SPOILER ALERT

I struggled for a while, trying to come up with the words best to describe not only this novel but my emotions as well.

I love the Nutcracker. It was my favorite Christmas story, but I always feared the rat king.

This dark and twisted side of the story made me love it more.

However, this time, I feared the fairy queen. The dark demon she was, was what every human had inside of themselves—greed, vengeance, hatred, and so much more. Having a sister, although not a twin, still allowed me to relate to the bond that ties siblings together. As well as the many things in the world that could destroy it.

The Kingdom of Sweets is by far the best retelling or adaptation of a classic novel I have ever read. Thank you, Erika Johansen, for this masterpiece.