The Drosselmeier Chronicles: The Solstice Talesby Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 8 Note: WolfenM is a member of Sequential Tart."Nussknacker" is the first story in this book, and it's wonderful. WolfenM takes classic elements of so many tales, myths, legends and more to weave a story that seems familiar while being very original. I'm sure if you don't recognize all of the references and names, you'll want to look them up. The romance is like cream filling – you may not know or care that it's there at first, but upon tasting it, you realize how it makes the whole thing better. I received a review copy; there are a few typos, but nothing that causes any confusion (and they may or may not be fixed in the published copy). The writing and story are more-or-less all-ages appropriate. Younger readers might benefit more from hearing the story read to them. As it's somewhat based on, I can say that anyone you would share the story of the Nutcracker with would enjoy "Nussknacker" just as well (it is based on that story). The main difference that many will see is that "Nussknacker" embraces the magic and fae aspects more, making them the core of the story. I love how Huginn / Drosselmeier weaves his story to help Clara / Marie regain her memories. The entry to the fae world and the acceptance by the dryad was a little too easy. I wish there had been more challenge or difficulty surrounding it, especially the dryad's acceptance of Clara / Marie. The warning should have inspired a little more terror, or at least seriousness, than it did. I say this more because of how evident it is that the fae folk have suffered at the hands of humans and this new union of human and fae is only known (and this accepted) by the fae. "A Conspiracy of Spirits: The Love Story of Jacob Marley and Ebenezer Scrooge" is the second story in this book, and is a sequel to "Nussknacker." It is based on the Charles Dickens story that we're all familiar with (at least some version), but it is tied heavily to the Gaiankind storyverse (of which, this book is the first release). In general, this story heightens my enjoyment of the classic by providing an explanation of the three Ghosts of Christmas and why they are helping Scrooge. That alone would have made this worth reading. However, WolfenM takes it a step further and delves into the history of Jacob Marley and Ebenezer Scrooge. I like that this history is explored, and I like that it's done through Marley's long-dead spirit. I also like that a reason is provided for why and how this lineage of cruelty was created. It, in turn, gives Scrooge more depth. Plus, she has added another aspect to these men: they are gay. Marley's former partner / teacher was also his lover; then Marley took in Scrooge and fell in love, but didn't want to force things since Scrooge was seemingly straight. It's obvious to the reader that sex is or has happened at various points, but there's nothing more explicit than a kiss. While I enjoy reading the more explicit, it wasn't needed here, so I'm glad WolfenM kept it simple, which emphasized the love aspect. I love how Drosselmeier, Marie and Erich become the three Ghosts of Christmas. It's very inventive and provides a sense of realism to the whole experience. I love the uses of the dream realms in general, and I appreciate how our fae characters can speak to spirits and humans simultaneously. Occasionally, it's a little hard to buy that they'd really be keeping up with everything, but I find that much easier to accept than Marley being able to "live" with Scrooge in dreams. Out of everything in this book, that's what seems far-fetched. Strange, no? It wasn't until the second-to-last paragraph's mention of the rainbow ribbon binding these two men that it struck me—the rainbow symbol for gay love. Of course, it's used to bind all good and free relations as Marie explains, but at the end it just seems a little trite to use a rainbow. Even so, I like the parallel from the chains Marley was wearing, which connected him to bad relations. The unfortunate thing (for Christian readers like myself) is that this story moves from using all the positive aspects of many pagan cultures through the fae characters to blaming the Christian religion for the chains that Marley wears (to a degree) and for the guilt and separation regarding love between men. Marley is partially able to "free" himself by accepting the words and ways of the fae characters over his previous Christian beliefs. I'm pointing this out merely as a warning for some readers and because it was the one thing in this whole book that upset me. Overall, I quite enjoyed both stories. I like WolfenM's writing style, and she created characters that are interesting and likable. I would definitely read more Drosselmeier Chronicles, so I look forward to future books. If you like reading works that are both original and creative twists on classics and you like stories about fae beings then you definitely need to check out this book. And it's only $9.95! Written: December 4, 2012
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