A review by quillyreads
The Dance Tree by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

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

3.0

Beautiful writing, but not the best plot. It’s very slow paced and muted for about 3/4 of the book, then packs everything in the last few chapters. 

And it crams a LOT in. Too much, perhaps. As the books tries to ambitiously comment on grief, miscarriage, religious mania, tyrannical religious zealots, homophobia, xenophobia… It can’t investigate these themes in the depth they deserve or with the time or character development they require to become a theme, rather than just an embellishment. 

Also, I just couldn’t connect with the characters. There’s little character development. And despite the huge amount of happenings in the final sprint of the book, the ending feels like it’s back to the start. The only difference is
there’s now a baby in the house.


I just couldn’t vibe with this book.
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