The cover got me on this one. Totally gorgeous but the book was a little meh for me. It felt like the author was trying really hard to make this book overly descriptive that the scene got lost and I found myself confused.

I think I would have loved this one if it didn't take itself QUITE so seriously. There were so many words! I love a good descriptive passage, but eventually they start to interrupt the flow of the story itself, and unfortunately this was the case with Nocturne. I thought it was a great, eerie premise for a historical fiction novel, but it just didn't quite do it for me.

I loved the fantasy elements, but I was unable to finish the book. It dragged on and I lost interest. I’m sad because I really wanted to love this!

Welp. Wasn't a fan of that one.

I thought it started off fine enough but then it was almost like the writing style changed and I got too much description of... everything. The weird thing is that even though there was a lot of description, I was lost for a good chunk of the book. I really didn't understand what was happening or why. More was explained towards the end that I kind of got the overall plot, but by that point, it was too little too late and I just wanted everyone to die so that I could stop reading.

Thank you Del Rey and NetGalley for the eARC of Nocturne! All opinions in this review are my own.

The story was a tad wordy and hard to follow along at times. It was a very interesting read though. I would try another book by this author

Thank you for sending me an arc. Overall I enjoyed the book. The writing was beautiful, and it was fun to read.

Thank you Del Rey and NetGalley for the eARC of Nocturne! All opinions in this review are my own.

Nocturne is a blend of Beauty and the Beast, The Phantom of the Opera, and the Hades/Persephone myth but set in Chicago in the 1930s. While it took me a little bit to get into because of the wordiness, I ended up really enjoying Nocturne! Retellings are always hit or miss for me so I was happy I liked this one! Nocturne is the perfect read for this winter season!

This book is strange. I was confused by what was happening and the writing does not flow. The cover is what got my attention.

In this unconventional and intriguing reimagining of the Beauty & The Beast fairy tale, we follow the journey of a talented young ballerina in 1930s Chicago. Her life takes an unexpected turn when her extraordinary talent catches the eye of a wealthy benefactor.

The prose in this novel possesses a haunting beauty that completely immersed me in its meticulously crafted world. I could vividly envision every detail, from the setting to the characters’ innermost thoughts and emotions.

While there’s a captivating gothic fairytale at the core of this book, it felt like the main storyline didn’t truly take flight until more than the halfway mark. Despite the beautifully written prose, the characters and plot fell somewhat short of my expectations.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As a lover of ballet and magical stories with a lurking darkness, Nocturne immediately appealed to me. Unfortunately, despite the lush and lyrical writing capturing Grace's dreams, desires, and the reality of being a ballet dancer in depression-era Chicago, Nocturne failed to win me over.
I wanted to love this book so much, but simply couldn't connect with the story on the level that I wanted to. The beautiful prose was charming in the first few chapters but quickly lost its magic and instead made me feel separated from the story instead of drawn in and engaged. While I liked Grace as a main character, I would've loved to see more depth from the supporting characters as well.
H0wever, I would recommend any reader who is intrigued by its premise to give it a shot! Maybe this is exactly the book you've been waiting to read...

This book was beautiful. The writing was magical and ethereal. Within the fantastical tale you read of loss, betrayal, friendship, loyalty, love in various forms, and how your dreams can change as you grow and mature.

Not for me. I was expecting more history, less fantasy. Also was givingDaddy Long Legs and I don't care for Fred Astaire, nor that movie

This is such a hauntingly beautiful book! I really enjoyed reading this one. There’s heartbreak, love, suspense, danger, and the supernatural. Which means there’s something for everyone. Grace is our main character and she’s easy to love. Grace is a beautiful ballerina who has goals of being the prima ballerina in her troop.

Her journey is one that is easy get hooked onto and I found myself eager to find out what happens to Grace. I especially enjoyed the romance portion of the book. I also only took off one star because I wasn’t entirely pleased with the ending. I just wanted more.

I highly recommend this read to young adult romance lovers who enjoy the supernatural.

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Grace Dragotta is an orphaned ballerina in Depression-era Chicago. When the time comes for a new prima to be chosen, she makes the cut thanks to a mysterious new patron. Grace's curiosity about Master La Rosa is piqued and she is drawn into his world of darkness as she attempts to discover his true identity.

This novel is dark, brooding, and existential. And I ate it all up. Every. Word.

The writing is beautifully evocative, creating an atmosphere of fantasy and drama. I love the ballet details and the 1930s setting. As the plot progresses, the story dives into a gripping darkness as Grace looks within herself to uncover her core sense of purpose and place in the world. Her inner struggle is relatable as she questions her own existence and laments the misfortune that she and her family have suffered while falling under her patron's spell.

Read this one if you're looking for a darker fantasy based on the story of Persephone and Hades. While it doesn't have the exact feel of a mythology retelling, the classic themes are there with an early twentieth-century sensibility.

Nocturne by Alyssa Wees was truly something. Let's get from the start: i ADORE the cover. It's pretty, dark navy almost black background is never wrong, and then added with the silhouette of a ballerina? It's atmospheric. It's just a recipe for goodness.
Into the book. I loved the book's idea, the story that it was intended to be. I didn't have a problem with somehow lyrical writings of the author. However, I didn't really have some attachment to any of the characters. They just came and went in my mind. And for a book with romance on it's tag, dark romance to be precise, I didn't feel like it gripped me, or at least noticable enough for me for feeling something for our main character's love story. I feel like it's not built enough, teh romance, which is back on how the characters weren't fleshed out enough. The love story felt flat at best.
Truly, the prose author used probably the saving grace for this book. It's not a bad book, at all, but it could've been better that's for sure..

2.5/5 rounded up.

The book's cover and description draws you in to reading it. I found myself thinking of Phantom of the Opera and was left a little disappointed by the story's events.

For so long I had been desperate to escape Death, but maybe I’d been mistaken – what I’d really wanted to defy was time.


Nocturne by Alyssa Wees is a dreamlike experience into a ballet themed adaptation and mixture of classic stories like Phantom of the Opera and Hades and Persephone. With a dark, almost desolate feel, this story transports you to another time, place and even realm of existence. Grace Dragotta’s pursuit of the enigmatic call of dance places her in a position she thought she always wanted, yet one that turn out to be her worst nightmare. As her understanding of the consequences of her choices becomes more clear Grace ultimately has to decide between her heart and her own self-interests.

Nocturne was an interesting read in that it was able to elicit the same feeling you get after having a lucid dream. While there is definitely a clear plot progression, the journey through the book is in constant flux between reality and fantasy. This is due to both Alyssa’s style of writing and her focused intent on layering the meaning of objects, actions, and events. While not necessarily a type of book that I would want to constantly read constantly this gothic yet sinuous delivery fit really well with the plot. Also, Alyssa’s knowledge of ballet is also quite evident. Her love and appreciation of this technical yet stunningly beautiful form of dance permeates each page and pulls you into the elite world of classical ballet.

I let myself smile, feeling deliriously nocturnal, an animal in the dark. It was a last moment of peace before the breaking.

While the premise of Nocturne initially led me to believe that it could also be a romance, the end result is not entirely true, which is not to say that this detracted from the experience. Nocturne is a love story on multiple planes; “My desire to dance was more than merely wanting to be seen, but I couldn’t have explained it then. Playing the violin was like breathing, but dance was the thing that kept my heart beating, wild and free. Breath or blood? Air or ichor? If I had to choose, I chose my heart.” Grace’s journey of self discovery and empowerment explores the way we look at others and at ourself. The “happy ending” is relative but their is no doubt that Alyssa takes you on a lyrical journey through love and loss, life and death that will linger in your consciousness.

shorter and a bit younger skewing than i expected it to be, while still a straightforward and evocative exploration of art and boundaries and perverse watching. obviously very death and the maiden dependent. not bad

Nocturne is the story of Grace, a ballet dancer in Chicago in the 1930s. She has lost everyone and now her best friend is leaving the ballet company to get married. To Grace's surprise, she will be the new prima because she has a patron she has never met that will save the company. But she must go live with him and has no say in the matter. The only requirement of her is that she must dance with him once a week.

This is a book where nothing seems to happen and yet everything does. Where time goes really fast and yet does not. It is just a blah book. I wanted to like it but was bored most of the time and confused the rest. Not sure who the audience was but it feels like an overly descriptive, under developed pre-teen book. There are better magical fantasy novels out there that you could spend you time reading.

Nocturne was a lyrical and enchanting read. While I found parts of this book to be a bit too over descriptive, I did enjoy the world it took you to. This novel embraced escapism and beautiful prose. It’s a great read for fans of The Midnight Circus and similar works.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.