Sunday, January 22, 2023

Review - Midnight in Everwood by M.A. Kuzniar

 

 

 

Title: Midnight in Everwood

Author: M. A. Kuzniar

Pages: 339

Publisher: HQ

Release Date: 28th October 2021

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

There’s nothing Marietta Stelle loves more than ballet, but after Christmas, her dreams will be over as she is obligated to take her place in Edwardian society. While she is chafing against such suffocating traditions, a mysterious man purchases the neighbouring townhouse. Dr Drosselmeier is a charming but calculating figure who wins over the rest of the Stelle family with his enchanting toys and wondrous mechanisms.

When Drosselmeier constructs an elaborate set for Marietta’s final ballet performance, she discovers it carries a magic all of its own. On the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, she is transported to a snowy forest, where she encounters danger at every turn: ice giants, shadow goblins and the shrieking mist all lurk amidst the firs and frozen waterfalls and ice cliffs. After being rescued by the butterscotch-eyed captain of the king’s guard, she is escorted to the frozen sugar palace. At once, Marietta is enchanted by this glittering world of glamorous gowns, gingerbread houses, miniature reindeer and the most delicious confectionary.

But all is not as it seems and Marietta is soon trapped in the sumptuous palace by the sadistic King Gelum, who claims her as his own. She is confined to a gilded prison with his other pets; Dellara, whose words are as sharp as her teeth, and Pirlipata, a princess from another land. Marietta must forge an alliance with the two women to carve a way free from this sugar-coated but treacherous world and back home to follow her dreams. Yet in a hedonistic world brimming with rebellion and a forbidden romance that risks everything, such a path will never be easy.

 





My Review:

*I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to HQ and NetGalley*

 


Note - I read the audiobook but was given an eARC of the novel.

 

Marietta Stelle loves her ballet lessons and dreams of becoming a professional ballet dancer. However, after Christmas Marietta's parents expect her to quit ballet and marry well.

When the Stelles meet their new mysterious neighbour Doctor Drosselmeier, they are all charmed by his exceptional toys.

On Christmas Day, Marietta is due to dance in her final ballet performance on an elaborate stage created by Drosselmeier. But, when the clock strikes midnight while Marietta is practicing, she is transported to a far away land.

This new land has a frozen sugar palace, magical sweet treats and gingerbread houses. However, this new world is more dangerous than it appears and Marietta finds herself in the clutches of the devious King Gelum. The king keeps Marietta locked away with other women he has collected - Dellara and Pirlipata.

Marietta must work together with her fellow captives in order to escape King Gelum and find a way home.

 

The cover and blurb for this book both intrigued me, especially as I think it's a Nutcracker retelling, which I don't know much about.

Marietta was a likeable and relatable protagonist. Living in Edwardian England, she was expected to conform to certain rules, and she didn't want to marry as her parents were determined for her to. While I did feel for Marietta, I didn't feel that I really connected with her or any of the other characters.

The settings of both Edwardian England and the sugar world that Marietta was transported to were interesting.

The plot was enjoyable overall, but it didn't grip me and I didn't feel invested. If I hadn't been listening to the audiobook, and had been reading a physical copy instead, I'm not sure I would have finished the book as I did get a little bored.

I'm disappointed that I didn't enjoy this more.

 

Overall, this was a mixed read.



Wednesday, January 18, 2023

Review - Once Upon a Broken Heart (Once Upon a Broken Heart, #1) by Stephanie Garber

 

 


 Title: Once Upon a Broken Heart (Once Upon a Broken Heart, #1)

Author: Stephanie Garber

Pages: 384

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Release Date: 28th September 2021

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

From the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of the Caraval series, the first book in a new series about love, curses, and the lengths that people will go to for happily ever after.

Evangeline Fox was raised in her beloved father's curiosity shop, where she grew up on legends about immortals, like the tragic Prince of Hearts. She knows his powers are mythic, his kiss is worth dying for, and that bargains with him rarely end well.

But when Evangeline learns that the love of her life is about to marry another, she becomes desperate enough to offer the Prince of Hearts whatever he wants in exchange for his help to stop the wedding. The prince only asks for three kisses. But after Evangeline's first promised kiss, she learns that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she'd pledged. And he has plans for Evangeline that will either end in the greatest happily ever after, or the most exquisite tragedy . . .

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
My Review:

  *I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley*

 


When Evangeline Fox learns that the love of her life is about to marry someone else, she is convinced that he's been cursed and tracks down the legendary Prince of Hearts.

As a Fate, the Prince of Hearts, Jacks, has magical abilities and a reputation of having deadly kisses.

Jacks agrees to stop the wedding in exchange for three kisses and Evangeline soon learns that Jacks has plans for her that could change the world.

 

Having only read Caraval previously by the author, I was intrigued by this new series, especially as the blurb intrigued me.

Evangeline was a likeable character, and I could understand why she was willing to make a deal with Jacks to stop Luc - her boyfriend's - wedding given that she had lost everyone else she loved. Yet, while I did like Evangeline, I don't feel that I fully connected with her or any of the other characters.

It wasn't until I read other reviews for this book that I realised it was set in the same world as the Caraval series and that some of the characters from those books were in this one.

The setting was interesting, and I liked the magic and parts of the North that were shown/described.

The plot was fairly interesting and held my attention, but I wasn't gripped and did guess a couple of things that happened.

I am slightly disappointed that I didn't enjoy this more, but it was easy enough to read.

 

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.