The Story Peddler

4.5

A really enjoyable clean fantasy read. I loved the way the main character could create real objects from her stories and the emphasis on the power of stories to change the world. It was also refreshing to have female characters I really liked - especially Braith who kept trying to do her best under difficult circumstances, but also Tanwen.

The ending was great especially in relation to Braith. I was definitely cheering.

I am curious about how the Tanwen / Brac / Mor situation will pan out in the next book, but I’m shipping Brac and Tanwen. Any one else? Or are we all supposed to be Mor fans???

Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this. All thoughts are my own.

First off, let’s take a moment to acknowledge the GORGEOUS cover!
The story which Franklin spun was unique in so many ways. I mean, a story peddler who creates strands of color with her hands then crystalizes those into something solid? Just beautiful. Then there were also the names of animals; for example, fluff-hoppers. Obviously rabbits, but it made these mundanes creatures seem magical. Another interesting thing was the last names. Like En-Yestin and Bo-Bradwir. It took me a bit to get used to, but this was a unique twist as well. And finally, what about phrases like, “Mind your own onions?” Honestly, I had to reread that one the first time it came up. It’s too good to be true :)
Okay, enough rambling… The heroine, Tanwen, was very down to earth and I could easily relate to her. I had expected her to end up as some superhero who single-handedly saves the day; however, it wasn’t like that at all. Yes, she was brave, selfless, and kind, but - to put it simply - it was natural. The other characters in this novel were colorfully portrayed as well and I quickly fell in love with each of the Corsyth Weavers as well as Princess Braith.
Moving on to the plot. It ambled along at a nice pace, not boring me with details and not moving so quickly I was left behind in the dust. In addition, the ending was exquisite. It left me satisfied, yet at the same time wanting to read the next book.
One thing, though, which I found slightly confusing, was the essence of the story strands. I’m still not 100% sure what they are. Are they supposed to be some sort of gifting? Some sort of magic? Art that is in the form of color? The book began with Tanwen telling a story and I realized right away that the color thingies were coming from her fingers because that’s what the cover shows, but I didn’t know why or how?
Lastly, this was a wonderfully clean read and as a result, I was able to fully enjoy it.
I definitely recommend this book!

What a great story - a teenage girl, Tanwen, is a storyteller and an artist. But her art comes from her fingers in ribbons of colored light that turn into a solid object, which can transform into other things according to the plot of the story. Tanwen is only supposed to tell kingdom-sanctioned stories, she usually does, but sometimes she adds her own endings, which can get her into trouble with the kings soldiers or even the king himself!
Tanwen told a story about the King’s daughter, Braith, and how she was the hope of the kingdom, and while she was telling it, a forbidden strand of light appeared in her story, and a man wearing a hood bought the flower that appeared at the end of her story. The hooded man sent a message to the king and he was angry about what Tanwen did, but his daughter Braith, a wise and compassionate young woman, tried to ask her father to show mercy to Tanwen.
Tanwen finally got the king’s attention when she told a treasonous story. You will have to read the book for yourself to find out about the storyteller’s abilities, Tanwen’s flight, and her miraculous new friends

Absolutely adored this debut novel from Lindsay A. Franklin. Stunning world-building and engrossing characters make it easy to slip into the pages of this fantasy and forget about the world. Rather than the epic fantasies like A Game of Thrones, Franklin's storytelling steps along the path of a realistic, whimsical reverie. I've put it on the shelf alongside my favorite books like Dodger by Terry Pratchett, Olivia Twist by Lorie Langdon, and Stardust by Neil Gaiman.

I read this book in less than 24 hours because I couldn't put it down. I can't wait for the rest of the trilogy to come out!

The Story Peddler by Lindsay A. Franklin released 01/05/2018

Has anyone else read this book? Its incredible!

It has one of the most original magic systems I've ever read. The magic brought by art - this book follows a story peddler, Tanwen who accidentally upsets the king with outlawed story strands, and the stories are created by weaving light together to create tangible items, such as a fir tree crystal figure, etc. It also follows Braith who is the kings daughter who wants to make a difference between the outlawed and the people.

I'm not doing a great description of this book, and I don't feel as though I can wait for the next books, so I'm gushing over what I've read so far and I'm enamoured with it because of the originality of the story itself. I like the characters and I like what I've read so far! I do recommend this book completely.

Sent to me as an ARC from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I can so picture this.
This would make a spectacular movie or series. Animators would have a blast!

From farmland to palace, simple clothes to gowns, secrets and an orphan looking for guidance. Set in a syfy world, this author is a master weaver. In this story some characters have a talent to tell a story and make it visual, with swirls of colors and objects flowing from their hands as they speak. Tanwen aspires to a life telling stories for the king, not realizing at first the tyrant he is. She did know that he has outlawed stories not sanctioned by him and found it hard to comply, which put her and those around her in great danger. His kingdom is full of goddess worship by force, but some still only worship the Creator. This story is very well written and is a place I am looking forward to seeing more of.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Story Peddler
by Lindsay A. Franklin
Gilead Publishing
Enclave
Christian , Sci Fi & Fantasy
Pub Date 01 May 2018
I am reviewing a copy of The Story Peddler through Enclave and Netgalley:


The Story Peddler is the story of Tanween she is a storyteller who does far more than just tell stories, she creates them into crystal sculptures that sell for a good deal of money. But there is only one way that she can get out of the grips of her cruel mentor and get out of poverty, she must become the storyteller to the King, it is then that she can become free.



Will Tanween become storyteller to the king, ensuring her freedom and security? Or Will she continue to have to work for her Cruel Mentor?


Find out in The Story Peddler !

Five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

This one was amazing! I loved the world building and characters, and the surprising twists to the story. I can't wait for the next book to come out!

This book was such a pleasant surprise! The magic was enthralling and I loved that it started out as a job for the main character but became so much more! Speaking of main characters, Tanwen is a wonderful storyteller and her voice throughout the novel is wonderful because you feel her bringing you along on her story, What I didn’t expect was that there would be secrets, pirates, and a completely second voice telling her story. We meet Braith along the way and her story is the perfect companion to Tanwen.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys stories like Percy Jackson, The Looking Glass Wars, or even Harry Potter!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Story Peddler is about a young woman who has a special talent to weave stories where her words create beautiful representation of the story to please her audience's eyes. When she finishes, they crystalize into a lovely object, which she hopes to sell. She is kind-hearted and hard-headed. She dreams to become the Royal Storyteller and live happily ever after. Of course, she is in for a rude awakening.

The story is engaging and well-written. The characters are personable, driving us to turn the page to see how it will all end. While the story wraps up nicely, it also promises us more adventures to come. I look forward to seeing where Tanwen goes next and how her decisions will play out. Highly recommended for those who love stories like Dragonspell by Donita K. Paul, The Last Motley by DJ Edwardson, and Orphan's Song by Gillian Bronte Adams.

*I received a free copy from Netgalley to read and review.

Gorgeous, imaginative, and solidly places Franklin on my must read list! Completely believable world building and engaging, lively characters converge with one of the most original and fun concepts I’ve had the pleasure of reading! Lindsay A. Franklin is an author to watch!

The Story Peddler is a strong start in the new Weaver Trilogy. Tanwen is a story peddler; she weaves stories with her hands, ribbons of light becoming crystallised sculptures. But she is only permitted to tell royally-approved stories for small-town folk, so she dreams of becoming storyteller to the King. But Tanwen’s gifts cannot be controlled, putting her in danger. She meets a band of outlaw story weavers, discovering more about her story telling powers, as well as shocking secrets.

I found this a wonderfully imaginative story. The magic system created for this series is enchanting and original. I loved the beautiful descriptions of the stories being woven in the air. There world-building is simple and strong, leaving it open to expansion in future stories.

I found Tanwen to be a very endearing character and narrator and enjoyed the mixture of interesting characters and the relationships between them. The book is a complete and fulfilling story on its own, but ends with a hint of what will happen next. I look forward to meeting the characters again for the next book and am eager to follow them on their adventures.

Lindsay A. Franklin is one imaginative and talented writer. The Story Peddler may not have crystallized in my hand, but the descriptions came to life in my head. The characters are fantastic, the setting spectacular, and the story is amazing. I love that Tanwen is a spunky character ready to discover her life. The many folks she meets along the way add a flair that only a good fantasy can boast. The Christian truths woven throughout the story add an element of depth and wisdom. The Story Peddler reminds me of one of my favorite fantasy books, The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo (but written for adults.) This book is every bit as good. The first book in the trilogy, I guarantee, will leave you wanting more. I received this e-book free from NetGalley with no expectation of a good or bad review.

This book was amazing! I'm not sure how am I am going to wait for the next one to come out because I am already so anxious! There is a reason this book has such high ratings! It is the best book I have read in awhile!!

Tanwen is a story peddler that creates sculptures from the stories she creates for audiences in the small villages she visits. She dreams to one day become the Royal Storyteller, yet after a big mishap where some unauthorized threads appear, she is a wanted woman and the king will stop at nothing to get her, dead or alive. Tanwen, along with a host of other rebel weavers who come to her rescue are such enticing characters. They are fun to read about and Franklin has truly created a masterpiece with the way the characters come to life in the story. In fact, the whole story is so masterfully depicted. I loved the dialect of the people and this new and interesting world she creates through the story.

Braith, the other protagonist in the story, is just as likable and tenacious and fascinating as Tanwen. Despite the heinous individuals that surround her, she is so wholesome and refreshing next to the other members at court. Each of the characters are so well thought out and dynamic in their own right.

This book was also clean and totally appropriate for children for all ages too. This is always a plus for me as I do not enjoy when books are too crude or use foul language. She had none of either though!

I truly could not put this book down and upon finishing it, it was one of those books where it is hard to come back to reality as your mind is still wrapped around the story and entwined with the plot and characters. I was amazed to not find a whole collection of other novels from Franklin as I found her to be a very skillful and brilliant writer. Yes, my very first thought was that I needed to acquire all of her other books to immediately read and fuel my obsession with her addicting writing! I will definitely be watching for her second book to this series like a hawk! I can't wait to see where this thrilling fantasy series will go next!!

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest and unbiased opinion.

This is one of the best fiction books I have read in a long time!

It is fantasy in the tradition of C.S. Lewis and Madeleine L'Engle. I was hooked from the start and plowed through the book in 3 days. The main character, Tannie, is believable. She acts how a real person would in her less than ordinary situations. All of the characters have dimensions. You don't just love the good guys and hate the bad guys. You relate to them via their good points and their flaws. I can't wait for the next book to come out and see how the story continues!

I want to gush! Can I gush?
Wowwwwwww

"“Most people’s lives were stories with mysterious endings. Mine was a story with a beginning I could never make sense of. It was like fifty different unrelated strands I couldn’t weave into a solid crystal."

This is by far one of my favorite books of the year! Captivating writing, unique plot and endearing characters.
I was completely lost in this setting full of story peddlers, fluff-hoppers, marsh-grazers, colormasters and enough mystery to keep you up at night!

I truly believe this is a book for all ages!