sparetimereader's review against another edition
2.75
Short synopsis: A retelling of The Nutcracker featuring the beloved Clara and her twin sister Natasha, who are cursed by their godfather Drosselmeyer on Christmas.
My thoughts: When I heard of this retelling I was so excited to jump in. We go every year to the Nutcracker ballet, so the original story is very familiar to me. As someone else pointed out in our group chat “this is not your grandmas Nutcracker.” This story got dark really quick!
The first half was very strong, I loved how Clara became the spoiled little villain, and how she was favored above Natasha, and especially seeing Natashas side of things. The second half got a little bit repetitive and over worked in my opinion. I’d have liked it to have been a bit shorter.
Read if you love:
- Light and Dark
- Curses and forgiveness
- Sugar Plum Fairy’s and Gum drop houses
- unique spin on classic tales
- family drama
My thoughts: When I heard of this retelling I was so excited to jump in. We go every year to the Nutcracker ballet, so the original story is very familiar to me. As someone else pointed out in our group chat “this is not your grandmas Nutcracker.” This story got dark really quick!
The first half was very strong, I loved how Clara became the spoiled little villain, and how she was favored above Natasha, and especially seeing Natashas side of things. The second half got a little bit repetitive and over worked in my opinion. I’d have liked it to have been a bit shorter.
Read if you love:
- Light and Dark
- Curses and forgiveness
- Sugar Plum Fairy’s and Gum drop houses
- unique spin on classic tales
- family drama
thereadingraccoon's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Book Review: The Kingdom of Sweets by Erika Johansen
The Kingdom of Sweets is a fantasy retelling of The Nutcracker about a pair of twins divided by jealousy and dark magic.
Natasha and Clara were declared to be “light” and “dark” at birth by their self-appointed godfather and local magician, Drosselmeyer. As they grow older Clara the “light” and beautiful twin is paraded around town by their parents while Natasha the “dark” and unattractive sister hides in their home with her books. When Natasha’s parents, her twin Clara, her lover Conrad and godfather Drosselmeyer betray her on her seventeenth birthday she finds herself pulled into a magical land of sweets created from her sister’s imagination. There she will learn more about the dark magic that propelled Drosselmeyer and divided the sisters. Natasha will seek her revenge on Clara for her betrayal in that enchanted land but not without consequences in their own world.
The Kingdom of Sweets is a twisted and dark fairy tale of magic and sisterly competition set against the backdrop of a changing country on the verge of revolution. Johansen’s world building and characters are top notch and she isn’t afraid to show the dark side of humanity (or the land of fairy). Although this isn’t the feel good read of the holiday season I highly recommend it to fantasy readers who enjoy magic, complicated heroines and beautiful writing.
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
alilbitofmonica's review
3.0
I feel like I have simultaneously so many thoughts and also no thoughts at all.
I do not often read retellings but was intrigued by this one. Unfortunately it didn’t work for me the way I had hoped. This book was broken up until several “Acts” (which I appreciated in connection to the break-up of a ballet/play such as The Nutcracker is) but it honestly felt like the multiple acts were disconnected. Like the central plot seemed to change too many times and I wasn’t sure what kind of book I was reading.
The beginning, learning about the twins and their connections and their difficulties, the workings of their blessings/curses… all of this was interesting and I loved. When they go to the Kingdom of Sweets and the subsequent actions taken there, I was even more intrigued and looking forward to where the story would go.
But the further into the story I went, the less I understood where the story was going. It went from a fantastical story of interpersonal drama/betrayal to a thriller-esque story, which then morphed into a supernatural theme, then a political revolution, and finally ended up being in a cosmic-realism-fantasy for the resolution. It felt like too much happening to make a lot of sense to me.
Because of this, it felt like this story just kept dragging on and on, being much longer than it really is.
On top of all of this, I had the hardest time visualizing ANY of this fantastical elements of this story beyond the first visit to the Kingdom of Sweets. The shadows and the mirror and the castle/dollhouse were all very confusingly described at times. Which I think was part of the point, but it was unclear.
I do think this is a really unique take on the well-known Nutcracker story, giving it a new life with new characters and twists. A lot of deeper concepts were discussed, but maybe it tried to tackle too much?
I am giving this three stars because there were elements I really liked, but overall it did not work the way I had hoped. I see the potential for someone really liking it if they can get a full grasp on everything going on, but it was just too much for me.
I do not often read retellings but was intrigued by this one. Unfortunately it didn’t work for me the way I had hoped. This book was broken up until several “Acts” (which I appreciated in connection to the break-up of a ballet/play such as The Nutcracker is) but it honestly felt like the multiple acts were disconnected. Like the central plot seemed to change too many times and I wasn’t sure what kind of book I was reading.
The beginning, learning about the twins and their connections and their difficulties, the workings of their blessings/curses… all of this was interesting and I loved. When they go to the Kingdom of Sweets and the subsequent actions taken there, I was even more intrigued and looking forward to where the story would go.
But the further into the story I went, the less I understood where the story was going. It went from a fantastical story of interpersonal drama/betrayal to a thriller-esque story, which then morphed into a supernatural theme, then a political revolution, and finally ended up being in a cosmic-realism-fantasy for the resolution. It felt like too much happening to make a lot of sense to me.
Because of this, it felt like this story just kept dragging on and on, being much longer than it really is.
On top of all of this, I had the hardest time visualizing ANY of this fantastical elements of this story beyond the first visit to the Kingdom of Sweets. The shadows and the mirror and the castle/dollhouse were all very confusingly described at times. Which I think was part of the point, but it was unclear.
I do think this is a really unique take on the well-known Nutcracker story, giving it a new life with new characters and twists. A lot of deeper concepts were discussed, but maybe it tried to tackle too much?
I am giving this three stars because there were elements I really liked, but overall it did not work the way I had hoped. I see the potential for someone really liking it if they can get a full grasp on everything going on, but it was just too much for me.
sarah_ae13's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Twins, Natasha and Clara, were doomed with a destiny they never asked for thanks to their godfather, Drosseleyer bestowing gifts on the day of their christening--dark and light, respectively. From that moment on, Natasha was forced to live in her sister's shadow. One fateful Christmas Eve, Natasha has the opportunity to change the tide and snatch her chance at revenge when she and Clara are dragged into the deceptively beautiful world: the Kingdom of Sweets. Once there, Natasha is offered a gift from the Sugar Plum Fairy, who presents her with a power greater than any sorcerer. With the shadowy destiny weighed on her shoulders, Natasha must reckon with the choices she makes
This is not your momma's Nutcracker story. I love The Nutcracker and dark retellings, so this book was one I was drawn to and excited to read. The twist of Christmas twins, emphasizing the light and dark concept, had a strong start. The tension between the sisters, the events of the Christmas Eve party, and the immersion in the dark Kingdom of Sweets... all strengths of this book. We hit a quite dark turn, and then I as a reader hit a wall. For me, the rest of this book was slow. After such a strong start, it was hard for me to remain focused on the story. More twists came later in the story that I enjoyed, but I wish they hadn't taken so long to get to.
I would suggest this for people who love dark fairytale retellings, gothic fantasy, descriptive world-building, family drama, and Nutcracker-inspired tales.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for this ARC.
This is not your momma's Nutcracker story. I love The Nutcracker and dark retellings, so this book was one I was drawn to and excited to read. The twist of Christmas twins, emphasizing the light and dark concept, had a strong start. The tension between the sisters, the events of the Christmas Eve party, and the immersion in the dark Kingdom of Sweets... all strengths of this book. We hit a quite dark turn, and then I as a reader hit a wall. For me, the rest of this book was slow. After such a strong start, it was hard for me to remain focused on the story. More twists came later in the story that I enjoyed, but I wish they hadn't taken so long to get to.
I would suggest this for people who love dark fairytale retellings, gothic fantasy, descriptive world-building, family drama, and Nutcracker-inspired tales.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for this ARC.
leahjanespeare's review against another edition
3.5
I'm not a huge Nutcracker fan, but I'll read anything Erika Johansen writes so here we are. It's just as dark as I hoped, predictably veering toward Grimm rather than Disney. Recommended if you like villain origin stories with little to no romance.
teri_reads's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin for sending me an ARC of The Kingdom of Sweets in return for an honest review!
I grew up going to see the Nutcracker ballet every year with my family, and it's always been a favorite memory of mine. So when I saw this Nutcracker retelling, I had to check it out!
The Kingdom of Sweets is a unique, dark story about the steep price of magic. In this story, Clara has a twin sister, Natasha, whose perspective the entire story is told from. At their christening, the twins are blessed (or rather, cursed) to be light (Clara) and dark (Natasha), which sets the course for their entire lives. Conflict between the sisters grows, and one fateful Christmas Eve leads the girls on a journey to the Kingdom of Sweets – but this one is very different than what we've seen in the ballet.
I like that this story goes on far beyond that first Christmas Eve, taking us through years of Natasha's story, as she realizes what her decisions cost, discovers whether what she gained was worth it, and goes on a journey to restore what she lost.
This book is definitely a much darker take on the children's tale, but I really enjoyed where the author took this story. The writing was really beautiful and it was an enjoyable read.
I grew up going to see the Nutcracker ballet every year with my family, and it's always been a favorite memory of mine. So when I saw this Nutcracker retelling, I had to check it out!
The Kingdom of Sweets is a unique, dark story about the steep price of magic. In this story, Clara has a twin sister, Natasha, whose perspective the entire story is told from. At their christening, the twins are blessed (or rather, cursed) to be light (Clara) and dark (Natasha), which sets the course for their entire lives. Conflict between the sisters grows, and one fateful Christmas Eve leads the girls on a journey to the Kingdom of Sweets – but this one is very different than what we've seen in the ballet.
I like that this story goes on far beyond that first Christmas Eve, taking us through years of Natasha's story, as she realizes what her decisions cost, discovers whether what she gained was worth it, and goes on a journey to restore what she lost.
This book is definitely a much darker take on the children's tale, but I really enjoyed where the author took this story. The writing was really beautiful and it was an enjoyable read.
quirkycatsfatstacks's review against another edition
3.5
Book Summary:
Natasha and Clara have lived charmed lives, thanks largely to their godfather, Drosselmeyer. With his love comes a destiny. Like many children born with a destiny, some learn to embrace it while others struggle. Clara is the former, while Natasha is the latter.
So, when Natasha is given a chance at power and revenge in one bundle, she knows what she needs to do. As it turns out, some children are willing to make dark bargains to get what they want.
My Review:
As a huge fan of The Nutcracker, I was curious to see this retelling. In truth, I feel like there are fewer Nutcracker retellings out there (at least in comparison to the countless other types of retellings). So I was excited about The Kingdom of Sweets.
Overall, I would say that The Kingdom of Sweets is a solid read. Maybe not the best, but certainly compelling and interesting. I enjoyed the dark and revenge-oriented focus, as it really leaned into the unexplored potential of the Nutcracker.
You know that sick feeling you get when you've eaten too much sugar? That's the vibe The Kingdom of Sweets is going for. And for the most part, Erika Johansen nailed it. That said, I wouldn't recommend reading this one if you don't want to see a beloved tale change and wither, as that is certainly the result of this gothic take.
Highlights:
YA Fantasy
Christmas
Nutcracker Retelling
Thanks to Dutton and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
Natasha and Clara have lived charmed lives, thanks largely to their godfather, Drosselmeyer. With his love comes a destiny. Like many children born with a destiny, some learn to embrace it while others struggle. Clara is the former, while Natasha is the latter.
So, when Natasha is given a chance at power and revenge in one bundle, she knows what she needs to do. As it turns out, some children are willing to make dark bargains to get what they want.
My Review:
As a huge fan of The Nutcracker, I was curious to see this retelling. In truth, I feel like there are fewer Nutcracker retellings out there (at least in comparison to the countless other types of retellings). So I was excited about The Kingdom of Sweets.
Overall, I would say that The Kingdom of Sweets is a solid read. Maybe not the best, but certainly compelling and interesting. I enjoyed the dark and revenge-oriented focus, as it really leaned into the unexplored potential of the Nutcracker.
You know that sick feeling you get when you've eaten too much sugar? That's the vibe The Kingdom of Sweets is going for. And for the most part, Erika Johansen nailed it. That said, I wouldn't recommend reading this one if you don't want to see a beloved tale change and wither, as that is certainly the result of this gothic take.
Highlights:
YA Fantasy
Christmas
Nutcracker Retelling
Thanks to Dutton and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
You Can Also Find Me On:
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
halligomez's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0