The Storyteller’s Tale is a beautifully imagined fantasy about Iliad, a gifted librarian whose words bring characters to life. Set in the kingdom of Esmeria, the story blends court intrigue, a reluctant romance, and a love letter to classic literature. Bouilloc’s writing is rich with nods to literary tradition, wrapped in a fairytale-like atmosphere that’s both charming and accessible.

While the world is creative and the premise enchanting, the book’s brevity limits its depth, especially in the ending, which feels a bit rushed and overly sweet. Still, this is an ideal read for younger fantasy lovers or anyone drawn to magical books about books.

4.5 Stars
This book took me a little while to get into but once I did I was hooked. I really enjoyed Iliad as a character and thought that her powers were both amazing and unusual. Once I got into it I enjoyed the pacing and storytelling. I liked the variety of characters that I met during this book and felt that the antagonist took me by surprise in someways. I thought that this book had a very satisfying ending.

It's an interesting premise but, I Dnf'd unfortunately at the 49% mark. I just wasn't all to invested.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

i'm disappointed in myself for not finishing the book before it was archived. the magic system is super creative. the protagonist and the world are interesting. it is a good story about storytelling and storytellers.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with the ARC of this book for an honest review!

Inside Pergamon's library, ghost-like figures danced all around her, waltzing through the book-laden shelves. The audience - a group of children sitting with rapt attention on a carpet- had their eyes glued to the phantom married couple. Light as characters, translucent as dreams, husband and wife faded away as the young woman closed the volume. The room broke into a round of applause, dispersing the tale's illusion completely.
The book was written beautifully, but it is clear in some parts that it was translated, so I would love to reread it in French, as it was originally written. The above-mentioned quote reminds me of the iconic scene in Anastasia, overall the book has beautiful quotes about books, reading, and beauty of literature and written as well as spoken words, such as:

Sometimes, all it tool was one word to start the never-ending cycle of belles-lettres.

Ripping sentences out of books might just be worse than breathing fire. To unstick words was to steal them, and oral reading was but a guilty pleasure.

"I don't read to escape reality, but because books make human thoughts clear; they take the muddled, disjointed and unwelcome ideas and make them apprehensible."

I would describe this book as a cozy corner for book lovers. The plot is interesting and adjusted to youth, but also absolutely enthralling for adults, too. It was so nice to step into a fantasy world and meet a heroine who is clever, bold, ready to step in when needed, protective of her loved ones, and not afraid to learn about herself. I liked this story, it reminded me how important is to believe in yourself, but also how important it is to let others see the real you.

Thank you, NetGalley and Rivka Publishing, for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This novel is perfectly suited for Middle-Grade readers and Young Adults who adore the enchantment of fantasy worlds, relish the thrill of discovery, and appreciate the transformative power of stories. It's a beautifully crafted tale that follows the journey of a young woman as she navigates the complexities of her world, uncovers hidden truths, and finds her own path, making it a must-read for anyone who loves stories of self-discovery, adventure, and the magic of growth
Additionally, it is surely a treat for anyone who’s obsessed with books and libraries alike!

The Storyteller's Tale by Judith Bouilloc is a captivating and imaginative journey through the power of storytelling. The novel weaves together fantasy and mystery as the protagonist uncovers the truth behind an ancient tale that holds more secrets than expected. Bouilloc’s writing is rich and immersive, drawing readers into a world where stories come to life and shape reality. With its engaging characters and a plot full of twists, this is a must-read for fans of magical realism and stories about the impact of narrative.

I was really excited to read this book and really wanted to love it. It was a little disjointed at times and hard to follow and some might be the translation. Maybe I will have to try it in French. I liked that Bouilloc weaved the Classics in literature into her book, but at times I think that is where some of the disconnect came in. Some interactions felt bland, not really going into the detail of some things didn't make me attached to a single character. At the end this is a cute fantasy book with a protagonist that will not bend to what society thinks of her, and that will fight for those close to her, for love, and for a better world with a power she slowly comes to realization.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC to preview.

This was a fun read based on libraries and stories. The author's writing was magical and her characters including Iliad, the FMC, were charming and intriguing. Magic and world-building are also among the many highlights of this book.

This is definitely catered to a younger audience which hindered my enjoyment slightly, but I can see how a middle-grade/young adult reader would love this.

I'm going to start this saying that Netgalley listed this as a middle grade level book. And I don't love that a middle grade level book had the male love interest asking the protagonist to sleep with him in order to have kids, and had her walk in on him naked and then just stare at him. It feels icky. Goodreads and Storygraph list it as YA, which feels more appropriate.

That aside, this story was alright. I think the magic system was fascinating and I would love to see Iliad bringing stories to life. She was a pretty decent character, and I can appreciate a woman who wants what she desired. I also liked seeing her stand up to the man she previously date. The romance caught me off guard, in all honesty, feeling a bit sudden.

Sweet short tale. Little disjointed in places but a pleasant read.

Would recommend for fans of libraries & storytelling

This is a lovely wholesome fantasy, with an interesting magic system. I really enjoyed Iliad’s character development, watching her fall in love and truly come into her own.
Adil is a very interesting character, the brutality of his appearance and stern character make it even more heartwarming when he falls in love and dotes on his love. The twists and turns kept me interested. And I’d recommend this to any YA fantasy readers

Thank you to NetGalley and Rivka for the e-ARC!
2.5 stars, rounded up to 3 stars.
I was really drawn in with the premise with this book and it sounded like a cozy, romantic read. Unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me, mainly because the story felt too simple and the romance felt quite underdeveloped. I like when the romance in books is built up but in this book it felt like they didn’t like each other for most of the book and then he told her that he loved her.

Whilst these things brought the book down for me, I really enjoyed the family dynamics between the main character and her sisters and how they were all very different. The idea behind this book is very unique and something that I haven’t read before which made this book quite refreshing.

Overall, I would recommend this book if you want a cozy fantasy with not complicated world building and interesting characters.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5
# Pages: 208
Publication Date: 08.21.25

📖 MG/ YA Crossover
📖 Books about books
📖 Enchanting Fantasy World
📖 Family Of Women
📖 Modern Fairytale
📖 Marriage Proposal
📖 Royalty/ Court Life
📖 Regency Inspired
📖 Arranged Marriage
📖 Murder Mystery

The Storyteller’s Tale by Judith Bouillac is enchanting. A super cozy and whimsical read. The writing style was easy to read, the plot was enchanting and it felt like it was perfectly paced. I loved the concept and how it was executed.

I loved the character development and world building. Followed perfect for a short little novella. The romance fit perfectly into the YA theme. Predictable plot but the storytelling makes up for it.

Overall, this was a cute read and I loved the Little Women type family vibes. I would definitely read more works from this author.

Thank you netgalley and Rivka Publishing for this ARC.

I don't typically read MG but this has such an interesting concept! A lot of people categorize this book as YA but with the way YA has evolved over the years, the writing style, relationships, and plot of this book is definitely MG, if Upper MG. The cover is to DIE for and the concept of literally bringing stories to life intrigued me so much. I really like how the concept was executed as well, and I love all of the names. The family relationships are so cute and so wholesome. I just wasn't the biggest fan of this book because of the less mature characters and writing style, but it's a cozy read.

A refreshing tale of magic, storytelling, interspersed with a beautiful romance. Judith Bouilloc weaves a charming tale of a storyteller whose voice evokes the magic of a tale and brings the fairytale to life. What transpires after she heads to the palace deserves a cozy read, curl up with a hot cup of cocoa and a war fuzzy blanket. This was an easy read, calming and exciting all at once!
A wonderful interlude to lovers of inheart by Cornelia Funke!

Thank you to Rivka Publishing and Netgalley for the arc!

A big THANK YOU to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this enchanting book! I think this is the first book I picked up from NetGalley when I started last year, and it sat on my shelf for many months, just waiting to be read....

I can tell you now that I finished it in under 24 hours and I am SO MAD at myself for waiting this long to read it! I adored the language in this story, and the subtle world-building throughout, I enjoyed reading about Iliad's love of reading and her abilities as a snatchwords, and can deeply relate to her preference to books rather than the company of other humans on most days. I don't think I was expecting lots of romance from a book that is advertised as middle-grade, but the romance in this was SO SWEET and absolutely perfect.

My sister has been on the hunt for a good Beauty and the Beast retelling, so I immediately sent her the Amazon link to this short novel upon finishing it this morning. I hope the book becomes available in a paperback/hardcover in the US, because it is absolutely one I'd love to own and share! It was a simple enough story, but the writing and world was magical and cozy. I'm excited to return to this one in the future!

I really enjoyed this book. I would equate it to a lighter version of T. Kingfishers style. The story was fun, I loved the main characters and I love a theme of understanding (and loving) the misunderstood.

The writing style was easy to read, the plot was enchanting (I mean who wouldn’t love the idea of a power to make the pictures words create come alive!), the characters endearing and it was well paced.

All in all, an enchanting story I very much enjoyed.