I really enjoyed this book.
The historical content made it a great read. The life of the bard and the tales he tells are very interesting. I am really looking forward to the next instalment! ( )

I was given a digital copy of this book through LibraryThing's Member Giveaway program.

This story follows Gwernin, a young man who seeks to become a bard. At first he is traveling with a companion named Ieuan. Each chapter is a new adventure on their way. I couldn't bring myself to like Ieuan. I found him to be a complete idiot and none of his pitfalls surprised me in the least. Gwernin took a while to grow on me. I think that as the story progresses, he matures greatly - even if it is only the matter of one year.

While I did not find the story compelling enough to keep me glued to the pages, I did enjoy it. Once I got past the literary devise of "...that, O my children, is a story for another time.." being at the end of every chapter, I found myself thoroughly interested in the outcome. I cannot speak for the print version of this book and, indeed, I cannot site exact examples, but there did seem to be some spelling errors in the text. I realize that this is not a reflection of the story at all. But I personally find it jarring to come across typos. It is difficult to remain immersed in a story when you are jolted back to your own reality by stumbling over words.

All in all, this was a great book. I look forward to reading the next book in the series as well. If you're fond of tales regarding Wales near the time of King Arthur, you might enjoy this book as well.

A youth named Gwernin starts out on a meandering journey around medieval Wales with a handful of stories and firm in his belief that he will be a great bard. Along his way, he learns a bit about life, acquires a demanding but instructive teacher, tells and hears some great tales, and falls in love.

Storyteller offers engaging characters, an interesting historical setting not previously over-mined, and a straightforward plot adequate to carry Gwernin’s story. As a bonus, Gwernin and his mentoring bards practice their craft and tell some Welsh tales. These scenes are particularly effective, allowing her characters to entertain both their fictional audience and us readers.

Storyteller is the first in a series of, currently, three books. It stands well on its own, although the ending has a to-be-continued feeling. I’ve put the next book in the series on my wishlist and look forward to Gwernin’s next installment. However things turn out for Gwernin, whether he becomes a great bard or not, one thing is for sure—Grove is a great storyteller. ( )

I have to say that i found the book disappointing. I was hoping for a whole story. I found the chapters being one story each very confusing and hard to keep up with. Not sure what the plot was and who the characters were. The book just doesn't link well together. This was my first foray with this author. Honestly, I don't think I'll try any others. ( )

This is a novel disguised as a collection of linked short stories in chronological order which track the changing seasons and the travels of Gwernin, the protagonist. The first person narrative is delightful for me, mostly because the narrator is so much like my ideal romantic partner.

I would totally fall in love with this guy, he is so kind, sensitive, intelligent and honest. He makes the decisions I would make if I had the guts to get up in front of a group and tell stories and were faced with his problems. He struggles in the same areas, and learns the same lessons that I would from his adventures. He wants to learn, work with a good teacher, travel and be recognized for his talents. He wants to tell the truth, and do his best.

Many of his struggles are caused by him falling short of his moral code. I didn't notice tension from a major conflict, but the protagonist, Gwernin, holds the series of stories together by his strong, well-defined personality.

There are legends taken from Welsh folklore and King Arthur, told by the protagonist and other bards included in the stories. These help convey the sense of time period. The use of historical Welsh place names and character names also convey a feel of a medieval time period without getting in the way of the story. It took me a couple of stories before falling under the charismatic spell of the main character, and once that happened I was hooked.

If a lawful good apprentice bard appeals to you as a character, you will enjoy this series. The writing is clear and readable. There were no errors in usage or grammar that got in the way of the story.

The worst thing I can say about this book is that each chapter ends with the same annoying sentence, " And that , O my children, is a tale for another time." Or words to that effect. It could be that's what the bards used to end stories way back in medieval times. It doesn't stop me from recommending this title. And now you know about it, you can just not read the last sentence of each story, because you know what it is. ( )

Storyteller is not a modern story. I don't mean that it was written hundreds of years ago, but it definitely reads like it. And that isn't a bad thing. The beginning is a bit slow and disconnected at times, but it quickly becomes a cohesive travel story. By the end it was flowing at such a pace that I was surprised when the end came. This is a story told for the sake of the telling of the story, in much the same way that the storytellers in the book were doing, and I can't wait to read the next one. Here is another book that makes me thankful there are more ways to be self-published these days. ( )

Lyrically written series of stories which make up an historical novel about the travels of Gwernin the Storyteller -- and about this he makes a very important distinction; he is not yet worthy to call himself "Bard" -- through Wales. It's not just about medieval Wales, though that would provide material enough, nor just about Welsh culture and the oral tradition. It's also about growth and the education of a story teller, and his adventures along the way. Another reviewer likened it to "The Canterbury Tales" and the comparison is apt. Grove's stories introduce Gwernin to a whole host of colorful characters, and provide hearty doses of humor, surprise, mystery and the like.

This is not popularized medievalism, nor is it strictly academic. Rather it walks a path between the two, neither pandering to contemporary tastes nor remaining so obscure that contemporary readers will not be engaged by it. It remains thoroughly accessible, but without the sort of compromises that might rob it of so much of its authenticity. It's clear that Grove has done her homework here. In fact, it's clear that this is a labor of love for her, and as such it carries even more impact. You write best what speaks to you most clearly.

If I have a quibble with the book, it's that some of the stories lack dramatic tension. They are shortish, and sometimes don't so much end as stop. And yet there's enough here to keep you wanting to read more, which is, in the end, what propels the reader through any book. Recommended for lovers of good historical fiction, or anyone with an interest in Welsh legends and mythology. ( )

I bought this one following reviews here, and having failed to get the sequel in the member give away (which I was disappointed as the subject matter - 6th century Welsh culture - is right up my street). The book is a little on the expensive side.

The book is self published, and before reading it I would have said that invariably indicates a book that suffers from a lack of editing, rewriting and critical review. Indeed I normally avoid self published works because there is usually a good reason that they were rejected by publishers.

But the reviews on this book suggested the writing was of high quality - and they were right. What is more, this book was never rejected by anyone - and nor should it have been.

The author writes well, with a passion for her subject which she has researched well (not perfectly mind. Like Stephen Lawhead et al., she calls Cardiff "Caer Dydd" - a folk etymology that does not realise that the city is named for the river Taff, and in the 6th century was Caerdyf - incorporating the genitive form of Taff as the case system was still found in Welsh at that time. She also speaks of Aberystwyth, where the 6th century settlement of the area would have focussed around Llanbadarn Fawr. I could go on and be picky, but that would be unfair as her research is at least as good as other writers setting tales in this period, and in fact better than most).

Heavy use is made of early Welsh writings in this book, and the author clearly has a feel for the period - presenting a tale that would not be amiss as an addendum to the Mabinogion.

My only real criticism of the work would revolve around the overall lack of tension. Not that it is entirely lacking - there are times when this book is as well written as any I have read - but it does not grab you from the start as a tale with some kind of conflict in it that must be resolved. This might be what an editor at a publishing house might have brought to the work. Then again, maybe not. It could just be my own preference here as there is plenty to interest a reader in this story. ( )

Storyteller is an excellent addition to the historical fiction genre. In this book, we follow the life of Gwernin Kyuarwyd, the titular storyteller, as he enters into an apprenticeship and begins to learn the trade of the wandering bard.

Gwernin's story is compelling and makes for a great read on it's own, but it is the exploration of Welsh culture in the 6th century that is the true star of this book. Grove does an admirable job in describing not only the natural environment and daily life of this period, but also the struggles as these people deal with the invading Norsemen and the conflict between their own religion and the invading Christians. Indeed, with Grove's focus more on the more cultural aspects of these conflicts, Storyteller sets up this series of books as a strong counter-point to the more action and warfare centered Saxon Chronicles of Bernard Cornwell.

I would not hesitate to recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction or British culture, or indeed to anyone who enjoys a good character-driven story and a rich tapestry of background. ( )

G. R. Grove is a self published author and LTer (username: gwernin). I generally hesitate to pick up self-published books because of the lack of quality control. But no worries here. Grove is a competent writer who can take simple tale and make a colorful story out of it.

Storyteller is a tour of Wales in the time of Athurian legends. The Romans have left, Anglo-Saxons are advancing and King Arthur has been dead 20 years when the sixteen-year-old orphan Gwernin Kyuarwyd sets out on his first summer circuit of the Briton towns in modern Wales. He pays his way telling stories. Early in the book Gwernin and his traveling partner Ieuen wake up from midday nap in the middle of nowhere to find themselves in an opaque fog. Disaster. Slowly they try to find their way. Gwernin later, having gotten lost, makes his way to “a tall figure standing silent in the moon-silvered mist ahead of me.” It turns out to be a massive black standing stone. Perched at the bottom he imagines he hears a legendary king of the Celtic “Other-world” on a hunt with his hounds.

“Distantly I saw the hunt come and pass, the wraith-like deer
and the white hounds gleaming in the darkness. Dimly I saw
the rider, gray-cloaked and gray-mounted, pass by, with his
followers streaming behind him and the moon striking sparks
of silver from their fittings and their horns. They came, and
passed like thunder, and dwindled into silence, and I was
alone with the moon, and the mist, and the coming dawn”

Instead of filling us with the blood and gore and passion we might expect with Athurian legends, Grove takes a more literary approach. She takes her time, keeping us entertained with Gwernin’s travels; each chapter is another story out of Gwernin’s travels. In the end she has created her version of 6th century Wales, infused with history and clashes of cultures, and a place where legends and stories mix with reality. This is the first of a trilogy. I look forward to the next book.

Note: On her profile Grove advertises that she is willing to provide a PDF copy of a book for a review. I took her up on the offer. ( )

The 'Storyteller' of the title is Gwernin, who in each chapter of the book relates a story from when he was a young bard in training, travelling across medieval Wales. Some of his stories are very personal, although even in these he encounters characters from myth such as Taliesien, whilst others are more traditional as he relates stories of legendary heroes. Each chapter of the book contains just one of his tales, so that chapter by chapter we learn more about the young bard and his various companions during his journey. Grove uses the conventions of the oral tradition to good advantage so that the reader is easily able to evoke an image of the older Gwernin sitting by the fire surrounded by his audience, groaning as his tale comes to an end and applauding as he promises them more, "But that, O my children, is a story for another day."

This is an engaging read which, although clearly well-researched, doesn't patronise the reader with its depiction of life in the Dark Ages and so is accessible to all.

Edited by the author for coherence 24th May 2009 ( )

Stunning and accurate visual imagery only serves to make the historical details seem realistic, quite believable. The characters are recognizable and very human, the plot simple in the good sense. Anyone who likes the backstory in Stephen Lawhead, Lloyd Alexander, or Mary Stewart will enjoy this; it is not an heroic epic, but rather captures the sweet, quiet tone of life after the heroes are gone and the epic adventures done.

The chapters are quick and easy reads, and many can stand alone, which would make this a good book for a high school class wishing to cover Celtic history but lacking time for a full book. ( )

This was a quite enjoyable read. It explores early medieval Wales: it is both an advantage and a disadvantage to the author that this is one of the least-documented periods in history. The book is very well-researched - it is rare for my historian's hackles not to rise when I read historical fiction, but this book didn't set me off. The story centers around the life of Welsh bards and storytellers, and especially around the stories they tell. Grove effectively mines what we know of Welsh storytelling traditions, and presents a wide array of Welsh folklore, woven into the bigger narrative.

I appreciated Grove's use of language. A lot of historical fiction authors use a really annoying "medievalese" to try to make their characters sound medieval, which drives me absolutely crazy - I won't read a book with too much "medievalese." Grove doesn't do this - she uses a subtle syntax that has just enough archaic feel to give you a sense of historical distance, but not so much that you stumble over their words. It's a very difficult balance, and she achieves it well.

If I understand correctly, the book was originally published serially. It is a little too bad the author couldn't do some re-editing before publishing it in book form - sometimes a chapter will recap what just happened in the last chapter. Each chapter is essentially a small short story all on its own, but there is still good continuity and trajectory throughout the book.

There is nothing overwhelmingly profound here, but it is a lovely and charming book, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. ( )

Set in sixth century Wales, Storyteller chronicles the adventures of 15-year-old Gwernin as he seeks fame and fortune as a bard. As he struggles with friends, foes, first love, loss, and greed, Gwernin also learns the true meaning of a bard's role in his society. With her vivid prose and excellent research, Grove breathes life into her characters and skillfully balances between medieval and modern perceptions. For more details, read my review on Powells.com: http://www.powells.com/review/2008_11... ( )