This was kind of a let down. It grabbed my attention in the beginning with an interesting tale and premise, and then it went nowhere. Not really sure what the point in the end was of this story. Though I did love the dark plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was very dark and gothic, darker than I anticipated for a book listed as a Christmas read. I would classify it as horror. There are morally gray characters, mostly unlikeable. There are dark shadows, twisted motivations, creepy magical creatures and dolls. There were times I could envision the hellscape that is The Land of Sweets and I definitely felt a chill tingling moment or two.

Twins Clara and Natasha are cursed on the day of their birth by Drosselmeyer, a dark wizard who lives in this village. One dark, one light and olive out the repercussions of this curse. The story unfolds as through a series of events, one twin is able to change her destiny, or at least she thinks so.

I would recommend this book to people who like spooky, magical dreamscapes in their stories along the lines of Seanan McGuire or T. Kingfisher.

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I love a dark retelling and this one was so good. I enjoyed the little bit of historical fiction that was wove in as well. Erika Johansen writes so well and so descriptively. You can almost imagine you are actually in the Kingdom of Sweets. I'm not incredibly familiar with The Nutcracker, but I think she did a great job adapting it for her story. It was a fun read.

This was a great concept as a Nutcracker re-imaging, it had the charm that I was looking for and how well the characters worked with this story. The cover was what drew me in and that I love fairy tale reimagining’s and this book was so well written. Erika Johansen has a great writing style that worked with the genre. I never felt like it was just a Nutcracker story with different words but be something unique and different.

A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Penguin Group Dutton for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A darker twist on the story of the Nutcracker, focusing on toxic sister relationships.

I honestly didn’t know almost anything about the Nutcracker (my only exposure was literally Danny Gonzalez’s video on it, to be honest) so I can’t speak to any accuracy or where this story deviates from the original. However, I thought this story was easy to follow along, and even when things got significantly more fantastical - everything seemed to be set in reality to where it was believable.

Told from the perspective of one sister who was essentially “cursed” to be the dark twin (Natasha) to her sister’s “light,” (Clara) we follow as she grows up and see the cracks in her relationships due to the favoritism for her sister. Clara is seemingly able to float through life without a care in the world, while Natasha, as the “dark” sister, has to accept living in the shadows and being invisible.

This is the status quo that both live with, until one night, after the announcement of Clara’s betrothal where she is gifted a nutcracker. This nutcracker goes with Clara on a magical adventure to the land of the Sugar Plum Fairy, while Natasha is dragged along behind her into this world, and forced to follow in her sister’s footsteps. While Clara is dazzled by the light and beauty of this world, Natasha sees the facade of the illusion of the candy land, as well as the “fairy” that rules it.

Overcome by jealousy to her sister, Natasha makes a bargain with this false fairy - completely changing the trajectory of both sister’s lives in the process.

However, after causing ruin to each other’s lives, are the two sisters able to move past this and forgive one another? Or will they destroy both the real, and fantastical, worlds to take their revenge on one another?

I was surprised by the real-world historical fiction worldbuilding of this novel, as I wasn’t expecting such a real world connection to a seemingly fantastical story. However, I thought this book did a good job of combining the two, so that the magic of the Sugar Plum Fairy never seemed entirely impossible - even when in the “real” world.

This would be a good novel to read for anyone who likes darker fantasy retellings, as well as historical fiction and toxic sibling relationships. I was unsure until the very end how the story of the two sisters would conclude, and thought it was a very poignant ending with neither sister being truly innocent nor a true villain.

“The Kingdom of Sweets” was darker than I expected. In this reimagining of the Nutcracker, Clara has a twin sister, Natasha. At their christening, Drosselmeyer, a magician/wizard, blessed Clara as "light" and "cursed" Natasha as "dark." Clara was beautiful and enchanting, but also came across as rather vacuous. Natasha was plain and academic-minded, burying herself in books. She could also see the darkness in the people around her. The Sugar Plum Fairy is actually a demon who feeds on vengeance.

Clara and Natasha were born on Christmas Day, an especially auspicious day to have twins. On the eve of their seventeenth birthday, Drosselmeyer appears at the family's annual Christmas Eve party with a special gift for Clara -- a nutcracker figurine that can move on its own (and can harm you). His "gift" for Natasha is a killer clown. Drosselmeyer has made a special study of twins, and his interest in Clara and Natasha is not benevolent. This will become a major issue later in the story. However, before the reader learns why Drosselmeyer has paid so much attention to Clara and Natasha, we are treated to a visit to the Kingdom of Sweets via the power of the nutcracker. This visit will have profound consequences for Natasha and Clara, with Natasha presented with the opportunity to have the life she has missed out on by replacing Clara. However, getting the boy (Conrad) and Clara's life is not as wonderful as expected. And the price that will eventually have to be paid is a heavy one. Moreover, separating the twins is not as easy as anticipated.

In addition to the story of Clara and Natasha, there is also a broader story about social inequality, as the "commoners" and servants want more respect and freedom, which the king and nobility resist. Orlov, the toymaker who created the nutcracker, will play a pivotal role in the coming revolution. The story also features Lenin and Rasputin, before the world knows the power and influence these figures will wield in Russia and beyond, and features Bram Stoker's "Dracula."

This is a retelling of The Nutcracker, updated for adults with a sinister undertone. I found it fun and whimsical, but ultimately forgettable.

I received this eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.

Using set pieces and characters from The Nutcracker, this story mainly focuses on Clara’s twin, Natalie, and explores opposites, dark and light, good and evil. The Kingdom of Sweets is set in late 19th century and early 20th century Russia as the modern industrial age drives rapid change that leads to the Russian Revolution. Rasputin makes a small appearance, and even Lenin pops up. The characters’ actions and choices within that world supports the exploration of right and wrong and our understanding of where the line exists in the moment, and outside the moment.

The book’s connection to The Nutcracker is regularly acknowledged, but at the beginning of each Act the book is divided into there is a stanza from T.S. Eliot’s “The Wasteland”. There are common themes explored.

The overall strength of the writing is building and describing the worlds–Russia and the Kingdom of Sweets–the story is consistently atmospheric. The character development doesn’t really hit its stride until the second half.

There is so much to like here. Johansen creates vivid images. The world comes alive around her characters. I liked the dark twist on the nutcracker and the historical fiction weaved in. I like the plot and what the author created. Parts of the character development fell a bit flat for me and I couldn't figure out why. I liked the book and I like the intricate world. I even like the nuanced morally grey characters but I wanted them fleshed out a bit more. More interaction between them perhaps and connections between them throughout the story.

Overall it was still a fun read though and a great escape if you like dark retellings.

3.75

I found this book to be an interesting take on the Nutcracker. Much darker than I expected it to be. It took me quite some time to collect my feelings about this book.

It was filled with unlikable characters, including the main character, and I found that to be quite intriguing to follow. I really liked the exploration of sibling jealousy and parents playing favoritism.

The writing was very readable and not overly flowery. The setting was vivid but I wished it was even more whimsical. For a Christmas centric story, it didn't quite feel as such. I struggled with the plot a little bit as it felt like it lost its purpose at some point along the way, but overall, I enjoyed this book.

Thank you to Penguin Group and Dutton for providing an advanced reading copy!

This is a dark take on the beloved The Nutcracker, where darkness and magic soon take over the family. The premise was really interesting and the story kept my attention for the first half! I am a reader who enjoys dialogue and felt that there were pages of just narration that I couldn't get past. The timeline was a little wonky for me too. I thought it was interesting to throw in some actual history, but felt like this could have been incorporated more into the story to make it more interesting to me!

Some of my fondest winter memories are of going to the ballet to see the Nutcracker. Granted, it’s been a few years since I’ve seen it, but I thought I had a pretty good grasp on the basics of the story. Then I was offered the opportunity to read this, and it just felt like the perfect holiday read.

I didn’t get very far before realizing that while this is based on the events of the Nutcracker, Johansen has taken the liberty to make this story her own. The plot is imaginative, the writing is lyrical and transportive, and I couldn’t put this book down. I was absolutely loving it, and when I had to stop reading, I found myself thinking about the story.

The story centers on twin sisters who given a birthright by their godfather, Drosselmeyer. Clara was blessed with “light,” while Natasha was cursed with “dark.” Consequently, Clara grew up viewed as beautiful with everything handed to her, while Natasha is seen as plain and is constantly overlooked in favor of her sister. But despite their strange birthright, Natasha never sees a problem with this, and loves her sister, who she sees as her best friend.

However, one Christmas, Drosselmeyer comes with a Nutcracker doll for their younger brother Fritz, and a ballerina doll for Clara, who practices ballet. Fritz becomes enraged and throws the doll, breaking its arm. One of Drosselmeyer’s boys fixes it, and later that night, it manages to transport both Clara and Natasha to the Kingdom of Sweets, which is ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy.

The Kingdom of Sweets was where the story really started getting interesting. Everything was described so beautifully that I was able to visualize it, and while everything seemed so wonderful, there was also an undercurrent of menace. Anyone who has read any fairy tale knows that anything that looks too good to be true is probably hiding a dire threat.

And that’s where the Sugar Plum Fairy comes in—she’s one of those characters that fascinated me in this story. She’s a much more intriguing antagonist that Drosselmeyer, in that she manages to indirectly manipulate the characters throughout the story. While I could completely understand Natasha finally reaching a breaking point with Clara, and having it out with her, the Sugar Plum Fairy’s influence is more than obvious, and you can see her influence in Clara’s actions as well.

Finally, I loved how it all worked out—that we got to see more of the story play out. It was consistently paced and so engaging all throughout the book, and thoroughly enjoyed this book, despite how much it diverged from the original story. I actually liked the direction that Johansen took it, and made it completely her own, while still retaining enough elements of the original story to make it recognizable.

As someone who remembers next to nothing about the plot of The Nutcracker, I experienced the book as its own story. I'm honestly not sure if having actual knowledge about The Nutcracker would've made this a more enjoyable experience, as the overall book was extremely mediocre.

Johnansen is absolutely amazing when it comes to vibes and prose. Her writing is immaculate. The dark vibes were vibing. But that was about it for me.

Natasha--the biggest Not Like Other Girls girl--was nothing without her self loathing, and the constant repetition of Clara being the "light" and beloved by everyone was a bit much. I understand this was an important with building the characters and plot, but I felt it made the story drag on. That being said, none of the characters were likeable. Again, I understand that was the point, but if I don't care about any of the characters or their outcomes, why am I taking the time to read a book about them.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an copy of this book.

The Kingdom of Sweets is a dark retelling of The Nutcracker. The story follows twins, Natasha and Clara and their lives after being cursed as infants. Their godfather, Drosselmeyer, cursed the girls with the worlds, “light and dark.” Clara got the light and became a charming beauty that everyone loved. Natasha got the dark and was relegated to the shadows. She also has a gift for seeing the truth of things.

Natasha has lived her life in Clara’s shadow. When the only boy she’s ever loved is promised to marry her sister, Natasha is devastated. When the gift their godfather gave to Clara takes her to a secret world, Natasha tags along. Once in the Kingdom of Sweets, Natasha can see that this magical world is not what it seems. When she is greeted by the Sugar Plum Fairy she makes a bargain that changes her life forever.

When Natasha re-emerges from the Kingdom of Sweets, she takes over the life of her beloved sister. She can finally have the life she’s always wanted. However, sometimes getting your wish is not what it’s cracked up to be. Her life takes a darker turn when the Sugar Plum Fairy returns intent on killing Natasha.

I really liked this dark Christmas fantasy. It was not what I was expecting, but I did enjoy it nonetheless. Nothing happened as I expected it would, which definitely kept me guessing to the end. It’s more of a melancholy Christmas tale, but every Christmas story doesn’t have to be a happy one.

Honestly, I felt that this was trying to wrap things up and be a standalone so hard without being so long. I would have loved a longer book to feel that second half fleshed out more.

A dark take on the nutcracker. Was a bit slow at times but overall a good holiday story for those looking for something different. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks so much for the review copy. I also bought a physical copy for my collection. I enjoyed this retelling of The Nutcracker.

Twin sisters Clara and Natasha, born on Christmas and cursed by their powerful godfather grew up keeping to their assigned roles of light and dark. But things change one Christmas Eve when an enchanted nutcracker opens a portal into a magical world that let's Natasha step into Clara's light and have the life she's always dreamed of. But dreams aren't as rosy in the light of day and nightmares can creep in when least expected.
I was really looking forward to a story set within the framework of The Nutcracker, but that is such a minor part of the story and not even fully integrated. It honestly could have been any random magical alternate world and played out identically.
Then there's the fact that I'm sick and tired of books about the shining sister and the dark sister and how they both have hidden depths. I might have forgiven that if it had solid plot points to distract me, but it relies so hard on dark tropes and piling things on top of each other that I found the story exhausting.
Plus, I'm mad that the one interesting character barely gets any page space or the exploration he deserves. I would have liked more of him and less of the sisters.
Not even the fact that it's set in a very interesting timeframe and Johansen set things up beautifully to coincide with historical events could save this one for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for the read!

Very dark re-telling of the Nutcracker - with a bit of fortelling of what is happening in the world today. I liked it, but this book is certainly not for everyone. The story weaves in the magic of twins, the desire in each of us to have more than we need, and the darkness that is present in our world that can suck us under at any time. my favorite quote: "For I understood now that there was no one in the wide world who did not want something they couldn't or shouldn't have - Humanity aspired, but it also coveted".
Natasha and Clara are twin sisters - cursed at birth by an evil magician. Clara is given the gift of light, and Natasha is dark. Envy will begin to eat away at the twins' relationship, and on their 16th birthday, when Clara becomes engaged to the man that Natasha loves, a reckoning will take place. Clara's gift of a magical Nutcracker will take the sisters into a land that seems like a storybook, but really is a sugar-coated hell. Lots of references to Russian history in the book.

Given the description of this book I had such high expectations. The Nutcracker? Check. Creepy? Borderline horror? Yes please and more.

The book started with so much potential. The author describes two twin sisters with differing looks and personalities. Clara is blonde, superficial and loves clothes and dancing. Natasha is a brunette who loves to read and converse at an intellectual level. The girls were born on Christmas and at their christening they are doomed to "light" and "dark".

The author did a great job of developing the animosity and resentment that Natasha feels towards Clara. I was on a roll to absolutely love this retelling when the sister drop into the land of the Kingdom of Sweets. This is the part of the book that should've just propelled the reader forward wanting more and to never put the book down. Instead the reader never quite understands what is going on. We're being told of things that are happening around the characters but it's never understood what is happening and what the purpose was. I found myself completely bored. I'd put the book down. I'd look at my phone. I'd scroll Bookstagram or check my BookThreads account. Then I'd slowly return to the book in hopes of understanding who some of the characters were and what purpose they served.

The character of Grigori, brother Fritz and Orlov were introduced and I STILL have no idea what we were supposed to gain or add to the story with these characters.

I enjoyed some of the descriptions of the Sugar Plum Fair and how she looked when she would change from a good character to an evil antagonist. The description was close to a Glenda the good Witch flair to a horrific Wicked Witch of the West with crazy eyes. Sadly this was the smallest amount of development in the alternative world of the Kingdom of Sweets that I enjoyed. Everything, yes, everything else was never described well nor organized well.

The sections of the book that I enjoyed were the interactions with the sisters Clara and Natasha both before and after the Kingdom of Sweets. Everything else was Candyland's Molasse Swamp.