Blog Tour: Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black

 

Hello everyone and welcome to the Triple Threat Blog Tour hosted by Bloomsbury!  This stop is my review for the newly released debut, Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black. 

 

 

Published February 12, 2013 by Bloomsbury USA Children's Book

#1 in the Dance of Shadows series
egalley provided for review by netgalley
3 Stars


Goodreads Review
Dancing with someone is an act of trust. Elegant and intimate; you're close enough to kiss, close enough to feel your partner's heartbeat. But for Vanessa, dance is deadly – and she must be very careful who she trusts . . .

Vanessa Adler attends an elite ballet school – the same one her older sister, Margaret, attended before she disappeared. Vanessa feels she can never live up to her sister's shining reputation. But Vanessa, with her glorious red hair and fair skin, has a kind of power when she dances – she loses herself in the music, breathes different air, and the world around her turns to flames . . .

Soon she attracts the attention of three men: gorgeous Zep, mysterious Justin, and the great, enigmatic choreographer Josef Zhalkovsky. When Josef asks Vanessa to dance the lead in the Firebird, she has little idea of the danger that lies ahead – and the burning forces about to be unleashed . . .

Review:  I was really excited when I first found out about Dance of Shadows last summer.  I really love ballet stuff (Center Stage, Dance Academy, So You Think You Can Dance, even Dance Moms!) and I was really excited to see how the paranormal aspects would be woven into the ballet story.  While I think there were some really interested ideas in Dance of Shadows, I though they were presented in obvious and uninteresting ways.

Let me start of by thanking Bloomsbury and netgalley for the chance to read Dance of Shadows early and to participate in the blog tour, but unfortunately I don't have a lot of positive things to say.  The best part of Dance of Shadows is the cover, so be prepared.

I didn't think any of the characters were that memorable.  Vanessa, the main character is pretty oblivious throughout. She had this blind faith in certain characters but her relationships with them were never really all that developed so I didn't understand her devotion to them.  She also, and I hate to say this, was a bit of a mary sue (ugh that's so bad but it's true).  She doesn't want to be good at dance, she doesn't love it, but she's instantly the most special snowflake dancer.  Ballet is HARD AS BALLS.  Even the most naturally gifted dancers have to work their asses off, and frankly this book makes all of their dedication to the craft a bit of a joke.  She also instantly makes a ton of friends (who serve no other purpose other than being Vanessa's friends, they have no back story or anything else interesting going on) and instantly draws the attention of the hottest dancer in school (who is really a big jerk face but for some reason Vanessa is just in love with him for....reasons).  It's all just a little too easy for her in my opinion.

The other big issue I had was the pacing of the book.  The mystery was just dragged out at a snails pace for 70% of the book and then it was like all of a sudden they realized they were 300 pages in and nothing had really happened yet so the ending was a huge flux of information and crazy events that took place a ludicrous speed (almost went to plaid!).

 

Now, with all of that said, I still really liked this book.  I liked the premise and I really liked all the crazy stuff that happened at the end, I just wish the pacing was better and the characters were smarter.  I mean, how did NO ONE notice that so many ballet dancers were missing?  How did Elly or Chloe's parents not notice?  Whose parents don't call their teenaged daughter in months?  If it were my kid I'd be freaking the eff out.  While I was intrigued by the people and events that were hinted at for coming books in the series, I do think it could have all been completed in one book and not dragged out. 

Overall I thought Dance of Shadows had an interesting premise but poor delivery which may be the most disappointing type of novel.  I think with a lot more editing Dance of Shadows could have been really good.  Even though I had major issues with the book I was intrigued enough to want to read the sequel if one is published.