SFF

Nocturne

by Alyssa Wees
Del Rey: Ballantine. Feb. 2023. 240p. ISBN 9780593357477. $27. FANTASY
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DEBUT Set in 1930s Chicago, Wees’s lyrical fantasy has hints of Beauty and the Beast, Phantom of the Opera, and Greek mythology. Grace Dragotta was orphaned at a young age and found both home and solace in the Near North Ballet Company, where she has recently become the newest prima ballerina. Upon beginning her new position, she gains a very wealthy and mysterious patron, who refuses to let her meet him until she has completed her first run as prima. Soon Grace is forced into a world full of secrets that seem too dark to comprehend, and she grapples with finding the light in that darkness. Her patron, Master La Rosa, is more than what he seems and will help Grace achieve the transcendence she’s always dreamed of.
VERDICT This adult debut from YA author Weeks (The Waking Forest) is perfect for fans of Erin Morgenstern and fairy tale retellings, with great character development and a mystery that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
Reviewed by Leigh Verburg , Oct 01, 2022
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