Synopsis: Set in Nottingham, England in 1906 Marietta Stelle’s dream is to be a ballerina and join a ballet company but her well to do family see a different future for their daughter which involves marrying well as a dutiful daughter should do.  She feels trapped and yearns to escape when her parents become enchanted by their new neighbour Dr Drosselmeier seeing him as a prospective suitor for their daughter’s hand Marietta sees her dreams slipping further away.  But Dr Drosselmeier is not quite what he seems and magic seeps from his very pores. 

 

Review: I thought it was a nice book to read at Christmas, it evoked a harsh but picturesque world, and was enchantingly written.  However, I was surprised that it was marketed as an adult fantasy which I am sorry but this is in no way successfully aimed at an adult audience at that it fails it did not develop its story or characters enough for me.  I liked that it concentrated on female friendship and that Marietta learns how important that is.  I thought the romance was a little throwaway and not developed sufficiently.  I also found that the mysteries in the story were too obvious from the start.  I found it overall disappointing as it didn’t touch the heart in the way that a Christmas story should.