This book reminds me of why (as an older adult) I love YA stories. Kind of like a fairy tale for teens/adults. Emberlyn is a strong, smart girl who is in the most dire predicament after a wolf in sheep’s clothing puts a curse on her. She is such a great lead character that I would love to read more about her. Another adventure? Well done!

If you like dark and brooding books, this may be the book for you. Emberlyn is the lead ballet dancer in the Marionette troupe. While the troupe receives accolades from everyone that sees them perform, the troupe has a dark secret. They are not the ones performing. Their manager, Malcolm, is literally pulling their strings during performances. Once the girls join the troupe, they are cursed by Malcolm so that he can control their bodies and lose their memories. Emberlyn has not forgotten everything and longs to be free. When the chance to escape comes as the troupe moves to a new city, will Emberlyn be able to escape and save her sister dancers or will she be trapped forever?

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC of this deliciously dark and edge of your seat story! E.V. Woods debut breakout is amazing! I love the unique story line and her characters are deep. If you love Stephanie Garbed, this book is for you.

This was so dark and haunting. Controlled by Malcolm, the dancers have no freedom in sight. But the fight that one girl starts may change everything. This was such a rush.

This was a haunting book, with beautiful layers of heartbreak layered all between it. It strongly read of horror, because of the situation the girls were in, but also defiance and beauty in the pain. The relationships were gorgeous and realistic and I yearn to learn more of the stories that lay behind each girl.

Well this was the definition of intriguing. The entire concept, execution, finish it was all utterly intriguing. I will definitely read more from this author. I think the audio of this book is going to be fantastic. I hope they do a graphic audio someday!!

Having been crowned as the lead Marionette brings more horror than honor to Emerblyn as she buries her sister, taken too soon by the rot of a curse that haunts all in their trope. Being bound to their Puppet Master and forced to perform to perfection she and her sisters travel to a new theatre where secrets of the past threaten to unravel the threads that bind them.

What a haunting tragic fairytale like story we have.

I devoured this book fast than I anticipated, immediately I was hooked by this doomed collection of girls compelled to follow every demand of Malcom until it kills them. The anger of not fully being in control of your body is not lost on me in todays current climate and those little wins of defiance be it action or a cool smile when no one is looking was very powerful and I too hope we are able to find that kind of true freedom.

I loved the relationships between the sisters and while I wish we had more scenes of them together I understand why we could not. The journey Emberlyn needed to take in order to recognize the strength she always possessed within her could not be done in a situation where she felt the weight of responsibility for her friends at all times. Her friendships held her spirit but her lingering connection to the a Shadow helped her find her heart and that was truly beautiful.

There is so much to enjoy and be horrified with within this story leaving you with a feeling like falling into a dream that you don’t realize is a nightmare until the hooks are already buried deep within and I enjoyed every single second.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

Right from the beginning you are sucked into the story and the girls world. The mystery throughout keeps you intrigued and keeps you guessing. Each character possesses their own distinctive qualities, setting them apart from the rest. The vibes are dark fans of gothic literature will love this one.

This book felt like a gothic reimagining of both The Red Shoes and Black Swan. Both lyrical and horrifying, it will definitely appeal to fans of Stephanie Garber's Caraval and Erin Craig's House of Salt and Sorrows. I already know the teens in my life will be clamoring for this!

Girls of Dark Divine pairs ballet with curses and mind control. In New Kora, girls dance to the audience's delight every night, but little do they know the girls are under the spell of it's mastermind. After realizing all was not as it seems, Emberlyn tries her best to free the girls from his control once and for all. This was a dark and disturbing tale about art, obsession, and how far people are willing to go to see their visions through.

Ballet is what brought me to E.V. Woods' debut Girls of Dark Divine, a story about a troupe of dancer cursed to dance as marionettes for a cruel puppet master.

Girls of Dark Divine is an atmospheric read with admirable world-building. I was able to imagine the ominous world in which the Marionettes danced in great detail thanks to Woods' ability to paint vivid scenes across her pages. However, I was not entirely compelled by this story despite feeling like I should be. Perhaps that was due to the drawing out of a fairly simple plot over 400 pages when a much shorter and succinct storyline would have sufficed. Not much happens in this novel, and for being a book about dance, there's frankly not a lot of that either.

Girls of Dark Divine is a murky, haunting story that tends to meander a bit more than is advisable in what should be a thrilling, pulse-pounding, yet lyrically beautiful read. 3.5 stars.

This is the kind of book that feels like a spell, enchanting and shattering in equal measure. It’s about love and defiance, the fight to reclaim yourself, and the price of breaking free. I am obsessed.

Girls Dark and Divine crafts this perfectly moody and atmospheric world. It falls into this little niche for me of books that have those fairytale-esque qualities and I have dedicated a whole bookshelf to. But for some reason I couldn't quite connect with the story. Something felt missing, there wasn't that hook that drew me in. I wanted to love it but ultimately ended up only kinda liking it. Which isn't bad. This story did excel in its world building but ultimately the pacing seemed to stumble for me. I'm infuriatingly quite middle of the road for this read.
Thanks Netgalley for the chance to review this arc!

I am a fan of gothic literature and this book definitely had those elements. It seemed a bit repetitive in some areas but overall that did not take away from the story.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children’s for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

E.V. Woods’ “Girls of Dark Divine” is a gothic fantasy brimming with eerie beauty and dark enchantment. Set in the haunting world of the New Kora ballet theatre, the book immerses you in a twisted fairytale where grace and horror intertwine. Beneath the shimmer of the stage lights, a sinister secret lurks—the ballerinas are bound by a terrible curse, forced to dance at the whims of their ruthless director, Malcolm. When Emberlyn, the theatre’s star, realizes the true cost of their enslavement, she embarks on a perilous journey to break the spell before it consumes them all.

The book’s greatest strength lies in its hauntingly atmospheric storytelling. With echoes of The Phantom of the Opera and The Twelve Dancing Princesses, Woods crafts a world that is both beautiful and terrifying. The prose is lush and evocative, painting a picture of a world where elegance masks oppression. The marionette-like control of the dancers adds an extra layer of eeriness, making the stakes feel all the more dire.

The relationship between Emberlyn and her fellow dancers is another compelling aspect of the novel. Their bond is deeply emotional, filled with love, fear, and the desperation to survive together. The sisterhood they share adds heart to the story, making their struggle against Malcolm’s control even more poignant. Malcolm himself is a villain who exudes pure menace—his presence in the book is unsettling, and his power over the ballerinas is suffocating.

The first half of the book is a bit sluggish as the unraveling of the mystery only slowly advances. Emberlyn’s determination to escape feels like it drags at times, and though her plan to kill Malcolm is a driving force in the plot, her constant hesitation can be frustrating. Additionally, the romance element is likely to divide opinions. Emberlyn’s connection with Étienne, the shadowy boy who is magically tied to her performances, is both haunting and peculiar.

Overall, “Girls of Dark Divine” is an engrossing read for fans of gothic fantasy, particularly those who enjoy dark fairytales, twisted curses, and tales of love and defiance. The book’s chilling atmosphere lingers long after the final page, making it a mesmerizing story of fate, control, and the price of freedom.

Set in the hauntingly beautiful ballet theatre of New Kora, Girls of Dark Divine by E. V. Woods offers a gothic fantasy laced with mystery, magic, and a sinister curse. Emberlyn, the protagonist, dreams of dancing under the spotlight, but her aspiration twists into a nightmare as she discovers the dark secret binding the ballerinas to the malevolent Malcolm, a puppeteer who controls them like marionettes.

While the premise of the novel is undeniably intriguing—combining the elegance of ballet with a grim exploration of control and survival—the execution left much to be desired. The plot moves at a slow pace, which dampens the tension the story tries to build. Emberlyn's internal conflict over whether to kill Malcolm feels repetitive and drags on, making it difficult to stay engaged. The stakes, while clearly dire, lack a sense of urgency that might have kept readers glued to the page.

The romance subplot, centered on Emberlyn and the mysterious boy made of shadows, had potential but ultimately fell flat. The slow-burn dynamic didn’t lead to a satisfying payoff, leaving their relationship feeling underdeveloped. For a story steeped in such emotional intensity, this lack of connection made it hard to root for their union.

It’s also worth noting that the themes of manipulation and abuse are pervasive throughout the novel, making it a potentially triggering read for those sensitive to such topics. Malcolm’s control over the girls is chilling, but the heavy-handed portrayal of their suffering can feel oppressive and overwhelming.

Despite its flaws, the book does shine in its world-building. The descriptions of the ballet performances, the enchanted city of Parlizia, and the eerie magic tethering the ballerinas are vivid and atmospheric. Readers who appreciate dark, moody settings might still find elements of the novel worth savoring.

Final Thoughts:
Girls of Dark Divine has the makings of an evocative tale, but its sluggish pacing and lack of emotional depth hinder its impact. While fans of gothic fantasy and dark fairytales may enjoy the world and concept, the story struggles to fully deliver on its promise. Proceed with caution if themes of abuse are triggering.

The Girls of Dark Divine is a great read for fans of YA gothic fantasy. This story follows the ballerinas of New Kora, who are acclaimed for their beauty and talent; but beneath the sparkle of the theater lies a dark truth: the ballerinas are under a curse, turned into living puppets by their evil director Malcolm. One of the girls is determined to break free from his control and save her sisters, no matter the cost.

Not the storyline specifically, but in terms of atmosphere this book felt like The Phantom of the Opera meets The Twelve Dancing Princesses. Creepy and beautiful at the same time, it reads like a dark fairytale, and I was invested in the story from the first page. I would recommend it to readers who love gothic fantasy, strong female relationships, possibly tragic romance, and creepy, creepy villains; and also to fans of Erin Craig and Ava Reid.

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House for the arc! All thoughts & opinions in my review are my own.

“She felt scared, as she watched her best friend lose control to a monster.”

Omg, I loved this so much!! Fans of gothic literature are in for a treat with this one. The dark, mysterious vibe throughout the book is utterly captivating, making it feel super original and completely engrossing.

The story is written in third person, so I didn’t feel an intense connection to the main character, but that didn’t matter. The tone, the eerie storyline, the layers of mystery, and even the evocative descriptions of the dancing Marionettes all combine to create a mesmerizing read.

“The Marionette and the boy of dust and smoke.” The romance in this book is a tad insta-lovey but unique in its tragic and bittersweet beauty. It’s not the central focus, but it lingers in your thoughts long after reading.

What truly stood out to me, though, was the relationship between the sisters. It’s sweet yet steeped in doom and darkness. I liked their personalities and how they supported each other, knowing they had to face this horror together.

The ending is... tragic, happy, sad... painful yet perfect, leaving a haunting sense of closure that felt entirely fitting for the story.

If you love gothic tales with haunting vibes and layered storytelling, Girls of Dark Divine is a must-read. This one is going to stay with me for a long time!