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Published by Oneworld Publications
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
'This story left me thinking about the ways we overcome setbacks and redefine what truly matters.' Reese Witherspoon
A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK FOR DECEMBER 2024
A terrible accident forces Natalia to make a devastating choice about her future as a dancer, in this sweeping novel of love and redemption
Prima ballerina Natalia Leonova was once celebrated across the world, her signature bravura in demand on stages from St. Petersburg to Paris to New York. But at the top of her career, an accident forces her into sudden retirement. Injured and alone, she turns to pills and alcohol to numb the pain of her past, still haunted by her relationships with two gifted dancers, Dmitri and Alexander. These men were responsible for her soaring highs, her darkest hours and, ultimately, both played their part in her downfall.
So when Dmitri resurfaces with a tantalising offer for Natalia, she must decide what she is willing to sacrifice in order to dance again – and for the chance to return to the great love of her life. Painting a vivid portrait of a world in which ruthless ambition, desire and sublime artistry collide, City of Night Birds unveils the making of a dancer with profound intimacy and breathtaking scope.
From the author of Beasts of a Little Land, winner of the Yasnaya Polyana Award
'A beautifully crafted must read' Jason Mott, author of Hell of a Book
A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK FOR DECEMBER 2024
A terrible accident forces Natalia to make a devastating choice about her future as a dancer, in this sweeping novel of love and redemption
Prima ballerina Natalia Leonova was once celebrated across the world, her signature bravura in demand on stages from St. Petersburg to Paris to New York. But at the top of her career, an accident forces her into sudden retirement. Injured and alone, she turns to pills and alcohol to numb the pain of her past, still haunted by her relationships with two gifted dancers, Dmitri and Alexander. These men were responsible for her soaring highs, her darkest hours and, ultimately, both played their part in her downfall.
So when Dmitri resurfaces with a tantalising offer for Natalia, she must decide what she is willing to sacrifice in order to dance again – and for the chance to return to the great love of her life. Painting a vivid portrait of a world in which ruthless ambition, desire and sublime artistry collide, City of Night Birds unveils the making of a dancer with profound intimacy and breathtaking scope.
From the author of Beasts of a Little Land, winner of the Yasnaya Polyana Award
'A beautifully crafted must read' Jason Mott, author of Hell of a Book
Product Details
- Publisher: Oneworld Publications (January 9, 2025)
- Length: 320 pages
- ISBN13: 9780861549955
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Raves and Reviews
'Juhea Kim's escapist second novel takes you deep into the corps of the Mariinsky in St. Petersburg... [Kim] writes lush prose buttressed by vivid detail.' Vogue
'Shimmering, seductive characters dance across the pages... Absorbing and passionate.' Meng Jin, author of Self-Portrait with Ghost
'A gorgeously written tale... Well-researched and immersive, the book is a testament to Kim's lifelong admiration of ballet.' Ms. Magazine
'Meticulously researched, brutally frank, and deliciously glamorous, City of Night Birds enraptures as thoroughly as the ballerina at its beating heart.' Rachel Lyon, author of Fruit of the Dead
'A beautifully crafted must read. City of Night Birds is a book that lingers long after the final pages have come and gone.' Jason Mott, author of Hell of a Book
'Riveting... Kim weaves in plot threads involving the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the tabloid press, and celebrity parties, as well as complications related to various expressions of sexual desire to show that no form of art can exist separately from the complexity of life... Another brilliant page-turner from Kim... Written in sumptuous prose, Kim’s novel is a feast for the senses.' Kirkus (starred review)
'A sweeping portrait of an artist-as-a-young-dancer rich in all the intricacies of perfecting art and performance against relentless odds, physical, emotional, and so deeply personal.' Booklist
'Kim delivers all the juicy drama readers have come to expect from a ballerina’s tale... The results will likely keep dance fans ravenously turning pages... A welcome addition to the literary dance cannon.' Los Angeles Times
'City of Night Birds is a deeply emotional portrayal of a dancer past the peak of her abilities, trying desperately to regain her sense of self after her body, her loved ones and her life’s work have let her down... Utterly immersive... For anyone who has ever been transfixed by the stage, City of Night Birds is not one to miss.' BookPage
'Kim's lyrical, cinematic writing kidnaps the senses from the moment they meet protagonist Natalia Leonova... The greatness of City of Night Birds made this reader lament its ending, and hope for another Juhea Kim novel, and another.' Washington Post
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- Book Cover Image (jpg): City of Night Birds eBook 9780861549955
