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The Hatmakers by Tamzin Merchant – Book Review
The Hatmakers by Tamzin Merchant is a spellbinding story filled with magic, mystery, and mischief.
Set in an enchanted regency-era London, Cordelia is a Hatmaker – one of the five families of Makers, specialising in bespoke, magical items commissioned for royalty and aristocracy.
The Maker families – Hatmakers, Bootmakers, Glovemakers, Watchmakers, and Cloakmakers – are called upon to create clothes to help combat King George’s madness, but news arrives that Cordelia’s father and master hatmaker, Prospero, is lost at sea.
The political subplot follows tensions between Britain and France, with an impending threat of war if the two royal leaders cannot reconcile in peace talks. The Maker families are commissioned to create peace clothes for the princess’ peace talks with the French king – but the families can’t even find peace with each other!
The rifts and rivalries between the families cause tensions that are only exacerbated when someone appears to be trying to sabotage the Makers and use their powers for evil purposes. Cordelia must use her wits and her magic to uncover the truth and help save her lost father.
The fast-paced and unpredictable plot keeps you glued to the page, and you can’t help but fall in love with the colourful cast of characters. Cordelia’s wacky Hatmaker relatives, best friend, Goose, and the funny, delightful people she meets throughout her adventures keep you entertained throughout the story.
Cordelia is an intelligent, aspirational, and determined protagonist who leads the reader through the twists and turns of her enthralling adventure. She takes us on an exploration of some of the most iconic landmarks of London: Hyde Park, the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, the Guildhall, and the Tower of London, to name a few.
This is the perfect novel for year 5 or 6 children who love magic, history, and adventure. The book is beautifully illustrated by Paola Escobar, and this really elevates the storyline, setting, and the characters and bring them to life.
The Hatmakers is Tamzin Merchant’s debut novel and is the first in a charming and adventurous series. The sequels The Mapmakers (2022) and The Troublemakers (2024) are out now and the fourth instalment, The Mythmaker, is set to hit shelves in Spring 2025. We can’t wait to see where Cordelia leads us next!
You can purchase The Hatmakers from our partners at Peters here.
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