Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Dutton (2023), 368 pages
Description
"Light and dark-this is the destiny placed upon Natasha and Clara, the birthright bestowed by their godfather, the mysterious sorcerer Drosselmeyer. Clara, the favorite, grows into beauty and ease, while Natasha is cursed to live in her sister's shadow. But one fateful Christmas Eve, Natasha gets her chance at revenge. For Drosselmeyer has brought the Nutcracker, an enchanted present that offers entry into a deceptively beautiful world: the Kingdom of Sweets. In this land of snow and sugar, Natasha is presented with a power far greater than Drosselmeyer: the Sugar Plum Fairy, who is also full of gifts . . . and dreadful bargains. As Natasha uncovers the dark destiny laid before her birth, she must reckon with powers both earthly and magical, and decide to which world she truly belongs"--… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member Mrsmommybooknerd
The Kingdom of Sweets is a must-read for fans of fantasy and those who appreciate imaginative retellings of beloved tales. Erika Johansen's expertly crafted narrative will transport readers to a world where darkness and light intermingle in a captivating dance, leaving a lasting impression long
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after the final page is turned Show Less
LibraryThing member jmchshannon
THE KINGDOM OF SWEETS caught my eye for being both a reimagining of the Nutcracker story and a new novel by Erika Johansen, author of The QUEEN OF THE TEARLING series. I loved that series, and the Nutcracker story is so timeless. I wanted to see what she does with it.
I finished the book last week,
Yet, when I try to think of the individual elements of THE KINGDOM OF SWEETS, I struggle to find something I like. Neither Clara nor Natasha are great characters. Drosselmeyer could be interesting, but we only see him through Natasha's eyes. The Sugar Plum Fairy could also be interesting, but she is too one-noted.
The story, while intriguing, is a bit of a mess. Honestly, I can't even begin to put into words what happened and why. It all just sort of happens, and you go with the flow while reading. The only part I remember is the end, when we finally get a sense of the historical time period in which the novel is set. There are bargains that are essentially bargains with the devil. We have terrible parents and even worse extended family. Every character is terrible. The whole story is grim. It is all very Russian.
I'm really glad that Ms. Johansen published another novel. It's the first thing she's put out into the world since 2021. Unfortunately, I cannot say I liked THE KINGDOM OF SWEETS. The best part was seeing how Ms. Johansen incorporated the Nutcracker ballet into the actual story. Unfortunately, even that only lasts the first quarter of the book. Engaging but forgettable is how I would describe it, with not a single redeeming character in the entire book, the main character included.
I finished the book last week,
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and I still don't know what I think. When I look at THE KINGDOM OF SWEETS as a sum of its parts, I enjoyed it. The pacing is quick, and the story is familiar enough to enjoy but unfamiliar enough to keep me on my toes. There's a good message about family and revenge. Yet, when I try to think of the individual elements of THE KINGDOM OF SWEETS, I struggle to find something I like. Neither Clara nor Natasha are great characters. Drosselmeyer could be interesting, but we only see him through Natasha's eyes. The Sugar Plum Fairy could also be interesting, but she is too one-noted.
The story, while intriguing, is a bit of a mess. Honestly, I can't even begin to put into words what happened and why. It all just sort of happens, and you go with the flow while reading. The only part I remember is the end, when we finally get a sense of the historical time period in which the novel is set. There are bargains that are essentially bargains with the devil. We have terrible parents and even worse extended family. Every character is terrible. The whole story is grim. It is all very Russian.
I'm really glad that Ms. Johansen published another novel. It's the first thing she's put out into the world since 2021. Unfortunately, I cannot say I liked THE KINGDOM OF SWEETS. The best part was seeing how Ms. Johansen incorporated the Nutcracker ballet into the actual story. Unfortunately, even that only lasts the first quarter of the book. Engaging but forgettable is how I would describe it, with not a single redeeming character in the entire book, the main character included.
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LibraryThing member DKnight0918
Glad I chose this as one of my December BOTM books. Solid 4 star book. I plan to watch some Nutcracker movies next.
LibraryThing member Jthierer
I'm not sure this book really knows who it's audience should be. The prose/plot is very formulaic in the way I would expect from a YA novel...but the subject matter is pretty dark for younger readers. It seems to be a fantasy but then towards the end of the novel very real events from history are
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referenced. There are some real moments of interest in this novel (when Natasha first goes to the other world and sees the careless destruction left behind by her sister, her later realization that her husband is pretty awful actually) but they get lost in the muddle. This ultimately reads like a book where the author had about three ideas she crushed together more than a coherent novel on its own. Show Less
LibraryThing member KallieGrace
This starts off slow, though enjoyable, and becomes dark and gruesome and captivating about half way through until the end. I am shamefully not familiar with the Nutcracker aside from the score, so I'm not sure how faithful this is to the original. It's a fantastical story that is perfect for
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reading around the holidays. Show Less
LibraryThing member bookczuk
If the Nutcracker went to the dark side...
Awards
LibraryReads (Monthly Pick — Hall of Fame — November 2023)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
368 p.; 9.39 inches
ISBN
1524742759 / 9781524742751