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A review by husnaibrahim_
A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross
4.0
Surprisingly, I ended up enjoying this book more than I initially expected.
In the first few chapters, I found myself questioning whether I should root for the main characters. Adaira's actions, making him give up everything he had worked for, were off-putting. I just kept thinking: ‘Am I supposed to root for them when she’s happy she made him give up everything he had been working for thus far to rush home only to realize he’s been misled??? These are the things that turn readers off from shipping the mc’s’. Yet, as the story progressed, my perspective changed. Adaira and Jack both grew on me, along with the side characters, Mirin and Sidra.
The bond they shared, especially the concern Jack showed for Frae, was heartwarming. I particularly loved how she looked up to him, even though he had never been in her life before. Her unwavering trust that he would save her when the 'spirits,' or rather the Breccans, came for her, was touching.
Speaking of the spirits, I found them somewhat annoying. The cryptic elements and the influence of the northern wind on them felt underdeveloped. Moreover, their immediate attraction to Adaira, with both her and Jack failing to question the repeated phrase 'it’s her,' felt like a missed opportunity.
Then the story's pace seemed to accelerate rapidly with so much happening at once - the Breccans' involvement, their knowledge of Adaira's heritage, and the complex exchanges at the end, leading to the decision to leave everything behind and venture into another world.
So at the end of the day, all of this left me feeling rather frustrated. I'm not entirely sure if I'm eagerly anticipating the second book, as it appears numerous plot points would need to be resolved swiftly, and I'm honestly uncertain if they can all be adequately addressed. I’m just not sure how much justice can be done to it.
In the first few chapters, I found myself questioning whether I should root for the main characters. Adaira's actions, making him give up everything he had worked for, were off-putting. I just kept thinking: ‘Am I supposed to root for them when she’s happy she made him give up everything he had been working for thus far to rush home only to realize he’s been misled??? These are the things that turn readers off from shipping the mc’s’. Yet, as the story progressed, my perspective changed. Adaira and Jack both grew on me, along with the side characters, Mirin and Sidra.
The bond they shared, especially the concern Jack showed for Frae, was heartwarming. I particularly loved how she looked up to him, even though he had never been in her life before. Her unwavering trust that he would save her when the 'spirits,' or rather the Breccans, came for her, was touching.
Speaking of the spirits, I found them somewhat annoying. The cryptic elements and the influence of the northern wind on them felt underdeveloped. Moreover, their immediate attraction to Adaira, with both her and Jack failing to question the repeated phrase 'it’s her,' felt like a missed opportunity.
Then the story's pace seemed to accelerate rapidly with so much happening at once - the Breccans' involvement, their knowledge of Adaira's heritage, and the complex exchanges at the end, leading to the decision to leave everything behind and venture into another world.
So at the end of the day, all of this left me feeling rather frustrated. I'm not entirely sure if I'm eagerly anticipating the second book, as it appears numerous plot points would need to be resolved swiftly, and I'm honestly uncertain if they can all be adequately addressed. I’m just not sure how much justice can be done to it.