1908: The Lowcountry of South Carolina is at the cusp of change. Mayfield, the grand estate held for generations by the Rivers family, is the treasured home of young Eliza. A free spirit, she refuses to be confined by societal norms and spends her days exploring the vast property, observing wildlife, and riding horses. But the Great War, coastal storms, and family turmoil bring unexpected challenges to Eliza, putting her on a collision course with the patriarchal traditions of a bygone era. 1988: At 88, Eliza is the scion of the Rivers/DeLancey family. She's fought a lifetime to save her beloved Mayfield and is too independent and committed to quietly retire and leave the fate of the estate to her greedy son. She must make decisions that will assure the future of the land and her family—or watch them both be split apart.
Immersive ... With lush descriptions of the Carolina Lowcountry and Eliza's adventures with her brothers and friends, Monroe paints an idyllic picture of a privileged childhood ... Monroe weaves Eliza's fictional history into the larger narrative of the Deep South, and explores the effects of familial expectations, the weight of racism and sexism, and the enduring power of friendship and love ... Sweeping and sensuous, Where the Rivers Merge is a layered family saga and an insightful exploration of one woman's efforts to honor the past while remaining open to change.
The narrative flows effectively as it switches from past to present ... We grow to admire Eliza ... The writing is lovely, and Eliza's voice helps us understand her as a girl and then as a young woman who was denied her heart's desire ... There's romance, love, heartache, war, death, friendships made and friendships destroyed, and disappointments galore. Through it all, we see Eliza grow and mature and make the best of the cards that fate has dealt her ... I must admit that when the book ended a bit abruptly, I was disappointed. But only because by that time I was completely invested in Eliza's story ... We can look forward to learning how she accomplished all that she did in the sequel. And we can be assured that Monroe will continue to demonstrate the importance of conservation and protecting our wild places.
Monroe, a skillful writer, ends the novel in medias res and leaves readers anticipating part two of the saga. It is a thoughtful work that her fans and those who prize stories about preserving nature and heritage will enjoy.
