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allisonwonderlandreads 's review for:
Midnight in Everwood
by M.A. Kuzniar
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If my winter theme didn't make it obvious, I have loved The Nutcracker since childhood, so I have been anticipating this retelling with great excitement. I read it with a winter storm brewing outside my window, Tchaikovsky dancing from my speakers, a mug of hot chocolate steaming in one hand, while sharp, dangerous magic wafted up from my e-reader. The perfect ambience.
The book's strength is its imagery, painting a decadent other world built of sugar with a whisper of danger. It's easy to understand why Marietta is mesmerized into staying. Whether it's the vibrant fashions, flavorful confections, or the opportunity to live and breathe dance away from Edwardian strictures, this world tempts all the senses while its otherworldly splendor hooks into the mind. In fact, I have never read a fantasy so devoted to conjuring magical smells and tastes, areas often overlooked in evoking unfamiliar locales. I applaud the comprehensive approach.
I also appreciated that layers of privilege are discussed right on the page: class, lgbt, race, and gender concerns are addressed within the historical context. Unfortunately, the execution was a bit clunky even if the intent was good.
The plot didn't dazzle me. We have a standard tyrant king and rebellion story with characters that were perfectly fine but lacking in depth. Mariette's relationship with her brother has potential to be powerful but gets little space in the story. The friendships among the three captured women stand out as the most compelling, but I still found them severely underdeveloped. The romance plot was yet more tenuous with little time or energy put into making it feel as special as the world framing it.
I felt iffy throughout, but the final pages left me with an ultimately negative reaction. After a lot of waiting and ball montages, the three prisoners finally put their escape plan into action. I was appalled when Mariette risked her freedom and that of her friends for a romantic assignation. It then featured my least favorite fantasy ending after "it was all a dream" or "and then their memory was wiped." I won't say what trope it is because ~spoilers~. I think it's an empowering and meaningful end, so this is not a moral or quality objection. It's just a stylistic choice that chafes at my particular sensibilities.
If you're all about fantasy worlds with keen attention to experiential detail, I think that is the strongest element of this book.
The book's strength is its imagery, painting a decadent other world built of sugar with a whisper of danger. It's easy to understand why Marietta is mesmerized into staying. Whether it's the vibrant fashions, flavorful confections, or the opportunity to live and breathe dance away from Edwardian strictures, this world tempts all the senses while its otherworldly splendor hooks into the mind. In fact, I have never read a fantasy so devoted to conjuring magical smells and tastes, areas often overlooked in evoking unfamiliar locales. I applaud the comprehensive approach.
I also appreciated that layers of privilege are discussed right on the page: class, lgbt, race, and gender concerns are addressed within the historical context. Unfortunately, the execution was a bit clunky even if the intent was good.
The plot didn't dazzle me. We have a standard tyrant king and rebellion story with characters that were perfectly fine but lacking in depth. Mariette's relationship with her brother has potential to be powerful but gets little space in the story. The friendships among the three captured women stand out as the most compelling, but I still found them severely underdeveloped. The romance plot was yet more tenuous with little time or energy put into making it feel as special as the world framing it.
I felt iffy throughout, but the final pages left me with an ultimately negative reaction. After a lot of waiting and ball montages, the three prisoners finally put their escape plan into action. I was appalled when Mariette risked her freedom and that of her friends for a romantic assignation. It then featured my least favorite fantasy ending after "it was all a dream" or "and then their memory was wiped." I won't say what trope it is because ~spoilers~. I think it's an empowering and meaningful end, so this is not a moral or quality objection. It's just a stylistic choice that chafes at my particular sensibilities.
If you're all about fantasy worlds with keen attention to experiential detail, I think that is the strongest element of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking
Moderate: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Sexism, Kidnapping, Gaslighting
Minor: Racism, Sexual content, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Injury/Injury detail