odette and Odile were performed by two different dancers. These days, it is usual for the same dancer to play both roles. Because of the faultless ballet technique required to master the steps, and the emotional range needed to perform both the virginal Odette and the dark, seductive Odile, this challenging dual role is one of the most coveted in all ballet. Dancers would kill for the part.
Ava Kirilova has reached the very top of her profession. After years and years of hard graft, pain and sacrifice as part of the London Russian Ballet Company, allowing nothing else to distract her, she is finally the poster girl for Swan Lake. Even Mr K - her father, and the intense, terrifying director of the company - can find no fault. Ava has pushed herself ahead of countless other talented, hardworking girls, and they are all watching her now.
But there is someone who really wants to see Ava fall . . .
REVIEW
Erin Kelly has history as the queen on psychological thrillers. Her reign continues with Watch Her Fall - a dark, disturbing tale of love, ambition and jealousy set against the theatrical preparations for Swan Lake.
The torrid tale follows the themes of Swan Lake - the father daughter relationship between Ava and Nikolai and their doomed love, the Black and White Swan - the development of Ava and Juliette, the themes of good and evil, the ambition and evil and love and magic, the only way to become a woman is to escape the ballet, the names Odette meaning wealth and Odile meaning fortunate in battle are played out in the book.
The appalling treatment of the dancers by Nikoliai, and his relationship with Ava are clearly defined. He calls the dancers his “creatures”, Ava is consumed with ambition but her fathers handling of the dancers only results in her insecurity and paranoia. From this the jealousy and resentment can only feed the rotten atmosphere within the London Russian Ballet.
The building itself is reminiscent of communist regime that Nikolai has escaped but uses to imprison his dancers. Part of the building is called the Gulag - reminiscent of sociat labour camps. This only highlights the physical demands made on the dancers, the physical torture, pain and control that Nikolia exerts over them.
The plot is possibly the most complicated written by Erin Kelly to date, and one that she has admitted may not translate to the screen. It is one that will hold your attention. Whilst the ballet is the setting for the characterisation, the plot develops in a ukranian criminal underworld. The Ballet v the ukranian underworld - which is worst??
The tale is multi layered, defly plotted with twist upon twist. It is intoxicating, poisonous and ultimately deadly. The novels themes are intertwined and entangled with Swan Lake and perhaps a little reminiscent of Black Swan, that leaves you feeling shell shocked and Erin Kelly leaves you feeling that the battle between the Black and White Swan will only continue.
#WatchHerFall #NetGalley
5/5
beckimoody29's review against another edition
5.0
Shades of Black Swan. Told by alternating narrators with occasional flashbacks, this ballet novel has plenty of suspense. Ava prepares to dance the lead in Swan Lake, a part that was literally created for her as the daughter of Nikolai Petrovich, ballet director of the London Russian Ballet. But other dancers wait impatiently for their turn in the spotlight. When a tragedy happens, Ava will be forced to face old lies and new truths. How far will any of them go to achieve success?
I read this in one day, unable to put it down. I have never danced, but wish I could have and this has all the details that make it feel real. The characters are interesting, and I liked Ava and found her to be sympathetic. There are several twists that I didn't see coming.
I read this in one day, unable to put it down. I have never danced, but wish I could have and this has all the details that make it feel real. The characters are interesting, and I liked Ava and found her to be sympathetic. There are several twists that I didn't see coming.
gramesjay's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.0
inthelunaseas's review against another edition
3.0
Well, hot dog. This book was a bit of whiplash.
Not in the simply psychological manner, but in a, 'I-hate-this-no-wait-I-love-it-okay-maybe-it's-just-okay' manner.
To start with, the first act with Ava is awful. Kelly steps us through ballet like we're a prepatory class of five year olds, learning the basic manner of plieing and pointing our feet. It's an agonising step-by-step guide through the world of ballet. Everything is told to us, and I can just see Kelly preening as she writes about how dancers prepare their pointe shoes. None of this felt natural for a principal ballerina like Ava, who should know all of this by rote.
This vague distaste lingered through parts of Juliet's section. Why and how does Nicky get away with paying his students in cash? Why do none of them have mobile phones? This felt completely unnatural, particularly as it is utterly unrealistic. I'm not British and I don't know anything about their pay requirements, but surely these dancers must need to pay taxes? Juliet is unable to open a bank account or buy a phone, and seemingly has no documentation to her name. No drivers license, no utilities, no pay stubs. The fact that these dancers can travel internationally is bizarre. While this quirk could be handwaved away by the reveal midway through the book as part of her illness, it does seem to ring true when it mentions the dancers acquiring mobile phones by the end.
Heading to the middle of the book... I loved it. I genuinely did.
The ending? Ehh, my rush of the book (and I actually couldn't put it down by this point) began to die. The wrap up felt far too obvious and contrived, given how brilliant the midsection was. While it wasn't as poor as the beginning, I did expect more oomph.
Lastly-
My biggest wish is for there to be a novel where the big ballet being performed isn't Gisell or Swan Lake or The Nutcracker. I would give my heart for the conflicting ballet to be Paquita or La Fille Mal Gardee or Raymonda. Maybe that's asking a big much, for a non-balletomane to write about something other than one of the other more popular ballets... but God above, I can dream.
Not in the simply psychological manner, but in a, 'I-hate-this-no-wait-I-love-it-okay-maybe-it's-just-okay' manner.
To start with, the first act with Ava is awful. Kelly steps us through ballet like we're a prepatory class of five year olds, learning the basic manner of plieing and pointing our feet. It's an agonising step-by-step guide through the world of ballet. Everything is told to us, and I can just see Kelly preening as she writes about how dancers prepare their pointe shoes. None of this felt natural for a principal ballerina like Ava, who should know all of this by rote.
This vague distaste lingered through parts of Juliet's section. Why and how does Nicky get away with paying his students in cash? Why do none of them have mobile phones? This felt completely unnatural, particularly as it is utterly unrealistic. I'm not British and I don't know anything about their pay requirements, but surely these dancers must need to pay taxes? Juliet is unable to open a bank account or buy a phone, and seemingly has no documentation to her name. No drivers license, no utilities, no pay stubs. The fact that these dancers can travel internationally is bizarre. While this quirk could be handwaved away by the reveal midway through the book as part of her illness, it does seem to ring true when it mentions the dancers acquiring mobile phones by the end.
Heading to the middle of the book... I loved it. I genuinely did.
Spoiler
Maybe it's because I was frustrated by the first hundred pages, but I honestly didn't see it coming. If I were to go back and read it again, it would probably be more overt. But I will congratulate Kelly on this, as I was immediately hooked the moment I realised what was happening. At first I was bored by Roman's section, but it really helped guide it all through.The ending? Ehh, my rush of the book (and I actually couldn't put it down by this point) began to die. The wrap up felt far too obvious and contrived, given how brilliant the midsection was. While it wasn't as poor as the beginning, I did expect more oomph.
Lastly-
My biggest wish is for there to be a novel where the big ballet being performed isn't Gisell or Swan Lake or The Nutcracker. I would give my heart for the conflicting ballet to be Paquita or La Fille Mal Gardee or Raymonda. Maybe that's asking a big much, for a non-balletomane to write about something other than one of the other more popular ballets... but God above, I can dream.
nickmasters's review against another edition
3.0
I really loved Erin Kelly’s He Said/She Said, with its unique intricate plot. Watch Her Fall definitely solidifies Erin Kelly’s penchant for creating interesting intelligent plots.
The story evolves as we switch from one characters perception/portrayal to the next, each with their own experience of events as they unfold. The combination of plot, perspectives, and underlying psychological suspense really makes for an intriguing read. Having said that I really battled to get into the book. It’s definitely personal opinion, but the first ‘act’ was perhaps a little too long, and perhaps a little too Swan Lake for my liking. Due respect though, I think that was intended, and on hindsight was crucial to the story, it just wasn’t for me.
Thanks NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a review copy.
The story evolves as we switch from one characters perception/portrayal to the next, each with their own experience of events as they unfold. The combination of plot, perspectives, and underlying psychological suspense really makes for an intriguing read. Having said that I really battled to get into the book. It’s definitely personal opinion, but the first ‘act’ was perhaps a little too long, and perhaps a little too Swan Lake for my liking. Due respect though, I think that was intended, and on hindsight was crucial to the story, it just wasn’t for me.
Thanks NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a review copy.
kellyvandamme's review
4.0
It took me a little while to get into the story but once I did, I enjoyed it very much. I loved the whole ballet setting, it felt very authentic. I didn't like any of the characters at first, but some of them did redeem themselves. There was a twist that took me by complete surprise and it makes me want to start all over to find out if I could have spotted it. If you're looking for an entertaining thriller in a rather unique setting, Watch Her Fall may be the one for you.
kazza27's review against another edition
5.0
The story begins with an introduction to one of my favourite ballets Swan Lake and also Ava. Ava is a ballerina at the peak of her career and is also the daughter of Nikolai Kirilov ( Nicky or Mr K), who is an icon in the ballet world. He owns the company The London Russian and rules with a rod of iron and is a bully. Ava is playing Odette and Odile in this production something she has waited her whole career for. When Nicky finds out that the dancer playing Odette at the ball is pregnant she is made to leave immediately. Shuffled away like anyone else who doesn’t measure up to his high standards.
There is a vacancy for one of the other girls to fill this role and Nicky choses a replacement. Only referred to as the girl or second swan, you can feel the anxiety that Ava feels from younger dancers. She is also is jealous that her father is giving one to one lessons to the girl. As the book progresses we find out more about this girl.
A slow but very descriptive beginning, the book introduces the setting and the characters that will become the focal point of the story. Ava like most ballerinas knows she has a limited career and has waited a long time to dance this role, but knows that at thirty years old, she is one of the older dancers. Younger girls are snapping at her heels in this fiercely competitive world.
This is a clever book with so much detail and lots of twists and the it also has darkness hidden in it’s midst. It’s shocking, and there are some real jaw dropping moments. I really liked how the book is spilt up into acts and how the characters slowly unravel and develop An excellent read which will leave you reeling !
This is a really interesting look at not only the behind the scenes in the ballet but the relationship between father and daughter. Ava wants to make her Papa proud, but becomes increasingly paranoid about the production and that someone has been in her room. Nicky is a control freak and Ava realises this but she still desperately wants to please him. Is she imagining it or does someone want her out of the picture ? It is a brutal life that the ballerinas live, the diet, the relentless training and the scrutiny and the injuries. On the first night of Swan Lake, an accident happens and one of the swans is left with a devastating injury, what follows is her survival outside the world of the Kirilov’s. I don’t want to give away a great deal about the plot in fear of spoiling for others.
A standing ovation 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Eleni at Hodder books for my invitation to the tour and for my copy of the book in return for a fair and honest review.
There is a vacancy for one of the other girls to fill this role and Nicky choses a replacement. Only referred to as the girl or second swan, you can feel the anxiety that Ava feels from younger dancers. She is also is jealous that her father is giving one to one lessons to the girl. As the book progresses we find out more about this girl.
A slow but very descriptive beginning, the book introduces the setting and the characters that will become the focal point of the story. Ava like most ballerinas knows she has a limited career and has waited a long time to dance this role, but knows that at thirty years old, she is one of the older dancers. Younger girls are snapping at her heels in this fiercely competitive world.
This is a clever book with so much detail and lots of twists and the it also has darkness hidden in it’s midst. It’s shocking, and there are some real jaw dropping moments. I really liked how the book is spilt up into acts and how the characters slowly unravel and develop An excellent read which will leave you reeling !
This is a really interesting look at not only the behind the scenes in the ballet but the relationship between father and daughter. Ava wants to make her Papa proud, but becomes increasingly paranoid about the production and that someone has been in her room. Nicky is a control freak and Ava realises this but she still desperately wants to please him. Is she imagining it or does someone want her out of the picture ? It is a brutal life that the ballerinas live, the diet, the relentless training and the scrutiny and the injuries. On the first night of Swan Lake, an accident happens and one of the swans is left with a devastating injury, what follows is her survival outside the world of the Kirilov’s. I don’t want to give away a great deal about the plot in fear of spoiling for others.
A standing ovation 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to Eleni at Hodder books for my invitation to the tour and for my copy of the book in return for a fair and honest review.