The Storyteller
by Deborah Hext
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Pub Date 28 Jul 2025 | Archive Date 11 Sep 2025
The Book Guild | Book Guild Publishing
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Description
Tamsyn’s life has always felt magical, even if it isn’t a fairytale.
As the daughter of a Storyteller, she knows the power of stories. Living with her foster mum and siblings has its challenges, but Tamsyn is sure of one thing—they always have each other. And when life gets tough, a good story can make it all better.
But when a stranger arrives with the shocking news that someone is destroying the magic in her world, and unraveling the stories that protect it, everything changes. As magic fades, so does hope—and everything Tamsyn loves is at risk.
Determined to fight back, Tamsyn and her foster siblings set off on a dangerous adventure. Facing unimaginable challenges, they must summon all their courage, strength, and belief.
Can they save their world before it’s too late? Or will this spell the end of everything Tamsyn holds dear?
A Note From the Publisher
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9781835743737 |
| PRICE | £3.99 (GBP) |
| PAGES | 300 |
Available on NetGalley
Average rating from 12 members
Featured Reviews
Stories are a source of life. Stories spark curiosity. Stories help you discover new feelings, and eventually, yourself. For every reader, there is a spark that lights their way. I think this book is a good start for little ones who love learning about new worlds.
4/5 ⭐stars
Found family
If there is one trope I will never tire of, it is this one. A bond is more than blood. Seeing the siblinghood between Tamsyn, Max, Jess, and Isaac reminded me that siblings are loyal, supportive, give advice, and you can fight with them, but you reconcile in the end.
Setting
The beach was a cathartic and attractive space. Just as the sea was deep enough to demonstrate certain themes, on the surface it was fun to observe the world through the eyes of children.
Gifts
I love finding characters who tell stories within a story. I love how each of Tamsyn's stories related to the importance of families and the roles that children played as protagonists. I can't wait to see where her skills will take her in the next book. A story connects and is worth more than 1,000 facts.
Serious topics
Considering that one of the main themes is adoption and the dynamics that come with it, I was surprised that topics such as bullying were explored. Although it was a good idea because of its relevance, I felt that it needed a little more development.
Worldbuilding
This is another point that I would have liked to see explored in greater depth. They presented some extremely interesting concepts, but they remained at the tip of the iceberg. I hope to see in the next installment, for example, how magic works or the process of capturing it.
Adults
Although I greatly appreciate the poorly implemented role of adults in reality, I felt there were some loose ends in this part. I literally long for a complete prequel about Tamsyn's parents and Atticus.
Conclusion
The book was truly magical and wholesome. I think the target audience will love it. It encourages imagination, creativity, and belief in the impossible—skills and strengths that many of us may lack. It also encourages us to let others help us when things get tough. I know I was very critical in some respects, but I seriously recommend this book. Happy launch day.🎉
Complete review on Goodreads. Thanks Netgalley for the arc!
Amanda D, Reviewer
A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.
Educator 1114607
I was grabbed by the title and the cover of the book. It is a story about the power of stories and how one girl tries to defend it. It is beautifully written, but the story fails to grip me. Sorry.
Tamsyn lives a fairly contented life with her foster mother and siblings, and being part of a Storyteller's household means that - like every reader - she knows the magic that stories and story telling hold.
So, when the children discover that the very fabric of their society is threatened and stories are at risk, can this group of youngsters do anything other than their very best to save the situation?
Encountering adventures, facing danger and bravely stepping up to the plate, this is a sweet story about the way that found family and shared values can bind people together to work towards a greater objective, regardless of personal risk.
As a book loving family the title sure grabbed our attention. And we loved it!
In this magical story we meet I Tamsyn who is the daughter of a story teller. She is living with her foster mom and siblings. They are a wonderful family and they take care of each other. When things do get difficult she finds that stories seem to make everything better. Everything changes when some stranger arrives and tells her that somebody is destroying the magic of her world. Tamsyn is set on fighting back and saving her world. Tamsyn, along with her foster siblings, are ready to be courageous, believe in themselves and each other. Together they will face danger to save everything.
So wonderfully written. A story that captivates you and gets your imagination working. Great detail and amazing characters add to the magic of this story.
A wonderful story you are going to love.
Enjoy it with your little storytellers.
The Storyteller by Deborah Hext is such a good story. I rated it 5 stars because I couldn't put it down for a second. I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can.
This was a really cute concept. I like the idea of storyteller magic keeping a fantastical world alive. It didn't quite grab me, though, because of the long sections of 'stories-within-a-story'.
As the daughter of a Storyteller, she knows the power of stories. Living with her foster mum and siblings has its challenges, but Tamsyn is sure of one thing—they always have each other. And when life gets tough, a good story can make it all better.
But when a stranger arrives with the shocking news that someone is destroying the magic in her world, and unraveling the stories that protect it, everything changes. As magic fades, so does hope—and everything Tamsyn loves is at risk.
Educator 995746
I really enjoyed this and read it in one sitting. I loved the idea of exploring the magic of stories and particularly enjoyed the various stories told throughout.
Reviewer 1557180
This was such a cute, quick little read! The concept was intriguing from start to finish and I loved the discussion of fostering and adoption! I’m always glad to see representation in books!
I really liked the premise of this book and went into it with high hopes. Unfortunately, the execution didn’t quite live up to the idea. The plot is weighed down by overly complicated details that make it hard to follow at times, and there are quite a few gaps that left me feeling unsatisfied. The characters change a lot throughout the story, but in a way that feels inconsistent rather than developed, so it was difficult to connect with them on a deeper level. It also felt rushed in places, as though there wasn’t enough time to explore some of the more interesting ideas. A good concept, but uneven in delivery.
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