Clara’s Soldier by Brittany Fichter
Historical Fiction. 164 Pages. 5 Glowing Stars!
Synopsis:
A bride-to-be without answers.
A soldier who never came home.
A nutcracker that might hold one last Christmas wish…
World War II has been over for three months, but Clara can’t join in the Christmas festivities with her friends and family. The fiance she sent off to Europe three years ago never returned. But just as she’s about to give up hope, her godfather might just have one last miracle up his sleeve.
And it all begins with a nutcracker.
My Review:
Oh. My. Heart.
Okay, y’all. I have a soft spot for the Nutcracker as it is, but that also means I have kind of high expectations for anything claiming association with it. Let me tell you, this was far from disappointing. Clara’s Solider is absolutely precious, a stunning rendition of the classic tale. A heart-wrenching tale full of bravery and hope. Simply enchanting. Heart-warming, through and through.
The book was well-written, as is usual for Mrs. Fichter’s works. I only found two boo-boos that I can recall and two paragraphs with minor issues (both dialogue formatting issues), but I did have an unedited copy of the story, so that was to be expected, and I’m sure they’ve each been addressed. The story is beautifully written and so well-thought out. The story was very well-balanced, well-paced, and just over all well-done. The mixture of reality and fantasy, of traditional Nutcracker and Brittany Fichter flare was like a deliciously baked good. Soft, moist, subtle, and it leaves a good taste in your mouth. It smelled amazing when I picked it up and was warm on the way down! The whole thing felt truly seamless. There was just the right balance of that Christmas magic we all love and the bittersweet touch of reality that gives Fichter’s works the meat and weight I’ve come to appreciate so much from her.
The setting was phenomenal! There were so many little touches here and there that brought the setting to life. And, again, the balance between reality (historical fiction) and fantasy was just so very well-done. I loved the historical subtleties. The town itself felt like a place I could open my door and walk into. I’m partly from NC, so it was like I could see the town itself in my memory. Then the fantastical happens and we’re whisked away to a few different settings, each equally realistic and tangible. I felt firmly established in the time and place, despite the transportation to and from.
The characters were persistent and they never gave up, even when everyone around them pressured them to. They came close a few times; they even entertained the idea more than once, but those doubts and fears only made them more human. Clara was a total doll. She chose to fight through her storm instead of running from it. She was a hero in her own right. And James. Oh, James. My heart…it hurts for him. The reality that is threaded into this beautiful story (I won’t spoil) is something I care very deeply about, personally. I am a patriot through and through and there have been amazing men and women who have sacrificed everything for us to live the lives we do. I have the utmost respect for the people James stands for. The side characters made the story what it is and I very much enjoyed getting to glimpse into their lives too. Course, I loved Fitz too, little of him though we saw. Oh! And Drosslmeyer!! I could read a whole book on him alone! Fichter completely brought him to life and I was purely enchanted by him!
The plot alluded to the Nutcracker in so many beautiful ways that make the true nerds like me smile. But it still maintained its own integrity and originality too. I can’t say enough about how seamlessly this story blended everything together. We follow Clara, whose heart yearns for her love, a MIA soldier from the recently ended WWII. She deals with the pressure of her town, her family, her friends. She deals with the choice to move on or hold out hope, even though everyone says she’s ridiculous for it. The story was shorter than Fichter’s works normally are, but that didn’t detract from the plot. I felt like all elements were still there and rightly addressed. Not a single thread hung loose. It felt complete and I loved every minute of it!
There is no foul language, no even true violence. Although it’s a WWII story, there are only allusions to the war. There was a scene with a fight, but the reader was only exposed to the aftermath of the fight. One very brief battle scene held less violence than the street fight. There is no explicit romance, though there is some kissing and holding and even a minor appreciation of physical fitness at a point or two. Very clean, appropriate. There are, however, some minor thematic elements that are subtly woven in and may lead to an opportunity for additional discussion, should you choose. They deal with the affects of war, but the story is written so that mostly, it’s all a giant metaphor, and could pretty easily be missed by younger readers for the most part.
Whew, prepare for an emotional ride, y’all. But it’s a good one. Totally worth it! Ahhh, I could just read this one again and again. It will sit, prized, on my self. Fichter truly captured that spirit of Christmas. I cannot recommend this more highly (and right in time for Christmas, too!).
Note: Although I did receive an advanced copy from the very generous author, the above review is completely voluntary and in no way affected by her generosity.
More:
Clara’s Soldier is recently out! Please, please, please go check it out! You can find it on Amazon or ask any bookstore (B&N for sure and maybe BAM too?) to order it for you. They won’t have it stocked on the shelves, but it’s no extra cost to have it ordered if you request it! In fact, if you do go and request it, the stores are more likely to want to stock it later on!