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chunky_punk's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I don't even know where to start with this review. I finished this book with goosebumps and tears silently falling down my face. It is such a beautiful, tragic story with the most uplifting of happy endings.
The book is a first person story telling, giving us 3 different POV's, from Kitty in the early days of WW1 battling her identity amidst the riots of London, to Miriam, a few years ahead working in a Prisoner of War camp, finding herself falling in love with the enemy, and finally, Edie, Present Day, unravelling the stories of these German women from her inherited cottage in Cornwall.
The first half of the book sets us up with a bit of backstory about the 3 women, but, the way the 3 lives begin to intertwine and connect to each other after the first half of the book is so well done. There are twists and turns at the end of every chapter.
I spent most of the book understanding how Kitty & Edie may have been connected, but Miriam's place in the story remained a puzzle for me until near the end when all the pieces fall in to place. I absolutely loved the way the stories of these 3 women were pulled together, in such a beautiful, uplifting ending.
This book is so full of emotions, from raw pain and loss to hope and happiness. It has love, loss, found family and community.
I particularly enjoyed the way tarot is incorporated throughout the story, and how it brings Kitty & Edie together hundreds of years apart.
This will forever remain as one of those books I wish I could read for the first time.
Thank you to NetGalley & the Publisher Penguin General (UK) for this e-ARC.
coramcq's review against another edition
4.0
A beautifully written emotional story. It was told from three different perspectives and at first I found that the stories ended rather abruptly when moving on to another perspective. However it was all pulled together beautifully in the end.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.
bookswithlydscl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin General UK/Viking for an eARC of "The Story Collector" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
I read The Secrets of Rochester Place last year and loved its cleverly interwoven tale of dual timelines and mysterious family connections so when I saw The Story Collector was being released with a similar set up I knew I wanted to read it.
This time the historical timeline is the beginning and end of World War One, set in London with Katerina/Kitty in 1915 and Germany with Miriam in 1918. Our present day is set in Cornwall and sees Edie trying to start life again after the death of her husband David and in the process of renovating her cottage discovers a mysterious box that connects the story in some way to our 1915 and 1918 stories.
Long held secrets provide plenty of mystery, drama and trauma for all our characters and as a reader sees us swept along in a rich, warm and tender tale that is truly evocative and beautifully written.
I did find it took me a little while to feel connected to the 1918 storyline and for a major part of the book I was struggling to see the need for this extra part of the story, however as things started to come together I came to appreciate the story and characters more. I think I also struggled a little with it because I wanted more from the Edie storyline in the beginning, however by the tale's close I feel that that author did a lovely job in balancing the stories and giving them their due care and attention, leaving me feeling extremely satisfied with how it all comes together.
This was another thoroughly enjoyable read by Iris Costello and sits well alongside Rochester Place as a heart warming historical fiction/romance that I highly recommend to readers of the genre.
The Story Collector is released on February 29th 2024.
I read The Secrets of Rochester Place last year and loved its cleverly interwoven tale of dual timelines and mysterious family connections so when I saw The Story Collector was being released with a similar set up I knew I wanted to read it.
This time the historical timeline is the beginning and end of World War One, set in London with Katerina/Kitty in 1915 and Germany with Miriam in 1918. Our present day is set in Cornwall and sees Edie trying to start life again after the death of her husband David and in the process of renovating her cottage discovers a mysterious box that connects the story in some way to our 1915 and 1918 stories.
Long held secrets provide plenty of mystery, drama and trauma for all our characters and as a reader sees us swept along in a rich, warm and tender tale that is truly evocative and beautifully written.
I did find it took me a little while to feel connected to the 1918 storyline and for a major part of the book I was struggling to see the need for this extra part of the story, however as things started to come together I came to appreciate the story and characters more. I think I also struggled a little with it because I wanted more from the Edie storyline in the beginning, however by the tale's close I feel that that author did a lovely job in balancing the stories and giving them their due care and attention, leaving me feeling extremely satisfied with how it all comes together.
This was another thoroughly enjoyable read by Iris Costello and sits well alongside Rochester Place as a heart warming historical fiction/romance that I highly recommend to readers of the genre.
The Story Collector is released on February 29th 2024.
princessdeia's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
London, 1915: Amid the chaos of war, Katerina, a Tarot reader, strives to keep her life intact. Determined to bring hope to her community, she opens a bakery, selling delicious treats and divination. Her bakery becomes a symbol of optimism in a time of darkness. However, behind her cheerful facade, Katerina harbours a dark secret that could jeopardize everything she holds dear.
Germany, 1918: A British soldier, rendered mute by the horrors of war, finds himself in a prisoner-of-war camp. There, he crosses paths with Miriam, a compassionate researcher. Drawn to his gentle nature, Miriam silently promises to assist him. Yet, as circumstances unfold, she faces an impossible decision: should she save the man she loves or save herself?
Cornwall, Present Day: Edie, recently widowed, stumbles upon a hidden box within the walls of her newly renovated cottage. Intrigued, she embarks on a journey to uncover the secrets that have remained concealed for over a century.
These three women's stories are intricately connected by a long-held secret, spanning from the bustling streets of wartime London to a secluded German camp during World War I and finally to the windswept cliffs of Cornwall. This beautifully crafted story is an unforgettable exploration of love, sacrifice, and the enduring power of secrets.
Each chapter is told from the point of view of each of the three women in their own timeline. I loved following along as the tales unfold and unwind.
A beautifully written story that is also a page-turner that kept me entertained until the last page.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual assault
mppilk's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This book certainly draws you in at the start. Three different POVs. Edie in present day Cornwall escaping London after the death of her husband. Kitty, a German baker living in London at the start of WW1 and finally Miriam in Germany in a Prisoner of War camp for British soldiers helping with a linguistic project, also WW1.
However I found after a while it didn’t resonate with me at all. By the time I got back to a character, expecially if I left it for a night, id forgotten exactly what was happening with them. Then some of them were known by a different name and I still can’t really make sense of how it all ended up.
While I am all for a bit of poetic or dramatic licence in this case I found it very loose and incredible. Having said that I never felt like giving up and if you are into this type of light of touch historical drama then it may well be for you.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
However I found after a while it didn’t resonate with me at all. By the time I got back to a character, expecially if I left it for a night, id forgotten exactly what was happening with them. Then some of them were known by a different name and I still can’t really make sense of how it all ended up.
While I am all for a bit of poetic or dramatic licence in this case I found it very loose and incredible. Having said that I never felt like giving up and if you are into this type of light of touch historical drama then it may well be for you.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
thelibraryloner's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I must have struck gold when I chose this book to be my first ever eARC, because it truly blew me away. I am rating this an easy 4.75 - it was heart-breaking, ghostly and raw.
I do enjoy historical fiction, but sometimes for me there's a blurred line between boring and interesting - this was 100% interesting, engaging and page-turning. I am *obsessed* with Costello's style of writing. She brings each time period to life, with enough description to perfectly set the scene and transport you to another time, but not too much to make the reader lose interest. Especially considering that 2 POVs within this book are set during The Great War, which for me personally, have the potential to be too politically dense and challenging to follow. Yet, those were the POVs that I enjoyed reading the most, so that say's it all really.
Costello also knows how to leave you hanging - the AMOUNT of POVs that ended with me gasping, and having to physically restrain myself from flicking through the other chapters just to continue where the POV left off.. . And, this book made me cry *actual tears*. I mean....
"So I vowed to find it again, dedicating my life to collecting voices, like butterflies in a net, in the hope that I would one day hear hers again" ... have you ever heard something to beautiful and heart-breaking in all your life?!
In particular, one of the love stories during the past POV had my complete and utter attention, and was literally clawing at my heartstrings page by page. And whilst I did guess perhaps the 'major' plot revelation, it literally didn't bother me at all as it was exactly how I was hoping the story would go.
SO, when this book is published in February, I implore you all to pick it up as it's one of the most phenomenal reads that I've had in a while. Thank you so much to NetGalley for granting me access to an e-copy!
I do enjoy historical fiction, but sometimes for me there's a blurred line between boring and interesting - this was 100% interesting, engaging and page-turning. I am *obsessed* with Costello's style of writing. She brings each time period to life, with enough description to perfectly set the scene and transport you to another time, but not too much to make the reader lose interest. Especially considering that 2 POVs within this book are set during The Great War, which for me personally, have the potential to be too politically dense and challenging to follow. Yet, those were the POVs that I enjoyed reading the most, so that say's it all really.
Costello also knows how to leave you hanging - the AMOUNT of POVs that ended with me gasping, and having to physically restrain myself from flicking through the other chapters just to continue where the POV left off.. . And, this book made me cry *actual tears*. I mean....
"So I vowed to find it again, dedicating my life to collecting voices, like butterflies in a net, in the hope that I would one day hear hers again" ... have you ever heard something to beautiful and heart-breaking in all your life?!
In particular, one of the love stories during the past POV had my complete and utter attention, and was literally clawing at my heartstrings page by page. And whilst I did guess perhaps the 'major' plot revelation, it literally didn't bother me at all as it was exactly how I was hoping the story would go.
SO, when this book is published in February, I implore you all to pick it up as it's one of the most phenomenal reads that I've had in a while. Thank you so much to NetGalley for granting me access to an e-copy!
andshe_reads's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Three women's stories from 3 different locations who in their own journeys end up at the same cottage by the cornish seaside. Their stories have been woven together so intricately by the author it makes such a compelling read.
The story itself was intriguing, atmospheric, and heartbreaking at times. However I was truly entranced by each womans life and was truly invested in how each of them were to be connected.
Set between several different timelines the connection isn't revealed into much later in the book and the authors skill kept me guessing for much longer than I expected I would be however I was thoroughly enjoying the story too much to be guessing how it would all piece together.
A beautifully written yet harrowing story of life in the war, tragic loss, community, family and most of all love.
I received this advanced copy courtesy of Netgalley and Penguin Random House. Thank you.
The story itself was intriguing, atmospheric, and heartbreaking at times. However I was truly entranced by each womans life and was truly invested in how each of them were to be connected.
Set between several different timelines the connection isn't revealed into much later in the book and the authors skill kept me guessing for much longer than I expected I would be however I was thoroughly enjoying the story too much to be guessing how it would all piece together.
A beautifully written yet harrowing story of life in the war, tragic loss, community, family and most of all love.
I received this advanced copy courtesy of Netgalley and Penguin Random House. Thank you.
3shinywindows's review
4.0
I enjoyed this book, the characters well written and it was fun to try to guess at what linked them all together. I find that books with multiple perspectives help me read them quicker and that was certainly the case with this. I really appreciated the way the three women were connected. I felt absorbed in the world of Edie, Kitty and Miriam. Thank you for letting me read it early!
alice94's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
I received this book as a ARC and I based off the synopsis I was very excited to read it, even as I started the story I was still excited about being able to read this book as I like mysteries and it is a type of book that I typically enjoy. It was originally put down as a romance book but there is nothing in the book that I would class as a romance book.
It is a story of three different time lines and how people's lives can intertwine together with them even expecting it. I know that in the synopsis it does say that it's the story of three women but as you start reading the book you realise that actually it's the story of time and how it effects those in it instead.
First part is set in London during WW1 however it's not just her story but also the story of everyone in London from all various social statuses who have different needs and what the war was like for those left behind while the men fought in the trenches. The second part, is in the prison camps from the perspective of Germans (especially those to sympathies with the Allies prisoners) and how every decision you made during the war despite it's side had a consequence. Then the third part, was from present time and how the decisions and lives of both those in the trenches and those left behind shapes the world as we know it today.
The reason why I gave it three starts instead of four or five is that despite the synopsis and how much I liked the story overall the world building was the main focus and sometimes even pushed the main story aside to the point that it was hard to read and hard to understand. I wish that some parts of the story would have been cut, not because they were irrelevant to the times but rather because they took away from the overall story overwhelmingly and you found yourself wondering how it relates but you were left feeling like it didn't.
It is a story of three different time lines and how people's lives can intertwine together with them even expecting it. I know that in the synopsis it does say that it's the story of three women but as you start reading the book you realise that actually it's the story of time and how it effects those in it instead.
First part is set in London during WW1 however it's not just her story but also the story of everyone in London from all various social statuses who have different needs and what the war was like for those left behind while the men fought in the trenches. The second part, is in the prison camps from the perspective of Germans (especially those to sympathies with the Allies prisoners) and how every decision you made during the war despite it's side had a consequence. Then the third part, was from present time and how the decisions and lives of both those in the trenches and those left behind shapes the world as we know it today.
The reason why I gave it three starts instead of four or five is that despite the synopsis and how much I liked the story overall the world building was the main focus and sometimes even pushed the main story aside to the point that it was hard to read and hard to understand. I wish that some parts of the story would have been cut, not because they were irrelevant to the times but rather because they took away from the overall story overwhelmingly and you found yourself wondering how it relates but you were left feeling like it didn't.
quirksoflife's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
The Story Collector takes readers on a captivating journey through time, connecting the lives of three women with threads of mysticism and the tarot. As someone unfamiliar with the tarot myself, I was pleasantly intrigued by the sprinkles throughout and the familiarity that quickly came.
There's a subtle but compelling sense of connection across the different eras, and although the ending may not follow the traditional path to a happy ending, turning the final page still leaves readers with a profound sense of growth.
Each character has a distinct voice and perspective and despite the differences in time and circumstance, the reader is skilfully invited to step into the shoes of these women. This ability, to evoke empathy in foreign situations, makes the book distinctly 'human' feeling. A wonderful book with a beautiful story that I'm sure to pick up again.
Thank you to NetGalley for access in exchange for an honest review.
There's a subtle but compelling sense of connection across the different eras, and although the ending may not follow the traditional path to a happy ending, turning the final page still leaves readers with a profound sense of growth.
Each character has a distinct voice and perspective and despite the differences in time and circumstance, the reader is skilfully invited to step into the shoes of these women. This ability, to evoke empathy in foreign situations, makes the book distinctly 'human' feeling. A wonderful book with a beautiful story that I'm sure to pick up again.
Thank you to NetGalley for access in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault, Violence, Pregnancy, and War