Midnight in Everwood is a whimsical retelling of the Nutcracker. Marietta longs to dance ballet but as she approaches the new year, she has to set her dreams aside and become the woman Edwardian society dictates she should. After the entrance of the mysterious Dr Drosselmeier, Marietta is swept up into a mysterious world of magic, dark and unique characters and the cutest miniature reindeer.
The descriptions are rich and sumptuous, you can almost smell this book! Marietta herself is a wonderful character, defying the constraints placed on her to follow her dreams. She's joined by a cast of mystical characters.
This novel is perfect for anyone who loved the night circus or caraval. It's like walking into a festive fairy tale. It's wonderfully uplifting and magical.
Thanks so much to #netgalley and HQ Stories for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

Absolutely Magical.
This story went above and beyond my expectations.
Marietta is a young woman born into Upper class society and she yearns to dance ballet professionally. Her family on the other hand want her married and to bear children. Marietta has talent and doesn't want to conform to her families ideals about what it means to be a woman.
A gentleman called Drosselmeier enters our story and he has a talent of his own. And he longs for the hand of Marietta. From this point on our story takes a turn and becomes more than just a story about a young lady, and crosses into the boundaries of magical. It tackles themes of imprisonment, love, friendship, feminism, poverty, autocratic rule, over taxation and over indulgence.
This is a story about a dancer, who dances her way through this story with the help of the people she loves.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and HQ stories in exchange for an honest review.

This book could have been written for me as it contains so many of the things that I love: ballet; Christmas and snowy scenes; cakes and sweets; a historical setting and a magical world. Plus, as someone who grew up in Nottingham, I loved the inclusion of street names and places that are so familiar to me!

The story is a loose retelling of the Nutcracker. It manages to retain all the magic and charm of that well-known tale whilst also adding elements that make this story entirely its own. You definitely don't have to have read/watched the Nutcracker to enjoy this book, but as a fan of the original, I loved spotting when names of characters and places, as well as plotlines popped up.

I'm pleased that this version was not just an exact copy and I loved the way things from the original story were used in new ways. My favourite of these was the inclusion of the red ribbon from the Nutcracker - such a clever idea!

The story is set in 1906 and we follow Marietta, a 20-year-old young woman from a wealthy family. She spends her days practising ballet and trying to avoid her parents schemes to find a husband for her. However, her father has decided that come the new year, when she turns 21, she will stop dancing and get married. Marietta only has 1 month left to enjoy her freedom and savour what might be her final performance in the Christmas ballet. Meanwhile, a mysterious inventor has arrived in Nottingham. Dr Drosselmeier agrees to build the set for Marietta's Christmas performance. When she steps through a hidden door, she is transported to a magical, snowy land. Will Marietta be able to return home? Does she even want to go back to the life that is expected of her? What secrets does this strange and beautiful world hold?

The aging up of the main character is an inspired idea as it enabled the story to explore many other themes. Before Marietta enters the magical world, we get to see the daily challenges she faces as a young woman in Edwardian England. The desire to have some control over her future and the wish do something more with her life than just getting married and entering society are clearly shown. However, the author goes further than this and shows that even with the limitations Marietta struggles against, she is still in a position of privilege compared to others. Issues of race, poverty and sexuality are also covered.

Once Marietta does step into Everwood, having her as an older character, allows for the inclusion of a romance in addition to many features of the original story. As someone who reads primarily middle grade and younger YA, I'm not particularly interested in reading more 'adult' relationships, but this romance was very sweet and mostly more teen than adult. In fact, apart from the main character's age being older than most YA protagonists, I think this book would fit into the YA genre just fine.

Something I particularly enjoy about this author's writing style is their descriptions. Each scene was vividly painted for me. I could envisage the icy wonder of the sugar palace, taste the feasts Marietta ate and feel the satin and velvet of her dresses. I also really appreciated the naming of each of the different ballet steps Marietta performed. The use of terms like fouetté, penché and chaîné allowed me to picture exactly how she was dancing and made the story feel much more authentic.

This book was a wonderful escape into a world filled with dancing and magic. It allowed me to relive a childhood favourite whilst also posing questions about equality and the importance of the arts. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves ballet, stories set in magical worlds and strong determined female protagonists.

The book starts as a story about the daughter of a Baron in the early 20th century who wants nothing more than to ballet dance.. Her parents try to find her a suitable husband which she refuses. A young former doctor moves next door and is then selected by her parents.. Marietta has other ideas which then turn into a fairytale helped by the doctor.
A lovely sweet tale.

I haven't read a fairy tale in many a year , yet along one aimed at adults.
Marietta meets Dr. Drosselmeier , and her dream to become a ballet dancer seems to come true.
I didn't enjoy this as much as I wanted to , but it certainly has fairy tale , dream like parts to it. I enjoyed the part where Marietta finds herself getting ever closer to the palace. It even has it's darker moments as well

I haven’t read anything like this before, and I loved the world-building and the magical descriptions of Everwood. Marietta was a sympathetic character, and one you really root for as she tries to follow her dreams. It would make a great Christmas read.

It’s not my usual genre but it is well written and engaging and a book that I will be re reading time and time again. I love the strength of all three women and their eventual escape to a better life.

A beautifully written story that evokes the period so well. A lovely winter read that makes me want to curl up by the fire with snow outside!

I had such high hopes of this book, really happy that I was given the opportunity to review. However, I struggled right from the start. It was overly descriptive, and the language used far too flowery. Whilst I appreciate that the author was trying to evoke the period, the prose made reading very laboured. I think this book is like Marmite, you either love or hate it, there seems to be very little middle ground. I’m sorry to say it wasn’t for me, but appreciate how other readers would really admire the writing.

Thank you NetGalley.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy for reviewing.

I had very high expectations for this book as I had heard it was quite highly regarded but ultimately it wasn't the book for me. Nothing wrong with it, just my own personal taste. I am not a massive fan of the Nutcracker and I was hoping maybe I would like this adaptation but alas I did not.

Thank you HQ Stories and NetGalley for granting my wish and giving me an e-arc Midnight in Everwood in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

I’m a true fan of The Night Circus, Caraval and all the Fairytale retellings, but The Nutcracker has never really had a place in my heart until now. M A Luzniar has crafted a beautiful and bewitching retelling of this story in Midnight in Everwood that totally captured my imagination, carrying me away to the fantasy land of Everwood.

Luzniar’s writing is so beautiful that she paints the most fantastic and whimsical pictures with her words. Set in Nottingham at the start if the 20th century, we meet Marietta, trapped in the expectations of Edwardian society. Her parents demand that she put away childish things, in their eyes, including her passion for ballet and marry.

Marietta finds herself trapped in a magical world, prey to the wicked and cruel ruminations of her captor with no possibility of escape. In this world she meets the sharp and spiky Dellara and the stunning, and empathetic Pirlipata, opening Marietta’s eyes to the joys that friendship can bring, and how they empower themselves and each other as women, friends and true supporters of one another. The story of their relationship alone is enough to make your heart burst with joy. You will note I have made no mention of the Nutcracker himself nor divulged details of the villain of the piece…spoilers!

This story charts the growth and development of Marrieta as she journeys through this take, proving that whilst ballet may appear to be such a delicate and elegant art, it also shapes a physical and mental strength within the dancer - imperative for the demands of such a beautiful art.

Everwood itself is just one part of the fantastically enticing fantasy world that Luzniar shapes, with a fully formed and totally enticing magic system that bursts forth into your imagination as it is shaped by her magical use of words.

If you truly wish to fall down a spiralling rabbit hole into parallel worlds of magic, music, dancing with an edge of darkness then you must read this book.

I have already pre-ordered my copy and can’t wait to hold a physical edition in my hands and rediscover Luzniar’s beautiful writing and prodigious story writing talent to carry me away to this wondrous winter world again.

A nutcracker-retelling historical fantasy following Marietta, a girl from a wealthy family in Nottingham now of an age to be married off. However, she is a brilliant ballet dancer and all she wants to do is become a professional dancer. Enter Dr Drosselmeier, the family's new eligible bachelor neighbour; he creates wonderful objects that seem magical and is enlisted to help stage her final performance at the family's Christmas party. Sadly, he's both a creep and a powerful (and evil) magician.
In her attempt to escape Drosselmeier's unwanted advances, Marietta finds herself in a strange wintery world where everything is made from candy (inedible). Unfortunately for Marietta, she catches the attention of the sadistic king and is forced to become his pet ballet dancer, joining his two other captive women. This world is not as wonderous as it first appeared.
It took me a while to really get into the story, only really once we had settled in Everwood and got to know the supporting characters a little more, did I really engage with the plot.
I think I would have liked more depth or development in the rebellion plotline (a disadvantage of the main character being mostly confined) and Drosselmeier is an oddly absent villain.
This is a story about the importance of, and strength you can gain, from friendships, and about following your dreams even when the path seems impossibly difficult.
If you like a traditional fairy-tale style with lots of lovely descriptions to transport you to magical worlds, then you'll love this. It is the perfect wintery/Christmassy read.

A curious tale of magic, mayhem and growing a backbone. Marietta dreams of being a prima ballerina but as the clock ticks towards her 21st birthday and the end of her dreams, her parents expect her to make a good marriage and enter society.
When she catches the eye of Dr Drosselmeier, sensing there is something not quite right about him she denys his intentions and finds herself transported to Everwood a magical snowy world ruled by a sadistic tyrant. It is here she learns true companionship and falls in love.
There is only one thing to do and that is to find her way home whilst eluding the grand confectioner.

I was sent a copy of this book for an honest review.

I loved this book. It drew me in straight away, and I actually read it in one day! I love the mind of this author, and I wish there was more. Fantastically woven fantasy.

#MidnightInEverwood #Netgalley

Fans of the nutcracker will love this. An excellent mix of Nutcracker, Alice in Wonderland and Wizard of oz.
Like that its set in Nottingham originally and got the city feel so lovely. As a fan of the city, was nice to see.
Excellent transition into the other world and a very enjoyable read.

Midnight in Everwood is a retelling of The Nutcracker. If you love fairy tales or the retelling of, then I think you’ll love this book.

I’m familiar with The Nutcracker as a ballet but I haven’t read the book, but I don’t think you need to have seen or read either of these as Midnight in Everwood is a standalone story.

The descriptions are sumptuous and, at times, delicious! Marietta is ahead of her time, feisty and independent – I love that in a character. Drosselmeier is at first intriguing but soon fantastically creepy, and vindictive. Everwood seems entirely magical, but not everything is always as it seems.

I loved it from beginning to end. It’s enticing and often made me long for the food being described. A beautifully descriptive, wonderfully told tale. It left me wanting more. I’m actually hoping there will be a sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ/HarperCollins for allowing me to read this book.

Beautiful. Magical. A real treat. I was kindly granted a wish by @hqstories via @netgalley for this one, and I am so so grateful. I really enjoyed it and it has pulled me out of my reading slump. Part One has a real flavour of Bridgerton, and Part Two gave me all the magical vibes that Caraval did. Mix in a little action, rebellion, revenge and ballet, and there you have it!
Part Two may have been a little drawn out in places and had a few inconsistencies, but I can forgive that. I really loved the three female lead characters in Neverwood and the bond they built. I also thought Legat was a great character, but I would love to have found out more about him and his story (possible spin-off??)
A great addition to your fantasy, new release wishlist. Highly recommend. Publication date: 28/10/21

In this grown-up alternative take on the ballet classic The Nutcracker, Marietta Stelle is dreading the end of her life as a ballet dancer. She loves ballet and would love to join the regional ballet company, but her parents want her to put away childish things and accept that her future is to become a wife and mother and tie her life to a man of good social standing.

When toy inventor Dr Drosselmeier moves in next door, Marietta's mother quickly has her sights on him as a good match for her daughter. But, while Marietta is intrigued by his clever clockwork toys and inventions, she is suspicious of the man himself, and on Christmas night her fears are proved justified when he chases her through a Grandfather clock door and into a new world, the world of Everwood.

I think I like the idea of this book more than I enjoyed it in the actual reading, unfortunately. It's set in Edwardian times, and is in familiar territory with the high class daughter feeling trapped in the bounds of parental expectation. When the action steps over to Everwood and Marietta finds herself trapped in the court of a malevolent and terrifying king, it begins to feel quite repetitive. There she is able to dance, but she still has no choice, forced to dance through pain and fear and exhaustion at the will of a madman. The action proceeds against the backdrop of a seemingly never ending series of grand balls, all of which seem to blend in with each other, and even the magic quickly becomes dull with the descriptions of dresses and dances, all of which are just padding to eke out the actual plot about a planned rebellion against the king.

I was looking for more of a sense of magic and fantasy than I actually found here. The actual story doesn't have the depth or wonder that I was looking for, so while it is a decent story it's not one that I felt hugely engaged in nor would ever feel the need to revisit.

"Ida’s brows drew together in the vaguest semblance of a frown. Once, she had smiled freely, only frowning whenever life conspired to displease her. Once, her emotions had tumbled across her face with abandon. That was before the fine lines had started their creep over her features. They dug in like sharp-fingered goblins and gnawed at her youthfulness, encouraging Ida to close her face off to the world. Witnessing this, Marietta felt she almost understood the lengths lengths Countess Báthory had resorted to in her battle for youth. As reading the Aeneid would have her believe, the descent to the underworld was easy."

My notation for the above quote in my ARC was simply a bewildered 'What?" which sums up almost the entirety of my review. Midnight in Everwood just didn't appeal to me. The novel is drowning in so many new writer pitfalls that it is a chore to wade through, which is unfortunate because with better execution I may have enjoyed it. Adapting a beloved classic is already a tall order, so I expected more even from a YA novel. The author tries to write expressive prose but instead of being eloquent it is excessive. Dialogue is stilted and even for the 19th century reads unrealistically. There is a lack overall of varied sentence structure so many descriptors are oft repeated such as 'fine' and 'the finest' to denote quality. There's a lot of talk about eyes, and also hair. Many foreheads are furrowed and many brows wrinkled.

There have been excellent retellings of old stories like Tangled, Uprooted and of course Wicked so it can be done. I believe there is the seed of a great idea in Everwood but it hasn't yet been realised.

Gorgeously whimsical with confectionery descriptions that made me devour this book from start to finish.

Midnight in Everwood is set in Nottingham in 1906 and follows Marietta who is passionate about her dancing. A ballet is coming up and she is set to give her final performance before she turns 21 and is forced by her family to say goodbye to her dreams. One day, a mysterious stranger moves in next door and begins to build this elaborate set for her performance. But there's something not quite right with it as Marietta discovers when she enters through a door to the enchanting, but oh so dangerous world of Everwood.

This is an adult 'The Nutcracker' retelling by E.T.A. Hoffmann (as well as the retelling by Alexandre Dumas), and you can feel the inspirations of the magic that is established in The Nutcracker without being too overwhelming. 'Midnight in Everwood' stands on its own, so reading The Nutcracker first isn't a requirement, but I'm so glad I did because I could see the nuggets of inspiration that lent itself to this story. Kuzniar establishes her own world and imagination with a writing style that will rival some of the literary greats - at times I felt like I was reading a novel by Oscar Wilde or something!

Marietta is a strong and proud protagonist who is determined to achieve her dreams and to not be oppressed by the people around her. Sometimes she gets into trouble because of this, but she's a character that stays true to herself all the way through, even when a romance blossoms for her. It's a romance that doesn't hinder the plot or the characterisation of Marietta, and I love when a romance doesn't try to steal the show. I also loved the depiction of female friendship in this too, and there were many moments when Marietta and her new friends are empowered by each other in order to face their obstacles.

A gorgeous world is built in this in Everwood, and I felt that spirit from the Kingdom of Toys in 'The Nutcracker'. The descriptions are sensory and confectionary (if that's even a word) and there were a lot of moments where I wanted to curl up with a hot drink and read about the frosty settings. This world does have its dangers though, making it somewhere I kind of wish I could go, but also I don't think it would be a good idea if I did. Not everything is as lovely as it first appears to be, but it's so fun to discover everything along the way.

We also have a cruel and vindictive villain in this who I hated. It was very easy to feel for these characters, whether it's compassion for our protagonist, or a sense of loathing for our antagonist, it was a beautifully constructed world filled with a colourful cast of characters.

This book is a performance of the highest calibre with show-stopping moments that are gorgeously written. You can see the attention to detail throughout this and 'Midnight in Everwood' is a book I would whole-heartedly recommend to everyone when it arrives in October 2021. A huge thank you to HQ Stories for sending me a gorgeous ARC copy of it.