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Storywalker
A multiverse-hopping quest fantasy with big characters, worlds that leak people and creatures and mythologies back and forth, several flavours of diversity, warrior dragons, and abandoned people building families of friends.
- GenresFantasy
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 2, 2016
2 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
David Bridger
16 books27 followersDavid Bridger and his family settled with their two monstrous hounds in England's West Country after twenty years of ocean-based mischief, during which he worked as a lifeguard, a sailor, an intelligence gatherer and an investigator. He writes science fiction and fantasy novels.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 27, 2016
Originally posted on Tales to Tide You Over
I am a long-term fan of David Bridger’s writing, as you might recall from previous reviews of his work. Storywalker marks his second debut, this time as an indie author, and as much as any of his previous works, is a wonderful tale full of complex characters and world building. Even more so, Bridger once again provides unlikely heroes and a non-traditional approach to what could have been a simple story in another author’s hands.
Storywalker has a large cast drawn from four separate worlds and many different races, both human and not. The two main characters are Molly, the storywalker with a much more complicated history she is unaware of, and Paul, a successful fantasy novelist…or so he thought. Molly also suffers from ME, a debilitating and potentially fatal disease that strips her energy and punishes her with crippling pain.
A disabled protagonist has been done before, but Bridger doesn’t let Molly get away with dismissing her illness. There are times when her storywalking leads her to leave her body behind, but not always. Managing her condition is a key component of the story, and her love and appreciation toward those who help her do so is wonderful. She could easily have become embittered and miserable. Instead, she carries with her a love of reading, a strong heart, and a willingness to help even with a full understanding of the costs.
Paul is a little more complex. He’s a nice guy with a few odd quirks who has not been able to put the loss of his wife, many years before, behind him to the point that he’s ready to move forward. His fortune came from his popular epic fantasy series, but where he’d promised ten books, the death of his wife and the way the final book wrapped up has kept that well dry for long enough that all but his most faithful fans have moved on to other story worlds.
We’ve barely met these two characters when their worlds are turned upside down. Paul discovers he has a twin brother, but more, his books have been a memoir of his brother’s life in a parallel universe. Molly discovers she can do more than lose herself in her favorite books…she can become part of the story.
The rest of the book occurs in the worlds of Paul’s novels. There, Molly and Paul go about on their own adventures, only crossing a couple of times. They meet all sorts of interesting people from a variety of backgrounds and worlds while going to fantastic places where they both find help and offer it.
This is not a children’s novel based on the language and some of the references, but at the same time, it has an almost childlike humor at points that can provoke a giggle just when I thought there was nothing left to laugh about. Just wait until you meet Bryn and his donkey (I have a soft spot for donkeys myself, so this was precious). The demons are complex people with different views and aims as much as any human or daemon character. The heroes in the traditional sense (as opposed to the leads) are not perfect while beauty is very much in the eye of the beholder rather than conforming to social norms, making the descriptions even more compelling.
Storywalker is a compelling blend of epic fantasy, tragedy, comedy, and even commentary on events in our modern world while even unrepentant troublemakers can have a change of heart in the right circumstances. I enjoyed my time with Molly and the rest. The book leaves me with a smile and a sense that there is hope even though there were moments of darkness and tears. It is well worth the read.
P.S. I received this book from the author in return for an honest review.
I am a long-term fan of David Bridger’s writing, as you might recall from previous reviews of his work. Storywalker marks his second debut, this time as an indie author, and as much as any of his previous works, is a wonderful tale full of complex characters and world building. Even more so, Bridger once again provides unlikely heroes and a non-traditional approach to what could have been a simple story in another author’s hands.
Storywalker has a large cast drawn from four separate worlds and many different races, both human and not. The two main characters are Molly, the storywalker with a much more complicated history she is unaware of, and Paul, a successful fantasy novelist…or so he thought. Molly also suffers from ME, a debilitating and potentially fatal disease that strips her energy and punishes her with crippling pain.
A disabled protagonist has been done before, but Bridger doesn’t let Molly get away with dismissing her illness. There are times when her storywalking leads her to leave her body behind, but not always. Managing her condition is a key component of the story, and her love and appreciation toward those who help her do so is wonderful. She could easily have become embittered and miserable. Instead, she carries with her a love of reading, a strong heart, and a willingness to help even with a full understanding of the costs.
Paul is a little more complex. He’s a nice guy with a few odd quirks who has not been able to put the loss of his wife, many years before, behind him to the point that he’s ready to move forward. His fortune came from his popular epic fantasy series, but where he’d promised ten books, the death of his wife and the way the final book wrapped up has kept that well dry for long enough that all but his most faithful fans have moved on to other story worlds.
We’ve barely met these two characters when their worlds are turned upside down. Paul discovers he has a twin brother, but more, his books have been a memoir of his brother’s life in a parallel universe. Molly discovers she can do more than lose herself in her favorite books…she can become part of the story.
The rest of the book occurs in the worlds of Paul’s novels. There, Molly and Paul go about on their own adventures, only crossing a couple of times. They meet all sorts of interesting people from a variety of backgrounds and worlds while going to fantastic places where they both find help and offer it.
This is not a children’s novel based on the language and some of the references, but at the same time, it has an almost childlike humor at points that can provoke a giggle just when I thought there was nothing left to laugh about. Just wait until you meet Bryn and his donkey (I have a soft spot for donkeys myself, so this was precious). The demons are complex people with different views and aims as much as any human or daemon character. The heroes in the traditional sense (as opposed to the leads) are not perfect while beauty is very much in the eye of the beholder rather than conforming to social norms, making the descriptions even more compelling.
Storywalker is a compelling blend of epic fantasy, tragedy, comedy, and even commentary on events in our modern world while even unrepentant troublemakers can have a change of heart in the right circumstances. I enjoyed my time with Molly and the rest. The book leaves me with a smile and a sense that there is hope even though there were moments of darkness and tears. It is well worth the read.
P.S. I received this book from the author in return for an honest review.
June 9, 2016
The story follows Molly Mathews who suffers from an illness called ME. Through her illness she has relied on books to comfort her specifically her favourite series of books called Tamass the Fearless written by Paul Best.
When a particularly bad day for Molly ends with her actually inside her favourite story she learns that these stories aren't just fictional ideas Paul has written, but a real place. Part of a multiverse that connects our own world of water with the world where Tamass the Fearless lives.
On the same particularly bad day for Paul, he discovers the same thing and that Tamass the Fearless, the hero he thought he'd made up in his books is actually his brother, separated at birth to protect them. Their paths intertwine as they all discover a plot that would enslave both their worlds
I really liked this book. I especially loved Molly, as someone who retreats into books to cope with illness too, she was a lovely character to read about and spend time with. I'm not normally one for quests that mean lots of travel but its done really well here and we don't spend much time on the road. I especially loved the way that the history of the worlds intertwine with myths and legends. I mean, the legend of Atlantis and Avalon had to come from somewhere right? The characters in the story are a diverse bunch and there'll be at least someone for everyone to connect with. They're done very realistically and all have their own motivations. The only thing that prevents me from giving this five stars is that I thought some of the introductions of new elements of the story were a little convenient but for me it didn't take away from the overall enjoyment of the story.
When a particularly bad day for Molly ends with her actually inside her favourite story she learns that these stories aren't just fictional ideas Paul has written, but a real place. Part of a multiverse that connects our own world of water with the world where Tamass the Fearless lives.
On the same particularly bad day for Paul, he discovers the same thing and that Tamass the Fearless, the hero he thought he'd made up in his books is actually his brother, separated at birth to protect them. Their paths intertwine as they all discover a plot that would enslave both their worlds
I really liked this book. I especially loved Molly, as someone who retreats into books to cope with illness too, she was a lovely character to read about and spend time with. I'm not normally one for quests that mean lots of travel but its done really well here and we don't spend much time on the road. I especially loved the way that the history of the worlds intertwine with myths and legends. I mean, the legend of Atlantis and Avalon had to come from somewhere right? The characters in the story are a diverse bunch and there'll be at least someone for everyone to connect with. They're done very realistically and all have their own motivations. The only thing that prevents me from giving this five stars is that I thought some of the introductions of new elements of the story were a little convenient but for me it didn't take away from the overall enjoyment of the story.
August 12, 2018
Who is this man?
I have never had so much fun reading a book before. Stunningly beautiful descriptions, a heroine bound in the chains of a painful disease , finds herself swept away on a sea of magic in David Bridgers Storywalker.
This mini epic sweeps you away on a fast paced journey that is beautifully crafted and wonderfully imaginative.
David Bridger is a master storyteller. Five stars.
I have never had so much fun reading a book before. Stunningly beautiful descriptions, a heroine bound in the chains of a painful disease , finds herself swept away on a sea of magic in David Bridgers Storywalker.
This mini epic sweeps you away on a fast paced journey that is beautifully crafted and wonderfully imaginative.
David Bridger is a master storyteller. Five stars.
January 3, 2017
I loved this book. that the heroine isn't suddenly cured when going to new worlds. she's real and she's strong.
May 17, 2022
wow
i was sold on reading this because the storywalking concept caught my eye, and i was not disappointed .
being chronically ill and reading this book , i finally felt seen. after reading fantasy novels religiously for over twenty years i still hadn’t found one that features a physically disabled character
(unless you count the offensive story arc of disabled person gets better) 🥱
David sets an example of how to write empowered disabled characters. hopefully more books and authors will follow his lead .
everything about this book is original and breaks the mould.
the relationships between characters are so sweet and relatable . the families the characters build for themselves is beautiful
all in all it was a much needed escape from reality that helped me through a tough time
i was sold on reading this because the storywalking concept caught my eye, and i was not disappointed .
being chronically ill and reading this book , i finally felt seen. after reading fantasy novels religiously for over twenty years i still hadn’t found one that features a physically disabled character
(unless you count the offensive story arc of disabled person gets better) 🥱
David sets an example of how to write empowered disabled characters. hopefully more books and authors will follow his lead .
everything about this book is original and breaks the mould.
the relationships between characters are so sweet and relatable . the families the characters build for themselves is beautiful
all in all it was a much needed escape from reality that helped me through a tough time
May 17, 2022
An entertaining story with twists and turns. Great use of characters. Unique fantasy world. The main character suffers from myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), a debilitating disease, which affects her through the entire story. Well written.
One section of the story was paced entirely too fast. If the event taking place then could have been achieved with such alacrity, then why hadn't it already been done? There was also one moment that wasn't explained, which needed clarification, because on the surface, it didn't add up to the magic of the world.
Aside from that, I enjoyed the book and would suggest others give it a try.
One section of the story was paced entirely too fast. If the event taking place then could have been achieved with such alacrity, then why hadn't it already been done? There was also one moment that wasn't explained, which needed clarification, because on the surface, it didn't add up to the magic of the world.
Aside from that, I enjoyed the book and would suggest others give it a try.
December 9, 2017
I really enjoyed the intriguing concept of this book, and got very caught up in the characters, especially Molly, the librarian dealing with a terrible illness who nonetheless remains strong. I enjoyed the idea of being able to literally lose yourself in a book. This isn’t my favourite of David Bridger’s books (he’ll have to go a long way to top The Honesty of Tigers for me) but it was a fun read.
June 14, 2016
Fantasy is not my usual genre, but the premise of this book interested me. The ability to travel in the pages of a story? As a writer myself, it really seemed like something that would be a great story. Add to that the main character having M.E (which I also have) and I couldn't help but feel the need to read it and managed to devour it in a few days. The story starts with us meeting Molly, a young woman with M.E who is struggling to balance her life and her illness. She lives alone and has a strange dream in which she ends up in the book of a series she loves. Next comes along the author, having written nine of his series and desperate to write the tenth, his ink has run dry for the past few years. Thrown together they both end up going on a mystical journey, discovering things about themselves they never knew, all along the way to a quest to find out the truth.
A well-written, engaging story that had me interested from the first page. The character, Molly, and her illness are presented in a believable and enlightening way. It felt, at times, like I was reading my own symptoms and feelings. I got lost in the delightful descriptions of the world that lived alongside ours and loved every part of this book. Highly recommended!
A well-written, engaging story that had me interested from the first page. The character, Molly, and her illness are presented in a believable and enlightening way. It felt, at times, like I was reading my own symptoms and feelings. I got lost in the delightful descriptions of the world that lived alongside ours and loved every part of this book. Highly recommended!
June 14, 2016
An innovative fantasy story. I started it and then went to Lori Foster's Annual Reader & Author Get Together and I had NO time to read! It's a good thing I was so busy or I would have gone crazy wanting to read. This is the kind of story that sticks in your head. I couldn't wait to fine out what would happen next. When I got home last night I jumped in the finish it.
Our two main characters are Paul (a fantasy author who has been an a writing hiatus even tho the tenth book of his series is way overdue to be written) and Molly, a reader and part time librarian who has to deal with a terrible illness. But there are a ton of secondary characters who are so well written that they seem like real people. Paul and then Molly are swept into the world he created in his books, and they are facing serious challenges. I don't want to say more, because nearly anything would be a spoiler and I don't want to do that to you. If you are an avid reader who likes falling into a fully fleshed out fantasy world, I think you will love this story. Go buy it!
Our two main characters are Paul (a fantasy author who has been an a writing hiatus even tho the tenth book of his series is way overdue to be written) and Molly, a reader and part time librarian who has to deal with a terrible illness. But there are a ton of secondary characters who are so well written that they seem like real people. Paul and then Molly are swept into the world he created in his books, and they are facing serious challenges. I don't want to say more, because nearly anything would be a spoiler and I don't want to do that to you. If you are an avid reader who likes falling into a fully fleshed out fantasy world, I think you will love this story. Go buy it!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews