I had to DNF this book at around 20%.

I was not able to find the energy to like the main character. While I am always up for a strong, confident female lead, Shean was not it. Her arrogance and immaturity got to me, especially since she was suppose to have been a dollmaker apprentice for 15 years.

I am sure that there are plenty of readers who will adore this book, I, unfortunately am not one of them.

As always, thanks to Avon and Harper Voyager for the digital book in exchange for my honest review. I will not be sharing my review of this book online.

In the world of One, dollmakers create dolls to combat destructive monsters that consume everything on their path. Orphan and survivor of one of these attacks, Shean has always pursued her dream of being a guard dollmaker, putting her own dolls in the fight against the monsters that killed her family. When that dream is denied, her master sends her to meet one of the best guard dollmakers he knows, Ikiisa, who creates peculiar dolls. Shean is meant to learn from her, but she has other plans.

Shean is an extremely enfuriating character for most of the book. She is extremely self confident and self assured, becoming really arrogant. But the author crafted her and the story around her in a way to show to the reader that she is meant to be perceived this way. She is meant to begin the book as unsympathetic as possible in order for her to begin her journey alongside the story that is told. The self journey that she goes on is hard but rewarding to follow; she does awful things, goes through awful things but she learns a lot. By the end of the book, the person she becomes and the path she embarks on are things that I'm really interested on knowing more about. Ikiisa, on the other hand, is really sympathetic but it's also frustrating to follow what people do to her and to her dolls. It's really sad how she begins the book really beaten down. I really liked seeing her development as well.

I loved the world. The world that author created around the making of the dolls and the magic system around them are so cool to immerse oneself in. It feels whimsical and etheral, just as the writing. The writing really complements the world building. The action scenes are really well crafted and they flow really well they are also well detailed.

I really liked the book and I'm looking forward for the other books in this world.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.

Overall the book is a great debut, with certain critiques surrounding the character being unlikable and then suddenly growth at the end it could have been more engaging to have it grow more throughout the book. On a personal note chapters. I think that the plot and the magic and the world were interesting and it would be fun to see that developed more through other novels.

The world here completely drew me in, it was so well thought out and built so intricately. I loved the ideas of the dolls and the descriptions of the makers and how they worked and their whole system I found fascinating. I didn't enjoy the main female character, but she did grow on me a little bit. I would have loved some chapter breaks, but the page breaks were mostly good.

Intricate world building and themes of love and loss made this such an interesting, evocative and unique read, really enjoyed this!

This is a beautifully crafted tale that delves into the intricacies of love, loss, and the magic woven into handmade dolls. I was instantly drawn in by the lyrical writing style and the rich, emotive storytelling that brought the characters to life. The exploration of the relationship between creation and the creator added depth that I really appreciated.
However, I did find some plot points a bit predictable, which took away from the overall suspense at times. Still, the heartfelt themes and captivating narrative made it a memorable read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The premise of The Dollmakers was initially intriguing but ultimately did not build into something extraordinary. I attribute this to the simplicity of the plot, which for a 400-page standalone is not all that surprising. The story contains some dark and spooky elements, but we also get a decent dose of cozy vibes - something I typically enjoy albeit not my favorite type of story. To give some comparisons, The Dollmakers felt reminiscent of Studio Ghibli, as described in the official blurb, and Fullmetal Alchemist.

Overall the prose is well done. There are no chapters in the novel, which didn’t bother me due to the various page breaks I used as pausing points.

Although the plot was simple, it was well executed. My main criticism would be many of the mysteries posed to the reader seemed a bit too easy to predict – and to me, the plot relied too heavily on them.

The lead character, Shean, is the overwhelming POV for the first half, as we learn about the world, the magical craft of dollmaking, and the mysterious evil Shod. Shean was written to be flawed and frustrating, which I appreciate at face value. Unfortunately, I had trouble empathizing with her, which resulted in Shean's POV being the least enjoyable to read.

Fortunately, the story gained momentum around 60%, as more conflict was introduced with more POV shifts. I enjoyed the other lead character, Ikissa, who is also flawed, dealing with certain intrapersonal struggles throughout the story that were nice to see represented. And finally, there is the mysterious Rogue, a secondary character with the most interesting POVs and is the MVP in keeping me intrigued by the world and magic system at large.

With a satisfying ending, The Dollmakers is a solid debut showcasing the skill and potential of Bunchanan, an author I'll watch out for.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Harper Voyager for a copy of this ARC.

This was stunning - a phenomenal world building combined with excellent story telling. From the beginning, you'll be absolutely pulled in and captivated. I can't wait for more from Lynn Buchanan.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for a copy of this ARC.

I would like to start off by saying I enjoyed reading about a not so great main character. I usually hate reading about these types of characters but Shean had depth and reason to her ugliness. Besides her dolls compensated for her lack of character. By the end though I do like her more and can't wait to read the continuation of her story.

The author wrote this beautifully. The world building was well described and unique. Has some light mystery sprinkled throughout the book.

Overall I give this five stars for intriguing

This a fantastic new world to delve into! This book, taking place in the country called One (so hoping we can learn more about the other countries in the next book!) which is under attack by the creatures known as Shod. The only thing that can take down these mindless Shod are the dolls that are made with great care and imbued with the breath mark to come alive and protect the people living in the country called One. The story is mostly from the point of view of Shean, a young woman trying to prove herself to be a guard dollmaker in remembrance of her family (also dollmakers) killed in the Red Tide (a massive Shod attack on the city called Pearl). Because she had much to prove and would not accept anything different from what she wanted, she came across as pretty petulant and annoying at first. Luckily, as she discovers secrets and truths and faces down the Shod, she grows and changes into a more mature personality and I grew to quite like her. Her changing is due to the travel to Web and meeting the people there, including the dollmaker Ikiisa (unique in her way with dollmaking and quite the survivor) and the mysterious Roque (who I really hope we will meet again in another book!).

This is definitely the first book in a new series and I can't wait for the next one to come out so I can find out what Shean does with her new knowledge of the Shod and the dolls she will create to solve the problem with the Shod and how maybe the country called One can survive and thrive. Plus I want to see the other countries, like maybe the one called Steep.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and to the publisher for providing me with an advanced reading copy of this book
Y'all this book is so so good I adored it!!!!! From the very first page, I found myself captivated by this story. It felt oddly familiar and refreshingly original at the same time. The world-building was not only unique but also incredibly accessible, making it easy for me to immerse myself in the story something I typically struggle with especially at the start of most books. I found the descriptions of the world and the dolls especially to be beautiful and engaging, enhancing my enjoyment.
The characters, which is what I care about most given I'm a character driven reader, were incredible. Sean in particular stands out as a very fun character, she was amusingly unlikable and very compelling. Surprisingly, I thoroughly enjoyed being in her head despite her flaws and how inssuferable she gets. Ikasa on the other hand quickly became my favorite; I empathized with her struggles and related deeply to her journey of learning to stand up for herself. It was heartwarming to witness her growth throughout the story.
I also loved the dolls featured in the story; each one we encountered felt distinct and precious in its own right. and they're part of why I hope to read more books in this world I could not get enpugh of them. There is clearly still so much left to explore in this world, especially considering how the story concluded. and while I’m unsure if the author intends to expand on this universe further, I sincerely hope she does and I'm assuming there will be more. Either way I'm more than thrilled about it, the prospect of delving deeper into this enchanting world excites me immensely.

From the first chapter, I already knew I’d want many more books in this universe. Buchanan worldbuilds with the best of them! Take the scary elements of AI and combine it with artistry and a terrifying protagonist, and you have the incredible novel that is The Dollmakers!

Genre: fantasy

Dolls are created to protect the citizens of the country called One from the Shod, zombie-like nightmares that haunt and attack. The dolls are imbued with life through a Breath Mark symbol placed on it after creation by a dollmaker. Shean has been working towards her license to allow her dolls to be guards, protecting citizens from Shod, but the Licenser instead grants her an artisan license, which Shean views as lesser. Her dolls are not art! They are fierce fighters, even as they are beautiful. Shean travels to the village called Web where she plans to usurp the village dollmaker's place and prove that her dolls are guards not art. The gruff Shean finds something very different in the town that spends its days sleeping and its nights harvesting silk from spiders.

The Dollmakers is a very strong debut from Lynn Buchanan. It's atmospherically dark, and the main POV of Shean is complex: she's vindictive and righteous and determined, and comes off as stubborn and mean to many she encounters. But that's because she's driven to success in her creation. Likewise, Ikiisa, the dollmaker from Web, is complex but reserved and unsure despite her powerful guard doll creations. These two women are at odds even when they don't need to be, and Buchanan sets them up as diametric opposites whirling around one another and then in direct competition with their dolls until a Shod attack forces them to unite and discover their differences matter far less. I'm eager to read more of Buchanan's work in the future for more complex female main characters. (Amusingly enough, the primary male character, Roque, is a little one-dimensional, I think intentionally, with a mysterious past and powers of his own.)

I love anything that spends time reflecting on what is essentially artificial intelligence and autonomy for a creation. The focus of the book is Shean's struggle for relevance and importance as the Best Dollmaker, but the dolls themselves may have some native intelligence, even as they are connected directly to the dollmaker.

Sentient dolls? An ever-evolving enemy? Giant spiders?

Basically, Shean knows she is the best dollmaker and knows that her destiny is to make dolls whose purpose is to hunt and kill the Shod, evil monstrosities that attack humanity in hordes. But her ego and temper get in the way during her licensing exam and now she and her dolls must set off to prove themselves as the best. And the only way Shean can accomplish that is to unseat the current dollmaker in a remote village called Web by any means possible.

I am normally very wary of people comparing books to Studio Ghibli because the vibes are just so specific. But The Dollmakers truly encapsulates the imagery and emotions that I associate with Studio Ghibli’s films. It’s a coming-of-age fantasy mixed with some light horror elements that is just so incredibly imaginative, whimsical, and pretty much everything I love in a fantasy story. Not only did I love the magic, but I am an absolute sucker for any fantasy that is a standalone and that has illustrations.

So if you are looking for a little whimsy, definitely check out The Dollmakers.

This was so different from the usual books I read yet interesting in its own way. The language and narration was easy and simple making it a easy breezy read for me.
I finished it in two sittings, it had grabbed my attention from the very first page or rather I should say from its cover and blurb only.
I had a great time reading this one.

I really liked this fantasy debut! This is a world where creepy zombie-like creatures, the Shod, attack human settlements on the reg. The only thing that can destroy the Shod are dolls...but in this world, "dolls" are animated creatures with a semblance of free will (they follow the orders of their dollmaker, but can carry out those orders in the fashion of their choosing).

The main character of this book is Shean, a terribly spoiled and arrogant apprentice dollmaker. I love a complex character, but Shean makes it hard to love her, especially when she thoughtlessly harms a fellow dollmaker in the single-minded pursuit of her own selfish ends. That said, she goes through enough that by the end of the book, I was (mostly) on her side, and (definitely) appreciated her.

The book is part coming of age, part epic quest, and part adventure, and I read it very quickly! I especially liked that Shean doesn't solve the world's problems by book's end, or even come up with a brand new understanding of the issues threatening her country. While this feels like the beginning of a series in that it sets up problems for Shean to tackle down the line (and even an end goal, possibly?), it still feels like a contained book. No cliffhangers, thank you very much! I'm definitely looking forward to more in this world.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

The Dollmakers was a very interesting and good read overall, although I struggled with some aspects of it. I liked the ideas involving the dolls and their creation. I also liked many of the characters. I felt the story itself had some issues, especially in some details that were revealed towards the end. Some of it, while I found the idea fascinating, didn’t feel quite right for the world that had been built.

Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wonderfully dark and whimsical fantasy set in a world that’s so unique and fresh. It honestly reminded me of The West Passage which I read earlier this year and couldn’t get enough of, and I couldn’t be happier that it satisfied that high I’ve been looking for since. 😊

The story follows primarily Shean and Ikiisa who are dollmakers in a world called One. Both women are renowned for their unique dollmaking styles and I loved how connected they are to the creations they’ve made. Shean is the kind of person who is so set on their path to their idealized future that they don’t care who they burn along the way. She’s stubborn to the max and at times I was really hoping that she’d get a brutal reality check because of how much she just didn’t care to see anything other than her goals. Ikiisa was the character that I wished we had more time with because her background is so sad. Both women are traumatized from their past and while Shean throws herself into her work to prove she’s worthy, Ikiisa withdraws believing she’s the problem to be begin with. While their initial dynamic is fraught with tension, I really enjoyed their slow progression into realizing their shared connection. 🥹

I did find myself wishing we had a bit more time in understanding the world and its first dollmaker. Like why the importance of dolls in the first place other than to bring joy and later security to their owners? That and Roque was such a fascinating character that I’m really hoping for either a prequel or a novella about him in the future! 🤞🏼

All in all, this should be on any reader’s radar if you’re into dark whimsical stories and characters that see a lot of growth in the last act of the book. 💜

Big thank you goes out to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for opening this book up for readers to freely read and to the author, Buchanan, for writing such a wonderful story! I can’t wait to nab a copy and see the beautiful illustrations in this! 😍

Publication date: August 13, so go get it now!

Overall: 4.25/5 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions within are my own.

RATING AND OVERALL THOUGHTS:

1 star. I DNF’d 12% into the novel. I unfortunately could not get further into the story with the way the FMC was introduced and acted in the brief time I read. This book was not for me but it maybe for other readers that have more… patience than I do to see it unfold.

SOME SPOILERS AHEAD

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“Delicate doesn’t mean weak.”

WHAT I LOVED:

- The descriptions of the dolls were very vivid and I could *feel* the care the fictional dollmakers put into them. That is unfortunately the only good thing I can say about this novel.

WHAT I DISLIKED:

- It was super lyrical, which isn’t a problem, while also having no substance, which *is* a problem. Names, places, and events were introduced without actually describing *what* they were in a way that allowed you to get an actual mental picture of it or what it really means to the characters. This might be hindered by having an eARC with no illustrations like the print edition has but I still feel like the writing needs to stand on its own in that regard and it doesn’t.
- The beginning spent pages repeating how bored Maton, the licenser, and Nock, her mentor, were while they waited *hours* for Shean to show up for her *own* dollmaking licensing exam. It was not the best introduction to suck me into the world.
- Shean. In the very brief time she is on page she is, quite literally, a nightmare. The moment she steps onto the page she is arrogant and cocky. Thats fine, I can handle that especially if she has a reason to be with the status of the best apprentice Master Nock has ever had, we can *grow* from that. What we *can’t* grow from is a twenty something FMC physically restraining the licenser after a disappointing result, then PUNCHING HER when she won’t rightfully change it, and THEN throwing a literal childlike tantrum complete with destroying her own bedroom because she got told “no.” I was done soon after that point. I saw nothing appealing about watching an ADULT acting like that and did not see how this was supposed to in any way inspire the reader to watch the FMC grow from here. I could understand if Shean had just refused the artisan license and left. I could understand if she was justifiably frustrated and feeling lost. I could understand (even if its childish) if she started trashing her room in anger from those feelings but what I can’t understand is the physical assault from a grown adult.
- The exam. There was a lot of build up to it, anticipation during it, and then it fell so flat from that last question that I had to reread twice to make sure I didn’t miss anything. In 500 years, no apprenticing dollmaker has thought to ask their dolls their purpose? No one outside of licensers with their super secret question has ever thought to command their dolls to have the desire to *be* a guard doll? The dolls aren’t even supposed to be anything other than what their dollmakers *command* them to be. Maybe this was setting up plot points for later on but the execution of it left a lot to be desired.

WHAT I AM NOT SURE ABOUT/WANTED MORE OF:

- The premise and the inspiration was there, it had the elements of an unique concept.
- I can see the relation to Studio Ghibli (which I love) and elements of being a cozy fantasy with some horror later on, I just didn’t get to it.
- There are no chapters in this book. I am not quite sure if this was intentional because while the book does have a flowing feel to it, it also doesn’t have a good rest point.

My first Nettgally Arc, and wow was this story written for me. Reads like a modern fairytale with a main character with a lot of growing to do. The magic was intriguing and somewhat soft, but with tons of details that kept me engaged. The writing was easy and compelling, the plot was... somewhat easy to detect, but never stopped me from reading. Loved it!

Shean is a dollmaker apprentice wanting to create dolls that can save the world from the terrible creatures called Shod that took her family away at a very young age. When she thinks she is close to reaching her goal something unexpected happens and her life seems to fall apart in front of her eyes. In a last resort to help his apprentice, Master Nock sends her to another dollmaker to try and learn some valuable lifelessons but Shean is having other thoughts on how her visit to Web can be beneficial to her.

I definitely hits the "howls moving castle" vibes described and definitely feels like a cozy fatansy with some spooky elements! ("Coraline", "a series of unfortunate events")

Loved loved loved it! And can't wait to read more from this author