Penelope Stephanou Delta, a writer deeply invested in Greek history and folklore, gives us a quiet gem with this one. It’s not a flashy epic, but a story that feels personal, like a secret being shared.

The Story

A young girl listens, captivated, as her grandmother tells her a beautiful and strange fairytale. It feels ancient, like it holds a piece of their world. But when she tries to find it written down, it’s nowhere. The story has no official name, no place in the books. So begins her gentle quest. She asks relatives, searches old papers, and tries to piece it together herself, all while the modern world around her seems to care less and less about these old whispers. The plot is her simple, determined search for something everyone else is letting fade away.

Why You Should Read It

This book surprised me with how much it said about big things through a small story. It’s really about what we choose to remember. Is a story only real if it’s printed in a book? Delta makes you feel the weight of that question. The grandmother and the girl feel so real—their relationship is the warm heart of the story. You’re right there with them, feeling the urgency of saving this piece of their past before it’s gone for good. It’s a love letter to oral tradition and a subtle nudge about who gets to write history.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves character-driven historical fiction or has ever felt a connection to family stories. If you liked the feeling of books like Pachinko (but on a much smaller, intimate scale) where personal lives brush against big historical changes, you’ll find a friend here. It’s a thoughtful, quick read that sticks with you, reminding you that sometimes the most important battles are fought not with swords, but with memories.