Reedsy Discovery – Just Olga

#TuesdayBookBlog When the Angel of Death Tells Bedtime Stories by Sabine Meyer (@ReedsyDiscovery)

Hi, all:

I bring you today a book I’ve found through Reedsy Discovery. I am unsure about the availability. When I first got the book, it was scheduled for release as an e-book in early June. I checked on the supposed date of publication, and the book only appeared as a paperback copy, difficult to find, so I imagine there has been some delay. Sorry! I wasn’t aware of this when I decided to read it.

When the Angel of Death Tells Bedtime Stories. A Collection of Modern Fairytales by Sabine Meyer

When the Angel of Death Tells Bedtime Stories by Sabine Meyer

Would you befriend death to save a life?

A dark, magical collection of stories for curious young readers who aren’t afraid of the shadows.

The Angel of Death and Other Stories is a rich fantasy anthology perfect for children ages 8–10 and teens who crave adventure with a twist of the eerie and the extraordinary. These aren’t your usual bedtime tales.

Here, dragons have two heads and conflicting tempers. Souls are fragile treasures, collected by a young, reluctant Angel of Death. A girl named Fanny befriends the unimaginable and challenges the boundaries between dream and reality.

Told with warmth, wit, and an undercurrent of ancient magic, each story explores themes of bravery, loss, transformation, and the invisible threads that bind us to one another. Whether it’s a terrifying Red Snake that feeds on souls or a chicken yard hiding secrets from another world, these stories spark the imagination while embracing the beauty of the bittersweet.

Perfect for fans of classic fairy tales with teeth, this is a book for children who enjoy thinking deeply, feeling fully, and wandering where others won’t.

A collection to be read under blankets with a flashlight—or aloud by a grown-up who isn’t easily spooked.

Turn the page if you dare to dream darkly.

About the author:

I have always loved fairy tales. Being born and raised in Germany may have something to do with it. I pictured myself writing by candlelight in some attic. And now that I am semi-retired, the stories that have been floating around in my mind all this time are demanding to be heard.

Author, Sabine Meyer has always had a special place in her heart for fairy tales, a love that may have been influenced by her childhood in Germany. As a young girl, the dream of becoming a writer felt like the most enchanting of fantasies—one where she would write by candlelight in a cozy attic, weaving stories that captured the imagination. But life had other plans: she moved to the States, raised five wonderful children, and built a fulfilling career as a psychiatrist. Though she was busy, the stories that danced in her mind never truly left; they quietly waited for their time. Now, as she steps into a new chapter of semi-retirement, they are finally speaking up, eager to be shared with the world.

My review:

This book has something of The Arabian Nights, as readers become silent witnesses (listeners) to a character telling bedtime stories to his audience. Here, the storyteller is pretty original, Michael, the Angel of Death, and both he and Fanny, the girl he tells the stories to, are the protagonists of some of the stories. The novel is divided into five parts: the first one contains ten original and singular stories; some are novel versions of classic fairy tales, some have clear messages, and some are more open to interpretation, and all are unique and enchanting. The second part tells the narrator’s story, full of wonder, sadness, and heartache. The third narrates the story of Fanny and her family, which is intrinsically linked to that of Michael. Part four shows readers what happens when Fanny grows up, and part 5, called Redemption, follows Fanny and Michael on a journey that will change them both.

The bedtime stories in this book cover a large number of topics: from loneliness to marriage, family relationships, bullying, fear, loss, not fitting in, diversity, forgiveness, second chances, illness, aging, and death… There is magic, mythological creatures (dragons, the Yeti, mermaids…), but also everyday situations seen from an alternative point of view, and the protagonists of the stories are always flawed and fallible, like real human beings. There are twists, lessons to be learned, and plenty of surprises. But the book is more than the stories included in it. It is also a coming-of-age story; of Fanny, the little girl readers meet at the beginning, who grows older—not always wiser—throughout the narration, and of the Angel of Death, who tells his story, grows, and changes thanks to his relationship with Fanny and her family. There is a lot of telling, which suits the narrative style well, and the language is both simple and beautiful, with lovely descriptions and much wisdom imparted. Through the stories and the reactions they provoke, readers get to know the characters, who are not perfect and make mistakes, but learn from them, change, and develop.

This title will suit readers of all ages who love fairy tales with a difference, and its structure means that it does not need to be read in one sitting to follow the overall story. Readers with limited time can dip in and out as each fairy tale is a complete narrative in its own right, perfect to be read as a bedtime story. Some of the tales deal with subjects that might upset very young and sensitive children; parents are in the best position to decide if the stories are suitable for their kids. And, although some of the characters, ideas, and concepts will be familiar to readers of Christian fiction, this is not a religious book in an orthodox sense.

There were some issues with the formatting of my copy, and I noticed the book was not available on Amazon or Goodreads when I finished reading it, but as it was an ARC copy, I assume all will be correct by the time it is published and available.

I received a free ARC from Reedsy Discovery and you can find my original review on their site here. Authors and readers might want to check their website, as they offer recommendations, services, blog posts, and other interesting and useful content.

Thanks to the author, Reedsy Discovery, and especially all of you for following my blog, reading, sharing, commenting, liking, and always offering me your support. Keep smiling and take care.

#TuesdayBookBlog The Moon Won’t Talk by Morgan Howell (@ReedsyDiscovery) (@RegalHouse1)

Hi, all:

I bring you one of the books I’ve reviewed for Reedsy Discovery, and it is magical, in many ways.

The Moon Won’t Talk by Morgan Howell

It’ s 1966, and George Parker, a reclusive teenager with a bright mind and a vivid imagination, is facing a boring summer in Eden, South Carolina, an oak-shrouded riverside town with magic seeping from the cracks and fissures of its peaceful antebellum façade. George has resigned himself to battling boredom with his faithful dog, Buster, a box of comic books, his bike, Lightning, and a fishing rod, but plans change when Gerard Free moves into the decaying old mansion next door. A handsome, flamboyant outsider with bad habits and mysterious secrets, Mr. Free, who claims he can talk to the moon, is on a mission to recover the soul of his dead lover. As summer unfolds, George defies his parents to assist Mr. Free in his quest, embarking on an adventure that includes a crazy flying ghost; the enchanting music of the big bands; odd neighbors who are far more than the eye reveals; and a beautiful girl, who is forbidden in George’ s world.

About the author:

Morgan Howell builds stories from elements of speculative fiction, magical realism, Southern Gothic, and doing the right thing regardless of the cost. He is a lifetime resident of the Low Country of South Carolina, where tales of the supernatural are as common as slow-moving rivers and forgotten graveyards. He has written short stories and novels since discovering a beat up old Royal typewriter in the trunk of a rusty Impala in 1983.

My review:

This novel is full of magic and imagination. It is the coming-of-age story of George Parker, a fourteen/fifteen-year-old boy growing up in a small town (Eden, South Caroline) in 1966, and spending an unforgettable summer full of incredible characters: a new neighbor whose stories can only rival his sense of style; a boy his age whose heart is as big as a house and whose body isn’t far behind; a girl from the wrong race and the wrong side of town; a couple of neighbors who hide more than a few secrets; and even a ghost, or several.

The story immerses readers in a world reminiscent of American Classics (Mark Twain comes to mind), with a touch of magic realism and Southern Gothic thrown in. The writing is beautiful, and the novel is full of adventures and events that keep the readers on their toes while capturing the wonder of youth and the atmosphere of a golden place and time, charming and enchanting. Despite the nostalgic and old-fashioned feel, this is not a rose-tinted version of life. Even the protagonist, George, is less than perfect (he is called Spy Boy), and there are prejudices at play, as well as bullies, busybodies, and haunted buildings with their tragic stories. Women have their place in this society, and they don’t stray far from it (although there are indicators that future generations might). George narrates his story in the first person, and he is an observant and curious boy with a sense of humor, who notices much even when he doesn’t quite understand everything he sees or feels. There are some fragments of the story where there is a fair degree of telling because we come across a few raconteurs, but their tales are fascinating and don’t slow down the story. Rather, they suffuse it with a little magical dust.

There are some violent scenes (not extreme), some disturbing events, loss, and grief, and this is a story about a young boy and his first experience of love (among many other things), so although there are no explicit scenes, lust does feature in the story, in case this might put some readers off.

This is that rare combination: a novel where the story is magical, full of imagination and wonderful characters (so much so that you don’t want it to end), and where the style of writing not only matches it in beauty but takes it to another level. A joyful gift for anybody who loves coming-of-age stories, especially those set in the South of the USA.

A few samples of the writing:

Here, George is talking about his father:

He’s the man who taught me to sit still and watch the sunset whenever possible, a priceless lesson. He also taught me that to see the color of a man’s skin before you see the man is one of life’s most grievous sins. Long ago I began to suspect that no matter how noble this lesson was in intent, it was one that isn’t shared by all.

“Excellent. That is most excellent. No books, no life.”

“A long time and a lot of heartache went into building where we are now, George. It isn’t easy to undo wrong, and there’s plenty of that to go around. It’s a whole lot easier to deny it and hope it’ll go away, to do nothing. People don’t like being reminded of that.”

There’s no cure for the grief of loss save time, but gentle words and the presence of those we love can move us from one tick of the clock to the next. I remembered Doc’s words. “Even time takes time, my son.”

Thanks to Reedsy Discovery, the publisher, and the author for sharing this wonderful novel, thanks to all of you for visiting, reading, liking, sharing, and always supporting me. Take care and keep smiling!

When the Angel of Death Tells Bedtime Stories by Sabine Meyer

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The Moon Won’t Talk by Morgan Howell

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