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Tell the Story to Its End

Tell the Story to Its End
Simon P. Clark
St. Martin's Griffin
October 20, 2015
Hardcover
208

"Tell the story to its end," says Eren with a grin.
His yellow eyes are glowing like embers in the night.
"When I reach the end," I say, "what happens? You'll have the whole story."
"Hmm," he says, looking at me and licking his lips with a dry, grey tongue. "What happens then? Why don't we find out?"

People are keeping secrets from Oli. His mum has brought him to stay with his aunt and uncle in the countryside, but nobody will tell him why his dad isn't there, too. Why hasn't he come with them? Has something happened? Why won't anyone talk about it? Oli has a hundred questions, and only an old, empty house in the middle of an ancient forest for answers. But then he finds a secret of his own: there is a creature that lives in the attic...

Eren is not human.
Eren is hungry for stories.
Eren has been waiting for him.

With Eren to listen, Oli starts to make sense of what's happening. But Eren is powerful, and though he's willing to help Oli, he's not willing to do it for free; he wants something in return. Oli must make a choice: he can learn the truth -- but to do so he must abandon himself to Eren's world, forever.

From striking new voice Simon P. Clark comes Tell the Story to Its End; richly atmospheric, moving, unsettling, and told in gorgeous prose, it is a modern classic in the making.

 

Review:

“Tell the Story to Its End” is a short fantasy book with the horror elements of a Grimm’s Fairy Tale thrown in.  It is definitely something that leaves you with chills, and the tone is perfect for the weeks leading up to Halloween, as Eren is a truly terrifying character.

There are wonderful quotes about the process of storytelling sprinkled in among the story, and the main story itself is composed of the telling of several smaller stories.  I will say that it can be frustrating if you try to look into it all too deeply, as it can get jumbled and lead to quite a bit of a headache.  This one is better if you just go along with it and enjoy the words.  An added bonus is some beautiful artwork the pops up throughout the book.

I recommend “Tell the Story to Its End” for any middle reader or up who enjoys being a bit spooked.  It is also a good read-aloud for those with younger children who can still sleep if they hear a good ghost story.

This review is based upon a complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 

Content Warning:

Violence, Scary Imagery