Puppet Master

I have a pet theory that goes something along the lines of this.....whenever I spot a table of books raising money for charity and they are going for a bargainous price of 3 for a quid I throw caution to the wind spending wise and take a punt on things I might consider more carefully under different circumstances. This was the case with "The Night Circus" http://gnatbottomedtowers.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/sparkles.html and again with "The Puppet Master" which I picked up between dancing sets at a fete Mythago performed at back in the summer.

Without wanting to give too much of the plot away it's set in Prague in 1898 and is akin to almost stepping into the frame of a surrealist painting. Drawing upon folklore it weaves between the main plot and in and out of Bohemian history as once again the power of women is threatened by the misogynistic Puppet Master. Layers of richness are added to the tale with the addition of vintage posters, old documents and dark Gothic illustrations. It holds out a nightmarish quality as the marionettes come to life yet it remains completely compelling throughout. A highly unusual read but I was enthralled.

Arilx