Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore

Dark and Deepest Red

by Anna-Marie McLemore

With Anna-Marie 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.

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.

Reviewed by lindsey on

4 of 5 stars

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This book originally caught my eye because of that gorgeous cover! I was still intrigued after reading the description, so I decided to give it a try and I was not disappointed. This was my first McLemore book but it definitely won't be the last.

I liked the way it blended past and present, but I would have been happy just to read about the past, honestly. That's where the story really blossomed. I wouldn't mind a sequel about Lala and Alifair to see what happened to them after the book ended.

McLemore's writing was lush and gorgeous and it just flowed so well. I can't say enough good things about how well written it is. I'm a huge fan of dark fairy tale retellings, and this one definitely hits the mark.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 15 February, 2020: Finished reading
  • 15 February, 2020: Reviewed