I have to say I was intrigued by a book that purported itself as The Great Gatsby meets Swan lake.

The writing in this book is beautiful and really takes into the world of the story. The imagery in this one is great - it feel like a very wintery read. The magic of this one is also wonderfully written.

Yet, I found the characters a little underwhelming and the pacing a little off.

Overall, it was a good read and I would still pick up any future books from Kuzniar.
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.

This was such an interesting read! I found myself so engrossed in the story, the characters had such incredible arcs, and I can't wait to follow this author's journey!

‘An abandoned manor, a girl purported to be dead and an annual party that was notorious for its dream-like world and debauchery. Together they formed the recipe for the most engrossing of mysteries. And Forster was intrigued.’

Based on the traditional tale of Swan Lake, but set in the post- WW1 era, this is a story of love, obsession, family and ambition. Although at the heart lies a doomed love story, this book is so much more.

Kuzniar perfectly recreates the 1920s hedonism of the social elite, similar to the way of Fitzgerald, an author referenced throughout the novel. It is an interesting backdrop against which to set a dark fantasy, with evil magic and narcissistic ambition at its core.

Rothbart, the selfishly ambitious, powerful sorcerer who owns the Theatre of Enchantments, is an incredibly intriguing character who throws up many questions. How does he rise to his position? How has he managed to elude the authorities for so many years? What exactly is the source of his macabre abilities?

The relationship between Rose, Marvin and Forster is beautifully portrayed, showing how dynamics shift and alter as we mature, but how real friendships become the families we choose.

As to the relationship between Forster and Detta: Is it love? Is it obsession? Is it a question of a power struggle between Rothbart and Forster? Its very nature means that we can never see this relationship develop and deepen, juxtaposed with that of Rose and Marvin. Is Forster really in love with Detta, or is he more in love with the idea of her? The image he creates on canvas? The idea of being her saviour?

There is so much more I could say about this novel that I feel is hidden beneath the surface. Suffice to say that it is much more than a love story. With references to Austen and Dickens, and a manor called Wuthercliff calling to mind Wuthering Heights, this novel wasn’t really going to go far wrong with me.

My only, very tiny, criticism would be that, for a slow paced, beautifully written novel, the ending comes upon you very quickly and seems to end abruptly. However, for me, this not detract from what is a wonderful book.

A beautifully written story, loosely based on Swan Lake.

A mysterious woman holds magnificent parties once a year, and Forster cannot help but fall madly in love with her. But the more her discovers about her, he realises that her world is laced with a deep and terrible magic.

Another great story by M A Kuzniar. Some chapters were a little slow, and the ending seemed a bit rushed, but nevertheless I really enjoyed the story.

Beautifully set during the 1920’s this book is a reimagining of Swan Lake from the author of Midnight in Everwood. This is a wonderful winter tale of struggling artist, Forster who gets a mysterious invitation to a glamorous party. Determined to find out more about the beautiful ballerina who dances at the party.
There is a Great Gatsby vibe which gives glamour and a hedonistic feel to the story. An ideal winter read for those who love ballet and intrigue.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book for an honest review.

This is the first book by this author that I have read and was immediately interested from the description of The Great Gatsby meets Swan Lake as I thought it had the makings of an amazing fairytale romance. The setting of the book was well written and transported you back in time with the attention to detail in the clothing, food and anything else from the 1920's.

One negative is that this is quite a slow read with a lot of chapters feeling like they were fillers, however if you push through this it is an enjoyable book and if you are new to the fantasy genre then this is a really good starter novel to explore the genre.

A 1920s take on a lesser known fairytale. Sadly not one for me. Too much purple, clichéd prose and an ending that felt abrupt.

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ Stories for an advance reader copy of this title for an honest review.

Upon a Frosted Star follows struggling artist Forster who finds an invitation to an evening of magic and bewitchment. He becomes determined to find out more about the mysterious host a ballerina who has overtaken his dreams.

The invitations always arrive without warning around the city to what is usually the party of the year.

However when the party is over Forster discovers an abandoned Manor house and a cursed woman who wishes to be set free.

The book is themed around Swan Lake and definitely has this vibes it kept reminding me of the swan princess film which of course was also based on Swan Lake however this gave me such joy and nostalgia.

This book is beautifully written from the characters to the magic and imagery. I could actually imagine myself within the scene from the descriptions given and the descriptions of the foods made me hungry!

I will admit initially it took me a few chapters to get into the story but once Detta was involved more and her POV was added I was hooked.

It was interesting to see how Forster and Detta found something within each other through their art and dancing and how their relationship grew despite the curse.

A beautiful tale of first love and tragedy with an ending most wouldn't expect.

Very well crafted and I am going to read more of Kuzniar's books following this one.

What a lovely book! I really enjoyed reading this and I went straight to Waterstones to pre order a physical copy! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for early access to this book.

The concept of this book was so intruiging! It felt like a magical retelling of the Swan Princess. But it fell a bit flat for me.

The magical elements were there and the story strong. The setting was also beautifully written and it made me all the more excited for the read as I could really imagine myself there.

However, the characters felt quite underdeveloped and somewhat flat. I wish more work had gone into creating more rich back stories that wove into the plot.

Which takes me to my second point. The pacing, which started of good, but that I then struggled with throughout the book. It just felt like there was a great main story but so much filler content that it made me a bit annoyed when reading.

Overall it is an alright read, I'm just sad it didn't live up to its expectations as I was very excited about the premiss of this book.

Upon a Frosted Star follows Forster, who is a talented but poor artist, and Odette, a ballerina who has been cursed for most of the year and trapper as a swan. Odette dances at an annual party held once a year on the first snowfall and Forster is struck by her.

This book takes inspiration from Swan Lake. The world building and imagery read like a fairytale and they are exceptionally crafted. The writing and prose are beautiful and this really immersed you into the world, characters, and their relationships.

I would definitely recommend Upon a Frosted Star to everyone, especially if you love retellings.

Forster, a talented but impoverished artist, becomes infatuated with a mysterious ballerina who dances at an annual party held once a year on the first snowfall. Unable to forget the ballerina, Forster sets out to discover her secrets and learns that Odette has been cursed and spends most of the year trapped as a swan.

Upon a Frosted Star takes its inspiration from Swan Lake, but it is not a close retelling, which is its strength and weakness. Whereas Odette is well developed, Forster, Rose and Marvin's characterisation lack that depth. I found that quite challenging for the first few chapters, which is dominated by Forster and Marvin — who undergoes two personality transplants.

However, the writing is beautiful, with a vivid and almost impressionistic prose. The 1920s is beautifully crafted and realised, and the last half is brilliant.

I do recommend reading this book. Its strengths outweigh the weaknesses, and if you can get beyond the first few chapters, it's a rewarding read. I am grateful to both the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.

This book was beautifully written with amazing imagery - I only wish I had read it in winter! I particularly enjoyed the attention to detail for the 1920s setting. The pacing was at times a little slow and I wish the characters had been flesh out just a little more as it would have felt more immersive to get a better sense of their personalities so we could see them as real people. The ending felt right for the story but the way it was written seemed a little rushed.

I really loved Midnight in Everwood so I was excited to receive this Arc from NetGalley

Once again the writing was absolutely beautiful and it read like a fairytale but did not live up to the previous book.

This is a bit like the great gatsby with a mix of swan lake, the writing was very descriptive and I could imagine myself in the places described.
The setting has such a wintry feel and this would be a good one to read during the colder months

I was a little let down with the characters who were a little flat and underdeveloped and would have liked more from them

I will rate this 3 stars as it was good, the writing bumps the rating up as I didn’t find this as immersive as I would have liked

I loved the description of the events and setting but I really struggled to connect with the characters. I didn't find them particularly likeable and that made it a harder read.

The writing in this book is beautiful and creates such a magical world. I enjoyed the story, a fairytale with romance and villains, everything you could want out of a book! I would absolutely recommend this book!

Swan lake meets the Great Gatsby. Enjoyed seeing how the relationship developed but things felt a little rushed at the end and a bit too instalove too. Very enjoyable retelling😊

An exquisite fairy tale for adults and an amazing example of a magical realism novel. This is a book to immerse yourself in, to enter a world of fantastical parties that you will want to find an invitation for, a villain of illusion and intrigue, all based around a sparkling landscape of snow and ice. Highly recommended and one to cuddle up with on a winter's night. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the advance review copy.

If you know the tragic, dark take of Swan Lake, then you will know this fairy tale of a book cannot have the happy ending you will so fiercely wish for as you read it.
Foster and Detta's love story, though beautifully and tenderly described is doomed as Detta moves from graceful swan to beautiful woman throughout the pages
Kuzniar fills her story with amazing flights of fanciful descriptions, while reading them I felt like a starry eyed child at her first ballet.
All that having been said, after a while, this barrage of descriptions begins to feel as if you are being force fed sugar plums and soft centred chocolates!
The ultimate showdown with the great sorcerer, Rothbart, feels, in comparison,
rushed and crammed into far too few pages, while the epilogue adds nothing to the tale at all.
So, in part, a glittering, frosty, story of a cursed swanwoman and her doomed lover, and part gothic tragedy cloying with too much sticky sweet descriptions.
Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Stories for an e arc of this title in return for an honest review.

3.5 stars

There are very special moments in this book.
I could picture the parties, the paintings, the friendship trio as they laughed, and fought.
The excitement at the falling snowflakes... its easy to be swept up in it all.
It had a good villain thrown in too.
Really a lot to like.
A lovely tale that just reminds me of a Russian style fairytale, frosty, a little festive, and a little bit sad.