A review by r_dankovich
The Dance Tree by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

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.