Reviews

The Kingdom of Sweets by Erika Johansen

anyamc7's review against another edition

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3.0

Kind of a “meh” book for me. The characters were awful people, nary a likable one amongst them. However, I did find the mythos/magic around twins and the dark turn very interesting.

bbunn's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5 stars. It was a good December read. It is dark and you don’t really like anyone in the book I would say but I enjoyed it!

3beancircus's review against another edition

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Got boring when it veered away from the Nutcracker story line 

grcolby's review against another edition

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4.0

I struggled with how to rate this book. I would say it is a 3.5 star (when will Goodreads get on the 1/2 star rating system?) but I rounded up.

I think there is an intriguing story here, a world of magic and deals and power and identity. The story was captivating and engaging, but I also felt like it only scratched the surface. So many questions left unanswered, so many doors left unexplored, so many stories left unfinished.

mickeydoodle99's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

amwallace95's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

lexib_9's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

hobackbookclub's review against another edition

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2.0

This was the strangest book I've ever read.

bailee_m98's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

badwomenbooks's review against another edition

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4.0

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Kingdom of Sweets by Erika Johansen was a gothic fairytale that swept me away into the fantastical world that the author imagined. It subverted expectations with its deeply imperfect, sometimes vicious, main characters and its fierce exploration of love, jealousy, and betrayal.

This sickly-sweet tale honored the classic elements of the Nutcracker story that inspired it while adding dark, unexpected twists. It was atmospheric, compelling, and the perfect read for a blistery winter night.

I gave this story a four-star rating because it was beautifully written, completely unexpected, and resonated with me long after I’d turned the last page. This story isn’t for the faint of heart as it was oftentimes gruesome and bitter—and equally lyrical and thrilling. I enjoyed every minute of it.