Synopsis: Marietta Stelle longs to follow her dream to be a ballerina, but her dancing days must end after Christmas when her family wishes for her to marry and take her place in society. The arrival of Dr. Drosselmeier, a mysterious toy maker, shakes up Marietta’s world as his inventions bring magic and enchantment to her life. When he constructs a set for her final ballet performance, Marietta finds a passageway within the set that leads to a magical, yet deadly new world.

Review: If I had to describe this book in one word it would be decadent. This Nutcracker retelling is absolutely rich with lush details and the descriptions of everything from the scenery, the clothing, and the food is so beautifully crafted. Some elements of the story reminded me a lot of Narnia and I think the magical elements of this book would be perfect for fans of Caraval and The Night Circus.

Despite how gorgeous the descriptive writing is, at times it was a bit distracting as the dialogue seemed to get lost within it. Because Marietta is a ballerina, there’s lots of references to ballet terminology that felt very overwhelming because they’re never explained. There’s also a romance subplot in the book that I wished had had a better resolution because I was rooting so hard for the characters.

There are so many beautiful themes in this book such as following one’s dreams, love and friendship, and challenging a woman’s role in a patriarchal society. Also, props to whoever designed the cover because it is stunning! I cannot recommend this beautiful retelling enough!

I’ve been wanting to read this one ever since I saw the cover. It’s really pretty and perfect for this time of year. I’ve actually never read a book by this author before but do have her Middle Grade series on my tbr. I’m a little sad to say that I didn’t love this one. It was good and unique as I have never read a retelling for the nutcracker before. I’m always curious to see what authors come up with when it comes to retellings. Even though since this one didn’t fully work out for me, I know that many will love the world that this author created.

The book is told from one point-of-view and it is from Marietta Stelle. She loves ballet and the enjoyment that comes from it. Her parents don’t want her to follow her dreams and would rather see her married off. Marietta is determined to live her life the way that she chooses.

I did like that Marietta stood up for herself even if it meant being disowned. No one should ever be forced to marry without their approval. The choice her parents picked out was also quite questionable but they didn’t care even when Marietta brought up her concerns. Her brother was the better of her family and I did like his character.

The book was slow for a good bit of the book but does pick up once she finds herself in another world. Although, the last half did feel a bit rushed especially when it came to her and another character. The new world was very interesting and I liked reading about it.

The only other thing about this book is that at times it can be pretty prosey and it can be a turn off for me.

Overall, this was a good book but I do wish I had loved it more.

Midnight in Everwood is a literary version of The Nutcracker, but in this version, Marietta is a young woman chafing under her parents' expectations of an advantageous marriage that would also mean the end of her ballet career. Dr. Drosselmeier, a decidedly creepy and dubiously employed new neighbor, starts to court Marietta to her parents' pleasure and her dismay. Drosselmeier, tantalized by Marietta's rejection of him, becomes increasingly aggressive forcing her to flee through a magical ballet stage and into a strange world. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but Marietta finds that there is more than one to be robbed of choice, the value of supportive friendships and that if she doesn't stand up for herself, no one else will. The ending wasn't the HEA I wanted to see, but it was probably more realistic than my expectations. I really enjoyed the imagery and world-building, well-developed characters, and the unique take on what The Nutcracker could be with more time to tell the story.

I had night hopes for this but it was just “meh” to me. I didn’t love the main character and the beginning was sloooow. I wanted more of the relationship between Marietta and Legat, and I felt like it was rushed. I found world and the supporting characters interesting. The writing was good, but a little too descriptive for me sometimes. Overall, this was just ok but I wish it had been better.

I actually tend to enjoy purple prose, but this was over the top even by my standards. I feel like this book needed significantly more editing: I can tell that the editors sought to maintain the author's style but at the cost of reader enjoyment and comprehension. Combine this with a dragging pace and flat characters, and I found myself highly disappointed by an idea that had drawn me in instantly from the description. I know this is YA, but the main character displayed a tiring lack of maturity and clarity of decision making -- I am exhausted by YA novels that feel that the age of their protagonists automatically prevents them from making sound choices.

The Nutcracker is one of my favorite things about the holiday season, and when I chanced upon a retelling for adults I knew I had to read it.

This delectable, romantic, hopeful, and tragic story made my heart soar to the highest heights and smile through tears. It was absolutely beautiful and magical, and I am too afraid to give anything away to say much about the plot. Let’s just say a tenacious Edwardian woman is swept away into a world not her own, rife with magic and danger that she must navigate to return home as well as potential romance.

I will be honest the premise of a retelling of the Nutcracker for adults was too interesting to pass up. Its what drew me to the book. Its a story about a girl, Marietta, who loves ballet but is expected to marry well, and her parents have their sights set on their new neighbor/toymaker Drosselmeier. However, before you know it, she is taken away to another realm that is in the midst of a rebellion and she finds herself forced to dance for the king. I loved how descriptive this book was. The language and flow was beautiful and so full of rich imagery that I felt like I was actually there. Definitely a whimsical read and such an interesting take on the Nutcracker. The one thing I do want to note is that it didn’t really seem like an adult fantasy read… more like YA.

I wanted to love this book. A retelling of the Nutcracker? Yes. Please. This felt like a really original idea. Instead, it fell a little flat for me. The metaphors and the "sweet, sugary" language of the story were overworked. Almost like the descriptors had to be piled on for us to imagine anything. I get what the author was going for, but it was cumbersome. The characters needed a bit more depth and the battle/finale was anticlimactic and a little too convenient.

I think some people will love this book and I think it'll be a hit with a lot of people, but it just missed the mark for me.

This title ended up not being for me. That said, I know that there are gonna be a number of people that really adore this. Unfortunately, there were just too many things at play that are at odds with my personal preferences in books.

I enjoyed the writing. I thought it was well done. I've seen other reviewers say that it's too sticky, sweet with the descriptors. In my opinion, that was really helpful in setting the atmosphere of Everwood and -- though it did get a bit tiresome after a while to read yet another clothing description -- I thought it worked well enough. That said, I thought the world-building was a little haphazard. Marietta. sometimes cannot remember anything about her home world, it's all a haze. Except, when it's convenient for her to remember every single detail of the horrors that await her re: having to marry Drosselmeier, she can remember everything and thus relates it back to Captain Legat and her fellow prisoners. Likewise, the climax with the king was similarly weak on the lore. Legat is bleeding out, near death, and then the characters are like "oh, yeah. btw there's this legend regarding magical healing that has never been mentioned before isn't it great?" It felt a little bit like a deus ex machina easy way out. Like, literally. And the fact that Marietta knocks out the king with her ballet slipper and that's what leads to him being able to be defeated when the literal captain of the army cannot defeat him in sword battle??? That was simply too much for me.

As far as characterization goes, that was fine to me. I did think we got a bit more telling that showing re: the romance and the development of the friendships between the women that left me unsatisfied. And overall, the story was kind of a drag. The pacing was off, in my opinion. It felt waaay too long.

The lack of prominent nutcrackers in a retelling of The Nutcracker was also a bit of a disappointment.

I was so excited to read this Nutcracker retelling. With delectable, dreamy imagery, and a stunning setting, I assumed this would be the perfect festive beginning to the holiday season. However I found most of the characters one dimensional, the pacing rather slow, and the prose a little too flowery. Listening to Tchaikovsky definitely enhanced my experience while reading, especially all of the ballet references. But I found myself starting to lose interest about 60 percent into the story, after she finally wanders into the magical Everwood… until we meet a few charming soldiers. The possibility of a forbidden love recaptured my attention, and was one of my favorite parts. Considering every other man in this entire story is awful or alarming (except her brother Frederick), I appreciated the glorious “cinnamon roll” of a man that is the love interest. Also her found family or sisters, Dellara and Pirlipata were a highlight as well. Overall this was a cute Nutcracker retelling, with a lot of fairytale, mythology, and literary references. I’m sure a lot of readers will enjoy this, it just felt very young and wasn’t for me.

Thank you to M.A. Kuzniar, Harper 360 and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper 360 for allowing me to read and review this title! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Midnight in Everwood is a Nutcracker retelling for adults. Marietta is a dancer through and through and is worried about the dwindle of her dancing days as Christmas nears. Like a moth to a flame, when a mysterious toymaker, Dr Drosselmeier, moves to town Marietta is drawn to his building and the magic inside. Little does she realize, when he creates a theater for her final ballet performance, there is something sinister about the magic and the performance itself.

M.A. Kuzinar weaves a stunning tale for the winter season. Marietta is around 20 years old, though the story is for adults I think young adults would like to read it as well. I did enjoy the new twists and the retelling in general, it's always interesting to read the changes an author would make to a classic story. The pacing wasn't too bad, I did kind of nod off a bit in some parts but overall a decent story.

4 stars

A retelling of the Nutcracker, Midnight in Everwood is a darkly magical tale about a girl, Marietta, obsessed with ballet. It is 1906 and her parents want her to get married, their sights set on their strange new neighbor, Drosselmeier. But before a wedding can take place, the toymaker causes her to be whisked away to another realm. Marietta is trapped there with other women, forced to dance for the king. There is lots of whimsy, ballet and some romance.

Lush and descriptive, sometimes bordering on a little flowery, Midnight in Everwood fills the senses with winter, Christmas and all the vivid imagery we know from the beloved ballet. Kuzniar tries to fit in a lot of issues from race, class, and LGBTQ+ relationships. Marietta reads as younger than 20, but it is a book written for adults. Marietta can be foolish and impulsive, but is also determined to forge her own way in life and live out her dreams of being a ballerina no matter what society has planned for her. The magical realm of Everwood is dark and dangerous, with rebellion brewing, a metaphor for Marietta's life.

Overall,. an enjoyable retelling perfect for the holiday season. 3.5 Stars rounded up to 4,.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I haven’t read the nutcracker in years and I love this retelling it was magical, whimsical and fun, great read during this holiday season.

This book is magical, charming and picturesque. Marietta loves ballet but as a society belle she is expected to marry well. As it is, her parents have allowed her to remain in ballet lessons but only until she turns 21, which is on the eve of the new year. Her last performance is to be during the Christmas Ball, hosted by her parents. She secretly auditions for a ballet company and she is accepted but she cannot tell her family. After the Christmas ball she is transported to Everwood, a magical kingdom in the midst of a rebellion. During Marietta’s time in Everwood she learns that determination and allies will help you along the road of life. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very enjoyable read. It had a good plot, and an enjoyable set of characters. Not only was it also well written, but it was also well edited!

This book is gorgeous. I just can’t get over how pretty the cover is. I enjoyed reading this one. Some of my favorite books are retellings so I was super excited for it!

Thank you to Harper 360 and NetGalley for the ARC. I was intrigued by the concept of this work and was so pleasantly surprised by the execution. I enjoyed the world that was built and the emphasis on sisterhood and the bonds with people that make you stronger. The world was atmospheric and well described. It was a book that had a solid ending but I would have kept reading if it was longer. Great work!

This book was so very reminiscent on my childhood Christmases spent at the Nutcracker. I loved every magical moment of it. It has made me want to read the original, since I have only every seen the ballet (many, many times).
My only hesitation with it is that it is being marketed as an adult fantasy but it honestly felt and read more like a young adult book.

Once I started this book I couldn’t put it down! I have always loved the story of the Nutcracker so I was so excited for a retelling of it! This book was whimsical and fun and kept me turning pages until 2 am! I’ve already ordered a hard copy for my physical shelf because I loved it so much!

Very interesting spin off of the Nutcracker! I see the ballet every year, and this was an enjoyable read as I feel I know the story so well.