cortanasreadingnook's review
Thanks to Verika Sloane and Netgalley for the eARC on Netgalley. I started this book with high expectations but unfortunately, it let me down. DNF at 11%. I did not like the extreme info-dumping and unnecessary details from the beginning. I wanted so much to get invested into this but sadly, I couldn't. A lot of the reviews for this book share the same sentiments as mine, and I don't really think this novel has a strong plot and sensible characters.
raven168's review
3.0
All in all, this was only just good for me. It wasn't bad by any means, but it also didn't suck me in at all and make me want to keep reading. While some of the characters were interesting (the watchers in particular) I just never found myself caring all that much about what happens to them. I can't say anything about it being a spin on the nutcracker though because I've never read or seen it.
Klara is more or less a normal girl who finds herself in anything but a normal situation. Targeted by some crazy dude who controls mice for reasons unknown (until the end), Klara ends up being transported to a completely different realm. One filled with magic and things from fairy tales. For a while, she's not even convinced it's anything but a dream.
Jaemis is a fallen, cursed prince. He was away trying to save a princess he was friends with (not knowing to do so would transfer her curse to him) when his kingdom was overtaken by the mouse king and his parents thrown into the dungeons. Since then dark magic has plagued the kingdom and darkness continues to creep over the lands. Before the curse overtakes him, Jaemis is determined to free his parents if nothing else. But a chance overhearing of the usurper's plans is going to change everything.
Jaemis and Klara first encounter each other in Klara's parent's home. Jaemis had followed the mouse king and they fought, but Klara gets caught up in it all. Only to wake the next day thinking it was all in her head. Later, Klara gets pulled from her world and lands next to Jaemis who is currently fighting a bunch of the mouse king's minions. From there the two of them travel together trying to figure out why Klara is so important to the enemy and how they will get her sent back home before she destroys the balance there. You would think that this sets up the story for quite a bit of excitement. And I guess it occasionally does. But so much of the story is just slow. And while I am not a huge fan of fated mates, I wouldn't have minded a whole lot here. The problem was that Jaemis was so determined to not find any happiness that even their relationship was tediously slow. Which is unfortunate.
On this journey we meet a bunch of other people of different kinds, Jaemis nearly drowns for some self discovery, Klara finds out she has elemental powers, and of course these two obviously start falling for the other. When the finale starts, Jaemis is so easily fooled by an obvious trap. Then Klara also gets fooled by an obvious trap. Up until that point I did not consider these two people stupid, but boy did I after these events. All ends up well enough for them in the end though. That is until their happy together is literally snatched from them when Klara is abruptly pulled back to her own world. Where she wallows in despair at having lost the greatest love of her life. Until she finally realizes why she was brought back when she was and how she can still save Jaemis's life. I'm not sure how much I liked the very end. While it was expected that Jaemis and Klara would find themselves back together, and I did hope that Klara's parents were able to reunite with their best friends, I don't know how I feel about Klara's siblings now being involved. On one hand, I get it. They're family. On the other, I didn't really like them and they were never a part of it before so why should they be now.
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
Klara is more or less a normal girl who finds herself in anything but a normal situation. Targeted by some crazy dude who controls mice for reasons unknown (until the end), Klara ends up being transported to a completely different realm. One filled with magic and things from fairy tales. For a while, she's not even convinced it's anything but a dream.
Jaemis is a fallen, cursed prince. He was away trying to save a princess he was friends with (not knowing to do so would transfer her curse to him) when his kingdom was overtaken by the mouse king and his parents thrown into the dungeons. Since then dark magic has plagued the kingdom and darkness continues to creep over the lands. Before the curse overtakes him, Jaemis is determined to free his parents if nothing else. But a chance overhearing of the usurper's plans is going to change everything.
Jaemis and Klara first encounter each other in Klara's parent's home. Jaemis had followed the mouse king and they fought, but Klara gets caught up in it all. Only to wake the next day thinking it was all in her head. Later, Klara gets pulled from her world and lands next to Jaemis who is currently fighting a bunch of the mouse king's minions. From there the two of them travel together trying to figure out why Klara is so important to the enemy and how they will get her sent back home before she destroys the balance there. You would think that this sets up the story for quite a bit of excitement. And I guess it occasionally does. But so much of the story is just slow. And while I am not a huge fan of fated mates, I wouldn't have minded a whole lot here. The problem was that Jaemis was so determined to not find any happiness that even their relationship was tediously slow. Which is unfortunate.
On this journey we meet a bunch of other people of different kinds, Jaemis nearly drowns for some self discovery, Klara finds out she has elemental powers, and of course these two obviously start falling for the other. When the finale starts, Jaemis is so easily fooled by an obvious trap. Then Klara also gets fooled by an obvious trap. Up until that point I did not consider these two people stupid, but boy did I after these events. All ends up well enough for them in the end though. That is until their happy together is literally snatched from them when Klara is abruptly pulled back to her own world. Where she wallows in despair at having lost the greatest love of her life. Until she finally realizes why she was brought back when she was and how she can still save Jaemis's life. I'm not sure how much I liked the very end. While it was expected that Jaemis and Klara would find themselves back together, and I did hope that Klara's parents were able to reunite with their best friends, I don't know how I feel about Klara's siblings now being involved. On one hand, I get it. They're family. On the other, I didn't really like them and they were never a part of it before so why should they be now.
ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.
battyaboutbooks's review
3.0
What if your favorite childhood story, one of magick and romance, was real? On Christmas Eve, Klara finds herself whisked away to the magical world of Galindria, cursed by darkness in this present-day retelling of The Nutcracker. She believes Prince Jaemis (cursed by Mogran the Mouse King), the realm of magick he calls home, and the fae creatures she meets all to be a dream; one inspired by her favorite ballet and perhaps a bit too much to drink. Still, she can't deny the instant connection she feels when the cursed prince enters her life; a connection that could spark her biggest adventure yet.
Verika Sloane's attempt to create a magical world based on a familiar tale is commendable. The world-building isn't so complex that you get lost, with a blend of familiar fae creatures (like the Sugar Plum Fairy) alongside a few new ones each offering their own interesting histories. Her descriptions of Galindria are beautifully attention-grabbing and engaging--enough that you can fall into the world of Galindria while keeping one foot in reality (much as Klara does at the start of the book).
The romance between Klara and Jaemis, however, feels a bit rushed, even for such a long novel. The couple was more interesting while their sexual tension simmered. Once it reached a full boil, the smut (which was a bit uncomfortable to read, given the word choice) seemed to take over the plot. Once the couple "makes love" (an antiquated term I wasn't expecting to hear from Klara, who became more heart-eyed than heroine with every page), they're too distracted by one another to see the crystal clear answers directly before them. The story dragged on a little too long, especially since the conflict's resolution is blatantly clear early on.
Klara and Jaemis, who grew up in different worlds, did learn how to learn from one another's strengths and perspectives, though. Klara is willing to take adventurous risks in the name of love, while Jaemis never makes the mistake of seeing Klara as a damsel in distress in need of saving.
That being said, the story could have used some restructuring. While the entire plot seemed to drag, the romance was rushed. Everything from the smut to the "I love you's" felt ingenuine, forced. There are a number of word choice mistakes that seem juvenile, and some concepts were over-explained.
If you're looking for a Christmas-y read and a happily ever after, this cute retelling of a classic tale is right up your alley. However, there's plenty of room for growth between the plot and writing style.
Verika Sloane's attempt to create a magical world based on a familiar tale is commendable. The world-building isn't so complex that you get lost, with a blend of familiar fae creatures (like the Sugar Plum Fairy) alongside a few new ones each offering their own interesting histories. Her descriptions of Galindria are beautifully attention-grabbing and engaging--enough that you can fall into the world of Galindria while keeping one foot in reality (much as Klara does at the start of the book).
The romance between Klara and Jaemis, however, feels a bit rushed, even for such a long novel. The couple was more interesting while their sexual tension simmered. Once it reached a full boil, the smut (which was a bit uncomfortable to read, given the word choice) seemed to take over the plot. Once the couple "makes love" (an antiquated term I wasn't expecting to hear from Klara, who became more heart-eyed than heroine with every page), they're too distracted by one another to see the crystal clear answers directly before them. The story dragged on a little too long, especially since the conflict's resolution is blatantly clear early on.
Klara and Jaemis, who grew up in different worlds, did learn how to learn from one another's strengths and perspectives, though. Klara is willing to take adventurous risks in the name of love, while Jaemis never makes the mistake of seeing Klara as a damsel in distress in need of saving.
That being said, the story could have used some restructuring. While the entire plot seemed to drag, the romance was rushed. Everything from the smut to the "I love you's" felt ingenuine, forced. There are a number of word choice mistakes that seem juvenile, and some concepts were over-explained.
If you're looking for a Christmas-y read and a happily ever after, this cute retelling of a classic tale is right up your alley. However, there's plenty of room for growth between the plot and writing style.
teacupsandtropes's review
2.0
Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When I first requested this, I had no idea what it was about. I was completely sucked in by the cover and I was fairly certain I had seen this title pop up on TikTok and Instagram. Color me surprised to find out that it is a Nutcracker retelling!
I actually am not familiar with the Nutcracker at all. I'm probably one of the only people on the planet who doesn't know anything about the original ballet LOL. I think I would have enjoyed this more if I was more familiar with it. Overall, I thought it was a ok read but it was long and had some serious spelling and grammatical errors that were hard for me to over look. Hopefully in the published copy, those were addressed since I know the ARCs we receive normally go through one more round before publication. The spice was decent and I'd be willing to see what else this author puts out in the future.
When I first requested this, I had no idea what it was about. I was completely sucked in by the cover and I was fairly certain I had seen this title pop up on TikTok and Instagram. Color me surprised to find out that it is a Nutcracker retelling!
I actually am not familiar with the Nutcracker at all. I'm probably one of the only people on the planet who doesn't know anything about the original ballet LOL. I think I would have enjoyed this more if I was more familiar with it. Overall, I thought it was a ok read but it was long and had some serious spelling and grammatical errors that were hard for me to over look. Hopefully in the published copy, those were addressed since I know the ARCs we receive normally go through one more round before publication. The spice was decent and I'd be willing to see what else this author puts out in the future.
veerlenijhoff's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book! The only reason it’s 4 stars is because the grammer wasn’t good the entire book. English is not my native language, so I had to read some parts again.
The story is magical! And the romance slow burn! It was a great read!
The story is magical! And the romance slow burn! It was a great read!
andreatorres's review
3.0
3 ⭐️ Nutcracker Retelling
This book was engaging and interesting enough, but it was riddled with spelling and grammatical errors and was entirely too long – unnecessarily so. The story's cute, and by the end I surely was invested in seeing where the characters ended up, but it was extremely frustrating to read.
As I said, this is a re-imagining of the story in the Nutcracker, so there are many similarities, with some new additions to keep it interesting and not too predictable. It was a little spicy, and very much romance filled which I can always appreciate.
Overall, though, it felt like I was reading a very long fanfic – and I usually don’t necessarily mean that in a bad way, but… it's not good, really.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
This book was engaging and interesting enough, but it was riddled with spelling and grammatical errors and was entirely too long – unnecessarily so. The story's cute, and by the end I surely was invested in seeing where the characters ended up, but it was extremely frustrating to read.
As I said, this is a re-imagining of the story in the Nutcracker, so there are many similarities, with some new additions to keep it interesting and not too predictable. It was a little spicy, and very much romance filled which I can always appreciate.
Overall, though, it felt like I was reading a very long fanfic – and I usually don’t necessarily mean that in a bad way, but… it's not good, really.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
airxsouls's review
3.0
I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Our aesthetic and worldbuilding in this one can be a great read around the holidays and fill that void of something to set the mood. But sadly think a lot of this fell short for me after I hit the halfway mark. There was a lot of promise in the description and the idea of a Nutcracker retelling but I don't think this necessarily lived up to that.
Maybe if it was reworked and some things changed I would probably be able to give it 4 stars instead of 3. I wasn't a big fan of the main character as she came off as really unlikeable and somewhat spoiled but with no purpose to it or redemption relating to that. So I think it wasn't intended but it honestly made it worse. Maybe I'll come back to this eventually.
Our aesthetic and worldbuilding in this one can be a great read around the holidays and fill that void of something to set the mood. But sadly think a lot of this fell short for me after I hit the halfway mark. There was a lot of promise in the description and the idea of a Nutcracker retelling but I don't think this necessarily lived up to that.
Maybe if it was reworked and some things changed I would probably be able to give it 4 stars instead of 3. I wasn't a big fan of the main character as she came off as really unlikeable and somewhat spoiled but with no purpose to it or redemption relating to that. So I think it wasn't intended but it honestly made it worse. Maybe I'll come back to this eventually.
cassmoaka's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
the cover?: i mean it speaks for itself doesn't it?! it's absolutely beautiful and you know you're getting a fantasy with love and loss
the FMC: Klara- transported from her NYC apartment on Christmas Eve to a magical realm... or did she just have too much to drink and have an extremely vivid dream? Either way- she encounters a fantastical land filled with magick, royalty, and a guy who makes time stand still when she looks at him 😍
the MMC: Jaemis- hottie Prince who is cursed by the Mouse King that will lead to an untimely death. Enter Klara in the middle of the chaos to bring his world crashing down- he wants her more than he should and doesn't want to experience what he can't have when the curse takes him over. Will he be able to resist her? or will his need overcome his fear of his curse?
POV: 3rd person dual perspective
HEA: yes!
spice: spicy/steamy- there are several open door spicy scenes, so many sweet (and passionate) kisses throughout, and so so so much pining
TWs: house fire, kidnapping, overall pretty clean with no gore
standalone?: yes!
this spicy retelling of The Nutcracker was everything I could want!
read this book if you love
📖 fairytale retellings
🌎 fantastical world building
🔮 supernatural characters
🧹 magic
🧑🤝👩 interesting and lovable side characters
the FMC: Klara- transported from her NYC apartment on Christmas Eve to a magical realm... or did she just have too much to drink and have an extremely vivid dream? Either way- she encounters a fantastical land filled with magick, royalty, and a guy who makes time stand still when she looks at him 😍
the MMC: Jaemis- hottie Prince who is cursed by the Mouse King that will lead to an untimely death. Enter Klara in the middle of the chaos to bring his world crashing down- he wants her more than he should and doesn't want to experience what he can't have when the curse takes him over. Will he be able to resist her? or will his need overcome his fear of his curse?
POV: 3rd person dual perspective
HEA: yes!
spice: spicy/steamy- there are several open door spicy scenes, so many sweet (and passionate) kisses throughout, and so so so much pining
TWs: house fire, kidnapping, overall pretty clean with no gore
standalone?: yes!
this spicy retelling of The Nutcracker was everything I could want!
read this book if you love
📖 fairytale retellings
🌎 fantastical world building
🔮 supernatural characters
🧹 magic
🧑🤝👩 interesting and lovable side characters
lauren_readsbooks2302's review
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This...did not tickle my pickle.
A Nutcracker retelling with a Christmassy aspect and some spice had me sold on this story, but truthfully, it fell short for me. Or long, I guess. It was really, really long. Or it just felt that way, but at one point, I wondered if it would ever end.
The world building and the atmospheric feel of the book gave it a touch of magic. I didn't detest the main characters but I didn't love them either. The dual POV did admittedly help a little.
The spice wasn't bad, for what little we got. Certainly a take on the Nutcracker I've not come across until this book.
Also - the title irked me a little. There's nothing inherently wrong with it, but the style of title has been done to death at this point. A Court of Thorns and Roses. A Curse of Frost and Fate. The Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Children of Blood and Bone. They all just blend together in my head whenever I think about them. Sure, they're all different but they certainly aren't unique. Nothing stands out about it for me.
It was the writing that brought this book down to 3 stars for me. It was peppered with grammatical errors, spelling mistakes and the misuse of certain words and phrases that had me scratching my head and wondering if I was the one in the wrong. The book needs heavily edited. A quarter of it could be cut out and the rest needs a good spell check and a thorough reread to correct the little mistakes. They just cheapen a book.
All that being said - if you want a twist on the Nutcracker that you've maybe not seen before, give this book a read.
A Nutcracker retelling with a Christmassy aspect and some spice had me sold on this story, but truthfully, it fell short for me. Or long, I guess. It was really, really long. Or it just felt that way, but at one point, I wondered if it would ever end.
The world building and the atmospheric feel of the book gave it a touch of magic. I didn't detest the main characters but I didn't love them either. The dual POV did admittedly help a little.
The spice wasn't bad, for what little we got. Certainly a take on the Nutcracker I've not come across until this book.
Also - the title irked me a little. There's nothing inherently wrong with it, but the style of title has been done to death at this point. A Court of Thorns and Roses. A Curse of Frost and Fate. The Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Children of Blood and Bone. They all just blend together in my head whenever I think about them. Sure, they're all different but they certainly aren't unique. Nothing stands out about it for me.
It was the writing that brought this book down to 3 stars for me. It was peppered with grammatical errors, spelling mistakes and the misuse of certain words and phrases that had me scratching my head and wondering if I was the one in the wrong. The book needs heavily edited. A quarter of it could be cut out and the rest needs a good spell check and a thorough reread to correct the little mistakes. They just cheapen a book.
All that being said - if you want a twist on the Nutcracker that you've maybe not seen before, give this book a read.
tarnkaur99's review
A Curse of Frost and Fate is a HEA retelling of The Nutcracker.
Klara is an ordinary girl, who is thrown into a magical world and spends her entire time trying to understand and forge connections with everyone around her. Jaemis is the cursed prince, who feels a burden to save the world around him. They both try to fight this 'forbidden' connection between them, as they try to get Klara back home.
I read this with absolutely no knowledge on the original story of The Nutcracker, so I have no way of comparing it to the original. However, just from reading it and catching onto The Nutcracker vibe that is associated in pop culture, I can say that this book succeeded in retelling a mesmerizing tale of love, good vs evil, and magic.
There was so much to learn about the different types of creatures and the magic that surround the fantasy world, yet all these concepts are swept under the rug to create a focus on the romance. I would have enjoyed more world-building, in place of the two main characters pining after each other, but I cannot deny the obvious chemistry between them. While I would have preferred a more not instant love storyline, it was delivered well with the "meant for each other" trope.
It was a pretty fast paced book, with loads of fluff. There is nothing 'dark' about this retelling. Overall, this book is a cozy holiday read for anyone that likes fairytale retellings with a little more passion and chemistry. Reading it gave me classic yet heartwarming feeling.
Thank You NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Klara is an ordinary girl, who is thrown into a magical world and spends her entire time trying to understand and forge connections with everyone around her. Jaemis is the cursed prince, who feels a burden to save the world around him. They both try to fight this 'forbidden' connection between them, as they try to get Klara back home.
I read this with absolutely no knowledge on the original story of The Nutcracker, so I have no way of comparing it to the original. However, just from reading it and catching onto The Nutcracker vibe that is associated in pop culture, I can say that this book succeeded in retelling a mesmerizing tale of love, good vs evil, and magic.
There was so much to learn about the different types of creatures and the magic that surround the fantasy world, yet all these concepts are swept under the rug to create a focus on the romance. I would have enjoyed more world-building, in place of the two main characters pining after each other, but I cannot deny the obvious chemistry between them. While I would have preferred a more not instant love storyline, it was delivered well with the "meant for each other" trope.
It was a pretty fast paced book, with loads of fluff. There is nothing 'dark' about this retelling. Overall, this book is a cozy holiday read for anyone that likes fairytale retellings with a little more passion and chemistry. Reading it gave me classic yet heartwarming feeling.
Thank You NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.