I am delighted to be a part of The WriteReads blog tour for this heartbreaking, magical winter adventure that I know will capture so many of your hearts.

In 1683, the Great Frost swept through the streets of London, freezing the River Thames solid. Thomasina’s family have been selling sweets for generations while her friend Anne works at a new apothecary in town. Rumours of a magical Frost Fair appearing at night sweep through the city and strange, grey-skinned people seem to be showing up. Thomasina and her family are still mourning the death of Thomasina’s twin brother Arthur four years before and Thomasina would do anything to bring him back. Could the new wave of magic and wishes that the Great Frost has brought be the key to restoring happiness to the Burgess family or is serious danger afoot?

Thomasina still hears Arthur’s voice and talks to him all the time. She feels a huge amount of guilt about his death and it was heartbreaking to watch her really take the blame for it. However, Arthur’s presence is always there and it’s clear that he never really left her or her family’s home and hearts.

There are some delicious descriptions of sweets and food in the book that really bring the world to life. I loved entering the sweet shop and the apothecary as my nose was filled with the most wonderful scents. Even the cheese pie that Thomasina makes later on in the book seemed so delicious and made me incredibly hungry. This is certainly writing that touches all five of your senses!

I loved some of the physical descriptions that Thomasina gave, particularly of the shady Dr Silsworth. The fact that he resembles a ‘mouldy apple’ felt so authentic to how a child would describe an unsavoury character’s appearance and I couldn’t help but laugh because I somehow knew exactly what he looked like. It’s a little bit Roald Dahl-esque to describe someone as a mouldy fruit and I really enjoy that brand of dark, child-like humour.

There is some discussion of 17th century treatment of women who didn’t conform to societal norms. They were either considered mad or witches and sadly, Thomasina’s mother falls victim to vicious rumours like this, when she’s actually just overcome with grief for her son. The way that these women were taken from their homes and families, locked away in places like Bedlam and allowed to be spectacles for curious members of the public is such a horrendous thing from our past but it’s an important chapter that everyone should remember and learn from. So, I really appreciated seeing it visited in a historical fantasy story for children.

I can’t deny that there is a huge amount of deep sadness in this book. However, Thomasina is an incredibly kind soul who accepts people as they are and she is determined to rid other people of their judgements too. I loved the overriding theme of love and understanding that rang throughout the book within Thomasina’s character and that these things came out on top at the end.

I really loved all the Scottish folklore references that cropped up. Thomasina’s mother grew up in Scotland and loved to tell her daughter stories from her culture. Celtic mythology isn’t explored in children’s fiction very often but it is one of beautiful, winter imagery and ethereal, mystical magic. It fits the whole atmosphere of this book perfectly and I think I’d loved to see more of it. Hopefully in future instalments, I will!

The Frost Beasts are truly mesmerising and I really enjoyed watching them run and leap around the Other Frost Fair. There are some stunning visuals in this book that thoroughly transport you into the beautiful but dangerous world of Father Winter. Icy worlds are often both incredibly alluring yet deeply unsettling and the world-building definitely achieved that.

The Miraculous Sweetmakers: The Frost Fair is a thrilling, heart-rending, magical ride that is tinged with tragedy and threat. There are some really lovely characters and themes of friendship, courage and kindness are all championed. It’s a fantastic winter adventure for younger readers but everyone can appreciate the heartwarming yet bittersweet taste it leaves on turning the final page.

Now, how do I begin with my review of this marvellous book?! The cover and the title alone were enough to make me want to read it, then the blurb had me sold. I have always been fascinated by the historical big freezes and this period in history. I get hugely excited about old fashioned shops like sweetshops and apothecaries (all those intriguing little bottles, jars, pills and potions and the little drawers with scoops…). I love stories with friendship and a sprinkle of magic and mystery.

So, after all that, did the book meet my expectations? No – it exceeded them! Oh my, this book was such a pleasure to read. The beginning was heartbreaking and I really felt for poor Thomasina, both then and throughout the story. I felt that she was an incredibly strong character who coped enormously well with a fairly desperate situation. It’s easy to see why she would have been so eager to take Inigo up on his bargain (no spoilers!).

Thomasina had to grow up really quickly following the tragedy and she was very much alone. It was lovely when she started to make friends with Anne and Henry, and they were really good friends to her.

The descriptions of the frost fair were enchanting and those of the other frost fair were captivating. I could really imagine the sights and smells of the frost fair, it was really evocative. The author’s use of description is perfect and the illustrations really brought the story to life.

There are some really important themes explored in the book – those of grief and mental illness were at the forefront and I think the author handled them really well, not shying away from the realities of deep despair but showing great sensitivity. The horrifying reality of the treatment of ‘madness’, particularly in women is highlighted, and carefully written considering the target audience. It was good to see the way Thomasina’s view of her mother and the other characters changed over time as she became more understanding of the needs.

Friendship is also a theme in the book, alongside having a strong work ethic and the difficulty of being taken seriously as a woman. The relationship between Thomasina and Anne and their excitement over creating recipes together worked really well. It was great to see a children’s book with strong female characters.

The book is well paced and the tension builds nicely. There are some close shaves and moments where you really don’t know how things can possibly work out well. There are some really moving moments and I found the ending really beautiful. There are moments of heartbreak, fear, excitement and joy and I don’t mind admitting that it made me cry. I loved this book so much, I really want a physical copy and I will definitely read it again and encourage my children to read it. It tackles some really important issues in a beautiful, exciting package and I applaud the author for such a fantastic debut. The illustrations are stunning and the illustrator, Alex T Smith, also deserves high praise. An undisputed 5 stars from me.

What's it about (in a nutshell):
The Miraculous Sweetmakers#1: The Frost Fair by Natasha Hastings is a beautifully told historical fiction story set in the late 1600s, intended for the middle-grade reader.

Initial Expectations (before beginning the book):
It's a middle-grade book, so it immediately makes me expect a cute, fast-paced story. But, when I read the blurb, I can see that the story tackles some very tough subjects. Based on the blurb, I'm not sure what to expect because it is so different from other stories, I have read for this age group.

Actual Reading Experience:
It is a challenging and poignant reading experience, even for an adult like me. Still, it is also so beautiful and impactful that it will resonate with me for a long time. The writing took my breath away, as did the world-building. The details pull you in and make everything easy to visualize and immerse yourself in.

The plot is focused, never straying away from the center. This, along with the artwork, keeps the pace fast and easy to read. I loved the way death, grief, and depression are handled in the story. Tough subjects, to be sure, but they are born with so much love and empathy that I think my heart grew two sizes by opening it up to the story and the characters.

The story has a bit of magic, and I always love magic! The other Frost Fair is so imaginative and clever that it took my breath away and the magical components of it delighted my imagination.

Characters:
Thomasina Burgess is the main character, along with her friends Henry and Anna. Even though they are young, they have all known many tragedies in their lives. And the many layers of their development reflect that with exquisite detail. I love that Thomasina has a head for business and is always brave, not just when she needs to be. I always admire strong female characters such as she is. Her friends aren't as detailed, but they stick by Thomasina even in the most harrowing of times, which speaks volumes for their character.

Narration & Pacing:
The narration is in the third person focusing on Thomasina's point of view. This helps the reader separate from the more challenging parts of the story, whereas the first person may have been just too personal and close to them. It also allows for a much broader understanding of the time and what it meant for different members of that society.

The pacing is swift, especially in the action-packed section of the story. It will be broken up by lots of pictures that give young readers a visual to help them understand the story. Aside from the cover, I haven't seen the artwork yet, but if it is similar, it will be a lovely addition to the story.

Setting:
The setting was London in 1683. I find the location interesting in how far back in time it is but considering what transpires by the end of the book, it needed to be set that far back. The setting will allow the series to continue building off the ending to book 1.

Ages Appropriate For:
This story is meant for ages 8-12, and I think this is one that parents need to decide when their child is ready for this book. Reading it requires fully understanding death, grief, and mental health disorders – weighty subjects that require a certain maturity level to process the story as intended.

Read it if you like:
• Beautiful fantasy worlds
• Happily-Ever-After's with essential lessons
• Historical fiction set in the late 1600s
• Wonderful characters
• A poignant story that will stay with you long after you close the book

I read this book for a blog tour, so thank you to the blog tour organiser for letting me take part on this tour, and thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Trigger warnings: death, loss of a loved/one (on page), grief, illness, conversations about mental health (the bad rep and harmful myths of the time), poverty.

The Miraculous Sweetmakers: The Frost Fair by Natasha Hastings is a heart-warming middle-grade historical fantasy that I finished a few days ago and loved every minute of. It was actually a really long read and despite how ill I’ve been feeling this week, I would have loved to follow these characters’ journey for a lot longer, so I hope it will be a series.

The first thing I noticed when I started this book was that it was perfect for a winter’s night curled up in front of the fire. It is set in London in 1683 during the Great Frost when the river Thames completely froze over for two months. I knew a little about this before going into the book, but I love that it explains the way people used this to their advantage to sell their wares on the river. I love middle-grade historical fiction because it always makes the past engaging and interesting for children.

Thomasina, our main character is still struggling through her grief, as well as her parents after the death of her twin Arthur four years previously. I really liked this main character from the start and found her very human, relatable and loveable. I also really enjoyed how she made a few very good friends during the book, which really warmed my heart.

The Frost Fair was a great historical element to this book, but the Other Frost Fair was a great fantasy element to add to it. I really enjoyed reading about this Other Frost Fair, the Frost Folk and Frost Beasts, even though I had a bad feeling about Father Winter from the start. However, I did really like the character of Inigo in the end.

The writing was beautiful and very fluid, giving the story a whimsical and cosy feel, which made me not want to put it down at all. Life and health willing I’m sure I could easily have read this in a single sitting. I also loved how it ended and how wholesome and heart-warming it was when everything came together.

So, I really enjoyed this book, and it was such an effortless book to read despite some tough topics and important messages it conveyed to the reader. Natasha Hastings did a great job of making all her settings and characters come alive which really gave it a special wintery atmosphere.

I gave The Miraculous Sweetmakers: The Frost Fair 5 stars and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I dearly hope it will turn into a series because I really want to continue reading about these characters whom I fell in love with.

If you love middle-grade historical fiction with a fantasy element, loveable characters you just want to wrap in a hug, a cosy and wintery atmosphere as well as a moving and heart-warming tale of love, family, friendship and ultimately forgiveness, then this is the book for you!

BOOK REVIEW ALERT – Review, Recommendation, Rating & Opinion are my own.

Title – The Miraculous Sweetmakers – The Frost Fair

Author – Natasha Hastings

Genre – Children’s Fiction

The year is 1683 and London has been swept by a Great Frost. We follow the main characters – Thomasina Burgees and her brother Arthur Burgees. Their father owns the A Sweet shop. Brother and sister duo are the best of buds, until a heart breaking tragedy strikes and one of the sibling drops dead. Life doesn’t remain the same until one day a ray of hope frosts in the form of an enigmatic conjuror, who promises something to bring back the sibling to life…..Back from the dead…

Which sibling drops dead?
Who is this mysterious conjuror?
What happens at the Frost Fair?
Do the siblings ever reunite?

Rating – 5/5 Stars
Recommendation – Very High

This was a beautifully delightful fall read y’all. As the plot thickens, the characters pace quickens which makes it a wonderful page turner. Surrounded by mystery and magic, it’s a frosty affair with the frost fair indeed. I love children’s fiction books since I have been a reader all my life and my journey started with children’s books.

Natasha Hastings has done a fine job in piecing together the characters brilliantly well to bring it to life. I was utterly hooked to his book right from the start and actually finished this in one sitting. Loved the read.

P.S – Thank You The Write Reads for organizing and inviting me to be a part of this magnificent blog tour. Thank You Harper Collins and Netgalley for providing the ecopy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A magical and so original fantasy story that I found perfect to read with winter looming. One that doesn't just bring a fantasy, but a fantastical, historical fiction story that is steeped in realism.

Set in the London winter of 1683, 13 year old Thomasina is attempting to deal with the death of her twin brother, care for her severely depressed mother while also looking after the house too. Her father won't even look at her either. On top of this overwhelming life of hers, she has to make sweets for the family business.

A magical stranger offers to grant her biggest wish, bring her twin back. What will she have to do in return? As she begins to question the strangers rules, events suddenly seem much darker. Can Thomasina, with the help of her friends face this head on and overcome the darkness she and her family face?

The Miraculous Sweetmakers begins with a tragedy and boy, is it an introduction to the family. I already had my heart torn apart and I hadn't read more than 30 pages. I was invested from that point. The Frost Fair, the enchanted bear, these are going to be remembered by me. I loved the history, the magical setting and the strong characters of Thomasina and Anne. Two friends who are determined they will do anything to save Thomasina and her family. They come up with a brilliant idea, I was proud of them for being so capable.

As I said earlier, this book is steeped in realism. This comes in the shape of highlighting a disability such as asthma and dealing with mental health too. I must say Asthma isn't something you read about in books much and it makes a refreshong change for it to be part of the story. I must say, the author has depicted this illness well. I have a parent with bad asthma so it's daily life and always has been, but some people have no clue about it.

The darker parts of the story makes it a little harder for the younger teens to read maybe. Other than that I would say it's suitable for older teens right up to adults at the older end too.

I was captivated with this book,from the tragic start to the heartwarming and spellbinding story that follows. Natasha Hastings has written such an original and refreshing story thatI can see bring a hit with both young adults and older adults too.
Thanks to The Write Reads, Harper Collins and NetGalley.

This book takes readers on a magical journey through the frost fair, accompanied by stunning illustrations by Alex T. Smith which are sprinkled in between the chapters. Surprisingly, the book did get quite tense and suspenseful towards the end with a couple of unexpected surprises. The writing is absolutely beautiful– long descriptive paragraphs that paint a picture of a winter wonderland, complete with the sights, sounds and even smells of the surroundings. I love when authors take the time to describe little details like the smell of gingerbread cookies, because I felt a sense of nostalgia as I was reading. I remember growing up and baking gingerbread cookies with my family during the Christmas season; however, as I got older Christmas became a busier time of year where everyone feels the need to do everything all at once. After reading this book, I felt an inkling to restart that tradition again.

I appreciate the fact that this book features a character with a disability– Thomasina and her brother both have the "wheeze", and asthma is a prevalent part of the story. It is always good to see disability representation in any forms of media; however, I cannot really offer any further insight as to whether it is accurate representation as I do not have any acknowledge or experience in the disability. I just feel like it is important to recognise, in the first place, that there is some available disability representation.

The theme of friendship features quite heavily in this book. Thomasina meets and befriends Anne Hawke, a young girl who recently moved to London and works at an apothecary shop. Together they form a friendship by baking and selling goods at the markets by the frozen Thames festival. Both characters have their own charms and quirks and I loved seeing how their friendship blossomed amidst Thomasina's own personal troubles. It's a gentle reminder that it is never too late to meet new friends, and in most cases, new friends come into our lives for a reason.

The magic of the world contained within this book is quite captivating and it was so easy to get lost in the setting and the characters. However, at the heart of it, this book tackles grief and the journey of acceptance in a sensitive and heartwarming way. This seems like a very relevant book to introduce to young readers because it weaves the difficult topic of grief and mental illness alongside brilliant and captivating storytelling without it becoming too overwhelming.

The book's winter cold setting contrasts the warm, heartfelt message of this story. It's like a warm hug on a cold day. A winter-ful debut novel.

4 stars.

I love everything about The Miraculous Sweetmakers, from the icy magic to the beautiful friendships to the point where it was impossible to put down. During the middle of the book the pace did slow down a bit for me, but it quickly picked back up and I thoroughly enjoyed it until the very end. After reading this absolute gem of a book, I am definitely now ready for winter to properly set in now!

The story is truly magical and it’s easy to get lost within this wintery world. I would have loved the visit The Frost Fair and see all the amazing stalls that the surrounding businesses set up on the River Thames. It just really reminded me of visiting the Christmas markets and I was just in awe of it all. The Other Frost Fair was just as magical but it had a slightly darker tone to it which really fit with the story and made it really interesting. I love all the ups and downs of this story, it’s incredibly moving but it’s also fun, adventurous and just really entertaining.

What puts this aside from other middle grade books for me is how the author has brought death, grief and mental illness into it without it being too much for younger readers. This made it really intriguing for me and just added a bit of realism to this fantastic fantasy.

Thomasina was an absolute delight to read about, I love how strong she is throughout the whole book despite her life basically turning upside down around her. It’s heartwarming to see how much she loves her family and also her new friends she meets along the way.

Overall, The Miraculous Sweetmakers is the perfect book to read this winter if you are looking for a fun, magical read! I was lucky enough to receive a proof copy so I haven’t seen all the illustration but I bet they will just be as miraculous as the book, I really can’t wait to see them!

Rating: 4.5/5

This enchanting middle grade story is filled with wintery magic and friendship, and is perfect to snuggle up with on a cold day.

Ever since Thomasina's brother, Arthur, died, life in her family's sweetshop hasn't been the same. Her mother spends all day in her room and her father barely looks at her. When the Thames freezes over one cold winter day, new opportunities appear, for their business, for friendship, and maybe even a magical second chance to be a happy family. But the Frost Fair's magic hides dark secrets, and Thomasina's grief could be blinding her to sinister truths.

Filled with troubling magic, new friends and (of course) plenty of sweets, The Miraculous Sweetmakers is a brilliant MG adventure which explores grief and sadness with sensitivity and care.

Thomasina was a relatable heroine, who wants desperately to see her brother one last time and keeps his memory fiercely alive, talking to him throughout the day. She makes plenty of mistakes as she navigates the strange magic of the Frost Fair, fuelled by her love for her family and terrified of losing someone else.

There's plenty of adventure and tension that will keep readers on the edge of their seats and I'm excited to get hold of a finished copy so that I can enjoy this story again alongside Alex T. Smith's illustrations.

THE FROST FAIR is a delightful wintry tale of friendship, grief, and frost fair that promises much and hides dark secrets.

The book is set during the 1683-4 frost fair, which was one of the largest and best documented of the fairs set on the iced over Thames. It makes for a chilly read, as people hawk wares and enjoy entertainment on the river, cheered up by sweets and medicines made by Thomasina and Anne. (Also, yes for a historical set in my part of London! And in a period that is often overlooked - this one is set in the time of the STUARTS, who are painfully forgotten about in favour of the Tudors and the Georgians!)

The mortal frost fair with skates and colds contrasts to the magical one with ice bears and strange inhabitants who speak one phrase on repeat. It's a nice mix of wonder and unease that only deepens as the book continues and the sinister aspects of the fair play out. I loved the slow tease of strange events and uncomfortable happenings, the sense that something is wrong but not what before all was revealed.

Alongside this tale of magic fairs and wintry days is a story of grief and friendship. Thomasina's family has been ripped apart by the death of her brother - a death she holds herself responsible for. Every member of her family has reacted to it differently, creating a sense of isolation that compounds the grief. In the midst of this grief, though, she makes two new friends and finds ways to heal from that grief, coming to terms with what happened.

I’m fascinated by the thought of the Thames icing over to such an extent that it was possible to hold a frost fair on it so this book interested me as soon as I read the blurb. A Frost Fair is intriguing enough but a magical one …even better! I enjoyed the story as much as I thought I would but what I hadn’t expected was to be touched so much by the strong themes of grief, guilt and loss that are explored so sensitively and in such an empowering way by the author. I felt very protective over main protagonist Thomasina and admired the strength she found to keep her family together.

Thomasina is living with the tragedy of Arthur, her twin, dying from an asthma attack. She blames herself for not being able to save him. Her family is falling apart - Mother never gets out of bed and Father is distant and shuts her out. Thomasina goes looking for answers. When she is promised her brother’s return by a dapper man called Inigo, she follows him to the enchanted Frost Fair and meets the scary Frost King. Set in 1683 amongst the Great Frost and the frozen Thames, this is a story that highlights the power of friendship, how mental health was perceived and the effects of grief. With powerful, strong writing and beautifully developed characters, this is highly recommended for Year 5 readers upwards.

The Frost Fair by Natasha Hastings came to my attention on Twitter when I saw Hastings talking about her debut novel and writing a book with asthma representation. I was finally diagnosed with asthma when I was ten after years of struggling with respiratory issues. Since then the only representation I’ve seen in pop culture is people having asthma attacks with them desperately grabbing for their inhaler (usually during a dramatic moment). The day-to-day moments of living with asthma are rarely ever shown and until reading The Frost Fair I had not come across a protagonist with asthma.

Using her own lived in experience Hastings has created a story about a young girl, Thomasina, who lost her twin brother, Arthur, to an asthma attack one cold winter when they are out playing. She urges him on, telling him to keep running, not realising that the wheezing in his chest has become dangerous. The wheeze is something they were both born with, and at nine years old she had no idea they both needed to be careful.

Arthur’s death affects Thomasina and her parents in different ways. She blames herself, her father becomes cold and distant and her mother has a mental breakdown. When Thomasina is approached by a mysterious man who claims he can do magic and bringing Arthur back from the dead within his talents, she’s not sure what to believe even when he proves he can do magic by summoning monsters from beneath the frozen waters of the Thames. Gradually she becomes swayed by her grief and the desire to see her parents back to how they were before his death.

All she has to do is go with the mysterious gentleman, Inigo, to visit a secret fair that is being hosted every night and give away some of her memories of Arthur, memories that she will get back when Arthur is returned to her. A small cost for what she will get in return, she decides. The Thames has frozen over and during the day a faire is being held on it, but at night The Other Frost Fair is open only for special guests. At first Thomasina is amazed by the grandeur and the magic, but she becomes wary of a strange figure called Father Winter who seems to be changing every time she sees him.

As Thomasina continues to visit the Other Frost Fair she helps her father sell their sweets and biscuits on at the Thames Frost Fair, befriending Anne Hawke a young woman who has just moved to London with her uncle to open an apothecary. Anne dreams of opening her own shop and as their friendship grows the girls develop a business plan which combines both their talents; Anne’s apothecary skills and knowledge of herbs and Thomasina’s sweet making and baking. Together they make a range of medicinal sweets which they are given permission by Thomasina’s father and Anne’s uncle to sell at the Frost Faire once their normal duties are done. Their sweets sell incredibly well, and they start to develop more products.

Eventually Thomasina confides in Anne about Inigo, the Other Frost Fair, and her worries that something isn’t quite right about Father Winter. Their partnership becomes a trio when a mysterious young man appears out of nowhere and explains that he knows what is going on. Drawn into a mystery that goes back hundreds of years, the three youngsters fight ice monsters and terrifying odds to save all of London from a danger no one else sees coming.

It’s the 1680s and health information is limited at best and asthma is not the only disability representation present in The Frost Fair. No one understands what is happening with Thomasina’s mother and neighbours band together to have her institutionalised. I applaud Hastings for such a well written storyline about mental health and including it in a children’s book.

I couldn’t help noticing that there is an historical inaccuracy in The Frost Fair. In The Frost Fair Anne tells Thomasina that her breathing problems are consistent with a condition called asthma, however, the term ‘asthma’ would not be used for another two hundred years. I’m sure some people will probably think it doesn’t matter because it’s a children’s book or that children won’t notice. That’s a very poor attitude to take as it treats children as idiots at the same time as we’re trying to educate them. It also confuses them as they’ll be taught one thing in school about the 1600s and then read something different in a book. While it’s great to see disability representation in a book, and asthma representation, I wish that the historical information had been accurate too. There were multiple Frost Fairs in London when the River Thames froze over including in the 1800s, so it was perfectly possible to have everything match up.

The Frost Fair is a lovely tale that tackles some difficult subjects and shows that while the loss of a loved one is difficult and grief is all encompassing, there are people in our life who will be there for us and support us. Even when things seem bleak and impossible, there is light and joy and new beginnings. That is the message of The Frost Fair, and it’s wrapped up in a beautiful story of magic and fantasy in the wintery London of the 17th Century. This is a perfect story for all the family and will make a great gift this holiday season.

This book is completely enchanting free-fall into a magically historical world. As an American, I did not know much about what a Frost Fair was, so I was immediately enthralled this with this bit of history that I hadn't really known about until reading the book. Thomasina is a formidable heroine, one we can root for and one that immediately garners our sympathy. This book marries the eerie with the fantastical in a way that ties in with familiar middle grade themes such as friendship and the daunting prospect of overcoming grief. Overall, this book is a middle grade must read.

''The River Thames had frozen to death in its sleep.'' And thus the Frost Fair could happen – people trading on the completely iced-over river, like our heroine Thomasina's father with his gingerbread and confectionery shop. Thomasina will be working the Fair too – but her twin brother won't, as he dies in Chapter One. It was a tragedy she feels no small guilt for, and which has made her father a sullen, closed shop – and her bed-bound mother has spoken not a word – not even opened her eyes, more or less – in the four years since, either. But into the dark, frosted London comes Inigo, with supreme magical powers, and a willingness to help Thomasina. Not only can he introduce her to the fantastical Other Frost Fair, using the river surface at night for no end of mystical beasts and characters and their happenings, but he has a unique proposal for Thomasina, which will shake her world to its core.

This is a strange beast, all told – a well-wrought fantasy for a debut novel, but one that managed to engage and confound in almost equal measure. Partly that is down to old big-headed me thinking I had got the gist of this far too early – things were on the up for Thomasina, with a new friend, a new potential career (more of which, later) and things improving for those around her, and I thought it was a book about moving on. If anything it's a book about the power of the family, and how important it is to keep a grip on all connections within it – the adults clearly suffer when they shut themselves off, and clearly do that because they see nothing else as an option, having suffered.

So some of me was reading this thinking ''I've got this licked, I know just what will happen and when'' – very little of which came true, mind. If I'd have been reading that version of this novel I would have thought this too long-winded, but I wasn't, I was reading the author's version – and yet you know what, it still felt a bit under-edited. A helpful character crops up at one point fairly late on, and while it could have been a call-back taking a page at most, the introduction took half a chapter.

Another minor gripe is that the book obfuscates and delays and confuses, and far too close to the end admits when it's set. Its target audience will like as not know nothing about the Frost Fairs, and how traders moved into the middle of the frozen Thames as a unique holiday destination and worked their trade there. Instead, dripping with fantasy as it is, the book leaves the young reader unsure whether this is true or not – is this a well-realised otherworld for the book to live in? No, it's history. And I always feel awkward when a book takes a real and really weird part of our times and wrangles a genre story out of what is actually real life without admitting it.

That said, some bits of this do smack of a lack of realism. There is a ''madness isn't bad'' mantra running through a sub-plot that feels far too 'woke' for the days it's set in, and the way Thomasina's new friend just burbles with delight and pleasure at getting loans and setting up a new career for the two of them just smacked of make-believe. The go-getting young businesswoman, in that day and age, thinking of doing what she does? I didn't fall for it.

But this brings us to the final points (at last) – the fact this is the opener of a series (or it looks like it, due to the compound title). To its credit, this is so very much more about ''The Frost Fair'' than it is about ''The Miraculous Sweetmakers'', and we really feel that we have had an adventure as well as a series-opener with all the attendant world-building. To such an extent it is impossible to tell what the confectioners' sophomore effort will be like – this could a series whose self-contained entries are as disparate and individual as you could wish to imagine. Certainly nobody as I write can tell. But what we can see is that there is some good craft about this distinctive read, with a most unusual blend of dark, body-snatching PG horror with something of [[The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen, Lucie Arnoux and Misha Hoekstra (translator)|The Snow Queen]], if stuck in London. It's by no means perfect, but I still saw a great potential in this author from what she brings to her unusual narrative.

Three and a half stars.

An ingenious spooky story, full of intrigue and suspense. The book encompasses themes of family, friendship, loss, and overcoming grief.

Thirteen year old Thomasina feels responsible for the death of her twin brother Arthur. So when a mysterious, well-dressed man turns up in the family sweetshop claiming he is a conjurer and can bring Arthur back from the dead, she jumps at the chance. However, events spiral out of control putting not only her life at risk but also the lives of her friends and family.

I loved that the book was set in London 1683 when the River Thames froze over. Thomasina helps her father set up a sweet stall on the frozen river Thames. She makes friends with Anna who dreams of opening her own apothecary, which is a daring move in the 17th century for a young girl, despite the fact many young children would be expected to work at their age. I like the way Natasha Hastings’ characters challenge the male/female stereotypes that were prominent during this time. This was also evident in the way Natasha expertly tackled the subplot of her mother’s grief and neighbours wanting to lock her up as it was seen as female mental illness. I found it realistic for the times.

On the whole the plot was well researched and full of twists and turns. I would recommend this book for all middle grade readers who love history with a hint of magic.

I think The Frost Fair is one of my favourite reads this year. It has magic, friendship, a terrible danger and sweets - all combined to create the perfect recipe for a story. Thomasina is a wonderfully believable character and I also loved the way that Natasha Hastings wrote when her memories of Arthur started to leave her. This is an absolute page-turner and I cannot wait to be recommending it to customers.

This tells the story of Thomasina during the great Frost and the Frost Fair.
Thomasina meets a strange man, Inigo, and has to make a difficult choice.
The book includes action and adventure, friendship and also deals with elements of grief and mental health.
I enjoyed the story but felt that the ending seemed rushed in the resolution.

A fantastic read sure to appeal to those who enjoy historical fiction. The main character, Thomasina, meets the mysterious and charismatic Inigo and is then faced with a dilemma. Along with her friends Anne and Henry, can they solve the mystery surrounding The Frost Fair? I will certainly be looking out for more by this author.

Another fabulous book courtesy of @NetGalley. Our pupils are in for a real treat. Themes of family, friendship, grief, loss and forgiveness mix with history, fantasy and adventure in a captivating story. Definitely on the wishlist!#RfP
@tashajhastings @Alex_T_Smith @HarperCollins https://t.co/0W7ZUnJW6C