This story of a daughter’s quest to find out what happened to the father she hasn’t seen since childhood is a touching, engaging story from Amanda Block. It should resonate with all daughters who thought their dads hung the moon when they were little. It’s also a poignant exploration of mental health issues.

The mystery of Leo Sampson’s disappearance makes for an intriguing plot. Initially, Rebecca presents a mask of indifference to journalist Ellis Bailey’s queries, but, eventually, the two begin to put together the pieces of his past. Gradually, the story of her early relationship with her father emerges. The yearning she feels to know what happened, why he left her, becomes all-consuming. At the same time, the doubt she feels as to whether he will want to know her now feels all too real.

The plot is made even more interesting by the seven fairy tales peppered through the story. These are quite dark, and make for an interesting switch from the contemporary story and writing style. At the same time, the fairy tale device feels like a way to stretch out the story perhaps longer than was needed. Rebecca’s excuses for not reading the rest of the stories seem designed to stretch the plot in an overly obvious way. I’m not sure the book needed to be quite so long. The story does feel a little slow at times.

The father-daughter story presented here is quite emotional. I liked how Block explored Rebecca’s idolisation of her father, but also highlighted how complicated the reality really was. The way that Rebecca has to reconfigure her relationships with each member of her family as she uncovers the truth about her father is well done.

The unfolding of Leo’s mental health struggle through the fairy tales and through Rebecca’s parents’ accounts was also well handled. There were some brilliant moments where Block shone a light on how insensitively mental health concerns have been treated in the past. Rebecca navigates what she thought she knew of her father and this information about his mental health with sensitivity and understanding. At the same time, her feelings of abandonment and hurt make her sometimes act rashly. Block captures the complexity of her journey well.

I enjoyed Rebecca’s journey, and her unfolding relationship with Ellis. I felt that I wanted more at the end to wrap up the story, though. We have a sense of closure, but I felt more could have been added to really finish off the story. In general, though, this was a very enjoyable, well written story.

The Lost Storyteller is a spellbinding debut novel of family secrets, the magic of forgotten fairy tales and the power of imagination. Rebecca can hardly remember her father Leo Sampson. All she knows is that he was a beloved children's television star who disappeared when she was just six years old, and her family have managed very well without him thank you very much. But when Ellis, a journalist, turns up at Rebecca's office asking for information about Leo, she begins to wonder if there is more to the story of her father's disappearance than her family have led her to believe. Then Rebecca is given a book of seven fairy tales, written by Leo, dedicated to his daughter. And through the magic of each of these stories, Rebecca has the chance to get one step closer to the lost storyteller, her father, to discover who he was and what he went through - and even where he might be now.

This is a captivating and richly mesmerising read that celebrates the magic of forgotten folk and fairy tales and the power and resilience of imagination. It's is an exquisite tale woven together by finely wrought prose and is dark yet uplifting, breathtakingly in parts and immediately powerful. I was completely swept up in Rebecca’s journey, and Leo’s fairytales. It’s a novel of hope and love, and it explores the importance of stories, and the way storytellers communicate their hardest realities through make-believe. The Lost Storyteller celebrates creativity and empathy and the power of stories to whisk you away to another world – both of which are more important now, in these troubling times, than ever before. I found it a delightful read and it certainly offers readers a little escapism and nostalgia for the stories of their own childhoods. Highly recommended.

👩 Rebecca hasn't seen her father since she was six. All she knows about him is that he was a well-loved children's TV star. When a journalist turns up at her office, asking about her father, Rebecca starts looking for answers. That's when she discovers a book of fairy tales written by her father and dedicated to her. Could these stories help her unlock the mystery of her father, the lost storyteller?⁠
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❤️ I liked:⁠
🧚 The fairy tales. I loved the idea even before starting the book. Then I began reading these beautiful fairytales woven throughout the plot, and that was it. I loved them: they are so fascinating and engaging. The author would be an amazing fairy tale writer, believe me!⁠
✍️ The writing. Very descriptive, it really caught my attention and made me feel I was inside the book. The descriptions were so vivid that I could almost see what the characters were seeing. ⁠
👩 Rebecca and her research. When she finds the book of fairy tales, she starts reading and looks for hidden clues that lead to her father. It's like going back in time, it brings back painful memories, but it also helps her move forward.⁠
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⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5 The fairy tales, the writing, the quest... this is really a magical book. It's about love, storytelling, the power of imagination, childhood and adulthood.

This book was utterly fascinating. The blurb had me hooked from the start and I was super excited to delve in.

This writing style is definitely one I love. There's a lot of description, which may make some readers overwhelmed, but I personally found it to add wonderfully to the storyline.

The plot was sound and you could tell that Amanda Block did a lot of building and research to ensure that the book was the best it could be.

I absolutely adored this.

This is a really entertaining, enjoyable and satisfying story that includes family drama, fairytales, a bit of mystery and a romance.

The central mystery of the story about what happened to Rebecca's father Leo, a popular TV star back in the 90s who disappeared from the spotlight and Rebecca's life when she was still a child, kept me guessing throughout and I loved following Rebecca's journey of discovery about her father and her family history.

Rebecca is an endearing and believable character and the growing relationship between her and Ellis, a journalist who helps her investigate what happened to Leo, was well developed and a joy to follow.

One of the best things about the book is the fairytales woven throughout the plot which make up a collection of stories left for Rebecca by her father. Each fairytale is mysterious, unsettling and appears to be packed full of secret meaning which Rebecca tries to decipher in case there are clues about what happened to her father hidden in the stories.

This is an ideal book for story lovers and the plot offers so much to keep you hooked and entertained throughout. A brilliant debut novel and an author I will be looking forward to reading more from in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC.

I loved the concept behind this story and the blurb hooked me. The writing was very descriptive if a tad over descriptive for my liking. The style of writing wasn't for me and I found myself skimming after a couple of chapters.

Rebecca Chase is just a regular young woman with her own place and a job, living a few miles up the road from her mum, grandmother and other family members in the beautiful Devonshire countryside. However, when Ellis Bailey, an eager and persistent rookie journalist from London comes to her workplace, enquiring about Rebecca’s estranged and once-famous father, they begin a journey that will uncover long-lost stories both fantastical and closer to home.

There was a lot that I really liked about this book. I enjoyed the mystery around Rebecca’s father’s disappearance, the deciphering of the book of fairy tales he leaves for her, and the love-hate style of teamwork between her and Ellis to search for the truth. I thought the characters were very well-drawn and realistic. For example, Rebecca worries about taking so much time off from her job to find out what happened to her father, which I thought was a great ‘real world’ touch that not many authors include in these kind of plots! The themes of how we remember the past, family relationships and the mental health issues raised within the novel were, I thought, also very well done, using the views, reactions and experiences of several characters to help both the reader and Rebecca reach some understanding.

This is a real page-turner with a refreshingly original plot. Her debut novel, I can’t wait to see what Amanda Block is working on next!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers, Hodder and Stoughton, for the advance copy on which this review was based.

Are you ready to fall in love? Do you still believe in fairy tales? Have you lost someone dear to you? If the answer is yes to even one of these questions then please read this book. Every star sparkling in the night sky should shine their light on it.

Such accomplished prose, gorgeous settings, especially during the Fringe in Edinburgh and a narrative plot that is gripping. I had to find out what happened to The Lost Storyteller and I finished this tale in twenty four hours. From the beginning I was entranced by idea of the missing father and Rebecca's vulnerability. Would she try to find him or didn't she care? And why had her mother hid things from her?

When she was given a book of fairy tales that her father wrote and dedicated to her, I was spellbound. I loved each one of them and how very dark they were. So clever for Amanda to immerse us in the journey of trying to figure out the clues in them and to the truth of her father. I wanted Rebecca to quickly read the next one but at the same time I was enjoying her journey and didn't want to leave that either.

As I read on, I could feel emotion building within me, slowly at first then more steadily. Then suddenly a few lines of the most beautiful text broke me and I crumbled into tears. Not because it was sad. but because it was beautiful. Honestly, I had to take a pause reading just to collect myself. How amazing that Amanda has the skill to evoke such powerful reactions in a reader. A true and rare gift. I am in awe of her talent and of this book. Its beauty will break your heart.

The Lost Storyteller is about love, about the magic of storytelling and the power of our imagination. Full of hope, strength, forgiveness, romance and funny too at times - it really is very special.

I strongly suggest you buy it.

The cover of this book is beautiful and I really loved the concept. The writting was very detailed and beautifully descriptive unfortunately it just wasn't my style. The build up didn't merit the pay off in my opinion and I found myself skipping past the detail to try and get to the plot. It was a frustrating read for me but just because it isn't my cup of tea doesn't mean people won't enjoy it. I'd recommend it for fans of magical realism and VE Swchab

How could I not fall in love with this book? It started with a quote from The Wizard of Oz. This is a really beautifully and well told enjoyable story. It tells the story of Rebecca looking for her father, Leo, who she hasn’t seen since she was a young child. We follow Rebecca as she cleverly follows the clues in 7 fairytales he wrote for her when she was a child. Finding the truth as to what happened between her mother and father is difficult for Rebecca but this story manages to tell the tale sympathetically without being overly sentimental or judgmental keeping the story feeling very honest and true.

What a brilliant story to get lost in.

I loved The Lost Storyteller. From the beautifully written and intriguing fairytales to the wonderfully relatable 'real life' characters. Block has done a superb job of entwining both easy to read and depth of story. I can't wait to read more from this author.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read and review.

What a gem of a read. Lost family, deep dark secrets with an undercurrent of love. A really lovely book, told with warmth and humour just where it was needed. Likeable characters with depth and feeling. Recommend.

The Lost Storyteller is a book that I wanted to take my time to consider and understand. Although I wasn't entirely sure to start with, it really grew on me, and I was tempted to go back to the beginning as soon as I finished to read it again. This isn't one to rush.
Rebecca has very few memories of her father and doesn't know if he is dead or alive. He was barely ever spoken of by her mother and maternal family, and Rebecca has lived her life without really considering him.
When a journalist is writing a 'where are they now' feature, he contacts Rebecca about her dad, who had been a 1980s children's TV star. This leads her to ask questions and sparks a yearning to find him.
This is her journey, which is helped by a book of fairy stories left for Rebecca by her father, which are clues to his life and why he left.
A gentle story which is about family, love, loss and mental health. I really liked it and would recommend it.
Thank you to the author, her publishers and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read it.

A magical tale of the love between a father and daughter. Rebecca’s father has been missing since she was little and she has few memories of him, but when a reporter starts asking questions she finds herself on a mission to discover what happened and if he is still alive. Through a book of fairy tales written by her father and left with her grandmother Rebecca is able to unravel the mystery. Brilliant book, loved it.

A beautiful journey from fairytale to reality, from memory to fact, from childhood to adulthood.
All of us were children once - and yet, we tend to forget how a child sees the world, and how an adult's actions or words can affect them.
Rebecca's father, a famous children's TV-presenter, dissappears when she is little and her family purges every memory of him from their lives. So, when a journalist asks her about him 20 years later, she is reluctant at first; but as her own fuzzy memories are all she has left (and said journalist is rather cute), she lets herself be drawn into the search, helped along by a book of fairy tales her father left for her and which her grandmother only now passes on to her.
What really gripped me about this book was the deep understanding of what losing a parent does to a child, which strange ideas get stuck in their head and how adults make it worse by doing "what's best for the child".
Also, it's about the disentchantment of childhood memories, when set in the wider context of adult understanding and the inner healing that can come with that.

This was an intriguing read. You weren't sure what the premise of the storyline was going to be until way past the halfway mark. The author sets the scene in atmospheric and eerie detail. After Rebecca discovers the book of fairy tales her father wrote for her and she visits the strange estate where he grew up , you wonder if this is going to be a fantasy adventure. The story's are unsettling and melancholic , with a feel of CS Lewis , with an darker adult element.
Rebecca's father Leo disappears from her life when she's young. She has no idea what happened to him and no one in the family mentions him. He was a star of children's television series The Traveller.
When journalist Ellis contacts Rebecca asking about her father , they undertake the task of trying to solve the mystery of what happened to him.
This was an enthralling and immersive read. I could identify with the characters and empathise with their feelings. I don't want to give away any spoilers so won't go into any detail other than to say the author has dealt with some sensitive topics in an honest and plausable way.
I thoroughly recommend this book.

Rebecca Chase is contacted out of the blue by a journalist trying to track down her father, Leo, who she hasn't seen since she was a young child. Resistant at first she finds herself being drawn further into the mystery of his life especially when her Grandmother gives her a mysterious book of fairytales that he wrote especially for her.

I enjoyed this book, particularly the way in which the author weaved the narrative around the seven fairytales which gave a unique twist to what could have been a standard mystery/romance story.

I thought the narrative around mental illness was lighter than it could have been and the impact of Leo's mental health issues felt like a side issue to the romance storyline between Rebecca and Ellis.

Overall an enjoyable book that will appeal to readers who enjoy family dramas/romance stories.

I would look out for other work from this author as I feel she has an interesting style.

I was excited to read this because of the mention of a book of fairy tales within the story and I was not disappointed.

The story revolves around Rebecca whose father, Leo, disappeared when she was six. Her family never talk about him, it's almost as if he has vanished in to thin air. For this reason, Rebecca never really thinks about him. However, when a journalist visits her to ask about her father she discovers that, actually, maybe she does want to know more about the man who had been absent from her life. She also discovers that her father was the star of a children's TV series. And so starts the quest.
Rebecca gets no help from her family, although her grandmother does give her a book of fairy tales that her father had written for her and Rebecca thinks that these might hold a clue to his whereabouts.

The fairy tales were a lot darker than I was expecting but given the way the story progresses, they fitted in perfectly. Rebecca is a brilliant character and I loved the way that each discovery almost helped her to sort out her own life and feelings. I found the revelation incredibly sad but totally full of hope - I'm trying not to give too much away.

A story that is full of family secrets, nostalgia and a bit of romance. A perfect book to curl up with.

This book weaves it spell on you, dragging the reader through the mystery of a lost father (Leo Sampson) and a daughter (Rebecca) desperately trying to unlock the clues that he left her, some twenty years ago to find him again. As Rebecca embarks on her journey, aided by the book, Seven Tales, a collection of fairy stories that Leo wrote for her, and accompanied by a Ellis, a journalist, Rebecca begins to wonder who her father really is as a picture of a man suffering from severe mental illness appears.......
A story of love, loss, friendship and a missing parent.

I must admit this was not the book I thought it was when I started reading it as I thought the connecting book held more secrets and maybe a fantasy element. The book is good however the fairy tale element is very powerful and those parts of the story will stay with me. I think in many ways the author missed her vocation as the fairy tale element is by far the most powerful part of the book.
Overall a good read that deals with loss and the impact it has on you and those around you.