About the Book:
A spell-binding retelling of The Nutcracker, filled with enchanted toys, decadent balls, fierce feminine friendships and a forbidden romance. For fans of The Toymakers, Caraval and The Bear and the Nightingale.
There’s nothing Marietta Stelle loves more than ballet, but after Christmas, her dreams will be over as she is obligated to take her place in Edwardian society. While she is chafing against such suffocating traditions, a mysterious man purchases the neighbouring townhouse. Dr Drosselmeier is a charming but calculating figure who wins over the rest of the Stelle family with his enchanting toys and wondrous mechanisms.
When Drosselmeier constructs an elaborate set for Marietta’s final ballet performance, she discovers it carries a magic all of its own. On the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, she is transported to a snowy forest, where she encounters danger at every turn: ice giants, shadow goblins and the shrieking mist all lurk amidst the firs and frozen waterfalls and ice cliffs. After being rescued by the butterscotch-eyed captain of the king’s guard, she is escorted to the frozen sugar palace. At once, Marietta is enchanted by this glittering world of glamorous gowns, gingerbread houses, miniature reindeer and the most delicious confectionary.
But all is not as it seems and Marietta is soon trapped in the sumptuous palace by the sadistic King Gelum, who claims her as his own. She is confined to a gilded prison with his other pets; Dellara, whose words are as sharp as her teeth, and Pirlipata, a princess from another land. Marietta must forge an alliance with the two women to carve a way free from this sugar-coated but treacherous world and back home to follow her dreams. Yet in a hedonistic world brimming with rebellion and a forbidden romance that risks everything, such a path will never be easy.
Purchase Links: HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Review:
Marietta Stelle has led a privileged life in Edwardian England. As the daughter of a Baron she has been given a good education, every convenience she can imagine and has been able to follow her dream of dancing. However, as Marietta's 20th birthday approaches, her parents expect her to take her place in society, give up her dancing and marry someone worthy of her social standing. An opportunity presents itself as the Stelle's receive a new neighbor, Dr Drosselmeier who is now an inventor. Dr Drosselmeier finds Marietta to be exactly what he wants, but not as an equal partner, he wants someone to control. When Marietta rebuffs his proposal she is sent into another world of Dr Drosselmeier's creation. The town of Everwood seems like a magical dream where candy fills the streets and magic is everywhere. Marietta has simply traded one gilded cage for the other as King Gelum takes Marietta as his own toy and forces her to perform at his will. With the help of her fellow captives, Pirlipata and Dellara, the women will change their fates and that of Everwood.
Midnight in Everwood is a fierce retelling of the Nutcracker with absolutely delicious writing and surprising characters. From the time Marietta entered the scene, I knew she would be a force. I loved her passion for dancing and how she never stopped fighting for the future she wanted. Marietta states "When she danced, she had a voice. And nothing was more fearsome than a silent future." Marietta's station in society has awarded her immense privilege, yet she was still trapped by her parents' wishes. It isn't until Dr Drosselmeier enters that she realizes her strength. Dr Drosselmeier is a perfectly sculpted villain, attractive and mysterious with a magical skill of creating worlds in his inventions. Everwood is crafted as a magical land of candy where I could envision the palace and multiple balls perfectly. As a dancer, I could also see Marietta's choreography play out in my head. King Gelum ruled tyrannically and the people of Everwood suffered. Many things in Everwood reminded me of pre-revolutionary France. Marietta soon learned what real imprisonment was, but she also learned of rebellion, sisterhood and fighting for the greater good, including herself. It was great to see Marietta impassioned and form relationships with Dellara and Pirlipata. Planning their escape was suspenseful and heart pounding. I was pleased to see that she used what she learned in Everwood and was able to turn it against Dr Drosselmeier in the end. I don't know if there will be another book, but I would love to see what happened to each of the three women after their escape and if Marietta was able to return.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
A spell-binding retelling of The Nutcracker, filled with enchanted toys, decadent balls, fierce feminine friendships and a forbidden romance. For fans of The Toymakers, Caraval and The Bear and the Nightingale.
There’s nothing Marietta Stelle loves more than ballet, but after Christmas, her dreams will be over as she is obligated to take her place in Edwardian society. While she is chafing against such suffocating traditions, a mysterious man purchases the neighbouring townhouse. Dr Drosselmeier is a charming but calculating figure who wins over the rest of the Stelle family with his enchanting toys and wondrous mechanisms.
When Drosselmeier constructs an elaborate set for Marietta’s final ballet performance, she discovers it carries a magic all of its own. On the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, she is transported to a snowy forest, where she encounters danger at every turn: ice giants, shadow goblins and the shrieking mist all lurk amidst the firs and frozen waterfalls and ice cliffs. After being rescued by the butterscotch-eyed captain of the king’s guard, she is escorted to the frozen sugar palace. At once, Marietta is enchanted by this glittering world of glamorous gowns, gingerbread houses, miniature reindeer and the most delicious confectionary.
But all is not as it seems and Marietta is soon trapped in the sumptuous palace by the sadistic King Gelum, who claims her as his own. She is confined to a gilded prison with his other pets; Dellara, whose words are as sharp as her teeth, and Pirlipata, a princess from another land. Marietta must forge an alliance with the two women to carve a way free from this sugar-coated but treacherous world and back home to follow her dreams. Yet in a hedonistic world brimming with rebellion and a forbidden romance that risks everything, such a path will never be easy.
Purchase Links: HarperCollins | Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Review:
Marietta Stelle has led a privileged life in Edwardian England. As the daughter of a Baron she has been given a good education, every convenience she can imagine and has been able to follow her dream of dancing. However, as Marietta's 20th birthday approaches, her parents expect her to take her place in society, give up her dancing and marry someone worthy of her social standing. An opportunity presents itself as the Stelle's receive a new neighbor, Dr Drosselmeier who is now an inventor. Dr Drosselmeier finds Marietta to be exactly what he wants, but not as an equal partner, he wants someone to control. When Marietta rebuffs his proposal she is sent into another world of Dr Drosselmeier's creation. The town of Everwood seems like a magical dream where candy fills the streets and magic is everywhere. Marietta has simply traded one gilded cage for the other as King Gelum takes Marietta as his own toy and forces her to perform at his will. With the help of her fellow captives, Pirlipata and Dellara, the women will change their fates and that of Everwood.
Midnight in Everwood is a fierce retelling of the Nutcracker with absolutely delicious writing and surprising characters. From the time Marietta entered the scene, I knew she would be a force. I loved her passion for dancing and how she never stopped fighting for the future she wanted. Marietta states "When she danced, she had a voice. And nothing was more fearsome than a silent future." Marietta's station in society has awarded her immense privilege, yet she was still trapped by her parents' wishes. It isn't until Dr Drosselmeier enters that she realizes her strength. Dr Drosselmeier is a perfectly sculpted villain, attractive and mysterious with a magical skill of creating worlds in his inventions. Everwood is crafted as a magical land of candy where I could envision the palace and multiple balls perfectly. As a dancer, I could also see Marietta's choreography play out in my head. King Gelum ruled tyrannically and the people of Everwood suffered. Many things in Everwood reminded me of pre-revolutionary France. Marietta soon learned what real imprisonment was, but she also learned of rebellion, sisterhood and fighting for the greater good, including herself. It was great to see Marietta impassioned and form relationships with Dellara and Pirlipata. Planning their escape was suspenseful and heart pounding. I was pleased to see that she used what she learned in Everwood and was able to turn it against Dr Drosselmeier in the end. I don't know if there will be another book, but I would love to see what happened to each of the three women after their escape and if Marietta was able to return.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
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