"Being a woman is a beautiful but brutal thing."

So, they danced, one woman started, couldnt and wouldnt stop and by the time this mania ended, over 400 women would be dancing.

Based on a true event in Strasbourg in 1518, this is the backgound of a story that features four very strong women. It was a time when the church was all powerful, and of course men were the church. Anyone different was called out for various punishments. Lisbeth has had much grief in her life, she has lost ten children but is now expecting again. She is awaiting the return of her sister in law Nethe, who has completed her many year penance. Her mother in law Sophie and her friend Ida will all come to the attention of the church with horrifying results.

Lisbeth has a tree, a tree that she calls the dancing tree, where she marks the death of her ten children. it will be the place where pivotal events in the book happen. A tree that marks lifes trials, but also happiness, solace and joy. The authors note adds to the actual historical events of the time and adds greatly to our understanding. A terrific book marking a time when women had no control over their own lives and had to suppress all their own wants and desires.

The audio was wonderfully narrated.

The Dance Tree by Kiran Millwood Hargrave is a fascination depiction that transports the reader back to a time where church and patriarchy rules and science is non-existent. Fascinating imagery and packed with relevant issues that we can still see today.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was an event in history that I had never heard about, so it was very informative to learn about. The writing of the author was beautiful. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, which I confused a lot of the time. The story moved pretty slowly (mostly because I read a lot of thrillers I suppose). But I think it was a good story.

I liked the narrator. She had a great, soothing voice. She didn't change voices for different characters much.

Literary historical fiction seems to be having a moment (again?) and The Dance Tree fits right into that trend. Set in early 1500s Strasbourg, the book is told from the perspective of Lisbet—a woman who has suffered tremendous grief through multiple pregnancy losses and is experiencing the hope and fear that comes with another pregnancy. She tends bees yearns for a living child, and keeps the memory of her lost children by hanging ribbons on the dance tree in the forest behind her farm. When her husband’s sister returns from her seven year penance at a far-off abbey and her husband is called away to fight for their family’s right to their property, everything in Lisbet’s life begins to subtly shift. At the same time, a dancing epidemic (based on a true historical event!) begins in the nearby town, causing a stir among women far and wide. I loved the premise of this book, and I really enjoyed the historical details juxtaposed against characters who felt timeless and vibrant. It did, however, veer into what I’ve begun to think of as historical fiction clichés and some of the plot points felt rather trite. The writing is lovely though, and I would still recommend this to readers who loved Matrix by Lauren Groff and The Familiars by Stacey Halls. Don’t skip the afterword if you do read it!

“Strasbourg, 1518. In the midst of a blisteringly hot summer, a lone woman begins to dance in the city square.”

I loved a lot about this book. First off, I will never NOT judge a book by its cover and by that metric, this book is A STUNNER.

The expressive prose was also a favourite. Sometimes you want the cold hard facts. Sometimes you want it zhuzhed up a bit.

The topic, itself, is something I’ve been curious about. Was it spiritual? Was it food-bourne? Was it mental illness? ‘Cause, the 1500s were HARSH.

That’s where the book lost me. While I’m smart enough to know that settings predating modern medicine are always going to be a tough hang, I wasn’t smart enough to look past the pretty cover with DANCE and TREE in the title.

I wasn’t ready for all the ways a body can die. Infanticide, child-birth, starvation, and suicide, coupled with the author’s superior writing, made it all a little too real to me.

I need a palate cleanser. Where you at, India Holton?

While I would absolutely read another book by this author, I’d not again choose the bleak midwinter to do so.

6.5/10

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Audio for this historical ARC.

In my review for The Mercies in 2020, I described Kiran Millwood Hargrave’s writing as “crisp” and “at once stark and intimate.” Those adjectives apply equally to The Dance Tree. For some readers, this may create a distance that prevents feeling connected with the characters. However, in both novels, I have found that it’s a perfect balance. I cared about the characters here, was mesmerized by their story, and yet the subtle distance also places it within a real historical context.

The Dance Tree follows Lisbet and her perspective as she learns more about the people around her. At the novel’s beginning, she is focused primarily on the bees she tends to and on the baby growing inside her, due within just a few months. She’s not close to her husband or mother-in-law, and she mourns the loss of all her unborn babies. And yet she has a fire inside of her, a determination to hold this baby, to keep her bees, to feel fulfillment and joy. Her sister-in-law Agnethe has just returned after a seven-year banishment; for what crime, Lisbet does not know. But soon, the two of them grow to like and trust each other. Lisbet’s neighbor and best friend, Ida, seems to have unpleasant history with Agnethe… but both women have their lips sealed on that subject.

After Lisbet’s husband leaves town to fight for their ownership of their bees (their livelihood), the summer rapidly grows eventful. First, Lisbet witnesses a woman dancing in town, as if in a trance. It’s not long before a dancing plague has erupted, leading women to dance uncontrollably for days on end. The men in power aim to stop this chaos, bringing in musicians who are directed to stay in Lisbet’s home. One of them, a Turk named Aren, forms a close connection with her. Meanwhile, Lisbet is uncovering shocking secrets between Ida and Nethe, secrets she’ll protect as fiercely as if they were her own. Between these three young women, Aren, and Lisbet’s mother-in-law Sophie, the summer gets tangled and turns dangerous.

The Dance Tree is an impactful and powerful novel, and many of its themes feel just as relevant today. It addresses xenophobia, the LGBTQ+ community, mental health, and power, especially for women living in a patriarchal society that is deeply religious and superstitious. It is singularly feminist, highlighting the strength women have to carry on despite everything and celebrating different relationships between women. The novel also questions the authority of religious leaders, of men who claim to be as worthy of worship as God.

Another important theme in the novel is Lisbet’s own struggles with fertility. She’s been pregnant 12 times before but has never carried one to term. In her heart she feels like a mother, even if no one else recognizes her as such. They see her as a failure, as cursed. Lisbet is pregnant again now, farther along than ever before, and determined for this baby to live. This may be a difficult theme for some, but it is treated with care, largely inspired by the author’s own experiences.

Between these different reasons making people feel marginalized, like sinners, they find solace in the “dance tree” Lisbet secretly tends. Deep in the forest, her dance tree contains symbols of each of her lost babies. It’s a safe haven for her, and becomes a safe haven for the people in her life who also need solace and a place to feel free to be themselves. The dance tree is a pagan practice—and thus dangerous for Lisbet if anyone were to find it—and yet is the only real comfort for her.

In the end, the dancing plague is a backdrop more than a central element else here. The Dance Tree isn’t directly about the dancing plague, and its main characters don’t exactly experience this mania themselves. It serves more as a backdrop for the other themes at play here, setting the tone for a tumultuous and overly hot summer. However, for those who do want a glimpse of the dancing plague, there are numerous brief accounts of otherwise unknown characters between some chapters. They bolster the novel’s arc and give it extra space to tie everything together.

The audiobook for The Dance Tree, narrated by Ruta Gedmintas, perfectly matches the tone of the novel. While at first it may feel too gentle or too remote, in time it proves to be exactly the right style for the story. Ruta Gedmintas gives the characters enough space to flourish, and I commend her excellent narration.

The Dance Tree is sparse and yet evocative, a powerfully written novel for marginalized people who find their own solace and internal strength. It delves into themes of motherhood and loss, sexuality, xenophobia, feminism, mental health, and religion, and is ultimately both captivating and hopeful.

The Dance Tree is a beauty of a book and the audio book is a joy to listen to, read by Ruth Gedmintas.
It is a great listen as the characters really unfold as we listen. Lisbet, her family and the constant presence of her bees wind through the story and take us back in time.
I will be recommending The Dance Tree without hesitation.

Kiran Milwood Hargrave manages to deliver the suffocating, tense, sweltering and immersive historical novel that she set out to write. These characters felt real in such a way that they wouldn't allow a reader (or their background, alas) to dictate the way they present themselves. I found this to be a feat for Hargrave, but I found that the emotional tone lacked any real highs for me, so it felt like a constant lulling sadness with no real let up, which prevented me from truly enjoying the story. Alas, I appreciate what the ending in particular was trying to achieve, but the resolution didn't feel satistying enough to justify all that the characters went through for me.

3.5/5 stars
This is probably one of the hardest books I've ever reviewed. I have no idea how to put my thoughts/feelings into words so they make sense, but I will try my best. For starters I think Kiran Millwood Hargrave has a real talent for writing. Her words always flow with such grace and lyricism. At the same time, though, it can become a bit too much and it causes me to zone out and not fully grasp what's happening. It's a strange feeling of liking the book but having absolutely no clue why. This book of hers in particular was not what I had expected. I thought it would be about the dancing plagues that took place between the 14th-17th centuries. While this was part of the storyline it was more of a backdrop to the real story of three women dealing with identity, hardships, love, loss and so much more. I think it is very reflective of the author's own life at times. Some of the characters were relatable while others felt quite forgettable. Our MC Lisbet was very relatable for me and I found that I was putting myself in her position emotionally throughout the book. A lot of the story centers around a town on the verge of hysteria and the men who have deemed themselves in charge trying to gain back control, namely of the women who dare step out of line. Religion is a largely talked about topic in the story to show how it was used to shame and control others and how it played a large part in everyday life during this time. I feel it was done extremely well, and it was almost weird reading it because of how far things have come since then. It makes the scenarios almost seem unreal, but is a reminder of the role religion held and how it aided in dictating where people ranked in society. Overall the book took a different path than originally expected and could be boring at times, but the concept and messages were well perceived and thoughtfully done. I would maybe recommend this book if I came across the right person. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Advanced Reader’s Copy audiobook provided by NetGalley, and Harper Audio exchange for an honest review.

The Dance Tree is the second book by Kiran Millwood Hargrave and I am again amazed! The true tale of the Dancing Plague of Strasbourg through the eyes of Hargrave's characters created a story I did not want to put it down. The characters in this novel were so filled with life. After reading, I felt like I could empathize and understand the actions/choices of each character. The details and dialogue of this novel is gripping, and well crafted. The Dance Tree discusses race, class and gender in the historical lens of 1518, while also relating to today.

The story was filled with amazing detail and emotion without ever feeling weighed down. The narrator, Ruta Gedmintas did an amazing job bringing the story to life!

4.5 stars. I adore Kiran Millwood Hargrave's writing - it's poetic, gorgeous, and stirs emotion every time I read her work. The Mercies is one of my all time favorites, and I was so excited to receive an audio ARC of The Dance Tree. The audio is fantastically performed. However, after reading The Mercies physically, I will say that I think Hargrave is best when physically read - the audio seemed to sap some of the emotion from the writing and left characters feeling dry. I was so fascinated by the concept of a dancing plague and found Lisbet to be a fascinating protagonist. This story encapsulates Hargrave's masterful approach to historical fiction with the familiar themes of women's struggles throughout history. I found myself more drawn to the character of Agnethe, Lisbet's sister-in-law; as an outcast to society returning from isolation, I was enthralled by her story and wished there could have been more from her perspective. All in all I think this is a stunning book with an expansive story that could have benefitted from a little more emphasis on the dancing mania itself and some of the faltering side characters, but it's definitely one that I will treasure. Keep in mind that the ending is real but grim!

As a huge fan of Kiran Millwood Hargrave, this book will absolutely delight fans. However, the audio book was a challenge to listen to.
I struggled with the narration of this book, Although the reader is clear in diction, there is definitely a lack of inflection., leaving the listener lost in the monotone.

I will order a print copy as soon as this great work is published.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to try this work as an audio book.