Tanwen doesn't just tell stories, she weaves them into crystallized sculptures that sell for more than a few bits. But the only way to escape the control of her cruel mentor and claw her way from poverty is to set her sights on something grander: becoming Royal Storyteller to the king. During her final story peddling tour, a tale of treason spills from her hands, threatening the king himself. Tanwen goes from peddler to prey as the king's guard hunts her down, and they're not known for their mercy. As Tanwen flees for her life, she unearths long-buried secrets and discovers she's not the only outlaw in the empire. There's a rebel group of weavers, and they're after her, too.
Sometimes a book just has to sit and simmer for a bit before you pick it up cause you know that your going to just devour it. The Story Peddler is just that kind of book, the cover is eye catching, the blurb selling stories is a deadly business, and their secrets buried deep in the story. Also the sequel is coming out later this year so not much time to wait to sink your teeth into the rest of the story.
I the concept of weaving stories and have them be magical shown in strands of color shooting from your hands made for a very interesting magic system. Add in that the art of the story peddling is very controlled in the form of Crown Stories, stories that are approved by the king, better not let anyone be creative in this world. As our main heroine is unfolding these secrets and in turn her weird twist on the story peddler magic a whole group of peddlers exist as well. So she swept up in this political plot when her entire life she just want to spin stories for the king as the top story spinner and hopefully see the world at the same time.
The secrets and political intrigue of this novel are so on point, i did think when i first added this to my to be read list that it was a middle grade novel, but it definitely sits squarely in the young adult genre. It an amazing read and i can not wait for the sequel later this year.
Reading updates
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Started reading
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14 April, 2019:
Finished reading
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14 April, 2019:
Reviewed