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The plot is focused, never straying away from the center. This, along with the artwork, keeps the pace fast and easy to read. I loved the way death, grief, and depression are handled in the story. Tough subjects, to be sure, but they are born with so much love and empathy that I think my heart grew two sizes by opening it up to the story and the characters. Firstly, I have to say it’s a stunning book in terms of design. I love the cover design, but the interior design is charming, from the font and wintery ornamentation for the chapter headers, to the fantastic illustrations throughout the book. Alex T. Smith’s artwork really brings the characters and moments to life, and I particularly loved the illustration of Inigo.
While I won't say that Thomasina was one of my favourite MG characters, I do think she's realistically flawed and she's a teenager who has to process her trauma and loss alone while taking care of herself, her parents, and the family business, so maybe it's okay that she doesn't always make the best decisions and gets a bit snappish at times. I don't think I connected with her character, or tbh with any of the other characters, as much as I hoped to but I could still root for her to solve the mystery of the Frost Folk and Father Winter, and to find happiness in whatever form that'd take. She does grow considerably throughout the story and she slowly comes to accept that despite her wish not coming true, there's a way forward towards healing and letting go of the guilt and grief that the family have been hanging on to. 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. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy of this book for an honest review. (Publish Date: November 1, 2022) An amazing and captivating, curl-up-on-the-sofa debut about a magical frost fair and the lasting power of friendship. The narration is in the third person focusing on Thomasina's point of view. This helps the reader separate from the more challenging parts of the story, whereas the first person may have been just too personal and close to them. It also allows for a much broader understanding of the time and what it meant for different members of that society.I know it not helpful considering I’m a book reviewer, but I cannot begin to explain how well the description is in this. For things so simple like the weather, it’s laced with magic and just takes my breath away. You can feel the ice on your skin and smell the intoxicating gingerbread. Just gorgeous.
The Nottinghill Carnival takes central stage in this story about families, memories and the power of dance and festivals. Author Yaba Badoe tells...Apart from that I don't think I have any other complaints. The language used is suitable for middle grade kids to enjoy and oh, I do love the little talks about mental health that we got regarding to Thomasina's mom.
A spellbinding and unforgettable tale of deep friendship, glittering magic and enchanting mystery, perfect for fans of Tamzin Merchant, Abi Elphinstone and Anna James. I read this book for a blog tour, so thank you to the blog tour organiser for letting me take part on this tour, and thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy to read and review. All opinions are my own. The Frost Fair” by Natasha Hastings had a heart wrenching beginning, fascinating middle, and a happy ending. The author kept me guessing throughout the story with vivid imagery and magical details sprinkled throughout. 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 Frost Fair was a great historical element to this book, but the Other Frost Fair was a great fantasy element to add to it. I really enjoyed reading about this Other Frost Fair, the Frost Folk and Frost Beasts, even though I had a bad feeling about Father Winter from the start. However, I did really like the character of Inigo in the end.Overall this is such a lovely story with an ending that is so good and also so beautiful and poignant at the end too. It’s a lovely tale and one I know I’ll be re-reading again. In fact it’s one of my favourite children’s books this year and one I would really recommend especially if you like the idea of magical night time frost fairs and historical fiction set in the 17th century. With another two books in the series, Natasha is currently working on the second, which is due to be published in early 2024. Both follow-ups will feature the same characters but facing different areas to explore and new magical systems. The story starts off with an achingly heartbreaking scene and it was actually horrifying to watch it unfold. I have to admit it wasn't the best first impression I got about our main character but she's a child who never meant any harm—plus, she definitely carried the guilt with her for all the years to come. When we reunite with Thomasina and her parents in the present day of the story, we see a broken family who's torn apart by their loss and who are each lost to their debilitating grief. I found the plot unique in how it utilises grief and sadness as a weapon wielded by the villain of the story. I don't think I've read an MG fantasy where sadness sates evil's hunger, so that was definitely cool.
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