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Maya & Natasha
This stunning debut novel set in the fascinating world of Cold War Soviet ballet follows the fates of twin sisters whose bond is competitive, complicated, but never broken.
Maya and Natasha are twin sisters born in the midst of the Siege of Leningrad in 1941 and immediately abandoned by their mother, a prima ballerina at the Kirov Ballet who would rather die than not dance. Taken in by their mother’s best friend at the Kirov, the girls are raised to be dancers themselves. The Vaganova Ballet Academy—and the totalitarian Soviet regime—is the only world they know.
In 1958, now seniors at the Vaganova at the height of the Cold War, all Maya and Natasha and their classmates want is to dance with the Kirov, and to join the company on its tour to America next year. But a new law from the Kremlin upends Maya and Natasha’s due to fears of defection, family members may no longer travel abroad together. The Kirov can only accept one of them.
Maya, long accustomed to living in her sister’s shadow, accepts her bitter fate, until a new dance partner inspires her to dream bigger and practice harder. For the first time—and at the cruelest possible moment—the sisters are equally matched. And then one sister betrays the other, altering their lives forever and splitting them in two, though neither will stray far from the other’s orbit.
As one of the twins pursues her ballet career and experiences a world outside Russia for the first time, the other is cast in an epic film adaptation of War and Peace, produced and financed by the Soviet State. As the Cold War heats up, Maya and Natasha must confront their to East versus West; to the government that saved them versus their dreams of freedom; and, always, to each other.
Maya and Natasha are twin sisters born in the midst of the Siege of Leningrad in 1941 and immediately abandoned by their mother, a prima ballerina at the Kirov Ballet who would rather die than not dance. Taken in by their mother’s best friend at the Kirov, the girls are raised to be dancers themselves. The Vaganova Ballet Academy—and the totalitarian Soviet regime—is the only world they know.
In 1958, now seniors at the Vaganova at the height of the Cold War, all Maya and Natasha and their classmates want is to dance with the Kirov, and to join the company on its tour to America next year. But a new law from the Kremlin upends Maya and Natasha’s due to fears of defection, family members may no longer travel abroad together. The Kirov can only accept one of them.
Maya, long accustomed to living in her sister’s shadow, accepts her bitter fate, until a new dance partner inspires her to dream bigger and practice harder. For the first time—and at the cruelest possible moment—the sisters are equally matched. And then one sister betrays the other, altering their lives forever and splitting them in two, though neither will stray far from the other’s orbit.
As one of the twins pursues her ballet career and experiences a world outside Russia for the first time, the other is cast in an epic film adaptation of War and Peace, produced and financed by the Soviet State. As the Cold War heats up, Maya and Natasha must confront their to East versus West; to the government that saved them versus their dreams of freedom; and, always, to each other.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published February 18, 2025
120 people are currently reading
17016 people want to read
About the author
Elyse Durham
2 books90 followersElyse Durham is a graduate of the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College. Her fiction has appeared or is upcoming in the Cimarron Review, Image Journal, the Cincinnati Review, and elsewhere. She is an Elizabeth George grantee and has held residencies at the Vermont Studio Center, the Glen Arbor Arts Center, and The Mount, the home of Edith Wharton. She lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan with her husband, who is a Greek Orthodox priest.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 341 reviews
October 4, 2025
This book we follow twins living in Russia following in their deceased mother’s footsteps to become esteemed ballerinas and hopefully getting chosen to join an elite dance company & tour America with them (unfortunately due to the circumstances in Russia at the moment, only one of them will be able to make it in)
I really enjoyed following two dancers (as a previous dancer myself) & that’s primarily the storyline we get. I do wish we focused a bit more on the setting, as it does take place during the Cold War. The one gripe with this for me was there wasn’t any character development or growth - these girls are the same a decade or so later as they were at 17 which was disheartening because their competitiveness never wavered. It was a good read, just not a favorite!
I really enjoyed following two dancers (as a previous dancer myself) & that’s primarily the storyline we get. I do wish we focused a bit more on the setting, as it does take place during the Cold War. The one gripe with this for me was there wasn’t any character development or growth - these girls are the same a decade or so later as they were at 17 which was disheartening because their competitiveness never wavered. It was a good read, just not a favorite!
February 18, 2025
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A compelling debut novel. This is the story of twin sisters, born in Russia. Daughters of a famed prima ballerina, who has an untimely death. Their mother‘s friend takes the girls in. They are raised to be ballerinas. They enter the Vaganova Ballet hoping to follow in their mother’s footsteps.
They both want to dance with Kirov and tour America. A new law is enforced by the Kremlin, not allowing family members to travel abroad at the same time for fear of deflection. The Kirov can only choose one sister. Who will they choose and who will remain in Russia?
Maya and Natasha have always been very close. Their relationship is tested as one sister betrays the other.
This is the heartbreaking story of sisters love and betrayal. It is a captivating novel with vivid descriptions of the Soviet Union and the United States relationship during the Cold War. I loved learning all about the history of ballet.
A heart wrenching story.
Thank you NetGalley and Mariner books for this advanced readers copy.
A compelling debut novel. This is the story of twin sisters, born in Russia. Daughters of a famed prima ballerina, who has an untimely death. Their mother‘s friend takes the girls in. They are raised to be ballerinas. They enter the Vaganova Ballet hoping to follow in their mother’s footsteps.
They both want to dance with Kirov and tour America. A new law is enforced by the Kremlin, not allowing family members to travel abroad at the same time for fear of deflection. The Kirov can only choose one sister. Who will they choose and who will remain in Russia?
Maya and Natasha have always been very close. Their relationship is tested as one sister betrays the other.
This is the heartbreaking story of sisters love and betrayal. It is a captivating novel with vivid descriptions of the Soviet Union and the United States relationship during the Cold War. I loved learning all about the history of ballet.
A heart wrenching story.
Thank you NetGalley and Mariner books for this advanced readers copy.
August 26, 2024
Amazing debut by Elyse Durham! If you’re a ballet lover who enjoys historical fiction, you must add this novel to your to-read list. Before I jump into my review, a quick definition: In ballet lingo, a pas de deux is a dance for two. The Kennedy Center defines it perfectly, explaining that a pas de deux represents “the coming together of two people who carry with them all kinds of intense emotions, including love, grief, fear, deceit, joy, and longing.” This novel is pas de deux between twin sisters who grew up in Russia during the Cold War and studied at the famed Vaganova Academy. Bound together by the untimely death of their mother, the totalitarian regime they live under and the notoriously rigorous training at the Vaganova, the girls have come to rely on each other completely. But as they enter their final year as Vaganova students and approach the time to audition for a coveted spot at the Kirov Ballet (now known as the Mariinsky Ballet), cracks start to appear in their relationship. Both sisters end up betraying one another at different stages of their artistic careers, literally shattering their once-unbreakable bond. The novel paints a vivid picture of Soviet-U.S. relations during the Cold War and gives readers a glimpse into ballet history (with appearances by George Balanchine, Lincoln Kirstein, Jacques D’Amboise and more)—with a bit of Tolstoy’s classic War and Peace thrown in. Some sections did move a tiny bit slowly, but overall this was a wonderful debut that I highly recommend. 5/5 pairs of pointe shoes! 🩰🩰🩰🩰🩰
Thanks so much to Marine Books and NetGalley for my advance copy of this Feb 2025 debut!
Thanks so much to Marine Books and NetGalley for my advance copy of this Feb 2025 debut!
May 26, 2025
Maya and Natasha are twin sisters who were born during the siege of Leningrad. They are raised by their mother’s best friend who enrolls them in the Vaganova Ballet Academy. In the early 1960’s as their graduation approaches, both of the very talented sisters who are best friends, strive to be admitted to the prestigious Kirov Ballet for its upcoming world tour. However, in an attempt to curb the possibility of defections to the West, the Soviet government prohibits siblings from traveling outside of the country. This law sparks an intense rivalry between the two sisters which will change their lives forever.
This debut novel is an epic story of the world of ballet, life in Cold War Soviet Union, the bonds of sisterhood, love, ambition, betrayal, and forgiveness that will hold your interest until the very end. Ms. Durham skillfully incorporates real events and people into the story. The characters are well developed and the sense of place is palpable. It’s an unforgettable story that is hard to put down!
This debut novel is an epic story of the world of ballet, life in Cold War Soviet Union, the bonds of sisterhood, love, ambition, betrayal, and forgiveness that will hold your interest until the very end. Ms. Durham skillfully incorporates real events and people into the story. The characters are well developed and the sense of place is palpable. It’s an unforgettable story that is hard to put down!
March 30, 2025
Maya & Natasha
promised a compelling story of sisterhood and rivalry, but it ultimately fell short in several areas.
1. Characters
Neither the main nor the supporting characters develop any true depth over the course of the narration. Maya and Natasha, the central figures in a protagonist-antagonist dynamic, remain disappointingly one-dimensional.
Their emotions flip with a jarring abruptness, undermining the believability of their relationship. Despite Elyse Durham's descriptions of Maya's affection for her sister, her sudden turn to betrayal happens with little contemplation. The rare moments of repentance feel accidental and lack the space for a more nuanced exploration of guilt and remorse. Elyse Durham had a chance to explore the psychological weight of betrayal, but instead, sister's actions feel hollow and rushed.
Flat, purposeless characters fill the narrative, leaving the emotional core of the story underdeveloped. The opportunity to build complex, multidimensional characters left untapped.
2. Narration
The book spans several decades, tracking the main characters' lives. However, frequent foreshadowing phrases like "Many years later, when she was an old woman..." or "Later, when Maya had grown up..." create an expectation that these glimpses will eventually converge into a cohesive storyline. Unfortunately, this never happens.
The author also undermines the reader’s experience by giving away key plot developments through early hints. It often feels as if Elyse Durham doesn’t trust the reader to follow the narrative or build their own anticipation. By doing this, the storytelling leaves little room for surprises.
The prose often stumbles, with awkward sentences that break the narrative rhythm. At times, it feels like the author is forcing the narrative forward. Clunky sentences frequently disrupted reading, and tangents led nowhere.
A special mention goes to the exaggerated and often bizarre metaphors scattered throughout the the book. These come across as strained sentences, seemingly written to fill space rather than enrich the text:
"This innuendo was as loathsome to her as if he'd just farted into her porridge."
"Girls of all ages streamed in spurts through the doorway like blood from a wound."
"No season in a young person's life is quite so perilous as the departure from school. It's less like leaving a nest and more like exiting a womb."
The finale attempts to build momentum but ultimately lacks a satisfying climax, leaving me with the impression that the author either ran out of pages or rushed to meet a deadline.
3. Cultural References
The novel leans heavily on overused clichés. The samovar, a stubborn fixture in the narrative, makes five appearances as though Soviet households had no access to appliances like electric kettles. While it may evoke a traditional image of Russian life, it’s misleading and feels out of place.
Repeated references to "blintzes" also ring false. The word may be familiar to Western readers, it inaccurately represents the traditional Russian dish, which would more commonly be referred to as blini.
The depiction of Moscow and St. Petersburg (Leningrad) is another letdown. Rather than immersing the reader in the atmosphere of these iconic cities, the cities feel like they were cut from paper, with buildings and streets reduced to flat, lifeless copies instead of vibrant, three-dimensional environments.
Overall
While this book may satisfy readers seeking a surface-level exploration of family dynamics, those craving depth, complexity, and authentic character development will likely walk away disappointed.
1. Characters
Neither the main nor the supporting characters develop any true depth over the course of the narration. Maya and Natasha, the central figures in a protagonist-antagonist dynamic, remain disappointingly one-dimensional.
Their emotions flip with a jarring abruptness, undermining the believability of their relationship. Despite Elyse Durham's descriptions of Maya's affection for her sister, her sudden turn to betrayal happens with little contemplation. The rare moments of repentance feel accidental and lack the space for a more nuanced exploration of guilt and remorse. Elyse Durham had a chance to explore the psychological weight of betrayal, but instead, sister's actions feel hollow and rushed.
Flat, purposeless characters fill the narrative, leaving the emotional core of the story underdeveloped. The opportunity to build complex, multidimensional characters left untapped.
2. Narration
The book spans several decades, tracking the main characters' lives. However, frequent foreshadowing phrases like "Many years later, when she was an old woman..." or "Later, when Maya had grown up..." create an expectation that these glimpses will eventually converge into a cohesive storyline. Unfortunately, this never happens.
The author also undermines the reader’s experience by giving away key plot developments through early hints. It often feels as if Elyse Durham doesn’t trust the reader to follow the narrative or build their own anticipation. By doing this, the storytelling leaves little room for surprises.
The prose often stumbles, with awkward sentences that break the narrative rhythm. At times, it feels like the author is forcing the narrative forward. Clunky sentences frequently disrupted reading, and tangents led nowhere.
A special mention goes to the exaggerated and often bizarre metaphors scattered throughout the the book. These come across as strained sentences, seemingly written to fill space rather than enrich the text:
"This innuendo was as loathsome to her as if he'd just farted into her porridge."
"Girls of all ages streamed in spurts through the doorway like blood from a wound."
"No season in a young person's life is quite so perilous as the departure from school. It's less like leaving a nest and more like exiting a womb."
The finale attempts to build momentum but ultimately lacks a satisfying climax, leaving me with the impression that the author either ran out of pages or rushed to meet a deadline.
3. Cultural References
The novel leans heavily on overused clichés. The samovar, a stubborn fixture in the narrative, makes five appearances as though Soviet households had no access to appliances like electric kettles. While it may evoke a traditional image of Russian life, it’s misleading and feels out of place.
Repeated references to "blintzes" also ring false. The word may be familiar to Western readers, it inaccurately represents the traditional Russian dish, which would more commonly be referred to as blini.
The depiction of Moscow and St. Petersburg (Leningrad) is another letdown. Rather than immersing the reader in the atmosphere of these iconic cities, the cities feel like they were cut from paper, with buildings and streets reduced to flat, lifeless copies instead of vibrant, three-dimensional environments.
Overall
While this book may satisfy readers seeking a surface-level exploration of family dynamics, those craving depth, complexity, and authentic character development will likely walk away disappointed.
March 6, 2025
I notoriously cannot resist a book about the world of ballet. It's one of those tropes that I'm inherently pulled towards.
Maya & Natasha is about twin sisters, born into a ballet academy, raised by their mother's closest friend, after she takes her own life. The academy is in Russia, during the Cold War, and so this is a cross between a ballet novel, and historical fiction.
(Given what is currently happening with the US/Russia/Ukraine, I'd like to input here that this is not a novel reflecting on the current political climate. Nor is it favoring Russia)
It starts off a little slow, but two chapters in, I was hooked. Believable drama, betrayals, and relationships ebb and flow throughout its entirety. I couldn't put it down.
Maya & Natasha is about twin sisters, born into a ballet academy, raised by their mother's closest friend, after she takes her own life. The academy is in Russia, during the Cold War, and so this is a cross between a ballet novel, and historical fiction.
(Given what is currently happening with the US/Russia/Ukraine, I'd like to input here that this is not a novel reflecting on the current political climate. Nor is it favoring Russia)
It starts off a little slow, but two chapters in, I was hooked. Believable drama, betrayals, and relationships ebb and flow throughout its entirety. I couldn't put it down.
May 2, 2025
1 star. Honestly this was so bad. There were numerous ballet inaccuracies, and a historical fact that was incorrect. I could have possibly looked past this but the story was also awful. I ended up skimming after the first part and it never got any better. legitimately rolled my eyes at the ending. so anyway I definitely do not recommend
July 13, 2025
⋆.˚✮ 4 stars ✮˚.⋆
this novel was one that caught my eye as I was returning some other library books, and i had never heard of it before. however, after reading the synopsis and learning it was about a pair of sisters who are both dancers, and based in the time of the cold war, i was immediately drawn in. in my opinion, the historical fiction market is very oversaturated with world war 2 stories, which is not to say they are not important we should absolutely be reading about those stories and learn about them, but i've found fewer stories centered in russia during the cold war. it also highly intrigued me because as a dancer myself, and it being one of my favorite things, i love reading about other dancers.
i found that throughout the story that it was obvious to me the author either had been a dancer herself or had a very deep respect for the craft/art itself. one of my favorite quotes from the book is below, as it's exactly how i felt as a dancer and it made me feel really connected to the book itself. beyond just feeling connected, i really enjoyed the writing style of this story. i felt the most connected to the sisters themselves, but i really enjoyed how the story observed other characters that were important in their story too, such as friends, family members, and mentors. it gave a little more insight into them and made the story feel more alive, and connected on a level that we often cannot see in life until we look back on our lives (sort of like invisible string theory).
✧ "To be a dancer is to live in paradoxes. A dancer has to build her muscles in order to appear weightless. She must conform to her craft, but respect the uniqueness of her body." (72)
something else i really enjoyed about the story was learning that Maya at least, and many of the other characters, were based loosely on real people. the ballet that Maya tries to create at the end of the book is actually a ballet, created by a woman named Maya. the sister's mother, potential father, and caretaker were all real people as well and were all involved at a time with ballet, though obviously this story creates fictionalized stories for them. but i thought this was SO cool, and now i'm going down a rabbit hole of trying to learn about them.
as i said before, i haven't read many books set in russia during the cold war. the setting for this story was very vivid and it made obvious the conditions that these people lived in. to see how all the different characters reacted to their situations and their responses i felt was a very important part of the story, especially as the other characters had to come to terms with things and also reflect on their own lives. much like learning about the ballet individuals, there were lots of things i learned about the cold war in this book i didn't know before, such as how the cold war almost went into nuclear war from a misinformed instruction and how it was saved by one man. there was just a lot for me to learn and i really enjoyed that!
overall this was a really amazing story, i learned so much from it about ballet, ballet dancers in russia, and the country during the cold war. the writing was really eloquent and kept me sucked into the story, and if you're looking for a unique historical fiction this is definitely it.
↬ trigger warnings: war themes, death of a parent, parental abandonment, suicide, depictions of depression, injury and harmful behavior, pregnancy and miscarriage
this novel was one that caught my eye as I was returning some other library books, and i had never heard of it before. however, after reading the synopsis and learning it was about a pair of sisters who are both dancers, and based in the time of the cold war, i was immediately drawn in. in my opinion, the historical fiction market is very oversaturated with world war 2 stories, which is not to say they are not important we should absolutely be reading about those stories and learn about them, but i've found fewer stories centered in russia during the cold war. it also highly intrigued me because as a dancer myself, and it being one of my favorite things, i love reading about other dancers.
i found that throughout the story that it was obvious to me the author either had been a dancer herself or had a very deep respect for the craft/art itself. one of my favorite quotes from the book is below, as it's exactly how i felt as a dancer and it made me feel really connected to the book itself. beyond just feeling connected, i really enjoyed the writing style of this story. i felt the most connected to the sisters themselves, but i really enjoyed how the story observed other characters that were important in their story too, such as friends, family members, and mentors. it gave a little more insight into them and made the story feel more alive, and connected on a level that we often cannot see in life until we look back on our lives (sort of like invisible string theory).
✧ "To be a dancer is to live in paradoxes. A dancer has to build her muscles in order to appear weightless. She must conform to her craft, but respect the uniqueness of her body." (72)
something else i really enjoyed about the story was learning that Maya at least, and many of the other characters, were based loosely on real people. the ballet that Maya tries to create at the end of the book is actually a ballet, created by a woman named Maya. the sister's mother, potential father, and caretaker were all real people as well and were all involved at a time with ballet, though obviously this story creates fictionalized stories for them. but i thought this was SO cool, and now i'm going down a rabbit hole of trying to learn about them.
as i said before, i haven't read many books set in russia during the cold war. the setting for this story was very vivid and it made obvious the conditions that these people lived in. to see how all the different characters reacted to their situations and their responses i felt was a very important part of the story, especially as the other characters had to come to terms with things and also reflect on their own lives. much like learning about the ballet individuals, there were lots of things i learned about the cold war in this book i didn't know before, such as how the cold war almost went into nuclear war from a misinformed instruction and how it was saved by one man. there was just a lot for me to learn and i really enjoyed that!
overall this was a really amazing story, i learned so much from it about ballet, ballet dancers in russia, and the country during the cold war. the writing was really eloquent and kept me sucked into the story, and if you're looking for a unique historical fiction this is definitely it.
↬ trigger warnings: war themes, death of a parent, parental abandonment, suicide, depictions of depression, injury and harmful behavior, pregnancy and miscarriage
August 12, 2025
IG review: https://www.instagram.com/p/DNQVDwIAU...
The 90’s saw a young Kenzie reading every ballet book from the library that she could get her hands on and seeing The Nutcracker ballet every December with my Mom was tradition! So finding this story felt like a bit of a return to young Kenzie, still being drawn to ballerina stories.
Set during the Cold War in Russia, Maya and Natasha are twin girls abandoned at birth by their dancer mother. Yet, they find themselves following in her footsteps in striving to be with the best ballet company in Russia, Kirov Ballet. The story follows the sisters and their twisted and twisting journeys from love to betrayal and War and Peace (the Russian film based on the novel!)
This felt like a unique historical story that I hadn’t read before and I always appreciate that. It wasn’t history heavy but still the reader was aware of what was going on in the background, and there were some actual figures from history, integrated into the story. I really enjoyed this book and I hope more readers will pick this one up!
The 90’s saw a young Kenzie reading every ballet book from the library that she could get her hands on and seeing The Nutcracker ballet every December with my Mom was tradition! So finding this story felt like a bit of a return to young Kenzie, still being drawn to ballerina stories.
Set during the Cold War in Russia, Maya and Natasha are twin girls abandoned at birth by their dancer mother. Yet, they find themselves following in her footsteps in striving to be with the best ballet company in Russia, Kirov Ballet. The story follows the sisters and their twisted and twisting journeys from love to betrayal and War and Peace (the Russian film based on the novel!)
This felt like a unique historical story that I hadn’t read before and I always appreciate that. It wasn’t history heavy but still the reader was aware of what was going on in the background, and there were some actual figures from history, integrated into the story. I really enjoyed this book and I hope more readers will pick this one up!
April 22, 2025
That’s not how any of this works
July 26, 2025
Well I just cannot pass on a novel about Russian/Soviet dancers, and this was a good one! Two orphaned twin girls work their way through the dance “system” in Leningrad. They are both extremely talented. Fate deals its hand and their lives evolve not as they originally expected.
This is a novel of dance: of dancing as a young girls; of dancing (or not) as an adult in a world famous company;, of male and female teenage dancers, who are still teenagers; of dance teachers and managers; of the incredible difficulties of maintaining a dance career; and of the immense sadness when a dancer cannot dance. This is also a novel of the Soviet Union, and how the State controlled the lives of its artists and how they were always watched and always afraid. It tells of fascination with the West, contemplation of defecting and actual defection. But at it heart this is a novel of sisters (twins) and their deep love and deep jealousies. In this novel, these emotions are displayed in the world of dance, but they have application to all sister relationships.
This is a novel of dance: of dancing as a young girls; of dancing (or not) as an adult in a world famous company;, of male and female teenage dancers, who are still teenagers; of dance teachers and managers; of the incredible difficulties of maintaining a dance career; and of the immense sadness when a dancer cannot dance. This is also a novel of the Soviet Union, and how the State controlled the lives of its artists and how they were always watched and always afraid. It tells of fascination with the West, contemplation of defecting and actual defection. But at it heart this is a novel of sisters (twins) and their deep love and deep jealousies. In this novel, these emotions are displayed in the world of dance, but they have application to all sister relationships.
April 3, 2025
2.5/5 stars. The first third of this book was too much school-age drama for me. The story improved in the second third of the novel, but overall both girls fell flat as characters for me and were one dimensional and wholly unlikable. It felt like a shallow retelling of sisters falling out and lacked complexity and emotional depth.
February 27, 2025
This was a beautiful book. As a ballet dancer this hit different, but I think anyone would enjoy this sprawling epic about twin sisters and their lives of heartbreak, fame, betrayal and ambition.
September 13, 2025
This book was the Tag Inéditos choice of August, and what a choice!
In this book, we are following twin sisters who are a part of a ballet school; they have a very lovely (codependent) relationship that goes wrong the moment they start to compete against each other.
This book is a historical fiction that focuses a lot on what it meant to be a ballerina in the time of the Cold War in Russia.
I didn't know that being a ballerina would be able to give you so many privileges at that time, and when I say privileged, I mean the privilege of not starving, being tortured, and having a place to sleep.
In this novel, which is a debut (shocking), we find two sisters who are willing to do more than they thought they could to get what they want and think they deserve. We follow both of their perspective in here (and some other characters too), and each one had a voice of its own; you didn't need to have the name of who it was because it was all very distinctive.
I found the book, in some parts, was a little bit slow to get the point. Many years go by in this story, and I wish we had more of their lives in the time jumps.
Their time in the Vaganova Ballet Academy (each was the entire part I of the book) was important for the story because we got to see the sisterly bond break and turn into something dangerous.
I knew something had to happen, but I didn't expect it to be so bad, because the sister, for what we could see, truly loved each other, but the competition got into their heads (and oh, how they regret it).
In Part II of the book, we see what happened after the shocking ending of Part I. I found Part II to be the least enjoyable part of the book. The time jump we had in here made me feel like we missed some things that would have been important for the understanding of what the minds of the characters were going to be like.
Part III was good. There isn't much I can say because it would be a complete spoiler, but overall, in all three parts, we see what the Cold War was like and the fear that they felt, and how it kept them from being different individuals and having their opinions (because they could have died if they expressed them). The end was a bit abrupt for me. Suddenly it ended. I wish we had a bit more of a closed end.
Overall, this book was a fascinating read, which brings the beauty of ballet to a very ugly world. And how much ballet meant to so many people. There were some boring parts, but nothing that made the book lose its ability to keep you intrigued in finishing.
If you want a book about love, war, sister bond, toxicity, revenge, hurt, and dreams, I definitely recommend this one!
In this book, we are following twin sisters who are a part of a ballet school; they have a very lovely (codependent) relationship that goes wrong the moment they start to compete against each other.
This book is a historical fiction that focuses a lot on what it meant to be a ballerina in the time of the Cold War in Russia.
I didn't know that being a ballerina would be able to give you so many privileges at that time, and when I say privileged, I mean the privilege of not starving, being tortured, and having a place to sleep.
In this novel, which is a debut (shocking), we find two sisters who are willing to do more than they thought they could to get what they want and think they deserve. We follow both of their perspective in here (and some other characters too), and each one had a voice of its own; you didn't need to have the name of who it was because it was all very distinctive.
I found the book, in some parts, was a little bit slow to get the point. Many years go by in this story, and I wish we had more of their lives in the time jumps.
Their time in the Vaganova Ballet Academy (each was the entire part I of the book) was important for the story because we got to see the sisterly bond break and turn into something dangerous.
I knew something had to happen, but I didn't expect it to be so bad, because the sister, for what we could see, truly loved each other, but the competition got into their heads (and oh, how they regret it).
In Part II of the book, we see what happened after the shocking ending of Part I. I found Part II to be the least enjoyable part of the book. The time jump we had in here made me feel like we missed some things that would have been important for the understanding of what the minds of the characters were going to be like.
Part III was good. There isn't much I can say because it would be a complete spoiler, but overall, in all three parts, we see what the Cold War was like and the fear that they felt, and how it kept them from being different individuals and having their opinions (because they could have died if they expressed them). The end was a bit abrupt for me. Suddenly it ended. I wish we had a bit more of a closed end.
Overall, this book was a fascinating read, which brings the beauty of ballet to a very ugly world. And how much ballet meant to so many people. There were some boring parts, but nothing that made the book lose its ability to keep you intrigued in finishing.
If you want a book about love, war, sister bond, toxicity, revenge, hurt, and dreams, I definitely recommend this one!
February 16, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for providing me with an audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Every reader of historical fiction has places and times that they gravitate towards, and one of mine is Russia. I have always been fascinated by ballet, and combined with a view of what went on behind the Iron Curtain and the complex family dynamics that these twins shared, I couldn’t hit the request button fast enough.
To start with, I’m so glad that I read this as an audiobook. The narrator, Yelena Shmulenson, read this beautifully. She has the kind of pleasant voice that makes it easy to listen for long periods, and she pronounced the Russian words and names in the story perfectly, yet still had no detectable accent in English, not even using any type of regional terms. You know, like how they say “y’all” down south and “yous guys” in Jersey? She sounded like a native speaker for both languages, which isn’t always easy to do. However, her wonderful narration couldn’t outweigh some of the other things that I didn’t love as much about the book.
It follows the tale of a set of twins girls who was born on the eve of the siege of Leningrad to a ballerina mother who orphans them just after birth. The two girls are raised by a close friend of their mother, but there’s a weird thread of the friend having a crush on the girls’ mother, but aside from giving her the impetus to take care of her friend’s newborn babies, it was mentioned multiple times and didn’t really create any movement or further the plot.
Despite being twins, there are some significant differences between them and the trajectory of their lives. They’re both brought up in the shadow of the great Kirov Ballet, and dream of becoming ballerinas. Growing up in the Vaganova Ballet Academy, the sisters practice and learn together, but it isn’t long before one outshines the other. And while they’re dreaming of being accepted to a ballet tour in America, the Soviet law dictates that only one family member can go abroad at a time for fear of defection.
For two girls who share everything except an equal amount of talent, it becomes clear which sister is going to be heading to America, and the other sister isn’t satisfied to stay in her sister’s shadow anymore. I was shocked at the lengths one of the sisters went to in order to sabotage her own twin. And I wasn’t surprised at all by the reaction of the sister who was sabotaged.
The girls grow from infants to young women, and readers get to see them change over the years. And while they’re completely different women, the voices of Maya and Natasha blended together for me. I kept having to remind myself which sister was which, because they didn’t really have anything else to differentiate their chapters. I was more invested in one sister than the other, but both of them wound up being morally gray. However, it isn’t their fault necessarily, the government pitted them against each other, and under a totalitarian dictatorship, individuals didn’t get a say in their own fates a lot of the time.
Overall, this had so much potential to be an outstanding book, yet it never quite reached that. I had a really hard time with how similar the thoughts of both sisters were, and hoped that it would get better as I got further in the book. It didn’t. This was a fantastic expedition into Soviet Russia, and the way the state controlled every aspect of people’s lives, and how the people resisted when they were able to get away with it. You might enjoy this if you gravitate towards: fiction involving Soviet Russia, ballet, dance, and the complex bonds of family when they come up against the rules of the state.
Every reader of historical fiction has places and times that they gravitate towards, and one of mine is Russia. I have always been fascinated by ballet, and combined with a view of what went on behind the Iron Curtain and the complex family dynamics that these twins shared, I couldn’t hit the request button fast enough.
To start with, I’m so glad that I read this as an audiobook. The narrator, Yelena Shmulenson, read this beautifully. She has the kind of pleasant voice that makes it easy to listen for long periods, and she pronounced the Russian words and names in the story perfectly, yet still had no detectable accent in English, not even using any type of regional terms. You know, like how they say “y’all” down south and “yous guys” in Jersey? She sounded like a native speaker for both languages, which isn’t always easy to do. However, her wonderful narration couldn’t outweigh some of the other things that I didn’t love as much about the book.
It follows the tale of a set of twins girls who was born on the eve of the siege of Leningrad to a ballerina mother who orphans them just after birth. The two girls are raised by a close friend of their mother, but there’s a weird thread of the friend having a crush on the girls’ mother, but aside from giving her the impetus to take care of her friend’s newborn babies, it was mentioned multiple times and didn’t really create any movement or further the plot.
Despite being twins, there are some significant differences between them and the trajectory of their lives. They’re both brought up in the shadow of the great Kirov Ballet, and dream of becoming ballerinas. Growing up in the Vaganova Ballet Academy, the sisters practice and learn together, but it isn’t long before one outshines the other. And while they’re dreaming of being accepted to a ballet tour in America, the Soviet law dictates that only one family member can go abroad at a time for fear of defection.
For two girls who share everything except an equal amount of talent, it becomes clear which sister is going to be heading to America, and the other sister isn’t satisfied to stay in her sister’s shadow anymore. I was shocked at the lengths one of the sisters went to in order to sabotage her own twin. And I wasn’t surprised at all by the reaction of the sister who was sabotaged.
The girls grow from infants to young women, and readers get to see them change over the years. And while they’re completely different women, the voices of Maya and Natasha blended together for me. I kept having to remind myself which sister was which, because they didn’t really have anything else to differentiate their chapters. I was more invested in one sister than the other, but both of them wound up being morally gray. However, it isn’t their fault necessarily, the government pitted them against each other, and under a totalitarian dictatorship, individuals didn’t get a say in their own fates a lot of the time.
Overall, this had so much potential to be an outstanding book, yet it never quite reached that. I had a really hard time with how similar the thoughts of both sisters were, and hoped that it would get better as I got further in the book. It didn’t. This was a fantastic expedition into Soviet Russia, and the way the state controlled every aspect of people’s lives, and how the people resisted when they were able to get away with it. You might enjoy this if you gravitate towards: fiction involving Soviet Russia, ballet, dance, and the complex bonds of family when they come up against the rules of the state.
May 19, 2025
4.5 stars
Maya and Natasha are twin sisters born in the midst of the Siege of Leningrad in 1941. Their mother, a prima ballerina at the Kirov Ballet who is young, unmarried, and alone, chooses to die by suicide rather than face a future without dancing. Their mother’s best friend (a woman who was secretly in love with her) takes the girls in and raises them under the totalitarian Soviet regime, enrolling them in a ballet academy to grow up and become dancers themselves. The story itself takes place between 1958 and 1968, the height of the Cold War.
In the opening chapters, a new law from the Kremlin dictates that family members can no longer travel abroad together, hoping to deter defections, which forces the Kirov to no longer accept siblings into the company, particularly since the tour is headed to America the next year. Maya & Natasha, now pitted against each other, have to face that their futures are now less certain. As the Cold War heats up, the two sisters confront the world that’s presented to them, testing loyalties, liberties, and their dreams.
The writing in this debut novel is gorgeous but slow and quiet — stellar literary fiction. There’s a steady forward motion to the underlying plot, but this is a character-driven novel focusing on choices and consequences and cost.
Durham examines the ways people, family, and countries drive adversarial relationships. And interestingly, while it’s easy to see how close the girls were before they realized they could not both join the Kirov Ballet, that’s only when they were pitted against each other in an obvious and unacceptable way — because before that, the comments on each of the twins are typical. Natasha looks more like their mother, she dances better, she’s the more charming of the two. Natasha is the one expected to have a bright future. Maya, on the other hand, is often considered the less attractive sister, not quite as good of a dancer, and she’s sort of meek, living in Natasha’s shadow.
This was a thoughtful examination of the dualities of love and sacrifice, betrayal and family, freedom and discipline. With depth and carefully constructed moments — there’s no spoon-feeding here — these two young women represent several different facets of the Soviet Union’s regime at the time and its relationship to the U.S, but also Durham brings it down to a base level, remembering the humans who end up caught in these games.
I really liked this novel and I cannot wait to see what Durham follows this up with.
Maya and Natasha are twin sisters born in the midst of the Siege of Leningrad in 1941. Their mother, a prima ballerina at the Kirov Ballet who is young, unmarried, and alone, chooses to die by suicide rather than face a future without dancing. Their mother’s best friend (a woman who was secretly in love with her) takes the girls in and raises them under the totalitarian Soviet regime, enrolling them in a ballet academy to grow up and become dancers themselves. The story itself takes place between 1958 and 1968, the height of the Cold War.
In the opening chapters, a new law from the Kremlin dictates that family members can no longer travel abroad together, hoping to deter defections, which forces the Kirov to no longer accept siblings into the company, particularly since the tour is headed to America the next year. Maya & Natasha, now pitted against each other, have to face that their futures are now less certain. As the Cold War heats up, the two sisters confront the world that’s presented to them, testing loyalties, liberties, and their dreams.
The writing in this debut novel is gorgeous but slow and quiet — stellar literary fiction. There’s a steady forward motion to the underlying plot, but this is a character-driven novel focusing on choices and consequences and cost.
Durham examines the ways people, family, and countries drive adversarial relationships. And interestingly, while it’s easy to see how close the girls were before they realized they could not both join the Kirov Ballet, that’s only when they were pitted against each other in an obvious and unacceptable way — because before that, the comments on each of the twins are typical. Natasha looks more like their mother, she dances better, she’s the more charming of the two. Natasha is the one expected to have a bright future. Maya, on the other hand, is often considered the less attractive sister, not quite as good of a dancer, and she’s sort of meek, living in Natasha’s shadow.
This was a thoughtful examination of the dualities of love and sacrifice, betrayal and family, freedom and discipline. With depth and carefully constructed moments — there’s no spoon-feeding here — these two young women represent several different facets of the Soviet Union’s regime at the time and its relationship to the U.S, but also Durham brings it down to a base level, remembering the humans who end up caught in these games.
I really liked this novel and I cannot wait to see what Durham follows this up with.
January 10, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for this advance readers copy, in exchange for an honest review. Maya & Natasha chronicles the lives of its eponymous characters, two extremely talented ballet dancers growing up in Leningrad at the end of the 50s, at the height of the Cold War. They are both training for a future professional dancing career when they learn that only one of them is allowed to be hired by the most elite Russian ballet group. When one of the sisters makes a choice to take fate into her own hands, their lives irrevocably change and we follow them throughout the subsequent years of their lives, as they deal with the ramifications of their choices.
This was a very captivating, enjoyable debut novel. I loved the vivid descriptions and sensory details included by the author, that made me really feel like I was a silent observer in this cutthroat world; cutthroat in the sense of the deep dedication it requires to be a professional ballet dancer and also the pervasive, frightening reality of what it meant to live in Soviet Russia. The author did not sugarcoat the realities of the time and I could easily sympathize with the very real fears of the characters, as they navigated an extremely tense environment.
I cared about the characters in the book and felt that they were well fleshed out. By the halfway point in the book, once we get past the life altering rift between the sisters, the book just flowed so well for me until the end— it was so captivating and enjoyable to read. There were several times where the story was so convincing that I had to question what was factual and what events the author made up— the authors note at the end provides full context and information but, it all felt very real to me. The book was clearly well researched and I felt that the historical elements of the book were well balanced with the characterizations and emotional aspects of the story. Truly a wonderful debut, I look forward to reading what this author puts out next.
Overall, I would recommend this book to historical fiction and women’s fiction fans. Readers will not be disappointed!
This was a very captivating, enjoyable debut novel. I loved the vivid descriptions and sensory details included by the author, that made me really feel like I was a silent observer in this cutthroat world; cutthroat in the sense of the deep dedication it requires to be a professional ballet dancer and also the pervasive, frightening reality of what it meant to live in Soviet Russia. The author did not sugarcoat the realities of the time and I could easily sympathize with the very real fears of the characters, as they navigated an extremely tense environment.
I cared about the characters in the book and felt that they were well fleshed out. By the halfway point in the book, once we get past the life altering rift between the sisters, the book just flowed so well for me until the end— it was so captivating and enjoyable to read. There were several times where the story was so convincing that I had to question what was factual and what events the author made up— the authors note at the end provides full context and information but, it all felt very real to me. The book was clearly well researched and I felt that the historical elements of the book were well balanced with the characterizations and emotional aspects of the story. Truly a wonderful debut, I look forward to reading what this author puts out next.
Overall, I would recommend this book to historical fiction and women’s fiction fans. Readers will not be disappointed!
August 13, 2024
I was very fortunate to receive an advance copy of this historical fiction debut!!
The story alternates between Maya and Natasha, twin sisters who are competing for one coveted spot in the ballet and how their lives diverge from each other and come back again. Durham did a great job with character development and had a unique way of adding tidbits for the reader for even more minor characters, which I really enjoyed.
The novel takes place during the cold world era in both Russia and the United States. Durham does a wonderful job setting the scene of Russia in the 1940s through 1960s. Since I was born after the Cold War, I left the novel interested in learning more about this part of history. Durham does a great job paralleling Maya's experience in the United States with Natasha's experience in Russia.
If you like a multi-character, heart wrenching story then this one is for you!
I appreciated the author taking the time to note which characters and events she took liberty with throughout the book. Note: I have not read War & Peace and wonder if that would have added to my overall experience with the novel.
Overall, I highly recommend and look forward to future works from this author!!
4.5 stars
The story alternates between Maya and Natasha, twin sisters who are competing for one coveted spot in the ballet and how their lives diverge from each other and come back again. Durham did a great job with character development and had a unique way of adding tidbits for the reader for even more minor characters, which I really enjoyed.
The novel takes place during the cold world era in both Russia and the United States. Durham does a wonderful job setting the scene of Russia in the 1940s through 1960s. Since I was born after the Cold War, I left the novel interested in learning more about this part of history. Durham does a great job paralleling Maya's experience in the United States with Natasha's experience in Russia.
If you like a multi-character, heart wrenching story then this one is for you!
I appreciated the author taking the time to note which characters and events she took liberty with throughout the book. Note: I have not read War & Peace and wonder if that would have added to my overall experience with the novel.
Overall, I highly recommend and look forward to future works from this author!!
4.5 stars
September 29, 2024
An absolutely heartbreaking story of family bonds and betrayal.
Natasha and Maya are twin sisters whose life begins with a dark beginning in Soviet Russia. The two have a lucky upbringing through Vaganova, Russias elite ballet academy. The two are inseparable and learn to overcome hardship together. As the two enter the final year in school that is where bonds are tested, and the cut throat world of ballet challenge the sister’s alliance to each other.
As the women grow, the distance between the two increases. The heartbreak they cause each other leads to a broken bond, one that can be directly related to the deep divide caused by the Soviet nation.
A beautiful story of family and the ultimate forgiveness both have to extend to each other to renew their broken relationship.
Natasha and Maya are twin sisters whose life begins with a dark beginning in Soviet Russia. The two have a lucky upbringing through Vaganova, Russias elite ballet academy. The two are inseparable and learn to overcome hardship together. As the two enter the final year in school that is where bonds are tested, and the cut throat world of ballet challenge the sister’s alliance to each other.
As the women grow, the distance between the two increases. The heartbreak they cause each other leads to a broken bond, one that can be directly related to the deep divide caused by the Soviet nation.
A beautiful story of family and the ultimate forgiveness both have to extend to each other to renew their broken relationship.
August 27, 2025
Every time I get a recommendation from Booktok, I regret it. There's so much rich material to work with with a set of ballerina twins whose mother died shortly after giving birth to them. They are both restricted by life in Russia and dream of being successful and going to America.
Unfortunately, the rich mine of resentment and love between twins competing for the same top spot is mostly wasted. Neither of the main characters has much depth or grows much as they get older, so this book never stops feeling like a bad YA ballet school story. The omniscient third-person POV is certainly a choice, and unfortunately, one that never lets us really get into the complexity of these sisters' thoughts or motivations (which also generally turn on a dime), so it was an overall very dissatisfactory experience for me. Would not recommend.
Unfortunately, the rich mine of resentment and love between twins competing for the same top spot is mostly wasted. Neither of the main characters has much depth or grows much as they get older, so this book never stops feeling like a bad YA ballet school story. The omniscient third-person POV is certainly a choice, and unfortunately, one that never lets us really get into the complexity of these sisters' thoughts or motivations (which also generally turn on a dime), so it was an overall very dissatisfactory experience for me. Would not recommend.
February 18, 2025
ARC gifted by NetGalley
Thank you for this copy of Maya & Natasha. This is my first 5⭐ read in quite some time. This will absolutely be in my top of 2025 if not the top book!
Maya & Natasha is a historical fiction novel set in Soviet Russia spanning from 1941 to the late 1960's. Russia is famous for producing some of the best ballet in the world, and we are dropped into the intensely dark and fascinating world of ballet with the birth of twins Maya & Natasha. They enter the world with a weight on each of them that intensifies as they grow up and the cold war heats up. The story really is about the sister relationship that unfolds over the years. "They were bound together, an inevitable push and pill. Wherever Natasha moved, Maya followed".
The writing and craft of this debut is top notch. Not only is there good pacing, but the story continued to be fresh. I highlighted so many great quotes that I know I need to pick up a hard copy of this book.
If you love the arts, ballet, and sister relationships you will enjoy this. Other themes of jealousy, revenge, regret, and redemption are explored. Questions of what it is to love your country and your past, how to embrace family, and how to love the arts are asked. I found this book to be wholly satisfying and engaging.
Thank you for this copy of Maya & Natasha. This is my first 5⭐ read in quite some time. This will absolutely be in my top of 2025 if not the top book!
Maya & Natasha is a historical fiction novel set in Soviet Russia spanning from 1941 to the late 1960's. Russia is famous for producing some of the best ballet in the world, and we are dropped into the intensely dark and fascinating world of ballet with the birth of twins Maya & Natasha. They enter the world with a weight on each of them that intensifies as they grow up and the cold war heats up. The story really is about the sister relationship that unfolds over the years. "They were bound together, an inevitable push and pill. Wherever Natasha moved, Maya followed".
The writing and craft of this debut is top notch. Not only is there good pacing, but the story continued to be fresh. I highlighted so many great quotes that I know I need to pick up a hard copy of this book.
If you love the arts, ballet, and sister relationships you will enjoy this. Other themes of jealousy, revenge, regret, and redemption are explored. Questions of what it is to love your country and your past, how to embrace family, and how to love the arts are asked. I found this book to be wholly satisfying and engaging.
September 27, 2025
Vamos la… foi um livro que demorei quase 2 meses pra terminar (enquanto lia outros paralelamente) por ser um livro excessivamente descritivo - se eu perdesse um detalhe eu teria que voltar uma página ou um capítulo inteiro para entender de novo (alo, tdah girlie) e também achei um livro cheio de viés políticos e propaganda pró US, com leves críticas ao mesmo também. Ao mesmo tempo, fiquei envolvida na história das irmãs e tem um sentimento de liberdade e solidão que me deixou encantada.
April 14, 2025
2.75 ⭐️
Zzz.
Zzz.
September 14, 2025
I liked the idea of this book — twin sisters, ballet, growing up during the Cold War, but it didn’t completely work for me. A lot happens and many years go by, but the big moments are barely touched on, while the same feelings and conflicts keep coming back without much new depth. Still, I felt connected to Maya in some way and could relate to her, which made me keep reading.
Read
May 18, 2025This originally appeared on Snotty Literati at onelitchick.com.
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War and Peace, or Peace and War?
May & Natasha is a Cold War Saga that opens in the Soviet Union of 1941. The book begins with the Siege of Leningrad and the death of a young, promising ballerina in the Kirov Ballet, Elizaveta (Americans may be more familiar with the Bolshoi Ballet). Found dead with twin girls on her chest, Elizaveta’s best friend, Katusha, rescues the babies before escaping to a nearby city. To honor her friend, Katusha enrolls Maya and Natasha in ballet lessons with the Vaganova Ballet Academy and the girls display a natural gift. As they grow and develop, Natasha shines as a bold, leading-lady type of dancer; Maya is steady, capable, and comfortable being a member of the company. In their late teens, the girls are on track to join the elite Kirov Ballet and excited by the opportunity to work as dancers and tour the world together.
But the Communist USSR is not a good place to be, and the Kremlin knows that Soviet citizens are flight-risks for defecting when given the opportunity. So, the Kremlin enacts a law that family members may no longer travel abroad together. In other words, it doesn’t matter if both girls qualify for the Kirov; only one will be allowed to go. Enter the perfect setup for a major betrayal and estrangement that will affect the sisters as they navigate living lives neither of them expected.
Lara: I’m always up for stories of family drama and this one really delivered. The backdrop of Cold War Russia, the directives on what constitutes Art (and that it must meet a level of respectability), the big personalities in the Soviet Ballet world and American Film all added to my interest and the good tension I felt while reading it. And a lot of the people and places were real which added to the story’s authenticity.
I also liked that author Durham didn’t move events in what I thought could be obvious directions. She kept me guessing and kept me turning pages. I even shed some tears when everything was finally revealed.
I want to highlight Durham’s writing. It’s solid and engaging.
“Days that turn out to be earth-shattering rarely announce themselves as such in the morning.”
and
“At 20, Natasha was the precise age to appeal to most men in all stages of life: very young men, who saw her as a peer; older men, who saw her as a little sparrow to take under their wings; and middle-aged men who saw her as a worthy conquest to show up their eroding confidence… But with all of this attention, Natasha had never felt seen. She knew she was not a person in their eyes. She was a reflection, a symbol of whatever it was that they loved or hated most in themselves.”
and
“Natasha wondered how it would feel to step out of your life. Would you feel crushable and small, like a snail without a shell, or someone who exited a chrysalis and sprouted wings?”
What did you think?
Jennifer: I really liked it. I think I’ll just give y’all the skinny: it’s a well-written, smart, intriguing, and a mild-mannered page-turner that’s a cut above the rest. I’ll likely think of it as a strong 2025 novel, though I might love others more. Still, there were things I thought were excellent. The historical detail was fabulous.
I’ll be frank and sound pretentious, but please know that I’m just a writer girl. Prior to my life as an English prof, I studied and worked (barely!) in International Relations. The Cold War was on the cusp of ending, and I did have the opportunity to visit the Soviet Union–both Leningrad (St. Petersburg) and Moscow–when Gorbachev was in power. Because of that, I was really into the details of Soviet life.
So much of the setting and the mood and the times slip smartly into the story. As the girls are preparing for their audition with the Kirov, one of them gets wrapped up with the Stilyagi, a real-life fascinating counter-cultural youth movement! I was interested! And the hardcore Soviet life rings true: a life of drudgery, a kind of colorless poverty. I kept remembering how, once upon a time, we Americans were all so fascinated by Mikhail Baryshnikov’s dancing career–this sexy Soviet guy–and his defection to the West.
So, let’s name-drop a little: What made us read this, Lara?
Lara: Well, I first heard about this book when I appeared on the “What Should I Read Next?” Podcast with Anne Bogel. She wanted to recommend a book that had a tie to my name’s Russian roots. And, I have to say, I would rather read Maya & Natasha than Dr. Zhivago (sorry Mom, Dad, and Boris Pasternak).
Jennifer: We should read Zhivago. I should read Zhivago.
I also really loved so much of the writing.
“Don’t let anger make you a thug,” Lev said. “If you must retaliate, do it elegantly.”
and
“Only three things can be depended on in this world: that hemlines will rise and fall, that regimes will come and go, and that people will never change. This is why the Russians went on doing the same things under Brezhnev that they did under Khrushchev, which they’d also done under Stalin, which were the same things people everywhere have always done . . .”
and
“Once, she’d thought that being bound to others was a kind of slavery. But a life lived in the sole pursuit of your own happiness was a life without love, and being free from love wasn’t freedom at all–it was slavery to yourself.”
and
“It was wonderful, and it did not matter who had made it–or perhaps it did, perhaps bringing some sort of lasting beauty into the world could be a kind of repentance. Perhaps it could save you.”
I agree with you that we’re kept guessing. There were multiple twists-and-turns, and there are real historic figures in this novel, including George Balanchine, Sergei Bondarchuk, and Yekaterina Furtseva–all worth looking up!
Here’s one funny thing I didn’t like. I’m reading Tolstoy’s War and Peace over the course of the whole year. I can’t say I’m loving it, but I’m doing it. It just so happens that a major plot-point in this book is the making of the Soviet film version of War and Peace (1966-67 by Bondarchuk). In my reading, I’m vested in ONE storyline–I kid you not, Durham wrote a spoiler of that ONE storyline. So now I know what happens to my ONE favorite character.
Okay, anything you didn’t like?
Lara: I think the statute of limitations on spoilers of books written in the 1800s has expired. The only thing I didn’t love was I felt one of the characters, Ykaterina Fursteva, the Minister of Culture under Nikita Khrushchev, seemed like a caricature and not a fully fleshed-out person, but it turns out that she was in fact a real person in the Soviet government. So, what do I know?
Jennifer: And this begs a whole other discussion on Art in the Soviet Union. Pretty artless. The nature of the Arts was very much dictated, becoming propaganda–and I think the Arts are still recovering. There are a lot of hot-topics here, like Soviet Realism, the school of thought. This is a book about real dancers who want to dance–no matter what.
Did you find these characters likeable? How important is that?
Lara: You know, I don’t have to like characters to enjoy a book. I do have to understand how they could come to make their decisions; their actions have to seem like they are plausible even if they are reprehensible. That said, the sisters make some choices that have life-altering consequences, but that made for a really compelling story, so I rolled with it. I did love Olaf, Maya’s dance partner who ends up figuring prominently in the story.
What about you?
Jennifer: I liked Olaf the best too! I agree with you, though. I may not have loved them, but I felt for them both.
What else have you been reading?
Lara: I feel like I am always reading, but it turns out that I have only completed two books since we last met: A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci, which my son recommended to me. He’s twenty-one, and I think this is the first book he’s ever recommended to me–so, of course, I read it. It was great. I also read Anna O by Matthew Blake for one of my book clubs.
Jennifer: I know it seems like I’m reading a ton too, but I’m really not. A lot of my reading lately is going slowly over time. In preparation for our next column, I’m reading both Hum by Helen Phillips and The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami. Good old War and Peace is still on my table.
Up Next !
We are diving into the dystopia with a double-header: Hum by Helen Phillips and The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami.
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War and Peace, or Peace and War?
May & Natasha is a Cold War Saga that opens in the Soviet Union of 1941. The book begins with the Siege of Leningrad and the death of a young, promising ballerina in the Kirov Ballet, Elizaveta (Americans may be more familiar with the Bolshoi Ballet). Found dead with twin girls on her chest, Elizaveta’s best friend, Katusha, rescues the babies before escaping to a nearby city. To honor her friend, Katusha enrolls Maya and Natasha in ballet lessons with the Vaganova Ballet Academy and the girls display a natural gift. As they grow and develop, Natasha shines as a bold, leading-lady type of dancer; Maya is steady, capable, and comfortable being a member of the company. In their late teens, the girls are on track to join the elite Kirov Ballet and excited by the opportunity to work as dancers and tour the world together.
But the Communist USSR is not a good place to be, and the Kremlin knows that Soviet citizens are flight-risks for defecting when given the opportunity. So, the Kremlin enacts a law that family members may no longer travel abroad together. In other words, it doesn’t matter if both girls qualify for the Kirov; only one will be allowed to go. Enter the perfect setup for a major betrayal and estrangement that will affect the sisters as they navigate living lives neither of them expected.
Lara: I’m always up for stories of family drama and this one really delivered. The backdrop of Cold War Russia, the directives on what constitutes Art (and that it must meet a level of respectability), the big personalities in the Soviet Ballet world and American Film all added to my interest and the good tension I felt while reading it. And a lot of the people and places were real which added to the story’s authenticity.
I also liked that author Durham didn’t move events in what I thought could be obvious directions. She kept me guessing and kept me turning pages. I even shed some tears when everything was finally revealed.
I want to highlight Durham’s writing. It’s solid and engaging.
“Days that turn out to be earth-shattering rarely announce themselves as such in the morning.”
and
“At 20, Natasha was the precise age to appeal to most men in all stages of life: very young men, who saw her as a peer; older men, who saw her as a little sparrow to take under their wings; and middle-aged men who saw her as a worthy conquest to show up their eroding confidence… But with all of this attention, Natasha had never felt seen. She knew she was not a person in their eyes. She was a reflection, a symbol of whatever it was that they loved or hated most in themselves.”
and
“Natasha wondered how it would feel to step out of your life. Would you feel crushable and small, like a snail without a shell, or someone who exited a chrysalis and sprouted wings?”
What did you think?
Jennifer: I really liked it. I think I’ll just give y’all the skinny: it’s a well-written, smart, intriguing, and a mild-mannered page-turner that’s a cut above the rest. I’ll likely think of it as a strong 2025 novel, though I might love others more. Still, there were things I thought were excellent. The historical detail was fabulous.
I’ll be frank and sound pretentious, but please know that I’m just a writer girl. Prior to my life as an English prof, I studied and worked (barely!) in International Relations. The Cold War was on the cusp of ending, and I did have the opportunity to visit the Soviet Union–both Leningrad (St. Petersburg) and Moscow–when Gorbachev was in power. Because of that, I was really into the details of Soviet life.
So much of the setting and the mood and the times slip smartly into the story. As the girls are preparing for their audition with the Kirov, one of them gets wrapped up with the Stilyagi, a real-life fascinating counter-cultural youth movement! I was interested! And the hardcore Soviet life rings true: a life of drudgery, a kind of colorless poverty. I kept remembering how, once upon a time, we Americans were all so fascinated by Mikhail Baryshnikov’s dancing career–this sexy Soviet guy–and his defection to the West.
So, let’s name-drop a little: What made us read this, Lara?
Lara: Well, I first heard about this book when I appeared on the “What Should I Read Next?” Podcast with Anne Bogel. She wanted to recommend a book that had a tie to my name’s Russian roots. And, I have to say, I would rather read Maya & Natasha than Dr. Zhivago (sorry Mom, Dad, and Boris Pasternak).
Jennifer: We should read Zhivago. I should read Zhivago.
I also really loved so much of the writing.
“Don’t let anger make you a thug,” Lev said. “If you must retaliate, do it elegantly.”
and
“Only three things can be depended on in this world: that hemlines will rise and fall, that regimes will come and go, and that people will never change. This is why the Russians went on doing the same things under Brezhnev that they did under Khrushchev, which they’d also done under Stalin, which were the same things people everywhere have always done . . .”
and
“Once, she’d thought that being bound to others was a kind of slavery. But a life lived in the sole pursuit of your own happiness was a life without love, and being free from love wasn’t freedom at all–it was slavery to yourself.”
and
“It was wonderful, and it did not matter who had made it–or perhaps it did, perhaps bringing some sort of lasting beauty into the world could be a kind of repentance. Perhaps it could save you.”
I agree with you that we’re kept guessing. There were multiple twists-and-turns, and there are real historic figures in this novel, including George Balanchine, Sergei Bondarchuk, and Yekaterina Furtseva–all worth looking up!
Here’s one funny thing I didn’t like. I’m reading Tolstoy’s War and Peace over the course of the whole year. I can’t say I’m loving it, but I’m doing it. It just so happens that a major plot-point in this book is the making of the Soviet film version of War and Peace (1966-67 by Bondarchuk). In my reading, I’m vested in ONE storyline–I kid you not, Durham wrote a spoiler of that ONE storyline. So now I know what happens to my ONE favorite character.
Okay, anything you didn’t like?
Lara: I think the statute of limitations on spoilers of books written in the 1800s has expired. The only thing I didn’t love was I felt one of the characters, Ykaterina Fursteva, the Minister of Culture under Nikita Khrushchev, seemed like a caricature and not a fully fleshed-out person, but it turns out that she was in fact a real person in the Soviet government. So, what do I know?
Jennifer: And this begs a whole other discussion on Art in the Soviet Union. Pretty artless. The nature of the Arts was very much dictated, becoming propaganda–and I think the Arts are still recovering. There are a lot of hot-topics here, like Soviet Realism, the school of thought. This is a book about real dancers who want to dance–no matter what.
Did you find these characters likeable? How important is that?
Lara: You know, I don’t have to like characters to enjoy a book. I do have to understand how they could come to make their decisions; their actions have to seem like they are plausible even if they are reprehensible. That said, the sisters make some choices that have life-altering consequences, but that made for a really compelling story, so I rolled with it. I did love Olaf, Maya’s dance partner who ends up figuring prominently in the story.
What about you?
Jennifer: I liked Olaf the best too! I agree with you, though. I may not have loved them, but I felt for them both.
What else have you been reading?
Lara: I feel like I am always reading, but it turns out that I have only completed two books since we last met: A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci, which my son recommended to me. He’s twenty-one, and I think this is the first book he’s ever recommended to me–so, of course, I read it. It was great. I also read Anna O by Matthew Blake for one of my book clubs.
Jennifer: I know it seems like I’m reading a ton too, but I’m really not. A lot of my reading lately is going slowly over time. In preparation for our next column, I’m reading both Hum by Helen Phillips and The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami. Good old War and Peace is still on my table.
Up Next !
We are diving into the dystopia with a double-header: Hum by Helen Phillips and The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami.
May 17, 2025
This review originally appeared at https://onelitchick.com/maya-natasha/
May & Natasha is a Cold War Saga that opens in the Soviet Union of 1941. The book begins with the Siege of Leningrad and the death of a young, promising ballerina in the Kirov Ballet, Elizaveta (Americans may be more familiar with the Bolshoi Ballet). Found dead with twin girls on her chest, Elizaveta’s best friend, Katusha, rescues the babies before escaping to a nearby city. To honor her friend, Katusha enrolls Maya and Natasha in ballet lessons with the Vaganova Ballet Academy and the girls display a natural gift. As they grow and develop, Natasha shines as a bold, leading-lady type of dancer; Maya is steady, capable, and comfortable being a member of the company. In their late teens, the girls are on track to join the elite Kirov Ballet and excited by the opportunity to work as dancers and tour the world together.
But the Communist USSR is not a good place to be, and the Kremlin knows that Soviet citizens are flight-risks for defecting when given the opportunity. So, the Kremlin enacts a law that family members may no longer travel abroad together. In other words, it doesn’t matter if both girls qualify for the Kirov; only one will be allowed to go. Enter the perfect setup for a major betrayal and estrangement that will affect the sisters as they navigate living lives neither of them expected.
Lara: I’m always up for stories of family drama and this one really delivered. The backdrop of Cold War Russia, the directives on what constitutes Art (and that it must meet a level of respectability), the big personalities in the Soviet Ballet world and American Film all added to my interest and the good tension I felt while reading it. And a lot of the people and places were real which added to the story’s authenticity.
I also liked that author Durham didn’t move events in what I thought could be obvious directions. She kept me guessing and kept me turning pages. I even shed some tears when everything was finally revealed.
I want to highlight Durham’s writing. It’s solid and engaging.
“Days that turn out to be earth-shattering rarely announce themselves as such in the morning.”
and
“At 20, Natasha was the precise age to appeal to most men in all stages of life: very young men, who saw her as a peer; older men, who saw her as a little sparrow to take under their wings; and middle-aged men who saw her as a worthy conquest to show up their eroding confidence… But with all of this attention, Natasha had never felt seen. She knew she was not a person in their eyes. She was a reflection, a symbol of whatever it was that they loved or hated most in themselves.”
and
“Natasha wondered how it would feel to step out of your life. Would you feel crushable and small, like a snail without a shell, or someone who exited a chrysalis and sprouted wings?”
What did you think?
Jennifer: I really liked it. I think I’ll just give y’all the skinny: it’s a well-written, smart, intriguing, and a mild-mannered page-turner that’s a cut above the rest. I’ll likely think of it as a strong 2025 novel, though I might love others more. Still, there were things I thought were excellent. The historical detail was fabulous.
I’ll be frank and sound pretentious, but please know that I’m just a writer girl. Prior to my life as an English prof, I studied and worked (barely!) in International Relations. The Cold War was on the cusp of ending, and I did have the opportunity to visit the Soviet Union–both Leningrad (St. Petersburg) and Moscow–when Gorbachev was in power. Because of that, I was really into the details of Soviet life.
So much of the setting and the mood and the times slip smartly into the story. As the girls are preparing for their audition with the Kirov, one of them gets wrapped up with the Stilyagi, a real-life fascinating counter-cultural youth movement! I was interested! And the hardcore Soviet life rings true: a life of drudgery, a kind of colorless poverty. I kept remembering how, once upon a time, we Americans were all so fascinated by Mikhail Baryshnikov’s dancing career–this sexy Soviet guy–and his defection to the West.
So, let’s name-drop a little: What made us read this, Lara?
Lara: Well, I first heard about this book when I appeared on the “What Should I Read Next?” Podcast with Anne Bogel. She wanted to recommend a book that had a tie to my name’s Russian roots. And, I have to say, I would rather read Maya & Natasha than Dr. Zhivago (sorry Mom, Dad, and Boris Pasternak).
Jennifer: We should read Zhivago. I should read Zhivago.
I also really loved so much of the writing.
“Don’t let anger make you a thug,” Lev said. “If you must retaliate, do it elegantly.”
and
“Only three things can be depended on in this world: that hemlines will rise and fall, that regimes will come and go, and that people will never change. This is why the Russians went on doing the same things under Brezhnev that they did under Khrushchev, which they’d also done under Stalin, which were the same things people everywhere have always done . . .”
and
“Once, she’d thought that being bound to others was a kind of slavery. But a life lived in the sole pursuit of your own happiness was a life without love, and being free from love wasn’t freedom at all–it was slavery to yourself.”
and
“It was wonderful, and it did not matter who had made it–or perhaps it did, perhaps bringing some sort of lasting beauty into the world could be a kind of repentance. Perhaps it could save you.”
I agree with you that we’re kept guessing. There were multiple twists-and-turns, and there are real historic figures in this novel, including George Balanchine, Sergei Bondarchuk, and Yekaterina Furtseva–all worth looking up!
Here’s one funny thing I didn’t like. I’m reading Tolstoy’s War and Peace over the course of the whole year. I can’t say I’m loving it, but I’m doing it. It just so happens that a major plot-point in this book is the making of the Soviet film version of War and Peace (1966-67 by Bondarchuk). In my reading, I’m vested in ONE storyline–I kid you not, Durham wrote a spoiler of that ONE storyline. So now I know what happens to my ONE favorite character.
Okay, anything you didn’t like?
Lara: I think the statute of limitations on spoilers of books written in the 1800s has expired. The only thing I didn’t love was I felt one of the characters, Ykaterina Fursteva, the Minister of Culture under Nikita Khrushchev, seemed like a caricature and not a fully fleshed-out person, but it turns out that she was in fact a real person in the Soviet government. So, what do I know?
Jennifer: And this begs a whole other discussion on Art in the Soviet Union. Pretty artless. The nature of the Arts was very much dictated, becoming propaganda–and I think the Arts are still recovering. There are a lot of hot-topics here, like Soviet Realism, the school of thought. This is a book about real dancers who want to dance–no matter what.
Did you find these characters likeable? How important is that?
Lara: You know, I don’t have to like characters to enjoy a book. I do have to understand how they could come to make their decisions; their actions have to seem like they are plausible even if they are reprehensible. That said, the sisters make some choices that have life-altering consequences, but that made for a really compelling story, so I rolled with it. I did love Olaf, Maya’s dance partner who ends up figuring prominently in the story.
What about you?
Jennifer: I liked Olaf the best too! I agree with you, though. I may not have loved them, but I felt for them both.
Up Next !
We are diving into the dystopia with a double-header: Hum by Helen Phillips and The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami.
May & Natasha is a Cold War Saga that opens in the Soviet Union of 1941. The book begins with the Siege of Leningrad and the death of a young, promising ballerina in the Kirov Ballet, Elizaveta (Americans may be more familiar with the Bolshoi Ballet). Found dead with twin girls on her chest, Elizaveta’s best friend, Katusha, rescues the babies before escaping to a nearby city. To honor her friend, Katusha enrolls Maya and Natasha in ballet lessons with the Vaganova Ballet Academy and the girls display a natural gift. As they grow and develop, Natasha shines as a bold, leading-lady type of dancer; Maya is steady, capable, and comfortable being a member of the company. In their late teens, the girls are on track to join the elite Kirov Ballet and excited by the opportunity to work as dancers and tour the world together.
But the Communist USSR is not a good place to be, and the Kremlin knows that Soviet citizens are flight-risks for defecting when given the opportunity. So, the Kremlin enacts a law that family members may no longer travel abroad together. In other words, it doesn’t matter if both girls qualify for the Kirov; only one will be allowed to go. Enter the perfect setup for a major betrayal and estrangement that will affect the sisters as they navigate living lives neither of them expected.
Lara: I’m always up for stories of family drama and this one really delivered. The backdrop of Cold War Russia, the directives on what constitutes Art (and that it must meet a level of respectability), the big personalities in the Soviet Ballet world and American Film all added to my interest and the good tension I felt while reading it. And a lot of the people and places were real which added to the story’s authenticity.
I also liked that author Durham didn’t move events in what I thought could be obvious directions. She kept me guessing and kept me turning pages. I even shed some tears when everything was finally revealed.
I want to highlight Durham’s writing. It’s solid and engaging.
“Days that turn out to be earth-shattering rarely announce themselves as such in the morning.”
and
“At 20, Natasha was the precise age to appeal to most men in all stages of life: very young men, who saw her as a peer; older men, who saw her as a little sparrow to take under their wings; and middle-aged men who saw her as a worthy conquest to show up their eroding confidence… But with all of this attention, Natasha had never felt seen. She knew she was not a person in their eyes. She was a reflection, a symbol of whatever it was that they loved or hated most in themselves.”
and
“Natasha wondered how it would feel to step out of your life. Would you feel crushable and small, like a snail without a shell, or someone who exited a chrysalis and sprouted wings?”
What did you think?
Jennifer: I really liked it. I think I’ll just give y’all the skinny: it’s a well-written, smart, intriguing, and a mild-mannered page-turner that’s a cut above the rest. I’ll likely think of it as a strong 2025 novel, though I might love others more. Still, there were things I thought were excellent. The historical detail was fabulous.
I’ll be frank and sound pretentious, but please know that I’m just a writer girl. Prior to my life as an English prof, I studied and worked (barely!) in International Relations. The Cold War was on the cusp of ending, and I did have the opportunity to visit the Soviet Union–both Leningrad (St. Petersburg) and Moscow–when Gorbachev was in power. Because of that, I was really into the details of Soviet life.
So much of the setting and the mood and the times slip smartly into the story. As the girls are preparing for their audition with the Kirov, one of them gets wrapped up with the Stilyagi, a real-life fascinating counter-cultural youth movement! I was interested! And the hardcore Soviet life rings true: a life of drudgery, a kind of colorless poverty. I kept remembering how, once upon a time, we Americans were all so fascinated by Mikhail Baryshnikov’s dancing career–this sexy Soviet guy–and his defection to the West.
So, let’s name-drop a little: What made us read this, Lara?
Lara: Well, I first heard about this book when I appeared on the “What Should I Read Next?” Podcast with Anne Bogel. She wanted to recommend a book that had a tie to my name’s Russian roots. And, I have to say, I would rather read Maya & Natasha than Dr. Zhivago (sorry Mom, Dad, and Boris Pasternak).
Jennifer: We should read Zhivago. I should read Zhivago.
I also really loved so much of the writing.
“Don’t let anger make you a thug,” Lev said. “If you must retaliate, do it elegantly.”
and
“Only three things can be depended on in this world: that hemlines will rise and fall, that regimes will come and go, and that people will never change. This is why the Russians went on doing the same things under Brezhnev that they did under Khrushchev, which they’d also done under Stalin, which were the same things people everywhere have always done . . .”
and
“Once, she’d thought that being bound to others was a kind of slavery. But a life lived in the sole pursuit of your own happiness was a life without love, and being free from love wasn’t freedom at all–it was slavery to yourself.”
and
“It was wonderful, and it did not matter who had made it–or perhaps it did, perhaps bringing some sort of lasting beauty into the world could be a kind of repentance. Perhaps it could save you.”
I agree with you that we’re kept guessing. There were multiple twists-and-turns, and there are real historic figures in this novel, including George Balanchine, Sergei Bondarchuk, and Yekaterina Furtseva–all worth looking up!
Here’s one funny thing I didn’t like. I’m reading Tolstoy’s War and Peace over the course of the whole year. I can’t say I’m loving it, but I’m doing it. It just so happens that a major plot-point in this book is the making of the Soviet film version of War and Peace (1966-67 by Bondarchuk). In my reading, I’m vested in ONE storyline–I kid you not, Durham wrote a spoiler of that ONE storyline. So now I know what happens to my ONE favorite character.
Okay, anything you didn’t like?
Lara: I think the statute of limitations on spoilers of books written in the 1800s has expired. The only thing I didn’t love was I felt one of the characters, Ykaterina Fursteva, the Minister of Culture under Nikita Khrushchev, seemed like a caricature and not a fully fleshed-out person, but it turns out that she was in fact a real person in the Soviet government. So, what do I know?
Jennifer: And this begs a whole other discussion on Art in the Soviet Union. Pretty artless. The nature of the Arts was very much dictated, becoming propaganda–and I think the Arts are still recovering. There are a lot of hot-topics here, like Soviet Realism, the school of thought. This is a book about real dancers who want to dance–no matter what.
Did you find these characters likeable? How important is that?
Lara: You know, I don’t have to like characters to enjoy a book. I do have to understand how they could come to make their decisions; their actions have to seem like they are plausible even if they are reprehensible. That said, the sisters make some choices that have life-altering consequences, but that made for a really compelling story, so I rolled with it. I did love Olaf, Maya’s dance partner who ends up figuring prominently in the story.
What about you?
Jennifer: I liked Olaf the best too! I agree with you, though. I may not have loved them, but I felt for them both.
Up Next !
We are diving into the dystopia with a double-header: Hum by Helen Phillips and The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami.
August 26, 2025
an ode to anticommunism that McCarthy would’ve considered a bit too heavy handed. the state is bad and capitalism, which permits one to have as many trinkets as they’d like, is so so good. the misogynistic tropes in here were boring- one sister is bad so she got fat and aged poorly, yawnnnn.
May 12, 2025
Reading this not long after finishing the podcast Dancing with Shadows (which is great and about NYCB) was a trip. Really thought that this was well executed both as a work of historical fiction and a sisters story. Would rec if you like ballet books.
October 6, 2025
3.5⭐️s
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