Wooden Dolls Game: Rewinding Time Won’t Change Your Destiny by Ivonne Hoyos (Book Review #2293)

Wooden Dolls Game is a richly layered novel that blends emotional realism with elements of magical fate, creating a story that is as unsettling as it is deeply human. At its heart lies the fractured relationship between twin sisters, Mary Jane and Antonia, whose lives are irrevocably altered by a seemingly innocent childhood moment. What begins as a simple rivalry over choosing a bedroom becomes the seed of lifelong resentment, shaping their identities, relationships, and ultimately their destinies.

Hoyos excels at showing how early emotional wounds can calcify over time. As Mary Jane builds a meaningful bond with her neighbor Olivia, Antonia’s sense of abandonment and jealousy intensifies, quietly fermenting into something darker. The author handles this emotional deterioration with care, revealing how unspoken pain can grow into destructive force when left unattended.

The introduction of the mystical wooden dolls adds a compelling layer of magical realism. These objects, capable of transporting their owner back through time, are not portrayed as a gift without consequence. Instead, they serve as a powerful metaphor for regret, memory, and the human longing to undo the past. When tragedy forces Mary Jane to confront the dormant magic she once buried, the narrative sharpens into a tense exploration of whether revisiting pivotal moments can truly bring healing—or whether fate itself resists correction.

What makes Wooden Dolls Game particularly effective is its refusal to offer easy answers. The novel thoughtfully questions the fantasy of control, suggesting that while we may revisit our memories, we cannot always reshape their outcomes. Hoyos balances suspense with emotional depth, creating a story that lingers long after the final page.

Poignant, atmospheric, and introspective, Wooden Dolls Game will resonate with readers who appreciate stories about family, destiny, and the haunting consequences of unresolved love and jealousy. It is a powerful reminder that the past is never truly buried—and that some destinies demand to be faced, not rewritten.

Written by Jeyran Main

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