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A Dancer's Journey #1
Tendu: Dancing in the Castle
Scotland’s all misty lochs and magical forests and perfect boyfriends, right?
When dance student Amalphia Treadwell embarks on a secret relationship with her rich, handsome teacher, she has no idea of the danger that lurks in his new school in Scotland.
She’s soon dealing with her boyfriend’s beautiful and obsessive ex, the sinister research taking place at the castle school and her own ever-evolving relationship issues.
Amalphia works hard to be the best dancer she can be, but as tension builds within the old walls of the castle, she begins to wonder if she will ever escape the dank dark of the dungeon...
Dark, witty, sexy and fun, Tendu is a compelling and seductive story of love, dance and obsession.
Ailish's dance background and love of history and spicy stories are what inspired this heady mix of romance and ballet set in a castle. She lives in Scotland beside a loch with her husband and two children where she dances and writes and eats rather too much chocolate.
Tendu contains graphic sex scenes, violence, trauma and adult language.
When dance student Amalphia Treadwell embarks on a secret relationship with her rich, handsome teacher, she has no idea of the danger that lurks in his new school in Scotland.
She’s soon dealing with her boyfriend’s beautiful and obsessive ex, the sinister research taking place at the castle school and her own ever-evolving relationship issues.
Amalphia works hard to be the best dancer she can be, but as tension builds within the old walls of the castle, she begins to wonder if she will ever escape the dank dark of the dungeon...
Dark, witty, sexy and fun, Tendu is a compelling and seductive story of love, dance and obsession.
Ailish's dance background and love of history and spicy stories are what inspired this heady mix of romance and ballet set in a castle. She lives in Scotland beside a loch with her husband and two children where she dances and writes and eats rather too much chocolate.
Tendu contains graphic sex scenes, violence, trauma and adult language.
- GenresRomance
367 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 20, 2023
19 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Ailish Sinclair
11 books460 followersAilish Sinclair trained as a dancer and taught dance for many years. She now lives beside a loch with her husband and two children where she writes, dances (yes still, medical conditions allowing) and eats a lot of chocolate.
BOOKS:
Her historical novels combine little-known dark events with love stories. There are witches, bears, kidnappers and Romans to be found in them.
She has written two contemporary series, the spicy Dancer’s Journey and the coming-of-age Castle Dancers.
BOOKS:
Her historical novels combine little-known dark events with love stories. There are witches, bears, kidnappers and Romans to be found in them.
She has written two contemporary series, the spicy Dancer’s Journey and the coming-of-age Castle Dancers.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 22, 2023
A truly beautiful story - you will cry, you will laugh, at one point you may even clutch your pearls - if you have any. A true Turing Test for the human soul.
November 4, 2023
If you can only read one book before society collapses, read this one. Laughter, Sex, and jaw dropping suspense - Tendu has it all.
November 13, 2023
The perfect book to curl up with by the fire on these cold winter nights of ours. Romance, Chocolate Cake, and the deep dark danger in the dungeon. What more could a girl want?
October 7, 2023
This book has so much representation in its characters with autism , dyslexia , medical issues and LGBTQ+ characters it not only follows the story of the female main character who has autism but the lives of her friends as they all navigate there love lives and feelings as well as being part of this trial school in Scotland as a female with additional needs who lives in Scotland this book spoke to me it has comedy , spice there are also so dark topics in this book but I enjoyed reading this book it had me laughing and crying
October 31, 2023
Fantastic book by a talented author. If you love dance, castles, romance, scottland, and mystery, this is your next book. I fell in love with the book from the first page, and the love affair continued to end. You have a winner. I can't wait for the next one.
She takes you on a journey through the world of ballet, relationships, and Scottish castle. You can see the scenes and feel for the characters and what is happening. Even the way that they spoke was coming through loud and clear.
I was talking, laughing, crying out loud like they could hear me.
That's the sign of good author. Get the book.
I was allowed an advance copy. This is my true feelings about the book.
She takes you on a journey through the world of ballet, relationships, and Scottish castle. You can see the scenes and feel for the characters and what is happening. Even the way that they spoke was coming through loud and clear.
I was talking, laughing, crying out loud like they could hear me.
That's the sign of good author. Get the book.
I was allowed an advance copy. This is my true feelings about the book.
December 3, 2023
Trigger warnings: sexual harassment, trauma, torture
I had to give this book much consideration when writing this review. I will lead by saying this book was much different than I expected. I anticipated a story of romance and a budding loving relationship, maybe some spicy scenes, with the enrichment of ballet and mysterious castle vibes. I was wrong. While this story is unique and not the typical, lovey-dovey romance that I anticipated, I was continuously baffled at the actual relationship dynamic between the female main character and her love interest. The romance is actually a pretty toxic relationship between a nineteen year-old woman and an older male dance instructor. It felt predatory at times in addition to having themes of jealousy, betrayal, deceit, and manipulation. I actually felt sorry for the main character as I feel she fails to see her own self-worth. There’s also a confusing love triangle-type situation and repetitive sexual harassment and verbal harassment by other dance instructors towards the main character specifically, as well as towards other students.
Some redeeming qualities to the story include the setting of the misty loch castle in Scotland, which was quite interesting, the close friendship of the main character and her male best friend. There was also LGBTQ representation. It did have a pretty sudden plot twist that I was not expecting.
Readers who do not mind non-traditional romance novels and are not bothered by reading descriptions of torture may enjoy this book.
The author’s story was crafted with imagination, a unique representation of a developing relationship and its struggles, and the determination for the protagonist to rise above the obstacles she faces.
I had to give this book much consideration when writing this review. I will lead by saying this book was much different than I expected. I anticipated a story of romance and a budding loving relationship, maybe some spicy scenes, with the enrichment of ballet and mysterious castle vibes. I was wrong. While this story is unique and not the typical, lovey-dovey romance that I anticipated, I was continuously baffled at the actual relationship dynamic between the female main character and her love interest. The romance is actually a pretty toxic relationship between a nineteen year-old woman and an older male dance instructor. It felt predatory at times in addition to having themes of jealousy, betrayal, deceit, and manipulation. I actually felt sorry for the main character as I feel she fails to see her own self-worth. There’s also a confusing love triangle-type situation and repetitive sexual harassment and verbal harassment by other dance instructors towards the main character specifically, as well as towards other students.
Some redeeming qualities to the story include the setting of the misty loch castle in Scotland, which was quite interesting, the close friendship of the main character and her male best friend. There was also LGBTQ representation. It did have a pretty sudden plot twist that I was not expecting.
Readers who do not mind non-traditional romance novels and are not bothered by reading descriptions of torture may enjoy this book.
The author’s story was crafted with imagination, a unique representation of a developing relationship and its struggles, and the determination for the protagonist to rise above the obstacles she faces.
Did Not Finish
March 29, 2024DNF 4% or 18 pages
Thoughts while reading
🩰 This book jumps around to much, it lacks details but also expects you to know what’s going on
🩰 Lots of after-thought explanations, and not enough scene building
🩰 So now what I’m assuming is an older adult is telling her that the new teacher, who apparently is also a student..? Is going to try and sleep with her?? Okay realism 🥴
🩰 OKAY hold on - just found out he’s 38 “exactly twice” her age (so she’s 19)
I was honestly expecting a black swan moment but it's giving grooming 🥴🥴
In the 18 pages I have read lol there has been zero details and we have literally jumped from place to place with zero details on who these people are or why we were outside but now we are at the barre?
Also I knew from the description that it was a teacher and student romance but I just found out he's 38 and she's 19 and 😬😬 PLUS at their first meet he asked if she would be joining his classes and the other Male teacher (Another ADULT) who has been teaching her tells her (in front of him..?) that he just wants her in his class so he can sleep with her
I like that she used page breaks instead of real words to describe anything 😂😂 like I'm just supposed to know who these people are and that we are no longer in the building or in class because of a squiggly line
Also who is she???? All I know is she has dark hair, a body image issue and autism but in a fun way!! 🤢
Thoughts while reading
🩰 This book jumps around to much, it lacks details but also expects you to know what’s going on
🩰 Lots of after-thought explanations, and not enough scene building
🩰 So now what I’m assuming is an older adult is telling her that the new teacher, who apparently is also a student..? Is going to try and sleep with her?? Okay realism 🥴
🩰 OKAY hold on - just found out he’s 38 “exactly twice” her age (so she’s 19)
I was honestly expecting a black swan moment but it's giving grooming 🥴🥴
In the 18 pages I have read lol there has been zero details and we have literally jumped from place to place with zero details on who these people are or why we were outside but now we are at the barre?
Also I knew from the description that it was a teacher and student romance but I just found out he's 38 and she's 19 and 😬😬 PLUS at their first meet he asked if she would be joining his classes and the other Male teacher (Another ADULT) who has been teaching her tells her (in front of him..?) that he just wants her in his class so he can sleep with her
I like that she used page breaks instead of real words to describe anything 😂😂 like I'm just supposed to know who these people are and that we are no longer in the building or in class because of a squiggly line
Also who is she???? All I know is she has dark hair, a body image issue and autism but in a fun way!! 🤢
October 21, 2023
I believe the author writes about what she knows and loves. This is my first time reading a book by this author and I enjoyed what I read. There is a content warning and I appreciated knowing what was upcoming. If you enjoy mentions of chocolate and lots of cake this book is for you. There are evolving relationships and strong character development. The description of Scotland sounds magical and mysterious, like a place I would seriously enjoy being.
A young dancer, an older male teacher, an evolving relationship. There is some darkness, a castle with its hidden secrets, a maniacal character who has everyone fooled at first, but we begin to feel the danger. Very atmospheric, I could feel what the characters were feeling, feel their pain, it broke my heart and then healed it and made it sing.
Excellent, I'll be on the lookout for more by the author.
I was given a complimentary copy of the book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
A young dancer, an older male teacher, an evolving relationship. There is some darkness, a castle with its hidden secrets, a maniacal character who has everyone fooled at first, but we begin to feel the danger. Very atmospheric, I could feel what the characters were feeling, feel their pain, it broke my heart and then healed it and made it sing.
Excellent, I'll be on the lookout for more by the author.
I was given a complimentary copy of the book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
January 8, 2024
I originally thought this book was smut. But it definitely wasn’t smut. It was cute, at times. I thought it was very quickly placed and I had trouble understanding the British slang at times. I thought it was a whirlwind of a story that’s for sure. But I will say I don’t support the main character’s choice at the end of the story. I have much more I could say but that is the gist of it. If you want a fast-paced, dance-based, interesting love story, you might enjoy this book.
May 18, 2024
This took me a while to get into it because the writing is different to what I'm used to.
It certainly took a drastic turn with Michelle and the last few chapters.
Not sure Im a fan of the Amalphoa/Alex relationship, kind of thing Will was the better man, but see what happens in the next installment.
It certainly took a drastic turn with Michelle and the last few chapters.
Not sure Im a fan of the Amalphoa/Alex relationship, kind of thing Will was the better man, but see what happens in the next installment.
June 25, 2025
Review: Tendu: Book 1 in A Dancer’s Journey by Ailish Sinclair
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5) | 🌶️ 1 Pepper
Tendu begins with what appears to be a familiar setting—a prestigious ballet school and a charismatic instructor—but quickly evolves into something far deeper and more emotionally layered. Once past the first chapter, the story took me on a compelling and unexpected journey that kept me fully engaged from beginning to end.
The emotional depth in this book is striking. It stirred a full range of reactions—frustration, empathy, reflection—and had me emotionally invested in the characters’ development. The Scottish backdrop, along with well-executed dialogue and accents, brought an added authenticity to the story, enhancing the immersive atmosphere.
Themes of slow-burn romance, emotional tension, destiny, and complex character dynamics are all explored beautifully, with just the right amount of spice. Combined with the rich ballet setting, this book offered everything I was looking for in a contemporary romance. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to continuing the trilogy.
BookBound and Blushed
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5) | 🌶️ 1 Pepper
Tendu begins with what appears to be a familiar setting—a prestigious ballet school and a charismatic instructor—but quickly evolves into something far deeper and more emotionally layered. Once past the first chapter, the story took me on a compelling and unexpected journey that kept me fully engaged from beginning to end.
The emotional depth in this book is striking. It stirred a full range of reactions—frustration, empathy, reflection—and had me emotionally invested in the characters’ development. The Scottish backdrop, along with well-executed dialogue and accents, brought an added authenticity to the story, enhancing the immersive atmosphere.
Themes of slow-burn romance, emotional tension, destiny, and complex character dynamics are all explored beautifully, with just the right amount of spice. Combined with the rich ballet setting, this book offered everything I was looking for in a contemporary romance. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to continuing the trilogy.
BookBound and Blushed
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews