Nocturne: A Novel
In this haunting, evocative fantasy set in 1930s Chicago, a talented ballerina finds herself torn between her dreams and her desires when she’s pursued by a secretive patron who may be more than he seems.
“An utterly unique, lyrical play on the Persephone and Hades myth for fans of Neil Gaiman or Madeline Miller.”—Booklist (starred review)
Growing up in Chicago’s Little Sicily in the years following the Great War, Grace Dragotta has always wanted to be a ballerina, ever since she first peered through the windows of the Near North Ballet company. So when Grace is orphaned, she chooses the ballet as her home, imagining herself forever ensconced in a transcendent world of light and beauty so different from her poor, immigrant upbringing.
Years later, with the Great Depression in full swing, Grace has become the company’s new prima ballerina—though achieving her long-held dream is not the triumph she once envisioned. Time and familiarity have tarnished that shining vision, and her new position means the loss of her best friend in the world. Then she attracts the attention of the enigmatic Master La Rosa as her personal patron and realizes the world is not as small or constricted as she had come to fear.
Who is her mysterious patron, and what does he want from her? As Grace begins to unlock the Master’s secrets, she discovers that there is beauty in darkness as well as light, finds that true friendship cannot be broken by time or distance, and realizes there may be another way entirely to achieve the transcendence she has always sought.
“An utterly unique, lyrical play on the Persephone and Hades myth for fans of Neil Gaiman or Madeline Miller.”—Booklist (starred review)
Growing up in Chicago’s Little Sicily in the years following the Great War, Grace Dragotta has always wanted to be a ballerina, ever since she first peered through the windows of the Near North Ballet company. So when Grace is orphaned, she chooses the ballet as her home, imagining herself forever ensconced in a transcendent world of light and beauty so different from her poor, immigrant upbringing.
Years later, with the Great Depression in full swing, Grace has become the company’s new prima ballerina—though achieving her long-held dream is not the triumph she once envisioned. Time and familiarity have tarnished that shining vision, and her new position means the loss of her best friend in the world. Then she attracts the attention of the enigmatic Master La Rosa as her personal patron and realizes the world is not as small or constricted as she had come to fear.
Who is her mysterious patron, and what does he want from her? As Grace begins to unlock the Master’s secrets, she discovers that there is beauty in darkness as well as light, finds that true friendship cannot be broken by time or distance, and realizes there may be another way entirely to achieve the transcendence she has always sought.
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Community Reviews
Nocturne is beautifully written. Wees creates an immersive story line where you can’t put the book down because you’re wondering, “What will Grace experience next?” If you liked The Invisible Life of Addie Larue and the way it painted the world, you will love Nocturne.
Where the book falls short is it’s pacing and character exploration. I had the same critique of TILOAL, where I wanted to see more and feel more connected to Addie and Luc’s relationship. In Nocturne, I echo these sentiments with Grace and Death. From the moment she put her hands on Sleep’s face, I got excited at the anticipated love triangle. However, this excitement got cold water splashed on its face as Death gets written off and Sleep/Mr. Russo goes from mysterious companion to, “Ha! Gotcha!” and ruins every romantic dream you could have in this novel in one fell swoop.
Referring back to TILOAL, I walked away wishing there was a continuation where we saw Addie and Luc’s tumultuous “romance.” With Nocturne, I feel the same. I would definitely read a sequel detailing how Death reappears in Grace’s new life as Queen.
Stars Given: Prose, Concept
Stars Taken: Pacing, Character Development
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