Yvonne
Okay! So the lovely Vicky, representing Head Of Zeus, is really running ahead of herself with this great new book!
The Blog Tour won’t be happening until November 2020, so I am going to work on my review good and early, as this one is way outside the genres I would usually read.
However I found the premise of the book so intriguing that I decided to jump right in and grab my copy! That lovely cover art certainly also played some small part in my decision, along with the fact that the author has a career history which encompasses both bookbinding and doll’s house making, professions which I find really interesting.
The book is not available for general release until 12th November 2020, however you can pre-order your copy at Amazon.co.uk
Unfortunately, as of today’s date, the book is not yet available from Amazon in the US, although I am sure it is only a matter of time, as all of Kate’s previous books are also available Stateside.
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THE THIEF ON THE WINGED HORSE
A dazzling mixture of crime, romance, magic and myth
The Kendrick family have been making world-famous dolls since the early 1800s. But their dolls aren’t coveted for the craftmanship alone. Each one has a specific emotion laid on it by its creator. A magic that can make you feel bucolic bliss or consuming paranoia at a single touch. Though founded by sisters, now only men may know the secrets of the workshop.
Persephone Kendrick longs to break tradition and learn the family craft, and when a handsome stranger arrives claiming doll-making talent and a blood tie to the Kendricks, she sees a chance to grasp all she desires.
But then, one night, the family’s most valuable doll is stolen. Only someone with knowledge of magic could have taken her. Only a Kendrick could have committed this crime…
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KATE MASCARENHAS
Kate Mascarenhas writes fiction.
Born in 1980, she is of mixed heritage (white Irish father, brown British mother) and has family in Ireland and the Republic of Seychelles.
She studied English at Oxford and Applied Psychology at Derby. Her PhD, in literary studies and psychology, was completed at Worcester.
Since 2017 Kate has been a chartered psychologist. Previously she has been an advertising copywriter, bookbinder, and doll’s house maker. She lives in the English midlands with her partner.
Keep up with Kate’s news at her website
Follow Kate on Twitter
“The most challenging thing about writing a book is sending it out into the world. I enjoy all stages of researching and drafting and editing. But once it’s published, it belongs to everybody else.”
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Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share links to the books that came into their house during the last week. This is a great way to plan out your reading week and see what others are currently reading as well, after all you never know where that next “must read” book will come from.
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I hope you enjoy it, Yvonne. Given the author’s past jobs she could very well have more novels in her. She sounds like an interesting person!
Hi Mary,
This fantasy story is quite removed from my usual reading genes, however the premise did have me completely hooked and wanting to know more. With the Blog Tour not happening until November, I have plenty of time to read the book at my leisure.
If I enjoy this one, Kate has already written a previous best-seller, this time a ‘time travel’ novel, which sounds equally as intriguing, so I’ll see how things go!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41035725-the-psychology-of-time-travel
Thanks for stopping by and I hope that all is well with you 🙂
The doll making aspect sounds interesting. I have collected dolls for years…and I’m missing many of them now, since my move.
Thanks for sharing, and here are my WEEKLY UPDATES
Hi Lorraine,
That was exactly one of the things which intrigued me so much about this book, especially as author Kate Mascarenhas also has a history in doll’s house making, just for an added interesting dimension.
I don’t know what kind of dolls you collected, however in the charity shop where I used to volunteer, we were constantly being donated presentation boxed, collectible porcelain dolls. They used to sell really well, but over the last couple of years interest in them has definitely waned. Me, I’m afraid I always found them just too spooky. The eyes always seemed to follow me around the room! – Sorry 🙂
Thanks for visiting and enjoy your week 🙂
This book sounds fascinating. I will have to keep an eye out for it when it becomes available. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Cheryl,
It does have an intriguing mix, both in terms of its genre placings and storylines and that lovely cover also caught my eye, even though I really do not like choosing books that way.
Kate’s previous book was available in the UK and US, so I’m not sure what has happened with ‘The Thief On The Winged Horse’. Books which are for pre-order generally post in both browsers at the same time! –
Watch this space as they say 🙂
The cover is interesting and so is the premise. I have to say, though…. with the idea of dolls having emotions, all I can think of is “Chuckie” from the horror movies (which I’ve never watched, thank goodness!). This does sound a bit different from your usual fare.
I collected dolls from around the world when I was growing up.
Hi Kelly,
I think I was a bit over zealous and swayed by intrigue, when I accepted this one for review. However I have read and enjoyed books from the genre before, so I’m going to give it my best efforts and in fact I am almost ready to begin reading. I know the Blog Tour is not until November, but I aim to get my review post prepared and scheduled well in advance.
I had completely forgotten about those particular dolls until you mentioned them. I assume you mean the small ones, which stood just a few inches tall on a stand and wore costumes from the different countries? I had loads of those, although goodness knows whatever happened to them!
OMG! I can’t keep doing all this nostalgia stuff, it’s making me feel ancient!! 🙂
Really mine were random dolls of all sizes, wearing native costumes. I don’t think any of mine came with stands. I had an aunt and uncle who traveled frequently and brought me quite a few. I also did some traveling of my own as a young teen and picked out a few others. I pretty much lost interest after that, but still have the ones I collected in a display cabinet in my music room.
I must admit that when I was young, I did enjoy playing with dolls, although it wasn’t too long before books and jigsaw puzzles took over my life, even back then.
I was one of the first girls in the UK to own one of the very first Barbie dolls, which were then still exclusive to the US, as my aunt sent one over for me, together with all the clothes which were made for the very first batch of dolls.
I think I would have been a bit freaked out if Barbie had come complete with her own emotion, like the dolls in this book! 🙂
The cover does look good! And the premise is intriguing to me too. I may add this one to my TBR list. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi Becki,
I see that, like myself, you seem to enjoy reading a good eclectic mix of genres and this one does sound very intriguing. I totally agree with you about the cover too, it’s quite classy and eye-catching. The notion of a doll with bad karma though, is really quite spooky, don’t you think?
Thanks for your comment, I always appreciate them and have a good week 🙂
The blurb description is intriguing. I hope you really enjoy it. Have a good week!
Hi Martha,
Having been out into the big wide world for the first time on my own today and seen first hand just how stupidly some people are behaving, I can assure you that I am in no rush to accelerate my personal lockdown any time soon!
Which means that I will still have plenty of time to read this one at my leisure and really take in all the details, even though it may not represent a genre which I read frequently.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope that all is well with you 🙂
This book sounds wonderful. It has all the elements I love.
Hi Veronica,
Do I take it that you are talking about the fantasy elements of the storyline as well as everything else?
Personally, fantasy is not a genre I read very often and I pass up plenty of reviews and Blog Tours I can tell you. However, this one really caught my eye and my imagination.
I hope that you enjoy it, should you ever decide to add it to your own reading list, and thanks for visiting 🙂