Close Your Eyes: A Fairy Tale
By Chris Tomasini

This book is hard to describe: it is about a supposed small European kingdom named Gora in the 1400s. It is at once a history lesson, a character study, a tale of mysticism, and a story of love in all its different aspects.

The narration is shared. Samuel, a dwarf and court jester, is writing this story, ostensibly about his friend Tycho, the court storyteller. But parts of the story are brought out through Tycho's journal, Ahab's (the astronomer) writings, and the letters written by Bishop Gieuseppi Tonnelli – who has been banished by Pope Martin V to this atheistic country – to said Pope.

This is a book about storytelling, but it is also a string of stories – some sad, some ennobling, some with happy endings. Ultimately they all deal with some aspect of love and what we do in its name. It is a beautiful, lyrical work and well worth reading.

As soon as I saw the title of Close Your Eyes: A Fairy Tale I was intrigued. What hooked me was the term 'fairy tale,' making me reflect about how rarely that term is used in contemporary fiction, even when the foundational elements are employed.

I wonder if a reason for that is the way Disney cornered the market on fairy tales, stories that its audience walks away thinking are positive and happy even when they typically also have a deep element of darkness running through the tale. Of course fairy tales are not Disney inventions - not by a long shot - and many of theirs are based upon traditional stories rewritten for the big screen.

Close Your Eyes is a modern fairy tale, set in the distant past in the castle of King Pawel. The king spends his nights trailing the apparition of by his deceased bride around the corridors. By day, he has created a castle community with a dark secret: No one leaves alive.

The tale is narrated by Samuel, the court jester and a dwarf, who is reflecting on what has transpired in the recent past. A couple of inhabitants of the castle - court storyteller Tycho and court cook Agnieszka - have fled in the night, breaking away from the king’s control. From scrolls, letters, and journal entries, Samuel is seeking to piece together what led to their flight and to find a way to voice the other stories that have been woven in this community.

Tomasini’s work breaths life into the importance of story-telling and how through the narratives we tell about ourselves and our lives, we define and refine our purpose.

Story-teller Tycho was brought to the castle to regale the king’s two children with stories-on-demand, and newlywed Agnieszka has been removed from her husband’s home to serve as the cook. While being away from her husband is clearly a hardship, she holds on to the promise of a return home after she has served for a time. Naively, Agnieszka is the last to learn that when people displease the king, they disappear; when people please the king, they must forever remain.

Tycho is representative of the shoemaker’s children who have no shoes: He spends all his time telling stories of love and purpose but is unmoored in his own life. He has fallen in love, but it is with someone who can never return his affection. Compelled to make Agnieszka’s life a happy one, Tycho decides to put his own desires aside and help her return to her husband through a daring escape.

Close Your Eyes is a tale of love, hope, and finding meaning, made all the richer for juxtaposing those aspects of the story with their flip side: loss, hopelessness, and misplaced meaning, all represented by characters such as the king, his daughter’s suitor, and a clergy member.

Tomasini’s story-telling ability and beautiful writing make for a refreshing read. While his voice is definitely his own, I was reminded of Kazuo Ishiguro’s writing, particularly The Buried Giant, which is also a fairy tale. I look forward to future works by Tomasini!

“My name is Samuel. I am a clown who, while writing the history of his friend, has written as well a love story. The story ends well I suppose - the bot y finds his mission and the girl returns to her husband. There is joy, but […] I realise there is sorrow as well; a sorrow which has remained impervious to the changes of recent years.”

Set in the early 1400s, Sam, a dwarf and the court jester in the kingdom of Gora, attempts to write the story of his friend Tycho, who has left. The narrative is not chronological, neither is it always coherent. It consists of some short sections told by Sam in the present, but also flashbacks to the past, as well as letters and journal entries by other characters. We meet Agnieszka, the cook, who left her new husband for a year to work in Gora, the King, Pawel, and his wife, Kristina. There’s also Alexandra and Krysztoff, the princess and prince, who spend a lot of time with Sam and Tycho, whose main job is to tell stories. The book itself is written a little like Tycho’s stories actually, giving us information in bits and pieces here and there, rather than all at once.

I have given this story ⭐️⭐️⭐️ because it’s a good story and I liked it. It did a good job of showing off the characters and their relationship, whilst also telling a story. I also liked that most of the sections were short, so that it was easy to read for a few minutes here and there, on the bus on my way to work and on breaks etc. At times it was funny, and there were lots of passages that were really beautifully written. The story did not, however, consume me. I didn’t spend time thinking about the characters and the narrative when I wasn’t reading it, spend any time obsessing about it, and I probably won’t reread it. But I didn’t think it was bad in any way! One quote from the book which I really enjoyed, as it made me laugh and I also found Sam’s frustration quite relatable, was this: “I spoke to an old and wise friend of my desire to write Tycho’s history. I asked him where I should begin, and he replied ‘at the beginning.’” How very helpful, I thought! 😂

Thank you NetGalley and Chris Tomasini for letting me read this book for free!

What an enjoyable read. I totally got lost in the land of Gora. Tomasini has a wonderful way of telling us many stories and pulling them all together. I felt like I had stepped back through to another time. Samuel, the dwarf, tells most of the story but Tycho’s journals, Ahab’s written records and letters from Bishop Tonnelli share the story of King Patel and his kingdom. A wonderfully woven tale. Thank you #NetGalleyfor providing me with a copy of #CloseYourEyes:AFairyTale.

This was a great fairy tale historical novel, it worked well overall and had a great story going on. Chris Tomasini has a great writing style that worked well overall. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and loved the use of time-period.

Close Your Eyes, Tomasini's latest work, was a wonderful surprise! It lives up to its promise of being a fairy tale, but delivers so much more. It's a densely researched and immersive historical adventure set in the 15th century, following a unique cast of characters as they attempt to escape the abuses of feudalism and a corrupt monarchy.

A story needs compelling characters to keep fans reading, and this book has surprisingly endearing ones - I was especially moved by Tycho and Agnes' struggles. In a genre full of knights and politicians, seeing the persepctives of storytellers and cooks was refreshing.

If you're looking for a fresh historical fiction novel with smooth prose, look no further!

I like historical fiction that takes place in the Medieval period in Britain. This Medieval historical fiction is set in a fictional eastern European country. I wanted to read this because it is a different twist on medieval historical fiction. It includes a fantasy/fairytale element, which I do not usually read.
The narrator is a court jester who tells the story of other people at court, including a storyteller, who is the primary character in the novel. He was also the most interesting to me. The stories he told were funny and clever. I found the comments made by the churchman interesting also, though he played a lesser role in the overall story.
The author's writing style was enjoyable. I have not read a fairytale since I was a child. While this novel is marketed as a fairytale, I found it intellectually written. In some places I was confused by what was going on and for what purpose.
The epilogue brought the novel and the fate of the characters together very neatly.
Thanks to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get into this. With that said, the narration suits the fairytale vibe. It's like being read a story by a warm hearth, wrapped in blankets on a thick rug. I'm sure there is an audience for this. Readers who enjoy a slower story will appreciate the novel's attention to detail and careful characterization.

This is a really wonderful historical fairy tale, filled with adventure, love, treachery, and heartbreak. There are also other tales within a tale that will hold you spellbound. The characters are easy to connect with and draw you in right away. Fans of fantasy and historical fiction will love this mashup of both.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Beautifully written novel that spans through the ages. The exquisite way Chris Tomasini wove the present and past through the journals and letters draws the reader even closer to the story. I enjoyed reading this incredible story and it left me wanting just one more journal entry. 😊👍🏼📖

In the early 1400s Europe, the King of Gora has assembled a collection of entertainers, scholars, cooks, and others, to care for and educate his young children, the Prince and Princess. Tycho, the children's storyteller, and Samuel, the court jester, are happy in Gora, yet it becomes apparent that the children's cook, Agnieszka, was lured to the castle under false pretenses, and will not be allowed to return to her husband and family. Finding out about the deception is revealed, Agnieszka's friends must decide what to do - assist in her escape and risk death? Or stay quiet, and let their friend remain bound to the castle, far from those she loves? It is not an easy decision to make.

The author has written fiction but I would not call it a fairy tale. There is a cast of fascinating characters. It was one of my favorite things to read. It It is a story of love, friendship and brotherhood.

I adore historicals, and if there’s a whisper of danger, a hint of darkness, maybe even a touch of magic? All the better! Chris Tomasini’s Close Your Eyes has all that and more!

Close Your Eyes is completely engrossing, and Tomasini has crafted one heck of a tale. Moving between several points of view, we get the story of the folks living in the castle of Gora in the early 1400's. Servants, the royal family, even the local clergyman gets in on the act.

Exceptionally beautifully written, Tomasini explores everything from their daily life, to the highs and lows these fascinating people experience.

I fell deeply into this novel, and had trouble putting it down. Bravo Mr. Chris Tomasini! I've already downloaded Festival and plan on getting very little sleep in the next few days.

I don’t t know what I expected from this book but it surely was not this.
Full of lovable and undeniably human characters. From the narrator to the other players in the story, all of them makes you want to keep reading to find out what happens to them. Samuel’s words make each character shine keeping his own light bright. I guarantee you there is going to be at least one that you will love with all your heart and want the best for them.
You will find warriors, knights, battles but not in the way you know, it’s something else.
You will find love above all. Love for a partner, for friends, for children, for a found family, for love itself.
It’s about how living inside your own head and pain can hurt others, can destroy other people’s lives and hopes, how your own mind could be your prison and could imprison others.
It’s about how comparing ourselves to others can make your own talents to waste. How you can question everything about your life: your decisions, your faith, your talents, your desires, your superiors, your family, your friends, yourself.
It’s about loneliness, freedom, guilt, happiness.
It’s about how love can set you free and open your eyes, make you a slave and a slaver, make you the tenderest person and the cruelest, make you whole or completely empty. How no matter what you look like life can be lonely for everyone.
It’s s about to live life at fullest even if it costs you life itself.
It’s about learning we all have a purpose, big or small, but it’s there.
I definitely wasn’t expecting such profound thoughts but, after all, it’s a fairy tale. And every fairy tale has its moral. You only have to close your eyes.
I 100% recommend.


(English is not my first language so I surely made some grammatical mistakes. Sorry about that)

“Close your eyes”
In the year 1435, Samuel, the court jester of the prosperous European kingdom of Gora attempts to reconstruct the events that led to the fateful day in 1431 that the court storyteller Tycho and the cook Agnieszka fled the kingdom. Samuel takes us through the history of Gora and how it prospered and flourished under Pawel’s’ rule as well as the individual circumstances that led the characters – himself, Tycho, Agnieszka, Ahab the astronomer and Bishop Tonnelli to Gora and King Pawel who “was one of those strange few for whom the truth was more fantastic than the fiction”.

King Pawel of Gora married his 19-year-old bride Kristina only to lose her in childbirth after five years of marriage leaving him with his children Princess Alexandra and Prince Krysztoff. Kristina’s death causes him to spiral into the depths of grief and madness, awaiting his beloved’s spirit, who is believed to haunt the premises of the castle, every night. Tycho the storyteller, Samuel the jester and Agnieszka the cook are all in the employ of the King but unbeknownst to them, once they have been found to satisfactorily perform their duties, they are not free to leave the kingdom and those who have attempted to do so in the past have lost their lives in the process.

When Agnieszka learns of this, her hopes of returning to her husband after the completion of one year of service (as had been the contracted terms of her employment) are shattered. Desperate to leave she turns to Tycho, who has always had feelings for her, to help. What follows is a take of bravery, sacrifice, friendship and most importantly love.

Chris Tomasini’s “Close Your Eyes” is a beautifully woven fantastical tale that I thoroughly enjoyed. The characters were engaging, and the backstories of the characters and their interactions are exceptionally well written. The narrative flows easily and draws you in with its characters, stories within the stories and perfect combination of wit, wisdom, fantasy, and humor. Though the larger part of the narrative is presented from Samuel’s perspective based on his memories of past events and each character’s past, we also get parts of the story from Tycho’s scrolls (journal entries), Ahab’s written records of the stories Tycho told, and letters written by Bishop Tonnelli. The pace is a bit uneven, especially in the first half of the novel, but not so much that it detracts from the overall reading experience.

Overall, this is a well-written story perfect for those who are interested in fairy tales for mature audiences or those who would like a light enchanting read in between more serious reading. This is quite different from my usual picks, but I am glad I picked it up.

Many thanks to author Chris Tomasini and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this engaging fantastical story. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

"I hope by then that Tycho’s name is legend not only as a teller of stories, but as the founder of a movement. My friend may work miracles, but he is, after all, one boy, and love, it would seem, requires a crusade-a crusade fought with kindness and generosity, and acclaimed by the joyous bells of a thousand city squares: bells which ring out across blue horizons, telling a continent to close its eyes, to dream beautifully and to wake with hope."

What a wonderfully imagined story that’s all about “love” delivered with familiar “fairy tale” components - we have a dashing, principled King (Pawel), a kind, gorgeous Queen, a beautiful princess, and handsome prince who live in a castle complete with a dwarfed court jester (Samuel), an irresistible storyteller (Tycho) with a magnetic personality, a mystic, learned astrologer/tutor (Ahab), a religious leader, the best cook in the land (Agnes) and it wouldn’t be a fairy tale if it didn’t have a “moral(s) to the story” - some takeaway lesson(s), that offer sage wisdom and life lessons.

On the surface, a respected King seems to descend into madness when his young wife is lost during childbirth. He loves/d his Queen dearly and his nights are spent chasing her ghost throughout the castle. He devotes his time to his children and their happiness at the cost of the servants’ freedom. Unbeknownst to the cook, no one is released from service to the children – thus those closest to the children (the Jester, Storyteller, Cook, and Tutor) are bound to the castle in a lifetime of servitude. However, when she learns of this - she feels deceived because she thought her post was merely for one year; she’s now more determined to return to her newlywed husband in her hometown village. The story begins with Samuel, the jester, telling the reader of the night of the daring escape – when his best friend, the Storyteller, runs away with the Cook…and away we go. I found this to be a page-turner.

This is not a children’s bedtime story as it may be set in the 1400’s, the ideas and themes are mature, timeless and intelligently interwoven in the story. Each character contributes unique perspectives on the myriad of “love” based topics that are layered and intertwined as the story moves forward: Unrequited love, Romantic love, Brotherly love, lost love, platonic love, “Christian”/spiritual love and the various outlooks regarding the search for love, explorations on “proving” one’s love, the sacrifices made (and expected) for love – and so much more (I especially enjoyed the meditations on Bishop Tonnelli’s battles with his faith, hypocrisy of the church (and its leadership), and his moral failings).

I’m happy to have had the opportunity to read this because it was a deviation from my reading norm and didn’t disappoint. I have made a note to check out other works from this author.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an opportunity to review.

Chris Tomasini’s work “Close your Eyes” is a brilliant narrative. It’s a story within a story. Having a narrator within a narrator. A reader enjoys a journey from one character to another through Samuel, the clown and dwarf who starts with a story of his life in Gora having said farewell to his far-off home. Tycho, the storyteller and a friend of Samuel has held the reader through his character till the end of the story. They take this story through different zigzags of life in Gora.
Ahab, Agnieszka, Bishop Tonnelli, Princess Alexandra and Prince Krysztoff journey in a parallel rhythm with the main characters. The reader admires the skill of the writer to give each character the space to be narrated or narrate themselves with their thoughts and consciousness.
On reading this beautiful fairytale the reader finds himself being empowered with a strong enchantment. Curiosity is built as each character is elaborated through the writer’s pen. Chris has beautifully portrayed the Kingdom of Gora, its strength and its beauty.
King Pawel and Queen Kristina’s love gives this story a downhill journey. From life, joy, love, and marriage to the death of Kristina and Pawel’s grief, on the eternal separation. It paints the dark side of life which eventually affects the other characters of this story.
Love circles like a beautiful phoenix, flying around with its magic that keeps the reader in a certain kind of trance. Chris’s ability to create this theme through each character’s life is much appreciated by the reader. From Beauvais’s sacrifice in the name of love and God to Tycho’s kindness and love for Agnieszka makes a reader speechless.
“Close your eyes” leaves a reader in utter bewilderment over such a creative fantasy that itself is not a happy ending like many fairy tales are expected to be. But it gives the reader hope and vivid imagination of Tycho returning to Gora, back to his friends after conquering the world with the magic of love through his stories.
Chris Tomasini’s, “Close your Eyes” is very much recommended as a fantastic fairy tale that can make one feel like being part of a beautiful fantasy.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Canadian author Chris Tomasini takes on the medieval fairy tale with his novel, “Close Your Eyes”. Narrated by Samuel, the dwarf and Court Jester, we hear of the adventures of Pawel, the King, his children, Krisz and Alex, the cook, Agnes, and the storyteller, Tycho, residing in the European town of Gora in the 1400s.
At its root, like all fairy tales, is a desperate tale of love and longing, with a royal, courtly backdrop and a few eccentric characters. Tycho’s desire for love from the one person who could never love him, Agnes and her recent husband, who share a love even though they are separated by miles and Alex, the princess, sought after by every young prince in the country and unable to choose as her heart belongs to another. Samuel narrates his own story, but also includes snippets from Tycho’s journal and the new Bishop, Tonolli, to complete the captivating scene.
The story is well told and the plot is well developed. Each character gets their chance to shine as Sam narrates their stories for them, and each character is so unique and charming they are easy to root for and relate to.
Tomasini focuses on Tycho’s stories in a way that made me think they had some extreme relevance to the plot (considering his opening statement, “close your eyes” was enough to earn the book’s title honours) and although they didn’t seem to, Tycho’s narratives added to his character development and reinforced a bond with the reader.
“Close Your Eyes” has good flow and Tomasini’s talent is not to be ignored. This is a fairy tale unlike any other, with powerful and bizarrely delightful characters, and it is one that is worth exploring.

I'd have to give this book a 4.5. It was brilliant. The book told from the perspective of a court jester, is full of humor, wittiness, and uniquely satisfying characters. However, it goes so much deeper than that. I found the underlying message of love, destiny, and purpose profound. Despite having philosophical undertones, the book is easy to read and completely immerses the reader in a true fairy tale.

I also enjoyed going back in time to the early 1400s - to a whole new world with characters you couldn't help but fall in love with. Overall, for a quick book of 250 pages, it was executed perfectly and leaves you thinking about the larger meaning of our lives while admiring what the main characters taught you along the way.

This book surprised me! I wasn't sure what I was getting into ahead of time, which can be a very fun way to read books. Chris Tomasini is an excellent writer and this is what kept me reading. I found myself less interested in the actual story as how it was told. I'll be looking out of future books written by the author.

One of the best things I did in 2022 was focus on reading books that are not at the top of the NYTimes best seller list and/or heavily pushed by Amazon. Part of that was signing up for NetGalley, which has enabled me to read books that I may never have come across. I've gotten to read so many beautifully written books by authors who are dedicated to their craft. It's been so refreshing to read books that surprise me in a positive way, instead of being disappointed that something so popular turns out to be poorly written or contrived (or just clearly angling to be optioned for TV).

"Close Your Eyes" is one of those surprising and deeply moving books-- one of my favorites of 2022. I knew nothing about it, nor about the author, but I was intrigued by the description and by the high Goodreads reviews. "Close Your Eyes" is essentially a fairytale, with a deep meditation on storytelling at the heart of it. The narrator struggles to decide how and where to begin, and how to explain what happened. The story is told through journal entries, stories-within-stories, and letters from a wicked man of the cloth. It was both surprising and touching. It's best to go in with an open mind and little knowledge about the book, so I'll leave it there, except to say that I highly recommend this charming, beautifully written work. I look forward to more from this author.

Thank you for the advance copy in return for this honest review.