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A review by heartbrekker
A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
“I am death. And you… You are life.”
“…Does that mean we cannot exist as one?”
“No… It means that without you, I am nothing.”
ARE is my first novel of Rebecca’s, and it stole me away within its first few pages. It’s my first five star fantasy rating of 2022, and I couldn’t be more excited to bestow that on this book. The storytelling and atmosphere of this novel are so viscerally poignant but also extremely hopeful. The hope drives this novel to its core along with love, duty, and change. Plus, the melancholy of young girls disappearing and the threat of war to the West are imminent, but so much joy is found amongst the characters. I laughed more than I expected to, and I’ll be thinking of the Old Menace for quite some time.
I would describe this novel as a modern fairytale. It feels like a story that’s been told in Grimms Fairytales or something along those lines, but it is a new 21st century release. Rebecca masterfully blends this air of history, fairytale world building into a seamless whole. If you couldn't tell, I'm quite obsessed with it. For anyone looking for comp recs, I'd say it is perfect for fans of The Starless Sea, The Binding, and Once Upon a River.
Readers will find a character that matches them within this story. Could be Sidra or Adaira… Maybe Jack. Mirin possibly. Torin for sure. Each of them have a role to play in this story because they’re so individual and drenched in self discovery. I simply loved the breath of their personalities and head spaces.
Anyway, I’m going to impatiently but patiently wait for A Fire Endless, and I’m praying to all the spirits on Cadence that it does release in December like Goodreads says. In the meantime, I’ll be devouring all of Rebecca’s other novels.
Thank you Harper Voyager for a finished copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
“…Does that mean we cannot exist as one?”
“No… It means that without you, I am nothing.”
ARE is my first novel of Rebecca’s, and it stole me away within its first few pages. It’s my first five star fantasy rating of 2022, and I couldn’t be more excited to bestow that on this book. The storytelling and atmosphere of this novel are so viscerally poignant but also extremely hopeful. The hope drives this novel to its core along with love, duty, and change. Plus, the melancholy of young girls disappearing and the threat of war to the West are imminent, but so much joy is found amongst the characters. I laughed more than I expected to, and I’ll be thinking of the Old Menace for quite some time.
I would describe this novel as a modern fairytale. It feels like a story that’s been told in Grimms Fairytales or something along those lines, but it is a new 21st century release. Rebecca masterfully blends this air of history, fairytale world building into a seamless whole. If you couldn't tell, I'm quite obsessed with it. For anyone looking for comp recs, I'd say it is perfect for fans of The Starless Sea, The Binding, and Once Upon a River.
Readers will find a character that matches them within this story. Could be Sidra or Adaira… Maybe Jack. Mirin possibly. Torin for sure. Each of them have a role to play in this story because they’re so individual and drenched in self discovery. I simply loved the breath of their personalities and head spaces.
Anyway, I’m going to impatiently but patiently wait for A Fire Endless, and I’m praying to all the spirits on Cadence that it does release in December like Goodreads says. In the meantime, I’ll be devouring all of Rebecca’s other novels.
Thank you Harper Voyager for a finished copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.