The Dollmaker of Krakow ~ pobesnela bubamara

Title: The Dollmaker of Krakow

Author: R.M. Romero

Publisher: Random House Children's

Genre: Magical realism

Release Date: September 12th

Pages: 336

Format: eARC via NetGalley

Order your copy here.

*I wanna thank Random House Children's and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This doesn't effect in any way on my opinion on book*

The Dollmaker of Krakow is a book about Karolina,a doll who lives in the Land of dolls. She lives in land where Rats came and with them also came the rage,cruelty and in the end - death. But in one moment,she was being called,her soul is being called by one lonely soul and she escapes from The Land of dolls - into Krakow. There she meets The Dollmaker,a lonely man who will become her best friend. And who also happens to live in a land where soon war will come.

In the land of dolls, there is magic.
In the land of humans, there is war.
Everywhere there is pain.
But together there is hope.

Karolina is a living doll whose king and queen have been overthrown. But when a strange wind spirits her away from the Land of the Dolls, she finds herself in Krakow, Poland, in the company of the Dollmaker, a man with an unusual power and a marked past.

The Dollmaker has learned to keep to himself, but Karolina's courageous and compassionate manner lead him to smile and to even befriend a violin-playing father and his daughter--that is, once the Dollmaker gets over the shock of realizing a doll is speaking to him.

But their newfound happiness is dashed when Nazi soldiers descend upon Poland. Karolina and the Dollmaker quickly realize that their Jewish friends are in grave danger, and they are determined to help save them, no matter what the risks.

(source: goodreads.com)

I just can't explain to all of you how much I loved this book! The Dollmaker of Krakow has everything I love when a book have - magic and friendship,the best duo!
Writing style is stunning and irresistible and magical above all. I liked that the book was written from Karolina's view,it was really something special. It was special because of Karolina's trying to know better a world around her and even though she was naive in some situations,she still felt like a grown up,a sassy grown up,which I liked a lot. It was really nice to see Krakow during WWII through Karolina's eyes,because she was really realistic,she didn't make things seem prettier,even though there are things she doesn't understand.

My soul already existed - you just called out to me, and the wind brought me to you.

I must admit,this book instanly become my favorite one. There is literaly no thing I hated. Every character was perfectly written and the story itself is beautifuly 'crafted'.
The Dollmaker is a character I will keep in my heart forever. He is so kind,and brave and loveable and sadly,he was alone. But not for long. When Karolina came,she maked Dollmaker less alone,he maked some friends and enemies because of her,but what most matters is that he became what he truly is. After being a soldier in WWI,Cyryl (Dollmaker) became a loner,someone who didn't leave his house often. But after Karolina came,and after he met Jozef and Rena,he could be again open to let someone into his heart. But,let's not forget that he lives in the moment when WWII is just starting,and Jozef and Rena are not Germans,not at all... But then we will see that Cyryl have a heart big enough for all the children of Krakow.

No one is ever really lost as long as their story still exists.

The Dollmaker of Krakow is a book in which even though we see the two countries - Poland and The Land of dolls,we actually see the same thing. The Rats (Germans) and the Jews (Dolls). And that aspect of the book is what in the same time I really loved and it made me so,so sad. Actually,reading this book made me in one hand sad and in other hand I was so amazed by this book.
Every character was developed perfectly,and the world building was really good. But even though I loved every character in this book,I must admit I loved most Karolina. She was in moments so naive,but in the same moment she was sassy,which I really liked. But above all,she was someone who was made of love and hope. In that dark times,she was like a torch of hope who lighted up Cyryl,Rena and Jozef and made them believe that everyhing will be just fine. If it was in the end,you must read the book...
When I was reading the book,I had one thing on my mind: Doctor Who. Specifically the Doctor's speech from the last episode. It was a perfect fit with Cyryl. If Doctor didn't say it,then Cyryl would certainly do. It maybe doesn't make sense to you right now,but when you read the book it will.

Winning? Is that what you think it's about? I'm not trying to win. I'm not doing this because I want to beat someone, or because I hate someone, or because, because I want to blame someone. It's not because it's fun and God knows it's not because it's easy. It's not even because it works, because it hardly ever does. I do what I do, because it's right! Because it's decent! And above all, it's kind. It's just that. Just kind. If I run away today, good people will die. If I stand and fight, some of them might live. Maybe not many, maybe not for long. Hey, you know, maybe there's no point in any of this at all, but it's the best I can do, so I'm going to do it. And I will stand here doing it till it kills me. You're going to die too, some day. How will that be? Have you thought about it? What would you die for? Who I am is where I stand. Where I stand, is where I fall. Stand with me. These people are terrified. Maybe we can help, a little. Why not, just at the end, just be kind? (all rights to Doctor Who and BBC)

So,there is nothing else I can say about this book without giving away spoilers and if this didn't make you to get up from the computer and go straight to bookstore to buy the book you are missing a lot.
This book is perfect for ones who loved The Book thief and The Boy in striped pajamas. But it's also perfect for people who love magical realism. Because this book has everything - magical story,love and a talking doll and a beautiful illustrations. And,believe me when I say to you that this book will leave you breathless and heartbroken. But believe me also when I say that it's so,so worth it because when you read it,you will never be alone again.

Rating: a million ladybugs!