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Jess Morgan knew very little about her deceased great-aunt, Anna. But when she’s roped into going through her aunt’s belongings, she discovers a chest filled with old journals, written in what appears to be Russian. With the help of a local college student named Evan, Jess discovers what could be the answer to a century-old mystery.
Her secretive great-aunt might just be the long-lost Russian princess Anastasia Romanov.
For years, Jess has shaped herself into the kind of person who pleases everyone else, but her aunt’s diaries show she’s not the only one struggling to hide who she really is. Is her aunt truly the Romanov princess? Or is this some elaborate hoax? Either way, Jess soon realizes there is a bigger truth to be revealed — one of self-discovery — because, if she’s learned anything from Aunt Anna, it’s that only you can write your own story.
I didn’t know much about Anastasia or the story of the Romanovs before reading this book, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. The Storyteller delves into Anastasia’s life as well as world politics and Russian culture during that time. References to literature, Anastasia’s family, and the raw turbulence of the times only added more depth and context to the story, and I enjoyed it much more than I first thought I would.
In this story, Jess and her great-aunt Anna share alternating perspectives. I honestly couldn’t stand Jess at first. She started out as the type of chameleon character who adapts to the people around her, which caused her to come across as generic. However, as the story progresses, Jess really grows to become someone who is complex, flawed and surprisingly relatable.
Overall, The Storyteller offers a unique twist on the Anastasia lore while also revealing the important message about learning to embrace your true self and letting go of unhealthy relationships. (Another book reviewed involves the Anastasia story too: Dreaming Anastasia.)
Rated: High, for 10 uses of strong language and one variation of strong profanity, 12 uses of moderate language, and 6 uses of mild language. One character is given the finger. Some crude sexual references and jokes are made throughout the book and some underage characters drink at a party. Characters kiss. Some details of the Romanov story also became quite dark and violently descriptive, which seems even more vivid and horrific because they were true events.
