The Dance Tree is the second adult novel by Kiran Millwood Hargrave, published in 2022 by Pan Macmillan.
Kiran Millwood Hargrave is the bestselling author of The Mercies which was listed as one of 100 Notable Books in 2020 by New York Times.
I loved The Mercies so I couldn’t wait to read this one. Kiran Millwood Hargrave is brilliant at creating atmospheric historical fiction with strong women at their centre.
The Dance Tree was featured on BBC’s Between the Covers and was a big hit with the celebrity guests.
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Plot
This book is set during the real-life dancing plague of 1518 in Strasbourg.
In the midst of a blistering hot summer in the 16th century, one lone woman, starving and living in poverty, starts to dance. She dances for days without pause or rest, and as she is joined by hundreds of others, the authorities declare an emergency. The women are dancing until their feet bleed, and some dance all the way to death.
Meanwhile, pregnant Lisbet lives with her husband and mother-in-law, tending bees as their only source of income. As the dancing plague gathers momentum, Lisbet’s mysterious sister in law Nethe returns from seven years of penance in the mountains for a crime no one will discuss.
Lisbet is determined to uncover the truth and keep her family safe from the hysteria that is gathering throughout the city. However, her family is full of secrets and deceits and Lisbet quickly realises she is dancing to a very dangerous tune.
The Dance Tree Book Review
This is another atmospheric, beautifully written novel by Kiran Millwood Hargrave. As with The Mercies, the tension was palpable throughout. I could feel the oppressive, breathless heat the characters had to endure.
It’s a character-driven novel and a celebration of female friendship. I loved reading about the kinship and loyalty between these strong, courageous women. Alef Plater was as vile as Cornet in the Mercies, using religion as a weapon to punish women. The author has a real talent for creating characters you really despise, as well as those you can really root for.
I was worried that the book might head down the ‘all men are evil’ route so I was glad for the sympathetic male characters. I enjoyed the sensitivity of the music players which further highlighted the cruelty dished out by some of the other men.
It’s really well written and the tension was palpable. The drought and famine combined with the superstition and hysteria created by the men in charge, created a claustrophobic atmosphere. You could easily imagine why these women experienced such ‘abandonments’.
The author drew on her own experience of pregnancy loss, so Lisbet’s fears for her baby felt really authentic. The descriptions of her dance tree were really moving. I also loved the calm serenity she experienced when she was with her bees.
Overall, I loved this story of forbidden love and family secrets in the sixteenth century. It was as a really powerful and emotive read. Another beautifully written novel by Kiran Millwood Hargrave.
What books are like The Dance Tree by Kiran Millwood Hargrave?
If you loved The Dance Tree, I’d definitely recommend Kiran Millwood Hargrave’s debut novel, The Mercies.
In terms of different authors, I found that the following books had a similar feel to them:
Has written Kiran Millwood Hargrave any other novels?
The Dance Tree was the second novel by Kiran Millwood Hargrave after her successful debut The Mercies. She has also written multiple children’s books.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. For more information please see my disclosure policy.