Review: The Clockwork Girl by Anna Mazzola

I downloaded this story because I love historical fiction and the cover is beautiful!

Paris 1750. Madeleine is the daughter of a brothel owner, working as a maid after a client scarred her face. She is hired by the police to spy on the mysterious but talented Swiss clockmaker, Dr Reinhart, who has come to the notice of the King due to his intricate mechanical creations - birds and animals made of silver and jewels, that behave just like the real thing. Is Dr Reinhart a genius, ahead of his time, or is there something more sinister behind his work? Meanwhile, the children of Paris are going missing...

The Clockwork Girl is a beautifully written historical novel with a delicious touch of gothic. Told from three points of view. Madeleine, the maid, who is forced to spy to win her freedom; Veronique, Dr Reinhart's daughter, who wants to prove she could be a worthy apprentice to him; and Jeanne, the King's mistress, already aware she is losing her power. Three clever, intelligent women, craving independence and respect, held back by men and each teetering on the edge of disaster.

I've always found the history of automata (the precursor to robots) fascinating so it was fabulous to read a story with that as a background. Paris, in all its squalid 18th century detail, particularly the contrast between rich and poor, is brilliantly realised. The story is a little bit dark in places. To achieve his realistic results, Dr Reinhart buys and dissects the animals he is trying to recreate, which some readers might find upsetting. No spoilers, but the big twist didn't really work for me as I could see where the story was going, but The Clockwork Girl is refreshingly original and I enjoyed it very much. I can't wait to read Anna Mazzola's next book!

Recommended to anyone who loves their gothic historical mysteries a touch on the creepy side!

Thank you to Anna Mazzola and Orion for my copy of this book, which I requested from NetGalley and reviewed voluntarily.

Review: The Dressmaker of Paris by Georgia Kaufmann

I was attracted to this book by the absolutely gorgeous cover (a pair of scissors representing the Eiffel Tower). I also love historical novels.

Rosa Kusstatscher has built a global fashion empire upon her ability to find the perfect outfit for any occasion. But tonight, as she prepares for the most important meeting of her life, her usual certainty eludes her. As she struggles to select her dress and choose the right shade of lipstick, Rosa begins to tell her incredible story. The story of a poor country girl from a village high in the mountains of Italy. Of Nazi occupation and fleeing in the night. Of hope and heartbreak in Switzerland; glamour and love in Paris. Of ambition and devastation in Rio de Janeiro; success and self-discovery in New York. A life spent running - but she will run no longer.

The Dressmaker of Paris wasn't quite what I was expecting! I had thought it would be more a glamorous read, like one of those old 80s novels by Judith Krantz or Barbara Taylor Bradford. Instead it is grittier, even a bit dark in places, more like a family saga - so not really for me. The format is a story within a story, meaning we never get right into Rosa's head but witness her life at a distance. However, it is well-written and well-researched, and perfect for anyone who loves 20th century historical fiction, covering the 1930s to the 1990s. A solid four-star read.

Thank you to Georgia Kaufmann and Hodder & Stoughton for my copy of this book, which I requested from NetGalley and reviewed voluntarily.

Review: Paris by Starlight by Robert Dinsdale

We're people, and people look after each other...

I loved Robert Dinsdale's The Toymakers (it's one of my all-time favourite books) so I couldn't wait to get my hands on Paris by Starlight - and that cover is gorgeous!

Every night on their long journey to Paris from their troubled homeland, Levon’s grandmother has read to them from a very special book. Called The Nocturne, it is a book full of fairy stories and the heroic adventures of their people who generations before chose to live by starlight. With every story that Levon’s grandmother tells them in their new home, the desire to live as their ancestors did grows. And that is when the magic begins…

While Paris by Starlight is a fabulous fairy tale of refugees inadvertently recreating the magical flora and fauna of their home country (I imagined it looking like something out of Avatar), there is a grittier story hidden beneath it, of dispossessed people suffering cruelty and harassment as they try to find sanctuary. Some want to recreate their old world, others just want to blend in. They meet those who want to learn more about their ways and customs, and experience the magic they've brought with them - and those, less friendly, who want them to leave and will do anything to achieve that. 

Sound familiar?

Paris by Starlight is a very clever mix of magic realism and social commentary - which means it might not be for everyone. (It's quite dark in places.) Robert Dinsdale writes beautifully and has an incredible imagination. I loved his 'starlight' world and the sweet romance between Levon and Isabelle as they struggled against all odds. Engaging and very moving, Paris by Starlight is one of my favourite reads this year. Recommended, particularly  for fans of magic realism and authors such as Alice Hoffman. 

Thank you to Robert Dinsdale and Del Rey for my copy of this book, which I requested from NetGalley and reviewed voluntarily.

Related Post:

The Toymakers by Robert Dinsdale