"Captivating tale of magic and making in an alternative Georgian London"
January 2022 Book of the Month
Cordelia Hatmaker’s family have been making magical hats by Royal Appointment for generations, weaving emotions and states of mind in with the carefully chosen feathers and furbelows. With the country teetering on the brink of war with France, they and the other Maker guilds are called on to create a wardrobe to promote peace. Cordelia knows how crucial the work is – her father is missing at sea, presumed dead, and she doesn’t want any other young people to feel the same grief. But someone seems to be using Maker enchantments to stir up hatred and division and it comes down to Cordelia and her friends Bootmaker Goose and light-fingered pickpocket Sam to save the day.
Filled with invention and mystery as well as some wonderful characters, this action-packed adventure sparkles, author Tamzin Merchant mixing just the right amounts of Georgian London and magic into the story. Cordelia and her friends are excellent companions and readers will be eager for the next in this series.
One to recommend to fans of Michelle Harrison and if you’re after more magical millinery, there’s always Howl’s Moving Castle too by the incomparable Diana Wynne Jones.
Suitable For: | |
Other Genres: | |
Recommendations: |
In an alternate Georgian London, Cordelia is the youngest member of the family of Hatmakers. When her father disappears at sea, and war threatens between England and France, Cordelia must find out who is attempting to sabotage the peace talks in order to prevent war and save the Makers.
In an alternate Georgian London infused with magic, there are five different families belonging to the Makers’ Guild – the Hatmakers, the Bootmakers, the Glovemakers, the Cloakmakers, and the Watchmakers – all use a variety of enchanted ingredients to create items to help people. Cordelia is the youngest member of the family of Hatmakers. She is desperate to make her first hat, but then her father disappears at sea. As well as this, war threatens between England and France.
Cordelia starts trying to find her father, but witnesses and clues vanish.... Read Full Review
The Hatmakers is a fantasy, adventure book for 8+ about perseverance and believing in yourself. I would rate this 10/10.
The Hatmakers is a story about a young girl Cordelia, who when she hears the news of her father lost at sea, finds her life falling apart.
Her magical family, unlike her, seem to brush past it and accept he's gone though Cordelia will stop at nothing to find her Father.
... Read Full Review