I would note upfront that I have been a fan of these magical realism books that have taken classic fairy tales and retold them from different perspectives. ‘Enchanting! The perfect Christmas treat’ Veronica Henry, Christmas at the Beach Hut Read more

‘Beautifully spun and wildly imagined’ Cari Thomas, Threadneedle ‘Sumptuous and spellbinding’ Heidi Swain, Underneath the Christmas Tree ‘A deliciously dark retelling of The Nutcracker’ Jennifer Saint, Ariadne ‘Bewitching storytelling’ Stephanie Garber, Once Upon A Broken Heart ‘The perfect winter fairy tale’ Sarah Morgan, The Christmas Escape In the darkness of night, magic awaits and you will never forget what you find here…Your favourite authors have fallen under the magical spell of Midnight in Everwood: She must find a way to return home before she’s trapped in Everwood’s enchanting grip forever. 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. But, when a mysterious toymaker, Dr Drosselmeier, purchases a neighbouring townhouse, it heralds the arrival of magic and wonder in Marietta’s life.Īfter 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. 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.

Cari thomas threadneedle