I really loved the idea of a retelling of the Nutcracker from an adult perspective, and the cover of this book was just lovely. But the story itself was just fine. In all honesty, I found the overall story to be excessively sadistic and did not really connect with any of the characters. The story was good, and relatively well-written, with the stakes feeling quite high at times, but I just couldn't bring myself to care quite enough for Marietta as I probably should have to truly enjoy this book.

I really enjoyed this book. I found myself, at times, on the edge of my seat, wanting to know what was going to happen next.

A big shout-out for strong friendships between women. Badass women, too. I was a little familiar with the story of The Nutcracker, but I did read it after I finished Midnight in Everwood.

I love the characterization in Midnight in Everwood, and the villain of the story was well done and infuriating - exactly what a villain should be!

I highly encourage everyone to read this book - it's suspenseful, magical, whimsical, strong and engaging.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Harper 360, HQ. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Fantasy

I've enjoyed watching The Nutcracker for years, so this seemed like an obvious choice to read. The other realm is dark and twisty—the women work together, which is nice to see. Honestly, it wasn't my favorite, and I'm not sure why. Maybe it's as simple as one of my favorite ballets being changed into a darker tale.

I think many people will enjoy this book.

Happy reading!

“She could not sleepwalk through a life of luncheons and dinners and a marriage that would pin her in place, a butterfly with steel pins puncturing its wings, preserved and beautiful in its glass cage though its heart beat no longer. She needed to set herself free.”

”You have discovered the delights of Everwood, of course. A land of ice and sugar, enchanted beyond measure. From which door did you seek entry?”

As someone who grew up dancing and in the Nutcracker, I thought that the premise behind this story was really interesting. I think that there are a lot of things that I enjoyed about this story from the concept, to the female friendships and empowerment. But I do think that the pacing and the sub plot of sort of unbelievable romance held it back a bit. I do also wish that especially in the beginning we had been given more from Marietta that made you connect with her on a deeper lever as a lot of it felt very near to the surface. Overall, I enjoyed the story as a whole but definitely think that it had its strengths and weaknesses.

This was a wonderful story written by author M.A. Kuzniar. I really enjoyed the world building and the character development within Midnight in Everwood. Thank you to all for allowing me to read this eARC!

Super cool nutcracker fantasy retelling, perfect for wintertime reading! I went in not really knowing what to expect but I really ended up enjoying this!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me free access to the advanced copy of this book to read.

3/5 Stars

I have mixed feelings about this book. I adore the Nutcracker so of course, this alone drew in my attention. While I enjoyed some of the writing I did feel like it was a little over the top and the pacing was just a little slow for me. However, I had a great time with the general plot and the relationships between the characters. Overall I'm giving it a nice sweet spot of three stars.

This book is the perfect book to be reading in winter or in the dead of summer if you needed to cool off. This book was wintery and whimsical and I loved it. I thought the story was fun and it moved along at a solid pace. I didn't find myself stuck in any lulls which is rare. I also really enjoyed the characters. I though the author did a wonderful job with character development.

Overall I thought this was a great read and I would definitely recommend it. Plus the cover is amazing.

Midnight in Everwood" by M.A. Kuzniar is a delightful novel filled with enchantment and adventure that is sure to captivate readers of all ages. The story is set in early 1900s Nottingham, England, and follows the journey of Marietta Stelle, a young ballerina whose aspirations of becoming a dancer are threatened by societal expectations.

Kuzniar's storytelling is vivid and immersive, bringing to life the fantastical world of Everwood with its rich imagery and compelling characters. Marietta is a strong and determined protagonist who must confront her fears and doubts to unlock her inner magic and rescue those dear to her.

"Midnight in Everwood" is a charming and imaginative book that will delight readers with its whimsical storytelling and enchanting world-building. Fans of fairy tales and fantasy will be swept away by this enchanting tale of magic and adventure.

Midnight In Everwood is a beautiful tale through a magical land that will have anyone reading it want to watch your favorite version of the Nutcracker. The world building is excellent and easy to follow and gives the reader a beautiful description of this new world you have stepped into. We follow Marietta through her journey into Everwood and the lessons and love that it brings into her life. The author did a wonderful job of using the Nutcracker as inspiration by giving the reader plenty of nostalgic similarities without completely copying the entire story. At some points it did seem drawn out and like the author was trying a little too hard to make the language proper that the characters were using which ended up having some jumbled sentences. The characters were likable and realistic and there is a great character development of our MC. While the story is whimsical, it definitely falls under the YA category (minus one very brief sensual scene at the end that is still very PG) and possibly even younger. I would have loved to read something like this when I was like 10 years old. A good read for Christmas time for sure.

Not quite the fairytale reimagining I expected, this felt like it lacked the magic and allure needed to really hook the audience into the story and characters.

The writing felt stilted and choppy while the plot itself doesn’t feel like it moves or conveys a lot of emotional attachment to reach the end. Sadly not a winner for me.

#IFTHENNEXTREADBOOKS Showcase Series:
MIDNIGHT IN EVERWOOD by: M.A. (Maria) Kuzniar

**IF:**
You adore everything Nutcracker-themed
OR
you’re a fan of books by authors Erin Morganstern or Gregory Maguire
OR
you are searching for your next wintry seasonal cozy read…..

**THEN:**
The next read you may want to slide to the top of your TBR stack could be MIDNIGHT IN EVERWOOD

For clues as to what awaits the reader inside the pages and worlds created by the author, look no further than from her own words —
M.A. Kuzniar called it (in her all too fitting Insta acct named ‘cosyreads’) a “…snowy, sugary book of my heart…” and then in her website that “it was inspired by her love of ballet and love of the Nutcracker.” She further when discussing Christmas Eve said it was “…the day when most of the magic happens in Midnight in Everwood and also my very favourite day of the year. To me, Christmas Eve has always crackled with anticipation and glimmered with magic.”

Maria’s words allude exactly to what’s in store: a tale spun of magic, mystery, and other worlds inspired by classical elements and themes from the beloved Nutcracker story, but then twisted and reshaped like a funhouse mirror or splintered glass. The traditional story with its reality and supposed beliefs is born anew with rich symbolism, the introduction of fresh characters, and an imagined decadent world.

The author has her second adult novel releasing later this year and has been hinting with references to swan lake. I’m excited to see how she puts her own spin on yet another famous cherished ballet! 

I have a few mixed feelings about this read. I DNF'd it when I originally tried to read it because the beginning was excruciatingly slow. I couldn't handle that and the rich girl complaining about life. I made it through the first few chapters solely due to listening to the audiobook. Once we got to Everwood it finally started rolling and I was invested enough to continue. I loved the writing and the descriptions. They really made the world pop. The female friendships and the character growth were fantastic. The romance was predictable, but it is a retelling so it is kind of obvious. The fighting wasn't great and they always ended with borderline deus ex machina events. The end is a bit abrupt and I would almost want a sequel where she escapes back to Everwood. Overall I can say I enjoyed my time actively reading but it isn't something I will remember.

A whimsical Nutcracker retelling perfect for the holiday season. However, I think this book reads rather young for the adult fantasy retelling it claims to be. Upon further investigation, I've discovered this author has a background in the middle grade genre. I'm not sure she was able to make the transition into adult literature without leaving the writing tools meant for a younger audience behind. I saw no complexity or three-dimensionality in the characterizations.

Frankly, the plot events were not particularly exciting. I was just bored. I try my very best to complete ARCs I've been generously granted, but I just could not continue to devote my precious time to this book.

Thank you to Harper 360 for the ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a good story, I enjoyed the story and the characters. I think this book should be given a read, I liked it a lot.

‘Midnight in Everwood’ by M.A. Kuzniar, a Nutcracker retelling, was a delectably whimsical story. It absolutely transported me to another world. Highly recommend!

I was captivated by the idea of a cosy nutcracker retelling. That is so unique and I've never seen it done before. I love ballet and all the winter aesthetics throughout the book and nods to both the ballet and the original tale. While a unique concept, I had a difficult time getting attached to the characters or the plot.

I really enjoyed this Nutcracker retelling. It was very atmospheric and the writing felt decadent. It was easy to feel transported into Everwood. Midnight in Everwood captured me immediately from the blurb, a magical Nutcracker retelling that promised to carry me away to a fantasy land. Gorgeously whimsical with confectionery descriptions that made me devour this book from start to finish.

Overall, I would highly recommend this novel to any reader that enjoys a bit of fantasy, or who love ballet, or if you are just looking for something a bit different to read!

I think his book just wasn’t for me. I recognize that for someone that likes more lyrical writing they would enjoy this much more than me. I just couldn’t get into the story because I found the writing hard to get into.