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River & Salt #1
The River She Became
A high stakes, action-packed romantasy from bestselling author Emily Varga where a relic-hunter searches for an ancient fae object to restore the magic to her world, but must learn to trust her own powers—and her heart.
"[Narrator Safiyya] Ingar commands the listener's attention with her consistent pace and complete commitment to Dania's wrath." —Kirkus on For She Is Wrath
I’m going across the River. And I’m going to save us all.
Yaseema is a brilliant scholar and loyal servant of the Empire—or so they think. By day, she catalogs the fae relics of her conquered kingdom. But by night, she reclaims the artefacts in secret to restore magic to her dying land.
Until she finds the long lost key to cross the River into the fae world and save her people. But a ruthless realm awaits her there, ruled by monsters wearing beautiful skin—especially the cold-eyed captain who sees through her lies. But even he isn’t what he seems—under the guise of upholding a cruel regime, he works to overthrow it from the inside. To succeed, he needs the same lost relic Yaseema the crown of an ancient Fae Queen.
With magic that is a mystery even to her, Yaseema can help him find the crown and save his family from a fate worse than death. Unless she steals it first to help her own.
To survive, they must work together to outwit ancient curses, battle creatures born of nightmares, and find a power that could resurrect their worlds. But as secrets unravel and loyalties blur, they face the greatest danger of losing their heart to each other.
Perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and The Mummy, this thrilling start to a new fantasy duology bursts with dangerous romance, heart-stopping twists, and a heroine who dares to steal back her future.
"[Narrator Safiyya] Ingar channels Dania’s relentless fury, emotionally committing to the text and commanding listeners’ attention to Dania’s journey for revenge." —Book Trib on For She Is Wrath
A Macmillan Audio production from Wednesday Books
"[Narrator Safiyya] Ingar commands the listener's attention with her consistent pace and complete commitment to Dania's wrath." —Kirkus on For She Is Wrath
I’m going across the River. And I’m going to save us all.
Yaseema is a brilliant scholar and loyal servant of the Empire—or so they think. By day, she catalogs the fae relics of her conquered kingdom. But by night, she reclaims the artefacts in secret to restore magic to her dying land.
Until she finds the long lost key to cross the River into the fae world and save her people. But a ruthless realm awaits her there, ruled by monsters wearing beautiful skin—especially the cold-eyed captain who sees through her lies. But even he isn’t what he seems—under the guise of upholding a cruel regime, he works to overthrow it from the inside. To succeed, he needs the same lost relic Yaseema the crown of an ancient Fae Queen.
With magic that is a mystery even to her, Yaseema can help him find the crown and save his family from a fate worse than death. Unless she steals it first to help her own.
To survive, they must work together to outwit ancient curses, battle creatures born of nightmares, and find a power that could resurrect their worlds. But as secrets unravel and loyalties blur, they face the greatest danger of losing their heart to each other.
Perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and The Mummy, this thrilling start to a new fantasy duology bursts with dangerous romance, heart-stopping twists, and a heroine who dares to steal back her future.
"[Narrator Safiyya] Ingar channels Dania’s relentless fury, emotionally committing to the text and commanding listeners’ attention to Dania’s journey for revenge." —Book Trib on For She Is Wrath
A Macmillan Audio production from Wednesday Books
Audible Audio
First published June 30, 2026
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Do you remember that time on 19 October 2025, at 9:30 a.m. to be precise, when a group of people used a construction lift, took an angle grinder to a first-floor window at the Louvre, liberated the French Crown Jewels and took off on scooters, within seven minutes?
(Stay with me here. This is relevant to this book, I'm going to segway, I promise.)
I remember. And my first reaction wasn’t outraged. Amused, yes, entertained, yes, delighted, hell yes. And if your reaction, like many others, was like mine, for example:
"Holy shit, this fucking rules."
"Hell yeah. Do the British Museum next."
Or even:
"Hang on... where did France get those Crown Jewels in the first place?"
Then yes. You were attuned to a broader conversation: Many of the sapphires, emeralds, diamonds and other gemstones adorning European royal collections originated in Asia, Africa and South America, where centuries of colonial extraction enriched European empires. It opens up the question of whether those artefacts should be behind glass and guarded fiercely by Western museums at all, especially if they're colonial-looted and original owners are able to take ownership of their own heritage.
It's fair to say I'm not a big fan of colonialism or colonisation. I think it's pretty gross. Whether it’s conflict and blood diamonds, gas and fossil fuel giants extracting countries natural resources and tax evasion, forced displacement of original inhabitants, or just the good ol’ slavery or genocide (that was sarcasm if you didn’t get it, those things are not good).
And it turns out anti-colonialism is almost the entire thematic backbone of Emily Varga's YA fantasy romance novel, so it was a great fit for me. Varga explores relic repatriation (I saw someone else call it a reverse Indiana Jones, lol) and returning stolen artefacts and cultural identity to the people and places it was taken from. I can tell Varga is writing this from a place of empathy and distress at the current state of the world as well as centuries of injustices and I could feel her emotions coming through, which in turn really absorbed into me.
Anyway, I listened to an audio copy, narrated by Safiyya Ingar and she narrated it beautifully and expressively. I will say that there is a FMC and MMC, and Safiyya narrates both POVs in the copy I listened to. I admit I would've preferred a dual cast purely for immersion purposes and to make the 7 foot fae male narration more authentic, but I mean, look. The one narrator still did a fab job and yes, I recommend the audio version. However, if the single narrator for a dual POV puts you off, I would recommend checking out the print or e-pub version because the story itself is also really adventurous, exciting and YA-romantic.
Yaseema, our FMC is a curly-haired, bespectacled, clever, bookish, beautifully dark-skinned, mortal heroine and I really enjoyed that her strength comes from intelligence rather than being an overpowered chosen one. (I will always have time for a snarky overpowered FMC too, though.)
Now, where I do have some qualms: the publisher comparisons.
This is billed as perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and The Mummy. The Mummy comps hold up. However, as a Holly Black and Jude/Cardan (Jurdan) stan, I think the cruel prince marketing does The River She Became a disservice. Sure, it's a fae world and there are some similarities, but it possibly sets expectations for that Jude-and-Cardan dynamic that you won’t find here:
- Kiyan is morally grey, but he’s not Cardan Greenbriar-adjacent in temperament or arc aside from the tortured cinnamon roll morally grey fae energy. Kiyan is intriguing in his own right though.
- There’s no initial bully romance dynamic between Kiyan and Yaseema (unlike Jurdan). I perceived curiosity and a very obvious mutual intrigue and attraction from early on, and the catching feelings to relationship progression is fast, IMO. (Not a bad thing, just a very very different dynamic.)
- Yaseema and Jude are both limited with mortal human traits, they're both clever and strategic, in different ways, and I would say the similarities end there. Yaseema is much softer and way less ruthless than Jude.
-Moreover, the South Asian and SWANA inspired fae worldbuilding and culture is gorgeous and in its own wheelhouse entirely, as is the fae lore. Don't expect Elfhame or similar fae lore.
Am I reading too deep into the publisher comps and overanalysing it? Perhaps, maybe I should go touch some grass. Still, I think it’s important to set this expectation before going in so hopefully you will fall in love with the unique world Varga has created and the characters on their own merits, not because you went in expecting Jurdan and Elfhame, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, I absolutely 100% recommend this, especially if you side-eyed Margot Robbie wearing Elizabeth Taylor’s $8 million dollar Cartier necklace to The Wuthering Heights movie prem, which was taken from 17th century India.
Thanks so much to Macmillan | First Ink and Netgalley for the ALC!
﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏
Perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince & The Mummy but make it more anti-colonialism and anti-monarchy.
(Stay with me here. This is relevant to this book, I'm going to segway, I promise.)
I remember. And my first reaction wasn’t outraged. Amused, yes, entertained, yes, delighted, hell yes. And if your reaction, like many others, was like mine, for example:
"Holy shit, this fucking rules."
"Hell yeah. Do the British Museum next."
Or even:
"Hang on... where did France get those Crown Jewels in the first place?"
Then yes. You were attuned to a broader conversation: Many of the sapphires, emeralds, diamonds and other gemstones adorning European royal collections originated in Asia, Africa and South America, where centuries of colonial extraction enriched European empires. It opens up the question of whether those artefacts should be behind glass and guarded fiercely by Western museums at all, especially if they're colonial-looted and original owners are able to take ownership of their own heritage.
It's fair to say I'm not a big fan of colonialism or colonisation. I think it's pretty gross. Whether it’s conflict and blood diamonds, gas and fossil fuel giants extracting countries natural resources and tax evasion, forced displacement of original inhabitants, or just the good ol’ slavery or genocide (that was sarcasm if you didn’t get it, those things are not good).
And it turns out anti-colonialism is almost the entire thematic backbone of Emily Varga's YA fantasy romance novel, so it was a great fit for me. Varga explores relic repatriation (I saw someone else call it a reverse Indiana Jones, lol) and returning stolen artefacts and cultural identity to the people and places it was taken from. I can tell Varga is writing this from a place of empathy and distress at the current state of the world as well as centuries of injustices and I could feel her emotions coming through, which in turn really absorbed into me.
Anyway, I listened to an audio copy, narrated by Safiyya Ingar and she narrated it beautifully and expressively. I will say that there is a FMC and MMC, and Safiyya narrates both POVs in the copy I listened to. I admit I would've preferred a dual cast purely for immersion purposes and to make the 7 foot fae male narration more authentic, but I mean, look. The one narrator still did a fab job and yes, I recommend the audio version. However, if the single narrator for a dual POV puts you off, I would recommend checking out the print or e-pub version because the story itself is also really adventurous, exciting and YA-romantic.
Yaseema, our FMC is a curly-haired, bespectacled, clever, bookish, beautifully dark-skinned, mortal heroine and I really enjoyed that her strength comes from intelligence rather than being an overpowered chosen one. (I will always have time for a snarky overpowered FMC too, though.)
Now, where I do have some qualms: the publisher comparisons.
This is billed as perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince and The Mummy. The Mummy comps hold up. However, as a Holly Black and Jude/Cardan (Jurdan) stan, I think the cruel prince marketing does The River She Became a disservice. Sure, it's a fae world and there are some similarities, but it possibly sets expectations for that Jude-and-Cardan dynamic that you won’t find here:
- Kiyan is morally grey, but he’s not Cardan Greenbriar-adjacent in temperament or arc aside from the tortured cinnamon roll morally grey fae energy. Kiyan is intriguing in his own right though.
- There’s no initial bully romance dynamic between Kiyan and Yaseema (unlike Jurdan). I perceived curiosity and a very obvious mutual intrigue and attraction from early on, and the catching feelings to relationship progression is fast, IMO. (Not a bad thing, just a very very different dynamic.)
- Yaseema and Jude are both limited with mortal human traits, they're both clever and strategic, in different ways, and I would say the similarities end there. Yaseema is much softer and way less ruthless than Jude.
-Moreover, the South Asian and SWANA inspired fae worldbuilding and culture is gorgeous and in its own wheelhouse entirely, as is the fae lore. Don't expect Elfhame or similar fae lore.
Am I reading too deep into the publisher comps and overanalysing it? Perhaps, maybe I should go touch some grass. Still, I think it’s important to set this expectation before going in so hopefully you will fall in love with the unique world Varga has created and the characters on their own merits, not because you went in expecting Jurdan and Elfhame, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, I absolutely 100% recommend this, especially if you side-eyed Margot Robbie wearing Elizabeth Taylor’s $8 million dollar Cartier necklace to The Wuthering Heights movie prem, which was taken from 17th century India.
Thanks so much to Macmillan | First Ink and Netgalley for the ALC!
﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏
Perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince & The Mummy but make it more anti-colonialism and anti-monarchy.
January 30, 2026
I went into this book already a fan of Emily Varga after For She Is Wrath, but this story completely took me by surprise in the best possible way. What I loved before has deepened into full admiration. Varga doesn’t just build a fantasy world here—she builds a living, breathing one that feels painfully real in its politics, its injustices, and its emotional weight.What struck me most was how deeply human this story felt beneath all the magic.
The empire’s control over fae relics isn’t just a plot device; it feels like a slow, suffocating grip on culture, identity, and survival. Watching abundance fade from the soil while power concentrates in the Citadel was heartbreaking, and it made every choice Yaseema makes feel urgent and personal rather than purely heroic.Yaseema herself absolutely stole my heart. She isn’t perfect, and that’s exactly why I connected with her so strongly. She’s brilliant and determined, yet messy, impulsive, and grieving. Living with her nani and her rebellious cousin, she tries so hard to look like the dutiful scholar the empire wants her to be, while secretly risking everything for her people. Her love for her late mother, Mahira, is a quiet ache that runs through the story, and every step she takes toward Queen Azari’s crown feels like both a mission and a reckoning.When she discovers her rare ability to sense hidden relics and is forced to flee across the river into another realm, the story shifts from political intrigue into something almost mythic. Her encounter with the zulmi gave me chills—it felt rooted in spiritual folklore while still feeling entirely original to Varga’s world.
Then there is Kiyan. Oh, Kiyan. With his long silver hair and reluctant leadership, he is the kind of character you can’t stop thinking about. As captain of the Salt Court working under the ruthless Reza, he is trapped between protecting his people and being used as a weapon against them. His connection with Yaseema starts cautiously, then builds into something tender, complicated, and deeply forbidden.
I was rooting for them so hard my heart practically hurt.I also loved the quieter moments inside the palace—Yaseema working among the kitchen staff, befriending Mishah, trying to blend in while knowing she is a ticking target. Those scenes grounded the story and made the later betrayals land even harder.The pacing is fast without feeling rushed, filled with action, danger, emotional revelations, and twists that genuinely surprised me.
And that ending—wow. I literally wanted to scream. Realizing this wasn’t a standalone felt both thrilling and cruel because I was nowhere near ready to leave these characters.This is more than just an epic fantasy; it’s a story about loss, loyalty, resistance, identity, and what people will risk for the ones they love.
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The empire’s control over fae relics isn’t just a plot device; it feels like a slow, suffocating grip on culture, identity, and survival. Watching abundance fade from the soil while power concentrates in the Citadel was heartbreaking, and it made every choice Yaseema makes feel urgent and personal rather than purely heroic.Yaseema herself absolutely stole my heart. She isn’t perfect, and that’s exactly why I connected with her so strongly. She’s brilliant and determined, yet messy, impulsive, and grieving. Living with her nani and her rebellious cousin, she tries so hard to look like the dutiful scholar the empire wants her to be, while secretly risking everything for her people. Her love for her late mother, Mahira, is a quiet ache that runs through the story, and every step she takes toward Queen Azari’s crown feels like both a mission and a reckoning.When she discovers her rare ability to sense hidden relics and is forced to flee across the river into another realm, the story shifts from political intrigue into something almost mythic. Her encounter with the zulmi gave me chills—it felt rooted in spiritual folklore while still feeling entirely original to Varga’s world.
Then there is Kiyan. Oh, Kiyan. With his long silver hair and reluctant leadership, he is the kind of character you can’t stop thinking about. As captain of the Salt Court working under the ruthless Reza, he is trapped between protecting his people and being used as a weapon against them. His connection with Yaseema starts cautiously, then builds into something tender, complicated, and deeply forbidden.
I was rooting for them so hard my heart practically hurt.I also loved the quieter moments inside the palace—Yaseema working among the kitchen staff, befriending Mishah, trying to blend in while knowing she is a ticking target. Those scenes grounded the story and made the later betrayals land even harder.The pacing is fast without feeling rushed, filled with action, danger, emotional revelations, and twists that genuinely surprised me.
And that ending—wow. I literally wanted to scream. Realizing this wasn’t a standalone felt both thrilling and cruel because I was nowhere near ready to leave these characters.This is more than just an epic fantasy; it’s a story about loss, loyalty, resistance, identity, and what people will risk for the ones they love.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️ 4 ⭐️ This book is perfect for all the young readers who love stories about buried treasures, strong characters, reluctant allies and dangerous alliances. Coming from the same cloth and oppression, the main characters are very likable, strong and resilient. They are smart and scholarly, motivated to succeed and very supportive and understanding of each other's wants and needs. For a YA fantasy, this has exceeded my expectations. My kids and I listened to this audiobook together and they gave this story five stars. We both can't wait to find out what happens next--the ending of book one was epic and we need book two!
A little bit about this story:
Yaseema is a relic hunter who catalogues the relics in her kingdom by day while reclaiming them in secret by night in order to save her dying land. One day she finds a key that allows her to cross over into the fae realm where she meets Kiyan, a cold-eyed captain who sees through her lies. Each with a hidden agenda, they both have something to hide and something to aim for. To succeed, they must work together to outwit the ancient curses. In the midst of all the blur, their greatest danger are not the nightmares that walk their worlds but their hearts.
We loved how action packed this story was. From one adventure to the next, this book reminded me so much of The Mummy. Every action & adventure was interesting, kept us engaged and we were all rooting for Kiyan and Yaseema. The writing was excellent, everything was flowing well and towards the direction of the plot. The pacing never faltered, I thought the author threw in little reminders here and there to keep up the reader with magic/fantasy complexities. Characters were well developed; their determination to succeed and help each other was admirable. Since they came from the 'same cloth', I felt that they fitted each other well. Their drives and desires came from the same intent and they had a deeper emotional connection. This book is low spice, with a closed door scene.
This is more of a fantasy vs a romantic fantasy. I always appreciate an appropriate amount of romance and tension in a YA novel. I feel like a lot of writers and publishers tend to give more than necessary. Why not keep YA simply YA? While some readers might complain that the romance is underdeveloped here, I'd like to disagree and say that not all romance and relations need to be openly explored. This is not that type of a fantasy story. If you're looking for spice, you won't find it here; please refer to adult romantasy section!
Overall, this was a pleasant surprise and my kids and I can't wait to see how the story concludes in the next installment.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martins Press/Wednesday Books and the author, Emily Varga for an early copy!
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for an early ALC!
Narrator: Safiyya Ingar
Duration: 13 hours 31 minutes
Speed: 1.5x
Publication: June 30, 2026
A little bit about this story:
Yaseema is a relic hunter who catalogues the relics in her kingdom by day while reclaiming them in secret by night in order to save her dying land. One day she finds a key that allows her to cross over into the fae realm where she meets Kiyan, a cold-eyed captain who sees through her lies. Each with a hidden agenda, they both have something to hide and something to aim for. To succeed, they must work together to outwit the ancient curses. In the midst of all the blur, their greatest danger are not the nightmares that walk their worlds but their hearts.
We loved how action packed this story was. From one adventure to the next, this book reminded me so much of The Mummy. Every action & adventure was interesting, kept us engaged and we were all rooting for Kiyan and Yaseema. The writing was excellent, everything was flowing well and towards the direction of the plot. The pacing never faltered, I thought the author threw in little reminders here and there to keep up the reader with magic/fantasy complexities. Characters were well developed; their determination to succeed and help each other was admirable. Since they came from the 'same cloth', I felt that they fitted each other well. Their drives and desires came from the same intent and they had a deeper emotional connection. This book is low spice, with a closed door scene.
This is more of a fantasy vs a romantic fantasy. I always appreciate an appropriate amount of romance and tension in a YA novel. I feel like a lot of writers and publishers tend to give more than necessary. Why not keep YA simply YA? While some readers might complain that the romance is underdeveloped here, I'd like to disagree and say that not all romance and relations need to be openly explored. This is not that type of a fantasy story. If you're looking for spice, you won't find it here; please refer to adult romantasy section!
Overall, this was a pleasant surprise and my kids and I can't wait to see how the story concludes in the next installment.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martins Press/Wednesday Books and the author, Emily Varga for an early copy!
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for an early ALC!
Narrator: Safiyya Ingar
Duration: 13 hours 31 minutes
Speed: 1.5x
Publication: June 30, 2026
February 27, 2026
I was intrigued when I saw the Cruel Prince x The Mummy comparisons, but this ended up being a pretty basic YA romantasy read for me. I was disappointed right from the start when there was so much incoherent world building dropped onto me that I wanted to put this book down after two chapters. We meet Yaseema, a young scholar living in an occupied country. Her people are starving and her traditions are illegal, but she tries to get along with the new empire as best as possible. So she does as she is told and finds ancient artifacts and relics for the empress, only to steal them back later for her own people. Sounds good to me. The themes of colonization were great too, but the story beyond that was just messy to me. And that's the fault of the Fae that had to be part of this story for some reason beyond my understanding. You see, the artifacts are actually ancient Fae objects, and they are somehow connected to Yaseema's home, but also to the Fae lands across an impenetrable river where courts are at war and a brooding Fae prince awaits. I kinda didn't get the world building even though everything is explained in a weirdly repetitive way. I did understand that Yaseema has magic even though she lives in the human world where that should be impossible and she somehow crosses the river even though that should be impossible too. Her magic helps her to find things and to pick locks and open doors and it also protects her from harm and can heal other people when she tries really hard. In other words, her magic is whatever is convenient for the plot at the time, and it was pissing me off so badly. I wanted cool treasure hunting, but I literally got a character who can find things without even trying. That whole part did not deliver in my opinion and it was what I came here for. The characters, too, didn't stand out to me at all. Yaseema's most remarkable trait was that she was wearing glasses, which I love to see included, but not as the one thing that got stuck in my brain before everything else. I think I'm being a bit unfair in my review, though. I just didn't care for this story and after the beginning threw me off, I didn't even try. It wasn't insufferable or cringy, and I can see how it would appeal to other readers. I wasn't the most complaisant reader with this book, but I also can't be bothered to pick it up again. I'm willing to give it a mediocre 2.5 stars and be done with it.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press / Wednesday Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press / Wednesday Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.75 ★— A book advertising itself as a mix of The Mummy, a core piece of media that fuelled a bisexual awakening for me, and The Cruel Prince, one of my all-time favourites, felt like someone dangling sugar cubes in front of a horse. And yes, I am the horse in this analogy.
So when I finished this, I was ultimately a bit disappointed by what I actually got. The relic-hunting aspect didn’t feel nearly as exciting or as prominent as I had hoped, and the tension, yearning, and clashing that a Cruel Prince comparison would suggest just weren’t really there.
Yaseema, the one doing all the relic-hunting, is the main character of the story and felt pretty solid at first, with a good head on her shoulders and a determination to help save her people. I was thrown off by the amount of worldbuilding and lore crammed into the first few chapters, but once that got out of the way and one of the major themes of colonisation, which Yaseema and her people experience, was brought to the forefront, I was pretty hooked on the story. That momentum, however, was disrupted when the narrative essentially switches locations once Yaseema enters the fae lands. It felt like all that initial world and lore building I mentioned was suddenly done away with, as characters and places that had just been introduced were pushed to the wayside. The shift made everything feel oddly disconnected from what had already been established.
The story's second POV character, Yaseema's love interest and, in my opinion, the more interesting and intriguing character, is Kiyan, and he was the one I felt the story did a pretty good job of building up. His backstory, the actions he takes throughout the book, and the clear conflict and trauma he carries were portrayed well in his chapters, and I was surprised by how much more I liked him, seeing as I am usually not someone who prefers reading the male love interest in a dual POV.
All the more unfortunate, then, that I found his and Yaseema’s dynamic, once they actually met, absolutely boring. Yaseema and Kiyan are essentially on opposing sides, both trying to save their own people but forced to work against each other to do so. With the shared grievances they have, along with the deception between them, I expected tension. I expected reluctance, distrust that would slowly melt and shift and, like in any romantic story, I was expecting that shift to feel enjoyable to read.
Maybe the Cruel Prince comparison in the blurb set my expectations too high, but I just didn’t feel any of that during their time spent together. Their initial wariness felt like it was basically hand-waved away so the story could move them toward romance, and the buildup I was expecting, was almost entirely missing, leading to me genuinely feeling a little crazy when the author had them admitting feelings to each other.
That said, there were still things I appreciated! I did like the colonisation themes I described earlier, and the fact that Yaseema is living within a South Asian–inspired culture. I am always happy to see Brown and Black main characters in fantasy! I also loved that she wears glasses, which is genuinely rare in the genre and always a small win for me, a fellow glasses-wearer.
I also enjoyed the way the stolen fae relics tied into the broader themes of cultural erasure and how it was connected to environmental disruption, which is an important message! I just wish the parallels the story draws between Yaseema and Kiyan’s situations and that shared sense of loss and cultural erasure they are both dealing with had been explored more deeply.
The ending itself was interesting enough that I am curious to see where the story goes, but that isn’t enough to alleviate the overall sense of lost potential I came away with. So I'll definitely read the sequel, just with some lowered expectations.
🎧 Audiobook Notes
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo
⭐ Listener Rating: 5/5
I loved the narrator of this audiobook and thought she portrayed Kiyan’s POV just as effortlessly as she did Yaseema’s! Her tone was soothing, and the way she narrated the story was just masterful. I would definitely recommend this to any audiobook lovers who are unsure about which format to experience this story through!
________________
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
So when I finished this, I was ultimately a bit disappointed by what I actually got. The relic-hunting aspect didn’t feel nearly as exciting or as prominent as I had hoped, and the tension, yearning, and clashing that a Cruel Prince comparison would suggest just weren’t really there.
Yaseema, the one doing all the relic-hunting, is the main character of the story and felt pretty solid at first, with a good head on her shoulders and a determination to help save her people. I was thrown off by the amount of worldbuilding and lore crammed into the first few chapters, but once that got out of the way and one of the major themes of colonisation, which Yaseema and her people experience, was brought to the forefront, I was pretty hooked on the story. That momentum, however, was disrupted when the narrative essentially switches locations once Yaseema enters the fae lands. It felt like all that initial world and lore building I mentioned was suddenly done away with, as characters and places that had just been introduced were pushed to the wayside. The shift made everything feel oddly disconnected from what had already been established.
The story's second POV character, Yaseema's love interest and, in my opinion, the more interesting and intriguing character, is Kiyan, and he was the one I felt the story did a pretty good job of building up. His backstory, the actions he takes throughout the book, and the clear conflict and trauma he carries were portrayed well in his chapters, and I was surprised by how much more I liked him, seeing as I am usually not someone who prefers reading the male love interest in a dual POV.
All the more unfortunate, then, that I found his and Yaseema’s dynamic, once they actually met, absolutely boring. Yaseema and Kiyan are essentially on opposing sides, both trying to save their own people but forced to work against each other to do so. With the shared grievances they have, along with the deception between them, I expected tension. I expected reluctance, distrust that would slowly melt and shift and, like in any romantic story, I was expecting that shift to feel enjoyable to read.
Maybe the Cruel Prince comparison in the blurb set my expectations too high, but I just didn’t feel any of that during their time spent together. Their initial wariness felt like it was basically hand-waved away so the story could move them toward romance, and the buildup I was expecting, was almost entirely missing, leading to me genuinely feeling a little crazy when the author had them admitting feelings to each other.
That said, there were still things I appreciated! I did like the colonisation themes I described earlier, and the fact that Yaseema is living within a South Asian–inspired culture. I am always happy to see Brown and Black main characters in fantasy! I also loved that she wears glasses, which is genuinely rare in the genre and always a small win for me, a fellow glasses-wearer.
I also enjoyed the way the stolen fae relics tied into the broader themes of cultural erasure and how it was connected to environmental disruption, which is an important message! I just wish the parallels the story draws between Yaseema and Kiyan’s situations and that shared sense of loss and cultural erasure they are both dealing with had been explored more deeply.
The ending itself was interesting enough that I am curious to see where the story goes, but that isn’t enough to alleviate the overall sense of lost potential I came away with. So I'll definitely read the sequel, just with some lowered expectations.
🎧 Audiobook Notes
🎙️ Narration Style: Solo
⭐ Listener Rating: 5/5
I loved the narrator of this audiobook and thought she portrayed Kiyan’s POV just as effortlessly as she did Yaseema’s! Her tone was soothing, and the way she narrated the story was just masterful. I would definitely recommend this to any audiobook lovers who are unsure about which format to experience this story through!
________________
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC.
June 27, 2025
I'm cheating here because this is my book, but I absolutely adore it! I can't wait for everyone to read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This has all the elements you’d want from a fantasy with romance. The fae, the lore, the setting, all top tier.
I do think this will work for a lot of people. It’s a richly built word with interesting political dynamics and a pretty good romance.
On further reflection I wonder if the audiobook and my hangups about it being a single narrator factored into my overall feelings about the book.
I did have a good time with this, although I wanted things to move a bit faster. However, I don’t think I’ll continue on to the sequel. I’ve been pretty picky about what series I continue lately and the audiobook style is enough to keep me from picking up the next book, unless they change up the narration style.
Audiobook Narration: 3.5/5
Narrator: Safiyya Ingar
Style: Single
Length: 13 hrs 31 mins
Thoughts: The narrator was great. Her voice variation was good, pacing, pausing, and inflection were all wonderful. My only issue is that the book is in dual POV first person and narrated by a single person. It felt like a very odd choice. I’m a historical romance fan so I am no stranger to a single (female) narrator for dual pov but typically the book is written in 3rd person, so the single narrator is fine. I just imagine the narrator as a literal 3rd person in the story. It is not possible to do that with a book written in 1st person.
3.5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you St Martins Press for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
I do think this will work for a lot of people. It’s a richly built word with interesting political dynamics and a pretty good romance.
On further reflection I wonder if the audiobook and my hangups about it being a single narrator factored into my overall feelings about the book.
I did have a good time with this, although I wanted things to move a bit faster. However, I don’t think I’ll continue on to the sequel. I’ve been pretty picky about what series I continue lately and the audiobook style is enough to keep me from picking up the next book, unless they change up the narration style.
Audiobook Narration: 3.5/5
Narrator: Safiyya Ingar
Style: Single
Length: 13 hrs 31 mins
Thoughts: The narrator was great. Her voice variation was good, pacing, pausing, and inflection were all wonderful. My only issue is that the book is in dual POV first person and narrated by a single person. It felt like a very odd choice. I’m a historical romance fan so I am no stranger to a single (female) narrator for dual pov but typically the book is written in 3rd person, so the single narrator is fine. I just imagine the narrator as a literal 3rd person in the story. It is not possible to do that with a book written in 1st person.
3.5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you St Martins Press for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
![Profile Image for minnie. [traveling hiatus!].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1779543772i/190542410._UX200_CR0,23,200,200_.jpg)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
── .✦ 4 stars! .ᐟ ⌗ arc review
𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞'𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 .ᐟ review #22
⤿ 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝: 06.25.26 - 06.28.26
⤿ 𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 15+
⤿ 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: 0/5
𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: june 30th
𐔌⛲️ 06.30.26 ⸝⸝ happy release day everyone! my favorite thing about this novel and emily varga’s other books is the themes of anti-colonialism because YES i’m so happy the river she became is all about returning relics to where they belong.
⋮ ⌗ 🕯️ ꒰ sypnosis꒱
⤿⛰️ .ᐟ yaseema, a supposedly loyal scholar to the empire, who catalogues fae relics, actually steals them back for her people, who are suffering and unable to practice their traditions in an occupied country. one day, she finds a key to cross the impenetrable river to the fae realm where she meets a captain who is not at all who seems to be. with both of them having hidden agendas, they must work together to find a lost relic: the crown of ancient fae queen azari.
⋮ ⌗ 🕯️ ꒰ thoughts꒱
⤿⛲️ .ᐟ i’d like to start out that this book is advertised as the cruel prince x the mummy, and while i haven’t read the mummy, i didn’t really get the cruel prince vibes. i could be a little bit critical considering the crown of elfhame my favorite series of all time, but to me it’s not quite an accurate comparison. that didn’t take away from my experience though, just a thought i had! i am in love with this book. once again, emily varga did not disappoint. i have a feeling this review might be me gushing about this book rather than a planned out articulation of my thoughts, but oh well.
⤿⛰️ .ᐟ shout out to the author because the south asian inspired culture and worldbuilding is EVERYTHING. it’s all i could as for as an asian, and it’s everything i’ve wanted to see represented more in novels. i loved the fae world, and it made me so happy because i don’t often come across south asian culture as much!
⤿⛲️ .ᐟ the river she became is an amazing read, and i love the fae x mortal trope (that’s probably why the cruel prince is the comp, but it kind of ends there because as much as i love my girl yaseema she’s not exactly jude duarte level vicious)! i absolutely devoured this book, and now i want the second book for dessert (because that ending is NOT okay. At all).
⤿⛰️ .ᐟ i loved yaseema a lot (woah a fantasy character that actually wears glasses? that’s a win for the glasses community), and i loved the chemistry between her and kiyan. oh my gods, kiyan is something else, i was actually swooning when reading the tension. his backstory was amazing, with him wanting to protect his people, and i think that’s partially why i loved the couple so much; it’s because they both want to help their people and share a lot of similarities. i loved the connection between kiyan and yaseema because it’s tentative at first, with both sides being cautious and suspicious, but then it becomes something beautiful and extremely forbidden.
⤿⛲️ .ᐟ back to yaseema though, i loved how perfectly imperfect she was. with the empire controlling fae relics and erasing and suffocating culture, yaseema’s choices felt personal and had a stake, because she was losing her culture and identity. i connected to her a lot because she’s messy and real, but also so determined, strong and intelligent. i love dual identities, and it was fun to read how she pretends to be a loyal scholar but in reality is risking so much for her people and her culture.
⤿⛰️ .ᐟ i’d say the only part of the novel that i didn’t really like too much was when yaseema enters the fae world because it felt like a really sudden shift in both setting and lore. but overall, the river she became was amazing. i really enjoyed reading about the fae relics because it ties in with real world problems, and it’s an important theme to address!
⋮ ⌗ ⛲️ ꒰ what to expect꒱
꒰🕯️꒱ fantasy with romance subplot
꒰🕯️꒱ relic repatriation
꒰🕯️꒱ themes of culture erasure + anti-colonialism
꒰🕯️꒱ there’s only one bed
꒰🕯️꒱ hidden/dual identities
꒰🕯️꒱ reluctant allies to lovers
꒰🕯️꒱ fade to black scenes
꒰🕯️꒱ 7 foot tall fae captain
꒰🕯️꒱ scholar fmc with glasses
꒰🕯️꒱ south asian inspired worldbuilding
꒰🕯️꒱ fae x mortal
⤿ thank you so much to netgalley, emily varga, and st martin’s press for the e-arc of the river she became!
⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⋮ ⌗ ⛲️┆ preread ⸝⸝ jan. 26th 🕯️ˎˊ˗
i'm so excited because i got the arc of this, and emily varga's other book, for she is wrath is one of my favorite books EVER so i can't wait to read this!!!
𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞'𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 .ᐟ review #22
⤿ 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝: 06.25.26 - 06.28.26
⤿ 𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 15+
⤿ 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: 0/5
𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: june 30th
𐔌⛲️ 06.30.26 ⸝⸝ happy release day everyone! my favorite thing about this novel and emily varga’s other books is the themes of anti-colonialism because YES i’m so happy the river she became is all about returning relics to where they belong.
⋮ ⌗ 🕯️ ꒰ sypnosis꒱
⤿⛰️ .ᐟ yaseema, a supposedly loyal scholar to the empire, who catalogues fae relics, actually steals them back for her people, who are suffering and unable to practice their traditions in an occupied country. one day, she finds a key to cross the impenetrable river to the fae realm where she meets a captain who is not at all who seems to be. with both of them having hidden agendas, they must work together to find a lost relic: the crown of ancient fae queen azari.
⋮ ⌗ 🕯️ ꒰ thoughts꒱
⤿⛲️ .ᐟ i’d like to start out that this book is advertised as the cruel prince x the mummy, and while i haven’t read the mummy, i didn’t really get the cruel prince vibes. i could be a little bit critical considering the crown of elfhame my favorite series of all time, but to me it’s not quite an accurate comparison. that didn’t take away from my experience though, just a thought i had! i am in love with this book. once again, emily varga did not disappoint. i have a feeling this review might be me gushing about this book rather than a planned out articulation of my thoughts, but oh well.
⤿⛰️ .ᐟ shout out to the author because the south asian inspired culture and worldbuilding is EVERYTHING. it’s all i could as for as an asian, and it’s everything i’ve wanted to see represented more in novels. i loved the fae world, and it made me so happy because i don’t often come across south asian culture as much!
⤿⛲️ .ᐟ the river she became is an amazing read, and i love the fae x mortal trope (that’s probably why the cruel prince is the comp, but it kind of ends there because as much as i love my girl yaseema she’s not exactly jude duarte level vicious)! i absolutely devoured this book, and now i want the second book for dessert (because that ending is NOT okay. At all).
⤿⛰️ .ᐟ i loved yaseema a lot (woah a fantasy character that actually wears glasses? that’s a win for the glasses community), and i loved the chemistry between her and kiyan. oh my gods, kiyan is something else, i was actually swooning when reading the tension. his backstory was amazing, with him wanting to protect his people, and i think that’s partially why i loved the couple so much; it’s because they both want to help their people and share a lot of similarities. i loved the connection between kiyan and yaseema because it’s tentative at first, with both sides being cautious and suspicious, but then it becomes something beautiful and extremely forbidden.
⤿⛲️ .ᐟ back to yaseema though, i loved how perfectly imperfect she was. with the empire controlling fae relics and erasing and suffocating culture, yaseema’s choices felt personal and had a stake, because she was losing her culture and identity. i connected to her a lot because she’s messy and real, but also so determined, strong and intelligent. i love dual identities, and it was fun to read how she pretends to be a loyal scholar but in reality is risking so much for her people and her culture.
⤿⛰️ .ᐟ i’d say the only part of the novel that i didn’t really like too much was when yaseema enters the fae world because it felt like a really sudden shift in both setting and lore. but overall, the river she became was amazing. i really enjoyed reading about the fae relics because it ties in with real world problems, and it’s an important theme to address!
⋮ ⌗ ⛲️ ꒰ what to expect꒱
꒰🕯️꒱ fantasy with romance subplot
꒰🕯️꒱ relic repatriation
꒰🕯️꒱ themes of culture erasure + anti-colonialism
꒰🕯️꒱ there’s only one bed
꒰🕯️꒱ hidden/dual identities
꒰🕯️꒱ reluctant allies to lovers
꒰🕯️꒱ fade to black scenes
꒰🕯️꒱ 7 foot tall fae captain
꒰🕯️꒱ scholar fmc with glasses
꒰🕯️꒱ south asian inspired worldbuilding
꒰🕯️꒱ fae x mortal
⤿ thank you so much to netgalley, emily varga, and st martin’s press for the e-arc of the river she became!
⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀⠀⋮ ⌗ ⛲️┆ preread ⸝⸝ jan. 26th 🕯️ˎˊ˗
i'm so excited because i got the arc of this, and emily varga's other book, for she is wrath is one of my favorite books EVER so i can't wait to read this!!!
June 30, 2026
— 3.75 ☆ .ᐟ ⌗ 🏔️ spoiler free + mini review
⤷ so good!! need book two
⌗ ꒰ my thoughts ꒱✨
⤷ ahh this was so fun! went into this pretty blind but it was SO cool reading this as a fae x mortal trope! its been a hot min since ive read a book w that. overall, i really enjoyed! the reason it's not a four is because i wasn't fully invested til later and didn't feel strongly towards the romance.
in the end it was SHOCKING and i cant wait for the second book cover reveal + title soon 👀 if you're a fan of the cruel prince + the mummy definitely try this out!
⌗ ꒰ tropes ꒱
⋆ fae x mortal
⋆ romantasy duology
⋆ scholar fmc
⋆ one bed
⌗ ꒰ info ꒱
⤷ find my book review on goodreads @elliexreads + booksta post
⤷ this is recommended for upper young adult readers (16+)
⤷ upper YA romantasy novel
publish date: june 30, 2026
₊‧ all ratings and opinions are my own ₊‧
⤷ thank you to colored pages BT and wednesday books + author for the arc in exchange for an honest review !
----------
𐔌 ♯┆6.14.26
⤷ thank you so much to CPBT for the arc widget! i cant wait to read and review this. if a book title has the word 'river' in it.. YK ILL READ IT 👀 better yet, this just seems like right up my alley! cheers to good reads
⤷ so good!! need book two
୨ arc @netgalley
⋆˚࿔ 66th review of the year
⌗ ꒰ my thoughts ꒱✨
⤷ ahh this was so fun! went into this pretty blind but it was SO cool reading this as a fae x mortal trope! its been a hot min since ive read a book w that. overall, i really enjoyed! the reason it's not a four is because i wasn't fully invested til later and didn't feel strongly towards the romance.
in the end it was SHOCKING and i cant wait for the second book cover reveal + title soon 👀 if you're a fan of the cruel prince + the mummy definitely try this out!
୭ summary: yaseema (a relic hunter) searches for an ancient fae object to restore the magic to her world. she has to trust her powers, her heart, and ideas. then meet kiyan. our charming fae prince. go with yaseema as she tries to to steal back her kingdom & future.. will love deter her?
⌗ ꒰ tropes ꒱
⋆ fae x mortal
⋆ romantasy duology
⋆ scholar fmc
⋆ one bed
⌗ ꒰ info ꒱
⤷ find my book review on goodreads @elliexreads + booksta post
⤷ this is recommended for upper young adult readers (16+)
⤷ upper YA romantasy novel
publish date: june 30, 2026
₊‧ all ratings and opinions are my own ₊‧
⤷ thank you to colored pages BT and wednesday books + author for the arc in exchange for an honest review !
----------
🏔️ — pre-read .ᐟ ⌗
𐔌 ♯┆6.14.26
⤷ thank you so much to CPBT for the arc widget! i cant wait to read and review this. if a book title has the word 'river' in it.. YK ILL READ IT 👀 better yet, this just seems like right up my alley! cheers to good reads
May 16, 2026
This is one hell of an adventure! Steeped in mythology and magic, it was hard not to get wrapped up in this near-frantic dash to find magical relics. With the pressure of opposing sides searching for the same items, it truly felt like a time crunch that only became messier as our main characters came to understand each other’s motivations. The audiobook for this is fantastic, only spurring on the adventure and emphasising the characters emotions in a way that made me fall for their story. This is a great YA Fantasy, and one I’ll highly recommend.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.25 / 5 Stars
I really wanted to like this one. The concept was so interesting: magic based on colonialism where fae relics are being hunted and used as a tool of oppression. The action sequences were super fun. But the in between parts just didn’t grab my attention and I wanted more from the romance.
First let’s start with the good: the action sequences definitely gave The Mummy or Indiana Jones or National Treasure vibes. There were fun puzzles to solve, fun locations to explore, and the action was well described. The concept of fae relics being removed from their home land and being shipped to museums, thereby ruining the land and harming the native people, was important and great way to weave an important message into a fantasy book. I really liked that each chapter started with a journal entry or letter from each of the characters to someone in their family. I love texts, journal entries, emails, etc. in books so I ate that up.
But the moments in between the action sequences when they are searching for clues and building their relationship just didn’t hold my attention. I think it is because this is marketed as a romantasy but, to me, it is actually a fantasy with a romantic subplot. And I am sure you are like, who cares, what’s the difference? But to me, if it is a romantasy, I expect more romance. The main characters didn’t have their first interaction until 20% into the book and then didn’t have prolonged interactions until around 50% into the book. Because the romance didn’t start developing until pretty late into the book, I just didn’t feel invested in their connection and things that would have been swoony or cute just felt forced. Like why are they having a ball where he gets to see her in a beautiful dress right before they head out on their quest? I’m not sure but if I was invested in their relationship, I probably wouldn’t have cared as much and focused on his feelings towards her but instead I was just confused.
There were also a few times in the very beginning where Yaseema’s chapters felt repetitive. I felt like in one chapter, we would go over the same point over and over (like how she thought someone was her friend but they weren’t). This didn’t happen in Kiyan’s chapters but that happened less after the first 20%, but it was still distracting when it did happen.
This book wasn’t for me, but I feel like if you are looking for a new adult fantasy that has some adventure, you might like this.
You will probably like this book if you like:
💚 New adult fantasy with romantic subplot
💚 A magical system based on colonialism
💚 The Mummy x Cruel Prince vibes
💚 Oops, there’s only one bed
💚 Hidden identity
💚 Reluctant allies to lovers
💚 Fade to black spice
Thank you St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: June 30, 2026
________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: This is described as The Mummy meets Cruel Prince but you had me at "he's a 7 foot tall fae" 😂
I really wanted to like this one. The concept was so interesting: magic based on colonialism where fae relics are being hunted and used as a tool of oppression. The action sequences were super fun. But the in between parts just didn’t grab my attention and I wanted more from the romance.
First let’s start with the good: the action sequences definitely gave The Mummy or Indiana Jones or National Treasure vibes. There were fun puzzles to solve, fun locations to explore, and the action was well described. The concept of fae relics being removed from their home land and being shipped to museums, thereby ruining the land and harming the native people, was important and great way to weave an important message into a fantasy book. I really liked that each chapter started with a journal entry or letter from each of the characters to someone in their family. I love texts, journal entries, emails, etc. in books so I ate that up.
But the moments in between the action sequences when they are searching for clues and building their relationship just didn’t hold my attention. I think it is because this is marketed as a romantasy but, to me, it is actually a fantasy with a romantic subplot. And I am sure you are like, who cares, what’s the difference? But to me, if it is a romantasy, I expect more romance. The main characters didn’t have their first interaction until 20% into the book and then didn’t have prolonged interactions until around 50% into the book. Because the romance didn’t start developing until pretty late into the book, I just didn’t feel invested in their connection and things that would have been swoony or cute just felt forced. Like why are they having a ball where he gets to see her in a beautiful dress right before they head out on their quest? I’m not sure but if I was invested in their relationship, I probably wouldn’t have cared as much and focused on his feelings towards her but instead I was just confused.
There were also a few times in the very beginning where Yaseema’s chapters felt repetitive. I felt like in one chapter, we would go over the same point over and over (like how she thought someone was her friend but they weren’t). This didn’t happen in Kiyan’s chapters but that happened less after the first 20%, but it was still distracting when it did happen.
This book wasn’t for me, but I feel like if you are looking for a new adult fantasy that has some adventure, you might like this.
You will probably like this book if you like:
💚 New adult fantasy with romantic subplot
💚 A magical system based on colonialism
💚 The Mummy x Cruel Prince vibes
💚 Oops, there’s only one bed
💚 Hidden identity
💚 Reluctant allies to lovers
💚 Fade to black spice
Thank you St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Publication Date: June 30, 2026
________________
Pre-Read Thoughts: This is described as The Mummy meets Cruel Prince but you had me at "he's a 7 foot tall fae" 😂
July 6, 2026
Wow! What an ending!! Please excuse me while I dry my tears.
Yaseema is a scholar who spends her nights hiding away fae relics that help to keep magic in her lands that are dying. The ultimate solution is to bring down the wall that separates the fae lands from the human world. When Yaseema crosses into the fae world she stumbles into a land embroiled in its own war and encounters the viceroy with his own vicious agenda.
Yaseema is a wonderful FMC! I love that she’s a scholar without any fighting prowess but instead relies on her wit and determination. Her care for others brings her strength that helps her push through perilous situations. She’s a really admirable character.
Every time I put this story down, I immediately needed to pick it back up. The world is fascinating and the magic is unique. There were plot points that came together that I was surprised by. I predicted some of the twists but others I did not see coming! And that ending definitely left me in tears. Book 2 could not come soon enough!
This was a wonderful mix of The Mummy, National Treasure, fae, and romance. I highly recommend picking this up and maybe having a few tissues nearby too.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy.
Yaseema is a scholar who spends her nights hiding away fae relics that help to keep magic in her lands that are dying. The ultimate solution is to bring down the wall that separates the fae lands from the human world. When Yaseema crosses into the fae world she stumbles into a land embroiled in its own war and encounters the viceroy with his own vicious agenda.
Yaseema is a wonderful FMC! I love that she’s a scholar without any fighting prowess but instead relies on her wit and determination. Her care for others brings her strength that helps her push through perilous situations. She’s a really admirable character.
Every time I put this story down, I immediately needed to pick it back up. The world is fascinating and the magic is unique. There were plot points that came together that I was surprised by. I predicted some of the twists but others I did not see coming! And that ending definitely left me in tears. Book 2 could not come soon enough!
This was a wonderful mix of The Mummy, National Treasure, fae, and romance. I highly recommend picking this up and maybe having a few tissues nearby too.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy.
Did Not Finish
July 11, 2026DNF: 8%
It is with great sadness that I have to DNF this at 8%. I have tried two different ways to get into this and I cannot seem to get past Chapter 3. I don’t know but, her writing feels so much different from For She Is Wrath. Compared to For She Is Wrath, I found myself having to reread several paragraphs and/or having to restart the audiobook 3 different times at the beginning of each chapter for this one. When I say that this is a me problem and not the book, I mean that. My time with romantasies officially ended sometime last year. Now, I can only read books that feel dark, mysterious, and actually contain a murder mystery.
If you find yourself compelled to read this then I think you should. DO NOT let my DNF stop you from reading a book that could possibly become your next favorite read.
Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for granting my request for an Advance Reader’s Copy in exchange for my honest and personal opinion!!!
It is with great sadness that I have to DNF this at 8%. I have tried two different ways to get into this and I cannot seem to get past Chapter 3. I don’t know but, her writing feels so much different from For She Is Wrath. Compared to For She Is Wrath, I found myself having to reread several paragraphs and/or having to restart the audiobook 3 different times at the beginning of each chapter for this one. When I say that this is a me problem and not the book, I mean that. My time with romantasies officially ended sometime last year. Now, I can only read books that feel dark, mysterious, and actually contain a murder mystery.
If you find yourself compelled to read this then I think you should. DO NOT let my DNF stop you from reading a book that could possibly become your next favorite read.
Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for granting my request for an Advance Reader’s Copy in exchange for my honest and personal opinion!!!
Want to Read
March 27, 2026🌊✨ The River She Became ✨🌊
Oh I am so excited for this one! I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
🖤 What to Expect
• Relic hunter FMC
• Fae world
• Enemies to allies
• Cursed crown
• Battle creatures
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: June 30, 2026
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Oh I am so excited for this one! I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
🖤 What to Expect
• Relic hunter FMC
• Fae world
• Enemies to allies
• Cursed crown
• Battle creatures
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: June 30, 2026
Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
June 26, 2025
SO. ROMANTIC. SO. BRUTAL. SO. GOOD.
Y’all. THE WAY I DID NOT SEE THAT ENDING COMING.
Y’all. THE WAY I DID NOT SEE THAT ENDING COMING.
June 12, 2026
HA FUCK ME I THOUGHT THIS WAS A STANDALONE
excuse me while I DIE
4.75 stars
Rtc
excuse me while I DIE
4.75 stars
Rtc
Read
June 30, 2026DNF at 30%
Currently Reading
June 27, 2026Update: Finally starting this one. I better get plugging along because pub date is right around the corner!!!
I gasped aloud when I saw this in my inbox. THANK YOU, ST. MARTIN'S PRESS | WEDNESDAY BOOKS, for sending me this ARC. I loved Emily Varga's debut novel. I have the highest expectations for this one. Hoping it lives up to every bit of that.
The expected publication date is June 30, 2026.
As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤💫
I gasped aloud when I saw this in my inbox. THANK YOU, ST. MARTIN'S PRESS | WEDNESDAY BOOKS, for sending me this ARC. I loved Emily Varga's debut novel. I have the highest expectations for this one. Hoping it lives up to every bit of that.
The expected publication date is June 30, 2026.
As always, all thoughts are my own. 🖤💫
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
DNF 20%
First of all, I'd like to thank Macmillan Children's Books for the eARC via Netgalley. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book and I feel sorry that this ended up not working for me. This might be entirely my own doing, but I was so confused until I realised that I was reading this book incorrectly; based on the blurb and how things are introduced, I was expecting this to be a single POV following the main character Yaseema who helps the Empire at day but steals back from them at night. Reading it with that in mind, I was a little confused about the slight mismatch in the order of events but I thought perhaps we are being shown two timelines. After a while, I noticed that she's being addressed as a prince - so, I then wondered.. is she living a double life where she cross dresses to hide her true identity? Eventually it dawned on me that this is actually following a dual POV. I love dual and multiple POVs so this should have been an immediate upgrade - but I am stiff baffled by just how wrong I read this and it does leave me wondering - did I really just not grasp it or was the introduction poorly executed?
In addition to that, I felt that Yaseema magic was far too convenient and didn't seem to follow any rules or logic. This entirely took away from the archaeological element which was the prime reason why I wanted to read this book. As a huge fan of Indiana Jones and also The Mummy, I really wanted that adventure and treasure hunting. Instead, Yaseema just seems to follow her magic which guides her past all the traps.
I have not read this book far enough to judge the story as a whole but I was left feeling so underwhelmed that I barely managed to read 1% per day until it was finally time to admit that this wasn't working for me. This book might certainly be someone else's new favourite but I'm afraid it was a miss for me. Opting for a 2.5/5 rating as it's really just absolute middle ground as far as I am able to rate.
First of all, I'd like to thank Macmillan Children's Books for the eARC via Netgalley. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book and I feel sorry that this ended up not working for me. This might be entirely my own doing, but I was so confused until I realised that I was reading this book incorrectly; based on the blurb and how things are introduced, I was expecting this to be a single POV following the main character Yaseema who helps the Empire at day but steals back from them at night. Reading it with that in mind, I was a little confused about the slight mismatch in the order of events but I thought perhaps we are being shown two timelines. After a while, I noticed that she's being addressed as a prince - so, I then wondered.. is she living a double life where she cross dresses to hide her true identity? Eventually it dawned on me that this is actually following a dual POV. I love dual and multiple POVs so this should have been an immediate upgrade - but I am stiff baffled by just how wrong I read this and it does leave me wondering - did I really just not grasp it or was the introduction poorly executed?
In addition to that, I felt that Yaseema magic was far too convenient and didn't seem to follow any rules or logic. This entirely took away from the archaeological element which was the prime reason why I wanted to read this book. As a huge fan of Indiana Jones and also The Mummy, I really wanted that adventure and treasure hunting. Instead, Yaseema just seems to follow her magic which guides her past all the traps.
I have not read this book far enough to judge the story as a whole but I was left feeling so underwhelmed that I barely managed to read 1% per day until it was finally time to admit that this wasn't working for me. This book might certainly be someone else's new favourite but I'm afraid it was a miss for me. Opting for a 2.5/5 rating as it's really just absolute middle ground as far as I am able to rate.
Read
December 21, 20253.5⭐️
This was a fun! In a world divided two, Yaseema is desperately trying to save her people. She is secretly using per position at the Citadel to look for fae relics, hoping to steal them away before they are sent off to the empress. She meets Kiyan, formerly of the River Court, who is also looking for an ancient relic to free his family.
I do think this is a fantasy story that is in desperate need of a map? In a world like this, divided into worlds and courts with new rulers conquering and taking over, it is so much easier to put into context when you see a map.
I enjoyed the story and the world building here. Sometimes I found the world a little confusing (again- give us a map!) but if you hold on tight you can definitely enjoy the ride!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a fun! In a world divided two, Yaseema is desperately trying to save her people. She is secretly using per position at the Citadel to look for fae relics, hoping to steal them away before they are sent off to the empress. She meets Kiyan, formerly of the River Court, who is also looking for an ancient relic to free his family.
I do think this is a fantasy story that is in desperate need of a map? In a world like this, divided into worlds and courts with new rulers conquering and taking over, it is so much easier to put into context when you see a map.
I enjoyed the story and the world building here. Sometimes I found the world a little confusing (again- give us a map!) but if you hold on tight you can definitely enjoy the ride!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
remind-me-once-out
May 5, 2026did you see the art for this? no? go look it up then.
July 6, 2026
3.5 stars
It always is and always will be: FUCK the colonizers.
The River She Became is a really important read, not only because, at its core, it's a story about trying to save your culture from your violent oppressors, but also because parallels can be drawn and directly connected to real-world examples from both the past and the present. It was fascinating to look at the colonization of a civilization from two different perspectives.
We have Yaseema, a human scholar who is fighting to reclaim the fae relics that nourish her people's land, and Kiyan, the fae captain who must serve the people who are destroying his own, hoping that one day he can reclaim the kingdom that was taken from him. This was both a great and messed-up way to develop a romantic relationship because we got to see these two characters bond through their shared trauma and open up to each other more and more as they realized they had more in common than they thought.
I really enjoyed the world-building. We started off in the human world and then made our way to the fae world. This allowed the reader to experience just how vast and diverse the world was through the many different cultures that were represented.
There was nothing glaringly wrong with this book, but at the same time, I wasn't fully committed to the story. There's this feeling that overcomes me when I'm reading a really good, addictive book, and I didn't get that with this reading experience. There were too many convenient plot lines with convenient endings for my liking. It all felt a little inorganic.
I really enjoyed the audiobook listening experience. I thought the narrators did a great job bringing these characters and this story to life.
This is a very important story with powerful messaging, and it's definitely worth your time.
It always is and always will be: FUCK the colonizers.
The River She Became is a really important read, not only because, at its core, it's a story about trying to save your culture from your violent oppressors, but also because parallels can be drawn and directly connected to real-world examples from both the past and the present. It was fascinating to look at the colonization of a civilization from two different perspectives.
We have Yaseema, a human scholar who is fighting to reclaim the fae relics that nourish her people's land, and Kiyan, the fae captain who must serve the people who are destroying his own, hoping that one day he can reclaim the kingdom that was taken from him. This was both a great and messed-up way to develop a romantic relationship because we got to see these two characters bond through their shared trauma and open up to each other more and more as they realized they had more in common than they thought.
I really enjoyed the world-building. We started off in the human world and then made our way to the fae world. This allowed the reader to experience just how vast and diverse the world was through the many different cultures that were represented.
There was nothing glaringly wrong with this book, but at the same time, I wasn't fully committed to the story. There's this feeling that overcomes me when I'm reading a really good, addictive book, and I didn't get that with this reading experience. There were too many convenient plot lines with convenient endings for my liking. It all felt a little inorganic.
I really enjoyed the audiobook listening experience. I thought the narrators did a great job bringing these characters and this story to life.
This is a very important story with powerful messaging, and it's definitely worth your time.
June 9, 2026
The River She Became has a lot of strengths, but it could have benefited from a bit more editing and refinement. Some aspects of the world-building felt unclear, and I often found myself wishing for a map to help visualize the setting. Please, please, please include one in book two!
The story wasn't necessarily slow at the beginning, but it did take some time to understand what was happening and how the world worked. Once I settled into it, though, I really appreciated the exploration of colonialism and the way oppression impacts different cultures and communities.
I also have to mention that not everything needs to be marketed as "romantasy." That's certainly not the author's fault, but I would categorize this more as a fantasy romance, with the fantasy elements taking center stage over the romance.
Despite my criticisms, I enjoyed the book and am definitely looking forward to the sequel. Emily leaves us with a bit of a cliffhanger, and I'm eager to see where the story goes next.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the arc of this novel!!
The story wasn't necessarily slow at the beginning, but it did take some time to understand what was happening and how the world worked. Once I settled into it, though, I really appreciated the exploration of colonialism and the way oppression impacts different cultures and communities.
I also have to mention that not everything needs to be marketed as "romantasy." That's certainly not the author's fault, but I would categorize this more as a fantasy romance, with the fantasy elements taking center stage over the romance.
Despite my criticisms, I enjoyed the book and am definitely looking forward to the sequel. Emily leaves us with a bit of a cliffhanger, and I'm eager to see where the story goes next.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the arc of this novel!!
Did Not Finish
June 14, 2026DNF at 47%.
I didn’t personally love this one as much as I had hoped. I thought the premise seemed interesting but I kind of knew from the beginning that I wasn’t going to end up liking this one. I did push through to at least almost halfway to see if things would pick up but sadly it wasn’t enough for me. I am sure though that there is an audience who will absolutely love this book.
Thank you to Wednesday Books for the advanced copy.
I didn’t personally love this one as much as I had hoped. I thought the premise seemed interesting but I kind of knew from the beginning that I wasn’t going to end up liking this one. I did push through to at least almost halfway to see if things would pick up but sadly it wasn’t enough for me. I am sure though that there is an audience who will absolutely love this book.
Thank you to Wednesday Books for the advanced copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ADD THIS BOOK TO YOUR TBR'S RIGHT NOWWWWWWWW AND THANK ME LATER
Did Not Finish
June 1, 2026Ugh, I was so excited about this one! I was drawn to the relic-hunting aspect of this but unfortunately it was much too YA-leaning for me. It jumps right into the action and keeps that pace but the characters were immature and the romance didn’t have any natural development (definitely an instalove situation). The court system and plot (magic controlled by colonialism) were unique and I think folks looking for a fast-paced romantasy would like this, but there wasn’t strong enough writing to keep my interests.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2026
💙 YA Romantasy
👑 Decolonization + Rebellion
💙 Reluctant Allies + Lovers
👑 Human × Fae World
💙 Duology
I’m kicking myself a little bit for not realizing this would be a duology, but I’m so invested in this story! The River She Became boasts a strong FMC, rich lore and culture, and a sprinkle of romance.
•
Yaseema works for the empire by day, but by night she actively rebels against the colonizers who are stripping her people of their history and magic, leaving them barren and in servitude to the empress. Equipped with knowledge of magical artifacts, she is determined to cross into the fae realm and steal the queen's crown that will destroy the wall dividing her people from the realm, restoring their magic and livelihood. However, the fae realm has its own conflicts and ongoing political battles.
•
There’s plenty to love about this book! Artifact hunting, a strong FMC (who wears glasses!), rich worldbuilding and cultural lore, intriguing magic, and also some romance. It has a prominent quest fantasy vibe, so it's a fast-paced read with a lot of development. I liked Yaseema as a character and loved Kiyan, her reluctant, handsome fae rival. Honestly, I almost preferred Kiyan's POV more than Yaseema’s because both the faerie politics were so captivating and I loved his morally grey character dynamic.
I do wish there had been more romantic tension between our MCs. They kind of go from reluctant rivals to an instalove dynamic, and I was hoping for more chemistry and tension. I also felt that the plot really shifts when Yaseema enters the faerie realm, and it seems like I would have liked more exploration of happenings in the human realm ~in this book~ but the ending definitely hints at more development in the sequel.
Overall, this is a great YA romantasy story with compelling worldbuilding and characters. I’ll definitely be diving into the next book to see how this story continues!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book. All thoughts and feedback in this review are my own.
👑 Decolonization + Rebellion
💙 Reluctant Allies + Lovers
👑 Human × Fae World
💙 Duology
I’m kicking myself a little bit for not realizing this would be a duology, but I’m so invested in this story! The River She Became boasts a strong FMC, rich lore and culture, and a sprinkle of romance.
•
Yaseema works for the empire by day, but by night she actively rebels against the colonizers who are stripping her people of their history and magic, leaving them barren and in servitude to the empress. Equipped with knowledge of magical artifacts, she is determined to cross into the fae realm and steal the queen's crown that will destroy the wall dividing her people from the realm, restoring their magic and livelihood. However, the fae realm has its own conflicts and ongoing political battles.
•
There’s plenty to love about this book! Artifact hunting, a strong FMC (who wears glasses!), rich worldbuilding and cultural lore, intriguing magic, and also some romance. It has a prominent quest fantasy vibe, so it's a fast-paced read with a lot of development. I liked Yaseema as a character and loved Kiyan, her reluctant, handsome fae rival. Honestly, I almost preferred Kiyan's POV more than Yaseema’s because both the faerie politics were so captivating and I loved his morally grey character dynamic.
I do wish there had been more romantic tension between our MCs. They kind of go from reluctant rivals to an instalove dynamic, and I was hoping for more chemistry and tension. I also felt that the plot really shifts when Yaseema enters the faerie realm, and it seems like I would have liked more exploration of happenings in the human realm ~in this book~ but the ending definitely hints at more development in the sequel.
Overall, this is a great YA romantasy story with compelling worldbuilding and characters. I’ll definitely be diving into the next book to see how this story continues!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book. All thoughts and feedback in this review are my own.
December 12, 2025
This story is a tale as old as time…a cruel, power hungry ruler who takes and takes with little consequences. I enjoyed the magic system in this story. Yaseema is a strong and intelligent scholar who fought for her people and those who didn’t feel they could continue fighting. Kiyan pulled at my heartstrings and made me want to push him off a cliff. Emily Varga created a story that tackles fantastical and modern issues. While fantasy is typically an escape from reality, i can’t help but enjoy when life imitates art.
July 3, 2026
I enjoyed this one for the most part, but it didn't quite capture the fun, fast-paced adventure I was expecting from all the The Mummy comparisons. I also think this would have benefited from duet narration. I still enjoyed the story overall and had a good time.
3.75⭐
3.75⭐
December 24, 2025
Thank you Wednesday Books/St Martin’s Press for this ARC of The River She Became!
This took a little bit to pick up, but once it did I was hooked! I really liked Yaseema as I feel like she’s not a typical FMC we see in other romantasy books. She’s a historian/archivist/scholar which is what drew me to the book in the first place. This isn’t published until June 2026 and I’m already so sad I have to wait for the next book.
This took a little bit to pick up, but once it did I was hooked! I really liked Yaseema as I feel like she’s not a typical FMC we see in other romantasy books. She’s a historian/archivist/scholar which is what drew me to the book in the first place. This isn’t published until June 2026 and I’m already so sad I have to wait for the next book.
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