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ppbefore14feb's review against another edition
5.0
✨✨Here comes my most favorite book of the year and one of my all time favs✨✨
I honestly don’t know what makes music magic, but what makes this book magic is surely the writing and everything else that’s in it. Music as a main theme and the vivid description of it, the heartwarming plot, the charming characters, the handsome (and twisted) villain, the historical setting of Germany and fictional Russia, and most importantly, the Phantom of the Opera reference! Honestly, it’s literally a combination of everything i like. I haven’t felt this way when reading for a while, heart fluttering and literally smiling. This book didn’t make me question my entire existence nor challenge my thoughts. All it did was just captivate and comfort me with its wonderful prose and magical story. It’s like a cozy bed in a peppermint scented room on a snowy day. It’s a book i knew i would love even from the first page and a book that made me forget i was reading. It’s utterly magic, truly an enchanted sonata composed of words instead of notes.
I honestly don’t know what makes music magic, but what makes this book magic is surely the writing and everything else that’s in it. Music as a main theme and the vivid description of it, the heartwarming plot, the charming characters, the handsome (and twisted) villain, the historical setting of Germany and fictional Russia, and most importantly, the Phantom of the Opera reference! Honestly, it’s literally a combination of everything i like. I haven’t felt this way when reading for a while, heart fluttering and literally smiling. This book didn’t make me question my entire existence nor challenge my thoughts. All it did was just captivate and comfort me with its wonderful prose and magical story. It’s like a cozy bed in a peppermint scented room on a snowy day. It’s a book i knew i would love even from the first page and a book that made me forget i was reading. It’s utterly magic, truly an enchanted sonata composed of words instead of notes.
truoutrageousjem's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
parmitareads's review
4.0
A mesmerizing retelling of the Nutcracker. I stayed up all night to finish it. Beautifully written and told, it's one of the best fairytale retellings I've read recently.
sunsimin's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
dankfantasy's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ameserole's review
4.0
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
B-E-A-UTIFUL! I loved this book so much!
The Enchanted Sonata was one of those books that I needed to read but didn't know it at the time. Now what piqued my interest was how this kind of sounded like a disney movie to me. Heck, I'd watch it. Plus, I basically grew up with Disney movies and Disneyworld stuff - soooo I was completely pumped to dive into it!
In it, you will meet Clara. She's kind of like the girl from The Nutcracker or Alice in Wonderland because she kind of gets thrown into a new world. Of course it has magic and wonder..but it also has some darkness (which I love). She's basically the cheerleader sent to save the world - because she's the key to actually saving this one.
Again, it will definitely feel like a disney movie you've watched before or one that could become a real thing. I loved Clara, even if she had an insta-love moment with Julien. Not a big fan of that stuff.. but then again, it does remind me 100% of disney lol. I will admit though, they had some good twists/betrayal that kind of shook me to the core.
I didn't see a lot coming my way and that's probably why I enjoyed it so freaking much. I enjoyed all the cheesy hallmark-y/disney moments. If I didn't have to put this book on pause because of work life or sleep life - this book would've been devoured in a couple of hours. I will definitely re-read this again.
B-E-A-UTIFUL! I loved this book so much!
The Enchanted Sonata was one of those books that I needed to read but didn't know it at the time. Now what piqued my interest was how this kind of sounded like a disney movie to me. Heck, I'd watch it. Plus, I basically grew up with Disney movies and Disneyworld stuff - soooo I was completely pumped to dive into it!
In it, you will meet Clara. She's kind of like the girl from The Nutcracker or Alice in Wonderland because she kind of gets thrown into a new world. Of course it has magic and wonder..but it also has some darkness (which I love). She's basically the cheerleader sent to save the world - because she's the key to actually saving this one.
Again, it will definitely feel like a disney movie you've watched before or one that could become a real thing. I loved Clara, even if she had an insta-love moment with Julien. Not a big fan of that stuff.. but then again, it does remind me 100% of disney lol. I will admit though, they had some good twists/betrayal that kind of shook me to the core.
I didn't see a lot coming my way and that's probably why I enjoyed it so freaking much. I enjoyed all the cheesy hallmark-y/disney moments. If I didn't have to put this book on pause because of work life or sleep life - this book would've been devoured in a couple of hours. I will definitely re-read this again.
im211's review against another edition
5.0
It’s a fairytale retelling you didn’t know you needed.
___
W hen the flute played that night, only the children could hear it.
--
A quirky, incredible, amusingly twisted The Pied Piper of Hamelin and The Nutcracker retelling, following the perspectives of the Emperor of a dreamlike land, an outsider whisked away from her home and of course the piper …with way too many toys and nutcrackers scattered about.
The story sets off with a talented pianist, whose world revolves around pianos and concerts. & certainly not being landed right into a frivolous, magical but deep in mayhem kingdom. Every child in the land has been turned to toys and every soldier a Nutcracker, by an oddly smiling man who appears with a flute. Kingdom in chaos and the royal guard stack of nutcrackers, Clara with a Princely nutcracker at her side fight their way through to undo the curse, get back home, her big show and have her happily ever after…nut things get more tangled up than she can imagine.
This was such an entertaining read, I didn’t expect it to be so adventure filled, humorous, and a fulfilling story.
---
“You hwill follow me!” You did not disobey someone who added h’s to their w’s.
--
.
The world is ridiculous, magical, carrying the fairy tallish tones of description while keeping it relevant with the dilemmas characters face in the book. The resolutions the characters try to find are both plausible and bizarre, so it never really loses touch of being an outlandish land real life quandaries.
Each characters has their own quirks, even though the gloomy atmosphere it doesn’t fail to keep it amusing.
Clara is confused…but she can’t turn down her chance to help upright this alien world, after all she wasn’t alone. I enjoyed the banter between Clara and the Nutcracker, it portrayed both youth and maturity of the characters; Nutcrackers awkwardness and Clara’s bewilderment as their friendship blossomed and how both got to unveil much more of their own potential all in the process of breaking the curse.
--
“Do you know that feeling,” he said, “when you stick your finger in your ear, and wiggle it around a bit?”“Um,” said Clara. “It feels a lot like that.” Clara decided to be silent for a while.
--
There’s the right amount of action, you get adequate share of Clara’s girly moments with the Nutcracker’s moments of fear of failing and not bwing good enough. and how they grow as the story progrssed.
--
the sweetness of a fairy-touched romance reminded her of Johann, and his beautiful music. It wouldn’t be long now. “You’re a romantic, Miss Clara?”
--
He just needed a chance. Something to prove he could be a good emperor. He needed to... to lead a battle charge...or join the regiments on the southern border or... or something.
--
We even get to see the side characters growth too without it feeling detached or surplus to the story. …I thoroughly enjoyed all of this.
Ive come across this authors books previously and never really got around to pick any of them up, but now Im looking forward to seeing more of her work,
___
W hen the flute played that night, only the children could hear it.
--
A quirky, incredible, amusingly twisted The Pied Piper of Hamelin and The Nutcracker retelling, following the perspectives of the Emperor of a dreamlike land, an outsider whisked away from her home and of course the piper …with way too many toys and nutcrackers scattered about.
The story sets off with a talented pianist, whose world revolves around pianos and concerts. & certainly not being landed right into a frivolous, magical but deep in mayhem kingdom. Every child in the land has been turned to toys and every soldier a Nutcracker, by an oddly smiling man who appears with a flute. Kingdom in chaos and the royal guard stack of nutcrackers, Clara with a Princely nutcracker at her side fight their way through to undo the curse, get back home, her big show and have her happily ever after…nut things get more tangled up than she can imagine.
This was such an entertaining read, I didn’t expect it to be so adventure filled, humorous, and a fulfilling story.
---
“You hwill follow me!” You did not disobey someone who added h’s to their w’s.
--
.
The world is ridiculous, magical, carrying the fairy tallish tones of description while keeping it relevant with the dilemmas characters face in the book. The resolutions the characters try to find are both plausible and bizarre, so it never really loses touch of being an outlandish land real life quandaries.
Each characters has their own quirks, even though the gloomy atmosphere it doesn’t fail to keep it amusing.
Clara is confused…but she can’t turn down her chance to help upright this alien world, after all she wasn’t alone. I enjoyed the banter between Clara and the Nutcracker, it portrayed both youth and maturity of the characters; Nutcrackers awkwardness and Clara’s bewilderment as their friendship blossomed and how both got to unveil much more of their own potential all in the process of breaking the curse.
--
“Do you know that feeling,” he said, “when you stick your finger in your ear, and wiggle it around a bit?”“Um,” said Clara. “It feels a lot like that.” Clara decided to be silent for a while.
--
There’s the right amount of action, you get adequate share of Clara’s girly moments with the Nutcracker’s moments of fear of failing and not bwing good enough. and how they grow as the story progrssed.
--
the sweetness of a fairy-touched romance reminded her of Johann, and his beautiful music. It wouldn’t be long now. “You’re a romantic, Miss Clara?”
--
He just needed a chance. Something to prove he could be a good emperor. He needed to... to lead a battle charge...or join the regiments on the southern border or... or something.
--
We even get to see the side characters growth too without it feeling detached or surplus to the story. …I thoroughly enjoyed all of this.
Ive come across this authors books previously and never really got around to pick any of them up, but now Im looking forward to seeing more of her work,
ennieeva's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
nicole_bridgy's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
what_ella_reads's review against another edition
5.0
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
I had enjoyed Heather Dixon Wallwork's other two books, so I thought I would like her latest release "The Enchanted Sonata,". I was right!
"The Enchanted Sonata," is a fun retelling of The Nutcracker Ballet and The Pied Piper Legend. I think the author did a great job of both blending the two stories and making the plot itself original enough to set itself apart from the two stories that inspired it.
Another one of this books strengths are its characters. Both of the main characters, Clara and Nikolai, are likeable, but have their faults. Clara is smart, resilient, and thoughtful. Clara is also a typical teenage girl, who definitely makes some silly decisions. She does learn from them, though, and is better for the things she went through.
Nikolai is caring, brave, and kind. Nikolai is also a typical teenage boy, who lets his temper get the best of him sometimes. He, like Clara, matures and realizes that sometimes you have to just let things go.
Another thing I really enjoyed about this book was the romance between the two main characters. Though it happened quickly, since most of the book takes place over a 24 hour period, it didn't feel like an insta-love romance. It felt natural and real, I think because it was left as a budding love, that could and would lead to something more after the story itself ends.
I'm so glad I gave this book a read. I could definitely find myself re-reading it again in the Wintertime!
I had enjoyed Heather Dixon Wallwork's other two books, so I thought I would like her latest release "The Enchanted Sonata,". I was right!
"The Enchanted Sonata," is a fun retelling of The Nutcracker Ballet and The Pied Piper Legend. I think the author did a great job of both blending the two stories and making the plot itself original enough to set itself apart from the two stories that inspired it.
Another one of this books strengths are its characters. Both of the main characters, Clara and Nikolai, are likeable, but have their faults. Clara is smart, resilient, and thoughtful. Clara is also a typical teenage girl, who definitely makes some silly decisions. She does learn from them, though, and is better for the things she went through.
Nikolai is caring, brave, and kind. Nikolai is also a typical teenage boy, who lets his temper get the best of him sometimes. He, like Clara, matures and realizes that sometimes you have to just let things go.
Another thing I really enjoyed about this book was the romance between the two main characters. Though it happened quickly, since most of the book takes place over a 24 hour period, it didn't feel like an insta-love romance. It felt natural and real, I think because it was left as a budding love, that could and would lead to something more after the story itself ends.
I'm so glad I gave this book a read. I could definitely find myself re-reading it again in the Wintertime!