A River Enchanted, by Rebecca Ross, is a careful, steady book full of atmosphere and surprising depth. “Earnest” is a word I might use to describe the characters, tone, and romance – but not at all dry or dull.
A River Enchanted, by Rebecca Ross
Tag: Fantasy
The Second Blind Son, by Amy Harmon
I find Amy Harmon’s writing consistently enjoyable. She is particularly good at developing engaging characters and a well-paced story, even if it spans several years, as is the case with her book The Second Blind Son.
The Once and Future Witches, by Alix E. Harrow
Alix E. Harrow’s The Once and Future Witches is beautifully written, with an adept combination of several themes and genres – historical fiction, feminism, witchcraft, family, and even coming-of-age.
Poisoned, by Jennifer Donnelly
I loved Jennifer Donnelly’s Poisoned for many of the same reasons I enjoyed her book Stepsister – it’s a heartfelt, feminist retelling of a classic fairytale, with a strong female lead and enjoyable, fleshed-out side characters.
A Deadly Education, by Naomi Novik
Fact: I had a terrible time getting through A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik. Reading it felt like being dropped into the middle of a conversation that’s in a language I don’t know. Disorienting is the only word I can think of to describe the feel and pace of this book. And yet…there are some great thematic pay-offs: coming-of-age, embrace-your-power, find-your-friends kind of stuff. And the last line? Perfection!
BOOK:30 