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The Storyteller

4.16 of 5 stars 4.16 · rating details · 1,497 ratings · 438 reviews

Anna and Abel couldn’t be more different. They are both seventeen and in their last year of school, but while Anna lives in a nice old town house and comes from a well-to-do family, Abel, the school drug dealer, lives in a big, prisonlike tower block at the edge of town. Anna is afraid of him until she realizes that he is caring for his six-year-old sister on his own. Fasc...more

Paperback, 402 pages

Published January 1st 2012 by ABRAMS (first published February 1st 2011)

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Feb 04, 2012 Sam rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: other-favourites, 5-star-gems, ultimate-favourites, other, romance, mystery, realistic-or-contemporary, 2012-favourites, made-me-cry

5 stars

Every once in a while, I read a book that blows me away enough to deserve a 5-star rating. It stands out among the other books I read. It lingers in my thoughts even when I try so hard not to think about it. It makes me want to both cry and smile and scream in frustration. It makes me want to read it over and over and over again.

The Storyteller is that book.

How is it even possible to review a book like this? There surely can’t be any words to describe what I am feeling right now, but I w...more

85 likes · like · see review

Mar 08, 2012 Catie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012, ya, mystery-thriller-noir

3 1/2 stars

I picked this up expecting a young adult coming of age/romance with a bit of magical realism and maybe a few darker themes about poverty and drug abuse. Okay, so here’s my little confession: I picked this up expecting Perfect Chemistry, with a side order of fairy tales and 150% more depth. One would assume (har har) that I’d learned not to make assumptions in my thirty-some years of life, and yet here we are. This book was so utterly different than what I was expecting. I didn’t read...more

55 likes · like · see review

Mar 01, 2012 Soumi(in love with Puck) Roy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite, young-adult, books-i-reviewed, owned-arcs, contemporary, owned-copy

Just a tiny little pain
Three days of heavy rain,
Three days of sunlight,
Everything will be alright

A good girl, a bad boy, a deadly fairytale that might come true, in truth life is no fairy tale.

Anna was fascinated by Abel, school’s moody drug dealer. When she discovered Abel was actually caring for his little sister Micha, alone, trying to protect her from her abusive father, Anna was more drawn to him. In spite of friends’ warning Anna started hanging out with Abel and found herself engulfed by...more

25 likes · like · see review

Mar 17, 2013 Kristalia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, reviewed, cut-my-heart-out, dark, new-adult, unique-stories

Final rating: ★★★★★/★★★★★

“Go away princess. Leave your outlaw alone. You won't change him... go away, Anna, far away, and don't ever come back. The fairy tale doesn't have a happy ending.”

I think i tried to start this one at least 4 times, and i always dropped it and read something else. I was wrong. This book was simply not what i was used to reading, it was just...captivating of sorts. And, it was beautiful, amazing and heartbreaking. Seriously.

I loved the writing, it was so beautif...more

22 likes · like · see review

Jun 04, 2012 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Fans of Hushed or Forbidden

Recommended to Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity by: Isamlq

Shelves: young-adult, favorites

"I'm not answering any questions," he said, smiling. "I'm not one of the answering people. I'm the storyteller."

Abel Tannatek is the storyteller. He is a young man hiding an ugly reality behind pretty words and magical happenings.

In order to find out what he is hiding, we are forced to slowly watch as the layers of his true self are revealed, one ugly layer at a time. Secrets are the only method of survival in a world where you can count on no one but yourself. Secrets are the only choice you...more

"I'm not answering any questions," he said, smiling. "I'm not one of the answering people. I'm the storyteller."

It's late, Anna...they'll be waiting for you, at home...in that house where the air is always blue...they'll be worried.

A chance meeting between the school's drug dealer and an innocent, sheltered student came about because of a lost doll. Had Anna not found the doll, she would have carried on her life as usual. There would be no danger, no mystery, no killing for her to know about. One might say that finding the doll was the worst thing that could have happened to her. I would disagree.

Abel is a broken human being. He's broken to the point of ill repair, yet Anna still sees something in him that's worth saving. As we see Abel through Anna's eyes, we are shown just how much a person will endure in order to spare a life so precious to him - the life of a tiny little girl in a pink jacket.

Abel and Anna bond through time shared as Abel spins wonderful fairytales into existence for his younger sister. Real life becomes the backdrop for the fantasy. Characters in reality become characters in the story. A mystery starts to unfold as characters in the story become bigger players in crimes which start taking place in the real world. Who is the killer? Why does Abel seem to have so much to hide? Why are other people interested in what Abel and Anna are up to?

I can't divulge much without going into spoiler territory. The Storyteller is so beautifully written. The depth of character and layers of detail are heart-breakingly intricate. After I finished, I was left with a few different emotions. Anger and sadness were probably the two most prominent, but I can't say that I have any regrets reading this book. I had a hard time putting my reader down because the story of Abel and Anna was such a pull.

As for the character flaws...I suppose I should address those. Both Abel and Anna disappointed me in a way because of their actions, yet I felt as if their actions made them more real. Abel was abused, so he had no other experience to draw from in learning how to interact with others. Anna had an empty but satisfactory life and she craved more than her own existence inside of a pretty box. Abel was able to give her something she'd never had before and because of this, she was quick to forgive at times when others wouldn't. Right or wrong, I understood why.
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35 likes · like · see review

Mar 05, 2012 Zemira Warner rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, fantasy, cool, hot-guys, contemporary, realistic, all-time-favorites, cry-fest, favorite, flipping-pages, heavy-stuff, surprised-me, my-emotions, i-own

*sees book for the first time*

OMG! I NEED TO READ THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW!

*still reading*

No! What is happening? God,please don't let anything bad happen!

*reads the last line*

First I was like

Then I was

This book! Oh! This book completely destroyed me. I haven't cried like this since Forbidden(sad tears) and Jellicoe Road(happy tears). (view spoiler)

There is so much pain and suffering in this book I almost can't believe it.

*hour after finishing...more

49 likes · like · see review

Apr 13, 2012 Tanja (Tanychy) St. Delphi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, romance

I see it. Broken. Into pieces. My heart. There. On the floor.

I just need to pull myself together and then I'll write a review.
Here we go.

Just a tiny little pain,
Three days of heavy rain,
Three days of sunlight,
Everything will be alright,
Just a tiny little pain.

Have you ever read a book that you could find emotions on every single page of it? No. Well, me neither. Until now. Until this book. Everything is now changed. This book didn't only made me think about life and destiny and love, but it...more

15 likes · like · see review

Feb 20, 2012 ♥Rachel♥ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to ♥Rachel♥ by: Sam

Shelves: books-i-own

"in love, there is no criticism. In love, there is no rationality."

This quote, to me, says it all in this story. It's a story will stay with you long after you're done. I'm still thinking and talking about it to whomever will listen.

Seventeen year old Anna finds a doll, underneath a couch in the student lounge. When Abel, the well-known drug dealer of the school, claims the doll belongs to his six-year old sister, Anna is curious, and ends up following Abel to see if it's true. When Anna sees...more "in love, there is no criticism. In love, there is no rationality."

This quote, to me, says it all in this story. It's a story will stay with you long after you're done. I'm still thinking and talking about it to whomever will listen.

Seventeen year old Anna finds a doll, underneath a couch in the student lounge. When Abel, the well-known drug dealer of the school, claims the doll belongs to his six-year old sister, Anna is curious, and ends up following Abel to see if it's true. When Anna sees the love, and affection on the face of Abel as his picks his sister, Micha, up from school, she finds herself intrigued. Anna continues to follow them to a student dining hall. She sits close but undetected, listening as Abel tells a fairytale that completely entrances Anna. Anna's presence soon becomes known, and she sits, and listens with them to the fairytale the rest of the afternoon. Anna soon finds out that Abel is caring for his sister alone. The whereabouts of their mother is unknown. He is scared that the authorities will take Micha away from him because he is not yet eighteen, and place her in foster care. The fairytale Abel continues to tell, seems to mirror real life. Warning signs flash to Anna when some of the people that die in the fairytale, also die in real life. Could her storyteller be responsible, or are other sinister people involved? As this is going on, Anna and Abel find themselves drawn to each other and you wonder, right along with Anna, is this going to work out?

Let me tell you, this is not my normal, sweet, vanilla-type book, with a nicely wrapped up ending. This book is messy, beyond messy. Abel and Anna's relationship is sweet and heart-breaking. He does some things and you think: I don't know if I can get over that. Then something else happens, and your heart melts again. You really want things to work out for these two. This is interlaced with all kinds of HORRIBLE! That being said, this story was beautiful. Taking place in the middle of winter felt like the perfect setting, there was a quiet, chilling, and intimate quality to this story. This was originally written in German but the lovely prose was not lost in translation, in my opinion. I don't know why but I loved this quote:

Anna was standing in front of the glass leading out to the fading light of the garden when her mother came home. She'd been staring at her own figure reflected in the glass: the outline of her narrow shoulders, her long dark hair----a see-through person full of winter shrubs.

See, it's of no use to you to read that, I just liked it.

So if anyone wants to read a brilliant story that will completely DESTROY you in the end, this is for you! Thank you, Sam, for this recommendation. I was crying for hours, but yes, we are still friends. Seriously, I did enjoy this.
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25 likes · like · see review

Mar 21, 2013 Mags~CVAddikt~Chaos defies imagination! rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Mags~CVAddikt~Chaos defies imagination! by: Irais

Shelves: 2013, addictive-like-chocolate, big-fat-tears, dark-oscuro-donker-sombre, drama-total, favorites-2013, mind-player, the-pain-so-much-pain, throw-it-in-the-freezer

“The wolf didn’t reply. ‘You’re shivering,’ he said. ‘Do you believe that you could spin a thread of my blood? To make clothes from?’”

Maybe that’s not the most dramatic-heart-wrenching quote of the book, but in my opinion, this quote holds the essence of the story, of Abel.

If you are looking for a New Adult book with the typical NA-Formula of
“HOT GUY + HOT GIRL + TRAGIC PAST + SMEXY TIME + HEALING OF A BROKEN HEARTH” then go read something else.

If you can stomach raw cruel realistic fiction,...more

9 likes · like · see review

Apr 10, 2012 Kajal Nehra rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: EVERYONE!

Shelves: made-me-cry, favorites, death, moved-me, abuse

Just a tiny little pain,
Three days of heavy rain,
Three days of sunlight,
Everything will be all right.
Just a tiny little pain...

5 STARS!!! Hell, 10 stars!

OH MY GOSH... I'm actually in a state of shock right now. Each time that scene (please do not click on the spoiler until you've read the book or else you'll loathe me FOREVER!!!) (view spoiler)...more

11 likes · like · see review

Jul 03, 2012 Wendy F rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, contemporary, gritty, tear-jerker, young-adult

Update
I can't get this book out of my head. I talk about it at random times and I think about it very often. I had to bump it up another star, because it obviously affected me deeply.

Original Review
This book started out really strong. I immediately noticed how beautiful the prose was, especially for a translated book. I really liked the characters, and I loved the way that you got snapshot POV's for other side characters. Sometimes the characters did things that I didn't like, but every single t...more Update
I can't get this book out of my head. I talk about it at random times and I think about it very often. I had to bump it up another star, because it obviously affected me deeply.

Original Review
This book started out really strong. I immediately noticed how beautiful the prose was, especially for a translated book. I really liked the characters, and I loved the way that you got snapshot POV's for other side characters. Sometimes the characters did things that I didn't like, but every single time I could understand what drove them to do the things they did. These were exceptionally flawed characters, especially Abel.

I also loved, so much, the way the book read as though it was old fashioned. That beautiful prose almost left you with a sense of a historical, except you knew that it was modern times because of the phones they mentioned and references to the internet. I thought that added to the depth of the story. And this was one deep story.

Anna notices the 'Polish peddler' one day at school and something happens that draw these two together. He's reluctant but she manages to worm her way into his heart, and boy did Abel love with a serious depth. Over the course of their book you get a very intricate fairy tale that Abel is telling Misha his little sister, and through the fairy tale you get a glimpse of the intricacies that make up Abel.

(Don't read this unless you've finished the book!)(view spoiler).

I also really loved the ending. I was so sad, but I understood. On a less devastating level, it was what I hoped would happen.

Now, I've gushed and gushed about this book, so your asking yourself why only 3 stars. I read the first half of this book rabidly. But at about 56% I sort of lost steam. It started becoming more of a chore. When I got to about 80% I got back into it, though. I'm not positive what happened in that 20% of the book, honestly. I think... I think maybe it just got so... sad, lol. I think it was hard to read for me because it was just so desolate. The whole tone of the book was down trodden and heartbreaking and I think it just got to me.

I'll still recommend this book like crazy. Despite my 3 star rating, I absolutely still believe it deserves recognition. The End(less)

9 likes · like · see review

Jul 22, 2012 Maggie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: everyone

Shelves: books-for-challenges, fairy-faery, favourites, 6-out-of-5

6 out of 5 stars, 7 out of 5 stars. What an incredible story.

Abel, 17 is caring for his 6 yr old sister Micha as their mother has abandoned them. He earns money any way he can, hiding from the authorities, wanting to keep Micha safe at any cost. Anna is also 17, the academically minded, well behaved daughter of a professional couple. Their meeting doesn't flow easily but the link between them is forged.

Abel has a remarkable gift, the gift of storytelling. Gradually throughout the book his tale i...more

7 likes · like · see review

Apr 15, 2013 Sunny rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: have-to-read-again, favorites

The Storyteller...

Oh My God!! What a beautiful story. This book touched me on so many levels. It was emotional, painful, and raw…

Here we have Abel:

Your local school drug dealer. He’s a loner. He’s a storyteller!

Anna:

Good Girl. Comes from a stable loving household.

This story is set in Germany. Anna became intrigued with Abel when she found a doll up under a couch at school. Abel claimed the doll was his and he left. Long story short: Anna followed Abel to find that he has a little sister Micha...more

8 likes · like · see review

Feb 11, 2013 Manta Eu Jin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

i've just finished reading this and this book left me hanging, crying, frustrated, relieved, happy..i don't know..it's just so overwhelming with powerful emotions wisely put into words that even simple words seemed to be very heavy...i'm still crying though tears are not falling...your not typical winter romance...i'm so happy that i saw this at the bookstore and now THE BEST BOOK I'VE EVER READ..and
everytime i see the cover, i can't help but cry again...a standing ovation for antonia michaelis...more

4 likes · like · see review

Mar 18, 2012 fяσzєη rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: covergasm, realistic-fiction, owned-physical-copies, 2012-faves, all-time-faves, faves, heroes-i-adore, my-emotions-i-cannot, creatively-original, amazing-authors, books-i-want-to-marry, masterpiece, deserves-the-hype, believable-romance

My heart doesn't have any pieces anymore.

14 likes · like · see review

Oct 04, 2012 marion rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, contemporary, thats-heavy, cover-loving, fairytale-or-retelling, gorgeous-prose, winter-wonderland, mystery-thriller, hurt-my-heart, magical-realism, deutschland, burst-into-tears, creatively-original, favourites, books-that-hugged

"Just a tiny little pain
Three days of heavy rain,
Three days of sunlight,
Everything will be alright "

This year I've read two crime-mystery-hype-ya books. The promised Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone which is similar to a middle-age supplice and the real surprise The Storyteller. Close to a masterpiece, yes. Antonia Michaelis takes her readers very seriously by writing such a strong young adult novel without fluffly romance and sweet ending, just a dark reality. Could be a poignant episode of Crimin...more

6 likes · like · see review

Jun 21, 2012 Becca *love true love* rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, read-with-my-gang

Before I start here's a request, a plea: Please check this youtube video about the book (only one minute long).. So chilling, especially if you read the book. And Micha singing at the end ... Ok, ok here's the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oPa0F...

Never in my entire life did I read anything like this book. It was so dark and unbelievably sad.. Hauntingly beautiful with little humor here and there sparkling like thin rays of a rainbow on an island in a fairy tale.

BEFORE & AFTER

Befor...more

11 likes · like · see review

Nov 15, 2012 Ails rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites-all-time, favorites-ultimate, reviewed

5 STARS. (EDIT: With more details)

There are two kinds of a good book: those that you enjoy but will soon forget, and those that will linger in your memory forever. "The Storyteller" is the latter.

It's unlike anything you have ever read. Trust me.

This book is brilliantly, beautifully written by Antonia Michaelis. I'm completely mesmerized by her words and her ability to interweave magic and realism in an intricate writing. Below is just one of my favorites:

"That cloak of love you were wearing—he...more

8 likes · like · see review

Oct 16, 2012 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction, read-in-2012

It seems like a fairy tale. But oh, it's not.

Anna has always had a great life. Her friend refers to her existence as being a "soap bubble" because she's never had a bad thing happen to her. She's drawn to Abel, though, the "Polish peddler" at school, and one she's drawn into his world -- which is the precise opposite of hers -- she begins to realize that yes, her own existence is indeed a soap bubble.

The reason Anna follows Abel is base curiosity, and it's also because she's found this doll that...more It seems like a fairy tale. But oh, it's not.

Anna has always had a great life. Her friend refers to her existence as being a "soap bubble" because she's never had a bad thing happen to her. She's drawn to Abel, though, the "Polish peddler" at school, and one she's drawn into his world -- which is the precise opposite of hers -- she begins to realize that yes, her own existence is indeed a soap bubble.

The reason Anna follows Abel is base curiosity, and it's also because she's found this doll that belongs to his sister. Then she hears him telling his sister Micha a fairy tale about a little queen, a sea dog, and a world that isn't always safe. There's a black ship always hovering, and the little queen must have her diamond heart protected. (view spoiler) As Anna begins to befriend Abel, things don't go smoothly, and neither does the fairy tale he continues sharing with her and Micha. She learns pretty quickly his life with Micha is poor, it's dirty and dingy, and they don't have the sort of home life or family she does. He's fiercely protective of Micha and wants nothing but the best for her. (view spoiler)

Anna cannot get enough of Abel, despite this. She begins to fall in love. (view spoiler)

Abel's past comes to light through a cruel trick played on him by a classmate, and it's here Anna's heart is crushed. It's here when my heart was crushed because there WAS so much more going on. We're led to believe that Able is taking care of his sister Micha because their mother had disappeared. And she has. Except since Able is not yet 18, he can't legally take care of Micha, and their entire life is kept a secret. The minute authorities would be involved, then they'd be separated. (view spoiler)

Michaelis's storytelling is masterful in a way that you forget what will happen, despite knowing it from the onset of the book. The use of the fairy tale as not only foreshadowing but as parallel storytelling is smart and savvy. I'd say it made the in-world blows even tougher to take. The translators on this book deserve big kudos, too, since the writing maintained authenticity and didn't feel stiff or stilted in the way translated works sometimes can read.

This is bleak, dark, and horrific. It reminded me a lot of Tender Morsels (which I didn't like because it went TOO far into the fairy tale world, whereas this one is definitely a realistic novel) and it reminded me of Nothing. I suspect this book will see some award buzz. At least, it should.

Full review here: http://www.stackedbooks.org/2012/10/t... (less)

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 10, 2012 Ivana S. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own, 2012, favorites, fiction, great-books, ya

Breathtaking!

The Storyteller broke my heart. After the last sentence I just sat on my bed, unable to move. There is something about this book, something brutal and beautiful at the same time, something that makes me feel like I saw the world with new eyes for one moment.

I have to say that writing is amazing. I can't even express my admiration for the style and this unique art of putting words in such a beautiful sentences. What a talent!!! I read English translation and it was amazing, so I can...more

3 likes · like · see review

Mar 04, 2012 Parvathy rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone who loves a good story

Recommended to Parvathy by: goodreads

Shelves: favorites, glued-till-the-last-page, living-vicariously, movie-material, please-pass-the-tissues, young-adult

A good girl.
A bad boy.
A fairy tale that's true.
A truth that is no fairy tale.

Once in a while you come across a book that has a story to tell you, a story so alive that you feel you are living it with your every heart beat. A story where nothing else matter except the story itself. A story that stays with you every waking moment and makes you wish that it was just a story, You are not living it you are reading it, that makes a whole lot of difference. Why can't you come out the trance it cr...more

8 likes · like · see review

Feb 13, 2012 Jake Rideout rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

First off, I want to give a shout-out to Miriam Debbage, the translator of the English edition of this book. Having studied ten languages, I understand the utter impossiblity of translating someone else's novel into an entirely different (BUT THE SAME) set of words. Especially when the main characters are teenagers, who talk in very different ways from one country to the next. Debbage did the best translation I've read in a long, long time. It almost makes me want to learn German so I can apprec...more First off, I want to give a shout-out to Miriam Debbage, the translator of the English edition of this book. Having studied ten languages, I understand the utter impossiblity of translating someone else's novel into an entirely different (BUT THE SAME) set of words. Especially when the main characters are teenagers, who talk in very different ways from one country to the next. Debbage did the best translation I've read in a long, long time. It almost makes me want to learn German so I can appreciate the English version that much more. (But that would be crazy...right?)

As for THE STORYTELLER itself, I need some time to gather my thoughts. It's hard to talk about this book without spoiling the ending. (Definitely do not read the Kirkus review. It's one giant spoiler.) So much of the power comes from truths that creep up on you, or smack you over the head.

There are two things I loved most about this book. First, the voices. Anna's is the strongest. She is calm, steady, sheltered. Over the course of the novel she becomes less so, but those central qualities strengthen her and grow rather than transforming. She doesn't always do the right thing. In fact, at times she does the mindblowingly wrong thing, and you have to wonder how someone so smart can be such a fool--but that's why you love her.

Abel's voice is the opposite. He is raw anguish. Where Anna's words are careful and quiet, Abel's are big, beautiful, fast, and full of feeling. They come to life with color, scent, and sound.

Even Gitta's voice is distinct. We don't hear much from her, but the things we hear are so typically Gitta that we believe in her as much as we believe in Anna.

Secondly, I loved the imagery. Michaelis paints pictures with her words. The setting of this story is Germany in winter, and I was cold the whole time I was reading it. She is that convincing.

Plot-wise, I'm still not sure where I stand. I'll update if I ever come to a conclusion. I'm curious to see what other Americans think of this one.(less)

5 likes · like · see review

Feb 22, 2012 Isamlq rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: aaw-yeah

It’s one story in another with one mirroring the other. His story for his sister was magical and lovely. Only up close, it’s really quite a sad one because once you see who was who and what stood for what; then you could see/feel just how far removed his stories were from their reality. And their reality? Stark, depressing, and so far from even the possibility of a happily-ever-after.

If at first, like Anna, I was drawn to him, impressed by him and maybe, just, maybe slightly in love with his po...more It’s one story in another with one mirroring the other. His story for his sister was magical and lovely. Only up close, it’s really quite a sad one because once you see who was who and what stood for what; then you could see/feel just how far removed his stories were from their reality. And their reality? Stark, depressing, and so far from even the possibility of a happily-ever-after.

If at first, like Anna, I was drawn to him, impressed by him and maybe, just, maybe slightly in love with his possibilities; those sudden turn of events had me not just pausing, but recoiling from him. From totally loving him, rooting for him and damning everyone else that said otherwise… that moment had me stopping in my tracks. It had me so angry at him, but more, it had me heartbroken for her. I confess I put it down with no intention of picking it up back again. But it kept nagging at me: how would the author pick up the pieces; where would the story go?

Setting aside the device of a story in another one, the mystery aspect only took precedence once I was less in love with the idea of them together. They all had me wondering. Was what I was thinking right? Was I wrong in how I’d first pegged them at first? That heartbreaking, devastating twist seemed to be pointing to the affirmative. Here’s the truth: The clues left here and there had me feeling secure in the knowledge that I knew who the baddy was. And here’s another truth: I was wrong to an extent.

With the mystery slow to pick up, I was half tempted to skim over his stories. I knew something similar to what he was saying would be laid out sooner or later in a clearer, more contemporary voice. I’m glad I didn’t because contrasting his fairytale against their reality, things balanced out a little. His stories calmed things down I suppose.

Not since Tabitha Suzuma’s Forbidden have feelings of such conflict in me been roused. And as far as story devices go, his fairytale foreshadowing everything else was different… new… special. And it was what had Abel as Storyteller winding around me. Such a good brother, such a good man, he had me feeling all hopeful. Again that one moment put a stop to those feelings. After that all there was pity, anger, disappointment. But wait a couple of beats, and it was her turn to have me more than slightly confused. Her choices, her decisions astonished me. Truly, the one thing I cannot move on from is the absence of a resolution for her. I mean she was all, (view spoiler) But, I was all, " How is that even possible?!"

The Storyteller went from sweet to devastating to totally unexpected then heartbreaking again.

3.5/5
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Jan 21, 2013 Sleepy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Wow.... I don't know that I've read a book that left me so heartbroken yet warmed my heart.... this is a hard story,a book that hurts because it tells the lengths people will go to make sure that the people he loves, or let's say the person he loves, stays safe no mater what the consequences!!, this is not a pretty love story its about a love that's rough and hard and so true!! It will make u ache for Abel and hurt deeply for Anna. Its a story that will bringu to tears, and when ur done you'll w...more

2 likes · like · see review

May 14, 2011 Nia rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-not-mine, read2011

Ich kann dieses Buch nicht bewerten. Bis weit über die Hälfte war ich sehr begeistert davon, aber dann tut die Autorin etwas, was ich ihr sehr sehr übel nehme. Dieses Buch macht mich wütend und es bereitet mir Magenschmerzen. Ich denke, ich werde es sacken lassen, bevor ich eine Rezension dazu schreibe.

EDIT: Es sind einige Monate vergangen und mein Groll auf dieses Buch ist nicht kleiner geworden. Egal wie toll die Sprache, wie schön das mit der Realität verwobene Märchen ist, das reißerische, f...more

11 likes · like · see review

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Nia In den buchhändlerischen Bibliographien gibt es durchaus die Möglichkeit ein Buch der Warengruppe Jugendbuch als ab 14 oder ab 16 einzutragen, so dass...more
Jul 18, 2011 02:59pm

Nia Gut, losgelöst vom "Märchenerzähler" stimme ich da durchaus zu. Ich weiß zwar nicht, ob es dafür eine eigene Warengruppe braucht, bzw. ob die etwas be...more
Jul 19, 2011 01:12pm

Jun 21, 2012 Carina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: difficult-topics, heart-wrenching, mature-ya

"Magnus had been right: in love, there wasn't rationality."

"Anna closed her eyes for a second and fell out of the real world. She fell into the beggining of a fairy tale. Because the Abel sitting here, in the students dining hall, only a few inches away, amid orange plastic trays and the hum of first-semester conversation, in front of a small girl with blond braids...this Abel was a storyteller."

Will review soon.

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Oct 29, 2012 Becky {Somewhere Between The Pages} rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, 5-stars, review, realistic-fiction, won

Heartbreaking. That's the word that comes to mind when I think of this novel. There are few stories out there that truly make me feel like my heart is shattering, but The Storyteller is definitely one of them. I actually hadn't heard much about this book before I happened across it, and I wonder now why more people aren't obsessing over it. If you have heard of this book and haven't picked it up yet, what are you waiting for? Is it the fact that it was originally written in German? If that's the...more Heartbreaking. That's the word that comes to mind when I think of this novel. There are few stories out there that truly make me feel like my heart is shattering, but The Storyteller is definitely one of them. I actually hadn't heard much about this book before I happened across it, and I wonder now why more people aren't obsessing over it. If you have heard of this book and haven't picked it up yet, what are you waiting for? Is it the fact that it was originally written in German? If that's the case, don't worry about it. The translations are flawless. I cannot recommend this book enough: it's one of those novels that completely takes your breath away. It's beautifully written and the plot is romantic and thrilling. However, this is not a happy story. Far from it. There is an underlying darkness to the story that you can't ignore. If you focused on only the happy parts of the novel, it wouldn't be a novel at all. It would barely even consist of a chapter.

Anna and Abel were fantastic characters. They couldn't have been more different, yet they complimented each other so well. Anna's the kind of girl that has had a very sheltered upbringing. Her parents are still together, she lives in a big house, she has friends that care about her. Abel, on the other hand, has only his little sister. He's been forced to grow up and do some morally wrong things just to get by. He's one of those characters whom you know so much about, yet by the end of the book you realise you didn't know him at all. His only thoughts are for his sister - what will happen to her if he's no longer around? What will happen to him if she's taken away? I'm not doing him justice. You'll have to read the book yourselves to truly understand why he was such a fantastic character.

I can't talk about the plot without revealing spoilers - that's how important everything was. Though it starts out quite slow, perservere and you won't regret it. There are several moments when you think you've got everything figured out, but believe me, you don't. The Storyteller takes you on a shocking journey and will leave you feeling like your heart has been torn out of your chest, shredded into a thousand tiny pieces, and left to blow away in the wind. If, for one second, you think you know who is behind all the terrible things, I can guarantee you'll still be shocked by the end. I know I was. Even through the tears and foot-stamping, I know this story is one that will stick with me for a very long time.

For more reviews, check out my blog at Somewhere Between The Pages.(less)

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Jan 14, 2013 The Twins Read rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: michelle-s-shelf, purchased

Original Rating: 4.5/5

The review can originally be found at The Twins Read .

This book has left me and my co-blogger absolutely in tatters. Michaelis' The Storyteller was like a long roller coaster ride, complete with 180 turns and sudden drops. You know how there's this violinist playing in a film where the suspense is eating you and you can't help but dangle at the edge of the seat as the violin-playing gets faster and faster? That could be the only way to properly describe this book - gripping...more

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Jul 19, 2011 Juliane rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-books-i-read, german-authors

Rezi auch hier: http://buechertruhe.blogspot.com/2011...

Inhalt:

Die 17-jährige Anna sollte eigentlich nur ihr Abitur im Sinn haben, doch wird sie aufmerksam auf Abel Tannatek. Sie kennt Abel aus ihrem Deutschkurs, allgemein ist er als Drogendealer und Schulschwänzer bekannt. Nicht der Richtige für die wohlerzogene Anna. Trotzdem verliebt sie sich in ihn und lernt eine ganz andere Seite von ihm kennen: Der weiche Abel, der sich um seine kleine Schwester Micha kümmert und ihr ein Märchen erzählt, d...more

5 likes · like · see review

Nov 05, 2012 Petra rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-more-than-three-times

One of the most beautiful books I ever read. I cried so hard at the end.
I don't know what to say about this book, this says everything:

A good girl.
A bad boy.
A fairy tale that's true.
A truth that is no fairy tale.

2 likes · like · see review

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About Antonia Michaelis

Antonia Michaelis has lived and taught in India. She is the author of several award-winning books published in her native Germany, where she lives.

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Quotes from The Storyteller

“Just a tiny little pain,
Three days of heavy rain,
Three days of sunlight,
Everything will be alright,
Just a tiny little pain.” — 87 people liked it

“Sometimes I don't even know if I'm extremely happy or extremely sad. It happens a lot when I think of you” — 58 people liked it

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