Saturday, September 24, 2016

*Review* Riverkeep by Martin Stewart


Genre: YA Fantasy
Published: July 26, 2016
Pages: 408

Synopsis

The Danék is a wild, treacherous river, and the Fobisher family has tended it for generations—clearing it of ice and weed, making sure boats can get through, and fishing corpses from its bleak depths. Wulliam’s father, the current Riverkeep, is proud of this work. Wull dreads it. And in one week, when he comes of age, he will have to take over.

Then the unthinkable happens. While recovering a drowned man, Wull’s father is pulled under—and when he emerges, he is no longer himself. A dark spirit possesses him, devouring him from the inside. In an instant, Wull is Riverkeep. And he must care for his father, too.

When he hears that a cure for his father lurks in the belly of a great sea-dwelling beast known as the mormorach, he embarks on an epic journey down the river that his family has so long protected—but never explored. Along the way, he faces death in any number of ways, meets people and creatures touched by magic and madness and alchemy, and finds courage he never knew he possessed.

I told my daughter this pic was being posted on my blog. She said, "Don't hashtag it." She's 5 y'all. 


Review

I received a copy of this book through Penguin's First to Read program in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a bit weird and took a little while for me to get into. I'm still not sure I fully understand the job of the Riverkeep, although he wasn't really doing it for most of the book, so that is part of my lack of understanding. And yet, I feel like what he did do could be considered part of his job in the end, because he was ultimately protecting the river, I think.

I had a hard time relating to Wulliam, but that's partially because I can't see myself doing all the brave things he did for complete strangers. I'm just not that noble.

There was a lot of crazy stuff that happened, things almost beyond imagining, but it's fantasy so that is to be expected. I would definitely be interested in reading more books set in this world. I think Tillinghast could definitely be an interesting character to follow more closely.

Overall I give Riverkeep 4.5 out of 5 stars. - Katie 

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