If I ever rate a book by Charlie N. Holmberg anything lower than 4 stars, assume I'm possessed. Every book I have read by Ms. Holmberg has been its own form of magic and "The Fifth Doll" is no different. I don't even know how to articulate how much I enjoyed this. Not to go all Mr. Knightley on this book, but I truly feel like if I loved it less, I could talk about it more. The characters, the plot, the setting--all of it was just. So. Good. The story was beautiful, mysterious, and creepy. The writing is enticing and so easy to get lost in. "The Fifth Doll" pulled me out of my reading slump with strong arms imbued with magical storytelling powers. The only thing I'm sad about is that I'll never get to experience this book for the first time ever again.

The Fifth Doll is a beautiful and whimsical take on the origin of the Matryoshka dolls. Set in an almost fairytale country setting, the plot follows Matrona, a timid dairymaid, who uncovers an unusual assortment of dolls at the tradesman's cabin. Her discovery draws her into the hands of Slava, a tradesman with a dark past and an unhealthy obsession. With each doll, Matrona's character develops. First comes confidence then self-awareness and finally self-love. Matrona transforms into a heroine as she unravels the mystery and saves her village.

If you are a fan of The Paper Magician or Followed by Frost, you will love The Fifth Doll! Holmberg brings her usual charm to this one. The pacing is perfect and the plot includes aspects of romance as well as mystery. I also appreciated that the referenсes to Russian lore and Russian vocabulary were subtle. Every novel I have seen of late over does it - you get the entire peanut gallery: Kashei, Baba Yaga, Vasilisa, Tzars...

5 stars for a another beautifully written story!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you 47North!

I definitely enjoyed this book and found it an easy-to-read page turner. The premise was what initially got me interested in the book; I found it unique and held a lot of potential for good storytelling. The author for the most part fulfilled that potential, though I found there to be a lot of unanswered questions and I found some things toward the end to be confusion. Maybe she's setting up for a sequel?

Either way, it's an easy, entertaining read.

Charlie N. Holmberg has a way of crafting magical worlds that I've never thought of before. While there may be some familiar elements, she bends them to her will and creates people and places and systems that weave together into a story that has me reading until the last page.

The Fifth Doll is the story of a woman, Matrona, who is living a relatively content life. She is not as respected as she'd like, being an unmarried woman at 26, but that will change with her marriage to the butcher. After a fateful decision, however, she finds herself stumbling upon a secret that encompasses her entire village and spans the past twenty years. Now, she has to work alongside Slava, the mastermind behind this magical secret, and in doing so decide whether she will comply with his wish, to become his protege, or to work out the magic and free her people.

While reading Matrona's journey from an unsuspecting villager to the person that pulls back the curtain, I never thought for sure that I knew where things were going. There were hints as to what Slava had done, like when the villagers didn't know what a lock was or what the word snow meant. There were things that were unexplained before the big revelation that I never expected to be answered, only to get to the end and realize that it was interwoven in Slava's machinations from the beginning, though not by his intentional design. Simply put, there was just so much going on in The Fifth Doll that you're swept away, just like Matrona, and while you might pick up on some of the minute details that hint at the future she's hurtling toward, you might also be like her and miss them while trying to work out the bigger picture.

There is an interesting concept that Matrona and Slava debate toward the end of the novel that I found interesting.



SPOILER



Slava turned the villagers into the enchanted matryoskas in order to save them from Tsar Nikolai II. He made a decision to save them from something that he saw as a threat, all without consulting a single one of them. Matrona thought that this was wrong and even asked him why he would hide their memories of Russia if this life within the dolls was so good. She condemned him for this decision and sets about trying to set the village free from Slava's enchantment.

From that point on, she makes the decision to break them all out, no matter the cost. At the cost of the peaceful life they had, one with no war, no hunger, perpetual summer, she was determined to get them all out. With only scant memories of her time in Russia from when she was six and returned to her when one of her dolls was opened, she makes the choice for all of them. It never occurs to her that this action is somewhat hypocritical, that she is doing exactly what she condemned Slava for. Matrona's betrothed, Feodor, even makes the very same observation to her when they're back in the real world. Some of the villagers may not want this. The world they've come back to is cold and the peasants they've stumbled upon are dressed poorly, housed in buildings a lot smaller than the villagers had had within the Doll World. While, yes, Matrona's actions do mean they're free from Slava, what harm has she actually brought to them?

We never learn how many of them are pleased with this turn of events or how many would have preferred to remain within their comfortable world. It reminded me of the ending of the Matrix series, where the humans and the Machines come to the decision that humans can disconnect if they feel they're ready, if the truth would not be too harmful. Matrona disregarded what her fellow citizens might have thought and made a decision, one that she thought was best for all, just like Slava. In the end, she was more like him than she cared to admit.



END SPOILER



The revelations and the consequences of not just Matrona's actions but those of Slava and other characters in this story made for a gripping story that I had to read nearly straight through. Holmberg's writing made a for a pleasant reading experience and her research into Russian culture included clothing and building details that I did not recognize from books I've read in the past. Her creation of this atmosphere got me right into the story and did not let me go until the end, where I am left both satisfied and questioning the characters. No one is perfect in this book, whatever they think about themselves, and maybe that was the point. Making the best decisions you can while not giving into self-doubt and criticism and outside forces.

I'm looking forward to her next book, because there is always the possibility that the story started here as not ended.

Ahoy there me mateys! I received this fantasy eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. So here be me honest musings . . .

the fifth doll (Charlie N. Holmberg)

Title: the fifth doll

Author: Charlie N. Holmberg

Publisher: 47North (47North is the Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror imprint of Amazon Publishing, the full-service publishing arm of Amazon)

Publication Date: July 25, 2017 (paperback/e-book)

ISBN: 9781477806104

Source: NetGalley

So as usual the cover drew me in:

[picture of cover here]

And the premise is quite fun. A girl accidentally finds a room in a neighbor's house that contains matryoshka (nesting) dolls. The catch is that there is one painted to look like every villager. Why is there a doll painted with her face? This glimpse leads her to be drawn into the mystery of her neighbor Slava's world. He wants her to be the next caretaker of the dolls and their magic. The catch is that for every one of her dolls that she opens, serious consequences occur that expose her to the truth she doesn't know how to handle.

I liked the ideas in this book but unfortunately the writing does not do them justice. The main character, Matrona, is 26 but acts like a very immature twelve year old. She is more concerned with her worry over not being loved by her betrothed and going through with her arranged marriage then the problems of the village being controlled by Slava. At the same time, she has a crush on another neighbor from a less prosperous family and waffles about that too. Her naivete grew tiresome.

All of the characters seemed flat, Matrona included. I understand magic is involved but everyone seemed like inhuman cardboard cutouts. I would have liked full fleshed out people.

While the first two consequences of Matrona's dolls were especially interesting, the plot was confusing overall. There were periods of intense information dropping, especially in the beginning, and then other parts where nothing happened. There are entire sections with Matrona wandering around the village waffling over her love life. Her love interest falls in love with her in just a week. Part of the action was delayed because there were 3 day gaps between opening the next doll. The villain didn't really do anything other than intimidate Matrona and disappears for entire sections of the book so that Matrona can do something to further the plot.

Then Matrona has a vision in Chapter 16 / 73% in and the book had a sharp decline that lasted through the end. The explanations for the mystery of the dolls and Matrona's decisions and methods in fighting back were so lackluster. I was so close to the end at that point that I finished so I could see how the author chose to resolve the issues. Again interesting concepts but poor execution.

I seem to be in the minority so far with this opinion so take it with a grain of sea salt. If ye chose to read it, I hope ye like it far better than I. I just know I won't be readin' another book by this author.

So lastly . . .

Thank you 47North!

Goodreads has this to say about the novel:

The bestselling author of The Paper Magician Series transports readers to a darkly whimsical new world where strange magic threatens a quiet village that only a desperate woman can save.

Matrona lives in an isolated village, where her life is centered on pleasing her parents. She’s diligent in her chores and has agreed to marry a man of their choosing. But a visit to Slava, the local tradesman, threatens to upend her entire life.

Entering his empty house, Matrona discovers a strange collection of painted nesting dolls—one for every villager. Fascinated, she can’t resist the urge to open the doll with her father’s face. But when her father begins acting strangely, she realizes Slava’s dolls are much more than they seem.

When he learns what she’s done, Slava seizes the opportunity to give Matrona stewardship over the dolls—whether she wants it or not. Forced to open one of her own dolls every three days, she falls deeper into the grim power of Slava’s creations. But nothing can prepare her for the profound secret hiding inside the fifth doll.

To visit the author’s website go to:

Charlie N. Holmberg - Author

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the fifth doll - Book

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Yer Ports for Plunder List

It’s clear from the get-go that something is not quite right in Matrona's village, though she herself isn't aware until a fateful action sets her on the path to unraveling the mystery. Charlie N. Holmberg's latest book, The Fifth Doll, fluctuates between the romance of an old Russian village, the beguiling spell of a fantasy tale, and the compelling lives of the characters brought to life throughout its pages.

The main character, Matrona, is a dreamer who longs for love, but with realist parents and an impending arranged marriage, it seems she's destined for a life devoid of it. When she happens upon the collection of painted nesting dolls in the mysterious Slava's house, she can't resist the urge to touch one--one with a remarkable likeness of her father painted on it! But when her father starts acting strangely, she realizes there must be more going on in tradesman Slava's house.

But when Matrona goes to confront Slava, he turns the tables on her and decides Matrona is going to be the next keeper of his secrets--whether she wants to or not! Matrona must follow Slava's demands...or else. Between his dictates and her parents' and betrothed's expectations, Matrona soon finds herself in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. But with each action she takes, and resulting consequence she endures, Matrona grows in strength and resolve: she will learn the mystery of the dolls. And perhaps she might find the love she longs for after all...

Reading this book was itself very like opening a set of Russian matryoshka dolls. Each layer of the story had a new problem, a new hope, a new secret to learn, and every time I thought I knew where things were headed, another layer broke open and took the plot in a new direction. The Fifth Doll is incredibly unique, quite refreshing to read, and genuinely hard to put down! It only took two days to fly through it, and I could have easily read it all in one sitting if I hadn't had the mundane distractions of everyday life plaguing me.

What made this story go above the average tale for me were the vivid characters and the beautiful language employed skillfully by Charlie N. Holmberg. Matrona is a very believable and likeable character. I was able to easily sympathize with her without feeling like the author was manipulating me to do so. She does have real faults but they are understandable and true to her character. Slava walks the appropriate tightrope for his good-guy-or-bad-guy-? persona; menacing but weary, demanding but regretful. And the character of Matrona's mother also stood out to me as a very realistic portrayal. Her harsh demeanor and sharp words were very believable traits, due to her situation in life and its toll on her.

As for the language, here are a few lines that I absolutely *loved*!

“It sent moth wings up her arms and over her shoulders.”

“By the time she reached the church, her lungs blazed like two oil lamps.”

“Serpents coiled around her chest, thinning her air.”

“Her entire body became a heartbeat.”

“A good sign, yet Matrona’s nerves stung her limbs like hornets.”

“Matrona’s skin burned like he was the sun.”


All in all, this is a gem of a book, with enough mystery, magic, romance, historical notes and action to please readers from virtually any genre. This is probably the best book I've read so far this year—and I don’t give out five-star reviews easily!

This is an excellent and imaginative book by Charlie N. Holmberg! Set in a small Russian village, a woman's world is scrambled after discovering a room full of matryoshka dolls that each depict the likeliness of a villager. The uniqueness of the fairytale-esque story kept me perfectly absorbed and eager to know what happened next. The author's writing style seems effortlessly engrossing, so readable, but also wonderfully rich. The imagery is descriptive, but does not overstay it's welcome. The characters are likable and act in realistic manner.

My only gripe with the story is the bit of, what I consider, unnecessary romance. While the romance did not feel forced and was, thankfully, minimal in description, I still feel that it really did not add anything critical to the plot. Did it serve as a device of anguish and main character exposition? Yes. But there could have been other ways of doing the same. I must put a disclaimer that I've never been one for romance in novels - especially the "oh-woe-is-me", desperate longing type. Saying all that, however, the romance was not particularly disruptive or overdone and did not decrease my enjoyment of the novel overall.

One thing I wish this novel included was a glossary for the Russian words. Some of the words were defined in the text or were rather easy to figure out an approximate meaning. However, there were some words that were never defined and, apart from looking them up on the internet, I had no concept to what the characters referred. Thus, if you primarily read without handy access to the web, you might be a bit frustrated with a few terms.

Overall, I highly recommend this fantastical read and look forward to more new releases by author Charlie N. Holmberg!

Thank you to 47North for providing me with a copy of this novel via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

I am utterly in awe of how this author can create such wonderfully creative stories, the likes of which haven't been seen in decades. Every story is unique, interesting and full of magic. I must admit that this doesn't hold the same appeal to me that The Paper Magician series did, and so I didn't feel quite so engaged with the story; nevertheless it's still a very worthy story and I'm sure anyone new to this author or this genre will find it mesmerising. It just wasn't quite as fully developed as I would have liked - give us another 100 pages please!

As always, the author creates a beautiful world and a relatable protagonist. A unique theme throat revolves around the layers of nesting dolls, this was really enjoyable. Full of mystery and magic. My only negative is the way we are shown Slava's background. It felt abrupt. Otherwise, a great read.

Interesting read. This story reminded me a little of the book The giver and the movie The village. With the opening of each doll Matrona learns that her world is not all that it seems. I felt that the character development was good, and I enjoyed the story.

After discovering a room full of matryoshka dolls wearing the faces of her village, a woman learns she may be trapped inside one--but unraveling the sorcery carved into each doll unleashes dark consequences that rip her from the only home she remembers.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This books was a fabulous mix of fantasy, heroism, and wonder! Such a great read! Highly recommended.

Although the start of the story was a little slow, this progressed to a real page turner! Magic, mystery and a pinch of romance. I pretty much inhaled it.

(The below review will be published on my blog, Goodreads and Amazon on July the 12th.)

The brilliant idea behind this novel took me fully unprepared for the feeling of amazingness that engulfed me upon finishing it. I fullheartedly recommend this book to everyone interested in Russian culture (!?), dystopia and mysticism -- a beautiful combination!

My most favorite element of this novel was the world created by Holmberg through the character of Slava, the mysticist. There is a huge chunk of reality interspersed with bits of supernatural, barely visible to any other characters but Matrona and Jaska. I will not retell here the story, as you can find yhe synopsis on Goodreads.

My favorite character is Matrona, for her boldness and determination. It is amazing that she could muster the courage to make a change, despite all the magic and warnings that it might not be appreciated by all the villagers once the safe world they had known for 20 years was taken away from them. The paradox here: should one be content with an easy and comfortable life while being completely manipulated OR rather have free will to achieve their dreams through the harsh reality of life?

The dolls gave me creeps at times and I was almost angry with Matrona for not having the patience and enough self-control learn all the ropes from Slava before rebelling against his creation. I found the dolls a fantastic element, the author fully managing to portray their role and eventually to unravel the rules of Slava's magic.

I absolutely got engrossed by Feodor and was so content with the answer given to him by Matrona in the end. He deserved nothing, such a low person. Surely his character was needed to balance the good with the bad, the magic with what was real. It proves at the same time how people can choose to be manipulated if that means they should not struggle, nor struggle much for their daily bread.

The Fifth Doll is a gem of a book, a lovely mix of dystopia and fantasy, blended with delicious bits of Russian culture and traditions. I fully recommend this book. I am so glad and thankful I had the chance to read an advance copy, courtesy of the author and Netgalley.

Loved this book. Easily the best book I've read all year (which is saying a lot since it's my 26th in 2017).

The writing style is beautiful and flawless. The world comes alive with graceful imagery. The characters are complex and dynamic. The structure/pacing of the novel is steady and building: either the mystery of the world, the magic of the dolls, the romantic 'complications' of the protagonist (sorry, no spoilers!), or the timeline itself keep the book fascinating and engrossing throughout. I couldn't put it down, but honestly, I didn't really try to. I let myself get swept away by the narrative, and I have a feeling I'm going to be thinking about this book for a long time yet to come.

I was BLOWN AWAY by how wonderfully this book is written and highlighted line after line of Holmberg's beautiful prose. Her descriptions are gorgeous: she describes emotions, physical reactions (hearts racing/skin tingling/etc), and scenery in new and unique ways throughout the book. I just realized my Kindle erased ALL of my notes and highlights (and am now crying), so here are only a few hasty examples of what I mean:

"Matrona imagined her flush was made of thousands of biting ants, and the soft breeze blew them off her skin as she walked, carrying them back into the wood."

"He was still as an oak trunk, silent as a candle."

"Matrona's heart retreated until it hit her spine, and she quivered with its every beat."

"The sky began to tint pink as the sun crawled toward its wooded bed."

"Her entire body became a heartbeat."

"Jaska straightened, though his whole person seemed to wilt."

I started reading The Fifth Doll and couldn't put the book down. It kept my attention from beginning to end! The main character, Matrona, works on he parents' dairy farm in a small village. Due to an attempted good deed she finds herself in the middle of a room full of nesting dolls painted to look like the townspeople. It turns out things are not what they seem and she finds herself fighting to save everyone from the power of Slava, the man who is in control of the dolls. Slava forces her to open one layer of the nesting doll with her face and she discovers secrets and mysteries with doll layers 1-4. What she discovers about doll number 5 changes everything she thought she knew about herself and life as she knew it. Ms. Holmberg does an excellent job of drawing the reader in and keeping them guessing the secrets of The Fifth Doll. This book was very well written and well worth your time to read it.