This book was very cute. The romance was enjoyable and the fantasy aspects were fantastical. A good fun time that I would recommend to others.

I received a copy of The Story collector by Evie Woods from HarperCollins and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. I’m usually not a fan of magical realism but I really enjoy this novel, and it combines well the everyday and the otherworldly, the Irish people’s belief mythology, fairies, and Celtic folklore. Five stars from me, I learnt some fairies are good and others are bad and I’m keen to read Ms. Woods previous book, The Lost Bookshop. t's a historical fiction novel mainly about Irish beliefs of fairies, and superstitions. In the description it says it's a historical romance. And there's romance in it, but it's not the focus of the book. It would be undermining all the other elements in it. The book is written in a way that it's alternating between past and present, which is a style I love. It's very beautifully and skillfully written in my opinion. I loved the main characters. I loved the different stories integrated into the main stories. This book also has a very magical vibe that's close to movie "The Holiday". That's why I couldn't put it down, it just warmed my heart. I would definitely recommend this book to people who love to travel through time, or to different places and learn about different customs happening somewhere else.

This appears to be a re-release of the book (originally published in 2018) and is a dual timeline (1910 and 2010) taking place in the small village of Thornwood on the west coast of Ireland centering around Anna, a young farm girl and Sarah, a New Yorker trying to find herself following a tragic event and subsequent separation from her husband.

When an intriguing American academic (Harold) shows up on her family’s doorstep, Anna volunteers to assist him in translating local folklore surrounding the Good Folk (fairies) for a book he’s writing. We get lots of fascinating folklore tales, and Harold is eager to perpetuate the art of storytelling to keep Irish traditions alive for the next generation. Following an otherworldly, horrific event/murder in which an innocent person is arrested, Anna and Harold have some difficult and heart wrenching decisions to make concerning their futures.

Sarah “accidently” finds herself in Ireland as she seeks time alone to come to terms with a devastation loss. While there, she discovers Anna’s diary and becomes immersed in her story. She also meets her landlord who is recovering from his own loss and raising a teenaged daughter.

I actually preferred Anna’s story here. It’s filled with intriguing stories, and I found both Anna and Harold very compelling. Sarah’s story did not have the pull for me that Anna’s did. And for me, the endings for both timelines left me a bit disappointed and unsatisfied.

My thanks to NetGalley and Harper 360 for providing the free arc of The Story Collector for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

What a cozy, magical story. The dual timeline was super easy to follow and I loved all the Irish folklore. This was my first historical fiction with magical elements and I couldn’t put it down!

This books has great reviews but I just could not get into it. I don’t feel like there was enough character development to keep me interested in the story, or perhaps it just wasn’t my thing.

Absolutely loved the dual timeline, magical setting of the book. The main character was complex and well written. I wish we got to know more of Anne and Harold’s life.

I enjoyed this book. Magical and romantic are the best words to describe this story of love, loss and grief. I liked the dual timelines built around the same magical location through the use of a diary. The characters were well developed and relateable. I felt the ending was a bit rushed, though.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a magical story. I loved the different timelines and stories and the sense of Irish magic in the book. This was such a fun and endearing story. I was so enamored with it and the characters journeys.

The Story Collector was a enjoyable book. I really liked the characters and it was well written. I was pulled into the story and lost myself in the lives of the characters. This was a quick read.

Two story lines. One about a young American escaping her life and the other about fairies in Ireland. Story telling was very nice.

Another great novel by Evie Woods. Ireland, fairy folklore, and the power of healing. This story sets us up to believe in all of this. I loved each character Evie’s writing. You can tell her love of Ireland through her storytelling. Amazing characters and I loved the fairy aspect.

Evie Woods' "The Story Collector" is a mesmerizing blend of historical fiction and magical realism that transports readers to the enchanting landscapes of Ireland. The beauty of the country is brought to life in the book and you will find yourself immersed in the story of two women which takes place in two different times.

The storytelling is evocative and immersive, capturing the essence of Irish culture and the magic that permeates everyday life. The characters are richly developed, and the dual timelines are seamlessly interwoven, creating a narrative that is both compelling and thought-provoking.

It is a lovely book that will have you longing to visit the land of the magic - in your reading and in real life!

Many thanks to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the digital review copy via NetGalley

Two times, two women, one place full of secrets and mystery.

The Story Collector by Evie Woods is her second book and is a really interestingly interwoven story of two timelines brought together by a singular location. It’s a really fun, mysterious, slightly frightening story that would be interesting to see on screen.

I really love that it starts with a mini horror story to get things revved up while also introducing the idea of fairies, changlings, and death. But then flipping to present time and expressing the chaotic world of a woman in New York.

I enjoyed the familial themes within as well as the dichotomy of the relationships between the characters. Plus only giving just enough information at a time to keep us wondering what the heck is going on while also keeping us intrigued to keep going.

I love the randomness, thoughtless, and spontaneousness of Sarah and how it’s on a whole other level. I’m all for it! I don’t want to go into too much detail and give anything away, but I can definitely say this one kept me engaged and trying to answer questions that popped up. Some of which I may or may not have gotten totally wrong! Haha Anywho, it’s really interesting to see how the two timelines flow together and you should check it out too.

Once again, I’d highly recommend this for anyone who enjoys parallel storylines, mysteries, dark secrets, magical realism, and lost, forgotten, or unheard folk stories.

Other books to check out: The Garden of Memories, Misplaced Magic, Found in a Bookshop, The Bookbinder’s Daughter, The Lost Bookshop, and Evie’s next book!

*This was an honest review for a complimentary copy of The Story Collector from Evie Woods via NetGalley

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I read this book last Fall, but somehow forgot to submit my review. I was mild on this book, neither loving or hating it. I did like the dual time narrative and the little touch of magic but also had difficulty connecting with the characters and the story.

3.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This novel would be a great study in an English course or deep dive book club. The parallels between the two characters from different timelines and how they intertwined yet never touched.

If I were to create a checklist of things I am unlikely to ever turn down in books, there is a high chance that it would be
•books about books
•drastically different timelines that parallel each other
•a story that reads like a Zelda side quest
This book has all of that and it is absolutely delightful. We have two women finding themselves through the stories of others in a small Irish town and the folklore that has weaved its way through the people who live there.

Evie Woods is an amazing author. I was totally drawn in and taken away while reading this story. This was a total comfort read for me, which was needed with the dreary winter happening right now. Just pure magic! Loved it!

This book combines Irish folklore and historical fiction. Anna lives one hundred years ago in a small village. There is someone going around collecting folk tales and Irish folklore. Anna, very familiar with her neighborhood, accompanies him on his rounds, guiding him to the next great storyteller. Along the way, they meet the wealthy family and Anna falls in love with the young man. As many readers know, this will not end well.

Fast forward one hundred years. Sarah gets on a plane, bound for her sister's home, but instead, because she had too much to drink, ends of on a plane bound for Ireland. She decides to sort herself out and rents a cottage (Anna's former home) and starts exploring the area. She discovers Anna's journal, hidden in the base of a tree older than the community. Reading the journal, exploring, meeting new people, and finding answers to questions that have not been answered for many years, and also finding some answers for herself.

I loved that this one was dual time and I love that the main point of the story was the fairy stories

A story that intertwines history, mystery, and magic into dual timelines. The pace is not rushed and the author has an elegant way with words that brings emotional depth. Overall an enchanting story for those who love historical fiction sprinkled with a little magic!