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Once Upon a River
Once Upon a River
Diane Setterfield | 2019 | Fiction & Poetry
7
6.8 (6 Ratings)
Book Rating
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

"Once Upon the River" by Diane Setterfield is a difficult book to categorize. It’s part fairy tale, part mystery, part fantasy, and has a dash of historical fiction thrown in for good measure. It revolves around a little town, its pub, its residents, and the river that flow nearby.
The residents are a colorful cast of characters. I enjoyed Setterfield’s use of the pub’s regulars and how they helped move the story along with their storytelling. Storytelling is a significant topic discussed in the story.

I found the beginning of the story confusing. I think it was because of all of the people involved in the storyline. Three separate storylines run parallel and intermingle in the story. Once I was able to keep the characters straight I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
I also listened to a preview of the corresponding audiobook and recommend that also. The narrator, Juliet Stevenson, uses different voices that allows the listener to clearly recognize that character.

I devoured Setterfield’s “The Thirteenth Tale” (my rating is 4 out of 5 stars) and now “Once Upon a River” (4 stars rating). Diane Setterfield is now an author I follow and am looking forward to her next story.
  
Show all 3 comments.
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Allison Knapp (118 KP) Jan 26, 2019

Sounds interesting. I'll have to read it

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Christine A. (965 KP) Jan 27, 2019

I haven't read Bellman & Black. I'll let you know when I read it.