This historical YA fantasy centers on a well-brought-up lady, who wishes desperately to be a ballet artiste. Marietta Stelle lives in 1908 Nottingham. Her parents hope to wed her to the successful, eccentric new neighbour, a toymaker. But MIDNIGHT IN EVERWOOD changes all their lives.
Marietta’s story is a retelling of The Nutcracker, a Central European fairytale and ballet. Readers will, however, see many similarities to The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe in the manner of telling. Dr Drosselmeier sets his gaze on Marietta, but he wants to control her like another of his enchanted toys. At midnight on Christmas Eve, he makes his intent clear, and the girl tries to escape by hiding in a large chiming grandfather clock. She walks through the back of it to find a snow-bound forest of firs. The first person she speaks with helps her, providing warmer clothes. Later, a sleigh draws up and a guard steps out, inviting Marietta – who can’t refuse – to accompany him to the palace of the ruler of this wintry, sometimes sinister land, Everwood. King Gelum at first seems charming, but turns out to be a cruel, selfish ruler. While I didn’t see Turkish Delight mentioned, all kinds of chocolate, sherbert, sugar mice and candy as well as gingerbread houses are provided.
Dellara, one of the king’s ladies, and Pirlipata, a princess brought here to wed, share Marietta’s new quarters. The newcomer must dance her ballet nightly to the king’s command, and who knows what will happen when he tires of his new toy? The king’s guard, Legat, is stern but seems sympathetic. If Marietta is ever to return home, she’ll have to make allies. And if she does get back, she will have to find a way to defeat the sorcerer who has possibly trapped her in one of his creations.
I enjoyed the read, but felt it was too long for a younger YA reader, and had too little action for an older. Marietta is good at getting herself into difficulties, not so good at extracting herself. The author M.A. Kuzniar did well to site her home in Nottingham, a thriving city where new arrivals were a nine days’ wonder, and wealthy suitors were few, unlike metropolitan Edwardian London. The time period also fits with a young woman’s lack of agency, chaperonage, and loss of reputation if she were to perform on stage. Marietta’s one sympathetic contact is her brother, Frederick, who is terribly obliged to conceal his own nature and art. MIDNIGHT IN EVERWOOD is an enchanting tale for ballet lovers, first and foremost.
The Nutcracker for adults, perfect for fans of Robert Dinsdale’s The Toymakers, Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus and Stephanie Garber’s Caraval
’It was a rainy day that the magic came, and once magic has entered your life, you stay in its glittering clutch forever’
Nottingham, 1906
Marietta Stelle longs to be a ballerina but as Christmas draws nearer, her dancing days are numbered. At the wishes of her family, she will be obligated to marry and take up her place in society in the New Year. But when a mysterious toymaker, Dr Drosselmeier, purchases a neighbouring townhouse, it heralds the arrival of magic and wonder in her life. Although Drosselmeier’s magic is darker than Marietta could have imagined…
When he constructs an elaborate theatrical set for her final ballet performance, Marietta discovers it carries a magic all of its own. As the clock chimes midnight, Marietta finds herself walking through a land of snow-topped fir trees leading to a frozen sugar palace silent with secrets and must find a way to return home.
In the darkness of night, magic awaits and you will never forget what you find here…
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