Storyteller

By Lisa Cresswell

Thirteen year old Lily knows she can make weird things happen, just by telling a story. It’s a gift she can’t always control, making her the queen of seventh grade outcasts. She can’t make a million dollars appear out of thin air or make it rain cupcakes, but it’s not for lack of trying. More than anything, she wants to see her mom, who’s left her in the care of her unconventional grandmother, Gwendolyn, and her only friend, Peter.

When Lily finds a strange fairytale book, she’s drawn into a fantasy world where her mother waits for her. When her grandmother admits to Lily they are fairies, hiding in this world from dark forces in another place, Lily is convinced the book she’s been reading is real. According to the book, those dark forces now threaten to destroy her mother. What Lily doesn’t know is they are already hunting her as well.
Despite the dire warnings of Gwendolyn and Peter, Lily embarks on a mission to find a way into the fantasy world to save her mom. The events she sets into motion with the telling of a story will change all of their lives forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lisa Cresswell
• Release date: Jul 15, 2011
• ISBN: 9781466041998

Lisa Cresswell

Lisa T. Cresswell lives in the wilds of Idaho where few souls dare to tread, with her family and a collection of critters that includes way too many llamas. In her day job, she's an archaeologist; by night, she writes fanciful stories for children and young adults. Come visit the blog www.lisatcresswell.blogspot.com

Book preview

STORYTELLER

Book One: The True World

By Lisa T. Cresswell

Copyright 2011 Lisa T. Cresswell

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you.

Acknowledgments

I want to thank my family for encouraging me to take this path less traveled, my editor, Anika Henrikson, and my friend for over 20 years, Suzann Henrikson. May you all know the joy of such friendship in your own lives. And many thanks to Chris Ash, for his beautiful cover design.

***~~~~***

Chapter 1 Lily Lightfoot, the Storyteller

Weird was quickly becoming a fact of life for Lily Lightfoot. For the third time in a week, she got the feeling invisible icy fingers were slipping down the back of her neck, seeping into her spine. It was if something was tugging at her very bones, pulling her toward her future. She walked along a broken sidewalk littered with fall leaves toward her school; her friend Peter up ahead on his skateboard. The crisp air was heavy with the moldy smell of decay as the skateboard clicked on the cracks in the sidewalk.

Spinning around, Lily saw nothing but leaves rustling as the wind swished them across the sidewalk. Lily pulled her coat closer around herself and sighed. Maybe she really was losing her mind. Everyone else seemed to think so. Peter was probably the only kid in school who didn’t cringe when she walked into a room. Ever since she gave her entire second grade class the chicken pox, just by telling a story, everyone had avoided her. That was before Peter moved to Maplewood. Lily had a feeling he might see things differently if he had witnessed the infamous pox incident. Peter stomped the end of his skateboard, stopping it, and looked back at her.

Hurry up, Lily! he said. Why he walked to school with her every day was a mystery to Lily. Peter had lots of friends - normal kids - he could hang out with. Still, Lily was glad he didn’t seem to mind her little quirks. OK, so maybe they were big quirks.

I’m coming, said Lily. Unfortunately, she added under her breath.

So, tell me a story, said Peter. He grabbed the end of his board and walked next to Lily.

I don’t know what you’re talking about, she said, staring straight ahead.

C’mon, witch girl, Peter teased, pushing the dark brown hair out of his eyes.

What kind of story? asked Lily, annoyed that Peter would call her that. Still, it was better than freakazoid, which was what most people called her.

You know, the kind where you make something up and then it happens, he said.

I don’t know, Peter. That last one got me in trouble, said Lily, remembering the math test two weeks ago. Peter had bet Lily he would score higher than she would and she wanted to put him in his place. Unfortunately, she flubbed the story trying to whisper it during the test so no one could hear.

His answers are gone, she said softly. Not only did Peter’s answers disappear, so did every other guy’s in the class.

Yeah, but you have to admit, it was pretty funny watching Mrs. Doorman trying to figure out what happened, said Peter. Lily grinned at the memory of her poor, frantic teacher. She didn’t mean to upset Mrs. Doorman. If only she could get the hang of storytelling.

Just a little one? It’s so cool, begged Peter, smiling sweetly.

Nothing big? asked Lily. She had promised her grandmother she wouldn’t tell any more stories, but it was hard to tell Peter no.

No, nothing big, said Peter, grinning. How could she disappoint her best friend in the world?

Are you sure you’re prepared for the consequences? You know I can’t always control what happens, she asked.

I’m not scared, he said.

Well, all right. Just a little one. Lily stepped over the smashed remains of a jack-o’-lantern on the sidewalk, scrunching up her freckled nose.

Tell a story that will help me pass pre-algebra, said Peter close to her ear.

Lily smirked at him. She thought to herself, and closed her eyes in concentration until she got that familiar tingle in her toes, like they’d gone to sleep. She listened for the warbling of birds, like far away meadowlarks she always heard before storytelling. Sometimes it took awhile to hear them, but today they sang instantly. Lily opened her green eyes and began her tale. Peter listened closely.

The boy who smashed this pumpkin will come around the corner in two minutes and slip on the mess he made, said Lily.

Peter interrupted impatiently. Lily! I just wanted you to help me pass math.

I’m not cheating again. I’ll help you study. Here he comes now. Better stand over there, said Lily, pointing as she backed off the sidewalk.

Sure enough, a burly eighth grader named Dillon Thompson raced around the corner on his bike. He hit the slimy pumpkin smear and launched into the neighbor’s bushes where he lay stunned for a moment.

Lily and Peter were stunned, too. Dillon was built like a bulldog and no one with any sense ever messed with him.

Run! shouted Peter as they both tore down the street. Finally rounding the corner by their school, Lily stopped to catch her breath, and giggled at Peter.

You didn’t tell me it was gonna be Dillon, said Peter, laughing with her.

I warned you. Run! she teased him in mock terror. A snide voice interrupted them.

What’s so funny?

Lily turned around to see Heather Whipple, a blonde with a permanent sneer staining her otherwise pretty face. The sight of Heather always made Lily slightly ill, like when she ate too many of Gran’s homemade caramels and they threatened to come back up. Heather sort of looked like she felt the same way about Lily. She seemed to suck the happiness right out of the air around them.

Oh, nothing, said Peter, smirking.

Did your little witch friend do another trick? asked Heather, joining her own friends.

She’s not a witch, shouted Peter after her. Don’t pay any attention to her, Lily.

It’s all right. I know everyone hates me.

No they don’t, Peter tried to convince her. Only Heather hates you. Everyone else just thinks you’re a little weird. Lily gave him a sour look.

That helps a lot, Peter. I think maybe I’ll skip school today.

Don’t be crazy. Your grandma would find out, warned Peter.

Not if you don’t tell her.

You can’t skip today. We have a history test.

Lily groaned.

Did you forget again? asked Peter.

Um…sort of, admitted Lily.

After lunch, the seventh graders had twenty minutes to enjoy the beautiful fall sunshine outside. Peter played basketball with some friends while Lily sat on a bench and tried to study for the history test she had forgotten about. Nothing she read seemed to want to stick in her brain. She tried to ignore Heather’s voice, which was just loud enough for Lily to hear.

I don’t know why she bothers, Heather was saying. She’s such a retard.

Lily rolled her eyes.

I can hear you, Heather! Lily shouted.

I don’t care, Lily! Heather sassed back.

Lily slammed her book shut and retreated to the bathroom. It’s a good thing for her I promised Gran no stories, thought Lily. She doesn’t know how lucky she is. Still, it didn’t stop Lily from imagining ten different ways to humiliate Heather. Lily had experimented with storytelling from time to time, just to test her limits. She knew she could affect things that already existed, but she couldn’t make a million dollars appear out of thin air or make it rain cupcakes, although she had really tried. A lot.

Instead, Lily half-heartedly tried to study history in the bathroom, sitting in the last stall nearest the window. It was the closest thing to a hiding spot she was able to find in her school.

Three things that start with ‘p’, Lily told herself. It was her way of focusing, or maybe just a way of forgetting what was bothering her. Whatever it was, it usually worked.

Pickles, pecan pie, pumpernickel.

Ten minutes later, when the bathroom door opened and someone walked in, Lily pulled up her feet and sat quietly, hoping no one would discover her.

Do you think he will ask you to the dance? said a girl’s voice.

I don’t know. He can’t seem to get away from Lily long enough to talk to me, answered another girl. Lily’s ears perked up when she heard her own name. She knew without looking, it was Heather Whipple. Her stomach knotted. They were talking about Peter.

Why does he do that? Does her grandma pay him or something? asked the first girl.

No, I think he’s just kind of dumb, said Heather, laughing as if she was funny. The knot in Lily’s stomach exploded and she burst out of the stall, banging the next stall hard with the door. Heather and her friend, Abigail, jumped. Lily stared at Heather, her history book still hanging in one hand.

Lily, said Heather, surprised.

I don’t ever expect you to forgive me. I gave up trying to be your friend a long time ago, said Lily, walking over to look Heather in the eyes. Say anything you want about me, but don’t you dare talk about Peter like that.

The bell rang before Heather could answer. Lily grabbed her backpack and left without another word.

Lily’s next class was art, which she loved almost as much as English. The best part about it was Heather wasn’t in it. Lily spent most of the hour just swirling colors around with her paintbrush. No matter how much she tried to enjoy the blue seeping into the white to make the perfect sky color, her mind wouldn’t let her. Instead, it kept replaying that horrible scene, the day she ruined her friendship with Heather last year. If Heather had any sense of humor at all, it might have been forgotten long ago, but she refused to let it go.

In history, Lily pored over her test. There were at least two questions she didn’t have the slightest idea how to answer and probably four more she wasn’t sure about, but she was pleased to discover she actually remembered some of what she had read. Maybe Coach McAllister’s tests were just a little easier during football season.

Next to her, Heather was scribbling away on her test with her usual know-it-all look. Lily saw her sneak a peek at Peter before her gaze flickered back to Lily with a look in her eyes Lily couldn’t read. Caught, Heather shot Lily a dirty look and covered her paper. Lily’s own anger flared up again, surprising her. It wasn’t as if she needed to defend Peter, or that he even cared what Heather thought of him.

Lily tried to concentrate on question number fifteen, but her brain turned to Jell-o. She rubbed her eyes, trying to fight off the strange, sleepy feeling creeping into her head. It was no use. She lay her head on the desk, unable to keep her eyes open any longer.

In a dream, Lily walked through a dark forest of gnarled trees. The branches grew so thick, light could barely penetrate. Deep in the forest, Lily caught sight of a woman with dark hair and dazzling green eyes. Lily called to her, but the woman didn’t seem to hear her. She ran after the woman, but lost her in the maze of thick, black tree trunks.

Lily, a voice called. The sound was warm and inviting. Lily wanted to run toward it, but she couldn’t tell where it came from.

Where are you? Lily called back.

Here, said the voice behind her. Lily spun around to see the dark haired woman.

Mom? said Lily, hoping it was her.

Lily, I need you, the woman said. I can’t do this alone.

Do what? asked Lily. Who are you?

You already know, she said. Hurry!

A light hand on her shoulder startled Lily awake.

Lily! Peter whispered. Wake up!

Lily woke with a start. The class was handing in their papers. She looked down at her unfinished test, not really caring about her grade anymore. Peter looked worried.

I saw her! Lily whispered back to him.

Who? asked Peter.

My mother. She said she needs me, said Lily.

Heather’s cold voice cut in.

Don’t be stupid. Everyone knows your mother’s dead.

Lily glared at Heather and her perpetual sneer, as if something always smelled bad to her.

"What do you know about

Reviews for Storyteller

[tedwitham · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An engaging 'road' story of an apprentice story-teller in post-Roman Wales. The narrator must learn humility before being apprenticed to a master story-teller. Rich in historical detail.

[minakelly_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I could have sworn I'd already reviewed this.Anyway, as others have said it's a series of interlinked stories set in post-Roman pre-Arthurian Britain. It deftly weaves mythology and history together, using it's protagonist's journey towards a career as a bard to structure the novel. Strongly recommend it!

[nanajlove_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is book one in a fascinating trilogy detailing the life of a bard-in-training, Gwernin Storyteller, in Wales during the 6th century. It is well written and leads the reader to believe well researched, although the author does describe how sparse the historical information for this time period and subject is.In book one, we follow Gwernin as he strikes out on his own for the first time, traveling with a trader from his village. Young Gwernin has much to learn about the world, politics, and how trustworthy his companion is and his adventures are saturated with the supernatural beings, as both guides and warnings. What I found most unique about this book is how each chapter can stand independent as a tale while at the same time belonging in the collection of chapters to tell the story of Gwernin's early years. I am fortunate to have won the two sequels in this series, Flight of the Hawk, and The Ash Spear and I am looking forward to reading more about this endearing character and remarkable period in history.

[janemarieprice · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I spent quite a long time with this book and am glad I did. It is a long journey that young Gwernin takes. This was not one of those historical novels where the characters are completely modern individuals placed in a historical setting. Nor was it one where the characters were given particularly divergent hot button political and social issues. Rather, they are simply authentic – which extends to age as well. You see Gwernin’s growth as his journey continues. There is a nice balance of surreal/fantastical elements mixed into the tale. I am looking forward to getting to the next installment. Note: I received this through LibraryThing Member Giveaways. 

[scoshie · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyable enough fiction about a summer a wandering youth spent learning how to be a bard. Well thought out story and has a lot of excellent historic references that were fun. I found it a little boring and was annoyed with the way each chapter ended. All in all this was not a bad way to spend an afternoon in the sun.

[tropical1library · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have been reading this on and off for some time now, after having received a copy through LibraryThing -- mostly because I tend to forget about books on the Kindle. But I have finally finished it -- and really enjoyed it.It's the story of a 6th century Welsh storyteller, who hopes to become a bard; this is about one summer's travelling around what is now known as Wales. He has a less-than-perfect travelling partner, which causes all kinds of problems for both of them, but by then end of the book he has been apprenticed to a bard and is on the way to following in the footsteps of Taliesen, the legendary bard.The story abounds with characters from British mythology and is a very enjoyable read; I was disappointed to find myself at the end of the book. But not with the story!

[hsudonym · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

ER Review.Really enjoyed this story, after I realized it was not a stand alone book, but part of a series. I like how the author relayed the learning of the craft of the bard- the years of visual and verbal memorization, travel, apprenticeship. The author captures the difficulty of the road, and the good and bad people met. The author does an excellent job of portraying the traditional culture of Wales, the beauty and severity of it's lands.It is amazing to realize, in relation to current society, to have a young boy travel virtually alone, getting passed off to others to further his education. At times Gwernin seemed far older than he actually is. Current thought has the King Arthur legends centered on Wales. I liked the author's incorporation of the legends into the time frame of the story. I think the other books of the series will bring more of the legends into the main story.Overall, and enjoyable read. The only problem I had was the darn Welsh pronunciation! Which I always have. The author kindly put a guide in the back of the book. Use it. A lot!

[ani36ol · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was lucky enough to receive the trilogy of books called Storyteller, Flight of the Hawk and Ash Spear. If you enjoy Jack White novels you will enjoy this trilogy. Set back in the mythical times of dragons and warriors and the main character who is a storyteller. We follow him as he learns from his master Talhaearn and competes in front of royalty against others to become a master. He starts out in Storyteller telling the story about King Arthur’s Raid on Hell.In the second novel, Flight of the Hawk, the young storyteller moves on to more adventures as he does in the Ash Spear. I was going to provide more information but quite frankly I don’t want to give anything away. I really enjoyed all three novels. They flowed from one to the other nicely and the best part, or I should say one of the best because there were many, is that at the end of the novel is a pronunciation guide for all of the rather difficult Welsh words as well as a wonderful postscript by the author that I almost wished was at the beginning of the novels as the pronunciation pages should have been as well. Some people may be put off by all the weird names and such but I promise if you stick with it the trilogy is well worth it.

[twitham_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An engaging 'road' story of an apprentice story-teller in post-Roman Wales. The narrator must learn humility before being apprenticed to a master story-teller. Rich in historical detail.

[hghost-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

While starting Storyteller I must admit it took me a couple tries to get into this novel. (I don't normally like historical fiction) When I got into it though, I found I couldn't put the Storyteller down. G.R. Grove paints an excellent picture of the life of a bard named Gwernin Kyuaryd, while he wanders Wales in the year 550 AD, Each chapter weaves a new story of Gwernin bringing him closer to reality as it goes. I particularly enjoyed the first story when he describes the encounter he had with an owl whom our bard compares to a ghost.Though I am not a historian, this story has brought me into an understanding of what life must have been like for bards of the sixth century Europe. I recommend Storyteller to both fans of historical fiction and those who tend to stray away from that genre alike and allow the storyteller to weave his magic together for you. I look forward to reading the next installment, Flight of the Hawk, in this series. “But that, O my children, is a story for another day.”

[releanna · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a very good and interesting collection of Welsh myth and history. The first 30 or 40 pages I thought drag a bit and sometimes it is almost boring in the beginning, but as the story unfolds it gets more and more interesting!

[karthicaravel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I thought that this book was great. The title of the story totally matched up with the story itself.

[nuatha · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The book begins with a series of tales told by the central character the bard Gwernin, as an older man retelling the tales and his telling of them as a young storyteller. Several of these tales were original published as instalments in serial form.First of all, I should admit that I failed to finish the book the first two times I read it. I found the initial standalone tales didn’t carry my interest on into the novel. This is not a fault of the writing or the storytelling, and may well be more of a personal idiosyncrasy than anything else – I like books to draw me into the tale and found the initial tales did not do this. I’m familiar with much of the source material and many works based on it, and enjoyed each skilful retelling of the tales. As the book became a more continuous telling of Gwernin’s tale (and both his and his master’s storytelling) it became compulsive reading.The author presents a richly crafted tale in an authentic setting, weaving touches of magic and myth in a natural and accurate historical context. Set shortly after the death of Arthur, it would be easy to dismiss as yet another Authurian fantasy – Arthur is the principal character in many of the stories told within the book. To dismiss it in such a way would be a great disservice to this book and to its author. The short Authurian tales are an important component of the story but merely form one thread of the tale, the bard Taliesin is a recurring character, here the focus is more on the influence he has on the young storytellers life. Overall the effect is a richly woven tapestry of entwined tales, historical fiction at its best. (Historical rather than fantasy fiction, because the elements which could have turned this into fantasy fiction are presented as a historically accurate natural part of 6th century life.)I have and will recommend this book to others. I intend ordering the rest of the trilogy today and am already eagerly anticipating book 4 of the greater arc.

[elenchus_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I’d hoped that G.R. Grove’s Storyteller would provide a strong sense of 6th Century Wales, both the land and the culture of those living there, and perhaps an historically accurate depiction of the bardic tradition. If it also delved into the esoteric tradition as practiced by those in Britain, whether Druids or others … well, that would be cream. Storyteller delivers handsomely on the first two counts, and holds out some promise that later volumes may have more in store on the third.The setup is simple: a young man leaves home with a friend, eager to explore the world. Because he has no formal training, and still less experience, Gwernin is not a bard. On his travels, though, he gains some of that experience, and eventually takes up as apprentice with a bard in hopes of learning the formal aspects of the tradition. Each chapter is a vignette, more or less directly related to this overarching narrative arc. The plots are what I would call miniature or minor key, not overly dramatic in terms of action or tension, though there is a memorable exception involving a midnight rescue by water. These minor key stories are reflective and suggest a wisdom of observing people and life trends, which for me fit in with what I would expect a bard to commit to verse. The plot and characterization does pick up complexity in the latter half of the book, presumably in part due to the fact these stories were written with an eye toward a novel, and the earlier were published separately as short stories.Because the stories are narrated by Gwernin, the author and the character so to speak “share a voice”. Apparently in the bardic tradition, storytelling is done in a high style quite distinct from everyday speech.* And in fact, Gwernin’s narrative voice is distinct from the style of his delivery when, interacting with other characters, he tells them a story. Gwernin’s storytelling voice is at once more formal and less emotional than when he addresses the reader. His narrative voice, by contrast, is more confessional, and while clearly not modern in its speech pattern, is conversational. (I find it clever that the trope most commented on in reviews, “But that, O my children, is a story for another day” is delivered by Gwernin the narrator, not the storyteller, and effectively reminds us that the narrator is, in fact, an older Gwernin. He does not narrate his life as it unfolds, after all, but sometime later, presumably near the end of his life.) I suspect Gwernin’s storytelling voice should be yet more stylized, and and that as an apprentice bard this is precisely one of the things he hopes to master. It will be interesting to see if his formal storytelling does in fact become more distinctly stylized in later books.Another strong impression is the way the seasons and weather dictated so much of everyday life. This isn't unique to those in Britain at the time, of course, but is quite different from the way I live, and it added to the feeling of transporting to another place & time. Grove's writing of spring in Wales was lyrical and highly evocative, one of my favourite passages in the book from the standpoint of wordcraft. Overall, in fact, I was very impressed with the quality of the writing, giving a distinct feel from modern speech but avoiding cliche. Thankfully, Grove never resorts to schoolyard bastardisations of chivalric poetry, but has found a narrative voice that is recognisably other and yet scans easily.I’d love to own a handsome hardbound edition, as I expect to re-read it and the sequels. The cover art is fitting, but it would benefit from a polished layout and some additional copyediting. And, yes, a sturdy binding.* Coincidentally, at the time I read Storyteller, I was reading Kathleen Raine’s Defending Ancient Springs. The essays on the poet Vernon Watkins and on the nature of the symbol in metaphysical poetry include some comment on the Welsh bardic tradition. Raine remarks specifically on the formal and stylized voice of a bard, which prompted my comparison between Gwernin as narrator and as storyteller.

[lorax_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Storyteller by G.R. Grove follows the young Welsh storyteller Gwernin, initially as he travels around post-Roman Wales, first telling stories and later as an apprentice bard. The novel is set up as a series of reminisces by a much-older Gwernin, though after the initial introduction this framing is limited to the formulaic "But that, O my children, is a story for another day" conclusion to each tale. The story is well-written with meticulous attention to historical detail. The writing especially shone during the several stories told by Gwernin during the course of the novel, which were perhaps the strongest part; the episodic nature of the book was a strength, rather than a weakness, here. The entire book was an enjoyable and quick read, with a very strong sense of place; Grove clearly loves, and has thoroughly researched, the era she's writing about. The sense of change and loss, both of Roman civilization and of the still older Celtic customs, in the face of the Saxon invaders pervades the book, giving it a flavor familiar to readers of more historically-oriented Arthurian fantasies.Storyteller deftly straddles the boundaries between historical fiction and fantasy; Gwernin has several supernatural experiences (though he does not see them as anything extraordinary); many of these, though not all, can be interpreted in context as dreams if the reader chooses. However they are interpreted, the effect of these events on the rest of the story is minimal, perhaps partly due to the episodic nature of the entire book, and the ill-defined "feel" of the book is not that of fantasy. Readers of either genre, provided they aren't completely averse to reading something slightly out of genre, would most likely feel at home with the book.The weakest aspects of the book were plot and characterization; in the first half of the novel, the individual stories are almost entirely disconnected from one another. As a result, there's very little sense of tension; the reader knows that whatever problems are set up will be resolved in a matter of a few pages. The reader has very little insight into either of the continuing characters introduced in the first half of the book (Gwernin and his friend Iuean; when they part ways midway through the book, there's no sense of regret or loss, because the reader never really got to know Iuean as more than a name.) Once Gwernin is apprenticed to the bard Talhaearn halfway through the book, the story hangs together better and Gwernin begins to show signs of a more individualistic character than simply "young and impetuous".Finally, a note on an issue that, while unrelated to the story, did initially affect my reading experience by jolting me out of the story and forcing me to notice the arrangement of letters on the page. The typesetting on my lulu.com paperback was quite poor. I don't ordinarily notice things like this, but it was jarring -- one line was inexplicably in smaller type, the letters didn't seem to fit together well, and parts of some letters were thin to the point of illegibility. I got used to this after getting into the book a bit, and hopefully most readers will do the same; it would be a shame to miss out on this book because of the printer's incompetence.I received a copy of this book from the author through the Hobnob With Authors group in exchange for a review; a savvy move on Grove's part, because I will certainly purchase the sequel.

[reading_fox · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Odd collection of incidents - being the (fictional) memoirs of the early life of a travelling bard in 6th centuray Wales. We follow Gwernin as he sets off on a summer's grand tour, as a Storyteller - rather than the official title of Bard which he hasn't yet earned. Each short chapter is a tale, told in a Storyteller's prose, either Gwernin telling one of his tales or an incident during his stay at that location. Unfortunetly they all end with - "but that's a story for another day my children" which rapidly becomes annoying. It works well enough as a storytelling device for Gwernin's recitals of ancient tales, but when it comes to the 'plot' of Gwernin's own adventures it completely breaks up the narrative flow. Although initially very slow there is some form of plot - Gwernin falls in love, competes with the local strong man for the girl, and finds a Master to offer him formal training. There are also a series of mystical encounters with various ghosts. These seem to indicate some great secret in Gwernin's background or future, but that my children is a story for another day - you see how irritating that gets!I'm not a historian, but the work seems well researched, and an author's note in the back explains which details have been invented, plus helping with Welsh pronounciation and names. I found it odd that Powys remains unchanged in name since the 6th century, but perhaps that's the case. The life of the characters seems somewhat idyllic, without major concerns about providing sufficient shelter, food or avoiding disease. There is a complete lack of concern over banditry which also seems unrealistic. The only other major discrepency that jarred me, was when the strict master bans Gwernin from 'looking at another girl again' and then completely ignores Gwernin's ongoing romance, and later implies he's aware of it, and tacitly approves of it.Overall it was well written and I enjoyed it more as the story progressed. Especially when we learnt a bit more abour Gwernin and his life, but the annoying chapter endings and lack of overal cohension mean I'm unlikely to search out any sequels.This ebook version isn't well copyedited with several instances of runonwords.

[milliehennessy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In Storyteller we hear about young Gwernin's start as a story teller and how he moved into apprenticing as a bard. He tells his tales with a bif of a flare, fitting for a storyteller, and he is a very likeable character. The descriptions of some characters seem repetative, but on the whole this book was an excellent read. I did think that beyond Gwernin, and maybe two or three other characters, everyone else was very flat. I found myself forgetting who characters were because they had little or no development. His tag line, "But that, O my children, is a story for another day" appears at the end of every chapter, and gets to be a bit annoying by the end of the book, because he's hinted at all these other great adventures that the reader is told nothing about. However, I will definitely be reading the other books in the trilogy and I can't wait to hear about the rest of his adventures!

[mjwensel · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wow! What a marvellous read! I love reading books about the Aurthurean period and this one is no exception.This book tells the story of the early years of Gwernin who is apprenticing to be a storyteller/bard Each chapter details an event in his life and how it shaped his future. The mode of storytelling used in the book, is the older Gwernin recounting his tales of youth to the reader. This means that there are a lot of adventures hinted at in the future, enough to whet your appetite to keep on reading. There is some mystical elements to the story, encounters with fae, premonitions and hints of magic, but the story is realistic enough to believe that this all may have occured.I think the perfect environment for reading this book is in front of a fire, surrounded by dark, wrapped in warm blankets. It's the impression you get from each chapter that you are on a campout with a really great storyteller recounting fantastical stories from their youth. Beacuse each chapter is almost stand alone you tend to dread the words "But that, O my children, is a story for another day". Which means that chapter/story is over. Most chapters pick up not long after, but you are left hanging a bit with dangling tidbits of things to come. Frustrating, but in a good way that makes you want to keep reading.My only complaint (and it is by no means a reflection on the author) are the names used in this era. I can never keep them straight, and seem to find myself wracking my brain trying to remember which character is which. Most of the time the story provides enough detail which I am definitely thankful for to keep everyone straight.I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will definitely recommend it. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.

[janepriceestrada · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I spent quite a long time with this book and am glad I did. It is a long journey that young Gwernin takes. This was not one of those historical novels where the characters are completely modern individuals placed in a historical setting. Nor was it one where the characters were given particularly divergent hot button political and social issues. Rather, they are simply authentic – which extends to age as well. You see Gwernin’s growth as his journey continues. There is a nice balance of surreal/fantastical elements mixed into the tale. I am looking forward to getting to the next installment. Note: I received this through LibraryThing Member Giveaways. 

[chaser22 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I won this book from the Member Giveaways. It was very different than I expected. The way each story also helped tell the main character's tale was quite an interesting spin. Though a dark book, it was very light and fun to read. I would recommend it to someone looking for a different avenue of reading from thier normal book choices.

[chirtie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was a bit slow to start and hard for me to get into at first, but as I continued reading I found myself getting more and more caught up in Gwernin's story. I enjoyed how Gwernin grew and developed through the story. His failings and triumphs were not only entertaining, but rang true to those of any young man growing into himself and his trade. I didn't notice any glaring spelling errors but after reading one of the earlier reviews I was really watching for errors . Not that I can cite the page but, I was mildly amused when Gwernin's pony was once referred to as Lloyd, as opposed to Llwyd. Same meaning, so it wasn't a big deal. If this can be called an error, it was all I found. Initially, I found the device of "O my children that is another story" a bit intrusive, but as I got further into the story I got used to it. Perhaps, it is the way bards ended their stories but I think the use of it at the end of every chapter was unnecessary, especially when the chapters were largely connected chronologically. I think this device would have been more successful (and meaningful) if it had been used a bit more sparingly at key points in the story.Overall, this book was an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading the next book.

[altarasabine · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Set in the dark ages of Wales. The storyteller, the bard of Gwernin, is recounting individual stories of his travels that come together to reveal a wider, larger story. You follow along his journey of life changing experiences and falling in love. Reminissant of the style of "The Canterbury Tales". Has a ligh hearted tone making it a joy to read. Well written, rich historical content with an unforgettsble and loveable cast of characters.

[wildmaggie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A youth named Gwernin starts out on a meandering journey around medieval Wales with a handful of stories and firm in his belief that he will be a great bard. Along his way, he learns a bit about life, acquires a demanding but instructive teacher, tells and hears some great tales, and falls in love. Storyteller offers engaging characters, an interesting historical setting not previously over-mined, and a straightforward plot adequate to carry Gwernin’s story. As a bonus, Gwernin and his mentoring bards practice their craft and tell some Welsh tales. These scenes are particularly effective, allowing her characters to entertain both their fictional audience and us readers. Storyteller is the first in a series of, currently, three books. It stands well on its own, although the ending has a to-be-continued feeling. I’ve put the next book in the series on my wishlist and look forward to Gwernin’s next installment. However things turn out for Gwernin, whether he becomes a great bard or not, one thing is for sure—Grove is a great storyteller.

[jaelquinn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a novel disguised as a collection of linked short stories in chronological order which track the changing seasons and the travels of Gwernin, the protagonist. The first person narrative is delightful for me, mostly because the narrator is so much like my ideal romantic partner. I would totally fall in love with this guy, he is so kind, sensitive, intelligent and honest. He makes the decisions I would make if I had the guts to get up in front of a group and tell stories and were faced with his problems. He struggles in the same areas, and learns the same lessons that I would from his adventures. He wants to learn, work with a good teacher, travel and be recognized for his talents. He wants to tell the truth, and do his best. Many of his struggles are caused by him falling short of his moral code. I didn't notice tension from a major conflict, but the protagonist, Gwernin, holds the series of stories together by his strong, well-defined personality. There are legends taken from Welsh folklore and King Arthur, told by the protagonist and other bards included in the stories. These help convey the sense of time period. The use of historical Welsh place names and character names also convey a feel of a medieval time period without getting in the way of the story. It took me a couple of stories before falling under the charismatic spell of the main character, and once that happened I was hooked. If a lawful good apprentice bard appeals to you as a character, you will enjoy this series. The writing is clear and readable. There were no errors in usage or grammar that got in the way of the story. The worst thing I can say about this book is that each chapter ends with the same annoying sentence, " And that , O my children, is a tale for another time." Or words to that effect. It could be that's what the bards used to end stories way back in medieval times. It doesn't stop me from recommending this title. And now you know about it, you can just not read the last sentence of each story, because you know what it is.

[wigster102 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Storyteller is not a modern story. I don't mean that it was written hundreds of years ago, but it definitely reads like it. And that isn't a bad thing. The beginning is a bit slow and disconnected at times, but it quickly becomes a cohesive travel story. By the end it was flowing at such a pace that I was surprised when the end came. This is a story told for the sake of the telling of the story, in much the same way that the storytellers in the book were doing, and I can't wait to read the next one. Here is another book that makes me thankful there are more ways to be self-published these days.

[tracyrowan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Lyrically written series of stories which make up an historical novel about the travels of Gwernin the Storyteller -- and about this he makes a very important distinction; he is not yet worthy to call himself "Bard" -- through Wales. It's not just about medieval Wales, though that would provide material enough, nor just about Welsh culture and the oral tradition. It's also about growth and the education of a story teller, and his adventures along the way. Another reviewer likened it to "The Canterbury Tales" and the comparison is apt. Grove's stories introduce Gwernin to a whole host of colorful characters, and provide hearty doses of humor, surprise, mystery and the like.This is not popularized medievalism, nor is it strictly academic. Rather it walks a path between the two, neither pandering to contemporary tastes nor remaining so obscure that contemporary readers will not be engaged by it. It remains thoroughly accessible, but without the sort of compromises that might rob it of so much of its authenticity. It's clear that Grove has done her homework here. In fact, it's clear that this is a labor of love for her, and as such it carries even more impact. You write best what speaks to you most clearly.If I have a quibble with the book, it's that some of the stories lack dramatic tension. They are shortish, and sometimes don't so much end as stop. And yet there's enough here to keep you wanting to read more, which is, in the end, what propels the reader through any book. Recommended for lovers of good historical fiction, or anyone with an interest in Welsh legends and mythology.

[sirfurboy · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I bought this one following reviews here, and having failed to get the sequel in the member give away (which I was disappointed as the subject matter - 6th century Welsh culture - is right up my street). The book is a little on the expensive side.The book is self published, and before reading this book I would say that invariably indicates a book that suffers from a lack of editing, rewriting and critical review. Indeed I normally avoid self published works because there is usually a good reason that they were rejected by publishers.But the reviews on this book suggested the writing was of high quality - and they were right. The author writes well, with a passion for her subject which she has researched well (not perfectly mind. Like Stephen Lawhead et al., she calls Cardiff "Caer Dydd" - a folk etymology that does not realise that the city is named for the river Taff, and in the 6th century was Caerdyf - incorporating the genitive form of Taff as the case system was still found in Welsh at that time. She also speaks of Aberystwyth, where the 6th century settlement of the area would have focussed around Llanbadarn Fawr. I could go on and be picky, but that would be unfair as her research is at least as good as other writers setting tales in this period, and in fact better than most).Heavy use is made of early Welsh writings in this book, and the author clearly has a feel for the period - presenting a tale that would not be amiss as an addendum to the Mabinogion.My only real criticism of the work would revolve over the overall lack of tension. Not that it is entirely lacking - there are times when this book is as well written as any I have read - but it does not grab you from the start as a tale with some kind of conflict in it that must be resolved. This might be what an editor at a publishing house might have brought to the work. Then again, maybe not. It could just be my own preference here as there is plenty to interest a reader in this story.

[dchaikin_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

G. R. Grove is a self published author and LTer (username: gwernin). I generally hesitate to pick up self-published books because of the lack of quality control. But no worries here. Grove is a competent writer who can take simple tale and make a colorful story out of it.Storyteller is a tour of Wales in the time of Athurian legends. The Romans have left, Anglo-Saxons are advancing and King Arthur has been dead 20 years when the sixteen-year-old orphan Gwernin Kyuarwyd sets out on his first summer circuit of the Briton towns in modern Wales. He pays his way telling stories. Early in the book Gwernin and his traveling partner Ieuen wake up from midday nap in the middle of nowhere to find themselves in an opaque fog. Disaster. Slowly they try to find their way. Gwernin later, having gotten lost, makes his way to “a tall figure standing silent in the moon-silvered mist ahead of me.” It turns out to be a massive black standing stone. Perched at the bottom he imagines he hears a legendary king of the Celtic “Other-world” on a hunt with his hounds.“Distantly I saw the hunt come and pass, the wraith-like deerand the white hounds gleaming in the darkness. Dimly I sawthe rider, gray-cloaked and gray-mounted, pass by, with hisfollowers streaming behind him and the moon striking sparksof silver from their fittings and their horns. They came, andpassed like thunder, and dwindled into silence, and I wasalone with the moon, and the mist, and the coming dawn”Instead of filling us with the blood and gore and passion we might expect with Athurian legends, Grove takes a more literary approach. She takes her time, keeping us entertained with Gwernin’s travels; each chapter is another story out of Gwernin’s travels. In the end she has created her version of 6th century Wales, infused with history and clashes of cultures, and a place where legends and stories mix with reality. This is the first of a trilogy. I look forward to the next book.Note: On her profile Grove advertises that she is willing to provide a PDF copy of a book for a review. I took her up on the offer.

[riverwillow · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The 'Storyteller' of the book is Gwernin a young bard in training, travelling across medieval Wales tellings stories of legendary heroes. Each chapter of the book is set out in the style of the oral tradition so you can imagine the older Gwernin sitting by the fire telling his story to a medieval audience, and always promising them more as as each each chapter ends with "But that, O my children, is a story for another day." This is an interesting and quick read making elements of medieval life accessible to the modern reader.

[epivet_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Stunning and accurate visual imagery only serves to make the historical details seem realistic, quite believable. The characters are recognizable and very human, the plot simple in the good sense. Anyone who likes the backstory in Stephen Lawhead, Lloyd Alexander, or Mary Stewart will enjoy this; it is not an heroic epic, but rather captures the sweet, quiet tone of life after the heroes are gone and the epic adventures done.The chapters are quick and easy reads, and many can stand alone, which would make this a good book for a high school class wishing to cover Celtic history but lacking time for a full book.