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9781529097375

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What if the Minotaur survived, and followed Ariadne’s string out of the twisting darkness of the labyrinth? From this thread, Dinsdale spins an engaging yarn about dreams, second chances, and monsters both ordinary and supernatural. The story flows as smoothly as the waters of the Thames, and is just as dark and deep. Of note is Dinsdale’s ability to turn a phrase, shimmering like fine crystal held to the light. A dazzling and heartfelt book. -- Luna McNamara, author of <i>Psyche and Eros</i> A labyrinthine delight of a novel where a world of Dickensian darkness is infused with ancient myth. Historical writing at its finest . . . unique, seductive, and accomplished. * Essie Fox, bestselling author of The Somnambulist * I was very moved by this story about shame, the costs of survival, and being loved in all one’s brokenness. Minos makes perfect sense as a character living at the margins in Victorian London, and the different ways Nell searches for beauty in the dirt will stay with me for a long time. * Kate Mascarenhas, author of The Psychology of Time Travel and Hokey Pokey * Engaging and enchanting . . . a fairytale for adults, with all the wonder – and terror – that that entails . . . -- <i>The Observer</i> on <i>The Toymakers</i> Like the magic at the heart of the story, this vivid, haunting novel is both vast and intimate. A wonderful and thought-provoking read -- Katherine Arden, author of The Winternight Series Beautifully captures the hazy dissonance of storytelling and invention -- <i>The Guardian</i> on <i>Paris by Starlight</i> There is magic at the heart of The Toymakers, a glittery inventiveness that shimmers through the dark corners of a story about love, war and sibling rivalry . . . truly glorious . . . a gripping, moving story -- <i>Sunday Express</i> on <i>The Toymakers</i> What an extraordinary and wonderful achievement this novel is! I was gripped, and thrilled, and touched, and above all I was completely swept into the magic of the book . . . Just astonishing! -- <span>Adam Roberts</span> Truly magical . . . Prepare to be charmed by this utterly enchanting tale * CultureFly * Magical * Metro * A heartbreaking story, very powerfully dramatized -- <i>The Times<i/> on <i>Little Exiles</i> a novel of perfect balance, where past reaches into present, cruel history into fable, and the land itself, the forests of old, into vulnerable human hearts. -- <span>Ali Shaw on <i>Gingerbread</i></span> Stunning -- <i>The Times</i> on <i>The Harrowing</i> Extraordinary -- <i>Daily Mail on The Harrowing</i> A writer of raw talent . . . sensational -- <i>The Guardian</i> on <i>The Harrowing</i> Haunting and unforgettable -- <i>The Daily Telegraph</i> on <i>The Harrowing</i>

"Engaging and enchanting . . . a fairytale for adults, with all the wonder – and terror – that that entails . . . -- <font face=""lucida grande""><span><i>The Observer</i> on <i>The Toymakers</i></span></font> Like the magic at the heart of the story, this vivid, haunting novel is both vast and intimate. A wonderful and thought-provoking read -- <span>Katherine Arden, author of The Winternight Series</span> Beautifully captures the hazy dissonance of storytelling and invention -- <i>The Guardian</i> on <i>Paris by Starlight</i> There is magic at the heart of The Toymakers, a glittery inventiveness that shimmers through the dark corners of a story about love, war and sibling rivalry . . . truly glorious . . . a gripping, moving story -- <i>Sunday Express</i> on <i>The Toymakers</i> What an extraordinary and wonderful achievement this novel is! I was gripped, and thrilled, and touched, and above all I was completely swept into the magic of the book . . . Just astonishing! -- <span>Adam Roberts</span> Truly magical . . . Prepare to be charmed by this utterly enchanting tale * CultureFly * Magical * Metro * A heartbreaking story, very powerfully dramatized -- <i>The Times<i/> on <i>Little Exiles</i> a novel of perfect balance, where past reaches into present, cruel history into fable, and the land itself, the forests of old, into vulnerable human hearts. -- <span>Ali Shaw on <i>Gingerbread</i></span> Stunning -- <i>The Times</i> on <i>The Harrowing</i> Extraordinary -- <i>Daily Mail on The Harrowing</i> A writer of raw talent . . . sensational -- <i>The Guardian</i> on <i>The Harrowing</i> Haunting and unforgettable -- <i>The Daily Telegraph</i> on <i>The Harrowing</i>"

A wonderful magic trick of a story, full of very human monsters and monstrous humans. Dinsdale is a beautiful, evocative story teller. -- Stuart Turton, bestselling author of <i>The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle</i> [An] imaginative mash-up of the mythical with Victorian gothic. * The Times * Robert Dinsdale mixes history and mythology with great panache in Once a Monster -- <i>The Sunday Times</i> Book of the Month<i> (</i>Nick Rennison's historical fiction picks) What if the Minotaur survived, and followed Ariadne’s string out of the twisting darkness of the labyrinth? From this thread, Dinsdale spins an engaging yarn about dreams, second chances, and monsters both ordinary and supernatural. The story flows as smoothly as the waters of the Thames, and is just as dark and deep. Of note is Dinsdale’s ability to turn a phrase, shimmering like fine crystal held to the light. A dazzling and heartfelt book. -- Luna McNamara, author of <i>Psyche and Eros</i> An inventive and irresistible retelling of the legend of the Minotaur. * I News * A labyrinthine delight of a novel where a world of Dickensian darkness is infused with ancient myth. Historical writing at its finest . . . unique, seductive, and accomplished. -- Essie Fox, bestselling author of <i>The Fascination</i> I was very moved by this story about shame, the costs of survival, and being loved in all one’s brokenness. Minos makes perfect sense as a character living at the margins in Victorian London, and the different ways Nell searches for beauty in the dirt will stay with me for a long time. -- Kate Mascarenhas, author of <i>The Psychology of Time Travel</i> and <i>Hokey Pokey</i> Like the magic at the heart of the story, this vivid, haunting novel is both vast and intimate. A wonderful and thought-provoking read. -- Katherine Arden, author of The Winternight Series, on <i>The Toymakers</i> The crystalline prose, deep characterisation and compelling story carry you along. Highly recommended. * Historical Novel Society *

A wonderful magic trick of a story, full of very human monsters and monstrous humans. Dinsdale is a beautiful, evocative story teller. -- Stuart Turton, bestselling author of <i>The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle</i> [An] imaginative mash-up of the mythical with Victorian gothic. * The Times * Robert Dinsdale mixes history and mythology with great panache in Once a Monster -- <i>The Sunday Times</i> Book of the Month<i> (</i>Nick Rennison's historical fiction picks) What if the Minotaur survived, and followed Ariadne’s string out of the twisting darkness of the labyrinth? From this thread, Dinsdale spins an engaging yarn about dreams, second chances, and monsters both ordinary and supernatural. The story flows as smoothly as the waters of the Thames, and is just as dark and deep. Of note is Dinsdale’s ability to turn a phrase, shimmering like fine crystal held to the light. A dazzling and heartfelt book. -- Luna McNamara, author of <i>Psyche and Eros</i> An inventive and irresistible retelling of the legend of the Minotaur. * I News * A labyrinthine delight of a novel where a world of Dickensian darkness is infused with ancient myth. Historical writing at its finest . . . unique, seductive, and accomplished. -- Essie Fox, bestselling author of <i>The Somnambulist</i> I was very moved by this story about shame, the costs of survival, and being loved in all one’s brokenness. Minos makes perfect sense as a character living at the margins in Victorian London, and the different ways Nell searches for beauty in the dirt will stay with me for a long time. -- Kate Mascarenhas, author of <i>The Psychology of Time Travel</i> and <i>Hokey Pokey</i> Like the magic at the heart of the story, this vivid, haunting novel is both vast and intimate. A wonderful and thought-provoking read. -- Katherine Arden, author of The Winternight Series, on <i>The Toymakers</i> The crystalline prose, deep characterisation and compelling story carry you along. Highly recommended. * Historical Novel Society *

Engaging and enchanting . . . a fairytale for adults, with all the wonder - and terror - that that entails . . . it is the sense of joy that lingers in this fine book -- <font face= lucida grande ><span><i>The Observer</i> on <i>The Toymakers</i></span></font> Beautifully captures the hazy dissonance of storytelling and invention -- <i>The Guardian</i> on <i>Paris by Starlight</i> There is magic at the heart of The Toymakers, a glittery inventiveness that shimmers through the dark corners of a story about love, war and sibling rivalry . . . Robert Dinsdale's imagined toys are truly glorious . . . a gripping, moving story -- <i>Sunday Express</i> on <i>The Toymakers</i> Like the magic at the heart of the story, this vivid, haunting novel is both vast and intimate. A wonderful and thought-provoking read -- <span>Katherine Arden, author of The Winternight Series</span> What an extraordinary and wonderful achievement this novel is! I was gripped, and thrilled, and touched, and above all I was completely swept into the magic of the book . . . And the scope of the thing! Such a broad chronological range, such sweep, all with the lightest touch. Just astonishing -- <span>Adam Roberts</span> Truly magical . . . Anyone who's ever stepped inside a traditional toyshop and marvelled at the wonders on display will instantly be captivated by this book, which transports readers to The Emporium in London. Prepare to be charmed by this utterly enchanting tale * CultureFly * Magical * Metro * A heartbreaking story, very powerfully dramatized -- <i>The Times<i/> on <i>Little Exiles</i> Gingerbread is a novel of perfect balance, where past reaches into present, cruel history into fable, and the land itself, the forests of old, into vulnerable human hearts. With each turn of the page the atmosphere intensifies . . . -- <span>Ali Shaw on <i>Gingerbread</i></span> Stunning -- <i>The Times</i> on <i>The Harrowing</i> Extraordinary -- <i>Daily Mail on The Harrowing</i> A writer of raw talent . . . sensational -- <i>The Guardian</i> on <i>The Harrowing</i> Haunting and unforgettable -- <i>The Daily Telegraph</i> on <i>The Harrowing</i>

Author Information

Robert Dinsdale was born in North Yorkshire and currently lives in Leigh-on-Sea. He is the author of five previous critically acclaimed novels including the bestselling The Toymakers, which was his first venture into magic.

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