I don’t read many fairytales. But Dance With Me by Livia J. Elliot came to my attention from one of my favorite BookTubers, Books with Zara. Zara is a sophisticated reader and has excellent taste. So, when she likes a book, I pay attention.

Dance With Me tells the story of Lyra, a ceramic-made ballerina who must dance for her Elven owners. They praise her dancing elegance and skill, until one day she falls and her ceramic fractures, but she continues to dance despite the brokenness. Lyra is hard on herself and keeps those who love her at a distance.

The novella reveals the way trauma and depression can destroy a person’s enthusiasm for living, leading to a persistent darkness that becomes progressively harder to overcome. Elliot writes beautifully about this theme and uses a strike-through technique to delve deeper into Lyra’s psyche.

Nonetheless, I have to acknowledge that the experience of reading Dance With Me was comparable to witnessing a natural disaster unfold on the news in a faraway land. While you empathize with those affected by the natural disaster on a fundamental human level, you lack a personal connection to them. Reading about Lyra’s struggles were tough and profound, but as a reader it felt like I was watching it unfold from a distance.

I’m glad I read this novella, and Elliot is a talented writer. I urge those of you who will read Dance with Me to read the Author’s Note at the end, and it will definitely provide further context to the story that Elliot wanted to tell. There are trigger warnings that the author makes you aware upfront as well. Dance With Me serves as a psychological fairy tale for adults, illustrating how a story can bring to light the deeper complexities of a person’s life and leave the reader with much to consider.

To find more about Livia J. Elliot, check out her website and she is a talent worth keeping an eye on.