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From the author of The Rhino Keeper

The Porcelain Menagerie

In a world where ambition is as fragile as porcelain, two lives are shaped by a king's dangerous obsessions.

By Jillian Forsberg

In 18th-century Dresden, the dangerous whims of King Augustus the Strong shape the court and the lives of those held captive, both people and animals.

Johann Kändler, a talented young artist, is drawn into the world of King Augustus the Strong. The king's relentless desire for a lifelike porcelain menagerie could make or break Johann's future. As Johann works to meet the king's impossible demands, he finds unexpected allies in former royal mistress Maria and her daughter Katharina. Johann's art might secure his future—or ruin it if he fails to satisfy the king.

Decades earlier, another story unfolds. Fatima, a Turkish handmaiden, is chosen to replace Augustus's discarded mistress. As she tries to create a menagerie of exotic animals and navigate the intrigues of an unpredictable court, Fatima must learn to survive in a world that values beauty and power above all. She must fight to keep her identity and unlock her own cage in the king's dangerous realm.

Two timelines, bound by a king's obsessions: art and survival intertwine as Johann and Fatima navigate the king's unpredictable demands and the deadly allure of court life, where ambition can be as fragile as porcelain.


Advance Praise

“Forsberg’s evocative sophomore novel, The Porcelain Menagerie is an engrossing, page-turning historical novel which plumbs the depths of possession, resistance and survival against the backdrop of 18th century Dresden. I could not put it down.”
–Jess Armstrong, USA Today best selling author of The Curse of Penryth Hall

“Jillian Forsberg’s The Porcelain Menagerie is a dazzling tale of art, power, and survival set in the glittering yet cutthroat world of 18th-century Dresden. Young sculptor Johann Kändler dreams of creating beauty, but when he’s thrust into the secretive world of porcelain-making, he learns that perfection isn’t just expected—it’s demanded. Behind the grand facades of Albrechtsburg, danger simmers: spies lurk, rivalries turn deadly, and the King’s obsession with porcelain could cost Johann far more than his freedom. Forsberg paints history with a vivid hand, crafting a world where every chisel mark could change a life. The Porcelain Menagerie is historical fiction at its most evocative.”  

–Nancy Bilyeau, author of The Blue

"In her heart-wrenching and hopeful sophomore novel, Jillian Forsberg brings 18th-century Saxony to life in vibrant detail, from the deceptive glitter of the royal court to the porcelain factory where the king, consumed by the pursuit of "white gold," keeps his artisans imprisoned. The Porcelain Menagerie is historical fiction at its best: impeccably researched and weaving historical fact seamlessly with enough imagination to give the characters real, beating hearts. Like the flawless porcelain whose formula her characters so desperately chase, Forsberg has created her own white gold—a finely-wrought story of ownership, obsession, and love." 

–Molly Greeley, author of Marvelous

The Porcelain Menagerie is a propulsive page-turner steeped in history, a must-read for those interested in thoughtfully exploring issues of the past that still resonate today.”
–Laurie L. Dove, author of Mask of the Deer Woman, an Instant USA Today Bestseller

“Jillian Forsberg breathes life into the forgotten artisans of Meissen porcelain, crafting a tale as intricate as the small treasures they created. When Johann Kändler is summoned to sculpt a menagerie of porcelain animals for Augustus the Strong's infamous collection, he becomes entangled with the king's obsessions, including a dangerous alliance with his mistress, Fatima. Forsberg takes us into the sweltering kilns and fiercely guarded secrets of Albrechtsburg Castle, where the making of each priceless masterpiece brings with it a life-changing human cost.”

–Laura Morelli, USA Today Bestselling Author and Art Historian

"Forsberg excels at crafting historical fiction that centers the lives of fascinating but lesser-known people and events, and with The Porcelain Menagerie, she brings readers an intriguing tale of obsession, desire, and human resilience. As luminous and brilliant as the porcelain that inspired it."

–Paulette Kennedy, bestselling author of The Artist of Blackberry Grange


Photo Credit: Kay + Bee

Jillian Forsberg is a historian and author with a master’s degree in public history from Wichita State University. Her fascination with overlooked stories and hidden histories led to her debut novel, The Rhino Keeper. With a deep passion for 18th-century Europe, she brings to life the forgotten artisans, courtiers, and survivors of a dazzling yet dangerous past. When she’s not writing, Jillian enjoys antique-hunting, gardening, and reading every label at a museum. She lives in Wichita, Kansas, with her husband, child, and pets. The Porcelain Menagerie is her second novel.

About the Author