Nocturne

In this gorgeous and haunting fantasy set in 1930s Chicago, a talented ballerina finds herself torn between her dreams and her desires when she's pursued by a secretive patron who may be more than he seems.

Grace has always wanted to be a ballerina, ever since she first peered through the windows of the Near North Ballet company. The elegance of the dance seemed transcendent to an immigrant child of the working poor, and so, when she is orphaned, it is to the ballet that she flees.

Years later, Grace is on the verge of becoming the company's new prima ballerina - though she is beginning to realise that achieving her long-held dream may not be the triumph she once envisioned. Then Grace attracts the attention of the enigmatic Master La Rosa, and realises that the world may not be as small or constricted as she had come to fear.

But who is her mysterious patron, and what does he want from her? As Grace begins to unlock the Master's secrets, she discovers that there may be another way entirely to achieve the transcendence she has always sought.

Review

In Nocturne, Wees robes the classic story of Beauty and the Beast in lush prose and infinite splendor. A fever dream of a novel, surreal and intricate, and enchanting in every way. ― Ava Reid, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Wolf and the Woodsman

Absolutely captivating, Nocturne is a delicious and radiant treat of a novel. Prepare to be spellbound! ― Sarah Beth Durst, award-winning author of The Queens of Renthia series

An enchanting and lyrical fever dream bursting with dazzling prose and dark romance. Nocturne enthralled me. ― Erin A. Craig, New York Times bestselling author of House of Salt and Sorrows

Nocturne reads like a fable, a mythical tale full of magical power, but imbued with the very real and wonderfully graceful power of ballet . . . You will be enchanted! ― Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches

Richly imagined and heartbreakingly told, Nocturne is a lush gothic romance that will dance you dizzy. ― Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author of For the Wolf

About the Author

Alyssa Wees grew up writing stories starring her Beanie Babies, in between training in ballet and watching lots of Disney movies. She earned a BA in English from Creighton University and an MFA in Fiction Writing from Columbia College Chicago. She lives outside of Chicago with her family.