This book was a fast read about a side of the Holocaust that isn’t as prevalent in many fiction books about this era. The deepstate propaganda about how Germany and their “perfect” race would rule and reign was fascinating in how even their art was government created to further their ideals. The creative process totally controlled by the state was the focus of this book along with how this affected the artists and their relationships. I appreciated how the author focused on how this absolute control at all costs led to the decisions the main characters made rather than the shock value of how concentration camps treated the prisoners. Excellent addition to Holocaust fiction.

3.5 stars

The Porcelain Maker by Sarah Freethy has it all. There is an element of romance, during a time when the love between a Jewish man and a German woman was forbidden; History, for those that enjoy reading stories about the Holocaust, and the secrets many had to keep to stay and keep others safe. Mystery. The story of a girl in search of her father's identity and the family secrets uncovered along the way; and my absolute favorite, so much vivid imagery you almost wish the book contained pictures. I never would have thought I'd be so intrigued by porcelain figurines, but here we are. They are so delicately described thag I really wish I could see at least one tiny piece. Ireally enjoyed this book. The author did a wonderful job keeping the reader engaged throughout the entire story.

I recommend this story to all. I think there are so many complex themes in this story to compel and intrigue most readers.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending this book for review consideration. The opinions depicted in this review are my own.

A young couple in love, living 1929 in Germany, but life there begins to change, and soon they are not even allowed to marry as he is Jewish. We follow this couple as they go about trying to earn a living, both artists, and he is also an architect working on the autobahn. She loves to paint abstract, but soon that is also not allowed!
The author gives us a glimpse into what life was like for the folks, and we know what was happening at that time for people of the Jewish faith.
This is a time slip read, spanning from 1929 to 1993 and back as the years toward the danger becomes harder and harder.
What would a mother do to save her child? In this read the Mom Bettina does just that, save her, and we are there when Clara is both a child and an adult with her own child.
I loved how the author brought this book to a conclusion, yes there are surprises, and then there are how we wish things turn out.
I was page turning for answers, and I think we need to be reminded of the Holocaust!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher St. Martin's Press, and was not required to give a positive review.

Sarah Freethy's historical fiction novel, The Porcelain Maker, sweeps me away to a vividly depicted era, where love, passion, and artistry intertwine. Set against the backdrop of 18th-century Europe, this enchanting tale weaves together the lives of its characters with meticulous attention to detail, resulting in a captivating read that transports me to another time.

The story centers around the eponymous porcelain maker, whose name is lost to history, as he embarks on a journey that takes him from the bustling streets of Paris to the opulent courts of Vienna and beyond. Freethy's rich prose skillfully brings to life the artistic process, immersing me in the delicate and intricate world of porcelain-making, where beauty is forged from clay and fire.

At the heart of The Porcelain Maker is a tender romance that blossoms between the porcelain maker and Isabelle, a spirited young woman who becomes his muse. Their love story unfolds with a sense of forbidden desire, as they navigate the complexities of class and societal expectations. Freethy adeptly captures the nuances of their relationship, balancing passion and longing with the challenges they face in a world that seeks to keep them apart.

Freethy's attention to historical accuracy shines through in the intricate details of the settings, costumes, and customs of the time period. Freethy's research is evident, and she seamlessly integrates historical events and figures into the narrative, adding depth and authenticity to the story. From the elegance of the French court to the artistic circles of Vienna, the world-building in The Porcelain Maker is immersive and transports me to a bygone era.

The characters in the novel are well-developed and relatable, each with their own aspirations, flaws, and secrets. The porcelain maker himself is a complex protagonist, driven by his passion for his craft while grappling with personal demons. Isabelle, on the other hand, is a strong-willed and determined young woman who defies societal conventions. Their interactions are filled with tension, tenderness, and a palpable chemistry that keeps me eagerly turning the pages.

One aspect that could have been further explored in The Porcelain Maker is the broader historical and political context of the time. While the focus of the novel is primarily on the characters and their relationships, a deeper exploration of the societal upheaval and artistic movements of the period would have added another layer of depth to the story.

Thanks to the author , Sarah Freethy for this amazing story about the porcelain makers. I never really have heard of this art in that era. Bettina and Max have a love story that is so tender with all the struggles they have in that era. The characters are so believed , one feels like they are there with them. Max the porcelain maker and Bettina are followed through years and lastly with their daughter trying to find her dad. The picture of the Viking plays a viable part in this story. Read and find out why. Thanks to St. Martins Press and Net Galley for the early preview!

This book was truly a wonderful Historical Fiction book. It was heartbreaking and powerful at the same time. One of the best I have read this year. Definitely would recommend this book.

The novel spans the years between 1993 and 1929 as Clara tries to find out her mother’s history and who her father was and why she was so determined not to share it.
Clara eventually, through luck and determination, learns how Max, a gifted architect and her mother, Bettina, a renowned avant-garde artist, meet and fall in love in Berlin. With the threat of Nazism on the rise, they make choices to ensure their safety, but eventually Max is arrested and sent to Dachau, where his talent at making porcelain figures, makes him useful to the Nazi machine. Clara also makes choices to change her life and artistic path to ensure Max’s safety.
This was an exciting and powerful novel. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in reading about this period of history and who enjoy reading about determined, strong women.

What an amazing story! I highly recommend this wonderful story which is full of memorable characters like artist Bettina Vogel, Max Erhlich, and Bettina's daughter Clara who is looking for her father.

The plot set in 1993 and the WWII time frames was amazingly full of action, historically accurate and also a charming love story.

The Porcelain Maker comes to life when Max is sent to Dachau where he begins to work at the porcelain factory

This is truly a well - crafted story that is a very fast read. I was immersed in the book hoping Bettina Vogel, Max Erhlich both would survive the Nazis oppression.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a historical fiction set in WWII between a Jewish man, Max and his German lover, Bettina told in dual timelines. Max is sent to Dauchau and because of his artist training, he is forced labor at a porcelain factory. Bettina does all she can to save him including marrying herself to a horrible Nazi. The storyline is unique as I didn't know anything about the porcelain factory at Allach. I found that the author didn't include some details of the story that I wished were there....what happened to the Nazi brother for example and the role he placed in Max's arrest. A moving story with great characters overall that I would recommend to WWII historical fiction lovers.

This was amazing! I couldn’t put it down. I loved that it was based on a true story, and I couldn’t help but research it after I was finished reading.

The Porcelain Maker by Sarah Freethy. A dual timeline story. It’s 1993 and Clara Vogel wants to find out about her father. Clara searches for answers through porcelain figurines that were made in Germany during the war. The second timeline tells the story of her mother, Bettina who was an artist in Germany during WW2. A well written and researched book. The characters were very real and could been a true story. I recommend this book if you’re a fan of historical fiction. Thank you to NetGallery for letting me review this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

The characters were well crafted with a strong balance between the female and male roles. It was a great historical fiction from this debut author. Set in Germany in 1929 and USA in the 1990’s. During WWII, Bettina Vogel, an artist, and Max Erhlich, an Austrian Jew and future architect, both studying at the German artschool Bauhaus, meet and fall in love. This camp happens to be near a porcelain factory where max’s skills with making beautiful porcelain items gets him assigned to work in the porcelain factory. In the 1993 timeline, we meet Bettina's daughter Clara who wants to learn who her father was and follows the clues of the porcelain animals her mother loved so much to lead her to people who can answer her questions.

This book was a very interesting read and I would recommend it.
Two lovers caught at the crossroads of history.
A daughter's search for the truth.

#netgalley

This beautiful, heart wrenching, inspirational novel is a must read. Told through alternating perspectives, it follows artist Bettina and architect Max through the early days of World War II in Austria, when no one believes that Hitler will amount to anything or that it is possible for their beautiful lives to be upended. But invade he does, and life changes immediately for Bettina and Max. But Max is Jewish and with the invasion, their love becomes illegal. Both must make terrible choices to survive, and eventually Max ends up in Dachau, where his artistic skills give him some protection.

Bettina's daughter Clara has always known that there is some mystery behind her father. Her vague memories provide few clues and Bettina refuses to talk about him, even as she lay dying. Clara begins a quest to find the truth about both of her parents.

Beautifully written, and cased on real people and real events, The Porcelain Maker is a real standout among the many historical novels of the time period.

I was hooked within the first few pages! Flashing back and forth from World War II and 21st century America, this book was hard to put down! Max and Bettina's love story is one for the ages. They work hard to defy the odds as tenuous freedoms slip away in a country growing with Nazi opposition. Art is woven into the story from beginning to end and portrayed beautifully. A porcelain figure with Nazi markings; crafted at a factory in a concentration camp. This is the only clue in Clara's posssession that may lead to revealing the secret of her father's identity. In a time where secrets determine life or death, this story of love, deception and courage unfolds. Will Clara uncover her mother's mysterious past to find answers or reveal more questions?

An absolutely beautifully written book. Ms. Freethy’s prose just flows through the paper. I couldn’t put it down. Her characters are so real, you just want to gather them up and save them forever. A novel of sacrifice and sadness on so many levels; from a world famous artist, to the actual porcelain maker of Dachau, to the daughter left behind. Such a sad, yet beautifully haunting story.

The Porcelain Maker is a dual-timeline historical fiction novel set in Germany in the late 1930's and the U.S. in 1993. I enjoyed this book, which I found very slow at first, and almost stopped reading. That said, when the 1930's story of Bettina and Max picked up speed, it became a riveting saga of missed opportunities, artistic talents, friendships, resistance and love.

I found Clara's story even more interesting. Clara, Bettina and Max's daughter, is searching for the true identify of her father. When she learned later in life that the man she had known as her father, a Nazi officer, wasn't her birth father, she began the journey of discovering her roots. As my family's genealogist I was drawn to her search and had great empathy for the brick walls she hit along the way.

Given my hesitancy at the beginning of The Porcelain Maker I was leaning towards a three star rating. I opted for four stars because of the depth of research into how prisoners were abused and used in the death camps to further the Nazi obsession with the arts. Plus, the writing flows smoothly and the story gets so much more compelling after the first third of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher of The Porcelain Maker for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this novel.

The Porcelain Maker is a dual-POV novel that opens in present-day 1993 with Clara at an auction house bidding on porcelain figurines, hoping she will discover the secrets of her mother's past. The story also follows her mother and Max in 1937, forward toward the incoming World War II.
This is an immersive novel that you know will tell a story of love, hatred, redemption, and betrayal. Freethy's writing is richly detailed and atmospheric, immersing the reader in the historical settings of the story, from the modern-day United States to WWII Germany. The author masterfully weaves multiple narrative threads and perspectives, creating a complex web of intrigue that keeps the reader engaged and guessing until the end.

One of the most impressive aspects of The Porcelain Maker is Freethy's ability to seamlessly blend fact and fiction, drawing from actual historical events and legends to create a believable and fascinating story.

I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to anyone passionate about historical fiction.

I just reviewed The Porcelain Maker by Sarah Freethy. #ThePorcelainMaker #NetGalley
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The romantic story of two lovers parted by Nazi Germany and their murderous hated of anything different from what they thought was right. It is nice to see a concentration camp other than Auschwitz portrayed in a story about the Holocaust.

The Porcelain Maker by Sarah Freethy
Your review
• May 24, 2023

"Sarah Freethy’s, The Porcelain Maker" . is worth
all 5 stars and the best book I've read this year thus far.
Many thanks to the author and to Net Galley for the advance readers ebook copy of this novel.
#SarahFreethy, #netgalley, #stmartinspress

This was a wonderful read, but far above the reading level of my 2nd and 3rd graders. I'm not certain why NetGalley is asking me to review it like this. This is a well-written piece of historical fiction that, through a forbidden romance, gives insight into the what was happening in Germany at the time leading up to and during WWII. After all the build up, I was disappointed by the rushed ending, but still a story that stays with you long after the last page. Thank you for the opportunity to read this novel.