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Storyteller's #1
The Storyteller's Daughter
His shadowed face lit by flames,
Rumpelstiltskin is my name...
For as long as anyone can remember, every child in Westfallen has been born with a Gift, and these Gifts defined them.
Then Cosette is born, Giftless.
An attempt to hide her misfortune brings her before the King, who entraps her to use her Gift as a pawn in his war.
Caught in a lie, Cosette desperately searches for a power strong enough to free her. Intrigued by whispers of an old king and a dark curse, she calls upon Rumpelstiltskin and finds him trapped in a magic deeper than she bargained for. Now, Cosette must fight to reclaim her freedom from the King and break Rumpel’s curse. When time runs out, she’ll lose more than her heart. She’ll lose her life.
THE STORYTELLER’S DAUGHTER is the perfect introduction to YA that will satisfy fans of Gail Carson Levine’s ELLA ENCHANTED, as well as Jessica Day George’s DRAGON SLIPPERS and PRINCESS OF GLASS, and Cameron Dokey’s THE WORLD ABOVE.
Rumpelstiltskin is my name...
For as long as anyone can remember, every child in Westfallen has been born with a Gift, and these Gifts defined them.
Then Cosette is born, Giftless.
An attempt to hide her misfortune brings her before the King, who entraps her to use her Gift as a pawn in his war.
Caught in a lie, Cosette desperately searches for a power strong enough to free her. Intrigued by whispers of an old king and a dark curse, she calls upon Rumpelstiltskin and finds him trapped in a magic deeper than she bargained for. Now, Cosette must fight to reclaim her freedom from the King and break Rumpel’s curse. When time runs out, she’ll lose more than her heart. She’ll lose her life.
THE STORYTELLER’S DAUGHTER is the perfect introduction to YA that will satisfy fans of Gail Carson Levine’s ELLA ENCHANTED, as well as Jessica Day George’s DRAGON SLIPPERS and PRINCESS OF GLASS, and Cameron Dokey’s THE WORLD ABOVE.
360 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 14, 2020
36 people are currently reading
3977 people want to read
About the author
Victoria McCombs
15 books695 followersBest-selling author of Oathbound and Mortal Queens from Enclave Publishing.
Victoria McCombs is the author of The Storyteller’s Series, The Royal Rose Chronicles, and the fae dynasty duology, with hopefully many more to come. She survives on hazelnut coffee, 20-minute naps, and a healthy fear of her deadlines, all while raising four wildlings with her husband in Omaha, Nebraska.
Victoria McCombs is the author of The Storyteller’s Series, The Royal Rose Chronicles, and the fae dynasty duology, with hopefully many more to come. She survives on hazelnut coffee, 20-minute naps, and a healthy fear of her deadlines, all while raising four wildlings with her husband in Omaha, Nebraska.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
April 22, 2024
I'm the author, so I'm biased! This book was so fun to write, I've always loved fairytale retellings such as Jessica Day George's Princess of the Midnight Ball series, and A Curse so Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer. I wanted to rewrite a tale not done as often, and I found myself drawn to Rumpelstiltskin's story and how I could change the villain's role to something unexpected.
Alright, I won't spoil anything! I hope you enjoy.
For the parents, while categorized as YA, this book is clean and appropriate for younger audiences.
Alright, I won't spoil anything! I hope you enjoy.
For the parents, while categorized as YA, this book is clean and appropriate for younger audiences.
July 14, 2020
I loved this book and read this in one sitting! I love a great retelling and when I found out it was about Rumpelstiltskin I was so excited to read about this. The story is centered on Cosette from the land of Westfalen where everyone is born with a special gift, except for her. Her father, gifted with storytelling weaves a tale about a woman who can spin straw into gold. The story spreads quickly until it reaches the King. Cosette is taken as a prisoner to spin gold or she will be executed. A mysterious being helps Cosette and spares her life by spinning gold for her. In a tangled web of love, Cosette is caught between the love of a prince, her best friend or the mysterious savior who comes in the night to continue saving her life. This is a great story, well written and with a plot twist too! McCombs creativity and imagination in writing this book is her Gift to all of us!
The Storyteller’s Daughter is classified as a YA read but could also be enjoyed by younger readers. I enjoyed this one!
I loved this book and read this in one sitting! I love a great retelling and when I found out it was about Rumpelstiltskin I was so excited to read about this. The story is centered on Cosette from the land of Westfalen where everyone is born with a special gift, except for her. Her father, gifted with storytelling weaves a tale about a woman who can spin straw into gold. The story spreads quickly until it reaches the King. Cosette is taken as a prisoner to spin gold or she will be executed. A mysterious being helps Cosette and spares her life by spinning gold for her. In a tangled web of love, Cosette is caught between the love of a prince, her best friend or the mysterious savior who comes in the night to continue saving her life. This is a great story, well written and with a plot twist too! McCombs creativity and imagination in writing this book is her Gift to all of us!
The Storyteller’s Daughter is classified as a YA read but could also be enjoyed by younger readers. I enjoyed this one!
December 27, 2021
I AM IN LOVE 💖❤️🔥🧡 TOP 5 BOOKS OF 2021 !!!
I have no words… I’m speechless. I love everything about this book. I never in my life would have thought I would fall so hard for a dude character in a retelling *sighs*.
This book is also squeaky clean! You have your sweet, tender and GORGEOUS romance without any eek stuff!
I highly recommend it.
I don’t want to say more because it’s best if you read it without knowing much about it! It will make it even more magical ✨
I have no words… I’m speechless. I love everything about this book. I never in my life would have thought I would fall so hard for a dude character in a retelling *sighs*.
This book is also squeaky clean! You have your sweet, tender and GORGEOUS romance without any eek stuff!
I highly recommend it.
I don’t want to say more because it’s best if you read it without knowing much about it! It will make it even more magical ✨
August 9, 2021
⭐️⭐️ 2 stars
“He pulled back and his eyes shone like stars as he looked over me. I held his gaze as a sigh escaped my chest. This moment felt fragile, and I wanted to hold onto it for as long as I could.”
I really really wanted to love this one!
I mean, just look at this beautiful cover!
And while reading the blurb it sounded so good:
A fairytale retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, one of my most beloved fairytales. I hoped for an interesting, creative magic system , backstabbing court politics and of course an epic romance !
What I got instead was Cosette, a shallow heroine as interesting as a slice of toast, the nicest Rumpelstiltskin ever, who not only immediately told Cosette his name but also was the most harmless version of this character I’ve ever encountered: he didn’t scheme, didn’t manipulate but was nice and helpful instead- and came with a tragic but very stereotypical backstory that I’ve read a million times before.
He was cursed (and therefore some kind of ghost) which cold have been so interesting and spooky but instead was also nothing special.
The way his curse was broken in the end annoyed me to no end and was, fairly speaking, lazy writing at it’s finest.
Of course since this is a fairytale , there also was a prince: handsome, charming and so boring I skipped most of his chapters. Even after the was branded a villian, for a "crime" so ridiculous it made me roll my eyes every time it was mentioned- he didn’t exactly become a thrilling fellow.
His and Rumpelstiltskins only purpose seemed to be to exist as a love interest for Cosette, who didn’t know how beautiful and extraordinary special she was. One of her talents was to eat like a horse and still only to fill out in the right places, making her look even more lovely.
And since she was such a gift to humanity there was a THIRD guy competing for her love - an old, good looking childhood friend.
So instead of a dark and twisted fairytale we have gorgeous Cosette and her three dudes.... and lots of pretty dresses, random walks in the lush gardens of the castle and a huge amount of love declarations, several marriage proposals and lots of missed opportunities.
“He pulled back and his eyes shone like stars as he looked over me. I held his gaze as a sigh escaped my chest. This moment felt fragile, and I wanted to hold onto it for as long as I could.”
I really really wanted to love this one!
I mean, just look at this beautiful cover!
And while reading the blurb it sounded so good:
A fairytale retelling of Rumpelstiltskin, one of my most beloved fairytales. I hoped for an interesting, creative magic system , backstabbing court politics and of course an epic romance !
What I got instead was Cosette, a shallow heroine as interesting as a slice of toast, the nicest Rumpelstiltskin ever, who not only immediately told Cosette his name but also was the most harmless version of this character I’ve ever encountered: he didn’t scheme, didn’t manipulate but was nice and helpful instead- and came with a tragic but very stereotypical backstory that I’ve read a million times before.
He was cursed (and therefore some kind of ghost) which cold have been so interesting and spooky but instead was also nothing special.
The way his curse was broken in the end annoyed me to no end and was, fairly speaking, lazy writing at it’s finest.
Of course since this is a fairytale , there also was a prince: handsome, charming and so boring I skipped most of his chapters. Even after the was branded a villian, for a "crime" so ridiculous it made me roll my eyes every time it was mentioned- he didn’t exactly become a thrilling fellow.
His and Rumpelstiltskins only purpose seemed to be to exist as a love interest for Cosette, who didn’t know how beautiful and extraordinary special she was. One of her talents was to eat like a horse and still only to fill out in the right places, making her look even more lovely.
And since she was such a gift to humanity there was a THIRD guy competing for her love - an old, good looking childhood friend.
So instead of a dark and twisted fairytale we have gorgeous Cosette and her three dudes.... and lots of pretty dresses, random walks in the lush gardens of the castle and a huge amount of love declarations, several marriage proposals and lots of missed opportunities.
August 18, 2020
Every child in Westfalen is born with a gift, small or big, practical or not. Except for Cosette who is the only girl with no gift. She works in her family tavern, helps her family, reads books or listens to her father's amazingly-woven tales, which is his gift. A seamstress has taken her as an apprentice, Aiden her childhood best friend is courting her.
Until one day when King locked her in castle and demand to spin straw in gold or she will be killed. When years old spirit decided to help her.
I loved the writing, it was so simple yet engaging. The plot wasn't twisted but a solid one.
The character development was beautiful, though I have a few reservations with both Conrad and Cosette. Cosette has good traits but also the annoying one, She is ignorant about many things and can't face reality. Conrad is always laughing while throwing his head back (so repetitive), his character was sketchy and I don't think he got a perfect closure.
I loved Rumple's character, his character was developed perfectly, his backstory and action make sense. I haven't read Rumplestiltskin's real tale, what I've read are only retellings. I liked this one the most.
The pace of the story was perfect and kept me hooked throughout. Though Ending felt a bit abrupt. I'd love to get a little more details.
Overall I really liked this book.
Until one day when King locked her in castle and demand to spin straw in gold or she will be killed. When years old spirit decided to help her.
I loved the writing, it was so simple yet engaging. The plot wasn't twisted but a solid one.
The character development was beautiful, though I have a few reservations with both Conrad and Cosette. Cosette has good traits but also the annoying one, She is ignorant about many things and can't face reality. Conrad is always laughing while throwing his head back (so repetitive), his character was sketchy and I don't think he got a perfect closure.
I loved Rumple's character, his character was developed perfectly, his backstory and action make sense. I haven't read Rumplestiltskin's real tale, what I've read are only retellings. I liked this one the most.
The pace of the story was perfect and kept me hooked throughout. Though Ending felt a bit abrupt. I'd love to get a little more details.
Overall I really liked this book.
August 16, 2020
Idk if it was adult or YA. That is why I put it in both.
actual rating 2.5...
Plot: A loose retelling of Rumpelstiltskin. Cosette is born Giftless in a land where people are born with magic in their veins and have Gifts. When her gifted storyteller father weaves a tale of her being able to spin straw into gold, the kingsmen whisk her away to the castle. The king orders to spin the gold, or end her life. Scared for her life, and locked away Cosette begs to anyone to help her. There in a room full of hay she meets Rumpelstiltskin, who agrees to help her with her daunting task. Along the way Cosette has to face difficult challenges of living with the King and prince, and discover what love really is.
*drums fingers* Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Ehhhhhhhh. *glances at book* *deep sigh*
I liked the first 100 pages of this book. It was between of Cosette explaining Gifts/her simple life to discovering Rumpelstiltskin and meeting the prince. I liked the start of the potential world building, I liked Cosette's family, and the current external conflict that Cosette was facing in the village (being Giftless and her relationship with her boyfriend). I like the sudden build of mystery of Rumpel and the curse that he has. I liked Prince Conrad. Who was he? What did he bring to the story?
However as the book continued, it started to decline...the plot, the characters, and the world building started to collapse.
Let us go to the characters!
Cosette was a quieter/introverted/not necessarily kick butt protagonist compared to other YA/NA heroines. Which I totally don't mind. Sometimes people have other strengths and use that to their advantage. I did like her in the beginning of the 100 pages, I really did. She was naive, dumb, and helpless a majority of the time, but she had a very charming personality. But like its the first 100 pages...so what, there is something called character development. BUT 237 some pages later she is still the same person...but whinier, annoying, and a dumb know it all. Oh, also I AM A STRONG INDEPENDENT WOMAN, AND I CONTROL MY OWN DESTINY type of attitude...which was kinda hard to believe based on her actions and her thought process *roll eyes*
Cosette acted helpless through out the whole book. She didn't have a spine (and when she did it mostly back fired, and I honestly got second hand embarrassment). She barely helped to fix Rumpel's curse. All she did was read about the history of Westfallen (which did not help at all besides like winning some King's test..lame), engage with idle talk with Prince Conrad, and flirted with Rumpel. Literally this Rumpel was gonna die in like 4 months, and this girl was like "oop...i love him so much...and I have to cherish my time with him cause he's going to die...wooo is me, I can't do anything about it *sad face*" Like this man was the LOVE of her life and she was just going to accept that he was going to die to something THAT is preventable and can be cured! Just have to think outside the box...
I could go on about Cosette, and like how she views things unrealistically (despite claiming to be "rational"), immature (despite being 20), did I say naive, yet????, and gives up sooo easily. They list is endless, but I will end it here...I have more things to cover...(*whispers* also HOW DID SHE GET THREE FREAKIN GUYS TO WANT TO MARRY HER....like dude there is nooo way I could put up with that girl for the rest of my life)
Ok. Ok. I’m done with bashing Cosette.
Moving on.
The characters in this book had so much potential to be more interesting and complex... but they felt two dimensional as it was more tell than show (back stories would be rushed, and summarized through Cosette) Rumpel was this unknown magical spirit, and he had a very generic tragic back story(and unexciting)..that felt incomplete, and didn’t add any depth to this character. It was glazed and nonchalant...there was nothing that made me pity him, or anything to grasp more of his character. All I understood that Cosette was his new love. (All of a sudden...) he also didn’t have much of a personality besides being the love interest...like I can’t name one thing that stands out.
Prince Conrad was the same. He had potential. He really did. But again, he felt two dimensional, and ruined by the lack of any character development. For example
Those are our main players. Now onto the plot!
Again, like I said before the 100 pages really were leading to a possible good plot...
But where’s the plot?
Once Corsette meets Rumple, it is literally her playing dress up and being spoiled. Her walking with the prince, and dreaming about Rumple. Boring boring boring. Even her trying to break Rumple’s curse is boring! It’s her reading books all day, and not even trying anything >:( Oh and also crying for being forced into marriage...when there’s an obvious plan to get her out :/ which spoiler she ignores the plan. Why? BECAUSE SHE IS AN INDEPENDENT WOMAN THAT CONTROLS HER DESTINY. You can be that strong person whether male or female, but seriously, be smart about it at least??????
Even when Cosette went back to the Village to visit family it was boring. They only thing useful she was able to get was talk to some old man That is plot hole
The overall conclusion of the book literally made me roll my eyes. You know what it was to break the curse? Do you?
And do you know what’s worse?? This whole breaking the curse thing was not even experienced by Cosette! Rumpel explained it all very nonchalant about this whole ordeal at the castle after she was freed to go to back to her village. Like huh?????
You know what be really cool. If Rumpel is actually evil, and all this stuff he literally just made up. Like please, make this story
More interesting.
Finally the world building!
There was a little bit of history, and lore...not much tho. I don’t have much to say about it. It could have been done better, and more elaborate. But overall very mediocre..however like the magic of it wasn’t mentioned that much. The Gifts that everyone had were rarely mentioned at all...it was like it didn’t even exist.
And the writing...
The writing was fine, couple critiques is a lot of tell and not show. Like it’s ok, but I didn’t feel immersed into this book.
And also the transitions to scenes/next chapters are not fun. The chapters start off usually with dialogue, with no context whatsoever, and doesn’t really relate to what the previous chapter was. Then the dialogue is explained through Cosette who explains the situation. This is good in some instances, or here and there. But McCombs used it after every chapter, and often times it was awkward and took me away from the story. It made me confused in some areas because I had to place myself back into the story.
Ok. I know this was a long review/rant...but this book gave me some problems.
Overall it had potential but it was executed poorly. The main character did not grow, the plot was slow (and non existent), and well this story could have been better with Cosette’s sister Anika.
I might read Anika’s story because I loved her. But I’m not sure...I have think about it.
actual rating 2.5...
Plot: A loose retelling of Rumpelstiltskin. Cosette is born Giftless in a land where people are born with magic in their veins and have Gifts. When her gifted storyteller father weaves a tale of her being able to spin straw into gold, the kingsmen whisk her away to the castle. The king orders to spin the gold, or end her life. Scared for her life, and locked away Cosette begs to anyone to help her. There in a room full of hay she meets Rumpelstiltskin, who agrees to help her with her daunting task. Along the way Cosette has to face difficult challenges of living with the King and prince, and discover what love really is.
*drums fingers* Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Ehhhhhhhh. *glances at book* *deep sigh*
I liked the first 100 pages of this book. It was between of Cosette explaining Gifts/her simple life to discovering Rumpelstiltskin and meeting the prince. I liked the start of the potential world building, I liked Cosette's family, and the current external conflict that Cosette was facing in the village (being Giftless and her relationship with her boyfriend). I like the sudden build of mystery of Rumpel and the curse that he has. I liked Prince Conrad. Who was he? What did he bring to the story?
However as the book continued, it started to decline...the plot, the characters, and the world building started to collapse.
Let us go to the characters!
Cosette was a quieter/introverted/not necessarily kick butt protagonist compared to other YA/NA heroines. Which I totally don't mind. Sometimes people have other strengths and use that to their advantage. I did like her in the beginning of the 100 pages, I really did. She was naive, dumb, and helpless a majority of the time, but she had a very charming personality. But like its the first 100 pages...so what, there is something called character development. BUT 237 some pages later she is still the same person...but whinier, annoying, and a dumb know it all. Oh, also I AM A STRONG INDEPENDENT WOMAN, AND I CONTROL MY OWN DESTINY type of attitude...which was kinda hard to believe based on her actions and her thought process *roll eyes*
Cosette acted helpless through out the whole book. She didn't have a spine (and when she did it mostly back fired, and I honestly got second hand embarrassment). She barely helped to fix Rumpel's curse. All she did was read about the history of Westfallen (which did not help at all besides like winning some King's test..lame), engage with idle talk with Prince Conrad, and flirted with Rumpel. Literally this Rumpel was gonna die in like 4 months, and this girl was like "oop...i love him so much...and I have to cherish my time with him cause he's going to die...wooo is me, I can't do anything about it *sad face*" Like this man was the LOVE of her life and she was just going to accept that he was going to die to something THAT is preventable and can be cured! Just have to think outside the box...
I could go on about Cosette, and like how she views things unrealistically (despite claiming to be "rational"), immature (despite being 20), did I say naive, yet????, and gives up sooo easily. They list is endless, but I will end it here...I have more things to cover...(*whispers* also HOW DID SHE GET THREE FREAKIN GUYS TO WANT TO MARRY HER....like dude there is nooo way I could put up with that girl for the rest of my life)
Ok. Ok. I’m done with bashing Cosette.
Moving on.
The characters in this book had so much potential to be more interesting and complex... but they felt two dimensional as it was more tell than show (back stories would be rushed, and summarized through Cosette) Rumpel was this unknown magical spirit, and he had a very generic tragic back story(and unexciting)..that felt incomplete, and didn’t add any depth to this character. It was glazed and nonchalant...there was nothing that made me pity him, or anything to grasp more of his character. All I understood that Cosette was his new love. (All of a sudden...) he also didn’t have much of a personality besides being the love interest...like I can’t name one thing that stands out.
Prince Conrad was the same. He had potential. He really did. But again, he felt two dimensional, and ruined by the lack of any character development. For example
Those are our main players. Now onto the plot!
Again, like I said before the 100 pages really were leading to a possible good plot...
But where’s the plot?
Once Corsette meets Rumple, it is literally her playing dress up and being spoiled. Her walking with the prince, and dreaming about Rumple. Boring boring boring. Even her trying to break Rumple’s curse is boring! It’s her reading books all day, and not even trying anything >:( Oh and also crying for being forced into marriage...when there’s an obvious plan to get her out :/ which spoiler she ignores the plan. Why? BECAUSE SHE IS AN INDEPENDENT WOMAN THAT CONTROLS HER DESTINY. You can be that strong person whether male or female, but seriously, be smart about it at least??????
Even when Cosette went back to the Village to visit family it was boring. They only thing useful she was able to get was talk to some old man That is plot hole
The overall conclusion of the book literally made me roll my eyes. You know what it was to break the curse? Do you?
And do you know what’s worse?? This whole breaking the curse thing was not even experienced by Cosette! Rumpel explained it all very nonchalant about this whole ordeal at the castle after she was freed to go to back to her village. Like huh?????
You know what be really cool. If Rumpel is actually evil, and all this stuff he literally just made up. Like please, make this story
More interesting.
Finally the world building!
There was a little bit of history, and lore...not much tho. I don’t have much to say about it. It could have been done better, and more elaborate. But overall very mediocre..however like the magic of it wasn’t mentioned that much. The Gifts that everyone had were rarely mentioned at all...it was like it didn’t even exist.
And the writing...
The writing was fine, couple critiques is a lot of tell and not show. Like it’s ok, but I didn’t feel immersed into this book.
And also the transitions to scenes/next chapters are not fun. The chapters start off usually with dialogue, with no context whatsoever, and doesn’t really relate to what the previous chapter was. Then the dialogue is explained through Cosette who explains the situation. This is good in some instances, or here and there. But McCombs used it after every chapter, and often times it was awkward and took me away from the story. It made me confused in some areas because I had to place myself back into the story.
Ok. I know this was a long review/rant...but this book gave me some problems.
Overall it had potential but it was executed poorly. The main character did not grow, the plot was slow (and non existent), and well this story could have been better with Cosette’s sister Anika.
I might read Anika’s story because I loved her. But I’m not sure...I have think about it.
May 11, 2022
Weeehoooo!! From that very first paragraph of the book, I knew I was going to love the rest of the story. It had been a longggg while since anything other than a classic has fully soaked me in, and this book did just that, and that made me so happy. :)
The plot was intriguing, Cossette’s voice and character was so strong (she really stood out!), and I lovedddd the interaction between her and Rumpel. I loved the depth that Rumpel’s character carried, his interesting personality, the mysterious aura he composed that made me curious to know more about him as Cosette was. The romance between him and Cosette though did feel slightly lacking. There were times where I was confused about Rumpel on whether he was actually just a friend (or a brother figure, even) to Cosette, and I wished we had more “romantic” moments to show that it was going somewhere more clearly. Despite that, their “getting together” moments didn’t feel at all sudden without any sort of progression. :)
Victoria McCombs is such a fantastic writer and teller of stories, aaaand so yes, I’m going to read the rest of her books now! :D She reminds me a whole lot of Melanie Dickerson’s style of plot and taste, and I definitely would recommend it to anyone hoping for delightful, worthwhile read. :)
The plot was intriguing, Cossette’s voice and character was so strong (she really stood out!), and I lovedddd the interaction between her and Rumpel. I loved the depth that Rumpel’s character carried, his interesting personality, the mysterious aura he composed that made me curious to know more about him as Cosette was. The romance between him and Cosette though did feel slightly lacking. There were times where I was confused about Rumpel on whether he was actually just a friend (or a brother figure, even) to Cosette, and I wished we had more “romantic” moments to show that it was going somewhere more clearly. Despite that, their “getting together” moments didn’t feel at all sudden without any sort of progression. :)
Victoria McCombs is such a fantastic writer and teller of stories, aaaand so yes, I’m going to read the rest of her books now! :D She reminds me a whole lot of Melanie Dickerson’s style of plot and taste, and I definitely would recommend it to anyone hoping for delightful, worthwhile read. :)
July 15, 2020
**Huge thanks to the author & MTMC Tours for the review copy. All thoughts are my own.** Check our tour stop + an intl giveaway over on @thereaderandthechef!
My review:
I’ve been a fan of Rumpelstiltskin’s tale ever since I was a little girl, and I’ve always looked forward to reading retellings. And although my reading list is tragically short, I can safely say The Storyteller’s Daughter will be one I will be forever recommending.
This story about magical gifts that define your value within society and where a sole girl is born without one, was such a wonderful take to read about. Cosette is smart and hardworking, desperately trying to make up for her lack of magical Gift. But she still dreams about discovering she does have one, though she wishes for a practical one that would provide for her family— like magical cleaning, or cooking the best food a tavern could ever provide. But one she never imagined to have, was the ability to spin straw into gold, like the Gift her father gives her in one of his latest tales.
Cosette is soon dragged into the King’s castle after whispers of her Gift reaches his ears, and despite all her best efforts to set things straight (for she absolutely cannot spin straw into gold!), she’s thrown into a room full of straw, and that’s when Rumpel shows up and offers to do it for her night after night, at no cost.
There are so many things I loved about this book:
* How fairytale-esque it is, to start with! I felt as if I were discovering an old and magical tale, the kind that survives for centuries. Every page is full of soft and gentle magic, the kind my mom would spin into her own tales and I would fall asleep hearing to. Victoria McCombs is a true storyteller!
* Cosette. Oh, how I adored her! She’s quiet, kind, and with so many insecurities that made her super relatable. I love how she doesn’t settle. She has the opportunity to marry her “best friend” and yet, she knows she doesn’t love him and thus doesn’t let herself be pressured into entering a lifetime commitment.
* And I loved how she is open with her family to even talk about this. How they have her back and let her trust her instinct. Her sister, Anika, even warns her when she’s about to get a proposal, and it’s something I even would be grateful to get (the warning, I mean). And it’s not as if Cosette is not a romantic, it’s just the matter of: what if this is not true love?
* And those are sort of the themes about this book! True love doesn’t mean it being a Happily Ever After or Fairytale love, but more about a relationship feeling RIGHT. (And if love doesn’t come along, no one should be pressured into love. It’s okay to live without one.)
* Oh, but I must speak about Rumpel! A cursed young king who has been forced to live for hundreds of years out of one mistake that brought magic into Westfallen, has now only a few months left before ceasing to exist as just a magical essence. Seeing Cosette in such a tight spot, he decides to help her as his last mission. He is a soft character with a good heart, who offered his magic and friendship to Cosette when she needed it the most. And ACK, it was unavoidable to fall for him! I’m sure many will come to love this Rumpel. 🥺
The Storyteller’s Daughter is definitely a new favorite and I am excited to follow the companion novels! I only hope to get a glimpse of my faves since I will miss them, but I know the next book will be just as magical!
My review:
I’ve been a fan of Rumpelstiltskin’s tale ever since I was a little girl, and I’ve always looked forward to reading retellings. And although my reading list is tragically short, I can safely say The Storyteller’s Daughter will be one I will be forever recommending.
This story about magical gifts that define your value within society and where a sole girl is born without one, was such a wonderful take to read about. Cosette is smart and hardworking, desperately trying to make up for her lack of magical Gift. But she still dreams about discovering she does have one, though she wishes for a practical one that would provide for her family— like magical cleaning, or cooking the best food a tavern could ever provide. But one she never imagined to have, was the ability to spin straw into gold, like the Gift her father gives her in one of his latest tales.
Cosette is soon dragged into the King’s castle after whispers of her Gift reaches his ears, and despite all her best efforts to set things straight (for she absolutely cannot spin straw into gold!), she’s thrown into a room full of straw, and that’s when Rumpel shows up and offers to do it for her night after night, at no cost.
There are so many things I loved about this book:
* How fairytale-esque it is, to start with! I felt as if I were discovering an old and magical tale, the kind that survives for centuries. Every page is full of soft and gentle magic, the kind my mom would spin into her own tales and I would fall asleep hearing to. Victoria McCombs is a true storyteller!
* Cosette. Oh, how I adored her! She’s quiet, kind, and with so many insecurities that made her super relatable. I love how she doesn’t settle. She has the opportunity to marry her “best friend” and yet, she knows she doesn’t love him and thus doesn’t let herself be pressured into entering a lifetime commitment.
* And I loved how she is open with her family to even talk about this. How they have her back and let her trust her instinct. Her sister, Anika, even warns her when she’s about to get a proposal, and it’s something I even would be grateful to get (the warning, I mean). And it’s not as if Cosette is not a romantic, it’s just the matter of: what if this is not true love?
* And those are sort of the themes about this book! True love doesn’t mean it being a Happily Ever After or Fairytale love, but more about a relationship feeling RIGHT. (And if love doesn’t come along, no one should be pressured into love. It’s okay to live without one.)
* Oh, but I must speak about Rumpel! A cursed young king who has been forced to live for hundreds of years out of one mistake that brought magic into Westfallen, has now only a few months left before ceasing to exist as just a magical essence. Seeing Cosette in such a tight spot, he decides to help her as his last mission. He is a soft character with a good heart, who offered his magic and friendship to Cosette when she needed it the most. And ACK, it was unavoidable to fall for him! I’m sure many will come to love this Rumpel. 🥺
The Storyteller’s Daughter is definitely a new favorite and I am excited to follow the companion novels! I only hope to get a glimpse of my faves since I will miss them, but I know the next book will be just as magical!
December 21, 2020
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
Y’all!! I’ve been wanting to read a Rumpelstiltskin retelling for so long, and The Storyteller’s Daughter did not disappoint! It follows Cosette, a girl with no extraordinary talents in a world where everyone has a special Gift. Cosette’s world is shifted off balance when the king learns of her father (a master storyteller) telling of her spinning straw into gold. Cosette is forced from her safe life in the village and thrust into the middle of a political struggle, where she must trust a mysterious, magical man (and herself) in order to survive.
The writing in this book was really good! I enjoyed the world and felt as though we really got to know Cosette and the rest of the principle cast. The romance was heartbreaking and adorable, reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast.
If you’re looking for a fun retelling full of political intrigue, The Storyteller’s Daughter is right for you!
Y’all!! I’ve been wanting to read a Rumpelstiltskin retelling for so long, and The Storyteller’s Daughter did not disappoint! It follows Cosette, a girl with no extraordinary talents in a world where everyone has a special Gift. Cosette’s world is shifted off balance when the king learns of her father (a master storyteller) telling of her spinning straw into gold. Cosette is forced from her safe life in the village and thrust into the middle of a political struggle, where she must trust a mysterious, magical man (and herself) in order to survive.
The writing in this book was really good! I enjoyed the world and felt as though we really got to know Cosette and the rest of the principle cast. The romance was heartbreaking and adorable, reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast.
If you’re looking for a fun retelling full of political intrigue, The Storyteller’s Daughter is right for you!
September 9, 2022
4.25/5 ⭐️
RTC!
RTC!
August 2, 2020
I’m really sad I didn’t like this because I was really looking forward to it. I love Rumplestiltskin retellings, especially when they make him the good guy for a twist. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get over how incredibly stupid and naive Cosette was. She barely made any decisions or thought for herself, even when everyone was throwing the facts in her face. Especially when she was trying to figure out if Conrad was a bad guy. If you love someone wouldn’t you trust their word? And yet no matter how many times Rumple told her he was not a good person, she continued to wait until she had proof. I had assumed that she was sixteen or seventeen, but then they sort of mentioned she might be twenty, and I lost all hope for her. No twenty year old is this dense. And what was up with her having three potential suitors? She honestly really wasn’t that great, and I can’t see why anyone, let alone three, would take an interest in someone so boring and dull.
Speaking of boring and dull, what even happened in this book? It felt like a whole lot of nothing. It was just Cosette and Rumple spinning the gold, Cosette complaining she had no Gift, and her reading in the library. The ending was SO anticlimactic and all this time passed without you even seeing what was going on. There was also no actual feeling like Aiden and Conrad were terrible people, and she could’ve just said she didn’t feel anything for them without having them make decisions that made them awful people so we would be forced to root for Rumple. I didn’t really see anything that made either of them too bad, and even the one thing that Cosette and Rumple were fighting about in regards to Conrad barely had any impact. When Cosette confronted him about it it was kind of just like okay well it happened the end. You never really saw consequences, and it didn’t even seem as dire as they were trying to make it out to be. I just kept waiting for something to happen or someone to die or the stakes to be raised and they never were.
The only thing that kept me going was Rumple, and he was pretty cute, but honestly not even his romantic swoonness could save this. How did he even fall in love with Cosette? They never really showed it, and sure they spent a lot of time together, but all of a sudden she just decided she loved him without any merit. I would’ve loved to see how he fell for her and her have an actual reason for falling for him other than he saved my life and I’m jealous of his dead wife. I wanted to know why she felt that way instead of him being the default because she didn’t like the other two and she needed a love interest. This easily could’ve been a story about her falling for Conrad and Rumple being the bad guy he always is and it would’ve been the same story because absolutely nothing was explained.
TLDR: this book is boring and nothing happened and there are better Rumplestiltskin retellings out there.
Speaking of boring and dull, what even happened in this book? It felt like a whole lot of nothing. It was just Cosette and Rumple spinning the gold, Cosette complaining she had no Gift, and her reading in the library. The ending was SO anticlimactic and all this time passed without you even seeing what was going on. There was also no actual feeling like Aiden and Conrad were terrible people, and she could’ve just said she didn’t feel anything for them without having them make decisions that made them awful people so we would be forced to root for Rumple. I didn’t really see anything that made either of them too bad, and even the one thing that Cosette and Rumple were fighting about in regards to Conrad barely had any impact. When Cosette confronted him about it it was kind of just like okay well it happened the end. You never really saw consequences, and it didn’t even seem as dire as they were trying to make it out to be. I just kept waiting for something to happen or someone to die or the stakes to be raised and they never were.
The only thing that kept me going was Rumple, and he was pretty cute, but honestly not even his romantic swoonness could save this. How did he even fall in love with Cosette? They never really showed it, and sure they spent a lot of time together, but all of a sudden she just decided she loved him without any merit. I would’ve loved to see how he fell for her and her have an actual reason for falling for him other than he saved my life and I’m jealous of his dead wife. I wanted to know why she felt that way instead of him being the default because she didn’t like the other two and she needed a love interest. This easily could’ve been a story about her falling for Conrad and Rumple being the bad guy he always is and it would’ve been the same story because absolutely nothing was explained.
TLDR: this book is boring and nothing happened and there are better Rumplestiltskin retellings out there.
January 14, 2022
This book took me for such a spin! I picked it up and read it in two days after feeling like I was headed for a reading slump and needed something good to refresh, and this book surely did the trick!
It is a very fun retelling of Rumplestilskin and there were so many twists! Each one was really well done and I loved being constantly surprised by the story. The world was very fun to live in, and I really enjoyed the variety of Gifts, starting with, of course, Cosette's mother, who has the silly Gift of turning apples into peaches. Victoria McCombs did a wonderful job of making sure that admist the political intrigue and dire stakes, there was plenty of lighthearted banter, and I appreciated that greatly.
I really liked all of the characters individually, and felt like they were each fully developed with their own complexities, strengths, and insecurities. Of course, being a lover of the "friends-to-lovers" trope, I rooted for Aiden for far too long, I think, and then by the time I realized what the true romance was, I wasn't prepared for it! For that reason alone, I will definitely be re-reading this book again with an adjusted perspective so I can properly appreciate the blossoming of friendship and romance.
But I didn't mind the mystery of the romance, because it felt like Cosette was genuinely learning the difference between friendship love and romantic love, and so her various potential suitors all gave her a chance ot explore that question.
I'm definitely looking forward to reading book #2, Woods of Silver & Light, and I am looking forward to book #4, Heir of Roses, which comes out this summer! If you are looking for a delightful retelling that is entirely unique and truly reimagines the original story into something new, I highly suggest any of Victoria McCombs Storyteller's Series books! While they are all connected in little ways, you can pick up any one of them and find a fresh story!
It is a very fun retelling of Rumplestilskin and there were so many twists! Each one was really well done and I loved being constantly surprised by the story. The world was very fun to live in, and I really enjoyed the variety of Gifts, starting with, of course, Cosette's mother, who has the silly Gift of turning apples into peaches. Victoria McCombs did a wonderful job of making sure that admist the political intrigue and dire stakes, there was plenty of lighthearted banter, and I appreciated that greatly.
I really liked all of the characters individually, and felt like they were each fully developed with their own complexities, strengths, and insecurities. Of course, being a lover of the "friends-to-lovers" trope, I rooted for Aiden for far too long, I think, and then by the time I realized what the true romance was, I wasn't prepared for it! For that reason alone, I will definitely be re-reading this book again with an adjusted perspective so I can properly appreciate the blossoming of friendship and romance.
But I didn't mind the mystery of the romance, because it felt like Cosette was genuinely learning the difference between friendship love and romantic love, and so her various potential suitors all gave her a chance ot explore that question.
I'm definitely looking forward to reading book #2, Woods of Silver & Light, and I am looking forward to book #4, Heir of Roses, which comes out this summer! If you are looking for a delightful retelling that is entirely unique and truly reimagines the original story into something new, I highly suggest any of Victoria McCombs Storyteller's Series books! While they are all connected in little ways, you can pick up any one of them and find a fresh story!
August 10, 2020
this was awful. it was written like the author has never had a real grown up emotion, or even a kiss. I did finish it, if only to see how shit the end was. was as shit as I thought. bizarre.
December 28, 2022
Such a quaint little fairytale retelling. ☺️ After reading Oathbound by Victoria McCombs, then reading this book, I can see just how much her writing style has improved, (oathbound being a more recent written book)
I liked this story though and if you like fairytale retellings, then this read is the perfect companion for a rainy afternoon. 😊❤️
I liked this story though and if you like fairytale retellings, then this read is the perfect companion for a rainy afternoon. 😊❤️
July 15, 2023
This was my first book by Victoria and I’m shook! I loved it! Sure, there were parts that kinda sorta annoyed me, like how Cossette acted so immature at times and how *MINOR SPOILER* Rumpel was 100 years old (that didn’t bother anyone else here?😅), but overall this was such a cute, wholesome fairytale retelling with a lot of heart.
I’ll be completely honest here, Rumpelstiltskin is my least favorite fairytale. The original fairytale is just so creepy and ick😬. I was a bit wary coming into this retelling because of my thorough dislike of the original, but oh my. Victoria took an overall *questionable* fairytale and turned it into a magical story! I loved the representation of John 15:13 love in Cossette and Rumpel's story. The romance was cute and the plot engaging.
Also, I love Victoria’s writing style! It’s so whimsical and beautifully unique. She had me hooked from beginning to end.
I went back and forth between giving this a four or a five-star rating, mainly because I haven’t read a book this engaging for quite some time. I settled on 4.5 because I couldn’t quite bring myself to a full 5 stars since there was no expressly Christian content in this Christian fantasy book. On the contrary, the whole plot revolves around a curse and magic and spells. Still not sure how I feel about that. But, again, engaging story + wholesome romance + amazing writing 🤷🏽♀️.
I’m really so excited to continue this series and read more books from Victoria!
*Back after a few weeks of reflection*
Actuallyyyy, I dropped the rating down to 3 stars. I am increasingly uncomfortable rating a book that glorifies magic and doesn't expressly have Christian themes so high. Still a good book though.
I’ll be completely honest here, Rumpelstiltskin is my least favorite fairytale. The original fairytale is just so creepy and ick😬. I was a bit wary coming into this retelling because of my thorough dislike of the original, but oh my. Victoria took an overall *questionable* fairytale and turned it into a magical story! I loved the representation of John 15:13 love in Cossette and Rumpel's story. The romance was cute and the plot engaging.
Also, I love Victoria’s writing style! It’s so whimsical and beautifully unique. She had me hooked from beginning to end.
I went back and forth between giving this a four or a five-star rating, mainly because I haven’t read a book this engaging for quite some time. I settled on 4.5 because I couldn’t quite bring myself to a full 5 stars since there was no expressly Christian content in this Christian fantasy book. On the contrary, the whole plot revolves around a curse and magic and spells. Still not sure how I feel about that. But, again, engaging story + wholesome romance + amazing writing 🤷🏽♀️.
I’m really so excited to continue this series and read more books from Victoria!
*Back after a few weeks of reflection*
Actuallyyyy, I dropped the rating down to 3 stars. I am increasingly uncomfortable rating a book that glorifies magic and doesn't expressly have Christian themes so high. Still a good book though.
June 23, 2020
Another 2020 release I love!!
Review to be posted.
Review to be posted.
July 31, 2020
The author/publisher provided a free copy of the book for review purposes - thank you! Receiving a review copy does not guarantee a positive review and therefore do not affect the opinion or content of the review.
The first book in The Westfallen Chronicles is a Rumpelstiltskin retelling set in a world where almost everyone has magical talents (skilled in the violin, ability to tell what the upcoming weather is) that are called Gifts. Not gonna lie, but the Gifts are super cool and I definitely walked into the book expecting more magical powers like teleportation. Almost everyone except for Cosette, who is Giftless and considered strange by most people around her, until her father tells a story of her spinning gold from straw with his Gift of storytelling. The story gets to the king, who summons her to use those gifts to aid in the war. Big oops.
Except there's a problem. You can't actually spin straw into gold if you don't actually have the Gift to do so. Basically, Cosette summed up in a GIF:
There are some good aspects of Victoria McCombs' novel that didn't turn this into a flop.
I love Anika. She's one of my favorite characters and became an instant favorite the moment she entered the story yelling enthusiastically about pants. If there's one good thing for sure that will get me reading the sequel, it's because the book is about Anika, and I'm so excited to see her as the main character. I also adored Rumpel -- he's just trying his very best to figure out how to undo his curse that started from a pure accident.
That's not to say Cosette isn't a likable character for some people, though, but again, I'm not exactly the right audience for The Storyteller's Daughter. Cosette is someone who has a good heart and wants to do good things in the world; she also wants to fit in with her surrounding world of everyone having Gifts, and she makes the occasional bad decision. Unfortunately, she's just not my type of character.
But The Storyteller's Daughter turned out to be a little bit of a disappointment.
The ending felt abrupt and tied up too quickly, and there are loose ends in both the story and the world. This is the first in a series, though, so I could be completely wrong in the loose ends of the world and they'll somehow tie-up with subsequent books (even though they feel like stand-alone novels). We'll see when that happens. But let's talk about the loose ends! I wanted to know more about what Conrad's deal was and Rumpel's history of observing him since his curse -- Cosette is told about Conrad... but it's really just telling than showing. I also wanted to know about Old Mr. Walters and the witch who cursed Rumpel -- we get like one appearance from one of them and the other is mentioned to have made an appearance in the abrupt ending.
Am I hoping there's an entire purpose? Absolutely. Is it going to happen? I have no fucking clue.
I personally was not a fan of the writing style, which felt a little... bland? along with the developing romance between Rumpel and Cosette. I wasn't too sold on it -- something just feels missing, and I have no clue what it is. It's a possibility I'm not exactly the right audience for The Storyteller's Daughter other than loving retellings, so take that one with a grain of salt.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts.
Except there's a problem. You can't actually spin straw into gold if you don't actually have the Gift to do so. Basically, Cosette summed up in a GIF:
There are some good aspects of Victoria McCombs' novel that didn't turn this into a flop.
I love Anika. She's one of my favorite characters and became an instant favorite the moment she entered the story yelling enthusiastically about pants. If there's one good thing for sure that will get me reading the sequel, it's because the book is about Anika, and I'm so excited to see her as the main character. I also adored Rumpel -- he's just trying his very best to figure out how to undo his curse that started from a pure accident.
That's not to say Cosette isn't a likable character for some people, though, but again, I'm not exactly the right audience for The Storyteller's Daughter. Cosette is someone who has a good heart and wants to do good things in the world; she also wants to fit in with her surrounding world of everyone having Gifts, and she makes the occasional bad decision. Unfortunately, she's just not my type of character.
But The Storyteller's Daughter turned out to be a little bit of a disappointment.
The ending felt abrupt and tied up too quickly, and there are loose ends in both the story and the world. This is the first in a series, though, so I could be completely wrong in the loose ends of the world and they'll somehow tie-up with subsequent books (even though they feel like stand-alone novels). We'll see when that happens. But let's talk about the loose ends! I wanted to know more about what Conrad's deal was and Rumpel's history of observing him since his curse -- Cosette is told about Conrad... but it's really just telling than showing. I also wanted to know about Old Mr. Walters and the witch who cursed Rumpel -- we get like one appearance from one of them and the other is mentioned to have made an appearance in the abrupt ending.
Am I hoping there's an entire purpose? Absolutely. Is it going to happen? I have no fucking clue.
I personally was not a fan of the writing style, which felt a little... bland? along with the developing romance between Rumpel and Cosette. I wasn't too sold on it -- something just feels missing, and I have no clue what it is. It's a possibility I'm not exactly the right audience for The Storyteller's Daughter other than loving retellings, so take that one with a grain of salt.
This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts.
September 22, 2020
Check out the review on my blog: https://sophsbookworld.wordpress.com/...
This was one of my most anticipated reads this summer, however, it turned out to be the biggest disappointment.
I am a sucker for good fairytale retellings, especially when it comes to stories that are not as common. I’m bored of Cinderella retellings already but Rumpelstiltskin is something new to me. I’ve recently read Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, which is also the retelling of the same story and I loved that one. It was a perfect mysterious fairy tale retelling with a bit of romance in it. And this was just… meh.
The first 100 pages were amazing. It tells a story of a world where every person is born with a gift. Cosette, Storyteller’s daughter, is the only one without a gift. Only when her father tells a story about how she can spin straw into gold, everyone starts believing that it’s her gift. And to save her own head from the ruthless king. she forms a relationship with magical king Rumpelstiltskin who spins all the gold for her.
The premise of the book is amazing and I just couldn’t wait to read it. But in reality I had many problems.
First of all, our main character Cosette is one of the least interesting heroines I’ve read of. She has this vanilla persona that makes even the most interesting thing boring as hell. Worst of all, the story is written from her point of view so I had to read her train of thoughts. I don’t know how it’s possible for such a boring person to get into a love square (because 3 men fell for her!), it’s so unrealistic. Her sister was so much more energetic and fearless that I wished she were the main character. She doesn’t know how to fight for herself and does’t even try…
The other thing is the fact that the storyline is very flat. There are not really a lot of things happening besides the gold-weaving and occasionally Cosette changing her mind about who she likes. That girl doesn’t know what she wants and can’t even decide if she likes a guy or not. She acts like a stupid teenager even though she’s almost 20 and can’t think with her own head.
I did like Rumpel and he was the only thing I was looking forward to while reading this book. I wish there was more about his life after the magic took him because it was only briefly described. Also, his and Cosette’s romance was so weird and it happened all of the sudden. I wish they fell in love slowly throughout the book and that it wasn’t brought on us so suddenly.
The ending was so rushed and awkward, it felt like a 13 year old was trying to finish her Wattpad fanfiction and didn’t know how to wrap up everything that was started so it ended up being a mish-mash of everything. I was cringing so hard I had to skip through the last 50 pages and I glad I did because I would’ve lost my sanity. And what’s the thing with the riddle about King’s name, you could clearly find it in any book so why was it a mystery?
All in all a big sad disappointment.
This was one of my most anticipated reads this summer, however, it turned out to be the biggest disappointment.
I am a sucker for good fairytale retellings, especially when it comes to stories that are not as common. I’m bored of Cinderella retellings already but Rumpelstiltskin is something new to me. I’ve recently read Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, which is also the retelling of the same story and I loved that one. It was a perfect mysterious fairy tale retelling with a bit of romance in it. And this was just… meh.
The first 100 pages were amazing. It tells a story of a world where every person is born with a gift. Cosette, Storyteller’s daughter, is the only one without a gift. Only when her father tells a story about how she can spin straw into gold, everyone starts believing that it’s her gift. And to save her own head from the ruthless king. she forms a relationship with magical king Rumpelstiltskin who spins all the gold for her.
The premise of the book is amazing and I just couldn’t wait to read it. But in reality I had many problems.
First of all, our main character Cosette is one of the least interesting heroines I’ve read of. She has this vanilla persona that makes even the most interesting thing boring as hell. Worst of all, the story is written from her point of view so I had to read her train of thoughts. I don’t know how it’s possible for such a boring person to get into a love square (because 3 men fell for her!), it’s so unrealistic. Her sister was so much more energetic and fearless that I wished she were the main character. She doesn’t know how to fight for herself and does’t even try…
The other thing is the fact that the storyline is very flat. There are not really a lot of things happening besides the gold-weaving and occasionally Cosette changing her mind about who she likes. That girl doesn’t know what she wants and can’t even decide if she likes a guy or not. She acts like a stupid teenager even though she’s almost 20 and can’t think with her own head.
I did like Rumpel and he was the only thing I was looking forward to while reading this book. I wish there was more about his life after the magic took him because it was only briefly described. Also, his and Cosette’s romance was so weird and it happened all of the sudden. I wish they fell in love slowly throughout the book and that it wasn’t brought on us so suddenly.
The ending was so rushed and awkward, it felt like a 13 year old was trying to finish her Wattpad fanfiction and didn’t know how to wrap up everything that was started so it ended up being a mish-mash of everything. I was cringing so hard I had to skip through the last 50 pages and I glad I did because I would’ve lost my sanity. And what’s the thing with the riddle about King’s name, you could clearly find it in any book so why was it a mystery?
All in all a big sad disappointment.
September 21, 2020
In exchange for an honest review, I was provided an ARC. Thank you!
i don’t think i’ve read any rumpelstilkin retellings before, so the storyteller’s daughter was a refreshing read. victoria mccombs’ writing is simple yet descriptive of the characters and settings. as a debut novel, the author has the fundamentals down. the whole concept and its execution was interesting.
although i couldn’t relate much with cosette, i liked her bravery. deciding to fake her ability to spin gold from straws takes lots of courage especially with the fear of losing her life if the royals find out the truth. also, rumpel was the only one who points out cosette’s flaws and inconsistency in her behavior which i really liked.
as for the romance, i wasn’t very hyped about it but the pacing was good. rumpel and colette’s romance developed gradually, and wasn’t hastily done. their feelings stemmed from finding comfort in the other person because they were both stuck in a sticky situation.
unfortunately, the ending was a little abrupt and detached from cosette herself. it was wrapped up quickly and was described post-event. i would have preferred if cosette was there when everything went down and wasn’t told what had happened. the way rumpel’s curse was erased was anticlimactic and underwhelming.
overall, the concept was intriguing, and i really enjoyed the plot. however, there’s some elements that didn’t do for me.
i don’t think i’ve read any rumpelstilkin retellings before, so the storyteller’s daughter was a refreshing read. victoria mccombs’ writing is simple yet descriptive of the characters and settings. as a debut novel, the author has the fundamentals down. the whole concept and its execution was interesting.
although i couldn’t relate much with cosette, i liked her bravery. deciding to fake her ability to spin gold from straws takes lots of courage especially with the fear of losing her life if the royals find out the truth. also, rumpel was the only one who points out cosette’s flaws and inconsistency in her behavior which i really liked.
as for the romance, i wasn’t very hyped about it but the pacing was good. rumpel and colette’s romance developed gradually, and wasn’t hastily done. their feelings stemmed from finding comfort in the other person because they were both stuck in a sticky situation.
unfortunately, the ending was a little abrupt and detached from cosette herself. it was wrapped up quickly and was described post-event. i would have preferred if cosette was there when everything went down and wasn’t told what had happened. the way rumpel’s curse was erased was anticlimactic and underwhelming.
overall, the concept was intriguing, and i really enjoyed the plot. however, there’s some elements that didn’t do for me.
April 11, 2020
I received an eARC of this book for an honest review. So, here it is 😁
If you were a fan of Ella Enchanted, then you'll love this book.
"Every child born showed signs of a special talent that set them apart from each other. Everyone had a piece of magic in their souls.
Everyone except me."
Cosette is born in a magical world without magic. Day after day, she works in her family's tavern, wondering if this is the life she will forever have, wanting a change.
Obviously, that change occurs since she is whisked off to the King's castle and demanded to spin straw into gold or be executed. Luckily, she finds help from a spirit dwelling within the castle...
What a sweet and magical fairytale retelling! The Storyteller's Daughter had moments of raw emotion that pulled at my heartstrings. This was my quarantine book that I looked forward to reading every night and I'm saddened that I finished. I will miss the characters and the magic.
This is the author's debut novel and I am excited to see what other stories she writes next.
Also a bonus, the cover is GORGEOUS! ❤ Can't wait to buy the real thing!
If you were a fan of Ella Enchanted, then you'll love this book.
"Every child born showed signs of a special talent that set them apart from each other. Everyone had a piece of magic in their souls.
Everyone except me."
Cosette is born in a magical world without magic. Day after day, she works in her family's tavern, wondering if this is the life she will forever have, wanting a change.
Obviously, that change occurs since she is whisked off to the King's castle and demanded to spin straw into gold or be executed. Luckily, she finds help from a spirit dwelling within the castle...
What a sweet and magical fairytale retelling! The Storyteller's Daughter had moments of raw emotion that pulled at my heartstrings. This was my quarantine book that I looked forward to reading every night and I'm saddened that I finished. I will miss the characters and the magic.
This is the author's debut novel and I am excited to see what other stories she writes next.
Also a bonus, the cover is GORGEOUS! ❤ Can't wait to buy the real thing!
July 13, 2020
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Everyone in Westfallen has a Gift. Everyone, that is, except Cosette.
Seemingly sentenced to a life of insignificance, Cosette resigns herself to waiting tables at her family's tavern.
Then, one day, her storytelling papa weaves a tale so fantastic, it reaches the ear of the king.
Cosette is hauled off to the castle and locked in a room full of straw. At the king's command, she must spin the straw into gold or forfeit her life.
In her despair, Cosette cries out for help, completely unaware that her Giftlessness is about to be the best thing that ever happened to her.
Forget everything you think you know about Rumpelstiltskin and let the magic of Victoria McComb's debut novel flow through you.
Victoria, what an honor! Thank you for trusting me to review your book.
Everyone in Westfallen has a Gift. Everyone, that is, except Cosette.
Seemingly sentenced to a life of insignificance, Cosette resigns herself to waiting tables at her family's tavern.
Then, one day, her storytelling papa weaves a tale so fantastic, it reaches the ear of the king.
Cosette is hauled off to the castle and locked in a room full of straw. At the king's command, she must spin the straw into gold or forfeit her life.
In her despair, Cosette cries out for help, completely unaware that her Giftlessness is about to be the best thing that ever happened to her.
Forget everything you think you know about Rumpelstiltskin and let the magic of Victoria McComb's debut novel flow through you.
Victoria, what an honor! Thank you for trusting me to review your book.
July 30, 2022
Loved this retelling! Though I’d never read the original Rumplestiltskin, I still very much enjoyed this tale and the lovely characters Victoria McCombs crafted. Especially the sweet love story between Cosette and Rumpel - it was so pure and real and GOALS!!!🥺🥰
Five stars from me🤩
Content: non-detailed kissing is as far as the romance goes; there’s threats of killing but not much violence otherwise; no swearing; some fights very between characters but I felt all was resolved well. 16+ is my recommended age and this book is very clean.
Five stars from me🤩
Content: non-detailed kissing is as far as the romance goes; there’s threats of killing but not much violence otherwise; no swearing; some fights very between characters but I felt all was resolved well. 16+ is my recommended age and this book is very clean.
October 5, 2020
If I didn't think of this story as a retelling of Rumplestiltskin, I liked it more. I kept waiting for the rest of the fairytale to take place, for the helpful ghost to become a villain - or anyone to become a villain. The setting and the premise were engaging and intriguing, but failed to keep the same intensity. I'm afraid I didn't buy the romance on any front and didn't understand the protagonist's reasoning near the end (but I don't want to give away spoilers).
April 9, 2021
I liked the concept of this book and the writing was quite excellent, I just couldn't get behind the plot. To me it felt so similar to Once Upon a Time with the Rumbelle arc which just wasn't my cup of tea. But if you're a fairy tale lover, this may be the one for you.
July 27, 2020
The Storyteller’s Daughter is a unique retelling
Of Rumpelstiltskin,with twists and turns that will surprise you. A little lie, a wrong choice, a little magic
You won’t want to stop reading.
Of Rumpelstiltskin,with twists and turns that will surprise you. A little lie, a wrong choice, a little magic
You won’t want to stop reading.
July 27, 2020
Such an enchanting Rumpelstiltskin retelling! I wanted to read read this as soon as it came out, and the synopsis grabbed my attention the first time I saw it.
The storyteller's daughter delivered the content I was hoping for, and I immensely enjoyed it. In the kingdom of Westfall, children are born with what they call as "gifts" such as music, making clothes out of fabric and such. Cosette, our protagonist, is born giftless and she hates to be the only one born that way.
She's quite capable otherwise, gaining an apprenticeship with a seamstress, and willing to work long and hard to compensate for her being giftless. When her father, a storyteller, weaves a tale about her spinning gold from mere straw, the king hears of the rumour and imprisons her, threatening to kill her if she doesn't provide them with gold.
Rumpelstiltskin is probably one of my favorite characters in the whole book; he was one Charming man, albeit people might consider the romance repelling owing to the fact that Rumpel is easily a hundred years old. The magic has kept him young though.
I felt that the setting was rather atmospheric, the villages and all, and I would've liked to learn more about it. Aidan and prince Conrad fell flat to me though. Both of them were represented in a very similar way and I had a hard time distinguishing them.
Overall, a definitely entertaining and gorgeous rendition of Rumpelstiltskin!
The storyteller's daughter delivered the content I was hoping for, and I immensely enjoyed it. In the kingdom of Westfall, children are born with what they call as "gifts" such as music, making clothes out of fabric and such. Cosette, our protagonist, is born giftless and she hates to be the only one born that way.
She's quite capable otherwise, gaining an apprenticeship with a seamstress, and willing to work long and hard to compensate for her being giftless. When her father, a storyteller, weaves a tale about her spinning gold from mere straw, the king hears of the rumour and imprisons her, threatening to kill her if she doesn't provide them with gold.
Rumpelstiltskin is probably one of my favorite characters in the whole book; he was one Charming man, albeit people might consider the romance repelling owing to the fact that Rumpel is easily a hundred years old. The magic has kept him young though.
I felt that the setting was rather atmospheric, the villages and all, and I would've liked to learn more about it. Aidan and prince Conrad fell flat to me though. Both of them were represented in a very similar way and I had a hard time distinguishing them.
Overall, a definitely entertaining and gorgeous rendition of Rumpelstiltskin!
August 11, 2022
I was intrigued by the concept of a Rumpelstiltskin retelling even though I’m not very familiar with the original story (pretty sure I read it once upon an age ago in 6th grade…).
Rumpel is quite a comical fellow and very sweet. I liked Cosette and found her inner struggle to be relatable, plus her relationship with her dad was lovely. Annika is a firecracker, and I’m glad we get more of her story in the next book!
Plot wise, I was definitely on my toes! Although I was more intrigued by the mystery of “who is Cosette going to end up with?” than perhaps the actual resolution. But things resolved in a satisfying manner!
The romance was where I got a little mixed up, haha. Originally, I wanted to Cosette and Aiden to end up together (childhood friends to lovers, anyone?), but after all the drama, I decided they weren’t a good match. So then, who was? Conrad was fishy, and I didn’t trust him. (Rumpel would be proud.)
That left…Rumpel. This is what threw me for a loop as I wasn’t expecting it. I found it both sweetly adorable and yet…odd? The age gap thing got me. (Rumpel is after all over 100 years old to Cosette’s 19.) My brain started to think: “Rumpel is over a hundred years old but looks in his twenties. After the curse is broken, how old is he? Will he live a long life or simply die shortly of old age? He’s been married before and had children and grandchildren.” Yes, it’s fiction and anything can happen, plus my practical side is stronger than my inner romantic. I didn’t dislike this twist; it was just a surprise, and as mentioned, their relationship was truly super sweet!
I look forward to reading more from Victoria!
Rumpel is quite a comical fellow and very sweet. I liked Cosette and found her inner struggle to be relatable, plus her relationship with her dad was lovely. Annika is a firecracker, and I’m glad we get more of her story in the next book!
Plot wise, I was definitely on my toes! Although I was more intrigued by the mystery of “who is Cosette going to end up with?” than perhaps the actual resolution. But things resolved in a satisfying manner!
The romance was where I got a little mixed up, haha. Originally, I wanted to Cosette and Aiden to end up together (childhood friends to lovers, anyone?), but after all the drama, I decided they weren’t a good match. So then, who was? Conrad was fishy, and I didn’t trust him. (Rumpel would be proud.)
That left…Rumpel. This is what threw me for a loop as I wasn’t expecting it. I found it both sweetly adorable and yet…odd? The age gap thing got me. (Rumpel is after all over 100 years old to Cosette’s 19.) My brain started to think: “Rumpel is over a hundred years old but looks in his twenties. After the curse is broken, how old is he? Will he live a long life or simply die shortly of old age? He’s been married before and had children and grandchildren.” Yes, it’s fiction and anything can happen, plus my practical side is stronger than my inner romantic. I didn’t dislike this twist; it was just a surprise, and as mentioned, their relationship was truly super sweet!
I look forward to reading more from Victoria!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2022
3.5
This book was pretty good! There wasn't anything wrong with it to not get a higher rating, I just feel liked it lacked some things. There isn't much character growth, feeling, originality, or excitement to the story. Maybe I was just disappointed because I had to specially request for the library to buy this book and I wanted it to be spectacular 😂
Overall, this is a decent, well-written book. I have read MUCH worse than this, but it just failed me in some areas. I enjoyed how, though the main character wasn't all too interesting, she was a bit different from your typical MC. It annoyed me that she had to have 3 guys all lined up to marry her, but at least her actual romance developed over a lot longer of a time than some YA books.
I wanted this to wow me, but, even though it didn't, it was still a good story. If it had had a little more depth, feeling, development, and heart-wrenching moments (I can always use a few more of those😂) then I think I would have liked it better.
This book was pretty good! There wasn't anything wrong with it to not get a higher rating, I just feel liked it lacked some things. There isn't much character growth, feeling, originality, or excitement to the story. Maybe I was just disappointed because I had to specially request for the library to buy this book and I wanted it to be spectacular 😂
Overall, this is a decent, well-written book. I have read MUCH worse than this, but it just failed me in some areas. I enjoyed how, though the main character wasn't all too interesting, she was a bit different from your typical MC. It annoyed me that she had to have 3 guys all lined up to marry her, but at least her actual romance developed over a lot longer of a time than some YA books.
I wanted this to wow me, but, even though it didn't, it was still a good story. If it had had a little more depth, feeling, development, and heart-wrenching moments (I can always use a few more of those😂) then I think I would have liked it better.
April 1, 2024
I’ve been wanting to write an extravagant review for this one, but life is busy, so a simple one will have to do.
This book is a Rumpelstiltskin retelling. This book has Romance, forbidden love, a love triangle, “we will never be together” in more ways than one.
This book is a fairytale. It is a perfect palate cleanser. I cannot recommend this book enough and if you are a fast reader, you should be able to finish it in a day. I just could not stay awake at the end of my days to read.
I cannot wait to read more by Victoria McCombs!!
This book is a Rumpelstiltskin retelling. This book has Romance, forbidden love, a love triangle, “we will never be together” in more ways than one.
This book is a fairytale. It is a perfect palate cleanser. I cannot recommend this book enough and if you are a fast reader, you should be able to finish it in a day. I just could not stay awake at the end of my days to read.
I cannot wait to read more by Victoria McCombs!!
June 13, 2021
An interesting take on Rumpelstiltskin. I enjoyed the main character and her family but the second half of the book was focused a lot more on the romance than the adventure, which isn’t my cup of tea.
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