About The Toymakers
An enchanting, magical novel set in a mysterious toyshop - perfect for fans of Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus and Stephanie Garber's Caraval by way of Jessie Burton's The Miniaturist
It is 1917, and while war wages across Europe, in the heart of London, there is a place of hope and enchantment.
The Emporium sells toys that capture the imagination of children and adults alike: patchwork dogs that seem alive, toy boxes that are bigger on the inside, soldiers that can fight battles of their own. Into this family business comes young Cathy Wray, running away from a shameful past. The Emporium takes her in, makes her one of its own.
But Cathy is about to discover that the Emporium has secrets of its own...
My review of The Toymakers
The Toymakers is a book that is full of magic and love and possibility. It's a book that brings out the child in us all, as it so wonderfully blends the magical and everyday worlds together. I loved every page of this enchanting saga. it was a sheer delight to read.
The novel begins in 1917 when Cathy leaves her small seaside town to travel to London, after seeing an advert for Papa Jack's Emporium in the newspaper. This is the very beginning of Cathy's story, and of us learning about the magical inhabitants of the Emporium. It is here that we meet the brothers, Emil and Kaapar, the two sons of Papa Jack. Both young men are very different, and from the offset I could feel the sibling rivalry between them. The two brothers and their ongoing battle and difficulties were at the very heart of this story.
The magic of the Emporium was so beautifully and vividly brought to life. The wendy house that I would have so loved to visit; the toy boxes and the absolutely sublime paper trees. It really is a jaw dropping and 'catch your breath' type of toyshop. Unlike any you have ever known. This book taps into the childish dreams that we all have and builds upon them to weave a magical adult fairytale that I simply could not put down. It's sublime.
Throughout the book there are the continuing themes of belonging, and of sibling rivalry, set against the backdrop of two wars. The Emporium is very much a safe space, a place for lost souls, and for those who do not belong in the outside world. The book gives so much hope, in the fact that there is a place for everyone.
The Toymakers is a novel that is full of compassion. It's about love, family, magic and childhood. It's an absolutely beautiful book, it's timeless, and I adored every page.
With thanks to the publisher and Chloe Rose for a hardback copy of the book for review purposes.
The Toymakers is published in paperback on 20 September by Del Rey. It is available to buy now in paperback and hardback.
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