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City of Night Birds set at the Russian ballet – Juhea Kim

  • Submitted: 10th January 2025

City of Night Birds – The Russian ballet – Juhea Kim

A once-famous ballerina faces a final choice—to return to the world of Russian dance that nearly broke her, or to walk away forever.

You know a novel set in the cut-throat world of Russian ballet is going to be good!

Map of locations in City of Night Birds

City of Night Birds set at the Russian ballet - Juhea Kim

 

BOARDING PASS INFORMATION

Destination : Russia and the ballet

Author guide: Juhea Kim

Genre: fiction

Food and drink to accompany: Fine wine and truffles

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A novel to transport you to the Russian ballet

 

Map of locations in City of Night Birds

If you want to be transported to a completely different world, then this is the book to start your reading year off with.

A story set at the heart of the Russian ballet. I know little of that world apart from what I’ve read in books and seen in films. I understand perhaps less of the political situation in Russia but this book opened my eyes in ways I was not expecting.

It’s a story about a young girl who works extremely hard and overcomes one obstacle and another to become a ballerina. Her family is poor and surely a girl like her can’t dream of scaling the heights of the Russian ballet..and then…Paris!

The world of the ballet, even in politically charged Russia came across with every word, page and pirouette you can think of. I could feel the tension of those moments akin to when Natalia  performs pointe. The blood, sweat and tears have seeped into the pages. Imagine what dancing in this world must have felt like?

City of Night Birds set at the Russian ballet - Juhea Kim

Map of locations in City of Night Birds

What a whirlwind we go on as Natalia does just that. Hold on though = something has happened to stop Natalia’s career and now she is at, not so much a crossroads in life but a precipice. I really felt for her – imagine training for years, building your dream, only to have it come crashing down. Then there’s the decision of whether she will try again or not. Natalia was a fascinating character to read about and  I admired her and felt sorry for her in equal measure. There were more than a few surprises!

The atmospheric world this novel builds was a delight to read. Ballet. Russian and a strong female lead are powerful ingredients indeed.

Map of locations in City of Night Birds

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Postcard details:  Access The BookTrail’s Map of Locations and travel guide here

More books set in Russia

 

BookTrail Boarding Pass: City of Night Birds

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