Evie Woods created another beautiful story with The Story Collector. Sarah Harper is depressed and struggling on Christmas. She makes an impulsive decision to fly to Ireland where she finds herself in a small town with no where to go. Luckily there is a small cottage for rent in a town known for its magic and fairies. In this cottage, Sarah stumbles upon a book from the past, a book that tells about the town and the man who came to collect its stories.
The Story Collector shifts between the past and the present. The stories intertwine with magic. The setting is beautifully described. Both Anna and Sarah have great character development. They learn to persevere through their tough times and they learn to overcome their heartaches.
I loved this story. It was sad yet uplifting. It was romantic and magical. It was an adventure to be enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, and One More Chapter for the advanced copy. The opinions are my own.

Thank you netgalley and Evie Woods for the opportunity to read the ARC of this gem!
Told in dual timeliness of present day and 1910, this story quickly sucked me in. You meet Sarah in the present day story, who's marriage is failing and decides on christmas fay to fly to Ireland on a whim.
In 1910, we meet Anna Butler. She is helping an American with his thesis research for Oxford on Folklore. They travel the village collecting tales and stories from locals.
Evie Woods descriptions of Ireland make you feel like you are there, and it's painted beautifully. I love how to storylines begin to intertwine, ns it's a wonderful ending :)

Thornwood Village, 1910: Anna, a young farm girl, volunteers to help an intriguing American visitor, Harold Griffin-Krauss, 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 the future of her community and her very way of life…

New York, 2010: Captivated by the land of myth, folklore and superstition, Sarah Harper boards a plane bound for the West Coast of Ireland and finds herself walking in the footsteps of Harold and Anna one hundred years later. 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.

Another beautifully written story by Evie Woods. This was an entertaining and heartfelt story about healing and learning to live again. The setting is beautifully written, the characters captivating, and Sarah's journey is deeply satisfying. Excellent read by one of my favorite authors!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

🐾 Favourite Quote

"If we lose our stories, we lose ourselves."

🐈‍⬛️ What is it about?

Sarah marriage is over. She leaves her home and goes to the airport to go see her family for some time alone. At the airport she finds a quirky Ireland shop, where she reads a newspaper article about a tree were fairies may live. After some wisky and rush decisions she wakes up... in Ireland.
There she will have time to reconnect with herself and grief, while getting involved in the local folklore and an ancient story.

🐈 My thoughts:

Such a cosy read! I thoroughly enjoyed spending some time in Ireland with Sarah, Anna and The Good People. Learning more about the folklore culture made me want to visit Ireland.
The characters are well developed and easy to connect with. Funny at times and quite sad at others.
Read this is you want something cosy, easy to read but still interesting and engaging.
This is my first book from thr author but I already purchase her previous work so I can dive in The Last Bookshop soon!

Thank you for the ARC.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had everything that I was hoping for and enjoyed about the genre. The characters worked with the storyline and was invested in what was happening to them. Evie Woods has a great writing style and was glad I was able to read this.

So much of life is bittersweet, is it not? Its not all happy endings, sweet nothings, a and just so's. Its not all bad, either, don't get me wrong! I love fairy tales. I always have, I collect books of global fairy tales and they're not all the cleansed TV Disney versions. Some are quite dark. That's what story tellers are and are for! There are actually college programs coming back, like in Appalachia, and places in Europe, where you can get a degree in storytelling and go around gathering tales, like our Harold in this wonderful, bittersweet book, to share the history and times past of a world long gone. We need that! We need the sinister and the genteel. We need the love and the brave, the heroic and the fool hardy. The author paints such vivid pictures, and gives such emotion, even at times without saying what it is that we are coming to know and feel. This is a beautiful, at times hard, book to read, but a lovely one for all that. Take the time, find a quiet nook, with a cuppa, as they say, and settle in. You might need tissues or a kerchief. Listen to the wind, watch for the gentle rain or such setting, and read of Anna and Harold, of Oran and Sarah, and just enjoy the tales and the Good People and take it in. You'll be the better for it, I promise you.

A beautifully written story spanning two time periods. I loved reading about the different lives of Sarah and Anna, interwoven with fairy lore. A bewitching story which I will treasure.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The history and cultural connections to the Irish countryside were intriguing, and I liked the side-by-side stories of two women navigating through the fairy folklore and personal relationships. However, it began slowly, and it wasn't until the last third of the novel that I felt a true connection to the characters once their background stories and true motivations were revealed. There were also a few smaller details that I did not enjoy, such as the UK spellings of many words in the narration at the start of the novel when it was just focused on the American protagonist. The descriptions of infertility being solely caused by stress also perpetuates a myth. Otherwise, it was an enjoyable read with a creative ending.

I adored The Lost Bookshop so was always going to leap at the chance to read Evie Woods' new one. For me there wasn't the same magical realism of the Bookshop, but what we have here is folklore and fairies. Sarah has finally taken the decision to leave her marriage and decides to fly to Boston to spend Christmas with her sister. A snap decision at the airport finds her in Ireland instead, in a picturesque village, Thornwood, in a cosy cottage. A wander in the wood leads her to a hidden diary and the start of a mystery. Told in a dual timeline, we follow Sarah in the present day as she finally comes to accept her situation, as she gets to know the locals, and as she gets drawn into the 'magic'. We also follow the story of Anna, the writer of the diary, 100 years previously, when she accompanied an American, Harold, as he collected stories about the fairies, the Good People. A farm girl, she finds herself crossing paths with the twins up at the 'big house'. Through both timelines we learn about the Good People and there is a mysterious element as these fairy folk seem to be present in both periods. Both Anna and Sarah are coming to terms with loss and Anna's story in particular is quite sad while Sarah's does seem a bit predictable. I adored Harold, a real gentleman and I bet you do too. As much as I enjoyed it, I have to say that I enjoyed The Lost Bookshop a lot, lot more.

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

“Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” (Roald Dahl - quoted in The Story Collector)

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.

After the special novel The Lost bookshop, the bar was set high for a second book by Evie Woods.

The story collector is a book with a mysterious story. American Sarah is in conflict with herself after a traumatic event and spontaneously travels to Ireland where she rents a small cottage. She discovers a diary of Anna from 1911 who lived in this cottage. While reading, Sarah discovers all kinds of things about The good people, elves and fairies who, according to stories, are frequently present in Ireland.

The Storyteller is a nice book to read. The alternation of perspective between Sarah and Anna makes you as a reader constantly want to continue reading. The question of what exactly happened to Sarah is not that difficult to guess, but it is nicely incorporated into the story and the emotions that play a role are well described. By reading Anna's diary, you also sympathize with her. The naive girl who is still scarred by loss and is blinded by the wealth of an English landowner is a strong counterpart to Sarah's story. The interweaving of the Irish legends about The good people gives it a mysterious edge.

Evie Woods is good at telling stories and that quickly draws you into the lives of Sarah and Anne. The descriptions of the area are also very nicely done. You can see everything in front of you and can easily relate to the characters.

The storyteller is a beautiful and mysterious story with well-developed characters, two timelines in a beautiful setting of the Irish countryside.

The Story Collector by Evie Woods is a re-release of a book she wrote years ago under her alternate name (Evie Gaughan). It is a cute story with a little magical realism.
A woman named Sarah intends to fly from NYC to Boston but gets drunk at the airport and flies to Shannon, Ireland instead. She rents a cottage and finds a diary that is one hundred years old. A dual storyline ensues, with chapters alternating from the hundred year old story and the present. In the past, Harold is an American researching fairy folklore and Anna helps introduce him to the locals. In the present, Sarah is reading the diary and meeting the community. A little bit of fairy magic exists in both the past and the present stories, but it is pretty light.
The past storyline was more interesting and more substantial to the story, but even so,
I thought it was superficial. I expected some great fairy stories, but it didn’t go into that sort of detail. It was more on the relationship between Harold and Anna, plus others. The characters were all pretty one sided without much depth. The author tried to add some dramatic flair in Sarah, giving her some heavy issues to deal with. But it just fell flat for me.
This would best suit a reader who likes a little magic, a little romance, and the Irish countryside.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter for my ARC.

I enjoyed this cute little tale about a grieving woman who drunkenly takes an impromptu flight to the sleepy Irish town of Thornwood. Sarah is supposed to be leaving her husband in NYC and flying back home to Boston on Christmas Day, but she ends up on the wrong flight and decides that maybe she needs a reset for a week or two before she heads back to the U.S.

As one does in these kinds of tales, she ends up staying longer and the possibility of healing draws ever closer with each interaction with the Irish locals. There’s a dual timeline here, and I loved learning about what life was like in rural Ireland just before WWI, as well as in 2011. The descriptions of the countryside completely drew me in. I would LOVE to visit Ireland! I just wish it had better weather… 😉😁

The ending was a little abrupt for my taste, and it is a slow burn, but I had fun immersing myself in Thornwood, and I think others will, too.

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for gifting me with an eARC. All opinions are my own.

Evie Woods is an amazing author. Her writing is so beautiful and heart wrenching at the same time. Her books bring so much emotion out of me. I loved this book. I loved the characters stories and how she incorporated Irish folklore, The story is a little slow reading, not what I am use to. But the depth of the story makes up for it!

When you know you know, I loved this book. Amazing intertwining stories this was a cosy read and I would definitely recommend. Thank you for the ARC!

I didn’t want this to end, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. I just loved this story. So cozy and perfect to curl up with and sink into something special. Thank you to Netgalley, and the Author Evie Woods and publishers for the arc of The story Collector.

“The Story Collector” is a thought provoking, magical and emotive read. It is a dual timeline novel that delves into the many faucets of grief and loss alongside telling tales of folklore surrounding the “Good People” in Ireland.

Sarah is full of anxieties and distress after leaving her husband on Christmas Day. She us expected at her sister’s house in Boston but at the airport she has found solace in drink and after reading a newspaper article on a magical fairly tree rashly decides to get on a different plane and fly to Ireland. On arrival she finds everything is closed or busy given the time of year but a kindly Porter at the airport hotel sorts out transport and accommodation for her. She finds herself in the beautiful but remote Irish countryside renting a small cottage. So very far removed from her home in New York and all her troubles.

It becomes clear that Sarah is no stranger to drinking to soothe her mind and forget. There is a lot more to her situation than just a broken marriage. She also likes to walk around town to help her insomnia and clear her mind. This is no easy task in the dark of the night in the countryside. She literally stumbles upon a diary hidden in a hollow of a tree.

Then follows the dual timeline story of Anna Butler. A young farm girl who’s family lived in the cottage Sarah is renting. Anna’s story begins in the diary as she is chosen as a Gaelic speaker, to translate and be the research assistant to an American scholar who is collecting stories from the locals about the “Good People”. Sarah is fascinated it is as if the folk tales stories surrounding the magical tree and this area are calling her. There are some parallels between Sarah and Anna that help Sarah work through her own situation.

I was fascinated reading about the fairies through the eyes of Anna as she reacts to her neighbour’s tales, many of them sad and quite dark. I was invested in Sarah’s story too, I wanted to know if she was going to be alright and if any magical events might occur to help resolve any of her issues.

This book is as much about human emotions as it is about folklore and magic. It covers grief and loss as well as touching on the social and political climate of Ireland in 1910. I was surprised by the dark nature of both storylines and was motivated to read on in order to see the light at the end of the tunnel for Sarah and Anna as the healing powers of nature, friendship, love and time all come into play.

Oh my goodness I loved this story. Part fairytale, part self healing, I loved the past and the present stories that intersected beautifully. This is the perfect book to read on a winter afternoon in front of the fire. The first book I have read of this Author, I will be reading many more.

Thank you to the Author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read, review and give an honest opinion of an ARC

The Story Collector by E. Woods, published by Harper Collins / One More Chapter, is a charming novel, well written.
The story jumps between pasts and present, tells Sarah and Jack, and Anna's story.
Blurb: A charming novel full of secrets and mystery: 1911 Anna, a young farm girl, volunteers to help an intriguing American visitor, Harold Griffin-Krauss, 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 the future of her community and her very way of life…
New York, 2010
Captivated by the land of myth, folklore and superstition, Sarah Harper boards a plane bound for the West Coast of Ireland and finds herself walking in the footsteps of Harold and Anna one hundred years later.

The Story Collector by Evie Woods is a story between two timelines set in Ireland. Sarah (2010) travels to Ireland from the US, on a whim, and finds herself reading a diary from a hundred years ago. It’s Anna’s diary that describes her life while assisting a young man researching the Good People, fairies of Ireland. There are touches of mystery and magic while the story is revealed about Anna and Harold, the storyteller.

I would recommend this book for readers of women’s fiction who would fancy a trip to the Irish countryside of County Clare. Anna’s story tells of Ireland in the 1910s as a young lady trying to find her place in the world. Sarah’s story describes a woman in 2010 trying to make peace with her choices and find her way back home.

Thank you Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.