I could probably read anything that Anna-Marie McLemore writes. Anything. Dark and Deepest Red was really gorgeous.



Summer, 1518. A strange sickness sweeps through Strasbourg: women dance in the streets, some until they fall down dead. As rumors of witchcraft spread, suspicion turns toward Lavinia and her family, and Lavinia may have to do the unimaginable to save herself and everyone she loves.

Five centuries later, a pair of red shoes seal to Rosella Oliva’s feet, making her dance uncontrollably. They draw her toward a boy who knows the dancing fever’s history better than anyone: Emil, whose family was blamed for the fever five hundred years ago. But there’s more to what happened in 1518 than even Emil knows, and discovering the truth may decide whether Rosella survives the red shoes.

With McLemore's signature lush prose, Dark and Deepest Red pairs the forbidding magic of a fairy tale with a modern story of passion and betrayal.



As always, a copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.

If you've had the pleasure of reading Anna-Marie McLemore in the past, you know how magnetic and hypnotic the prose is in this novel. Everything about it paints an uniquely intriguing quality. I could get lost in Dark and Deepest Red; in this love story, in this world. Sometimes, we find books that remind us why we adore reading--this is one of those books. (It also was the perfect read for a hazy, rainy and overly chilly day.)

As if Dark and Deepest Red wasn't appealing enough by the simple fact that Anna-Marie McLemore penned it, it is a retelling of The Red Shoes. Further, it features real historical events and cultural moments, as well as a spotlight the trans experience. McLemore's writing, and development, is rich and all consuming. The characters, the POV, the setting, the experiences--all tied into the prose? All signs point to a work of art.

Truly. Reading this novel felt like a jolt of electricity to my veins. Reading this novel felt like someone had captured my heartbeat and translated it into a song.

Each page lures you into it atmospheric setting and plotline, captivating you instantly and holding you in place. In short and without spoilers? Dark and Deepest Red is as compelling and vivid as one might expect from McLemore. I couldn't put it down and found myself longing for it to not end.

If you are a fan of McLemore's past works, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of this story. It is pure magic.