The Redpoint Crux Published by The Parliament House by Morgan Shamy
on June 9, 2020
Genres: Fiction, YA, Contemporary, Mystery
Pages: 290
Source: Publisher
Format: eBook, ARC
Find the Author: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Instagram
Find the Book: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads
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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.
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!!! 😉
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I’m so excited to share with you some of my favorite quotes from The Redpoint Crux!
“Liam squinted, eyes fixed across the street. He’d dated enough ballerinas to know she was only using his status to further her own gain. Sure, they were entertaining for a day or two, and he’d often used his widely-known name to secure some hot dates, but none of the ballerinas had ever understood him.”
“‘No way. This isn’t possible. They said whoever did this back in the day was dead. They said whoever killed my father was dead.” He stumbled backward, crashing into a pile of molding boxes. “He’s killing again? The Bridegroom Killer is alive?'”
“His figure emerged from behind the mirror. With the sunlight bright in her eyes, she couldn’t see him fully. But standing face to face with him, she could take in more detail. He was only an inch taller than her–five foot six, maybe five foot seven. Wild dark hair. Light highlighted only half of his face, but his deep cheekbones were evident, along with his lean frame. He wore black slacks and a simple black shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his forearms, his skin pale in the dark room”
“He slid closer, until Red could feel his breath on her cheek. Despite her objection, Red remembered what it was like to dance with him. She remembered the warmth that had built inside of her. The trance-like haze that had settled over her mind. The burning intensity and terror that flowed through her veins.
Bellamy reached up and pushed a loose strand of hair off her shoulder…”
About Morgan Shamy
Morgan Shamy is an ex-ballerina turned YA writer. She is represented by Kelly Peterson of Rees Literary Agency.
Morgan has been immersed in the arts since the young age of 4, where she trained under the tutelage of Julie and Stacey Orlob. She performed various roles 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 currently lives with her X-Games gold-medalist husband and four children in the cold mountains of Alaska.
This book sounds really unique, and I’m definitely wanting to read it. It sounds a suspenseful, edge-of-your-seat novel. I normally read cozy mysteries, self-help books, and classics.
Cozy mysteries–those are next on my list of books to start trying! 🙂
I really like the blurb of this book. It is rught up my alley. I like all genres truly.
This really sounds like a great read! I’m always up for a book that reminds readers of Phantom of the Opera (I’m a big fan of the book and musical!). It’s also always nice when a book ends up surprising you. 😀
Stephanie @ Bookfever recently posted…June 2020 Of Books Giveaway Hop (INTL)
I’m a Phantom fan too! Yes, I really did love this one!
Sounds like a great read.
Wonderful review! I love this cover and the coffee mug rate system. 😉
Lu recently posted…Review: Happily Ever After & Everything in Between by Debbie Tung
Thanks, Lu!!! 🙂
New author for me, sounds like a good one!
This book sounds really awesome! My kind of read. Pleasant surprises are the best