I really wanted to love this book because I’m a sucker for nutcracker retelling, but I was really turns off by some of the editing/proofreading. This could simply be that it’s an ARC and these will be fixed, but it was hard to ignore. The characters were interesting, but still felt somewhat flat to me. Overall it’s a cute read, but the romance was lacking for me and the story seemed as if it was missing a little pizzazz.

Thank you Net Galley and Verika Sloane for providing an arc of this story for my honest and truthful opinion.

THIS 👏STORY👏WAS👏 EVERYTHING 👏I 👏 DIDN'T 👏 KNOW 👏I👏 NEEDED.

A Nutcracker story retelling that is 18+ age appropriate. The story follows Klara and what happens after she receives a Nutcracker from her godfather Vossier. I read this book in one sitting and could not put it down. Well thought out characters, so much mystery, and adventure. I could live here in this perfect Galindria for the rest of my life.

"A Curse of Frost and Fate" enchanting and compelling

By CANDICE BLACK
Staff Reporter

After growing up going to my cousins' "Nutcracker" performances, I've always had a soft spot for the ballet.
In "A Curse of Frost and Fate" by Verika Sloane, that fascination perfectly blended with my love for fantasy romance.
The cover immediately grabbed my attention with the pretty colors and the Elsa vibe. Then when I read the description and learned it was based around "The Nutcracker" story, I knew it would be a perfect read for this time of year.
Klara, yes, with a K, lives in Manhattan and visits her parents' Victorian (swoon) estate during the holidays.
Her godfather, Vlosier, shows up late and presents her with a nutcracker doll after everyone falls asleep. Sounds familiar, right? But what Klara experiences throughout the rest of the story is different from what we've all seen.
When she wakes up and hears a struggle in her parents' house, she goes downstairs to find two men fighting, one of which she stabs with her high heeled shoe.
The next morning she thinks it's a dream, but she later gets transported into Galindra, a realm she had no idea existed.
Jaemis, one of the men fighting, is tasked with finding a way to take Klara home before the Mouse King, Mogran, can harm her for unknown reasons.
As I'm sure you can gather, Klara and Jaemis pretty much instantly fall in love. And yes, I know, cringey. But this I was okay with.
Sloane writes the characters and their romance in a way that doesn't take away from the overall plot. Yes, their love story is a main piece of the puzzle, but it didn't take away from the magical realm, creatures and well-developed side characters.
Throughout the book, you learn about a curse, magical abilities and family secrets. Those are all typical elements of a fantasy novel but this one just hits differently.
All of the magic, settings, world-building and scenery make this book one that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It's very easy to lose yourself in the story, which is something I think we all need from time to time.
To my surprise, this book seems to be a standalone novel and it had a pretty solid ending with everything wrapped up. This is unusual with fantasy books that are usually spread out over the span of several 600-page books. Every once in a while, it's nice to have a story started and finished in one book.
If you're looking for a quick read that's going to sweep you up in a fantasy world, literally, and put you in the mood for Christmas, don't skip on this one. Hey, it might even be a good one to pick up once all the craziness is over and you just need some time to yourself.
Candice Black can be reached at cblack@newsandsentinel.com

A perfect read for the week before Christmas!

It initially reminded me of the zodiac academy just a little but quickly became something of its own! It starts with very little context of the setting so the beginning was a little bumpy. But I think this kind of helps get a feel for how one should initially feel for the first few pages.

I was initially tempted by this book because of the premise and a curiosity on how the nutcracker could be retold. I was not disappointed!

Just the right level of spicy in this story! Very steamy! I could not put this book down.

A very spicy Christmas read awaits anyone who opens this book!

This was an ARC read.

I am so torn between 3 and 4 stars on this one. The premise was surprisingly fun and original - a romantic/spicy spin on the story of the Nutcracker with all the fix-ins - Klara, The Mouse King, the Sugar Plum Fairy...wow! The way Verika Sloane plays with movement between different realms and the presence of magic was really interesting and well thought out. I struggled with some plot points/plot holes and the pacing which is why I can't quite get myself to rate it a 4 star read. The insta-love cannot always be forgiven or written off simply due to divine fate BUT in terms of this novel as a sort of folklore/fairytale retelling it honestly works quite well. This novel pleasantly surprised me. I do need to know how I can petition one Verika Sloane for a full-length novel on the Snow Queen and her RH........

I really liked this book!

It was interesting for me because I was never a huge fan of the Nutcracker, but loved how Verika Sloane brought this story to life! She introduced the plot of the story very early on. It was almost like you knew what was going to happen, you just did not know how! I had theories and there were plenty of twists and turns. There were some steamy scenes, but the book did not rely on them. There was a solid plot line! Enjoyed this book more than I thought I would!!

A Curse of Frost and Fate
by Verika Sloane
Pub Date :17 Dec 2021
Publisher :BooksGoSocial
Genre :Romance

There were fights, dances, adventures, love, and losses.

Reading it made me feel like I was in a forest, a castle, an old manor house. The characters were a lot of fun and the wonderful creatures I've only briefly met were very interesting.

I loved this story and just wanted to love it even more. If I could pick out a few stains left on me, I'd give it 4 stars. The story was great, piecemeal, and while some dragged out for me, I couldn't put it down...but I'm glad it's over. For a Nutcracker lover since childhood, it was fun to see the story in this new way.

That's why I think I'm in Terrane now, waiting for the chance to travel to more magical realms.

This book was engaging and interesting, but it was riddled with grammatical and spelling errors and was far too long – rather too long. The story is sweet, and by the end, I was eager to find out where the characters managed to end up, but it was unbelievably frustrating to read.

Having read another Nutcracker retelling immediately before, I was hesitant about jumping straight into A Curse of Frost and Fate but what better time than the weekend before Christmas?!



This tale was very different though and in some ways, made for enjoyable easy reading full of cosy imagery and spicy scenes to get the heart rate going.



Klara lives in New York, she's just your typical 27 year old but she has an eccentric uncle, who for Christmas gives her a nutcracker ornament from his travels. After being let down for her Christmas Eve date, Klara ends up in a different realm with the gorgeous Prince Jaemis, looking to rescue the kingdom from the evil Mouse King.



I loved this book and couldn't have asked for a better, cosy read to transport me on the run up to the holiday season.



Highly recommended for some festive fantasy escapism!

If you love the fairy tales with love, magic and adventures, then you cannot miss this retelling of the Nutcracker , which is one of my favorite Christmas stories.
From the beginning you will be surrounded by the magical Christmas atmosphere that will follw you in what will become a true dream with open eyes. In fact, Verika has convey to manage all her love for the story of the Nutcracker and create a magical retelling with truly well-described and real settings and characters. Infact, you won’t struggle to live the Christmas traditions of Klara and her family for a moment and one second later finding yourself fighting against a curse in another realm!
I adored Klara and Jaemis: the former is an independent woman, who does not hesitate to give everything she has for the people she cares about and to fight for what she thinks is right. And it is also a pure and genuine person that the world in which we live doesn’t deserve.
Jaemis instead.. well, can I have him for Christmas?! I loved his character: he is loyal, courageous and cursed. Aware that his history will not end with an happy ending,he is willing to give up all of himself and to give up even those last moments of happiness that are granted to him in order to protect his kingdom and the people around him.
i’ve also loved the way in which the relationship between the two was built: immediately there was a great chemistry between them that evolved into a relationship of mutual trust, which, managed to bring a little "light in the lives of both.. especially in Jaemis'.

✨In conclusion, I can say that it is a reading that reaffirms the importance of love, family and friendship during this period. I also assure you that it will make you smile, move, scream and that in the end you will want to have a Crush in the house!

Who doesn't love a nutcracker retelling at this time of year and this one was definitely enjoyable. A love story that had me rooting right from the moment they met, spice galore and magic. I loved it

Confession time: I got carried away with excitement after the first couple of chapters because the structure reminded me of another series that I love, but as I read on, the same feeling didn't come. I kept thinking I could blame the Nutcracker base for it, but it wasn't as prominent as I struggled.

Don't get me wrong, it's a good take and a good story, it's probably that my expectations ruined the fun for me.

The characters were mostly fun, the plot was solid, and there was enough magic to make it work. If only the romance felt a little less insta-lovey and the spacing was a little faster. Which I understand is a contradicting statement, but I felt the plot dragging while at the same time the romance was running miles ahead.

Thank you to Netgalley and Verika Sloane for the eArc of this book.

While I was intrigued by the concept and premise of a dark adult retelling of The Nutcracker, it unfortunately wasn’t quite for me. I struggled with the mix of very adult content with the light childlike/juvenile moments of the source material.

I found the story unnecessarily long, and ended up skimming large portions. Additionally, some spelling and grammar edits are needed. I think with some tidying up and plot edits, I would enjoy the story more.

This is the first Nutcracker retelling that I have read and I enjoyed it so much. It has a whimsical undertone and the adult scenes made the story different from other retellings that i have read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Verika Sloane for letting me read the eArc for this book!

It’s a lovely retelling of the Nutcracker story and a great holiday read for the Christmas period. However, it personally wasn’t my cup of tea, hence the 3 star rating. However, for others I can imagine they would absolutely love it. It has great world building, magic and some great tension between the main characters.

A great retelling of The Nutcracker story. A perfect read for the festive period. A feel good tale with all the magic and splendour one could ask for. #ACurseofFrostandFate #NetGalley

Verika Sloane brings us A Curse of Frost and Fate. As someone who grew up loving the Nutcracker, both play and the Barbie movie, it was my delightful surprise to find this steamy re-imagining. First thank you so much to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this before the publishing date. So as for the story I was honestly in love with the world building, the action, the various creatures, and the tie of fate between Klara and the Prince. If you need something fantastical with a dash of dream and hint of nightmare, I’d say give this book a try! It is perfect for a winter read and a pleasantly surprising story. Coming December 17th!

𝔄 ℭ𝔲𝔯𝔰𝔢 𝔬𝔣 𝔉𝔯𝔬𝔰𝔱 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔉𝔞𝔱𝔢
Vᴇʀɪᴋᴀ Sʟᴏᴀɴᴇ

DO YOU LIKE CHRISTMAS AND THE NUTCRACKER STORY?

“𝑨 𝒄𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒂 𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒄𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒎 𝒉𝒊𝒎”

If you answered YES to the previous question, then this is the book for you! This is a retelling of the most famous ballet from Čajkovskij, re-imagined as a fantasy with a sparkle of romance.

Klara goes back home for Christmas time and she wants to spend her holidays with her family. Everything seems to be as always: chatting, bickering with her siblings, sharing gifts and so on. One day, the wonder Uncle Voss (a character that I fell in love with from the beginning) gives to our Klara something to drink that makes her dream about a prince and a monster fighting for saving her life. But that’s a dream or not?

Reality and dream alternate in her routine for a while, until the moment she gets stuck in a new realm, where magic is real. A realm with immortal fae, magicians, various creatures, a balance between darkness and light, dethroned king and queen, a mortal curse and… she found out that the villain wants her to finally take all the power he needs to rule.

I absolutely loved how Verika choose to develop the connection between Klara and the prince, Jaemis. Their love story is a slow burn, complicated but not like all the others. I like the way they learn to know each other, how they handle their being a human and a fae. But, mostly, I loved the fact that they are wonderfully sweet and cute.

I also liked that we get to know a lot of different species of magic creatures, alliances, and the way that all of them interact. In doing so, the descriptions have to be well managed and the author did it. I never get bored reading those parts.
Action, descriptions, passion and feelings alternate perfectly, and you’ll find yourself more and more curious.
The only part that I can blame is that I found several grammatical mistakes or strange structures in the syntax.

I want to thank @netgalley and @verika for the opportunity!

I am pleasantly surprised by this book! I was a little discouraged at the beginning and I almost decided to DNF, but I kept going and I’m so glad I did! What a story! What a happy ending! I really truly did enjoy it!

Our aesthetic and worldbuilding in this one can be a great read around the holidays and fill that void of something to set the mood. But sadly think a lot of this fell short for me after I hit the halfway mark. There was a lot of promise in the description and the idea of a Nutcracker retelling but I don't think this necessarily lived up to that.
Maybe if it was reworked and some things changed I would probably be able to give it 4 stars instead of 3. I wasn't a big fan of the main character as she came off as really unlikeable and somewhat spoiled but with no purpose to it or redemption relating to that. So I think it wasn't intended but it honestly made it worse. Maybe I'll come back to this eventually.

I really enjoyed this book! I flew through it on one afternoon and I am so sad that it's over. The author did a great job with the plot and keeping the story moving with no stagnant parts. The characters were very relatable and fun to learn. Great read!