Publisher: Bloomsbury USA, August 30th, 2022

Format: ebook

Pages: 304

Rating: 4/5 stars

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Alive with the magic of Amsterdam, the enchanting new historical novel from the author of the sensational New York Times bestseller The Miniaturist, which has sold more than two million copies.

In 1705 Amsterdam, Thea Brandt is coming of age, trying to grapple with her family’s secrets and her own identity as a young Dutch-African woman. She’s drawn to the theater and an artistic life, but with her family in serious financial decline, pressure is on Thea to marry up in society.

As her father and Aunt Nella work desperately to save the family home and catastrophe threatens to engulf them, Thea seeks refuge in the arms of her secret lover, Walter, the chief set-painter at her favorite theater. But the thrill of their romance is shadowed by another secret she keeps close: Her birthday marks the day her mother, Marin, died in labor. Thea’s family refuses to share the details of the story, just as they seem terrified to speak of the shadowy artist from their past whose tiny figurines seem to capture the things most carefully hidden away. Aunt Nella believes the solution to Thea’s problems is to find her a husband, and an unexpected invitation to Amsterdam’s most exclusive ball seems like a golden opportunity. But when a miniature figure of Walter turns up on Thea’s doorstep, it becomes clear that someone out there has another fate in mind for the family- and that perhaps the new beginning Thea seeks won’t depend on a man.

A feat of sweeping, magical storytelling, The House of Fortune is an unputdownable novel about love and obsession, family and loyalty, and the fantastic power of secrets.

My Review:

Thank you Bloomsbury for the copy of this book!
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Read if you like family drama and Dutch history!
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The sequel to the miniaturist, this book takes place 18 years after the first book. Thea is all grown up and the book follows her pursuits as she tries to find love and meaning, and we follow the family as they try to navigate their financial troubles. We get to read all about their drama and adventures.
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I loved reading about what happened to the characters after the first book. I loved the first book so it was a treat to be back. I also really enjoyed reconnecting with Nella and seeing what happened to her/ what kind of aunt she became. She continued to be a strong character which I loved.
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CW: sexual content, infidelity, toxic relationship, classism, abandonment, death of a parent.