Four years after her brother’s death, Thomasina is still grieving for him. She blames herself for his death. Her parents are no longer the people she knew them to be: grief has altered them significantly. Amidst this miserable existence, she chances upon a mystical man who promises her to bring back her dead brother. But, what will be its cost?

Read The Miraculous Sweetmakers: The Frost Fair by Natasha Hastings to find out. This is a snow-filled magical adventure perfect for my middle-grade readers.

Hastings’ beautiful and visually descriptive writing made it a treat for me to read the book. She took me on a thrilling ride through a winter wonderland.

Don’t be surprised if you see a not-so-benevolent spirit lurking amidst all the dazzling icy beauty.

The story lays out bare the grief and trauma a family undergoes upon losing a beloved member. It changes the people and fractures the family. Moreover, I loved the tense finale.

It’s an impressive debut and I recommend it to my middle-grade readers.

Many thanks to the publisher for a complimentary digital copy of the book. This doesn't affect my opinion on the book.

This book is full of magic, wonder and friendship! It's a fabulous book! It reads like a dream. Very excited about this one! Very grateful for the arc copy!

This was an interesting read. I highly enjoyed this book and the fun adventures within. Great for younger readers.

I finally got round to finishing this one, it took me so long, but it was worth it.

Not so much the book or the story, I just struggled to really get going when I came back to picking it up, I think it was mostly to do with sudden and sad tragedy at the very beginning after that it made it a little tough getting back on the horse but..

What a super lovely book, so much is jam packed into this book, it really does make it worth while. We also cover A LOT of topics such as friendship (a total biggie for most books) bereavement (an important topic but very well written and another big biggie), history, adventure and so much more!

Relatable characters, beautifully written. amazing imaginative descriptions, this book certainly socked it to me, I will be looking out for this author now because I have been seriously impressed, I absolutely want to share the whole lot with you from start to finish but I don't want to spoil it because it's been such a pleasure!

Thank you so much Natasha Hastings, the publishers and netgalley for my FREE ARC in return for my review. I loved it!

What a gorgeous book!

There is a lot packed into such a small whimsical wintry wonderland of a book: family relationships, bereavement, friendship, independence, fairy tale, 'be careful what you wish for' messages, mystery, mental health and it's mistreatment/misunderstanding, history, adventure, possibilities. All through one young girl's reaction to a family tragedy.

Speaking of which, that tragedy packs a punch, so be warned, it's right at the beginning, and it hits hard, it really shocked me and I had to put the book down for a while as I have actually been through something similar, though very luckily, the outcome wasn't the same, but still it hits hard for me.

This is how the book begins and drives everything that follows, please do not read if you don't want to know, but if you want to be prepared, here goes:...
<spoiler>
Thomasina's brother is running to catch her up, but suffers from asthma, and can't match her, and can't catch his breath, he dies in front of her in the street
</spoiler>

The setting in the Great Frost of 1683 is so atmospheric, it makes a great winter read, and really made me want to research more about the period, so hopefully, younger readers would feel the same, as the only part of the 17th Century I was ever taught in school were the Plague and the Great Fire of London, this story adds a bit more life to this period than children might get otherwise.

The characters are relatable and vivid, including the background adults, all with their flaws, all with their reasons, and the choices and limitations that Thomasina has are all realistic without being contrived, or overly explained in any way. The story has an authentic feel to it which doesn't jar with the slightly dark fairy tale quality, or the adventure-like feel to the pace.

Really well done, and I'll now be looking out for other books by Natasha Hastings

Grab your warmest winter woolies and prepare for an intriguing and magical adventure into the Frost Fair.

Thomasina’s life has never been the same since the death of her twin brother four years ago. Her father is a shadow of his former self and her mother has isolated herself in a bedroom, hardly muttering a word. Things are bleak until a strange visitor offers her the impossible…trade all of her memories of Arthur and the mysterious Father Winter will bring him back. But the magician is a dangerous trickster, the stakes are much higher than could ever be imagined and Thomasina needs to put a stop to his horrible ways before it is too late…

I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to look at snowflakes in quite the same way again after finishing this wonderfully original and captivating frosty affair at the Frost Fair that is perfect to curl up with on a cold winter’s day. I was chilled to my very core and then had my heart gently warmed and was left felling all warm and fuzzy inside as friendship and love triumphed over spine-tingling sorcery.

Natasha Hasting’s debut is a beautifully told story. A richly evoked historical London - at a time when the Thames did freeze over and the great river become a hubbub of activity - provides the perfect setting for a heart-felt and magical fantasy adventure that carefully explores grief, all it encompasses and the lengths that will be gone to to bring a loved one back.

Full of emotion, packed with twists and turns, and a plot that will draw you in from the start - just don’t get too close to Father Winter and his icy clutches - The Miraculous Sweetmakers has all of the ingredients for a classic in the making.

Magical!

Recommended for 9+.

With huge thanks to Walker and NetGalley for the copy I received in exchange for an honest review.

What a wonderfully magical story. It was the perfect wintery read, especially over Christmas.

This story centres on the power of friendship but also addresses grief and how to overcome it. I really enjoyed how maturely this book covered these topics without making them feel too adult. It was indeed a rollercoaster of emotions.

This was a very atmospheric and well-written book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.

The Frost Fair, An enchanting read, a story of over coming grief and a developing friendship, Between Thomasina and Anne,

This book is set in a cold winter in 1863 during a great frost when Thomasina and Anne are nothing working on the family stalls on the frozen River Thames.

Until a Family tragedy strikes and a they are drawn to the frost fair by a mysterious ghost, and the story develops and threatens to claim everything she holds dear.

Such a great Read I would thoroughly recommend as a great Christmas read.

thank you for giving me the chance to read an advance copy for a honest review

The Miraculous Sweetmakers is a beautifully told story with a wonderful cast and magical setting, an ideal read for the colder and darker months ahead (assuming you’re reading this review from Europe and not sunning yourself in Oz)! We meet Thomasina and her twin Arthur in the prologue when they are sneaking out at night to play. Fast forward four years and playing has turned to work for Thomasina as she helps her dad prepare stock to sell in the family shop, gingerbread being a particular favourite! Life is hard and only gets harder as the cold draws in. There’s great excitement when the river Thames freezes over and local businesses decide to set up a trade on the ice. Thomasina meets Anne, the daughter of a local apothecary owner, and they get on well from the off. Together they hatch plans for their future even if Thomasina isn’t really sure she could ever leave her family business to pursue anything else. In addition to the day time trading, Thomasina holds a secret. At night she is visited by a conjuror who offers her something she had believed was impossible in exchange for something she holds dear. Seduced by the potential behind this deal, she finds herself caught between reality and a magical kingdom presided over by the formidable Father Winter.

Thomasina is a brilliant central character. Her life isn’t easy but she carries on regardless and makes the very best she can of it. She is kind and cares deeply for her parents even though this can be challenging at times as she doesn’t always seem to have this love reciprocated and her efforts are not always acknowledged or rewarded. She feels tremendous guilt for events in her past and is willing to do whatever it takes to put these right, even if it means danger for her or could cost her the things she values most dearly. When she meets Anne she really comes alive and again demonstrates her quick wit and inventiveness.

This is a really good story which nicely mixes reality with the mystical. I loved that it was set back in the 1600s as a change from more modern stories and I felt I could use my imagination even more. I was lucky enough to receive a physical proof copy and the illustrations on the cover and the details within are absolutely beautiful. There are quite a few spaces where there are going to be more added so I expect that the finished copy will be a delight and one to get pride of place on a bookshelf.

It can be hard to pin down an age group for children’s books as reading ages and tastes vary so widely even within one year group but I would imagine that this might be an ideal read for those in later years of primary school or perhaps a little younger with adult help. There are some scenes which may be a little scary for younger children and some themes which may be upsetting. However, I do think if we can talk to our children openly about some of these issues from an early age then they will start to lose the taboo that can sometimes surround which may be helpful long term. My daughter is currently a little young to retain patience with a long chapter book but I suspect in a year or two she’ll adore this.

If you’re on the lookout for something new, exciting and magical in the run in to Winter then this is the story for you.

When I think back to the books I read as a child, the ones that most stay in my memory are those which transported me to a world where I could believe that magic was real. To experience that same feeling again as an adult is always special and so I couldn't wait to read The Miraculous Sweetmakers: The Frost Fair. Of course, it's really a book written with children in mind and as I'm a teaching assistant who has been asked to encourage reading for pleasure in my school, I also looked forward to discovering a new story to recommend to the children there.
From the start, it's clear that although this is a magical tale, full of intrigue and wonder, it also explores some more universal, often poignant themes. Thomasina experiences a terrible tragedy at a young age and it's not surprising that four years later, her life has become much bleaker than before. As a historical fantasy novel, the sense of place is vital and the Great Frost of 1683 provides a fascinating backdrop to proceedings. Even before anything obviously magical occurs, there's a feeling of wonder as the Thames freezes over and shopkeepers, merchants and entertainers ply their trade on the ice. As the daughter of a sweetmaker, Thomasina makes and sells her gingerbread there but for all the excitement, hers is not a happy home and so it's easy to understand why she is tempted by the incredible claim by a mysterious man called Inigo. When he shows her what he can do, she agrees to accompany him to the Other Frost Fair.
The descriptions of this fantastical night-time spectacle are so richly imaginative; I particularly loved the Frost Beasts who only accept Thomasina's presence there on special terms. However, as captivating as it may be, there's a creeping sense of foreboding and this is a rather chilling book, in more ways than one. It's not just a tale about the impossible though, and as with all the best stories, there are more relatable subjects examined here too.
Grief and loss underpins everything that occurs and I appreciated that there are no easy solutions suggested. Thomasina has a difficult time as do her parents and I thought their storylines were handled with real sensitivity. The period setting also allows for a look about how times have changed, particularly with regards to mental illness, depression and attitudes towards women, which I'm sure will horrify some young readers! The trials and tribulations of the time are further portrayed through the depictions of poverty and how ailments were treated in the past.
Thomasina's loneliness is almost palpable but her visit to an apothecary introduces her to Anne and a friendship which becomes the beacon of light in this beautifully empathetic book. Both girls are superb protagonists; courageous yet allowed to show their fears and so completely believable. As it becomes evident just how much trouble Thomasina is in, the magic that takes place is both frightening and heartwarming.
The Miraculous Sweetmakers; The Frost Fair is middle grade fiction at its best. This delightfully engaging story is full of excitement and hope and I thoroughly recommend it.

Such a beautiful, atmospheric book. - a great story coupled with a sensitive exploration of grief. I loved the magical descriptions of the Other Frost Fair and all the historical details woven into the story. The perfect wintry read for this time of year.

A sweet, wintry read full of magic and friendship, perfect to snuggle up with hot chocolate and baked goods during the festive season or cold months.

It shines with the power of friendship, set in a charming, whimsical winter scene of 1683.

Hasting's enchanting debut is part historical fiction, half fantasy. It delivers classic Victorian London winter vibes combined with a touch of whimsy. <i>Frozen</i> meets <i>Oliver Twist</i> meets <i>Fairyland</i> makes for a very moving and mystical journey.

This doesn't shy away from death but rather shows it in it's many heart-breaking forms, how it's handled, and how we evolve with it. The author has written it with such care and truth that its really hits the heart. But it is equally balanced with light moments of friendship and love.

I cannot wait to see the accompanying illustrations to be featured that I'm sure will perfectly match the tone of story and be no less stunning. I can't wait to read the next adventures of <i>The Miraculous Sweetmakers</i>

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I can honestly say The Miraculous Sweetmakers is one of the most original books I’ve read in a long time. This wonderful book is full of adventure, peril, and excitement – but it’s also about grief, friendship, and compassion.

The first chapter of this book alone knocked me off my feet, our introduction to Thomasina is so unexpectedly heartbreaking you can’t help but want to know more.

Thomasina, Anne, and later Henry, go on a dangerous journey to defeat Father Winter; the story is fast-paced and multifaceted, with many subplots that come together beautifully at the end. But Hastings tackles some very difficult issues. Thomasina’s mother is so consumed by grief that she is continually on the brink of being taken away to Bedlam (what once known to be a lunatic asylum) because of it. There are also themes of poverty and loneliness, and what it means to be kind.

I absolutely love Thomasina and Anne’s skills and ability to produce medicinal sweets. If anything, I would have loved for this to be a stronger theme in the story to really show off their entrepreneurship.

I couldn’t put this book down, I laughed, I cried. It’s been so long since I read something so different, wonderful, and full of love.

Highly recommended.

Enchanting, magical story which explores grief and its impact on a family in a sensitive, heartfelt way. Illustrations managed to be both cute and creepy when needed.

Today’s my stop on the Blog Tour hosted by the wonderful The Write Reads for The Miraculous Sweetmakers: The Frost Fair by Natasha Hastings! Thank you Harper Collins for providing me with a copy of this book through NetGalley for the blog tour. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such a unique and fun historical middle-grade fantasy adventure! It was full of winter vibes, adventure, friendship, and it had a mysterious sense of danger running throughout the story.

I really liked the characters in this book. I loved Thomasina and I loved how much she wanted to help her family. I liked that she was clever and smart and brave. I also liked that she was flawed, and that she got angry, and that she wasn’t always rational. I thought Inigo was a fascinating character. I liked that there was a mystery surrounding him and a bit of magic. I also liked Anne and Henry, and I thought that Thomasina, Anne, and Henry made an excellent and memorable trio. I also loved that Thomasina and Anne wanted to be involved in business.

I loved how magical The Frost Fair was. The idea of the River Thames being completely frozen and full of activity during the day and transforming into the Other Frost Fair at night is really neat. Even though the Other Frost Fair did seem creepy at times, it also felt like a magical place. I liked the descriptions of both the Frost Fair and the Other Frost Fair, and I thought that the author did an excellent job bringing these fairs to life.

I liked that this book dealt with grief. Even though it’s sometimes difficult for me to read about, I do like it when grief makes an appearance in books, especially in children’s books. I think it’s important for people to see that grief takes many different forms and that it is a normal part of life.

I liked that this book is historical in nature. I don’t know anything about the Great Frost of 1683, but it was cool to read about in this book. I liked that it was clear that this book took place in a different time period, between the medications that people got at the apothecary to the way that mental health and other illnesses were looked at. It was a neat time period to read about.

I also liked the adventure in this book. I liked that there was a sense of mystery and danger throughout the story. There were moments that kept me on the edge of my seat, hoping that the characters would be okay. However, I will say that I did find the beginning of this book to be a bit slow, but I did appreciate that this slower part laid a solid foundation for the rest of the story.

Overall, this was a fun and magical middle-grade read. It was cozy, it was full of friendship and excellent characters, and it’s the perfect adventure to pick up on a chilly day.

When we start the story (after the heart-wrenching prologue), we find Thomasina Burgess. She is still grieving her brother, her father barely looks at her, and her mother has been in bed since her brother died. She is just getting by.

But then the River Thames freezes over and things begin to change for her. A frost fair opens up on the river and she and her father start to sell gingerbread there. A man named Inigo visits her in the night and promises he can bring her brother back from the dead. To do so, she must visit the Other Frost Fair four times for the number of years her brother Arthur has been gone.

As you might imagine, not everything is as it seems with the Other Frost Fair or Inigo, but it will take Thomasina losing her memories of her brother and her skin being covered in snowflakes before she figures that out.

To say I loved this book would be an understatement. Thomasina is such a kind, generous, and caring main character. She has been irrevocably hurt by her brother’s death. She blames herself for it. But through the events of the story and with the help of her new friends Anne and Henry, she finds her strength. She rides a freaking bear for goodness sake. That is some badass behavior!

She also discovers that her parents are not as lost to her as she once thought. And here is where I must discuss how mental health is treated in this book. It’s done so, SO well. Thomasina’s mother’s grief is strong. But Thomasina doesn’t fault her for staying in bed, for her nightmares, or for her absence. She wishes it was different. She wishes she had her mother. She may be mad about it a time or two, but she doesn’t fault her mother for any of it. There are even multiple times in the book where Thomasina literally says that madness isn’t a bad thing.

And what her mother does near the end of the book…I CRIED.

I also love how the doctor (??) was portrayed in the story. To say mental health care was lacking in this time period…well, yeah. That would be an understatement and a half. It was cruel and harmful and that was shown very well in the book.

Ok, enough about that. Let’s talk about the sweets!! I love the ingenuity of Anne and Thomasina making medicinal sweets. Sweets that can help you with a cough but also taste amazing. Brilliant!! (I would also like some recipes, please and thank you!!) I also love their teamwork and their care for each other. Anne was ready to beat a man for Thomasina. That is friendship!!

I also love the investigation that takes place with Henry and Thomasina. No spoilers but they have to look into a member of Henry’s family and they go on a bit of adventure to find a special item. It’s such a fun part of the story.

The ending of this book could also not have been better. I absolutely sobbed. Just tears and snot. It was not pretty. I love how Thomasina (and her parents) come to terms with Arthur’s death. It’s beautiful and a great example for kids reading this book. Hell, it’s a good example for me!

If you love middle-grade books, magical stories (with ice animals), fantasy, or ice fairs, you need to read The Miraculous Sweetmakers: The Frost Fair. You will not be disappointed.

A story that confirms the theory that eyes are windows to the soul! The Miraculous Sweetmakers: The Frost Fair is a powerful story of dealing with grief and guilt in an incredibly clever way!

The story follows Thomasina and her family dealing with an incredible loss whilst trying to carry on as normal. Father Winter feeds on the guilt and threatens to change Thomasina’s life and those of her friends and family forever! What follows is an incredible adventure as Thomasina fights to save all that is dear to her…with a little (lot) of help from her friends!

I know a lot of people fear that stories for children today aren’t just stories to be enjoyed anymore but they have to have some underlying message or moral and yes, what this story does is show grief and mental illness in some of it’s debilitating forms but it does it in such a subtle manner that, to me, what came across was an incredible story of grit and determination to push through (not get over) those feelings and find what life can be like on the other side, that when all seems hopeless there is light at the end of the tunnel all with a little sparkle of Wintery Magic!

Moreover it’s a story of the power of friendship with a touch of “a problem shared is a problem halved” but also just an amazing Wintery Tale of good over evil, one I enjoyed just as much as my daughter! We both cannot wait to see what is next from Natasha Hastings because in my opinion it’s going to be something pretty special!!

This novel aimed at younger readers is captivating, enchanting and magical. I absolutely loved it! So let me tell you why this story delighted me.

In the winter of 1683 and a Great Frost has swept over London freezing the River Thames solid. The cold winter has seeped into every nook and cranny where the residents of London feel it’s wintery magical pull. Thomasina runs her fathers sweet shop and alongside other traders they flock to trade their wares on the frozen river. It really is a boost to traders and as they all continue to sell their stock on the frozen River Thames, it evolves into being known as the Frost Fair. It truly enchants everyone. Thomasina befriends Anne, an apprentice at her families apothecary, and as they become close they realise that together they can create medicinal sweets, which they sell at the Frost Fair.

This is all going well but Thomasina is struggling with the loss of her brother four years previous. She still grieves and blames herself. Why? Well, her mother has been bed bound and unresponsive since Arthur’s death, and Thomasina’s father treats her as though he wishes she wasn’t really there.

When a strange mysterious conjuror, named Inigo crosses Thomasina’s path he takes her to the Other Frost Fair. A different, enchanted fair that appears at night on the River Thames. Here Thomasina enters a magical realm of Frost Creatures, Frost Folk and even Father Winter himself. When Inigo tells Thomasina that he can bring her brother back she jumps at the chance to see her brother Arthur again. All she has to do is visit The Other Frost Fair four times with Inigo. But is that all that’s at stake? As Thomasina visits The Other Frost Fair the memories of her brother begin to fade and mysterious snowflakes appear on her skin. As Father Winter tightens his grip on London can Thomasina, Anne and new friend Henry solve the magical mysteries that continue to sweep around them?

The writing is pitched perfectly for its target audience with a plot to match. The story at its core centres around Thomasina and captures themes of loss, heartache and friendship, but more important it is a story filled with love. Add all that with a backdrop of magic set in wintery London of 1683, and you have an incredible novel that has left a lasting impression. This series is a new favourite of mine and although this is only book one, I’m poised and ready for the next.

The Miraculous Sweetmakers: The Frost Fair is the first book in a series by @tashajhastings, illustrated by @Alex_T_Smith which is out in hardback on the 27th of October.

In the icy winter of 1683, Thomasina and Arthur, twins with asthma, race through the cold, only for tragedy to strike — Arthur has a catastrophic asthma attack and dies. But the iced over river calls, and a mysterious man offers her the chance to bring him back to life.

Asthma plays a significant role throughout — Thomasina herself battling her lungs in an icy world throughout and remember it’s a historical novel so there’s no blue inhalers to take. It’s hard to explain but this weight to it matters to me a lot, because it’s so often dismissed.

But that’s not the only disability representation — Thomasina’s mother has been unable to leave her bed since the trauma, which is explored in a very gentle, honest way, and the carer responsibilities Thomasina feels is going to resonate with many kids of unwell parents.

The emotional core of this book is so so strong — grief, regret, being torn between being a carer and new opportunities, hope. There is so much layered in this book that I continue to be so impressed by it.

And the prose is gorgeous too — reminds me of Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Sophie Anderson, Katherine Rundell. Sweeping and beautiful and captivating. It’s just shy of 500 pages (partly bc of illustrations) but it never feels overdrawn or long.

A must read for winter!
(A Special Thanks to Net Galley & Natasha Hastings for this Magical Book).

Blog Tour – The Miraculous Sweetmakers – The Frost Fair
October 18, 2022CategoriesARC reviews, Blog tour, Mini Reviews, ReviewBlogtober, featured, ReviewLeave a Commenton Blog Tour – The Miraculous Sweetmakers – The Frost Fair

Title: The Frost Fair

Author: Natasha Hastings

Series: The Miraculous Sweetmakers #1

Release Date: 27/10/2022

3.5 stars
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
I received a free copy from HarperCollins Children ,via The Erite Reads in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

From Goodreads:

It’s winter, 1683, and the Great Frost has swept into London.

By day, thirteen-year-old Thomasina and her friend Anne peddle sweets on the frozen river, hearing rumors of the magical Frost Fair that awakens there at night. They say if you can find it, Father Winter himself will grant any wish you have.

And Thomasina has an impossible wish: the return of her twin brother, whose death left her family fractured.

But once they discover Father Winter’s icy kingdom, Thomasina and Anne quickly realize the Frost Fair isn’t exactly what it seems… and that some wishes never come for free.

My Thoughts
I enjoyed this dark atmospheric middle grade fantasy. I really loved how much atmosphere was jam packed into this book, from both the historical descriptions of the mini ice age that froze the Thames and the reports of big fairs held on the frozen river, to the magical ice Frost fair that features through out them book. The descriptions are beautifully detailed, from the taste of the sweets to the chill of the winter. You really could feel the cold pouring from the page. It really made you want to wrap up under a blanket. The book is beautifully written in that way.

I also really loved the underlying theme of the book. There is an on page death in the first chapter and the book explores how grief effects different people and how they work through that grief. Because of this it can get quite dark in tone so I do think it is more for the older end of the middle grade market. The magic itself is also quite sinister feeling, but I really quite liked that.

One thing I found is this book seemed to be paced really slowly. It took a really long time setting up a lot of the world and it began to feel rather repetitive and it took quite a long time for the main plot elements to get started. Major elements that played into the plot didn’t arrive until after the half way mark so it at times felt like a bit of a slog to get through despite it all being interesting I just felt the plot could have been a bit snappier. I also found that despite there being lot of build up there were a few characters we really didn’t get to know much about and that was a little disappointing as I would have liked to have gotten more information on their past etc.

Also with how dark it began I was hoping for a somewhat darker ending but it wraps up very sweet for my personal tastes. I think this would make a fantastic winter read for and avid 9-12 year old reader. I think the historical elements would make for really interesting discussions too.