Oh how I tried to read this. On several occasions. I just couldn't get into this at all. Gorgeous cover for a slog of a book, I'm afraid. The premise seemed plenty intriguing, but it didn't carry to the book.

DNF.

While the cover is stunning, I was put off by the story. It seems irresponsible to portray a young adult protagonist “dating” their adult coach. I wish this had been left out as it sounds like maybe the story takes a different direction later on, but I’m just never going to get there.

I eagerly awaited for this book to make it out in the world. Shamy is such a driven author and it definitely shows in her work, taking her time and experiences as a ballerina and her spouses experience as a climber to a new level, weaving them into a wonderully written novel.

I requested this read because I love stories that center around the performing arts, but I just couldn’t fully commit to this one. The beginning was exciting and I was really into it but the characters didn’t really pull me in, the story was too swift and not really drawing. It just wasn’t my favorite.

DNF

It has been a while since I got this book and unfortunately I don’t really have any interest in reading the book anymore. I am also now a lot more picky with the books I request and choose to read.

this was a really unique read, I loved the characters and the storyline. I look forward to more from the author and hopefully more in the world.

I don't usually pick up mystery books, but this sounded too good to pass up. I had such a great time reading this book! The main character Red is complex and strong, and I loved her! The pacing, writing and plot flowed seamlessly! I haven't read any book featuring a ballerina concept, but I loved this mystery. The romance was great, and I just wish it was longer!

I find myself wishing that the author either stuck with Giselle or The Phantom of the Opera, but not both because I feel like it took away from the novel (but that could just be me). I loved the chemistry between Liam and Megan "Red", but I could not see the chemistry between the other potential love interests (I was not even aware that Jane was a love interest and was secretly hoping that she would die. Yes, I am a horrible person, but I could not stand Jane at all . Well, that and I was waiting for these dying girls to die and not the men.)
I feel like the blurb needs to be rewritten because the book was not at all what I was picturing.
3.5 out of 5 stars

This book isn't for me. How do I know? Because I read it and it bored me to tears. 20% in I almost DNF'ed it, but I stuck with it only to skim through the remainder of the book reading it in chunks. Nothing much happens.

The book starts with two disjointed tales; one is Megan Tucker's in Colorado, and the other is Liam Reynolds and the Theater Company in Nova Scotia--two teenage rebels who are grabbing the world with both hands. Megan 'Red' Tucker is a ballerina gone mountain climber well off the beaten path. Liam is a prodigal son who has come back to claim his family's legacy. But nothing much happens chapter after chapter to advance the story but monotonous exposition and reiteration.

While flipping through later chapters into the mystery, there isn't any increase in tensions. The entire book maintains a mellowness that isn't something I can sit through. I need action, and I didn't feel like there was anything impactful or compelling. The story puttered along at one lowkey speed.

I didn't find this easy to read. I often fell asleep reading it. I don't recommend this for gothic fiction fans because it lacks the psychological aspects of a great gothic read.

This book really grabbed me at the very beginning! After that, it was non-stop action and I actually couldn't put it down, reading it within one day.

Unfortunately, the action was so fast-paced, it didn't really allow time to develop the characters and I was left with a lot of questions.

SPOILER WARNING:
Our MC, a 17-yo pro climber/ballerina kind of jumps all over the place, and her motivations still aren't clear. Like we are told she supposedly grew less selfish, but I didn't really see it.

And Bellamy, how did he heal Red? And although he threatened Red with repercussions to her brother if she didn't keep up her end of their deal, it was then revealed he wasn't responsible when something actually did happen to him? So why the threat? And he was so unnecessarily secretive!

Speaking of Red's twin brother (a supposedly extra strong bond), why didn't she care about him? Even when he died, it wasn't that upsetting. In fact, when anyone died, it's like, okay, back to the performance and saving the theater!

And what did Thomas really do for the story? And Don Quijote, like we never even got to know his real name. And what is the deal with Liam's parents?

Also, why on earth weren't the cops brought in to investigate the murders? I think it was up to at least 5 dead people at one point. I mean, how could that have been ignored?

The end felt convoluted and made no sense...Red's mother was getting help and recovering from her unknown mental illness, so how was making zombies of all the ballerinas helping to "cure" her?

I would have loved to have seen more time spent fleshing out the characters and their relationships with each other. As it was, unfortunately I wasn't invested in them, and what could have been a great story was simply good.

Trigger warning: Suicide, mental illness episodes, murder, blood

Phantom of the Opera was one of my major fascinations when I was a child and it's exciting to find a book that's a beat-for-beat retelling with a bit of a different focus. In this tale, Megan Van Helsburg has been running from her theatrical past until her mountaineering career tanks and she finds herself back at a theater once terrorized by the Bridegroom Killer. The murders have started again and a mysterious stranger has taken a liking to her.

I really enjoyed how Shamy incorporated her expertise in ballet throughout the narrative. It felt very organic to the story. The new additions, like the mountaineering, also folded in very well, both from a character growth perspective and from a way that different types of physical activities build on each other. In addition, the book takes a Black Swan angle when it comes to the depiction of mental illness. It worked for me, but this might not be true for other readers. I appreciated the nuance of there being no cure and that sometimes "love" becomes mistakenly coupled with cruelty and this is challenged throughout.

The romance between Bellamy and Megan also worked, but what really struck out to me was how much there was a focus of friendship between Megan and Jane and Megan and Luke. In the original narrative, these side characters did not get much of a spotlight. Luke gets his own POV, and I really liked Jane's arc.

A darkly romantic, twisted tale of legacy and the things people will do for the people they love, all taking place in a ballet theater.

Love puzzles and this one doesn't disappoint. You will stay up way past your bedtime completely engrossed in this amazing thriller trying to figure out what's going on and you won't until the end. Absolute must read. Add this to your teetering TBR pile. Happy reading!

Thank you Fantastic Fiction Book Club, Parliament and NetGalley for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Redpoint Crux
By: Morgan Shamy


REVIEW ☆☆☆☆
What do rock climbing and ballet have in common? Nothing, as far as I knew, that is, until I read The Redpoint Crux. The heroine, Megan, is a rock climber and a ballet dancer. A climbing accident ends that career, so she returns to the ballet in Nova Scotia. Megan has a tragic history with the place involving her father. Her family are overall a troubled lot. As the story progresses, ballerinas are murdered and acting zombie like, and Megan reconnects with an old friend. She is out to find the murderer and solve this bizarre mystery. The story is gripping and compelling with a gritty gothic vibe. I love when the atmosphere of a story is really its own character, and in this world, everything is permeated by a creeping sense of dread and eerie machinations. The whole thing is very macabre and Edgar Allen Poe-esq. This dark twisted mystery was not solved by me. I couldn't predict anything, and that's a good thing. I recommend The Redpoint Crux if you want to be transported to a captivating yet frightening place for just a little while.

This book is basically The Phantom of the Opera meets ballet. It's tragic, dramatic and beautiful. The protagonist, Red, is a strong feminist female character who is also very complex which is so nice to see.

This book is about a girl named Megan who has cut off ties to her family after her father's death who returns to ,Halifax, Nova Scotia to tie up some loose ends. While Megan is there, she is soon alerted to the fact that the "bridegroom killer " of the theatre has returned and is killing men. Its up to Megan and her friends to stop the murders from happening. Warning: This book talks about mental illness and eating disorders. This was a very interesting book because I liked the way the author wrote the story which kept me turning the pages until I reached the ending which unfortunately I didn't find as satisfying because it felt like the story could have gone on longer. But that being said, this story is so good that it deserves a sequel.

Opinions: From the freakishly amazing beginning to the freakish end, I was completely immersed in The Redpoint Crux! The supernatural elements, the edgy romance between Red and her instructor, the deaths, the girls, the tunnels, the chandelier, oh!! It was all so alluring. Thanks to Shamy's passion for her characters and their passion to take each other down, the classic saying "just one more page" applied as I read The Redpoint Crux on the edge of my seat for the rest of the day. The spooky, eerie atmosphere didn't help my feeling of on-edge as I scoured the pages full of ballet and behind-the-scenes drama. I loved the contrast between the gentleness of ballet and the perplexity of rock climbing; it is almost as if there was an "old Red" and "new Red" rather than one principle character who lives both lives. This obvious character development leads readers to question the themes and morals Shamy discusses in The Redpoint Crux, and if I tell you that this book didn't teach me about loyalty and bravery, I don't know what will! All in all, a thrilling, spooky, re-read worthy book!

My Favourite Thing: Personally, I love the creativity of The Redpoint Crux! Adding on to what I said earlier, the contrast between ballet and rock-climbing - two activities seldom practiced in YA - is representative and symbolic for many other elements of the book. Nothing about The Redpoint Crux happened by accident: Shamy planned every last detail to make sure her readers were engaged, spooked, and wowed by the ghosts and chaos! In just 290 pages, we cover a lot of ground - metaphorically and physically - thanks to Shamy's world-building and to-the-point writing style. I can't think of another book where you'd find so much content jammed into so few pages!

My Least Favourite Thing: That said, "so much content jammed into so few pages" makes for a quick pace. Even the sorrowful moments were fast and judicious, leaving no time for readers to connect and empathize with the characters. I also found that there was very little difference between the climax and any other scene because they're all intense and exciting! Although lots of action may sound appealing to some readers, the ending of the book was a bit of a let-down because we didn't get the crazy climax readers expect from a story arc.

Total Rating: PG-13
Language: PG-13
Adult Content: PG-13
Violence: PG-13

Recommended For and Similar Reads: The Redpoint Crux is a fast-paced, eerie story for teens who love contrasting atmospheres and creative settings! I strongly recommend this book to anybody needing a pick-me-up during quarantine! Similar reads are Fountain Dead by Theresa Braun, The Shrike and the Shadows by Chantal Gadoury and AM Wright, and Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake.

Trivia: This book's original title was "Climbing the Chandelier"!

I really wanted to like this book. It has so many things I'm drawn to within it but there was a lot of the storyline that felt confused and the character interactions felt over the top--mean for the sake of being mean and everyone was so, so, so very dramatic. It often took me out of the story.

That said, I loved the atmosphere and world building Shamy created and it was a fun reimagining of POTO!

I think I requested this thinking it was horror but it wasn’t and it wasn’t my kind of story, I won’t leave a bad review because of my mistake. The writing Of what I read was good and characterisation seemed strong. Just pity not my type of read. But as I say won’t leave negative review due to my error

With a conversational narrative that eases us into this interesting mystery, we are situated at a failing theater in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. We witness the start of what seems like the comeback of a murderer and the search for a secret fortune. Our 17yr old protagonist 'Red" returns to this theater after being dismissed from the US climbing team.

Colored with gothic tones and a sort of sinister ambience, you can't help but be reminded of Phantom of the Opera. And yes, this tale has its dark figure living beneath the theater, but instead of helping Red sing, he is forcing her to dance.

Red's POV is pretty straightforward, while Liam's POV does get a little too busy with all the theater and ballet drama. As the story progresses and the author stops trying to do so much at once, it gets better. Of course Red's has the added bonus intensity of the dark figure Bellamy. In my opinion, he is the best thing presented in this book.

Some scenes just seem to come out of nowhere, making the story a bit uneven. But you cannot deny that there is a charm to it.

Through an unorthodox search for a murderer and a mission to save the theater and its people, our protagonists evolve into their true selves. If love is involved, is it alright to cross any line? How far should loyalty go?

Including a lot of unbelievable crazy (yes more crazy) towards the end, I can honestly say I did not predict how this was going to go. Tragedy, excitement and melancholy, with the fine line between good and evil, all wrapped up in a pretty bow.

The Redpoint Crux Review

This book was very well written! I enjoyed the pacing as well as the phrasing of the story. It was very atmospheric, and I had “Angel of Music” constantly running through my head as I read it.

This book was interesting to me because I had a hard time connecting with Megan, yet I sped through the book. Usually if I don’t connect with/like the main character I find myself messing around on Facebook or Instagram instead of reading because I just don’t want to read it. But in this case, I still really wanted to know what would happen, and before I knew it I was finishing the book. The romance also didn’t work for me because I would have been too creeped out by the situation to actually fall for anyone.

There is also a mystery involved with the book, and I have to say I didn’t guess at all what was going to happen at the end of the book! I was a little confused though; the police didn’t seem to be involved, even though there were apparently quite a few murders.

I really appreciated that the romance was clean and that there was no swearing (at least I didn’t notice any) in the book.

Even though I didn’t connect with Megan and I didn’t personally care for the romance, I still really enjoyed the book, which is a testament to the author’s talent. I will definitely check out future books by this author!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.