The Thief on the Winged Horse - Kate Mascarenhas

This is one of those books where I feel that no matter what I write it won't do it justice or even convey half of what I actually feel after reading it. So I apologise in advance! It was also one of those books that I had one of my 'feelings' about.  I knew before I even opened it that I'd love it. And whilst that may seem an irrational and foolhardy thing to say it is absolutely true. It's happened on several occasions, and I love the feeling!

So what is it about this book that is so special? If you read the Psychology of Time Travel you'll know how meticulous, how complex and how precise yet expansive is the plotting of Kate Mascarenas. That book blew me away with the premise alone let alone the execution of the story. There is always the danger when an author follows up a laudable debut novel with that difficult second one that it might show the first one to have been a 'one hit wonder'. Relax. It isn't so. Not at all. The Thief on the Winged Horse serves to show that Ms. Mascarenas is here to stay. Why? Number one, it's consummate storytelling. To me it shows a writer who has an instinctive ability to weave a tale of complexity with characters of dimension and mystique. Number two, it's so well written. The narrative flows flawlessly, substantially, satisfying the readers' need for information and elucidation but not so much that you figure out the ending right at the beginning. It's as if you are captured within the magic.



Now to all matters blurbish -

'A dazzling mixture of crime, romance, magic and myth from the author of the bestselling The Psychology of Time Travel. 

The Kendrick family have been making world-famous dolls for over 200 years. But their dolls aren't coveted for the craftmanship alone. Each one has a specific emotion laid on it by its creator. A magic that can make you feel bucolic bliss or consuming paranoia at a single touch. Though founded by sisters, now only men may know the secrets of the workshop.

Persephone Kendrick longs to break tradition and learn the family craft, and when a handsome stranger arrives claiming doll-making talent and a blood tie to the Kendricks, she sees a chance to grasp all she desires.

But then, one night, the family's most valuable doll is stolen. Only someone with knowledge of magic could have taken her. Only a Kendrick could have committed this crime...'

'Crime, romance, magic and myth'? Couldn't have put it better myself?! And all these elements are balanced to offer an exhilarating reading spectrum. It’s multi plotted almost but the plots intertwine cohesively. And for the reader who likes to have something to go away and think about, ponder outcomes, reflect on what comes after when they've reached the last pages there's plenty.

Something I loved was the fusion between what appeared to be an almost historic fiction, fairytale, folklore type story but it was clearly set in modern times with references to mobile phones etc. And yet all the time I felt I was transported to some other world. The magic of magical realism. And if 'Time Travel' was dominated by the world of women this story seems to be the reverse where men play the controlling roles, or try to.

There are some fascinating characterisations. Larkin and Briar, Sephy and Hedwig, it was as if they were yin to each others yang. Contradictions. Because of the closeted community in which they were functioning their traits seems all the more apparent. There is a really useful dramatic personae at the beginning of the book to assist the reader in understanding the lineage of the Kendricks. Missing from that is the titular thief who is a master stroke offering a fairy tale quality that permeates the whole narrative.

The use of dolls in fiction and literature is not new yet it is never a device that loses its impact. For many dolls play a role in the socialisation of children, others see a more cultural bias. In this story the endowment of the dolls with specific emotions is a dazzling and original premise.  I'm pretty sure this captivating tale will find its way  to my top ten books of the year.

My thanks to Georgina Moore for gifting me a proof.