PositiveOpen Letters ReviewGrady Hendrix has a knack for creating characters who feel like real people ... The world feels lived-in, populated with real people who have their own real lives.
Tamsyn Muir
RaveOpen LettersThe success of Nona the Ninth hinges almost entirely on Nona. Asking readers to invest in a completely new character that they’ve never heard of before, in the third book in a series, is risky business. The character better be likeable, relatable, or compelling. Thankfully, that risk pays off. Nona is so full of life that she practically leaps off the page at you ... In a world without much hope left, Nona’s optimism and good-hearted nature make her an easy character to root for ... The narrative flows beautifully. The two stories complement each other well. Alternating between charming and playful, and angry and full of utter despair, Tamsyn Muir switches deftly between the two narratives without breaking her stride. In the two previous books in the series, the pacing and structure sometimes felt like they got in the way of the plot. That’s not an issue in this book ... a book that probably shouldn’t work. It focuses on a character never before mentioned in the narrative. There’s precious little seen of Harrow, and even less still of Gideon Nav, both characters that fans of the series have strong feelings about. To top it off, when the story begins readers find themselves nowhere near the main narrative thread of the previous book. Yet, Nona the Ninth does work partly because Nona is such a well-drawn character, but also because it’s about so much more than one girl’s journey to her true self. It is a story about identity. It’s about people choosing who they want to be and how they want to live their lives despite, or perhaps because of, the circumstances. It’s also a story about love. The love people have for life. The love people have for each other. And the wonderful and horrific things people are capable of doing because of love.
Rebecca Ross
PositiveOpen Letters ReviewThe land is lovingly and enchantingly described from the moment Jack first sets eyes on it ... The world feels busy and lived-in. There is a strong cast of supporting characters with enough backstory and presence to feel real ... If there is one thing the book struggles with, it’s Jack’s character development ... Rather than grapple with the events that force Jack to reevaluate his beliefs and life, the narrative simply skips the pesky self-reflection stage in favor of moving forward with the plot ... Nevertheless, A River Enchanted is a charming adult debut full of magic, intrigue, and romance that is sure to appeal to readers who enjoy folkloric fantasy and myths. Rebecca Ross succeeds in weaving together themes of family, loyalty, and betrayal to create a believable world where fairies exist, ghosts occasionally offer parenting advice, and music has the power to reach the spirits.
