REVIEW: The Story Collector by Evie Woods

 

Synopsis

In a quiet village in Ireland, a mysterious local myth is about to change everything…

One hundred years ago, Anna, a young farm girl, volunteers to help an intriguing American visitor translate fairy stories from Irish to English. But all is not as it seems and Anna soon finds herself at the heart of a mystery that threatens her very way of life.

In New York in the present day, Sarah Harper boards a plane bound for the West Coast of Ireland. But once there, she finds she has unearthed dark secrets – secrets that tread the line between the everyday and the otherworldly, the seen and the unseen.

With a taste for the magical in everyday life, Evie Woods's latest novel is full of ordinary characters with extraordinary tales to tell.

Format 358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 18, 2024 by One More Chapter
ISBN 9780008706661 (ISBN10: 0008706662)

About the Author

Evie Woods is the author of The Lost Bookshop, the #1 Wall Street Journal and Amazon Kindle and Sunday Times bestseller, which has now sold over half a million copies. She is also the author of The Story Collector, The Heirloom and The Mysterious Bakery on Rue De Paris under her real name, Evie Gaughan.

Living on the West Coast of Ireland, Evie escapes the inclement weather by writing her stories in a converted attic, where she dreams of underfloor heating. Her books tread the intriguing line between the everyday and the otherworldly, revealing the magic that exists in our ordinary lives.

Learn more about the author

Setting / Location

The majority of this story takes place in County Clare in western Ireland.

Minor road from Ogonnelloe to Carrowcore, Co. Clare by P L Chadwick,
CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

On her way to her sister's while nursing a broken heart, Sarah makes the abrupt decision to fly to Ireland after reading a news article. While there she finds an old diary and experiences a love story from a century before.

My Thoughts

Where Thornwood House now stands was once ancient woodland.

The Story Collector by Evie Woods is an enchanting tale that intertwines history, mystery, and romance into a captivating read. Woods' storytelling prowess shines through as she skillfully brings to life a world rich with characters and immersive settings. The dual protagonists' journeys of discovery keep readers engaged and eager to turn the pages.

Sarah embarks on an unexpected journey to a small village in western Ireland after reading a story of a magical fairy tree (and imbibing a bit too much before her flight). After finding herself in a strange town without available shelter, a kind hotel manager finds her lodging in a nearby cottage rented by a local family. She decides to embrace her circumstances and work on healing her broken heart and "finding" herself and then discovers the diary of an old cottage tenant from a century before and the mystery surrounding her.

Oran is the cottage owner, and a single father and widower who is nursing his own broken heart while fumbling to raise a teenage girl. 

"Was he trying to keep the painful memories in or keep happiness out?"

Woods weaves an evocative story rife with descriptive passages that beautifully paint the backdrop of the quaint town, of two people in one timeline navigating pain and grief, and two people in another time navigating life and new love. The blend of historical and contemporary elements adds depth and intrigue, making the narrative both educational and entertaining. The development of relationships, particularly the romantic subplot, is heartfelt and adds an emotional layer to the story.

"Our wills and fate do so contrary run." (Shakespeare)

However, while the book is undoubtedly charming, it occasionally leans on familiar tropes that may feel predictable to seasoned readers. Some plot twists are more foreseeable than surprising, which can diminish the impact of certain revelations. Additionally, the pacing in some parts may feel slow, which might test the patience of readers looking for a more briskly-paced adventure.

My final word: The Story Collector is a delightful read that captures the magic of storytelling with a blend of history, mystery, and romance. Despite some predictable elements, Woods' engaging prose and well-crafted characters make this novel a worthwhile addition to any bookshelf.