Talons and Tea Leaves

( English )      Sometimes a book comes along that reminds you what it felt like to believe that magic could exist just around the corner, like you did when you were a child...  Lighting Up a Black Heart by Marie BlueLight was exactly that kind of read for us.      Inspired by The Nutcracker and The Mouse King , this fantasy story blends nostalgia, fairy tale elements and thoughtful mental health representation into a story that feels surprisingly comforting, despite dealing with difficult topics.      Although neither of us grew up reading the original Nutcracker story, we immediately found ourselves transported back to our childhood days of watching Barbie in the Nutcracker . That whimsical atmosphere, the magical forests, enchanted creatures, talking toys and impossible adventures, came flooding back from the very first chapters.      But this isn't simply a fairy tale.  At its heart, this is a story about learni...