Review of 'The Story Collector' by Evie Woods

Review of 'The Story Collector' by Evie Woods

Release Date: July 18th, 2024

Publisher: One More Chapter

☘️☘️☘️☘️☘️

REVIEW

📖 

“If we lose our stories…we lose ourselves.” (The Story Collector)

“Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” (Roald Dahl )

The Story Collector by Evie Woods is a magical, mystical treasure that echoes with the fairy world power of Ireland. It is a mesmerising tale told in two timelines where the past unfolds and ripples like a wave into the future. This tale is beautifully delivered from an Irish author who loves her culture and shares its mysteries with enthusiasm and passion.

In the 2010/2011 timeline, we meet Sarah who lives in New York. She is in deep anguish over a recent loss. Her marriage has been torn apart by the suffering and she needs to get away. But it is Christmas. Even though she plans to go to Boston to see her family, after reading a newspaper article about an Irish fairy tree, she finds herself boarding a plane to Shannon, Ireland. She ends up in the charming village of Thornwood in County Clare renting a cosy cottage that lifts her spirits. On one of her walks through the countryside, she stumbles across a tree that is harbouring some impressive history. This opens a door of discovery that will lead her to meet intriguing new people, Celtic folklore and a new turn on life.

One of the locals she encounters is Oran. Originally he appears quite gruff but as she gets to know him she learns of his past loss and why he is so protective of the landscape. Eventually, Sarah becomes invigorated by her encounter with him as he shows her around the area. He helps her feel young and free again for he ‘sees her for herself and not her scars’.

In 1910/11 we meet Anna: a farmer’s daughter who helps Howard Griggin-Krauss with his research by gathering local stories for his folklore thesis: The Story Collector. Later he publishes a book called The Fairy Compendium but at this point he is working on his paper. Why has he chosen this topic? It becomes known that his mother died when he was eight and she told him many stories and songs that birthed in him the desire to collect these into a book so that they would not be forgotten. He fears the oral traditions will be lost once the older generation has passed on. So, he makes it his ‘vocation to remember these individuals and save their knowledge by recording it.’ As he sets out on a mission to visit as many places as possible, he listens to the folk stories and writes them down. He employs assistants to help with the task and when he comes to Thornwood, he chooses young Anna. We learn later that she has also recorded her own diary of events. This record is found by modern day American Sarah who is renting the cottage that Anna and her family once lived in. What she reads and learns from this diary, sets her on her own road to healing and wholeness.

I found Howard’s research fascinating and his conclusions enlightening. He noted the similarities in many of the stories across the world. Between Celtic countries, Howard says, ‘belief in fairies is almost a doctrine of souls.’ There are many glistening lines like this in the novel and I loved pondering the beliefs shared by the characters. When Howard is asked about his conclusions: he says Fairyland is an ‘invisible world’ and ‘real to the people who believe in it’. He mentions that because he is a scholar, onlookers will think the people’s stories have credibility. His aim is to help the world consider them as valid testimonies. As from all the evidence he has gathered, he concludes there is a connection between the spirit realm and the natural world.

I enjoyed hearing the many fascinating mystical stories. At times they were even frightful! Anna shares her experiences also and it becomes evident she is favoured by the fairies. But hers is a journey to maturity, as well: especially after she gets caught in a tangle at Thornwood that puts her in danger and Harold in a bad position. A mystical event occurs that draws her back from the clutches of harm and sees Harold play the hero to save her from the worst outcome possible at his own expense…until Danny and Paddy come to his rescue. It is a nail biting drama that kept me glued to the pages!

There is so much about this story I love: the eloquent poetic language, the fairy history, the endearing characters, the dual timeline plots that worked so well together. The atmospheric setting of Ireland, along with the historical folklore references (including the sacred Hawthorn tree rooted in the otherworld and the ravenous bees!) gave the modern thread so much added weight and wonder. The past meets the present and blends into one single note of triumph! While the experience of delving into these rich cultural resources changed Sarah’s life. Her spontaneous adventure in Ireland aided her emotional healing and helped her to live freely again.

Without question, I was amply impressed by this beautiful story filled with the rich culture of Ireland that has inspired generations of artists in all facets of creative expression. It brought back my own precious memories of my trips there, too, and how I was moved to tears when I had to leave! The Emerald Isle certainly captured and kept a piece of my heart—just like Evie’s magical story. 5 Bright Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to One More Chapter and Netgalley for my review copy.