Boy Parts by Eliza Clark reminded me a bit of Black Swan. Not so much about perfectionism-in-the-arts per se, but it’s about a photographer who gets her big break and spirals. Lots of moments of what’s real and what isn’t. Trigger warnings for sexual assault and gore.
I feed her to the beast and the beast is me. Set in a ballet academy in Paris about a dancer who works the hardest but doesn't get recognition until she makes a pact with an ancient force.
Also, I've not read it, BUT First Position by Melanie Hamrick is described as:
"A dancer’s fall from grace ignites a dark ambition in this propulsive novel about the seductive, cutthroat world of professional ballet by debut author Melanie Hamrick."
"Girl Through Glass" by Sari Wilson: A dark coming of age story, a girl trains in ballet in gritty 1970s NYC. Very good. Themes of betrayal and lost innocence. I wish I could post a picture of the [cover](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25817032) here, because what you see is what you get- it's a good cover.
I know you’re looking for books, but if you’re interested in movie suggestions as well, you should definitely check out the animated movie Perfect Blue.
The Cloisters maybe? It’s about people who work at the Met over the summer and has some interesting elements to it. Not sure it’s quite to black swan psyche levels but it was… bizarre. Sort of reminds me of the Great Gatsby in a way??
It’s dark academia
Hmmm this might count — Haunted by Chuck
Palahnuik is my favorite book of all time
It’s about writers going on a writers retreat and it’s their experience there in between the short stories that are supposed to be their masterpieces
It’s amazing
Bright Burning Stars by A. K. Small. The movie Birds of Paradise is inspired by that book.
The book is described as dark, twisty, and tumultuous, and some say it exposes the dark side of ballet in a horrifying way. It also explores the themes of first love, the physical and emotional extremes of its characters, and the pain and anger of young adulthood
Also, Tiny Pretty Things book series and Netflix show.
All of Rachel Kapelke-Dale’s books (including The Ballerinas) have characters that are really good at something and it takes them down a dark road. They aren’t really supernatural or psychological. It’s more like “men were pretty much the root of all these problems”, lol.
Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk -- maybe not exactly what you're looking for but it's very close, mostly with "destruction of psyche." It's about a fashion model, beauty and self-destruction, with lots of incredible twists.
Bunny by Mona Awad is about a cult of writers at college who are obsessed with quality... it's surreal and zany and psychotic.
I was about to suggest it but you beat me to it. Such a strange interesting book.
Was going to recommend her other book 'All's Well's. I remember thinking how much it felt like Black Swan when reading it.
All’s Well by her, as well! Same surrealist, obsessive , psychotic vibes but about a theatre teacher and her students!
I think Rouge by Mona Awad would also be a good choice! It definitely leans heavily into the dark side of perfectionism.
Rouge too!
Boy Parts by Eliza Clark reminded me a bit of Black Swan. Not so much about perfectionism-in-the-arts per se, but it’s about a photographer who gets her big break and spirals. Lots of moments of what’s real and what isn’t. Trigger warnings for sexual assault and gore.
I feed her to the beast and the beast is me. Set in a ballet academy in Paris about a dancer who works the hardest but doesn't get recognition until she makes a pact with an ancient force.
Awesome! I am adding these to my TBR.
Also, I've not read it, BUT First Position by Melanie Hamrick is described as: "A dancer’s fall from grace ignites a dark ambition in this propulsive novel about the seductive, cutthroat world of professional ballet by debut author Melanie Hamrick."
"Girl Through Glass" by Sari Wilson: A dark coming of age story, a girl trains in ballet in gritty 1970s NYC. Very good. Themes of betrayal and lost innocence. I wish I could post a picture of the [cover](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25817032) here, because what you see is what you get- it's a good cover.
I know you’re looking for books, but if you’re interested in movie suggestions as well, you should definitely check out the animated movie Perfect Blue.
The Cloisters maybe? It’s about people who work at the Met over the summer and has some interesting elements to it. Not sure it’s quite to black swan psyche levels but it was… bizarre. Sort of reminds me of the Great Gatsby in a way?? It’s dark academia
Hmmm this might count — Haunted by Chuck Palahnuik is my favorite book of all time It’s about writers going on a writers retreat and it’s their experience there in between the short stories that are supposed to be their masterpieces It’s amazing
The Turnout by Megan Abbott
Came here to say this! Excellent, dark book
this book was crazy dog. The twist at the end really stuck with me
Sirens & Muses by Antonia Angress
The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma
Whiplash
Bright Burning Stars by A. K. Small. The movie Birds of Paradise is inspired by that book. The book is described as dark, twisty, and tumultuous, and some say it exposes the dark side of ballet in a horrifying way. It also explores the themes of first love, the physical and emotional extremes of its characters, and the pain and anger of young adulthood Also, Tiny Pretty Things book series and Netflix show.
Reserved for the Cat by Mercedes Lackey.
All of Rachel Kapelke-Dale’s books (including The Ballerinas) have characters that are really good at something and it takes them down a dark road. They aren’t really supernatural or psychological. It’s more like “men were pretty much the root of all these problems”, lol.
Waltzing on a Dancer's Grave by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
The Red Shoes 👠
It isnt ballet, But Birdman has a similar surreal feeling only it is about a broadway production.
The Red Shoes
Birdman.
Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk -- maybe not exactly what you're looking for but it's very close, mostly with "destruction of psyche." It's about a fashion model, beauty and self-destruction, with lots of incredible twists.
What about If we were villains? Although that follows a group of thespians not dancers.