The Glassblower is historical fiction and had that fact been apparent when looking at its description, I would not have requested it. However, I did read it since I made the obligation to do so. The first half of the book is on the slower side, and I found Joost to be a rather terse character, which is by design. The story truly begins as his daughters recover from his loss. As they struggle to find footing and establish themselves in a world that's quite misogynistic, I found their journey as heartwarming as it is sometimes infuriating. The genre isn't my cup of tea, so I admit my rating is likely harsh, but I landed on 3.5 stars.

Almost did not finish approximately 25% in. However, this title was recommended by a friend, who happens to be German, so I decided no matter what I would read on. She read the German version, I read the English version. Maybe something was lost in the translation, but I felt it was written for a much younger audience except for some of the context, and didn’t read like that of a bestselling author like I expected.

The most interesting part was the actual glassblowing and designing of the Christmas ornaments. The only sister I even cared about was Marie, the sisters lifesaver, who designed the Ornaments and blew them herself.

Great story, different from what I normally read but very enjoyable!! Recommend for everyone. Really well written.

A brilliant plot, intense characterization, and a lovely narration, all come together to make The Glassblower a superb book. I loved the subtle sparks of feminism that stood out when the three sisters decide to take fate into their own hands and foray into what is usually believed to be a man's realm.