The Miraculous Sweetmakers: The Frost Fair: The perfect illustrated children’s fantasy adventure

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Anne and Thomasina are such a powerful duo; together they are strong, brave, and very smart, even coming up with their own business idea to combine both of their talents! I kind of got some Anna and Elsa vibes from this (together with the wintry theme overall), and while I’m not the biggest fan of the movie Frozen, I did love this book a lot! Thomasina must turn to Anne, her best friend, to stop this mysterious conjurer from taking more than just her memories of her brother should she ever truly wish to unburden herself and be able to move on from her past. Will she succeed or will the siren song of the other Frost Fair and the possible reconciliation with her brother prove too alluring to resist? Fantastic’ A F Steadman An amazing and captivating, curl-up-on-the-sofa debut about a magical frost fair and the lasting power of friendship, perfect for fans of Tamzin Merchant, Abi Elphinstone and Anna James. The Great Frost of 1683 has London in its icy grip. Thomasina and her best friend Anne sell sweets on the frozen Thames, amid rumours of the magical Frost Fair that awakens there at night. Thomasina lost someone she loved so much and the burden of that loss has, and never will leave her, for surely it must have been her fault that led to such a tragedy, or that is what she believes as her mother will not speak a word and her father is always dismissive, keeping her at more than an arms length and whatever she does, she cannot seem to be good enough.

An amazing and captivating, curl-up-on-the-sofa debut about a magical frost fair and the lasting power of friendship. So, I really enjoyed this book, and it was such an effortless book to read despite some tough topics and important messages it conveyed to the reader. Natasha Hastings did a great job of making all her settings and characters come alive which really gave it a special wintery atmosphere.

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An important element of the storyline is Thomasina’s production of sweet treats, which are sold on the frozen River Thames – the research for which came naturally to the author. ‘I have an enduring love of sweets and chocolate!’ she says. ‘I also love cooking and trying out new recipes. Mind you, I was sharing a flat at the time and really needed a 17th century fireplace and cauldron but I did what I could!’

A spellbinding and unforgettable tale of deep friendship, glittering magic and enchanting mystery, perfect for fans of Tamzin Merchant, Abi Elphinstone and Anna James. The ending was really the cherry on the cake for me. On the one hand, we had the happy ending and seeing Anne and Thomasina’s friendship and dreams blossoming and seeing the multiple journey threads tying together with the characters that came together. On the other, it was a little bittersweet, because Thomasina’s dream, the wish that had driven her so far and nearly cost so much was out of reach; and yet that in itself made for a perfect and fulfilling ending, and the last scene with her and Inigo was both heart breaking and heart-warming and was an important step in dealing with grief. The writing was beautiful and very fluid, giving the story a whimsical and cosy feel, which made me not want to put it down at all. Life and health willing I’m sure I could easily have read this in a single sitting. I also loved how it ended and how wholesome and heart-warming it was when everything came together.

Format

And then we have the events of the story - full of twists and turns, a vibrant cast of side characters, and genuine surprises.

In this story of hope and endurance, we follow a scientist and her team during their search for the elusive 'Giant Arctic Jellyfish'. Can you feel rhythm? It's poetic, almost song-like. I'd wager a serious sum of money that within this book there is a broader vocabulary (that never feels out of place or done for the sake of it) than in most adult fiction titles. It’s a cold winter during the Great Frost of 1683. Thomasina and Anne are the best of friends, one running her father’s sweet shop and the other the apprentice at the family apothecary – together they sell their goods on the frozen River Thames. When a family tragedy turns Thomasina’s world upside down, she is drawn to a mysterious conjuror and the enchanted frost fair. Bestselling author Alexandra Christo, author of TikTok sensation To Kill a Kingdom, introduces her new book, The Night Hunt (Hot Key Books), a dark...

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These three ingredients alone should make the book stand out for you. But what makes it a must-have is how Natasha Hastings has masterfully woven these ingredients together. The author was selected to join the London Library’s Emerging Writers Programme in 2019. She is currently working as a fundraiser, and started developing The Frost Fairwhile studying history at Cambridge University.