The Master Craftsman

Written by Kelli Stuart

Narrated by Christina Moore

In 1917, Alma Pihl, a master craftsman in the House of Fabergé, was charged to protect one of the greatest secrets in Russian history—an unknown Fabergé Egg that Peter Karl Fabergé secretly created to honor his divided allegiance to both
the people of Russia and the Imperial tsar’s family. When Alma and her husband escaped Russia for their native Finland in 1921, she took the secret with her, guarding her past connection to the Romanov family.

Three generations later, world-renowned treasure hunter Nick Laine is sick and fears the secret of the missing egg will die with him. With time running out, he entrusts the mission of retrieving the egg to his estranged daughter, Ava, who has
little idea of the dangers she is about to face. As the stakes are raised, Ava is forced to declare her own allegiance—and the consequences are greater than she could have imagined.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9781705050781

Kelli Stuart

Kelli Stuart is a freelance writer and editor and is currently working on two nonfiction projects. Kelli lives in St. Louis, Missouri, where she and her husband, Lee, recently celebrated the birth of their first son, Sloan Alexander.

Reviews for The Master Craftsman

[mmoj_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book. I love a dual-time/historical fiction story and one of my favorite eras to read about is the Russian Revolution. I enjoyed Ms Stuart's writing, she made me want to learn more about the time, about Faberge, and about art. I look forward to reading more of her work.

[Becky Baumgartner · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A thought-provoking what if... that conveys a lot of actual history along with the imagined mystery. The narrator does an admirable job with several accents.

[marypo-3 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The Master Craftsman's premise intrigued me when I first came upon it, with its promise of an adventure in 20th century Russia involving the Romanovs and a modern storyline to complement it and uncover some of the mysteries surrounding the family. The cover, also, is beautiful, with the different shades of the sky, the layout of the buildings, and the lady at the center running toward those structures.

Sadly, however, the book didn't live up to expectations. It opens, for instance, with a scene that has a character speak a line and scare the viewpoint character, but doesn't give the reader any idea of who spoke the dialogue, except that she's referred to only as "she," up until the story shifts to her POV. There are POV inconsistencies there too, but those are more easily overlooked. The writing style was sparse and focused more on what the characters were doing with their hands, expressions, etc., while neglecting their deeper feelings and motivations.

The characters themselves also didn't seem very multi-dimensional, making decisions that were out of character but convenient for where the story was headed. It would have helped a lot if readers were given information more organically, instead of getting it from a character taking several paragraphs to stop and think back over a particular time or aspect of their life. Meaning has to be established first, before the reader will care. Otherwise, the information is little more than an info dump.

Another thing that didn't work well for me was that from the first, Ava came off as an immature, whiny, irresponsible character. Every "Whatever," "Fine," and "She was weird, Mom" reinforced that impression. Both her parents caved to her wishes even when she acted half her 26 years, which was much of the time, taking into account her "rebellious bent," as her parents put it.
And the gestures were used excessively to the point where the characters seemed like puppets. Because of that overuse, they became cues for the characters to move around on stage, and it didn't feel authentic or natural.

One of the most jarring things, though, was the cursing mentioned in this book, and how it's portrayed as harmless. The modern protagonist's mother sugar-coats it as "unnecessary language," but by saying that, she puts it in the same category as filler words and stutters. I find this unacceptable. Taking into account other things, this could have been written with the intent of catering to the secular market to expand readership, which would to an extent explain the content. It might also explain the part on page 80 where Ava reads about a craftsman who made elaborately simple, breathtaking works of art, and says to herself, "Well, obviously that was because she was a woman." I had to do a double take when I hit that one.

I did appreciate that the love interest wasn't introduced until over a hundred pages into the story. The parts about how hot he looked with his blue jeans clinging to "his thick thighs" and in the tight T-shirt, not at all. But I do appreciate that the author took the time to set up the story and the other characters before the love interest came on the scene.

The above concerns considered, this book appears to be geared towards a secular audience even though it's printed in the name of a well-known publisher of Christian Fiction. Those who prefer such books might enjoy this one.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review. A positive review was not required.

[bleached_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Master Craftsman is a thrilling adventure featuring the daughter of a treasure hunter fulfilling her dying father's search for a mysterious Faberge egg. The story bounces between the modern search and the unrest in Russia during the early 1900s, leading the execution of the Romanov family.The storyline felt a bit forced or rushed at times, but it was fun and certainly brain-candy. The mix of history and adventure kept me glued to the pages and on edge toward the end.

[oldbookswine · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

If you've ever seen the Faberge eggs you know how exciting they are. This is a novel about the make, the workshop of Faberge and the modern story of a dying treasure hunter wanting to find the lost egg. The two connected stories telll the story and history of the eggs but also of the Russian Revelation in 1917. Thought the Modern Story we find Ava, daughter of the treasure hunter meeting her dad on his death bed. He wants her to find the lost egg before he dies.Excell story of both families. The description of how the eggs are made and the craftsmanship involved was wonderful Just the book to learn but also enjoy the two stories that intertwine . Recommended.

[mandat_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Are you familiar with the beautifully crafted Russian Faberge eggs? Have you ever wondered why those special Russian eggs were created? Or who these incredibly talented jewelers were? This new novel, The Master Craftsman by Kelli Stuart, will take you back in history to an unsettling time period in Russia when the people were struggling, and the monarchy was not meeting the needs of the people they ruled. Yet, in spite of the unrest, there was a group of highly talented individuals that worked for a man by the name of Peter Karl Faberge. And for him, they would create one-of-a-kind masterpieces that we still "ooh and aah" over today.I love it when I sit down to read a book by an author I'm unfamiliar with and walk away thinking, "Wow, I loved that story!" This was my first time reading a book by Kellie Stuart, and now I'm wondering what else has she written. This book was so good! Who doesn't like a good treasure hunt for lost artifacts that involves some danger. The writing, the storyline, and the characters were all wonderful. I was fascinated by the history that was shared as the characters hunted for the missing egg. Then, I had to venture online to see what these eggs looked like. This story will definitely pique your curiosity to find out more history about them. Russian history is fascinating to me since my parents were missionaries in Russia for about 10 years, and it was fun reading all of the Russian words the author used in the story. While the story is fiction, the history is interwoven into the story in such a beautiful way. The Master Craftsman is a book you are going to want on your shelf. So make sure to pick up this new book for your summer reading. It will be a great addition to any library!*I received this book from Revell Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

[lifeofliterature · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This novel is packed full of interesting history and fascinating facts about Faberge eggs. What a unique story! I learned so much. I really liked the dual timeline and thought the author did a great job connecting the two storylines. The treasure hunt aspect of the novel brought some suspense to the story and kept my attention. I thought it was neat that parts of the mystery extended over both time periods. There are heartbreaks in the book that bring real emotion to the storyline, and I found myself connecting well with the characters. This is my first novel by this talented author, but it certainly won’t be the last! Highly recommended!I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[virginia51-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved the historical aspects of this story and the current parts. This has a lot of suspense and keeps you wondering where this missing Faberge egg might be. It was interesting to learn about Alma Phil and about how and why the Faberge eggs are worth so much. I enjoyed getting to know Ava and her father Nick. This will keep you on your toes at times. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

[simmmba · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"The Master Craftsman" by Kelli Stuart is a dual-timeline historical novel set during the early 1900s in Russia and the present. The author skillfully weaves in a lot of information about historical events, daily life, and the mindset of various parts of society. I enjoyed the new things I learned, and the book never felt like a history text. All of the information shared was a natural and easy-to-read part of the story.The story itself was fabulous! I enjoyed both timelines equally, and found myself eagerly awaiting the newest developments in one timeline even as I was reading the other one. I especially enjoyed the way the two stories/timelines eventually connected.The character of Ava was particularly well-written. She felt like a real person to me, and was very relatable. I felt that her actions and speech were appropriate to her age and situation, and very much enjoyed following along on her quest.Honestly, this is one of my favorite books of the year so far. The mix of fantastic characters, historical information, and treasure hunting is absolutely perfect.Five out of five chunks of my favorite sharp cheddar!

[estherfilbrun · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

There was a lot to love in this story, although some parts of the book annoyed me. The historical portion was spot-on, as far as I can discover, and I loved learning about Karl Fabergé, his business, and the beautiful creations he and his craftsmen came up with. Seeing the Russian Revolution through his eyes was an experience in itself, and I appreciated being able to see a little of how that developed as the story went on. The historical section was definitely my favorite part of this book!The present-day sections were a bit of a disappointment, though. People’s attitudes toward each other annoyed me, several characters’ crushes on other characters came up relatively frequently, and the climax felt somewhat dramatic. I did LOVE how the treasure hunt brought a broken family together again—that was beautiful! I also loved seeing the mystery side play out—it was fairly easy to guess what would happen next, after reading the historical side, but I loved seeing how the characters went about looking for clues.This wasn’t my most favorite book of the year, but I am grateful I got to read it. There was a lot to enjoy here. Please note, however, if you’re looking for a Christian story, this isn’t it—it’s relatively clean, but I didn’t pick up on any faith elements in the story.Verdict: 3.5 out of 5 starsI was given a review copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

[amybooksy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have had the pleasure of reading other books by Kelli Stuart in the past. I was excited to have the opportunity to read her latest release, The Master Craftsman. I was far from being disappointed. It is by far my favorite I have read by her to date. I was fascinated by the unique storyline and loved learning more about the history of the Faberge'. I liked following along trying to find out what the characters will learn and able to solve the mystery. I loved every single page.The Master Craftsman will be getting a very well deserved five plus stars. Readers who enjoy reading historical fiction and those with dual time lines will definitely want to pick this one up. I will be looking forward to more like this by Kelli Stuart in the future.I received a paperback copy of The Master Craftsman from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

[susan0316 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When I read that this book was about the Faberge eggs that were gifted to the Czar of Russia and his family, I knew that I had to read it. Several years ago, I was on a tour and was able to go the Faberge museum in St. Petersburg to see the remaining eggs. It was amazing to see them and to realize how beautiful and intricate they were. This dual time line book gives readers an in-depth look at the shop of Karl Faberge and the political climate in Russia right before their revolution. I ended up spending lots of time looking up pictures of all of the eggs that were mentioned in the book and they brought back memories of seeing them in Russia.The first time line in this novel starts in 1904 in Russia and ends in 1925 in Finland. It's is mostly told by Karl Faberge and is about the eggs that his shop has crafted for the Czar and his family. As the unrest grows in Russia, he vows to keep working but when the royal family is executed, he knows that his life is in danger and flees the country. Before he leaves, he entrusts a secret egg with one of his craftsmen and asks her to protect it by taking it out of the country.The second time line is present day and features Ava and her mother Carol. Carol and her husband, Nick, had divorced years earlier because Nick was a treasure hunter and couldn't handle domestic life. Now he's dying and asks to see his daughter. At first, Ava doesn't want to see him but after a lengthy conversation about his desire to go on one more treasure hunt, she begs to be part of the hunt. The goal is to find the missing egg that was taken out of Russia years ago. When Ava begs to be part of the hunt for the egg, she has no idea what danger she will face.Both of the time lines in this novel work well together and are equally as interesting. In the earlier time line there is the suspense over what will happen to the Faberge studio and the Faberge family. In the present day time line, there is considerable suspense as friends turn into enemies and strangers turn into friends as Ava and her team work to locate the missing egg.I really enjoyed this book. The present day time line was a bit slow in the beginning but the rest of the book had suspense and action that kept you turning pages. The characters were well written and the plot moved quickly. I read a lot of historical fiction but mostly after 1930 so it was nice to go back a bit further in history for this book.Thanks to Revell for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

[fcplcataloger · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a sweeping dual-time story that spans a century, and it is a captivating blend of historical and contemporary fiction. In 1917 Russia, a master craftsman with the House of Faberge is asked to protect an egg that was created by Karl Faberge himself. Alma Pihl accepts this challenge during the traumatic events of the Russian Revolution, and author Kelli Stuart captures the danger, the drama, and the uncertainty of that time. Then, in the present time, Ava Laine is sent by her critically ill father to hunt for this elusive egg. Nick Laine is a man who has spent his life hunting for treasures while ignoring the treasures he already has...a loving wife and daughter. Danger and adventure are a part of this present-day chronicle also, but I was especially touched by this estranged family's journey to finding each other again. Stuart proves that she is a master craftsman of words and imagination, displaying her skill by the way that she weaves these two timelines together. I enjoyed learning more about the Russian Revolution and the Faberge eggs that were designed for the Russian Czar's family. The possibility of a missing egg, and the mystery that spans a century is a satisfying element, but the human connection is the best plot development of all. We are reminded that our true treasures are not material possessions...they are the people around us! I enjoyed The Master Craftsman and I recommend it to all who enjoy dual-timeline books. This book was provided courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews. There was no obligation for a positive review.

[grammy57 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was chosen to read and review this book through Revell Reads. This review is my own opinion, freely given. I asked to read this because I really like historical fiction and was intrigued by learning more about the Romanov dynasty and the history surrounding them.I enjoyed this book. It was a bit different in that it jumped in time between now and the early 1900s. That did not detract from the book at all, in fact, it helped keep the focus. This is a historical fiction book and it puts a spin on the Faberge eggs and the what-if of an extra, unknown egg.The book is very well written and it flows very well. The characters are quite believable and "real". It is part mystery and part family drama combined in a good mix.This is published by Revell Publishing, a Christian book publisher, so I expected there to be some reference to God/Christianity in some form. That is not the case at all. There is no reference at all to anything Christian. No one prays or goes to church. No one mentions God at all. This is a big disappointment and a big loss of witnessing opportunity. But, on the upside, it is a clean book, the closest it comes to not being clean is the near swearing by Ava and the mention of Faberge's affair.Overall, I give this a 4 out of a 5-star review. I do think you will enjoy this book as long as you are not expecting a Christian book.

[alekee_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a time split novel, and a treasure hunt. What do we end up looking for, a priceless egg, more precisely a Fabrege' egg!This is a story of family relationships, and the losses that sometimes happen in family dynamics, we we see it play out here in our search.The time split puts us back at the time of the Russian Revolution, and then back to the present time. We end up in Russia, where I really wouldn't want to be right now, but then back in the to Florida.Parental relationships play a big part in this story, in both the past and present, and we see how this really shapes their children's lives.The author did a great job of making me feel I was there while these talented artists created treasures. We also see what happens when people have to flee for their lives, and the ramifications.My main criticism of this story is it is not a Christian read, no it is a clean read, but their is no faith displayed here, which I come to expect from the books I read from a Christian publisher.I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

[mrstreme · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Kelli Stuart did an amazing job pulling together a dual timeline story--one of a present day family and another of the famed Faberge family and one of their master craftswomen, Alma Pihl.I loved the settings of this book, especially as a resident of Tampa, Florida, which is the backdrop for some of the modern-day storyline. I was also intrigued by Russia. Having not studied too much about early 19th century Russia, I soaked in all the historical information woven into The Master Craftsman.This book will be a delight for historical fiction fans, as well as suspense lovers. I loved learning more about Alma especially, and I am thankful to have read this intriguing book. Recommended!

[weeturtle · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It's okay. That's about the best I can say for this book from my perspective. This might be less the fault of the book as much as the current package it's in.From the back summary, I was expecting more of an adventure story than I got, perhaps something in line with Da Vinci Code or a (milder) James Bond. What I got was an extended reflection on familial relationships and heritage wrapped inside a fairly straight forward mystery. The details about Russian culture and on the House of Faberge were interesting, but the story itself was fairly predictable.One rub, in the form of the chapter 2 mother-daughter grandkids comment, as a grown woman with no kids, this sort of comment feels like yet another rehash of female expectations, and that may well have set the tone for the rest of the book.All in, I appreciate the character observations, and it's written well enough, but while there were a few good moments, the whole book itself felt fairly average.

[jamespurcell · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This nicely crafted novel covers two interesting stories: one; the creation and place in Russian history for the Faberge eggs and two; a challenging search to find a missing one. The former may have helped bring down the Czar and the latter reunites the family of a modern-day treasure hunter.

[dtchantel-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"The Master Craftsman" is a masterful piece of craftsmanship itself. This novel exceeded my expectations and I couldn't fly through the pages fast enough. Not only is it a beautiful tale of Russian history, it's also a bit of romance, espionage and treasure-hunting, with a dash of family drama that will definitely pull on your heartstrings. I often find when reading a dual timeline novel that I prefer one story over the other. The beauty of this book is that I enjoyed both stories equally. And the way the author brings them both together at the end is nothing short of brilliant. I won a copy of this book through a LibraryThing Early Reviewer Giveaway and I'm so glad I did, as I might not have discovered this author otherwise. I'll definitely be reading more of her work.

***I received an ARC from the publisher as part of a LibraryThing Early Reviewer Giveaway. My review is strictly voluntary.***

[shawnmarie_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely loved this book; I could not put it down. I've always been fascinated by Faberge eggs and their manufacture, so this story hit a lot of interest points for me. Characters are built well and are deep enough to keep your interest and the story has twists and turns. I do have to say the ending was predictable, but I ignored that in favor of just enjoying the story.

[sedodge-608996 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Folks, before I risk losing any of you to how long this review is about to be, I have to tell you that you need to go buy this book! I started reading The Master Craftsman by Kelli Stuart with the expectation that it would be a slower, leisurely read, and am now sitting here writing this review only a day later after devouring this story in only two sittings! The novel follows Ava as she navigates her early twenties and grapples with learning that her estranged father (a world renown treasure hunter) is asking for her as his health rapidly declines. Not long after, she finds herself swept up in one last great treasure hunt before her father passes, leaving her lack luster life behind to travel to Russia and Finland with a cast of characters I would pay good money to spend a few hours with! The story alternates between Ava's adventures in the present day and the story of the treasure she is searching for, set in Russia in the early 1900s. One of my favorite things about this book was how the writing style changed between the time periods, allowing you to feel fully immersed in each timeline. I also loved that despite the bits of fiction and imagination injected into the story, Kelli Stuart stayed as true to the real history as possible, and made it an entertaining way to learn world history! I found myself pausing throughout the reading to do my own research and learn more about the master craftsmen and the political unrest in Russia during the time. Overall, I cannot say enough good things about this novel. And although it works outstandingly well as stand alone book, I have all of my fingers crossed for a series dedicated to more adventures with Ava!I received an advanced copy of the Master Craftsman in exchange for an honest review.

[lamb521 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Title: The Master CraftsmanAuthor: Kelli StuartPages: 400Year: 2022 Publisher: RevellMy rating: 5 out of 5 starsHere is literally a “gem” of a story that is intricate and simple, beautiful, and intriguing with a captivating cast of characters readers will remember long after the last page is read. Audiences will travel back in time to Russia when the Faberge Eggs were designed and given as gifts to the Imperial family from 1885 to 1916. The eggs were commissioned to be created by a company run by Peter Carl Fabergé who had the top creators and masters working for him.In the present-day chapters, Nick Laine, while critically ill, asks his wife and daughter to track down the clues as the whereabouts of an egg that wasn’t given to the Romanovs but went missing. The timelines at first appear to have no connection other than the missing egg and the hunt for that egg. However, that is the genius of the story as readers will discover there is more to the hunt for the missing egg.The characters of the story are easy to connect with such as Carol, Nick Laine’s wife, whom he left years earlier to travel and hunt for lost treasures, or his daughter Ava who only recently discovered what her missing father did for a living and longs to have more adventures in her life. There is Zak who is so taken with Ava but at first she doesn’t appear to care one whit about this eccentric man who lives in her apartment building.The characters in the past are equally intriguing like Alma who works for Faberge and has such a gift for seeing and creating beauty. Later she is given a very difficult task by the owner of the company that puts her in a dangerous position during the revolution occurring in Russia. Then there is Augusta who perseveres in what appears to be a loveless marriage but is it really as it appears? I highly recommend reading the book for it truly is a masterpiece of writing that in the end shows the profound treasures hidden deep within the pages!Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.