The Sleeping Beauties

'Lucy Ashe conjures a world that is at once operatic and utterly believable. Moving between glamorous theatres, mysterious woodlands and opulent parties, The Sleeping Beauties is rich with historical detail and high-stakes drama. Mesmerising.'

'Rich, atmospheric and beautifully written, this is a compelling novel with a twist that you won't see coming! It completely arrested my attention and I couldn't stop reading until I'd devoured every single page. Lucy Ashe is a magnificent storyteller.'

'This was such a well-written and gripping read and I was completely in awe of how Ashe kept me guessing with the story’s twists. You will not be able to put it down! Highly recommend!'

‘THE SLEEPING BEAUTIES by Lucy Ashe is an enchanting mix of historical fiction, fairy tale, and above all, ballet novel. Ashe's ballet background shines through as her dancers come to life. The historical setting, particularly the work of ballet dancers and the fate of adopted and evacuated children through the Second World War, is well researched, but communicated with a light touch. Recommended for anyone who has ever dreamt of becoming a dancer.’

‘Lucy Ashe has done it again - a beautiful, intriguing historical novel set around the world of ballet. The setting of the aftermath of World War Two is vividly evoked, and the central mystery of the story is woven deftly through a rich and compelling narrative. Taking in war, ambition, and the complexity of motherhood, this is a novel to sink into and luxuriate in.’

‘A drip-feed of intrigue-bombshells, nonchalantly dropped throughout the narrative, make this kidnap mystery a wonderfully compelling, truly competent thriller… Rarely have I been so keen to uncover the truth. Simply excellent.’

'As with her debut, Ashe confidently drags the reader into her suspenseful and unsettling tale, until you’re right there, watching every move the dancers make. The rich historical detail is applied with a light touch; Ashe is surely establishing herself as the queen of historical ballet fiction.’

'The Sleeping Beauties plays out like a theatrical performance... Ashe crafts an intriguing mystery... This is very much a butterfly effect novel, a story where one small choice or action affects another in a much larger way... Lucy Ashe has found a wonderful writing formula that combines classic ballet tales with fraught friendship dynamics, family drama and the rights of women. It’s the perfect read for fans of dance and historical fiction, painting an evocative picture of pre and post war Britain, and the difficulties people faced – both physically and psychologically – as they tried to put the pieces of their fractured lives back together again.'

‘Lucy Ashe’s triumph is in her ability to weave a complex tale of beauty and ugliness, good and evil, possession and obsession, whilst ultimately creating a tale about unconditional love. The Sleeping Beauties is compelling and captivating, calling for its readers to remember the past whilst offering hope for new beginnings.’

‘This is a novel that can and should be read as a thriller with a mystery, but then should be read several times again as social history. There are exquisite evocations of London even in post-war drabness, and a finely balanced account of the the glories and deceits and temptations of the world of classical dance. It is also a work of feminist fiction that is full of heart, but also unflinching in describing a world still full of obstacles as well as opportunities.’

“The Sleeping Beauties takes readers into the world of ballet in 1945 London. Briar Woods is a dancer at Sadler’s Wells Ballet when her past comes back to haunt her, and she must give her best performance yet to survive.” —Library Journal, Historical Fiction Preview 2024: Best Books

'A complex tale of passion and rejection, obsession and coercion, and also of guilt and friendship...a story of such huge emotional depth, and so rich with a slice of history not often explored. Regardless of the genre label it merits, it’s a page-turner. You’ll want to follow Briar’s story to the sometimes-bitter end.'