I have a lot of thoughts about this book, so hopefully they end up semi-coherent in this review. First, a brief synopsis:

Frieda is a woman descended from an illustrious line of Dutch mapmakers. She is married to a Dutch privateer, and they live in London with their young son, after fleeing persecution by the Spanish Catholics. Frieda is recruited by the Queen to make a special map, and the Spanish ambassador starts threatening her. That’s really it. There is a dual story set in 2022 centered around Robyn, whose husband was lost at sea seven years ago. Again, that’s really it.

Just because you CAN write a dual-timeline novel, doesn’t mean you should. I don’t think these two stories tied together well at all. Or maybe I’m just frustrated by the fact that they women are portrayed so weakly — with moods, self-worth, and life decisions utterly dependent upon the men in their lives.

Frieda’s insecurity and anxiety is EXHAUSTING. She was not a likable character for me. Robyn neither, so overtly concerned with how others felt and how she was inconveniencing people around her. Yuck. Mendoza, the Spanish villain, is honestly the most one-dimensional character I’ve come across in ages. He is openly hostile to Frieda despite his courtly political position as ambassador. And he is a moron, falling for ridiculous schemes that anyone with a brain would question.

There is also the question of the multiple historical inaccuracies. Maybe the details of this novel are well-researched, but there are glaring problems for me. For starters, there are letters between two Dutchmen written in “ancient Latin” — what??? It’s 1580. And then a few references are made to “medieval London” — ???? Again, it’s 1580. The medieval period ends by 1500 at the LATEST. Very glaring errors, in my opinion.

As far as good things about this story, I’m struggling to remember. It’s written coherently. The imagery is pleasant. The mapmaking process details are very interesting, as I didn’t know much about this beforehand. I’m trying not to be horribly negative, but I didn’t connect with the characters at all and I couldn’t wait for the end of this book. I hope your experience is more pleasant!!

Thank you to Clare Marchant, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

After a terrible accident, Robyn is helping her father Malcolm in his map shop, and she's starting to feel she's overstayed her welcome. Robyn’s husband Nate went missing from his yacht years ago, consumed by her grief, she hasn’t been able to make any decisions about their property, and move on with her life.

Robyn discovers an amazing Tudor era map, it appears to be stained by blood, and she has no idea who created the masterpiece? For the first time in seven years Robyn's interested in something, she’s determined she find out the mapmaker's name, and how it ended up in her father’s shop. Robyn starts her investigation, and she contacts a couple of her friends from her past who might be able to help her.

The Mapmaker’s Daughter is told from two women’s points of view, it has a dual timeline, and it alternates between 1569 and 2022. Two women centuries apart, share a connection, not only due to the mysterious map, both married seafaring men, and have lost people they loved.

Frieda lives in London, with her husband Willem and her baby son Jacob. As a child Frieda lived in France, she lost both of her parents when the Spanish Catholics killed and murdered the Protestant Huguenots. Her family are skilled mapmakers, Frieda started drawing when she was twelve, and she’s very talented.

Queen Elizabeth want’s to meet Frieda, a Spanish diplomat is at the palace, and she's a nervous wreck. The Queen introduces her to Sir. Francis Drake, and when she discovers Frieda's husband is a Dutch Sea Beggar, and she wants him to fight against the Spanish King. Frieda's involved in a very dangerous situation, due to her childhood experiences she doesn’t handle it well, she’s concerned about her family’s safety, and she doesn’t know who she can trust?

I enjoyed reading about the medieval times and I was totally adsorbed by the historical aspects of the narrative. The clothes Frieda wore when she visited the Queens court, her life in London and where she lived, how people navigated the city, what they are, drank and believed in. Most of all the craft of map making, the skill, tools used, how they were printed, and Frieda being the first female cartographer. Also, during during the sixteen century people were discovering and exploring new places in the world, science, botany, and making revolutionary navigational instruments.

I received a copy of The Mapmaker's Daughter by Clare Marchant from NetGalley and Avon Books UK in exchange for an honest review. A captivating story about two extraordinary women and both overcoming adversity and their fears, one solving the mystery of the map, who created it, and how it ended up in a shop in England centuries later? I highly recommend this book, I could go on about it forever, and I can't wait to read the authors previous book, The Secrets of Saffron Hall, and five stars from me.

Once again Marchant takes us back to the intrigue of life in and around the Elizabethan court with the assurance of the master storyteller she is. The streets of London are brought to life in all their grim glory, with language that engages all the senses so well you walk alongside her characters.

Even after the triumph of The Queen’s Spy (one of my favourite books of last year) The Mapmaker’s Daughter doesn’t disappoint. It follows the fortunes of Dutch refugee Freida Ortelius, whose skills as a cartographer draw unwanted attention within Elizabeth’s court. The tension created had me torn between drinking in every drop of the story and racing ahead to find out what happened.

The twentieth century narrative is, rather refreshingly, not a romance as Robyn Willoughby tries to come to terms with the seven year anniversary of her husband’s disappearance at sea. There are many parallels between the two women’s stories and they are beautifully crafted, which makes this a very special book indeed.

This is an engaging dual-timeline novel featuring two women tied together by a mysterious map. In the contemporary timeline, Robyn is a former investigative reporter living with her father in Wales after her husband has gone missing in a boating accident. Even though it has been nearly seven years, bumping up against the time to have officially declared dead, she has been avoiding reality and is just existing, not living. Robyn’s father owns an antique map & book shop and she gets drawn into researching a beautifully rendered Elizabethan era map. Her quest to learn about the map takes her away from Wales and brings her back to life on her pursuit of knowledge.

In the historical timeline, Freida is a cartographer who comes from a family of famous mapmakers. She was forced to flee from Holland to England when her parents were murdered by the Spanish. She lives with her son and pirate husband. Her skills come to the attention of Queen Elizabeth I, who hires her to create a map for Sir Francis Drake, which sets her at odds with an angry Spanish ambassador.

Both timelines were interesting, but I particularly enjoyed reading about a strong, self-sufficient woman in the Elizabethan period, excelling in a “man’s world”.

I have loved Clare's books from the minute I first discovered her novels so was excited to read this one. But whilst I thought Saffron Hall and The Queens Spy were excellent (and they are), this one was even better, I would go as far as to say this has been my favourite read of the year and I cannot wait to buy myself a paperback so I can keep it forever and return to it whenever I need to escape for a few hours.
Both timelines fully held my attention and I loved both Frieda and Robyn's stories. Clare Marchant's writing is so skilled that she takes you deep into the heart of Tudor London, all the senses stimulated and I really felt if I was there, hearing, seeing, smelling all that was going on around her characters. The detail she weaves though is not merely evocative, her books are so well researched that I learn things that I did not before and she always makes me want to dive into further research the minute I finish reading. Her writing is taut and deftly woven, everything moves the story on, informs the reader and weaves together a truly spellbinding story. The jeopardy she creates had me gasp out loud, my heart pounding with fear – all whilst safely tucked up in my own bed, such is the skill with which she writes. Honestly, I thought this book was flawless and I suspect it will remain one of my favourites for years to come. Absolute perfection.

I absolutely loved this book. I don't know (and honestly I'll be honest - I don't care!) whether or not this a real character, but I LOVED this book. I cannot recommend it enough. There is love, loss, strong women, historical fiction, and women reaching across space and time and touching each others' lives. The story follows a modern day woman working at her father's map store in Hay, and a young woman in the 1500s whose life begins in Holland and swiftly moves to London after the persecution of Huguenots. There are historical figures, mystery, love, and release. I highly suggest this book to anyone who wants something that has a beautiful story, but doesn't necessarily need to have a "happy ending" per se. The characters were so relatable even the characters in the 1500s. The author made the past come alive, which is not necessarily easy. PLEASE do yourself a favor and read this book, you WON'T regret it.

This ebook was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I found myself getting a little bored of this book while I was reading it. I feel like it needs to be condensed slightly.

I enjoyed the historical elements to this story. It seemed well researched. Unfortunately, I only read 43 % and had to stop. Sadly the book was not holding my interest. I did like the historical timeline better than the present, but it still wasn’t enough to keep me interested. I appreciate the opportunity to read this ARC. I wish I had a better outcome.

I’ve never read this authors work before but I love a bit of historical fiction so was glad to have been given a copy of this book to read and review.
I loved how this book was divided into two timelines and viewpoints, from Frieda in the 1500s to Robyn in the present day. It allowed us to see either side of events and the author weaved both sides together so that all the questions were ultimately answered.
Both main characters were well written and assertive in their roles in the book, and I enjoyed the twists and turns of the story.
If I could have one criticism (and it isn’t even really a criticism!) it’s that I would prefer to have heard more about Frieda’s life, but that is just down to my personal preference. Ultimately I did really enjoy this book and would recommend it!

Another wonderful dual timeline novel from Clare. Told from the perspective of Frieda a Dutch woman who has followed in her fathers footsteps and become a cartographer in the 1580's and Robyn, who works in her fathers bookshop who finds an old map and wants to research the history.
Fascinating tales of life in London during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st and the Spanish inquisition. Really invested in both of the stories and found it hard to put down

I liked this book. It is told from dual timelines- one in the 1500s and one in 2022. In the 1500s we follow Frieda, who is female cartographer. As a child she was a survivor of the Spanish Inquisition and has obviously been scarred by the horrors she has faced. She is now grown and married to a man who is essentially a pirate. His line of work puts their family at extreme risk with the Spanish ambassador.
In the present, Robyn’s husband was lost at sea nearly 7 years ago and now she is rapidly approaching the reality that she will need to declare him dead and get on with her life. When she discovers an old map in her father’s shop she begins to research its origins, which breathes new life back into her.
I loved that this book had strong female characters, even though Frieda’s character was certainly out of the norm for the timeframe. I thought there was a lot of suspense and intrigue and I loved the writing style!
I did, however, find the present day POV to be pretty slow paced and repetitive. I love books with a historical mystery component, but in this case I felt Robyn was just barely able to skim the surface of everything there was to discover about Frieda.
I LOVED Frieda though. I loved that she went against societal norms and how she continued on despite being frightened, threatened, and betrayed. I do think she forgave her husband a bit too easily.

Two women, worlds apart, yet wrestling with the same pain of losing a dear one, linked together by a magnificent map. Freida is always afraid, running from a past that always seems to be coming back to haunt her. Robyn is hiding from her grief and doesn't know how to pick up the pieces of her life again. Both women have to learn how to reach for their hidden strength to carry on.

This book is heartbreakingly beautiful. Clare Marchant so beautifully brings out the pain and grief of these two women and so beautifully navigates their journey of healing. It is breathtaking. Add to that the element of mystery as Robyn researches the map's history and the wild adventure as Freida navigates the dangers of Queen Elizabeth's court and you have a book that is impossible to put down. The two different time periods and viewpoints were masterfully done.

I was fascinated by this piece of history, one that I don't know very much about, even though I am a descendant of some of those brave Huguenots. The writing is so descriptive that I feel as if I have walked every step of Freida's journey myself and I loved it. Definitely a new favourite book!

Just like one of her other Books `The Secrets of Saffron Hall ' this did not disappoint even as it slipped between the Centuries it gripped you in a clock of Intrigue ,craftsmanship ( done by an amazing Dutch Woman Freida Ortelius ) & Robyn who finds one of her works & investigates the history of it while battling her own sad events which she finds link her closely to what Freida fought for. #NetGalley, #Goodreads, #FB, #Instagram,#Amazon.co.uk, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/358a5cecda71b11036ec19d9f7bf5c96d13e2c55" width="80" height="80" alt="100 Book Reviews" title="100 Book Reviews"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/ef856e6ce35e6d2d729539aa1808a5fb4326a415" width="80" height="80" alt="Reviews Published" title="Reviews Published"/>, #<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/aa60c7e77cc330186f26ea1f647542df8af8326a" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>, So I truly highly recommend this Book.

A dual time line historical fiction story which you will not be able to put down. Love this style of writing as the past often connects with the present.
The book weaves the story of Freida who lives during the mid to late 1500s in the Elizabethan period of England to the present time with Robyn a former investigative journalist who is floundering with her life back in her home town of Wales.
Robyn lives with her father who owns an old maps and book shop. He uncovers a beautifully detailed map dating back to the 1500s. Robyn has lost her husband in a boating accident and is still not ready to declare him dead 7 years after the accident. She has buried her feelings and put her life on hold but the map turns her life around as she investigates it’s providence and draws strength from learning about Freida.
This is where the past and the present connect with Freida and Robyn’s lives.
Freida is a member of the famous Ortelius cartography family and is a remarkable mapmaker in her own right. The Queen hears of Freidas maps and commissions her to engrave one as a gift to Sir Francis Drake, this sets Freida and her family down a dangerous path.
A fascinating read about Elizabethan history, the trials of the Huguenots during this period of time and the amazing world of a woman cartographer and how her strength gives new life to a woman in present day Wales.

A dual time line book which goes between the 16th and 21st centuries. The detailed and well researched descriptions are so clearly presented that the reader has very little effort to make to be perfectly able to imagine the scenes.
The intrigue around the map produced by Freida in the 16th century and discovered in the present day keep the story moving along until it's resolution.
A great read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

This dual timeline novel seemed to drag for me. I could see the connection between the two women, but it was not a compelling read. I admire the research of the historical aspects of the story; yet I was never drawn into the storyline. The ending did not feel complete. I must rate it 2 1/2 stars.

This is a really good historical novel. Like many, it moves between the present day and a period of history, weaving links between the characters in both periods.
Vivid descriptions and the odd bit of suspense make this a real page turner.
Would definitely recommend!

I absolutely loved this intriguing story! A dual timeline always enchants me, and I was immediately captured by both Frieda and Robyn’s stories, spanning the centuries as they did. The description in this book was wonderful, both 16th and 21st century, and the story just flowed seamlessly between the ages. The setting of Hay-on-Wye was brilliant - such a magical place - and the whole concept of the story was captivating. The historical aspect was superbly done - I loved the sense of menace that emanated from Mendoza, the Spanish Ambassador! Both Frieda and Robyn were strong women, with hidden depths waiting to be uncovered, and I was drawn to both of them, and their strength of character. I wanted to get to the end of the story, to uncover the truth - but I really didn’t want this fabulous book to end. Highly recommended.

Two eras are connected by a beautifully engraved map of southern England and the Low Countries.

Freida's skills as a cartographer to Elizabeth in sixteenth-century London are researched by Robyn four

hundred years. later leading to discoveries about the court, maritime discoveries, the sea beggars, and the

the provenance of the map.

The story is an atmospheric adventure full of threats, danger, and challenges. A tightly woven story

of strength and compassion.. A compelling book. A real gem to read.

Thank you net galley for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a dual timeline historical fiction about mapmaking. The two timelines didn't seem to flow well to me until the middle to end of the story. I enjoyed the historical tid bits about the religious persecution of Hugenots in Europe. Well written.