The Dollmage

This story by Martine Leavitt has a lot in common with her other novel, Keturah and Lord Death. Both stories have Leavitt's unique style of story telling, which is almost like a Grimm's fairy tale, but more full bodied, and much more wise. This story begins with the narrator trying to persuade a mob of angry villagers not to stone a young girl to death. Her persuasion takes the form of a story. As the reader sees more and more of the story, you come to realize who the different people in the crowd are, and just what their places are in the story that is unfolding. It is a story full of happiness and tragedy, innocence and wisdom, power as well as helplessness. The narrator herself cannot help but admit her own fault in causing the eventual scene before her, but Leavitt has the skill only some authors posses, of making even the most hateful characters seem redeemable, as much beset by tragic flaws as the heroes themselves.

This is a beautiful, thoughtful book, with a narrator who willingly shows us how her own mistakes have caused so many problems. I loved the descriptions and the perspective on the selfishness of human nature and how difficult and painful it can be to overcome it and how much we hurt others when we think only of ourselves. Beyond that, I liked the world that Leavitt creates, with the aspects of life made and cared for in miniature dolls.

I found this book to be wonderful, an intricately woven tale of love, pride, hate, and broken promises. The characters were well-formed, and the narrator was very open with her faults. The ending was perfect, a little rushed, but very well done.I would recommend this book to at least teen girls, as there is content not suitible for younger readers.