Once Upon a River

Alice, Ann or Amelia. Everyone claims the fey, elfin child - but do they really know her?

The river Thames winds inexorably through the centre of this novel, drawing together the good, the not-so-good and the downright wicked characters into a gripping story. And it is like a story, not a novel - it draws on the oral narrative tradition, a story about story telling. About lies and truths and how they can affect our perception of life around us.

Diane Setterfield is clearly a skilled writer, I found her descriptive prose evocative and enticing. She was able to create a real sense of a time and place that was inherently believable - the references to the daily lives of the characters, the photographic process, midwifery, nursing and the new science of Darwin - all helped to create this feeling.

I also found little to disappoint in the characters. In fact, I was left wanting to know even more about them. The women in particular I felt were well created. In Lily White, the brutality of Victorian Britain and its treatment of women, pitched against the strength of Bess, Rita and Margot - each dealing with their own difficulties. The men varied from heroic to the downright villainous - but all with reasons and motivations that rung true.

All in all, I would recommend this book as a book that will draw you in and submerge you in its world.

There have been tons of positive reviews that I have read about this book in the past few months, but none of them could have prepared me (thankfully) for the ride that it was. If taken apart as bare bones the tale may not bear up and therefore I shall not try to do that. It is how the tale is told that is its claim to beauty and something higher. The narration appeals to both my mind and heart and it felt like I was flowing with that river that is ingrained into everything that is talked about in the book. There is a double meaning for all the people, their actions and the events that includes the mention of the river and I got it. To those who read, this might be a very crucial point, that you feel like you can see the point the author is trying to make.

As I began the first chapter and the town was introduced, I paused and had to catch hold of the person standing nearest to me (luckily it was my mother) to read out the introductory paragraph to show her how stories are meant to be written. She nodded the appreciation and that was enough for me. I went back to my corner to read it. Since I was mid journey(in reality), it took me a while to finish. I deliberately slowed down my reading pace so that I could savour it. This is a very big deal for me as most people who know me would understand, I fidget if I would have to read a book too slowly. This book leaves no room for fidgeting. The story begins with a tale, and the arrival of almost dead pair of (possibly)strange people. Their arrival heralds a very big change in all their lives, most of them good but a secret festers. This secret is slowly peeled aside as each layer is explained to us till it all makes sense. Some of it is pure logic and a chunk of it requires us to believe in a bit of something beyond logic. Time is suspended as you get involved in the lives of all the villagers, a few vital to the story at hand a few others just to give us the colour of the landscape. 

I highly recommend this book to all those who strive to find beautiful narration in the books that they read.

Setterfield is a master storyteller. Her words are mesmerising and the characters and story are an intriguing and captivating mix of folklore, mystery and provincial English nosy gossiping neighbours. A delightful and enchanting tale. Highly recommended.

I was fortunate to be accepted to read and review 'Once upon a River' by Netgalley and I was elated to finally start reading. Within the first few pages I was fully swept up in the magic... However, a few more and all magic was lost. You're introduced to many different characters - most who really aren't of any significance to the story, but all of which had really LONG descriptive pieces about them and their life. The book flitted between this characters every few pages, and while I usually find short chapters are easier to blitz through a whole book.. this one dragged. It was an incredibly long slow burner.

Usually I can read 400+ pages in two days (with work etc) but this one took me nearly a week, and in all honesty -I had to force myself to pick it up - in some places I must admit I did skim through just to be finished quicker. While the plot was intriguing, I feel like this book would have benefit from being much shorter. The beginning and the end were great - and it was well written. But more suited to someone who likes to savour every single detail. If you like action/drama then this probably isn't the book for you.

My first book by Setterfield, but it won't be my last, very well written and I really loved how the story flowed and I was very intrigued by the plot. It was a bit iffy in the middle but otherwise it did keep me engaged and I was happy with the conclusion.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK and Diane Setterfield for an advanced
I can't lie, I very much struggled with this book at the start. The complexity and array of characters at the beginning almost had me putting this in the DNF pile.
However I am so glad that I stuck with it. What a truly wonderful and captivating story. This book is so full of magic and heart it brings you back to the wonders of fairy tales as a child. Each characters' story is brought together to end in stunning fruition.

I cannot recommend this book enough! So well written and it kept me wanting to read on to find out more! Loved the style of writing. I would love a sequel please!
#onceuponariver #netgalley

A dark midwinter’s night in an ancient inn on the Thames. The regulars are entertaining themselves by telling stories when the door bursts open on an injured stranger. In his arms is the drowned corpse of a little child. Hours later the dead girl stirs, takes a breath and returns to life.

Is it a miracle?, Is it magic? Or can it be explained by science?

Who is this little girl? To whom does she belong? Where is she from? How is she connected to the wounded man? No one can find out any answers, especially because the little girl is mute and cannot provide any information. But of course, that doesn't stop those from near and far from inventing stories that explain her situation. And while fictions grow and become more elaborate, there are three families who believe the little girl belongs to them, and each has a complicated story about how they know this to be so, stories as twisted as the Thames itself.

I have read nothing quite like Once Upon a River. A modern fairy tale? Quite a bit of suspense and mystery and wonder. We mix folklore, with storytelling, and a mystery with some magical happenings. We meet some people who have had tragedy in their lives, all with their own stories and how this young girl fit into them. A delicious gothic novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK Transworld Punishing for an advance copy in return for a fair and honest review.

Diane Setterfield’s Once Upon a River is a thoroughly captivating and enchanting read. Inspired by the Victorian River Thames photographer, Henry Taunt, the novel centres around the local inhabitants who depend on the river and their folkloric tales and superstitions surrounding its power and mystique. Skilfully crafted and powerful imagery forces the smells, tastes, and physical sensations of the river to seep into the writing. Stylised in the fairy tale genre, Once Upon A River offers tragedy, surprise, wonderfully rounded characters, as well as happy endings all round in a cleverly contrived plot.

A beautiful fairytale. Once Upon a River truly has it all, drama, crime, love, loss, magical realism, shocks, mysteries and resolutions. Setterfield has created an amazing array of characters with complex backstories and woven them together against the backdrop of the mysterious Thames. I finished reading to feel like I had just woken up from a dream.

I'm having trouble deciding what I liked most, the skillful language? The eerie setting? The fascinating characters? The overall plot? The style of telling a tale through stories? I loved it all. I enjoyed how many secrets there were to be discovered and even more that the revelations came at different times and not just in a bundle at the end. These left me feeling satisfied and every question I had was answered by the end. An absorbing, fulfilling read that will stay with me.

This is a good book and I do like Diane Setterfields writing. Some might find this slow to get in to but perserver. Totally worth it! The story is part historical fiction, a little fantasy and magical. The plot is well written and builds intrigue> it has something for all readers. I highly recommend it.

Very accomplished and the atmosphere and sense of place is terrific - I know the part of the country where it is set well. After a strong and arresting opening though, I felt that the number of different threads followed and the 'cleverness' of the structure was done slightly at the expense of the storytelling and engagement with the individual characters. I would still recommend it - but this stopped me from falling in love with it in the way that I did with THIRTEENTH TALE.

I tried and tried to get into the book. I loved the concept of it, but I had so much trouble keeping track of all the characters as there were so many. I ended up adding it to my small DNF pile. However, this said, I will try and finish it as I got to about 60%

I'm not even sure how to start to say how much I loved this book. Everything from the mysteries, the characters, the plot and the unique narration was just perfect. From the first sentence, I was pulled deeply into the world around the river. I loved how the folk tales surrounding the river were interwoven with the story, how they were spoken of as facts because that's how the locals would see it. Stories passed from mouth to mouth and seen as true despite the fact that it's more local superstition.

Stories are a massive part of this book, the way that stories were passed by word of mouth, the way that folklore and rumours were spread back then from people talking to one another and spreading the gossip. I loved to see how all the characters were connected and how they found out about the girl and what happened on the night she was found.

I loved the narration so much. The omniscient narrator connected everything back to the river, talking about the story in terms of the river and conspiring with the reader to tell the story. Often I like to fall into a book and get lost in the story, but in this case with stories at the very heart of the book, it was just the perfect way to tell the story.

Whether you want a story full of magic and mystery or a story full of scientific reasoning this is the story for you. It balances the story perfectly to explain everything reasonably as well as leaving it open for those like me who would rather believe in magic.

This is a wonderful tale full of warm and memorable characters in a magical setting, I have always found books set by a river appealing and I had enjoyed The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield so was very pleased to be read her latest novel. I had no difficulty turning the pages and was sad to finish, though the ending was definitely satisfying. I became very fond of many of the characters along the way, especially big-hearted Robert Armstrong and kindly, capable nurse/midwife Rita. I loved the writing. It drew me in and the book made me think of Dickens (without the long, complicated sentences!) as the setting and characters are so beautifully described. Sometimes I found I was re-reading a paragraph just for the beauty of the writing. There are sad scenes and happy ones, evil characters and those who are the salt of the earth. The action starts at The Swan Inn and I really wish I could go there, to witness the magical storytelling firsthand, A novel to treasure and to buy for friends.

Once upon a river is a slow meandering tale just like the River Thames which is the main part of this story .Set in the 19th century this is a very different story ,part folk tale with a little sprinkling of the supernatural .The Swan is an ancient pub situated by the Thames where folk come to tell their stories and the best ones are spread far and wide .The action happens at the beginning of the book and I did find the story very long and slow and confusing at times when the story goes off on another thread .!It is very atmospheric I could almost feel the cold damp if the Thames seeping into my bones !! Many thanks to the Publisher ,the Author and NetGalley for my review copy in return for an honest review .

Meandering and slow-paced like it's setting near the source of the Thames, Once Upon A River is a well-written modern folktale worthy of accolades. Each sentence is beautifully constructed, each character finely-wrought, and historical research is meticulous.

A mystery/folktale set in the 19th century, the novel has many point of view characters and many twists and turns, which leads to quite a slow pace of storytelling. This might not be to everyone's taste, but if you like your novels gentle yet immersive, Once Upon A River is the one for you.

Though the action of the story takes place over a year, there’s so many characters that it feels as if it’s taken longer.
Much of the story focuses on The Swan Inn, and the family who work it. We establish this place as a great setting for stories...and what unfolds over the course of the novel is the most fantastic story ever.
One evening a stranger enters the pub carrying a dead girl. The stranger is patched up, and the dead girl comes back to life. Rumours abound about the girl, and all manner of people seem to stake a claim on her.
There’s a large cast of characters, and some of them certainly are of more interest than others. Over the course of the story we learn more about many of these characters and their backgrounds.
Throughout, we are set near The Thames and it comes as close to a character as one could hope.
From the opening pages I was captivated by the writing. It certainly isn’t a thrill-a-minute read, though there’s plenty of action, and the twists and turns won’t be to everyone’s taste.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this prior to publication in exchange for my thoughts.

After reading the first few sentences of this book I knew it was for me and I fell in love.  I just knew it was going to absolutely magical, beautiful, heartbreaking.

An old Inn known for its storytelling, set on a river, midwinter, a half dead man carrying a dead child bursts through the door.  However, the child isn't dead - who is she? and what happened that night?

This story unfolds beautifully, dipping into folklore and the beliefs of the characters - of which there are many. Sometimes if there is a large cast of characters I tend to forget who is who, and their part in the story, but I didn't in this case - all of the characters are integral to each unfolding part, and I certainly felt that I knew them all well.

I'm so pleased that this was my 2019 opener book - it's beautiful - almost fairytale like (but with minor adult themes). Absolutely loved this book. I'm definitely checking out The Thirteenth Tale!

My thanks to Transworld Publishers and Netgalley for this copy

This is a well written book combining folklore with mystery..

It is set on the Thames in midwinter. The regulars of The Swan and telling each other stories and drinking ale when the door opens and a stranger enters. He has been injured but in his arms is a corpse of a young girl.
Along the river there is an awareness of something waiting to happen.
Then the little girl wakes up but who is she. There are several possibilities but only one family will get the answer they are looking for.
This book draws you in and is an ideal read for this time of year.