A new twist on the classic tale of the nutcracker, perfect for any lover of classic tales with a twist

The story is a retelling of the classic, The Nutcracker. It is funny and magical. It is also one of those books to read during the Christmas Season to give you the warm and fuzzy feeling. I will definitely recommend it to my friends!
Thank you Netgalley and Smith Publicity for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun Nutcracker retelling that, of all things, made me laugh a ton. I don’t know if the author was trying to make me laugh with the way she worded things, but I hope she was! I definitely recommend this as a winter/pre-Christmas read to anyone who has kind of a dumb sense of humor or who can at least look past dumb humor. 4 stars.

I got this from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review which I can happily give because I have a lot to say about this novel.
I gave The Enchaned Sonata a 3 star rating for a series of reasons all having to do with personal things like being about to give up on the book but then picking it back up just because the villain was more interesting at the start, and then because I got really bored of it and then didn’t feel like picking it back up for a month. Other than those personal reasons this book happened to be one of the most deeply detailed and well thought out books I’ve read in a while and if it wasn’t for that it would have earned those extra two stars.
The story itself is fascinating – told from two worlds- Clara is preparing for one of her most important concerts while Crown Prince Nikolai is worrying about his own world and being an Emperor to people who he doesn’t think he has the right to rule over just yet because he hasn’t earned it. The two are brought together through a series of events and must figure out how to get things back to the way they were and defeat the musician Erik who has caused so much trouble.
I think what I liked so much about this is all the details that the author has obviously put into this, as she’s a musician herself and often times when I read books about music it’s either all music and no details or the other way around but this one had a nice mix of the two and there’s much appreciated for that. The world itself was so well thought out she must have been writing this book for years. I did note, many times, that there were scenes that I would recommend they use as new cover art if they ever got around to it because it would be pretty and would fit so well with the title but that’s also just who I am as a person.
One of my biggest issues was the size of the paragraphs, but I don’t know if that was because my copy of it was digital or if all of them were that dense. It could be an issue that only had to do with the copy that I received, but when I finally get around to buying a physical copy I’ll see if they’re that long myself. It’s nothing that would stop me from recommending this title to someone.

I love retelling sooooo much. This is a retelling of the classic The Nutcracker. A fairytale that hasnt gotten many retellings sadly. The books writing is absolutely beautiful, as well as the world building, but some of the characters fell flat.

An enchantingly beautiful retelling of the Nut cracker.
I'm a sucker for retellings and I loved this one.
But there werr both positive and negative aspects of this book.
I'm giving it 3.5 stars and recommendinv for a quick read

I was hoping for an interesting, magical, and sweet book to get me in the Christmas spirit but this book would've been better suited for 10-12 year olds. For a middle grade this book wouldn't have been bad but for YA I was hoping for deeper characters, a stronger plot, rich language, and a sense of maturity that usually comes with the genre. The writing was quite juvenile and the book was bland.

There were some quotes that didn't make sense like this one:
"The outfit made her look a simple sort of pretty, one that said, You musn't kiss me, but I can let you borrow this library book."

The world building was weak and it seemed as if the author built the world as the book went along. I feel like if the world had been described better, I may have enjoyed the book more, but there were times in the book where I had no grasp of the surroundings since the author didn’t explain it well. One thing I can appreciate is that the author used the proper terminology for the piano, as I am a pianist and it irks me when they get the description of piano wayyyy off.

I find this book quite difficult to rate, because it has both positive and negative aspects so I'm on the fence about many things.

The cover and the synopsis immediately drew me to the book, I love the Nutcracker story. (Thank you, first Barbie movie.) The writing is a big plus, because the details are very lush and you fall right into the story. On the other hand many descriptions drag on and on and feel like too much at times.

The plot was interesting - a retelling of The Nutcracker mixed with a cool take on The Pied Piper - but it's often confusing, jumping from different POV's to the different worlds and the past and back.

The characters were alright, though they were often not very well developed. (Especially the villain.)

I feel like this is a big case of "It's not you, it's me". The story deals very heavily with music, which is beautiful, because it sets a great tone and is perfectly woven into the story. On the other hand you'll feel bit left out if you have absolutely know idea about it and don't play any instruments.

The book has a some flaws, but it has a great theme and makes a good Christmas read if you enjoy music and fairytale re-tellings.

I am something of a collector of Nutcracker retellings. I have SO MANY. That's why I requested The Enchanted Sonata. This book was an excellent addition to my collection and I loved every page of it! It was a perfect Holiday read and I highly recommend it.

The Enchanted Sonata is a retelling of both The Nutcracker and The Pied Piper of Hamelin. While I don't remember too much about The Nutcracker, it's a story I always loved (most likely because of that one Barbie movie. I'm pretty sure I watched it over and over again. I also had the dolls. I LOVED it) so I was excited to read a retelling for it, especially since I don't often see one? Despite it being a popular ballet? And then combined with The Pied Piper? Sign me up!

I have to admit I was a bit bored at times, especially because the story isn't just told from Clara's POV, but also other supporting/minor characters. At some point we even get the villain's POV. This all just took away some of the surprise, plus I didn't really care for the minor characters? I'd much rather follow Clara and the Nutcracker, who's dynamic I loved. I'm weak for cute banter okay? Their romance definitely put a smile on my face.

As for the worldbuilding, I was a bit confused. It felt like the story relied too much on the reader knowing the original fairytale of The Nutcracker without explaining why there are giant rats attacking the kingdom? The rats are also kind of an afterthought, as the real villain is The Pied Piper. 

I was also disappointed in how they found out how to defeat The Pied Piper. Clara is whisked away to The Nutcracker's world through a fairy book, which tells the story of The Nutcracker. Once she's all caught up to the present, there's nothing there for her to read anymore, as she's now part of the story. But then the book updates, and literally tells her how she will defeat The Pied Piper. It felt so cheap and easy, whereas Clara figuring it out herself would've been so much more powerful, especially because in the beginning she's very motivated by impressing the pianist Johann. Speaking of Johann, I do love how Clara realises that she barely even knows him and that she was more in love with the idea of him than with him.

That said, The Enchanted Sonata is a fun and cute retelling, that I definitely do recommend! I loved the atmosphere and the relationship between Clara and The Nutcracker. Maybe it was a bit insta-love-y (I don't remember it that well) but in this case I didn't mind.

It was very atmospheric and I liked where the story was going from the start, but I kept finding myself putting it down and procrastinating every page. I can't even really explain why, other than that I didn't care about the characters at all. Maybe it was because Clara was so young and I wasn't expecting that. I don't know. I love Heather Dixon's other novels, so I might give this one another try at another date, but for now I've lost interest.

Oh, wow, I am positively stupefied by this ingenuous magical addition to the literary world of re-imaginings and fairy tale retellings. This is my first Heather Dixon Wallwork book and it's safe to say that any fairy tale retellings she spouts I want to be the first to hear them. The Enchanted Sonata is the most enrapturing, stunning and dreamy book I have read all year. I am perfectly smitten.

I read the synopsis of this book and thought, 'hey, this sounds right up my street' and I had a little flutter in my stomach that happens whenever I see a book I will probably love - sometimes the fluttering doesn't pan out and the butterflies die a gruesome death of disappointment, thankfully this wasn't one of those times - and then I found out The Enchanted Sonata was actually written by a Disney story artist... Well, there was no need to tell me twice! I began reading the book with my hopes and expectations high, and finished the book with my hopes and expectations well fed.

The Enchanted Sonata is a flawless stature of a fairy tale. Wallwork combines the tale of The Pied Piper and The Nutcracker, which sounds like an unusual pairing but honestly contains more delicious layers than a luxurious Belgian truffle.

The prose is beautiful; so uplifting and inspiring, I love retellings where they light a warm glow inside and remind me that good things can happen.

Also - the little side story of Pyotr gave me all the feels! I thought it was such an adorable addition to what was already a moving storyline, the little details delivered in this story are the epitome of perfection and served on a plate of wonderful imagery that embody childhood dreams.

This was a beautifully written story. I love the reimagining of The Nutcracker. It was vividly whimsical and a delight.
We follow Clara in the story and her character was just a delight. Every detail and words were imaginative and the characters well thought.
This definitely read as a fairytale, fantasy, and timeless piece

This book was an atmospheric, festive, and lovely retelling of The Nutcracker. It was a love letter to the original tale and to the power of music.
I loved the detailed writing that described the beautiful kingdom in which the Nutcracker lives. A magician turns the emperor prince into a Nutcracker, while turning all the children and soldiers into toys. All whilst the giant rats attack the empire. Clara, an amazingly talented musician, is brought to the magical world by fairies in order to help save the prince and citizens.
The book is slow at times, but the good parts make it worth it. The end has pretty good action and there are some themes and reflection on childhood, growth, family, loss, and love. It has a classic feel and is a nice addition to Christmas reads.

A book that started unassumingly, then crept into my heart!
I have always loved the story and ballet of the Nutcracker, so wanted to read this as soon as I spotted it on Netgalley. I loved the idea that music can be magic and the world of Imperia. Clara developed as a character over the book and Drosselmeyer, Zizi and Alexei became unexpected favourites. I feel like the antagonist could have been developed further, particularly with looking at how he ended up controlling and using the rats, despite his childhood experience with them. This book is a warm piece of escapism which would be a perfect winter or Christmas read, preferably while curled up with some hot chocolate and other yummy goodies.
3.5 stars.

A cross between The Pied Piper and The Nutcracker is the best way I know to explain this story. Great book to read during the holidays.

The writing was absolutely beautiful...very lyrical. I loved the way that everything was described. The writing style made it very easy to get engulfed in this world and the characters. I greatly enjoyed this book.

I was provided this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion

”The boy has a rat inside him.”
“A rat?”
”When someone is overtaken with a dark emotion, pain. Or grief. Or anger. If they continue to dwell on it, it grows. That rat feeds on every though it’s given. If not tempered, the rat will consume the soul, and destroy its host and everyone around it.”

The Enchanted Sonata Stars Clara as a studied pianist, as she is whisked away to a strange land which has befallen a curse. The soldiers and children have become toys and she must break the curse.

The story combines all of our favorite elements from the original. Fairies, toy soldiers, giant rats, and even rifle-wielding nuns are featured in this re-imagining of The Nutcracker. The story is undoubtedly whimsy in nature, but also delves into real emotions such as grief, anger, revenge, and love. And what it means to let any of those emotions consume you.

The story is cute and a mostly light read, and perfect to read during the holidays. I highly recommend to any looking for a holiday adventure.

I actually almost DNF'd this book at about 25% because I just couldn't get into it. BOY, am I glad I pushed through and kept reading! I simply adored that second half of this book. Somewhere around the time Clara and Nutcracker are dropped into the snow in the North Forest (around Chapter 11 or 12) it finally clicked for me. There is just TOO MUCH back story and lead up, and it's not until Clara and Nutcracker finally start interacting that the story truly comes alive. That being said, all that back story really is necessary for the rest of the book to take place in the way that it does, and I'm not sure how the author could have done it differently and achieved the same effect in the second half of the book. And the second half was amazing enough that it brought me from an almost DNF to leaving a 4 star rating so... There is that!

I love that this is a retelling of a blend of The Nutcracker and The Pied Piper. And what an amazing blend it is! The stories are interwoven so skillfully! I love the magic and the world building, and Heather Dixon Wallwork writes so beautifully it's almost as if you're transported there and can smell the gingerbreak and peppermint and hot chocolate in the air (much like Clara's fairy storybook!) I live for the small romance story moments between Clara and Nutcracker (*swoon*). There were also several moments in this book where I had flashbacks to the Carebears Nutcracker Suite movie. Does anyone else remember that movie, or is it just us dinosaurs?

There were some unresolved elements at the end, which are kind of killing me, and as I read an ARC I'm wondering if they were possibly wrapped up in the final version. Guess I'll have to get my hands on the final version to figure out if they actually say what ever happened to the bad guy! All in all, this is a fun YA fantasy/YA romance, and definitely worth the read, especially if you're into fairy tale retellings and *especially* if you love retellings of less known fairy tales that don't get retold as often, like The Pied Piper (and hey, we'll count The Nutcracker as a fairy tale too).

I adored this!
A simple, easy to read - young reader friendly - and beautifully blended retelling of The Nutcracker and the Pied Piper.
I sadly missed the archive date - but I have loved reading this over my Christmas break!

I do not want to give anything away so I will keep this fairly brief.
The writing was simple, age appropriate (for the characters) and also for the fairy-tale land they inhabited.
I often find teenage girls to be very annoying in a lot of teen and YA but Clara was kind and brave and although she had moments of 15 year old dreaminess - I think we have all been there - and it made her very likeable.
Nutcracker was an awkward teenage boy with the weight of a kingdom on his shoulders, but who still managed to find the humour in the terrible but who did not act like a spoiled prince which was refreshing.

The action peaked again and again, the supporting characters were deep and thoughtful and I was rooting for all of them along the way - I even felt a degree of sympathy for the Magician in the end.

Over all - I highly recommend this to anyone who is looking for a simple, heartfelt read, and I definitely recommend reading it at Christmas! It have me all the feels!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Smith Publicity

This is the kind of book I may not have loved as much as I did if I had read it in another time and place. However, I was reading it around Christmas, and I got swept up in the descriptions of gingerbread and snow and music and it was lovely.

This is a retelling of The Nutcracker, with a bit of The Pied Piper and The Phantom of the Opera thrown in. The writing has a fairy-tale feel about it. Even when the stakes are high, there’s a feeling of whimsy to it and the language is beautifully crafted. Music is the form of magic used in this story and you feel a bit like you’re listening to music as you read.

It took me a little while to get interested in the romance between Clara and the Nutcracker because… well, it’s a bit weird because he’s a nutcracker the whole time she knows him, and also they’ve known each other for a day or maybe two, but their banter was sweet, and by the end I was totally squeeing over them. Also the Nutcracker (aka Prince Nikolai) is super-awkward and insecure but also really comes into his own and proves himself when given a chance and I like that in a leading man. Also, there’s no toxic masculinity to be seen.

Clara’s character growth took a bit longer. For a long time she was in denial about any feelings for Nutcracker, or her growing fondness for the kingdom or the other friends she is making there. However, once she got the proverbial knock on the upside of the head and realised a few things about herself, I was able to get behind her a bit more.

I mentioned Phantom of the Opera earlier and I want to talk about that because it seems I was the only one who noticed this? The villian a musical genius called Erik who has a tragic backstory and lives at least part of his life underneath the city’s enormous music hall. People hear him playing and don’t know where the music is coming from and assume he’s a ghost. If that’s not Phantom of the Opera, I don’t know what is!

Definitely recommend this one if you are in the mood for a whimsical, magical fairytale. It will make you smile.