The Kingdom of Sweets: A Novel of the Nutcracker

by Erika Johansen

Twin sisters, divided by envy and magic, set against one another on a fateful Christmas Eve

Light and dark—this is the cursed birthright placed upon Clara and Natasha by their godfather, Drosselmeyer, whose power and greed hold an entire city in his sway. Charming Clara, the favorite, grows into a life of beauty and ease, while ignored and unloved Natasha is relegated to her sister’s shadow.
 
But the opportunity for revenge announces itself one Christmas Eve, when Drosselmeyer arrives at their family gala with the Nutcracker, an enchanted gift that offers entry into an alternate world: the Kingdom of Sweets.
 
Following Clara into the glittering land of snow and sugar, Natasha discovers a source of power far greater than Drosselmeyer: the Sugar Plum Fairy, who offers her own wondrous gifts . . . and deadly bargains. But as Natasha unspools the truth about a dark destiny crafted long before her birth, she must reckon with forces both earthly and magical, human and diabolical, and decide to which world she truly belongs.

• ISBN10: 1524742759
• ISBN13: 9781524742751
• Publish Date: 28 November 2023
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
• Imprint: Dutton
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 368
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9781524742751

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

Natasha and Clara have lived charmed lives, thanks largely to their godfather, Drosselmeyer. With his love comes a destiny. Like many children born with a destiny, some learn to embrace it while others struggle. Clara is the former, while Natasha is the latter.

So, when Natasha is given a chance at power and revenge in one bundle, she knows what she needs to do. As it turns out, some children are willing to make dark bargains to get what they want.

My Review:

As a huge fan of The Nutcracker, I was curious to see this retelling. In truth, I feel like there are fewer Nutcracker retellings out there (at least in comparison to the countless other types of retellings). So I was excited about The Kingdom of Sweets.

Overall, I would say that The Kingdom of Sweets is a solid read. Maybe not the best, but certainly compelling and interesting. I enjoyed the dark and revenge-oriented focus, as it really leaned into the unexplored potential of the Nutcracker.

You know that sick feeling you get when you've eaten too much sugar? That's the vibe The Kingdom of Sweets is going for. And for the most part, Erika Johansen nailed it. That said, I wouldn't recommend reading this one if you don't want to see a beloved tale change and wither, as that is certainly the result of this gothic take.

Highlights:
YA Fantasy
Christmas
Nutcracker Retelling

Thanks to Dutton and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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