Chris Tomasini

“Close your eyes”
In the year 1435, Samuel, the court jester of the prosperous European kingdom of Gora attempts to reconstruct the events that led to the fateful day in 1431 that the court storyteller Tycho and the cook Agnieszka fled the kingdom. Samuel takes us through the history of Gora and how it prospered and flourished under Pawel’s’ rule as well as the individual circumstances that led the characters – himself, Tycho, Agnieszka, Ahab the astronomer and Bishop Tonnelli to Gora and King Pawel who “was one of those strange few for whom the truth was more fantastic than the fiction”.

King Pawel of Gora married his 19-year-old bride Kristina only to lose her in childbirth after five years of marriage leaving him with his children Princess Alexandra and Prince Krysztoff. Kristina’s death causes him to spiral into the depths of grief and madness, awaiting his beloved’s spirit, who is believed to haunt the premises of the castle, every night. Tycho the storyteller, Samuel the jester and Agnieszka the cook are all in the employ of the King but unbeknownst to them, once they have been found to satisfactorily perform their duties, they are not free to leave the kingdom and those who have attempted to do so in the past have lost their lives in the process.

When Agnieszka learns of this, her hopes of returning to her husband after the completion of one year of service (as had been the contracted terms of her employment) are shattered. Desperate to leave she turns to Tycho, who has always had feelings for her, to help. What follows is a take of bravery, sacrifice, friendship and most importantly love.

Chris Tomasini’s “Close Your Eyes” is a beautifully woven fantastical tale that I thoroughly enjoyed. The characters were engaging, and the backstories of the characters and their interactions are exceptionally well written. The narrative flows easily and draws you in with its characters, stories within the stories and perfect combination of wit, wisdom, fantasy, and humor. Though the larger part of the narrative is presented from Samuel’s perspective based on his memories of past events and each character’s past, we also get parts of the story from Tycho’s scrolls (journal entries), Ahab’s written records of the stories Tycho told, and letters written by Bishop Tonnelli. The pace is a bit uneven, especially in the first half of the novel, but not so much that it detracts from the overall reading experience.

Overall, this is a well-written story perfect for those who are interested in fairy tales for mature audiences or those who would like a light enchanting read in between more serious reading. This is quite different from my usual picks, but I am glad I picked it up.

Many thanks to author Chris Tomasini and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this engaging fantastical story. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

"I hope by then that Tycho’s name is legend not only as a teller of stories, but as the founder of a movement. My friend may work miracles, but he is, after all, one boy, and love, it would seem, requires a crusade-a crusade fought with kindness and generosity, and acclaimed by the joyous bells of a thousand city squares: bells which ring out across blue horizons, telling a continent to close its eyes, to dream beautifully and to wake with hope."… (mehr)

FROM NETGALLEY: Set in early 1400s Europe, Close Your Eyes is a sincere, yet light-hearted and lustful, ode to love. As Samuel, the court jester, struggles to describe why his friends, Agnieszka the cook, and Tycho the story-teller, fled the King of Gora's service, he learns that love was the beating heart behind everything that happened in the castle. He learns as well that more ghosts than he knew of walked the midnight halls, and that the spirit of Jeanne d'Arc haunted his friend, and once slid into bed with Tycho, daring him to leave - to take to the cold roads of Europe, where he had once wandered orphaned and alone, and find his destiny there.

Close Your Eyes: A Fairy Tale by Chris Tomasini is not at all what you expect it to be. From start to finish this book surprised me with how captivating it was. I found myself enjoying this book so much, especially in the way it is written. This book unfolds as a fairy tale told by Samuel and that seems to give it a certain charm. Although Samuel is only taught to read and write later in his life, his ability to share the tales of his friend gave an even more charming aspect to this story as a whole. The book is well written and the characters are interesting and so easy to empathize with that you become enchanted as you go through the various tales of each character. You truly wish to know more and see more of their lives and what they’ve been through. This book was really beautifully done and I would highly recommend it. Miche Arendse / Readers' Favorite

The technique the author uses of weaving letters and journal entries, along with the symbolic stories told by Tycho, along with the forward-moving plot told by Samuel, is remarkable and truly a unique voice in historical fiction. For a debut novelist this is a dream come true, in every sense of the word; one which will touch your heart and provide a child-like escape for a modern adult reader. While revealing the deep sorrow and pain that comes with loss, the very human elements which connect the reader to the characters, this is a tale of love... of true love, and the sacrifices which often come at the expense of great love in all its forms – brotherhood, friendship, family, loyalty, commitment, marital fidelity, passion, and hope. This book truly is a classic in the making. D.K. Marley / Historical Fiction Company

A surreal romantic odyssey that transports you to medieval-era Europe, to a time of fearsome kings, beautiful princesses, forbidden love, and politically motivated arranged marriages, Close Your Eyes is an exploration of love in a myriad of its forms. Filled with romance, courtroom drama, humor, and heartbreak, Chris Tomasini's ode to love is an enthralling read from start to finish. Pikasho Deka / Readers' Favorite… (mehr)

I enjoyed the first-person narration from Samuel, the dwarf court jester, in Close Your Eyes. It’s such a unique story with a sentimental and poetic atmosphere to it. It takes little effort to sink into the journey as Samuel shares his observations.

It seems each character in the story symbolizes a vice or vices, such as lust, gluttony, death, enslavement, etc. Tycho, the young court storyteller of Gora, is one of the most interesting and incredibly lonely characters.

This is a unique and entertaining read through medieval times and employs the imagination as a variety of characters search for true, yet elusive love. Though love is the central theme of the story, it is remote for most, offering both joyous and sullen feelings throughout. This is one of the most unique reads of the year for me.

#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.… (mehr)