**I received an advanced listening copy of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.**

It is a highly competitive world in ballet, according to Kim's novel. And Natalia Leonova, the main character, wants to be the best. Told in parallel timelines, as Natalia considers her past while preparing for her return to the ballet world, a story of high stakes, politics, deception and secrets, and tragedy unfolds. Kim's writes with beautiful and descriptive prose; this is not a novel to read through quickly but rather enjoy slowly.

The structure of the novel also does well to tell the story--divided into acts, much like a ballet performance, Kim perfectly adds enough suspense at the end of each act to make the reader wish to continue reading. As for the characters, Natalia is complicated and not very likable. However, as the reader discovers the reasons for Natalia's emotional and physical pain, Natalia's attitude makes sense. Nina, the best friend, is a wonderful character who appears perfect but yet has flaws, which Natalia discovers.

The audio production of this novel is not as strong as the novel, at least to me. There were times that I could not tell which character was speaking, and the inflections and tones did not quite match the events taking place in the story.

However, the novel is worth reading, whether in book or audio form. Recommended for ballet lovers.

#CityOfNightBirds #NetGalley

I love stories that pull back the veil on the elegant yet competitive and sometimes dark world of ballet.

Juhea Kim has written a captivating novel about prima ballerina Natalia Leonova's rise and fall in Russian ballet.

This coming-of-age story is wrapped in an evocative journey of artistry, lovers, betrayal, and a heroic comeback from injury and addiction.

The writing is descriptive and immersive yet feels very intimate; it is evident that ballet is something personal to the author. It delves into the personal sacrifices, the physical and emotional tolls of being a celebrated dancer, and the cost when that is all taken away. From Russia to Paris, there is a mix of intrigue and politics (including the Russian invasion of the Ukraine), plus the discipline of ballet, and the seduction of friends and lovers.

𝐴 𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑛𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑎𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒, 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ.


Thank you @eccobooks for a gifted book. Thank you @harperaudio and @harpercollins for the gifted audiobook.

I'm not a ballet aficianado but I found the descriptions of ballets and the behind-the-scenes machinations of various ballet companies and of ballet dancers preparing for performances to be interesting. The story careens through history without really providing enough context to justify some of the characters' decisions. In the end, I felt as if I didn't really understand the characters or their motivations very well. Natasha, the main character, seemed to move in and out of addiction to alcohol and sedatives without much plausible explanation. Her inability to sustain real relationships, though, seemed real. Narrator Amy Landon does a nice job of telling the story without getting in the way. Readers who are fascinated by ballet and dance will find much to appreciate in City of Night Birds.