Description

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

Publisher Review

PRAISE FOR THE PSYCHOLOGY OF TIME TRAVEL: 'Witty, inventive and unflashily wise about human hearts; Mascarenhas's future promises to be an exciting one' Guardian. 'An intriguing, multi-layered mystery that is ingeniously plotted' Daily Mail. 'Breathtakingly tender and wryly understated ... An astonishing debut' New York Times. 'Troubling and inspiring, comforting and horrifying' SciFiNow. 'Captivating, delightful and thorougly original' Jennie Melamed. 'A magical tale that blends very human people with a hidden world of enchantment' Woman & Home. 'I adored this beautifully crafted and thought-provoking magic realist novel ... Multi-faceted, challenging, and entirely captivating ... A truly lovely read' LoveReading. '[A] vividly imagined second novel' The i.