Book Review: A Dance of Sugar and Frost by Madison Nelson

A Dance of Sugar and Frost by Madison Nelson

Genre: Adult Fiction (Fantasy)
Date Published: November 25, 2023
Publisher: Self

Clara has found herself caught in a magical world filled with adventure and romance. As she attends the Kirke's annual Christmas Eve party, Mr. Drosselmeier presents her with a unique gift, a nutcracker. However, his apprentice, Xander, isn't too thrilled to see the nutcracker in Clara's possession. Soon, it becomes clear to Clara that it isn't no ordinary nutcracker, and Xander isn't an ordinary toymaker's apprentice.

A Dance of Sugar and Frost by Madison Nelson is a short story retelling of The Nutcracker. It was a cute and quick story to read. It successfully introduced you to the characters, made you like them, and told their story quite well in such a short time. I thought it’d be something perfect to read before bed on Christmas Eve, and even though I ended up reading it a few days after Christmas, it still fit the bill. 

To learn more about Madison Nelson and her books, visit her on Goodreads.

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Book Review: The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi
Genre: Adult Fiction (Fantasy / Horror)
Date Published: February 14, 2023
Publisher: William Morrow

A sumptuous, gothic-infused story about a marriage that is unraveled by dark secrets, a friendship cursed to end in tragedy, and the danger of believing in fairy tales—the breathtaking adult debut from New York Times bestselling author Roshani Chokshi.

Once upon a time, a man who believed in fairy tales married a beautiful, mysterious woman named Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada. He was a scholar of myths. She was heiress to a fortune. They exchanged gifts and stories and believed they would live happily ever after—and in exchange for her love, Indigo extracted a promise: that her bridegroom would never pry into her past.

But when Indigo learns that her estranged aunt is dying and the couple is forced to return to her childhood home, the House of Dreams, the bridegroom will soon find himself unable to resist. For within the crumbling manor’s extravagant rooms and musty halls, there lurks the shadow of another girl: Azure, Indigo’s dearest childhood friend who suddenly disappeared. As the house slowly reveals his wife’s secrets, the bridegroom will be forced to choose between reality and fantasy, even if doing so threatens to destroy their marriage . . . or their lives.

Combining the lush, haunting atmosphere of Mexican Gothic with the dreamy enchantment of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a spellbinding and darkly romantic page-turner about love and lies, secrets and betrayal, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a standalone dark fantasy by Roshani Chokshi

I wouldn’t call this a romance as the blurb does. The story was mostly about the friendship, if you could call it that, between Indigo and Azure. There was toxicity in both the marriage and friendship. And you flip back and forth between them and Indigo’s marriage to the bridegroom. We never get his name. There was very little romance.  The writing was pretty and flowed beautifully. It painted a very dreamlike picture of the characters.. sometimes the dream turned more nightmare and back again. It’s very alluring, but I couldn’t fully commit to these characters, and that may be because I figured something out way too early...

There is a twist in the ending that I knew was happening from the beginning, but that may be because I listened to the audiobook and by listening, it gives you a big clue that your wouldn't get when reading the book yourself.

Once upon a time, Indigo Maxwell-Castenada found me.

I had been lost a long time, and had grown comfortable in the dark. I didn't imagine anyone could lure me from it. But Indigo was one of those creatures that can hunt by scent alone, and the reek of my desperate wanting must have left a tantalizing, fluorescent trail.

Before Indigo, I avoided places where money served as pageantry rather than payment. I clung to the opinion that they were loud and crass, the shabby but sturdy armor of a poor man. In those days, I was poor. But I had become rich in expertise, and it was in this capacity that I served as a visiting curator to L'Exposition Des Femme Monstreuses. The exhibit had brought me to Paris on someone else's dime and, eventually, to the Hotel de Castenada.

Once one of the royal apartments of Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette, the Hotel de Castenada now ranked among the finest hotels in the world. The vaulted ceiling, a restoration of the original I was told, still showed indifferent, muscular gods reclining amidst gold-bellied clouds. Ivy lined the walls, through which the snarling faces of stone satyrs peered and panted at the guests.

It was common knowledge that each of the Castenada hotels centered around a fairytale motif. I gathered this one was an homage to Perrault's La Belle et la Bete-Beauty and the Beast-and while I hated to admit it, something about it seemed not of this world. It was so lovely I could almost ignore the crowd of models and DJs, red-faced businessmen and whatever other brilliantly arrayed and ostensibly vapid creatures such beautiful places attracted.

"Sir?" A slim, dark-skinned waitress appeared at my side. This was the second time she'd stopped by my table. I had chosen one near the back of the room so I might keep an eye on the entrance. "Are you sure I cannot get you anything?"

I glanced at the menu beside the haphazard collection of notes I'd prepared for the evening. The cocktails started at 50 euros. I smiled at the waitress, raised my half-filled glass of water and then tapped the empty dish of complementary spiced nuts.

"Perhaps another of these?" I asked. "My guest must be running late."

The waitress managed a brittle smile and took the dainty, porcelain dish-the cost of which was likely more than what I'd spend on dinner-and walked away without another word. She probably thought I was lying about meeting someone. And truly, part of me thought I might be lying if I believed my intended guest would deign to meet with me.

After months of searching for the whereabouts of a 131h century grimoire, I had traced it to the private collection of the Castenada family. Initially, my requests to view the piece had gone unanswered. This was not surprising. I was well-known only in academic circles, a Middle Ages historian with an interest in the preservation of incunabulum. I had nothing to lose but time. So, I wrote letter after letter, stood for hours as the fax machine spit them out into offices around the world. I lost a tiny fortune in long-distance phone calls until, finally, I received a message one week before I flew to Paris.

You may meet me at the Hotel on the 711• of November. 8 o'clock.

-I.MC

I.M.C. Indigo Maxwell-Castenada. The heir of the Castenada fortune.

I knew nothing about him, and I preferred it that way. I have never understood this preoccupation with the rich and famous and how they spend their existence. The way some people clung to celebrity coincidences-"our birthdays are the same!"- as if this were something shared and sacred.I checked my watch: 8:45 p.m.

Roshani Chokshi is the award-winning author of the New York Times bestselling series The Star-Touched Queen, The Gilded Wolves and Aru Shah and The End of Time, which Time Magazine named one of the Top 100 Fantasy Books of All Time. Her adult debut, The Last Tale of The Flower Bride, was a #1 Sunday Times bestseller. Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and often draw upon world mythology and folklore. Chokshi is a member of the National Leadership Board for the Michael C. Carlos Museum and lives in Georgia with her husband and their cat whose diabolical plans must regularly be thwarted.

To learn more about Roshani Chokshi and her books, visit her website. You can also find her on Goodreads, Instagram, and Twitter.

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Book Review: Creeper by A.M. Shine

Creeper by A.M. Shine 
Genre: Adult Fiction (Thriller/Mystery)
Date Published: September 15, 2022
Publisher: Head of Zeus

Superstitions only survive if people believe in them...

Renowned academic Dr Sparling seeks help with his project on a remote Irish village. Historical researchers Ben and Chloe are thrilled to be chosen—until they arrive...

The village is isolated and forgotten. There is no record of its history, its stories. There is no friendliness from the locals, only wary looks and whispers. The villagers lock down their homes at sundown. A nameless fear stalks the streets...

Nobody will talk—nobody except one little girl. Her story strikes dread into the hearts of the newcomers. Three times you see him. Each night he comes closer...

That night, Ben and Chloe see a sinister figure watching them. He is the Creeper. He is the nameless fear in the night. Stories keep him alive. And nothing will keep him away...

The Creeper is a masterful tale of horror and suspense, by one of Ireland's most talented emerging authors.

Creeper by A.M. Shine is only the second book by this author that I’ve read, and I think I’ll read more. I actually thought this was going to be a sort of sequel to The Watchers. It wasn’t, and I’m okay with that. This was very much its own creepy story. The Irish setting was perfect and really set the stage. I’m not sure if this is based on Irish lore or if it came straight from the author’s mind, but I’m here for it! I just really wish we could have learned more about the Creeper. What is he? Where’d he come from? What’s his story? 

Check out another book by this author!

A. M. Shine is an author of Literary Horror from the west of Ireland. It was there that at a young age he discovered a passion for classic horror stories, and where he received his Masters in history, before ultimately sharpening his quill to pursue a life devoted to all things literary and macabre. His writing is inspired by the trinity of horror, history, and superstition, and he has tormented, toyed with, and tortured more characters than he will ever confess to.

To learn more about A. M. Shine and his books, visit his website. You can also find him on Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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Book Review: Eloise by Kay Thompson

Eloise by Kay Thompson
Genre: Children & Adult Fiction (Contemporary Comedy)
Date Published: January 1, 1955
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Eloise has been delighting readers for more than sixty years —though she’s still not a day over six!

Eloise is a very special little girl who lives at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. She may not be pretty yet, but she’s definitely already a real person. She loves learning about people who aren’t boring. Take Eloise home with you and she’ll introduce you to life at The Plaza. You’ll be glad you did!

Eloise by Kay Thompson was given to me by a long time customer at work. I have a dog named Eloise, but never knew of the book, so she wanted me to have it and read it to my Eloise. She’s a super sweet woman. My Eloise fell asleep on my lap during the process, as she likes to do, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It says its a book for adults, but I think children would enjoy it just as much. I felt like there were many themes going on. Outwardly, you have this little girl, always getting into trouble and what not, but when you take look at her… her mom is never around. She’s being raised by a nanny. Her bag is always packed waiting for her mom to take her traveling. Sadly, all this girl has is the hotel and the people in it. That’s is her life. They are her family. Despite it all, Eloise is happy.

Kay Thompson (1909–1998) was an American author, composer, musician, actress and singer. She is best remembered as the creator of the Eloise children's books. 

To learn more about Kay Thompson and her books, visit her on Goodreads. 

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Book Review: Cursed by Kat Cotton

Cursed (Belford Vampire Brothers #1) by  Kat Cotton
Genre: Young Adult Fiction (Paranormal Romance)
Date Published: March 24, 2021
Publisher: Self

Her first love is the most forbidden love of all.

Vampires are immortal but not Flynn Belford. A family curse puts a timer on his life with only one way out: find his soulmate.

Rebel Miller yearns to grow up, yearns to leave her small town, and yearns for her first kiss. One glimpse of Flynn is enough to ignite an unquenchable fire within her and, while Flynn denies that wild and rowdy Rebel could ever be his soulmate, he can't fight their undeniable chemistry.

Two seemingly opposites, and yet, they're bound together, with binds heavy with family secrets and a dangerous past.

Rebel's falling hard for Flynn but will she the one to break the curse?

Cursed is a slow burn young adult paranormal romance. Warning: cliffhanger ending!

Cursed is the first book in the Belford Vampire Brothers series by Kat Cotton. I liked the main characters. I didn’t really like any one else. But, the storyline kept my interest. Yes, it made me think of Twilight and Vampire Diaries at times, but I still found it enjoyable. I’ll probably read the second book.

I’m a digital nomad (well I was until 2020 happened), although I hate that term because it makes me sound like a wanky hipster. Which I’m not. Okay, I am a bit snobby about coffee and I sometimes wear twee vintage dresses but that doesn’t make me a hipster.

On my travels, I love visiting weird and macabre places. Mummified hands that remove curses, museums of infectious diseases, collections of taxidermized frogs riding Penny Farthings - hell yeah!

Oh, and that profile photo isn't me, it's my rapscallion Bishon Frise called Hamish. Both of us highly motivated by treats.

To learn more about Kat Cotton and her books, visit her website. You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, BookBub & YouTube.

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