The Kendricks' doll making business has been operating since the early 1800s. Shrouded in secrecy, only family members are permitted to work for the firm, and only the most trusted learn the most closely guarded secrets.  The enchantments that are so heavily guarded are what makes the Kendricks' dolls so coveted.  When the most famous enchanted doll of all is stolen, suspicion hits everyone in the town.  The worst thing is, only a Kendrick could have taken her. 

I loved Mascarenhas' last novel, The Psychology of Time Travel, so was quick to request this from NetGalley. 

I've thought a while on this review and rating, I has some mixed feelings whilst reading this book.  The first half to three quarters had be enthralled and eager to see what happened, but I felt it lost it's way a bit towards the end. 

I think Mascarenhas did a brilliant job of creating a place and people that stuck you in and really make you feel like you're there.  Set in Oxford, I could picture the village and the people so clearly.  
I found the characters to be incredibly well drawn too.  None of them are particularly trustworthy, and most not even remotely likeable.  Larkin had some redeeming qualities, and Persephone was my favourite for her refusal to be cowed.  Hedwig, Conrad, Briar and Alastair to name just a few were not people I would like to have in my life.  In fact to be honest The Eyot is one of the few bookish places I wouldn't really like to visit, purely and simply because of how awfully the characters treat each other! 

The 2 main issues I had with the book and the reason I've given 3* and not higher, were the timing and the ending.  Timing wise I felt the book seemed out of place set in present day Oxford.  It felt more like it should have been the early 1900s.  I kept having to remind myself that it was present day, especially with things like the London Underground being mentioned.  

In terms of the ending I felt things went off course after about the 70% mark.  Things seemed to fizzle out, and the ending became a bit too neat and tidy for me, whilst not quite explaining all of the things I wanted explained.  I'm being deliberately vague here so as not to give away any spoilers, but let's just say I thought some people needed a comeuppance, and although I know who stole the doll I still don't really know why. 

There is a lot to like about this, and I'd definitely say Kate Mascarenhas is on my 'one to watch' list.  I enjoy her writing style and her ideas, and will be excited to see what she writes next. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Thief on the Winged Horse, although set in modern times, has many similarities with times past and with a mix of different traditions and beliefs, is gripping right from the beginning. The beguiling storyline is original, and has a little bit of everything to keep readers engaged.

Thank you to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for approving me to read 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘧 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘦 by Kate Mascarenhas.
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𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘒𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯.
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I LOVED this book. From the synopsis I knew it would be a magical read, but I didn't expect it to be such a feminist book - and it was all the better for it.
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𝘈𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘦𝘣𝘣𝘦𝘥 , 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘩. 𝘈𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘴, 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘴 – 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘤 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 – 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨.
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I have a real love of folklore and mythology, and there were lots of references to this throughout the book.
This included stories of traditional folklore such as the Thief, the fae folk, and changelings, but also the folklore and tales within the four families of Botham, Kendrick, Jackson and Ramsay.
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“𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘧 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘌𝘴𝘮𝘦’𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳.”
“𝘋𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺?”
“𝘠𝘦𝘴. 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘧 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘴,” 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥. “𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘦 –𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘹𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦."
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I also loved the details of different 'doll lore' and this encouraged me to do some research into the different dolls and doll houses mentioned within the book.
I found the Japenese doll culture to be particularly interesting, and I love when books teach me something about other cultures.
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“𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥; 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯, 𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦, 𝘯𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘑𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸. 𝘐𝘯 𝘑𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘴.”
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The plotting itself was very well executed, and I especially loved the sub-plot of Persephone and her dream of becoming a Sorcerer.
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𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘢 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯’𝘴 𝘫𝘰𝘣.
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There are a number of powerful women throughout the novel, but it feels like a real coming of age story for Persephone, who leads the changes for the other women who are confined in their existing roles and positions within the society.
Her character arc is particularly noteworthy, especially in how she relates to other characters throughout the novel.
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“𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴,” 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘥, “𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.
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I would highly recommend this novel, and will definitely be reading more from Kate Mascarenhas in the future.

Thank you to Head of Zeus for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

Recommends it for: Fans of The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow, mystery lovers that want a touch of fantasy.

A beautifully written unique book that combines different genres, but does it work?

The family of Kendrick, Jackson, Ramsay and Botham , the original founding sisters that made dolls with magic – magic that can infuse feeling into the dolls so that when you pick it up you might feel a very strong emotion. Persephone longs to break the tradition and become the female Sorcerer. A stranger with secrets arrives, claiming to be a long-lost relative with a talent for crafting dolls , both of them use each other to seize the chance to get what they want.

After seeing the cover and synopsis I could not help myself from requesting it, this cover is gorgeous.

The writing is really beautifully done and the novel is interesting enough to continue reading however it really lacks in action and only halfway through does a plot actually start to develop – so it’ really slow. It was also very easy to forget it was set in modern day Oxford , I feel it would have been better with an older era setting.
The pacing and characters were well thought out, I really did want to know more about the magical side of things and I felt that was almost an after-thought, it wasn’t an integral part of the story and I felt it either should not of been included or more should have been explained.

This will appeal to a certain audience that love magical and mysterious elements but maybe less actual fantasy.

Overall it’s part mystery, part reality and a touch of fantasy for those that love a very atmospheric, character driven and yes, it works!

Rating: 3.6
The Thief on the Winged Horse by Kate Mascarenhas
Standalone
Publish Date:
Cover Rating: 8/10
Adult – Fantasy – Magic – Mystery – Romance- Magical Realism – Contemporary

When the most expensive and famous magic doll is stolen right from under the Kendrick’s noses, it’s obvious there is family betrayal afoot – who can they trust?

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up The Thief on The Winged Horse but I’m so glad I requested it and I have already begun recommending it to friends! Kate Mascarenhas has really built a well-developed and realistic world of supernatural doll-making in Oxford and it was a pleasure to get to know the characters and be moved and surprised by the plot.

I really enjoyed learning about all of the characters – Persephone in particular is well-rounded and likeable but also has some very human flaws. From the scheming Hedwig and alcoholic Briar through to the aging Conrad, all characters were very well-developed and had their individual progression through the plot. I particularly liked Larkin’s character arc as well and there were a lot of plot points that surprised me and that I did not see coming. 

A few reviewers have pointed out that the plot seemed odd when set in modern times but the book does make a point at the beginning that mobile phones didn’t get a signal on the Eyet. The whole village had a cult-like vibe to it and I think the modern setting actually added to the story and allowed for a few modern twists to help the plot.

I liked the way that magic is used and the inherent sexism that runs throughout the community. This only really gets introduced towards the latter half of the book though and I felt like we could have been made aware of it a little earlier, whether explicitly or just with smaller hints. I liked the story of the founding of the company and the fae folklore as well. Although the book is relatively long, I found myself finishing it in 2 sittings – it’s an engaging read and kept me interested throughout.

Overall, I would highly recommend The Thief on the Winged Horse – it’s a well-constructed and interesting read which kept my attention throughout. Thank you to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Just like Mascarenhas' first novel 'The Psychology of Time Travel' this book was an absolute delight. Her stories are so magical and unique. The story is set in the modern day in Oxford but I kept forgetting this - it could easily have been set anywhere and at any past point in time. It was really hard to place down which added to the magic. I loved how like her previous book it had an underlying feminist theme and I thought all the characters were great in their own way. I think if you like other magical dollmaking books e.g. The Miniaturist then you would really enjoy this. Highly recommend for a big of escapism.

I was sent a copy of The Thief on the Winged Horse by Kate Mascarenhas to read and review by NetGalley.  This novel was an enjoyable read.  There was an array of characters, some of which were more well-formed than others, and plenty of dolls!  The basis of the story was set around a family doll making business that had been passed down through generations, with enchantments set on the dolls making them unique.  There was plenty of family rivalry, aspirations and a good dose of magic and folk lore, but for me this read had more of a young adult feel about it and didn’t quite capture me as much as I would have hoped.  Having said that I still feel that it was worthy of the 4 stars that I have given it.

I received a free Ecopy of the book in return for an honest review. Many thanks to NetGalley and to Head of Zeus for the opportunity.

The Thief on The Winged Horse is Kate Mascarenhas second novel. Her first, The Psychology of Time Travel, pulled apart time travel and looked at it in new and exciting ways so I was keen to see what she would do with different subject matter. Although this book has a magic component, it is treated with the lightest touch. 

The Thief on the Winged Horse is about a family that makes dolls and magically imbues them with real emotions. The titular Thief is a fae who likes to come and steal emotions. By creating dolls with emotions, the women of the family could protect themselves from him. Though the knowledge of magic was originally developed by the women of the family, it is now held only by the men, and used to maintain their positions of power over the women. Until a young man arrives claiming kinship to the family and a valuable heirloom goes missing.

It took me a little while to get into this book. The main characters are not very likeable; Persephone is prickly, Hedwig is manipulative and Larkin is mysterious, but in a way that makes you curious yet doesn’t really draw you in. In spite of this the story kept pulling me back. The women of the family are subjugated and no amount of talent or intelligence will change this. It takes an outside element to provide an opportunity for change. Larkin appears to be that element. Despite not particularly liking the women in this book I was rooting for them.

This is one of those books where small moments from early in the story keep coming back to me and make me question the real nature of the story. I feel like I’m still trying to figure it out in my head even weeks later. I’m still not sure if the developments were wrought by magic or human perseverance and manipulation.

Although this isn’t a creepy book, I have to say I was a little unnerved at the image of all these silent dolls, watching events play out. This is an interesting book to while away a winter day, especially if you like to see power play between women and men.

Ooh, I loved this.

Magic, family feud, heart break, the power of the patriarchy, theft... this book is packed with things to keep you reading!

Persephone Kendrick works in the Kendrick family workshops, which create enchanted dolls - holding each one of them offers the experience of a different emotion. Persephone wants to become a doll maker and sorcerer, but is held back by being female to working behind the shop counter. Enter Larkin, a young and charming man, claiming family ties, who secures himself employment within the workshop. The relationship between the two fizzes throughout the novel.

Everything I love in a book - this is a great read.

The Thief on the Winged Horse by Kate Mascarenhas combines fantasy and sorcery set in a little backwater Payton’s Eyot that remains little changed in 200 years. Kendrick Magic Dolls is a family business where only family members can be employed as doll makers, interior decorators or sorcerers. And, despite having been established by three sisters, only men now occupy the privileged positions. Each doll has a unique hex, or enchantment, which evokes such sentiments as fear, paranoia, love and pride. Kendrick’s current head is Conrad and he has a thorn in his side in his twin brother Briar. All the names in Paxton’s Eyot are gorgeously evocative such as Hedwig, Persephone and the newcomer and pretender Larkin. It’s an intriguing tale but where I struggled was the introduction of the present day with the London tube and mobile phones. For me the tale would have been much more convincing left in its fantastical past. A satisfying ending though. Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus.

The Kendricks are famous for their enchanted dolls, where each one evokes a feeling in you. The sorcery they use is kept within the family. Their most prized possession, a doll made by the founder is stolen. Anybody could be guilty, if they could surpass the protective enchantment.

Understated, with a quiet power, this is a slow burner that takes a while to really get started, biding its time to get you acquainted with all the players. The many POVs might be whiplashy at the beginning, but later on it gets better, as you become comfortable and realize they are needed to tell the story.

Very realistic, flawed characters who speak their mind, everyone of them have their own agenda. I think Larkin is my favorite character. He is the most interesting by far. I love his determination. But I think Persephone will still manage to steal your heart, as she did mine. She is the character who evolves the most.

Dealing with misogyny in the workplace, it shows us the unfairness of it, with beautiful simplicity. Brutally honest, this is a study of human emotions wrapped in an intriguing whodunnit full of family disputes, betrayals and double-crosses.

This was something a little bit different, there's a wonderful sense of magic and tradition, but the story as a whole it had a very contemporary feel.
An interesting array of characters, motivations and ideas. A very enjoyable and easy read.
I think this would work brilliantly on the big screen, I'd love to actually see the dolls as I think they would be beautiful.

My only complaint was that everything wrapped up so quickly and quietly.

I loved the psychology of time travel  and wasn’t disappointed with this one either I enjoyed every page. It’s full of crime, romance, and magic. It follows the life of Persephone Kendrick.
Her  family have been making world-famous dolls for over 200 years. Each one has an emotion given to it by its creator. Once founded by sisters, only men may know the secrets of the workshop.
Persephone want to break tradition and learn the craft, when stranger arrives claiming doll-making Skills and a connection to the family she sees a chance to change the rules. However one night, the most valuable doll is stolen. Only a Kendrick could have Done it. A well written, gripping tale. Persephone is likeable and I wanted her to win/find the thief.  An original refreshing story.

Synopsis: The Kendrick family has been in the trade of fabricating dolls for the last two centuries in a town near Oxford. As a family secret, they are the only ones who are able to cast a magic spell on the dolls, enabling them to emit one emotion. Whoever touches them feels that emotion.

The sorcerers are men from the family only, and Persephone seeks to break this tradition and get employed as a sorcerer. 
Along comes young Larkin, claiming to be a descendant of the family and wanting to get employed. He‘s trained as an artist, and knows to craft dolls. The head of the family is reluctant but gives him a chance.

After a garden party, a famous doll worth millions of pounds is stolen. The search for the thief begins.

Review: The novel is set in our time, but I had to constantly be reminded of this, because the society and trade felt so antiquated. The patriarchal family ruling out females from higher positions (though they were founded by four sisters), the trade of doll fabrication and the overall atmosphere - without references to cell phones or barbies here and there, the story could have happened a hundred years ago. 
The novel‘s strength lies in the complicated relationships between Persephone and her father. The author tried to add a romance between Larkin and Persephone, but it was utterly unbelievable despite of explicit descriptions of their sexual intercourses. As a romantasy, this novel failed spectacularly. 
The magic system with the hexed dolls was funny but didn’t lead too far; I can’t believe that everyone stayed knit-tight in the family business and nobody tried to break out for several generations: Once a sorcerer knows the hexes, they could just leave and easily start their own shop. 
Overall the mystery was conclusive, I didn’t guess the thief, and was satisfied with the resolution. I just didn’t understand several motives, and the relations were jumpy at times. 
The story felt like touching too many different topics and couldn’t decide if it wanted to be a family drama, a romance, a magical realism, or a mystery. While a novel could certainly combine all of those, this novel stayed too much on the surface to be successful in any of the subgenres.

The Thief on the Winged Horse by Kate Mascarenhas

4 STARS 

This was a pleasantly surprising read! I really enjoyed how the past and modern day is intertwined alongside elements of magic and a unique plot. Definitely worth the read!

The Thief On The Winged Horse was an unexpected enjoyable read. I loved it from start to finish! There is magic, mystery and suspense. I loved how the magic was intertwined with our modern day living and was pleasantly surprised when I realised the book was set in our current time. The book tells us about enchanted dolls and about the community that made them.

For two hundred years, on a small island just outside Oxford, the Kendrick family have been making exquisite dolls. As each is finished a hex is placed on it, giving it an emotion, from terror to bliss, which can be felt by anyone who touches the doll. It's a close-knit family business, with few outsiders allowed to join (and they are usually marrying into the family) The placing of the hex is a closely guarded secret even within the family, one which, although the company was founded by women, is now guarded by the men of the family; women may design and build houses and sets for the dolls but only men are 'sorcerers' allowed to fix emotions in the dolls.
Into this tight community comes a young man, Larkin, claiming to be a descendant of one of the founding sisters. He too is a maker of dolls, and now wants to claim a rightful place in the family business. Unusually for the Kendrick family, he's accepted on trust and given a position in the company, though no access to the vital magic that makes a Kendrick doll unique. His presence soon causes stirrings in the quiet lives of the Kendricks' world. Persephone Kendrick believes the dolls she creates are as beautiful as any made by the men, but as a woman she's not allowed to make 'Kendrick's' dolls but is relegated to the shop. Through Larkin she sees a way out of her stifling circumstances; a chance of a life where she can follow her ambition to create dolls of her own. 

Meanwhile a valuable irreplaceable doll is stolen, and only a family member with a knowledge of their magic could have executed the theft. There are various suspects, including Persephone's father, but most of the extended family seem happy to blame the fabled 'thief on the winged horse' - a magical character deemed responsible for much of the good - and ill - fortune of the Kendricks. 

I loved this book, from its magical elements to its all-too-real family rivalry and jealousy. Two elements lie at its heart - the daring theft, and the upheaval created by Larkin. At first he seems to slide smoothly into the family's way of things, but soon it's apparent that his arrival has caused a ripple-effect bringing long-held discontents to life.

With its mix of family secrets, betrayals and love, the tracking down of whoever committed the theft, of  Persephone's determination to challenge the status quo and follow her dream, there's something for almost everyone. This isn't 'fantasy' as such; the influence of 'magic' is slight, and for me the appeal was in its characters and their loves and deceits. The characters are well-drawn and realistically brought to life (more so then even a Kendricks' doll), while underpinning their action and the story is a knowledge of human frailties and desires.

Overall this was an enjoyable book. 

I liked the plot and all the little twists and turns along the way.  

The main characters are well written with enough personality to be three dimensional and authentic but I felt that outside of the main cohort, the characters were little more than sketches and interactions between main and secondary felt really flat.  I did love the way the main cohort of characters were never quite what you thought. 

The setting and the sense of time was all over the shop for me.  There is mention of cars, trains, mobile phones and Weatherspoon's which puts us firmly in the "now" but the way the MC acts at time is like he's stuck in in the 1930's and there is some jarring language used, like when a character is "hostessing" an event like we are suddenly back in the 1970's.  While this didn't affect the story it didn't bring me out of the story on a regular basis. 

I thought the ending was a bit twee and didn't fit the tone of the rest of the book.

I loved the enticing parade of eccentric characters that fill this book, and they drew me in to the story each in their own way.

From four sisters with magical secrets to a town and factory run by a mini-despot, the book explores how the gift of magic can be used for good - and not-so-good.

The setting of this uncommon magic is present-day Oxford, which adds a clever tension to the sense of mystery evoked by the family-bonded community around the doll factory.

The book is a very original explorations of feelings, power and gender difference that is cloaked in mystery and references to the Fae that never really take off, despite the winged horse of the title.

A very strong cast of women show how things could be run differently, and elements of magic, romance and mystery combine to offer a promising resolution.

More could be made of the sinister doll collectors and their motivations, and I'm not sure how they would react to a factory being run in the way that is promised at the end of the book - there would be so many things to explore for a timely sequel!

Fantastically crazy and magical book!! Not my usual genre whatsoever and so what a pleasant surprise I had with this one, try as I might I did not guess the thief 😀 I’m hoping to read more from the author and would certainly read any follow up books!