This story did not convince me. The love story was too much, too soon. I felt like the plot was introduced at the beginning of the novel but that then it was forgotten when the love story took so much place. I did not read it entirely because I was tired of getting nowhere.

<b><i>“From all my travels in the Terrene realm, a few things were universal in ever land. A smile is a smile. A friend is a friend. And family is simply everything.”</b></i>

I’ve never read a Nutcracker retelling before, so this one really intrigue me the first time I read the synopsis, not to mention the cover is beautiful as well!

This book has some similar elements to the original story but also has some twists and turns which makes it feels different all the same.
The world building where Klara enter the Nutcracker realm is magical and fascinating to know, I really like the time she went there and explore the unknown land as well as her hidden identity.

While I like most of the things here, there are some things that I wish was more developed.
The pacing of the plot is good, but the pacing of the romantic relationship between the two main characters progresses too fast. I wish they have more time to get to know each other first and create a chemistry.

The story also focuses more on the romance part. While I don’t really hate it...I kinda wish there’s more battle actions and strategy-making to defeat the villain.

Overall, this is a unique and light reading with fun characters and good storyline. I would have given this a higher rating if the romance doesn’t have the insta-love trope.
I’m willing to read other books in the future from this author!

I received an advanced review copy for free through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!

A curse of frost and fate is about Klara who falls asleep and wakes suddenly up in a different world. A magical world. She meets the prince Jaemis, who she spends a lot of time with. But he’s hiding something, and Klara wants to figure out why.

Although a slow start, I really ended up enjoy reading this. Jaemis was my favorite, who craved to be near another person again, but because of his secret he doesn’t allow himself the joy of company from another being. I can understand he’s afraid, and I can understand the frustration from Klara. If Jaemis was here I would give him a big hug. He deserves that.

The plot was promising and when I started reading this, I had never read a Nutcracker retelling before. It was amazing and I’m so happy I got the chance to read it! I would recommend this to all fantasy readers out there, and if you like smut, read this! Other than that,

Happy reading!♥️

I got this book for free from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to love this book as I enjoyed the synopsis: a nutcracker re-imagining. In this book we follow Klara who feels like she ends up in a dream trying to battle a madman and a prince. She is in the realm of faeries, magic, danger, and desire and it feels way to real to even be a dream. Klara finds out that her fate is tied to the prince and in a dark way that neither one of them can imagine.

I only made it 22% into this book before I DNF"d it. I did not enjoy the writing style and it was very repetitive. I was bored and I just did not find myself excited to pick up this book and continue.

I've always loved The Nutcracker, so upon seeing a retelling, I was intrigued.

I received an eARC from NetGalley, so there were some typos, but hopefully those get fixed in final edits.

I honestly didn't expect to like the story as much as I did. I thought it was a fun retelling with magic and wonder and a little bit of spice. I liked the flow the story, though I could see how some might feel it was a little slow or unnecessary. Overall I found it very entertaining and could see myself rereading it during the holidays in the future.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun retelling! The instalove was a bit much and I think it could've been handled differently. I liked the world brought to life. A good read overall.

I really wanted to love this book because I’m a sucker for nutcracker retelling, but I was really turns off by some of the editing/proofreading. This could simply be that it’s an ARC and these will be fixed, but it was hard to ignore. The characters were interesting, but still felt somewhat flat to me. Overall it’s a cute read, but the romance was lacking for me and the story seemed as if it was missing a little pizzazz.

Thank you Net Galley and Verika Sloane for providing an arc of this story for my honest and truthful opinion.

THIS 👏STORY👏WAS👏 EVERYTHING 👏I 👏 DIDN'T 👏 KNOW 👏I👏 NEEDED.

A Nutcracker story retelling that is 18+ age appropriate. The story follows Klara and what happens after she receives a Nutcracker from her godfather Vossier. I read this book in one sitting and could not put it down. Well thought out characters, so much mystery, and adventure. I could live here in this perfect Galindria for the rest of my life.

"A Curse of Frost and Fate" enchanting and compelling

By CANDICE BLACK
Staff Reporter

After growing up going to my cousins' "Nutcracker" performances, I've always had a soft spot for the ballet.
In "A Curse of Frost and Fate" by Verika Sloane, that fascination perfectly blended with my love for fantasy romance.
The cover immediately grabbed my attention with the pretty colors and the Elsa vibe. Then when I read the description and learned it was based around "The Nutcracker" story, I knew it would be a perfect read for this time of year.
Klara, yes, with a K, lives in Manhattan and visits her parents' Victorian (swoon) estate during the holidays.
Her godfather, Vlosier, shows up late and presents her with a nutcracker doll after everyone falls asleep. Sounds familiar, right? But what Klara experiences throughout the rest of the story is different from what we've all seen.
When she wakes up and hears a struggle in her parents' house, she goes downstairs to find two men fighting, one of which she stabs with her high heeled shoe.
The next morning she thinks it's a dream, but she later gets transported into Galindra, a realm she had no idea existed.
Jaemis, one of the men fighting, is tasked with finding a way to take Klara home before the Mouse King, Mogran, can harm her for unknown reasons.
As I'm sure you can gather, Klara and Jaemis pretty much instantly fall in love. And yes, I know, cringey. But this I was okay with.
Sloane writes the characters and their romance in a way that doesn't take away from the overall plot. Yes, their love story is a main piece of the puzzle, but it didn't take away from the magical realm, creatures and well-developed side characters.
Throughout the book, you learn about a curse, magical abilities and family secrets. Those are all typical elements of a fantasy novel but this one just hits differently.
All of the magic, settings, world-building and scenery make this book one that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It's very easy to lose yourself in the story, which is something I think we all need from time to time.
To my surprise, this book seems to be a standalone novel and it had a pretty solid ending with everything wrapped up. This is unusual with fantasy books that are usually spread out over the span of several 600-page books. Every once in a while, it's nice to have a story started and finished in one book.
If you're looking for a quick read that's going to sweep you up in a fantasy world, literally, and put you in the mood for Christmas, don't skip on this one. Hey, it might even be a good one to pick up once all the craziness is over and you just need some time to yourself.
Candice Black can be reached at cblack@newsandsentinel.com

A perfect read for the week before Christmas!

It initially reminded me of the zodiac academy just a little but quickly became something of its own! It starts with very little context of the setting so the beginning was a little bumpy. But I think this kind of helps get a feel for how one should initially feel for the first few pages.

I was initially tempted by this book because of the premise and a curiosity on how the nutcracker could be retold. I was not disappointed!

Just the right level of spicy in this story! Very steamy! I could not put this book down.

A very spicy Christmas read awaits anyone who opens this book!

This was an ARC read.

I am so torn between 3 and 4 stars on this one. The premise was surprisingly fun and original - a romantic/spicy spin on the story of the Nutcracker with all the fix-ins - Klara, The Mouse King, the Sugar Plum Fairy...wow! The way Verika Sloane plays with movement between different realms and the presence of magic was really interesting and well thought out. I struggled with some plot points/plot holes and the pacing which is why I can't quite get myself to rate it a 4 star read. The insta-love cannot always be forgiven or written off simply due to divine fate BUT in terms of this novel as a sort of folklore/fairytale retelling it honestly works quite well. This novel pleasantly surprised me. I do need to know how I can petition one Verika Sloane for a full-length novel on the Snow Queen and her RH........

I really liked this book!

It was interesting for me because I was never a huge fan of the Nutcracker, but loved how Verika Sloane brought this story to life! She introduced the plot of the story very early on. It was almost like you knew what was going to happen, you just did not know how! I had theories and there were plenty of twists and turns. There were some steamy scenes, but the book did not rely on them. There was a solid plot line! Enjoyed this book more than I thought I would!!

A Curse of Frost and Fate
by Verika Sloane
Pub Date :17 Dec 2021
Publisher :BooksGoSocial
Genre :Romance

There were fights, dances, adventures, love, and losses.

Reading it made me feel like I was in a forest, a castle, an old manor house. The characters were a lot of fun and the wonderful creatures I've only briefly met were very interesting.

I loved this story and just wanted to love it even more. If I could pick out a few stains left on me, I'd give it 4 stars. The story was great, piecemeal, and while some dragged out for me, I couldn't put it down...but I'm glad it's over. For a Nutcracker lover since childhood, it was fun to see the story in this new way.

That's why I think I'm in Terrane now, waiting for the chance to travel to more magical realms.

This book was engaging and interesting, but it was riddled with grammatical and spelling errors and was far too long – rather too long. The story is sweet, and by the end, I was eager to find out where the characters managed to end up, but it was unbelievably frustrating to read.

Having read another Nutcracker retelling immediately before, I was hesitant about jumping straight into A Curse of Frost and Fate but what better time than the weekend before Christmas?!



This tale was very different though and in some ways, made for enjoyable easy reading full of cosy imagery and spicy scenes to get the heart rate going.



Klara lives in New York, she's just your typical 27 year old but she has an eccentric uncle, who for Christmas gives her a nutcracker ornament from his travels. After being let down for her Christmas Eve date, Klara ends up in a different realm with the gorgeous Prince Jaemis, looking to rescue the kingdom from the evil Mouse King.



I loved this book and couldn't have asked for a better, cosy read to transport me on the run up to the holiday season.



Highly recommended for some festive fantasy escapism!

If you love the fairy tales with love, magic and adventures, then you cannot miss this retelling of the Nutcracker , which is one of my favorite Christmas stories.
From the beginning you will be surrounded by the magical Christmas atmosphere that will follw you in what will become a true dream with open eyes. In fact, Verika has convey to manage all her love for the story of the Nutcracker and create a magical retelling with truly well-described and real settings and characters. Infact, you won’t struggle to live the Christmas traditions of Klara and her family for a moment and one second later finding yourself fighting against a curse in another realm!
I adored Klara and Jaemis: the former is an independent woman, who does not hesitate to give everything she has for the people she cares about and to fight for what she thinks is right. And it is also a pure and genuine person that the world in which we live doesn’t deserve.
Jaemis instead.. well, can I have him for Christmas?! I loved his character: he is loyal, courageous and cursed. Aware that his history will not end with an happy ending,he is willing to give up all of himself and to give up even those last moments of happiness that are granted to him in order to protect his kingdom and the people around him.
i’ve also loved the way in which the relationship between the two was built: immediately there was a great chemistry between them that evolved into a relationship of mutual trust, which, managed to bring a little "light in the lives of both.. especially in Jaemis'.

✨In conclusion, I can say that it is a reading that reaffirms the importance of love, family and friendship during this period. I also assure you that it will make you smile, move, scream and that in the end you will want to have a Crush in the house!

Who doesn't love a nutcracker retelling at this time of year and this one was definitely enjoyable. A love story that had me rooting right from the moment they met, spice galore and magic. I loved it

Confession time: I got carried away with excitement after the first couple of chapters because the structure reminded me of another series that I love, but as I read on, the same feeling didn't come. I kept thinking I could blame the Nutcracker base for it, but it wasn't as prominent as I struggled.

Don't get me wrong, it's a good take and a good story, it's probably that my expectations ruined the fun for me.

The characters were mostly fun, the plot was solid, and there was enough magic to make it work. If only the romance felt a little less insta-lovey and the spacing was a little faster. Which I understand is a contradicting statement, but I felt the plot dragging while at the same time the romance was running miles ahead.

Thank you to Netgalley and Verika Sloane for the eArc of this book.

While I was intrigued by the concept and premise of a dark adult retelling of The Nutcracker, it unfortunately wasn’t quite for me. I struggled with the mix of very adult content with the light childlike/juvenile moments of the source material.

I found the story unnecessarily long, and ended up skimming large portions. Additionally, some spelling and grammar edits are needed. I think with some tidying up and plot edits, I would enjoy the story more.

This is the first Nutcracker retelling that I have read and I enjoyed it so much. It has a whimsical undertone and the adult scenes made the story different from other retellings that i have read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Verika Sloane for letting me read the eArc for this book!

It’s a lovely retelling of the Nutcracker story and a great holiday read for the Christmas period. However, it personally wasn’t my cup of tea, hence the 3 star rating. However, for others I can imagine they would absolutely love it. It has great world building, magic and some great tension between the main characters.