Dark and Deepest Red

By: Anna-Marie McLemore

Narrated by: Vikas Adam, Mia Barron, Almarie Guerra

With Anna-Marie McLemore's signature lush prose, Dark and Deepest Red pairs the forbidding magic of a fairy tale with a modern story of passion and betrayal.

Summer, 1518. A strange sickness sweeps through Strasbourg: women dance in the streets, some until they fall down dead. As rumors of witchcraft spread, suspicion turns toward Lavinia and her family, and Lavinia may have to do the unimaginable to save herself and everyone she loves.

Five centuries later, a pair of red shoes seal to Rosella Oliva’s feet, making her dance uncontrollably. They draw her toward a boy who knows the dancing fever’s history better than anyone: Emil, whose family was blamed for the fever 500 years ago. But there’s more to what happened in 1518 than even Emil knows, and discovering the truth may decide whether Rosella survives the red shoes.

©2020 Anna-Marie McLemore (P)2020 Recorded Books

heart and magic

a dual timeline story with magic, queer and trans characters, and dancing. i love how each character was easy to love.

Elegant and satisfying, though not really for me

The performance was first rate and nothing better can I say about it.

the story is fascinating but ultimately misses a bit off the mark for me. the resolution is a little to neat and tidy in both timelines. the protagonists lose nothing and gain everything. but the wordcraft is enchanting. the author has a tremendous gift.

McLemore at their best

All of Anna-Marie McLemore’s books are amazing magical realism, own voices, with latinx & queer characters. This work did not disappoint!
Set in dual timelines, Dark & Deepest red delves into identity, love, and sacrifice.

Really Enjoyed

Great clarity of character. Really inventive. Felt authentic while also wildly heightened at times. Enjoyed the multiple time periods. There’s something so intoxicating about the way McLemore mixes history and magic — it feels effortless. The writing is lush without ever feeling treacly, and the characters felt real in that rare, tender way that makes you care about them almost immediately.

My partner recommended this and I was skeptical, but it's been wonderful. The readers are great.

I got bored

20% of the way though the book I just got bored of the story. I was hoping for something richer and more textured giving the context of the story but it fell flat.