“Dark and achingly beautiful, The Redpoint Crux will break your heart then make you whole again. Shamy is a true storyteller with a gift for weaving wounded characters with twisting plots and a gorgeous, haunting world.” -Evelyn Skye, New York Times bestselling author of The Crown’s Game “An addictive mystery woven into a tapestry of lush theatre and ballet lore.” -Wendy Higgins, New York Times … Times Bestselling AuthorFans of The Phantom of the Opera and Black Swan will enjoy this thrilling debut.When Megan Van Helsburg gets kicked off the U.S.A. Climbing Team, she has no choice but to return home and leave her climbing career behind. With no coach, no money, and no prospects, she joins the corps de ballet determined to improve her strength and agility. But the ballet theater is in dire straits. Not only does a series of murders break loose, but the ballerinas are becoming deathly thin and brain-dead. As Megan investigates, she meets Bellamy, a tortured young man who lives beneath the depths of the theater. Megan falls hard and fast for Bellamy, who becomes her mentor, but something is off about him. It isn’t until the company announces they’re doing Giselle for the fall performance that Megan realizes the parallels between the ghost story and the lives around her. Megan must find a way to not only save her climbing career, but balance her feelings for Bellamy, and stop the murders and dying girls before she, too, is numbered among the dead.
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‘The Redpoint Crux’ is the first book I have read by Morgan Shamy, and I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book had a very ‘Phatom Of The Opera’ vibe for me, and I did not expect all the twists and turns of the story.
The book is about Megan aka ‘Red’. A professional climber who has found herself at a bit of a crossroads. With thoughts of her mother plaguing her and knocking her off her game, she is left without a coach or money to remain in competition. She returns back to the theatre she grew up in, hoping to accrue some money and return to competing.
However, the theatre holds bittersweet memories of her father, and how he came to pass, and with no money and the re-emergence of a ‘Bridegroom Killer’, Megan ends up becoming embroiled very dark and sinister goings on.
Bellamy is her protector, a man who was taken in by her father who is very strange, but oddly appealing to Red. Liam, the theatre’s owner is desperately attempting to keep things in order, and attempt to make money to save the theatre, but will they get to the bottom of the strange goings on?
This book is full of action, drama and romance all neatly packaged. I loved the centring around ballet and the production of Giselle, and some parts were very creepy and eerie. Intriguing plot, and I’ve never read anything quite like it.
Thank you Fantastic Fiction Book Club, Parliament and NetGalley for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Redpoint Crux
By: Morgan Shamy
REVIEW
What do rock climbing and ballet have in common? Nothing, as far as I knew, that is, until I read The Redpoint Crux. The heroine, Megan, is a rock climber and a ballet dancer. A climbing accident ends that career, so she returns to the ballet in Nova Scotia. Megan has a tragic history with the place involving her father. Her family are overall a troubled lot. As the story progresses, ballerinas are murdered and acting zombie like, and Megan reconnects with an old friend. She is out to find the murderer and solve this bizarre mystery. The story is gripping and compelling with a gritty gothic vibe. I love when the atmosphere of a story is really its own character, and in this world, everything is permeated by a creeping sense of dread and eerie machinations. The whole thing is very macabre and Edgar Allen Poe-esq. This dark twisted mystery was not solved by me. I couldn’t predict anything, and that’s a good thing. I recommend The Redpoint Crux if you want to be transported to a captivating yet frightening place for just a little while.
The Redpoint Crux is a gripping story with intriguing characters. It didn’t take long for me to be completely immersed in the story. There were a few things I thought needed a little more attention and explanation, but I felt the author did a fantastic job creating a mood of page-turning suspense with some romance too. Megan is quite the character. She jumps (literally) from one thing to the next, but I liked that about her. I really enjoyed the way the story was told, it’s very pleasing for me to read books with point of view changes. This book has a great flow to it and the ending was awesome! There are so many great twists and turns, I was left guessing until the last page
This book isn’t for me. How do I know?
Because I read it and it bored me to tears. 20% in I almost DNF’ed it, but I stuck with it only to skim through the remainder of the book reading it in chunks. Nothing much happens.
The book starts with two disjointed tales; one is Megan Tucker’s in Colorado, and the other is Liam Reynolds and the Theater Company in Nova Scotia–two teenage rebels who are grabbing the world with both hands. Megan ‘Red’ Tucker is a ballerina gone mountain climber well off the beaten path. Liam is a prodigal son who has come back to claim his family’s legacy. But nothing much happens chapter after chapter to advance the story but monotonous exposition and reiteration.
While flipping through later chapters into the mystery, there isn’t any increase in tensions. The entire book maintains a mellowness that isn’t something I can sit through. I need action, and I didn’t feel like there was anything impactful or compelling. The story puttered along at one low-key speed.
I didn’t find this easy to read. I often fell asleep reading it. I don’t recommend this for gothic fiction fans because it lacks the psychological aspects of a great gothic read.
Have you’ danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?
This book is Black Swan meets Phantom of the Opera. Megan helsburg is an ex ballet dancer turned rock climber. She’s running away from her old life as a prima ballerina. An accident ends her rock climbing career and she returns to ballet dancing once again. All is well until the other ballet dancers are murdered and become zombies. Megan and her friend Jane investigate to find out what is happening only to find a mysterious history that will threaten their lives. The atmosphere of the book is very dark and creepy like the theatre of the macabre. It is well-written and fast-paced and action-packed. It never slowed down and was never boring. I only didn’t have enough time to read it because Real life got in the way. Lol, that is why I decided to put it in the ”Will not read.” pile. I’m glad I picked it up again and finished it. I did take a star out for the character developmemt. I wanted to know more about Megan, Jane, and Bellamy. I loved the romance between Megan and Bellmay. It was sweet and romantic. This is the first book I’ve read from this author and will not be my last. I enjoy her writing very much. I received a complimentary copy from Negalley.com in exchange for an honest review.