If you like the author Kristin Harmel and historical fiction you will like this book about 2 artists in a concentration camp during World War II. Well written, a little too much description In some places, but worth reading.

I’m conflicted with this book - I wanted to love it more than I did.

The author tells a beautiful story that, at times, really captured me. I also liked that the subject matter was new to me despite all the ww2 era historical fiction novels I’ve read. I was compelled to research Allach porcelain and the Dachau camp while reading the book to learn more about them.

However, the book had such a slow start that I initially struggled to stick with it, and I never fully bought in to the love story of Bettina and Max (we learn how they met and then the story jumps to them already living together) or why Bettina couldn’t bring herself to tell Clara about her father even later in life once she was an adult. Another thing that bothered me in the beginning (but I didn’t notice as much later on) was the descriptive vocabulary that at times seemed forced or over-the-top, as in my opinion, it could have been said more simply without losing any context. Instead, I kept having to use my dictionary look up tool to make sure I was following along correctly. Because of this and the slow start, if I wasn’t reading the book for the purpose of providing a review, I may not have finished this one. BUT, as I sit here thinking back on the full experience, I’m glad I stuck with it because the story came together for me in the middle and finished strong (if not a little rushed). I would recommend this book to fellow historical fiction lovers of the WW2 era and my rating is a 3.5.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Carefully crafted, this book presents the beauty of passionate romance and expressive art. I never thought much about the creation of intricate porcelain pieces before reading this story. Now, it’s on my mind.

The book also shows the dangers of WWII causing severe anxieties. There was no escaping from the violence for many that suffered from physical and emotional pain.

Just before the war in 1925, Max met Bettina with the instant power of love. He was Jewish from Austria and she was German. Their relationship was a red flag for the Nazis. However, one could feel the intensity of their hearts.

They were in art school in the town of Dessau, Germany. She was wild about exploring abstracts and he was studying architecture. He smiled when he saw that she had painted giant female figures just before a party in a modern form. He couldn’t decide if they were “beautiful or terrifying” as if that was part of life.

The story had another POV in the early 90’s where Bettina’s daughter, Clara, was searching for her father. Her mother refused to disclose any information about her father’s identity and now she was gone. But she gave her one hint: he was the porcelain maker of Dachau.

It's a powerful portrayal of relationships with the brave people that were in situations of unbearable conditions. It showed how important love helped them to survive along with the thoughts of their family members.

It’s well written and gives the reader a view of how the porcelain factory was important to Heinrich Himmler, leader of the SS. It made me shiver with the evilness of this man during this time. It’s a story that felt believable; I didn’t want it to end.

My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy with an expected release date of November 7, 2023.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: November 7, 2023
1929: Bettina is a German artist, trying to make a name for herself in the avant-garde world. Max is a Jewish architect, about to embark on his own adventure by contributing to the design of the Autobahn. The two meet through a mutual friend and the connection is instant, and soon the couple begin planning for their dreams of a life together. But preparations are underway for World War II and now it is not only frowned upon for the two to be involved, it is also dangerous. But Bettina and Max are determined to find a way and use their individual artistic talents to return to one another.
1993: Throughout her entire life, Clara never knew the identity of her father. Her mother, Bettina, kept that secret close to her chest and, after Bettina’s death, Clara begins to wonder if she will ever uncover the truth. But she stumbles upon a porcelain figurine among her mother’s possessions that provide Clara with clues as to whom her father could have been. Returning to Germany with her adult daughter in tow, Clara seeks to uncover the truth about her past and unravel the secrets that Bettina took to her grave.
“The Porcelain Maker” is Sarah Freethy’s debut novel. Freethy comes from a background of writing, including screenplays, and her first attempt at creative writing serves to prove this. Freethy is definitely not an amateur and her novel is creative, emotional, powerful and unsettling (in the best way).
The story is told in dual timelines from the perspectives of both mother and daughter equally. Bettina, an artist, is trying to make a name for herself, which, of course, is made exponentially harder by the fact that she is a woman. With the harbinger of war in the background, Bettina begins the novel as a lovestruck, naïve young woman who, despite this, is relatable and likable. Once the war inevitably changes Bettina, she struggles to see beauty in a world that was once rife with it, yet her connection with the reader remains strong. I cheered for Bettina until the very end. Clara, too, was confident and intelligent and Freethy made it easy to see the world through her eyes as she tries to discover who she is.
“Porcelain” is a story about World War Two but it is also so much more. The star-crossed romance between Bettina and Max. The beauty of art and the power it has to change the world. The complicated yet incomparable love between mother and daughter. There are many themes and all are thought-provoking and emotive but overall, Freethy’s debut novel will make an impressive entrance, and leave an equally impressive mark on the reader’s soul.

It's probably unusual to say that something is a heartwarming story about the Holocaust. However, this is such a poignant rendering of a woman searching for information about her father. She discovers a love story that is bittersweet and so unfair. A wonderful historical novel about a real porcelain factory in a war camp.

I just could not get into this book. It moved way too slow for me. There was not enough happening. I would like to know if she found out who the porcelain maker was, but not enough to finish this book.

“In the end, art and love are all we leave behind.” So the story of Max and Bettina unfolds. We begin with some porcelain figurines which take us back to Nazi Germany and finally to present day. Without giving away too much, their love gave them strength to make impossible decisions. Much can be learned from reading Sarah Freethy’s description of what Dachau may have been like for artists. We must never forget lest we repeat.

I loved this book. On one hand I wanted to hurry up and finish reading it but on the other hand, I had to slow down and take some breaks because I didn’t want it to end. Beautiful story of survival. It did not end the way I expected! Highly recommend! Thank you!!

Thank-you to @netgalley and the publisher for the #AdvanceReviewCopy

Genre: Historical Fiction
release Date: November 2023

Summary: Told through dual timelines, and perspectives. We follow Bettina and Max in the late 1930s as they fall in love during a time of upheaval and back in the US we follow Clara, Bettina’s daughter, in 1993 as she desperately tries to piece together the puzzle of her mother’s life and find her birth father.

My Thoughts: I love historical fiction, especially set against the backdrop of WW2 but this one wasn’t a favourite. I liked some of it, but I lacked investment in the characters. I’m not sure why, but I just didn’t connect as much as I usually do, and because of this, the experience was a slower read. Some chapters were also super long, adding to the slower pace. I found myself picking this up and then setting it down often.

The dual timeline, however, was a bonus and the different POVs provided a break from the slower paced pages. I preferred the more current storyline that followed Clara than the past.

Overall, I liked it. A good premise, but a little too slow.

2.5. Rounded to 3

Beautiful portrayal of the power of love. Bettina and Max have a truly inspiring love story that begins in 1929. I love how well the complemented each other. They know, beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are each other’s person. Sadly, they are ripped apart because Max is a Jew. Bettina takes many risks, to the detriment of her own livelihood, in order to stay connected to Max.
Clara, in 1993, wants to solve the mystery of her true father. She has clues that were passed on through her mother, but no real specific details. She works together with her daughter, Lotte, to find the truth.
There are many quotes that I marked and pondered for a while. I love the detailed descriptions of the art, the people, and the various locations. Stunning word mastery. This one stayed with me for a while as I came to know and love the characters. I did not want to put it down and I did not want it to end. I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping, dual timeline tale.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

What a powerful, well written novel. I loved the art aspect a lot and how it was used by the characters. Tragic but wonderful read.

As many books as I read about World War II and the Holocaust, I am always surprised that I am able to learn something new. I had never heard about the Nazi’s involvement in the artistic world of porcelain figurines. This novel is told in multiple time lines to explore the search by Clara to discover the identity of her father. The author takes us on this search while filling in the gaps of the past. It is a very poignant story of love and sacrifice. The author maintains tension throughout making this somewhat of a page turner. It is not soapy and not predictable. The main characters are very likable. This is a history lesson and a love story. Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to review this Advanced Readers Copy.

Thank you to Sarah Freethy, the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

I usually enjoy historical fiction books but this one was just blah. I read it over a week ago and am only now getting around to writing a review, so I feel like that says something.....

This book had the potential to be more (and to be honest I was shocked it wasn't actually based on a true story after reading the authors note). But it was just boring and I feel like it kind of just wandered. The main characters were all quite annoying (no one seemed to fully grasp the horror they were living in.....???) and the choices being made were odd.

This was ok, but I wouldn't recommend.... sorry! 2.5 stars rounded up.

This book was interesting but i found the style to be more detached than i would have liked, so it wasn't as moving as it could have been. Two lovers, a Jewish man imprisoned by the Nazis forced to make propaganda art and his love, married to a Nazi. This is also the story of their daughter who is trying in modern times trying to find out who her father is and why her mother kept him secret.

This was an unexpected good read blending the past and present storylines of Clara and her parents. It was a beautiful, but heart-wrenching story in the midst of war. Historical romance fans should check this out.

Thank you to Sarah Freethy, the publishers, and Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 1/2 stars

This is an excellent story of love, loss, cruelty, beauty, and death. The book focuses on a couple, Bettina and Max, an artist and an architect, one Christian, one Jewish, and follow them through the lead up to WWII, through WWII, and what followed. It’s a story of quiet resistance, the loss of freedom, and of hope. Of suicide, of sacrifice, of the toll that stealing peoples’ rights and self-determination can take on bright, talented, hopeful people.

The book begins with Clara Vogel, trying to learn who her biological father was. It’s something her mother, Bettina, would never speak of. Clara travels far and wide to try to learn just who the Porcelain Maker really was, for that’s all that she knows. She goes from London, to Cincinnati, to Germany, collecting clues as she goes. She’s lucky enough to find helpful people who continue to move her forward with her search.

The Porcelain Maker is filled with exceptional characters, and the writing is very good. I greatly enjoyed this book. It’s dark, painful, and near the end, a tear-jerker. It’s a wonderful debut novel and definitely worth a read.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I thank all involved for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

The Porcelain Maker
Another Holocaust book taking place in two time zones. In the 1990’s Clara and her daughter Lotte are trying to find information about Clara’s father. Her Mother Bettina who passed away a few years before, never spoke to her about her father. The story takes you to the US where Clara acquires some porcelain figurines at an auction that later the reader finds out were made by her father. From the US to London and Germany trying to trace what happened during the war. In between the story goes back to the WWII years and before and tell Bettina’s and Max’s story. I found the book dragging, forced myself to get through it to be able to write a review. I found a lot of the story not believable and the research by the writer lacking. Overall, can’t give this novel more than three stars at best.
I received a complimentary copy, opinions are my own.

A phenomenal debut!

Can art alone save us?

At the heart of this story is, Clara Vogel, a woman in search of truth who desperately traces the provenance of a porcelain piece, hoping it will lead her to discover the identity of her father. The author weaves this timeline with a Bauhaus Movement timeline featuring two artists, a Jewish architect, Max Erhlich, and a German painter, Bettina Vogel, who strive to live through the Nazi brutality in hopes that their art will live on.

My heart was stretched and I reached for the Kleenex box reading about a man creating beauty in a place that was built for destruction and designed to crush the human spirit. The teacher within was impressed with the rich lexicon and my inner history buff was engaged with a story of hope, courage, and sacrifice. You may appreciate the author’s attention to the power of art, both in peacetime and in the midst of war. My only regret? Illustrations that would have made this story next level.

This epic story about love, betrayal and art needs to be on every historical fiction lover's reading list.

I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Two artists meet at a festival in Berlin in 1929 and fall in love. Max is a talented Jewish architect and Bettina is a painter. The connection they have between them is something you feel as you read their story…..which comes to a grinding halt when the rise of Nazism in Germany starts taking over. Max is arrested and immediately sent to Dachau, luckily for him they realize he is an artist so put him to work making porcelain figures, saving him from death at the moment. Bettina is willing to risk everything in the hope that she can not only escape with their child but also Max.

In 1993, Clara has always wanted to know who her father was, but it was something her mother would never talk about and she never understood why. When her mother passed, Clara decided to start on a mission to find out the truth, good or bad on who he was and why it was a secret. She started with going to an auction to purchase porcelain figures that had been made in a concentration camp as a starting point.

Each character in this book has their story, their flaws, their secrets, who they want to be and where they want to go. As they intertwine with each other over time the story grows with history and romance in so many ways over multiple locations and decades. It only touches on what some had to go through in order to survive war and death.

This is a book that some will find easy to read, a true page turner. While others will take it slow, maybe even need to put it down and come back to it, so they can truly ingest what happened in the world’s history. I received an ARC for my honest review and very glad that I did. It is one that I will be buying when it is printed to add to my collection.

The Porcelain Maker
Author Sarah Freethy
(This review is based on an ARC given to me by NetGalley)

This is a remarkable story of love that spans decades through the horrors of World War II
To 21st century America, based on an actual porcelain factory in Dachau (one of the first concentration camps built by Nazi Germany)
In 1929 when Max a Jewish Architect and Bettina a celebrated German Avant Garde artist meet at a party, attraction was instant but their love is soon affected by the rising threat of Nazism.
When Max is arrested and sent to Dachau camp, it is his talent of making the porcelain figures that stands between him and death. Bettina has no idea where Max is but once she learns that he is in Dachau she is determined to rescue him.
Bettina’s daughter Clara sets out to uncover the truth about her identity, she discovers the terrible secret her mother wanted hidden forever.
This is a novel of enduring love and courage in the face of brutality as a daughter seeks to unlock the mystery of her past.
The author brings readers an unforgettable story of love and loss.