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A review by cyireadbooks
The Porcelain Maker by Sarah Freethy
5.0
It began at a quaint countryside auction house. Clara Vogel had been informed that the Viking figurine she’d been searching for, would be auctioned. Clara already owned a Viking statuette. But she had an alterior motive for acquiring another piece. Clara wanted to find the owner of the figurine in hopes that the person would help her find and identify her father — The Porcelain Maker of Dachau…
The Porcelain Maker is one of the best historical fiction novels that I’ve read this year. It’s up there in the top five for me. Hard to believe that this novel is the author’s debut. I could swear that author Freethy has been writing historical fiction since forever.
The story unfolds between two timelines — the 1940’s and the 1990’s. Of significance is that the 1940’s was a tumultuous period with the German occupation of Europe. It was a time of uncertainty especially for people of non-German ancestry. And Freethy’s writing captured the heartwrenching essence of the period.
Fast forward to the 1990’s. Freethy expertly engages the reader with Clara Vogel in her search for any and all clues that would lead to the discovery and identification of her father as well as learning of her artistic mother’s past. The reader is led through a series pictures, interviews, and flashbacks to gain knowledge of her mother’s as well as father’s history. It was suspenseful and full of plot twists.
The characters in the novel are fully developed and fleshed out. I really got a sense of the stature, personality as well as appearance. And with any fully developed character, there are those characters you’ll hate and those other characters that you’ll love. There was a good mix of both in the novel.
I can’t say enough good things about this novel. Only that if historical fiction is in your wheelhouse, The Porcelain Maker is a must read. Five outstanding stars.
I received a DRC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
The Porcelain Maker is one of the best historical fiction novels that I’ve read this year. It’s up there in the top five for me. Hard to believe that this novel is the author’s debut. I could swear that author Freethy has been writing historical fiction since forever.
The story unfolds between two timelines — the 1940’s and the 1990’s. Of significance is that the 1940’s was a tumultuous period with the German occupation of Europe. It was a time of uncertainty especially for people of non-German ancestry. And Freethy’s writing captured the heartwrenching essence of the period.
Fast forward to the 1990’s. Freethy expertly engages the reader with Clara Vogel in her search for any and all clues that would lead to the discovery and identification of her father as well as learning of her artistic mother’s past. The reader is led through a series pictures, interviews, and flashbacks to gain knowledge of her mother’s as well as father’s history. It was suspenseful and full of plot twists.
The characters in the novel are fully developed and fleshed out. I really got a sense of the stature, personality as well as appearance. And with any fully developed character, there are those characters you’ll hate and those other characters that you’ll love. There was a good mix of both in the novel.
I can’t say enough good things about this novel. Only that if historical fiction is in your wheelhouse, The Porcelain Maker is a must read. Five outstanding stars.
I received a DRC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.