The Doll Factory got off to a relatively good start with its eerie creepiness and historical ties. I loved the information about the great exhibition and liked the idea of the creepy taxidermist. But it really failed to keep my attention, the story was slow with a build up which petered out into nothing. I found myself becoming very easily distracted from it.

It took me a few pages to get into this one as the writing was a bit different from the norm however I loved it once I got into it. The characters were lovely, Albie, Iris and Louis and of course the non-lovely baddie. The setting of London I greatly enjoyed, the descriptions were very imaginable and of course the Great Exhibition. Sad parts and happy parts, some very sad. The ending was abrupt though and I would have preferred it to be more concluded.

This is a humdinger of a debut, it’s a dark, gothic, sinister story of love, obsession, art and passion.

Ms MacNeal’s undergraduate thesis was on clutter in 1850’s literature and in the Doll Factory the level of detail lends the reader a real intimacy with this timeframe. The intimacy is sometimes light and lovely, sometimes dark and creepy and still other times downright nasty. The writing breathes life into not just the characters but the whole world of London in 1850.

I haven’t even mentioned the storyline, there are plenty of other reviews which have gone into this in detail, just read it, trust me, you won’t regret it. Elizabeth MacNeal, you Rock, can’t wait to see what you come up with next!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Miniaturist meets with Fowles's Collector in this historical fiction set in Victorian London.
I really enjoyed reading this book and it's clearly a very well-written book. I loved how the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood was merged into the story, and also the Great Exhibition as well. A vivid and wonderful description of the slice of time the book is set in, if you're a fan of Victorian historicals you shouldn't miss this book.
However the resemblance of the plot with John Fowles's The Collector kind of bugged me. It's the latter half of the book that the events almost the same in The Collector actually materialise, but the depiction of a female trapped in the basement and the butterflies pinned, Silas collecting eerie things, it's so much like Fowles's masterpiece.
One other thing I wasn't a fan of was the twin sister,Rose, and her role in the story. I was taken in from the start, by the bitterness in the relationship of the two girls and discovering why they felt and acted the way they did was perfect,. When the story steered towards Iris and Louise, and Silas, Rose kind of dropped from the story until the end, which was kind of disappointing as I wish Rose was a bit more involved in the plot as the start was fabulous with Iris and Rose and their relationship. It's a debut novel so I would look forward for Macneal's next novel and how she develops as a writer.
The Victorian London and people were described amazingly accurate, I felt running in the streets alongside the street urchins.I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend for historical fiction lovers.

Delicious book! What better way to start a book whose story intrigues you and to find another world - one that you LOVE - contained within. Chancing upon the members of the Preraphaelite Brotherhood as protagonists was just the icing on an already scrumptious cake. Twin sisters Rose and Iris Whittle, both disfigured in some way, work in the sweatshop doll factory of Mrs Salter. Only Iris is not content with her lot, dreaming of a career as an artist. The art world, forbidding and publicly shunned by the “god-fearing folk”, has an almost magical pull for her and she agrees to become a model for Louis Frost, ficticious member of the PRB. But, unbeknowst to Iris, there is an ardent, even admirer in the sidelines: Silas Reed, a weird taxidermist and curio dealer. Love, obsession and painting lead a merry dance and, towards the end, you will sit on the edge of your seat...

The main character in The Doll Factory is Iris, who works in a shop on Regent Street with her twin sister, making dolls. She is asked to model for Louis Frost, member of the PRB and gets drawn into a whole new world. The character of Iris is inspired by Lizzie Siddal, muse and later wife of Dante Rossetti.

I really enjoyed reading The Doll Factory. I loved the character of Iris, the artist Louis and street urchin Albie. The book artfully describes the characters, their backstories and life in London. I didn’t like the character of Silas but you are not meant to. I actually disliked reading the parts of the book he featured in, especially towards the climax of the story, but this means that the author has a brilliant way with words in creating such a terrible antagonist.

I don’t want to ruin the story because this is an excellent gothic novel which deserves to be successful. As I approached the end of the novel I began to worry about how it would end. Thankfully, after a very late night reading, I finished the novel and everything was resolved. I’m excited to see what the author writes next!

1850 - the atmosphere is dark and generally depressing. The main characters - the doll painter, the taxidermist, the messenger boy and the artist lives are intertwined by random events. The narrative explores the limited roles of women, none of which is surprising, but when put in the context of the artist in the Pre-Raphaelite period and the bodily freedom that brings, gives us more interesting insights. The backdrop of the Great Exhibition is fascinating and original and helps to put the reader in that place. I learnt so much from this book and it kept me engrossed. And in addition to all that there is Silas's obsession and the tension created around that. I prefer not to say much more but I strongly recommend this book.

This book had a very atmospheric setting, good representation of the historical time, and good writing.
However, I didn't see the level of cruelty coming. The cover and the premise don't give a clue, so I was really shocked.
It was too dark, too much cruelty one after another. It just was not for me.
If you're comfortable with reading about human cruelty, children taken advantage of, etc, maybe you'll enjoy this more. I just don't enjoy so much darkness in a book.
Thanks a lot to NetGalley and the publisher for this complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Doll Factory conjures up a view of central London in the 1850s which is as visceral as it is violent. It is a time of massive change with the Great Exhibition being launched at the Crystal Palace and the Pre-Raphaelite artists challenging the established order of the day. The central character is Iris, doomed initially to work painting dolls in a sweatshop, but destined to meet Louis Frost one of the Pre-Raphaelite artists working in London and to become his model – and then more.

But, this certainly isn’t a romance! Iris has a damaged shoulder from some congenital injury, her sister has been horribly scarred by smallpox and she is stalked by Silas, a malevolent stalker and, ultimately, evil taxidermist with a penchant for dead things. Her young toothless ally, Albie, who might have been her rescuer comes to a sad end as well.

Much of the book features the happy gallivanting and free-living of the self-labelled PRB amidst the poverty, filth and stink of London. They sometimes seemed a little cheerful and carefree to me, raucously rubbing up against the establishment but perhaps that’s how it was. In return for extracting Iris from her terrible job causing her to lose contact with her shocked sister and family and ultimately, in a fairly friendly way, seducing her Louis teaches her to paint and, predictably, she proves to be talented.

So far so good, then Silas intervenes and the cheery narrative slips into Stephen King territory – not to give away any more. It’s unpleasant but with a bit of pluck and courage it all ends happily.

There’s lots to like about this book. The evocation of the filthy lowlife contrasted with the flamboyant artists and the technological advances of the Great Exhibition is well developed. The way that Iris, struggling with her upbringing and guilty about her sisters scarred condition, pursues her desire to paint is also well described and the obsessive nasty animal stuffer is a really unpleasant character.

Having said that, I’m not sure if the whole thing held together as an artistic whole but that’s a quibble about a very assured writing debut.

3.5 stars

Set in Victorian London in 1850, Elizabeth MacNeal's debut novel, the Doll Factory, depicts a story of Iris, who despite her parents disapproval decides to follow her dream of becoming an artist. She meets Luis who is a painter from Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and he is completely smitten by her. Luis wants to paint Iris and also agrees to give her painting lessons. However, Luis is not the only one who has their eyes on Iris. Iris and Silas are briefly introduced at an exhibition. While Iris forgets Silas in an instant, for Silas this moment represents a lifechanging encounter. Socially awkward Silas dreams about Iris day and night. Completely delusional about her feelings, he believes she feels the same.

I found the pace of the novel a bit slow to start with. Despite the book being atmosperic and the writing reminiscent of the Victorian era, it took me some time to get into it. It wasn't until about 80%, that my heartbeat finally increased. The story takes a sudden turn and I felt like I was reading a thriller. I could not put the book down in those final chapters, to then unfortunately come to an abrupt end, leaving me wishing for more.

Many thanks to Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A good read, although the story does not really seem to match the title of the book. Two parallel storylines come together with increasingly chilling results. The characters are well developed and believable. Reminiscent at times of the Miniatuarist and Perfume, with the obsessive taxidermist showing some traits similar to Grenouille. Evocative descriptions of poverty in the 19th century,

An intriguing read, fabulously well described characters and a story that drags you in page by page.
A brilliant debut by Elizabeth Macneal, she draws an evocative picture of life in 19th centuary London. Creepy, captivating and not easy to put down.

I adored this lovely historical thriller set in a world of art and taxidermy.

Two sisters Iris and Rose work together making dolls. It is the mid 19th century and whilst nearby the great exhibition is being planned, their days are long and repetitive, working for a hard taskmistress the girls dream of escaping to a more congenial life, Rose wants her own genteel little shop and Iris dreams of learning to paint. But both girls bear the scars of living in an era where medical care wasn't great. Rose has lost her beauty to the scarring of smallpox whilst Iris has a hunched shoulder, due to a break in her collarbone at birth.and both girls fear no man will even look at them now.

Iris's beauty, however, attracts the attention of two very different men. She is approached by artist Louis Frost, a member of the burgeoning pre Raphaelite brotherhood who begs her to model for his painting for which she barters art lessons in return.

Whilst in the shadows of the grimiest rookeries of old London, lurks lonely Silas, a taxidermist who admires Iris from afar and whilst his shyness prevents him voicing his admiration for her, he remains on the periphery of her world fantasising about when they eventually meet, sure she will eventually love him as he adores her.

As we move between the courts and shops of Victorian London, we glimpse everyday life at its most brutal the descriptions are superb and I felt as though I was one step behind Iris throughout her journey. The reader meets several wonderful characters and young Albie, a street urchin who longs only for some false teeth to replace the one worn stump of a tooth which is all that remains of his gnashers, earned a place in my heart.

As Iris begins to shake off her shackles, Rose remains in the doll factory, modelling tiny faces and fitting miniature gowns to dolls for rich little girls. Iris grows further apart from her sister and whilst she does begin to feel love for one of the men in her life, in the other, builds an unhealthy obsession.

As she falls in love, she also becomes the object of a dangerous obsession.

This is a wonderfully atmospheric historical novel, woven around a world of art and creativity with lots of details about pre-raphaelite artists, and a tense thriller and mystery which will have you on the edge of your seat. Its a creeper, beginning slowly until you are immersed in it ad it just won't let go. I loved it and feel the characters will stay with me for a long time.

A compelling and beautifully-written book. The Collector meets Possession with added female power. I think this will be one of the big novels of 2019.

I picked this up looking to read for an hour or so and could not put it down. Dark and delicious , brimming with atmosphere. Be warned though the character Silas doesnt leave you easily ! 100% recommend.

A really fantastic book. I was gripped from the very beginning. Some aspects of the plot were guessable very early, but this absolutely didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book, in fact it was an enhancement to watch the unravelling of the characters. I’d be extremely keen to read more by this author.

This was a really good book slotting into many genres - historical fiction, romance, crime, psychological thriller. I really enjoyed the way the different genres came together to make an engaging read. The descriptions in the book made the era come to life and it was very easy to imagine being in the book.

Thanks for letting me review this book.

Despite clearly effective writing, great characters, and atmospheric settings. I just did not get on with this. I guess I felt there was so much I have encountered before .. dreary working hours of poor women in dirty, cruel London, children taken advantage of, death a fetish .. the story of the once pretty sister, now diminished and the ironies etc etc ..inevitable man problems .. hard times in from London .. I was just not up for it. The author clearly knows what she is doing... maybe it's just me!

Richly evocative of Victorian London, ‘The Doll Factory’ revolves around Iris, who together with her sister Rose, works for the cruel, laudanum addicted Mrs Salter. Iris dreams of being an artist, expressing herself on canvas, giving vent to her talents, rather than spending long hours of monotony painting dolls faces. When she meets pre- Raphaelite artist Louis Frost, and he asks her to model for him, she agrees, on condition that he teaches her to paint professionally.

This is London 1850, and a crowd of people are watching the construction of the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, and it’s here that Iris has another meeting (albeit very fleeting) - his name is Silas, (a taxidermist by trade) - for Iris this is a meeting that’s immediately forgotten - but for Silas this is the beginning of an obsession that knows no limits - Iris will be his, of that he is certain, and in his own little world, he believes that she feels the same way too.

This is a richly dark and gothic book, with Silas’s creepy obsession becoming ever more frightening as the story evolves and picks up pace. There were certain parts of the book that involved animal cruelty, which for me personally, is really difficult, and I therefore had to skim through these particular parts, but that said, it was a well written debut novel featuring art, romance, obsession and possession, and was ultimately a dark but gripping read.

This is a good historical novel. Everything is described in great detail which made it really easy to visualise and imagine. Silas is a dark and disturbing character. The plot is confusing in places but overall this is a good read.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.