Are you a fan of reading books before the movie, or vice versa? I got the chance to read this book before watching the movie version of it, “Birds of Paradise” on Amazon Prime Video.
Thank you Algonquin Young Readers for my gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
Synopsis: Best friends Marine Duval and Kate Sanders have trained at the Paris Opera Ballet School since childhood, where they’ve formed an inseparable bond forged by respective family tragedies and a fierce love for dance. When the body of a student is found in the dorms just before the start of their final year, Marine and Kate begin to ask themselves what they would do to win the ultimate prize: to be the one girl selected to join the Opera’s prestigious corps de ballet. Would they die? Cheat? Seduce the most talented boy in the school, dubbed the Demigod, hoping his magic would make them shine, too? Neither girl is sure. But then Kate gets closer to the Demigod, even as Marine has begun to capture his heart. And as selection day draws near, the competition—for the prize, for the Demigod—becomes fiercer, and Marine and Kate realize they have everything to lose, including each other.
Think Black Swan, but for teens. This was such an intense read! I’m not much into the ballet scene, but I somehow get swept off my feet every time I read about it or watch something of it. A lot of the pros and cons of the ballet scene were addressed in this book, and I think the author did a really good job with it. If you’re into drama, you will love this book. It’s got a great pace that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Honestly, this was the perfect set-up for a movie and I’m excited to be able to dive in and see how well they do with it!
4/5 Stars
Live, Read, And Prosper 