Nocturne

October 1, 2022

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.--Leigh Verburg

Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 17, 2022
A dancer in Depression-era Chicago slowly becomes aware of dark secrets surrounding her ballet company’s newest patron in Wees’s enchanting if slow-burning adult debut (after YA The Waking Forest). Grace Dragotta, 20, has spent the last seven years focused solely on her dancing with the Near North Ballet. When she is promoted to prima ballerina, she believes her hard work and perseverance through family tragedies have finally paid off—until she learns that her promotion came at the behest of Near North’s mysterious new patron, Master La Rosa. Grace is increasingly unsettled by the Master’s behavior, especially when he uses his influence to compel her to move into his house with him. When he finally reveals his mystical secret, Grace learns there’s much more at stake in this performance season than just the success of the ballet. Wees cleverly evokes Beauty and the Beast folklore, drawing especially on the eerie beauty of Jean Cocteau’s 1946 film adaptation. Despite the elegant prose, however, it takes so long to reach the Master’s home that readers less interested in the more mundane dramas of Grace’s life may lose interest. Luckily, the magical elements, once they are revealed, are enthralling. Patient readers will be rewarded with a lush, impressive fantasy from a promising new voice. Agent: Penelope Burns, Gelfman Schneider Literary.

May 1, 2023

Grace Dragotta is delighted to be promoted to prima ballerina in her 1938 Chicago company. An orphan, she views her ballet friends as family, and believes her hard work has rescued her from the days when she played the violin on the street busking for money. The first third of the novel will especially appeal to those who enjoy reading about the world of ballet. When a mysterious patron offers to generously fund the company, all are overjoyed, until Grace discovers that the patron may have played a role in her ascent, and is whisked off to live in his magical mansion in Hyde Park, where "Beauty and the Beast" elements enter the fantastical plot. The fantasy grows wilder as Grace copes with magical creatures and explores the afterlife with her patron, and the ballet scenes are gradually less important as the fairy tale takes over. The conclusion is a surprising yet fitting ending for an imaginative tale. VERDICT Recommended for teens who love dance and fantasy.-Karlan Sick

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from February 1, 2023
Grace Dragotta is a ballerina in Chicago during the Great Depression who longs to dance as the prima in her company. When she achieves her dream, she is hurt to find out that it wasn't entirely owing to talent: Master La Rosa used his money and influence to further her career then takes his admiration a step further. She has to live with him, eat his food, wear the clothes he provides, and dance a waltz with him once a week. Grace goes along with this for the good of the company and to remain prima, but at every turn, she is looking for a way out. It is clear from the first time she meets Master La Rosa that he is not human, but what is he, and what does he need from Grace? Nocturne is an utterly unique, lyrical play on the Persephone and Hades myth for fans of Neil Gaiman or Madeline Miller. The beautiful language used creates an atmosphere of darkness, grace, and foreboding that sets up a haunted and mythical story. The character of Grace, the language, and the plot are all elements of this novel that will engage readers as Grace fights other people's expectations to find her own path.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.