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The Midnight Dance
When the music stops, the dance begins.
Seventeen-year-old Penny is a lead dancer at the Grande Teatro, a finishing school where she and eleven other young women are training to become the finest ballerinas in Italy. Tucked deep into the woods, the school is overseen by the mysterious and handsome young Master who keeps the girls ensconced in the estate – and in the only life Penny has never known.
But when flashes of memories, memories of a life very different from the one she thinks she’s been leading, start to appear, Penny begins to question the Grand Teatro and the motivations of the Master. With a kind and attractive kitchen boy, Cricket, at her side, Penny vows to escape the confines of her school and the strict rules that dictate every step she takes. But at every turn, the Master finds a way to stop her, and Penny must find a way to escape the school and uncover the secrets of her past before it’s too late.
Seventeen-year-old Penny is a lead dancer at the Grande Teatro, a finishing school where she and eleven other young women are training to become the finest ballerinas in Italy. Tucked deep into the woods, the school is overseen by the mysterious and handsome young Master who keeps the girls ensconced in the estate – and in the only life Penny has never known.
But when flashes of memories, memories of a life very different from the one she thinks she’s been leading, start to appear, Penny begins to question the Grand Teatro and the motivations of the Master. With a kind and attractive kitchen boy, Cricket, at her side, Penny vows to escape the confines of her school and the strict rules that dictate every step she takes. But at every turn, the Master finds a way to stop her, and Penny must find a way to escape the school and uncover the secrets of her past before it’s too late.
320 pages, ebook
First published October 17, 2017
66 people are currently reading
5846 people want to read
About the author
Nikki Katz
14 books209 followersAuthor | Editor | Consultant | Freelance Writer | Rocket Scientist | Reality TV Addict | Avid Book Reader | Social Media Nut ... Not necessarily in that order :)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 295 reviews
October 22, 2017
I love the cover for this book so I'm so sad that it was so bad. It was just weird, confusing and uncomfortable. I don't know if it's just because I don't like thrillers, so take my opinion as you will with that knowledge, but I had so much trouble following the narrative and figuring out what was going on. I was hoping for a creepy story set in a ballet school in Italy, like how cool is that setting. But whatever it was, it wasn't that. Definitely disappointing.
January 4, 2018
So, okay, this was a very quick DNF and I have three reasons why and I’m going to start calling them the Holy Trinity of YA Genre Fic Fails.
→ the Petty DramaTM on the literal first page that is of course between our heroine and a More Liked Mean Girl That is definitely not being set up for subversion. So far is the most important conflict of the book, but of course girl will not become an interesting or complex villain. Girl is a bitch. Boycott character development 2k17.
→ the main character does not have any. common. sense. She’s the type of lead who would definitely go back into a burning house for her diary. my proof is that she’s the type of lead who, every fucking time she senses that something isn’t right, acts AS SUSPICIOUS AS POSSIBLE because that’s totally going to make me believe she’s in a life or death situation. Like, not that I don’t get your emotional turmoil, but you’d better offer me some development if you’re going to be emotional or shut the fuck up
→ the romance is so adgjradhktadhkkrsf god I swear in the first three pages homegirl breaks out that “he’s cute, but nothing SPECIAL like the HOT CREEPY BOY because creeps are so hot haha” and three fucking pages later after he pulls out a snack and calls her some Italian phrase which totally doesn’t feel like exoticism she goes BMAO (blushing my ass off) in ten seconds flat
I don’t even know guys, it was messy and would recommend finding something else if you’re looking for a creepy read that Avoids Te Tropes
Blog | Goodreads | Twitter | Youtube
→ the Petty DramaTM on the literal first page that is of course between our heroine and a More Liked Mean Girl That is definitely not being set up for subversion. So far is the most important conflict of the book, but of course girl will not become an interesting or complex villain. Girl is a bitch. Boycott character development 2k17.
→ the main character does not have any. common. sense. She’s the type of lead who would definitely go back into a burning house for her diary. my proof is that she’s the type of lead who, every fucking time she senses that something isn’t right, acts AS SUSPICIOUS AS POSSIBLE because that’s totally going to make me believe she’s in a life or death situation. Like, not that I don’t get your emotional turmoil, but you’d better offer me some development if you’re going to be emotional or shut the fuck up
→ the romance is so adgjradhktadhkkrsf god I swear in the first three pages homegirl breaks out that “he’s cute, but nothing SPECIAL like the HOT CREEPY BOY because creeps are so hot haha” and three fucking pages later after he pulls out a snack and calls her some Italian phrase which totally doesn’t feel like exoticism she goes BMAO (blushing my ass off) in ten seconds flat
I don’t even know guys, it was messy and would recommend finding something else if you’re looking for a creepy read that Avoids Te Tropes
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October 21, 2017
4.5 stars. I loved this!
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
The Midnight Dance by Nikki Katz
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Publication Date: October 17, 2017
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
Seventeen-year-old Penny is a lead dancer at the Grande Teatro, a finishing school where she and eleven other young women are training to become the finest ballerinas in Italy. Tucked deep into the woods, the school is overseen by the mysterious and handsome young Master who keeps the girls ensconced in the estate – and in the only life Penny has never known.
But when flashes of memories, memories of a life very different from the one she thinks she’s been leading, start to appear, Penny begins to question the Grand Teatro and the motivations of the Master. With a kind and attractive kitchen boy, Cricket, at her side, Penny vows to escape the confines of her school and the strict rules that dictate every step she takes. But at every turn, the Master finds a way to stop her, and Penny must find a way to escape the school and uncover the secrets of her past before it’s too late.
What I Liked:
I've read a number of books published by Swoon Reads, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing. This imprint is unique because it is crowd-sourced in terms of the work, and there are always a ton of manuscripts available to read and explore on the website. The Midnight Dance is one of many that has been picked up for publication by Swoon Reads. I've had mixed results with the Swoon Reads books I've read so far, but this one is among my favorites. I adore Cindy Anstey's books, but I think those will share the spotlight with this book. The Midnight Dance was haunting and mysterious, yet swoony and seductive. It was an interesting book to read, and while I could definitely see the author developing her writing and craft, I have a good feeling about her future work.
Penny is one of the lead dancers of the Grande Teatro, a coveted dance school that is selective about its students. There are only a handful of students at any given time, with rare new faces on occasion. The girls are educated in many subjects, but their focus is dance, as they all strive to be the best ballerina in Italy. The school is overseen by Master, who is shrouded in mystery and handsome looks. Every girl has a crush on him... except for Penny, who can't shake the creepy feeling she has started to feel when he is near. What's more, her memory is starting to jumble, and she isn't sure what is real and what isn't. Somehow, Master is messing with her mind. With the help of the charming kitchen steward, Penny is determined to find out what happened in her past that will determine her future at the school.
I love how this story is set up. At first, I was just as confused as Penny; what is happening to her memories? Why is she starting to remember this or that? And then - why did she suddenly forget what she started to remember? Usually I hate being enveloped in this kind of confusion, especially so early on, but I found that this only intrigued me even more. From start, we know that there is something wrong with Penny's memories. And soon after, Penny finds out that Master might have something to do with it, and Cricket seems to have an idea as to what is happening to her. But these realizations are only the tip of the iceberg. Master is a lot worse than she expected. and Cricket is so much more than a kitchen steward.
I liked Penny just fine, though I didn't love her, nor did I hate her. I really felt for her, as she tried to navigate her life while realizing that she had no idea who she really was. She had no idea what her life before the school was like. She didn't even know what her favorite food was. It was easy to root for her, because she was so clearly wronged. But I also liked her persistence, even when she was throwing herself into obvious danger. She wanted nothing more than to understand what was happening to her, stop Master, and save the other girls.
Cricket is such a sweetheart! He is the kitchen steward which basically means that he brings everyone their meals and clears tables. There is a lot more to him than meets the eye, but Master keeps him on a tight leash. Cricket is smart, loyal, protective, and stubborn, and he never stops trying to help Penny regain her true memories. He is one of the constants of the story that is inherently good and kind. But he also has a protective streak that shows up every now and then, which I loved.
I was hooked soon after the story began, and I didn't want to stop reading. It's too bad I started reading the book on the Metro to work, because I really wanted to keep reading. Hate or love this book, you have to say that it is engaging (well, hopefully). There are so many revelations dropped, as the story goes on. Some might be obvious, but the placement and timing are really good.
I love the Italian influence and setting. There are so many Italian food references - it was impossible not to get hungry, after reading this book. I really want some antipasto or ciabatta or something now (it's nearly midnight at the moment!). The author references a lot of Italian food, but also sprinkles in the occasional term or phrase in Italian. You can't not know that the story is set in Italy!
The story is also a historical one, set in the 1800s. I love this time period and it definitely worked well for this story. The types of things that Master was doing were very advanced, yet the author made them fit into the story.
There is some sci-fi to this book! I don't want to say anything specific, but it's pretty cool. Terrible, but cool. I love that we get to see Master's backstory and how he came to work on the sci-fi stuff. Again, it is terrible stuff (what he is doing), but it is also fascinating. You kind of feel bad for him? At least initially.
There is a romance and it is swoony! And very non-love-triangle-y. I promise there is no triangle or square or anything of the sort. Cricket and Penny are adorable together, even if they aren't actually a couple for most of the book. There is obvious but subtle chemistry between them, and I couldn't wait for them to finally acknowledge their feelings, or kiss! See my 09/28 Swoon Thursday post.
Overall, this book worked for me. I enjoyed it, especially for the entertaining and mysterious story. The adorable romance definitely didn't hurt, and the fact that this book is a standalone makes it a great choice.
What I Did Not Like:
I acknowledge the fact that there definitely could have been more plot and character development. The author's writing and craft seems new and unpracticed. It's hard to describe what I'm talking about without sharing whole pages or talking about specifics, but basically, we know this is a debut. I fully believe that the author will get better as a writer the more she writes. This story felt juvenile on occasion, which I noticed several times, but it wasn't too distracting. I see the author's potential!
Would I Recommend It:
If you like historical fiction novels with romance and some slightly creepy sci-fi elements, check out this book! It has an air of mystery to it, and it's a fast read. The ending is really good and it is perfect as the ending of a standalone. And the romance was definitely swoony! Swoon Reads is living up to the name.
Rating:
4 stars. I am glad this book is a standalone, but I definitely want to read more by this author! I'll be looking out for her 2018 book. I'm sure her next book will be even better!
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
The Midnight Dance by Nikki Katz
Publisher: Swoon Reads
Publication Date: October 17, 2017
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher
Summary (from Goodreads):
Seventeen-year-old Penny is a lead dancer at the Grande Teatro, a finishing school where she and eleven other young women are training to become the finest ballerinas in Italy. Tucked deep into the woods, the school is overseen by the mysterious and handsome young Master who keeps the girls ensconced in the estate – and in the only life Penny has never known.
But when flashes of memories, memories of a life very different from the one she thinks she’s been leading, start to appear, Penny begins to question the Grand Teatro and the motivations of the Master. With a kind and attractive kitchen boy, Cricket, at her side, Penny vows to escape the confines of her school and the strict rules that dictate every step she takes. But at every turn, the Master finds a way to stop her, and Penny must find a way to escape the school and uncover the secrets of her past before it’s too late.
What I Liked:
I've read a number of books published by Swoon Reads, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing. This imprint is unique because it is crowd-sourced in terms of the work, and there are always a ton of manuscripts available to read and explore on the website. The Midnight Dance is one of many that has been picked up for publication by Swoon Reads. I've had mixed results with the Swoon Reads books I've read so far, but this one is among my favorites. I adore Cindy Anstey's books, but I think those will share the spotlight with this book. The Midnight Dance was haunting and mysterious, yet swoony and seductive. It was an interesting book to read, and while I could definitely see the author developing her writing and craft, I have a good feeling about her future work.
Penny is one of the lead dancers of the Grande Teatro, a coveted dance school that is selective about its students. There are only a handful of students at any given time, with rare new faces on occasion. The girls are educated in many subjects, but their focus is dance, as they all strive to be the best ballerina in Italy. The school is overseen by Master, who is shrouded in mystery and handsome looks. Every girl has a crush on him... except for Penny, who can't shake the creepy feeling she has started to feel when he is near. What's more, her memory is starting to jumble, and she isn't sure what is real and what isn't. Somehow, Master is messing with her mind. With the help of the charming kitchen steward, Penny is determined to find out what happened in her past that will determine her future at the school.
I love how this story is set up. At first, I was just as confused as Penny; what is happening to her memories? Why is she starting to remember this or that? And then - why did she suddenly forget what she started to remember? Usually I hate being enveloped in this kind of confusion, especially so early on, but I found that this only intrigued me even more. From start, we know that there is something wrong with Penny's memories. And soon after, Penny finds out that Master might have something to do with it, and Cricket seems to have an idea as to what is happening to her. But these realizations are only the tip of the iceberg. Master is a lot worse than she expected. and Cricket is so much more than a kitchen steward.
I liked Penny just fine, though I didn't love her, nor did I hate her. I really felt for her, as she tried to navigate her life while realizing that she had no idea who she really was. She had no idea what her life before the school was like. She didn't even know what her favorite food was. It was easy to root for her, because she was so clearly wronged. But I also liked her persistence, even when she was throwing herself into obvious danger. She wanted nothing more than to understand what was happening to her, stop Master, and save the other girls.
Cricket is such a sweetheart! He is the kitchen steward which basically means that he brings everyone their meals and clears tables. There is a lot more to him than meets the eye, but Master keeps him on a tight leash. Cricket is smart, loyal, protective, and stubborn, and he never stops trying to help Penny regain her true memories. He is one of the constants of the story that is inherently good and kind. But he also has a protective streak that shows up every now and then, which I loved.
I was hooked soon after the story began, and I didn't want to stop reading. It's too bad I started reading the book on the Metro to work, because I really wanted to keep reading. Hate or love this book, you have to say that it is engaging (well, hopefully). There are so many revelations dropped, as the story goes on. Some might be obvious, but the placement and timing are really good.
I love the Italian influence and setting. There are so many Italian food references - it was impossible not to get hungry, after reading this book. I really want some antipasto or ciabatta or something now (it's nearly midnight at the moment!). The author references a lot of Italian food, but also sprinkles in the occasional term or phrase in Italian. You can't not know that the story is set in Italy!
The story is also a historical one, set in the 1800s. I love this time period and it definitely worked well for this story. The types of things that Master was doing were very advanced, yet the author made them fit into the story.
There is some sci-fi to this book! I don't want to say anything specific, but it's pretty cool. Terrible, but cool. I love that we get to see Master's backstory and how he came to work on the sci-fi stuff. Again, it is terrible stuff (what he is doing), but it is also fascinating. You kind of feel bad for him? At least initially.
There is a romance and it is swoony! And very non-love-triangle-y. I promise there is no triangle or square or anything of the sort. Cricket and Penny are adorable together, even if they aren't actually a couple for most of the book. There is obvious but subtle chemistry between them, and I couldn't wait for them to finally acknowledge their feelings, or kiss! See my 09/28 Swoon Thursday post.
Overall, this book worked for me. I enjoyed it, especially for the entertaining and mysterious story. The adorable romance definitely didn't hurt, and the fact that this book is a standalone makes it a great choice.
What I Did Not Like:
I acknowledge the fact that there definitely could have been more plot and character development. The author's writing and craft seems new and unpracticed. It's hard to describe what I'm talking about without sharing whole pages or talking about specifics, but basically, we know this is a debut. I fully believe that the author will get better as a writer the more she writes. This story felt juvenile on occasion, which I noticed several times, but it wasn't too distracting. I see the author's potential!
Would I Recommend It:
If you like historical fiction novels with romance and some slightly creepy sci-fi elements, check out this book! It has an air of mystery to it, and it's a fast read. The ending is really good and it is perfect as the ending of a standalone. And the romance was definitely swoony! Swoon Reads is living up to the name.
Rating:
4 stars. I am glad this book is a standalone, but I definitely want to read more by this author! I'll be looking out for her 2018 book. I'm sure her next book will be even better!
Read
October 18, 2017DNF at 21%
I’ll admit to being sucked in by that cover, but I really liked the synopsis...sadly, that’s the nicest thing I can say about what I read.
Penny and the other girls seem horribly flat. Master is creepy af and I spent a good portion of the time reading wondering if he was sexually assaulting the girls. Cricket does seem to care about Penny, but it’s weird that he knows what’s happening.
Plot wise, I felt like I was dropped into a story that had already been started. The prologue had promise and I did get to a small reveal of what was going on, but it wasn’t nearly enough to keep me reading.
I’m choosing not to rate this one strictly because I didn’t make it to my usual 25-30%; however off of what I did read, I would have given it 1 star.
**Huge thanks to Swoon Reads for providing the arc free of charge**
I’ll admit to being sucked in by that cover, but I really liked the synopsis...sadly, that’s the nicest thing I can say about what I read.
Penny and the other girls seem horribly flat. Master is creepy af and I spent a good portion of the time reading wondering if he was sexually assaulting the girls. Cricket does seem to care about Penny, but it’s weird that he knows what’s happening.
Plot wise, I felt like I was dropped into a story that had already been started. The prologue had promise and I did get to a small reveal of what was going on, but it wasn’t nearly enough to keep me reading.
I’m choosing not to rate this one strictly because I didn’t make it to my usual 25-30%; however off of what I did read, I would have given it 1 star.
**Huge thanks to Swoon Reads for providing the arc free of charge**
January 17, 2022
Phew. Ok, that was a tough read, and boy am I glad it’s over! I really can’t think of many more ways that The Midnight Dance could have let me down.
It’s only 320 pages long and took me a month to read, and I’ve got to admit, from the 40% mark I was skimming it. The lingering question I was left with was ultimately, why? I don’t understand why anything in this book happened? And I must warn you, that if you proceed to read from here there will be spoilers.
*
*
*
Ok, let us proceed.
The setting of Nikki Katz’s The Midnight Dance is a manor house where a whole lot of girls live and learn ballet. This brings us to our first why.
Why Ballet? Ballet is totally pointless to the narrative. The girls could have been in a regular boarding school, a work house, a brothel, the International Space Station; the narrative would have been exactly the same. I got the feeling that Katz just liked the idea (and has probably seen Coppélia a few times) and thought it would be a cool plot device. But it ultimately serves no purpose.
Why is the Master trying to control people’s minds? I literally have no idea. Maybe it’s because I skim read it, but I really am not sure what the villain’s motivations were other than Penny was a special snowflake and he was totally in love, (which again, why?). There was an intro about a boy with a missing leg who grows up to be the master but because he was teased by his sister, he wants revenge, gets a robotic prosthetic, and experiments with mind control on a whole bunch of young girls who are ballet students. Confused? Yeah, me too. But seriously, why?
Penny (our protagonist) has a grandfather, who’s not her grandfather, who wants to help her (but not the other girls, because they are obviously not as special as special, special Penny), but is also the medical mastermind behind all these experiments in the first place. But why? For the love of God and all that is holy, why, why, WHY?? There is no plausible reason given for his agreement to carry out the experiments to begin with. He can apparently create artificial limbs and perform medical miracles unknown at the time, but instead of doing something useful he lives in a cottage by a manor house for ballerinas catering to the whim of a madman who has no good reason to want to control the minds of all these girls in the first place.
God, this plot was just such a hot mess of different ideas that just went nowhere. The narrative was batshit crazy from the start, so there were no surprises anywhere along the way. Nothing that happened was shocking. There was a bit of a romance that was just ‘meh’, an attempt at a love triangle that was just a bit gross and creepy, a lot of other characters who I forgot almost as soon as they graced the page or who appeared for the first time a few minutes before they were conveniently needed, and loads of Italicised Italian thrown in just to prove that the book was, in fact, set in Italy. If there hadn’t been a date at the beginning of each chapter to tell me when it was set I wouldn’t have had any idea. The way the characters spoke wasn’t believable, the setting didn’t give a sense of time, or place, and where the plot device was discussed it was, in fact, historically wrong. (Ballet dancers used to be stocky and muscular, and pointe shoes at the time that this was set were not used for long periods as they were nothing more than regular satin shoes with some extra darning reinforcement at the toe and sides for the sake of occasional balances rather than prolonged dancing).
The Midnight Dance was just a really mediocre read with a less than mediocre story. The plot was nonsensical and the characters forgettable. Do yourself a favour. Read something else. But hey, at least the cover is great.
It’s only 320 pages long and took me a month to read, and I’ve got to admit, from the 40% mark I was skimming it. The lingering question I was left with was ultimately, why? I don’t understand why anything in this book happened? And I must warn you, that if you proceed to read from here there will be spoilers.
*
*
*
Ok, let us proceed.
The setting of Nikki Katz’s The Midnight Dance is a manor house where a whole lot of girls live and learn ballet. This brings us to our first why.
Why Ballet? Ballet is totally pointless to the narrative. The girls could have been in a regular boarding school, a work house, a brothel, the International Space Station; the narrative would have been exactly the same. I got the feeling that Katz just liked the idea (and has probably seen Coppélia a few times) and thought it would be a cool plot device. But it ultimately serves no purpose.
Why is the Master trying to control people’s minds? I literally have no idea. Maybe it’s because I skim read it, but I really am not sure what the villain’s motivations were other than Penny was a special snowflake and he was totally in love, (which again, why?). There was an intro about a boy with a missing leg who grows up to be the master but because he was teased by his sister, he wants revenge, gets a robotic prosthetic, and experiments with mind control on a whole bunch of young girls who are ballet students. Confused? Yeah, me too. But seriously, why?
Penny (our protagonist) has a grandfather, who’s not her grandfather, who wants to help her (but not the other girls, because they are obviously not as special as special, special Penny), but is also the medical mastermind behind all these experiments in the first place. But why? For the love of God and all that is holy, why, why, WHY?? There is no plausible reason given for his agreement to carry out the experiments to begin with. He can apparently create artificial limbs and perform medical miracles unknown at the time, but instead of doing something useful he lives in a cottage by a manor house for ballerinas catering to the whim of a madman who has no good reason to want to control the minds of all these girls in the first place.
God, this plot was just such a hot mess of different ideas that just went nowhere. The narrative was batshit crazy from the start, so there were no surprises anywhere along the way. Nothing that happened was shocking. There was a bit of a romance that was just ‘meh’, an attempt at a love triangle that was just a bit gross and creepy, a lot of other characters who I forgot almost as soon as they graced the page or who appeared for the first time a few minutes before they were conveniently needed, and loads of Italicised Italian thrown in just to prove that the book was, in fact, set in Italy. If there hadn’t been a date at the beginning of each chapter to tell me when it was set I wouldn’t have had any idea. The way the characters spoke wasn’t believable, the setting didn’t give a sense of time, or place, and where the plot device was discussed it was, in fact, historically wrong. (Ballet dancers used to be stocky and muscular, and pointe shoes at the time that this was set were not used for long periods as they were nothing more than regular satin shoes with some extra darning reinforcement at the toe and sides for the sake of occasional balances rather than prolonged dancing).
The Midnight Dance was just a really mediocre read with a less than mediocre story. The plot was nonsensical and the characters forgettable. Do yourself a favour. Read something else. But hey, at least the cover is great.
November 11, 2017
This book definitely needs to be made into a movie.
Penny can't remember who she really is. How strange is it that she can't remember her favourite meal, and all the girls at Grade Teatro have a similar memory of who their mother was and why they ended up there. The only thing that the girls can remember is their dance routine, and that they must never disobey the Master. When Penny's memories start to return, she is desperate to keep them, and find out more about who she really was before she became trapped in this mansion.
I was hooked right from the beginning, the action starts right away and it is very easy to understand the concept of whats going on, which makes the book very pleasurable to read. The writing in this book is so beautiful and I love the way the author wrote descriptions, dialogue and the speed of the plot.
I fell in love with Penny right from the beginning. You can tell how strong of a character she is, when Master can't fully control her mind. Her desperation to find the truth and free the other girls was so wonderful to read about, I definitely love these types of main characters who do things not just for themselves, but to save others.
Part of the story in this book takes place in the past, as we see how Master became the person that he is today and why. While I thought this was really interesting in the beginning, it kind of fell short for me around the middle and I just got bored with this side of the story. I thought it could have been a bit more interesting, and maybe a tad more explained. I would have loved to see more of the science theory that they had behind the mind control and such.
Overall, this was a really beautiful book. I will definitely be picking up more from this author because I loved her writing style. If you've read the synopsis and you think you'd enjoy it then definitely give it a try.
Happy Reading,
Aneta
Penny can't remember who she really is. How strange is it that she can't remember her favourite meal, and all the girls at Grade Teatro have a similar memory of who their mother was and why they ended up there. The only thing that the girls can remember is their dance routine, and that they must never disobey the Master. When Penny's memories start to return, she is desperate to keep them, and find out more about who she really was before she became trapped in this mansion.
I was hooked right from the beginning, the action starts right away and it is very easy to understand the concept of whats going on, which makes the book very pleasurable to read. The writing in this book is so beautiful and I love the way the author wrote descriptions, dialogue and the speed of the plot.
I fell in love with Penny right from the beginning. You can tell how strong of a character she is, when Master can't fully control her mind. Her desperation to find the truth and free the other girls was so wonderful to read about, I definitely love these types of main characters who do things not just for themselves, but to save others.
Part of the story in this book takes place in the past, as we see how Master became the person that he is today and why. While I thought this was really interesting in the beginning, it kind of fell short for me around the middle and I just got bored with this side of the story. I thought it could have been a bit more interesting, and maybe a tad more explained. I would have loved to see more of the science theory that they had behind the mind control and such.
Overall, this was a really beautiful book. I will definitely be picking up more from this author because I loved her writing style. If you've read the synopsis and you think you'd enjoy it then definitely give it a try.
Happy Reading,
Aneta
Read
October 17, 2016Mini review:
DNF
I read part of this book on Swoon Reads.
This book is just not for me. It seems to be a bit of thriller. Which is a genre I avoid.
Still recommend.
DNF
I read part of this book on Swoon Reads.
This book is just not for me. It seems to be a bit of thriller. Which is a genre I avoid.
Still recommend.
March 5, 2018
I loved this immersive YA retelling, a touch of Phantom of the Opera, a lot of the original Pinocchio story (not the Disney version), blended with nail-biting manipulation by the Master of a girls ballet school in Italy had me on the edge of my seat. This is not your typical retelling or romance, because all the elements of a good thriller are present in every chapter. I found myself turning pages until the wee hours of the morning trying to learn what happened to Penny's memories. And the world-building was incredibly detailed. If you like The Darkling in Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone books, you'll love what happens in THE MIDNIGHT DANCE.
October 17, 2017
The Midnight Dance is a daring, heart pounding read! It was full of character, intrigue, and mystery. This fast paced read is sure to captivate and move you!
What can I say about The Midnight Dance? I found it mysterious and thrilling. I felt like it held inspiration from The Phantom of the Opera. It offered danger, passion, and unexpected twists that I found fascinating! This one was truly unique.
I enjoyed the world building and plot. Though, I wish the world building had had a few more details, and the plot was not so fast paced, I still felt that they were both well done, and elegantly written. The writing style used was quite beautiful and entrancing. I was drawn in to the story and to the main characters.
I saw beauty and strength in our main character, Penny. Though, there were times she wasn't as relate-able as I would have liked, I felt a connection to her. She was brave, and determined to find answers to the mysteries of her memories, the school , and The Master.
I was so intrigued by The Master of the school. He was dark and brooding, mysterious, and handsome. He added a layer of depth and captivation to the story, as well as harboring many entertaining secrets.
And, finally, there was Cricket. Cricket was a necessary character that added a little mystery to the story. I would have liked him to be a touch more developed, but he added a layer of passion and empathy to the story, nonetheless. He was brave and caring, and definitely alluring.
My final thoughts are that of enjoyment and thrills. I wouldn't classify this as a contemporary book. I would say it falls more under the mystery genre, grazing the horror genre. I cannot say more without giving spoilers, but there is definitely more than meets the eye here, and it is very interesting! I really enjoyed the plot twists and the thrilling mystery. The Midnight Dance was a unique, must read!
Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for providing me with this free e-ARC in exchange for me honest review!
What can I say about The Midnight Dance? I found it mysterious and thrilling. I felt like it held inspiration from The Phantom of the Opera. It offered danger, passion, and unexpected twists that I found fascinating! This one was truly unique.
I enjoyed the world building and plot. Though, I wish the world building had had a few more details, and the plot was not so fast paced, I still felt that they were both well done, and elegantly written. The writing style used was quite beautiful and entrancing. I was drawn in to the story and to the main characters.
I saw beauty and strength in our main character, Penny. Though, there were times she wasn't as relate-able as I would have liked, I felt a connection to her. She was brave, and determined to find answers to the mysteries of her memories, the school , and The Master.
I was so intrigued by The Master of the school. He was dark and brooding, mysterious, and handsome. He added a layer of depth and captivation to the story, as well as harboring many entertaining secrets.
And, finally, there was Cricket. Cricket was a necessary character that added a little mystery to the story. I would have liked him to be a touch more developed, but he added a layer of passion and empathy to the story, nonetheless. He was brave and caring, and definitely alluring.
My final thoughts are that of enjoyment and thrills. I wouldn't classify this as a contemporary book. I would say it falls more under the mystery genre, grazing the horror genre. I cannot say more without giving spoilers, but there is definitely more than meets the eye here, and it is very interesting! I really enjoyed the plot twists and the thrilling mystery. The Midnight Dance was a unique, must read!
Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours for providing me with this free e-ARC in exchange for me honest review!
May 19, 2017
This book kept me up past 2:00 am. I couldn't stop reading... Not until I understood all the weirdness going on at this bizarre-o boarding school for ballerinas. Creepy, twisty, and oh-so-deliciously DARK.
April 8, 2019
I wish I hadn't had such high hopes for this book! It seemed like it was going to have everything I could want in a book; ballet, mystery, dark romance... but it fell so flat.
I saw another person who reviewed this book (review here) who said that what made this book so not good for them is they had to keep asking "why." Why ballet, why with one of the love stories, why Italy, why in the mid 1800's??? And that is exactly how I feel! It's like the author had this amazing concept/idea for a story, but did not know how to flesh it out properly.
I just found myself frustrated with so many aspects of this book. Firstly with Penelope, the MC. Her voice was irritating and I wish we weren't reading from her POV. She had horrible decision making skills, to the point of being completely unbelievable. And I just know that the only reason she made the choices she did was to make the plot move forward. Which is just... no. I was also frustrated with the ending. So many parts of it were just WAY too convenient. Again, to the point of being unbelievable.
I just don't think everything about this book was thought through. I forgot characters' names as soon as they left, some of Penelope and Cricket's choices were just stupid, and the flashbacks weren't a necessary way to make us understand the back story.
Cricket was the only thing I liked about this book. Boy was a-freaking-dorable.
Overall I just wanted the book to be over, after about 60% through the book I found myself basically skim reading to minimize the amount of eye-rolling.
I saw another person who reviewed this book (review here) who said that what made this book so not good for them is they had to keep asking "why." Why ballet, why with one of the love stories, why Italy, why in the mid 1800's??? And that is exactly how I feel! It's like the author had this amazing concept/idea for a story, but did not know how to flesh it out properly.
I just found myself frustrated with so many aspects of this book. Firstly with Penelope, the MC. Her voice was irritating and I wish we weren't reading from her POV. She had horrible decision making skills, to the point of being completely unbelievable. And I just know that the only reason she made the choices she did was to make the plot move forward. Which is just... no. I was also frustrated with the ending. So many parts of it were just WAY too convenient. Again, to the point of being unbelievable.
I just don't think everything about this book was thought through. I forgot characters' names as soon as they left, some of Penelope and Cricket's choices were just stupid, and the flashbacks weren't a necessary way to make us understand the back story.
Cricket was the only thing I liked about this book. Boy was a-freaking-dorable.
Overall I just wanted the book to be over, after about 60% through the book I found myself basically skim reading to minimize the amount of eye-rolling.
June 12, 2018
Plot - 4.5
Writing style - 4
Characters - 4
Romance - 4
In which a seventeen-year-old ballet dancer began to doubt her very existence due to the unknown past she kept on seeing. Along with the kitchen boy, they unravel the mystery about the ballet school.
Plot - The Midnight Dance has a unique plot, I must say though there plot holes are present.
I really am a sucker when it comes to human experiment which this book has though doesn't much focuses on. Still, the plot was pretty clever.
One of the things I really do appreciate is that there are no huge quarrels between the students. I mean, of course, there was the annoying teacher's pet slash two-faced-witch but that's it. All she can do was roll her eyes heavenwards and be extra jelly.
The ending was okay. Happy ending. However, there are still unanswered questions.
Writing style - I have no problem with the author's writing style. It isn't too descriptive but I began to grew bored as I read, simply because of the happenings for it's a bit cliche.
Anyways, despite my issue with the flow of the story, it's still a fast-paced novel. Read it in one sitting.
The chapter 1 was pretty much boring so prepare yourselves.
Characters -
Penny - she's somewhere between okay and dull. Not the annoying type but not really remarkable.
She belongs to the cliche heroines category. She's seriously the perfect heroine. The one with the *kinda* dark past, dauntless, kind, not into fashion, and lastly, every bachelor has their eyes on her.
Crickets - he's my favorite character among all. My only complaint is that, the author didn't really pay attention to his character. How old is he? What about the memories with his late mother? What occupation does he want to pursue after the tragedy? Obviously, he'll be the one to inherit all the money but what the hell is he going to do with the money?
I guess that's for us to find out.
Romance - the romance was insta-love which I always hate but in this cases, I do not detest it because both characters already shared memories before the tragedy. They're were childhood friends.
I do only wish the author wrote childhood memories. Not just one scene which barely last a half a page.
Writing style - 4
Characters - 4
Romance - 4
In which a seventeen-year-old ballet dancer began to doubt her very existence due to the unknown past she kept on seeing. Along with the kitchen boy, they unravel the mystery about the ballet school.
Plot - The Midnight Dance has a unique plot, I must say though there plot holes are present.
I really am a sucker when it comes to human experiment which this book has though doesn't much focuses on. Still, the plot was pretty clever.
One of the things I really do appreciate is that there are no huge quarrels between the students. I mean, of course, there was the annoying teacher's pet slash two-faced-witch but that's it. All she can do was roll her eyes heavenwards and be extra jelly.
The ending was okay. Happy ending. However, there are still unanswered questions.
Writing style - I have no problem with the author's writing style. It isn't too descriptive but I began to grew bored as I read, simply because of the happenings for it's a bit cliche.
Anyways, despite my issue with the flow of the story, it's still a fast-paced novel. Read it in one sitting.
The chapter 1 was pretty much boring so prepare yourselves.
Characters -
Penny - she's somewhere between okay and dull. Not the annoying type but not really remarkable.
She belongs to the cliche heroines category. She's seriously the perfect heroine. The one with the *kinda* dark past, dauntless, kind, not into fashion, and lastly, every bachelor has their eyes on her.
Crickets - he's my favorite character among all. My only complaint is that, the author didn't really pay attention to his character. How old is he? What about the memories with his late mother? What occupation does he want to pursue after the tragedy? Obviously, he'll be the one to inherit all the money but what the hell is he going to do with the money?
I guess that's for us to find out.
Romance - the romance was insta-love which I always hate but in this cases, I do not detest it because both characters already shared memories before the tragedy. They're were childhood friends.
I do only wish the author wrote childhood memories. Not just one scene which barely last a half a page.
October 27, 2017
The Midnight Dance centres around a world hidden in a forest and everything beautiful about ballet.
Penny has the privilege of attending a prestigious ballet academy, thanks to the mysterious Master. Since the academy is hidden away in the forest, she lives a rather simple life. As a member of the elite twelve dancers, Penny must perform as the Master wishes and must never leave the estate. However, when Penny starts to forget lengthy periods of time and begins to have memories that don't coincide with what she was told was her life, she begins to question everything. Teaming up with the handsome kitchen boy, Cricket, she begins to unravel everything.
If you don't know by now, I am an absolute sucker for historical fiction (and romance). Reading a book that is both a blend of historical fiction and fantasy just makes things so much more entertaining. With that being said, I dived into this book like there was no tomorrow. I just kept reading. Katz's writing was so creative and whimsical. It makes you feel like you are a participate in all the madness, not merely an observer. Everything was dramatic and beautifully written.
It was a creepy and thrilling and such a fun book to read. However, my rating for the book ended up slightly going down. the reason behind my rating is because it became rather repetitive. I simply felt like it was slowly building up to something only to have it intensify within the last 100 pages of the book. Besides that, this was such an enjoyable book to read.
Overall, I would recommend this book to young adults and those who love unique plots. So take the time to be swept away by The Midnight Dance.
ARC was kindly provided by Raincoast Books in exchange for an honest review.
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Wattpad
Penny has the privilege of attending a prestigious ballet academy, thanks to the mysterious Master. Since the academy is hidden away in the forest, she lives a rather simple life. As a member of the elite twelve dancers, Penny must perform as the Master wishes and must never leave the estate. However, when Penny starts to forget lengthy periods of time and begins to have memories that don't coincide with what she was told was her life, she begins to question everything. Teaming up with the handsome kitchen boy, Cricket, she begins to unravel everything.
If you don't know by now, I am an absolute sucker for historical fiction (and romance). Reading a book that is both a blend of historical fiction and fantasy just makes things so much more entertaining. With that being said, I dived into this book like there was no tomorrow. I just kept reading. Katz's writing was so creative and whimsical. It makes you feel like you are a participate in all the madness, not merely an observer. Everything was dramatic and beautifully written.
It was a creepy and thrilling and such a fun book to read. However, my rating for the book ended up slightly going down. the reason behind my rating is because it became rather repetitive. I simply felt like it was slowly building up to something only to have it intensify within the last 100 pages of the book. Besides that, this was such an enjoyable book to read.
Overall, I would recommend this book to young adults and those who love unique plots. So take the time to be swept away by The Midnight Dance.
ARC was kindly provided by Raincoast Books in exchange for an honest review.
Website | Twitter | Instagram | Wattpad
November 23, 2018
3 1/2 stars. The writing was lovely but I had trouble with the pacing and I felt bored in some parts & ended up skimming through boring pages.
January 4, 2018
I haven't given a book a one star rating in a while but I guess I'm starting 2018 off on a bad note with books, I hope this isn't a sign of whats to come! This was completely a cover read for me. I adored the cover, read the description, and went hey , why not? It sounds good. I was very disappointed. There was not much character development at all. It was a weird mix between the films Sucker Punch and Black Swan if you made them PG. I thought the book was creepy and not in a good way, parts were down right disturbing and made me uncomfortable. I would not recommend this book.
Longer review coming soon!
Longer review coming soon!
August 20, 2017
I received a copy of the book from Netgalley in partnership with the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book is not about ballet. I can’t stress that enough because I was drawn in by the gorgeous cover and the description that felt more coherent than the actual content of the book.
The choice of having the girls be ballerinas feels so arbitrary, “Master” could have been training them to be maids, assassins, prostitutes, and while the moral implications would be potentially more complicated, it would likely feel just as “background” as the rare glimpses of the ballet world.
There are two large matters at the center of the story: a boy with a bad leg who grows up to be hellbent on revenge and control (wtf) and a kind of cybernetics, “just go-with-it” mash-up of faux science and technology and animal/human integration, that could be steampunk because of the era, if it just didn’t feel so unapologetically incongruous.
Normally I try to avoid spoilers, especially for books that I want people to enjoy as the story unfolds in their own reading, but in this case, I feel like I got duped and I don’t want anyone else to get duped.
Overall, it was at least nice to spend time with a main character who acted with courage to save her friends, but a lot of the world felt superficial and overpopulated with the most mustache-twirling kind of villainy.
This book is not about ballet. I can’t stress that enough because I was drawn in by the gorgeous cover and the description that felt more coherent than the actual content of the book.
The choice of having the girls be ballerinas feels so arbitrary, “Master” could have been training them to be maids, assassins, prostitutes, and while the moral implications would be potentially more complicated, it would likely feel just as “background” as the rare glimpses of the ballet world.
There are two large matters at the center of the story: a boy with a bad leg who grows up to be hellbent on revenge and control (wtf) and a kind of cybernetics, “just go-with-it” mash-up of faux science and technology and animal/human integration, that could be steampunk because of the era, if it just didn’t feel so unapologetically incongruous.
Normally I try to avoid spoilers, especially for books that I want people to enjoy as the story unfolds in their own reading, but in this case, I feel like I got duped and I don’t want anyone else to get duped.
Overall, it was at least nice to spend time with a main character who acted with courage to save her friends, but a lot of the world felt superficial and overpopulated with the most mustache-twirling kind of villainy.
Read
September 25, 2017DNF at 70%
I received an early copy of this through NetGalley
I just couldn't get into this... I don't think this had very much to do with the book itself, but rather the reading mood I've been in for the past month.
I received an early copy of this through NetGalley
I just couldn't get into this... I don't think this had very much to do with the book itself, but rather the reading mood I've been in for the past month.
March 29, 2017
1 1/2 stars
I was really disappointed by this. I think the book did have some potential. Perhaps if the author had started with the fairly normal day to day runnings of the dance school, and had built up the general sense of wrongness more slowly, it may have been creepy and atmospheric. Instead, the author gave away too much, too early on, missing out on the chance to make use of a gothic atmosphere and build suspense.
All the characters kept doing idiotic things. The protagonist would talk about how she had to pretend she had not idea what was going on, and act normal, then would immediately do something illogical, obvious and reckless. She should have been caught almost instantly, but the villainous Master, acted just as brainlessly as her. All the characters’ actions were illogical and existed only to move the plot along.
There was very little ballet in the book, which disappointed me a bit. And the romance drove me crazy. It was repetitive, forced and filled with tired phrases. We were told about Cricket’s familiar cinnamon scent dozens of times throughout the book (I was ready to throw the book across the room if I had to read that phrase one more time) and the protagonist was constantly shivering and feeling thrills whenever she was grazed by either Cricket or the Master. The writing was just not sophisticated.
I am likely a little more critical than a lot of readers will be, and mystery/suspense isn’t one of my favourite genres in general, so I am probably not the ideal audience. However, I do like a good gothic novel on occasion, and I used to be a dancer, so I was intrigued by the setting of a dance school. However, although the cover is gorgeous, and the premise sounded interesting, this just wasn't for me.
*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Indigo Books and Music in exchange for an honest review*
I was really disappointed by this. I think the book did have some potential. Perhaps if the author had started with the fairly normal day to day runnings of the dance school, and had built up the general sense of wrongness more slowly, it may have been creepy and atmospheric. Instead, the author gave away too much, too early on, missing out on the chance to make use of a gothic atmosphere and build suspense.
All the characters kept doing idiotic things. The protagonist would talk about how she had to pretend she had not idea what was going on, and act normal, then would immediately do something illogical, obvious and reckless. She should have been caught almost instantly, but the villainous Master, acted just as brainlessly as her. All the characters’ actions were illogical and existed only to move the plot along.
There was very little ballet in the book, which disappointed me a bit. And the romance drove me crazy. It was repetitive, forced and filled with tired phrases. We were told about Cricket’s familiar cinnamon scent dozens of times throughout the book (I was ready to throw the book across the room if I had to read that phrase one more time) and the protagonist was constantly shivering and feeling thrills whenever she was grazed by either Cricket or the Master. The writing was just not sophisticated.
I am likely a little more critical than a lot of readers will be, and mystery/suspense isn’t one of my favourite genres in general, so I am probably not the ideal audience. However, I do like a good gothic novel on occasion, and I used to be a dancer, so I was intrigued by the setting of a dance school. However, although the cover is gorgeous, and the premise sounded interesting, this just wasn't for me.
*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Indigo Books and Music in exchange for an honest review*
October 28, 2019
This was another book where the cover fooled me! I've wanted to read this one for awhile, but, sadly, it disappointed me. And also confused me a little.
Meet Penny. She's a ballet dancer at a private finishing school owned by the ellusive 'Master". But something strange is going on, Penny starts getting these horrible headaches followed by memories that aren't hers. Or are they? As Penny starts unraveling the mystery, along with the adorable kitchen hand Cricket, the tale just gets weirder and weirder.
Ok first off, let's just start with this Master person. We as readers know who he is from the flashbacks in the book. However, it is very disturbing how he has all these girls only call him Master and bend to his every will. And even though it's not mentioned, I got some heavy sexual assault vibes, but that might have just been me. Another thing about him I didn't get was his end game. Why was her altering these girls memories? Was he trying to create the perfect match for himself? Was it just to show he could? WHAT WAS HIS END GAME?
And Penny herself, although props to her for wanting to find the truth, made some flat out dumb decisions. Actually, everyone in this book is guilty of that. Especially all of the people who knew what Master was doing but didn't do anything about it... Because of this, it was hard to get behind the love story that popped up.
I will say I did enjoy Katz's writing style. But the story just wasn't for me. Too many things didn't make sense and it was just overall disturbing.
Meet Penny. She's a ballet dancer at a private finishing school owned by the ellusive 'Master". But something strange is going on, Penny starts getting these horrible headaches followed by memories that aren't hers. Or are they? As Penny starts unraveling the mystery, along with the adorable kitchen hand Cricket, the tale just gets weirder and weirder.
Ok first off, let's just start with this Master person. We as readers know who he is from the flashbacks in the book. However, it is very disturbing how he has all these girls only call him Master and bend to his every will. And even though it's not mentioned, I got some heavy sexual assault vibes, but that might have just been me. Another thing about him I didn't get was his end game. Why was her altering these girls memories? Was he trying to create the perfect match for himself? Was it just to show he could? WHAT WAS HIS END GAME?
And Penny herself, although props to her for wanting to find the truth, made some flat out dumb decisions. Actually, everyone in this book is guilty of that. Especially all of the people who knew what Master was doing but didn't do anything about it... Because of this, it was hard to get behind the love story that popped up.
I will say I did enjoy Katz's writing style. But the story just wasn't for me. Too many things didn't make sense and it was just overall disturbing.
January 4, 2019
It's been a while since I read a book this laughably awful. Between the fact that it's set in the late eighteenth century and yet refuses to acknowledge the history of ballet and makes anachronistic references to pointe work and toe-boxes, and the characters with all the depth of cardboard figurines, lies the tumbled mess of this story. The pacing is atrocious - there is little to no set up and far too much in the way of explaining their feelings. There was a paragraph where they were discussing a character who needed a replacement lung and they literally said that the medicine they gave her made her hair turn blue. There's not a single nod given to science or history or ballet or literally anything that could have redeemed this.
November 5, 2019
I'm rating this two stars, but I didn't dislike it. I actually had a lot of fun reading it, toward the middle, because I kept thinking about all the things I wanted to this book to be that it wasn't. Penny was a bland heroine, but I think that was intentional because she gained a bit more life as the book went on. BUT she was difficult to root for at the beginning, and her love interest was so boring I almost died.
Which brings us to the Master. Yeah, he's creepy and has dubious intentions toward underage girls but can we just talk about how hot and ruthless he is? In any dark romance he would make the best gamma hero ever. His revenge was a little lackluster but look how driven he was to achieve his goals. BAE.
Which brings us to the Master. Yeah, he's creepy and has dubious intentions toward underage girls but can we just talk about how hot and ruthless he is? In any dark romance he would make the best gamma hero ever. His revenge was a little lackluster but look how driven he was to achieve his goals. BAE.
did-not-finish
August 21, 2017I think I might continue this at a later date. The first few chapters didn't entice me enough to keep reading but I hear a few good things about this novel. I might come back to this in the future, but as of right now, I'm putting this one down.
November 8, 2017
Review also on Christina Reads and Blogs
This book jumps right into the action. I definitely found myself flipping through the pages, curious how everything would turn out and what had happened to make Penny go to this school, but because it started so fast, I didn't find myself understanding a lot and had more questions than answers. Penelope is a dancer at a ballet school ran by the mysterious Master. As she spends her days dancing with the other girls, she starts to notice some gaps in her memories and irregularities. She starts to investigate the school and her past with the help of Cricket, the kitchen boy. But as she delves deeper, she finds herself not in control of her own thoughts and needs to break away from the manipulations of the puppet master in charge of it all.
The plot is interesting. I found myself wanting to know more about what happened to Penny and why she is in the school. I also wanted to know more about the Master and Beppe, their past together and how they became the people they are in the present. It is a fast-paced story and didn't really have moments where I was dragging to continue.
One thing that bothered me was how quickly things start moving. In retrospect, it makes sense since we're kind of waking up to the reality just as Penny is, so her beginning isn't her true beginning. There was a lot more before that we're not aware of as the reader, just like the characters. Despite knowing that, though, I wish we had more time with Penny and the characters so I could feel a connection with one of the characters.
There were also random characters just thrown in there, or characters without much of a backstory to understand their motives. For example, Prince Jacobus. He's in there for one section and I didn't really get why. He didn't really offer anything to the story, except he has an injured leg? I didn't see the need to have him there. And then there's the Madame. I didn't understand her reason for working at the school.
As I was reading, I found that many of the problems Penny faced were resolved almost instantly by someone just thrown in there or she'd figure it out instantly. I don't want to get too into it since discussing this would spoil the story, but I noticed it happening more and more as I got closer to the end, and it really bothered me.
We went back and forth between the present and the Master's past, which was insightful, but I wish it had more information. I had a lot of questions at the end that I think could have been answered in these chapters if they had those details. Like why a ballet school? Why girls? How did he gain so much power? What was the science behind everything?
There were a lot of dark topics I thought the author could have gone into. For example, one of the characters we meet later on in the book suffers PTSD. It was kind of glanced over, and how she started to come to terms with everything happened suddenly. It kind of bothered me that her history wasn't really discussed, and it took someone telling her it would be fine for her to suddenly be fine. Another topic is the Master's reasons for the school. The book didn't really explain why he had to have a ballet school, but what bothered me more was who he chose as "students". I don't want to get into it, because it might spoil the plot, but as I was reading, I kept on thinking, "Wait, he is what I think he is, right?" Sorry to be vague, but when you read it, I think you'll know what I'm alluding to.
Also, last minute thought, why did the summary have to say handsome Master and attractive kitchen boy? Why did it have to mention their looks at all?
The story is definitely interesting and I wanted to know more about Penny's past as she started to regain control of her memories. However, I didn't feel that the characters were developed (which might be because of the story itself, where you have to ask are the characters really themselves?) and I couldn't connect with them. At some points things Penny seemed to go into trouble easily, and then get out of it just as fast. I would recommend this book, but I don't think it's one I'll be rereading.
This book jumps right into the action. I definitely found myself flipping through the pages, curious how everything would turn out and what had happened to make Penny go to this school, but because it started so fast, I didn't find myself understanding a lot and had more questions than answers. Penelope is a dancer at a ballet school ran by the mysterious Master. As she spends her days dancing with the other girls, she starts to notice some gaps in her memories and irregularities. She starts to investigate the school and her past with the help of Cricket, the kitchen boy. But as she delves deeper, she finds herself not in control of her own thoughts and needs to break away from the manipulations of the puppet master in charge of it all.
The plot is interesting. I found myself wanting to know more about what happened to Penny and why she is in the school. I also wanted to know more about the Master and Beppe, their past together and how they became the people they are in the present. It is a fast-paced story and didn't really have moments where I was dragging to continue.
One thing that bothered me was how quickly things start moving. In retrospect, it makes sense since we're kind of waking up to the reality just as Penny is, so her beginning isn't her true beginning. There was a lot more before that we're not aware of as the reader, just like the characters. Despite knowing that, though, I wish we had more time with Penny and the characters so I could feel a connection with one of the characters.
There were also random characters just thrown in there, or characters without much of a backstory to understand their motives. For example, Prince Jacobus. He's in there for one section and I didn't really get why. He didn't really offer anything to the story, except he has an injured leg? I didn't see the need to have him there. And then there's the Madame. I didn't understand her reason for working at the school.
As I was reading, I found that many of the problems Penny faced were resolved almost instantly by someone just thrown in there or she'd figure it out instantly. I don't want to get too into it since discussing this would spoil the story, but I noticed it happening more and more as I got closer to the end, and it really bothered me.
We went back and forth between the present and the Master's past, which was insightful, but I wish it had more information. I had a lot of questions at the end that I think could have been answered in these chapters if they had those details. Like why a ballet school? Why girls? How did he gain so much power? What was the science behind everything?
There were a lot of dark topics I thought the author could have gone into. For example, one of the characters we meet later on in the book suffers PTSD. It was kind of glanced over, and how she started to come to terms with everything happened suddenly. It kind of bothered me that her history wasn't really discussed, and it took someone telling her it would be fine for her to suddenly be fine. Another topic is the Master's reasons for the school. The book didn't really explain why he had to have a ballet school, but what bothered me more was who he chose as "students". I don't want to get into it, because it might spoil the plot, but as I was reading, I kept on thinking, "Wait, he is what I think he is, right?" Sorry to be vague, but when you read it, I think you'll know what I'm alluding to.
Also, last minute thought, why did the summary have to say handsome Master and attractive kitchen boy? Why did it have to mention their looks at all?
The story is definitely interesting and I wanted to know more about Penny's past as she started to regain control of her memories. However, I didn't feel that the characters were developed (which might be because of the story itself, where you have to ask are the characters really themselves?) and I couldn't connect with them. At some points things Penny seemed to go into trouble easily, and then get out of it just as fast. I would recommend this book, but I don't think it's one I'll be rereading.
March 6, 2017
When I was requesting ARCs from Indigo's weekly newsletter, The Midnight Dance caught my eye right away. It just seemed like the type of book I'd devour, being about dance and mysteries. Unfortunately, it did not meet my expectations, thus leaving me quite disappointed.
For a short summary, this book revolves around Penny, a ballerina whose goal is to become one of the most successful dancers in her home country of Italy. She has been stuck inside her prestigious dance school for basically her entire life, being closely watched over by the Master. But suddenly, Penny starts remembering things that she shouldn't. Things that could change her entire life. So, with the help of love interest Cricket, she makes plans to escape her school and discover the truth, hoping to slide right by the Master.
Penny was a wise and strong character whose actions I enjoyed in the moment while reading, but once I shut the book, my memories of her went flooding away. I found that she didn't really stand out in the sea of YA protagonists- rather, she fit in. The Master and Cricket are the only other two characters I can recall upon my writing of this review, but still, all I can remember about them are flirting and kisses with Penny.
The premise of this story was definitely interesting, but I'm not sure if it really followed through. To me, the plot was just thrown all over the place with random characters and events coming in and out of the story, and in short, I couldn't keep track of anything! I was also quite bored by a large portion of this book and wanted to dose off to sleep. And what the heck was that ending?!
I must say, though, that the writing style of this book was amazing! It was very lyrical and unique, and if there's anything to remember about this book in a year, it is the writing for sure.
All in all, The Midnight Dance was a mediocre read, and I was not blown away by it in any way. I think it was a little more paranormal and thriller-y than what I was expecting, and it took me a while to get used to that kind of atmosphere. I'd recommend this book to those wanting an interesting paranormal story with a unique premise and beautiful writing style- but don't expect to be wowed any more than that.
*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Indigo Books & Music Inc. in exchange for an honest review.*
For a short summary, this book revolves around Penny, a ballerina whose goal is to become one of the most successful dancers in her home country of Italy. She has been stuck inside her prestigious dance school for basically her entire life, being closely watched over by the Master. But suddenly, Penny starts remembering things that she shouldn't. Things that could change her entire life. So, with the help of love interest Cricket, she makes plans to escape her school and discover the truth, hoping to slide right by the Master.
Penny was a wise and strong character whose actions I enjoyed in the moment while reading, but once I shut the book, my memories of her went flooding away. I found that she didn't really stand out in the sea of YA protagonists- rather, she fit in. The Master and Cricket are the only other two characters I can recall upon my writing of this review, but still, all I can remember about them are flirting and kisses with Penny.
The premise of this story was definitely interesting, but I'm not sure if it really followed through. To me, the plot was just thrown all over the place with random characters and events coming in and out of the story, and in short, I couldn't keep track of anything! I was also quite bored by a large portion of this book and wanted to dose off to sleep. And what the heck was that ending?!
I must say, though, that the writing style of this book was amazing! It was very lyrical and unique, and if there's anything to remember about this book in a year, it is the writing for sure.
All in all, The Midnight Dance was a mediocre read, and I was not blown away by it in any way. I think it was a little more paranormal and thriller-y than what I was expecting, and it took me a while to get used to that kind of atmosphere. I'd recommend this book to those wanting an interesting paranormal story with a unique premise and beautiful writing style- but don't expect to be wowed any more than that.
*I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Indigo Books & Music Inc. in exchange for an honest review.*
September 6, 2017
This book is coming out at the perfect time! The release date is October 17 and this book will give you all the Halloween feels that you want to be having during the month of October. This book is very mysterious and a pseudo thriller that had me on the edge of my seat throughout.
In all honesty, the first few chapters were my favourite. It was the hook of this novel. The whole mysterious concept of this Master and his unknown control over these girls was introduced and it had me fascinated. Plus, in the beginning, I really didn't have any idea whether the Master was a good or bad character.
Throughout the novel there were slow moments but that original suspense and intrigue kept me reading. I found that I liked the style of the author's writing as well with all of the details she included as how she included the past of the Master to help explain how he became who he was.
The romance in this novel wasn't necessairily a component that I loved but at the same time, I think it was fair because this book isn't being advertised as a romance. It probably would have irritated me if the main character was solely focused on a love interest when there was so much else going on to deal with.
I also really enjoyed the ending. I felt like it provided closure and answered all of my unanswered questions that I had throughout the novel. Also, I don't know if others felt this way but for me the ending left off with a little bit of mystery. I don't want to spoil anything and will keep this vague but....is that character really gone? We don't really know aside from making assumptions. Definitely a little bit of mystery there and I liked it!
I would recommend this book. It's a quick and hard to put down read. Maybe not my favourite thriller but it definitely had some unique concepts and it kept me entertained. Definitely a great debut novel for this author and I hope to read more from her in the future!
**Thank you to Raincoast Books for supplying me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review**
In all honesty, the first few chapters were my favourite. It was the hook of this novel. The whole mysterious concept of this Master and his unknown control over these girls was introduced and it had me fascinated. Plus, in the beginning, I really didn't have any idea whether the Master was a good or bad character.
Throughout the novel there were slow moments but that original suspense and intrigue kept me reading. I found that I liked the style of the author's writing as well with all of the details she included as how she included the past of the Master to help explain how he became who he was.
The romance in this novel wasn't necessairily a component that I loved but at the same time, I think it was fair because this book isn't being advertised as a romance. It probably would have irritated me if the main character was solely focused on a love interest when there was so much else going on to deal with.
I also really enjoyed the ending. I felt like it provided closure and answered all of my unanswered questions that I had throughout the novel. Also, I don't know if others felt this way but for me the ending left off with a little bit of mystery. I don't want to spoil anything and will keep this vague but....is that character really gone? We don't really know aside from making assumptions. Definitely a little bit of mystery there and I liked it!
I would recommend this book. It's a quick and hard to put down read. Maybe not my favourite thriller but it definitely had some unique concepts and it kept me entertained. Definitely a great debut novel for this author and I hope to read more from her in the future!
**Thank you to Raincoast Books for supplying me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review**
April 28, 2020
The cover is the only redeemable thing about this book. The main character sucks, the love interest has the personality of white bread, the plot was convoluted and somehow too fast and too slow at the same time. Would not recommend.
January 14, 2020
That happened. Pretty poorly.
September 5, 2022
Phantom of Opera , meets the Twelve Dancing Princesses 🩰
This was so enthralling and atmospheric , I COULD NOT put it down . It's the perfect book to read late into the night by candle light , with the Phantom of the Opera soundtrack playing . The Midnight Dance has the perfect amount of tension and terror ,without being too scary .
These playlists are the perfect accompaniment to this
https://youtu.be/8W0i6evMIl0
https://youtu.be/-gLq3rTXw68
https://youtu.be/P9wGyGWDT1U
https://youtu.be/lOa4yTH7f8g
https://youtu.be/Vl9DDK1Bj2A
This was so enthralling and atmospheric , I COULD NOT put it down . It's the perfect book to read late into the night by candle light , with the Phantom of the Opera soundtrack playing . The Midnight Dance has the perfect amount of tension and terror ,without being too scary .
These playlists are the perfect accompaniment to this
https://youtu.be/8W0i6evMIl0
https://youtu.be/-gLq3rTXw68
https://youtu.be/P9wGyGWDT1U
https://youtu.be/lOa4yTH7f8g
https://youtu.be/Vl9DDK1Bj2A
August 6, 2019
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I was one of the tour stops for the BLOG TOUR of this book, through Xpresso Book Tours. You can see my review on my blog, as well, here. I received an electronic copy of this novel for review purposes. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
There's something deliriously beautiful about the world portrayed in The Midnight Dance. It is both utterly compelling and deliciously dark, leaving readers on the edge of their seat for the duration of the novel. Perhaps one of the most stunning debuts in YA fiction this year, fans of Cassandra Clare;s The Infernal Devices trilogy and Jacqueline Garlick's The Illumination Paradox, will flock to the way in which The Midnight Dance is crafted.
One of the most striking things about the novel is the chill you are often faced whilst reading it. You cannot escape it--not even at the beginning. That feeling of wrongness about the central mystery of the book. This fact makes The Midnight Dance standout in terms of other releases this year. Well, that, and the cover (seriously--I need to get my hands on a copy to photograph it and reread ASAP).
As a whole, there's this uniqueness about it that really pulls you into the story--there's that thrilling aspect to it that toys with your nerves. The Midnight Dance, always, has a romance that does not make the story suffer for. I found that the tangles of genre and suspense really make the novel a fast pace read. I devoured it in one sitting because I simply could not put it down.
I didn't want it. I've been nursing a wicked book hangover ever since.
Everything is well plot and entwined with the central story. Nearly every tick, every intricate detail pulls at a thread until all is unraveled and we are faced with the truth about Master and his school for girls. Katz does a wonderful job to write compelling characters that balance out the darkness that the story holds--you can certainly see how much work went into tying these moments into the bigger picture.
Honestly, my skin crawled at so much in this. From Penny's inability to remember times in her life, to her determination in knowing that something was wrong, there isn't a single moment that goes by in The Midnight Dance where the suspense of it all sends your heart into a frenzy and the goosebumps begin to appear. While the story develops, and the reader puts pieces together, there are a few lighter moments in the thick of it; like the bond the girls share with one another at the school and the romance between Penny and Cricket.
I loved the way the timeline was split in two--the Master before creating the school, his motives for doing so, and then after--and found it to be really satisfying. It helped with the general flow of things (even though it didn't need that boost--that's how good it is) and put us in the minds of two very but no less captivating characters: Penny and Cirillo.
If you're looking for a novel that is suspenseful, chilling and twinged with just a bit of romance, The Midnight Dance is for you. I can't stress how much fun I had with this book. I straight up loved it and can feel it in my bones that it's not only one of my favourite releases this year, but now one of my favourites of all-time.
I can't recommend it enough.
Can I give it more than five stars?
I was one of the tour stops for the BLOG TOUR of this book, through Xpresso Book Tours. You can see my review on my blog, as well, here. I received an electronic copy of this novel for review purposes. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
There's something deliriously beautiful about the world portrayed in The Midnight Dance. It is both utterly compelling and deliciously dark, leaving readers on the edge of their seat for the duration of the novel. Perhaps one of the most stunning debuts in YA fiction this year, fans of Cassandra Clare;s The Infernal Devices trilogy and Jacqueline Garlick's The Illumination Paradox, will flock to the way in which The Midnight Dance is crafted.
One of the most striking things about the novel is the chill you are often faced whilst reading it. You cannot escape it--not even at the beginning. That feeling of wrongness about the central mystery of the book. This fact makes The Midnight Dance standout in terms of other releases this year. Well, that, and the cover (seriously--I need to get my hands on a copy to photograph it and reread ASAP).
As a whole, there's this uniqueness about it that really pulls you into the story--there's that thrilling aspect to it that toys with your nerves. The Midnight Dance, always, has a romance that does not make the story suffer for. I found that the tangles of genre and suspense really make the novel a fast pace read. I devoured it in one sitting because I simply could not put it down.
I didn't want it. I've been nursing a wicked book hangover ever since.
Everything is well plot and entwined with the central story. Nearly every tick, every intricate detail pulls at a thread until all is unraveled and we are faced with the truth about Master and his school for girls. Katz does a wonderful job to write compelling characters that balance out the darkness that the story holds--you can certainly see how much work went into tying these moments into the bigger picture.
Honestly, my skin crawled at so much in this. From Penny's inability to remember times in her life, to her determination in knowing that something was wrong, there isn't a single moment that goes by in The Midnight Dance where the suspense of it all sends your heart into a frenzy and the goosebumps begin to appear. While the story develops, and the reader puts pieces together, there are a few lighter moments in the thick of it; like the bond the girls share with one another at the school and the romance between Penny and Cricket.
I loved the way the timeline was split in two--the Master before creating the school, his motives for doing so, and then after--and found it to be really satisfying. It helped with the general flow of things (even though it didn't need that boost--that's how good it is) and put us in the minds of two very but no less captivating characters: Penny and Cirillo.
If you're looking for a novel that is suspenseful, chilling and twinged with just a bit of romance, The Midnight Dance is for you. I can't stress how much fun I had with this book. I straight up loved it and can feel it in my bones that it's not only one of my favourite releases this year, but now one of my favourites of all-time.
I can't recommend it enough.
Can I give it more than five stars?
December 14, 2017
That was so not what I was expecting this book to be about, but I still really enjoyed it??
(Also, keep in mind, I honestly added this to my TBR because I loved the cover.)
I've always liked books about dancers and I guess this qualifies a little bit under that category... but really it's about a dancer and a super dark, creepy human mind control experiment in 19th century Italy.
As soon as I read the prologue I was so morbidly fascinated by this crazy plot.
It wasn't the strongest plot arc--I was often reading not knowing what we were actually moving toward, just that things were happening and everyone was confused.
But, I think it was overall interesting enough to keep me invested, even when things got a little muddled.
The characters and romance were not super strong.
I could see the potential, but it fell into a hole of a lot of YA cliches.
I don't think the predictability or blandness of some of the characters is a deal breaker, though, if you're interested in the book. Give it a try! It was better than I thought it would be :D
Comparable Titles:
Mechanica
Vicious
Cruel Beauty
***I received an e-ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
***This review is also posted on my blog
(Also, keep in mind, I honestly added this to my TBR because I loved the cover.)
I've always liked books about dancers and I guess this qualifies a little bit under that category... but really it's about a dancer and a super dark, creepy human mind control experiment in 19th century Italy.
As soon as I read the prologue I was so morbidly fascinated by this crazy plot.
It wasn't the strongest plot arc--I was often reading not knowing what we were actually moving toward, just that things were happening and everyone was confused.
But, I think it was overall interesting enough to keep me invested, even when things got a little muddled.
The characters and romance were not super strong.
I could see the potential, but it fell into a hole of a lot of YA cliches.
I don't think the predictability or blandness of some of the characters is a deal breaker, though, if you're interested in the book. Give it a try! It was better than I thought it would be :D
Comparable Titles:
Mechanica
Vicious
Cruel Beauty
***I received an e-ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
***This review is also posted on my blog
Displaying 1 - 30 of 295 reviews