The Storyteller and her Sisters has been on my list for a long time – October 2014, in fact.  I know I got this and its sequel(s) for my kindle a fair while ago, too.  At last I’ve brought it out from the TBR pile, and got it read!

This is partly in response to Noelle Granger’s suggestion that we get out some indie-authored works and review them to give a bit of help during lockdown. But really, I should have read it years ago! I read Cheryl Mahoney’s blog often enough, after all.

The Storyteller and Her Sisters (Beyond the Tales #1)

Storyteller and her Sistersby Cheryl Mahoney

Maybe you’ve heard a tale about twelve princesses who danced their shoes to pieces. That was only part of our story.

Talya would tell you how dark and frightening the cursed forest and enchanted lake were. Vira would be too busy looking after us all to tell you many details, while Mina would try to give you every fact and figure (even though magic is rarely so logical). Each of my sisters would tell the story differently.

And Dastan—he’d write a ballad. Or maybe a love song.

As for me, I’m the storyteller, so I’m giving you my version. It’s about my sisters and me, our father, twelve princes and a cursed country—about a series of misguided champions, one even more misguided Fairy Godmother, and a great deal of dancing. It’s about twelve trapped princesses who decided to take control of their story.

I’m Lyra, the ninth princess, and this is how I tell the tale.

**Read the companion novel, The Wanderers, available in ebook and paperback** [goodreads]

My Review

If I’ve heard the story of the twelve sisters who released twelve princes from a curse, I’ve forgotten it. What I found here was a wonderful, wonderful story, beautifully written.

I always admire stories within stories, as you probably know. It’s been hard writing Willoughby the Narrator’s stories, and I have a sneaking suspicion that they could be told much better.

Cheryl Mahoney is a real storyteller, and in her hands not only do Lyra’s stories take wing, but Lyra’s whole narrative sweeps you along. This was a book I was desperate to get back to every day, and desolate on the day I didn’t have time.

The description is vivid; the thoughts and emotions of the narrator achingly intense. It’s a tour de force and I’m dying to read one of the companion volumes, which provide the stories of other characters we meet in this tale.

add to goodreads buttonRead it – you’ll enjoy it!

Book Review | The Storyteller and Her Sisters
Tagged on:                     
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox

Join other followers: