4.0 (1 rating)
Midnight in Everwood
'A glittering rush of sugar-sweet enchantment' Stephanie Garber, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Curse for True Love
In the darkness of night, magic awaits...
Nottingham, 1906
Marietta Stelle longs to be a ballerina but, as Christmas draws nearer, her dancing days are numbered - she must marry and take up her place in society in the New Year. But, when a mysterious toymaker, Dr Drosselmeier, purchases a neighbouring townhouse, it heralds the arrival of magic and wonder in Marietta's life.
After Drosselmeier constructs an elaborate theatrical set for her final ballet performance on Christmas Eve, Marietta discovers it carries a magic all of its own - a magic darker than anyone could imagine. As the clock chimes midnight, Marietta finds herself transported from her family's ballroom to a frozen sugar palace, silent with secrets, in a forest of snow-topped fir trees. She must find a way to return home before she's trapped in Everwood's enchanting grip forever.
In the darkness of night, magic awaits and you will never forget what you find here...
Tropes:
Finding the magic of Christmas
True love
Festive fun!
Your favourite authors have fallen under the magical spell of Midnight in Everwood:
'The perfect winter fairy tale' Sarah Morgan, The Christmas Escape
'A deliciously dark retelling of The Nutcracker' Jennifer Saint, Atalanta
'Sumptuous and spellbinding' Heidi Swain, Underneath the Christmas Tree
'Beautifully spun and wildly imagined' Cari Thomas, Threadneedle
'Enchanting! The perfect Christmas treat' Veronica Henry, Christmas at the Beach Hut
Readers LOVE Midnight in Everwood:
'Transported me to a magical world'
'A great winter read'
'A story in which you can lose yourself'
'I was drawn into this book from the very first page'
'A must-read for the Christmas season'
'Enchanting and full of wonderful adventure'
'Will sweep you off your feet'
'A fairy tale for grown-ups and absolutely perfect for Christmas'
In the darkness of night, magic awaits...
Nottingham, 1906
Marietta Stelle longs to be a ballerina but, as Christmas draws nearer, her dancing days are numbered - she must marry and take up her place in society in the New Year. But, when a mysterious toymaker, Dr Drosselmeier, purchases a neighbouring townhouse, it heralds the arrival of magic and wonder in Marietta's life.
After Drosselmeier constructs an elaborate theatrical set for her final ballet performance on Christmas Eve, Marietta discovers it carries a magic all of its own - a magic darker than anyone could imagine. As the clock chimes midnight, Marietta finds herself transported from her family's ballroom to a frozen sugar palace, silent with secrets, in a forest of snow-topped fir trees. She must find a way to return home before she's trapped in Everwood's enchanting grip forever.
In the darkness of night, magic awaits and you will never forget what you find here...
Tropes:
Finding the magic of Christmas
True love
Festive fun!
Your favourite authors have fallen under the magical spell of Midnight in Everwood:
'The perfect winter fairy tale' Sarah Morgan, The Christmas Escape
'A deliciously dark retelling of The Nutcracker' Jennifer Saint, Atalanta
'Sumptuous and spellbinding' Heidi Swain, Underneath the Christmas Tree
'Beautifully spun and wildly imagined' Cari Thomas, Threadneedle
'Enchanting! The perfect Christmas treat' Veronica Henry, Christmas at the Beach Hut
Readers LOVE Midnight in Everwood:
'Transported me to a magical world'
'A great winter read'
'A story in which you can lose yourself'
'I was drawn into this book from the very first page'
'A must-read for the Christmas season'
'Enchanting and full of wonderful adventure'
'Will sweep you off your feet'
'A fairy tale for grown-ups and absolutely perfect for Christmas'
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9780008450663
Get This Book
Available in: Hardcover, Ebook, Paperback
See all editions (10)Reader Reviews
4.0
1 rating
Charlene M.
Apr 18, 2026
Ok, I *did* like this book and it will most likely enter into my festive book rotation every year because it is very festive and full of food and snow. So I did enjoy it.
But I didn't love it.
So here are my two main issues:
1. The romance felt extremely shoehorned in. Christmas books do *not require* romance y'all, I promise. If the romantic male had been just a strong ally instead, the story *would not have suffered for it one bit* In fact, it probably would have been better because the focus would have been entirely on the friendships and probably more on the rebellion. The tension between them was tepid, the circumstances felt vaguely forced, and at the end of the day, nothing comes of it anyway, so why bother? *bah humbug*
2. I don't need to be beat about the head with foody descriptions. Now that is absolutely a personal thing and I 100% admit to it. There was only so many times I could read about someone's butterscotch eyes and peppermint water before I started to get a bit of a sugar sick feeling. Oh yes, I went there.
Oh, a .5 as well: there was very little on the actual rebellion (I mean there was, but the lead up was kinda rocky feeling) and D's deal is never really explained. (Spoilers, don't want to get into it). None of that on its own was a deal breaker or anything, but it left me feeling like chunks got missed.
Now, of course, your mileage will vary.
What I did like? I liked the world building! Everwood is beautiful and luscious and hedonistic. The villain is evil! And I want know more about the other two kingdoms because they seem fascinating from the hints we get about them. What happened to other Wanderers?
I loved the other two women - they were amazing. Sadly, we don't get to see as much of them in Full Glory since most of the time they are captives too, but it was still pretty cool.
OH, and this book is LGBT friendly (while still being realistic on the Earth side for the times)! Which, hey, props!
I think I would have gotten a little more out of it if I knew ballet terms, but I, uh, don't, so some of the descriptive stuff flew over my head. That's a my bad though, definitely not on the author.
So, all in all, I enjoyed it, but it's a solid 4 or 3.5 for me, not a 5. But it will get added to the festive tiny pile every year to be enjoyed
But I didn't love it.
So here are my two main issues:
1. The romance felt extremely shoehorned in. Christmas books do *not require* romance y'all, I promise. If the romantic male had been just a strong ally instead, the story *would not have suffered for it one bit* In fact, it probably would have been better because the focus would have been entirely on the friendships and probably more on the rebellion. The tension between them was tepid, the circumstances felt vaguely forced, and at the end of the day, nothing comes of it anyway, so why bother? *bah humbug*
2. I don't need to be beat about the head with foody descriptions. Now that is absolutely a personal thing and I 100% admit to it. There was only so many times I could read about someone's butterscotch eyes and peppermint water before I started to get a bit of a sugar sick feeling. Oh yes, I went there.
Oh, a .5 as well: there was very little on the actual rebellion (I mean there was, but the lead up was kinda rocky feeling) and D's deal is never really explained. (Spoilers, don't want to get into it). None of that on its own was a deal breaker or anything, but it left me feeling like chunks got missed.
Now, of course, your mileage will vary.
What I did like? I liked the world building! Everwood is beautiful and luscious and hedonistic. The villain is evil! And I want know more about the other two kingdoms because they seem fascinating from the hints we get about them. What happened to other Wanderers?
I loved the other two women - they were amazing. Sadly, we don't get to see as much of them in Full Glory since most of the time they are captives too, but it was still pretty cool.
OH, and this book is LGBT friendly (while still being realistic on the Earth side for the times)! Which, hey, props!
I think I would have gotten a little more out of it if I knew ballet terms, but I, uh, don't, so some of the descriptive stuff flew over my head. That's a my bad though, definitely not on the author.
So, all in all, I enjoyed it, but it's a solid 4 or 3.5 for me, not a 5. But it will get added to the festive tiny pile every year to be enjoyed