I was very late to the party with this book but I thoroughly enjoyed it & now I’m looking forward to reading the second in the series.

This is such a fun read. It is a middle grade fantasy
The book is filled with magic and adventure
The illustrations are beautiful
Perfect for any younger reader

I read this one as part of a book club and unfortunately, it fell quite flat for me. I didn't really enjoy my time reading it and I found myself a little bored whilst reading. I won't be continuing with the series but thank you to the publishers for giving me an earc.

Thank you to NetGalley and PRH for this ARC

Loved this book, loved the sequel voted for it to be BoTM at Waterstones! Mapmakers is just as good!

Great for a strong or reluctant readers!

I loved this book so much! Adventure, magic and adventure with an underlying message that family is most important

My daughter loved this captivating and exciting story about magic and family ties. The idea that magic can be woven into articles of clothing to allow the wearer to be braver and more adventurous really appealed to her. The story is fast-paced and well-written and my daughter couldn't put it down. Thank goodness there is the second book in the series to look forward to!

This is a magical book about hatmakers who weave enchantment into their hats. There are beautiful descriptions in the story, and a fun and brave main character in Cordelia. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

Fantastic start to a series. I cannot wait for The Mapmakers release and have preordered by copy already.

What a fun read! I found this middle grade to be unique and creative. I thought the descriptions and story were often quirky, sometimes silly, and it made me laugh a few times. There wasn't as much heart as I like in my middle grade, but it was definitely fun. I can see kids really enjoying this book, but it wasn't a new favorite for me.

Magical book for kids and big kids alike! I really enjoyed getting into the story and I’m 30 so can you imagine how cool it would be for youngsters?!
I think this would be a great addition to any school library and an equally lovely bedtime story to read over a week or so at home with family.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read an advance copy of this book in exchange for my feedback.

A wonderful story with magic and friendship stitched into every page!

Cordelia is the youngest of the Hat Makers. Makers craft items such as hats, cloaks, watches, boots and gloves from magical ingredients to help people and the royals. When Cordelia's father is lost at sea during a mission to collect hat ingredients, Cordelia is determined to find him. But other issues start to come up that delay her investigation. When she realises someone is out to get the Makers, everything starts to add up and its up to her, her friends and a bit of magic to set things right before war is declared!

Cordelia is a great character to follow, her kind heart and determination shine through her courageous actions. Her friends Goose and Sam were great companions and I can't wait to see more of them in the next book. I love how blended the magic was in this historical London setting without it making it too over the top or too underdeveloped. The book had wonderful bits of modern takes in it that never took away from the story, just made it that more special!

I look forward to following as the mystery continues in the sequel, The Mapmakers!

Thank you to Penguin Random House Children’s UK and Netgalley for the early eArc of the book!

A book full of delightful magic, full of surprises and twists. A delicious adventure. I loved it. In fact I couldn't put it down. The characters are whimsical and interesting and there are some fantastic villains. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for a free copy.

Would have loved to have reviewed a physcial copy! Lovely story, very well told. To say that this is a children's book, it's really authentically enjoyable for adults, too. Perhaps one to enjoy with younger siblings, or read along with your kids.

What I really love about middle grade fiction is the scope that the writer has. Younger children are more accepting of the weird, wacky and wonderful and that is exactly what you get in the world of The Hatmakers. It is a story about a young girl called Cordelia who has grown up with the intention of following in the family footsteps of becoming a milliner. However, her life plans begin to unravel when her father goes missing. This is the start of her epic adventure of self discovery.

Alongside this you have the story of rival companies - the glovemakers, the shoemakers etc all who have had a mass falling out. It is up to Cordelia and her friends to try and bring them all back together to save their country and also, maybe, save her father too.

The Hatmakers is a cute story but you do have to suspend your disbelief because some of the elements are fantastical. It is lovely to get immersed into a world and know that it is the first in a series of adventures.
The Hatmakers by Tamzin Merchant is available now.

For more information regarding Tamzin Merchant (@tamzinmerchant) please visit her Twitter page.

For more information regarding Penguin (@PenguinUKBooks) please visit www.penguin.co.uk.

The Hatmakers was an enchanting fantasy tale that I absolutely adored! It had magic, drama and one feisty protagonist!

The plot follows Cordelia Hatmaker as she tries to find what has happened to the father who has been lost on a sea voyage. She uncovers a plot against the monarchs whilst also making some peace between the makers. With the help of her delightful friends Goose and Sam of course!

It was historic, magical and spell-bounding! The writing was readable and quite funny at places. I loved the character of Sir Hugo! The world building was so intriguing and unique which I absolutely loved!

I would love a sequel after the semi-cliffhanger and am highly anticipating The Mapmakers! An overall brilliant read and would definitely recommend!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the E-arc!

DNF

I started this book but there was something about the writing that did not appeal to me at all. Unfortunately this meant I could not see myself liking reading this book and I thought it was better to stop.

After the reported demise of Captain Hatmaker at sea, the Hatmaker family mourns their loss, except his daughter Cordelia Hatmaker, who refuses to believe it is true and promises to find him. At the same time, England is on the brink of war with France. The maker families, like Cordelia’s, make magical garments of clothing and are tasked by the King to make clothing that’ll prevent war.

There are five ‘maker’ families - clockmakers, bootmakers , Hatmakers, watchmakers and glove makers - who after a scandalous event decades before the story picks up, are all suspicious of each other if not sworn enemies.

The Hatmakers is a clever, entertaining and humorous read. It’s a journey of magic that’s sure to delight. I was giggling one moment and then ‘wow-ing’ in the next. The cast of characters were likeable, the setting was rich, and together they truly made me feel transported to another world and another time with their dialogue, types of fashions and so much more.

I was thrilled by how enjoyable the mystery plot was in addition to the magic. I like how the author used a clearly foreseeable plot move to disguise an unpredictable plot twist within it. So it’s fair to say the story not only engages imaginations, but the capacity and desire to play detective in solving who’s up to no good.

The magic was exciting and kept me hooked; I loved learning the history of the Makers and I’m eager to discover more in future sequels. It was a nice touch for the author to include footnotes throughout the story explaining the importance of particular making ingredients, it made it all the more magical and wondrous.

The book is littered with beautiful illustrations to make the story leap from the pages like magic itself. It’s a great read I have no doubt will be a hit with many children, of all ages. Tamzin Merchant did a great job narrating the audiobook as well, providing different voices for different characters and brilliantly dramatising both the hilarious scenes and the more sinister ones. Thoroughly, thoroughly enjoyed this. I can’t wait for the sequels!

Thank you kindly to the publishers for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for this honest review.

4.5 Stars. Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this debut novel. Even though this was gifted to me, all thoughts and opinions are my own. This was thoroughly enjoyable, and I enjoyed the story greatly. Cordelia is charming and witty. I loved the Hatmaker family dynamics. The story was an engaging mystery tale. I would highly recommend it, and I cannot wait to pick up more books from this author.

If you enjoy and a good mystery, then then I highly recommend this book for you.

Title : The Hatmakers
By :Tamzin Merchant
Genre : Children's Fiction/Middle Grade
Published by:Penguin Random House Children’s UK
Publish Date: 07 Jan 2021
Review on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3840390921


: You may have guessed that the book is about Hatmakers, however this book is much more than just about millinery. Cordelia Hatmaker is the youngest Hatmaker in her family and as such she can not make hats yet.

The Hatmakers are just one family of makers, there are also Glovemakers, Capemakers, Watchmakers and Bootmakers. These are not just ordinary milliners and cobblers, these families poses magic. Each might sell work to the public but their most important client is the King.

Once friends these makers are now rivals all thanks to the misters Cainmakers who no longer exist.

Cordelia lives with her aunt and uncle and is learning about magic ingredients used by the family to make hats. Her father, Prospero, is a seaman and is on a ship at sea. On his return home his ship, the Jolly Bonnet, is sunk. Cordelia is convinced her father is alive, she wants to search for him but there is a big problem in the way. The king is not acting himself and the makers are tasked to help him, if they fail it could mean England will go to war with France.

Can Cordelia solve both her fathers "disappearance" and stop her country from going to war?

This book deals with a lot of themes. It is good to see that Merchant didn't shy away from such emotions given the age of her audience. It showed that trust is not just something children have to earn but that adults do too. Grife and loss are themes that run though the whole book and show how people deal with them differently. There is LGBT+ rep in here too, Merchant was very close to the edge but managed to mage it good rep in the end. With characters like Sir Hugo and the time setting it is easy to see that Merchant has a love of acting. The only grey area I am weary of is how mental illness plays out in the book.



I didn't feel holey ok with it being based on a real person. Trust me I am no royalist but the fact it is based on King Gorge worried me a little. As did the fact and manner of ........SPOILER......His cure. Personally I would hate for Children to think that someone suffering with a mental illness can snap out of it if they have the right clothes. This only other issue I had with the book was, if cook was going to wash Cor in a bath she would/should have had her friends leave the room.

I enjoined the dynamic of the friends and that even though I found, in some places, the plot was predictable and even guessed who was behind it all I take into consideration that I am much older than the target audience and I still got a kick out of it. Particularly Chapter 26, I was holding my breath.

I'm looking forward to the next book The Mapmakers.

As usual in my reviews I will not rehash the plot...there are other reviews like that out there already if that's what you are looking for.

I was initially drawn to "The Hatmakers" as I have several hatmakers in my ancestry (though sadly not as magical as the Hatmakers in this gorgeous book!)

The book is aimed at older children/young adults, but as I've never quite grown up, and still believe there is magic to be found in the world, I thoroughly enjoyed it too!

This is a magical tale of adventure and derring-do, where the main characters discover that magic exists within themselves as well as in the obvious way. Heartwarming friendships, great baddies, and plenty of well-drawn supporting characters all added to the enchanting mix.

I haven't seen a hardback copy of the book, but even on my Kindle the illustrations are beautiful, so I imagine they will be even nicer in print.

I understand that there is to be a sequel, and look forward to reading it!

My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.