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vasi83177's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
amothersmusings1's review
5.0
Firstly I have to say just how much I was taken with the beautiful cover of "The Story Keeper", it gave me chills just thinking what mystery and intrigue could lie beneath it and couldn't wait to start reading.
"The Story Keeper" is billed as a 'sizzling, period novel of folk tales, disappearances and injustice set on the Isle of Skye' and it was exactly that. I was amazed at how the atmospheric setting and creepy, intriguing start to the story drew me in so fast and from then on in the pages turned themselves to reveal such a beautiful tale, woven with creativity and imagination. With sinister undertones and at times quite scary scenarios involving the local folklore stories, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book from start to finish. It was truly spell binding and unlike any thriller I've ever read before and certainly a one I could easily read again and again and never tire of.
I love historical books set in Scotland and knowing the locations mentioned in the story made me feel so at home. The author has done a fantastic job in describing the many different crofters lives and their plight after the Highland Clearances and their constant poverty. It's obvious a lot of research has been carried out for this story and the author has turned this into a truly engaging and well crafted story.
There were some quite unsuspecting twists to the conclusion which rapturously held my attention and which were a perfect end to the intriguing story and very fitting.
I haven't read Anna Mazzola's previous book "The Unseeing" but I am now very keen to read it and without doubt would certainly read more in the future by this new author to me too.
All in all, one fabulously written and imaginative tale that I highly recommend to historical thriller readers young and old, if you love something different then you must read this, you won't be disappointed!
5 stars
"The Story Keeper" is billed as a 'sizzling, period novel of folk tales, disappearances and injustice set on the Isle of Skye' and it was exactly that. I was amazed at how the atmospheric setting and creepy, intriguing start to the story drew me in so fast and from then on in the pages turned themselves to reveal such a beautiful tale, woven with creativity and imagination. With sinister undertones and at times quite scary scenarios involving the local folklore stories, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book from start to finish. It was truly spell binding and unlike any thriller I've ever read before and certainly a one I could easily read again and again and never tire of.
I love historical books set in Scotland and knowing the locations mentioned in the story made me feel so at home. The author has done a fantastic job in describing the many different crofters lives and their plight after the Highland Clearances and their constant poverty. It's obvious a lot of research has been carried out for this story and the author has turned this into a truly engaging and well crafted story.
There were some quite unsuspecting twists to the conclusion which rapturously held my attention and which were a perfect end to the intriguing story and very fitting.
I haven't read Anna Mazzola's previous book "The Unseeing" but I am now very keen to read it and without doubt would certainly read more in the future by this new author to me too.
All in all, one fabulously written and imaginative tale that I highly recommend to historical thriller readers young and old, if you love something different then you must read this, you won't be disappointed!
5 stars
sleepyjoe7's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.0
Read for Lance Reads customers choice challenge for work. Historical genre and didn’t expect to enjoy it, but I loved it!
cathy_browne's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
bookish_rex's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-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
4.0
I tore through this. It was one of those reads where you get really short and snippy with anyone who interrupts you, even though you really don’t mean to. I not only recommended this to people, I gifted copies to my two best friends [so they have no choice but to read it, muahahahahaha]. I learned more about Scottish lore, I learned a tiny bit about history, and I got to meet a really good morally ambiguous character- I love that type. If for no other reason, this ought to be on your TBR list, just so you can see a well-written morally ambiguous character. I won't say who it is, so that you can [possibly] experience the same "oh no, not you... but I really liked you... .... okay, I still really like you, but c'mon..." moment that I did.
raven88's review
5.0
Having thoroughly enjoyed Anna Mazzola’s debut, The Unseeing based on an historical murder case, I was more than intrigued to see what would come next from the author. Suffice to say that this glorious mix of the gothic and the folkloric more than hit the spot…
Once again, the breadth of Mazzola’s historical research is clearly in evidence again, using the backdrop of 19th century Skye to weave this dark and mysterious tale. Melding together the utter poverty wrought by the infamous land clearances of the period, the chasm between rich and poor, and the superstitious belief in folklore, Mazzola paints a vivid picture of the period which has a vivid clarity, and transports the reader effortlessly to this moment in time. I absolutely loved the rendering of the folkloric tales, that Audrey is employed to collect and catalogue, and the natural compulsion displayed by the crofting community to withhold these tales from prying outsiders, leading Audrey to chip away at this reluctance to satisfy her strange and eccentric employer Miss Buchanan. Equally, the interweaving of Gaelic history, and the reduced livelihoods of the local inhabitants adds further colour and context to the story, but there is an even more vital strand to this book concerning Audrey herself.
Audrey has fled from London unchaperoned to take up this position, causing us instantly to wonder at the reasons for such ‘unladylike’ behaviour, and here a very important story arc is revealed. Mazzola uses Audrey’s story, and that of other young women she encounters in Skye, to really cut to the grist of the position of women in this period in society. Without giving too much away, the patriarchal, male oriented society is very much the catalyst for her escape, and her story is poignant and thought provoking, allowing Mazzola to explore the extreme emotional and financial hardship that Audrey and other women experience, and the abuses and indignities they suffer. I found this theme in the book very emotive, and with a modern sensibility felt a righteous anger on their behalf. As the abuses in the local community come to light, Audrey is compelled to intervene and defend the right of these women for justice, placing herself in extreme danger too, and as the sense of peril builds, with a beautifully weighted feel of gothic suspense, there are some extremely dark misdemeanours to reveal.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Story Keeper, and as each layer of the story was peeled back, and different facets of the everyday existence of this community was brought to light there was an enhanced level of interest throughout the book. With it’s curious mix of the ordinary, the strange, the gap between rich and poor, mental illness, and the inherent danger to, and tacit subservience of women in this period, I was held in a state of fascination from beginning to end. Highly recommended.
Once again, the breadth of Mazzola’s historical research is clearly in evidence again, using the backdrop of 19th century Skye to weave this dark and mysterious tale. Melding together the utter poverty wrought by the infamous land clearances of the period, the chasm between rich and poor, and the superstitious belief in folklore, Mazzola paints a vivid picture of the period which has a vivid clarity, and transports the reader effortlessly to this moment in time. I absolutely loved the rendering of the folkloric tales, that Audrey is employed to collect and catalogue, and the natural compulsion displayed by the crofting community to withhold these tales from prying outsiders, leading Audrey to chip away at this reluctance to satisfy her strange and eccentric employer Miss Buchanan. Equally, the interweaving of Gaelic history, and the reduced livelihoods of the local inhabitants adds further colour and context to the story, but there is an even more vital strand to this book concerning Audrey herself.
Audrey has fled from London unchaperoned to take up this position, causing us instantly to wonder at the reasons for such ‘unladylike’ behaviour, and here a very important story arc is revealed. Mazzola uses Audrey’s story, and that of other young women she encounters in Skye, to really cut to the grist of the position of women in this period in society. Without giving too much away, the patriarchal, male oriented society is very much the catalyst for her escape, and her story is poignant and thought provoking, allowing Mazzola to explore the extreme emotional and financial hardship that Audrey and other women experience, and the abuses and indignities they suffer. I found this theme in the book very emotive, and with a modern sensibility felt a righteous anger on their behalf. As the abuses in the local community come to light, Audrey is compelled to intervene and defend the right of these women for justice, placing herself in extreme danger too, and as the sense of peril builds, with a beautifully weighted feel of gothic suspense, there are some extremely dark misdemeanours to reveal.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Story Keeper, and as each layer of the story was peeled back, and different facets of the everyday existence of this community was brought to light there was an enhanced level of interest throughout the book. With it’s curious mix of the ordinary, the strange, the gap between rich and poor, mental illness, and the inherent danger to, and tacit subservience of women in this period, I was held in a state of fascination from beginning to end. Highly recommended.
karlou's review
5.0
I love reading books with a folkloric theme and as a book blogger how could I resist a novel called The Story Keeper?! My instincts were proved correct - this atmospheric historical tale is a captivating and rewarding read.
Audrey Hart has left London to take up a position on the Isle of Skye working for the reclusive Miss Buchanan as a collector of traditional folktales. Audrey's father doesn't approve of her interest in these stories and at a time when women were little more than chattels, her decision to turn her back on her family and on societal expectations is a bold one but means that she is viewed with suspicion by the Islanders. The setting of the novel is crucial to the story, evoking as it does a time when the Highland Clearances had resulted in abject poverty with many families torn apart by the actions of a few wealthy landowners. It's not just their lands and homes that have been stolen, the rich history of their language and with it, the stories they told is disappearing too, Gaelic is no longer taught in the schoolroom and the local minister and teachers don't approve of their fairy tales. It's no wonder then that the crofters are reticent to share their tales with a stranger despite her claims that she wants to preserve the stories. Throughout the book there are heartbreaking examples of the cruelty wrought on the community and their fear of displeasing those in power casts an oppressive sense of despair over proceedings.
Despite their misgivings, Audrey is able to gather some stories which are woven throughout the novel and they are a fascinating insight into the superstitious and often rather gruesome beliefs of the locals. Thanks to the influence of the Grimm brothers, fairy tales are increasingly becoming considered stories for children but Miss Buchanan wants to preserve the local folklore unchanged and in the original language. Though it's widely known that fairy tales were dark and often violent, the stories here are particularly disturbing because they don't have the clear moral warnings of the childhood tales. The story of the Slaugh, a bird-like creature who takes young girls is especially terrifying given what ensues.
As the novel progresses, the line between what is real and what is mythical becomes increasingly blurred and Audrey begins to doubt her own mind as she tries to discover what lies behind the strange disappearance of young girls on the island. The mystery is a compelling one and proves to be as dark and twisted as a fairy tale. The crofters may have their deeply held superstitious beliefs but they also risk the wrath of the local priest who preaches that the old stories are at odds with their religion. This multi-layered novel exposes the difficulties faced by a community undergoing massive changes to their livelihoods as they struggle to survive. Their old ways are disappearing as their neighbours are increasingly choosing - or are forced - to emigrate but they fear incurring the anger of the fairies as much as the humans who exert their control over their meagre existence.
One of the most important subjects explored in the book is the role of women in society with Audrey often left feeling powerless by the structural inequalities of the time. As much The Story Keeper is about the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the young girls on Skye, it is also about Audrey's search for her own truths - what happened to her mother and who is the woman she wants to become? During the course of the book, we learn more behind her decision to leave London but as she meets with similar obstacles on the island as we are reminded again of how women were diminished and disregarded by the attitudes towards them. She is a wonderful character who is compelled to intervene when she sees injustices despite it meaning she is placed in extreme danger herself and I particularly enjoyed her relationship with the courageous kitchen girl, Mairi who has faced even greater hardships than Audrey.
The Story Keeper is a richly engrossing novel which incorporates a disturbing and atmospheric Gothic mystery with a searing examination of the period particularly regarding the loss of local traditions and the restrictions placed on the poor and on women of the time. A poignant, thought-provoking and highly recommended read - I loved it!
Audrey Hart has left London to take up a position on the Isle of Skye working for the reclusive Miss Buchanan as a collector of traditional folktales. Audrey's father doesn't approve of her interest in these stories and at a time when women were little more than chattels, her decision to turn her back on her family and on societal expectations is a bold one but means that she is viewed with suspicion by the Islanders. The setting of the novel is crucial to the story, evoking as it does a time when the Highland Clearances had resulted in abject poverty with many families torn apart by the actions of a few wealthy landowners. It's not just their lands and homes that have been stolen, the rich history of their language and with it, the stories they told is disappearing too, Gaelic is no longer taught in the schoolroom and the local minister and teachers don't approve of their fairy tales. It's no wonder then that the crofters are reticent to share their tales with a stranger despite her claims that she wants to preserve the stories. Throughout the book there are heartbreaking examples of the cruelty wrought on the community and their fear of displeasing those in power casts an oppressive sense of despair over proceedings.
Despite their misgivings, Audrey is able to gather some stories which are woven throughout the novel and they are a fascinating insight into the superstitious and often rather gruesome beliefs of the locals. Thanks to the influence of the Grimm brothers, fairy tales are increasingly becoming considered stories for children but Miss Buchanan wants to preserve the local folklore unchanged and in the original language. Though it's widely known that fairy tales were dark and often violent, the stories here are particularly disturbing because they don't have the clear moral warnings of the childhood tales. The story of the Slaugh, a bird-like creature who takes young girls is especially terrifying given what ensues.
As the novel progresses, the line between what is real and what is mythical becomes increasingly blurred and Audrey begins to doubt her own mind as she tries to discover what lies behind the strange disappearance of young girls on the island. The mystery is a compelling one and proves to be as dark and twisted as a fairy tale. The crofters may have their deeply held superstitious beliefs but they also risk the wrath of the local priest who preaches that the old stories are at odds with their religion. This multi-layered novel exposes the difficulties faced by a community undergoing massive changes to their livelihoods as they struggle to survive. Their old ways are disappearing as their neighbours are increasingly choosing - or are forced - to emigrate but they fear incurring the anger of the fairies as much as the humans who exert their control over their meagre existence.
One of the most important subjects explored in the book is the role of women in society with Audrey often left feeling powerless by the structural inequalities of the time. As much The Story Keeper is about the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the young girls on Skye, it is also about Audrey's search for her own truths - what happened to her mother and who is the woman she wants to become? During the course of the book, we learn more behind her decision to leave London but as she meets with similar obstacles on the island as we are reminded again of how women were diminished and disregarded by the attitudes towards them. She is a wonderful character who is compelled to intervene when she sees injustices despite it meaning she is placed in extreme danger herself and I particularly enjoyed her relationship with the courageous kitchen girl, Mairi who has faced even greater hardships than Audrey.
The Story Keeper is a richly engrossing novel which incorporates a disturbing and atmospheric Gothic mystery with a searing examination of the period particularly regarding the loss of local traditions and the restrictions placed on the poor and on women of the time. A poignant, thought-provoking and highly recommended read - I loved it!
keeperofpages's review
4.0
Do you know what makes fiction all the more chilling? When it’s inspired by true events, a real case of young adults vanishing in the East End of London in the 1880s! Mazzola used this case as inspiration, relocated it to the Isle of Skye, and even weaved in a fairy tale of her own.
“Every group of people have their own stories that they create to make sense of their world. Therefore, in folk stories, in fairy tales, we see the reflection of humankind: its strength, flaws, hopes, fears. They tell us what it takes to survive.”
Yes, yes, a million times yes to that quote! Written so perfectly, it explains why children and adults love fairy tales, why folklore is so important, the messages within, let the stories never be forgotten. Hearing snippets of folktales throughout this novel was brilliant, especially the mention of the selkies legend, which is one of my favourites. Not only is The Story Keeper a great title, but the overall premise of this novel is great. It’s so atmospheric, gothic, mysterious and haunting that you can forgive it the relatively slow pacing, because the atmosphere is so strong and all encompassing. The remote landscape, the rich descriptive narration, eerie in places with dark undertones, oh yes, this is one hell of an immersive read. If you enjoy dark fairy tales, and slow burning mysteries, you need to read this one!
The tension, and mystery, slowly build over the course of this novel, you start to suspect everyone! The secretive nature of the people, and their belief in spirits is keeping everyone tight-lipped. Fairies, changelings, girls drowned in the river – but where does the folklore end and murder begin!? Even more interesting than the mystery, for me, was the events surrounding Audrey’s mother’s death; it was fantastic, and the conclusion drawn here blew me away, brilliant plotting by Mazzola.
On this Scottish island, we see the divide between class, the attitudes towards mental illness, and what is and isn’t becoming of a woman, and this creates an almost oppressive atmosphere, which gives this novel its darker edge. But, more than that, it’s what makes you invested in the plot, what makes you care about what is happening to these women, and what makes you root for Audrey.
Overall, The Story Keeper is a slow burner, dark in nature, highly atmospheric, wonderfully written, and the reason I have ordered Mazzola’s previous novel, The Unseeing.
*My thanks to the author for sending me a copy of this title*
“Every group of people have their own stories that they create to make sense of their world. Therefore, in folk stories, in fairy tales, we see the reflection of humankind: its strength, flaws, hopes, fears. They tell us what it takes to survive.”
Yes, yes, a million times yes to that quote! Written so perfectly, it explains why children and adults love fairy tales, why folklore is so important, the messages within, let the stories never be forgotten. Hearing snippets of folktales throughout this novel was brilliant, especially the mention of the selkies legend, which is one of my favourites. Not only is The Story Keeper a great title, but the overall premise of this novel is great. It’s so atmospheric, gothic, mysterious and haunting that you can forgive it the relatively slow pacing, because the atmosphere is so strong and all encompassing. The remote landscape, the rich descriptive narration, eerie in places with dark undertones, oh yes, this is one hell of an immersive read. If you enjoy dark fairy tales, and slow burning mysteries, you need to read this one!
The tension, and mystery, slowly build over the course of this novel, you start to suspect everyone! The secretive nature of the people, and their belief in spirits is keeping everyone tight-lipped. Fairies, changelings, girls drowned in the river – but where does the folklore end and murder begin!? Even more interesting than the mystery, for me, was the events surrounding Audrey’s mother’s death; it was fantastic, and the conclusion drawn here blew me away, brilliant plotting by Mazzola.
On this Scottish island, we see the divide between class, the attitudes towards mental illness, and what is and isn’t becoming of a woman, and this creates an almost oppressive atmosphere, which gives this novel its darker edge. But, more than that, it’s what makes you invested in the plot, what makes you care about what is happening to these women, and what makes you root for Audrey.
Overall, The Story Keeper is a slow burner, dark in nature, highly atmospheric, wonderfully written, and the reason I have ordered Mazzola’s previous novel, The Unseeing.
*My thanks to the author for sending me a copy of this title*
kali's review
4.0
This started off a bit tropey, but I was soon engrossed and then when all the strands came together, I was impressed by the author's clever plotting and reimagining of the folk tales of the Isle of Skye.
jct_35's review
3.0
Beautiful story- just a really drawn out beginning , and too quick of an ending.