Release date: September 28th 2023
Publisher: HQ
Pages: 382
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: The publisher kindly sent me a copy of this book to review
Rating: 3/5 stars

Synopsis

When the snow falls, she will be free…

The invitations always arrive the same way – without warning, appearing around the city on the first snowfall of the year, simply inscribed with ‘Tonight.’

When struggling artist, Forster, finds an invitation, he’s bewitched by the magic of the evening, swept up in the glamour of this notorious annual party and intrigued as to who is behind them.

Determined to find out more about the mysterious host, Forster discovers an abandoned manor house silent with secrets and a cursed woman who is desperate to be free…

Review

Upon a Frosted Star was a book that drew me in with that absolutely beautiful cover. When I saw it described as “The Great Gatsby meets Swan Lake” I was really intrigued to pick this one up. The story follows Forster, a struggling artist who finds a mysterious invitation to a magical party that takes place once a year. Determined to find out who the host is, Forster soon discovers the mysterious lady is way more than meets the eye and will do anything to free her from her curse.

I really wanted to love this one but for some reason, it just didn’t click with me. Overall it is an enjoyable read but it didn’t give me that magical feeling I was expecting. This is my first book from M A Kuzniar and I think perhaps the writing style just didn’t gel with me. I didn’t particularly connect with the characters and while the plot was interesting, I found I wasn’t all that invested in Forster and Detta’s story.

The story is well paced and I did enjoy the mystery of Detta’s history and her curse. I must admit I’m not overly familiar with the story of Swan Lake (I know the basics) so perhaps if I knew more I might have been more captivated by this one. I did really enjoy the wintry atmosphere and this book is perfect for reading on a cold, snowy evening. The story also has a really interesting setting and villain I would love to have learned more about.

Overall Upon a Frosted Star didn’t quite hit the mark for me but if you’re a fan of wintry tales that are full of mystery, this could be just the book for you.