When Isla Larsen Sanchez was eight years old, her mother Elena sent her to Puerto Rico by herself for the first time, flying from New Jersey in the care of a flight attendant, as was usual for the 1970s. Ordinarily, Isla would spend summers in the town where her mother grew up, with both her parents and extended family. But when Isla’s Scandinavian father falls ill, Elena decides to stay behind to care for him while sending Isla to stay with Elena’s formidable though loving Tia Alma.

Isla has no cause to doubt her grandaunt’s love for her, unlike her contentious relationship with Alma’s sister, her own grandmother Marisol. Abuela has always been exacting, if not outright cruel, to both her daughter and granddaughter. There is, however, no resisting the allure of her cuentista, or storytelling, abilities as an older Isla recalls them:

QUOTE
What I loved best was that her stories always had a hint of magic woven through them, like a silver thread that glinted now and again. My abuela was never particularly kind to me, always criticizing and pointing out where I fell short compared to my cousins, but her tales were funny and nostalgic, and it was never clear if they were true. And, as I would come to learn, it didn’t really matter.
END QUOTE

When Tia Alma reacts poorly to an innocent exchange between Isla and Jose, the son of a native laborer, the first seeds of doubt are sown in Isla’s heart as to the uncompromising love of her beloved Puerto Rican family. Bad enough that her mother seems to be falling further and further into the bottle as the years go by. Things come to a head when Isla turns eighteen and begins to literally see the stories of her extended family come to life in increasingly intrusive ways.

With little to no support from the Sanchezes, Isla learns how to control these maddening visions by herself and lay them to rest. She’s actually rather intrigued by the ability these stories give her to consider her family history from a perspective otherwise left unspoken by her selectively tight-lipped relatives. But when the cuentos start to manifest in tangibly violent ways, Isla begins to fear for her physical safety, even before she finds herself witnessing the true circumstances of her great-grandfather’s death. According to her family, Bisabuelo had had a terminal illness. Her visions however show that he was murdered.

When her usual methods do nothing to lay this latest story to rest, Isla decides that the only way to stop the visions from recurring is to investigate what really happened that fateful day, no matter what ugly secrets she ends up bringing to light. Her granduncle Ramon, who is usually the most forthcoming of his generation, has this to tell her about his father:

QUOTE
“Those were difficult times here on the island. Your great-grandfather wanted to protect the life that his great-grandfather had built after arriving from España, and in his youth it was a time of great unrest. But he stayed strong and was proud of his pure blood, just two generations from Europe. And you should be too, Isla. Not one drop of blood, ni una gota de sangre, that is not European. Yes, you should be proud.” My great-uncle sat silently now, staring at the ground ahead of him.
END QUOTE

Aghast at this racism but not quite sure how to grapple with it, Isla embarks on an investigation that has her confronting not only her island’s history of race and class prejudice, but also what it means to be an unwitting child of privilege who never quite feels like she belongs.

The Storyteller’s Death is a frank coming-of-age tale featuring a heroine thrust into adulthood by her mother’s negligence yet who somehow remains curiously unsophisticated. I very much sympathized with Isla’s constant discomfort at being on the periphery of her many and disparate social circles, even as I wondered what it was about her that made it so difficult for her to adapt, chameleon-like, as her cousin Maria did. While this was Ann Davila Cardinal’s debut adult novel, it felt like it hadn’t really left behind the trappings of its Young Adult predecessors in her oeuvre, with a linear plot directing its naive heroine inexorably – and with only superficial self-examination – towards the truth.

For all that, it’s a moving novel that isn’t afraid to engage with important postcolonial issues as it seeks to reconcile Isla’s ideals with the truth about her family. It’s also a wonderful love letter to the natural and cultural beauty of Puerto Rico, particularly in the 1970s era in which it’s set. Above all, it’s a tribute to the power of storytelling, and to the legacy that stories can carry from one generation to the next.

Cardinal weaves an intoxicating tale of family secrets and lies that are uncovered by Isla, who begins to see visions when she is 18. This moves between the mainland US and Puerto Rico, where Isla spends her summers listening to her grandmother's stories. Her family has a long history of political activism but there's darkness there too, including a murder mystery. This is a quick read - in part due to the format- but it's one which is evocative and thoughtful, Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Intriguing.

Isla’s life changed dramatically after her father died, when her mother was consumed by grief and Isla was sent to stay with family in Puerto Rico. Isla learns upon her grandmother's death that she comes from a line of cuentistas, family storytellers. And after seeing the stories of her dead relatives play out before her eyes, Isla discovers that she’s a cuentista too.

This story is completely transportive, full of richly painted characters and family history. I absolutely love how the magical aspects of this book approach grief, memory, and legacy. And the note at the end about Ann Dávila Cardinal's inspiration for the book made it hit even harder! I adore this book and hope it finds its way into the hearts of many readers.

This is my first read by Ann Davila Cardinal and it certainly won't be my last. This story was rich in culture, hadp complex characters, and it beautifully represented grief and love. It had the perfect combination of magic, mystery, and family dynamics that was captivating and very relatable. The descriptions of Puerto Rico really made me feel like I was there. I have not read a book where the location was its own character and I loved that! If you enjoy coming of age stories with a vulnerable and relatable protagonist, I think you’ll really like this one.

4 stars

Thank you @sourcebooks and @netgalley for the early copy!

Grab your copy out 10/4 and if Cardinal is not on your radar she should be!

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The Storyteller’s Death is a coming of age story set in Puerto Rico and New Jersey, a murder mystery and a story about mother-daughter relationships through the generations. I enjoy reading stories about other cultures and countries and this one was well-done.

Written in an easy to read style, the story flowed well, the main character was very likeable and the Puerto Rican setting and culture were well described. I also enjoyed the elements of magical realism and the themes of racism, classism, feelings of not belonging, and the effect of long-hidden secrets on family relationships.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

What amazing book this was it was well written. I love how the story revolved Around the murder mystery and how this story was like love story but also How tragedy also played apart in the story. The main character named L SIA. She would spend summers with her great aunt named ALA M. She wasn't really interesting character because she was time to the past LSI a Mother was her sister. When you start reading the book it was kind of interesting because there's something going on about how they have care blood. Now that came from Spain do not mingle with the black people on the island.. Her aunt is to tell her her stories about passed and I'll something happened with the monkeys Lisa Start to have Visuals of what happened and she was frightened. Her aunt was a great storyteller but stopped Because of what happened. Jos It was her friend who helped her out with this too. She had her cousin Maria was really helpful so she stay with her. She had a lot to deal with as a child because her father died very young.. Story just weaves through a lot of things. It's interesting because it became like a puzzle and how you put the pieces in. When ALA NA die they died this is when the story really took off.

The Storyteller’s Death is well written and reads very fluidly. The setting is fantastic, in fact, the way you are transported to Puerto Rico was possibly my favourite thing about this book. I loved the character depth and certainly felt invested however, Isla’s story was a little depressing, which felt a bit much sometimes. The ending tied up very well, which was satisfying.

My rating of 4* is a personal one, as I do think it’s a great book, it just didn’t “catch” me in a way that I couldn’t stop reading or left me wanting more.

Isla Larsen Sanchez’s life starts to fall apart when her dad passes away. Dumped in Puerto Rico every summer by her alcoholic mother, Isla starts to develop a bond with her great-aunt.

When Isla turns 18, her grandmother dies, leaving behind a gift (or a curse) where Isla has visions. However, not all of the visions are pleasant. In fact, one of the visions involves an old murder mystery.

Is Isla in danger as she comes closer to discovering the truth?

My feelings for The Storyteller’s Death are a bit complicated. First and foremost, this book is a unique read. It has a really interesting plot and storyline, and I am glad that I read it. One of my favorite tropes is imperfect parents.

The book is very easy to read with short paragraphs, and it is a pretty quick read. Amazon currently has it priced at $7.99 so it is also very economical.

For the big reveal at the end, I did not see that one coming, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Now, for some hard truths……

I know that this book is classified as Young Adult, but it should have been a bit more sophisticated.
Victories didn’t feel earned. For example, Isla is essentially looking for a missing clue. What do you know? She finds the missing piece in less than one page. Sigh.

Also, every time Isla wanted to talk to someone, they were always the correct person, always very easy to contact. Everyone always had meaningful information, no false starts. Evidence was very easily located.

Characters should have been more developed. Most seemed to be all good or all bad. What about good people doing bad things? What about good people struggling?

The ending should have been stronger. The ending is cliché and wrapped up too nicely. I would highly recommend that the author read Daemon Voices by Philip Pullman.

Overall, The Storyteller’s Death is a unique read that I found enjoyable; however, this clay needs just a touch more molding.

*Thanks, NetGalley, for a copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.

A beautiful story of stories, secrets, families, & finding oneself.
Also featured the element of magical realism throughout which complemented the central theme of storytelling.
This is the author's first adult novel following her YA past, tho this too reads as more YA--still enjoyed it.
Gorgeous & meaningful cover!

With great thanks to NetGalley & Sourcebooks for this e-ARC!

The Storyteller's Death
Author, Ann Davila Cardinal
Pub date: 10.4.22

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the e- arc of this magical mystery novel!

After her father passes away, Isla Larsen Sanchez's mother begins to fly her to Puerto Rico to spend her summers with her great- aunt and grandmother. She acknowledges that life alone with her mother is difficult and rather than taking on the responsibility to care of her mother as she drowns her sorrows in alcohol, Isla begins to look forward to her care- free summers spent away with family.

At eighteen, after the death of her grandmother, a great cuentista or storyteller of the family passes away, Isla begins to have visions of her grandmother's stories- but not just as her grandmother told them, but rather how the story actually happened. Why is she witnessing events of stories that were never told and why is she witnessing them every single day? At first, she was amazed and a little excited about this family inheritance that no one speaks of, but after she witnesses an old family murder mystery, she's not so sure that her visions are actually a gift at all. When another Sanchez women dies, Isla begins to understand that she must learn the purpose of these particular visions and what she can do to make them stop repeating...

The Storyteller's Death is magical realism novel with a gripping murder mystery wrapped up in an intriguing family saga that takes place in the beautiful and atmospheric setting of Puerto Rico. Rich with traditions. customs, and Puerto Rican culture, this novel is filled with dangerous secrets and complex characters that will have you furiously turning the pages to learn the mystery of the Sanchez family while admiring the beautiful relationships between the flawed, but fabulous Sanchez women.

4.5 stars!

This book had a slow build-up for me. It took a minute for me to get into it. But once I did, I couldn't put it down; the last ten chapters went by fast. It had so much sadness and grief within it. And a family dealing with alcoholism and important family secrets. And the dead only wanted the truth of their stories told by the person given the vision.

Overall this was a good book, and I enjoyed it very much. I like reading books by authors different from me and being able to see how the culture differs from mine.

True to Cardina's style this is a novel weaving together family history, dark secrets, and magical realism.

This book really makes you think more into family history and what you may have missed or was hidden from you.

It really keeps you intrigued with twist and turns and definitely did not see the ending but it all adds up at the same time.

Isla is a very relatable character who is drug into her family’s history and uncovers a lot of information that many generations wanted hidden.

Isla's life changed when her father died when she was 8 years old. She started spending more time with her great aunt.

This book is a blend of coming of age, mystery, and magical realism.

The book is about the storyteller and family secrets. It also focuses on family love and bonding and friendship.
I liked Isla’s character. One can sympathise with her. She was sheltered at the beginning of the book, but as it went on, she took steps to uncover the secrets of the family. Isla's character development was brilliantly written, and the readers can see her growth.

All the characters and the character development throughout the book were well written, and it made them feel very realistic.

The description of Puerto Rico was fantastic.

The book started slowly but picked up the pace as Isla began to see visions. The plot was very gripping. The plot was written. I love the depth and layers in the plot. There were twists in the plot. The plot was very unpredictable.

It is an excellent read and highly recommended.

I loved how Cardinal weaved island life, culture, and history into an overarching coming-of-age story tackling issues such as racism, neglectful parenting/ family drama, and alcoholism. Although this book tackles a lot, it was spread throughout the story and did not feel overwhelming.

All the characters in the book were well developed. I quickly connected with the main character, Isla, and sympathized with her relationship with her mother. I also enjoyed seeing Isla and José’s friendship blossom throughout the years.

The first half of this story felt a bit slow, but after finishing the story, I understand why. The author is carefully developing the characters and overall plot. The second half picked up the pace once Isla started to unravel her family’s secrets and visions.

I appreciated the way the author mixed the Spanish and English languages into the story. It felt very authentic but still allowed the story to be easily read and understood.

I really enjoyed the ending and would recommend this to anywho who enjoys coming-of-age stories about family, love, privilege, and the culture of Puerto Rico.

Reviews will be posted on BN & Amazon on pub day.

Ever since she was eight years old, and following her father’s death, Isla Larsen Sánchez has spent every summer in Puerto Rico under the care of her maternal grand-aunt Alma and the Sánchez clan. We get to know her impressions of her mother’s side of the family as well as the contrast she draws between her life on the island and the life she leads back home in New Jersey, where living with her alcoholic mother is an everyday struggle, leaving her feeling ashamed and neglected for. As she turns eighteen, and upon the death of her maternal grandmother (deemed a storyteller or “cuentista”), Isla starts to have visions of one of her tales. As she navigates questions about her cultural identity and her maternal family’s legacy, beliefs, and prejudice, her visions become more vivid, putting her in a collision course with her family’s long-held secrets.

Told from Isla’s point of view, this novel is a coming-of age story. The plot felt slow during the first half of the book, but then moved quickly as Isla starts to deal with her visions and tries to understand life in Puerto Rico outside her family dynamic. I enjoyed the vibrant descriptions of the island’s scenery, and the openness and affection of Isla’s cousin María. However, having lived in Puerto Rico most of my life, until recently, I struggled to engage/connect with some aspects of the story. Also, the ending left some questions unanswered. Overall, this book did not work for me, even though I recognize its appeal to those who enjoy themes of coming-of-age, and magical realism.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with a free digital copy to review this book prior to its release.

#NetGalley#netgalleyreviews#netgalleyreads#bookstagram#booktrovert#netgalleyreview #netgalleyreviewer

Every family has a story, but when your family has a legacy as storytellers, your story is so much more complex. Isla loses her father and begins spending more time with her grandmother, a wonderful story teller, in Puerto Rico.

When he grandmother dies, Isla discovers the story telling is a gift that has been passed down to her and she embraces it. Then she finds that it’s more than just telling stories, but that it’s a continuous cycle and soon has a vision that could cost her more than she’s knew they gift would cost her.

I cannot even begin to tell you how much I loved this book! It is beyond anything I could have expected. It’s touching, it’s heartbreaking, it’s yard to put down, and it’s fabulous!

3.5 stars

Isla Larsen Sanchez is a New Jersey teen whose family spends part of every summer with relatives in Puerto Rico.
When her father becomes ill, her mother takes her to stay with her Great-Aunt Alma, but returns home after only a few days. When her father dies, Isla is sent to Alma alone.

The death of her grandmother brings a nightmare into Isla’s life. Her grandmother loved to tell a particular uncomfortable story, and Isla finds herself living the story in visions which manifest at the same time every day. She’s afraid to tell anyone in her family but a neighbor says that storytellers have to tell their story. Isla manages to wrangle this vision by writing it down, but then, with each death, more visions appear that can’t be erased, each one bringing her closer to a tragic family secret.

Ann Davila Cardinal paints a bright picture of San Juan in the 1970’s through the 1980’s, with close families and careful manipulations to keep secrets close. Isla feels abandoned by her mother and turns to Alma and her cousin Maria for support. She’s juggling a lot—growing up, her lost parents, these visions, and the urge to grasp what these nightmares are really about. There’s a satisfying conclusion to “The Storyteller’s Death” but the novel reads more of a YA piece than something for adults.

This book very easily shot up to the top of the list of my favorite books of the year, and maybe of all time.

There is a warmth and a coziness to this story. But there is also grief and pain. Its balanced so well that you never feel overwhelmed by any of the "bad" things that happen in the story, but rather you feel a sense of empathy for the characters, our protagonist Isla especially.

This story is about stories, but its also about family legacy, family secrets, perception of self, perception of others and national pride. Puerto Rico is as much a character in this book as any of the others and Cardinal paints a rich and vibrant picture of the island, so much so that, while I've never been, I feel as if I have experienced it.

I found the fact that Cardinal wove together Isla's discovery of family secrets with the uncovering of political and racial unrest in her family fascinating. They do so often go together. Isla's island family is wealthy, but she doesn't necessarily see it as such, perhaps because she's viewing island life through the lens of an american who does struggle to get by. to peel back the layers of how her family, descendant from Spanish settlers, feels about those with more native blood was eye opening, for me as much as for Isla.

The stories themselves function as a conduit for Isla's learning and growth. She is young and sheltered when she first receives her gift, but because of the visions, she has to grow up. She learns things that have been kept from her. She is able to understand her family on a more intimate level, and to understand that everyone hides things, twists the truth, lies. but its not always for the wrong reasons. Through her struggles with her gift and trying to learn how it works, isla repairs relationships and even brings peace to other family members who have been silently struggling right along side her.

history, especially family history, is not black and white. its multi-faceted and full of brilliant colors. Cardinal has done an exceptional job at showing this to the reader. She excels at making small moments so poignant that they feel all the more special and powerful (one in particular sticks with me... it involves a sleepover)

This book is many-layered and each layer, as it peels back, is so satisfying to discover and savor.

This novel about a Puerto Rican girl discovering a family legacy of storytelling is not quite what I expected.

As a simply told coming of age story, I found it very effective. Isla is a lonely and socially awkward girl dealing with her father’s death and her mother’s alcoholism. She is sent to spend her summers with relatives in Puerto Rico, where she is not fluent in Spanish and feels out of place. I enjoyed her slow immersion and understanding of the culture and political issues, as well as her growing friendship with her cousin Maria and a romance with a childhood friend.

The storytelling aspect, on the other hand, left something to be desired. The “old women dying in the back room” mentioned in the opening chapter are barely a factor, and there is little contribution from any living cuentistas. Instead, Isla has bizarre visions of dead cuentistas’ stories. The visions are daily at the same time and cause physical reactions and even injuries to Isla in public. The main vision was an unresolved mystery, which might have been fine if it had been the only one, but Isla and others like her are plagued by all sorts of random stories for no apparent reason. Others may find this enchanting but it just did not work for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.