A Midnight Dance

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 A Midnight Dance

Joanna Davidson Politano

Revell

 All theater romances are tragedies. Ella Blythe knows this. Still, she cannot help but hope her own story may turn out different than most--and certainly different than the tragic story of the Ghost of Craven Street Theater. Yet as she struggles to maintain her tenuous place in the ever-shrinking ballet company, win the attentions of principal dancer Philippe, and avoid company flirt Jack, Ella cannot deny the uncanny feeling that her life is mirroring that of the dead ballerina.

Is she dancing ever closer to the edge of her own tragic end? Or will the secrets that are about to come to light offer release from the past?

Full of twists and turns, A Midnight Dance is centered by a compelling mystery, complicated characters, and an evocative setting. It's not a short novel, but it's an easy one to get sucked into.

In reading this book, though, I've realized that I'm actually not a fan of ballet stories- there's something about the obsession and competition surrounding ballet that makes me feel almost claustrophobic. By the second half of this book, I simply felt weighed down by it. Yet, in the novel's defense, it doesn't end that way. I was truly wondering if this book would have a satisfying or happy ending, and it does.

However, despite this complaint--which is purely personal preference--I think, writing-wise, this is one of Politano's best, and it's perfect for readers who want a haunting, unpredictable story about art and those who devote their lives to it.

I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

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