Customer Reviews

One part nemesis, two parts fairytale
THE SUGAR QUEEN is about Josey, a 27 year-old woman whose life is tainted by the way she used to be as a youngster. Everyone in her small community of Bald Slope only remember her as a naughty young girl; even her mother seems to only see her as the echo of who she used to be. So, in order to make up for her past, Josey has chosen to be a good person - to be thoughtful, obedient and to solely live for her mother's convenience. Her private delights are sweets, which she hides in her room, and romance novels. But then, one day, Josey opens her closet and finds a local waitress, Della Lee sitting amongst her clothes, and from that moment on her life is never the same. For Della Lee is described as being the equivalent of one part nemesis and two parts fairy godmother for Josey. It is through her presence that Josey's predictable life slowly begins to untangle and Josey begins to change - to live.

This is the second novel I have read by Addison Allen - her debut GARDEN SPELLS was also very good. Her writing has an element of magic realism in them - at the centre of the plot is a very human story about relationships, betrayal, love and forgiveness, whilst at the same time there is the touch of magic to make the book a little less ordinary. Recommended for those who like their literature with a touch of sweetness!

a very pleasant surpise
This book is about Josey, a young woman trapped in a life she doesn't like, in a town that only remembers the 9-year old girl she used to be, with a mother who doesn't love her. Until she opens her closet and her life as she knows it is over... With the help of Della Lee, she manages to change her life and fulfill her dreams! A beautifully written book about love, friendship, forgiveness and candy!!!The Sugar Queen

I bought this book because I had nothing better to read at that time and I had already read "garden spells" and thought: why not?? (Although if a book doesn't have vampires, witches, werewolves etc in it, I consider it unworthy of my time...). But from the moment I started reading it, I couldn't put it down! And I didn't! I read it in one afternoon... The part where Josey describes her first kiss with Adam is the most magical description of a first kiss I have ever read!!! Heaven!!!

A sweet book with a bite of tart!
I read Garden Spells a while back and enjoyed that immensely so I approached The Sugar Queen with some trepidation: would it be as good?

It was wonderful!

The characters are superb: all quite different but quirky in their own ways. Ms Allen has a sure touch with the pen when drawing her characters. I particularly liked Della Lee who Josey finds in her closet one day - and although I guessed the reason for this pretty early on, it was really great that the publishers didn't give the game away in the blurb on the back of the book as they do all too often these days, as if readers might not buy a book unless the whole plot is laid out before them before they even open the book. What is that all about?!!

Anyway, this is a magical story. It sort of reminds me a little of the kind of magical novels Christina Jones writes: unusual characters with a dash of spellbinding magic thrown into their lives for good measure.

Can't wait for Ms Allen's next book next year.