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A review by bookswithlydscl
The Story Collector by Iris Costello
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.