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 . . . ?
The Miraculous Sweetmakers is a beautifully told story with a wonderful cast and magical setting, an ideal read for the colder and darker months ahead (assuming you’re reading this review from Europe and not sunning yourself in Oz)! We meet Thomasina and her twin Arthur in the prologue when they are sneaking out at night to play. Fast forward four years and playing has turned to work for Thomasina as she helps her dad prepare stock to sell in the family shop, gingerbread being a particular favourite! Life is hard and only gets harder as the cold draws in. There’s great excitement when the river Thames freezes over and local businesses decide to set up a trade on the ice. Thomasina meets Anne, the daughter of a local apothecary owner, and they get on well from the off. Together they hatch plans for their future even if Thomasina isn’t really sure she could ever leave her family business to pursue anything else. In addition to the day time trading, Thomasina holds a secret. At night she is visited by a conjuror who offers her something she had believed was impossible in exchange for something she holds dear. Seduced by the potential behind this deal, she finds herself caught between reality and a magical kingdom presided over by the formidable Father Winter.
Thomasina is a brilliant central character. Her life isn’t easy but she carries on regardless and makes the very best she can of it. She is kind and cares deeply for her parents even though this can be challenging at times as she doesn’t always seem to have this love reciprocated and her efforts are not always acknowledged or rewarded. She feels tremendous guilt for events in her past and is willing to do whatever it takes to put these right, even if it means danger for her or could cost her the things she values most dearly. When she meets Anne she really comes alive and again demonstrates her quick wit and inventiveness.
This is a really good story which nicely mixes reality with the mystical. I loved that it was set back in the 1600s as a change from more modern stories and I felt I could use my imagination even more. I was lucky enough to receive a physical proof copy and the illustrations on the cover and the details within are absolutely beautiful. There are quite a few spaces where there are going to be more added so I expect that the finished copy will be a delight and one to get pride of place on a bookshelf.
It can be hard to pin down an age group for children’s books as reading ages and tastes vary so widely even within one year group but I would imagine that this might be an ideal read for those in later years of primary school or perhaps a little younger with adult help. There are some scenes which may be a little scary for younger children and some themes which may be upsetting. However, I do think if we can talk to our children openly about some of these issues from an early age then they will start to lose the taboo that can sometimes surround which may be helpful long term. My daughter is currently a little young to retain patience with a long chapter book but I suspect in a year or two she’ll adore this.
If you’re on the lookout for something new, exciting and magical in the run in to Winter then this is the story for you.
About Natasha Hastings: Natasha Hastings started developing The Miraculous Sweetmakers: The Frost Fair while studying history at Cambridge University, where she focused on gender and mental illness. While exploring these topics, she became determined to have the lives of working women, as well as their experiences of mental illness in this period, form the heartbeat of her debut book, The Frost Fair.
Intensive Gassing About Books 
Fantastic review!
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