Dark and Deepest Red is a gorgeous and smart magical realist remix of Hans Christian Andersen's "The Red Shoes" that flits back and forth in time (the present day vs the early 16th century) to weave a lyrical fairy tale about generational trauma, the pressure to "pass"/inexpressible identities (Romani, Mexican, and trans, respectively), and the powers of love, empathy, and self-acceptance. As usual, McLemore's lush prose and sophisticated understanding of magic and monstrosity (and their roles in the histories of queer communities, especially those of color) put her work head and shoulders above most YA fairy tale retellings.

I'm presently writing a dissertation on positive reclamations of monstrosity in queer YA (including a chapter on witches/witchcraft) and was desperately looking for more novels with representation of communities of color and/or trans representation, and Dark and Deepest Red absolutely did not disappoint. I'll absolutely be discussing it in one of my chapters... which means I have to restructure my outline! ....yay? It'll definitely be worth it, though, as I cannot recommend this book enough.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a digital arc in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Mentioned in a blog post at https://booksbeyondbinaries.blog/2019/12/23/2019-in-review/

McLemore (contributor: Color Outside the Lines, 2019, etc.) weaves another magic spell in this haunting retelling of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Red Shoes.”

In their most ambitious novel yet, they interconnect the present-day trials of Mexican American Rosella and Romani American Emil with those of Lavinia, a young Romani woman in 16th-century Strasbourg, who is revealed to be Emil’s ancestor. Emil and Rosella became friends as children when they realized their darker skin color and families’ religious practices set them apart from the rest of their friends. Now teens, the two are drawn to each other during their town’s “glimmer,” an annual weeklong occurrence in which magical things happen. This year, the red shoes created by Rosella’s family cause people to pursue their romantic passions. However, Rosella is cursed with uncontrollable dancing, very similar to the plague of dancing that swept through Strasbourg in 1518, when the townspeople blamed Lavinia and the White trans boy she loved for their affliction. McLemore’s lush sentence-level writing is masterly, painting vivid pictures of Lavinia’s world. The past timeline is especially compelling, and readers will eagerly return to it. The author spins a tale of first love, misfits forging their own places in the world, and the inherent prejudices of people who fear what they don’t understand.

This novel will leave an indelible mark on readers’ hearts. (Magical realism. 14-adult)

-Kirkus Review

I loved how history and fairy tale are twisted together in this retelling, and enjoyed the two different stories being told here. However, I am also VERY glad that the chapter headings told me who the narrator was for each chapter, because having two linked stories in two timelines told by three narrators could have gotten quite confusing if it weren't for that.

I enjoyed the book, and both of its main plots and characters, but I really only felt a sense of immediacy for the historical characters. I felt their dangers much more than those of the contemporary characters, and so I was looking forward to the historical sections most. However, I really liked seeing how the two timelines meshed together. I also especially loved the author's note at the end about the history of the story that served as the inspiration for this retelling. And I liked that—given how little explanation we have for the real events—there was no attempt at fully explaining things in this story. In many ways, it is more of a character study focused on humanity than anything else, and in that sense it fits in very well with the fairy tale it is retelling. ( )

Dark and Deepest Red, a retelling of the story of the Red Shoes, is told in two timelines by three narrators. In 1500's Strasbourg, a Roma girl is blamed for a dancing plague and she and her trans boyfriend fear for their lives. In modern day United States (Texas? I don't remember, sorry) a French/Roma/American boy and his Mexican-American childhood best friend work together to save Rosella from dancing shoes that have turned against her in a town that has a magical event every year (usually good things). It's a complicated narrative that takes some time to get into, but McLemore's signature lush prose and heartfelt queer narratives are worth it if your brain can handle that initial investment. HEA/HFN for all, so don't worry.


Content Warnings: homophobia, transphobia, witchburning, expulsion of Roma, racism, physical injury due to dancing, mass hysteria ( )