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The Apple and the Pearl
A richly atmospheric fantasy set across one day, as a ballet troupe of lost souls perform an ancient dance for the faerie realms, knowing they could be snatched away by their audience of faerie princes, imps and sprites at any moment.
For fans of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, Caraval by Stephanie Garber, Pantomime by Laura Lam and The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee.
As dawn breaks on All Souls Day, the lingering mists part to unveil an unending vista of serried gravestones. Between them looms a theatre like a haunted house and the sleek iron carapace of a steam train – the Pearl. On board are the cast, orchestra and crew of a travelling ballet company, performing The Apple and the Pearl.
As he stumbles toward the restaurant car the lighting director, Zach, asks new recruit, Lara, “Have you ever worked in ballet before?”
“Have you had any contact with the supernatural?”
Everyone from the principal ballerina to the first violinist, from the wardrobe mistress to the newest members of the corps de ballet, have committed their lives to the perfection of the show. But every night they must also confront the malevolent glamour of their audience of Fae creatures only too eager to snatch them away into the Otherworld.
For fans of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, Caraval by Stephanie Garber, Pantomime by Laura Lam and The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee.
As dawn breaks on All Souls Day, the lingering mists part to unveil an unending vista of serried gravestones. Between them looms a theatre like a haunted house and the sleek iron carapace of a steam train – the Pearl. On board are the cast, orchestra and crew of a travelling ballet company, performing The Apple and the Pearl.
As he stumbles toward the restaurant car the lighting director, Zach, asks new recruit, Lara, “Have you ever worked in ballet before?”
“Have you had any contact with the supernatural?”
Everyone from the principal ballerina to the first violinist, from the wardrobe mistress to the newest members of the corps de ballet, have committed their lives to the perfection of the show. But every night they must also confront the malevolent glamour of their audience of Fae creatures only too eager to snatch them away into the Otherworld.
336 pages, Paperback
First published February 3, 2026
About the author
Rym Kechacha
6 books21 followersRym Kechacha is a writer and teacher from London. She is the author of Dark River (2020, shortlisted for two British Fantasy Awards) and To Catch a Moon (2022) An omnivorous reader, she writes speculative fiction and is inspired by mythology, nature and art.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
February 5, 2026
3.5 stars
November 6, 2026
A haunted theatre, a mysterious steam train, an enchanted ballet troupe, and an audience made up of faerie princes, imps and sprites who might literally steal you away? Excuse me, but WHAT kind of magical fever dream have I just walked into? And why am I already obsessed?
We’re introduced to a travelling ballet company aboard the mysterious Pearl, travelling through an eerie landscape of gravestones and mist while performing The Apple and the Pearl. But this isn’t your ordinary theatrical production. Behind the beautiful performances lurks something far more sinister.
Every member of the company has dedicated their life to perfecting the show, but their audience? Let’s just say they’re not exactly your typical theatre-goers. The Fae are watching, and being invited into their world isn’t necessarily a good thing.
I absolutely LOVE the dark, whimsical premise of this one. Ballet, supernatural folklore, haunted Victorian vibes and dangerous faerie magic? It’s giving The Night Circus meets dark fairytale, and I’m HERE FOR IT.
The atmosphere sounds wonderfully strange, mysterious and enchanting, with that delicious feeling that something dangerous is lurking just beneath all the beauty.
Give me haunted trains, creepy fairies and gothic fantasy any day.
We’re introduced to a travelling ballet company aboard the mysterious Pearl, travelling through an eerie landscape of gravestones and mist while performing The Apple and the Pearl. But this isn’t your ordinary theatrical production. Behind the beautiful performances lurks something far more sinister.
Every member of the company has dedicated their life to perfecting the show, but their audience? Let’s just say they’re not exactly your typical theatre-goers. The Fae are watching, and being invited into their world isn’t necessarily a good thing.
I absolutely LOVE the dark, whimsical premise of this one. Ballet, supernatural folklore, haunted Victorian vibes and dangerous faerie magic? It’s giving The Night Circus meets dark fairytale, and I’m HERE FOR IT.
The atmosphere sounds wonderfully strange, mysterious and enchanting, with that delicious feeling that something dangerous is lurking just beneath all the beauty.
Give me haunted trains, creepy fairies and gothic fantasy any day.
dnfs
February 11, 2026dnfed @ 50%
I was so excited about this when I heard about it but this is not at all what I was wanting/expecting it to be. very bland, very boring, and far too many perspectives for me to care about anyone. and the modern setting? very bizarre in my opinion.
I was so excited about this when I heard about it but this is not at all what I was wanting/expecting it to be. very bland, very boring, and far too many perspectives for me to care about anyone. and the modern setting? very bizarre in my opinion.
September 30, 2026
"The Apple and the Pearl" is a story about a (mostly) human ballet troupe that travels on a magic train, stops every night at a different enchanted spot and performs their ballet for the Fae. The book follows the members of the troupe - all of whom pledged themselves to the production - during All Souls Day.
I must say that I'm sorry to see this book is not more popular, but I understand why some readers might not like it. It's an ensemble novel, there is no big main arc, we only get a short, fragmented peeks into characters' lives, and as soon as we feel attached to one of them, we're already switching to another. It's like a kaleidoscope - there's never one definite picture. But if you can live with that - this novel is absolutely glorious.
The characters are all flawed, complex and painfully human. Reading about them felt like a true glimpse into someone's life. Following them throughout the day also gave me a great insight into how a travelling ballet works, and I found it fascinating. But what I liked even more than the humans in the story was the supernatural element. The vibe is flawless. The Fae in this story are whimsical and seductive, but they are not cute - they are very dangerous and if the humans are not careful, they find themselves whisked into the Fae kingdom never to return.
The author managed to mix the real world with the Fae in such a convincing way that it felt like an integral part of the story - so much, in fact, that this book doesn't feel like fantasy, but like an alternate contemporary world where magic is absolutely real. I do not throw this comparison easily, but the only writer who's managed to pull such a convincing combination of real and supernatural is Susanna Clarke.
An absolutely enchanting book that deserves all the stars.
I must say that I'm sorry to see this book is not more popular, but I understand why some readers might not like it. It's an ensemble novel, there is no big main arc, we only get a short, fragmented peeks into characters' lives, and as soon as we feel attached to one of them, we're already switching to another. It's like a kaleidoscope - there's never one definite picture. But if you can live with that - this novel is absolutely glorious.
The characters are all flawed, complex and painfully human. Reading about them felt like a true glimpse into someone's life. Following them throughout the day also gave me a great insight into how a travelling ballet works, and I found it fascinating. But what I liked even more than the humans in the story was the supernatural element. The vibe is flawless. The Fae in this story are whimsical and seductive, but they are not cute - they are very dangerous and if the humans are not careful, they find themselves whisked into the Fae kingdom never to return.
The author managed to mix the real world with the Fae in such a convincing way that it felt like an integral part of the story - so much, in fact, that this book doesn't feel like fantasy, but like an alternate contemporary world where magic is absolutely real. I do not throw this comparison easily, but the only writer who's managed to pull such a convincing combination of real and supernatural is Susanna Clarke.
An absolutely enchanting book that deserves all the stars.
December 5, 2025
The traveling ballet The Apple and the Pearl is like no other show, and similarly their audience is like no other audience. Every member of the cast and crew have pledged themselves to this production, and yet their tour is filled with drama, romance, magic, and danger. Each of them might be fighting their own battles, but the show must go on.
I really wanted to give this four stars because it had a lot of promise but I just had one too many issues with it. I enjoyed the premise of this traveling ballet performing each night in a different place to a crowd of fairfolk, and the choice to convey the story through so many perspectives. This magical train is such a good setting for creating drama because everyone has their own issues and ambitions, and there's this looming threat of being stolen away by the fae. That being said, the number of perspectives means you never really get attached to any one character, which is a shame because each of their POVs has a lot of interiority and conflict going on. Some were more interesting and others, and it's frustrating that there are really interesting characters that we never revisit. I also think there wasn't enough...beauty? maybe whimsey? to the magic. It's such a big sacrifice to join this crew and it's hard to understand why anyone does it because it's not like the magic is just too tempting. It's almost entirely dismal and dangerous with no glimmer to be tempting, either to the characters or the reader. Something like The Night Circus (which was comp'd for this book) works in part because the imagery and fantasy is so alluring that you can understand how fundamentally special it is underneath the danger. This world had little to no escapism-value. I mean, they called the train the "Grub" and the theater the "Grit" so it's all kind of unappealing.
Great premise but the world and characters really didn't hit the mark for me.
Thank you to Rym Kechacha and Titan Books for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
I really wanted to give this four stars because it had a lot of promise but I just had one too many issues with it. I enjoyed the premise of this traveling ballet performing each night in a different place to a crowd of fairfolk, and the choice to convey the story through so many perspectives. This magical train is such a good setting for creating drama because everyone has their own issues and ambitions, and there's this looming threat of being stolen away by the fae. That being said, the number of perspectives means you never really get attached to any one character, which is a shame because each of their POVs has a lot of interiority and conflict going on. Some were more interesting and others, and it's frustrating that there are really interesting characters that we never revisit. I also think there wasn't enough...beauty? maybe whimsey? to the magic. It's such a big sacrifice to join this crew and it's hard to understand why anyone does it because it's not like the magic is just too tempting. It's almost entirely dismal and dangerous with no glimmer to be tempting, either to the characters or the reader. Something like The Night Circus (which was comp'd for this book) works in part because the imagery and fantasy is so alluring that you can understand how fundamentally special it is underneath the danger. This world had little to no escapism-value. I mean, they called the train the "Grub" and the theater the "Grit" so it's all kind of unappealing.
Great premise but the world and characters really didn't hit the mark for me.
Thank you to Rym Kechacha and Titan Books for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
December 30, 2025
This is a hell of an ensemble novel. We get a story about a traveling theater company and the strange play it stages every night, all about where exactly it is they're traveling, cast members' trials and tribulations, and their pasts and hopes and traumas, all while watching the play unfold for the night. This is exquisitely crafted and incredibly well structured, and the reveal of what the function of the play actually is and where it is they're traveling is hinted but slowly blooms through the structure. If you liked the Spear Cuts Through the Water, you'll love this. Pick this up when it comes out in February.
March 23, 2026
Good ballet fantasy DOES exist!!
February 7, 2026
A brilliantly smart piece of fantasy exploring woe, communities and what makes us want to create art - the medics like nature of the story exploring the cast is a highlight - I strongly recommend this
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
February 3, 2026
This is one of those books that sounds like a great idea and there is a kernel of something captivating about it, but it didn't quite deliver to the level I would have hoped for.
It reminded me massively of 'The Night Circus' on first impression but it just didn't have that spark of magic that hooks you in the same way TNC does. I know it is always a little harsh to be comparing books to all time favourites but it is hard not to when the concept shares such similarities.
I did enjoy the way it flits from one character to another, you don't spend too long with any one character and it gives off the impression that they are cogs in the machine and that the sum is bigger than the parts. It is VERY slow paced though which is always a gamble. It can pay off and I feel this is a book that isn't far off of walking the tightrope.
It's certainly not a book I regret reading, but it also didn't live up to the (admittedly lofty) expectations I had for it.
It reminded me massively of 'The Night Circus' on first impression but it just didn't have that spark of magic that hooks you in the same way TNC does. I know it is always a little harsh to be comparing books to all time favourites but it is hard not to when the concept shares such similarities.
I did enjoy the way it flits from one character to another, you don't spend too long with any one character and it gives off the impression that they are cogs in the machine and that the sum is bigger than the parts. It is VERY slow paced though which is always a gamble. It can pay off and I feel this is a book that isn't far off of walking the tightrope.
It's certainly not a book I regret reading, but it also didn't live up to the (admittedly lofty) expectations I had for it.
February 22, 2026
4.5* An absolutely beautiful fantasy about art, magic, the human and the mundane.
May 31, 2026
The Night Circus this is not, and that's fine, because the author had no intention of writing a story like that - it was just a perception many of us brought to the book, assuming it intended to imitate that literary high water mark.
It's also not a story, insomuch as there is no real plot, or rhythm, or narrative geography. No waxing and waning, no three act structure - or any acts at all. It is, from the first page to the last, a hopscotch dance between over a dozen perspectives, a cavalcade of points of view all told from within a single day - while intertwined with the varied pasts and futures of each character. The story only builds and builds and builds - there is no rest, or beat, or break, and the tension around the lives of this close-knit ensemble of dancers and musicians and their crew only escalates.
And by the end, you're exhausted, and enthralled, and disappointed for the lack of any semblance of resolution or conclusion, and left standing disbelieving and heart-racing in the wake of the train's passage and the breaking of the book's spell.
It's also not a story, insomuch as there is no real plot, or rhythm, or narrative geography. No waxing and waning, no three act structure - or any acts at all. It is, from the first page to the last, a hopscotch dance between over a dozen perspectives, a cavalcade of points of view all told from within a single day - while intertwined with the varied pasts and futures of each character. The story only builds and builds and builds - there is no rest, or beat, or break, and the tension around the lives of this close-knit ensemble of dancers and musicians and their crew only escalates.
And by the end, you're exhausted, and enthralled, and disappointed for the lack of any semblance of resolution or conclusion, and left standing disbelieving and heart-racing in the wake of the train's passage and the breaking of the book's spell.
Read
April 10, 2026ARC Review
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Titan Books for the advance copy.
The Apple and the Pearl is a strange, dreamlike fantasy set in an in-between world where modern reality brushes up against the fae and the dead. The story follows a travelling ballet troupe who perform an ancient dance for faerie courts and wandering souls - a performance that is as much ritual as it is art.
Told through the perspectives of dancers, musicians, stage crew, a lighting tech, even the troupe’s cook, we travel with them aboard the Grub - their train‑home and into the Grit, the theatres where they perform. Each member has pledged “a year and a day” in service to the Crow, a bargain that offers purpose and protection… but not necessarily happiness.
What struck me most was how many of these performers are misfits of the ordinary world - people seeking belonging, escape, or simply a place to land. There’s comfort in the routine of class, rehearsal, show, repeat, yet an undercurrent of dissatisfaction runs through the troupe. It feels like a quiet commentary on how we can become stuck in the rhythms of life, convincing ourselves it’s “not that bad,” even when something inside us longs for change.
The fae elements add tension and danger - the troupe must follow the rules of the Grub and Grit or risk being taken by faerie princes, imps, and sprites. It’s eerie, atmospheric, and unlike anything I’ve read recently.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Titan Books for the advance copy.
The Apple and the Pearl is a strange, dreamlike fantasy set in an in-between world where modern reality brushes up against the fae and the dead. The story follows a travelling ballet troupe who perform an ancient dance for faerie courts and wandering souls - a performance that is as much ritual as it is art.
Told through the perspectives of dancers, musicians, stage crew, a lighting tech, even the troupe’s cook, we travel with them aboard the Grub - their train‑home and into the Grit, the theatres where they perform. Each member has pledged “a year and a day” in service to the Crow, a bargain that offers purpose and protection… but not necessarily happiness.
What struck me most was how many of these performers are misfits of the ordinary world - people seeking belonging, escape, or simply a place to land. There’s comfort in the routine of class, rehearsal, show, repeat, yet an undercurrent of dissatisfaction runs through the troupe. It feels like a quiet commentary on how we can become stuck in the rhythms of life, convincing ourselves it’s “not that bad,” even when something inside us longs for change.
The fae elements add tension and danger - the troupe must follow the rules of the Grub and Grit or risk being taken by faerie princes, imps, and sprites. It’s eerie, atmospheric, and unlike anything I’ve read recently.
April 14, 2026
✨ARC Review✨
A travelling performance with a sinister audience.
This had multiple POV's, from a variety of characters. Quite slow paced, you get drip fed information about the performance and the rules for the members of The Apple and the Pearl.
I enjoyed the Crow and the backstory there, it added to the mystery of it all.
This was a bit of a haunting read, that weaves in mystery and drama and the mundane of human life, as well as sacrifice to not only the ballet but other things.
A travelling performance with a sinister audience.
This had multiple POV's, from a variety of characters. Quite slow paced, you get drip fed information about the performance and the rules for the members of The Apple and the Pearl.
I enjoyed the Crow and the backstory there, it added to the mystery of it all.
This was a bit of a haunting read, that weaves in mystery and drama and the mundane of human life, as well as sacrifice to not only the ballet but other things.
January 3, 2026
The story follows the cast of The Apple and The Pearl, a ballet group who live and work on the train and perform somewhere new each night. It delivers one day (All Souls day) to us from the point of views of many characters, showing what it’s like to live and work for the Pearl, what lessons they’ve learned, what prices they’ve paid and what hopes they might still have as every night they perform the ballet to an audience of glamoured creatures.
It gave me the ethereal feeling of The Night Circus, each new character taking me on a different journey through the mundanities of life, the uncanny of the Otherworld and the raw humanity that bleeds from us all. It felt both intangible and indelible, the way the story unfolded is almost dream like. Its takes us through the ballet weaving art and danger inexplicably together. The characters are all devoted to the show in different ways but through it all is the overseeing eye of The Crow. Its balances elegance and unease, fear and elation, it’s the ballet beautifully delivered in all its many facets alongside the dangerous dark edge of folklore. Every day is a new chance to be stolen away to the Otherworld, to leave an unspoken hole in the troupe.
It’s enchanting and lyrical read that looks at art, sacrifice and devotion. How much will these lost souls give to The Apple and the Pearl?
It’s softly atmospheric and minimally fantasy with a large cast. I enjoyed some POVs a lot more than others and finished it unsure how I felt. I also felt it had too much technical description of ballet and music etc the author is clearly very well researched but it took away from certain characters for me.
I do think I expected something a little different from what I got. It’s less about faeries and more a character exploration of the cast of the ballet. The magical beings are more of a background to the story. It’s a day in the life for a dozen characters rather than a linear plot with an inciting incident and action beats. Certainly very well written but not a style everyone will enjoy
It gave me the ethereal feeling of The Night Circus, each new character taking me on a different journey through the mundanities of life, the uncanny of the Otherworld and the raw humanity that bleeds from us all. It felt both intangible and indelible, the way the story unfolded is almost dream like. Its takes us through the ballet weaving art and danger inexplicably together. The characters are all devoted to the show in different ways but through it all is the overseeing eye of The Crow. Its balances elegance and unease, fear and elation, it’s the ballet beautifully delivered in all its many facets alongside the dangerous dark edge of folklore. Every day is a new chance to be stolen away to the Otherworld, to leave an unspoken hole in the troupe.
It’s enchanting and lyrical read that looks at art, sacrifice and devotion. How much will these lost souls give to The Apple and the Pearl?
It’s softly atmospheric and minimally fantasy with a large cast. I enjoyed some POVs a lot more than others and finished it unsure how I felt. I also felt it had too much technical description of ballet and music etc the author is clearly very well researched but it took away from certain characters for me.
I do think I expected something a little different from what I got. It’s less about faeries and more a character exploration of the cast of the ballet. The magical beings are more of a background to the story. It’s a day in the life for a dozen characters rather than a linear plot with an inciting incident and action beats. Certainly very well written but not a style everyone will enjoy
February 6, 2026
"Everything you think you know about love is wrong ... It always falls apart, like everything, like the whole damn universe will if you leave it spinning for long enough."
GENRE: Fantasy
RATING: 4/5
FORMAT: eBook + Physical Arc
Overall Impression: The Apple and the Pearl is a magical tale that focuses on all the characters in a ballet spanning their lives over one day and this is more of a mixture of magical realism x poetical fantasy that I thought was done in a lovely manner
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Review:
The Apple and the Pearl is a tale that takes you through multiple character's point of views. It weaves their stories together and brings the magical element on the All Souls Day that we get to see through all their eyes.
I quite enjoyed this and I think Rym Kechacha did a beautiful work of intertwining all the character's lives together in a way that shows the impact of the magic, the darkness and really, life and all the struggles we deal with. While you do see the point of view from so many different characters, the story comes together in a way that lets them stand out uniquely but ties them together in that they are obliged to complete their pledges in the magical train and complete the show.
I think this one is perfect for a few different people, like those who enjoy Ballet, magical realism and beautiful lyrical prose. I enjoyed it for so many reasons, including the fact that it ponders and questions why we are the way we are and the sacrifices we are willing to make in order to get what we want. Not only that, it questions why we create art and why we continue to dedicate time, energy and effort especially when the audience in The Apple and the Pearl are not your typical ones, those that truly appreciate the beauty of your show.
I did want a little more though as there were sections that combined multiple characters and joined it from a POV of multiple casts. I felt we could have added a bit more connection and bringing them together to deliver the themes and message home. All in all, this is a beautiful, lyrical and atmospheric book that shows why we continue to make art and how that differs between each individual in here.
Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for the Arc copy!
July 7, 2026
Startling in its originality, awash with conflicting and contradictory emotions, The Apple and the Pearl is a world of complete artificiality, even as its all-too-human populace struggle to reconcile their dreams, wishes and desires with the threat ever looming at their doorsteps.
The Fae are a threat that never leaves. Yet they are almost superficial to the plot. They exist in the dark where they are barely glimpsed. They are encountered in brief moments that the humans refuse to mention to others. One is a rejected changeling who fiercely longs to return to the world that ousted him. Another was assaulted by a violet-eyed stranger. A third may not be human himself; in fact, he always says so, much to the aggravation of those around him.
The manager strives to protect her people, even as the Fae manage to snag anyone unlucky enough to stumble in the wrong place at the wrong time. You find yourself hoping desperately that the strict rules and meager protections the human players use—salt, iron, rhyme and tolling bells—will keep the peril at bay and feel their grief when they invariably fail.
Prose that reads like dreaming or stark poetry flows from the pages, as if each one were written by a blind person attempting to outline the world in terms that can be understood only by another. The character voices rise from the page one by one as they contemplate whether they will re-pledge at the end of their allotted time or return to the human world. Will there still be a place for them in the outside when they are old? Should they stay in this painted and wooden tableau, rehashing a ballet that never changes or gets replaced? Is the thrill of show business worth the risk of being snatched away by the Others, never to be seen again?
The novel spins us around on this glorious axis, a ballet ever old and ever new. A traveling caravan of a ballet that no one remembers the origin of with a crow that is sometimes human, sometimes avian and the specters that are as drawn to the humans as they are to them.
When the tragedy strikes, it is as ambiguous as everything else for it doesn’t seem like tragedy at all.
And the show goes on...
The Fae are a threat that never leaves. Yet they are almost superficial to the plot. They exist in the dark where they are barely glimpsed. They are encountered in brief moments that the humans refuse to mention to others. One is a rejected changeling who fiercely longs to return to the world that ousted him. Another was assaulted by a violet-eyed stranger. A third may not be human himself; in fact, he always says so, much to the aggravation of those around him.
The manager strives to protect her people, even as the Fae manage to snag anyone unlucky enough to stumble in the wrong place at the wrong time. You find yourself hoping desperately that the strict rules and meager protections the human players use—salt, iron, rhyme and tolling bells—will keep the peril at bay and feel their grief when they invariably fail.
Prose that reads like dreaming or stark poetry flows from the pages, as if each one were written by a blind person attempting to outline the world in terms that can be understood only by another. The character voices rise from the page one by one as they contemplate whether they will re-pledge at the end of their allotted time or return to the human world. Will there still be a place for them in the outside when they are old? Should they stay in this painted and wooden tableau, rehashing a ballet that never changes or gets replaced? Is the thrill of show business worth the risk of being snatched away by the Others, never to be seen again?
The novel spins us around on this glorious axis, a ballet ever old and ever new. A traveling caravan of a ballet that no one remembers the origin of with a crow that is sometimes human, sometimes avian and the specters that are as drawn to the humans as they are to them.
When the tragedy strikes, it is as ambiguous as everything else for it doesn’t seem like tragedy at all.
And the show goes on...
November 3, 2026
On All Souls Day, a travelling ballet company aboard a steam train performs The Apple and the Pearl in a ghostly landscape of unending gravestones. From the lighting director to the principal ballerina, the entire crew is dedicated to the perfection of their show. But each night brings a terrifying ordeal, as they are forced to confront an audience of malevolent Fae creatures eager to drag them into the Otherworld.
I was initially concerned when I realised the structure featured one of my major book pet peeves: no chapter breaks whatsoever. From the moment the narrative begins, the very next page break is the ending. Yet, Rym delivers atmospheric writing brilliantly. The story maintains an overarching aura of looming danger, paired with a gloriously bizarre tone that is completely my cup of tea.
At its core, this story is about anticipation. Though we only follow the cast for a single day, we learn so much about their backgrounds, personal baggage, company hierarchy, and world-building all at once. Every character fulfills their role to guarantee a successful performance - the preparatory rituals and interpersonal interactions all heighten the tension building towards the show itself.
The book offers rich contemplation, as each character holds distinct motivations for staying with the company. To me, the duration of their involvement mirrors life itself: initial excitement and naivety, routine numbness over time, and ultimate fatigue. Consequently, the characters must make life-altering decisions regardless of where they sit along that trajectory.
This is a story that requires multiple readings to appreciate fully. My (first) read this time introduced me to the broader character arcs and internal monologues. A future reread will undoubtedly reveal the subtler intricacies of the plot and scene design. The remarkable skill required to construct such a complex, imaginative world is impossible to overlook.
(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
I was initially concerned when I realised the structure featured one of my major book pet peeves: no chapter breaks whatsoever. From the moment the narrative begins, the very next page break is the ending. Yet, Rym delivers atmospheric writing brilliantly. The story maintains an overarching aura of looming danger, paired with a gloriously bizarre tone that is completely my cup of tea.
At its core, this story is about anticipation. Though we only follow the cast for a single day, we learn so much about their backgrounds, personal baggage, company hierarchy, and world-building all at once. Every character fulfills their role to guarantee a successful performance - the preparatory rituals and interpersonal interactions all heighten the tension building towards the show itself.
The book offers rich contemplation, as each character holds distinct motivations for staying with the company. To me, the duration of their involvement mirrors life itself: initial excitement and naivety, routine numbness over time, and ultimate fatigue. Consequently, the characters must make life-altering decisions regardless of where they sit along that trajectory.
This is a story that requires multiple readings to appreciate fully. My (first) read this time introduced me to the broader character arcs and internal monologues. A future reread will undoubtedly reveal the subtler intricacies of the plot and scene design. The remarkable skill required to construct such a complex, imaginative world is impossible to overlook.
(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Australia for a gifted review copy)
See my bookstagram review.
June 9, 2026
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Tantor Media for the ALC! I’m going to be real—this one was a bit of a head-scratcher for me. It’s one of those books that’s honestly hard to pin down because I loved the vibe, even if it wasn't exactly what I signed up for.
Can we talk about the atmosphere for a second? Because I’m such a visual person, I was completely obsessed with the setting. A traveling ballet company performing for dangerous fae? It felt like this beautiful, eerie, dreamlike movie playing in my head the entire time. The writing is honestly stunning.
That said, I think my expectations got in the way. I went in looking for heavy faerie action and high stakes, but this is a much quieter, character-driven study. It follows a huge cast of people, and while some of their stories were so compelling, it was a struggle to stay fully invested in everyone. I’d get really hooked on one person, and then they’d disappear for way too long.
The pacing is definitely on the slower side—it’s all about the mood and the introspection rather than a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Jilly Bond’s narration was the perfect match for that tone, though; she really helped keep the different voices distinct and brought the whole thing to life.
It’s definitely a literary, "mood-first" kind of read. If you want high-octane fantasy, this might feel a little slow, but if you’re a fan of character studies and just want to get lost in a really specific, haunting vibe, you’ll probably vibe with this way more than I did. It’s not quite what I was hoping for, but I can definitely respect the vision.
Rating: 3.5 Stars. Haunting, lyrical, and a total mood.
Can we talk about the atmosphere for a second? Because I’m such a visual person, I was completely obsessed with the setting. A traveling ballet company performing for dangerous fae? It felt like this beautiful, eerie, dreamlike movie playing in my head the entire time. The writing is honestly stunning.
That said, I think my expectations got in the way. I went in looking for heavy faerie action and high stakes, but this is a much quieter, character-driven study. It follows a huge cast of people, and while some of their stories were so compelling, it was a struggle to stay fully invested in everyone. I’d get really hooked on one person, and then they’d disappear for way too long.
The pacing is definitely on the slower side—it’s all about the mood and the introspection rather than a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Jilly Bond’s narration was the perfect match for that tone, though; she really helped keep the different voices distinct and brought the whole thing to life.
It’s definitely a literary, "mood-first" kind of read. If you want high-octane fantasy, this might feel a little slow, but if you’re a fan of character studies and just want to get lost in a really specific, haunting vibe, you’ll probably vibe with this way more than I did. It’s not quite what I was hoping for, but I can definitely respect the vision.
Rating: 3.5 Stars. Haunting, lyrical, and a total mood.
February 8, 2026
This darkly enchanting ensemble novel paints a picture of what a day would be like as part of a magical travelling show that collects souls and performs for fae.
I loved it, even though it was totally different from what I expected it to be. I think the key is to pick it up with no expectations of plot or worldbuilding outside of the show. Very little happens in the way of plot, but the structure is incredibly clever, introducing you to the cast one at a time as the day slowly moves from morning to midnight. And while the magic isn’t explored in depth, it’s there in the everyday interactions and the way the Crow watching over the train controls all aspects of the performers’ routines.
Despite the fantastical elements, the internal lives of the characters are painfully human. Through many POVs, the author explores the horrors, ambitions and longings that might drive people to run away from their ‘normal’ lives, and the connections they might form when they do. Emotions and memories run strong and there will definitely be someone in the show you relate to.
It’s all crafted in absolutely stunning prose you’ll want to highlight every two seconds, and by the end of the novel you feel intimately acquainted with the whole cast, like you’re part of the show too.
Consider me completely - and pleasantly - surprised by this novel, and pick it up if you’re after something a little bit different.
Thank you to @titanbooks and @rymkechacha for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
I loved it, even though it was totally different from what I expected it to be. I think the key is to pick it up with no expectations of plot or worldbuilding outside of the show. Very little happens in the way of plot, but the structure is incredibly clever, introducing you to the cast one at a time as the day slowly moves from morning to midnight. And while the magic isn’t explored in depth, it’s there in the everyday interactions and the way the Crow watching over the train controls all aspects of the performers’ routines.
Despite the fantastical elements, the internal lives of the characters are painfully human. Through many POVs, the author explores the horrors, ambitions and longings that might drive people to run away from their ‘normal’ lives, and the connections they might form when they do. Emotions and memories run strong and there will definitely be someone in the show you relate to.
It’s all crafted in absolutely stunning prose you’ll want to highlight every two seconds, and by the end of the novel you feel intimately acquainted with the whole cast, like you’re part of the show too.
Consider me completely - and pleasantly - surprised by this novel, and pick it up if you’re after something a little bit different.
Thank you to @titanbooks and @rymkechacha for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Apple and the Pearl is a novel that feels like stepping into a dream—one that’s beautiful, unsettling, and impossible to shake off. Rym Kechacha conjures a world where art and danger are inseparable, following a ballet troupe of lost souls as they perform for an audience of faerie princes, imps, and sprites who might claim them at any moment.
The setting is richly atmospheric: dawn breaking over All Souls Day, mists curling around endless gravestones, and the haunting presence of the Pearl, a steam train carrying the company toward their nightly performance. It’s a stage both magical and menacing, where every pirouette and note of music is shadowed by the possibility of being swept into the Otherworld.
What makes the book so captivating is its blend of elegance and unease. The dancers, musicians, and crew are devoted to their craft, yet their art is performed under the watchful eyes of beings who embody both glamour and threat. Kechacha writes with a lyrical touch, weaving together the ephemeral beauty of ballet with the timeless pull of folklore.
For readers who loved the lush enchantment of The Night Circus or the dangerous allure of Caraval, this novel offers a similarly intoxicating mix of wonder and peril. It’s a story about art, sacrifice, and the fragile line between devotion and doom—an atmospheric fantasy that lingers like music after the curtain falls.
with thanks to Rym Kechacha, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.
The setting is richly atmospheric: dawn breaking over All Souls Day, mists curling around endless gravestones, and the haunting presence of the Pearl, a steam train carrying the company toward their nightly performance. It’s a stage both magical and menacing, where every pirouette and note of music is shadowed by the possibility of being swept into the Otherworld.
What makes the book so captivating is its blend of elegance and unease. The dancers, musicians, and crew are devoted to their craft, yet their art is performed under the watchful eyes of beings who embody both glamour and threat. Kechacha writes with a lyrical touch, weaving together the ephemeral beauty of ballet with the timeless pull of folklore.
For readers who loved the lush enchantment of The Night Circus or the dangerous allure of Caraval, this novel offers a similarly intoxicating mix of wonder and peril. It’s a story about art, sacrifice, and the fragile line between devotion and doom—an atmospheric fantasy that lingers like music after the curtain falls.
with thanks to Rym Kechacha, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Read this book to discover what it would be like to be part of a travelling ballet company, performing for the Fae every night.
I enjoyed this story so much! It's told from a range of character viewpoints, including dancers, musicians and crew, to patchwork together a description of a community connected by performance, and separated by many of the usual things that separate humans. It doesn't have a linear plot; it's the goings-on of a single day. However, there are backstories and reminiscences throughout so it never feels one-note or limited.
It's also fairly dark ... these are not twee fairies, but the Fae of much folklore: tricking, kidnapping and in general having a set of priorities and desires vastly at odds with humanity. So much plot tension comes from that, and yet most characters have developed ways to deal -- no matter how strange the audience & setting, the show must go on.
So, something like a Mrs Dalloway structure with The Night Circus vibes, and people reacting to the seldom-seen but ever-present mean Folk of the Air fae via Pan's Labyrinth's atmosphere. Dear goodness, I'm terrible with comparisons, unsure if this helps or oversells around expectation-setting, LOL. Possibly both. You'll have to decide yourself.
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
I enjoyed this story so much! It's told from a range of character viewpoints, including dancers, musicians and crew, to patchwork together a description of a community connected by performance, and separated by many of the usual things that separate humans. It doesn't have a linear plot; it's the goings-on of a single day. However, there are backstories and reminiscences throughout so it never feels one-note or limited.
It's also fairly dark ... these are not twee fairies, but the Fae of much folklore: tricking, kidnapping and in general having a set of priorities and desires vastly at odds with humanity. So much plot tension comes from that, and yet most characters have developed ways to deal -- no matter how strange the audience & setting, the show must go on.
So, something like a Mrs Dalloway structure with The Night Circus vibes, and people reacting to the seldom-seen but ever-present mean Folk of the Air fae via Pan's Labyrinth's atmosphere. Dear goodness, I'm terrible with comparisons, unsure if this helps or oversells around expectation-setting, LOL. Possibly both. You'll have to decide yourself.
This review is based upon a complimentary advance reading copy provided by the publisher.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was not what I expected, at all.
It's an ensemble in the way a ballet is, its a day in the life of this troupe rather than your typical three act structured story. I thought I was going to follow one character and really go through the journey rather than drift in and out of lives in a 'typical' yet very intense day.
It's almost dreamlike at first. Things are drip fed to you, gradually explained. And in some cases never explained, but that just adds to its magic.
There are frustrating things. The book takes place over a single day and really dives into these characters, some at the start of a journey, some in the middle, some nearing the end. But it's only this snapshot, this one day. There are so many threads woven into this day and most of them aren't resolved because that's not how a single day works. It did drive me a little crazy, I'd become invested in these characters, in this tale and I will never know what happens to most of them.
But this was magical, lyrical, weird in a delightful way. It was otherworldly and while I would love to follow this train to its next destination, I do understand why it ended where it did. And why we don't get answers to everything.
A very different sort of book, but worth the effort.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
It's an ensemble in the way a ballet is, its a day in the life of this troupe rather than your typical three act structured story. I thought I was going to follow one character and really go through the journey rather than drift in and out of lives in a 'typical' yet very intense day.
It's almost dreamlike at first. Things are drip fed to you, gradually explained. And in some cases never explained, but that just adds to its magic.
There are frustrating things. The book takes place over a single day and really dives into these characters, some at the start of a journey, some in the middle, some nearing the end. But it's only this snapshot, this one day. There are so many threads woven into this day and most of them aren't resolved because that's not how a single day works. It did drive me a little crazy, I'd become invested in these characters, in this tale and I will never know what happens to most of them.
But this was magical, lyrical, weird in a delightful way. It was otherworldly and while I would love to follow this train to its next destination, I do understand why it ended where it did. And why we don't get answers to everything.
A very different sort of book, but worth the effort.
~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~
February 4, 2026
The travelling ballet company performs "The Apple and the Pearl," and every dancer and musician has dedicated their lives to it. They must perform the show to perfection for the Fae, who are eager to take the members to the Otherworld.
If we didn't already know from the summary that the fae are involved, we'd know from the company program at the start of the book that something is off. Payment offerings are left on seats, and the viewers are asked not to touch or taste the performers. We're then introduced to some members of the company, both dancers and musicians, and staff running the train and show. This way, we see how the members interact with each other and deal with the year and a day pledges to the show. The book takes us through the company's thoughts and preparations before the All Souls' Day performance, letting us peek into their backstories, the motivation to join or stay, and their thoughts about the threat of faeries taking them sway.
The novel is fascinating and takes place over the course of a day. It's a slice of life with an air of menace, and it keeps ramping up as the day progresses. With the continued warning about the faeries taking humans, we're left wondering who it's going to be out of all the cast and musicians we meet. It's a lovely, lyrical story, and it keeps you pulled in until the last page.
If we didn't already know from the summary that the fae are involved, we'd know from the company program at the start of the book that something is off. Payment offerings are left on seats, and the viewers are asked not to touch or taste the performers. We're then introduced to some members of the company, both dancers and musicians, and staff running the train and show. This way, we see how the members interact with each other and deal with the year and a day pledges to the show. The book takes us through the company's thoughts and preparations before the All Souls' Day performance, letting us peek into their backstories, the motivation to join or stay, and their thoughts about the threat of faeries taking them sway.
The novel is fascinating and takes place over the course of a day. It's a slice of life with an air of menace, and it keeps ramping up as the day progresses. With the continued warning about the faeries taking humans, we're left wondering who it's going to be out of all the cast and musicians we meet. It's a lovely, lyrical story, and it keeps you pulled in until the last page.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I was sent this book by Titan Books and was excited to start the book as the premise was interesting. A travelling ballet company that puts on the same show in a different location - they travel by train and the stage morphs into something else with each show.
I enjoyed the world and premise of this story enough, however we follow too many characters to ever become fully engaged with any particular one.
The setting of the novel is interesting - the train itself some characters hear music from the train and others do not - you have to be on the train by a certain time or be left behind.
The stage changes in each location. Sometimes set in a graveyard others open space with beautiful flowers/fruit.
No one is to travel between the train and stage alone - or risk being taken to the other world - leaving a place in the company to be filled.
We get hints about the audience, and the other world that could snatch the performers away if they travel alone or miss the bells for starting or the train.
I liked the story enough, but it felt like it was lacking depth - both in the world itself and the characters, I was disappointed that it didn’t delve into the fantastical as much as it could have to raise the stakes or even develop the story further. Everything felt surface level.
I enjoyed the world and premise of this story enough, however we follow too many characters to ever become fully engaged with any particular one.
The setting of the novel is interesting - the train itself some characters hear music from the train and others do not - you have to be on the train by a certain time or be left behind.
The stage changes in each location. Sometimes set in a graveyard others open space with beautiful flowers/fruit.
No one is to travel between the train and stage alone - or risk being taken to the other world - leaving a place in the company to be filled.
We get hints about the audience, and the other world that could snatch the performers away if they travel alone or miss the bells for starting or the train.
I liked the story enough, but it felt like it was lacking depth - both in the world itself and the characters, I was disappointed that it didn’t delve into the fantastical as much as it could have to raise the stakes or even develop the story further. Everything felt surface level.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 16, 2026
this one sits at a 3.5 ⭐ (rounded up to 4 because it almost had me)
the concept?? unreal. a travelling ballet on a magical train, performing nightly for fae audiences, with a cast who’ve basically signed their lives away. it’s giving drama, danger, devotion… and I was so here for it.
this is a full ensemble story — multiple POVs, one day, and a slow unravel of what the show actually is and where they’re going. The structure is honestly beautiful and really well done. very dreamy, very layered.
the vibes?? ethereal, eerie, a little Night Circus-esque. art and danger woven together, with that constant threat of being taken by the Otherworld.
BUT —
There are so many POVs that i never fully connected to anyone. some characters were amazing… and then we just don’t go back to them?? criminal.
The pacing is also very slow, and while the writing is gorgeous, it leans more into atmosphere than plot. This is definitely more character exploration than action.
and the magic… I wanted more whimsy. more temptation. It felt more bleak than enchanting, which made it hard to fully buy into why anyone would sacrifice everything for this life.
Overall — stunning concept, beautifully written, but didn’t fully capture me the way I wanted.
still worth it if you love slow, lyrical, multi-POV fantasy ✨
the concept?? unreal. a travelling ballet on a magical train, performing nightly for fae audiences, with a cast who’ve basically signed their lives away. it’s giving drama, danger, devotion… and I was so here for it.
this is a full ensemble story — multiple POVs, one day, and a slow unravel of what the show actually is and where they’re going. The structure is honestly beautiful and really well done. very dreamy, very layered.
the vibes?? ethereal, eerie, a little Night Circus-esque. art and danger woven together, with that constant threat of being taken by the Otherworld.
BUT —
There are so many POVs that i never fully connected to anyone. some characters were amazing… and then we just don’t go back to them?? criminal.
The pacing is also very slow, and while the writing is gorgeous, it leans more into atmosphere than plot. This is definitely more character exploration than action.
and the magic… I wanted more whimsy. more temptation. It felt more bleak than enchanting, which made it hard to fully buy into why anyone would sacrifice everything for this life.
Overall — stunning concept, beautifully written, but didn’t fully capture me the way I wanted.
still worth it if you love slow, lyrical, multi-POV fantasy ✨
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I really liked Kechacha’s deeply strange debut, but The Apple and the Pearl is – at least as of 37% in, which is where I DNFed – functionally Lit Fic, not fantasy.
Literally ONE of the dozen-plus PoVs is any kind of interesting; a changeling who was kicked out of Faerie as a teen and has spent his life trying to get back there. Everybody else is painfully banal, with painfully banal concerns and thoughts. Pages and pages of people thinking about everyday romances or the new coworker or what they’ll do with their lives when they go back to living in the human world. Making calls to senile parents and dealing with bounced cheques. Even the music and dancing is reduced to a bunch of technical terms that mean nothing to me. Where’s the magic and wonder, the art, the fear of being stolen by faeries?
I have no critiques for the prose, though it only really gets to shine in the rare fantastical moments. The characters all feel very much like real people, perfectly believable. But this is so terribly boring as a story, a reading experience. Not at all what I signed up for.
Literally ONE of the dozen-plus PoVs is any kind of interesting; a changeling who was kicked out of Faerie as a teen and has spent his life trying to get back there. Everybody else is painfully banal, with painfully banal concerns and thoughts. Pages and pages of people thinking about everyday romances or the new coworker or what they’ll do with their lives when they go back to living in the human world. Making calls to senile parents and dealing with bounced cheques. Even the music and dancing is reduced to a bunch of technical terms that mean nothing to me. Where’s the magic and wonder, the art, the fear of being stolen by faeries?
I have no critiques for the prose, though it only really gets to shine in the rare fantastical moments. The characters all feel very much like real people, perfectly believable. But this is so terribly boring as a story, a reading experience. Not at all what I signed up for.
December 7, 2025
I adored the idea of a travelling ballet troupe performing for the fae every night, but I thought the story would have more meat on its bones and not literally "a day in the life" on the train - there is no plot!
It floats around from POV to POV and there's some beautiful imagery and tantalising mentions of the fae but really it's a dozen characters going about one specific day and reminiscing on their hopes, dreams and memories.
The ballet is, obviously, the heart of everyone's day and it does sound beautiful - I wish I could attend the performance, or even just hear the music.
I love the setup of the Grit and the Grub - the train and the moving stage - the teasing of who the audience is, and the memories of the land of Fae but ultimately I would have enjoyed it more if it was more a traditional fantasy novel with a proper plot.
Big thank you to Titan Books and Netgalley for the ARC.
It floats around from POV to POV and there's some beautiful imagery and tantalising mentions of the fae but really it's a dozen characters going about one specific day and reminiscing on their hopes, dreams and memories.
The ballet is, obviously, the heart of everyone's day and it does sound beautiful - I wish I could attend the performance, or even just hear the music.
I love the setup of the Grit and the Grub - the train and the moving stage - the teasing of who the audience is, and the memories of the land of Fae but ultimately I would have enjoyed it more if it was more a traditional fantasy novel with a proper plot.
Big thank you to Titan Books and Netgalley for the ARC.
December 13, 2025
This story had wonderful ideas with unexpected execution. If you’re expecting whimsy and enchantment because you read this story is about a magical train and ballet troupe, you will be disappointed. This is a much darker tale with a fantasy backdrop. For me, there simply wasn’t enough lore and explanation of the world. We are just kind of dropped in and given vague hints along the way. I wish we learned more about the history of the train and ballet troupe, as well as more information on the fae and their world. This book is very much character based. Unfortunately there are so many characters that you aren’t able to get attached to any. After about 60 percent nothing kept me engaged or made me want to keep reading. Perhaps it would’ve been better with maybe 3 or 4 perspectives. At first I enjoyed mundane everyday tasks of life on the train and in the ballet, but it become repetitive and uninteresting.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Titan Books for the eARC
An interesting idea with an execution I wasn't expecting. It's not bad, but don't expect a fantasy book with a lot of momentum and active plot. I wanted to have more to chew on, more world to navigate with the characters. But that wasn't what the author wanted, so it is more a story about a moment in time, in the (numerous) characters' head. They think about their dreams and hopes ass they travel, and that's pretty much it. High potential but not my kind of read.
We may be floating from head to head, but the ballet is the core of the story, as you might expect. The train (The Grit) and the moving stage (The Grub) were intriguing, but not enough to keep me very interested. I wanted more land of the Fae, more... yeah more meat.
Still, if you are more of a litfic infused with magic kind of reader, you might enjoy this one !
An interesting idea with an execution I wasn't expecting. It's not bad, but don't expect a fantasy book with a lot of momentum and active plot. I wanted to have more to chew on, more world to navigate with the characters. But that wasn't what the author wanted, so it is more a story about a moment in time, in the (numerous) characters' head. They think about their dreams and hopes ass they travel, and that's pretty much it. High potential but not my kind of read.
We may be floating from head to head, but the ballet is the core of the story, as you might expect. The train (The Grit) and the moving stage (The Grub) were intriguing, but not enough to keep me very interested. I wanted more land of the Fae, more... yeah more meat.
Still, if you are more of a litfic infused with magic kind of reader, you might enjoy this one !
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
One of the most gorgeously written and mature works of literary fantasy I've read in years. The way the novel delivers the entire ballet company as the main character is fascinating, and they're all so human and familiar. This is a large cast, sure, but it's a community of lost souls, all these wounded people gathered around their frailties, wishing and hoping for magic to change them somehow. And the pervading sense of magic lingering at the edges, the constant presence of the fae always just out of sight, is masterfully handled. If you're after smouldering fae princes turning up with eyeliner and moody tensions to lure swooning people into the tropes, you may be disappointed. But if you're after a deeply beautiful reflection on how and why we create beauty, and what value art offers when life can be so indifferent and cruel, then please take your seats, because that was the last call and it's curtains in 5.
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