This book gave me literal chills. At the end the hair on my arms was standing on end. What starts as a chance meeting between our three main characters develops into a twisted and warped timeline of events. Silas is a collector and artist that is fascinated with the macabre. He is a taxidermist that has grand dreams of opening up his own museum. Iris works in a doll shop painting dolls with her twin sister and dreams of opening up her own store and being recognized for her paintings. Albie is the connection between the two, helping his sister and trying to protect her and those he cares for. He has one tooth and dreams of having a full set of false teeth so he looks normal and like a gentleman. Albie is a young boy making dolls outfits that he sells to the doll maker and he scrambles to find things for Silas’ little shop.
The attention to detail and the depth of emotion reminds me of the novel “The Crimson Petal and the White” by Michel Faber. The gravitas grips you and draws you in. The psychological and sociological aspects of it all had me tripping along and wanting to skip ahead to see if I was right. The descent into madness and obsession was fascinating and I was horrified by what happened and yet thrilled at the outcome. The only thing I would have liked was more on the ending though I understand why it was done the way it was. This is a story that will haunt me for years to come. Shivers.

I really enjoyed this story. I loved the time period and getting a peek into 1850's London. The characters were well written and I felt the frustration Iris experienced as she tried to step outside societal norms to realize her dreams.
I was a bit disappointed at the ending, I wanted a little more after Iris escaped, not just a brief epilogue giving the impression she survived and went on to produce the wonderful painting she dreamed about.

Impressed with the author's debut release. I look forward to her next book

I love neo-Victorian historical fiction and I love novels about art and artists, so I fell on The Doll Factory with cries of glee. And what a great read it is, offering up everything readers like me crave: a seedy, seamy and richly described London setting, a plucky heroine determined to defy convention and become an artist, a full cast of interesting characters, ranging from the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood to creepy Dickensian bad-guys and heart-rending Dickensian urchins. While I could have lived without the thriller aspect of the story, it was well-written for those that like that kind of thing. All in all, a highly recommended read for lovers of historical fiction. 4.5 stars.

Set in Victorian London, The Doll Factory described, in great details, the daily struggles and hardships that women and impoverished people had to face and what it takes to break free from societal constrains. Above all, it is a brilliantly written dark, twisted love story that made obsession feels repulsive yet alluring at the same time.
This is by far one of the most gripping books I have read this year. I would love to see more work from Elizabeth Macneal.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this evocative and atmospheric historical novel. Told in lush prose it captures the artistry and vivid colours of the controversial Pre-Raphaelite movement, and artistic and romantic passion. It also places us into the filth, poverty, vice, and reeking squalor of London in the mid-1800s. Foremost in the story is the delusion and deranged obsession of a twisted mind. It is astonishing that this gothic flavoured story is the author’s debut novel.

This is about transforming one’s life and fulfilling dreams. Iris works alongside her disfigured sister in the monotonous task of painting doll faces for a harsh, demanding, drug-addled proprietress. Iris longs to learn oil painting and become an accomplished artist, along with marriage. She also wants to provide her sister with her own shop so she can support herself. These dreams seem unlikely with social and class divisions and the place of women during the era. Silas hopes for a friend and to exhibit his disturbing curiosities in his own museum, becoming renowned for his collection. Alvie, a poor street urchin wants to rescue his sister from prostitution and desires a set of false teeth that he can ill afford. For Louis Frost and his fellow artists, they hope to have their art accepted by critics, and have it shown in major art galleries. Will anyone achieve their dreams?

The characters are colourful and realistic. The narrative and dialogues seem authentic to the place and time. The vivid visual descriptions of London in the mid-1850s, with its social divisions, the plight of women, the morals and customs, the filthy slums containing disease and hunger, and life in the art world is well established.

Later in the book, this absorbing work of historical fiction becomes a story of gripping suspense and horror. The terror is compelling and disturbing.
Recommended. 4.5 stars.

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It was a well written book. I hope to read more books by this author.