This is a beautifully written fictional story about an actual place, a porcelain factory in Dachau concentration camp. I've read so many historical fiction books set during WWII, but I thought this one was truly unique. I was fascinated by the detail in the historical timeline, but the story in the present was a little dry and forced. I thought Bettina's reason for not telling her daughter about her father was a little flimsy. Overall I really enjoyed this book and I couldn't believe it was a debut novel.

3.5 stars rounded to 4. I love a debut novel, and I’m so moved by the courage it must take to put yourself out there like that. I loved the history of the art in Bettina & Max’s timeline, and I loved the search for Clara’s father in the 1990s timeline. I remember vividly the trial of the former SS Guard John Demjanjuk (who was local to the Greater Cleveland area) when I was a teen, and not understanding anything that they were talking about. So today I have educated myself on WWII almost exclusively via historical novels. The history was great. But I felt little connection to the characters, and felt like Lotte was turned into an extraneous figure. The romance was ho hum, not terrible but I got way more from the other relationships that Max and Betti had with Richard and Holger, among others. I felt like the ending was rushed, and so much of the story was just tragic and hopeless, there seemed little could redeem it. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

This is a dual timeline story alternating between WWII and the 1990s. It is the story of love and artists struggling to find their way only to be caught up by the chaos of Nazi Germany. This is a story of love - often separated by circumstance. It’s the story of struggle and a story of survival. I gave this a 3 star review but would round it to a 3.5. I struggled with the love relationship in this one - I just didn’t feel it. The rest of the story was very compelling. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read.

This dual time-line story about the Shoah provides yet another unique narrative. There was, indeed, a porcelain factory in Nazi Germany known for its figurines which were coveted by the SS. Those porcelains form the basis of this story which revolves around art, forbidden love, Jewish slave labor, courage and rebellion.

Bettina and Max are the doomed lovers whose lives are forever changed by the rise of Nazism. We learn their story through Bettina’s granddaughter Clara, seeking information about her mother’s porcelain collection to better understand her family and specifically to identify her father. The story is compelling – there is tension and emotion. I was captivated by the information about the porcelain factory and the mandates on acceptable art. For me, that was the most significant contribution this book made to the large body of Holocaust literature. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced readers copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Television producer / author Freethy’s fiction debut follows a woman as she searches for information about the father she never knew. In 1993, Clara Vogel’s quest for her father’s identity takes her from London to Cincinnati where porcelain figurines are being auctioned off. She is searching for the Viking, a figurine she believes was owned by someone who knows who her father was. Though Clara’s mother, Bettina, never told her the name of Clara’s biological father, shortly before her death, Bettina told Clara that her father had made the Viking.

In an alternate narrative set in 1930s Germany, architect Max Ehrlich and artist Bettina Vogel meet and fall in love as they hone their respective crafts at Bauhaus, an avant-garde art school in Dessau, Germany. But before they decide Germany is too dangerous for them since Max is Jewish and they are living together when Bettina gets pregnant, he ends up getting arrested and sent to Dachau, a concentration camp outside Munich, where he works crafting porcelain figurines at Allach, a subcamp. After Max is arrested, Bettina accepts a marriage proposal from Nazi officer, Karl Holz, believing that marrying him might enable her to free Max from Dachau. Though she experiences great danger in her attempt to free Max, Bettina remains firm in her resolve to get Max out of Dachau so that she, Max and their daughter, Clara, can finally be together.

Freethy’s debut is richly enhanced with historical detail surrounding the existence of Allach and Heinrich Himmler’s presence there. Yet it is the riveting swirl of emotions surrounding Clara’s search for her father’s identity and the love between Bettina and Max that will draw the reader in from the very first page, never letting go until the breathtaking conclusion.

The porcelain maker
By Sarah Frethy
A remarkably crafted story shows the darker side of the German Reich. The layered nature of the story drawing the reader through two time lines shows the nature of the conflict in German society at that time. The beginning of the war, and its aftermath show in progression. The layer the love story of two phenomenal Austrian artists, as they trip unpredictably through the terrible times. The forced labor camps, the artistic restrictions, and the enforced idealism clash and roll like waves on the shore. Making it harder for the reader to put down the story till then end. It is a Greek tragedy placed on the war torn pages of history and its repercussions.

This was a unique and very moving book about love, sacrifice, and the choices we make. A dual timeline historical fiction-- 1990s and 1930s/1940s about a German woman and Austrian Jewish man and their love and circumstances to try to be together. I highly recommend for historical fiction readers.

Solid historical fiction novel told in alternating timeframes across one family. Bettina and Max fell in love before the Nazi regime took hold. As one Christian and one Jew, can their love story survive the Nazi takeover and the Holocaust? Will the next generations of their families ever discover the truth?

This dual timeline novel takes place during WWII and in 1993. Bettina is an art student, following in the Kandinsky’s school of art, when she meets a Jewish student of architecture, Max. Their relationship is a problem from the beginning, since they are in Germany where marriage to a Jew is prohibited. Their relationship deepens, but as the situation in Germany worsens, their relationship is fraught with danger. In 1993, Clara is still mourning the death of her mother, but more than that, hoping to find her real father when final mutterings by her mother admit that Karl Holz is not her real father. Clara flies to Germany to try to find the truth, bringing her daughter Lotte with her. The story of art determined degenerate by the Nazis enriches the story. Well written and recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

The Porcelain Maker by Sarah Freethy is a fascinating novel set in two different time periods. The historical fiction is well researched and fascinating. I have read many books about this time period but I’ve never read one quite like this one. Here is the story of art in the midst of war. I think readers of this genre will enjoy this book. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

The story begins at a small art auction where Clara Vogel buys all of one very specific type of porcelain. The search for the maker of the porcelain will hopefully lead her to her father. The art is from the Nazi regime and Clara's determination leads her to learn about her mother and father and their story of how love and art would be destroyed in war.

This is a touching and heartbreaking story as you’d expect with love and war at its core. Not being familiar with the way the Nazi's dealt with "deginerate" art, this book was wonderful at dealing with the history and making the terror of war very real.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the digital ARC.

The porcelain maker is a deep and richly nuanced novel. I was late finishing this for review on NetGalley but am thankful I took my time to read it slowly and savor it. This is a beautiful story of love and sacrifice, despite the ugliness in the world around.

I think this was a well written story that took hold of my heart and held on. Anything that deals with history needs to be shared. Needs to be read. We certainly don't want to have any of it repeated.

What happens in this story was horrible. The way a family treats each other is horrendous. Bettina's brother was a very sadistic person. Cruel to the marrow of his being. I didn't like him. Of course I don't like any Nazi that I've ever read about so this would not be any different.

This is a love story and a story about how awful things were during WW2. The love between Max, a Jew, and Bettina, a German, is beautiful. They fell in love despite the odds against them. Despite the fact that Bettina's brother was a German who wanted nothing more than to dominate her. He seemed to hate women. Actually I think possibly he hated all things and was a very unhappy person. Bettina fell in love with someone she wasn't suppose too. She could not stop her feelings even if she wanted. Much like most humans in the world, we just don't get to choose who our hearts yearn for the most. Sometimes you have to make a decision that goes against everything you ever thought to protect a person you love above all else. That is what happened in this case.

This story is very heartbreaking. It's about a man who makes porcelain figurines in a prison for people who are just not good enough. Jews, disabled, homosexuals, are anyone that is not perfect. It's also about how much Max loves Bettina. What he is willing to do to protect her. What happened between them that caused her to marry another. A German at that. A Nazi German.

It's also the story of Bettina's daughter. Her search for her father. She wants to know who he was and enlists her daughter's help in finding out all she can. Clara, Bettina's daughter, goes all the way to the United States to purchase porcelain figurines and one in particular. From there she starts her search. She ends up in Dachau.

From the darkest days in history to the late 1900s we follow this story. It's told from two timelines and interwoven in a way that keeps you wanting to know more. Will they ever find their way back to each other. I can't tell you that but the story between is told with heart, soul and the deepest feelings. It's part happy and a lot sad, but well worth reading.

I hope everyone that reads this genre of book learns something and teaches it to their children. We do not want history to repeat itself. Do not think it can't. We had the Indians, then the Slaves, then the prisoners in concentration camps. Mostly Jews but also other innocent people. We don't want a repeat of any of these.

This is written by a debut author so expect a few mistakes. It's not perfect but it's perfectly worth reading from start to finish. Well done in my humble opinion.

Thank you #NetGalley, #SarahFreethy, #StMartinsPress for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

Five big stars and several boxes of kleenex worthy.

A WWII novel about an artist,Bettina, and an architect, Max, that fall in love; one being Jewish the other not. The story is told in alternating chapters with first taking place in the late 30s to early 40s Germany to the 1990s in Cincinnati, Ohio and Europe. Clare, Bettina's daughter, is trying to find out who her father was as her mother would never really disclose who he was. So, Clare and her daughter, Lottie. set out to find out what they can about a porcelain figure that her Bettina had.
This story details what happens to Max as he is imprisoned by the Nazis and held in the concentration camp of Dachau. Max becomes the porcelain maker of Dachau. There was an actual porcelain factory in Dachau which is the inspiration for this novel.

This book is absolutely wonderful! It's a beautifully written story that will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. This book will stay in your mind long after you turn the last page. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of historical fiction.
I received a complimentary copy from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Porcelain Maker is a dual time period story that revolves around an unknown part of WW2 history that was new for this reader. I was lucky to get both the digital arc in audio and kindle format - I love being a hybrid reader. Both worked nicely, the reader for the audio was stellar bringing this story to life.

The past story begins in 1929 giving the history of Bertie and Max's relationship and what transpired until they meet again in Dachau concentrate camp. In Dachau there is a porcelain factory where this story gets its inspiration.

Jump ahead to 1993 as Bertie's daughter seeks to trace her roots and find out who her father really is.

The Porcelain Marker is an intriguing story that was well written, mysterious and heart breaking, given the time period how could it be anything but. Definitely a good fit for those HF readers who like something different.

I love the author notes, I miss them especially in a story like this. It would have been great to know the author's inspiration and what was fact vs fiction.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press and Macmillain Audio for advanced copies in exchange for a honest review.

The Porcelain Maker is a heartfelt yet heartbreaking story about the Bauhaus Movement. Told through dual timelines, the story is filled with art, love, hope, and heartbreak. In the present day, Clara and Lotte are determined to find the identity of Clara’s father through the traces of a porcelain piece. During World War II, Max and Bettina met and fell in love. As Nazi Germany imposes more restrictions and increases dangers to Bettina & Max's relationship, with the enlisted help of friends, they flee to Bavaria. Max gets captured and sent to Dachau to work on creating the most exquisite pieces of porcelain, which were much sought after by the Nazi regime. Bettina hopes to seee Max again.

This was a great debut, and I enjoyed reading the book. I had never heard about the Bauhaus Movement before. It was eye-opening to learn about what the Nazis were attempting to do at this factory and their belief in the making of these porcelain pieces. The storyline was great, but I hoped to see Clara and Lotte’s storyline more developed. Most of the book was focused on Max and Bettina, and I felt like Clara’s storyline could have been expanded more. I highly recommend this book if you're a fan of history fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and to St. Martin Press for my copy of the book.

Based on real people and events this is historical fiction set in WWII told through duel timelines. The story begins in the United States in 1993 when a woman named Clara purchases porcelain artifacts from a German WWII factory. Clara knows that these porcelain objects are integral to her recently deceased mother Bettina’s secret past and is determined to find out why. In 1937, Bettina, a German artist meets and falls in love with Jewish architect Max. As it becomes evident that there’s an increasing realization of German invasion Bettina and Max plan to meet at the train station to escape from the city. On his way to the train station Max is captured, beaten and sent to Dauchau. Because he’s an artist in training, he is forced into labor at a porcelain factory creating Nazi approved art. Meanwhile Bettina realizes that she is pregnant with Max’s child and quickly marries a high ranking German officer to be an upstanding citizen but also in the hope of finding out what has happened to Max. This is a story of undying love, perseverance, hate and human sacrifice. Knowing how many novels have been written about WWII and its history I still recommend it for anyone interested in reading historical fiction. This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a highly emotional read but absolutely excellent! As someone who has read quite a bit of WW2 era historical fiction-I still gravitate to books set during this time. The Porcelain Maker, especially with being based on real events, was a fantastic read for anyone who enjoys this genre or is just starting out with it.

I found this book to be very interesting and intriguing. I would recommend this a friend because this is a book for everyone. I really enjoyed emerging myself into this book and it was just wonderful. This book evened my eyes to quite a few things and it’s one of those books that I’ll think about for quite awhile.