"The Enchanted Sonata," a retelling of The Nutcracker Ballet with a dash of The Pied Piper, will captivate readers of all ages.
Clara Stahlbaum has her future perfectly planned: marry the handsome pianist, Johann Kahler (ah!), and settle down to a life full of music. But all that changes on Christmas Eve, when Clara receives a mysterious and magical nutcracker.Whisked away to his world--an enchanted empire of beautiful palaces, fickle fairies, enormous rats, and a prince--Clara must face a magician who uses music as spells...and the future she thought she wanted.
Assessment:
Plot: A great adventure with a little romance for readers who appreciate music. Based loosely on “The Nutcracker” and “The Pied Piper,” readers who enjoy fairy tales will find this book a good option to pick up around the holidays. The plot moves at a fast pace and quickly draws the reader into the adventure. The author has done a good job of helping the reader navigate the enchanted land and given the reader a satisfying ending.
Prose/Style: Lots of imagery adds to the charm and takes the reader into the world with the main character. The writing is simple for younger readers, yet can be enjoyed by adults as well. Because the story reads like a fairy tale, readers will feel like they are part of the unique world that has been created.
Originality: The author has taken two known fairy tales as inspiration and created a charming story. With many references to music, music lovers will find this one to enjoy. Readers who are not familiar with one or more of the stories will still find this story enjoyable and may be led to read these original, cherished tales.
Character Development: The main character is sweet and often bewildered, with a sidekick who is funny and trying to help and stay out of trouble. The villain needs to be a bit more developed, as readers want him to be a more convincing menace.
Blurb: A whimsical tale for the holidays to be enjoyed by all ages.
Date Submitted: June 14, 2019
