Thomasina is an appealing protagonist, her drive and ambition contrasted by the guilt and grief she carries. When she is made a miraculous offer we can see why she grasps at it. The book's winter cold setting contrasts the warm, heartfelt message of this story. It's like a warm hug on a cold day. A winter-ful debut novel. The ending was really the cherry on the cake for me. On the one hand, we had the happy ending and seeing Anne and Thomasina’s friendship and dreams blossoming and seeing the multiple journey threads tying together with the characters that came together. On the other, it was a little bittersweet, because Thomasina’s dream, the wish that had driven her so far and nearly cost so much was out of reach; and yet that in itself made for a perfect and fulfilling ending, and the last scene with her and Inigo was both heart breaking and heart-warming and was an important step in dealing with grief.

It isn’t unusual for authors to be inspired by their own experiences. For Natasha Hastings, writing as a means of escaping a traumatic period of hospitalisation not only encouraged her to be brave, but began a career that will surely establish her as a legendary storyteller. Thomasina, our main character is still struggling through her grief, as well as her parents after the death of her twin Arthur four years previously. I really liked this main character from the start and found her very human, relatable and loveable. I also really enjoyed how she made a few very good friends during the book, which really warmed my heart.What I loved about The Miraculous Sweetmaker is how although it is set in 1683 how relatable to today this story is. This is a tale of a young girl who has gone through such sadness in her life and is willing to do anything to make things better again. She is lonely and feels like she doesn’t have anyone until she meets Anne, the apothecary apprentice who has just moved in with her uncle. As the story moves on a lot happens and Thomasina ends up discovering some truths about what is happening during her nightly visits to the other Frost Fair. I also like the friendships she develops, with two characters, especially Anne and what the two girls end up creating together which I wish there was more of in this story as I love the idea of medicinal sweet treats. Another aspect of this book which made it more interesting to read is the asthma Thomasina suffers from and how it affects her in the story too. It’s interesting to see and I like how this was incorporated into the story, as is the obvious effects of dealing with bereavement and grief and also guilt. I also enjoyed the friendship that grew between Inigo and Thomasina. This was a very different friendship, and I will admit it was one I didn’t trust for a large proportion of the book; but I loved the bond that had been forged between them by the end of the book, and how the acceptance of each other and themselves, also played into the conclusion of Thomasina’s arc and past and present coming together with the realisation that the former can’t be changed, but that there was a future to look forward too.

I’ve always been fascinated with the idea of the Frost Fairs on the Thames, so there was no way I was going to pass up a chance to read a fantastical twist on them, and I’m glad I didn’t because this book was an absolute delight and took me completely by surprise. It’s also not static or separate from the events, but instead it is woven into this wonderful, captivating story; and that is how it should be. I also appreciated the historical angle here, and how Hastings doesn’t shy away from shining light on how mental health was viewed in the time period, especially for female patients; again with that accessible approach, without drawing away from the emotional impact or maintaining the charm of the overall story. The Miraculous Sweetmakers is a tale of multiple journeys, and that is another reason why this aspect is so powerful, because it not only explores how different people dealt with these emotions and this situation, but also how the journey to acceptance was just as different, but also brought about connections new and old. Author Anna Kemp introduces The Hollow Hills, the sequel to her dark magical tale, Into Goblyn Wood. The Miraculous Sweetmakers: The Frost Fair by Natasha Hastings is a heart-warming middle-grade historical fantasy that I finished a few days ago and loved every minute of. It was actually a really long read and despite how ill I’ve been feeling this week, I would have loved to follow these characters’ journey for a lot longer, so I hope it will be a series.

Published

The book opens on a sad note with Thomasina’s twin brother dying. We then move forward a few years and see how life has dramatically changed for the young girl after his death, with her mother unable to speak or leave her bed and her father hardly saying more than a grunt, plus now Thomasina is needed to help out with the family’s sweetshop.