A review by sunshine169
The Puppetmaster's Apprentice by Lisa Deselm

4.0

Pirouette is a girl who comes to life. Born from wood and blood, under a blue moon, with the incantation of forbidden magic uttered by her father, Tavia's master puppetmaster. Piro, as she is called, learns the skills of the trade under his tutelage and becomes a force to be reckoned with in her own right. Coming from wood herself, she has that extra special connection with her craft. The wood speaks to her. A skill she would come to need if she is to save her father's life after he is captured by Tavia's ruler, The Margrave. In her father's stead Prio has to tirelessly work to finish an impossible order of life-sized marionette wooden soldiers and an assassin. With the approaching blue moon, Piro begins to question the intents of The Margrave and his son.

Puppetmaster's Apprentice is a fantasy novel and a retelling of the classics Pinocchio and Frankenstein. Lisa DeSelm's writing is beautiful and she weaved an enchanting story that is perfect for the fall. I am undecided if the romance element was necessary. The story would have been enjoyable all the same even with its omission..

Thank you Netgalley for an e-arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.