Reviews

The Story Collector by Iris Costello

helengreads's review

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mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

artbreakerbookclub's review

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

trak17's review

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emotional mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

tamara_danielle's review

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hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

what_deb_read_next's review

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emotional inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

tazdy's review

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emotional reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

I was very happy to receive an early copy of this which I read on my kindle. The story sets up quickly and you will breeze through reading this. Though there were parts that I don’t think were necessary it had me interested from fairly early on. 

The book follows the lives of many people but primarily those of Edie (Modern day), Kitty (in London, WW1) and Miriam (a Nurse in POW camp, WW1). Each of these characters were well defined and you could feel their struggles personally and the book took you back in time, to feel the hurt of those suffering during war. From a historical perspective it was very interesting, though a piece of fiction it had many pieces based on truth. 

I at times thought I was reading three separate stories and would have been happy with that, but it was finished with a nice bow. I would recommend this to someone who wants more easy historical reading or were fans of the life connections like those in Weyward. 

An E-RC was provided via NetGalley, Penguin General UK. 

lucyp747d4's review

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dark hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

kxtiebooks's review against another edition

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5.0

Loved this so much. The multiple POVs of Miriam and Kitty during the war and present day Edie worked really well, and I found myself invested in each of the characters. It's such a poignant story but also a very heartwarming read. Huge thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for my eARC of this one - I'm definitely going to have to get my hands on a physical copy in February!

tarab96's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

What a Gem!

This has to be my favourite book of 2024 so far.

A wonderful and captivating tale of three women; Kitty, Miriam and Edie and their lives spanning three timelines from World War I to the present.  I fell in love with all three of these charming characters.  I also loved the fact that great historical heroine Sylvia Pankhurst was part of this book.

This book is beautifully written and carries you from 1915 London to 1918 Germany to present day Cornwall seamlessly.  A brilliantly interwoven narrative of love and loss, hidden secrets and most of all hope.

The author Iris Costello, takes you on an amazing journey of mystery from tarot readings in an East End bakery  to a prisoner of war camp in Germany to a cottage in Cornwall.

I highly recommend this book and will definitely be purchasing a copy.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for this ARC.

books_in_wales's review

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mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0