A fascinating genre, historical fiction blends the facts of actual events with the artistic license of fictional characters and plots. It takes a skilled and imaginative author to pull it off, and Juhea Kim does it exceptionally well. Her latest novel City of Night Birds is set to be released on November 26th, 2024, with fanfare, and deservedly so. Her five other internationally bestselling novels have also made waves in the literary world.
The Anticipated Novel City Of Night Birds
The novel’s synopsis from its publisher HarperCollins states that it’s set in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 2019. The story’s protagonist, a prima ballerina named Natalia Leonova, has fallen from grace and returns home to St. Petersburg after a career-ending accident. Once famous, Natalia falls into the grips of depression, pills, alcoholism, and obscurity. She ruminates on her past and longs for the days of happiness.
Memories of her former life haunt her, from her childhood to the lover she left behind, Alexander. Another dancer, Dimitri, was part of her downfall; however, when Dimitri offers her a chance to return to the stage, Natalia must make a choice. Should she return to the same people responsible for her rise to fame and her devastating downfall? The story illustrates the ruthless world of Russian ballet through a prima ballerina’s eyes.
Author Juhea Kim
Juhea Kim was born in Incheon, South Korea, on May 9th, 1987. At age nine, her family moved to Portland, Oregon. She graduated from Princeton University with a major in art and archeology; she also holds a certificate in French. Her 2021 debut novel, Beasts of a Little Land, was a finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize and a bestseller in the US and Korea.
Kim is also known for her philanthropic work. A portion of Beasts of a Little Land sales goes to the Phoenix Fund, a Siberian tiger and Amur leopard conservation nonprofit based in Vladivostok, Russia. Kim is the founder and chief editor of Peaceful Dumpling, an online magazine promoting ecological causes and sustainable living. She has been a vegan since 19, promoting animal rights and sustainable living practices. Kim lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and two rescue cats.
City of Night Birds Reviews
According to HarperCollins, the novel has received glowing reviews from beta readers. “A beautifully crafted must-read, City of Night Birds is a book that lingers long after the final pages have come and gone,” says Jason Mott, the award-winning author of Hell of a Book.
Goodreads gives the book an impressive 4.15 stars out of five, with other reviews citing the interesting point of view of being set in Russia before and during the country’s invasion of Ukraine. City of Night Birds seamlessly blends fact into fiction, bringing the character of Natalia Leonova to life. Readers have said that the protagonist is so believable that she seems like a real person.
Wrapping Up And Looking Forward
Although City of Night Birds is a fictional novel, the events in the story are quite real. The Russian government and populace don’t often tell the full story of the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Outsiders looking in would naturally find this fascinating, tragic, and emotional.
Outside of the historical and political context, Kim also evokes sympathy for the protagonist’s arc of disfavor and feelings of shame and grief, as many readers have also been in that position. As readers follow Natalia’s plight, they also see her possible rise from the ashes. Since the book is unavailable until November, readers will have to wait to see how Natalia reinvents herself and what becomes of her. Fans of Juhea Kim are waiting anxiously to see what’s in store.
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