A fascinating read, Witches' Dance was a powerful story.

Hilda Greer discovered the violin at the age of seven, when she attended a performance by the virtuoso Phillip Manns. She believed him with a child’s faith when he declared himself the reincarnation of Niccolò Paganini and then dashed from the stage, his mind in ruins. Manns disappeared from the music world after that catastrophic performance, but Hilda’s love affair with the violin was just beginning.

Certainly enjoyable and interesting story. Not what i thought it was going to be, i can be honest about that.

I really enjoyed this, it had more of a ‘psychological thriller’ feel to it than I had expected- which is always a plus for me. The unusual focus on the world of classical music with an intriguing mixture of magic kept me interested throughout. I would happy read more from Erin

The synopsis for this book is deceptively simple. There are so many possible triggers in this book (List below) that I had no idea about going in. Because of this, it was a very difficult read.

Triggers:
Medication
Delusions
Suicide
Sexual assault (rape)
Self-harm
Alcoholism
Abusive Relationships

What can I say about this book? I had no clue who Paganini was, but I do now. Philip's talent will leave you breathless while his mental disease will break your heart. Little Hilda will have you cheering for her and say a little prayer she nurtures her talent. While you read this have Paganini playing in the background.

I can't believe how underrated this book is. Out of all the young adult books that came out last year, this one really stood out for me. Whether you're a musician or not, you can really relate to the characters because you get to see both their light and their shadows, and I really appreciated the fact that we got to know more about the rest of the characters as well and just not the main one, it really made all the difference when it came to building up the world of the story. It's humane, it's raw and it revindicated young adult for me (I usually close a YA book with this sour taste in my mouth and thinking that I should have been reading something else instead). I didn't feel that way about this one. I absolutely loved it and I cannot believe that it wasn't as hyped as it should be. If you haven't read it, please give this book a chance if you're into deep, complex character building, mental health or music. It felt like just the right mixture between YA and literary fiction.

Ok, this book was nothing like what I expected and is not my usual kind of read but I could NOT put it down & read it within 1 afternoon!

TRIGGER WARNING
Medication
Delusions
Suicide
Sexual assault (rape)
Self-harm
Alcoholism
Abusive Relationships

Yep, this book contains some heavy stuff and had I known all of this, I probably wouldn’t have read it but seriously, woah.

I worried for Hilda, and was empathetic to a point with Mr Manns. I felt like the dynamic between Hilda and her mother, Claire was maddening but believable (until Claire doesn’t get involved in Hilda’s inappropriate relationship).

I was constantly on edge wondering where it would go & even though towards the end it got pretty graphic, I still didn’t think that Hilda’s relationship was glorified but whether she was descending into his madness? All I can say is thank goodness for Irina’s timing!

Brilliant, dark adult read.

When I picked this book up initially, I thought it was going to be a book about witches. I didn't know anything about the classical violinist Niccolo Paganini and his Witches' Dance. Didn't matter. This was an interesting book involving a violinist, Phillip Manns, who thinks he IS Paganini and a young girl, Hilda, who was influenced so much by him and his music that she became a very accomplished violinist herself. Hilda saw Manns perform when she was 7. When she was a teenager, Manns became her violin instructor.

Hilda has issues with both her mother and her father. Hilda's mother is fighting her own battles with alcohol and her sense of self. Phillip Manns has some major mental issues that seem to stem from his childhood. The entire book revolves around these three as each struggles with their own demons. An interesting story. It delves into the hard work and determination it takes to become a great musician.

Thanks to Erin Eileen Almond and Lanternfish Press through Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Witches’ Dance by Erin Eileen Almond
Source: NetGalley and Lanternfish Press
Rating: 5/5 stars

I have been fortunate over the last few weeks to encounter some truly spectacular reads and Erin Eileen Almond’s Witches’ Dance is not exception!

Phillip Manns has lived three very different lives: 1) as the devoted son of a desperately ill mother, 2) as a violin prodigy known the world over, and 3) as a man also desperately ill and completely removed from his love of music and performance. In the years since his very public breakdown and total humiliation, Phillip has barely allowed himself even the luxury of listening to music, let alone playing. He has devoted himself to writing his memoir, consistently taking his medication, and indulging in antique shopping. Removed from the thing he most dearly loves, Phillip has managed to carve out a half-life for himself that worries his aging and devoted cousin. To bring him back into the world, his cousin arranges for Phillip to become a teacher at a prestigious conservatory, an arrangement that is as risky as it is exciting.

Hilda Greer was only a child when Phillip Manns endured his most profound public shame. As an audience member, Hilda witnessed the meltdown, but was too young to fully understand the implications of Phillip’s actions. What she was not too young to understand was the elegance, confidence, and pure genius of Phillip’s abilities. As a sullen and somewhat angry teenager, Hilda is looking for her path in life and is most surprised to find it is in Phillip Mann’s classroom. Hilda learned to play violin as a child and as a teenager, her skill is virtually unrivaled but lacking in proper technique and guidance. Under Phillip Mann’s tutelage, Hilda intends to play as she never has before, to achieve dreams she never thought possible, and possess a man still tortured by his own very real demons.

As the days and weeks pass, Hilda becomes obsessed with her lessons, practice, and pleasing Phillip Mann. She is by far Phillip’s most accomplished student and he intends to take her to the prestigious International Paganini Competition in Italy, a competition Phillip himself won many years ago. As their work together intensifies so do their feelings for one another. Though Phillip is considerably older than Hilda he feels a deep connection to her and her to him. The music, especially Paganini bind the two, and while Phillip helps Hilda learn to feel and live through her music, he also slowly begins to devolve into the madness he once so passionately embraced.

As the Paganini competition grows ever closer, Hilda and Phillip must learn to navigate their respective realities. For Hilda, reality is practice, performance, and securing the love of Phillip Mann. For Phillip, reality is often a hazy sort of dream he floats through completely unaware of his erratic behavior. Though he cares deeply for Hilda and wants to see her succeed, he has also become obsessed with his own work, his abilities, and his return to the stage. For Phillip, there is nothing, not even his feelings for Hilda that can compare to the thunderous applause of an audience, the adoration of the masses, and the connection to his idol, Paganini.

The Bottom Line: I was hooked on this story from the very beginning and simply devoured this read! The imagery is dark, the descriptions of the music haunting, and nearly every relationship is toxic. The entire book is permeated with a very real sense of dread, despair, and inevitable ugliness and I loved every word of it! The darkness of this book and its troubling themes are enhanced by the music and require the reader to sink as fully into the madness as the characters. In truth, I am confounded by the star rating for this book on Goodreads. I found this book to be darkly intelligent, maddening, wonderfully descriptive, and troubling. In short, an excellent read that truly epitomizes the troubled souls trope!

Witches’ Dance by Erin Eileen Almond
Thank you to Lanternfish Press and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. The book will be published on October 22nd, 2019.

Plot: 4/5 Characters: 3/5 Writing: 3/5

An ambitious novel about a young violinist who must fight her own inner demons while in thrall to an extremely talented — and potentially crazy — teacher and former prodigy. The chapters rotate through the perspectives of the three main characters: Hilda, the young violinist who we meet at age 15; her mother Claire, a ballerina whose career was killed by an unplanned pregnancy; and Phillip Manns, a former prodigy who suffered a nervous collapse eight years previously and is only now allowing music in some form back into his life.

The story is gripping. While there were some wonderful musical references, the story is far more about the melodrama of their relationships and personal discovery (or lack thereof). Personally, I would have enjoyed more about the music, the drive, and the “art” portion of those with artistic sensibilities. This is more of a drama with an excellent musical background than a literary piece that manages to convey what it means to be such an artist. For example, while Hilda spends an astonishing amount of time practicing, all her thoughts and reflections are bent towards her obsession with Phillip Manns. Manns, on the other hand, is obsessed with the music but is haunted by the memory of his “beautiful, doomed mother,” Domenica. Claire is struggling to both hide and express the “Secret Mother” within her — the mother who wishes she wasn’t a mother at all.

Strong, dramatic plot, decent writing, characters that I did not bond with(but you might) and some beautiful musical context. My big takeaway — I want to go to the bi-annual Paganini competition held in Genoa next Fall.

Thanks to #netgalley and #lanternfish publishing for letting me read and review #witchesdance by @erinalmond1. This was a great story about a musical prodigy with mental health issues who goes on to teach a young girl violin. They both struggle with their own demons and while he has much to teach her, she is integral in teaching him as well. I loved the musical world that was portrayed and the struggles the characters had to go through to achieve their goals. Would highly recommend this book and can’t wait to see what this author writes next!

The title drew me in immediately, and the when the synopsis informed me that I would get to read about violinists, Paganini, and an international music competition, I was like, "Yes, Please!"

Music and mental illness lend well to beautiful prose, and the author delivered. The characters, in all their flaws, are believable people - even if you don't like them all the time. The story gets a little dark, but honestly, it was realistic. This is not a light read, but one that is definitely worth it if you love a tortured musician's tale.

I really wanted to love this book. It has many intriguing aspects and all the right ingredients for those with a passion for classical music, including the focus on Paganini, interesting characters, complex family relationships, an element of mystery and an original idea. However, it just didn’t quite live up to its promising description. I felt the author’s love of music, but it was a bit as if she had done a lot of research and was more concerned with inserting information than with conveying the real emotion involved in performing. Somehow it didn’t entirely ring true.

There is rather too much going on, as the story explores Phillip’s relationship with his mother, his rivalry with his colleague Mark, his mental illness, self-harming and obsession with Paganini, his relationships with various women, including his pupil Hilda, Hilda’s conflictual relationship with her mother, the mother’s problems with alcohol and self-esteem etc. On the way we also encounter various secondary figures who are never fully explored, such as Hilda’s friend, her boyfriend, her fellow student, the mother’s various boyfriends and Violetta, Phillip’s aunt. It is all rather distracting and takes away from the main story line.

All in all, I liked the underlying idea but would have preferred the author to explore fewer themes in more depth. I want to believe in the characters, understand them and identify with them, even if I don’t necessarily like them. I want to be caught up in the story and in this case, unfortunately, it didn’t quite happen.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this book, in exchange for my honest opinion. This will be available to purchase on October 22nd.

Aside from pointing out that a book might be too harsh for some, I don’t use trigger warnings. In this case,I think I really need to have an official warning, though, because this book is incredibly harsh at times.
**Trigger warning: self-harm, sexual assault**

From moment one, I was drawn into this book. Haunting and beautiful, it’s so lyrically written, I could almost hear the violins playing. I’ve never wished for anything remotely resembling musical talent as much as I did during the beginning of this book.

The characters are so multi-faceted! Phillip Manns was a musical prodigy who, after announcing that he was Pajanini, hid from the world, cutting himself off from all music. He didn’t realize how much he missed it until he found an old record player at a yard sale. Listening to it again, he opens that door into the hidden, flawed parts of himself, and starts down a road that is dangerous to his health and his sanity.

Enter Hilda: a brilliant violinist in her own right, she was at the performance that ruined Phillip Manns’ career. Many years later, she’s still playing, but struggles with severe stage fright and low self-esteem in general. It’s just Hilda and her mother, her musician dad having left when she was young.

Claire (the mom) and Hilda have a very complex and unhealthy relationship. Claire has always had a string of lovers, turning herself into whoever she thinks they want her to be. She needs to feel seen, oftentimes at the expense of her daughter.

One of Phillip’s old friends convinces him to try teaching the violin during a program that Hilda has just enrolled in. She plays the Witches’ Dance, and Phillip recognizes not just her skill but her passion. Things build from that moment.

This book is not comfortable. I skipped certain scenes because I knew they’d be too much for me. But, the author made me care deeply about the story and the characters. She easily showed the ripple effect one small circumstance can cause. I saw the moment that Phillip’s life derailed, and the choices that came closer and closer to taking what he had left.

I saw poor Hilda, and the things that could have destroyed her. I saw her broken relationships with her parents and I wanted to fix them. I understood how she was taken advantage of so completely, mistaking love of music for love of something else. I so badly wanted her to realize her own worth.

There was a certain moment, where someone triumphed despite instead of because, that nearly brought me to tears. And that’s saying something. This is an incredibly harsh book, but it’s stunningly gorgeous. If you can handle reading about harsher circumstances, I highly suggest you pick this book up. It’ll stay with me for quite a while.