Publisher: 27th October 2021 by HQ Fiction - HarperCollins Australia
Pages: 339 pages
How I Read It: ARC book
Genre: magical realism, fantasy, retelling
My Rating: 5 cups
Synopsis:
In the darkness of night, magic awaits…
The Nutcracker for adults, perfect for fans of Robert Dinsdale’s The Toymakers, Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus and Stephanie Garber’s Caraval
‘It was a rainy day that the magic came, and once magic has entered your life, you stay in its glittering clutch forever’
Nottingham, 1906
Marietta Stelle longs to be a ballerina but as Christmas draws nearer, her dancing days are numbered. At the wishes of her family, she will be obligated to marry and take up her place in society in the New Year. But when a mysterious toymaker, Dr Drosselmeier, purchases a neighbouring townhouse, it heralds the arrival of magic and wonder in her life. Although Drosselmeier’s magic is darker than Marietta could have imagined…
When he constructs an elaborate theatrical set for her final ballet performance, Marietta discovers it carries a magic all of its own. As the clock chimes midnight, Marietta finds herself walking through a land of snow-topped fir trees leading to a frozen sugar palace silent with secrets and must find a way to return home.
In the darkness of night, magic awaits and you will never forget what you find here…
My Thoughts
‘Might I inquire as to where I am?' 'Why, you have discovered the delights of Everwood, of course. A land of ice and sugar, enchanted beyond measure.’
I had high expectations for this book … and I am thrilled to report it was everything I wished for and then some. This is a story that you immerse yourself in, lose yourself in as it is deliciously full of magical descriptions and imagery - literally and figuratively. From sugar coated villages one could only dream of, to aspirations of fulfilling your dreams.
‘She could not sleepwalk through a life of luncheons and dinners and a marriage that would pin her in place, a butterfly with steel pins puncturing its wings, preserved and beautiful in its glass cage though its heart beat no longer. She needed to set herself free.’
Midnight in Everwood follows Marietta with her passion for ballet yet her family will force her to give it up in favour of marriage. That is until something magical and unforeseen happens and she ends up in Everwood. Inspired by ‘The Nutcracker’, this one's for adults who are open to magical realism. Acknowledgements to the original are subtle but recognisable with no prerequisite to be fully au fait with the original.
‘It’s an empowering act, stepping into your own identity, forging a deeper empathy with yourself.’
M.A. Kuzniar’s writing is sublime. Her creative and imaginative retelling is exquisite. Her prose is extraordinary at times. Her world building everything one could imagine and more with descriptions and imagery sweeping across all your senses.
‘It is beautiful here. I can feel my pulse slowing, my worries waning.'
You will admire the strength of character of Marietta with her determination to stay true to her dreams. I also fully appreciated that the romance was most definitely not the main focus. It is beautiful but Kuzniar stays true to her conviction to allow Marietta to be all she can and achieve her heart's desire. I would even go so far as to say it is, in fact, the female friendships that hold the spotlight being truly heartwarming and inspiring. On the flip side the villain is truly villainous and terribly vindictive - this can be a harsh and cruel world. All up, the cast of characters demonstrate a real depth and are highly engaging for the reader.
‘Only the most magical things happen at midnight. When mortal folk are dreaming, safe in their beds, it is then that the sprites and goblins creep out and the air crackles with wild magic.’
How to sum this up? This version - an adult Nut Cracker - is exquisite, enthralling and totally worth your while if this is something that appeals to you. I loved this book and highly recommend you take a trip to the magical land of Everwood.
‘Everwood might be spun from sugar and enchantments but it was rotten to the core.’
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.
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