jog_uk 's review for:

The Dance Tree by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
4.5
challenging dark reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

This is everything I love on historical fiction. a moment in time made real again.  The time its the hottest summer in Strasbourg. Crops are dead, feet are burning and babes are being drowned. and you can feel the stultifying heat on every page. Lisbet, connected to her bees but otherwise sad and lonely is  close to term after a heartbreaking number of miscarriages and still births. Her peace is shattered as her husband finds himself called away to protect their livelyhood and she faces the hard facts about her sister in law and best friend, learns more about her husband, and faces the hard  facts of religions control as the tired, hungry and detained women of Strasbourg ‘dance’. Faith, love, power and more make this compelling