A review by sarah_ae13
The Kingdom of Sweets by Erika Johansen

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.