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The Dance Tree

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The Dance Tree

By: Kiran Millwood Hargrave
Narrated by: Ruta Gedmintas
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About this listen

The gripping, historical novel from Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Mercies.

Set in an era of superstition, hysteria, and extraordinary change, and inspired by the true events of a doomed summer, The Dance Tree is an impassioned story of family secrets, forbidden love, and women pushed to the edge.

Strasbourg, 1518. In the midst of a blisteringly hot summer, a lone woman begins to dance in the city square. She dances for days without pause or rest, and as she is joined by hundreds of others, the authorities declare an emergency. Musicians will be brought in to play the Devil out of these women.

Just beyond the city’s limits, pregnant Lisbet lives with her mother-in-law and husband, tending the bees that are their livelihood. And then, as the dancing plague gathers momentum, Lisbet’s sister-in-law Nethe returns from seven years’ penance in the mountains for a crime no one will name.

It is a secret that Lisbet is determined to uncover. As the city buckles under the beat of a thousand feet, she finds herself thrust into a dangerous web of deceit and clandestine passion, but she is dancing to a dangerous tune . . .

©2022 Kiran Millwood Hargrave (P)2022 Macmillan Publishers International Limited Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Romance Summer City

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Critic reviews

"Exceptionally brilliant. Immersive, sensual, compelling, ambitious." (Marian Keyes)

"Intriguing, haunting...raw, beautiful." (Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne)

"I absolutely loved this book...spellbinding." (Elodie Harper, author of The Wolf Den)
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I really enjoyed this story, it was a bit slow to begin with, but when it picked up I was hooked. I adored the relationships and love between Lisbet, Agnata & Ida. As a woman and a lesbian, I feel very lucky to be able to love who I want and be who I am today. My only issue with this book is the narrator wasn't the best. The different characters voices weren't distinctive enough and I needed to rewind a few times to actually understand what had happened.

A slow burn that grew into a fire!

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I will recommend this book to friends.

As for the audiobook, for a brief moment in the beginning of the book I felt a bit annoyed with the (in my opinion) slightly overdramatic voice of the narrator. But as the story started to unfold I totally forgot about that and grew used to the voice.
This book is worth the time!

I loved this book!

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Another well thought out story line and characters. As always kiran is perfect at setting the scene as with her characters.. Enjoyed listening to this audiobook

Love kiran, love this book

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It’s beautifully told story. I appreciated the different female relationships and I learned about a fascinating event I hadn’t previously heard of.

Beautiful

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A beautifully lyrical writer, weaving a web of stories, so unfamiliar as to be intoxicating. I loved Lisbet, Agnata and Ida, the love between them. The lack of freedom they had remind me that I, nowadays, do have choice never granted to them. I highly recommend this beautiful story.

Fascinating

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This was a great insight into life for women in 16th century, the characters are really vivid. I’m so sad it’s over!

This really drew me in.

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Heart wrenching and beautiful with vivid descriptions. I absolutely loved this and couldn't stop listening.

gorgeous

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The characters were believable and more than that, I wanted to hear all about them, undertake the journey with them. The detail was delicious! Fast becoming my favorite author. Thank you

She did it again

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This really is a jewel of a book, and is narrated so so beautifully. The words wrap around you like a song.
It is delicate and tender, intricate and yet somehow simple. You will fall in love with bees. It is also horrific and cruel, A very hard time to live. I really can’t recommend this more highly. Wish I could give more stars!

I’m lucky to be the first to review this book

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I loved this book. The intertwining relationships of the women just gripped me from the beginning, and to learn about an historical event was fascinating. It will be one I return to again.

Couldnt stop listening

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