Dance of the Starlit Sea

Gr 9 Up–Krystle’s YA debut seems keyed to social media–driven aesthetics instead of plot, with over-the-top purple prose and a shallowness that permeates everything but its beautifully vivid descriptions. Ballerina Lila Rose Li has always strived for perfection and to live up her parents’ expectations, but after a failed audition, she lashes out violently and is sent to live with her aunt on a small, mysterious island with strange traditions bordering on cultlike activities. The more Lila learns of the island, the more she is drawn to investigate the folklore of angels and devils. Tagged as “‘Hades & Persephone’ meets Phantom of the Opera,” the book holds little-to-no similarities with either. It is difficult to connect with the one-dimensional characters, who lack the personalities needed to distinguish among them. The pacing is disjointed, and the sugary, ethereal prose makes it easy to lose one’s place in the story, especially concerning the paranormal elements and lore of the world. What little muddled plot there is lacks clear stakes, making any resolution feel lackluster. Krystle tries to add meaningful discussion to social commentary topics—coming-of-age, mental health, the pressure of expectations, and parental conflict—but without the complexity needed to take this bit of commentary seriously within the context of the story, let alone do it justice.