M.A. Kuzniar's *Midnight in Everwood* is a captivating reimagining of *The Nutcracker*, perfect for those who prefer their fairy tales with a touch of frost and a hint of darkness. Set in Edwardian Nottingham, the story follows Marietta, a young woman with dreams of becoming a ballerina, who finds herself trapped in a magical world crafted from ice and snow.

Kuzniar's writing is enchanting. She paints a vivid picture of both the mundane world of Edwardian society and the fantastical realm of Everwood, with descriptions so rich and evocative that you can almost taste the sugared plums and feel the chill of the winter air. The story is infused with wonder and magic, but it also carries an underlying current of darkness that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Marietta is a wonderful protagonist—strong-willed, independent, and determined to forge her own path. Her journey is one of self-discovery, as she learns to embrace her own power and fight for her freedom. The supporting characters are equally well-developed, from the enigmatic Dr. Drosselmeier to the charming and rebellious Pirlipata.

While the novel is a delightful read, it can occasionally become a bit too sweet. The constant descriptions of sweets and pastries, charming at first, can become overwhelming at times. However, this is a minor quibble in an otherwise captivating tale.

*Midnight in Everwood* is beautifully written and imaginative, transporting readers to a world of magic and wonder. It's a perfect read for the festive season, but be warned: this is not your typical heartwarming Christmas story. It's a darker, more complex tale that will linger in your mind long after you've turned the final page.

Highly recommended for fans of fantasy, fairy tale retellings, and anyone who enjoys a touch of magic in their reading.

This book definitely took me by surprise! As expected of a Nutcracker retelling, it was magical, transporting, and romantic, but it ended up being much more than just that. It was about a woman defying the role society deemed her to follow, the power of female friendship (and female rage), the importance of a resistance, and the terrible things men do with power.

The purple prose was beautiful and captured the essence and majesty of Everwood perfectly. I really enjoyed our main character Marietta and the complex dynamics of her family, especially her bonding with her brother and how open they were with eachother. I adored her love of ballet and role it played throughout the story, particularly in Everwood, the passages of her performances danced along the page.

Drosselmeier was a deeply formidable character, every scene with him alone with Marietta had my insides curl, Kuzniar depicted that cat and mouse chase perfectly. Likewise, the cruelty of the king evoked a similar response – I didn’t anticipate how dark certain elements of the book would get, especially with the punishments the king ordered for Dellara.

I really enjoyed the female friendships in this book and how both Dellara and Pirlipata had unique battles of their own, it was nice seeing the women band together and save themselves for a change. As a lover of romance, I also looked forward to all the scenes with Marietta and Captain Legat, they were just lovely, and that final scene of them in the snow was equal parts swoony and electric.

I didn’t expect the ending, although I would’ve loved Marietta to stay in the beautiful world of Everwood with Legat and the girls, I think it made the goodbyes more powerful and so much sadder on reflection. It was beautiful that Marietta, instead of mourning the loss of her friendships in Everwood, decided to use what she learnt to forge new bonds in her world. That really hit me, the idea of being able to carry on after a goodbye.

The only downsides to this book were the pacing in the first third and how rushed the final battles against the king and Drosselmeier were. I think both could’ve been slightly longer as they were the precipice of the story. In terms of the pacing, once we entered Everwood, everything picked back up. The plot was both engaging and intriguing past this point and definitely had parts I didn’t see coming; that’s the best of retellings, you know how the story will go, but not exactly how.

Ultimately, I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys strong women defying their odds, hidden magical worlds full of sugar and darkness, scintillating romances, and purple prose 💜

I am so late to reviewing this book. It was truly wonderful! I have never been so enticed in a magical setting. I was reading this on a coach to a work event but suddenly I was somewhere else entirely in an environment even my imagination coudn't have come up with! I have since purchased a special edition copy of this book and the most recent one too because it's so special! This book is a reread for sure!

Unfortunately i really struggled to connect with this book. My first time reading works from this author and i just couldnt get into the storyline at all. Just because it didnt suit me doesnt mean its not worth the read i just found it all a little disjointed and boring for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this arc.

If you love the Nutcrackers and fairy tale retellings then this is for you.
Filled with enchanted toys, decadent balls, fierce feminine friendships and a forbidden romance. I was swept in from the start by the beauty of the prose.

I enjoyed this book it was just what I needed to read at the right time I'd recommend this book to a friend

Marietta loves nothing other than to dance ballet but Marietta’s parents want her to find a husband and give up her dreams of dancing in order to become a 'proper' member of Edwardian society.
When the mysterious Dr Drosselmeier moves into their neighbourhood Marietta’s family and the rest of the town fall for his charm. After a rejection, Drosselmeier constructs an elaborate set for Marietta’s final ballet performance which is enchanted with magic and transports her to a snowy forest where she catches the eye of King Gelum who claims her as his own.
Will Marietta find her way back home before it's too late, or will she be stuck in a different world forever?

Midnight in Everwood by M.A. Kuzniar is an adult historical fantasy retelling of The Nutcracker and even though this is marketed as an adult book, I do have to say that it reads more like a YA novel. I always crave detail in my books and unfortunately I wasn't quite getting it with this one. It was a magical story with great atmosphere but the plot really didn't draw me in or keep my interest. I did love reading about Marietta's journey throughout this book as she's a strong minded female main character who wants to live outside of society's expectations and follow her dreams of becoming a ballet dancer. I will say that it's a great seasonal read and as it takes place on Christmas Eve and is filled with magic, it really does get you excited for Christmas!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

I must admit, I was rather drawn by the idea of an adult retelling of the Nutcracker, but unfortunately this was not it for me. An uncomfortable amalgamation of The Nutcracker, Edmund in Narnia and Willy Wonka’s Factory, Midnight in Everwood was unfortunately underwhelming.

It’s 1906 and we follow ballet dancer Marietta Steele as she attempts to navigate growing up in early Edwardian society who can apparently do no wrong despite a series of rather immature decisions to spite others in her life (like stealing a car to go to ballet).

She’s meant to be 20, though she would have read better as a 16 year old (adult retelling aside). In imagining her as an adult, I found her incredibly frustrating and difficult to empathise with, let alone follow what felt like reading an entire thesaurus of descriptions whenever someone completed an action. The sugar themes applied to every character mentioned by other reviewers left a poor taste in my mouth, whilst the attempted saucy scene was downright uncomfortable.

An underwhelming read, though I did finish it. The concept was interesting , the execution questionable.

Thank you to NetGalley for this copy of Midnight in Everwood in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Truthfully, I DNF'd this when I started reading it, I was really struggling with the pace and found it extremely slow. I did end up switching format and listened to it as an audiobook and found it easier to get on with.

I found this to be far too descriptive, there were a lot of plot holes and I found that the ending fell short. The premise of this book sounded good I just feel like it wasn't executed well. Which is a shame because I wanted to like this, especially because the cover is stunning.

This book was not at all what I expected. I went into this with expectations of something akin to ‘The Night Circus’ and absolutely did not get that.
It read very YA and had almost too much going on at any one time to really catch moments.
The main character had a bad case of ‘not like other girls’ which was not at all helped when the book continues and she is seen as utterly unique. The plot was rather predictable and the pacing did feel rather jarring, at moments too fast and at other dragging.
The side characters and descriptions are honestly where this book shined. An interesting wintery read.

I appreciate this storyline and author but sadly this just wasn't for me. I found I wasnt compelled to pick it up. I have however recommended it to others who have really enjoyed it so I think it must be just me! Will potentially give it another try in the future

Well, this was a really different book for me - not my normal genre at all.. It starts out as a fairly normal story, but soon seems to start to change with the arrival of a new neighbour for Marietta in Drosselmeier. No one knows anything about him or where he has come from and his magical creations are the likes of which have not been seen before. He sets his sights on Marietta, much to the delight of her parents who are looking for her to get married, but Marietta has other ideas. She longs to continue her ballet dancing and on Christmas Eve, rehearses on the set built for her by Drosselmeier for her Christmas Day performance, which is to be her final dance (according to her parents).

However, in an event reminiscent of The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe, Marietta soon discovers a whole new magical world, which changes the course of her life. But what will become of Drosselmeier and how will she free herself from the destiny set out for her? I recommend you read this book yourself to find out.....

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review, which is what I have given.

I... was disappointed by this book. Very much so. I expected sweeping romance, fantastical legends, and a story that would be hard to describe. Instead, I came away thinking I hadn't quite understood what this book was meant to be after all. I'll say that maybe I wasn't the intended audience for this book, and leave it at that.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

A perfect book to read to get you into the christmas spirit with the story being an adult retelling of the Nutcracker. Set in Nottingham in 1906, following the lead of Marietta Stelle who dreamt of becoming a dancer and is transported to Everwood. The descriptions of Everwood were magical and really transported me there however I did feel as though the book could have had a bit more to it and feel less like a YA novel.

I have to confess I struggled to get my teeth in to this. The elaborate and 'pretty' descriptions really got in the way of the plot moving anywhere. It's an English teachers dream in writing style but just not for me and I found myself starting to skim.
I'm not all that familiar with the Nutcracker stories so I wasn't really biased by any of the origins, I enjoyed the story and how it ended, just wish it had moved faster. Some actual content rather than constant description of food and 'molten chocolate' every few pages with more of a focus on the problems in Everwood would have been so much more interesting. The characters didn't stand out particularly, I didn't find the main character particularly easy to like. The constant use of ballet terminology, even as a dancer, was quite grating as I just felt it so unrealistic.

Exquisitely whimsical, adorned with luscious descriptions that compelled me to consume this book from its opening to its conclusion. A grown-up rendition of 'The Nutcracker' by E.T.A. Hoffmann (as well as Alexandre Dumas' retelling), this tale beautifully echoes the enchantment woven into The Nutcracker, striking a harmonious balance. 'Midnight in Everwood' possesses its individual identity, so familiarity with The Nutcracker isn't obligatory. Yet, I'm truly elated that I delved into it beforehand, for it unveiled the subtle traces of influence that enrich this narrative. Kuzniar forges her distinct realm and creativity, employing a prose reminiscent of literary luminaries — at times, I felt akin to reading a work by Oscar Wilde or its ilk.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Loved the magical setting. Will be looking out for more from this writier.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the main character and the feminist themes that run throughout this book but I couldn’t connect to the other characters or invest in the romance. The plot started off fairly slowly but picked up and the magical setting was well described and easy to picture. The world building was also well established. I’m not too familiar with The Nutcracker so I wasn’t sure what would happen! I did feel the ending was a little too rushed too but I enjoyed the lyrical writing style.

A huge thank you to HQ and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I'd like to disclaim this review with the fact that I have a slightly difficult relationship with historical fiction. Whilst some of my all time favourites - 'The Night Circus', 'The Once and Future Witches' - are historical fantasy books, it's a particularly hit or miss genre for me. Overall, 'Midnight in Everwood' is an enjoyable read - but the writing style isn't one that works for me, and it isn't fully engaging until it leaves Edwardian England for the fantasy realm of Everwood.

Marietta lives for ballet - but after one last performance, she will be required to cease ballet and marry someone of appropriate status in Edwardian society. Her family favour the secretive Dr Drosselmeier - a toymaker of some wealth - but all Marietta sees is the loss of her hopes and dreams. When Drosselmeier proposes, she turns him down - only to find herself trapped in another world. Somehow, she's been transported to Everwood - a world filled with gingerbread houses and sweet delights, but also monsters lurking under the exterior. Now, she's at the mercy of sadistic King Gelum. She finds herself a prisoner with two other women - Dellara, a woman of sharp words and even sharper wit, and Pirlipata, a princess from another land. Marietta must forge an alliance in order to escape - but in an unfamiliar world brimming with secrets and rebellion, that prospect is far from easy.

The first quarter of the novel is a slow burner around Marietta, her family's quest to find her a husband, and her dreams of escaping and becoming a ballet dancer. Here, Marietta comes across as somewhat spoilt and sheltered - unaware of the realities of the world for her dancing contemporaries, who are of lower class than she. However, she also comes across as persistent, kind-hearted, and stronger than she might seem. In many ways, she's naive - especially around men such as Dr Drosselmeier - but in others she's more cunning than you might expect. These early passages clearly try, in style and substance, to set the historical fiction scene - but the detached and verbose writing style is a detraction rather than an asset. There's no engagement until the scene shifts and the reader is introduced to Everwood.

In Everwood, the writing really comes to life. Beautiful descriptions paint a gorgeous picture of this unfamiliar world - sugar and spice and all things nice on the outside, but rotten within. Rather than a plodding historical novel, it starts to feel like a fairytale - which, for a story inspired by 'The Nutcracker', is clearly the intention. There's still a degree of detachment from all characters other than Marietta, leaving them fairly two-dimensional, but the plot and descriptions have enough to hold the attention.

The plot is solid, slow in pacing but allowing time for each lavish scene to be savoured. I haven't read 'The Nutcracker', so can't speak to its accuracy as a retelling, but familiarity with that tale is not required to enjoy this one. There is a fairly unnecessary romantic subplot - which due to the degree of separation between the reader and the characters, never quite feels fully believable - but otherwise, the subplots are complimentary.

The ending is, perhaps, predictable, but well written and satisfying. It leaves a degree of open-endedness so the reader can decide things for themselves.

Overall, this is an enjoyable enough story which will appeal to other readers far more than it does to me. Recommended for fans of plot rather than character driven fantasy, fairytale retellings, and fans of beautiful descriptive writing.