I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.

This is a magical realism tale set in London during the reign of George III. It follows Cordelia, a young girl in the Hatmaker family. They use skills passed down from generation to generation to create hats imbued with the magical properties of objects from all over the world. The Hatmakers is one of several ancient families in the city that combine artistry and enchantment to create magical items.

The story begins with Cordelia eagerly awaiting the return of her father from his mission abroad to collect magical supplies. When she learns that his ship has sunk and he is presumed dead, Cordelia is determined to investigate and discover the truth of the matter. Meanwhile, tensions between the maker families are rising and if solutions to the problems can't be found soon, there could be war.

The writing is very lyrical and whimsical which adds to the magical feeling of the book. The atmosphere is beautifully created and the world of Georgian England is very immersive with carriage rides, governesses and the stark contrast between the glamour of the royal palace and the dockyard slums.

The plot is propelled forward by the mystery of what has happened to Cordelia's father. The more she discovers, the deeper she realises the mystery goes. The desire to find out what had happened kept my interest right through the story and there were some parts I didn't see coming.

As for things I didn't like so much, the handling of King George's mental state made me feel a little uncomfortable. Whilst the scenes with the King are based on the real-life facts of his mental decline, It seemed parts like the King hanging upside down from the curtains and the line about 'farting and dancing and refusing to put his trousers on' were included for comedic effect. I felt that reading these parts aloud to a class could lead to them laughing out loud at the description of the behaviour of someone who is mentally ill. I agree it is important to discuss real-life issues with children and talk about appropriate responses to behaviour they are not used to, but I thought this situation could have been handled in a more sensitive way.

I think children aged 8-11 would enjoy the magical world created in this book and after reading it, surely everyone will want to have a go at being at hatmaker!

I left primary school teaching many years ago but decided to read this book, as it sounded so imaginative and fascinating - I’m so glad I did as I enjoyed it hugely! It has all the ingredients for an appealing ‘middle grade’ story and is sure to get children reading. The writing style is free and approachable and the story compelling. Characters are superbly drawn and this will have children eager to read the next adventures of Cordelia, Sam and Goose - I look forward to it too!

One wild night, Cordelia, youngest member of the Hatmaker family, answers the door expecting to see her father back from his latest voyage, only to find the bedraggled figure of the king’s advisor arriving to inform the family that their ship and its entire crew have been lost in the storm. However, there is no time to grieve their loss, because they have to finish and deliver the king’s new hat for the upcoming peace talks with France in order to avert a war. Cordelia refuses to believe that her father is dead, and plans to ask the king for a ship to search for him, but upon delivery of the hat, it is clear that the king is ill, and his young daughter will have to take his place. Moreover it appears that the king’s advisors are losing faith in the ancient guild of clothesmakers to influence royal behaviour, and a series of thefts from the Makers’ households set the families increasingly at odds with each other, fuelling their enmity. Meanwhile Cordelia’s investigations into her father’s disappearance place her in all the right places to become chief suspect for the crimes.
Vivid descriptions bring the characters to life in all their eccentricity, and history and fantasy combine to create a world where magical clothing and dastardly plotting from the antagonists seem perfectly feasible. There is much character driven humour to alleviate the impending sense of menace, as Cordelia and her allies race against time to deliver their hat to the princess for the peace talks, and win back respect for the Maker families. This is a funny and exciting novel with the warmth of the quirky, loving Hatmaker family at the heart of it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to the sequel!

#OneSitWonder Wasn't planning a two hour bath, but this whimsical delight whipped me along on Cordelia's magical adventure. Inventive, intelligent & intriguing, I can't wait for the Map Makers! Children's drama series beckons! Definitely a top MG read of 2021, my pupils will be clamouring to read this!

This middle-grade book is a delightful fantasy coming-of-age adventure, featuring magical worldbuilding and an endearing cast of characters.

Cordelia Hatmaker, newly orphaned – or so the grown ups tell her – lives with her extended family and is learning how to make hats. Hatmaking is just one of the ‘Maker’ magical skills and the Hatmaker family is joined by the Bootmakers, the Glovemakers and more. Except that ‘joined’ is not the right word. The Maker guilds are all very, very separate – to the point of outright hostility – which makes it awkward when the kingdom desperately needs their unified talents to avoid an international war.

Alongside her friends, Goose and Sam, Cordelia must solve the mysteries of what really happened to her father, to the king, and to the Maker guilds, and who is trying to prevent them from fulfilling their most important order ever. Unfortunately, she isn’t actually allowed to make hats yet and doesn’t even know what her own magic is either. Oh, and she is surrounded by grown ups who will insist on treating her like some sort of child! But Cordelia is not one to meekly sit back and watch things go wrong… she has ideas and, maybe, magic of her own, after all.

Set in an alternate historical England, this magic-realism fantasy adventure is utterly spellbinding for adults and children alike. The worldbuilding, plot, characters… all are wonderfully introduced and developed, and the reader is swept from sadness to laughter, through action and intrigue, via bravery and hope, to an ending that resolves the immediate issues but leads directly to the possibility of sequels to come. I can’t wait!



'‘What is my magic?’ Cordelia asked.
‘Everybody has their own unique magic, littlest Hatmaker,’ Prospero explained, handing her the jar of beans. ‘But it’s up to you to discover what it is. You’ve got to adventure into your own heart and head and belly to find out just what your own special magic is made of.’'

– Tamzin Merchant, The Hatmakers


Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog

Cordelia Hatmaker comes from a long line of Hatmakers.  In her world the Maker families possess a rare and ancient skill, allowing them to craft items such as hats, gloves, cloaks and boots that are woven with magical ingredients.  When Cordelia's father disappears on a quest to find an ingredient Cordelia is determined to find him.  Before she can get very far into her quest it becomes clear that someone is trying to turn the Maker families against each other, and to use their crafting skills to start a war. Cordelia's mission soon changes to finding out who and trying to stop them.

What a brilliant debut novel from Tamzin  Merchant, and a wonderful way to kick off my reading for 2021!

I knew I was going to love this book within the first couple of pages.  Merchant opens with a scene at Hatmaker House, which is richly described and just so full of magic and intrigue that it captures your imagination immediately.  My enthusiasm only grew as the book progressed.

Cordelia is a great lead character, she is very headstrong, but driven by a love for her family and a loyalty to those close to her.  I loved that her family took her with them to important meetings and encouraged her to 'find her own magic' - I thought that was a great message to give to younger readers.  Given that this is a book for younger readers the heroes and villains are quite clearly defined, although one did take me by surprise. 

The story itself is a marvellous romp through a world very different to ours.  Merchant gives us a glimpse into the Hatmaker's craft, and shows us a world filled with magic.  I thought the footnotes explaining the properties of different magical ingredients were a fabulous addition, and really helped to add depth to the novel.

I loved everything about this from start to finish, possibly my favourite thing of all though was the ending, which promises a sequel.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Chikdren's UK for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is a delightful middle grade story about an alternative version of Britain where there are magical families of makers who each make one thing. Our heroine, Cordelia, is a hatmaker. But after her father goes missing at sea, she finds it hard to concentrate on the hat her family are meant to be making for the king. But soon she’s swept up in trying to foil a plot against her family - and the makers.

I really enjoyed this. I think it would appeal to a lot of children - it’s a fast paced adventure with enough peril, but not too scary and a magical world with consistent rules that are easy to make sense off. Will buy for the middle graders in my life.

Lose yourself in the world of the makers where gifted individuals create the most amazing pieces of clothing that influence the character and actions of their wearers. From gloves to shoes to hats, incredible items are crafted from magical ingredients and brilliant powers. A long-standing rivalry between the different maker families means there is little time for distraction. Everyone must be at the top of their game.

When Cordelia’s father is lost at sea, it seems she is the only one who has time to try to find him. Convinced that what is lost can be found, she comes up with a plan to search for him and prove that he did not go down with his ship. Cordelia digs deep within herself to prove that ‘if you’re good enough, you’re old enough’ and that the cleverness she inherited from her mother means she is ready to take her place alongside her family in the workshop at Hatmaker House.

Bursting with magic and plenty of mayhem, this is a wonderful story for readers looking to escape the everyday and find a new world of adventure. The details of the magical hats are completely captivating and I couldn’t help but imagine what I would create if only I could venture inside the alchemy room for a few moments.

Thank you to Puffin Books for this fun book!

Magical, wonderful and enthralling. Perfect middle grade story telling with fabulous characters and a succinct, imaginative world. Can’t wait for book two!

“The most important rule to follow when you seek hat ingredients is this: keep wildness in your wits and magic in your fingertips.”

Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy of this book for review.

I adored this book completely. It was such a whimsical middle grade with a completely unique story, filled with magic and adventure.
This book stars Cordelia, a fierce young lady who takes no nonsense and approaches the world in her own way - someone won’t stop dancing, why don’t you join in with them? She’s brave and creative and so positive. She sees the best in everyone and she does all she can to help them. She also makes some fabulous friends along the way and the relationships between the characters are so interesting and will undoubtedly be explored in sequels.
The story and world in this were really fun. I loved how the magic was a part of the careers of the characters and I loved the glossary at the back that explained all the ingredients. It was such a unique idea. I also love that the story played its part in actual history and you could see where real history intersected with fiction.
The story was full of so much adventure and loads of twists that surprised me. It was so easy to keep reading - in fact, I finished it in just a couple of days!
When the book is finished, I imagine it’ll look beautiful because it’s already full of little illustrations.
There was also a tiny random gay subplot, which immediately filmed me so much joy.

I cannot wait to see where the series goes. There’s so much magic and adventure promised and I cannot wait to spend more time with the characters.

The Hatmakers

This is such a fun and silly story. I can imagine it’s a great book for children to read for themselves. Cordelia and Goose’s friendship was very sweet and the story is chock full of magic and adventure.

But I found it a bit too messy, a bit too full of magical symbols. The world building felt too fast and like every possible ingredient had been thrown in at once. I think it could have done with a bit more editing.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an e-arc for in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this book, I thought that the world has been really planned out and I really connected to the main character of Cordelia. I really enjoyed her friendship with Goose and I hope that this will continue in the sequel. I really enjoyed the mystery of where Cordelia’s father has gone and I can see that this will continue in the sequel. I’m really excited to read the second book because I really enjoyed it! I thought that the author was really clever by linking English history into this book. As someone who’s studied the history in this book I can see that it was well researched and it was interwoven really nicely. When this is published I’d really recommend you picking it up when it publishes in February 2021! Overall a great start to a fantastical series and I would highly recommend you reading this as soon as it publishes! I’ll be getting a physical when it’s published and the cover is beautiful and I can’t wait to have it in person. I really enjoyed this!

3.5 stars

THE HATMAKERS is a whimsical Middle Grade that blends magic into an alternate London.

The alternate universe England was a lot of fun to read. I like being able to spot the inspiration for locations in my home city as it gives me a little thrill - as if I have some ownership of the setting. It's bizarre, but I love London so love to see it in books.

The time period was never specified, beyond a king called "George". I'm assuming he's meant to be George III, given he's "silly" - and there's a reference to Henry VIII being 200 years ago. The aesthetic felt a little out of place for Georgian when it came to the clothing, but the descriptions were rather vague.

The magic of Making was really nice. There's nothing new in combining magic objects on items of clothing/accessories to enhance moods or characteristics, but it was presented in a fun, whimsical way. And the mishaps/outcomes got a few giggles from me (the duellers! The actor!).

I worked out the mystery from the first stolen object - villain, goal, motive, and endgame/final steps in the plan. I'm not sure if this is because it was well set up, obvious, or if I've just read enough books that I can find the clues very easily.

It did undercut the book a bit for me, because I was confident I had worked it out (and I had) from about the 20% mark. I knew where it was building towards, so there no surprise or mystery to pull me onwards. I was able to anticipate almost every event in the book, so I was simply waiting for things to happen. I doubt it's a problem too many readers would have, but it was an unfortunate occurrence.

Amazing, captivating and intriguing!
Everything you could possibly want in a book - brilliant characters, fantastic imagination and superb storytelling.
This book tells the story of Cordelia, a young hat maker who refuses to give up despite all the odds against her. It is a wonderful story that my two daughters aged 12 and 9 have enthused over for days. They absolutely adored it and are impatiently waiting for the next book!

This story was adorable and really shows what outrageous magic middle-grade novels can get away with. Cordelia is plucky and determined, her secret friend Goose discovers bravery, and Sam definitely steals the show. The magical ingredients and their properties and uses were delightful and unexpected, and I definitely enjoyed the footnotes/glossary explaining them when they appeared. The villains were cartoonish and dastardly, and the showdown outlandish and improbable, but also delightful. The Hatmakers were all wonderful characters and I adored the concept of magical milliners to the king and clothing created to imbue the wearer with desired feelings/characteristics. I look forward to the next book.

The first in a new series set in an alternative England where those who make clothes (The Makers) can use their skills to add magic to their garments for a variety of purposes. This was well written and engaging as well as being fun and imaginative with a range of really good characters including minor ones that that I felt really did add to the story. The story itself moves along at a good pace and is full of treachery, deception, action and friendship. The conclusion leaves the way open for a sequel and I look forward to reading it.

This is a wonderful adventure set in a fantastic and vivid new world where the makers of different object have the ability to create objects with different powers. This story focuses on Cordelia Hatmaker, a feisty young lady who is the youngest in her family of renowned hatmakers. Her father is lost at sea but while she focuses all her efforts on finding him, the makers have their own problems to deal with, including a possible war.

This is a wonderful story and I cannot wait to read the next instalment.

I really enjoyed this book.

Cordelia Hatmaker belongs to a long line of magical milliners who can wave magic into their clothes.

Cordelia's father is on a journey to find the ingredients to make the hats when his ship goes down in a storm - and he is lost. Cordelia is convinced that he is still alive and sets out to prove this.

As she does this she gets mixed in an ancient fund between the different milliners families and it could mean war for the country.

The book started of slowly setting the scene but the pace soon picked up withe lots of twists along they way, some I saw coming others I did not.

It has set up well for the next book in the series which I cannot wait to read.

What a magical tale of loss, determination and unwavering love.

My children and I thoroughly enjoyed this book, with my oldest son (8 year old) and I taking it turn about reading chapters. He was enthralled by the magic of the story and kept asking for one more chapter!

Set in a world where there are Makers, such as the Hatmakers, who weave enchantments into the hats they produce, allowing the wearer to be more bold, daring... or even violent! Cordelia is a Hatmaker who lives with her Aunt and Uncle, and one day her father becomes lost at sea. Not only that, but France is declaring War on England, and it's up to the various families of Makers to produce peace clothes for the princess. Can Cordelia find her father and stop a looming battle with France?

Loved this, start to finish. I was immediately drawn into the beauty of this world through the storytelling, and with magic fizzing in every word, I got carried away and finished before I knew it. The great thing about this is that there is huge potential with this world moving forward, and as this is the first in a series, I am beyond excited to see the adventure Cordelia goes on next.

I loved the various twists in the story and the excitement that is produced from certain moments throughout (scenes of which I will not spoil). There is a lot that goes on with various mysteries and villains that'll keep you reading to find out the who, what, when, where and why. And I am just fascinated by the history of Makers and what they do, and there's even a glossary at the back that's just simply fascinating and gorgeous and oh I just want to shout out my love for this book forever and ever!

Also, there's a big gay moment in this that made my heart so happy, but my lips are sealed until you read it yourself. I simply LOVED IT!