In this very dark retelling of the Nutcracker, twin sisters Natasha and Clara, have been cursed from birth as light and dark. Natasha, the dark sister, seems to be forever destined to live in the shadow of Clara. One Christmas Eve, they are transported to the Kingdom of Sweets where Clara spends the evening living out a fantasy. Natasha spends the night peeling back the veil on the mysterious land and learning some secrets that have been kept from her. The sisters then end up embroiled in a vicious cycle of envy and misery that sends ripples through their lives for many years. It was hard to see them fail to realize the weight of their choices until it was too late. I kept hoping they would turn things around and make different decisions, but their paths seemed doomed.

I picked up this book because I love retellings and the Nutcracker. While it was much darker than I expected, I appreciated the interesting twist on the tale. Natasha’s “informed” view of the world ensured that readers are fully aware of every flaw each character possessed, including her own. Her narration was an excellent guide in this tense story where no heroes would emerge.

Thank you to the Netgalley, author Erika Johansen, and, Dutton Books for an advanced copy of this book! All opinions are my own. Available as of November 28, 2023.