I wanted to like this one so much but it was a miss for me. The book felt really long in parts and I found I wasn’t reaching for the book like i typically do with thrillers

The Ballerinas" by Rachel Kapelke-Dale gracefully pirouettes through the worlds of ballet and espionage, seamlessly blending the ethereal beauty of dance with the gritty intrigue of espionage. In this captivating debut novel, Kapelke-Dale weaves a tale of ambition, rivalry, and sacrifice that transcends the confines of the dance studio and plunges readers into the shadows of Cold War politics.
What sets "The Ballerinas" apart is its brilliant fusion of two seemingly disparate worlds: the disciplined elegance of ballet and the cloak-and-dagger intrigue of espionage. Kapelke-Dale masterfully constructs a narrative that explores the intersections of art and espionage, demonstrating the parallels between the discipline required of a ballerina and that of a spy. The result is a narrative that is as gripping as it is poignant, shedding light on the sacrifices demanded by both professions.

Professional ballet dancers are probably the most hardcore people you will ever meet. They dedicate their whole lives - often starting at 6 years old - to classes and never stop. Their quest for perfection in movement, form, technique & interpretation is never fulfilled: they're only as good as their last performance.

Long hours, gruelling conditioning, punishing schedules and strict diets create a super species of women in particular. Constantly examined by civilians for the eating disorders and mental frailties supposedly created by life on the razors edge of professional dance, they are also held up as ideals. The most feminine, graceful, beautiful women, the princess in the fairytale, worthy of symphonies and operas. United in a sisterhood of cygnets and flowers, they must blend in as one but also stand out as unforgettable when the role demands it.

Self-control, dedication, steely determination and an almost superhuman ability to dance through discomfort is what makes a ballerina, yet she can never conquer time.
To live is to age and to age is to die. And dancers have a very finite lifespan career wise.

It must be so frustrating to do all you can to be the best you can be but ultimately fail due to time & gravity. And so often it's that awareness that is always at the heart of ballet books - both fiction, biography & memoir.

THE BALLERINAS is the first novel I've read, that balances that with true feminist thought about the industry, and how it sits alongside growing from a girl to a woman.

Borrowing from recent events at NYCB, & Marinsky; plus the #MeToo & #TimesUp movements, this novel succinctly paints a picture of an industry shaped by the patriarchal male gaze attempting to revamp its image while protecting reputations and minimising harm to the old gods.

Rarely do you see an explanation of being a woman in modern society so well explained. It makes sense I suppose that a dancer - someone whose whole life is about their body and how it relates to other bodies - is the one to express frustration at women being dependent on men not to harm us because they're usually bigger, stronger, more at ease with aggression and better resourced.

I enjoyed this a lot - it rings true on a number of levels: aging, sex, love, beauty, children, competition between women, abortion, motherhood....

I can't wait to read what this author writes next.

"I want to make a ballet that really means something to me. Something that's not just about being decorative-- something that shows the world what it's like to... I don't know, to fall in love, to have this experience that's supposed to be the epitome of a woman's life, and to have it become your downfall."

The Ballerinas earned a four-star rating from me. It falls under the mystery/thriller genre, although you wouldn't think so based on the cover. Through the pages, you follow the main protagonist, Delphine, and her obsession with ballet, even years after she has given up dancing to be a choreographer. The timeline of the book bounces back and forth from past to "present" until the two meet in the middle. By doing this Kapelke-Dale continues the fluidity of the story while also giving the reader background knowledge into Delphine's motives and actions. The Ballerinas captures friendship, the Paris Opera Ballet, and a hint of mystery that will leave you shocked. 
Throughout the story, I kept forgetting that it was a mystery. I think it takes an excellent writer to be able to suck you into a story so deep you forget what genre you're reading. Or a terrible one I guess. In this case, I think it was great! I was so wrapped up in the story that the mystery elements came as shocking twists and turns that left my mouth hanging open. As mentioned above, I gave this book a four-star rating. The main thing that kept this from being a five-star read for me was that the beginning was slow and some parts throughout. I also did not hear much about this book after its release, even after I was granted a copy from Netgalley. It took me a couple years to decide to pick it up, and when I did, I was NOT disappointed!
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy twisty-turny mysteries and rekindled friendships. I would also recommend to those who love the ballet, more particularly the Paris Opera Ballet. That being said, The Ballerinas is set in Paris and Russia which means there are a lot of French and Russian words to pronounce.

While the description sounded interesting, I have to say I didn't love this book. It was slow at the beginning and never became the 'couldn't put it down' book. Parts of it were engaging and I liked reading about the life of a ballerina, but it just didn't hold my attention.

This one wasn’t typically something I would go for but that cover drew me in. Overall the writing was so superb I’m glad I checked this one out. Thank you so much!

The Ballerinas had an intriguing premise, but marketing it as a thriller led to unmet expectations as I didn’t find anything particularly thrilling in the book. I loved that the book gave us a look at the dark side of the industry and that it focused on older characters. I didn’t care too much for the main character herself, but it was almost impressive how she could make everything about herself. I also wasn’t too interested in her infatuation with Jacques, but that storyline did gag me a bit in the present timeline, and it made the book more interesting. I also didn’t feel too strongly about the ending, but overall, the dance parts of the book kept my interest, and I found some of the deeper topics to be refreshing.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

Love the insight into the ballet world and the prestigious POB. Kapelke-Dale captures the intensity and passion of ballet, as well as the dancers' sacrifices. Ballet as a character is strong and developed well. However, the protagonist is flat and one note. The secondary characters need more depth and come across as caricatures. The arc of female empowerment through dance held promise, but the delivery was clunky. The author's use of metaphors was well-intentioned but fell flat with the abundance of exposition directly after, destroying the stylization. Disappointing.

I have never read this author before but once I started reading it, I was captivated.
So well written, the book is about dancing at its heart but it so much more!
I will now be on the lookout for more books by this author. So well done!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I liked the blurb of the story and that is what led me to want to read it. However, it did not keep my interest and I had to DNF. It receives a lot of good reviews, so it could have just been my mood as I am a serious mood reader. I may try again at another time.

This was character driven, and definitely gets points for originality. It is different from most other thrillers that I normally read. Unique and informative. 3.5 stars

They meet at the Paris School Of Ballet as young girls. Delphine is the 'nice' one, a girl whose mother was a ballet star. Margaux is her best friend and they are the two best dancers. Lindsay is an American and comes when she is twelve. She quickly becomes friends with the others and they become a trio for life. Only other dancers can understand their lives; the daily hours of practice, the quest for perfection, the competition to rise in the field they have chosen.

The story picks back up when the trio is thirty-six, almost at the end of a dancer's career. Delphine is just returning to Paris after thirteen years in St. Petersburg. She followed a man there and became a choreographer. When she broke away from him, she returned to the Paris Ballet and is working to establish herself in her career. Margaux has come out as gay, is married and is a secret alcoholic. Lindsay married a journalist and is still fighting to make her mark. She dances fearlessly but has never been popular with those in power at the Ballet.

The friendship of the three women picks back up but has to adjust. They realize that a grown friendship has to be different than that of girls. In their case, each is struggling to come to terms with what comes next in their lives and fighting to throw off the expectations of men. They have come to see that their live have been dominated by men and what they want, what they find appealing, what they are willing to let women have. Can their friendship adjust to a more mature footing?

Rachel Kapelke-Dale grew up in the world of intensive ballet training so she knows the inside story of what these women go through to become the best in the world at what they do. But more importantly than one field of endeavor, the book explores the world of female friendships and how they change as we grow and how the best of them sustain those involved. She also talks about how women's dreams and goals are often constrained by the men around them and the struggle to live free of others' expectations. This book is recommended for readers of literary fiction.

Wonderful characterization and sublime storytelling!

As someone who grew up in the dance world this really shed light on the complexities of the sport.

Thank you for the review copy.

This title definitely slipped through the cracks of the overwhelming deluge of books and everything going on during the whole everything was locked down period of time. In fact, I'm not sure that I have ever heard anyone other than myself talk about this book which is a shame because I actually think it pairs really well with Megan Abbott's ballet inspired thriller

I excitedly read anything with ballet as a backdrop, so I was instantly drawn into this cover, title, and description. While the characters are not likeable, I found myself so drawn into this story and this world that is so foreign to me, I allowed myself to be carried away and enjoy the ride.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Delphine, a former ballerina, returns home to Paris to choreograph a new ballet. She quickly falls back into the drama of the Paris ballet scene and finds that there is a dirty underside to it. As her relationships continue to evolve, she learns that while you can go back home again, it might not be the home you remember. An involving book about characters coming to terms with their choices and their true selves as they grow older.

I love this novel and could not put it down. I found myself intoxicated by the girls' stories and the unfolding of what happened to them in their past! I would definitely reccomend

I keep trying to read this but for some reason it just isn’t satisfying to me so I’m going to stop. I like the story synopsis though