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A review by ciwanski
A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross
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