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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
3.5 I almost abandoned this book after its slow beginning, but I'm glad I didn't! There were some lengthy descriptive passages that I skimmed but otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of the mystery and community surrounding the river.
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
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
I don't know what I was expecting this novel to be, but it did not align to what I thought it should be about (based solely on the cover). That being said, this novel of storytelling, love, nature, and imagination was unique in every aspect. Like the flow of a river, I had no idea where the story was going to take me and I certainly didn't come close to predicting the end. The two central figures in this novel are the Swan (a nice little pub where storytelling is the highest form of currency) and the river. One ordinary night as the drinks were flowing, a man stumbled in and immediately passed out due to injuries, with him is a young girl of four; cold and dead. When Rita the local doctor is called for she patches up the injured man and sets the girl outside.... only to realize that the young dead girl is no longer dead. The tale of this miraculous girl grows and spreads. Where did she come from? How did she come back from the dead? What has the river done? Fascinating tale that ebbs and flows with multiple narrators and perspectives.
This was an interesting but I assume eventually forgettable book. I enjoyed most of the characters and the story weaves its way about with a satisfactory ending. I didn’t mind the many references to the river, though it got a bit old.
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Fantastic story, superb narration by Juliet Stevenson.
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
So this book was fantastic! I loved it, 10/10 recommend. The idea of the story being multiple stories intertwined has started growing on me, I used to hate it but honestly in this book it’s done so skilfully that I am in love. It reached the perfect conclusion, wherein it wasn’t all happy go lucky but it felt … finished. The characters, the setting, all of it was perfect.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No