Discover some of the places from the book with photos and reels in the Mini Travel Guides - Category Azores

Azores: The Storyteller’s Photo Guide by Joana Kruse is a travel narrative and photographic exploration that brings the Azores to life in a refreshingly creative way. Instead of following a standard guidebook format, the book unfolds through the whimsical, often humorous journey of two characters, Brian and Joana, who act as our stand-ins for discovery. Their experiences are interwoven with striking visuals, cultural insights, and a clear reverence for the geological and historical depth of the nine islands. Kruse’s writing balances factual information with storytelling, grounding each island’s personality in both local legends and lived experiences. For instance, São Miguel evolves from being merely the “Green Island” to a vibrant landscape rich with stories of volcanic history, community traditions, and unexpected pineapple quests. Each location is introduced through vibrant narratives and photography that captures the scenery and the atmosphere.

The book’s structure invites readers to explore the Azores leisurely and immersively. Each chapter is color-coded and includes essential travel tips, hidden gems, and suggested timeframes, maintaining the playful tone that makes it feel like you’re traveling with a couple of quirky and endearing companions. The photos complement the storytelling beautifully, showcasing lush botanical gardens and surreal volcanic vistas. Most impressive is how Joana Kruse manages to convey the soul of the islands through fiction and reality. Her own experiences inform the narrative, but using fictionalized travelers allows for more creative engagement. QR codes throughout the book lead to more breathtaking photographs available for purchase. Azores: The Storyteller’s Photo Guide gives you an idea of how it might feel to be there. It’s an engaging read and a feast for the eyes. I highly recommend it.

I read Joana Kruse’s previous book, a photo guide to Scotland, and I enjoyed it immensely. Its combination of storytelling and photography made for a unique and engaging approach to the travel guide genre. Her latest book, Azores – The Storyteller’s Guide: A Photographic Tale Across The Islands Of Fire and Flowers, takes a similar approach with the Azores, an archipelago of volcanic islands off the coast of Portugal. By combining stunning photography, entertaining stories, and truly helpful travel information, the book offers inspiration to both seasoned and novice travelers seeking detailed information about a locale that is off the beaten track for most tourist destinations. The Azores and its people are, simply put, brought to life in this beautifully crafted guide.

Without a doubt, my favorite part of Azores – The Storyteller’s Guide is its lovely photography. The subject of each photograph is chosen to stir the imagination, whether it captures a crater lake, a volcanic rock cliff, black and white Baroque architecture, or more modern sustainable building styles. The stories also add much to the book by providing a sense of Azorean culture and the warmth of its people. Furthermore, the stories give Joana Kruse the chance to poke fun at her traveling companion, Brian, whose misadventures add humor to the travelogue. Even the tips for safer and more comfortable travel are quite practical for those readers considering a vacation to the Azores. For myself, a mere armchair traveler, they had less value, though I can still dream of such an adventure, can’t I?

Author Joana Kruse certainly knows how to turn the tiniest everyday moments into meaningful storytelling hooks, encouraging readers to be inspired by every scene she introduces in this fantastic book. I’m an avid traveler and someone who loves to see art and culture whilst I’m away, so this book was the perfect fusion of art, travel, and storytelling for me. This guidebook feels like a journey in itself, and better yet, it’s one you can escape to without even leaving your armchair. There’s a tenderness and enthusiasm to the text that’s also echoed in the framing of every image. Kruse captures the heart and soul of the Azores through both lens and language to offer a read that’s truly rich with personality and depth. The organization of information is visually stunning and wonderfully informative, and it feels like the natural voyage of discovery that you might take, making for a refreshing alternative to formulaic travel guides that’s ideal for dreamers and planners alike. Overall, Azores: The Storyteller’s Photo Guide is a highly recommended read for travel fans.

“We are Azoreans. We endure.” Joana Kruse’s Azores - The Storyteller's Photo Guide is a spectacular mix of travel tips, local lore, and incredible photography. The breakdown of visits to each island in the Azores is thoughtfully compiled and gives invaluable information on logistics, like how to get there, where to stay, and what to do, which is the more practical side of the guide for travelers. The full-color photography marries those two components together so a reader can visualize what Kruse is sharing. However, the pièce de résistance of Kruse's work is her remarkable storytelling. Through meetings with locals, she conveys to us stories like the touching tale of Sarah’s search for family on Graciosa and Camilo’s brilliant descriptions of Santa Maria. In this and others, Kruse not only paints a picture of the pure beauty of the islands but also of their rich, ingrained history and culture. Overall, readers are invited to connect deeply with the people and places of the Azores, making it both a travel guide and a heartfelt journey. Very highly recommended.