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Wicked Darlings #1
A Court of Sugar and Spice
With their inheritance restricted until their marriage, sisters Clara and Louisa, both in their twenties, must live with their godfather Drosselmeyer. One night, an accident brings to life one of the strange wooden dolls in Drosselmeyer's mansion. The Nutcracker doll is a cursed Fae prince, and he pleads for the sisters' help. During the ensuing journey into the Fae realm, Clara encounters the handsome Sugarplum Faerie, and he promises her the chance to enact all her forbidden fantasies. Meanwhile Louisa and the Nutcracker Prince battle and bicker over everything, despite the growing attraction between them. And to make matters worse, the entire Seelie kingdom is under threat of conquest by the Rat King, ruler of the Dread Court.
Contains mature themes.
Contains mature themes.
9 pages, Audible Audio
First published January 1, 2022
2432 people are currently reading
23804 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca F. Kenney
72 books2,889 followersRebecca F. Kenney writes spicy fantasy romance about sassy, strong women and hot guys with tragic backstories... pirates, warlords, demons, Fae, and royals. Her main series are the "Wicked Darlings" series (spicy Fae retellings of the Nutcracker, Wonderland, and Oz), the "Dark Rulers" series (standalones in a shared world), and the "For the Love of the Villain" series of genderbent fairytales. Other books include a post-apocalyptic vampire romance trilogy ("The Vampires Will Save You"), a demon romance "Interior Design for Demons," a dark mermaid fantasy duet, and other spicy retellings.
Rebecca is represented by Eva Scalzo of Speilburg Literary. She lives in upstate South Carolina with her handsome blue-eyed husband and two smart, energetic kids.
For updates and information about upcoming novels, follow on Instagram @rebeccafkenneybooks, on Twitter @RebeccaFKenney1, and on TikTok @rebeccafkenney
Rebecca is represented by Eva Scalzo of Speilburg Literary. She lives in upstate South Carolina with her handsome blue-eyed husband and two smart, energetic kids.
For updates and information about upcoming novels, follow on Instagram @rebeccafkenneybooks, on Twitter @RebeccaFKenney1, and on TikTok @rebeccafkenney
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,774 reviews
December 30, 2022
would’ve been 5 stars but they be fucking too much like chill pls you’re not in the sex realm 💀💀
December 10, 2023
When I die god is going to make me read passages of this book out loud & i will finally have to reckon with the (reading) choices I have made
December 8, 2023
Update: after I posted a video on TikTok explaining that readers expecting a cozy Christmas book should be aware of the SA trigger warnings, Rebecca F. Kennedy reached out to me. My video and experience alerted her to the fact that the audio book did not provide any mention of trigger warnings in the blurb or the audio. She immediately reached out to her media company and had that changed. She also wasn’t aware that readers on TikTok were marketing this as being super cozy and not letting people know there were dark themes. She then immediately uploaded a video sharing that it was a dark nutcracker retelling. She was extremely kind and immediately took action to make sure that other people wouldn’t have that same experience I did. I LOVE HER ❤️
This just goes to show why, as book reviewers, we have a responsibility to market books correctly. ESPECIALLY for indie authors.
And also why having trigger warnings easily accessible is very important.
I loved speaking with the author and loved how she handled my review and reader experience. I do think that if I knew what I was getting into ahead of time, I would have definitely liked the book more.
~
What to expect from this book: a bizarre, quirky, semi dark Romantasy, with fae, a nutcracker, a TON of smut, sugarplums, peppermints, and a sexual assault trigger warning.
What to NOT expect: Christmas, and lots of fluff or coziness.
Plot summary:
This story is a nutcracker retelling where Fae have been captured and cursed to be inside of nutcracker bodies and other forms and are enslaved by the two girl’s guardian.
When they accidentally bring a nutcracker to life, who is actually a fae prince, they find out what their guardian did and work to get the prince back to his realm and break the curse. Along the way they deal with evil characters, the rat king, and the rat king’s soldiers.
~
Initial thoughts after reading:
I don’t think I’d recommend this book to another person. I think I kept reading it out of curiosity and maybe as a hate read.
This book circles between an elaborate fae fantasy world, lots of smut, tons of discussion about Christmas candy, AND a completely unnecessary amount of discussion about gang rape (especially later in the book).
This was my first experience reading a book where I literally felt like I was getting whiplash from the story. It felt very chaotic and random.
I was also told by others readers that this would be a spicy, cozy, wholesome Christmas book… so I was not expecting any discussion of that or about her taking a pill to protect her insides before it happened.
The audio book app that I was using also didn’t share the trigger warnings in the blurb or the audio. So I was extremely shocked and unprepared for it. Because that usually does not make an appearance in “cozy, cute, wholesome Christmas books.”
Towards the end, the ridiculous amount of threats and discussion about that started to really get to me. It was completely unnecessary and didn’t add anything to the story.
It came out of no where because the whole beginning of the book wasn’t dark. So it didn’t match the vibe of the rest of the story.
Also, I think I will be happy if I never have to hear the word “sugarplum” again after reading this.
~
Final thoughts:
I feel like this would be a very divisive book. I could see people either hating or loving it.
My experience with this story may be very different from others. I hope my review and videos help you to decide whether this is a story you’re super interested in, or want to pass on.
Thank you to my book friends for coming along with me on my very surprising and memorable experience reading A Court of Sugar and Spice 😂
Oh P.S. one of the fae character’s 💦 tastes like a different candy every time. How did I forget to mention that?
This just goes to show why, as book reviewers, we have a responsibility to market books correctly. ESPECIALLY for indie authors.
And also why having trigger warnings easily accessible is very important.
I loved speaking with the author and loved how she handled my review and reader experience. I do think that if I knew what I was getting into ahead of time, I would have definitely liked the book more.
~
What to expect from this book: a bizarre, quirky, semi dark Romantasy, with fae, a nutcracker, a TON of smut, sugarplums, peppermints, and a sexual assault trigger warning.
What to NOT expect: Christmas, and lots of fluff or coziness.
Plot summary:
This story is a nutcracker retelling where Fae have been captured and cursed to be inside of nutcracker bodies and other forms and are enslaved by the two girl’s guardian.
When they accidentally bring a nutcracker to life, who is actually a fae prince, they find out what their guardian did and work to get the prince back to his realm and break the curse. Along the way they deal with evil characters, the rat king, and the rat king’s soldiers.
~
Initial thoughts after reading:
I don’t think I’d recommend this book to another person. I think I kept reading it out of curiosity and maybe as a hate read.
This book circles between an elaborate fae fantasy world, lots of smut, tons of discussion about Christmas candy, AND a completely unnecessary amount of discussion about gang rape (especially later in the book).
This was my first experience reading a book where I literally felt like I was getting whiplash from the story. It felt very chaotic and random.
I was also told by others readers that this would be a spicy, cozy, wholesome Christmas book… so I was not expecting any discussion of that or about her taking a pill to protect her insides before it happened.
The audio book app that I was using also didn’t share the trigger warnings in the blurb or the audio. So I was extremely shocked and unprepared for it. Because that usually does not make an appearance in “cozy, cute, wholesome Christmas books.”
Towards the end, the ridiculous amount of threats and discussion about that started to really get to me. It was completely unnecessary and didn’t add anything to the story.
It came out of no where because the whole beginning of the book wasn’t dark. So it didn’t match the vibe of the rest of the story.
Also, I think I will be happy if I never have to hear the word “sugarplum” again after reading this.
~
Final thoughts:
I feel like this would be a very divisive book. I could see people either hating or loving it.
My experience with this story may be very different from others. I hope my review and videos help you to decide whether this is a story you’re super interested in, or want to pass on.
Thank you to my book friends for coming along with me on my very surprising and memorable experience reading A Court of Sugar and Spice 😂
Oh P.S. one of the fae character’s 💦 tastes like a different candy every time. How did I forget to mention that?
March 11, 2023
4 Peppermint Stick Stars ⭐️
Ohh this was utterly toothsome and I enjoyed it so much! A Court of Sugar and Spice was a deliciously delectable and delightful treat, that was that perfect fix of "sugar and spice" but defiantly naughty.
This dual-POV Nutcracker retelling follows two sisters, Louisa and Clara. Who after their father dies are sent to live with their Godfather Drosselmeyer. They soon find that not everything is what it seems in the house. One night following a bloody splinter, Louisa temporarily breaks the curse on a Nutcracker doll to reveal he is actually a captured and cursed Fae Prince. The sisters offer to help him break the curse completely so they journey to the Fae Realm; where they discover, in the Prince's absence, the Seelie Kingdom has been overrun by the Rat King's forces. To aid their quest and retake the kingdom, the group enlist the help of the Prince's cousin, the seductive and flirty gender-bent "Sugarplum Faerie".
The main thing that made me love this book is the worldbuilding and descriptions of the setting. It was beautiful, transcendent and gorgeous. I could so easily picture the world in its glowing and luminescent glory. It was scrumptious, filled with vivid colour, brightly coloured people, trees, and delicious smells of vanilla and cinnamon. None of this would have been possible if Rebecca Kenney did not have an amazing ability for writing. She is by far climbing to the top of my favourite Authors for a reason because I JUST LOVE HER BOOKS, WRITING AND CREATIVITY! She manages to take an idea and give it such a unique and inventive spin that I will EAT IT UP like a kid in a candy shop!
This is actually the love story of both girls so I am going to split this into the two couples
❆Clara and Fin❆
I just love them! I eat my words and distaste for insta-love with these two. While there was definitely insta-"lust" between these two characters, Clara was sweet, demure and complicated. She had been creatively repressed by her father, forced to find shame in the fact that she wanted to paint. Then bring in Fin (probably the BEST CHARACTER IN THIS BOOK BY FAR). He was perfect and even more so, PERFECT for Clara. He was the first person to actually see who she was, not who she pretended to be. He was smart, kind, generous and unapologetically sexual, but I loved it! I found myself wanting to skim Louisa and Lir's scenes, just to get back to Clara and Fin, because whilst they were in dangerous and perilous situations, the levity Fin brought to the chapters was AMAZING!
❆Louisa and Lir❆
These two are probably the reason why I brought the rating down. I have no problem with a woman who loves sex and is proud of her sexuality and body, but when you make your entire PERSONALITY your like for sex and use this as the thing to define yourself...that is where I tend to be a little put-off. Whilst Louisa is very quick thinking and strategic, I found myself annoyed at her more times than I could count, especially since she also tried to make herself feel better by bringing Clara down. Lir was incredibly unlikeable and I did not see his appeal or charm until the last 10% of the book. For the majority there was nothing redeeming about him as a character as he says hurtful and mean things to Louisa WHILE SHE IS HELPING HIM and then tries to excuse his behaviour for "I feel so much for you that it scares me so I am trying to push you away". No dude....If you weren't Fin's cousin I might have left you as a doll if it was me.
Let's talk about the naughty parts of this book 😏 There is A LOT of it in this book, and it starts very quickly - it ranges from light touching to consensual "running through a forest" fantasy acted out.... My only issue is...I have this awful moral catch-22 that the times when some of the scenes occurred, seemed a little strange and if I were hypothetically in the story in their place, probably would have gone "NOW, is not the best time to have sex"
It has some good trope moments in it too:
▶ Enemies to Lovers
▶ OneHorse Reindeer
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ One Bed - WITH Body heat for warmth
▶ He falls first (kinda)
▶ Fae/Human Romance
Overall, this was exactly what I needed and another amazing book by Rebecca Kenney to add to my list! I cannot wait for A Court of Hearts and Hunger (Officially out 31 March 2023) where I get to spend more time with Clara and Fin ♥️♥️♥️
❆Quotes❆:
The one that sticks in my mind the most
Ohh this was utterly toothsome and I enjoyed it so much! A Court of Sugar and Spice was a deliciously delectable and delightful treat, that was that perfect fix of "sugar and spice" but defiantly naughty.
This dual-POV Nutcracker retelling follows two sisters, Louisa and Clara. Who after their father dies are sent to live with their Godfather Drosselmeyer. They soon find that not everything is what it seems in the house. One night following a bloody splinter, Louisa temporarily breaks the curse on a Nutcracker doll to reveal he is actually a captured and cursed Fae Prince. The sisters offer to help him break the curse completely so they journey to the Fae Realm; where they discover, in the Prince's absence, the Seelie Kingdom has been overrun by the Rat King's forces. To aid their quest and retake the kingdom, the group enlist the help of the Prince's cousin, the seductive and flirty gender-bent "Sugarplum Faerie".
The main thing that made me love this book is the worldbuilding and descriptions of the setting. It was beautiful, transcendent and gorgeous. I could so easily picture the world in its glowing and luminescent glory. It was scrumptious, filled with vivid colour, brightly coloured people, trees, and delicious smells of vanilla and cinnamon. None of this would have been possible if Rebecca Kenney did not have an amazing ability for writing. She is by far climbing to the top of my favourite Authors for a reason because I JUST LOVE HER BOOKS, WRITING AND CREATIVITY! She manages to take an idea and give it such a unique and inventive spin that I will EAT IT UP like a kid in a candy shop!
This is actually the love story of both girls so I am going to split this into the two couples
❆Clara and Fin❆
I just love them! I eat my words and distaste for insta-love with these two. While there was definitely insta-"lust" between these two characters, Clara was sweet, demure and complicated. She had been creatively repressed by her father, forced to find shame in the fact that she wanted to paint. Then bring in Fin (probably the BEST CHARACTER IN THIS BOOK BY FAR). He was perfect and even more so, PERFECT for Clara. He was the first person to actually see who she was, not who she pretended to be. He was smart, kind, generous and unapologetically sexual, but I loved it! I found myself wanting to skim Louisa and Lir's scenes, just to get back to Clara and Fin, because whilst they were in dangerous and perilous situations, the levity Fin brought to the chapters was AMAZING!
❆Louisa and Lir❆
These two are probably the reason why I brought the rating down. I have no problem with a woman who loves sex and is proud of her sexuality and body, but when you make your entire PERSONALITY your like for sex and use this as the thing to define yourself...that is where I tend to be a little put-off. Whilst Louisa is very quick thinking and strategic, I found myself annoyed at her more times than I could count, especially since she also tried to make herself feel better by bringing Clara down. Lir was incredibly unlikeable and I did not see his appeal or charm until the last 10% of the book. For the majority there was nothing redeeming about him as a character as he says hurtful and mean things to Louisa WHILE SHE IS HELPING HIM and then tries to excuse his behaviour for "I feel so much for you that it scares me so I am trying to push you away". No dude....If you weren't Fin's cousin I might have left you as a doll if it was me.
Let's talk about the naughty parts of this book 😏 There is A LOT of it in this book, and it starts very quickly - it ranges from light touching to consensual "running through a forest" fantasy acted out.... My only issue is...I have this awful moral catch-22 that the times when some of the scenes occurred, seemed a little strange and if I were hypothetically in the story in their place, probably would have gone "NOW, is not the best time to have sex"
It has some good trope moments in it too:
▶ Enemies to Lovers
▶ One
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ One Bed - WITH Body heat for warmth
▶ He falls first (kinda)
▶ Fae/Human Romance
Overall, this was exactly what I needed and another amazing book by Rebecca Kenney to add to my list! I cannot wait for A Court of Hearts and Hunger (Officially out 31 March 2023) where I get to spend more time with Clara and Fin ♥️♥️♥️
❆Quotes❆:
The one that sticks in my mind the most
“Nowadays, people call me Sugarplum because I have the same delightful quality as these fruits. I’m deliciously flavored, and I taste different every time.”❆Clara and Fin❆
“You—you mean your personality?”
“No.” His lashes lower, hooding his eyes. “I’m not talking about my personality. I’m talking about my cum.”
He breaks the hot torment of the kiss for a moment, and in that moment I say the words against his lips. “I love you.”❆Louisa and Lir❆
No more than a frenzied breath, but he hears me. His hand tightens on my hair, and he crushes himself against my body, his words hot and hoarse in my ear.
“Only you,” he grits out. “Only you, ever.”
“Your scent,” he says. “It’s like nothing else I’ve ever encountered. It’s—it’s mine. It’s my scent. That’s the only way I can describe it. It’s not the way I smell, but it belongs to me, it’s—tailored to me, designed to be the one fragrance I can’t resist.
I need you—not your body, not only that, but more. I—I admire you, Louisa. I admire your confidence, your keen mind, your beautiful enthusiasm for everything, your courage in crisis. I long to be like you. I wish I could lose myself entirely in you.”
December 27, 2023
why on gods green earth do i need to know the size or quite frankly absolutely anything about the rat king’s bulge😭😭
November 28, 2023
The plot was not plottin’ and the spice was not spicin’
November 29, 2023
DNF at 80%. I just couldn't do it. Once I read "my heart was wet for him", it was over.
dnf
January 15, 2024yooo she was really fantasizing the fuck out of that nutcracker dick 😭
November 25, 2022
As a child I watched Barbie as the Nutcracker on VHS all the time, to the point where I had most of the movie memorized. As an adult I’ve been craving a more mature version of this story that I loved so much and this book absolutely delivered that.
In this book we get a perilous adventure, two great love stories (one of them is enemies to lovers which is my weakness), and tons of delicious spice. I was drawn in to this book quickly, finding myself relating in part to each of the sisters and just didn’t want to put it down. I even volunteered to watch the food cooking on Thanksgiving to I could have an excuse to keep reading.
As always be mindful of the TWs (which include blood, violence, light bondage, and light CNC) but I definitely recommend this book to anybody who wants a more mature version of a holiday classic.
In this book we get a perilous adventure, two great love stories (one of them is enemies to lovers which is my weakness), and tons of delicious spice. I was drawn in to this book quickly, finding myself relating in part to each of the sisters and just didn’t want to put it down. I even volunteered to watch the food cooking on Thanksgiving to I could have an excuse to keep reading.
As always be mindful of the TWs (which include blood, violence, light bondage, and light CNC) but I definitely recommend this book to anybody who wants a more mature version of a holiday classic.
December 14, 2022
DNF
I’m calling this one. This book can’t go two paragraphs without mentioning something sexual.
Just because a character likes sex doesn’t mean it has to be their entire personality.
Yeah, nah, this book is not for me.
Edit: I felt bad after I posted this so I went back and paged through to see if I made a mistake. Yeah, nah. It turned into nothing but porn. I don’t just mean some love scenes- this is just erotica. It’s nothing but explicit sex scenes. I wish I didn’t spend money on this lol
I’m calling this one. This book can’t go two paragraphs without mentioning something sexual.
Just because a character likes sex doesn’t mean it has to be their entire personality.
Yeah, nah, this book is not for me.
Edit: I felt bad after I posted this so I went back and paged through to see if I made a mistake. Yeah, nah. It turned into nothing but porn. I don’t just mean some love scenes- this is just erotica. It’s nothing but explicit sex scenes. I wish I didn’t spend money on this lol
May 26, 2024
dnf 35% to jest po prostu obrzydliwe. bohaterowie nie są w żaden sposób interesujący. „ciekawa”, „angażująca” fabuła, o której wypowiadają się ludzie, którzy polecają tę „książkę” dosłownie nie istnieje. czuję się strasznie zniesmaczona i nie chodzi mi nawet o same sceny erotyczne (choć są wybitnie źle opisane), ale o wulgarność całości. nic tutaj nie ma sensu i mam świadomość, że nie będzie lepiej.☠️
June 12, 2023
I dnfed this one, mostly because of Louisa. I was grossed out by her inability to take “no” for an answer and her consistently pushing the boundaries of consent. She spent most of the book trying to sexually assault Lir and got mad when he told her no. Like she would probably roofie a guy and think she did nothing wrong.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2023
—🍬 4 stars 🍬—
“We are new to this world, but we’ve already seen it at its worst. We’ve endured. We’ve made mistakes and hurt each other, but we have also become and overcome.
And we are not afraid. Because a love so imperfectly flawless is all the magic we need to dispel fear.”
————about the book————
Age: NA/A
Genres: fantasy, retellings, fairytales, fantasy romance,
Writing: 8/10
Quotes: 7/10
World building: 8/10
Characters: 8/10
Romance: 9/10
My rating: 8.5/10
TWs on author’s website
———my thoughts———
With no money until they marry, sisters Clara and Louisa must live with their godfather Drosselmyer.
When an accident brings one of the strange automatons is Drosselmyer’s mansion to life, Clara and Lou are swept away to another world.
There, they meet all kinds of creatures and fairies...including the handsome Sugarplum Faeire, and the Nutcracker Prince himself.
But as the sisters become more attached to this world...a great evil threatens to conquer it all.
I used to go to the Nutcracker Ballet every year as a kid.
So I sort of grew up with that story.
The sweets, the nutcracker, the sugarplum fairy, and little Clara herself.
But as I’ve grown up, so has this story in a way.
It’s not sweet.
It’s not innocent.
It’s dark and spicy and brutal.
And absolutely incredible.
Rebecca Kenney, you are a genius.
This book was very easy to read, but also has depth, a plotline, and a delicious amount of romance and spice...
There’s something about the world in particular.
Because while it is most definitely a Nutcracker world, it’s also it’s own.
There’s fae, there’s monsters, and there’s more magic than ever.
What really drew me into the book at first was how quickly it dived into the action.
The two sisters, Clara and Louisa were dropped into the Nutcracker world very early on, and I liked that.
It gave more time in the fantasy, which as we all know is far better than any normal world...
There were also nods to the original fairytale the entire way through—most of them obvious, but there were a few more discrete ones.
And then there’s the characters.
Characters then to be what makes it breaks a book for me, and these ones definitely made it!
Of the two sisters, Clara was firmly my favourite.
She’s sweet and kind, but there’s also a darker side to her which comes out a little.
Lou, I liked at the start. But for me, her actions felt quite repetitive for the middle part.
However, I did like her again by the end, but still not as much as Clara.
The nutcracker himself was...a little boring. But he redeemed himself to me by the end too.
And Finias? My sugarplum faerie? I adore him. He’s caring and loving, but his dangerous side made my spine tingle.
And the romance?
Clara and Fin are everything to me. I will protect them until the day I die, and I love them with my whole heart.
But honestly, Fin calls Clara “Dearest.” How could you NOT melt???
He also helps her explore her sexual side, but does so with the most care and sweetness. You can see in the way he acts—if she ever told him to stop, he would immediately.
I love them so so so much!
And Louisa and The Nutcracker?
They were...good, I guess.
I liked their bickering and fights, but it felt a little like they were two magnets pushing away from each other as much as possible until they weren’t.
I don’t have anything against them, I just wasn’t as interested by them.
All in all, I loved this, I love Rebecca Kenney’s writing and storytelling.
And I will be devouring the rest of her books as soon as possible!
————quotes————
“You, my dearest darling, are someone I’ve only dreamed of meeting. I’m very afraid I won’t be able to let you go back to your world. I think I shall have to keep you here, with me.”
“I make it a habit to always pay attention when a woman speaks to me. It’s the ones who are out of their minds who have the most fascinating and insightful things to say.”
“So you’re not on the Rat King’s side then?” “Fuck no. He has no sense of style, for one thing. And for another… No, that’s it. That’s my only reason.”
————songs————
Ritual -Rita Ora
I did something bad -Taylor Swift
I just want a lover -Noah Cyrus
———random extra thoughts———
I’m reading the next book now, and this wonderland is definitely SOMETHING...
Thanks for reading!❤️
“We are new to this world, but we’ve already seen it at its worst. We’ve endured. We’ve made mistakes and hurt each other, but we have also become and overcome.
And we are not afraid. Because a love so imperfectly flawless is all the magic we need to dispel fear.”
————about the book————
Age: NA/A
Genres: fantasy, retellings, fairytales, fantasy romance,
Writing: 8/10
Quotes: 7/10
World building: 8/10
Characters: 8/10
Romance: 9/10
My rating: 8.5/10
TWs on author’s website
———my thoughts———
With no money until they marry, sisters Clara and Louisa must live with their godfather Drosselmyer.
When an accident brings one of the strange automatons is Drosselmyer’s mansion to life, Clara and Lou are swept away to another world.
There, they meet all kinds of creatures and fairies...including the handsome Sugarplum Faeire, and the Nutcracker Prince himself.
But as the sisters become more attached to this world...a great evil threatens to conquer it all.
I used to go to the Nutcracker Ballet every year as a kid.
So I sort of grew up with that story.
The sweets, the nutcracker, the sugarplum fairy, and little Clara herself.
But as I’ve grown up, so has this story in a way.
It’s not sweet.
It’s not innocent.
It’s dark and spicy and brutal.
And absolutely incredible.
Rebecca Kenney, you are a genius.
This book was very easy to read, but also has depth, a plotline, and a delicious amount of romance and spice...
There’s something about the world in particular.
Because while it is most definitely a Nutcracker world, it’s also it’s own.
There’s fae, there’s monsters, and there’s more magic than ever.
What really drew me into the book at first was how quickly it dived into the action.
The two sisters, Clara and Louisa were dropped into the Nutcracker world very early on, and I liked that.
It gave more time in the fantasy, which as we all know is far better than any normal world...
There were also nods to the original fairytale the entire way through—most of them obvious, but there were a few more discrete ones.
And then there’s the characters.
Characters then to be what makes it breaks a book for me, and these ones definitely made it!
Of the two sisters, Clara was firmly my favourite.
She’s sweet and kind, but there’s also a darker side to her which comes out a little.
Lou, I liked at the start. But for me, her actions felt quite repetitive for the middle part.
However, I did like her again by the end, but still not as much as Clara.
The nutcracker himself was...a little boring. But he redeemed himself to me by the end too.
And Finias? My sugarplum faerie? I adore him. He’s caring and loving, but his dangerous side made my spine tingle.
And the romance?
Clara and Fin are everything to me. I will protect them until the day I die, and I love them with my whole heart.
But honestly, Fin calls Clara “Dearest.” How could you NOT melt???
He also helps her explore her sexual side, but does so with the most care and sweetness. You can see in the way he acts—if she ever told him to stop, he would immediately.
I love them so so so much!
And Louisa and The Nutcracker?
They were...good, I guess.
I liked their bickering and fights, but it felt a little like they were two magnets pushing away from each other as much as possible until they weren’t.
I don’t have anything against them, I just wasn’t as interested by them.
All in all, I loved this, I love Rebecca Kenney’s writing and storytelling.
And I will be devouring the rest of her books as soon as possible!
————quotes————
“You, my dearest darling, are someone I’ve only dreamed of meeting. I’m very afraid I won’t be able to let you go back to your world. I think I shall have to keep you here, with me.”
“I make it a habit to always pay attention when a woman speaks to me. It’s the ones who are out of their minds who have the most fascinating and insightful things to say.”
“So you’re not on the Rat King’s side then?” “Fuck no. He has no sense of style, for one thing. And for another… No, that’s it. That’s my only reason.”
————songs————
Ritual -Rita Ora
I did something bad -Taylor Swift
I just want a lover -Noah Cyrus
———random extra thoughts———
I’m reading the next book now, and this wonderland is definitely SOMETHING...
Thanks for reading!❤️
December 27, 2023
This was so incredibly weird but I cannot deny being entertained by it
December 20, 2023
This book felt like a fever dream. I wasn’t a fan
July 25, 2025
“You, my dearest darling, are someone I’ve only dreamed of meeting. I’m very afraid I won’t be able to let you go back to your world. I think I shall have to keep you here, with me.”
2025 Update: I forgot how fucking hot this book is. 10/10
----
Fast-paced, spicy Nutcracker retelling. Loved every second ❤️🔥 I'm officially a Kenney fan.
Summary:
Deprived of their fortunes until they wed or turn 30, sisters Clara and Louisa are sent to live with their godfather Drosselmeyer after their controlling father's passing. Though restricted by social roles and finances, each sister plots to achieve independence in her own way. Clara, through earning enough money to move the sisters to the city, and Louisa through marriage.
Drosselmeyer's odd house fascinates the sisters. Their godfather prides himself as an inventor; his house is full of strange inventions, including automaton servants. His most prized creation is a fully functional enlarged dollhouse and its newest inhabitant - the nutcracker.
Accidentally dropping the nutcracker, Louisa sneaks back into Drosselmeyer's showroom after hours to repair him. Imagine her shock when he magically comes to life and declares that he is a Fae Prince, hunted and cursed by Drosselmeyer! The sisters must accompany the Nutcracker Prince back to Faerie so that he can break the curse, claim his throne, and save his people. But the journey is treacherous--and should they even trust this strange prince?
Thoughts:
This book was breathtaking, absolutely enthralling. The folklore, setting, action, and vivid descriptions! I swear I was smelling cinnamon sugar and mulled wine. The only thing that would have made this book better would be reading it in December. I don't even like sweets but I would make an exception for candy goth boy Fin. Obsessed with him and Clara.
As a retelling, the novel opens in a way that feels familiar and welcoming. Since most readers will already be familiar with the Nutcracker premise, little build-up to action is needed and the story immediately captivates. In addition to the Nutcracker and folklore inspiration, this book also evokes The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - I loved it.
Both narrators were distinct and engaging, though sometimes Louisa was a little intolerable. As someone who's often forced to be the "responsible one" like Clara, I found Louisa's self-absorption and immaturity grating. But she is a well-developed and believable character, and I still enjoyed her POVs overall--astute, bawdy, confident, and creative. Clara and Louisa's relationship was vital and realistic.
Though without magic and in entirely unfamiliar territory, the heroines are not damsels in distress. Both are courageous, quick-witted, and capable of holding their own as well as their male counterparts.
December 11, 2023
3.75/5
Luiza i Klara szybko odkrywają, że drewniane figurki w domu ich opiekuna są zaklętymi fae, porwanymi ze swojej krainy. Za mocą wydarzeń postanawiają uwolnić spod uroku ich władcę - dziadka do orzechów i pomóc mu odzyskać tron w bajkowym królestwie, które obecnie zajmowane jest przez złego Króla Myszy. Pomóc ma im w tym Cukrowy wróżek.
Moje totalne pozytywne zaskoczenie! Ta historia zaskoczyła mnie ciekawą fabułą (prostą ale wartką), postaciami, które odbiegają od przyjętych schematów w romantasy oraz niebanalną kreacją świata. Slow burn w tej książce mnie zdziwił ale idealnie pasował do tych dwóch przeciwstawnych sobie par. Luiza jako ta bardziej doświadczona w kontaktach z mężczyznami siostra zauroczona jest fae, który jej nie chce, piętnując jej bezpośredni flirt i zachowanie. Z drugiej strony mamy nieśmiałą Klarę, której pragnienia i fantazje pobudza Cukrowy wróżek.
Sceny erotyczne są odważne (przeczytajcie ostrzeżenie), bo są w nich elementy z darków ale osobiście uważam że pasują do kreacji bohaterów i całego świata fae, który z jednej strony jest słodki ale i brutalny ze wszystkimi potworami czyhającymi na rogu. Bywa mrocznie i niepokojąco ale przede wszystkich słodko i pikantnie bo autorka użyła wyobraźni i nadała cukierkom nowego przeznaczenia. Mamy więc cukierkową kąpiel, ciągnące się niczym więzy mordoklejki czy same cukrowe laski mają swoje trzy minuty.
Największym minusem tej książki są pojedyncze dialogi i sceny natury erotycznej, które mogą zniechęcić. Na szczęście jest ich stosunkowo mało, a sama historia "nadrabia" te drobne potknięcia.
Bardzo podoba mi się rozwój bohaterek oraz jak zmienia się ich siostrzana relacja przez wzgląd na drastyczne wydarzenia w książce oraz podejście fae to ludzkich kobiet. Do tego motyw picia krwi (hot) i bratnich dusz dopełnia pięknie całą tą historię. Jestem ciekawa bardzo kolejnych tomów.
Luiza i Klara szybko odkrywają, że drewniane figurki w domu ich opiekuna są zaklętymi fae, porwanymi ze swojej krainy. Za mocą wydarzeń postanawiają uwolnić spod uroku ich władcę - dziadka do orzechów i pomóc mu odzyskać tron w bajkowym królestwie, które obecnie zajmowane jest przez złego Króla Myszy. Pomóc ma im w tym Cukrowy wróżek.
Moje totalne pozytywne zaskoczenie! Ta historia zaskoczyła mnie ciekawą fabułą (prostą ale wartką), postaciami, które odbiegają od przyjętych schematów w romantasy oraz niebanalną kreacją świata. Slow burn w tej książce mnie zdziwił ale idealnie pasował do tych dwóch przeciwstawnych sobie par. Luiza jako ta bardziej doświadczona w kontaktach z mężczyznami siostra zauroczona jest fae, który jej nie chce, piętnując jej bezpośredni flirt i zachowanie. Z drugiej strony mamy nieśmiałą Klarę, której pragnienia i fantazje pobudza Cukrowy wróżek.
Sceny erotyczne są odważne (przeczytajcie ostrzeżenie), bo są w nich elementy z darków ale osobiście uważam że pasują do kreacji bohaterów i całego świata fae, który z jednej strony jest słodki ale i brutalny ze wszystkimi potworami czyhającymi na rogu. Bywa mrocznie i niepokojąco ale przede wszystkich słodko i pikantnie bo autorka użyła wyobraźni i nadała cukierkom nowego przeznaczenia. Mamy więc cukierkową kąpiel, ciągnące się niczym więzy mordoklejki czy same cukrowe laski mają swoje trzy minuty.
Największym minusem tej książki są pojedyncze dialogi i sceny natury erotycznej, które mogą zniechęcić. Na szczęście jest ich stosunkowo mało, a sama historia "nadrabia" te drobne potknięcia.
Bardzo podoba mi się rozwój bohaterek oraz jak zmienia się ich siostrzana relacja przez wzgląd na drastyczne wydarzenia w książce oraz podejście fae to ludzkich kobiet. Do tego motyw picia krwi (hot) i bratnich dusz dopełnia pięknie całą tą historię. Jestem ciekawa bardzo kolejnych tomów.
December 13, 2023
The sugarplum fairy....I need him
November 14, 2022
3/5 ⭐️
2.5/5 🌶️ - leaning closer to 3 though
Now look, was this book revolutionary? I don’t know.
❄️🍬✨What I do know is that I had fun. ✨🍬❄️
I’ve never read a retelling of the nutcracker and this is veryyyyy loosely based on that. Don’t expect Barbie and the Nutcracker or any of those vibes because you’d be in for a surprise. Although, let’s take a moment and remember how good that movie was. Kid me thought it slapped and you know what? I respect kid me’s choices.
Anyways, if you’re looking for a fun little story about a fae prince who is turned into a nutcracker and his cousin, Sugarplum, with some spicy scenes for our two main characters Louisa and Clara (also dual POV from each sister) than give it a go!
2.5/5 🌶️ - leaning closer to 3 though
Now look, was this book revolutionary? I don’t know.
❄️🍬✨What I do know is that I had fun. ✨🍬❄️
I’ve never read a retelling of the nutcracker and this is veryyyyy loosely based on that. Don’t expect Barbie and the Nutcracker or any of those vibes because you’d be in for a surprise. Although, let’s take a moment and remember how good that movie was. Kid me thought it slapped and you know what? I respect kid me’s choices.
Anyways, if you’re looking for a fun little story about a fae prince who is turned into a nutcracker and his cousin, Sugarplum, with some spicy scenes for our two main characters Louisa and Clara (also dual POV from each sister) than give it a go!
September 23, 2023
DNF at 60%
This was a strange, strange book. I never did complete it - I don't know the plot. It just got lost in all the weird ... action.
It's definitely a court of spice. It's not good spice. Like, what happened to the original storyline, The Nutcracker retelling? It was so good at the start: secret rooms, evil uncle, wooden dolls, and fae servants trapped inside wooden figures because of said evil uncle.
The magical element was there, but no, she is going to run away into a different world in which we barely get the background description, and it is sloppy with its continuous wreckage. Creatures are chasing them? But there never is a proper understanding of the creatures and why they are being pursued continuously. Two sisters who inwardly resent each other also just really add more strain on this supposedly fantastical world. One sister is missing, and one is making out with a half-wooden and half-fae animal, and the sister is, I don't even remember. It is all just horny characters.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE POTENTIAL. THE MYSTERIOUS PRINCE TRAPPED AWAY AS A WOODEN DOLL. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING GREAT, BUT NO FORGET IT ALL, just for FAST PACED RANDOM Unnecessary spice.
Ugh, I'm so mad. God, I hope SOMEONE takes the elements and potential of what this story could have been AND writes an actual enjoyable, twisting, remarkable story. Don't get me wrong, I love a good character romance, but it has to be good, brewed and built up and not just wholly focused on sex - not the honed focus on shitty characters who resent each other and act twelve. Gosh, this is infuriating. I don't know why I am so mad, but I am. I wanted more with these characters. I might just start reading the blurb of books if this is what I have to face. I am disappointed, and now I have all this anger I have to get across. This deserved better.
This was a strange, strange book. I never did complete it - I don't know the plot. It just got lost in all the weird ... action.
It's definitely a court of spice. It's not good spice. Like, what happened to the original storyline, The Nutcracker retelling? It was so good at the start: secret rooms, evil uncle, wooden dolls, and fae servants trapped inside wooden figures because of said evil uncle.
The magical element was there, but no, she is going to run away into a different world in which we barely get the background description, and it is sloppy with its continuous wreckage. Creatures are chasing them? But there never is a proper understanding of the creatures and why they are being pursued continuously. Two sisters who inwardly resent each other also just really add more strain on this supposedly fantastical world. One sister is missing, and one is making out with a half-wooden and half-fae animal, and the sister is, I don't even remember. It is all just horny characters.
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE POTENTIAL. THE MYSTERIOUS PRINCE TRAPPED AWAY AS A WOODEN DOLL. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN SOMETHING GREAT, BUT NO FORGET IT ALL, just for FAST PACED RANDOM Unnecessary spice.
Ugh, I'm so mad. God, I hope SOMEONE takes the elements and potential of what this story could have been AND writes an actual enjoyable, twisting, remarkable story. Don't get me wrong, I love a good character romance, but it has to be good, brewed and built up and not just wholly focused on sex - not the honed focus on shitty characters who resent each other and act twelve. Gosh, this is infuriating. I don't know why I am so mad, but I am. I wanted more with these characters. I might just start reading the blurb of books if this is what I have to face. I am disappointed, and now I have all this anger I have to get across. This deserved better.
December 21, 2022
This book was so much fun!!! I’ve always loved The Nutcracker, ever since I was a girl and played Clara and got to watch the ballet in person. It’s so magical and whimsical, and this book was too! Louise and Clara are in their early 20s in the 1800s, and their father has died. Since they are unmarried, they cannot claim their inheritance, so they must live with Uncle Drosselmeyer, their godfather. They discover a nutcracker, and when Louise gets some of her blood on it, it transforms into a Fae man. He’s to be King of the Court of Delights, but Drosselmeyer stole him away and put a curse on him. He tells the women that they must take him to him realm and put him in a magical pool that will lift his curse.
They set out, meeting up with his cousin, The Sugarplum Faerie, and set out for adventure. In Lir’s absence (the nutcracker) his court has been invaded by the Rat King and his army. They must work together to conquer and save his land. Louise tried to fight her growing attraction to Lir, which isn’t difficult since he’s an asshole and calls her a slut. Meanwhile she’s keeping him in his human form with her blood! And quiet and shy Clara finds herself being very charmed by the charismatic Fin, aka Sugarplum. These couples come together in very different ways and paces, but they’re the sweetest together. I loved Fin the most, calling Clara Dearest and Love. He was really funny, and my favorite character.
They set out, meeting up with his cousin, The Sugarplum Faerie, and set out for adventure. In Lir’s absence (the nutcracker) his court has been invaded by the Rat King and his army. They must work together to conquer and save his land. Louise tried to fight her growing attraction to Lir, which isn’t difficult since he’s an asshole and calls her a slut. Meanwhile she’s keeping him in his human form with her blood! And quiet and shy Clara finds herself being very charmed by the charismatic Fin, aka Sugarplum. These couples come together in very different ways and paces, but they’re the sweetest together. I loved Fin the most, calling Clara Dearest and Love. He was really funny, and my favorite character.
December 22, 2022
If you’re looking for smut with a small subplot of romantic fantasy, this is a good fit. I personally was looking for a little more magic and emotion and I really just don’t think that was executed at all.
The sisters Clara and Louisa just ended up with male versions of each other. It was very easy to digest but kind of read like a children’s book but obviously not kid friendly at all. There we’re things like “the journey was tough,” rather than descriptions and evidence of a tough journey. The only parts that didn’t feel like a rough draft were the spice scenes because it was clear that was where the attention to detail was put. I got a lot of laughs though. I don’t completely regret reading it, but I do feel my efforts would have been better spent elsewhere.
The sisters Clara and Louisa just ended up with male versions of each other. It was very easy to digest but kind of read like a children’s book but obviously not kid friendly at all. There we’re things like “the journey was tough,” rather than descriptions and evidence of a tough journey. The only parts that didn’t feel like a rough draft were the spice scenes because it was clear that was where the attention to detail was put. I got a lot of laughs though. I don’t completely regret reading it, but I do feel my efforts would have been better spent elsewhere.
dnf
December 10, 2024Dnf @ 26%. Actually I can’t do this 💀
April 11, 2024
4/5 🌟
3/5 ❤️🩹
3/5 🥰
5/5 🌶️
0/5 🔎
3/5 😰A
2/5 🎭T
2/5 🎭C
0/5 👻
⚠️⛔️TRIGGERS:⛔️⚠️
This book is intended for mature audiences, adults age 18+.
This is not intended for children or adults that are sensitive to any of the following triggers:
Family Death
Explicit Sex Scenes
Explicit Language
Violence
Gore
Monsters
Blood
Sexual Threat
Sexual Content
Sexual Harassment
Sexual Assault
Sexual Violence
Light Bondage
Light C-NC
Primal Play
Kidnapping
Death
Confinement
Rape
Murder
Body Horror
Slavery
Profanity
War
Injury/Injury Detail
Misogyny
Sexism
Abandonment
Bullying
Child Abuse
Physical Abuse
Torture
Toxic Relationship
Forced Institutionalization
Trafficking
Cannibalism
Gaslighting
Classism
Death of a Parent
🗯️💬BOOK BLURB:💬🗯️
With their inheritance restricted until their marriage, sisters Clara and Louisa, both in their twenties, must live with their godfather Drosselmeyer. One night, an accident brings to life one of the strange wooden dolls in Drosselmeyer's mansion. The Nutcracker doll is a cursed Fae prince, and he pleads for the sisters' help. During the ensuing journey into the Fae realm, Clara encounters the handsome Sugarplum Faerie, and he promises her the chance to enact all her forbidden fantasies. Meanwhile Louisa and the Nutcracker Prince battle and bicker over everything, despite the growing attraction between them. And to make matters worse, the entire Seelie kingdom is under threat of conquest by the Rat King, ruler of the Dread Court.
This is a spicy, adult, fantasy romance retelling of "The Nutcracker" fairytale.
🌎📖OVERALL REVIEWS📖🌎
Courtesy of Storygraph
COMMUNITY REVIEWS
SUMMARY OF 1,538 REVIEWS
Moods
adventurous 87%
dark 55%
funny 33%
tense 26%
lighthearted 22%
emotional 21%
mysterious 18%
challenging 10%
hopeful 8%
inspiring 3%
reflective 1%
relaxing 1%
sad 1%
Pace
fast 59%
medium 38%
slow 2%
Plot- or character-driven?
A mix: 55% | Plot: 24% | Character: 19%
Strong character development?
Yes: 54% | No: 26% | It's complicated: 18% | N/A: 1%
Loveable characters?
Yes: 59% | It's complicated: 26% | No: 13%
Diverse cast of characters?
Yes: 48% | No: 30% | It's complicated: 16% | N/A: 4%
Flaws of characters a main focus?
Yes: 51% | No: 24% | It's complicated: 21% | N/A: 2%
Average rating
3.47
🤔🧐🤯MY THOUGHTS:🤯🧐🤔
I like spicy books as much as the next person but this was basically porn in book form. I was shocked because I didn’t expect this book to be explicit. It very explicit!!
The character and world building were great and the characters are lovable. The story itself is actually very good. It held my interest throughout. It was a pleasant surprise but also shocking. I really do need to start reading the book blurb so I’m not caught off guard 😅😅.
RATING KEY:
🌟 Stars - based on the overall plot and theme or idea of the book
❤️🩹 Emotions - based on how emotional I got while reading
🥰 Romance - based on how well I got invested in the love story aspect
🌶️ Spice - based on how the sex scenes were portrayed and written as well as the number of sex scenes
🔎 Mystery - based on how well it kept me guessing who, how and why
😰 Scared/Anxious - based on how scared or anxious the book made me while reading
🎭 Comedy/Tragedy- based on if I laughed or if there was a tragic event and how it affected me. I will mark the Masks with either a C or T to indicate Comedy or Tragedy
👻 Spooky/Creepy -based on if this had any occult or paranormal themes and if those elements creeped me out or gave me anxiety!
3/5 ❤️🩹
3/5 🥰
5/5 🌶️
0/5 🔎
3/5 😰A
2/5 🎭T
2/5 🎭C
0/5 👻
⚠️⛔️TRIGGERS:⛔️⚠️
This book is intended for mature audiences, adults age 18+.
This is not intended for children or adults that are sensitive to any of the following triggers:
Family Death
Explicit Sex Scenes
Explicit Language
Violence
Gore
Monsters
Blood
Sexual Threat
Sexual Content
Sexual Harassment
Sexual Assault
Sexual Violence
Light Bondage
Light C-NC
Primal Play
Kidnapping
Death
Confinement
Rape
Murder
Body Horror
Slavery
Profanity
War
Injury/Injury Detail
Misogyny
Sexism
Abandonment
Bullying
Child Abuse
Physical Abuse
Torture
Toxic Relationship
Forced Institutionalization
Trafficking
Cannibalism
Gaslighting
Classism
Death of a Parent
🗯️💬BOOK BLURB:💬🗯️
With their inheritance restricted until their marriage, sisters Clara and Louisa, both in their twenties, must live with their godfather Drosselmeyer. One night, an accident brings to life one of the strange wooden dolls in Drosselmeyer's mansion. The Nutcracker doll is a cursed Fae prince, and he pleads for the sisters' help. During the ensuing journey into the Fae realm, Clara encounters the handsome Sugarplum Faerie, and he promises her the chance to enact all her forbidden fantasies. Meanwhile Louisa and the Nutcracker Prince battle and bicker over everything, despite the growing attraction between them. And to make matters worse, the entire Seelie kingdom is under threat of conquest by the Rat King, ruler of the Dread Court.
This is a spicy, adult, fantasy romance retelling of "The Nutcracker" fairytale.
🌎📖OVERALL REVIEWS📖🌎
Courtesy of Storygraph
COMMUNITY REVIEWS
SUMMARY OF 1,538 REVIEWS
Moods
adventurous 87%
dark 55%
funny 33%
tense 26%
lighthearted 22%
emotional 21%
mysterious 18%
challenging 10%
hopeful 8%
inspiring 3%
reflective 1%
relaxing 1%
sad 1%
Pace
fast 59%
medium 38%
slow 2%
Plot- or character-driven?
A mix: 55% | Plot: 24% | Character: 19%
Strong character development?
Yes: 54% | No: 26% | It's complicated: 18% | N/A: 1%
Loveable characters?
Yes: 59% | It's complicated: 26% | No: 13%
Diverse cast of characters?
Yes: 48% | No: 30% | It's complicated: 16% | N/A: 4%
Flaws of characters a main focus?
Yes: 51% | No: 24% | It's complicated: 21% | N/A: 2%
Average rating
3.47
🤔🧐🤯MY THOUGHTS:🤯🧐🤔
I like spicy books as much as the next person but this was basically porn in book form. I was shocked because I didn’t expect this book to be explicit. It very explicit!!
The character and world building were great and the characters are lovable. The story itself is actually very good. It held my interest throughout. It was a pleasant surprise but also shocking. I really do need to start reading the book blurb so I’m not caught off guard 😅😅.
RATING KEY:
🌟 Stars - based on the overall plot and theme or idea of the book
❤️🩹 Emotions - based on how emotional I got while reading
🥰 Romance - based on how well I got invested in the love story aspect
🌶️ Spice - based on how the sex scenes were portrayed and written as well as the number of sex scenes
🔎 Mystery - based on how well it kept me guessing who, how and why
😰 Scared/Anxious - based on how scared or anxious the book made me while reading
🎭 Comedy/Tragedy- based on if I laughed or if there was a tragic event and how it affected me. I will mark the Masks with either a C or T to indicate Comedy or Tragedy
👻 Spooky/Creepy -based on if this had any occult or paranormal themes and if those elements creeped me out or gave me anxiety!
December 12, 2022
The cover and the synopsis had me picking up this book, but it took a lot out of me to keep going when it came to reading it. It had so much potential! I loved the concept of a Nutcracker retelling with the bonus of smut. But the execution was not there at all. The writing was too fast paced. The plot didn’t feel fully thought out and while the sex scenes were highly entertaining I cringed more than anything else.
August 14, 2023
"Are you afraid of me Louise?"
"No. I´m afraif of how you make me feel."
This is a two POV book, told by the POV´s of Louise and Clara.
I have to say out of the sisters I liked Clara a teeny bit better. But I feel like both of them have great qualities to them. What I liked about Clara was her artistic side and her ability to fight and grow as a person during the span of this book. What I liked about Louise was her witty remarks and her ability to think on her feet. Out of Fin and Lir, I can´t really say which one I liked more, maybe Fin by a teeny bit as well, but honestly wasn´t the biggest fan of both of them.
There are barely any other side characters in this book, so I can hardly judge the book on side characters.
Plotwise this is mostly smut with a side dish of plot. So if you´re somebody who likes her book hella spicy and doesn´t care that much about the plot, this one could be for you. However if you are expecting a great Romantasy with loads of world building and amazing fight scenes, I would say stay clear. The pacing is good, it´s a fun little read, and I would say it borders more on the Dark Romance side. We have two "love plots", one that is mostly insta lust to love and one that is kind of "enemies to lovers - ish". I have to say I wasn´t the biggest fan of the scenes with the dubious consent, some of them felt a little borderline harrassment/rape-y to me.
Overall it was an okay read, but nothing I would definitely wanna re-read again.
trigger warnings: attempted rape, rape (mentioned), murder/death, dubious consent
"No. I´m afraif of how you make me feel."
This is a two POV book, told by the POV´s of Louise and Clara.
I have to say out of the sisters I liked Clara a teeny bit better. But I feel like both of them have great qualities to them. What I liked about Clara was her artistic side and her ability to fight and grow as a person during the span of this book. What I liked about Louise was her witty remarks and her ability to think on her feet. Out of Fin and Lir, I can´t really say which one I liked more, maybe Fin by a teeny bit as well, but honestly wasn´t the biggest fan of both of them.
There are barely any other side characters in this book, so I can hardly judge the book on side characters.
Plotwise this is mostly smut with a side dish of plot. So if you´re somebody who likes her book hella spicy and doesn´t care that much about the plot, this one could be for you. However if you are expecting a great Romantasy with loads of world building and amazing fight scenes, I would say stay clear. The pacing is good, it´s a fun little read, and I would say it borders more on the Dark Romance side. We have two "love plots", one that is mostly insta lust to love and one that is kind of "enemies to lovers - ish". I have to say I wasn´t the biggest fan of the scenes with the dubious consent, some of them felt a little borderline harrassment/rape-y to me.
Overall it was an okay read, but nothing I would definitely wanna re-read again.
trigger warnings: attempted rape, rape (mentioned), murder/death, dubious consent
December 13, 2022
DNF - one of the worst books in a while. No Story just a lot of fucking.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 22, 2024
A Court of Sugar and Spice by Rebeca Kenney
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 stars)
So, I just wrapped up A Court of Sugar and Spice by Rebecca Kenney, and let me tell you, it was one wild, quirky adventure that I couldn't resist diving into. This book is, like, next-level strange, but in a strangely fascinating way that had me glued to the pages. I settled on a 4-star rating because, honestly, I couldn't tear my eyes away from the madness.
The Nutcracker twist in this story is out there, and I mean way out there. But you know what? It works. Clara, one of the sisters at the center of this wild narrative, stole the spotlight for me. Her character was just more complex, more intriguing. Now, Louisa, her sister, was a whole different story – a total nut job, to be honest. But weirdly enough, that unpredictability added a layer of excitement that kept me guessing.
Rebecca Kenney has this writing style that's both vivid and surreal. I could picture every fantastical detail, and it felt like I was transported into this bizarre world she crafted. The imagery was so rich, and the settings were so vivid that, despite the oddities, it felt strangely immersive.
Sure, the whole thing is weird, but that's the charm of it. The narrative had this magnetic quality that kept pulling me in. I couldn't stop reading, even when I wanted to make sense of the strange twists and turns. It's like the book had its own gravitational force.
In the end, I decided on a 4-star rating. This book might not be everyone's cup of tea. It's strange, it's different, but it's undeniably captivating. If you're up for something out of the ordinary and don't mind a rollercoaster of weirdness, then give it a shot. For me, the entertainment value outweighed the oddities, and I'm kind of glad I took the plunge into this offbeat world of sugar and spice.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 stars)
So, I just wrapped up A Court of Sugar and Spice by Rebecca Kenney, and let me tell you, it was one wild, quirky adventure that I couldn't resist diving into. This book is, like, next-level strange, but in a strangely fascinating way that had me glued to the pages. I settled on a 4-star rating because, honestly, I couldn't tear my eyes away from the madness.
The Nutcracker twist in this story is out there, and I mean way out there. But you know what? It works. Clara, one of the sisters at the center of this wild narrative, stole the spotlight for me. Her character was just more complex, more intriguing. Now, Louisa, her sister, was a whole different story – a total nut job, to be honest. But weirdly enough, that unpredictability added a layer of excitement that kept me guessing.
Rebecca Kenney has this writing style that's both vivid and surreal. I could picture every fantastical detail, and it felt like I was transported into this bizarre world she crafted. The imagery was so rich, and the settings were so vivid that, despite the oddities, it felt strangely immersive.
Sure, the whole thing is weird, but that's the charm of it. The narrative had this magnetic quality that kept pulling me in. I couldn't stop reading, even when I wanted to make sense of the strange twists and turns. It's like the book had its own gravitational force.
In the end, I decided on a 4-star rating. This book might not be everyone's cup of tea. It's strange, it's different, but it's undeniably captivating. If you're up for something out of the ordinary and don't mind a rollercoaster of weirdness, then give it a shot. For me, the entertainment value outweighed the oddities, and I'm kind of glad I took the plunge into this offbeat world of sugar and spice.
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