Book Review: The Warbler by Sarah Beth Durst

I was thrilled to receive an ARC of The Warbler from NetGalley, as I've enjoyed Sarah Beth Durst’s previous works. This novel is a poignant exploration of motherhood, choice, and the concept of home, all wrapped in a touch of magic.

Elisa, the protagonist, has spent her life evading permanence, fearing a family curse that she believes will turn her into a tree if she puts down roots. This unique premise drew me in immediately. Durst's writing beautifully captures Elisa's internal struggles as she navigates her fear of commitment while yearning for a sense of belonging.

The small town in Massachusetts where Elisa finds herself trapped is rich with history and mystery. I loved how Durst intricately wove the town's secrets into Elisa's journey, revealing layers of her family’s past that resonate deeply. The idea of the pet birds singing secrets added a whimsical yet haunting touch that I found delightful.

However, there were moments where the pacing felt uneven, and I sometimes struggled to connect with Elisa’s emotional journey. Despite this, I appreciated the themes of resilience and self-discovery, and I was ultimately invested in her quest for freedom and understanding.

The Warbler is a magical read that I believe will resonate with anyone who has grappled with family legacy and the desire for a true home. I can't wait to see how it unfolds for others when it’s officially released!

Told through the alternating perspectives of three generations of women, The Warbler by Sarah Beth Durst is the story of a family of women cursed to transform into trees if they stay in one place for too long. Current day POV Elisa is searching for a cure to the curse shortly after the death of her mother, Lori.
I love magical realism, and I really enjoyed The Spellshop by this author, but this one did fall a little flat for me. It felt repetitive at times, and I felt that the ending left some questions unanswered. I enjoyed the mystery of the curse's origins, and the characters were well developed, but the writing at times felt more YA than adult.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of The Warbler in exchange for my honest review.

Sarah Beth Durst is one of my favorite authors and I love that she keeps branching out and writing different styles and genres.
This magical realism book is full of mysteries that end in a satisfying conclusion. The messages about hope, creating your own fate and found family are ones that hit home for me.

I loved this book. It's the story of a mother and daughter, Lori and Elisa, who have to resist letting anywhere become a true home to them. They are constantly on the move, staying in one city for a few months before moving on to find the next. This is because their family line was cursed by the fates. If they ever set down metaphorical roots, they will also grow metaphorical roots and turn into trees. Naturally, this leads to rather limited choices and pathways for them as they are often focused on matters of survival.

After Lori's death/becoming a tree, Elisa sets out to figure out how to survive on her own, hopefully by tracking down the origin of this curse and tackling it once and for all. She finds what she is looking for in a small town with a lot of similarly strange characters.

I thought this book was really interesting. I was into it from the beginning and picked up speed as I made my way through the book. I hadn't read anything by Sarah Beth Durst before, but I look forward to exploring her other books now!

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.

I know this is publishing in Februrary but what a whimsical, eerie, magical fall read this was!

I found myself dreaming and thinking about women turning into trees and statues granting wishes.

Fans of Adrienne Young will adore this!

This was an interesting look at mother/daughter relationships and the expectations set out by ourselves, our family and society in general. I liked the mysterious nature of the story though with the shifting POV it kind of telegraphs certain outcomes making the end less of a surprise.

The story follows three women affected by a generational curse. The curse causes them to turn into a tree if they stay in one place too long or find themselves becoming too much 'at home' anywhere. The POV shifts between Elisa in the present, her mother Lori and grandmother Rose both in the past.

The writing was really well done and I did like the ending of the book, but overall I can't really say I enjoyed reading it. Around the half way point I just wanted it to be done already. Not saying it was a bad book by any means and I believe a lot of other people will love it, it just wasn't for me. 3.5⭐

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions provided are my own.

Magical, cozy, and mysterious - in the vein of 'The Unmaking of June Farrow', one of my favorite reads from 2023.

My only complaint about this book is that it wasn't long enough. The writing was beautiful, the characters lovable, and the atmosphere lovely and sometimes haunting. I wanted a little more time exploring the mystery and the dynamics between the characters. There was a twist that seemed almost out of nowhere, and I wish it and the characters it involved had been explored more. Despite that, I truly enjoyed this book and can rank it as one of the most memorable books I've read this year.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this wonderful book.

4.5 stars rounded up

This reminded me of Addie La Rue, although in this case the curse was fuelled by misguided love, and Elisa’s fight to break it required a reckoning with parental and social expectations, unfulfilled dreams and righting other people’s mistakes. I saw the climatic ‘reveals’ a mile off, but enjoyed the journey to get there. The prose had a lovely, light touch and the speculative elements were indistinct in a way that leant a kind of fairytale feeling to the story.

There were certain aspects about how the climax came together that weren’t as cleanly plotted as the rest of the book taught me to expect, for example there was an important secondary character who was also cursed, and it wasn’t clear to me whether she didn’t know things or was lying about things at various points of the book. But it wasn’t enough to detract from my enjoyment of the story.

Elisa suffers from a family curse. The curse is not so bad; it is turning into a tree if she stays too long in a place over 10 months.
When she goes to a new town, things take a turn.
We hear the stories of Elisa, Lori and Rose.
The rest would be giving away the plot.
Highlights: women’s perspectives, assertiveness, dreams, decisions
The curse
The magical realism
Plot 3
Characterisation 4
Concept and themes 4.5
Tone 5
Prose 3.5

A Feathery Flight of Fantasy
Sarah Beth Durst's The Warbler is a captivating blend of magic, mystery, and heartfelt storytelling. It's a tale that will enchant readers with its unique premise and endearing characters.
The story follows Elisa, a woman haunted by a family curse that turns her into a tree if she stays in one place too long. When she stumbles upon a town where no one can leave, she finds herself trapped in a world of secrets and enchantment. As she delves deeper into the town's history and connects with its peculiar inhabitants, Elisa discovers a hidden magic that could break her family's curse.
Durst's writing is both lyrical and evocative, painting vivid pictures of the town and its inhabitants. The magical elements are seamlessly woven into the narrative, never feeling forced or contrived. Elisa is a relatable and sympathetic protagonist, and her journey of self-discovery is both heartwarming and inspiring.
If you're looking for a magical and thought-provoking read, The Warbler is a must-read. It's a beautifully crafted tale that will leave you enchanted long after the final page.

Ok so I absolutely LOVED “The Spellshop” by Sarah Durst, so I knew I had to give this book a read.

I really love Sarah’s writing and I was immediately hooked on this book and it had me gripped the whole way through. I loved the set up with the POVs and the timeline and I thought the book came together in a really clever way. I really loved the concept. It was certainly a spookier read than “The Spellshop” and it was really interesting to see Sarah do something completely different. Kind of thriller cross fantasy and I was here for it.

I would definitely recommend giving this book a read. The only reason it’s a 3 star for me is that I guessed the ending pretty early on before the reveal. But I still enjoyed the journey and concept of this book!


**Spoiler from here** I also didn’t fully understand the ending and how Elisa still had the issue in the end despite having broken the curse? Assuming it’s because it was passed on and it wasn’t her curse? But I didn’t fully understand this…

Thank you to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing, and Sarah Beth Durst for sending me an arc of this book! This was my first book by the author and now I definitely will read more from her. This book was beautifully written, had wonderful meaning behind it, and while it kind of lost a little bit of its magical whimsy towards the middle of the book, it brought it back in full swing by the end.

A story of a curse that prevents a mother and daughter duo from settling and laying down roots to create a home. I did not expect the ending! The story tied together beautifully and was sad but had a heart warming ending. Sarah’s writing is so descriptive and really takes you along a journey with Elisa. The flashbacks in time keeps this sense of mystery and suspense thru the book not overdoing it and mind was excitedly piecing it together. I highly recommend this book to readers that love a bit of mystery, drop of curses, a story that will pull on the heart strings but make you smile with the ending :)

If you loved The Invisible life of Addie LaRue, or A Short Walk in a Wide World, you will love this book.

"Elisa. She told me it means wanderer".

"With each mile, I shed who I was and gather who I will be. I know the drill."

Elisa and her mother Lori have an unusual curse. If they try to stay in one place too long, or if they start to feel at home, they slowly transform into a tree. So they are constantly on the move, one step ahead of their fate.

This book twines the stories of three strong women (Rose, Lori and Elisa) from 3 different points in time - who found themselves trapped in lives they didn't want, and the choices they were forced to make along the way.

In present day, Elisa is searching for answers about her unknown family, and a way to break her curse.

I really admired Lori and Elisa for how they handled their unexpected situations, and for the strength it took to make those hard decisions. My heart broke for all 3 women throughout the story. The writing was occasionally lyrical, and had some beautiful cadence. Some of the small towns characters were a bit flat, and I would have enjoyed a bit more background or rounding of their stories and timelines - but they didn't have much bearing on the story itself.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It also wrapped up nicely, without feeling too rushed or impossible.

Loved it thank you to the author. I love contemporary fantasy grounded in reality with that sprinkling of something a bit different . This book delivered. Thanks to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Heartfelt, magical, and whimsical, this was an incredibly BEAUTIFULLY written book! I could get lost in the author's style for days. This book will definitely capture your imagination and pull at your heartstrings.

Continually on the move and seeking answers to break her family's curse, Elisa can only stay in one place for 10 months lest she put down roots--literally--and turn into a tree. That is, until she ends up in Greenbourogh, Massachusetts and realizes that she's moved to a town with its own curse. One that prohibits its residents from leaving, not great news for Elisa. If she can unravel the small town's mystery Elisa might just break her own curse in the process.

I saw The Warbler, and in particular that Sarah Beth Durst was the author. I hadn't read any of her books before, but I DO have The Spellshop on my TBR for spooky season. I figured it would be a good chance to try her work.

I tend to be a fan of women's fiction and how it conveys the theme of women's choices and lack thereof/how society dictates those choices. I felt that Durst did a great job of conveying that through the alternate experiences and wants of Rose and Cora and how those choices in turn affected their own daughters.

At the core of the novel there's Rose who wanted a life bigger than Greenbourogh and a chance to see the world. Instead she ended up married with a child questioning her choices and those she didn't make, forcing herself to fit the role society expected of her like a square peg in a round hole. Her inability to see beyond the choices that she didn't make or the life she didn't get to lead ends up taking her own daughter's choices from her in turn.
In juxtaposition to Rose; Cora wanted her friend to never leave her, for her to appreciate and understand what she had in front of her. Neither's wish is inherently wrong, but the issue ultimately lies in the denial of choice and allowing one to take fate into their own hands.

One of the biggest complaints of the book that I've seen in reviews is the way that magic comes into play in The Warbler, or more that it isn't really touched on and just is. I think that's part of the beauty of it is that it's not really true fantasy, but magical realism. It's up to us as reader's whether we can suspend our disbelief and accept what is happening in the story's events. Even then, as Owen tells Tyler, it doesn't matter that he doesn't believe that Elisa has bark in her arm, she does and that's enough. Truly I found Cora's reveal as the novel's "big bad" more unexpected and far fetched than women turning into trees. Ultimately am I disappointed that Elisa's curse wasn't broken? A little, but she had to learn to accept her life and by the end found her own version of happiness in spite of what she'd been dealt.

Overall I think The Warbler was written with a voice and style that was true to its characters and enjoyed the multigenerational aspect of it. Durst successfully touched on issues that continue to persevere for women in a unique way while playing with magical realism to create an engaging and interesting plot. The ending wrapped up nearly with regard to Elisa and Owen, but I did still have some questions about Greenborough in the end.

The Warbler was such a fantastic, whimsical read that provoked some deeper, generational questions that I really wanted answers to. As a daughter and someone who wants to one day be a mother, I felt like there was a lot here to connect with, for me, personally.

In terms of timeline (not how the story is told), it starts with a woman in the 80s’ unwittingly giving up her dream to see the world when she is forced to become a housewife in a suppressive time when she became pregnant (I will say forced, as her options just weren’t there). This, of course, led to wanting her daughter to experience life differently, which set the curse in motion. Lori, the daughter, is forced to constantly travel, move every ten months, or else she turns into a tree. This curse passes to our main character, Elisa. I did enjoy the way this was told, especially when the flashbacks of Elisa and Lori, I felt so much for Lori and it was very moving to see the ways in which she protected her daughter. And I liked how pivotal the question became: must mothers always sacrifice to protect?

The magical realism in this was very special, but not in the giddy way, unfortunately, as I couldn’t help to be horrified at the prospect of turning into a tree.

I read this coming from Durst’s other book, The Spellshop, which is a bowl of feel-good whimsical fun. This . . . I wouldn’t say more sinister, but it had different layers of moral challenge that made it more angsty and serious.

I enjoyed it all the same. A wonderful read. I loved the library, and the antics of the grumpy library-cat. Loved the world-building, of course, as Durst really knows here settings. She’s a writer I definitely need more from!

A perfect blend of fantasy magic and real life.
I loved the writing style, I’ve never read this author previously but will definitely look into more of their work now that I’ve read this.
I love the concepts involved, so many quotes that I thought were great throughout the book.
As soon as she mentioned the cat in the store, I was sold.
A real easy read.

The Warbler by Sarah Beth Durst, is a blend of magical realism and heartfelt storytelling. While the publisher puts this in the sci-fi and fantasy genre slots, I don’t agree. It’s definitely more magical realism.

Elisa, the protagonist, is cursed to turn into a tree if she stays in one place for too long. All the women in her family carry this curse. On her journey to find answers and hopefully break the curse, she finds a mysterious town in Massachusetts, where no one can leave, and secrets are whispered by pet birds 🌳🐦

Durst’s writing is easy to follow and strings the story together fluidly. I felt for Elisa, her struggles and triumphs. The themes of family, fate, and self-discovery resonated deeply with me.

If you’re looking for a story that will captivate your heart and imagination, The Warbler is a must-read! 🌿✨

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing, @LakeUnionAuthors and @NetGalley for sending an Advance Reader’s Copy for review consideration. All opinions are my own.