A dazzling mixture of crime, romance, magic and myth from the author of the bestselling The Psychology of Time Travel.
The Kendricks have been making world-famous dolls for over 200 years. But their dolls aren't coveted for the craftmanship alone. Each has an emotion laid on it; a magic that can provoke bucolic bliss or consuming paranoia at a single touch.
Persephone Kendrick longs to learn her ancestors' craft, but only men may know the secrets of the workshop. So when a handsome stranger arrives claiming doll-making talent and blood ties to the family she sees a chance to grasp all she desires.
But then, one night, the firm's most valuable doll is stolen. Only someone with knowledge of magic could have taken her. Only a Kendrick could have committed this crime...
'Captivating, inventive and tender' ADELE PARKS
'An atmospheric examination of gender inequality' GUARDIAN
'A magical tale that blends very human people with a hidden world of enchantment' WOMAN & HOME
'An addictive fantasy with a smart feminist twist' iNEWS
Thank you to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
The Thief on the Winged Horse had me hooked and I could not put it down, I literally flew through the book!
Kate Mascarenhas does an superb job at world-building, character development and the relationships between characters. I felt like I was part of the Kendricks community by the end of the book.
The mix of the romance, the mystery, the patriachal society is so engrossing that it sometimes reads like a fantasy set in the 1800's but Mascarenhas will subtly remind the reader that the book is set on an eyot near Oxford in 2020.
While I feel like the ending could have been considered a "closed" ending, I would still absolutely love to see more of the lore and characters from The Thief on the Winged Horse, especially Persephone and Larkin, I kinda love those two the most
