FICTION

The House of Fortune

by Jessie Burton
Bloomsbury. (The Miniaturist, Bk. 2). Aug. 2022. 304p. ISBN 9781635579741. $28. F
COPY ISBN
Fans of Burton’s best-selling novel The Miniaturist will find this a worthy and satisfying sequel. In 1705 Amsterdam, Thea Brandt is celebrating her 18th birthday. The joy of the occasion is muted by her family’s refusal to speak of her mother (who died giving birth to Thea), their strained finances, and Thea’s recent moodiness. Her father, Otto, is struggling to see Thea as an adult, and her Aunt Nella is determined to get her married into a comfortable life free of the woes Nella has faced as a widow with diminishing fortunes in status-obsessed Amsterdam. An invitation to a ball hosted by one of Amsterdam’s wealthiest families introduces the Brandts to a well-off young man, to a strange pineapple grower, and possibly to the miniaturist who sent Nella oddly prescient gifts years ago, when the miniaturist herself was 18. Will these three people help the Brandts return to their prior life of fortune, or will their carefully crafted façade finally crumble?
VERDICT A beautifully written and wholly engrossing tale. New readers will be delighted that they can enjoy this book without having read the first one, but they’ll probably seek it out to spend a bit more time in Burton’s magical Amsterdam.
Reviewed by Portia Kapraun , Jun 01, 2022
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

FICTION

The Library Thief
by Shenjé, Kuchenga
FICTION

One Cursed Rose
by Zanetti, Rebecca
FICTION

A Punishing Breed
by Frost, DC
FICTION

The Sweet Blue Distance
by Donati, Sara
FICTION

Dreadful
by Rozakis, Caitlin
FICTION

The Guncle Abroad
by Rowley, Steven
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?