Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 4.0 stars.

This book is so intriguing and fair amount darker than I expected. The unique magic woven into the story to create a tale of sacrifice and feminine rage is very well done. I love how dance is incorporated into the story it brings a little showman ship to the pages which creates a mask for what is lurking behind the scenes once the curtain is pulled.

Our FMC is courageous and broken, but I adored her on page. The villain in this story is as callous as they come, his greed and selfish desires are what plagues our main character and her troupes lives. As the story unravels we get to figure out how this happening and our main character must make decisions she may not recover from in order to truly be free.

This is a beautifully haunting story with magic and sisterhood that will draw you in.

A young girl leads a group of cursed dancers who are controlled by a master who practices dark magic to make them dance perfectly on stage to his whims. When one of her closest friends succumbs to the curse and dies, Emberlyn decides that she must take action and free herself and her companions of their prison. When their master takes them to a new city for a series of shows, Emberlyn takes her chance to try and escape, and is foiled but then is able to start piecing together the mystery behind their cursed existence and how she can start a new life.

The plot premise here is very dark and disturbing but also quite original, well realised and remains compelling throughout. The other characters aren't well formed or realised but Emberlyn herself is a heroine to root for. The shadow boy she comes to trust and lean on to help with her escape is a neat device but the romance is one of the least convincing aspects here. Worth a try for an older, discerning teen reader

This is a gothic, atmospheric, dark story focusing on a group of cursed girls. There is some darker elements in this story - and trigger warnings should be noted. I didn’t feel like I was reading a YA in particular, it was a unique storyline with a lot of twists and turns as it reaches its end.
There is a surprising love story that builds in the second half of the book, which is beautiful. Emberlyn, the lead of the dance troupe, is feisty, determined and such a strong character. The girls’ story is heartbreaking and painful, but the unwavering support and trust they give one another is captivating. It did take me a while to really get into it, but I really enjoyed this and would pick up something by this author again.

Thank you E.V. Woods and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC. What a great read this was. #NetGalley #GirlsOfDarkDivine #EVWoods

First thank you usborneya and E.V Woods and netgalley for sending me a copy of this to read on my kindle i truly appreciate it. I truly enjoyed this read, it had its dark elements very reminiscent of the Black Swan and I was here for it. The sisterhood is real in this book, the pain they all went through everything that has been stolen from them. Emberlyn our main character is so head strong and brave and I warmed to her character quite quickly she was great to follow in the story.

"Emberlyn is a Marionette - one of a troupe of hauntingly beautiful girls who have been cursed to perform until they turn to dust... When another one of her sisters falls, Emberlyn decides she must fight back against their Puppet Master and free them from this violent dance.

Whisked away to a new theatre, Emberlyn seizes the chance to escape, but instead brings dark secrets and a boy made of shadows to light... As her strings tighten, Emberlyn realizes the only way to break free is to end the Puppet Master once and for all. Except tearing the life out of his veins might destroy the Marionettes too."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a brilliant concept! It’s giving Black Swan vibes and I love the sapphic romance! The plot is so engaging and the writing was atmospheric!

This book has absolutely blown me away.
Dark and gothic and yet filled with as much hope as there is despair.

I had heard it was phantom of the opera vibes, and whilst I don't quite agree, I absolutely loved reading it. It's so unique, and I loved the story of the cursed ballerinas torn between fighting for their freedom, and accepting their fate to avoid a worse one.
It's a haunting read filled with layers of heartbreak and hope and pain and defiance.

I flew through this book - I couldn’t put it down! I really enjoyed the writing, and the shocking horror of the curse revealed through the book - plus one of the darkest villains I've read this year! It has a really unique premise, and Emberlyn is a very compelling main character. The girls’ situation is harrowing, and the plot keeps moving, keeping you gripped. The relationship between the girls is warming, and you do really feel the dread sink in as you realise what is happening to them. Every time Emberlyn feels like she’s close to breaking free, the author really builds the tension and you feel the despair as another effort is thwarted. The chilling villain really made me cringe, and I enjoyed the parallels of the choreography and the marionette curse.
I thought this was a brilliant debut!