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littlelights_xx's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book wasn't at all what I expected from the cover, and so I think I had an unfair negative lens on it from the start. The story itself was lovely; heartwarming and well-designed, and thoroughly well resolved at the end. Plus I liked how the writer had given the characters realistic character flaws; the Dad couldn't remember some of the details of the fairytale book, and admits that he re-wrote then for her, rather than them being magically perfect the first time he thinks of them. . I was also annoyed that the two MCs got together at the end; I don't think they would have suited each other long term IRL. . The book also had a very slow pace which I don't think suits me very well.
I was glad I only bought the e-book version in the end. It was OK, but not one I'll be recommending.
I was glad I only bought the e-book version in the end. It was OK, but not one I'll be recommending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
beckyjzw's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Kidnapping, and Ableism
Moderate: Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
aj_langley's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Minor: Ableism, Death of parent, and Abandonment
sammie_snk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Minor: Suicide
ariannaks22's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Mental illness
Moderate: Addiction and Alcoholism
Minor: Fatphobia
ems_rxlibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Overall, I really liked this story. It started out a bit slow, but by the middle of the book I didn’t want to put it down.
This is essentially the story of a young adult trying to find her long lost dad who happens to have been a TV star in her early childhood. He disappeared when she was 5 and she has never been told how or why.
One day she is gifted a book of fairy tales by her grandmother who tells her the book is from her dad, and from there she tries to piece together the puzzle.
I loved the two main male characters. I felt they were well thought out and very rounded. They felt real and true and honest. I felt this book did a good job of portraying someone with bipolar disorder.
I didn’t love the female characters as much. The mom in particular-I didn’t love that she completely shut out her ex-husband from her daughter’s life due to a mental illness. She acted as though he was a criminal.
Rebecca seemed to have learned her communication skills from her mother- that is, not talking about things.
The romance in the book is very much a back burner kind of thing in that nothing happens. If you are looking for a book about a romance, this isn’t it. This book is primarily a book about a father daughter relationship.
I was a bit underwhelmed by the ending as well. It wasn’t bad per se, but it just didn’t feel like an ending.
Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is essentially the story of a young adult trying to find her long lost dad who happens to have been a TV star in her early childhood. He disappeared when she was 5 and she has never been told how or why.
One day she is gifted a book of fairy tales by her grandmother who tells her the book is from her dad, and from there she tries to piece together the puzzle.
I loved the two main male characters. I felt they were well thought out and very rounded. They felt real and true and honest. I felt this book did a good job of portraying someone with bipolar disorder.
I didn’t love the female characters as much. The mom in particular-
Rebecca seemed to have learned her communication skills from her mother- that is, not talking about things.
The romance in the book is very much a back burner kind of thing in that nothing happens. If you are looking for a book about a romance, this isn’t it. This book is primarily a book about a father daughter relationship.
I was a bit underwhelmed by the ending as well. It wasn’t bad per se, but it just didn’t feel like an ending.
Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Abandonment
Moderate: Kidnapping and Suicide
Minor: Cursing
bookforthought's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I am struggling to find words to express how much I loved this book, even as I write this over a week after finishing it. The Lost Storyteller is easily one of the best books I have read this year so far, and it's almost hard to believe it's only this author's debut!
This book has everything: a compelling mystery in the search for Leo, Rebecca's father; family secrets; creepy, multilayered fairytales; atmospheric settings; a slow burn romance; and, above all, the strength of human relationships. This book is about Rebecca's search for her father, yes, but it's also about so much more.
As Rebecca embarks on her journey into the past, which takes her across England and Scotland, she takes us readers along a parallel journey. This is a journey of self-discovery, about finding your place in the world and being true to yourself, discovering little by little what are the things that matter the most and going after them. It's a journey of acceptance and, possibly, forgiveness, without shying away from the difficulties and the ugliness that sometimes lie in between.
This, for me, was the true strength of this book: its honest, multilayered depiction of family, love and life, mental health and the battles that are fought just under the surface, unknown to everyone else. The author's beautiful writing style certainly helped, as she perfectly managed to paint a picture with her words, so much so that I could almost see this playing out as a movie (which very, very rarely happens to me). I was completely captivated by this from the beginning right up to the very last page. I loved the delicate yet honest way in which mental health was described, showing the character's persistence and resilience as well as the struggles.
The seven fairytales written by Leo for Rebecca are a brilliant inclusion, and definitely helped this book to become even stronger. These allegorical tales were the perfect blend of creepy and magical while helping to give a clearer picture of Leo's character. Now, I have to admit from reading the summary at first I thought there would be a magical element to this (think The Hazel Wood or Inkheart), but that wasn't the case and I am actually really happy about this, as I think grounding the story in reality made its message even stronger.
The Lost Storyteller was a wonderful surprise since, while I had an inkling I would enjoy it, I never expected to love it as much as I did. I am very much looking forward to Amanda Block's next work.
This book has everything: a compelling mystery in the search for Leo, Rebecca's father; family secrets; creepy, multilayered fairytales; atmospheric settings; a slow burn romance; and, above all, the strength of human relationships. This book is about Rebecca's search for her father, yes, but it's also about so much more.
As Rebecca embarks on her journey into the past, which takes her across England and Scotland, she takes us readers along a parallel journey. This is a journey of self-discovery, about finding your place in the world and being true to yourself, discovering little by little what are the things that matter the most and going after them. It's a journey of acceptance and, possibly, forgiveness, without shying away from the difficulties and the ugliness that sometimes lie in between.
This, for me, was the true strength of this book: its honest, multilayered depiction of family, love and life, mental health and the battles that are fought just under the surface, unknown to everyone else. The author's beautiful writing style certainly helped, as she perfectly managed to paint a picture with her words, so much so that I could almost see this playing out as a movie (which very, very rarely happens to me). I was completely captivated by this from the beginning right up to the very last page. I loved the delicate yet honest way in which mental health was described, showing the character's persistence and resilience as well as the struggles.
The seven fairytales written by Leo for Rebecca are a brilliant inclusion, and definitely helped this book to become even stronger. These allegorical tales were the perfect blend of creepy and magical while helping to give a clearer picture of Leo's character. Now, I have to admit from reading the summary at first I thought there would be a magical element to this (think The Hazel Wood or Inkheart), but that wasn't the case and I am actually really happy about this, as I think grounding the story in reality made its message even stronger.
The Lost Storyteller was a wonderful surprise since, while I had an inkling I would enjoy it, I never expected to love it as much as I did. I am very much looking forward to Amanda Block's next work.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Death of parent
Minor: Suicide
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