Natasha and Clara are twins and when they were born, the one everyone calls the Godfather, “blessed” them by stating Clara is the Light and Natasha is the Dark. Thus, as the girls grow, Clara beautiful and popular, and Natasha is seen as cursed, unlucky and ignored. The evening of their seventeenth birthday, Natasha gets the shock of her life when it’s announced that her sister Clara is engaged to the man Natasha loves, Conrad. That evening, Natasha truly realizes how different her and her sister are and how everything has always worked out for her sister and not herself. That same evening, the Godfather sends someone to kill Natasha, but instead Natasha is sucked into what seems to be a dream, but is more of an alternate reality or a world behind a veil next to theirs. Here she meets the Sugar Plum Fairy who bargains with Natasha, vengeance for vengeance.

Wow did this story take a dark turn! It seems at a point that things are looking up, but then, nope! Another dark turn occurs and was darker than what occurred at the beginning, if that even seems possible! And I just couldn’t put this book down, I needed to know what was going to happen next!

Now, I adore The Nutcracker! I was excited to see this unique take on the story and a darker one at that! It made me think of a mix of The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty and Alice in Wonderland all meshed together, but with much darker elements added to it. I also have a sister and so this book had a deeper meaning for me. What would you do in Natasha’s place? Would you go as far as she did to be seen? It was though provoking, and sad too since I have a good relationship with my sister, and at surface level, so did Natasha, until she saw past that surface level and how twisted her sister actually was. It was heartbreaking to read.

The world was very fascinating and I loved the Kingdom of Sweets. It’s seems so innocent, beautiful and sweet, if you will, but, if you again look past that surface level, you see the true decay beneath.

It was such an interesting concept, and we see our world progress as well and get closer to war, etc. We see what the girls do in their lives and how everything catches up at some point.

I truly enjoyed this story! I have to give it 4.5 ⭐️ only because there were points that confused me with the pacing and where I was, but that also was the fantasy aspect of it too and I don’t think it was supposed to be fully understood. I do recommend this one highly!

I received a free digital copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Kingdom of Sweets is a dark twist on a Christmas classic. With intense themes of revenge, betrayal, and forgiveness, I thought this was a great holiday read for anyone who wants to subvert many classic holiday themes.

I gave this book a four-star rating because I enjoyed it and would recommend it to a friend, but I wouldn't read it again. If you're someone who likes books with dark themes, The Kingdom of Sweets may be the right choice for you. I enjoyed the writing quality, setting, and foreboding essence in this read.

Another dark retelling of The Nutcracker. This time, it is told from the point of view of Clara's twin. Both sisters end up in the Kingdom of Sweets, but they have very different experiences with the Sugar Plum Fairy. It takes place in early 20th century St. Petersburg, Russia. Revolution is in the air.
This story remixes elements from the book, ballet, and other adaptations in a satisfying manner.

A dark nutcracker retelling is such a cool and unique concept, so I was instantly intrigued. Johansen expertly twists the magic of the nutcracker and creates a wicked and ominous story that feels like a dark fairytale. This is deeply terrifying in a way that sneaks up on you. The first three parts of the book were really entertaining in the ways I just described. However, at some point the story loses its way. I don't think the story knew what it wanted to be so it was all over the place toward the end including a few chapters filled with protracted stream of consciousness writing. Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.

Thank you Netgalley, Penguin Random House, and Dutton for this arc in exchange for an honest review. "The Kingdom of Sweets" by Erika Johansen is a nutcracker retelling following two polar opposite sisters when one tries, and they both get transported to a new world. This is written very well. I would give "The Kingdom of Sweets" by Erika Johansen a 3-star review because, the concept is interesting but everything else fell short to me.

"The Kingdom of Sweets" is like that intriguing stranger, you're not quite sure about at first glance—challenging to connect with.

At the core are Clara and Natasha, marked from birth by the enigmatic sorcerer Drosselmeyer. Clara's the 'light' one, adored and beautiful; Natasha, on the other hand, is labeled 'dark,' unattractive, and overlooked, finding solace in books. Then comes their seventeenth birthday—a Christmas party unveiling unexpected pregnancies and peculiar living toys gifted by Drosselmeyer.

Clara gets whisked away to the enchanting Kingdom of Sweets, with Natasha in hot pursuit. But something feels off in this sugar-coated realm ruled by the Sugarplum Fairy. Jealousy brews, betrayal surfaces, and Natasha is offered a chilling choice: assist in destroying Drosselmeyer for the Fairy or claim Clara's life and identity. The aftermath? A bitter awakening for Clara and a web of consequences neither sister can escape.

Let's be real here: for most of "The Kingdom of Sweets," there's a serious shortage of likable characters. Everyone's flawed, from indifferent parents to malevolent sorcerers, sadistic elites, and a self-centered sister. Even Natasha herself falls into the trap of bitterness and a 'smarter-than-thou' mentality, feeling out of place, much like someone navigating social media.

This made the initial two-thirds of the book a bit of a struggle. Despite the author’s skillful storytelling and the blending of this tale with Russian history, being entrenched in Natasha’s mind wasn’t enjoyable. Her repelling traits, the lack of potential growth, and apathy toward her fate made it hard to invest in her story.

But hang on, here's the turning point: when Clara reappears. Suddenly, the narrative gains momentum, weaving a more engaging and organic storyline. Natasha confronts her inner darkness, making the final third of the book poignant and gripping. It transforms into a tale of redemption and forgiveness, softening Natasha's edges and offering a glimpse of hope amidst her struggles, even altering her perception of others.

However, the catch is enduring the initially unpalatable portions to reach this rewarding finale. If you're up for the challenge, "The Kingdom of Sweets" offers a twisted take on the Nutcracker story that might just leave you spellbound.

To summarize, read this book if you like: Nutcracker retellings, gothic stories, fairy tale re-tellings, imperfect characters, and Tim Burton-esque stories.

Thank you, NetGalley for the arc, in exchange for my honest opinion!

3.5 stars

I felt as though this book was kinda repetitive when it came to the sister's backgrounds. In my personal opinion, it didn't need to be brought up in almost every chapter and yet it was. This book felt very YA to me, but it was somehow way too dark to be a YA novel. I will say the first 60% of this book was not my cup of tea and I was not interested in it, but I am glad that I stuck it out because the last 40% of the book had me on the edge of my seat. I am also extremely grateful that we were able to find out the fate of all the characters by the end of the book, which made the end that much more impactful. Although it wasn't my favorite book of the year, it wasn't a terrible book by any means and I'm glad that I had the opportunity to read it.

I went in to this without reading the blurb so it was a bit darker than I expected but it was good! Less about the Christmas and more about the relationship between Clara and Natasha. Dark and magical, the Sugar Plum Fairy in this version, seeing her in my mind I was getting Coralines other mother vibes. I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to others for a spooky Christmas book.

I love when we are offered a beautiful retelling around the holiday season. The Kingdom of Sweets felt more than just a Nutcracker regurgitation but rather, Johansen created a story which was enjoyable to read and far more of an adventure than the original. With that being said, I think that would also be my only critique as well. I love when someone takes something familiar and makes it their own, giving it new life and new imaginings which I believe the author has done in this novel. Though we lose some of the lighthearted whimsy I feel is part of the original story which makes it so perfect for the holiday season, we are presented with a hauntingly good story and wintery setting. I noted another comment someone made about this being possibly too mature for YA but I don’t believe that’s true at all with the climate of the world today and the things they are exposed to. It feels very much dark and macabre like Tim Burton or someone similar who can draw in all levels of audiences.

This was so dark and exactly what I wanted it to be! I have always found the story of the Nutcracker to be a little unsettling. I have always viewed Drosselmeyer as a villain, even though that is not how he is presented in the ballet. He is just supposed to be mysterious, but I have always found him sinister. I love a book with twins, and I loved that this book was not about the unbreakable bond of twins. Quite the opposite! There is a scene near the beginning where we are first seeing the Kingdom of Sweets, and Natasha is realizing it might not be what it seems. As she has a serious conversation with the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Nutcracker Ballet is being performed in the background, and I absolutely loved how this scene was written! The writing throughout was very evocative and sensory. I did not know what to expect with this retelling, but I was not disappointed. Although, I will probably never be able to view The Nutcracker in the same way again!

3/5✨

I have to start my review stating that I received an advanced reader copy through NetGalley.

I really loved the theme of this book as a dark retelling of the nutcracker. Once I started reading this book there were some glaring things that offended me. It really hurt my heart to see a light and dark depiction of a basically pretty and ugly woman representation. It hurt my heart to see the “bad” girl put her heart on hold to fix her “good” sisters wrongs.

As a nutcracker retelling I understand it is part of the story, but for me this just kind of dragged on and became repetitive.

Such a fan of this author and I don't read a lot of fantasy... but I loved the Queen of the Tearling and was so glad to read The Kingdom Of Sweets. Thank you to Dutton for the ebook, PRH audio for the audiobook, which I listened to as I neared the end of the ebook.

Not a light holiday read at all but a welcome darkly magical fantasy story, I loved the sister themes and the idea of revenge and who were are based on how we are seen, how we act, and how we choose to act. I love Johansen's writing style and world building, the story is rich in detail and setting with strongly developed, and once again very complex, characters who nuanced and layered.
A deceptively mesmerizing read and highly recommended for fans of dark fantasy, readers looking for an off the beaten path winter/holiday read, and fans of this author.

I was never the kid who loved the Nutcracker. As a family, we didn't go to the ballet every year and the few times we did see it, I was honestly paying more attention to the dancers than the storyline. That being said, I was intrigued to read a retelling of the story and hoped that it would hold my attention more than the original and I was completely blown away!

In the vein of Christina Henry, The Kingdom of Sweets is a dark, gothic horror retelling of the Nutcracker. I absolutely loved the twin plotline, the body switching, and the Sugar Plum Fairy not being as sweet as one would think. Set in pre-Revolution Russia, the story follows two sisters who are cursed at birth on Christmas for one to be "dark" and the other "light". These declarations have lifelong consequences as Natasha is relegated to the corners of society while her sister Clara shines brightly in search of a proper husband.

For me, this book was simply unputdownable once I got past the first few chapters. The prose is both gorgeous and enigmatic and the storyline was perfectly woven. All of the characters were extremely well written and the world-building was breathtaking. My only issue was the ending could have been stretched out a bit longer. I simply did not want to leave the world that the author had thrust me into. Moving forward, this is the only Nutcracker story that I will ever need, as any others, including the original, will pale in comparison.

Thank you to NetGalley, Erika Johansen, and Penguin Group Dutton for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

I adored Erika Johansen‘s Queen of the Tearling series, so when I saw this book was being released I immediately added it to my wishlist. It was an unexpected wild ride that I couldn’t put down. Her writing is just so lovely and engaging. This story is a dark and twisted fairytale, not my normal genre. But I found myself wanting more, even when I didn’t fully understand everything that was happening. I ended up really enjoying this unique take on the Nutcracker, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for something unique and different to read around the holidays. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!

First I would like to thank NetGalley for allowing me an ARC of this book. I had very high hopes for this book and really wanted to love it. Sadly, I just could not get into it. I did not like the authors writing style, I found the sentences were unnecessarily long and found myself getting bored while reading them. I didn’t enjoy how the whole story was based on jealousy over a man. Overall the only thing positive I really have to say was that as a dark retelling of The Nutcracker the “dark” element definitely held up.

I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. This novel was very inventive and had an engaging pair of protagonists right from the beginning. However, I feel like we lost momentum in the middle of the story, and it was difficult to push through to the end. This is a story of Faustian deals affecting two sisters in different ways, which draws on the Nutcracker plot line and characters. The author fills in many gaps in the storyline and uses this fairy tale to provide a retelling that is fragmented, twisted and full of morally gray areas. Definitely a good read for those who are fans of Naomi Novick or Gregory McGuire.

ETA Hoffmann’s Nutcracker is one of my all time favorite books, so I’m forever looking for good retellings of the story. Sadly it isn’t one that seems to lend itself well to this, and most retellings are disappointing.

Though it’s not the best I’ve found, this one was a pleasant surprise and a fun and interesting interpretation of the story.

I love how dark this was, staying closer in setting and spirit to the original Hofmann novel than to the brighter and cheerier version popularized by Dumas and that we see at the ballet today.

The premise for this is a good one, and while I would have preferred it spend more time in the creepy and magical Nutcracker dreamland than it did, the time it does spend there is incredibly well crafted, atmospheric, and delightfully macabre.

[3.75/4] THE KINGDOM OF SWEETS is a dark, fantasy horror retelling of the Christmas-time classic The Nutcracker. Cursed by Drosselmeyer after their birth, Clara and Natasha are each other's foil. Everyone loves beautiful, perfect Clara whereas discerning, cynical Natasha rarely receives a second glance. On Christmas Eve, right before they turn 18, Drosselmeyer arrives with an enchanted Nutcracker, which gives them entry to the Kingdom of Sweets. When Natasha follows Clara and the Nutcracker into this magical world, her curse of darkness shows her a new truth. One dark bargain later with the Sugar Plum Fairy and Natasha slowly begins to unravel Drosselmeyer's true intentions.

Right away the atmospheric and intentional writing style grabbed my attention. Johansen carefully crafts each sentence with care, precisely communicating Natasha's thoughts. However, precision does not mean dry and Natasha's sole point of view is lightly poetic with a slightly detached observational air. I found this really lent to her portrayal of the more mature twin, with the caveat that there is no Clara POV, so true comparison is not possible. There were a few times I found myself tiring of Natasha's POV, but I reminded myself that she is not the product of a loving environment, so she has her own demons.

Though not clear from the start, which does not detract from the story, THE KINGDOM OF SWEETS occurs in Russia right before the Russian Revolution. The context clues come forward as Natasha's narration continues through time. This subtle use of history helps to ground the tale amidst the dark fantasy and horror elements as well as show Natasha's compassion for those of lesser means. It also lends an air of mystery that clarifies while Natasha unravels the enigma of her curse.

While I loved the writing style, I had a more difficult time grasping the magical reasoning behind the curse. It seems a bit hazy, whether done intentionally or not. This may perhaps be to my ignorance of the history of magical motifs or the folklore of fairies. Regardless, I still felt somewhat in the shadows about the meaning of everything by the end. However, other themes are more universally understood and easier to grasp. Perhaps the most evident message is one cannot know what someone is going through without an open dialogue. Contextual perceptions only serve one so far and everyone has their own personal struggles.

Overall, THE KINGDOM OF SWEETS is a darkly fresh take on a seasonal classic. This a unique selection for those who prefer a larger helping of horror with their fantasy. Elements of the original The Nutcracker story are present, but Johansen makes it her own in this atmospheric, psychological spin.

I have never read a retelling of The Nutcracker before, and the summary sounded so Gothic and creepy I just had to request it.

And the concept is really fascinating. I loved the idea of cursed twins being the center of Drosselmeyer's magic, and a Faustian bargain was so dramatic and enticing.

But this book really ended up disappointing me. The first half felt incredibly slow, and then the ending had so many time skips that just ended feeling anticlimactic and unresolved. The addition of real world historical context, to me, really didn't add anything to it. And I didn't particularly enjoy Natasha as a protagonist. The entire time, I didn't feel like rooting for her in any capacity, and I also was equally uninterested in seeing her get the justice she deserved or a redemption.

I wish I had enjoyed this more, and this will certainly be precisely the thing that someone else is looking for, it just wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for this arc.

Such an interesting story. Filled with twists and turns this will suck you in from start to finish. This is one story you will not want to miss