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Storybound
I’ve lived in nine towns in the past six years. I know my mom feels bad about it, but I don’t mind. Who wants friends anyway?
All I’ve ever needed are my books. I’ve lived a thousand lives, had adventures I couldn’t even begin to imagine. To me, the places I discovered between the pages of a book are as real as the world I live in.
When I walk into my favorite bookstore, the last thing I expect is to walk out onto the pages of the kingdom of Mithres...or that the book boyfriend I’ve loved more than life, Kane the Traveler, really exists. And he has no clue the fate that awaits him in book five...
Now that I know the truth, I have a chance to save Kane. But if I change the story, will I ever find my way home?
All I’ve ever needed are my books. I’ve lived a thousand lives, had adventures I couldn’t even begin to imagine. To me, the places I discovered between the pages of a book are as real as the world I live in.
When I walk into my favorite bookstore, the last thing I expect is to walk out onto the pages of the kingdom of Mithres...or that the book boyfriend I’ve loved more than life, Kane the Traveler, really exists. And he has no clue the fate that awaits him in book five...
Now that I know the truth, I have a chance to save Kane. But if I change the story, will I ever find my way home?
403 pages, Hardcover
First published January 7, 2020
13 people are currently reading
2689 people want to read
About the author
Emily McKay
194 books624 followersI write the kinds of books I want to read. Fast-paced books with lots of world-building, snarky heroines, and swoony heroes. I love story, pop culture, gossip, and baked goods. I’m a modern-day hippy and certified LEGO nerd.
I live in the Austin, Texas hill country, with my geeky husband and two extremely geeky kids. We have dogs, chickens, cats, and more LEGOs than should be allowed by law. Oh, and I stress bake. So if my characters talk about food a lot, that’s why.
I live in the Austin, Texas hill country, with my geeky husband and two extremely geeky kids. We have dogs, chickens, cats, and more LEGOs than should be allowed by law. Oh, and I stress bake. So if my characters talk about food a lot, that’s why.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 95 reviews
May 11, 2020
I really loved this book. I’ll admit it took what seemed like forever to really get hooked, but once I was, bam!! I just couldn’t stop. It was funny, had lots of fun details, and Cupcake/Edie/Edena was so human that I couldn’t help but love her. She was kind of a pain sometimes though because she flip flops and it’s a little annoying a few times. Like she learns something and then two pages later she forgets and has to relearn it. But then, that’s the type of thing that makes her so human. The star I took away was because it took me until about 30% of the way through to really get into it and also for the ending. You’re left hanging with no real ending and a thousand questions. So I’m fully expecting book two and I will be reading it once it comes out. One thing I really enjoyed was this author has an awesome writing style that felt smooth and witty to me. It’s writing like that that makes me love to read.
Thank you NetGalley for providing this book in return for my honest and unbiased opinion.
Thank you NetGalley for providing this book in return for my honest and unbiased opinion.
March 14, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinion was not affected by the free copy.
Sorry to say, I'm bowing out of this one. This seemed like something I would enjoy. I'm a huge reader, and who hasn't envisioned going inside their favorite story and meeting the main character? But I just can't seem to get myself invested in the story. I think it's because I know nothing about Kane's world-- none of the exerpts from his book give me any real clues-- and the main character accepts all this a little too easily. This might just be a pet peeve of mine, but it also bugs me a little when authors try to insert their fictional bestseller in the same world as Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and so forth.
The book borrows a lot of ideas from some familiar source material. Going into other worlds is nothing new, and neither is going into a book. When they started talking about Threads and how it was fueled on belief, I couldn't help thinking of The Neverending Story. Kane wearing a leather duster made me think of Harry Dresden; the fact that his world borrowed from ours reminded me of The Dark Tower. And yes, I know that there are only so many original ideas in the world and every other one is just a different twist on it, but the similarities still bugged me. Even if it can be explained by all those stories being real in some universe.
I didn't even get to the romance, but it felt like it was gearing up to be one of those "we're destined for each other" kind of deals, which is probably the most annoying plot for a romance. Maybe I'm wrong, since the whole point of this book is for Edie to save Kane from his supposed fate, but I honestly am not interested enough to find out.
The funny thing is that I would probably read a book with Kane as the main character. Maybe I need to go find some books starring anti-heroes.
Sorry to say, I'm bowing out of this one. This seemed like something I would enjoy. I'm a huge reader, and who hasn't envisioned going inside their favorite story and meeting the main character? But I just can't seem to get myself invested in the story. I think it's because I know nothing about Kane's world-- none of the exerpts from his book give me any real clues-- and the main character accepts all this a little too easily. This might just be a pet peeve of mine, but it also bugs me a little when authors try to insert their fictional bestseller in the same world as Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and so forth.
The book borrows a lot of ideas from some familiar source material. Going into other worlds is nothing new, and neither is going into a book. When they started talking about Threads and how it was fueled on belief, I couldn't help thinking of The Neverending Story. Kane wearing a leather duster made me think of Harry Dresden; the fact that his world borrowed from ours reminded me of The Dark Tower. And yes, I know that there are only so many original ideas in the world and every other one is just a different twist on it, but the similarities still bugged me. Even if it can be explained by all those stories being real in some universe.
I didn't even get to the romance, but it felt like it was gearing up to be one of those "we're destined for each other" kind of deals, which is probably the most annoying plot for a romance. Maybe I'm wrong, since the whole point of this book is for Edie to save Kane from his supposed fate, but I honestly am not interested enough to find out.
The funny thing is that I would probably read a book with Kane as the main character. Maybe I need to go find some books starring anti-heroes.
May 2, 2021
The only way to describe this book is as the literal embodiment of every reader’s deepest desire. Edie, a seasoned fantasy reader, finds her life thrown into chaos when she discovers the world from her favourite fantasy series is very real and her fate is entwined with that of her favourite book boyfriend’s. I mean who WOULDN’T want to find out their favourite fictional place not only exits, but all the characters you grew up reading about are real?! I loved the characters, the world - and most of all, how relatable the main character, Edie/ Cupcake, was! Everything about her felt genuine (especially her reactions to the world and meeting the people from her books) and I loved the development of her relationships with each of the characters. This was an incredibly unique, quick read and I’m so excited for the sequel to come out! I have so many more questions and I felt that the story didn’t so much as end, as just... stop?? Like I got halfway through watching a movie and the power went out. So yes I’m 100% buzzing for the sequel to find out how each of their stories end!
March 29, 2020
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
TW: Discussions of a mentally unstable parent.
This was fun. And I don't mean that in a sarcastic, this-was-painful way. It was genuinely a fun story, with an interesting concept and a quick pace that made the book seem to fly by. There was something so... nostalgic, for lack of better terms, about this story. It gave me old YA vibes which, paired with a story about literally becoming part of your favorite series, definitely gave it a wistful air. Plus, added bonus, there were some parts that were funny . It was nice to have a story that didn't take itself too seriously.
There were, however, just a few things that kept me from rating it higher. The first, and most prevalent, one being that some of it just didn't make sense? It's a fantasy story about entering your favorite book series, so clearly, not everything needed to make sense. But there were still some things that I personally wish would have been explained better. I never got a full grasp on the world, or the way the magic system worked (I'm exhausted so that could be part of it, just saying lol) There were moments I was pulled out of the story because they're in an alternate Houston and for some reason, it just messed with my head.
Overall, this was a nice, fun story that I'd recommend to people in need of a light read with comical characters.
TW: Discussions of a mentally unstable parent.
This was fun. And I don't mean that in a sarcastic, this-was-painful way. It was genuinely a fun story, with an interesting concept and a quick pace that made the book seem to fly by. There was something so... nostalgic, for lack of better terms, about this story. It gave me old YA vibes which, paired with a story about literally becoming part of your favorite series, definitely gave it a wistful air. Plus, added bonus, there were some parts that were funny . It was nice to have a story that didn't take itself too seriously.
There were, however, just a few things that kept me from rating it higher. The first, and most prevalent, one being that some of it just didn't make sense? It's a fantasy story about entering your favorite book series, so clearly, not everything needed to make sense. But there were still some things that I personally wish would have been explained better. I never got a full grasp on the world, or the way the magic system worked (I'm exhausted so that could be part of it, just saying lol) There were moments I was pulled out of the story because they're in an alternate Houston and for some reason, it just messed with my head.
Overall, this was a nice, fun story that I'd recommend to people in need of a light read with comical characters.
May 8, 2020
I really tried to get into this one but I just couldn't.
From almost the beginning I felt that this book was a little more juvenile than I thought it would be and that it wasn't going to be the story for me.
I'm disappointed because the premise sounded really promising.
From almost the beginning I felt that this book was a little more juvenile than I thought it would be and that it wasn't going to be the story for me.
I'm disappointed because the premise sounded really promising.
April 25, 2020
DNF at 31%
Good lord. Okay. So, hear me out here. I tried. Really, I did. And there was at least one part I enjoyed. But I just couldn't do it.
There was a lot of stuff I disliked about this book. But I want to say that there was one thing I did like. I absolutely adored the premise of the novel. I think it's one that, when done properly, could be amazing. Sadly, it did not work out that way here (for me).
Yeah, that was what I liked. I don't have anything more to say in that vein. Now I'd like to explain why I couldn't make myself finish this book.
For one thing, the voice was not for me. I straight up disliked it. I don't have anything more to say on that because it's just how I felt about it. Maybe other people won't mind but it grated on me.
Another thing was that I strongly disliked Edie, the main and POV character. With her there seems to be a lot of hatred towards teenage girls. There were so many nasty comments about the way the other girls in the story behaved. Her attitude was pretty out of date honestly. I'd expect this from a YA from 2010, not one coming out in 2020. There was too much of a "not like other girls" undertone to her character for me.
But, aside from her attitude, there were other reasons that turned me off to Edie's character. Her insistence that she's in love with Kane, for starters. I get having book boyfriends. I had a ton of book boyfriends as a teen. Most people bond to the characters they read--that means they're good characters! Written well! But no one actually, truly thinks they're in love with them. Teenagers are smart. They know characters aren't real people they can have a relationship with. I don't really think Edie gets that. She's insisting that she has been in love with Kane since she read his first book. And not in a "I love my book boyfriend way". More like "I'm not going to date or befriend actual, real-life people because I have my book boyfriend". That's not healthy. It's just not a healthy behavior to demonstrate. At first I thought we were in an insta-love situation. This would've been . . . less than ideal. But, nope, just a main character that has me worried and seriously put off.
Oh, and, the third reason I don't like Edie? She's contradicting herself constantly. I'm not talking, unreliable narrator or making changes based on new information. I'm talking she says outright she's never really believed in magic or fantasy, then two pages later says of course she's always believed in it. Then another two pages after that she's back to "how can I really think this is real that's ridiculous". It's not to other people either. It's her just thinking to herself. And it's not even presented in a way that would depict disorder or confusion at having your world get turned upside down. It's just irritating, bad writing.
This is my last point I'm going to explain about why I wouldn't finish the arc. The writing just was not good. It was disorganized in the beginning, lacked any sort of the real, significant world-building a fantasy of this magnitude needs, and didn't improve. I think the main thing that bothered me was, the farther I got in, the less annoyed and the more bored I got. I didn't even get to any sort of major romantic or action plot point. I was going to try and stick it out but . . . I just got so bored. Which is probably the saddest thing about the entire experience. At least annoyed I had some emotion. But the writing couldn't hold my attention once I got past that 25% mark. It stopped being irritating and went flat instead.
Now, I could also go into how the author appeared to use mental illness as a plot device, the use of every YA stereotype under the sun, and the near-immediate attack and dismissal of the only powerful POC that we were introduced to, but I'm not going to. Mostly because I did DNF and those things could be more than they appeared. Maybe these are explored further later on in the book. I don't feel I have enough information to fully judge these things, but this is how they looked at about a third of the way in. That's not great.
Overall I can't recommend reading this one, because I don't think it's really worth it. But, as always, I advise determining that for yourself. 1.5/5 stars because the premise rocks. I just wish the execution was better.
Good lord. Okay. So, hear me out here. I tried. Really, I did. And there was at least one part I enjoyed. But I just couldn't do it.
There was a lot of stuff I disliked about this book. But I want to say that there was one thing I did like. I absolutely adored the premise of the novel. I think it's one that, when done properly, could be amazing. Sadly, it did not work out that way here (for me).
Yeah, that was what I liked. I don't have anything more to say in that vein. Now I'd like to explain why I couldn't make myself finish this book.
For one thing, the voice was not for me. I straight up disliked it. I don't have anything more to say on that because it's just how I felt about it. Maybe other people won't mind but it grated on me.
Another thing was that I strongly disliked Edie, the main and POV character. With her there seems to be a lot of hatred towards teenage girls. There were so many nasty comments about the way the other girls in the story behaved. Her attitude was pretty out of date honestly. I'd expect this from a YA from 2010, not one coming out in 2020. There was too much of a "not like other girls" undertone to her character for me.
But, aside from her attitude, there were other reasons that turned me off to Edie's character. Her insistence that she's in love with Kane, for starters. I get having book boyfriends. I had a ton of book boyfriends as a teen. Most people bond to the characters they read--that means they're good characters! Written well! But no one actually, truly thinks they're in love with them. Teenagers are smart. They know characters aren't real people they can have a relationship with. I don't really think Edie gets that. She's insisting that she has been in love with Kane since she read his first book. And not in a "I love my book boyfriend way". More like "I'm not going to date or befriend actual, real-life people because I have my book boyfriend". That's not healthy. It's just not a healthy behavior to demonstrate. At first I thought we were in an insta-love situation. This would've been . . . less than ideal. But, nope, just a main character that has me worried and seriously put off.
Oh, and, the third reason I don't like Edie? She's contradicting herself constantly. I'm not talking, unreliable narrator or making changes based on new information. I'm talking she says outright she's never really believed in magic or fantasy, then two pages later says of course she's always believed in it. Then another two pages after that she's back to "how can I really think this is real that's ridiculous". It's not to other people either. It's her just thinking to herself. And it's not even presented in a way that would depict disorder or confusion at having your world get turned upside down. It's just irritating, bad writing.
This is my last point I'm going to explain about why I wouldn't finish the arc. The writing just was not good. It was disorganized in the beginning, lacked any sort of the real, significant world-building a fantasy of this magnitude needs, and didn't improve. I think the main thing that bothered me was, the farther I got in, the less annoyed and the more bored I got. I didn't even get to any sort of major romantic or action plot point. I was going to try and stick it out but . . . I just got so bored. Which is probably the saddest thing about the entire experience. At least annoyed I had some emotion. But the writing couldn't hold my attention once I got past that 25% mark. It stopped being irritating and went flat instead.
Now, I could also go into how the author appeared to use mental illness as a plot device, the use of every YA stereotype under the sun, and the near-immediate attack and dismissal of the only powerful POC that we were introduced to, but I'm not going to. Mostly because I did DNF and those things could be more than they appeared. Maybe these are explored further later on in the book. I don't feel I have enough information to fully judge these things, but this is how they looked at about a third of the way in. That's not great.
Overall I can't recommend reading this one, because I don't think it's really worth it. But, as always, I advise determining that for yourself. 1.5/5 stars because the premise rocks. I just wish the execution was better.
June 5, 2020
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Storybound was a pretty interesting book. I mean if you loved a series so much what would you do if you somehow jumped into the book? Freak out? Fangirl? Shit your pants? Most likely all of the above.
Enter Cupcake, who is also known as Edie or Edena. Now she just got the final book from her favorite series and she can't wait to dive into it. The one thing she wasn't expecting.. was to literally dive into the book. Now if I was her.. I have no idea what I would be doing. Knowing me.. I would probably try to change how certain things happened or ya know.. make my ships sail before they crash and burn.
That being said, Cupcake tries her best to make things go the way they did while she read it. She knows who is supposed to end up with who and what happens in each book. Yet, she can't help but start to fall for the main lead. No matter how many times she mentions she can't have feelings for Kane herself.. she does. It was obvious to everyone that they started to care for one another.. but the characters themselves knew how the series was supposed to go - which I found COMPLETELY interesting.
I wont lie, I really enjoyed this book and with that little cliffhanger ending I am wondering when the next book will be out. Or if a second one will even be made at all. I really hope there is because I need to know what is going to happen next for everyone involved.
Storybound was a pretty interesting book. I mean if you loved a series so much what would you do if you somehow jumped into the book? Freak out? Fangirl? Shit your pants? Most likely all of the above.
Enter Cupcake, who is also known as Edie or Edena. Now she just got the final book from her favorite series and she can't wait to dive into it. The one thing she wasn't expecting.. was to literally dive into the book. Now if I was her.. I have no idea what I would be doing. Knowing me.. I would probably try to change how certain things happened or ya know.. make my ships sail before they crash and burn.
That being said, Cupcake tries her best to make things go the way they did while she read it. She knows who is supposed to end up with who and what happens in each book. Yet, she can't help but start to fall for the main lead. No matter how many times she mentions she can't have feelings for Kane herself.. she does. It was obvious to everyone that they started to care for one another.. but the characters themselves knew how the series was supposed to go - which I found COMPLETELY interesting.
I wont lie, I really enjoyed this book and with that little cliffhanger ending I am wondering when the next book will be out. Or if a second one will even be made at all. I really hope there is because I need to know what is going to happen next for everyone involved.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2021
The story has a good premise and started off slow. I enjoyed the characters and how they are engaged with one another, but I was bummed with the romance angle. I felt that it didn’t build up enough the way I would have liked and then was rushed in the last few chapters. Story premise was good, but overall delivery was weak. Once the story picked up it kept my attention until the very end but I was disappointed with the ending as I felt it did not give me the closure I wanted. When reading just the intro I thought this was a stand alone book but it seems to be part of a series. I wasn’t prepared for that. All in all I will read the next book and see how that fairs.
April 21, 2020
This book was received as an ARC from Entangled Publishing, LLC - Entangled: Teen in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
I was waiting for a book where the prime focus is being transported into a story and we have not seen many of those since Inkheart and The Book Jumper but in this case it was falling in love with a character and having him literally come to life. As many YA novels whenever there is a dream coming to life there is always a price to pay and that is finding your way through the story and finding your way home. I know our teen book club will have some enticing discussions from this book.
We will definitely consider adding this title to our YA collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
I was waiting for a book where the prime focus is being transported into a story and we have not seen many of those since Inkheart and The Book Jumper but in this case it was falling in love with a character and having him literally come to life. As many YA novels whenever there is a dream coming to life there is always a price to pay and that is finding your way through the story and finding your way home. I know our teen book club will have some enticing discussions from this book.
We will definitely consider adding this title to our YA collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.
March 8, 2020
As soon as I saw this book on Netgalley I knew I had to request it. I crossed all fingers, all toes and everything else I could cross and luckily I quite soon got the message that I could indeed read this story! I mean, which reader doesn't want to jump into their favorite story to meet their fictional crush and to save his life? Cupcake is literally living the fangirl dream, although, is it still that much fun if it's really happening to you?
Let me start with saying the the execution of this awesome prompt is amazing and well done. Mostly because McKay never loses herself in that fangirl dream. She is very aware of the flaws of wanting to travel to those worlds and wanting to meet these characters. Cupcake is confronted with the fact that reading about a world is not the same as knowing that world through and through, just like she discovers that her perfect book boyfriend is not as flawless as she had made him to be either.
At times the world building feels a little unsteady, mostly because a lot of what has happened in the book series is mostly mentioned when it's needed. We know that Cupcake knows all those things and has read about all those things, but she only brings them up when the situation asks for it. Therefore the base doesn't always feel solid, although I do think in reality it is. The story is too well thought out for it not to be.
The plot is too clever too. Where the mythology and world building is only brought up when needed, the overall plot is wonderfully built up. More and more pieces of the puzzle are given out and eventually, when it all clicks, it's breathtaking. Just like the ending. I don't know if there will ever be a second book, there's for sure loads of room for one, but even if there won't be one, the end feels very fitting. Fitting for the story and fitting for the characters.
Because it are the characters who really steal the show. Kane, who we get to know through passages from the books he stars in, and Cupcake, who is our guide through this fantasy world. They are interesting, layered and they both have their strengths and flaws. Just like the quite impressive ensemble of side characters. Even though not all of a them are introduced in detail, they're all memorable and unique.
Gosh, I really want another book. I wanna learn more about those characters and I wanna see more of their world. And I also have a few questions I'd love to see answered.
Let me start with saying the the execution of this awesome prompt is amazing and well done. Mostly because McKay never loses herself in that fangirl dream. She is very aware of the flaws of wanting to travel to those worlds and wanting to meet these characters. Cupcake is confronted with the fact that reading about a world is not the same as knowing that world through and through, just like she discovers that her perfect book boyfriend is not as flawless as she had made him to be either.
At times the world building feels a little unsteady, mostly because a lot of what has happened in the book series is mostly mentioned when it's needed. We know that Cupcake knows all those things and has read about all those things, but she only brings them up when the situation asks for it. Therefore the base doesn't always feel solid, although I do think in reality it is. The story is too well thought out for it not to be.
The plot is too clever too. Where the mythology and world building is only brought up when needed, the overall plot is wonderfully built up. More and more pieces of the puzzle are given out and eventually, when it all clicks, it's breathtaking. Just like the ending. I don't know if there will ever be a second book, there's for sure loads of room for one, but even if there won't be one, the end feels very fitting. Fitting for the story and fitting for the characters.
Because it are the characters who really steal the show. Kane, who we get to know through passages from the books he stars in, and Cupcake, who is our guide through this fantasy world. They are interesting, layered and they both have their strengths and flaws. Just like the quite impressive ensemble of side characters. Even though not all of a them are introduced in detail, they're all memorable and unique.
Gosh, I really want another book. I wanna learn more about those characters and I wanna see more of their world. And I also have a few questions I'd love to see answered.
June 21, 2020
This modern fantasy is a decent teen read with a few tropes and a few departures from the norm.
The issue of a book or bookseller being the gateway to another world is an old one. First, we have to get through a demonstration of our young teen heroine's life, which isn't wonderful at present. She and her mom live a year at a time in a location, and her dad has been locked away, of which we learn more later.
The book leads to a fantasy world which is much like ours with cars and boats, but a poorer version, and it's infested with demon beasts like hellhounds. In a nice touch they scent the iron in our heroine's blood. She meets the hero of her favourite fantasy novels, but he's more of an antihero whose tale has been romanticised, just like Robin Hood I guess.
I am not keen on the idea that the hero knows all about the scribe revising his life, and that all fantasies from Harry Potter to Star Wars have their own populated worlds somewhere just like this. No, you lost me. How would this jackanapes in the hellhound world know about Star Wars? Do the Lego movie and Toy Story get a world each? Every reader makes their own version of a world so are there an infinite number of such worlds, do they exist before they are scripted or not? Is the world in which the heroine lives, the product of someone else's imagination?
Anyway, violence, people getting eaten and an abrupt awakening where romantic thoughts are concerned follow. Some of the visualisation is very good. Mainly though, I enjoyed our heroine's being physically capable due to her te kwon do lessons and willingness to pick up tools. Great example. Go, girl.
I was sent an e-ARC from Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review.
The issue of a book or bookseller being the gateway to another world is an old one. First, we have to get through a demonstration of our young teen heroine's life, which isn't wonderful at present. She and her mom live a year at a time in a location, and her dad has been locked away, of which we learn more later.
The book leads to a fantasy world which is much like ours with cars and boats, but a poorer version, and it's infested with demon beasts like hellhounds. In a nice touch they scent the iron in our heroine's blood. She meets the hero of her favourite fantasy novels, but he's more of an antihero whose tale has been romanticised, just like Robin Hood I guess.
I am not keen on the idea that the hero knows all about the scribe revising his life, and that all fantasies from Harry Potter to Star Wars have their own populated worlds somewhere just like this. No, you lost me. How would this jackanapes in the hellhound world know about Star Wars? Do the Lego movie and Toy Story get a world each? Every reader makes their own version of a world so are there an infinite number of such worlds, do they exist before they are scripted or not? Is the world in which the heroine lives, the product of someone else's imagination?
Anyway, violence, people getting eaten and an abrupt awakening where romantic thoughts are concerned follow. Some of the visualisation is very good. Mainly though, I enjoyed our heroine's being physically capable due to her te kwon do lessons and willingness to pick up tools. Great example. Go, girl.
I was sent an e-ARC from Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review.
May 20, 2020
I’ve honestly been waiting for a fun and adventurous YA book that involves travel into a fictional world. And Storybound excels at bringing this to life. It’s full of character growth, marvelous world building, and exceptional writing. I was so invested in this story and the characters that it was sad to read the last line of this book (only because I had to say goodbye to this world).
The execution of this story idea is done splendidly, and McKay’s writing is a breath of fresh air. Her narration of this story is exquisite and really provides a strong voice. Her writing is also lush and full of beautiful prose. McKay does an absolute wonderful job integrating the real world with the story world, and that integration helped to make this book shine.
The world building is just phenomenal. And not just the book world, but the real world is just as mesmerizing. But really, let’s talk about the book world. It’s fantastical and magnificently described. The whole world was so easy to picture in my mind. I could picture everything in vivid colors. The world building was so well done that days after finishing the book, I can still easily picture the landscape. It’s such a unique and rich world.
Now for the main characters. Edena (Edie) is snarky and brave and a strong protagonist. She’s not afraid to showcase her emotions or to put other people first. So, when she walks out onto the pages of her favorite series, she knows what she needs to do: save her favorite hero (who she happens to be in love with) from his untimely and unfortunate end. And then, of course, she needs to figure out how she can get home, but this becomes hard to do when she starts to create friendships with the characters she’s only known through her favorite story. Edie is definitely a protagonist that many readers will be able to relate to, and not just because she’s an avid reader.
Then there’s Kane. Kane is, without a doubt, worthy of all the swoons. Well, after he forgoes his rudeness to our fan-fave protagonist, Edie. Though his rudeness is understandable (you’ll have to read the book to find out why!). But his characterization and growth was fun to see: he’s living in a world full of hardships and at every turn, he has to determine his next move without trying to get killed.
Overall, this book was a fun and exciting read and I definitely recommend this story to those who need a new adventure fantasy read!
The execution of this story idea is done splendidly, and McKay’s writing is a breath of fresh air. Her narration of this story is exquisite and really provides a strong voice. Her writing is also lush and full of beautiful prose. McKay does an absolute wonderful job integrating the real world with the story world, and that integration helped to make this book shine.
The world building is just phenomenal. And not just the book world, but the real world is just as mesmerizing. But really, let’s talk about the book world. It’s fantastical and magnificently described. The whole world was so easy to picture in my mind. I could picture everything in vivid colors. The world building was so well done that days after finishing the book, I can still easily picture the landscape. It’s such a unique and rich world.
Now for the main characters. Edena (Edie) is snarky and brave and a strong protagonist. She’s not afraid to showcase her emotions or to put other people first. So, when she walks out onto the pages of her favorite series, she knows what she needs to do: save her favorite hero (who she happens to be in love with) from his untimely and unfortunate end. And then, of course, she needs to figure out how she can get home, but this becomes hard to do when she starts to create friendships with the characters she’s only known through her favorite story. Edie is definitely a protagonist that many readers will be able to relate to, and not just because she’s an avid reader.
Then there’s Kane. Kane is, without a doubt, worthy of all the swoons. Well, after he forgoes his rudeness to our fan-fave protagonist, Edie. Though his rudeness is understandable (you’ll have to read the book to find out why!). But his characterization and growth was fun to see: he’s living in a world full of hardships and at every turn, he has to determine his next move without trying to get killed.
Overall, this book was a fun and exciting read and I definitely recommend this story to those who need a new adventure fantasy read!
May 11, 2020
I received this book from the publisher via Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
I wanted to love this, I really did. The plot is a fun concept, but the execution let it down. The characters are two dimensional and wishy washy, full of poor motivation or instalove. The only one I ended up liking was the cat.
It just felt in good need of a strong edit, and for Edie to stop thinking everyone is as they are in the books when that falls over literally every time she meets someone. And I do get loving a fictional character, even if I don’t go for the whole book boyfriend thing myself, but Eddie’s fascination with Kane borders on pathological. Kane himself is typical “chosen one” and bad but secretly good and every cliche I can think of poured into one book. Ugh.
There were bits I really enjoyed - the idea is good, the peril about the hellhounds is well executed, and the way magic works is interesting. I wanted more answers about the background of it all though, and the villain had no motivation except wanting to rule the world. Just sigh.
I’m frustrated that I want to know how it all works out, but honestly that’s mostly because we get no answers at all in this book. I doubt I’ll pick up the second book. 2.5 stars.
I wanted to love this, I really did. The plot is a fun concept, but the execution let it down. The characters are two dimensional and wishy washy, full of poor motivation or instalove. The only one I ended up liking was the cat.
It just felt in good need of a strong edit, and for Edie to stop thinking everyone is as they are in the books when that falls over literally every time she meets someone. And I do get loving a fictional character, even if I don’t go for the whole book boyfriend thing myself, but Eddie’s fascination with Kane borders on pathological. Kane himself is typical “chosen one” and bad but secretly good and every cliche I can think of poured into one book. Ugh.
There were bits I really enjoyed - the idea is good, the peril about the hellhounds is well executed, and the way magic works is interesting. I wanted more answers about the background of it all though, and the villain had no motivation except wanting to rule the world. Just sigh.
I’m frustrated that I want to know how it all works out, but honestly that’s mostly because we get no answers at all in this book. I doubt I’ll pick up the second book. 2.5 stars.
May 1, 2020
4.5 stars
A little slow to get into, but that could have been me. The beginning felt a little pointless, but maybe it will become important in book 2?
I am a super character driven reader, so whether or not I like a book is deternined by the strength of the characters and after about chapter 12 (of 50) I was hooked. Also, I grew to really look forward to the alternate POV on the chapter breaks.
So much I want/need to know. Can't wait for the next book.
Recommended.
A little slow to get into, but that could have been me. The beginning felt a little pointless, but maybe it will become important in book 2?
I am a super character driven reader, so whether or not I like a book is deternined by the strength of the characters and after about chapter 12 (of 50) I was hooked. Also, I grew to really look forward to the alternate POV on the chapter breaks.
So much I want/need to know. Can't wait for the next book.
Recommended.
July 1, 2020
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I really enjoyed this book, but it was kind of just a middle ground read for me. Meaning it wasn't stellar and unforgettable, but it wasn't horrible and a DNF. I did enjoy the book and I loved the pace that Emily McKay set for the story to progress. I felt like there could have been a little bit better explanation and details that would have made the book make a little more sense, but I still thought it was a good read. I would recommend it to anyone that loves YA and fantasy. I will definitely be looking for more from Emily McKay.
I really enjoyed this book, but it was kind of just a middle ground read for me. Meaning it wasn't stellar and unforgettable, but it wasn't horrible and a DNF. I did enjoy the book and I loved the pace that Emily McKay set for the story to progress. I felt like there could have been a little bit better explanation and details that would have made the book make a little more sense, but I still thought it was a good read. I would recommend it to anyone that loves YA and fantasy. I will definitely be looking for more from Emily McKay.
March 10, 2020
I liked this book but i thought the names could be better thought of, i mean cupcake...just why. However much she wants to just fall for the magic, . She is very aware of the flaws of wanting to travel to those worlds and wanting to meet these characters. Cupcake is confronted with the fact that reading about a world is not the same as knowing that world completely, just like she discovers that her perfect book man is not as flawless as we want.
A story of what happens when you fall into the book world you love more than anything and try to stop things from ending how the book ended.
.
Now that I know the truth, I have a chance to save Kane. But if I change the story, will I ever find my way home?
A story of what happens when you fall into the book world you love more than anything and try to stop things from ending how the book ended.
.
Now that I know the truth, I have a chance to save Kane. But if I change the story, will I ever find my way home?
January 6, 2022
This book was insane!!! I absolutely loved it! There was so many plot twists that had my imagination racing. The ending was one of the biggest cliff hangers ever! Absolutely amazing!
June 13, 2023
Not what I expected.
There has to be more though right?
Cause loose ends!
There has to be more though right?
Cause loose ends!
September 4, 2020
Despite how long it tool me to read this. I did really enjoy it. It is a very clever concept! Ibreally enjoyed how there are things that as readers we think we know but that there is so much we dont see. Highly recommend
March 8, 2020
I need more. a second story right now. This was absolutely amazing and I loved every second of it. A story of what happens when you fall into the book world you love more than anything and try to stop things from ending how the book ended.
The characters were snarky, funny, and had great one liners. Honestly the snippets of the story were a great addition that showed how the book could be interpreted two different ways.
The characters were snarky, funny, and had great one liners. Honestly the snippets of the story were a great addition that showed how the book could be interpreted two different ways.
April 29, 2021
I inadvertently squeeze the keys too hard and the car bleeps in protest. I jump a little, but the scowl fades from Kane’s face, and his lips twitch. Good. He’s amused by me again. I can be the plucky comic relief. I can’t be the girl he cares about. That role in the book is already taken. ~Edie, 48%
The excerpt above is from one of the many hilarious, sweet, and swoony scenes in Storybound, that had me smiling like a lovesick doof.
I really liked the concept of Storybound, because it felt like a story that was especially written for me, and others like me. Those of us who have found at least one book series that feels so real, that it’s like you know the characters on a personal level. You’re sad when they’re sad, angry when their angry, and you fall completely head-over-heels for a guy (or girl), when they do. Those of us who would consider trading a kidney, just to be in the presence of our true book boyfriend ~ swoon.
I liked how Kane, and the other characters in his fantasy world which resembled the U.S. in design, knew that they existed as book characters in “our” world. The fact that items such as girl scout cookies, Game of Throne dvds, and a porsche could be smuggled through the veils, was an interesting concept. However, the concept was a bit flawed. At one point a character from the fantasy world called a person a “dude” but then later on didn’t know the sports term “benching”.
Also, because items could be brought over from our world into the fantasy world, I had a really hard time believing that our main male character Kane didn’t know about his future, because he never tried to get the copies of the books that we’re based on his life. It’s stated later on in Storybound that he could have acquired them, therefore it seems highly improbable that he wouldn’t have at least tried to.
Regardless of this book’s flaws, I enjoyed reading it. I smiled. I giggled. And I definitely swooned.
The excerpt above is from one of the many hilarious, sweet, and swoony scenes in Storybound, that had me smiling like a lovesick doof.
I really liked the concept of Storybound, because it felt like a story that was especially written for me, and others like me. Those of us who have found at least one book series that feels so real, that it’s like you know the characters on a personal level. You’re sad when they’re sad, angry when their angry, and you fall completely head-over-heels for a guy (or girl), when they do. Those of us who would consider trading a kidney, just to be in the presence of our true book boyfriend ~ swoon.
I liked how Kane, and the other characters in his fantasy world which resembled the U.S. in design, knew that they existed as book characters in “our” world. The fact that items such as girl scout cookies, Game of Throne dvds, and a porsche could be smuggled through the veils, was an interesting concept. However, the concept was a bit flawed. At one point a character from the fantasy world called a person a “dude” but then later on didn’t know the sports term “benching”.
Also, because items could be brought over from our world into the fantasy world, I had a really hard time believing that our main male character Kane didn’t know about his future, because he never tried to get the copies of the books that we’re based on his life. It’s stated later on in Storybound that he could have acquired them, therefore it seems highly improbable that he wouldn’t have at least tried to.
Regardless of this book’s flaws, I enjoyed reading it. I smiled. I giggled. And I definitely swooned.
June 21, 2020
I read this in one go on a relaxing, summer sunday and I really loved it. It was fast-paced, easy and flowing writing that kept you hooked.
A perfect read, if you just want to relax and let a story sweep you away.
Only thing that prevented the 5 Stars are certain unresolved things towards the end that were just left hanging or being forgotten about?
But anyway, it is still a lush little read for anyone who wants a quick and easy romance novel :)
A perfect read, if you just want to relax and let a story sweep you away.
Only thing that prevented the 5 Stars are certain unresolved things towards the end that were just left hanging or being forgotten about?
But anyway, it is still a lush little read for anyone who wants a quick and easy romance novel :)
dnf
May 1, 2020DNF @ 29%
March 17, 2020
There are some mild spoilers below. Please be aware before reading.
#ARC #NetGalley
First of all, I would like to thank Entangled: Teens for sending me this ARC via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Storybound by Emily McKay is written from seventeen year old Edie's point-of-view, and she doesn't have the easiest life. She escapes into literary worlds, especially into her favorite series Kane the Traveler. Little does she know, every book is real, a true story from a different dimension, and that when she walks into her favorite bookstore to look at an ARC of the disappointing final book in the series, she walks into the Kingdom of Mithres, and finds herself smack in the center of adventure along with the character Kane, who she has been in love with since starting the series. Her only goal: save Kane from an awful fate in the last book, give him his happy ending, and get back home before her mother finds her missing. But she quickly learns that stories and reality are two very different things.
I was first drawn to this book because of the cover. It reminded me so much of the LUX series, and its from the same publisher. The description had me clicking on the request button pretty fast. I mean, a book about actually meeting your "book boyfriend". That is every book lovers dream! Initially, I wasn't quite sure what to think. The story itself is unique. I was a little worried it would have a "Neverending Story" vibe to it, but I didn't get that impression at all. The story was interesting, and while I think everything started happening a little too quickly, the flow afterwards was really good. At first I was a little annoyed with the excerpts from the Kane books, but after a while, I looked forward to them. It was a clever way of showing us Kane's POV, without going back in forth between Edie and Kane.
The characters are really good. Edie is what you want in a female protagonist. Strong, smart, reliable, kind, and honorable. She doesn't do the easy thing, and there were a lot of moments where it would have been easy for her to do so. Kane is also a great male character. For all the same reasons Edie is great. Their chemistry is apparent, and their conversations fun to read, especially when they argue. I had no problem seeing why she loved him, or him falling for her. Morgan is a fun character, despite his sad backstory. Ro's betrayal was a twist I was not expecting. I assumed that she had a crush on Kane (much like Edie, because of the books), but her quest for more power unhinging her was truly a shock. The main baddie, Smythe, kind of reminded me of Valentine from the Mortal Instruments, except he wasn't Edie's father (which I was suspecting). Her father's story is a sad one, and her mother, keeping this life from her ... well, there is a lot of explaining to do.
The ending was frustrating. How it's written ... will the story continue with a sequel? Or is it written that way, so it ends however we, the reader, imagines it? There are many unanswered questions, and unresolved plot lines that I would love to see tied up in a sequel, so I hope that is the case. If the ending is meant to be left open ended like that, well, I am not sure I like that. It feels unfinished. Despite the questionable ending, it was an interesting read. Some of the more supernatural elements were a bit weird for me (like the arms coming out of backs. Telekinesis would have been a bit cooler.), but the characters and the chemistry between Edie and Kane drew me in, and I am left hoping for a sequel.
Check out my blog for more of my thoughts on Storybound, and Favorite Quotes (that will not be posted till after publication)
#ARC #NetGalley
First of all, I would like to thank Entangled: Teens for sending me this ARC via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Storybound by Emily McKay is written from seventeen year old Edie's point-of-view, and she doesn't have the easiest life. She escapes into literary worlds, especially into her favorite series Kane the Traveler. Little does she know, every book is real, a true story from a different dimension, and that when she walks into her favorite bookstore to look at an ARC of the disappointing final book in the series, she walks into the Kingdom of Mithres, and finds herself smack in the center of adventure along with the character Kane, who she has been in love with since starting the series. Her only goal: save Kane from an awful fate in the last book, give him his happy ending, and get back home before her mother finds her missing. But she quickly learns that stories and reality are two very different things.
I was first drawn to this book because of the cover. It reminded me so much of the LUX series, and its from the same publisher. The description had me clicking on the request button pretty fast. I mean, a book about actually meeting your "book boyfriend". That is every book lovers dream! Initially, I wasn't quite sure what to think. The story itself is unique. I was a little worried it would have a "Neverending Story" vibe to it, but I didn't get that impression at all. The story was interesting, and while I think everything started happening a little too quickly, the flow afterwards was really good. At first I was a little annoyed with the excerpts from the Kane books, but after a while, I looked forward to them. It was a clever way of showing us Kane's POV, without going back in forth between Edie and Kane.
The characters are really good. Edie is what you want in a female protagonist. Strong, smart, reliable, kind, and honorable. She doesn't do the easy thing, and there were a lot of moments where it would have been easy for her to do so. Kane is also a great male character. For all the same reasons Edie is great. Their chemistry is apparent, and their conversations fun to read, especially when they argue. I had no problem seeing why she loved him, or him falling for her. Morgan is a fun character, despite his sad backstory. Ro's betrayal was a twist I was not expecting. I assumed that she had a crush on Kane (much like Edie, because of the books), but her quest for more power unhinging her was truly a shock. The main baddie, Smythe, kind of reminded me of Valentine from the Mortal Instruments, except he wasn't Edie's father (which I was suspecting). Her father's story is a sad one, and her mother, keeping this life from her ... well, there is a lot of explaining to do.
The ending was frustrating. How it's written ... will the story continue with a sequel? Or is it written that way, so it ends however we, the reader, imagines it? There are many unanswered questions, and unresolved plot lines that I would love to see tied up in a sequel, so I hope that is the case. If the ending is meant to be left open ended like that, well, I am not sure I like that. It feels unfinished. Despite the questionable ending, it was an interesting read. Some of the more supernatural elements were a bit weird for me (like the arms coming out of backs. Telekinesis would have been a bit cooler.), but the characters and the chemistry between Edie and Kane drew me in, and I am left hoping for a sequel.
Check out my blog for more of my thoughts on Storybound, and Favorite Quotes (that will not be posted till after publication)
July 29, 2020
I feel a bit conflicted about Storybound in terms of a rating. I was trying to work out where in between a 3 and a 4 it is, but because it's closer to a 4 when I settled on 3.75, I put it at a 4. I don't think it's a strong 4, but it definitely has the potential to be.
Storybound is formed on a fantastic idea of the real world and our faveouite literary worlds combining and continuing through life at the same time, but in different parallel universes. It clung to the epic dream of book lovers everywhere that they may one day meet their book boyfriend and be launched into their fictional world. Not only that, but saving said book boyfriend at the same time and being the un-written and un-known heroine from our boring ol' universe.
The magic system was pretty good - a play on elemental magic - but was only hashed out and broken down to a very shallow level, so I'm hoping the next book will delve into this more deeply.
The male protagonist was...okay. He is touted as the snarky, sarcastic and utterly adorable magic weilder and black market dealer, but I didn't find he lived up to this label at all. When I compare to other male main characters like Rhys, Luc, Daemon and Cassian, this poor guy just fell a fair bit short. But I think this could be because the book was packed full of constant action and the whole book is only about 48 hours altogether, so he may not have really had the best chance to come into his own and thrive.
I found the big 'secret' was a let down, mainly because I didn't even realise there was a big, shocking secret until it happened, and the main character acted like her pet dog has been a cat this whole time. Also, the secretive and mystery insider of the ragtag 'crew' who had betrayed our main guy wasn't a shock either. I mean, I may not have guessed them straight away, but when I realised who it was, I wasn't so much "OOOOOHHH NO WAY!" And more like "oh, okay'. But to be fair, this is common in a lot of books in my opinion. I think authors find it very hard to genuinely shock a reader with a revelation in a truly exciting and unforeseeable way.
The overall read and feel of the book felt a little more middle grade to me as opposed to YA. I was trying to work out why, and I think it's because of the major lack in romance, and total focus on the action and heist. There is a teeny, tiny, weeny, teensy bit of romance but it's pretty much mon-existent when compared to most other YA fantasies, which I know a lot of people will adore. Personally, I'm hoping the next instalment will expand on this a whole lot more.
The pacing was great and I didn't even realise that the whole book takes place in just 48 hours or so. A single weekend while our 'Cupcake' is home alone without her mum. I was sure her Mum would have been alerting the FBI of a suspected kidnapping, only to find out at the end that she
****POSSIBLE TINY SPOILER******
would beat her Mum home. I think the shock was because there were no clues or literary timestamps to help us readers understand how much time is passing. What I thought must have been at least a week or two, was around 36 hours, so I wonder if this was created in the plot for ease of the Mum and missing daughter issue I just mentioned, or the author wanted the whole book to take place only over a weekend. It'll be interesting with the next book (and the ending made it very clear there should be one), whether the time is drawn out a bit more. A positive of this though, was that the book was a fast and easy read as there was so much action all the time.
Overall, a pretty fun book and one I'm glad to have enjoyed, with a few personal little problems along the way. If you're a fantasy reader who doesn't like much romance, this one could be a book for you.
Storybound is formed on a fantastic idea of the real world and our faveouite literary worlds combining and continuing through life at the same time, but in different parallel universes. It clung to the epic dream of book lovers everywhere that they may one day meet their book boyfriend and be launched into their fictional world. Not only that, but saving said book boyfriend at the same time and being the un-written and un-known heroine from our boring ol' universe.
The magic system was pretty good - a play on elemental magic - but was only hashed out and broken down to a very shallow level, so I'm hoping the next book will delve into this more deeply.
The male protagonist was...okay. He is touted as the snarky, sarcastic and utterly adorable magic weilder and black market dealer, but I didn't find he lived up to this label at all. When I compare to other male main characters like Rhys, Luc, Daemon and Cassian, this poor guy just fell a fair bit short. But I think this could be because the book was packed full of constant action and the whole book is only about 48 hours altogether, so he may not have really had the best chance to come into his own and thrive.
I found the big 'secret' was a let down, mainly because I didn't even realise there was a big, shocking secret until it happened, and the main character acted like her pet dog has been a cat this whole time. Also, the secretive and mystery insider of the ragtag 'crew' who had betrayed our main guy wasn't a shock either. I mean, I may not have guessed them straight away, but when I realised who it was, I wasn't so much "OOOOOHHH NO WAY!" And more like "oh, okay'. But to be fair, this is common in a lot of books in my opinion. I think authors find it very hard to genuinely shock a reader with a revelation in a truly exciting and unforeseeable way.
The overall read and feel of the book felt a little more middle grade to me as opposed to YA. I was trying to work out why, and I think it's because of the major lack in romance, and total focus on the action and heist. There is a teeny, tiny, weeny, teensy bit of romance but it's pretty much mon-existent when compared to most other YA fantasies, which I know a lot of people will adore. Personally, I'm hoping the next instalment will expand on this a whole lot more.
The pacing was great and I didn't even realise that the whole book takes place in just 48 hours or so. A single weekend while our 'Cupcake' is home alone without her mum. I was sure her Mum would have been alerting the FBI of a suspected kidnapping, only to find out at the end that she
****POSSIBLE TINY SPOILER******
would beat her Mum home. I think the shock was because there were no clues or literary timestamps to help us readers understand how much time is passing. What I thought must have been at least a week or two, was around 36 hours, so I wonder if this was created in the plot for ease of the Mum and missing daughter issue I just mentioned, or the author wanted the whole book to take place only over a weekend. It'll be interesting with the next book (and the ending made it very clear there should be one), whether the time is drawn out a bit more. A positive of this though, was that the book was a fast and easy read as there was so much action all the time.
Overall, a pretty fun book and one I'm glad to have enjoyed, with a few personal little problems along the way. If you're a fantasy reader who doesn't like much romance, this one could be a book for you.
March 9, 2020
Edie is a reader. She loves books and often finds herself lost in the fictional world. She prefers books to almost everything. (I can relate, Edie!) One series, in particular, is her favorite – The Traveler series. However, when she goes to a local store to see a book from the series on display, she never expects to learn that the fictional world of The Traveler is real.
Edie enters a parallel universe, and it’s the Kingdom of Mithres, the world of her favorite book series. In this world, all of the fictional characters that she loves and loathes are real. The stories in the books are not imagined, and Edie is thrust abruptly into an epic journey.
So, the stories become real because the readers (or viewers) believe. Edie learns that there are many different parallel worlds. Harry Potter, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, they are all magically real. Can you imagine? This concept intrigued me so much, and I began to wonder which world I would be a part of. The Hunger Games? Harry Potter? A Court of Thorns and Roses? Stranger Things? There are so many that I love!!!
Edie meets her book boyfriend, and she quickly realizes that she must do all that she can to prevent Kane’s death, which occurs in the final book in the series. With an unusual cast of characters including a siren, a princess, a large talking cat, and an invisible girl, Edie sets off on an adventure to save the Kingdom of Mithres and Kane.
The intricate detail of the parallel universe is amazingly depicted. From the landscape to the hell-hounds to the vast and unique powers, the world-building is skillfully woven throughout the book. The imagery is vivid and strong, and I easily imagined the fascinating parallel universe that Edie finds herself in.
Another aspect of the book that I found fascinating was the integration of a book within a book. Thought the main story is told from Edie’s point of view, throughout the story, there are excerpts from A Traveler Undone, the final book in The Traveler Chronicles. Told from Kane’s point-of-view, these excerpts give you a more well-rounded perspective of Kane’s thoughts and actions. You also see how Kane slowly develops feelings for Edie.
Even though Edie knows this world better than she knows herself, there are always unexpected twists and turns and complexities. Edie has to rely not just on her knowledge but on her intuition (and her new friends) in order to survive. She also has to fight her ever-growing feelings for Kane, as she believes that she is not his destiny.
Will Kane admit how he feels for Edie? Will they succeed in their journey to find the kidnapped princess? Will Edie return to her world? All this and more is answered in Storybound.
Favorite Parts:
- I absolutely love the idea that the fictional worlds of book series’ are all real worlds in parallel universes. I’ve wished for this many times in my life!
- Edie (aka Cupcake). She is a complex and likable protagonist. Smart, strong, a little sarcastic, and obsessed with books, Edie is everything I want in a friend.
- The fantastical world is amazing!
-The book-within-a-book concept is a unique addition to the story.
Recommendations:
Lovers of young adult fantasy with intricate world-building will love this story. Readers who enjoy fast-paced and action-packed novels filled with suspense, betrayal, and enigmatic characters will enjoy this read.
Edie enters a parallel universe, and it’s the Kingdom of Mithres, the world of her favorite book series. In this world, all of the fictional characters that she loves and loathes are real. The stories in the books are not imagined, and Edie is thrust abruptly into an epic journey.
So, the stories become real because the readers (or viewers) believe. Edie learns that there are many different parallel worlds. Harry Potter, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, they are all magically real. Can you imagine? This concept intrigued me so much, and I began to wonder which world I would be a part of. The Hunger Games? Harry Potter? A Court of Thorns and Roses? Stranger Things? There are so many that I love!!!
Edie meets her book boyfriend, and she quickly realizes that she must do all that she can to prevent Kane’s death, which occurs in the final book in the series. With an unusual cast of characters including a siren, a princess, a large talking cat, and an invisible girl, Edie sets off on an adventure to save the Kingdom of Mithres and Kane.
The intricate detail of the parallel universe is amazingly depicted. From the landscape to the hell-hounds to the vast and unique powers, the world-building is skillfully woven throughout the book. The imagery is vivid and strong, and I easily imagined the fascinating parallel universe that Edie finds herself in.
Another aspect of the book that I found fascinating was the integration of a book within a book. Thought the main story is told from Edie’s point of view, throughout the story, there are excerpts from A Traveler Undone, the final book in The Traveler Chronicles. Told from Kane’s point-of-view, these excerpts give you a more well-rounded perspective of Kane’s thoughts and actions. You also see how Kane slowly develops feelings for Edie.
Even though Edie knows this world better than she knows herself, there are always unexpected twists and turns and complexities. Edie has to rely not just on her knowledge but on her intuition (and her new friends) in order to survive. She also has to fight her ever-growing feelings for Kane, as she believes that she is not his destiny.
Will Kane admit how he feels for Edie? Will they succeed in their journey to find the kidnapped princess? Will Edie return to her world? All this and more is answered in Storybound.
Favorite Parts:
- I absolutely love the idea that the fictional worlds of book series’ are all real worlds in parallel universes. I’ve wished for this many times in my life!
- Edie (aka Cupcake). She is a complex and likable protagonist. Smart, strong, a little sarcastic, and obsessed with books, Edie is everything I want in a friend.
- The fantastical world is amazing!
-The book-within-a-book concept is a unique addition to the story.
Recommendations:
Lovers of young adult fantasy with intricate world-building will love this story. Readers who enjoy fast-paced and action-packed novels filled with suspense, betrayal, and enigmatic characters will enjoy this read.
March 12, 2020
“All I want is to restore justice to the universe and prevent the Kingdom of Mithres from descending into the chaos of outright civil war. Why is that too much to ask?”
Overall, I liked the concept of this story. Who doesn’t want to jump into their favorite book loaded with inside knowledge that can assist their favorite characters? I already know of a couple books that I’d love to dip my toes in. I also liked Edie. I’m not usually one for first person POV’s that are present tense, but I liked how this was set up to let readers know of a sense of urgency. However, there were some points that kept me from fully enjoying the novel.
There was a good even pace to the story at the beginning, but around chapter five, everything sped up quickly. It went from a girl who found solace in literature, like a lot of people, to her immediately believing that the characters for the Traveler’s series were 100% real. I felt like there needed to be more build up, even if we as the readers already knew how the story was going to go via the synopsis. The change in attitude from contemporary teenage girl to the chosen one to save Kane was just too abrupt. The story goes into hyper speed.
I feel like the excerpts could have covered more of the world building. When Edie is sent to this new world, we are expected to immediately understand what was going on. We’re to root for Mrs. Flores. If the excerpts don’t go into detail like that, I would have liked more time with Edie interacting with the books. Doing more forums. Talking to more people. Showing what this world meant to her. Instead, I feel like we barely scratched the surface before jumping right in. (I also wasn’t much for Kane. He felt a little too overdone.)
And I’m not sure that I’m completely sold on the idea that all stories are real and that they all exist in a different reality. If it was just the Traveler’s series that was real, I may have had less trouble suspending by disbelief. More akin towards how The Neverending Story handled the idea. Through readers, other worlds can come true.
I’ve never been a big fan of novel that use references that can date them or isolate them from other readers. There’s a lot of contemporary references (like The Walking Dead and Grand Theft Auto) that assume that the reader has already explored those worlds or that they’ll be relevant to future readers. I can understand Narnia and Lord of the Rings. They’ve withstood the test of time. I’m not sure about the others.
I guess what I’m trying to get at is that there is a good idea here, I just think that it could have been done a little differently. Still, don’t let me stop you! There’s still a great world to explore in this book. There’s demons, hellhounds, and magical worlds that are worth looking into. And like I said, Edie is a fun POV to read behind.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Overall, I liked the concept of this story. Who doesn’t want to jump into their favorite book loaded with inside knowledge that can assist their favorite characters? I already know of a couple books that I’d love to dip my toes in. I also liked Edie. I’m not usually one for first person POV’s that are present tense, but I liked how this was set up to let readers know of a sense of urgency. However, there were some points that kept me from fully enjoying the novel.
There was a good even pace to the story at the beginning, but around chapter five, everything sped up quickly. It went from a girl who found solace in literature, like a lot of people, to her immediately believing that the characters for the Traveler’s series were 100% real. I felt like there needed to be more build up, even if we as the readers already knew how the story was going to go via the synopsis. The change in attitude from contemporary teenage girl to the chosen one to save Kane was just too abrupt. The story goes into hyper speed.
I feel like the excerpts could have covered more of the world building. When Edie is sent to this new world, we are expected to immediately understand what was going on. We’re to root for Mrs. Flores. If the excerpts don’t go into detail like that, I would have liked more time with Edie interacting with the books. Doing more forums. Talking to more people. Showing what this world meant to her. Instead, I feel like we barely scratched the surface before jumping right in. (I also wasn’t much for Kane. He felt a little too overdone.)
And I’m not sure that I’m completely sold on the idea that all stories are real and that they all exist in a different reality. If it was just the Traveler’s series that was real, I may have had less trouble suspending by disbelief. More akin towards how The Neverending Story handled the idea. Through readers, other worlds can come true.
I’ve never been a big fan of novel that use references that can date them or isolate them from other readers. There’s a lot of contemporary references (like The Walking Dead and Grand Theft Auto) that assume that the reader has already explored those worlds or that they’ll be relevant to future readers. I can understand Narnia and Lord of the Rings. They’ve withstood the test of time. I’m not sure about the others.
I guess what I’m trying to get at is that there is a good idea here, I just think that it could have been done a little differently. Still, don’t let me stop you! There’s still a great world to explore in this book. There’s demons, hellhounds, and magical worlds that are worth looking into. And like I said, Edie is a fun POV to read behind.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 15, 2020
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2020
Thank you, as always, to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC! All commentary and reviews are wholly my own!
If it were possible, this would stand at a solid 4.5. I don't think it deserves a full 4 but there were some minor issues that leads it to be a 4.5 rather than a 5.
Storybound reminds me so much of my favorite book of all-time: Inkheart. I've always loved books and the idea of becoming a part of or finding your own story so intertwined with that of a book you love resonates strongly with me. Edie feels a little disappointed, like some of her fellow fans, at the end of her favorite series, about the strong Tuatha and Dark Worlder, Kane the Traveler, the protagonist of the novel series. Both her and her mother have traveled constantly, for both her mother's job and to outrun her father, who spent some time in an asylum and may not be the most mentally stable. Edie and her mom currently reside in Austin and, when her mom must travel away for a little while, Edie follows up on a lead some weird circumstances that isn't sure really happened told her to go check out. Once there, she realizes either the world isn't what she thought it was and her role is more entwined with Kane's than just reading about him, or she's just as crazy as her her father is. Crossing the lines between realistic and fictional situations, Edie has to find where her story connects with Kane's and differentiate the way the story is supposed to go and the way she wants it to go.
I fell in love with the description of this book, again because it reminded me of my favorite book. After reading it, I felt that it missed the mark in a few places, but not enough to lose the reader entirely. The only things I found myself craving were a more seamless transition from the first part to when she crosses over and for the characters to feel a bit more fleshed out. There is so much Edie knows and, being an unreliable narrator, she doesn't tell us all of it. It leads the reader to not knowing the cast of characters as well as we should and not understanding their grand gestures in the same manner Edie does. I loved LOVED the little snippets in between each chapter from the original book and when the ARC deleted excerpts came in? Oh god, I felt things. There is a ton of hidden backstory and backlore you only get through the snippets and I found that is something McKay does well: revealing just enough of the original book to keep you satisfied. If the characters were fleshed out a little more, the story stands well on its own. I am anxious as to if there will be a sequel or not because there is plenty of room for one.
If it were possible, this would stand at a solid 4.5. I don't think it deserves a full 4 but there were some minor issues that leads it to be a 4.5 rather than a 5.
Storybound reminds me so much of my favorite book of all-time: Inkheart. I've always loved books and the idea of becoming a part of or finding your own story so intertwined with that of a book you love resonates strongly with me. Edie feels a little disappointed, like some of her fellow fans, at the end of her favorite series, about the strong Tuatha and Dark Worlder, Kane the Traveler, the protagonist of the novel series. Both her and her mother have traveled constantly, for both her mother's job and to outrun her father, who spent some time in an asylum and may not be the most mentally stable. Edie and her mom currently reside in Austin and, when her mom must travel away for a little while, Edie follows up on a lead some weird circumstances that isn't sure really happened told her to go check out. Once there, she realizes either the world isn't what she thought it was and her role is more entwined with Kane's than just reading about him, or she's just as crazy as her her father is. Crossing the lines between realistic and fictional situations, Edie has to find where her story connects with Kane's and differentiate the way the story is supposed to go and the way she wants it to go.
I fell in love with the description of this book, again because it reminded me of my favorite book. After reading it, I felt that it missed the mark in a few places, but not enough to lose the reader entirely. The only things I found myself craving were a more seamless transition from the first part to when she crosses over and for the characters to feel a bit more fleshed out. There is so much Edie knows and, being an unreliable narrator, she doesn't tell us all of it. It leads the reader to not knowing the cast of characters as well as we should and not understanding their grand gestures in the same manner Edie does. I loved LOVED the little snippets in between each chapter from the original book and when the ARC deleted excerpts came in? Oh god, I felt things. There is a ton of hidden backstory and backlore you only get through the snippets and I found that is something McKay does well: revealing just enough of the original book to keep you satisfied. If the characters were fleshed out a little more, the story stands well on its own. I am anxious as to if there will be a sequel or not because there is plenty of room for one.
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