A review by readingonthefly
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

The Frozen River is everywhere right now, and rightfully so. I will admit I’m not generally one to read books with murder. I’m more of a romance girlie but the second I saw the main character being compared to Claire Fraser of Outlander, I knew I needed to read it.

Martha Ballard is a healer and midwife in 1700s Maine. She is strong willed, fierce, independent, outspoken, and confident. She has delivered hundreds of babies and knows what she’s doing. She keeps track of it in her journal, along with the weather and where she’s been each day. While helping the women of her town, she unfortunately has to deal with some “know it all” men and the unjust court system. You will find yourself rooting for the good people of Hallowell and hoping for justice.

This book doesn’t only focus on Martha Ballard and delivering babies, but also on her family, the town of Hallowell, and the frozen Kennebec River. 

There are MANY trigger warnings to this book, feel free to message if you have any questions or concerns. 

I absolutely LOVED this book. The writing is what stood out to me the most. I also loved the medical aspect of the book and following along with Martha and her patients. I was able to fly through this book, which was a problem because it ended too quickly. I could have read double what was written because it was so so good. This is the type of historical fiction I wish there was more of!

5 GLOWING ⭐️
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