The Storyteller by Kathryn Williams Review

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Title: The Storyteller

Series: N/A

Author: Kathryn Williams

Publisher: HarperCollins/HarperTeen

Pages: 368

Release Date: 11 January 2022 (US), 3 February 2022 (UK)

Hello fellow booklovers, today I’m back with a review of Kathryn William’s stunning new book, The Storyteller which you might have seen in my recent post 15 Must Read Books of January 2022.

It’s a fascinating blend of mystery, romance and historical fiction that I felt perfectly captures the age old (and relatable) struggles of identity and self discovery, perfect for fans of coming-of-age YA.

Summary

With the mystery of Maureen Johnson and Brittany Cavallaro and the historical intrigue of Romanov, this genre-bending YA will pull readers into one girl’s journey of discovering the impossible tale of a long-lost aunt—and through her, the importance of being true to yourself.

It’s not every day you discover you might be related to Anastasia…or that the tragic princess actually survived her assassination attempt and has been living as the woman you know as Aunt Anna.

For Jess Morgan, who is growing tired of living her life to please everyone else, discovering her late aunt’s diaries shows her she’s not the only one struggling to hide who she really is. But was her aunt truly a Romanov princess? Or is this some elaborate hoax?

With the help of a supremely dorky but undeniably cute local college student named Evan, Jess digs into the century-old mystery.

But soon Jess realizes there’s another, bigger truth waiting to be revealed: Jess Morgan. Because if she’s learned anything from Aunt Anna, it’s that only you can write your own story.

Review

This was an absolutely captivating and enjoyable read that I literally couldn’t put down!

The mystery surrounding Anastasia has fascinated the world for more than a century (and me for a good portion of my childhood, due to the movie) So I knew as soon as I read the premise I’d need to get my hands on a copy—and trust me it really doesn’t disappoint!

It’s told through two interwoven timelines and the POV of two people,Jess a seventeen year old girl in living in New Hampshire in 2007 and through translated journal entries of Anastasia: from indulgent childhood, to her families subsequent imprisonment as well as life post revolution, impoverished and on the run.

I really enjoyed the dual alternating perspectives of Jess and Anna which I felt really brought both characters to life, especially social chameleon Jess,who manages to find a kindred soul within the pages of her great-aunts’ journals. It’s through this connection (as well as her burgeoning friendship with Evan) that we truly start to see the real Jess, I’m certain her coming of age arc and journey to self identity is going to resonate with alot of readers.

As a character Jess is really brilliantly written, she’s complex and flawed but still really relatable. I also have to applaud the romance here, which was stunning though a bit of a slowburn , I was 100% invested in it and was definitely satisfied with how it plays out. 10 out of 10 for that!

However, there were a few times during the journal scenes when the pace did slowdown but, other than that The Storyteller is a genuinely compelling and though provoking read that I highly recommend. Especially if you love historical YA,a good mystery or anything Anastasia related!

I also wanted to say a massive thank you to Harper360YA and Edelweiss for the e-arc.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5.

About The Author

Kathryn Williams is the author of four young adult novels, a handful of bestselling Disney junior novelizations, and a humorous guide to living with roommates.

Originally from the South, she now lives with her family in Portland, Maine, where she finds inspiration in the woods, by the water, in antique stores full of old stuff, and at The Telling Room, a nonprofit creative writing center where she helps kids and teens write and publish their own stories.

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