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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It’s like You set in Victorian London. Creepy but great. The art theory is really excellent
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Confinement, Kidnapping, Stalking
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Brutal like beauty and fresh like freedom, this book was a surprise to me, but a good one. I found it very spine-chilling and very interesting, and I really liked the ways in which for every character art and beauty was a different thing, as well as freedom and identity. There is a lot one can discuss about it, and some very interesting historical details were woven into the plot. Honestly, I enjoyed it immensely and will gladly pick up more by this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Stalking
Moderate: Bullying, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Vomit, Classism
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster, Atria Books and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the ARC of The Doll Factory in exchange for an honest review.
I was excited to read this novel due to all the positive reviews. This novel is set in Victorian England and is about a man who has an obsession with a woman. The man, Silas, is creepy!!! He is a taxidermist - especially loving odd creatures - and a killer. He sees Lily, who has a deformed collarbone, and becomes obsessed with her,, to a dangerous degree.. Lily is oblivious to his attentions. There is also a tale of romance between Lily and her love of painting and Louis, her mentor. And, finally, there is a story of love and loss between Lily and her sister, Rose.
The tale is sinister and dark. It also beautifully illustrates the grittiness of 1850s London. The author writes very descriptively and you could sense the sounds and smells of the city. I like how it described the art world, the struggling artists, the Great Exposition in London. I also liked the descriptive writing about the desperate times and the struggle of the poor.
#NetGalley #AtriaBooks #AtriaEmilyBestler #SimonandSchuster #ElizabethMacneal
I was excited to read this novel due to all the positive reviews. This novel is set in Victorian England and is about a man who has an obsession with a woman. The man, Silas, is creepy!!! He is a taxidermist - especially loving odd creatures - and a killer. He sees Lily, who has a deformed collarbone, and becomes obsessed with her,, to a dangerous degree.. Lily is oblivious to his attentions. There is also a tale of romance between Lily and her love of painting and Louis, her mentor. And, finally, there is a story of love and loss between Lily and her sister, Rose.
The tale is sinister and dark. It also beautifully illustrates the grittiness of 1850s London. The author writes very descriptively and you could sense the sounds and smells of the city. I like how it described the art world, the struggling artists, the Great Exposition in London. I also liked the descriptive writing about the desperate times and the struggle of the poor.
#NetGalley #AtriaBooks #AtriaEmilyBestler #SimonandSchuster #ElizabethMacneal
Even though I liked the characters - Silas and Iris are well constructed and complex characters - I struggled with the story itself. At some point, it feels like it is dragging itself. And it also becomes a little bit predictable. So it's more like a Victorian suspense that is not actually a suspense since you kind of know what is going to happen. All in all, it's not a bad book, and it is interesting to learn how miserable the life of the poor class was compared to the rich back in the 1800s.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was a bit slow to get into but once I did.. it was super creepy.
The Doll Factory was an interesting book. Don't get me wrong... but one little thing that not a lot people know about me.. is that dolls creep me out. Ya know.. like Annabelle, Barbie, whatever - they all creep me out. So I was a bit hesitant to dive into this but then it had murder in it - so yeah, I was down.
In this, you will meet Iris. She's wanted to be an artist for all her life basically so it's kind of fascinating when she starts to work at this doll factory. No matter how much they creep me out, dolls that is, I know that a lot of effort and work goes into them. Still creepy though.
While at work, she becomes a model and yadda yadda - it's all boring. The only interesting thing that happened to her was meeting Silas. Ah, enter the creepy music. Now he was a good creepy villain. Murdering people with zero regrets. Sometimes it was a guessing game just to see what was going to happen next and who was the next victim. Luckily, it was never Iris which I'm happy about. Unluckily, I have so many freaking questions about the ending!
I need to know what the hell is going to happen to this guy. Did he get captured? Did he pay for all his sins/murders?? I NEED ANSWERS PEOPLE! Long story short, if anyone has those for me I would be forever in your debt.
The Doll Factory was an interesting book. Don't get me wrong... but one little thing that not a lot people know about me.. is that dolls creep me out. Ya know.. like Annabelle, Barbie, whatever - they all creep me out. So I was a bit hesitant to dive into this but then it had murder in it - so yeah, I was down.
In this, you will meet Iris. She's wanted to be an artist for all her life basically so it's kind of fascinating when she starts to work at this doll factory. No matter how much they creep me out, dolls that is, I know that a lot of effort and work goes into them. Still creepy though.
While at work, she becomes a model and yadda yadda - it's all boring. The only interesting thing that happened to her was meeting Silas. Ah, enter the creepy music. Now he was a good creepy villain. Murdering people with zero regrets. Sometimes it was a guessing game just to see what was going to happen next and who was the next victim. Luckily, it was never Iris which I'm happy about. Unluckily, I have so many freaking questions about the ending!
I need to know what the hell is going to happen to this guy. Did he get captured? Did he pay for all his sins/murders?? I NEED ANSWERS PEOPLE! Long story short, if anyone has those for me I would be forever in your debt.
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A dark tale of obsession, desire and need to collect set in Victorian London
"The Doll Factory" by Elizabeth Macneal is a captivating journey into the heart of Victorian London, where art, obsession, and darkness intertwine to create a chilling tale. Set against the backdrop of the bustling city in 1850, the story follows the journey of Iris Whittle, a talented yet oppressed dollmaker with aspirations beyond the confines of her mundane existence.
Macneal paints a vivid picture of Victorian society, immersing readers in the gritty streets and bustling markets of London. Through Iris's eyes, we witness the stark divide between the rich and the poor, the artists and the collectors, each vying for their place in a society rife with secrets and desires.
At the heart of the story is Iris's desire for freedom and self-expression, a longing that leads her down a dangerous path. When she crosses paths with the enigmatic artist Louis Frost, Iris sees an opportunity to break free from her mundane life and pursue her passion for art. However, her newfound freedom comes at a price, as she becomes entangled in a web of obsession and manipulation that threatens to consume her.
Macneal's prose is elegant and atmospheric, transporting readers to a bygone era filled with beauty and darkness. The characters are richly drawn, each with their own desires and flaws that drive the narrative forward. From the ambitious Louis Frost to the sinister Silas Reed, every character adds depth and complexity to the story, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.
While "The Doll Factory" may not reach the literary heights of some of its predecessors, it is nonetheless a compelling debut novel that showcases Macneal's talent for storytelling. The juxtaposition of art and obsession creates a sense of tension that permeates every page, keeping readers guessing until the final twist. I found myself looking up pre-Raphaelite paintings mentioned in the novel, which definitely has added a delicious layer to the novel.
"The Doll Factory" is a gripping tale of love, art, and obsession that will appeal to fans of historical fiction and psychological thrillers alike. With its richly drawn characters and atmospheric setting, it is a very enjoyable read.
"The Doll Factory" by Elizabeth Macneal is a captivating journey into the heart of Victorian London, where art, obsession, and darkness intertwine to create a chilling tale. Set against the backdrop of the bustling city in 1850, the story follows the journey of Iris Whittle, a talented yet oppressed dollmaker with aspirations beyond the confines of her mundane existence.
Macneal paints a vivid picture of Victorian society, immersing readers in the gritty streets and bustling markets of London. Through Iris's eyes, we witness the stark divide between the rich and the poor, the artists and the collectors, each vying for their place in a society rife with secrets and desires.
At the heart of the story is Iris's desire for freedom and self-expression, a longing that leads her down a dangerous path. When she crosses paths with the enigmatic artist Louis Frost, Iris sees an opportunity to break free from her mundane life and pursue her passion for art. However, her newfound freedom comes at a price, as she becomes entangled in a web of obsession and manipulation that threatens to consume her.
Macneal's prose is elegant and atmospheric, transporting readers to a bygone era filled with beauty and darkness. The characters are richly drawn, each with their own desires and flaws that drive the narrative forward. From the ambitious Louis Frost to the sinister Silas Reed, every character adds depth and complexity to the story, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.
While "The Doll Factory" may not reach the literary heights of some of its predecessors, it is nonetheless a compelling debut novel that showcases Macneal's talent for storytelling. The juxtaposition of art and obsession creates a sense of tension that permeates every page, keeping readers guessing until the final twist. I found myself looking up pre-Raphaelite paintings mentioned in the novel, which definitely has added a delicious layer to the novel.
"The Doll Factory" is a gripping tale of love, art, and obsession that will appeal to fans of historical fiction and psychological thrillers alike. With its richly drawn characters and atmospheric setting, it is a very enjoyable read.
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Slow book, I enjoyed the world building but wanted the main plot to come in earlier then 3/4 of the way through