Sarah lands herself on an unplanned trip to Ireland over the holidays. Reeling from a divorce. She soon becomes immersed in the legend and folklore of the village.

This book has mystery, romance and exudes a deep sense of love and loss.

A must read.

Thank you to #netgalley for the ARC.

The title in itself is to lure oneself to read this book. A mysterious, romantic, and captivating story that guides you through the life of Anna and Sarah. If you enjoyed The Lost Bookshop you will adore this one.

I received a copy of The Story collector by Evie Woods from HarperCollins and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. I love magical realism and I loved this book. I will definitely read more.

This is an interesting novel that didn't quite go where I expected - which, in this case, made it better. Sarah is an American woman who needs to get away from her life for a little while, and who flies to Ireland to do it, where by chance she finds a 100 year-old diary. The diary was written by Anna, a young woman who lived in the same house Sarah is currently staying in. Anna's diary is very detailed, and gives a beautiful historical perspective of Ireland in the early 1900s. There are parallels between Sarah's and Anna's lives - enough to augment Sarah's interest in Anna's life, to the point that she goes looking for information about Anna's life after she stopped writing in the diary, but not so similar as to seem unlikely. I was expecting more in the way of fairies from this novel; they are present, but in an entirely different way than I expected. The "story collector" referred to in the title is an American scholar, Harold, who is collecting stories about fairies for his thesis - a thesis that is eventually published in a book. This novel will appeal to anyone who enjoys historical novels with a bit of fantasy thrown in, as well as coming-of-age novels set in the past. Recommended for teens and adults.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley and Evie Woods, for the e-arc. All opinions are my own, and are being left voluntarily.

This was a dual-timeline, historical, magical, and mysterious read. This book was a little slow paced for my liking, and fell a little flat for me.

There is just something so magical about Ireland! I loved the way this book portrayed fairy folk and the feelings towards them. The dual past/ present perspective was interesting and continued to make me wish for more. Each character mentioned was important and intentional to the storyline. I wish there was more romance. I felt that both the past and the present rushed the storyline more than was necessary and left me feeling slightly unfulfilled. However, I do think this book felt genuine to Irish folklore and I felt immersed in the story. Very very sweet!

I want to thank the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a cute and cozy read for me, and I ran through it pretty quickly. I loved learning about the local fairy lore, but ultimately, think this story fell short. I wish that there was more interaction between the current-time main character and the fairies, and I wish that the dialogue was better. I found myself often cringing at the dialogue between characters - finding it both cheesy and unbelievable.

Unfortunately, I think this is one you could skip.

What a beautiful novel. The descriptions took me straight to Ireland. Again I'm such a fan of dual timelines and it works so well here. If you are a fan of Emily Wilde and want something not "quite" so fantatical, you will love this book.

I liked aspects of this book (the fairy story connections, the dark fairytale versions particularly) and the lead character was appealing in her struggles with life. I do think the romance felt a bit forced, and the trauma the lead character finally deals with could be quite triggering for young women (it was hard to read). I adored her previous book The Lost Bookshop, and while it had some very serious issues in it as well, it seemed to have more magic and spots of light that I appreciated a bit more

Thank you Evie Woods and One More Chapter for a #gifted copy.

This was an interesting dual timeline book. Magic realism? A little romance? Drama? All included.

I appreciated the overall story and found the inclusion of the fairy stories fascinating. I think that the author did a great job including it in the story. In both timelines.

It did take me a while to really get invested in the story, though. But once I was hooked, I couldn’t stop reading. It was tough to put down!

Overall, it was a fun, magical realism novel! Definitely enjoyed it.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, received from Evie Woods and One More Chapter through NetGalley. However, all thoughts and views reflected are strictly my own opinions.

On the way to visit her parents Sarah makes a last minute decision to fly to Ireland instead. Trying to escape her life for a bit she discovers a diary written 100 years ago by Anna who is helping an American scholar collect stories about fairies. I liked the alternating stormy lines. I liked the stories of folklore in a small town mixed with bigger issues such as dealing with grief. The was a quick read with some interesting characters.

Synopsis: Sarah flies to Ireland and uncovers a mysterious story about Anna, and Irish woman who lived 100 years before.

Thoughts: oof. This was not great. It dragged and I couldn’t even force myself to finish. The first book that I’ve ever DNF. Something about the writing style and the characters didn’t feel developed enough. I had zero attachment to any character.

Thank you to Evie Woods, Harper360 and NetGalley for the copy.

This book was mysterious, magical and exactly what I was hoping for! Sarah and Anna were each such a relatable characters in many different ways.

I enjoyed the dual timeline aspect and felt the jump between time periods was well done and not confusing as I’ve experienced in other books.

This book makes me interested to visit Ireland and learn more about the Irish folklore!

The Story Collector is a captivating story that draws on the unique fantasy life that is part of Irish culture. Sarah Harper doesn't realize she is looking for an escape when she spontaneously boards a plane for Ireland instead of one to visit her sister at Christmas. Little does she know the decision will transform her life as she lands in an Irish village where the past and the present collide. Thus begins a tale of self-discovery and healing that draws on the rich, magical lore that dominates Irish life to this day. The format of the book successfully alternates between the present and the past, and the characters in each era are wonderfully developed. A quote from Roald Dahl is rightly used to sum up the fine line that divides reality and magic: "Those who don't believe in magic will never find it."

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a galley proof to read.

Evie Woods is a masterful storyteller.

This historical fiction tale features the folklore of fairies in Ireland. Told through the past and present, we learn how the events from long ago come alive when a long-lost diary is found in the hollow of a tree.

I was transported to the lush landscape of Ireland and its history of superstitions for a historical mystery with a bit romance.

Can't wait for what Woods writes next!

Thank you, Harper 360 | Harper360

The Story Collector by Evie Woods is a charming tale woven with an undeniable magic. This story crosses the boundaries of time to bring together the lives of Anna Butler and Sarah Harper, two women separated by a century, but connected by their grief, hope, and a shared fascination of The Good People.

Following a tragic loss, Sarah is at her breaking point. Guided by a ceramic sheep and a mysterious newspaper article telling of the magical Thornwood Tree, she boards a plane headed for the Western coast of Ireland. Fleeing her grief and an estranged husband, she finds peace in the simple walls and warmth of Butler's cottage. It is there that she discovers the diary of Anna Butler, nestled in the roots of an ancient tree.

Anna lives in a simple cottage with her parents and brothers. In her diary, she tells of her adventures as assistant to the handsome American visitor, Harold Griffin-Kraus. Harold has made magic his mission as he translates fairy tales from their original Irish to English. Serving as interpreter between Harold and the villagers, Anna listens as her friends and neighbors tell of encounters with The Good People and the magic of the Underworld. Anna's own encounters with the fairies and the dark magic that dwells within Thornwood Hall change her life, and force her to question what she believes.

Through Anna's words and encounters with the locals, Sarah feels her grief begin to heal. With renewed hope and the promise of love, she finds a home in her new surroundings. Lead by the stories around her and a growing fascination with the mythical tales of Ireland, Sarah seeks the end of Anna's story. As the echoes of the past guide her, her life is forever changed by the magic of Ireland and the mystical people within its hills.

4-stars to The Story Collector; a wonderous adventure steeped in the ancient magic of Irish folklore. Beautifully told through the words of Evie Woods, this is a story that I will enjoy for years to come.

The word that best comes to mind with this story is charming. Bouncing back and forth between pre-war Ireland and contemporary times as well as the mystical and practical, the story weaves together a cast of interesting and realistic characters. The author manages to convey the time period of each narrative section through her prose alone, which is gorgeous and descriptive, without being unnecessarily effusive.

I sometimes struggle with cozier fantasy if it’s too slow or low-stakes, but this story had such rich characterization it felt as much like I was reading about their lives as I was the faerie stories. I did prefer the past story-line to the present (I felt the romance was a little unnecessary and forced), but this didn’t take away from the overall pacing of the book.

Would recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

This was absolutely different than what I’ve read in such a long time. It was whimsical, it was cultural, and it was heart breaking. How Evie Woods took folklore and weaved it into modern day was beautiful. It all connected and all made so much sense. It was amazing learning so much about Ireland and some of the beliefs they have. This makes me want to visit and check out small towns that have this rich history to learn more.

Not only was this a tale of a folklore, but a tale of loss and new found love. I can’t wait to read more of her books!

A beautifully written dual timeline with sprinkling of magic! I loved the characters in both stories and never wanted it to end!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This duel timeline book is beautiful and lovely. The historical timeline relates the story of a farm girl in Ireland that meets an American doing a dissertation on the folklore of fairies and other mythical creatures alongside the role they play in the cultures in which they're told. He enlists her to help him find the stories around town and in local towns as they finally take in the lore of the castle and ruling family of the area. In the modern timeline, an artist leaves her husband on Christmas, claiming to go spend time with her family but too much alcohol and an article read as she waited had her waking in Ireland as well. She finds herself exploring the same small town. the same stories, and the journal containing the story of American and the farm girl.
The way the stories weave together, the tragedies among the healing, the concrete among the ethereal create a magical story with a lovely backdrop. It was fascinating to learn culture through the characters and watch the modern and historical come together.

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