An amazing and captivating, curl-up-on-the-sofa debut about a magical frost fair and the lasting power of friendship.
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.
But soon the world of Father Winter threatens to claim everything she holds dear. Will they be able to solve the magical mysteries that surround them...?
It's such a pleasure to be hosting the blog tour for The Miraculous Sweetmakers: The Frost Fair today. Many thanks to Natasha Hastings, HarperCollins Children's Books and The Write Reads for inviting me and for my advance digital copy of the novel.
When I think back to the books I read as a child, the ones that most stay in my memory are those which transported me to a world where I could believe that magic was real. To experience that same feeling again as an adult is always special and so I couldn't wait to read The Miraculous Sweetmakers: The Frost Fair. Of course, it's really a book written with children in mind and as I'm a teaching assistant who has been asked to encourage reading for pleasure in my school, I also looked forward to discovering a new story to recommend to the children there.
From the start, it's clear that although this is a magical tale, full of intrigue and wonder, it also explores some more universal, often poignant themes. Thomasina experiences a terrible tragedy at a young age and it's not surprising that four years later, her life has become much bleaker than before. As a historical fantasy novel, the sense of place is vital and the Great Frost of 1683 provides a fascinating backdrop to proceedings. Even before anything obviously magical occurs, there's a feeling of wonder as the Thames freezes over and shopkeepers, merchants and entertainers ply their trade on the ice. As the daughter of a sweetmaker, Thomasina makes and sells her gingerbread there but for all the excitement, hers is not a happy home and so it's easy to understand why she is tempted by the incredible claim by a mysterious man called Inigo. When he shows her what he can do, she agrees to accompany him to the Other Frost Fair.
The descriptions of this fantastical night-time spectacle are so richly imaginative; I particularly loved the Frost Beasts who only accept Thomasina's presence there on special terms. However, as captivating as it may be, there's a creeping sense of foreboding and this is a rather chilling book, in more ways than one. It's not just a tale about the impossible though, and as with all the best stories, there are more relatable subjects examined here too.
Grief and loss underpins everything that occurs and I appreciated that there are no easy solutions suggested. Thomasina has a difficult time as do her parents and I thought their storylines were handled with real sensitivity. The period setting also allows for a look about how times have changed, particularly with regards to mental illness, depression and attitudes towards women, which I'm sure will horrify some young readers! The trials and tribulations of the time are further portrayed through the depictions of poverty and how ailments were treated in the past.
Thomasina's loneliness is almost palpable but her visit to an apothecary introduces her to Anne and a friendship which becomes the beacon of light in this beautifully empathetic book. Both girls are superb protagonists; courageous yet allowed to show their fears and so completely believable. As it becomes evident just how much trouble Thomasina is in, the magic that takes place is both frightening and heartwarming.
The Miraculous Sweetmakers; The Frost Fair is middle grade fiction at its best. This delightfully engaging story is full of excitement and hope and I thoroughly recommend it.
The Miraculous Sweetmakers: The Frost Fair is published by HarperCollins Children's Books, purchasing links can be found here but please support independent bookshops whenever possible.
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