🏅 Finalist, 2026 American Fiction Awards — Historical FictionFrom Jillian Forsberg, award-winning author of The Rhino Keeper, comes an unforgettable novel of art, ambition, and survival in the glittering—and dangerous—court of 18th-century Dresden.In 18th-century Dresden, beauty, power, and ambition are as fragile—and deadly—as porcelain.Johann Joachim Kändler, a gifted young sculptor, is summoned to the royal court, where King Augustus the Strong demands a magnificent porcelain menagerie unlike anything the world has ever seen. Every sculpture could secure Johann's future—or cost him everything.Decades earlier, Fatima, a Turkish handmaiden chosen to become the king's royal mistress, must navigate a court ruled by power, spectacle, and impossible expectations. To survive, she must protect her identity while mastering the dangerous game played within the palace walls.Two timelines. One king. A legacy shaped by obsession.Perfect for readers who love richly researched historical fiction filled with unforgettable characters, immersive settings, and the hidden stories behind history's greatest works of art.Advance Praise"e;An engrossing, page-turning historical novel. I could not put it down."e; — Jess Armstrong, USA Today bestselling author"e;A dazzling tale of art, power, and survival... Forsberg paints history with a vivid hand."e; — Nancy Bilyeau, author of The Blue
