Author: Claire Legrand
Series: Stand Alone (There is a prequel novella)
Published By: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers (September 30, 2014)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Fantasy
My Rating: 3.5 Stars!
Book Description:
The clock chimes midnight, a curse breaks, and a girl meets a prince . . . but what follows is not all sweetness and sugarplums.
New York City, 1899. Clara Stole, the mayor's ever-proper daughter, leads a double life. Since her mother's murder, she has secretly trained in self-defense with the mysterious Drosselmeyer.
Then, on Christmas Eve, disaster strikes.
Her home is destroyed, her father abducted--by beings distinctly not human. To find him, Clara journeys to the war-ravaged land of Cane. Her only companion is the dethroned prince Nicholas, bound by a wicked curse. If they're to survive, Clara has no choice but to trust him, but his haunted eyes burn with secrets--and a need she can't define. With the dangerous, seductive faery queen Anise hunting them, Clara soon realizes she won't leave Cane unscathed--if she leaves at all.
Inspired by The Nutcracker, Winterspell is a dark, timeless fairy tale about love and war, longing and loneliness, and a girl who must learn to live without fear.
Who could resist a story rich in detail as well as plot? A story truly reminiscent of the classic tale of The Nutcracker but with a slightly more sinister tale to tell?
With villains you love to hate and the good guys you will love even more so With just the right touch of magic and fantasy and romance all blended together to create something truly fun and imaginative?
Not I. There is not way I could resist not loving this tale.
This was a great read and everything I described above. The writing was fantastic and the plot very much action driven, all set in a time where the world was constantly changing and anything was possible, even the unknown and the magical.
I love finding those YA treasures that are truly unique and fun as well as dark and gritty.
Legrand did a superb job in blending the retelling with the new and I would most definitely read anything else she has to offer us, in this world or otherwise.
*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*
I had a difficult start with this one but it's a little better now, so we'll see how it is at the end.
ReplyDeleteIt did have a slow start but it does pick up.
DeleteOh I want to read this one badly now! From your description it has everything I'm looking for! I'm sorry it wasn't for you. But thanks for your review! :)
ReplyDeleteIt isn't bad at all and I think you will really like it Tanja. :)
DeleteI've always thought that The Nutcracker was rather eerie in itself, so I'm not really surprised to see a creeptastic re-telling. The only thing that would stop me from reading this book is if the author utilizes too many YA tropes, and you didn't mention any in your review, so I'm thinking that's a good sign!
ReplyDeleteNot too many tropes here Carmel!
DeleteThis was definitely darker than I expected Ali!! I liked that about it though, it went in an unexpected direction and I was intrigued for sure. Glad you enjoyed this one overall as I did!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jenny and it was a nice surprise and change of pace.
DeleteThis book is getting a lot of attention on blogs right now, and every time I see it the cover messes with my head-it looks like she's about to impale herself on her own dagger lol. I do want to read this one, looks like an interesting plot :)
ReplyDeleteI think you would really like this one because of how different it is, even from the original tale.
DeleteI started this one but for some reason I could not get into the book. :( I was sad because this is a book I've been waiting to read for a long time. I think I was mostly creeped out with the whole having sexual feelings for the statue part. And her relationship with that older man rubbed me the wrong way.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you liked it though, Ali.
Great review!
LOL! That was a bit strange at first Nick, so very true!
DeleteIt sounds like a charming story. I feel like I should have heard of it by now, but I'm so out of the loop with anything but MG and chapter books!
ReplyDeleteWhich is completely understandable! :)
DeleteOOH Kindlemom I LOVE the premise of this one thanks for the review and getting it in front of my face :) xo
ReplyDeleteOf course. ;)
DeleteI've been curious about this one. It sounds like a good one to read when the author gets colder!
ReplyDeleteLOL do you mean weather? I love you Candace!! <3
DeleteWho could resist a well-crafted villain, one you absolutely love to hate? It's my very favorite thing, I hate villains that are one-dimensional and cartoonishily mean. This sounds lovely, Ali!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Maja! :D
DeleteYou will like it Heidi, it is very unique. ;)
ReplyDeleteThat's cool it's a Nutcracker retelling!! Glad you enjoyed it overall.
ReplyDeleteI am too and thanks!
DeleteOh interesting. That's not a re-telling I've seen done yet. Very neat cover too.
ReplyDeleteMe neither which is why I was so drawn to it initially I think.
DeleteOh yay! Good to know you enjoyed this one. I am looking forward to reading this as well although I'm not really familiar with The Nutcracker. *facepalm*
ReplyDeleteYou don't really have to be to get everything.
DeleteThe Nutcracker, eh? That was my nickname in high school - The Norwegian Nutcracker. :P
ReplyDeleteThis sounds good, especially if it's dark.
Oooh - I love the Nutcracker!! I'm excited to see this is a ya read as well.
ReplyDelete"With villains you love to hate and the good guys you will love even more so With just the right touch of magic and fantasy and romace-"
Yes-count me in! :)
It is a YA read Kim. :)
DeleteI'm really curious about those villains now! :D Oooh and I'm totally in love with that cover. *.*
ReplyDeleteI think you will like them Lola. ;)
DeleteI'm reading this one right now and loving it so far - thrilled to hear you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteSO happy you are loving it Lauren!
DeleteGlad you enjoyed this one. I don't read a whole lot of fantasy, but this sounds good. Nice review!
ReplyDeleteThanks Ellen!
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