Take a photo of a barcode or cover
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I could read 70'000 words about this setting. The characters were flawed but loveable, real feeling people. Felt so genuine to celtic folklore that discovering the author was American genuinely shocked me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, Stalking, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Miscarriage, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Death of parent, War, Classism
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Rebecca Ross creates the most beautiful magical worlds and has such a talent for immersing you right away without a long drawn out backstory.
I am so attached to all the characters in this book and feel like I’ve lost friends now that it’s over. The relationship between Sidra and Torin was such a lovely evolution without being overly sentimental. And, while I know Jack’s relationship with Adaira was also wonderful, I was most invested in his love for Frae and his mother.
This book had its slow moments, but it was an amazing escape and I can honestly say the twist at the end surprised me. I can’t wait to read the next one!
I am so attached to all the characters in this book and feel like I’ve lost friends now that it’s over. The relationship between Sidra and Torin was such a lovely evolution without being overly sentimental. And, while I know Jack’s relationship with Adaira was also wonderful, I was most invested in his love for Frae and his mother.
This book had its slow moments, but it was an amazing escape and I can honestly say the twist at the end surprised me. I can’t wait to read the next one!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Death of parent
Minor: Miscarriage, Sexual content
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Such wonderful & interesting worldbuilding. It was a very fantastical world with very interesting spirits and lore. I loved the plot and the characters, and the way the story unfolded was very entertaining. It does end on a huge cliffhanger though, you'll want the next one ready.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Sexual content
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It’s both really slow but also feels like some of the character development is really rushed. I’ll leave final judgement for the second book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I need to start off this review by saying that my daughter and I actually picked this book together. We were looking at my stack of unread Book of the Month books, and I was trying to find something to read after the mystery and thrill of The Rule of Three by Sam Ripley. (If you haven’t read that one, I highly recommend it too. Even if you don’t normally like mystery/thriller books like myself.) She was looking at the books and making faces at the stack of romance novels in my pile. She then looked at A River Enchanted and said “I think you should read this one. Something about the cover…” I looked up at her and said, “That’s actually why I ordered it when I saw it on Book of the Month.” Anyway, now that we’re done discussing the background of how I ended up reading this book, let’s move on to the review.
Words are not enough to describe how I feel after finishing this book. I want more. I want the sequel. I almost cried at the ending. I haven’t cried over a book in so long, and this one nearly made me do it. The relationships between the characters could be felt in every word. There were some areas where one of the marriages reminded me of my own. I could feel the strain, the frustration, the longing to build something beyond what they currently had. I was so happy they were successful in the end. Watching the characters grow through the course of the book was amazing. Although the entire thing took place in only a few weeks, like one of the characters even commented, it felt like years had passed.
I feel changed after reading this book. I feel like I found a piece of myself that I didn’t even realize was missing. I feel like I’ve found new friends and family members that I didn’t know existed. Every pain they felt, I felt. Every joy they celebrated, I celebrated with them. I am now eagerly downloading the sequel onto my Kindle using my Kindle Unlimited subscription, but I will be purchasing a physical copy as soon as I possibly can.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, War
The sex scenes are done so tastefully. This is great for people who like a little sprinkle of spice without graphic content souring their mood.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A wonderfully crafted story. The interspliced POV’s were really well done, and both romances tugged at the heartstrings. The world was vibrant and the mysteries intriguing
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book had lush prose and compelling characters. The Celtic-inspired setting and interesting magic system are definitely draws. It lost me a bit with the ending, but I enjoyed the ride.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping
Moderate: Murder, War
Minor: Sexual content
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Exceptionally written, deep and satisfying lore, characters that make your heart ache. I loved it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Self harm, Torture, Medical content
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This novel has many of the tropes I love: enemies-to-lovers, slow burn, lots of longing, gorgeous descriptions of food and clothing; additionally, the setting is lush and beautiful, with a rich lore. The plot is interesting and hints at mystery, and there are several love-based subplots. I should have loved this book. But I didn't.
It's entertaining and is, in parts, beautifully written. However, it's at best a snack, and not a very filling one. It takes some of the tropes I love and over-uses them until it made my eyes roll every time they popped up in the text--how many times can Jack rake back his hair with one hand? There are so many aching chests that this story needed a cardiologist more than it needed a bard. Every emotion is set at ten, every moment is The Most Dramatic Moment, which reduces every truly heightened emotion and moment to zero. If everything is in stereo, nothing is in stereo.
Yet the world-building is lovely and well-done. I wish it had been focused on more and there had been less romantic navel-gazing and reminiscing performed by secondary characters. The development of the main characters feels abrupt; it's handled better with the supporting characters Torin and Sidra. There is one mildly spicy scene that is well done but feels poorly placed in the narrative.
A beautiful premise that feels shallow. I won't read further into the series as it didn't enchant me.
It's entertaining and is, in parts, beautifully written. However, it's at best a snack, and not a very filling one. It takes some of the tropes I love and over-uses them until it made my eyes roll every time they popped up in the text--how many times can Jack rake back his hair with one hand? There are so many aching chests that this story needed a cardiologist more than it needed a bard. Every emotion is set at ten, every moment is The Most Dramatic Moment, which reduces every truly heightened emotion and moment to zero. If everything is in stereo, nothing is in stereo.
Yet the world-building is lovely and well-done. I wish it had been focused on more and there had been less romantic navel-gazing and reminiscing performed by secondary characters. The development of the main characters feels abrupt; it's handled better with the supporting characters Torin and Sidra. There is one mildly spicy scene that is well done but feels poorly placed in the narrative.
A beautiful premise that feels shallow. I won't read further into the series as it didn't enchant me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual content, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Murder