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The Redpoint Crux
Fans of The Phantom of the Opera and Black Swan will enjoy this thrilling debut.
When Megan Van Helsburg gets kicked off the U.S.A. Climbing Team, she has no choice but to return home and leave her climbing career behind. With no coach, no money, and no prospects, she joins the corps de ballet determined to improve her strength and agility. But the ballet theater is in dire straits. Not only do a series of murders break loose, but the ballerinas are becoming deathly thin and brain-dead. As Megan investigates, she meets Bellamy, a tortured young man who lives beneath the depths of the theater. Megan falls hard and fast for Bellamy, who becomes her mentor, but something is off about him.
It isn't until the company announces they're doing Giselle for the fall performance that Megan realizes the parallels between the ghost story and the lives around her. Megan must find a way to not only save her climbing career, but balance her feelings for Bellamy, and stop the murders and dying girls before she, too, is numbered among the dead.
When Megan Van Helsburg gets kicked off the U.S.A. Climbing Team, she has no choice but to return home and leave her climbing career behind. With no coach, no money, and no prospects, she joins the corps de ballet determined to improve her strength and agility. But the ballet theater is in dire straits. Not only do a series of murders break loose, but the ballerinas are becoming deathly thin and brain-dead. As Megan investigates, she meets Bellamy, a tortured young man who lives beneath the depths of the theater. Megan falls hard and fast for Bellamy, who becomes her mentor, but something is off about him.
It isn't until the company announces they're doing Giselle for the fall performance that Megan realizes the parallels between the ghost story and the lives around her. Megan must find a way to not only save her climbing career, but balance her feelings for Bellamy, and stop the murders and dying girls before she, too, is numbered among the dead.
290 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 5, 2020
About the author
Morgan Shamy
6 books209 followersMorgan Shamy is an ex-ballerina turned YA writer.
She has been immersed in the arts since the young age of 4, where she performed alongside a professional ballet company for over seven years, and has danced on prestigious stages like soloing at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
She has taught hundreds of girls in her fifteen years of teaching, where some of her students have received full-ride scholarships to schools like School of American Ballet, the Harid Conservatory, Kirov Academy of Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet, to name a few.
Morgan discovered writing when her three-year-old son was diagnosed with cancer. It was through that experience which instilled the need to share art and magic with children through words on the page.
Morgan is also an accomplished concert pianist. She was the first girl in Utah to receive the 75 pt. Gold Cup in the Utah Federation of Music in piano solo/concerto competition. Morgan currently lives with her X-Games gold-medalist husband and four children in the cold mountains of Alaska.
She has been immersed in the arts since the young age of 4, where she performed alongside a professional ballet company for over seven years, and has danced on prestigious stages like soloing at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
She has taught hundreds of girls in her fifteen years of teaching, where some of her students have received full-ride scholarships to schools like School of American Ballet, the Harid Conservatory, Kirov Academy of Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet, to name a few.
Morgan discovered writing when her three-year-old son was diagnosed with cancer. It was through that experience which instilled the need to share art and magic with children through words on the page.
Morgan is also an accomplished concert pianist. She was the first girl in Utah to receive the 75 pt. Gold Cup in the Utah Federation of Music in piano solo/concerto competition. Morgan currently lives with her X-Games gold-medalist husband and four children in the cold mountains of Alaska.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 125 reviews
April 8, 2019
This book is AMAZING. Once I started it I couldn’t put it down! It has a phantom of the opera meets ballet feel to it so if you love any of those things you are going to fall head over heels for this book. The writing is exquisite. It is so hauntingly beautiful!!! I can’t stop thinking about the characters and the romance in it is to die for.....swoon!!!! Stop what you are doing and read this book! You’ll love it!!!
April 9, 2019
I LOVED this book! I practically read it straight in one day because I couldn't put it down. It's the perfect balance between the eerie mystery and romance of the ballet and the modern sport story. The whole book had such a cool vibe. I don't read a lot of mystery, but I was surprised how well she made such a haunting story work so seamlessly in a modern setting. It made me wish that I could be Red! She is an awesome, strong female protagonist with a complexity of character, especially impressive for an author's debut novel. Really looking forward to more, hopefully soon!
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April 27, 2020I'm thrilled for this book to release! Morgan is a long-time friend of mine and I still blame her for the fact that I'm published. ;)
If you like mystery and intrigue, and are fascinated by theatre and ballet lore, this book is 100% for you!!
If you like mystery and intrigue, and are fascinated by theatre and ballet lore, this book is 100% for you!!
June 8, 2020
Book Reviewed on www.whisperingstories.com
The Redpoint Crux is a YA mystery heavily influenced by The Phantom of the Opera and ballet.
After a nervous breakdown causes Megan to lose her ability to compete in rock-climbing, she returns home to Halifax, her brother, and the ballet career she had abandoned. While there, Megan attempts to unravel her own personal issues while becoming involved in a murderous plot that is tied to her father’s mysterious death a decade before.
The novel excels in technical descriptions of rock-climbing and ballet and creates an atmospheric tone throughout; while reading, you’re unsure whether the mystery is paranormal in nature, which adds to the pervading sense of dread.
Yet, while the novel is very easy to read and the story intriguing, the pacing and characters suffer. The novel moves at a blistering pace. As such, we don’t really get to know Megan before her life is flipped upside down. So much happens in this short book that it feels Megan doesn’t fully react to or process events that should be traumatic. As such, aspects that should be at the forefront (the romance, the mystery itself) get lost in the shuffle and led me to not understand Megan’s motivations at times.
Had the story not given theatre director Liam his own perspective there would have been more time for Megan to deal with her trifecta of family issues, burgeoning romance, and the mystery itself.
I did very much enjoy the “Phantom” aspect – the attraction between the two characters is very well described and palpable – but it could have been drawn out longer to build more romantic tension. It felt more like a side-story than the crux of the novel.
There were also small inconsistencies and questions I had throughout, such as why the police were not involved in the murder investigation, why the brother would have been discharged from the hospital for “insurance” reasons when Nova Scotia has universal healthcare, what mental disorder Megan’s mother had, and various other small aspects that distracted me from the story.
Readers who love ballet and the Phantom of the Opera would very much enjoy this story, but while I found it entertaining I wasn’t emotionally invested.
The Redpoint Crux is a YA mystery heavily influenced by The Phantom of the Opera and ballet.
After a nervous breakdown causes Megan to lose her ability to compete in rock-climbing, she returns home to Halifax, her brother, and the ballet career she had abandoned. While there, Megan attempts to unravel her own personal issues while becoming involved in a murderous plot that is tied to her father’s mysterious death a decade before.
The novel excels in technical descriptions of rock-climbing and ballet and creates an atmospheric tone throughout; while reading, you’re unsure whether the mystery is paranormal in nature, which adds to the pervading sense of dread.
Yet, while the novel is very easy to read and the story intriguing, the pacing and characters suffer. The novel moves at a blistering pace. As such, we don’t really get to know Megan before her life is flipped upside down. So much happens in this short book that it feels Megan doesn’t fully react to or process events that should be traumatic. As such, aspects that should be at the forefront (the romance, the mystery itself) get lost in the shuffle and led me to not understand Megan’s motivations at times.
Had the story not given theatre director Liam his own perspective there would have been more time for Megan to deal with her trifecta of family issues, burgeoning romance, and the mystery itself.
I did very much enjoy the “Phantom” aspect – the attraction between the two characters is very well described and palpable – but it could have been drawn out longer to build more romantic tension. It felt more like a side-story than the crux of the novel.
There were also small inconsistencies and questions I had throughout, such as why the police were not involved in the murder investigation, why the brother would have been discharged from the hospital for “insurance” reasons when Nova Scotia has universal healthcare, what mental disorder Megan’s mother had, and various other small aspects that distracted me from the story.
Readers who love ballet and the Phantom of the Opera would very much enjoy this story, but while I found it entertaining I wasn’t emotionally invested.
April 20, 2020
The Redpoint Crux was such an engaging and hauntingly beautiful storyline! It follows the life of Megan, a ballerina turned rock-climber who is trying to navigate the grief following her father's death and her mother's illness. She goes on a journey of self-discovery and ends up in the midst of a mystery that will keep you turning the pages until you've finished the book! I really haven't read a novel in a few years- since graduating high school I've really only "read" my textbooks for school, but The Redpoint Crux was engaging and was a good novel to get me back into reading! The characters seem to come to life and the mystery and intrigue keep you anxiously awaiting what will happen next. I'm a fan of a good mystery, and this truly kept me guessing! Each twist and turn in the story led way to different themes, and the development of the characters made it relatable and thoroughly enjoyable! If you love a good mystery, action, romance, sport, theater or just a good solid read, this book would be a great one to add to your list!
**I received a free ARC copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review.**
**I received a free ARC copy of this book from the author in exchange for a review.**
April 15, 2019
Oh my goodness, I loved this book! From the opening scene I couldn't put it down! Shamy does a great job of pulling you in to the world of climbing and ballet right from the start. I don't know much about either of those worlds, but everything is explained so well - it made me want to go back in time and become a dancer...or rock climber...or both! Ha! The mystery and suspense make this book a page turner, but the romance is what really kept me on the edge of my seat - I'm still so torn about the love interests, I can't stop thinking about it! It was written so well that I could really envision the setting in the perfectly haunting town in Canada, with back alleys and pawn shops and clock towers - I feel like it exists somewhere and I want to visit! This will be a book that I read over and over and I pray that there is a sequel in the works! Loved it!
April 29, 2020
Who doesn't want to be dropped into the middle of Phantom of the Opera?
I could almost hear the music. I definitely felt the pull and strain of muscles, whether from the dance or the rock climbing. Morgan Shamy made both ballet and rock climbing intriguing,
The Redpoint Crus is mysterious and romantic. It's dark. It's filled with movement and allows the reader to see what the author is writing, almost as if she were painting a picture. I found the story seamless and the writing beautiful.
Thanks to the Author and Publisher for an early look.
I could almost hear the music. I definitely felt the pull and strain of muscles, whether from the dance or the rock climbing. Morgan Shamy made both ballet and rock climbing intriguing,
The Redpoint Crus is mysterious and romantic. It's dark. It's filled with movement and allows the reader to see what the author is writing, almost as if she were painting a picture. I found the story seamless and the writing beautiful.
Thanks to the Author and Publisher for an early look.
June 3, 2022
It was such a privilege to write this book. Thank you all so much for choosing to read this. This book holds so much of my heart, and it’s been a long journey to bring it here. I will love Red and Bellamy forever.
May 31, 2020
Wow! What a ride! What a creative book! I’ve never read anything with rock climbing and ballet before. The haunting setting was really great—the author does a great job at painting pictures. It was a little slow at first, but then it’s a quick ride to finish. I really liked the romance and I’m so happy I got an ARC of this. I will for sure recommend to my friends. I hope there’s a sequel!
May 30, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. It was so magical. Bellamy was so swoony and I just loved his banter with Megan. The whole book had this eerie feel—the kind of feeling that sticks with you long after you read it. As a dancer, the ballet was so spot on. The author knows exactly what she’s talking about. The rock climbing was really cool too. I definitely recommend this. It takes a minute to get into, but once you do, it’s a nonstop ride until the end!!
April 19, 2020
*I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
Did I watch The Phantom of The Opera at the Royal Albert Hall (2011) right before I read this book? Yes. Did it perhaps influence my take of this book in anyway. Possibly.
Did I love this book nonetheless? Yes!
THE REDPOINT CRUX was a theatrical performance that drew me in from the very first sentence all the way to the end. It was a perfectly constructed ballet that swept me off my feet and held me mesmerized until I finished. Morgan Shamy skillfully wove the classic narrative of The Phantom of the Opera into this story and though I know very little about the Black Swan, I do know ballet and I know how beautifully challenging it is.
What a fresh, modern, beautiful take on The Phantom of the Opera! Highly recommend to all who love and adore the play!
(Also, please tell me there's a sequel...)
5/5 stars
Did I watch The Phantom of The Opera at the Royal Albert Hall (2011) right before I read this book? Yes. Did it perhaps influence my take of this book in anyway. Possibly.
Did I love this book nonetheless? Yes!
THE REDPOINT CRUX was a theatrical performance that drew me in from the very first sentence all the way to the end. It was a perfectly constructed ballet that swept me off my feet and held me mesmerized until I finished. Morgan Shamy skillfully wove the classic narrative of The Phantom of the Opera into this story and though I know very little about the Black Swan, I do know ballet and I know how beautifully challenging it is.
What a fresh, modern, beautiful take on The Phantom of the Opera! Highly recommend to all who love and adore the play!
(Also, please tell me there's a sequel...)
5/5 stars
April 21, 2020
After an incident at a climbing competition gets her dropped from the USA Climbing Team, Megan "Red" Van Helsburg is forced to drop her career in climbing and return home to Nova Scotia. Determined to rise above the situation Megan decides to join up with a corps de ballet to enhance her dexterity and overall power because on top of losing her place on the team she lost her coach, sponsors and possible prospects which left her without income. The ballet theater of her childhood home has seen better days, a murderer stalks the streets and the other ballerinas are wasting away in both body and mind. Megan meets a mysterious young man named Bellamy during her investigation and he just so happens to dwell underneath the theater. Even though there is something not quite right with Bellamy he becomes her mentor and Megan finds herself falling for him.
Realization dawns on Megan when the theater announces the corps de ballet's performance will be Giselle and the similarities between the events going on at the theater and the play take on an eerie tone. Can Megan shoulder the precarious balance of investigating the murders and husks of ballerinas while sorting through her attraction to Bellamy on top of rebuilding her climbing career?
The blurb for The Redpoint Crux implied that fans of The Night Circus and The Raven Boys would like this book - I honestly can't attest to that because I haven't read either (I have read The Wolves of Mercy Falls series though). I would say that this book reminded me more of The Phantom of the Opera and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame vibe but with ballet with a serial killer twist. This story is intriguing and fast paced but sometimes I felt like it could've slowed down a bit and explained a little more. I wouldn't really categorize it as supernatural, paranormal or even magical (even though there are instances that aren't fully explained) but I would put it in a category with ghost stories and serial killers.
This book is predominantly about Megan "Red" Van Helsburg so naturally she is the most developed character in the book. The characters in the book often seem a little bit more emotionally mature than their age and it seemed to be a running theme of having to grow up quicker because of their parents or loss. I wish there was more relationship and backstory building to the characters to make them feel more cohesive. Liam definitely falls under the pretentious and entitled ass umbrella. It's only once everyone stops being selfish that the relationships tend to go anywhere. I really liked Bellamy and his connection with Red, I just wish that he was fleshed out more as a character rather than just his backstory (eventually). The plot did keep me guessing until the end and I was not disappointed by the ending of the book other than it left two things hanging in the wind - possibly for a sequel?
I happen to love ballet, it's excruciatingly beautiful - this book revolves around it. I have a friend that has been in ballet since she was little and I am obviously not an expert in any way I do know a thing or two. Colorado doesn't really have a big ballet scene but I would absolutely love to see a big production one of these days. My favorite has always been The Nutcracker.
I really did enjoy this book and while yes it does have some flaws it was vastly different than anything that I have read this year and that is a solid positive for me. This book contained an element you don't normally see in mysteries and thrillers - ballet. I would recommend reading this book to those who enjoy ballet, murder mysteries, serial killers, thrillers and ghost stories. A big thank you to NetGalley and The Parliament House for putting this title in Read Now.
Realization dawns on Megan when the theater announces the corps de ballet's performance will be Giselle and the similarities between the events going on at the theater and the play take on an eerie tone. Can Megan shoulder the precarious balance of investigating the murders and husks of ballerinas while sorting through her attraction to Bellamy on top of rebuilding her climbing career?
The blurb for The Redpoint Crux implied that fans of The Night Circus and The Raven Boys would like this book - I honestly can't attest to that because I haven't read either (I have read The Wolves of Mercy Falls series though). I would say that this book reminded me more of The Phantom of the Opera and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame vibe but with ballet with a serial killer twist. This story is intriguing and fast paced but sometimes I felt like it could've slowed down a bit and explained a little more. I wouldn't really categorize it as supernatural, paranormal or even magical (even though there are instances that aren't fully explained) but I would put it in a category with ghost stories and serial killers.
This book is predominantly about Megan "Red" Van Helsburg so naturally she is the most developed character in the book. The characters in the book often seem a little bit more emotionally mature than their age and it seemed to be a running theme of having to grow up quicker because of their parents or loss. I wish there was more relationship and backstory building to the characters to make them feel more cohesive. Liam definitely falls under the pretentious and entitled ass umbrella. It's only once everyone stops being selfish that the relationships tend to go anywhere. I really liked Bellamy and his connection with Red, I just wish that he was fleshed out more as a character rather than just his backstory (eventually). The plot did keep me guessing until the end and I was not disappointed by the ending of the book other than it left two things hanging in the wind - possibly for a sequel?
I happen to love ballet, it's excruciatingly beautiful - this book revolves around it. I have a friend that has been in ballet since she was little and I am obviously not an expert in any way I do know a thing or two. Colorado doesn't really have a big ballet scene but I would absolutely love to see a big production one of these days. My favorite has always been The Nutcracker.
I really did enjoy this book and while yes it does have some flaws it was vastly different than anything that I have read this year and that is a solid positive for me. This book contained an element you don't normally see in mysteries and thrillers - ballet. I would recommend reading this book to those who enjoy ballet, murder mysteries, serial killers, thrillers and ghost stories. A big thank you to NetGalley and The Parliament House for putting this title in Read Now.
January 9, 2020
I'm so glad I finally get to post a review of this book.
I'll admit, I might be a bit biased, but I fell in love with Morgan's book right away. I distinctly remember sitting in my office during my day job and falling off the edge of my seat a quarter of the way through.
It has everything that I love: ballet, mysterious strangers, heavy Phantom of the Opera vibes, and a twisty mystery. Did I mention heartache? Because there's definitely heartache, but it's good heartache. Ya know? That kind of pain that makes you want to read the book all over again, just to experience all of the good things before it ripped you apart (and being ripped apart by a good story is sometimes so satisfying).
Having this novel in hand is going to be the highlight of my 2020.
I'll admit, I might be a bit biased, but I fell in love with Morgan's book right away. I distinctly remember sitting in my office during my day job and falling off the edge of my seat a quarter of the way through.
It has everything that I love: ballet, mysterious strangers, heavy Phantom of the Opera vibes, and a twisty mystery. Did I mention heartache? Because there's definitely heartache, but it's good heartache. Ya know? That kind of pain that makes you want to read the book all over again, just to experience all of the good things before it ripped you apart (and being ripped apart by a good story is sometimes so satisfying).
Having this novel in hand is going to be the highlight of my 2020.
June 7, 2020
Thank you Fantastic Fiction Book Club, Parliament and NetGalley for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
The Redpoint Crux
By: Morgan Shamy
REVIEW ☆☆☆☆
What do rock climbing and ballet have in common? Nothing, as far as I knew, that is, until I read The Redpoint Crux. The heroine, Megan, is a rock climber and a ballet dancer. A climbing accident ends that career, so she returns to the ballet in Nova Scotia. Megan has a tragic history with the place involving her father. Her family are overall a troubled lot. As the story progresses, ballerinas are murdered and acting zombie like, and Megan reconnects with an old friend. She is out to find the murderer and solve this bizarre mystery. The story is gripping and compelling with a gritty gothic vibe. I love when the atmosphere of a story is really its own character, and in this world, everything is permeated by a creeping sense of dread and eerie machinations. The whole thing is very macabre and Edgar Allen Poe-esq. This dark twisted mystery was not solved by me. I couldn't predict anything, and that's a good thing. I recommend The Redpoint Crux if you want to be transported to a captivating yet frightening place for just a little while.
The Redpoint Crux
By: Morgan Shamy
REVIEW ☆☆☆☆
What do rock climbing and ballet have in common? Nothing, as far as I knew, that is, until I read The Redpoint Crux. The heroine, Megan, is a rock climber and a ballet dancer. A climbing accident ends that career, so she returns to the ballet in Nova Scotia. Megan has a tragic history with the place involving her father. Her family are overall a troubled lot. As the story progresses, ballerinas are murdered and acting zombie like, and Megan reconnects with an old friend. She is out to find the murderer and solve this bizarre mystery. The story is gripping and compelling with a gritty gothic vibe. I love when the atmosphere of a story is really its own character, and in this world, everything is permeated by a creeping sense of dread and eerie machinations. The whole thing is very macabre and Edgar Allen Poe-esq. This dark twisted mystery was not solved by me. I couldn't predict anything, and that's a good thing. I recommend The Redpoint Crux if you want to be transported to a captivating yet frightening place for just a little while.
June 9, 2020
The Redpoint Crux is a gripping story with intriguing characters. It didn't take long for me to be completely immersed in the story. There were a few things I thought needed a little more attention and explanation, but I felt the author did a fantastic job creating a mood of page-turning suspense with some romance too. Megan is quite the character. She jumps (literally) from one thing to the next, but I liked that about her. I really enjoyed the way the story was told, it's very pleasing for me to read books with point of view changes. This book has a great flow to it and the ending was awesome! There are so many great twists and turns, I was left guessing until the last page!
March 24, 2020
Such an awesome blend of genres. The pace of this book is enough to keep you awake and turning pages till the end. You definitely won't be guessing the twists and turns of where this book will take you. A great plot with well developed characters, this book is a must read.
May 26, 2020
Read my full review here: https://lifesanovelty.blogspot.com/20...
Opinions: From the freakishly amazing beginning to the freakish end, I was completely immersed in The Redpoint Crux! The supernatural elements, the edgy romance between Red and her instructor, the deaths, the girls, the tunnels, the chandelier, oh!! It was all so alluring. Thanks to Shamy's passion for her characters and their passion to take each other down, the classic saying "just one more page" applied as I read The Redpoint Crux on the edge of my seat for the rest of the day. The spooky, eerie atmosphere didn't help my feeling of on-edge as I scoured the pages full of ballet and behind-the-scenes drama. I loved the contrast between the gentleness of ballet and the perplexity of rock climbing; it is almost as if there was an "old Red" and "new Red" rather than one principle character who lives both lives. This obvious character development leads readers to question the themes and morals Shamy discusses in The Redpoint Crux, and if I tell you that this book didn't teach me about loyalty and bravery, I don't know what will! All in all, a thrilling, spooky, re-read worthy book!
My Favourite Thing: Personally, I love the creativity of The Redpoint Crux! Adding on to what I said earlier, the contrast between ballet and rock-climbing - two activities seldom practiced in YA - is representative and symbolic for many other elements of the book. Nothing about The Redpoint Crux happened by accident: Shamy planned every last detail to make sure her readers were engaged, spooked, and wowed by the ghosts and chaos! In just 290 pages, we cover a lot of ground - metaphorically and physically - thanks to Shamy's world-building and to-the-point writing style. I can't think of another book where you'd find so much content jammed into so few pages!
My Least Favourite Thing: That said, "so much content jammed into so few pages" makes for a quick pace. Even the sorrowful moments were fast and judicious, leaving no time for readers to connect and empathize with the characters. I also found that there was very little difference between the climax and any other scene because they're all intense and exciting! Although lots of action may sound appealing to some readers, the ending of the book was a bit of a let-down because we didn't get the crazy climax readers expect from a story arc.
Opinions: From the freakishly amazing beginning to the freakish end, I was completely immersed in The Redpoint Crux! The supernatural elements, the edgy romance between Red and her instructor, the deaths, the girls, the tunnels, the chandelier, oh!! It was all so alluring. Thanks to Shamy's passion for her characters and their passion to take each other down, the classic saying "just one more page" applied as I read The Redpoint Crux on the edge of my seat for the rest of the day. The spooky, eerie atmosphere didn't help my feeling of on-edge as I scoured the pages full of ballet and behind-the-scenes drama. I loved the contrast between the gentleness of ballet and the perplexity of rock climbing; it is almost as if there was an "old Red" and "new Red" rather than one principle character who lives both lives. This obvious character development leads readers to question the themes and morals Shamy discusses in The Redpoint Crux, and if I tell you that this book didn't teach me about loyalty and bravery, I don't know what will! All in all, a thrilling, spooky, re-read worthy book!
My Favourite Thing: Personally, I love the creativity of The Redpoint Crux! Adding on to what I said earlier, the contrast between ballet and rock-climbing - two activities seldom practiced in YA - is representative and symbolic for many other elements of the book. Nothing about The Redpoint Crux happened by accident: Shamy planned every last detail to make sure her readers were engaged, spooked, and wowed by the ghosts and chaos! In just 290 pages, we cover a lot of ground - metaphorically and physically - thanks to Shamy's world-building and to-the-point writing style. I can't think of another book where you'd find so much content jammed into so few pages!
My Least Favourite Thing: That said, "so much content jammed into so few pages" makes for a quick pace. Even the sorrowful moments were fast and judicious, leaving no time for readers to connect and empathize with the characters. I also found that there was very little difference between the climax and any other scene because they're all intense and exciting! Although lots of action may sound appealing to some readers, the ending of the book was a bit of a let-down because we didn't get the crazy climax readers expect from a story arc.
May 29, 2020
Such an enjoyable read. I loved the Phantom of the Opera parallels—except with ballet. The writing was beautiful and the story was quick paced. Amazing for a debut author. It’s a book I could read again!
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May 18, 2020Perfect for fans of Phantom of the Opera and The Black Swan - with a twist of Giselle, a hint of Coppelia and bonus rock climbing - this spooky, atmospheric book is a compelling read you'll want to gulp down with the lights on. Full of dark romantic drama and authentic ballet details, I found the sections on rock climbing a fascinating contrast to the mysterious theater setting. I wasn't ready for it to end!
May 31, 2020
I received an ARC from the author and I must say, I really enjoyed this book!! I read it in two days, it was a quick, fun read. I absolutely loved Bellamy—he was so creepy, dark, romantic, and mysterious! Red is a stronger character with bite that I didn’t mind reading about. Her biggest flaw is not caring about others, and thinking only of herself, but I found it believable for her age and she overcomes that. I thought all the other characters were really fun. Especially Doc! That dude freaked me out! The setting was really pretty and I loved learning about the ballet and rock climbing worlds. A 5 star read for me!
June 7, 2020
I'm a dancer and I'm freaking out about this book. Usually when I read dancer books, they're so bad. Like, so so bad, because they don't know what they're talking about. With The Redpoint Crux, it's clear the author knows exactly what she's talking about. The world is so real! And so was the rock climbing world! Plus, the whole Phantom vibe was perfection. I'd say the author's strongest point was setting and plot. I felt immersed in this really cool sport/ballet world with a ton of darkness that reminded me of a horror book. I'd definitely recommend this to friends!
June 7, 2020
Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. I'm in love with this book!!! There aren't enough exclamation points. I received an ARC of this and I'm so glad I did. I've never read a Phantom retelling, and this one did not disappoint. The setting was like a character itself, it was so moody and atmospheric and haunting and stunning. I loved the characters (especially Bellamy) and felt so satisfied at the end. Even though it has a different ending, it was great with me. I need to recommend this to my friends, because I'm sure they'll enjoy it to. I'm so happy I read this book!
June 3, 2020
I received an ARC of this book and I was pleasantly surprised. This book is unlike any other book I've read. It wasn't predictable, it wasn't formulaic. It was intense throughout and always had me guessing. I was really happy with the ending. I didn't see it coming. I enjoyed the characters--they were interesting, and enjoyable to be with. The romance was haunting, and the whole book encompassed a really eerie vibe. I loved learning about rock climbing. I know a little about dance, but not in the depth that this book showed us. I really enjoyed this!
June 3, 2020
Holy crap. I am in love with Bellamy. Is he not the most perfect book boyfriend ever? And Megan "Red" was so perfect for him. I loved the two together. I've never read a book with the mashup of rock climbing and ballet before, but it totally worked. It was such a funky, eerie story. It parallels POTO, which of course is my favorite, which made me love it even more. This story is going to stick with me for a while. I still feel trapped in that world!
June 5, 2020
My favorite part of this book was definitely the atmosphere. The ballet, the secrets, the creepy characters... The author clearly knows the world of ballet really well, and as someone who used to dance as a child, I loved revisiting that world!
I'd recommend this book for people who love dark fantasy/thriller/horror. There're are some "dark" scenes in this book, so if you're sensitive, this might not be the book for you. :)
But if you love a dark spin to your books, this one is a really quick, enjoyable read.
I'd recommend this book for people who love dark fantasy/thriller/horror. There're are some "dark" scenes in this book, so if you're sensitive, this might not be the book for you. :)
But if you love a dark spin to your books, this one is a really quick, enjoyable read.
April 22, 2020
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I thought I'd like this. I wanted to like this. But here we are.
It felt rushed and confused and it made very little sense to me, like the pages didn't link together to make a story but it was just random things after random things. It felt out there and the writing didn't feel right to me either. It sounded so dramatic, every dialogue, every scene felt like an overplayed drama. The mystery didn't grab my attention at all and I just couldn't. From beginning to end, I rolled my eyes so many times. I don't know, I guess it really wasn't for me.
I thought I'd like this. I wanted to like this. But here we are.
It felt rushed and confused and it made very little sense to me, like the pages didn't link together to make a story but it was just random things after random things. It felt out there and the writing didn't feel right to me either. It sounded so dramatic, every dialogue, every scene felt like an overplayed drama. The mystery didn't grab my attention at all and I just couldn't. From beginning to end, I rolled my eyes so many times. I don't know, I guess it really wasn't for me.
June 9, 2020
Synopsis:
In Boulder, Colorado; Red Tucker is a seventeen-year-old world-class rock climber who gets banned from the Nationals team due to an ‘incident’. Now climbing recreationally, she’s had a fall and is dying. A strange guy appears out of nowhere and in the next instant she’s as fit as a fiddle. She left Halifax and a budding career in ballet behind three years back but has to return to that world again.
In Halifax, Nova Scotia; nineteen-year-old Liam Reynolds the Third is back at the theatre which his parents seem to have run to the ground by taking off with all the money. Now as the director, with the help of the Van Helsburg twins, he wants to resurrect it. But when strange things happen, coupled with the return of the Bridegroom killer, will Liam and Red be able to reach their end goal?
Review:
This is the debut book of Morgan Shamy. Before this, I’d read only one story with a ballerina as a protagonist. It was an erotic romance – The Risk by Caitlin Crews. Ballet not being that popular in my country, India, it made me appreciate their careers, the hardships they have to face from a tender age in order to survive and thrive in this field. And now to have read this story by a professional ballerina is just what I needed!
The story starts in August where Red is dying from a punctured lung after she suffers a fall. Come September, Liam finds himself at his parents’ theatre. Red has no option but to go back as her coach gave up on her after her supposedly turning slowly into her sick mother and being in denial about it. Her mother’s in a mental institution.
With appropriately named chapters and third-person narration, this story is off to a mysterious start. A promising ballerina turned famous rock climber, banned from the U.S.A. National Team due to an ‘incident’, Red has experienced quite the life at her young age, starting with her parents. The famous violinist Stewart Van Helsburg was murdered some seven years ago and Megan Van Helsburg changed her identity to Red Tucker in order to leave her old life behind.
It is atmospheric from the beginning with a lot of eeriness. A possibly haunted theatre, a serial killer who’s back, the promise of a hidden treasure, someone lurking beneath the infamous theatre, and what appears to be at first an unconventional romance. More deaths and horrifying events make everyone scared to work at the theatre, but the show is never really over …
This story is as ethereal as it is frightening. The character of Bellamy felt unreal! A wraith-like figure, he remained an enigma till the very end. The story held me in its grip, breath-taking in its build-up, this book can be said to be the ballet version of The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. I haven’t yet read that classic but I look forward to reading it now. Another thing that I really liked was the friendship that Liam and Megan shared, without any love triangle or anything else to spoil it. Just pure friendship.
A grand production for the climax, with the identity of the crazed murderer, kept a mystery right till the very end, this is a read I’d definitely recommend. It would have got infinite stars from me though had I not felt sad about a part which had a tragic ending as well as the characters I was waiting to hear more of, like the kilt-wearing Scotsman Thomas MacDaniel. But I loved Shamy’s world, and look forward to reading all her future works!
Thank you to The Parliament House Press for an e-ARC of the book.
Originally posted on:
Shaina's Musings
In Boulder, Colorado; Red Tucker is a seventeen-year-old world-class rock climber who gets banned from the Nationals team due to an ‘incident’. Now climbing recreationally, she’s had a fall and is dying. A strange guy appears out of nowhere and in the next instant she’s as fit as a fiddle. She left Halifax and a budding career in ballet behind three years back but has to return to that world again.
In Halifax, Nova Scotia; nineteen-year-old Liam Reynolds the Third is back at the theatre which his parents seem to have run to the ground by taking off with all the money. Now as the director, with the help of the Van Helsburg twins, he wants to resurrect it. But when strange things happen, coupled with the return of the Bridegroom killer, will Liam and Red be able to reach their end goal?
Review:
This is the debut book of Morgan Shamy. Before this, I’d read only one story with a ballerina as a protagonist. It was an erotic romance – The Risk by Caitlin Crews. Ballet not being that popular in my country, India, it made me appreciate their careers, the hardships they have to face from a tender age in order to survive and thrive in this field. And now to have read this story by a professional ballerina is just what I needed!
The story starts in August where Red is dying from a punctured lung after she suffers a fall. Come September, Liam finds himself at his parents’ theatre. Red has no option but to go back as her coach gave up on her after her supposedly turning slowly into her sick mother and being in denial about it. Her mother’s in a mental institution.
My children are what keep this theatre alive. You have no idea what treasure they hold.
With appropriately named chapters and third-person narration, this story is off to a mysterious start. A promising ballerina turned famous rock climber, banned from the U.S.A. National Team due to an ‘incident’, Red has experienced quite the life at her young age, starting with her parents. The famous violinist Stewart Van Helsburg was murdered some seven years ago and Megan Van Helsburg changed her identity to Red Tucker in order to leave her old life behind.
It is atmospheric from the beginning with a lot of eeriness. A possibly haunted theatre, a serial killer who’s back, the promise of a hidden treasure, someone lurking beneath the infamous theatre, and what appears to be at first an unconventional romance. More deaths and horrifying events make everyone scared to work at the theatre, but the show is never really over …
Memories are the past, Megan. The present is alive. The present is more real than any object. Memories are sitting inside of us wishing to be lived again—but they never will be. That is unhealthy time traveling.
This story is as ethereal as it is frightening. The character of Bellamy felt unreal! A wraith-like figure, he remained an enigma till the very end. The story held me in its grip, breath-taking in its build-up, this book can be said to be the ballet version of The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. I haven’t yet read that classic but I look forward to reading it now. Another thing that I really liked was the friendship that Liam and Megan shared, without any love triangle or anything else to spoil it. Just pure friendship.
A grand production for the climax, with the identity of the crazed murderer, kept a mystery right till the very end, this is a read I’d definitely recommend. It would have got infinite stars from me though had I not felt sad about a part which had a tragic ending as well as the characters I was waiting to hear more of, like the kilt-wearing Scotsman Thomas MacDaniel. But I loved Shamy’s world, and look forward to reading all her future works!
Thank you to The Parliament House Press for an e-ARC of the book.
Originally posted on:
Shaina's Musings
June 4, 2020
So, I don’t know what I was expecting when I picked up this book–but I was very pleasantly surprised! I mean, I figured I’d like it based on the synopsis but…. I really, really enjoyed it!
Megan, the heroine, undergoes major character growth through this novel. And it’s not surprising, given what she goes through. I really can honestly say I loved her character.
I also really loved the eerie feel that the story had. When people liken this story to Phantom of the Opera–they are spot on. I couldn’t help but see Megan as Christine, and Bellamy as the mysterious Phantom.
From start to finish, I was HOOKED.
The only thing I didn’t really get, I guess was one of the plot points in the very beginning. And Megan even addresses this later in the novel to Bellamy–when she asks him how he accomplished something (not giving this away)… And there was never any explanation–and it was kind of a big deal.
But, besides that, I felt that the author did a beautiful job of tying up loose ends and leaving the reader as satisfied as possible.
Although, I wouldn’t be sad to have a sequel!!!
Megan, the heroine, undergoes major character growth through this novel. And it’s not surprising, given what she goes through. I really can honestly say I loved her character.
I also really loved the eerie feel that the story had. When people liken this story to Phantom of the Opera–they are spot on. I couldn’t help but see Megan as Christine, and Bellamy as the mysterious Phantom.
From start to finish, I was HOOKED.
The only thing I didn’t really get, I guess was one of the plot points in the very beginning. And Megan even addresses this later in the novel to Bellamy–when she asks him how he accomplished something (not giving this away)… And there was never any explanation–and it was kind of a big deal.
But, besides that, I felt that the author did a beautiful job of tying up loose ends and leaving the reader as satisfied as possible.
Although, I wouldn’t be sad to have a sequel!!!
June 9, 2020
‘The Redpoint Crux’ is the first book I have read by Morgan Shamy, and I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book had a very ‘Phatom Of The Opera’ vibe for me, and I did not expect all the twists and turns of the story.
The book is about Megan aka ‘Red’. A professional climber who has found herself at a bit of a crossroads. With thoughts of her mother plaguing her and knocking her off her game, she is left without a coach or money to remain in competition. She returns back to the theatre she grew up in, hoping to accrue some money and return to competing.
However, the theatre holds bittersweet memories of her father, and how he came to pass, and with no money and the re-emergence of a ‘Bridegroom Killer’, Megan ends up becoming embroiled very dark and sinister goings on.
Bellamy is her protector, a man who was taken in by her father who is very strange, but oddly appealing to Red. Liam, the theatre’s owner is desperately attempting to keep things in order, and attempt to make money to save the theatre, but will they get to the bottom of the strange goings on?
This book is full of action, drama and romance all neatly packaged. I loved the centring around ballet and the production of Giselle, and some parts were very creepy and eerie. Intriguing plot, and I’ve never read anything quite like it.
This book had a very ‘Phatom Of The Opera’ vibe for me, and I did not expect all the twists and turns of the story.
The book is about Megan aka ‘Red’. A professional climber who has found herself at a bit of a crossroads. With thoughts of her mother plaguing her and knocking her off her game, she is left without a coach or money to remain in competition. She returns back to the theatre she grew up in, hoping to accrue some money and return to competing.
However, the theatre holds bittersweet memories of her father, and how he came to pass, and with no money and the re-emergence of a ‘Bridegroom Killer’, Megan ends up becoming embroiled very dark and sinister goings on.
Bellamy is her protector, a man who was taken in by her father who is very strange, but oddly appealing to Red. Liam, the theatre’s owner is desperately attempting to keep things in order, and attempt to make money to save the theatre, but will they get to the bottom of the strange goings on?
This book is full of action, drama and romance all neatly packaged. I loved the centring around ballet and the production of Giselle, and some parts were very creepy and eerie. Intriguing plot, and I’ve never read anything quite like it.
Want to read
June 9, 2020ohohohoho Phantom of the Opera AND a guy named Bellamy which instantly pulls me into the adoration of Bellamy Blake from my beloved The 100???
Y E S
Y E S
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