The Kingdom of Sweets by Erika Johansen – a Review

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Description:
A darkly magical take on The Nutcracker where two sisters, cursed from birth, are forever changed one memorable Christmas. . . .

Light and dark—this is the destiny placed upon Natasha and Clara, the birthright bestowed by their godfather, the mysterious sorcerer Drosselmeyer. Clara, the favorite, grows into beauty and ease, while Natasha is cursed to live in her sister’s shadow. But one fateful Christmas Eve, Natasha gets her chance at revenge. For Drosselmeyer has brought the Nutcracker, an enchanted present that offers entry into a deceptively beautiful world: the Kingdom of Sweets.

In this land of snow and sugar, Natasha is presented with a power far greater than Drosselmeyer: the Sugar Plum Fairy, who is also full of gifts . . . and dreadful bargains. As Natasha uncovers the dark destiny laid before her birth, she must reckon with powers both earthly and magical, and decide to which world she truly belongs.

Review:

The Kingdom of Sweets by Erika Johansen is a retelling of The Nutcracker. It is a very dark story about a twisted tale between cursed twin sisters: one light and one dark. At their birth on a Christmas, they are cursed by their godfather, Drosselmeyer.  Clara is beautiful, everything light, and loved by all.  Natasha is dark, not attractive, always living in the shadow of her sister.  When they turn 17, Natasha is shattered when her boyfriend, Conrad is stolen by Clara to wed. 

Natasha hatred for her sister becomes darker, especially with Clara’s betrayal.  Drosselmeyer has brought the Nutcracker, an enchanted present that offers entry into a deceptively beautiful world: the Kingdom of Sweets. While in the Kingdom of Sweets, Natasha makes a deal with the Sugar Plum Fairy, to get her revenge on Clara, in return for the Fairy wanting to destroy Drosselmeyer.  Natasha will take over Clara’s looks and light life, as she feels she deserves this life, as well as Conrad; she also kills Clara, or thinks she has.  

Years pass, as Natasha finds herself not happy with her life as Clara, and she begins to see her evil decisions cause more harm than she ever imagined, with things of the past coming back to haunt her.  The beautiful world in the Kingdom of Sweets is in reality a decaying world, and once Natasha realizes Clara is still alive, but living under terrible conditions, she knows she has to find a way to change everything back. 

I was not a fan of most of the characters, including Natasha and Clara, as most of them were not really likeable.  The ending was nice, with both sisters, though never close, managed to find a way to salvage their own lives.

The Kingdom of Sweets was a depressing kind of retelling on the Nutcracker theme.  It was dark and gruesome throughout; with characters mostly evil. This was a gothic  story filled with magic, curses, family twists, in a tangled world of evil, hatred, bitterness.  The Kingdom of Sweets was well written by Erika Johansen.  

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher