The Porcelain Menagerie

Finalist, 2026 American Fiction Awards — Historical Fiction

From award-winning author Jillian Forsberg, author of The Rhino Keeper, comes an unforgettable tale of art, ambition, and survival set in the glittering—and dangerous—court of eighteenth-century Dresden.

In eighteenth-century Dresden, beauty, power, and ambition are as fragile—and deadly—as porcelain.

Narrated by Caroline Hewitt, The Porcelain Menagerie brings to life a world where artistic genius and royal obsession collide.

Johann Joachim Kändler, a gifted young sculptor, is summoned to the court of King Augustus the Strong, who 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 listeners who love richly researched historical fiction, immersive settings, unforgettable characters, and the hidden stories behind history's greatest works of art.

Advance Praise
"An engrossing, page-turning historical novel. I could not put it down." — Jess Armstrong, USA Today bestselling author

"A dazzling tale of art, power, and survival... Forsberg paints history with a vivid hand." — Nancy Bilyeau, author of The Blue