Honno Ltd Dancing on Knives.

by Joanne Rush

Dancing on Knives ABISBOOK Honno Ltd.

294 pages, Paperback

Published January 30, 2025

Reviews

[Beatrice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have fallen completely in love with this book, and I wouldn't be surprised if it ended up as one of my favourites of the year. In her final note, the author describes this as a "quiet book", and it certainly is that but it's one of those books that quietly builds up an incredible amount of power, with characters I wasn't fully ready to let go of when we finally reached the end of our journey together.

The execution is flawless, as the very real experiences of war, loss and trauma blend with elements of magical realism. Laura is a fascinating main character, trying to come to terms with the ghosts of the past and the scars left by the war. How do you keep on living after such a dramatic experience, keeping the memories of those who were lost to such senseless violence alive in a world that desperately wants to forget and move on? This is one of the central questions that kept popping up for me as I was reading this book, and one that certainly seems incredibly relevant today.

Dancing on Knives felt like a rare book, and the kind that I was desperately craving without even realising it. A book that takes its time, leaving space for reflection without trying to provide easy answers - of which there are none. Belonging, home, grief, healing, justice were all themes that kept popping up for me while on this journey with Laura. I feel this would make for a great book club pick, as there are several different elements that I would have loved to discuss with others. Yet despite its quietness, I kept turning the pages, unable to stop reading as with the best thrillers.

Deeply reflective, hopeful and haunting at once, with some truly unforgettable characters and stunning writing: discovering this little gem felt like a true privilege, and I think it won't be a book I'll forget anytime soon. I saw some other reviewers compare this to Black Butterflies, which the author also mentioned in her note, so I think I'll have to pick that up sometime soon!

CWs: This book contains mentions of war, death (incl. child death), grief and suicidal thoughts.

I received an advance review copy of this book for free from the publisher as part of the blog tour organised by Random Things Tours. This did not affect my opinion of the book in any way.

For more reviews, visit Book for Thought

[Nadine-Sue Sargent · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this desperately sad in so many ways. Laura is such a tragic character due to the things she and her family have been through but also the way her life shapes out to be.

When people talk of the war we oftentimes think of World Wars 1&2 or current events ie, Ukraine, Syria etc. There's so much conflict in the world but I think we're often immune to it due to it generally popping up in mainstream media rather than us needing to actually face it head on. its so common nowadays that you get used to the world being an ugly place and how many of us have actually lived it or met someone and properly listened to their experiences.

Laura's escape from Bosnia so soon after losing her mum means she's carrying a few ghosts from her past. She's an interesting character but if you think her moving to the UK meant her life was 100% then you'd be very wrong. You can't escape your roots or your past.

I was incredibly disappointed for Laura as she seemed to have someone in her corner who wanted to be her person and future but ultimately her story is quite bleak with regards to her relationship. I did wonder whether she'd catch up with Ed although I'm not sure that would have ever been right either. He was right about Adam though!!

I'm glad Laura has her brother and father. I just wish things had worked out differently for her given the sacrifices she'd made and experiences she'd had.

[Louise Searle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dancing on Knives

This book has changed me.

I honestly didn’t know if I was going to love this book. I don’t usually read a lot of books with these themes or books I don’t think I could personally connect with but this book stole my heart and tore it to shreds and then stuck it back together again small step after small step of of Laura’s life.

I was born in 1992 and had not heard much about the war in Bosnia or the travesties that happened there. My eyes were opened and I even did a bit of my own research which made this story even more heart wrenching.

I loved this book so much and cannot fault Joanne’s writing at all. It was very well planned out and even funny in some places which gave all the seriousness a little bit of light along the way.

I will always remember this story.

[Kelly Hollingworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura Guska, a Bosnian refugee living in Cambridge meets Adam Quin, a masters student of Slavic politics who has applied to join the Foreign Office. Laura and her family had to flee Sarajevo in the 1990’s and 20 years on she is still affected by the events, additionally so when she returns to the Balkans. Tackling this period in East European history, PTSD, mental health, love, loss and freedom this is a wonderful book that captured my heart. It is such a relevant book about recent history but also in relation to today, for those living through conflict. The author describes the book as a quiet book in her Author’s Note. It is a quiet book but with a loud message, that the legacy of conflict is for life. I highly recommend this book.

[Hannah Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel made me fall in love with literary fiction again. The author describes it as ‘a quiet novel’, but it is a story of strength and resilience, blending folkloric storytelling traditions with modern flair. At once a lyrical rumination on myth and language, and a stark exploration of the War forgotten by the West, the story introduces us to Bosnian war survivor Laura.

Laura’s husband works for the Foreign Office, and becomes embroiled in the war Laura had hoped to escape.

[Ellen MK · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful read: gripping, poignant, eerie. The writing is gorgeous and vivid, and the characters (both dead and alive) are brilliant creations. I could hardly put the book down! Excited to read more of Rush's work.

[Bobbie Darbyshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laura, a Bosnian war survivor living in England, marries Adam, whose Foreign Office job takes him and Laura to Serbia, where the ghosts of her past start to haunt her. Beautiful writing, an engrossing story, and a resolution that, after a final intensification of danger and doubt, had me smiling.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Insights into a conflict I was only vaguely aware of as a child, with echoes into the present, plot twists and turns, and beautiful writing. Deserves its place on the Booker long long list, and hopefully a shorter one too!

[Alice Neville · Rating 4 out of 5]

good but a bit odd. written beautifully, but yeh gets a bit odd but i think that’s the point? it didn’t do what i expected with confronting the trauma etc but i think it was arguably more interesting than i expected (idk what i expected)

[T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite interesting fictional depiction of Bosnian survivor trauma that also includes just a tad too much romance for me.

4.5


Gloucestershire library

[Paul Tuckett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the book very gripping. I wasn’t expecting to be as drawn into the story but it zipped along and the intrigue kept me wanting to read the next page. Can’t wait to read the next one!

[Sapphire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me cry. Read it

[Sapphire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me cry. Read it

[Edwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow read, but interesting perspective on the lasting impact war can have on the people who lived it. Felt the middle of the book dragged on a little bit.

[tamaraonc]

finished the other day, oops