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The Sleeping Beauties
May 1945 and at long last, Rosamund Caradon is feeling optimistic. As she returns the last few evacuees to London from her Devonshire manor, she vows to protect dance-obsessed daughter Jasmine from further peril.
But a chance meeting with a Sadler’s Wells ballet dancer changes everything.
When the beautiful, elusive Briar Woods bursts into Rosamund’s train carriage, it’s clear her sights are set on the immediately captivated Jasmine. And Rosamund cannot shake the eerie feeling this accidental encounter is not what it seems.
For Briar may be far away from the pointe shoes and greasepaint of the Sleeping Beauty ballet that is so much a part of her, but her performance for Rosamund might just be her most successful yet.
This, Briar feels, is a show for a mother and daughter. A dance that could turn deadly…
But a chance meeting with a Sadler’s Wells ballet dancer changes everything.
When the beautiful, elusive Briar Woods bursts into Rosamund’s train carriage, it’s clear her sights are set on the immediately captivated Jasmine. And Rosamund cannot shake the eerie feeling this accidental encounter is not what it seems.
For Briar may be far away from the pointe shoes and greasepaint of the Sleeping Beauty ballet that is so much a part of her, but her performance for Rosamund might just be her most successful yet.
This, Briar feels, is a show for a mother and daughter. A dance that could turn deadly…
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2024
11 people are currently reading
4465 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Ashe
4 books104 followersLUCY ASHE is the author of CLARA & OLIVIA (Magpie, Oneworld publications), published as THE DANCE OF THE DOLLS in the US (Union Square & Co). Her second novel is THE SLEEPING BEAUTIES.
CLARA & OLIVIA was shortlisted for the Crime Writers Association Historical Dagger 2024.
She trained at the Royal Ballet School for eight years, first as a Junior Associate and then at White Lodge. She has a diploma in dance teaching with the British Ballet Organisation.
She studied English Literature at St Hugh’s College, Oxford, while continuing to dance and perform. She then took a PGCE teaching qualification and became an English teacher.
Her poetry and short stories have been published in a number of literary journals and she was shortlisted for the 2020 Impress Prize for New Writers. She also reviews theatre, in particular ballet, writing for the website Playstosee.com.
CLARA & OLIVIA was shortlisted for the Crime Writers Association Historical Dagger 2024.
She trained at the Royal Ballet School for eight years, first as a Junior Associate and then at White Lodge. She has a diploma in dance teaching with the British Ballet Organisation.
She studied English Literature at St Hugh’s College, Oxford, while continuing to dance and perform. She then took a PGCE teaching qualification and became an English teacher.
Her poetry and short stories have been published in a number of literary journals and she was shortlisted for the 2020 Impress Prize for New Writers. She also reviews theatre, in particular ballet, writing for the website Playstosee.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
June 4, 2025
I checked this book out because it seemed to be a combination of thriller and historical fiction genres. But it’s not really either of those. And based on the basic plots put on paper with no thought as to how the reader would tie events together, I also thought this might be a first novel for a YA author. No, this book is fiction. For adults.
Further, this book was so dull that I would have barely finished if not for my skimming. It started out interestingly enough when there was just one story line. But as the author went along, plots were thrown together, and they lacked intrigue and common sense.
The thriller part? Very boring. More like a family mystery that only matters to a few people. The historical fiction part? Underwhelming. For being set in a war, this book moves along without any details about the history (unless you read some of the supplements in the back of the book, and do your own research).
Simply put, this book is probably one of the worst I’ve ever read. I can’t even detail the plots succinctly here because they were as intelligent as a duvet cover. Sometimes I think I’m an outlier and recommend others to still read books I didn’t like, but this is not one of them. Please save yourself the trouble and time and find a better book ❤️
Further, this book was so dull that I would have barely finished if not for my skimming. It started out interestingly enough when there was just one story line. But as the author went along, plots were thrown together, and they lacked intrigue and common sense.
The thriller part? Very boring. More like a family mystery that only matters to a few people. The historical fiction part? Underwhelming. For being set in a war, this book moves along without any details about the history (unless you read some of the supplements in the back of the book, and do your own research).
Simply put, this book is probably one of the worst I’ve ever read. I can’t even detail the plots succinctly here because they were as intelligent as a duvet cover. Sometimes I think I’m an outlier and recommend others to still read books I didn’t like, but this is not one of them. Please save yourself the trouble and time and find a better book ❤️
October 10, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Union Square & Co. - A subsidiary of Sterling Publishing for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own. I am auto-approved for this publisher.
Book Description Tagline: Late spring 1945, London: The war in Europe is over. But for Briar Woods, a dancer at Sadler’s Wells Ballet, the past resurfaces and she must come face to face with the truth. It feels as though her war has only just begun.
Dear fellow reviewers, I am having a heck of a time. For nine days, I have attempted to conjure up a sufficient review. My brain screams " Tell them you didn't like it." But I want to start with the positives. I liked the ballet parts. I liked Rosamund and her daughter and the beginning of the novel where it talks about their wartime years. But I didn't like Briar and didn't care for her part in the storyline. It was hard to empathize with a character whose motives were misplaced. As well, the writing style and switching from p.o.v's in mid-chapters was jarring.
A real hit and miss for me!
Publication Date 10/09/24
Goodreads Review 10/10/24
Book Description Tagline: Late spring 1945, London: The war in Europe is over. But for Briar Woods, a dancer at Sadler’s Wells Ballet, the past resurfaces and she must come face to face with the truth. It feels as though her war has only just begun.
Dear fellow reviewers, I am having a heck of a time. For nine days, I have attempted to conjure up a sufficient review. My brain screams " Tell them you didn't like it." But I want to start with the positives. I liked the ballet parts. I liked Rosamund and her daughter and the beginning of the novel where it talks about their wartime years. But I didn't like Briar and didn't care for her part in the storyline. It was hard to empathize with a character whose motives were misplaced. As well, the writing style and switching from p.o.v's in mid-chapters was jarring.
A real hit and miss for me!
Publication Date 10/09/24
Goodreads Review 10/10/24
August 5, 2024
Rosamund Caradon is sad the remaining four evacuees she has been looking after at Gittisham Manor, in Devonshire are returning home after six years and Rosamund decides she and her daughter Jasmine will travel with them to London and check on the family flat in Chelsea.
Aboard the same train is Briar Woods, she asks to share the carriage with Rosamund and the children and she tells them about her career as a ballet dancer with Sadler’s Wells, and both Julia and Jasmine hang on her every word. Rosamund doesn’t believe it was a chance encounter at all, she has seen Briar before, she can't remember where and there's something about her that seems fake and she annoys Rosamund and she doesn’t trust her.
Briar thinks her performance for Rosamund might be her best yet, she invites them to watch her dance, and how can Rosamund say no to Jasmine despite her misgivings and all young girls dream of being a ballerina.
I received a copy of The Sleeping Beauties by Lucy Ashe from Edelweiss Plus and Union Square & Co in exchange for an honest review. Set in 1945, the story looks back at the lives of Rosamund and Briar and what happened to them prior and during The Second World War.
The narrative explores motherhood and the ballet The Sleeping Beauty, love, friendship, lies, regret, making amends for past mistakes and how far a mother would go to protect her daughter.
Three stars from me, I enjoyed reading about ballet training, how Sadler’s Wells in now the Royal Ballet Company, I’m sorry but I didn’t care for either Rosamund’s or Briar’s characters, so I found it difficult to connect with them and this novel might appeal more to ballet and dance fans.
Aboard the same train is Briar Woods, she asks to share the carriage with Rosamund and the children and she tells them about her career as a ballet dancer with Sadler’s Wells, and both Julia and Jasmine hang on her every word. Rosamund doesn’t believe it was a chance encounter at all, she has seen Briar before, she can't remember where and there's something about her that seems fake and she annoys Rosamund and she doesn’t trust her.
Briar thinks her performance for Rosamund might be her best yet, she invites them to watch her dance, and how can Rosamund say no to Jasmine despite her misgivings and all young girls dream of being a ballerina.
I received a copy of The Sleeping Beauties by Lucy Ashe from Edelweiss Plus and Union Square & Co in exchange for an honest review. Set in 1945, the story looks back at the lives of Rosamund and Briar and what happened to them prior and during The Second World War.
The narrative explores motherhood and the ballet The Sleeping Beauty, love, friendship, lies, regret, making amends for past mistakes and how far a mother would go to protect her daughter.
Three stars from me, I enjoyed reading about ballet training, how Sadler’s Wells in now the Royal Ballet Company, I’m sorry but I didn’t care for either Rosamund’s or Briar’s characters, so I found it difficult to connect with them and this novel might appeal more to ballet and dance fans.
September 19, 2024
I enjoyed the author's beautiful writing style in this mix of historical fiction, mystery, and fairytale retelling. Told in dual POV, multi-timeline, this atmospheric book hooks you from the start with a prologue that mirrors the iconic fairytale Sleeping Beauty, and additional imagery from the fairytale woven throughout. Set across Europe, there is drama and themes of obsession, heartache, and jealousy. It builds into suspense and has some good twists. I was fascinated by the peek into the post-WWII ballet world, and the Author's Note was also really interesting. This was such a unique work of historical fiction, and I enjoyed it!
September 16, 2024
This is a dark, gothic re-telling of Sleeping Beauty mixed with historical suspense & mystery set in London during WW2. I loved the historical elements, learning about ballet and what families were going through during the war.
There’s action, suspense, drama & mystery intertwined in two separate timelines with multi POV. We follow along through friendships, jealousy, heartache & several twists & turns. It’s a page-turner and I really enjoyed it!
There’s action, suspense, drama & mystery intertwined in two separate timelines with multi POV. We follow along through friendships, jealousy, heartache & several twists & turns. It’s a page-turner and I really enjoyed it!
August 16, 2024
A beautifully written sleeping beauty retelling with suspense, romance and beauty.
September 22, 2024
The Sleeping Beauties is a historical fiction novel mixed with mystery and fantasy retelling. Although not my typical genre, I found myself intrigued and immersed into the story. It kept me engaged to keep turning the pages and wanting to know what was happening. The writing was absolutely beautiful and flowed effortlessly.
I did find it a little difficult to connect with the characters though and truly feel for them one hundred percent. On my end it did focus a little too much on the ballet, as I truly don't know anything about it, so the ballet talk was a little heavy for me. Although, I do commend the author for the amount of research she must've done to write this book.
Overall it was a good book and I think it will appeal to a lot of historical fiction lovers. Be sure to check it out for yourself if that's your type of read.
✨️Thank you to @booksparks, @unionsquare&co & @lucyashe for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
I did find it a little difficult to connect with the characters though and truly feel for them one hundred percent. On my end it did focus a little too much on the ballet, as I truly don't know anything about it, so the ballet talk was a little heavy for me. Although, I do commend the author for the amount of research she must've done to write this book.
Overall it was a good book and I think it will appeal to a lot of historical fiction lovers. Be sure to check it out for yourself if that's your type of read.
✨️Thank you to @booksparks, @unionsquare&co & @lucyashe for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2024
There is a bit of everything it this book, obsession, jealousy, heatache and of course a few twists. We have two timelines, as well as two points of view. A widowed, Rosemary Caradon is bring the last few children home to London after WW2, she had the children staying in her Devonshire manor with Jasmine her daughter and herself. But Rosemary was worried about Jasmine being lonely after having other children around for so long. On the train back home, they meet Briar, a ballet dancer, her daughter seemed to like her but Rosemary wasn't sure. After agreeing that Jasmine could visit Briar at Sadler's Wells, there was still something worrying Rosemary. Briar has a story of her own, but why is Briar so interested in Jasmine. You can't help but love the characters, even the ones you didn't want to. I found it a easy and enjoyable read.
October 2, 2024
WWII is over, and Rosamund Caradon is traveling to London to return children who had evacuated to her home in Devonshire. Her daughter Jasmine is accompanying her. Briar Wood, a dancer with the Sadler's Wells Ballet, happens to come into the same train car. Jasmine is instantly captivated. Rosamund gets a strange feeling that the meeting may not be by accident. But what could Briar possibly want with her daughter? Rosamund will do anything to protect Jasmine and keep her where she needs to be.
Told in multiple timelines and the POVs of Rosamund and Briar, this book was beautifully written. The historical portion was fascinating. I was definitely captivated by Briar's story of being a ballet dancer and still performing even with a war going on. I really appreciated all of the author's research. The book did start out slow, but the mystery and suspense really grabbed my attention. The reveals are completely shocking!🤯 I would have never guessed them! I enjoyed this book and would recommend it, especially to ballet and historical fiction lovers.
Told in multiple timelines and the POVs of Rosamund and Briar, this book was beautifully written. The historical portion was fascinating. I was definitely captivated by Briar's story of being a ballet dancer and still performing even with a war going on. I really appreciated all of the author's research. The book did start out slow, but the mystery and suspense really grabbed my attention. The reveals are completely shocking!🤯 I would have never guessed them! I enjoyed this book and would recommend it, especially to ballet and historical fiction lovers.
September 27, 2024
Thank you @booksparks @lucyashe_author for a gifted copy!
🩰 𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 🩰
This was my second read for as an ambassador for the 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌𝑺𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒔 𝑭𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒆 and it was a unique, suspenseful one set in WW2 time that had me in a grip when it was over!
The setting and story were a very unique take on that time period, and the story itself was so rich, well-researched, and had a blend of suspense and drama unlike anything I’ve read.
Rosamund has been sheltering evacuees during the war, and is returning them to London with her dance loving daughter Jasmine, when they meet the elusive dancer Briar Woods on their train ride. Briar immediately gives Rosamund an eerie feeling, but her daughter is drawn to her and her exciting appeal as a dancer. Soon, Briar has invited herself into their orbit and Rosamund does her best to protect Jasmine from her influence. Things still manage to go awry though!
The story was a slow-build of suspense throughout the book that really came together at the end. A fairy tale of sleeping beauty in different iterations was woven into the story and you can see all the reasons for why those intricate details were chosen by the author. It was so well researched and I did like that it was such a different take on a story during the WW2 time. Also the information about adoptions and how that has been different over time was interesting as well!
✨ 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
🩰 Historical Fiction
🩰 Ballet/Theatre Productions
🩰 Female Friendships
🩰 Mother/Daughter Relationships
🩰 Slow-Building Suspense
🩰 Fairy Tales
🩰 𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 🩰
This was my second read for as an ambassador for the 𝑩𝒐𝒐𝒌𝑺𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒔 𝑭𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒆 and it was a unique, suspenseful one set in WW2 time that had me in a grip when it was over!
The setting and story were a very unique take on that time period, and the story itself was so rich, well-researched, and had a blend of suspense and drama unlike anything I’ve read.
Rosamund has been sheltering evacuees during the war, and is returning them to London with her dance loving daughter Jasmine, when they meet the elusive dancer Briar Woods on their train ride. Briar immediately gives Rosamund an eerie feeling, but her daughter is drawn to her and her exciting appeal as a dancer. Soon, Briar has invited herself into their orbit and Rosamund does her best to protect Jasmine from her influence. Things still manage to go awry though!
The story was a slow-build of suspense throughout the book that really came together at the end. A fairy tale of sleeping beauty in different iterations was woven into the story and you can see all the reasons for why those intricate details were chosen by the author. It was so well researched and I did like that it was such a different take on a story during the WW2 time. Also the information about adoptions and how that has been different over time was interesting as well!
✨ 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
🩰 Historical Fiction
🩰 Ballet/Theatre Productions
🩰 Female Friendships
🩰 Mother/Daughter Relationships
🩰 Slow-Building Suspense
🩰 Fairy Tales
January 9, 2024
This was a beautifully written book. Historical fiction often feels like an escape for me, and both the characters and the story came to life for me. This reminded me of the historical sagas I sometimes read, and it also had a romantic, fairy tale quality that I warmed to, most likely because of the princess and ballet themes. I liked the characters, and the writing in general was so beautiful that I felt almost absorbed by it, and kept telling myself I would read one more chapter.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.
December 31, 2024
This book felt a little chaotic to read with the way it kept jumping to and from different time periods and different povs. There was also way too much fluff for me I just wanted to get to the point. While I found Briar’s wartime part interesting, I felt like it really had no reason to be that long bc it really had nothing to do with the main plot of the book.
March 26, 2025
I feel like this book had a lot of potential, but in the end it just let me down. I think the character building and details regarding the setting were really good. It just felt like the story was building towards this meaningful, and powerful interaction between the two main characters and it just really didn’t deliver. The ending was very unsatisfying for me.
September 25, 2023
Rich, atmospheric and beautifully written, this is a compelling novel with a twist that you won't see coming! Lucy Ashe is a magnificent storyteller. Definitely an author to watch!
February 19, 2024
The Sleeping Beauties, by Lucy Ashe, mainly focuses on the story of young ballerina Briar Woods between 1936, when she’s 17 and just starting out in her career at Sadler’s Wells in London, and 1946, by which time she’s an established member of the corps de ballet, but has picked up some emotional scars along the way.
When Briar encounters eight-year-old Jasmine Caradon on a train shortly after VE Day in May 1945, she’s determined to impress and befriend the young girl, dazzling her with pointe shoes and invitations to the theatre.
However, Jasmine’s mother, Rosamund, has a bad feeling about Briar, and doesn’t want the dancer becoming too involved with her beloved adopted daughter.
It turns out Rosamund’s not wrong to question Briar’s intentions, and along the way, she discovers some shocking truths about her own life.
This is one of those reviews where I have to be so careful to avoid spoilers! As with her previous novel, Clara & Olivia, the author shows an impressive skill for holding back key information for as long as possible, so that when it’s revealed, you’re like “wait, what?!” and have to go back over the paragraph a couple of times.
This is a very good thing, by the way – it signals that you’re engaged with, and invested in the story.
Like young Jasmine, I was mesmerised by the creative, visually spectacular world of ballet, in spite of my additional awareness of the punishing physical work and smoke-and-mirrors efforts (particularly pronounced at this time due to the extraordinary circumstances of WWII) behind the scenes.
It was fascinating to see how the nature of work changed for entertainers during this period. The Sadler’s Wells company had to swap the fixed base of an appropriately-equipped theatre for touring the country and preparing and performing in makeshift spaces, and even travelled to the Netherlands in 1940, where they unfortunately got caught up in the German invasion.
Something else I appreciated was the inclusion of details of different versions of The Sleeping Beauty, from the strange and horrific to the more sanitised version we know today, as well as the way unconsciousness is used to subdue and/or deceive all three of Ashe’s main characters at key points in the plot.
I also felt prompted to grapple with Briar’s character. On the one hand, she behaves deviously and manipulatively towards Rosamund and Jasmine, and doesn’t even try to see things from their perspective at any point.
On the other, it can be argued that she’s not in her right mind, due to some of the things she’s been through. Having followed her through those events, I felt sympathy for her while not condoning her actions.
While Clara and Olivia focussed on a pair of twins with a particularly strong bond, The Sleeping Beauties explores the notion that blood isn’t always thicker. Not only are Rosamund and Jasmine as close as any biological mother and daughter, but both become highly attached to the evacuees who share their home for years.
Meanwhile, for much of the story, Briar is inseparable from fellow dancers Vivian and Martha, effectively becoming part of Vivian’s lively family when she lodges in their house during her first years in London.
On the other hand, we witness characters acting heartlessly or indifferently towards those they’re related to biologically, or (very justifiably) turning against blood relatives who have grievously wronged them.
The Sleeping Beauties is captivating, fascinating, and engaging.
When Briar encounters eight-year-old Jasmine Caradon on a train shortly after VE Day in May 1945, she’s determined to impress and befriend the young girl, dazzling her with pointe shoes and invitations to the theatre.
However, Jasmine’s mother, Rosamund, has a bad feeling about Briar, and doesn’t want the dancer becoming too involved with her beloved adopted daughter.
It turns out Rosamund’s not wrong to question Briar’s intentions, and along the way, she discovers some shocking truths about her own life.
This is one of those reviews where I have to be so careful to avoid spoilers! As with her previous novel, Clara & Olivia, the author shows an impressive skill for holding back key information for as long as possible, so that when it’s revealed, you’re like “wait, what?!” and have to go back over the paragraph a couple of times.
This is a very good thing, by the way – it signals that you’re engaged with, and invested in the story.
Like young Jasmine, I was mesmerised by the creative, visually spectacular world of ballet, in spite of my additional awareness of the punishing physical work and smoke-and-mirrors efforts (particularly pronounced at this time due to the extraordinary circumstances of WWII) behind the scenes.
It was fascinating to see how the nature of work changed for entertainers during this period. The Sadler’s Wells company had to swap the fixed base of an appropriately-equipped theatre for touring the country and preparing and performing in makeshift spaces, and even travelled to the Netherlands in 1940, where they unfortunately got caught up in the German invasion.
Something else I appreciated was the inclusion of details of different versions of The Sleeping Beauty, from the strange and horrific to the more sanitised version we know today, as well as the way unconsciousness is used to subdue and/or deceive all three of Ashe’s main characters at key points in the plot.
I also felt prompted to grapple with Briar’s character. On the one hand, she behaves deviously and manipulatively towards Rosamund and Jasmine, and doesn’t even try to see things from their perspective at any point.
On the other, it can be argued that she’s not in her right mind, due to some of the things she’s been through. Having followed her through those events, I felt sympathy for her while not condoning her actions.
While Clara and Olivia focussed on a pair of twins with a particularly strong bond, The Sleeping Beauties explores the notion that blood isn’t always thicker. Not only are Rosamund and Jasmine as close as any biological mother and daughter, but both become highly attached to the evacuees who share their home for years.
Meanwhile, for much of the story, Briar is inseparable from fellow dancers Vivian and Martha, effectively becoming part of Vivian’s lively family when she lodges in their house during her first years in London.
On the other hand, we witness characters acting heartlessly or indifferently towards those they’re related to biologically, or (very justifiably) turning against blood relatives who have grievously wronged them.
The Sleeping Beauties is captivating, fascinating, and engaging.
September 28, 2024
Thank you to @booksparks and @lucyashe_author for my gifted copy of this book! It’s beautiful and I love being part of the #FRC2024 program 😍
This book was not what I expected! Honestly, I didn’t really know what to expect other than it was historical fiction. It is, but it also has elements of mystery woven throughout, and had several surprising plot twists.
The writing is beautiful and the story is so cleverly crafted. I initially had a hard time getting into it, but once the perspective shifts for the first time, I was hooked, especially by Briar’s story.
This story is sad, haunting, hopeful. So many smart allusions to Sleeping Beauty that might be overlooked. It would be hard to explain the title without just reading the book, because it takes the whole book for everything to come full circle.
As someone who has zero knowledge of ballet, the ballet references were a bit heavy for me. The author does provide a glossary of ballet terms in the back of the book, which is helpful. The immense amount of research that must have gone into this book is very evident. Actually, in the historical notes at the end of the book, the author explains that she weaves factual events within the story.
I did love the dual timelines and the alternating perspectives, although it doesn’t happen often. The theme of motherhood is strongly present and is something I love in a book considering I’m currently in the throes of motherhood myself!
This book was not what I expected! Honestly, I didn’t really know what to expect other than it was historical fiction. It is, but it also has elements of mystery woven throughout, and had several surprising plot twists.
The writing is beautiful and the story is so cleverly crafted. I initially had a hard time getting into it, but once the perspective shifts for the first time, I was hooked, especially by Briar’s story.
This story is sad, haunting, hopeful. So many smart allusions to Sleeping Beauty that might be overlooked. It would be hard to explain the title without just reading the book, because it takes the whole book for everything to come full circle.
As someone who has zero knowledge of ballet, the ballet references were a bit heavy for me. The author does provide a glossary of ballet terms in the back of the book, which is helpful. The immense amount of research that must have gone into this book is very evident. Actually, in the historical notes at the end of the book, the author explains that she weaves factual events within the story.
I did love the dual timelines and the alternating perspectives, although it doesn’t happen often. The theme of motherhood is strongly present and is something I love in a book considering I’m currently in the throes of motherhood myself!
August 20, 2024
The Sleeping Beauties
By: Lucy Ashe
Pub date: September 10, 2024
Publisher: Union Square & Co
Rosamund Caradon has been looking after her daughter Jasmine and other evacuees at Gittisham Manor. While the evacuees are returning home, Rosamund decides to go back home to London to check on her family.
While on the train, they meet Briar Woods who inserts her way into the same carriage. Briar tells the children all about her career as a ballet dancer and they are transfixed. Rosamund is uneasy and feels she knows Briar, but can’t pinpoint where. Briar invites them to see her performance, so Rosamund feels compelled let Jasmine have this experience.
This story will explore deceit, regret, suspense, obsession and mistakes. Sometimes a small act of kindness can turn into your worst nightmare. I won’t give away the plot, but as a mother I felt every emotion as you always want to protect your children from people who are not what them seem or might do harm to them.
Thank you GetRedPR for this gifted copy.
By: Lucy Ashe
Pub date: September 10, 2024
Publisher: Union Square & Co
Rosamund Caradon has been looking after her daughter Jasmine and other evacuees at Gittisham Manor. While the evacuees are returning home, Rosamund decides to go back home to London to check on her family.
While on the train, they meet Briar Woods who inserts her way into the same carriage. Briar tells the children all about her career as a ballet dancer and they are transfixed. Rosamund is uneasy and feels she knows Briar, but can’t pinpoint where. Briar invites them to see her performance, so Rosamund feels compelled let Jasmine have this experience.
This story will explore deceit, regret, suspense, obsession and mistakes. Sometimes a small act of kindness can turn into your worst nightmare. I won’t give away the plot, but as a mother I felt every emotion as you always want to protect your children from people who are not what them seem or might do harm to them.
Thank you GetRedPR for this gifted copy.
February 6, 2024
Lately I just can't get enough of historical fiction and this one was no exception.
There is nothing better than a beautifully written book and The Sleeping Beauties was definitely that.
It was hard not to like all of the characters even those such as Briar who gave off a shady kind of feeling right from the get go.
This book had it all, obsession, jealousy, protectiveness and oh my that twist at the end I didn't see coming. I don't even know how I didn't figure it out.
A highly compelling read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you to Random Things Tours for having me and for the gifted copy of the book
There is nothing better than a beautifully written book and The Sleeping Beauties was definitely that.
It was hard not to like all of the characters even those such as Briar who gave off a shady kind of feeling right from the get go.
This book had it all, obsession, jealousy, protectiveness and oh my that twist at the end I didn't see coming. I don't even know how I didn't figure it out.
A highly compelling read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you to Random Things Tours for having me and for the gifted copy of the book
October 16, 2024
Perhaps even more exquisite than Lucy Ashe’s juxtaposition of the decadent beauty of the Sadler’s Wells ballet against the horror of World War II, and her ability to weave a compelling thriller within that historical context, are the unexpected feminist themes that permeate this novel. Motherhood, adoption, a woman’s right to control over her body, and same-sex relationships between women all feature prominently in Ashe’s sophomore novel, creating a tangible connection between the historical setting of her novel, and those reading it in the present day. I enjoyed “The Sleeping Beauties” even more than “Dance of the Dolls,” and I cannot wait to read Ashe’s future publications.
July 2, 2024
I couldn’t read fast enough! The rich storytelling, the suspense, the background in ballet which shines though, makes this book very hard to put down!
The story has everything: drama, mystery, suspense and ballet. If you love historical fiction with a twist of intrigue and well-developed characters, you’ll definitely enjoy this one…especially the enigmatic Briar, who keeps you guessing about her true intentions.
The story has everything: drama, mystery, suspense and ballet. If you love historical fiction with a twist of intrigue and well-developed characters, you’ll definitely enjoy this one…especially the enigmatic Briar, who keeps you guessing about her true intentions.
September 20, 2024
This historical fiction/thriller was not my usual read and I wanted to love it; overall, I had mixed feelings by the time I finished.
The things I liked:
🩰 The writing is beautiful and descriptive.
🩰 This story transports you back to WWII era England, a time enjoy reading about.
🩰 I love when an author can humanize a villain.
The things I didn’t like:
🩰 Doubt and unease builds from the beginning of this story, which you’d think would make for an exciting, captivating story. However, I found the book rather slow, moving between the past and the present and between characters. I’m glad I stuck it out, but there were times I wanted to put this one down for good.
🩰 The story was from two perspectives; It was jarring to have one main character for the first few chapters, the other main character for the middle of the book, and go back to the first main character for the remaining few chapters of the book.
🩰 The climax was anti-climactic and there was much that still needed to be resolved by the end of the book.
Thanks so much to the author and Get Red PR for this book and the beautiful PR package!
The things I liked:
🩰 The writing is beautiful and descriptive.
🩰 This story transports you back to WWII era England, a time enjoy reading about.
🩰 I love when an author can humanize a villain.
The things I didn’t like:
🩰 Doubt and unease builds from the beginning of this story, which you’d think would make for an exciting, captivating story. However, I found the book rather slow, moving between the past and the present and between characters. I’m glad I stuck it out, but there were times I wanted to put this one down for good.
🩰 The story was from two perspectives; It was jarring to have one main character for the first few chapters, the other main character for the middle of the book, and go back to the first main character for the remaining few chapters of the book.
🩰 The climax was anti-climactic and there was much that still needed to be resolved by the end of the book.
Thanks so much to the author and Get Red PR for this book and the beautiful PR package!
September 6, 2024
This isnt my usual read, and I absolutely loved it. It kept me pulled in, and entertained the entire book. The author put so much emotion into the story, and characters. The ending was so unexpected. Very very good!
This is a suspenseful historical fiction. The book moves at a quick pace following Rosamund as she does her best to keep the beautiful Ballerina Briar away from her daughter Jasmine. The book goes back in time filling in gaps in both Rosamund, and Briars lives leading them up to their clash over Jasmines future and safety. The book is mysterious, and exciting in the way it unfolds during wartime, and after war times. This book is an easy page turner, that has you wanting more until the very end.
This is a suspenseful historical fiction. The book moves at a quick pace following Rosamund as she does her best to keep the beautiful Ballerina Briar away from her daughter Jasmine. The book goes back in time filling in gaps in both Rosamund, and Briars lives leading them up to their clash over Jasmines future and safety. The book is mysterious, and exciting in the way it unfolds during wartime, and after war times. This book is an easy page turner, that has you wanting more until the very end.
March 7, 2024
Actual rating 4.5.
February 25, 2024
This is a wonderful book with a beautifully crafted storyline interweaving so many themes, characters, and emotions.
It's set in 1930s and 1940s and immediately hooks us with a mysterious ethereal garden scene showing Ashe's mood building skills before switching to a seemingly innocent post-war train encounter between the two main characters which sparks the start of a gripping story.
Ashe's writing style is easy yet highly descriptive and instantly transports you directly to pre- and post-war UK. Clearly a lot of reaseach has been done, but the story flows smoothly with so many fascinating facts expertly sprinkled in to add depth to the lives of the characters and the settings they are contending with.
As the perspectives change between the characters we learn about the demands and joys of ballet life, the risks the Ballet Company had to take during the war, society's expectations, how grief and loss leads to jealousy and obsession, and the impacts of friendship, family, and motherhood. It's a book with many complex themes and emotions, but draws you in so easily with the wonderful writing, heart-wrenching moments, and sensational ending!
I loved it as much as her previous book, I highly recommended both!
It's set in 1930s and 1940s and immediately hooks us with a mysterious ethereal garden scene showing Ashe's mood building skills before switching to a seemingly innocent post-war train encounter between the two main characters which sparks the start of a gripping story.
Ashe's writing style is easy yet highly descriptive and instantly transports you directly to pre- and post-war UK. Clearly a lot of reaseach has been done, but the story flows smoothly with so many fascinating facts expertly sprinkled in to add depth to the lives of the characters and the settings they are contending with.
As the perspectives change between the characters we learn about the demands and joys of ballet life, the risks the Ballet Company had to take during the war, society's expectations, how grief and loss leads to jealousy and obsession, and the impacts of friendship, family, and motherhood. It's a book with many complex themes and emotions, but draws you in so easily with the wonderful writing, heart-wrenching moments, and sensational ending!
I loved it as much as her previous book, I highly recommended both!
January 19, 2024
The Sleeping Beauties by Lucy Ashe certainly lives up to its description of "An unputdownable tale of obsession, jealousy and heartache against the backdrop of WW2 " and I found myself compelled to keep reading as the author delivered twist after twist.
The book jumps backwards and forwards through two timelines and has two main point of view characters so readers who prefer more linear storytelling may find it a little challenging at first, but it is worth persevering.
The book begins just after the end of the second world war as widowed Rosemary Caradon is bringing the last of the evacuated children who were billeted with her back to their homes in London. She is worried that her daughter Jasmine will miss them, so when Jasmine is distracted by a beautiful young ballerina they meet on the train Rosemary is glad of the distraction while at the same time feeling slightly put out that her daughter's attentions are so quickly captivated by the beautiful Briar, as we learn the ballet dancer is called. When Rosemary recognises Briar as the daughter of the local milliner from their home town she is somewhat mollified and agrees that she and Jasmine will visit Briar at Sadler's Wells.
However it seems that Rosemary's instinct may not be as far off the mark as it first appeared once we start to get some chapters from Briar's perspective, her fascination with Jasmine has its roots in something that happened before the war began, and so the reader follows her on her journey as a young ballerina who is part of the corps, along with her best friends Violet and Martha. As Briar's story unfolds we see how the consequences of one tragic night will ripple outwards and impact on Rosemary and Jasmine as well as understanding the traumas that have shaped Briar into a woman desperate to right the wrongs of her past.
This was a fast paced and compelling read with characters that it was easy to feel sympathy for, even if they were not particularly likeable. I am a sucker for a book with a ballet setting, always have been, and I found the attention to historical detail in this book was impeccable, so much so that I found myself reading the author's notes at the end and noting down some of the titles she used for reference. I do think there was one twist too many which took the story a little too far, but that really is a very minor complaint about a book I liked very much and it made me keen to read more by this author.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher , all opinions are my own.
The book jumps backwards and forwards through two timelines and has two main point of view characters so readers who prefer more linear storytelling may find it a little challenging at first, but it is worth persevering.
The book begins just after the end of the second world war as widowed Rosemary Caradon is bringing the last of the evacuated children who were billeted with her back to their homes in London. She is worried that her daughter Jasmine will miss them, so when Jasmine is distracted by a beautiful young ballerina they meet on the train Rosemary is glad of the distraction while at the same time feeling slightly put out that her daughter's attentions are so quickly captivated by the beautiful Briar, as we learn the ballet dancer is called. When Rosemary recognises Briar as the daughter of the local milliner from their home town she is somewhat mollified and agrees that she and Jasmine will visit Briar at Sadler's Wells.
However it seems that Rosemary's instinct may not be as far off the mark as it first appeared once we start to get some chapters from Briar's perspective, her fascination with Jasmine has its roots in something that happened before the war began, and so the reader follows her on her journey as a young ballerina who is part of the corps, along with her best friends Violet and Martha. As Briar's story unfolds we see how the consequences of one tragic night will ripple outwards and impact on Rosemary and Jasmine as well as understanding the traumas that have shaped Briar into a woman desperate to right the wrongs of her past.
This was a fast paced and compelling read with characters that it was easy to feel sympathy for, even if they were not particularly likeable. I am a sucker for a book with a ballet setting, always have been, and I found the attention to historical detail in this book was impeccable, so much so that I found myself reading the author's notes at the end and noting down some of the titles she used for reference. I do think there was one twist too many which took the story a little too far, but that really is a very minor complaint about a book I liked very much and it made me keen to read more by this author.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher , all opinions are my own.
January 15, 2024
Discover the locations in the novel here
I know nothing about ballet. Having read Lucy Ashe’s first book and now this one, I feel very welcomed into it and am fascinated about it! I still haven’t been to a ballet but I hope to change that very soon. Reading this book made me want to visit Sadlers’ Wells and see some of what Lucy weaves into this novel.
Be sure, it’s not a novel about ballet – if you even less than I did, you will discover so much. The book is more than though as it’s about a mother’s love for her child, war time and the blurring of boundaries that both can have.
A mother and her daughter are travelling on a train – this is wartime and the ballet school is on the move, child refugees are being moved between one family and another. A woman enters the carriage and starts to chat to them. She seems as if she wants too know them and is very friendly with the child. This strange situation is explained as we read on…
Map of locations in The Sleeping Beauties
From that day, we have flashbacks into the woman’s life, the stranger’s life and the day to day of the ballet school in war time. The flashbacks do jump quite a bit between each one and I wasn’t sure who I was reading about at the start. I feel the chapters could have been headed better but once I got used to this, the flow improved.
That didn’t get in the way of the story though. I was intrigued to learn about that strange woman on the train, the refugee children and the war. I mean, I hadn’t really thought about how the war had such a – effect on the ballet school and arts like it before. When I think about it though – what did we cling to even in lockdown – stories and the arts!
I loved the insights into the behind the scenes of the ballet school but this was so much more than that. A mother and her daughter, the way children were shipped out from one end of the country to another, how families grieved for their missing babies and how even after the war finished, the heartache would endure.
This is a sensitive story with the grace and elegance of a ballerina performing her most feted piece. I love the fact the author was a top ballerina herself and has woven this magic into her new career as a writer to watch!
August 18, 2024
The Sleeping Beauties by Lucy Ashe
With a ballet backdrop, former ballerina Lucy Ashe has crafted a suspenseful historical novel set in 1945 Britain. The main characters are Rosmund, Jasmine, and Briar Rose. With the war over, Rosmund is in the process of returning evacuated children she has sheltered in the countryside of Exeter at Gittisham Manor. Most of the children are from the London area. Rosmund herself plans to move back to the London area with her daughter Jasmine.
On that train to London, a young woman named Briar Rose sweetly invades their lives. She is a ballerina with the Sadler Wells Ballet company. Briar Rose gives her attention to young Jasmine and shortly Jasmine is enchanted with her.
Ashe has cleverly crafted this story with continual allusions to the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. “She tries to fight the weight of exhaustion that pulls her body down, but it is no use. The darkness of the garden, the trees that encircle her, the sweet scent of roses: they consume her like the swirling magic of an incantation, a fairy waving her wand. She falls asleep. (Prologue)
Alluding to a ballet performance, the story is divided into Acts and Scenes. Packed with imagery, the narrative often has a threatening tone. “Quickly the trees thicken around her, what light that is left disappearing into a gloom of wych elm trees, their gnarled and knotted trunks rising high around her. Even without their leaves, they map a dense muddle of pathways with fallen branches creating snow-drenched hazards across the muddy ground.”
Ashe writes with metaphoric beauty. “The smell of neglect is yet to be replaced with new scents of sweat, rosin, leather, the musk of our makeup. Change hangs around us with impatient expectation…the theatre struggles to wake from its sleep, hovering in a state of exhaustion, like its occupants. (Pg. 103)
This eerie mystery is full of twists and turns right to the end. I highly recommend this unique historical novel.
Rating 5
With a ballet backdrop, former ballerina Lucy Ashe has crafted a suspenseful historical novel set in 1945 Britain. The main characters are Rosmund, Jasmine, and Briar Rose. With the war over, Rosmund is in the process of returning evacuated children she has sheltered in the countryside of Exeter at Gittisham Manor. Most of the children are from the London area. Rosmund herself plans to move back to the London area with her daughter Jasmine.
On that train to London, a young woman named Briar Rose sweetly invades their lives. She is a ballerina with the Sadler Wells Ballet company. Briar Rose gives her attention to young Jasmine and shortly Jasmine is enchanted with her.
Ashe has cleverly crafted this story with continual allusions to the fairy tale Sleeping Beauty. “She tries to fight the weight of exhaustion that pulls her body down, but it is no use. The darkness of the garden, the trees that encircle her, the sweet scent of roses: they consume her like the swirling magic of an incantation, a fairy waving her wand. She falls asleep. (Prologue)
Alluding to a ballet performance, the story is divided into Acts and Scenes. Packed with imagery, the narrative often has a threatening tone. “Quickly the trees thicken around her, what light that is left disappearing into a gloom of wych elm trees, their gnarled and knotted trunks rising high around her. Even without their leaves, they map a dense muddle of pathways with fallen branches creating snow-drenched hazards across the muddy ground.”
Ashe writes with metaphoric beauty. “The smell of neglect is yet to be replaced with new scents of sweat, rosin, leather, the musk of our makeup. Change hangs around us with impatient expectation…the theatre struggles to wake from its sleep, hovering in a state of exhaustion, like its occupants. (Pg. 103)
This eerie mystery is full of twists and turns right to the end. I highly recommend this unique historical novel.
Rating 5
July 10, 2025
I wish I could give this book a higher rating, because there are things to like about it. In the end though, 2* is as high as I can honestly go. Maybe it's a 2.5.
The best way to sum this book up is missed potential.
The fascinating time and world it is set in, is often lost in dreary list like descriptions that don't generate any sense of being there. There's also endless lists of ballet moves that add nothing (the book even has a glossary of ballet moves, which is utterly bizarre).
The characters are all mostly well rounded, but we never really get to see them interact. Too often we are told what they are feeling, rather than them actually getting to say it.
The pacing is all over the place. Huge swathes of the book are Briar's monologued backstory, which often doesn't add anything to the plot. Then other parts (Rosamund's backstory at the end, for example) are completely rushed.
There is also a total lack of suspense and tension. All through the book the reader is constantly being told what is going to happen (Briar will get pregnant, Vivian will die etc) before jumping back to before it happened. So in almost every chapter you are left thinking, 'yes, ok, but I already know how this will end'. There is one big reveal at the end, and that falls completely flat because it is just monologued by a character who has barely featured in the rest of the book.
And then the biggest problem is the ending. All this set up for hundreds of pages knowing every detail of Rosamund and Briar's lives. Finally they find out about each other, and... nothing. The end of the book is literally 'tomorrow they will talk'. It feels like a cop out.
All told, this could have been good with some writing coaching and a lot of editing, but unfortunately, it just isn't.
The best way to sum this book up is missed potential.
The fascinating time and world it is set in, is often lost in dreary list like descriptions that don't generate any sense of being there. There's also endless lists of ballet moves that add nothing (the book even has a glossary of ballet moves, which is utterly bizarre).
The characters are all mostly well rounded, but we never really get to see them interact. Too often we are told what they are feeling, rather than them actually getting to say it.
The pacing is all over the place. Huge swathes of the book are Briar's monologued backstory, which often doesn't add anything to the plot. Then other parts (Rosamund's backstory at the end, for example) are completely rushed.
There is also a total lack of suspense and tension. All through the book the reader is constantly being told what is going to happen (Briar will get pregnant, Vivian will die etc) before jumping back to before it happened. So in almost every chapter you are left thinking, 'yes, ok, but I already know how this will end'. There is one big reveal at the end, and that falls completely flat because it is just monologued by a character who has barely featured in the rest of the book.
And then the biggest problem is the ending. All this set up for hundreds of pages knowing every detail of Rosamund and Briar's lives. Finally they find out about each other, and... nothing. The end of the book is literally 'tomorrow they will talk'. It feels like a cop out.
All told, this could have been good with some writing coaching and a lot of editing, but unfortunately, it just isn't.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. A lot. It opens with a prologue - an unknown girl is running away from a house in a garden, scratched by thorns she feels safe and starts to walk slowly to a seat then she sees an unknown man before falling into a deep sleep. Well I was hooked. Written from the POVs of Rosamund Caradon and Briar Woods and in multiple timelines, pre WWII and to the end of WWII (1936 to 1946), the book is told in three Acts and Act III in two Scenes. The story moves around to various locations from quiet rural England to exciting cities around Europe. Well written and well paced with some slow burn parts and some great characters. The historical aspect is wonderful and clearly well researched and I found the story of Saddler Wells Ballet very interesting and moving.
Briefly, May 1945 and widowed Rosamund Caradon has been taking in refugees to her Devonshire manor since 1939 but the last have now been taken back to London and their families and just Rosamund and her daughter Jasmine remain. On the return train journey they meet ballerina Briar who quickly manoeuvres herself into their lives. However, she seems fixated on Jasmine and only when we find out more about Briars past do we understand why.
There is a lot of quite deep emotion in the story; jealousy, tragedy, grief and obsession. Some good twists and a satisfying ending kept me up late finishing the book. I’m a fan of the ballet so loved the settings and the detail. A very entertaining and enjoyable read.
Briefly, May 1945 and widowed Rosamund Caradon has been taking in refugees to her Devonshire manor since 1939 but the last have now been taken back to London and their families and just Rosamund and her daughter Jasmine remain. On the return train journey they meet ballerina Briar who quickly manoeuvres herself into their lives. However, she seems fixated on Jasmine and only when we find out more about Briars past do we understand why.
There is a lot of quite deep emotion in the story; jealousy, tragedy, grief and obsession. Some good twists and a satisfying ending kept me up late finishing the book. I’m a fan of the ballet so loved the settings and the detail. A very entertaining and enjoyable read.
February 7, 2024
I went into this book expecting a gentle historical mystery, and instead I was served a big platter of family secrets and women’s rights which I LOVED!
The story is told from dual perspective, and while I initially wasn’t fussed about Rosamund’s perspective, as soon as it switched to Briar’s perspective I was hooked! There were so many layers to the story, and just when you thought you had one secret figured out there was something else around the corner.
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As well as a captivating story, this book also explored themes such as reproductive rights and queerness in a time when these topics were taboo. I thought they intertwined with the story to make an emotional climax.
While I would have liked a little bit more time at the end to see the characters’ journeys from that point on, the bulk of the book was a fast-paced page turner that kept me gripped and constantly desperate to read more. Even though there were multiple timelines and perspectives, which can sometimes be difficult to follow, I always knew exactly where I was in the narrative and in the world.
This was an incredibly enjoyable read, that packs an unexpected punch!
I received a free copy for an honest review.
The story is told from dual perspective, and while I initially wasn’t fussed about Rosamund’s perspective, as soon as it switched to Briar’s perspective I was hooked! There were so many layers to the story, and just when you thought you had one secret figured out there was something else around the corner.
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As well as a captivating story, this book also explored themes such as reproductive rights and queerness in a time when these topics were taboo. I thought they intertwined with the story to make an emotional climax.
While I would have liked a little bit more time at the end to see the characters’ journeys from that point on, the bulk of the book was a fast-paced page turner that kept me gripped and constantly desperate to read more. Even though there were multiple timelines and perspectives, which can sometimes be difficult to follow, I always knew exactly where I was in the narrative and in the world.
This was an incredibly enjoyable read, that packs an unexpected punch!
I received a free copy for an honest review.
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