Pages: 390
Published: 6th August 2020
Genre: General Fiction/Magical Realism
Content warnings: Domestic violence, sexual content, alcholism, sexism
The Kendrick family have run their world-famous doll-making business in near isolation since the early 1800s. Only family members are permitted to work for the firm, and only the men know the closely guarded secrets of the workshop. Because Kendricks’ dolls aren’t coveted for the craftsmanship alone. Each doll has a specific emotion laid on it by its maker. A magic that can make the beholder feel Bucolic Bliss, Heady Optimism or even Consuming Paranoia at a single touch.
Persephone Kendrick longs to break tradition and learn the doll-makers craft, but instead must fulfill a woman’s role, working on the shop floor. When a handsome stranger arrives claiming doll-making talent and a blood tie to the family, she sees a chance to grasp all she desires.
But then, one night, the family’s most valuable doll is stolen. Only someone with knowledge of magic could have taken her. Only a Kendrick could have committed this crime…
This book is just as much of a curiosity as the dolls that are sold by the family at its heart. At varying times charming and confusing, it carries a very strong exploration of gender inequality and is full of the uniqueness that comes from boasting such an innovative concept and style, only to be undermined somewhat by a sequence of jarring tonal shifts.
What starts out as extremely whimsical and quaint with a hint of timelessness in its atmosphere, flips upside down into the darkness of domestic violence, alcohol dependency, and sexually explicit scenes that feel way out of tune with the rest of the story. The manner of the writing never changes, yet the content goes into some truly unexpected territory which seemed to belong somewhere else entirely.
There is so much to enjoy early on, where you are innocently exploring the world. There are some darker undertones there of course, which are great. Only the men are entrusted to craft the dolls while the female characters are left to the less glamorous jobs such housekeeper or shop assistant, a disparity that is explored very effectively. Then we have the mysterious Larkin talking his way into the trade and the theft of the Paid Mourner, with the quirkiness of the storytelling adding to the intrigue.
Although there are no characters you could describe as particularly likeable, they are entertaining enough to mean that at a third of the way through it is a case of so far, so good. But then things start to turn from the moment that the relationship between Larkin and Persephone turns into a full-on romance. That in itself was not a problem, but the way it was written not only felt at odds with the general feel of the story; it also derailed parts of the plot.
The search for the Paid Mourner becomes less interesting the longer it goes on, and while the author clearly tries to push the themes as far as possible by focusing on Persephone’s troubles, the plot ends up not really going anywhere. It just lacks any real direction or substance, not building towards anything of much significance.
A lot of that comes down to the flawed character of Larkin, whose motivations seem muddled and unclear. He is quite shady from the outset, but even by the end we never get a total grasp of what it is he actually wants from the Kendricks. Is he caring or cold-hearted? We never really know the answer to this, or more pertinently the reasons for his actions. This lack of clarity is frustrating and leaves a few questions unresolved.
Persephone is a naïve character who embarks on a bittersweet journey. There is no doubt that you are rooting for her in trying to shatter the patriarchal traditions of the dollmaking business, and feeling the pain of being inextricably tied to her erratic father. However, her immaturity does grate at the way she acts around Larkin makes her unlikable at times.
The man at the top of the organisation is Conrad, who comes across as comically indecisive and flees at the first sign of trouble with his shrewd housekeeper Hedwig supplying all the wisdom. This is probably the author’s amusing way of making a point and it is quite fun to read, although Hedwig is done little justice by the damp squib of the Paid Mourner storyline.
For all of the issues with the plot, the technical elements deserve a lot of praise. Plenty of books are set in Oxford and take full advantage of its mystical beauty and heritage, but this is another original take. Here, the eyot where Kendricks is based feels like it is captured in a moment in time – it might as well be given the attitudes to gender equality – and that gives an atmosphere not too dissimilar from a fairytale.
The writing also has that enchanting quality, allowing the reader to drift into a form of escapism during certain parts of the story. And possibly the standout factor is the idea of the dolls being imbued with an emotion. These emotions are enjoyably specific and well thought out, adding to the magical realism that is undoubtedly present throughout.
Overall, there is a lot to love here in regards to the concept and the creativity shown by an author who was also not shy to introduce some heavier themes, but the plot is one of wasted potential. The tonal changes feel very much out of place and threads such as the Paid Mourner’s theft struggle to build up any serious momentum, so it really does scream of a case of what might have been.
This book is set in Oxford, which is where Kate Mascarenhas completed an undergraduate degree in English. A British author with mixed heritage including family in the Republic of Ireland and the Seychelles, she went on to complete a PhD in literary studies and psychology.
Mascarenhas now combines the two, having worked as a chartered psychologist since 2017 and become a published novelist. Her first book, The Psychology Of Time Travel, was released to acclaim in 2018 and that was followed by The Thief On The Winged Horse in 2020. Her most recent, Hokey Pokey, was published in 2022.
A book that I had very high hopes for early on, but ultimately felt like a bit of a letdown despite great writing and ideas.
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Stephen Reads Books 