Once Upon A Frosted Star is based on a Swan Lake retelling, which I've neither read nor seen, so I went into this one knowing very little.

This turned out to be a magical and beautifully written book, but what let it down for me was the love trope element. It felt like it overtook the magical element that I enjoyed very much, especially at the beginning.

The story isn't particularly fast-paced, but it worked well with the plot. The start of the book is faster than the rest of the book. The main story was fun to follow, although I'm not too sure how I feel about the characters. I liked them, but at the same time, I found them to be a little annoying. I can't quite work out what about them I found annoying.

By no means was this a bad book, but it just had elements that didn't fully work for me. I think if you're into reading magical fantasy romance, then you'll like this one.

Thank you, NetGalley and HQ, for my digital review copy (eARC). These are my honest and unbiased thoughts, and I am sharing them voluntarily.

A beautifully magical retelling of swan lake with stunning scene setting and imagery and a storyline..I'm not normally one for retellings but this had all the wintery magic to make me fall in love

The plot was somewhat disjointed at the beginning and overall the pacing of the story was inconsistent throughout, which impacted on my ability to engage with the characters and the story. Overall it felt it is more suited to a YA market so I'm possibly not the target audience. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you so much for accepting my request for this novel.

It's fantastically written and the details were perfect. Very magical

I’m really sad to say that I did not get along with this book. I found the story to be a little underwhelming and the writing to be quite repetitive. The ending was also incredibly abrupt in my opinion. Most of the action in this story happened in the final few chapters, while a lot of the others felt like filler.

I do however think Rothbart had great potential as a villain and wish that his and Detta’s story got a bit more time to fully flesh it out.

Overall, although I personally didn’t enjoy this book I do think there are readers out there who might! I am a reader who likes a lot of action and this book just didn’t provide that for me.

— 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 —

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Upon A Frosted Star
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: N/A
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): M. A. Kuzniar
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Historical Fantasy/Fairytale/Romance
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 21st September 2023
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 18th August 2023
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ★★★★★

”‘You promised that you would never fall in love with me.’ Detta’s gaze turned searching. Forster hesitated, uncertainty warring within him.
‘I’ll break your heart,’ she whispered.
‘It’s mine to risk,’ he told her.”

Two years ago I finished Midnight In Everwood and have been starved for more of Kuzniar’s writing and world building ever since. Midnight In Everwood was my favourite read of 2021, even leading me to name my Animal Crossing island Everwood! It had a huge impact on me and I fell in love with it, which made Upon A Frosted Star one of my most anticipated reads of the year.

Whilst Midnight In Everwood is mainly a book about female friendship, Upon A Frosted Star is a romance that could make the stars collide. I loved Kuzniar’s adult debt for a multitude of reasons and though this novel is different, the authors writing still captures that same magical feeling I felt when reading Everwood, the same feeling where I feel like there’s more to the world than mundanity and magic is everywhere if you know what to look for.

Upon A Frosted Star is a historical fantasy described as The Great Gatsby meets Swan Lake, which is so wonderfully fitting. Whilst Everwood is a retelling of The Nutcracker, Upon A Frosted Star captures the heart achingly beautiful spirit of the Swan Princess fairy tale. A mysterious ballerina who only appears at snowfall and the besotted artist who continues to paint and search for her. It’s so incredibly romantic I could weep!

”‘You are extraordinary, and I could no more regret meeting you than the sun could regret her shine.’”

As hoped and expected, this book is magical, wondrous, and full of lush and descriptive writing that makes me crave sugar and winter. I think that Upon A Frosted Star has less tangible magic in this story compared to Everwood, but I felt the fairy tale like quality was deeper, richer, and more ingrained within the story.

Upon A Frosted Star does tie in ever so slightly with Midnight In Everwood, Upon A Frosted Star is set mainly in the 1920s with flashbacks to 1912 whilst Midnight In Everwood begins in 1906. There’s also passing mentions of Marietta Stelle and Dr Drosselmeir.

Whilst Upon A Frosted Star is mainly set in and around London, there is a section mentioning Wales which got me ridiculously excited! There may not be magical worlds in this book, but sometimes the only magic we need is found at home.

I feel like this review has done nothing but compare Kuzniar’s adult debut with this newest release when Upon A Frosted Star does stand on its own merit. I simply adore everything about both novels. Upon A Frosted Star holds the excitable Great Gatsby-esque parties that seem imbued with true magic. It captures the gorgeously savage magic of the ballet. And most of all, it is a love story that leaves the real world feeling inadequate to my tender heart.

—Kayleigh🤍

"I would endure a hundred curses if it meant I could do this." He leaned over and kissed her."

This was pitched as 'Swan Lake meets the Great Gatsby', and that's a pretty spot-on comparison. Upon a Frosted Star is a magical, mesmerising story that is visually stunning, with the imagery creating an amazing sense of wonder and adventure throughout. It's a sweeping fantasy full of mystery, forbidden loves, beautiful friendships and magic.

Lavish, decadent backdrops of magical parties that juxtapose against the harsh reality of a post-war world creating something unusually compelling and evocative.
For me, it was a little too slow which kept me from connecting to the plot as well as I'd have liked because it felt like the 'plot points' were just a little bit too far apart.

Published 21 September 2023. Having loved Midnight in Everwood, I was so excited to read this one. But although I enjoyed it, I didn't love it as I had done the previous book. Set in the 1920s we are introduced to Forster, an artist, who is captivated by a mysterious ballerina that he comes across at a gloriously decadent party. Once again we have a wintry setting and the once a year parties leap of the page with their colour, extravagance and sparkle. Once again there is a magical element as the ballerina's story - Detta's story - is revealed. The descriptions of the theatres where she performed and the actual ballets themselves were beautiful. However, what we have at the heart - this is my opinion only - is a love story and for me the pacing was a little adrift. I wanted more about Forster's and Detta's time together, I wanted to see this couple in more detail rather than just a glimpse. The side characters of Marvin and Rose, at times they felt superfluous to the story and as for the villain - I would have loved more about him and his motivations. I did so want to love this. I enjoyed it, it kept me turning the pages, but for me, it was missing some of the magic.

In the city, the invitations materialize without preamble – emerging on the first snowfall of each year, adorned with a simple inscription: 'Tonight.'

For Forster, a struggling artist, encountering one of these invitations is akin to stumbling upon an enchanting spell. Captivated by the allure of the impending evening, he becomes enmeshed in the captivating aura of the notorious annual soirée, his curiosity piqued regarding the enigmatic orchestrator behind it all.

Driven by an insatiable desire to unravel the shroud of mystery enveloping the elusive host, Forster embarks on a quest that leads him to an abandoned manor, an abode heavy with untold secrets. Amidst its hushed corridors, he encounters a woman bound by a curse, yearning for liberation with a desperation that pierces the very air...

This book holds a magnetic appeal, weaving a tapestry of historical fiction that casts light on forgotten eras and obscure circumstances. Impeccably researched and brimming with a narrative that exudes enthrallment, it not only kindles enjoyment but also imparts knowledge. An enthralling literary journey, particularly resonant with devotees of historical fiction, awaits within these pages.

While the eBook's narrative is undoubtedly riveting, there exists potential for an enhanced user experience. The incorporation of navigational chapter links, a refinement in word spacing for seamless reading, and the addition of an evocative cover design could elevate the eBook's presentation from a document-like facade to an immersive gateway into a captivating literary realm. Considering these aspects, a minor deduction from my rating seems justifiable.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Unfortunately it is a DNF at 24% (chapter 18).

After reading and absolutely loving Midnight in Everwood, I couldn't wait to get my hands on Upon a Frosted Star.

It's another magical retelling with the authors own twist, think Great Gatsby meets Swan Lake. However unlike Midnight in Everwood, this story just doesn't seem to hit the mark.

It's very repetitive and we get very few glimpses of the Ballerina, even their first meeting was a bit... blah.

I just didn't feel like there was anything drawing me in to the story, so unfortunately it's just one star from me.

Beautifully, lyrically written, this is a retelling of Swan Lake, one of my favourite stories. I loved the magic and the setting and the whole book was stunningly crafted.

Unfortunately, I wasn't too keen on the plot, and it felt like everything was moving a bit slow. Might just be me though!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

This is 384 page of sheer deliciousness.

Midnight in Everwood was one of my favourite books of 2021 and as soon as I'd finished it, I knew Kuzniar would become a firm favourite. She just has this ability to merge fantasy and fairy tale with reality and struggles, and yet still make everything feel so magical and sparkly and I love her for it.

I've seen this book be described as a cross between Swan Lake and The Great Gatsby, and I can't think of two better stories to write about. You don't really need to have read or know about either of them to enjoy this, but I think it adds a little something extra. You can see the inspiration without it being overwhelming, like a rewrite or an adaptation. It is its own book.

It's a good thing Kuzniar has chosen to write magical book, because the way she writes, the way she forms sentences, the description, the flow, the poetry of it all, is just like magic to read. There's no other way to explain it. She just shines off the page.

Our main characters are Forster, a painter, Marvin, journalist, and their good friend Rose. They're all very different and have their ups and downs. They work perfectly against each other and all add something to the story, especially Forster's story, being the main character out of the three. They've very well written, full of depth and they feel very real like you could be friends with them.

This, like Midnight in Everwood, is set a lot in the winter months full of snow and rain and ice. And that's my favourite time of year. And she's really managed to capture the beauty of the winter, as well as the harsh edge and danger it holds.

There is always a worry about whether a second book will live up to the success of the first, like singer's get with the second album. And not to sound like Goldilocks here, but this isn't better than the first, isn't worse, but is just right. Midnight in Everwood was spectacular because it was one of a kind, unlike anything I'd read before, ad really put her name on the map. But with this one, she's still held on to the spark that made the first so good, but she's more sure of herself. There's this focus and this passion - that's not to say the first book didn't have this, because it did - but there's almost a second layer of magic to it that comes from already bringing out a very successful book.

A lot of the chapters are set in a theatre and describe ballet performances and whilst they're not always positive scenes, they are beautiful. As a theatre lover, I adore it when books are set in one, and Kuzniar has truly brought the magic (I keep using that word but there isn't an alternative) of the stage to life in a sometimes creepy but stunning way.

It flits between the main story set in the early 1920s, flashbacks to the early 1910s, as well as letters and newspaper cuttings. It sounds like it could be confusing but it works so seamlessly that I can't think of a better way to write it.

I won't spoil the ending for you, but I shall say it was unexpected, didn't go in the way I thought it would, and it will stay with me for quite a while.

I found myself in tears on numerous occasions, at sadness, happiness, wonder, joy, anger, and of course, magic, as well as just the beauty of it all.

As the risk of sounding corny, this story glides on the page as a beautiful swan glides on a still lake.

After reading a Midnight in Everwood, I couldn't wait to jump head first into Upon A Frosted Star.

Equally atmospheric and stunningly written, Upon A Frosted Star is a true fairy tale, with a cursed ballet dancer who becomes human in the snow. An artist happens upon her in human form one night and becomes bewitched almost instantly; a muse that reignites his passion for painting. But the curse prevents them forming a true connection and he must go in search to break it.

I found UaFS to be a lot easier to read - the story flowed a lot better and the characters were written very well. My only disappointment was the lack of detail for the parties! The writing focussed on the atmosphere than the antics and this could have added something more to the story itself.

So much potential and I had some expectations but it ended up being not as amazing as expected.
The plot keeps going in circles and the repetitive pattern is annoying. Painting, parties, dreams _ repeat.
You could sense the inspiration from the Great Gatsby additionally to Swan Lake. The author tried to depict ambition and parties but it lacked the spark to ignite it. The descriptions also seemed to repeat themselves and never did they capture my attention or bedazzled me.

The timeline stretches on several years but I don’t think the writing captured the passing of time. Some events had to be regular occurrences like Forster’s birthdays but not the rest. What do they do the 8 remaining months? We don 't know.
Right from the beginning, I was much more invested in the friends' storyline; so much so that I didn’t really care for the ballerina. The first encounter is a complete miss! I was surprised by Forster’s obsession with her because it didn’t read as THE moment when he met her!
This life-changing meeting didn't feel that extraordinary…I went back and reread the first party and can without a doubt tell you that the importance of the moment isn't conveyed through the writing of that scene.
There's another key scene later on that was otherwise very well-written and that I loved very much.
The characters are kind of bland! I was glad that the main voice was a man's at first but it soon lacked depth. His family history serves as suspense in the first part and there’s actually nothing more to it! He paints, he is enstranged from his family and he loves the ballerina… those are his sole traits!
Detta’s chapters arrive too late and were honestly kind of boring! We don’t have the answers we seek until the very end, sort of.
It scratched the surface of many things I like: retellings, lyrical descriptions, art, tragical love, found family etc but it wasn’t good enough in my opinion.
Midnight in Everwood was way more graphic and magical! I’m used to reading books with lush descriptions, slow plots and atmospheric writing. That was not one of those books.

When the snow falls, she will be free!
What an amazing modern take on a mixture of Magical & sometimes dark Fairy tales but especially of Swan Lake !
Forster an artist who is struggling both with his Art & with life , on an evening walk with is Flatmate & friend Marvin finds an invitation to a mysterious Party held in a Manor & with an even more mysterious host & once he gets a glimpse of their eyes they haunt his dreams & new Paintings , & he becomes obsessed in finding her & once he does the full Fairy Tale unfolds.
I highly recommend this book on so many different levels, #NetGalley, #GoodReads, #FB, #Instagram, #Amazon.co.uk, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/8a5b541512e66ae64954bdaab137035a5b2a89d2" width="80" height="80" alt="200 Book Reviews" title="200 Book Reviews"/>,#<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/ef856e6ce35e6d2d729539aa1808a5fb4326a415" width="80" height="80" alt="Reviews Published" title="Reviews Published"/>, <img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/aa60c7e77cc330186f26ea1f647542df8af8326a" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>.

Upon a Frosted Star is a novel combining the themes of The Great Gatsby and Swan Lake, in which a young artist, Forster, meets a beautiful girl at a party and becomes infatuated with her. He forms an investigation into this mysterious girl and finds out that her name is Odette Lakely, and she was meant to die on the Titanic. He gets to know her better as Detta, and she tells her story throughout the book of how she became a ballerina and became cursed to turn into a swan for most of the year, as Forster works to try and find the person behind the curse and get it reversed. I enjoyed this book, and found that it got really good towards the middle of the book and by the end, I couldn’t put it down! It had a bittersweet ending and I was hoping that it would have been happier, but I think that it was very well written and it was a compelling ending regardless. I would recommend this to anyone interested in fairy tale retellings or in tales of magic and curses.

this book was an utterly brilliant take on a unique fairytale; on of my favourites infact, and I was completely enthralled from start to finish. with genuinely amazing verbiage, this book will draw you in and capture your imagination throughout. it was wonderfully written and the surprise twist is the first time I've cried over a book in actual years. my only dilemma now is whether to preorder an author signed version or the sprayed edge version as this is a book I simply must own. I'd 100% reccoment this book to anyone who loved fairytales, mystery and romance!

I’m going to admit straight away that I was not familiar with the story of Swan Lake, which this book is based on. If you’re familiar with that, then this book and how it ends will most likely impact you differently to if you’re like be, clinging with hope and optimism. This book is beautiful but it’s also heartbreaking and when I finished the book I found myself sitting there a while just sort of taking it all in.

Forster, our initial sole protagonist, is a long suffering artist craving a muse. He becomes infatuated with a mysterious woman, a ballet dancer, at a party and he must know her, a party I may add that happens only when upon the first moment of snow. With his friends Marvin and Rose, Forster attends as many parties as he can in his pursuit to find out the identity of this woman. We learn this woman is Detta and the reason her parties only appear with the snow is that she has been cursed, she has been transformed into a swan and only turns into her human self with the return of snow. As Detta and Forster’s love grow, so does their desperation to reverse the curse.

Forster doesn’t really feel deep or interesting enough to carry the story, once the narrative is shared by Detta the book flows a lot better. Forster is hugely protective over Detta and protecting her secret curse, but he is also a man who becomes literally obsessed with a woman from across room, breaks into her home and snoops into her life, while attracting the attention of his journalist friend in the process. It’s a little creepy. Forster also isn’t all that great at investigating the curse, someone else does a lot better, but by himself he mostly just sorts of mopes around and paints his ballet dancing love as a swan. I may be being harsh, Forster is in love and hopeless with it, but stuck in his head isn’t the most interesting time.
Detta, however, is the heart of this book and perhaps my annoyance at Forsters narratives is that I’d rather more time with Detta. Detta was a ballerina with Rothbarts Theatre of Enchantments, a circus full of magic but menace behind the curtain. As the story progresses, between her moments in human form where she can love and be loved by Forster, you learn about Detta’s past with Rothbart and how her curse came to be.
Detta is a very easy character to adore, you want her life to be beautiful, you want her to be loved like she deserves, she’s strong but soft and as the story progresses, and so does her suffering, it can be a hard read.

The true charm in this book comes with the writing. Kuzniar creates a beautiful world and landscape for this love story, it’s full of equal romance and tragedy, of final kisses and longing, and it’s written so heartbreakingly that it’s sweet torture to read. I read this book so desperately once Detta’s story was properly introduced, I stayed up to find out what happened and then after I finished I sat there just letting the book and the final pages consume me. This is a beautiful read but brace your heart.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

When the mysterious invitations fall from the sky, Forster jumps at the chance of a diversion from the everyday frustrations of his life. He is therefore pleasantly surprised when the magnificence of the party inspires his most successful series of paintings yet. The following winter he scours London high and low for clue to the next annual party. Once again, the event of the year offers more than Forster had bargained for. He spends the next year painting like a man obsessed, waiting agonisingly for the next party where he might find his muse once again. Perhaps this time he’ll learn her name.

Whilst side characters in this book lack a bit of depth, this is more than made up for by the main characters: Forster and Detta. There is an undeniable magnetism between them, which draws the reader in immediately, and the world around them melts away whenever they are on the page together. The mysteries in their past are unravelled slowly; Forster’s mysteries being of the more mundane kind, whilst Detta’s past is filled with tragedy, triumph, and enchantment.

However, the thing that makes this book stick in my head is the ending. The whole book builds up to this crescendo of an ending which left me sitting on the edge of my seat for the final pages. It packs an emotional punch that I think will stay with me for a long time.

I just reviewed Upon a Frosted Star by M.A. Kuzniar. #UponaFrostedStar #NetGalley

I have given this three stars as it was a beautifully written story but was like a fairytale meets Grimm Brothers tales and, for me personally, it just wasn’t my bag.

I’m sure readers of fantasy or fairytale would love this magical book but I didn’t do it justice.

The cover is also very striking and very compatible with the story. Fans of magic, mystery and old tales of the past will love this book.