blueberry_waffle29's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Sexual content, Child death, Self harm, and Violence
heatherjchin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Stalking, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, and War
Minor: Blood, Self harm, Death of parent, Murder, and Torture
fn2902's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Medical content, Infertility, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Terminal illness, Self harm, Chronic illness, and Gore
Minor: Sexual content, War, Abandonment, Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
karin_gorham's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Violence and Miscarriage
Minor: Self harm
chrisljm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Blood
Moderate: Death, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Bullying, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Medical content, Miscarriage, War, Murder, Self harm, Terminal illness, Torture, and Violence
Minor: Child abuse
jessiereads98's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
The setting of the Isle of Cadence and the magic in this book clearly take their inspiration from Scotland. I really enjoyed the world building here. The magic system is well crafted, and I appreciated the way Ross handled the cost of wielding magic. I also really enjoyed the concept of the folk here. It was well done, and the folk felt both mystical and like just another part of nature, as they should. Ross definitely got it right in creating folk who were benevolent, those who were tricksters, and those who were ambivalent. The descriptions of the setting in this book also feel magical. The surroundings are described with reverence, without it feeling overwrought.
Ross also created compelling relationships between her characters.
Spoiler
Jack and Adaira’s progression from childhood nemeses to lovers is incredibly sweet. Neither character’s development is sacrificed for the sake of their relationship. We get to see them grow together in such a tender and heartwarming way.The mystery of the missing girls is sensical, without being too easy solve. As a reader, I was able to add things up and notice the important details as things progressed, so when we reached the solution it didn’t seem to come out of nowhere. The final twist to the mystery managed to be both predictable in one way, and surprising in another. I was satisfied by the conclusion, and didn’t feel that I had been tricked for the sake of the shock value of a twist. It set up nicely to leave me looking forward to the second book in the duology, without being devastated by the cliffhanger.
A River Enchanted reads like folklore with its lyrical prose and lush setting inhabited by the folk. I can’t wait to return to the Isle of Cadence and its inhabitants in the conclusion to the duology.
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Grief, Self harm, and Injury/Injury detail
kaetheluise_nckl's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
5.0
Spoiler
marriage of convenience and enemies to friends to lovers tropes ahhhhGraphic: Child death, Sexual content, Blood, Miscarriage, Violence, Death of parent, Death, Kidnapping, Murder, and Self harm
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: War
forthesanityof1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I loved the concept and the pacing, this felt slow in the best way without hurrying to reveal its plot and its intent. I loved the nature elements and the time the author took to set the atmosphere of the book. I'm a sucker for good atmosphere and making the most of a setting, and I really think Ross is an exceptional hand at doing just that. I really enjoyed the multiple narrators and the different ways they were utilized. Torin and Sidra were gorgeous narrators, especially Sidra and her role in the plot. Her chapters during the peak conflict with the missing children has stuck with me as I sit on this book and all it brings. I was surprised with how much I liked the romance component with Jack, as I usually don't care for childhood friends/enemies/anything of the sort. However, the humanity of the narrative and the almost vicious understanding of the two characters compelled me. I was left intrigued with the end of the first book and I can't wait for the second in the duology! Also, Ross's lyricism in her prose is one of the other strong points of this book, as I genuinely kept pausing to read over lines again and again. I highly recommend!
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Self harm, Cursing, Grief, and Child death
kingsteph's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Self harm
abrich's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Self harm, Abandonment, Blood, Death of parent, Death, and Kidnapping
Moderate: War, Violence, Terminal illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Chronic illness