Vendor
	Mohrbooks Literary Agency Marie Arendt
Categories
Fantasy

THE DOLLMAKERS

Lynn Buchanan

A beautifully written and self contained debut fantasy about art and creation, self possession and self discovery, growth, and the nebulous balance between accepting less than you deserve and reaching for more than you can grasp.

Dollmakers are the backbone of the country called One. An artisan's doll is the height of society while a guard's doll is the only thing standing between the people of One and the Shod: vicious cobbled monstrosities which will tear apart any structure, living or dead, inanimate or otherwise, to add to their horde. Apprentice Shean of Pearl is a brilliant dollmaker and she knows it. So when the Licensor Guild proclaims her work to be that of an artisan, she refuses to accept it. And when they insist, Shean loses her temper and punches the licensor in the face. When her mentor sends her to the remote village called Web to glean some wisdom from Ikiisa, the reclusive guard dollmaker there, Shean gets to work on a plan of her own. If she can convince Web to hire her as their dollmaker instead, the Licensor Guild will have to recognize the error of their ways and grant her a guard's license. But all is not as it seems, and Shean may be in for more than she bargained for. In the village called Web, Shean will uncover secrets about the Shod, the dolls, dollmaker Ikiisa, and herself that will change the country called One forever. THE DOLLMAKERS is part of a planned series of standalones all set in the same fantasy world, featuring varying casts of unique, colorful characters knit together by a single recurring character whose overarching story concludes in the final two books of the series. Lynn Buchanan is a fantasy writer based in Utah. She's a 2019 graduate of the Odyssey Writing Workshop and holds an MFA in creative writing from BYU, where she was a student of Brandon Sanderson; currently, she works for Sanderson's art director at Dragonsteel Entertainment, while also helping Sanderson with his creative writing course.

Available products
Book Published 2024-08-13 by Harper Voyager

Comments

The Dollmakers is guaranteed to be a contender for one of the strongest fantasy debuts of the year 2024.

Buchanan's novel echoes with alluring nostalgia that's sure to ensnare others to the very end.

Italy: Ne/oN

The Dollmakers is an evocative and engaging fantasy filled with a lush worldbuilding and a killer, creepy premise. The doll magic system is one of the most creative and unique magic systems I've ever read. Shean is a complex character that grows with the reader as they continue along a dark journey toward that light in the far distance. Buchanan has written an absolutely captivating debut, and I can't wait to read their next book.

An engaging new voice with excellent worldbuilding. I enjoyed The Dollmakers, and can't wait to see what is next!

Never before have I had so much fun rooting for a character I hate.

A unique tale of self-discovery and transformation, filled with fabulous magic and monsters, featuring a stunning character arc with an immensely satisfying ending. I couldn't put it down!

This beautifully written dark fantasy is a fascinating read ... Arrogant, willful Shean is as unlikable as they come at first, but her redemption arc, as she grows in empathy and self-realization, truly satisfies.