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This haunting tale of family, secrets & storytelling is the next Big Library Read pick

What if the stories of your ancestors weren’t just memories—but something more?

The Storyteller's DeathIn The Storyteller’s Death, Isla Larsen Sanchez is sent to Puerto Rico after her father’s death, where she discovers a chilling family legacy: the women in her family are storytellers—but they don’t just tell stories; they see them. And once a story is told, it becomes real.

As Isla begins to witness haunting visions of her ancestors’ lives, she’s pulled into a mystery that spans generations. With each story she uncovers, she edges closer to a truth that could either set her free—or trap her forever.

For exclusive bonus content, including an unpublished prologue and epilogue from the author, check out this special note from author Ann Dávila Cardinal.


“A beautiful book about family, memories, and the power of stories.” —BuzzFeed

Read now with no holds or waiting

From July 17–31, you can borrow the ebook or audiobook (or both!) of The Storyteller’s Death by Ann Dávila Cardinal with no wait lists or holds in the Libby app. It's all free with your library card as a part of Big Library Read, the first global ebook club.

What is Big Library Read?

Big Library Read is a reading program through your library that connects readers around the world with the same book at the same time without any wait lists or holds.

It’s a worldwide digital version of a local book club, and it’s free through your local library. All you need to get started reading is a library card!

❤️ Why you’ll love this pick:

  • Magical realism + family drama
  • A coming-of-age story rooted in Puerto Rican culture (and it was an International Latino Book Award Gold Medal Winner!)
  • A gripping mystery that unfolds through generations of women
  • No waiting! Start reading right now.

💬 Join the conversation: Dive into the story with readers around the world through the Big Library Read online discussion board. Share your thoughts, theories, and favorite moments.

✉️ Go deeper into the story with discussion questions for your book club and a letter from the author.

📖 Ready to read? Open Libby, borrow the ebook or audiobook instantly, and start your journey into Isla’s world of secrets and spirits.

Hear from the author, Ann Davila Cardinal:


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*Title availability may vary.

The next book club pick will be announced soon. Get notified about the next selection (plus get tons of great book recs while you wait!) by subscribing to Libby Life.

Published Jul 15, 2025

Annie Suhy

Annie Suhy is the editor of Libby Life. When she’s not working, practicing yoga, or petting cats, she’s doing paint-by-numbers and buying more plants. An avid poetry fan, her favorite collection is The Splinter Factory by Jeffrey McDaniel. She is an Aries.