The Riverman Review

Title: The Riverman
Author: Aaron Starmer
Pages: 307
Version: Paperback
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

I received this book as an advance reader's edition quite a while ago and I got around to reading it recently. From the beginning, I knew I would like this book just based on the cover. The cover is absolutely amazing, it has a fantastic art style and draws you in. So then you open the book. Alistair Cleary is a normal boy for the most part. He goes to school and does anything an average boy would do. Until Fiona Loomis comes along and tells him a crazy story that isn't all that it seems to be. She wants Alistair to document her story because he's a kid that can keep a secret. However, when strange things start happening all around Alistair, he needs to unravel this mysterious story of Fiona's life. I absolutely loved this whole story, it was like a fairy tale going on in parallel to the real world with the lines being blurred and things crossing over at times and just... there's so much going on. I do think that the story did drag a bit at parts though because a lot of time felt like it passed slowly with not much going on. However, somehow it sorta worked with this book, at least it did keep my interest the whole time. I really liked the way it was written, the style overall was enjoyable to read. The one thing that bothered me the most was definitely that the ending was a cliffhanger and the next book isn't out yet. That's always really frustrating, but it was especially annoying in this book. It felt to me like the whole book was building up to this big reveal where everything would make at least a little more sense and the reader would be like "Oh, of course!" That didn't really happen in my opinion though. The plot built up and built up and built up and then it was essentially like it suddenly cut off and said "What will happen? Find out in the next episode" Which bothered me. Otherwise, it was fantastic. If you like fairy tales, definitely give this one a go, but maybe wait until the next book comes out?

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy Review

Title: Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy
Author: Karen Foxlee
Pages: 227
Version: Paperback
Publisher: Random House, Inc.

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy. So I received this book quite a while ago as an advance reader's copy. I got around to reading it a week or so ago and I'm so glad that I did. This book was really what I wanted to read at this time. It was so fantastic and really felt like an adventure. As I have been ill for over a month now, I haven't been able to get out as much as I would like to. This book though, it took me to another world. It was a really nice change of pace to get to experience this book because I tend not to read books like this too often. I think it can be enjoyed by a variety of ages as well which is great. The little illustrations separating the parts of the book actually added a lot to the overall feel of the book. I absolutely love the cover which is actually one of the reasons I decided to read this book. It does a very good job showing off what the story is like. Now to plot, essentially there is a boy called the Marvelous Boy who was chosen to go off on a journey to defeat the Snow Queen. Along the way, he is captured by the Snow Queen and needs help to defeat her which is where Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard comes in. She, her sister, and her dad arrive in a city where it never stops snowing in which there is a museum that her dad has taken a job at. While wandering the museum, she discovers the Marvelous Boy and their journey begins. I won't say much more than that so as not to ruin the story, I highly recommend going and reading it yourself. If you enjoy fairy tale sorts of books then I'm sure you will like this book. The only thing that I didn't like was the end of the book because it was a rather big cliffhanger and I am unsure as to whether the story will get a sequel or not. Either way, I think it's worth a read as it's not too long and it really is an adventure.