This is the highly anticipated sequel to The Miniaturist, an imaginative historical novel, international bestseller and film. The Miniaturist is set in the mid-to-late 1600s, an extraordinary golden period, when Amsterdam was at the height of its power and wealth as an international trading city.
Both books follow the fortunes of the Brandt family, beginning when Nella, a young 18-year-old is married to Jacques Brandt, one of Amsterdam’s most successful and richest merchants.
The House of Fortune is set 18 years later, when the family has fallen on hard times, with both its fortunes and reputation dwindled away. With the family facing poverty and ruin, the only salvation lies in Nella securing a suitable marriage for her niece, Thea. But the beautiful, strong-willed Thea, who has just turned 18 years old, will not be easily reigned in. Instead, she falls madly in love with a highly unsuitable man from the local theatre and her reputation is soon threatened.
When miniature figures suddenly appear on the Brandt’s doorstep, it seems like a talisman from the Brandt family’s past. Are the miniature figures an omen warning of calamities to come or are they a potent guide to secure their future livelihoods?
Although I raced through The Miniaturist, I was slightly disappointed in the sequel, which didn’t sustain the same pace or magic. I was left wondering about the significance or the mysterious creator of the miniature figures and their meaning. Despite this, Jessie Burton’s fans will enjoy The House of Fortune.
Reviewed by Karen Williams
0 Comments