You know when you wake up from a dream so vivid that you want to continue sleeping just so you can get back there? That's how I felt when I finished the Doll Factory.

Set in 1850 during the year of the Great Exhibition, it combines the modern outlook of the main character, Iris, who dares to follow her ambition, much to the shock of her family, with the primitive and brutal living conditions of Victorian life. The prose is so vivid that when you read it, you live it and forget that you're looking at words on a page. This was like a trip back through time, with the filth of the streets, the dire working conditions, the splash of romance and passion, the daily tragedy of the lives of the poor, and the beauty portrayed. by the pre Raphaelite Brotherhood.

Within the story are other characters that make up this colourful tapestry: the urchin Albie, saving his pennies for dentures, his prostitute sister, so vulnerable to abuse, Iris's deformed sister Rose, and the sinister amateur taxidermist, the deluded Silas.
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With a growing sense of menace and peril, the story builds to a climax with a nail-biting dénouement that leads to a satisfying finale. I lived an breathed every moment and it left me wishing for more. I have rarely read prose more evocative than this. MacNeal includes, smells, sights, colour and sound into her story and you can almost smell the fifth as you imagine yourself running urgently alongside the characters.


A first class book. Throw all the awards at it and then make it into a film!

A fantastic Victorian novel which is a mix of dark psychopathic crime and kick-ass working class woman using her talents to escape the path she has been forced onto. A really easy to read novel (I guessed a few of the plot twists but didn't mind). The characters are well drawn and I cared what happened. I read it over Christmas so feels like a good in front of the metaphorical fire read.

Packed full of things I love to read about...Victorians, The Great Exhibition, Pre Raphaelite Brothers, the history of art and criticism –along with some romance and a bit of creepy gothic horror – what’s not to like?!
Highly recommend!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ecopy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a 'can't put down' novel that I read in two sittings. I think it's a great novel for book groups. I can really imagine it as a TV drama. I bet it won't be long before we see it on our screens!

Excellent book! Loved the characters and it was a great storyline. I would highly recommend this book.

The details and descriptions are so realistic, I felt totally immersed in the world. Loved the banter, conversations and London settings.

In 1850's London, Iris is a young woman who works with her twin sister, Rose making dolls but she dreams of being a painter. She attracts the attention of Louis Frost, an artist who needs a model and persuades her to do this for him, despite the reputation they have and in return he will teach her to paint. She also attracts the attention of Silas Reed, a taxidermist who becomes obsessed and fantasises that he can get Iris to love him. This is a story of love and obsession in how their lives mingle and their paths interweave together.

This is a steady paced story and is told from the perspective of each character, sometimes it jumps back to Iris's childhood which can be a little confusing but explains the strained relationship between the sisters. The story ends with Iris and doesn't give anything on the other characters which is a shame but overall a enjoyable read.

Set in 1850 London, Iris and her twin sister Rose, who is scarred by smallpox are working long long hours for the spiteful owner of a doll shop. Sewing beads and trimmings onto dolls clothes made by much poorer locals, and painting dolls faces to be like their intended owners, many of these deceased young girls.

Iris then meets Louis, an artist and a member of the pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, she agrees to model for him as long as he agrees to teach her to paint.

Another character, Silas Reed is obsessed with taxidermy. He is often brought ‘Road Kill’ by a young urchin, and when he is brought conjoined puppies he is thrilled.

He is introduced to Iris by the young urchin and Silas is attracted to her slightly misshapen collarbone and becomes obsessed with her.

Elizabeth Macneal has written an incredibly evocative gothic tale of Victorian London at a time of advances in both technology, art and new ideals, but still dealing with the abject poverty and squalor for those less fortunate.


The absolutely chilling, gruesome portrayal of Silas’ damaged mind is so well done it gives you the shivers, and you will want to read it with all the lights on...marvellously creepy.

I would like to thank the Author/the Publishers/NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review

#TheDollFactory #NetGalley

First, let's talk about the exquisite cover. I saw on Twitter that to create this the publishers actually got a real bell jar, had the book title painted onto it and filled it with illustrations. It was then photographed to create the cover. I mean, how amazing is that? As well as being so striking it is also the perfect visual representation of the story.

And what is the story? Well... We are effortlessly transported to Victorian London, Prince Albert's ambitious project The Great Exhibition, a celebration of culture and industry, is being curated and built and Elizabeth Macneal wonderfully evokes the smells, sounds and excitement of London at this time. We meet Iris and her twin sister Rose who work in a doll shop, making the clothes for and painting the faces onto the dolls. Iris catches the eye of two men - for very different reasons. Louis Frost is an artist and wants Iris to be his muse, she is more than a little intrigued as being an artist herself is her dream. But can she leave her sister and leave her job to enter a world she knows nothing about with a man she has just met? Silas Reed is the other person who has Iris in his sights. He is a taxidermist who is exhibiting one of his pieces in The Great Exhibition and wants to befriend Iris. He lacks, shall we say, social airs and graces, so tries to attract Iris' attention in less than conventional ways, some of which take a very sinister turn.

This is a dark yet often beautiful story that weaves the gritty reality of Victorian London with art, love and - crucially - brilliantly crafted characters that are both genuine and loving and deeply disturbing. (In that sense it actually reminded me of another great book I read years ago, The Collector by John Fowles, also a tale of passion and obsession.) I would just have liked a final chapter about Silas as I was left with a few questions about his story...  but overall this is an impressively strong debut book. Elizabeth Neal's tone and style is the perfect blend of sharp and lyrical - she creates vivid characters and such realistic settings, so I'll definitely be popping her on my author watch list. I highly recommend you keep an eye out for The Doll Factory when it's published in May 2019!

I loved this book, from the first page I read. What an amazing debut novel. Written during 1850 and the Great Exhibition. It tells the story of Iris, an aspiring artist, Louis the man she loves, and Silas a taxidermist. It's louis' obsession with Iris, and his illusional need to possess her, which makes it such a chilling read. He will stop at nothing to get her. The writing is very descriptive, and made it so much easier to immerse yourself in the painters studio, or the squalor of the underdogs, the street urchins, the day to day life of victorian London.

Great book. I hope to read more by Elizabeth!

A gripping historical drama that had me hooked right from the beginning. The Great Exhibition forms the backdrop to the book and the historical details are perfectly woven into the story without detracting from Iris's story. This is a claustrophobic and difficult read in places but that ending - wow!

What an unusual yet captivating novel. In places it was dark and the character Silas, completely eerie and frightening. I loved the clever introduction of real figures from history, being drawn into the story and the innocence of characters like Iris and Rose.
In the final chapters, I could feel the claustrophobia of Iris’s imprisonments and prayed for her release
An abrupt ending left me wanting more. Very well written.

This is an excellent read. It's very tense. So tense that I found myself fretting about the outcome because I was very invested in the characters. I loved the setting and the use of the Pre Raphaelite Brotherhood as a foil for the development of the plot. It reminded me of a cross between The Crimson Petal and The White and The Collector. Creepy, atmospheric and a real page turner.

This wasn't the kind of book I usually pick up but I did feel glad I read it. The creepy atmosphere and historical details make it a very realistic read The Silas character is a taxidermist who at first seems down on his luck I felt very sorry for him in the beginning as he seemed lonely and misunderstood but as the story moves on he becomes a more sinister prospect.
The book focuses on painters of the preraphalite brotherhood and a brilliant female painter who joins them, She is beautiful and talented one of the first femanists, strong and clever. She has to make her escape from the eponymous doll factory of the title to become a great painter and have an independent life of her own, Silas however has other ideas for her. A great read.

THE DOLL FACTORY was captivating and authentic. Set in historic London of 1850, it is both dark and beautiful.
The story can become scary at times but overall it's a joyride for your imagination.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. This is a story about Iris who works in the Doll Factory and dreams of becoming an artist. The details and descriptions in this book were great and I sometimes found the storyline a little dark but nevertheless a good read.

This was a gripping read and I would highly recommend it. It tells the story of Iris and her sister Rose who work for cruel Mrs Salter, painting dolls. Iris dreams of being an artist and takes up an opportunity to work for pre-raphaelite painter Louis, but sinister collector Silas is obsessed with her. The setting of Victorian London is rich in detail and full of descriptions which use all the senses. I felt I was there! Some of the detail is almost too revolting but adds to the authenticity of the background. The narrative is fast-paced and the period details beautifully woven into the story. There’s a real sense of impending doom as Silas’s obsession takes hold and I had to keep turning the pages. This was one of those novels that intruded on my daily life in the best possible way - I just couldn’t stop thinking about it and reached for it whenever I had a spare minute. Very satisfying read. Excellent! I look forward to more books by this author.

Great book, very similar to The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock but with more a psychological-thriller-esque plot.

I found this story intriguing with well described historical references and a plot that was somewhat twisting and convouluted. The author provides a beautiful victorian backdrop to a thriller which I found protraced especially in the second half of the book, making it a chore to complete.

This book intrigued me with its description and even though it’s not the usual genre to read I gave it a go. My verdict is this is a very enjoyable, atmospheric tale that swept me up and kept me reading feverishly until the end. A tale of twins, art, delusional love and real love. The ending kept me guessing until the end which added to the tension. The mice made the tale!