Monday, March 23, 2015

Book Review: The Storyspinner by Becky Wallace











About the book:


Drama and danger abound in this fantasy realm where dukes play a game for the throne, magical warriors race to find the missing heir, and romance blossoms where it is least expected.

In a world where dukes plot their way to the throne, a Performer’s life can get tricky. And in Johanna Von Arlo’s case, it can be fatal. Expelled from her troupe after her father’s death, Johanna is forced to work for the handsome Lord Rafael DeSilva. Too bad they don’t get along. But while Johanna’s father’s death was deemed an accident, the Keepers aren’t so sure.

The Keepers, a race of people with magical abilities, are on a quest to find the princess—the same princess who is supposed to be dead and whose throne the dukes are fighting over. But they aren’t the only ones looking for her. And in the wake of their search, murdered girls keep turning up—girls who look exactly like the princess, and exactly like Johanna.

With dukes, Keepers, and a killer all after the princess, Johanna finds herself caught up in political machinations for the throne, threats on her life, and an unexpected romance that could change everything.



The Storyspinner is a very impressive book and I love the face that it is Becky Wallace's first novel.  There are so many fun, entertaining and exciting moments in this book.  Johanna comes from a family of performers and on what should be a typical performance on the tightrope for her father, turns deadly.  Her father ends up dying and Johanna suspects that it wasn't an accident.  Johanna and her family are banished from the performer group because of the belief of bad luck.  One day Johanna is trying to hunt for food for her family to eat and she is attacked by Rafi, the duke of Santiago.  It is all a misunderstanding, but he owes her something in order to restore his honor.  Rafi and Johanna do not get off to the best start, but eventually he offers her a job to perform for his visitors.  Meanwhile there are visitors from another land that have powers to control the elements around them.  They are on a mission to find the lost princess (who everyone believes is dead) in order to restore the magic border between two lands.


This story has a lot of funny characters, particularly Rafi's brother Dom and Johanna's younger brothers.  He is a hoot!  Each chapter is the viewpoint of a different character so that makes the voice of the book very interesting.   There is some sadness to this book but a lot of wonder and mystery of the landscape.  You learn that there is something evil that is lurking and that even though there are some people that use their magic for good, there are also ones that use it for evil.  I loved the suspense of this story and how the characters developed as the story went on.  There is a lot of imagination that goes into one of the characters about how they harness power and magic.  I have a love/hate relationship with cliffhangers.  I want to know how the story ends, but I love knowing that there is more to the story and it hasn't actually ended.  I can't wait to read more about the Keeper's Chronicles and see more from these wonderful characters! Our copy of The Storyspinner will be arriving soon,so make sure and check it out when it arrives!  You won't be disappointed.  :)









About the author:

In second grade, Becky Wallace had to sit in the corner because she refused to write anything except princess stories and fairy tales (and because she talked too much). Her time in isolation gave her plenty of opportunities to dream up the fantasy worlds she's been dabbling with ever since. She was lucky enough to find her own real-life Prince Charming. They have four munchkins and live in happy little town near Houston, Texas.





Connect with the author:
·         Facebook
·         Twitter
·         Website 
  Goodreads



Buy the book:

·         Amazon  ·         Barnes and Noble


Praise for The Storyspinner
 "An intricately woven, beautifully told tale, laced with heart, wit, and edge-of-your-seat suspense--plus the perfect amount of delicious swoon, Bravo! And encore!" (Shannon Messenger, author of the Sky Fall series.)


"Becky Wallace couples a classic romance with cut-throat political intrigue and wraps it in a detailed and enthralling magical world. I can't wait for the sequel." (Cinda Williams Chima, author of the Heir Chronicles)

"This tale of murder, kidnapping, and magic held me from start to finish!" (Tamora Pierce, author of the Song of the Lionesss Quartet)

"Wallace bucks the trend of retold fairy tales... and nicely balances romances with adventure. An...action-packed beginning." (Kirkus)

"This first installment of The Keepers’ Chronicles is as engaging as fantasy gets, full of magic and romance, intrigue and espionage, epic battles and heartbreaking loss. The quicker the second book comes out, the better. This is definitely recommended for public and high school libraries." (VOYA)

"In this beautifully constructed first installment of a new fantasy series, Wallace creates a lush environment, interweaving unique characters. Recommended for fans of classic fantasy (J.R.R. Tolkien) as well as more modern fantasy adventures by Melina Marchetta, Kristin Cashore, and Sarah J. Maas." (School Library Journal)

"Political games meet magical intrigue in this Portuguese-flavored fantasy debut..." (Publishers Weekly)

"In a land where stories may be more than mere tales woven by artful Storyspinners, the search is on for the missing heiress to the kingdom... Readers will enjoy the quick pace of the tale." (Booklist Online)

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