A dark, beautifully written tale of a girl who is brave enough to face her monster

This is a tragic, stunning story about a 21-year-old ballerina who is forced to face terrible things that happened to her in the past. With supernatural elements, including a toy train that comes to life, this story is one that I couldn’t put down. I connected with Olesya, our protagonist, and immediately wanted the best for her. Though she’s seen as difficult by most people in her life, you can soon see why she can’t open up or feel things deeply. People see her as an emotionless doll with all the mechanics of a dancer, but none of the passion.

This is a very dark story of a young woman who is brave enough to face the monster of her past – her own father. It’s a painful journey and I love how the author weaved such a difficult, but necessary experience in such a creative way. I really liked Dima, Olesya’s boyfriend, for staying by her side the whole time. Their connection was real and their shared childhood trauma bonded them.

I don’t want to spoil anything so I won’t go into too much detail, but this was one amazing story that will grip your soul. I loved the (spoiler alert) dance scene close to the end where one of Olesya’s dreams comes true. I’m so happy I read this book!