What a tough person you have to be! To compete and be a ballerina, to strive to be your best amongst physical odds. This book was fascinating. It jumped around a bit. But was a fun read. 4 stars

Many thanks to Net Galley and HarperAudio Adult for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrations was very good. It really helped to make the story very engaging. The main character, Natalia Leonova, is presented in two timelines – one as a rising star at Mariinsky (and its “rivalry” with Bolshoi) and one as a prima ballerina coming back from a devastating injury and a more devastating broken heart. As I read the book I often thought of my youth and Baryshnikov and the ballety movie White Nights. It was an engaging story and was well written.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook arc to preview.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. This book had me hooked from the very beginning. A dancer returns along with al of her ghost. You wouldn't be able to put this one down once you start it.

This book was so utterly boring. I found myself unable to engage.

The audio version was especially confusing because it jumped between two separate time periods but was not clear when the jumps occurred until partway through the scene. The narrators did perfectly fine but it would’ve been nice to know when the scene changed instead of figuring it out partway through the switch

This book hit me in a way I wasn’t expecting. The writing was so much more than just a way to tell the story; it felt like an experience in itself. Every sentence had weight, every word seemed deliberate. There was this depth that pulled me in, making me reflect on things I didn’t even realize I was processing. It wasn’t flashy or overt, but there was something in the simplicity that felt profound, as if the author was inviting me to look a little deeper at the world they created.

The main character was complex, messy, and real. Her journey was filled with drama, but it was the kind of drama that was written with such care and thoughtfulness that it made every emotional moment feel earned. Her pain, her struggles, and her growth were so deeply felt. The forgiveness in her story, in particular, was handled in such a raw, beautiful way. It wasn’t easy or simple, but it was powerful and transformative. Watching her find the strength to forgive—both others and herself—was one of the most moving aspects of the book. It made her journey feel like a true reflection of human resilience and the healing power of compassion.