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Master Coen’s Apprentice
A story of found-family and the struggle of navigating a world that far too often judges far too quickly, Master Coen's Apprentice is a companion story to The Dollmakers and a good launching point for the wider world of the ongoing fantasy series the Fallen Peaks.
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- GenresFantasy
130 pages, ebook
Published January 1, 2024
2 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 3, 2025
Felt like a cozy read.
I’ve had The Dollmakers on my TBR since I bought it when the book came out a year ago. The list is long and I read per my mood so it just hasn’t hit the rotation yet. But then the author sent out this short prequel to her mailing list for free, including the audiobook, so I was able to listen to it while doing laundry and prepping for dnd.
The magic system and world does have similar sounding terms to Sanderson (her IRL professor and mentor) like Breath-Mark and Shod, but it’s certainly its own identity despite the word association. This story takes place at a magic doll-making school. 8-year-old Ikiisa is a prodigy and orphan so she lives on campus. Her dolls are weird and unsettling, looking a bit like the mysterious murderous “shod,” so people don’t like them, or her. But when her dolls help save a mysterious man’s life (I assume he’ll be significant in the main book), important people begin to notice her exceptional talent for what it is.
I think this story is also meant to give backstory to Ikiisa, perhaps helpful because most (YouTube) reviews I’ve personally seen of The Dollmakers main book call her unlikable. She seems fine to me. Rough life and sympathetic, not unlikable by any stretch, at least as a young girl. I’ll surely get to Dollmakers at some point now. It was a great appetizer taste of this world.
I’ve had The Dollmakers on my TBR since I bought it when the book came out a year ago. The list is long and I read per my mood so it just hasn’t hit the rotation yet. But then the author sent out this short prequel to her mailing list for free, including the audiobook, so I was able to listen to it while doing laundry and prepping for dnd.
The magic system and world does have similar sounding terms to Sanderson (her IRL professor and mentor) like Breath-Mark and Shod, but it’s certainly its own identity despite the word association. This story takes place at a magic doll-making school. 8-year-old Ikiisa is a prodigy and orphan so she lives on campus. Her dolls are weird and unsettling, looking a bit like the mysterious murderous “shod,” so people don’t like them, or her. But when her dolls help save a mysterious man’s life (I assume he’ll be significant in the main book), important people begin to notice her exceptional talent for what it is.
I think this story is also meant to give backstory to Ikiisa, perhaps helpful because most (YouTube) reviews I’ve personally seen of The Dollmakers main book call her unlikable. She seems fine to me. Rough life and sympathetic, not unlikable by any stretch, at least as a young girl. I’ll surely get to Dollmakers at some point now. It was a great appetizer taste of this world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2025
4/5 ⭐️
This world is so fun and unique, can't wait to read whatever she writes next!
This world is so fun and unique, can't wait to read whatever she writes next!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews