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asienerbrown's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Kidnapping
Minor: Violence
linneak's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Kidnapping, and Blood
Moderate: Murder, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Medical content, Death of parent, Rape, Sexual content, Miscarriage, War, Drug use, Self harm, and Grief
bg_oseman_fan's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-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
5.0
This book was really fun. i enjoyed how the mystery unfolded for the characters. it sat right in the fun spot of being able to figure things out just ahead of the characters. i found the characters to be fun to read. each pov characters felt well developed and unique. the side characters did as well. i was gripped the whole time waiting to see what would happen next. can’t wait to read the next book. it’s been moved to the front of my tbr
Content Warnings
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Death, and Violence
Minor: Gore, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infertility, Alcohol, Death of parent, Miscarriage, and Blood
spaghettii's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Violence, Alcohol, Abandonment, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Murder, and War
cassiealexandra's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
4.5
In 2023, I decided that Rebecca Ross would be my new-to-me author to read. I barely made it, finishing this on the last day of the year.
There was a lot to love about this one, and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author. The thing that shines here is the atmospheric and descriptive writing. Ross can really turn a phrase beautifully. I loved the setting of the Isle of Cadence and, while still fantasy, the nods to Scotland. I also really enjoyed those fantasy elements with the Folk, the spirits controlling each of the elements, and the enchantments of items. I was disappointed there wasn’t more that this. My favorite characters were Torin and Sidra with the exploration of their complicated marriage of convenience made more complicated by Maisie (Torin’s daughter, Sid’s step-daughter). I wondered why I felt so connected to them rather than Jack and Adaira, whom I’d expected would be the “main characters.” After reading the author’s note and understanding that Torin and Sidra were the first characters that “came to her” in her writing, I realized that perhaps my deeper connection with them was not imagined, but actual.
I did have a few items that didn’t work so well for me. The first was that I wanted more understanding of Jack and Adaira. I could see there were unresolved feelings from their childhood friendship turned rivalry, but those feelings resolved almost too quickly for me in their adult life. This brings me to a related issue in the timeline and pace feeling “off,” or maybe just hard for me to wrap my head around. There were a few times when it felt impossible to judge how much time had passed. It seems like everything in this book happens over the course of 4-6 weeks, which felt quick for some of the plot points (Jack-Adaira case in point). I say that the plot moved quickly, but the final item that wasn’t the best fit for me was pace. Somehow it felt both fast and slow. I felt as if I was drifting along a river or listening to one of Jack’s ballads, heading toward some resolution and not sure when I’d get there. The writing was so atmospheric that it lacked character development for me. I felt like I was floating on the surface of something more and held in suspension. My hope is that this feeling will resolve with the second book in this duology.
The bottom line: I enjoyed this very much and am looking forward to more from this author, but had some slight issues with pace and character development.
— NOTES —
Genres: fantasy
POV: third-person, multiple
Content: child disappearances, past death of loved ones
Romance: 2 very vaguely descriptive, nearly fade-to-black scenes
— MY RATING CONSIDERATIONS —
(all out of 5)
Pace: 4
Enjoyment: 5
Craft: 5
My Gut Feeling: 4.5
Total Stars: 4.625
There was a lot to love about this one, and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author. The thing that shines here is the atmospheric and descriptive writing. Ross can really turn a phrase beautifully. I loved the setting of the Isle of Cadence and, while still fantasy, the nods to Scotland. I also really enjoyed those fantasy elements with the Folk, the spirits controlling each of the elements, and the enchantments of items. I was disappointed there wasn’t more that this. My favorite characters were Torin and Sidra with the exploration of their complicated marriage of convenience made more complicated by Maisie (Torin’s daughter, Sid’s step-daughter). I wondered why I felt so connected to them rather than Jack and Adaira, whom I’d expected would be the “main characters.” After reading the author’s note and understanding that Torin and Sidra were the first characters that “came to her” in her writing, I realized that perhaps my deeper connection with them was not imagined, but actual.
I did have a few items that didn’t work so well for me. The first was that I wanted more understanding of Jack and Adaira. I could see there were unresolved feelings from their childhood friendship turned rivalry, but those feelings resolved almost too quickly for me in their adult life. This brings me to a related issue in the timeline and pace feeling “off,” or maybe just hard for me to wrap my head around. There were a few times when it felt impossible to judge how much time had passed. It seems like everything in this book happens over the course of 4-6 weeks, which felt quick for some of the plot points (Jack-Adaira case in point). I say that the plot moved quickly, but the final item that wasn’t the best fit for me was pace. Somehow it felt both fast and slow. I felt as if I was drifting along a river or listening to one of Jack’s ballads, heading toward some resolution and not sure when I’d get there. The writing was so atmospheric that it lacked character development for me. I felt like I was floating on the surface of something more and held in suspension. My hope is that this feeling will resolve with the second book in this duology.
The bottom line: I enjoyed this very much and am looking forward to more from this author, but had some slight issues with pace and character development.
— NOTES —
Genres: fantasy
POV: third-person, multiple
Content: child disappearances, past death of loved ones
Romance: 2 very vaguely descriptive, nearly fade-to-black scenes
— MY RATING CONSIDERATIONS —
(all out of 5)
Pace: 4
Enjoyment: 5
Craft: 5
My Gut Feeling: 4.5
Total Stars: 4.625
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Kidnapping
jg34's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I have no complaints!! Loved both couples featured, the lore, the writing, the plot, everything! The audio is especially good if you like Scottish accents (I do).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Death of parent
redheadorganist's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Confinement, War, and Sexual content
secondhandbookshelves's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-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? Yes
4.5
Heartbreaking and beautiful with wonderfully characters and enchanting writing.
Ends surprisingly and I highlighted so many bits.
Immediately buying book two.
Ends surprisingly and I highlighted so many bits.
Immediately buying book two.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Kidnapping, Violence, and Death
Minor: Abandonment, Infertility, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Miscarriage, and War
warlocksarecool21's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.5
A River Enchanted was absolutely stunning, a perfect mix of coziness, mystery, and folklore. Rebecca Ross’ writing is so beautiful, I found myself so captivated by the magic, the island and the characters. I felt like I was reading an old fairytale, the magic and the lore was so rich and intriguing. I loved the presence of music and poetry in the world as well.
All of the characters in this story were so compelling as well. I adored Sidra and I thought Torin was such an interesting character. Sidra’s struggles with her faith and the journey she went on to heal her grief was so well done and impactful. I also really enjoyed watching grizzly Torin grow and change for the better.
I did love Jack and Adaira but I felt like Sidra and Torin’s relationship had more depth. I did like the juxtaposition of the two relationships, how Sidra and Torin grew to love each other so deeply despite their faults and initial arrangement. Whereas Adaira and Jack were always destined to be together in whatever capacity. I really hope to see Jack and Adaira’s relationship grow more in the next book, despite the challenges that lay before them.
All of the characters in this story were so compelling as well. I adored Sidra and I thought Torin was such an interesting character. Sidra’s struggles with her faith and the journey she went on to heal her grief was so well done and impactful. I also really enjoyed watching grizzly Torin grow and change for the better.
I did love Jack and Adaira but I felt like Sidra and Torin’s relationship had more depth. I did like the juxtaposition of the two relationships, how Sidra and Torin grew to love each other so deeply despite their faults and initial arrangement. Whereas Adaira and Jack were always destined to be together in whatever capacity. I really hope to see Jack and Adaira’s relationship grow more in the next book, despite the challenges that lay before them.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Violence, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Grief
Minor: Blood, Abandonment, Death of parent, and Death
rayreyes's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Wow wow wow. Killer. I’m so grateful I came across this book because of an instagram post by another favorite author. Truly fantastical and enthralling. I’ll sing this book’s praises all year. Reads like this give new weight to a five star read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
Minor: Stalking, Grief, Torture, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Child death, Abandonment, War, and Miscarriage