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espurrr's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
4.5
I found 'A River Enchanted' to be beautifully enchanting. I really enjoyed discovering all the ways the various characters were connected to each other. The romances are slow and sweet and have some of the best declarations of love I have come across. The world is richly described and seeping with magic.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infertility, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
andrea_makes's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Death, Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
capriqueen's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
A wonderfully crafted story. The interspliced POV’s were really well done, and both romances tugged at the heartstrings. The world was vibrant and the mysteries intriguing
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
styxx's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
ciwanski's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Multiple times throughout this reading experience I had to stop and wonder if I liked what I was reading or not. In the end, I guess yes? I mean, the set up for the second book was well done enough that I’m immediately going to my library to pick it up, so yeah, I liked it I guess.
However, I thought the prose was a little wonky at times, and the dialogue seemed very stilted which took me out of the reading experience quite often.
I didn’t really believe in the relationship between the two leads — I felt like it came out of nowhere, though the devotion they showed each other was cute.
The conflicts in the story also seemed a bit contrived and/or extreme??? Idk but the stakes kept rapidly changing in my eyes. There was the seriousness of the kidnappings interwoven with an Instagram therapist-esque conflict of self love that almost held the same weight?? Things felt a bit off.
The book definitely got better the further into it you got, and I was completely taken by the magic system Ross has come up with. I’m also so enamored by the quote, “I am but a verse inspired by your chorus.” Fleeting moments of beautiful language and imagery interspersed in otherwise unremarkable (eek sorry!) writing.
Very obvious Scottish backdrop as well, but I’m not sure that’s unintentional, so can’t really fault it lol
However, I thought the prose was a little wonky at times, and the dialogue seemed very stilted which took me out of the reading experience quite often.
I didn’t really believe in the relationship between the two leads — I felt like it came out of nowhere, though the devotion they showed each other was cute.
The conflicts in the story also seemed a bit contrived and/or extreme??? Idk but the stakes kept rapidly changing in my eyes. There was the seriousness of the kidnappings interwoven with an Instagram therapist-esque conflict of self love that almost held the same weight?? Things felt a bit off.
The book definitely got better the further into it you got, and I was completely taken by the magic system Ross has come up with. I’m also so enamored by the quote, “I am but a verse inspired by your chorus.” Fleeting moments of beautiful language and imagery interspersed in otherwise unremarkable (eek sorry!) writing.
Very obvious Scottish backdrop as well, but I’m not sure that’s unintentional, so can’t really fault it lol
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
Minor: Miscarriage
kwthor's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual content and Death of parent
nina_rae_131's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Miscarriage
elaineh7's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
4.0
This is a very cozy atmospheric fantasy that is super whimsical. I loved the slow burn romance. I enjoyed following the multiple povs throughout the story. The world building was really great forming this magical island.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
minnow's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This novel has many of the tropes I love: enemies-to-lovers, slow burn, lots of longing, gorgeous descriptions of food and clothing; additionally, the setting is lush and beautiful, with a rich lore. The plot is interesting and hints at mystery, and there are several love-based subplots. I should have loved this book. But I didn't.
It's entertaining and is, in parts, beautifully written. However, it's at best a snack, and not a very filling one. It takes some of the tropes I love and over-uses them until it made my eyes roll every time they popped up in the text--how many times can Jack rake back his hair with one hand? There are so many aching chests that this story needed a cardiologist more than it needed a bard. Every emotion is set at ten, every moment is The Most Dramatic Moment, which reduces every truly heightened emotion and moment to zero. If everything is in stereo, nothing is in stereo.
Yet the world-building is lovely and well-done. I wish it had been focused on more and there had been less romantic navel-gazing and reminiscing performed by secondary characters. The development of the main characters feels abrupt; it's handled better with the supporting characters Torin and Sidra. There is one mildly spicy scene that is well done but feels poorly placed in the narrative.
A beautiful premise that feels shallow. I won't read further into the series as it didn't enchant me.
It's entertaining and is, in parts, beautifully written. However, it's at best a snack, and not a very filling one. It takes some of the tropes I love and over-uses them until it made my eyes roll every time they popped up in the text--how many times can Jack rake back his hair with one hand? There are so many aching chests that this story needed a cardiologist more than it needed a bard. Every emotion is set at ten, every moment is The Most Dramatic Moment, which reduces every truly heightened emotion and moment to zero. If everything is in stereo, nothing is in stereo.
Yet the world-building is lovely and well-done. I wish it had been focused on more and there had been less romantic navel-gazing and reminiscing performed by secondary characters. The development of the main characters feels abrupt; it's handled better with the supporting characters Torin and Sidra. There is one mildly spicy scene that is well done but feels poorly placed in the narrative.
A beautiful premise that feels shallow. I won't read further into the series as it didn't enchant me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Self harm, Sexual content, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
bessadams's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent