What an absolutely delightful read! I love a good fractured fairytale, and this one, described as Pinocchio meets Frankenstein, did not disappoint. The whimsical, lyrical writing style was a perfect fit for the genre, and both the characters and plot kept me hooked the entire time. I stayed up way too late two nights in a row reading it, but just couldn’t put it down! I would recommend The Puppetmaster’s Apprentice to readers of all ages, and look forward to reading what Ms. DeSelm writes next!

I absolutely love retellings, especially fairytale retellings. They often have a beautiful mysticism about them, and The Puppetmaster's Apprentice certainly hits this mark.

DeSelm has written a thoroughly engaging retelling of Pinocchio. I'll admit that I have never thought of Pinocchio retelling being told before, but I absolutely loved this one! To be more specific, this is a gender-bent retelling of Pinocchio with a heroine that any reader can admire. DeSelm has wonderful imagination when it comes to taking a well-loved story and turning it into something completely new.

It has been a while since I have read a story where I did not want to stop and picked it up every chance I got. I will be recommending this to everyone I know who enjoys a story with unique twists, characters that you love, and a magical story that reads like a tale as old as time.

"But I stand with Bran, breathing long and deep, as many breaths as I dare, feeling my fears wash over me, one by one, like wet strokes of paint."

This book is lovely, lyrical and mesmerizing. I always love a good fractured fairytale and this twist on Pinocchio did not disappoint. The story is filled with authentic characters, complex relationships, and a fight between good and evil. Themes of identity, loyalty, honesty, the price of choices, and family.