Reviews

Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield

red_carrot_panda's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

sarahrogerlund's review against another edition

mysterious reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

annalaurasw's review against another edition

5.0

I’m so glad I gave this book a second shot, I absolutely fell in love with the characters and the way their stories wove in and out through each other. Not quite historical fantasy but with an air of folktales and mystery, this was a really engrossing read I look forward to revisiting in future.

heartsdesire's review against another edition

2.0

Upon 30-40% the story disinterests me a lot so I just bounce on pages until it finishes.

nwordsmith's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced

4.75

This was a masterfully crafted fairytale melding aspects of the uncanny and ordinary life seamlessly. It is never quite certain if the events are infused with a touch of the magical or merely things that really could happen. After reading it, I’m inclined to think it is both. As Neil Gaiman says, it doesn’t stop being magic just because you know how it works. I appreciated the cyclical nature of the story and how the narrative itself seemed the mirror the river in its ebb and flow ever onward. Beautiful imagery. Lovely prose. Incredibly well done. 

anna_ni's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

zoekitch's review against another edition

3.0

It was okay. I can see how somebody into slower more elusive books would enjoy, but not kicky enough for moi
some of the storylines and characters were cute, some lowkey didn’t add a ton..

librarian_kj's review against another edition

5.0

Bumped from 4 to 5 stars because I just can’t stop thinking about the beautiful storytelling of this book.

jaredrlopatin's review

dark mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

sylvieb's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious slow-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

4.0