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The River She Became: The brand new fae romantasy from the #1 bestselling YA author!
Not yet published
Expected 2 Jul 26Number-one bestselling, Waterstones Prize-shortlisted author Emily Varga returns with a much-anticipated new YA romantasy novel, coming in 2026! 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.
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, trying to restore magic to her dying land.
When she finds the long lost key to cross the River into the fae world, a ruthless realm awaits her there, ruled by monsters wearing beautiful skin. Even the cold-eyed captain who sees through her lies isn’t what he seems, and he is seeking the same lost relic as the crown of an ancient Fae Queen.
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.
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, trying to restore magic to her dying land.
When she finds the long lost key to cross the River into the fae world, a ruthless realm awaits her there, ruled by monsters wearing beautiful skin. Even the cold-eyed captain who sees through her lies isn’t what he seems, and he is seeking the same lost relic as the crown of an ancient Fae Queen.
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.
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Expected publication June 30, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
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.
arc-tbr
November 6, 2025“THE MUMMY meets THE CRUEL PRINCE…
a glasses-wearing, relic-hunting baddie crosses into a fae world to find an ancient object. …with a tortured fae Captain, forbidden love, dual POV, a magical quest, hidden identity and a magic system based on colonialism”
-from the authors socials
I’ve been stalking the authors socials for info on this one for what feels like forever!
| IG | TikTok |
Thank you St Martins Press for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
a glasses-wearing, relic-hunting baddie crosses into a fae world to find an ancient object. …with a tortured fae Captain, forbidden love, dual POV, a magical quest, hidden identity and a magic system based on colonialism”
-from the authors socials
I’ve been stalking the authors socials for info on this one for what feels like forever!
| IG | TikTok |
Thank you St Martins Press for the gifted book. All opinions 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.
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.
December 11, 2025
This is a good book, but I didn’t feel really compelled by the plot. It seems pretty similar to other works. However, I don’t think it’s a bad read! If you enjoy romantasy books, this one is for you!
Thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy of The River She Became by Emily Varga, to be published on June 30th, 2026.
Thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy of The River She Became by Emily Varga, to be published on June 30th, 2026.
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.
December 7, 2025
Where is book 2 immediately? The end! Oh my goodness. This book was so great. Marketed for fans of The Cruel Prince and The Mummy, I was already interested as I enjoy both… and this book really delivered. Is it perfect? No, but I truly believe Emily just keeps getting better with her writing and this is definitely worth the read. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the earc in exchange for my honest review.
November 20, 2025
This was everything I was hoping it would be and more! I’ve absolutely loved Emily Varga’s writing since reading her debut She is Wrath, and when I saw her teasing her next book as the Cruel Prince x The Mummy, I was ALLL in!
𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐝.
Book Blurb: Yaseema is working for the Citadel as a scholar, helping to find the lost fae relics, and stealing them back before the Citadel takes them out of their country. When she finds a relic that will take her to the Fae Lands across the river, she takes it in order to find the lost Fae Queen Crown to help her people, not knowing it will lead her to another battle against colonizers that also need the crown for their own nefarious purposes. Can she help both her people and the fae people toward the path of freedom?
“𝐈𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐬, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡, 𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐡, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐣𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩.”
I was invested in the story from the beginning, this is a story about rebelling against an Empire that is trying to destroy the cultural practices and items that are important to the people they are trying to colonize while also starving and hurting the people themselves. To see this happen on both sides of the river just makes it clear how colonization happens based of of “opportunity” and a desire to oppress that is out of the control of the oppressed, and how any rebellion has to be carefully cultivated. Also how both of our protagonist had to work with the oppressors in order to find the tools to free themselves and their people from oppression.
𝐈 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞, 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐧.
As for the characters themselves, I found very compelling. Yaseema grew so much throughout the book, from being focused on chasing after her lost mother and seeking the crown, to becoming more comfortable in herself, her magic and her abilities that I’m excited to see what she can do in book 2! As for Kiyan, he was a compelling character by his duality of being forced to being a threat to his people in order to protect them. His relationship with Yaseema was interesting from their first interaction, each has something the other lacks.
𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥? 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐊𝐢𝐲𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠? 𝐖𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐛, 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐥𝐟? 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐈?
If you like:
🌊 Treasure Hunt
👑 Fae Magic
🌊 Double Crossing
👑 Forced Proximity
🌊 Hidden Identities
👑 Rebelling Against an Empire
Then you will love this book! I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2, thank you so much to Wednesday and St Martins Press for the advanced copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧’𝐭 𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐝.
Book Blurb: Yaseema is working for the Citadel as a scholar, helping to find the lost fae relics, and stealing them back before the Citadel takes them out of their country. When she finds a relic that will take her to the Fae Lands across the river, she takes it in order to find the lost Fae Queen Crown to help her people, not knowing it will lead her to another battle against colonizers that also need the crown for their own nefarious purposes. Can she help both her people and the fae people toward the path of freedom?
“𝐈𝐟 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐬, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡, 𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐭𝐡, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐮𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐣𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩.”
I was invested in the story from the beginning, this is a story about rebelling against an Empire that is trying to destroy the cultural practices and items that are important to the people they are trying to colonize while also starving and hurting the people themselves. To see this happen on both sides of the river just makes it clear how colonization happens based of of “opportunity” and a desire to oppress that is out of the control of the oppressed, and how any rebellion has to be carefully cultivated. Also how both of our protagonist had to work with the oppressors in order to find the tools to free themselves and their people from oppression.
𝐈 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞, 𝐧𝐨 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐢𝐧.
As for the characters themselves, I found very compelling. Yaseema grew so much throughout the book, from being focused on chasing after her lost mother and seeking the crown, to becoming more comfortable in herself, her magic and her abilities that I’m excited to see what she can do in book 2! As for Kiyan, he was a compelling character by his duality of being forced to being a threat to his people in order to protect them. His relationship with Yaseema was interesting from their first interaction, each has something the other lacks.
𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥? 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐊𝐢𝐲𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠? 𝐖𝐚𝐬 𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐛, 𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐥𝐟? 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐈?
If you like:
🌊 Treasure Hunt
👑 Fae Magic
🌊 Double Crossing
👑 Forced Proximity
🌊 Hidden Identities
👑 Rebelling Against an Empire
Then you will love this book! I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2, thank you so much to Wednesday and St Martins Press for the advanced copy, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 13, 2025
Meh. Not the best, not the worst. 3 ⭐️
Despite the fact that everyone around her is dying due to starvation and execution by the Citadel, and her friends are risking their lives to bury the dead in the middle of the night, Yaseema is actually doing something 10x MORE risky by researching where the fae relics are........
Yaseema, probably: Sure, they're committing treason, but they don't know about my hunt for fae relics that is (somehow) inherently worse. Like, there are people dying, Kim. Literally dying.
Anyway. In addition to the FMC, I didn't love the writing style. It felt like the author was intending for the interactions and character dynamics to come together as this super intense plotline where I as a reader was supposed to be sitting on the edge of my seat, hanging off every word...but instead, it just annoyed me. I really can't even tell you why it annoyed me like it did, I just didn't like it. It all felt forced rather than a genuine build up and lacked characters with any sort of depth that I could connect with is the best I can give you.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.
Despite the fact that everyone around her is dying due to starvation and execution by the Citadel, and her friends are risking their lives to bury the dead in the middle of the night, Yaseema is actually doing something 10x MORE risky by researching where the fae relics are........
Yaseema, probably: Sure, they're committing treason, but they don't know about my hunt for fae relics that is (somehow) inherently worse. Like, there are people dying, Kim. Literally dying.
Anyway. In addition to the FMC, I didn't love the writing style. It felt like the author was intending for the interactions and character dynamics to come together as this super intense plotline where I as a reader was supposed to be sitting on the edge of my seat, hanging off every word...but instead, it just annoyed me. I really can't even tell you why it annoyed me like it did, I just didn't like it. It all felt forced rather than a genuine build up and lacked characters with any sort of depth that I could connect with is the best I can give you.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.
November 9, 2025
| ARC Review |
Publication date: June 30, 2026
3.5⭐️
I really enjoyed the premise of this book. The plot was intriguing and drew me in from the very beginning. I loved Yaseema’s time in the human worId! I actually wish there had been more of it before her move to the Fae lands. Her first encounter with Kiyan was captivating and really set the stage for their relationship. The romance, though, didn’t really leave a strong mark on me towards the end--I didn’t feel a lot of chemistry between them, and there wasn’t enough tension for me, but it was cute. It just felt really underdeveloped, with few interactions between them.
I also wish there had been flashbacks to Yaseema and Kiyan’s childhood, especially with the rich family history hinted at. I feel like the book was kind of shallow in terms of character depth, which made it difficult to feel emotionally invested, even with its intriguing plot. With more flashbacks to their childhood and more character development, I think this could’ve been more emotionally engaging. Both characters had angsty backstories that could’ve been touched on more. But asides from that, this was a very gripping read that kept me on my toes, especially with that betrayal and plot twist towards the end. If you’re into YA fantasies centered on rebellion, hidden identities, and betrayal, with a touch of romance, then maybe this is for you.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for granting me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Publication date: June 30, 2026
3.5⭐️
I really enjoyed the premise of this book. The plot was intriguing and drew me in from the very beginning. I loved Yaseema’s time in the human worId! I actually wish there had been more of it before her move to the Fae lands. Her first encounter with Kiyan was captivating and really set the stage for their relationship. The romance, though, didn’t really leave a strong mark on me towards the end--I didn’t feel a lot of chemistry between them, and there wasn’t enough tension for me, but it was cute. It just felt really underdeveloped, with few interactions between them.
I also wish there had been flashbacks to Yaseema and Kiyan’s childhood, especially with the rich family history hinted at. I feel like the book was kind of shallow in terms of character depth, which made it difficult to feel emotionally invested, even with its intriguing plot. With more flashbacks to their childhood and more character development, I think this could’ve been more emotionally engaging. Both characters had angsty backstories that could’ve been touched on more. But asides from that, this was a very gripping read that kept me on my toes, especially with that betrayal and plot twist towards the end. If you’re into YA fantasies centered on rebellion, hidden identities, and betrayal, with a touch of romance, then maybe this is for you.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for granting me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Want to read
April 15, 2025I know nothing about this book yet, but because of how much i adored For She is Wrath, I already added this to my TBR. I am simply TOO sat.
December 4, 2025
I really enjoyed this read!! Our main female character, Yaseema is a relic hunting scholar who is in search of an artifact to save her family and community. Along the way she runs into Kiyan who has his own motives to find the same artifact. I think there could have been more background provided to give the reader more information about how their two lands were overpowered by invading empires. However, I found the characters very relatable which made up for any issues I had with the world building. They both have a strong sense of responsibility for helping those they care the most about. Yas felt like a mixture of Indiana Jones and Evelyn O’Connell - nerdy, strong and adventurous. There were some moments that made me laugh out loud, gasp, and cry, I also loved having the dual POVs. Would highly recommend!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for granting me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for granting me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
December 11, 2025
This doesn’t come out until June but please if you have net galley request to read it right now!!!!! It is so good. I knew I’d love it esp it being described as the cruel prince and the mummy but omg. Full review to come. 😭
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. I’ll be back with a more detailed review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. I’ll be back with a more detailed review.
November 7, 2025
If you wanted a true fantasy version of the mummy with more romance. TA DA! Here she is. Omg! This magic system is epic. And the adventure is page turning. Loved, LOVED! This with all my dark little heart.
December 6, 2025
2.5/5
What attracted me to this book?
The comp to Indiana Jones especially pulled me in, and the conflict of the two MCs needing the magical artifact for different reasons. And fantasy and adventure are right up my alley.
Characters
I was more engaged in Yaseema because I felt her connection to her family more, and she had hobbies. Kiyan didn’t do much other than hate the Viceroy, brood over his past, and find Yaseema attractive/save her multiple times. I think I had a harder time connecting to Kiyan because his absent family was basically a formless blob, and Yaseema’s family have memories attached to them and we know what their personalities, goals, and values are. I found Yaseema the most interesting when she was around her family, who loved each other yet had differing opinions about what were necessary sacrifices. Both Yaseema and Kiyan have friendships on the other side of the river, and I did not feel like they had lives outside of what the MCs were up to.
Relationships
Kiyan’s attraction to Yaseema was surely physical, but also driven by admiration and fascination. I quite liked all the moments where he was endeared by droplets of water that still clung to her glasses, and her fervor when delving into a stack of books. Any time Yaseema admired Kiyan, it felt like she was admiring his physicality and power, and not his person. This could be a purposeful choice as a rebellion to the long history of women appearing in men’s stories just to ogle the MMC, but considering Kiyan has his own POV chapters, with a tragic backstory separate from Yaseema’s, and a goal that has nothing to do with her, I don’t think that was the case. I simply didn’t buy the depth of their feelings for each other. Same for the friendships. I didn’t feel the need for the love interests to get together (though I deeply appreciate the parallels between their backstories), and there’s a particular relationship where I didn’t feel the bond at all, so when a betrayal happened I did not feel any pain from the fallout, but was instead quite frustrated because the betrayal actively went against what that character was trying to achieve.
Setting/Worldbuilding
The fae side of the river failed to ensnare me as much as the human side of the river did. On the human side, there felt a much tighter sense of community, and a better sense of place. The fae side of the river didn’t feel all that tangible. It was a forest with a generic golden palace, supernaturally strong elves (some with tails), and a few fae creatures. I was most intrigued by the creatures, especially the zulmi, which I would love if the second book dived deeper into the horror of. I believe it’s Pakistani-inspired, which is a region of folklore I’m unfamiliar with, so that was really cool to experience. Additionally, food descriptions made my mouth water. I just didn’t feel transported, which is what I look for in a fantasy. It has made me excited to explore more branches of fantasy though.
Plot
Where the plot fell flat for me is that the characters’ goals are not mutually exclusive. The crown’s power isn’t a limited resource. They could achieve both goals with no issue, and both would support the others’ goals if they just talked to each other, which they had plenty of opportunities for, and it would have made sense during any of those times because of the beliefs they already knew each other had. The communication was also a problem within the rebellion. There were multiple unnecessary clashes between the MCs and the rebels that could have been avoided if they had just talked, which, once again, there was ample opportunity to do so. Obviously, Yaseema didn’t support the tyrant, which two key characters very clearly knew, yet they didn’t think to ask her for help. Communication and organizational difficulties for a rebellion under a trigger-happy tyrant’s thumb is a great plot point that was used only to create avoidable problems and action scenes for the MCs. The book didn’t exactly feel too long, but the plot did feel padded.
Theme
I liked the anti-colonial message, but it didn’t dive into it all that much. I bet that will happen in book two, which I anticipate will take place mostly on the human side of the river. There was also a message of “if both of us aren’t free, then neither of us are.” I appreciated the sentiment of being stronger together, and how your values need to apply across the board, not just be for the people immediately surrounding you.
Writing
The writing is approachable and friendly to new readers or those wanting to pick up fantasy for the first time, but I found it to be repetitive in both general descriptions and definitions of what magical objects do every time they are mentioned. It would also wax melodramatic every once in a while and it would jar me out of the story instead of making the scene more emotional. I chuckled a couple of times instead of quaking in my boots because of the tonal clash.
Does this make a good book one?
Yes. There is a clear ending, with a clear thread that will be the goal for the next installment, and they feed well into each other. Because of the reasons I mentioned in the Plot section, I think this could have been a slightly long standalone. As it stands, it is a great part one to the story. A main purpose of a book one is to get the reader wanting more, and I do not feel a strong pull to read book two, though more because of taste and not because of a failure of structure. However, I do think I would like book two more because I believe it will dive into its anti-colonialism message that I am very interested in exploring further, and I believe Yaseema’s family who I’m more invested in will be more present.
Who would I recommend it to?
I think this is a great fantasy book for someone relatively new to fantasy, or who is starting to branch out into non-western-focused fantasy.
Thank you St Martin’s Press for the review copy! I leave my review honestly and voluntarily.
What attracted me to this book?
The comp to Indiana Jones especially pulled me in, and the conflict of the two MCs needing the magical artifact for different reasons. And fantasy and adventure are right up my alley.
Characters
I was more engaged in Yaseema because I felt her connection to her family more, and she had hobbies. Kiyan didn’t do much other than hate the Viceroy, brood over his past, and find Yaseema attractive/save her multiple times. I think I had a harder time connecting to Kiyan because his absent family was basically a formless blob, and Yaseema’s family have memories attached to them and we know what their personalities, goals, and values are. I found Yaseema the most interesting when she was around her family, who loved each other yet had differing opinions about what were necessary sacrifices. Both Yaseema and Kiyan have friendships on the other side of the river, and I did not feel like they had lives outside of what the MCs were up to.
Relationships
Kiyan’s attraction to Yaseema was surely physical, but also driven by admiration and fascination. I quite liked all the moments where he was endeared by droplets of water that still clung to her glasses, and her fervor when delving into a stack of books. Any time Yaseema admired Kiyan, it felt like she was admiring his physicality and power, and not his person. This could be a purposeful choice as a rebellion to the long history of women appearing in men’s stories just to ogle the MMC, but considering Kiyan has his own POV chapters, with a tragic backstory separate from Yaseema’s, and a goal that has nothing to do with her, I don’t think that was the case. I simply didn’t buy the depth of their feelings for each other. Same for the friendships. I didn’t feel the need for the love interests to get together (though I deeply appreciate the parallels between their backstories), and there’s a particular relationship where I didn’t feel the bond at all, so when a betrayal happened I did not feel any pain from the fallout, but was instead quite frustrated because the betrayal actively went against what that character was trying to achieve.
Setting/Worldbuilding
The fae side of the river failed to ensnare me as much as the human side of the river did. On the human side, there felt a much tighter sense of community, and a better sense of place. The fae side of the river didn’t feel all that tangible. It was a forest with a generic golden palace, supernaturally strong elves (some with tails), and a few fae creatures. I was most intrigued by the creatures, especially the zulmi, which I would love if the second book dived deeper into the horror of. I believe it’s Pakistani-inspired, which is a region of folklore I’m unfamiliar with, so that was really cool to experience. Additionally, food descriptions made my mouth water. I just didn’t feel transported, which is what I look for in a fantasy. It has made me excited to explore more branches of fantasy though.
Plot
Where the plot fell flat for me is that the characters’ goals are not mutually exclusive. The crown’s power isn’t a limited resource. They could achieve both goals with no issue, and both would support the others’ goals if they just talked to each other, which they had plenty of opportunities for, and it would have made sense during any of those times because of the beliefs they already knew each other had. The communication was also a problem within the rebellion. There were multiple unnecessary clashes between the MCs and the rebels that could have been avoided if they had just talked, which, once again, there was ample opportunity to do so. Obviously, Yaseema didn’t support the tyrant, which two key characters very clearly knew, yet they didn’t think to ask her for help. Communication and organizational difficulties for a rebellion under a trigger-happy tyrant’s thumb is a great plot point that was used only to create avoidable problems and action scenes for the MCs. The book didn’t exactly feel too long, but the plot did feel padded.
Theme
I liked the anti-colonial message, but it didn’t dive into it all that much. I bet that will happen in book two, which I anticipate will take place mostly on the human side of the river. There was also a message of “if both of us aren’t free, then neither of us are.” I appreciated the sentiment of being stronger together, and how your values need to apply across the board, not just be for the people immediately surrounding you.
Writing
The writing is approachable and friendly to new readers or those wanting to pick up fantasy for the first time, but I found it to be repetitive in both general descriptions and definitions of what magical objects do every time they are mentioned. It would also wax melodramatic every once in a while and it would jar me out of the story instead of making the scene more emotional. I chuckled a couple of times instead of quaking in my boots because of the tonal clash.
Does this make a good book one?
Yes. There is a clear ending, with a clear thread that will be the goal for the next installment, and they feed well into each other. Because of the reasons I mentioned in the Plot section, I think this could have been a slightly long standalone. As it stands, it is a great part one to the story. A main purpose of a book one is to get the reader wanting more, and I do not feel a strong pull to read book two, though more because of taste and not because of a failure of structure. However, I do think I would like book two more because I believe it will dive into its anti-colonialism message that I am very interested in exploring further, and I believe Yaseema’s family who I’m more invested in will be more present.
Who would I recommend it to?
I think this is a great fantasy book for someone relatively new to fantasy, or who is starting to branch out into non-western-focused fantasy.
Thank you St Martin’s Press for the review copy! I leave my review honestly and voluntarily.
December 10, 2025
Overall, I really enjoyed this first installment in the duology! 3.5 stars.
What I loved: The Pakistani-inspired world and fantasy elements, which were new to me! I also loved that our FMC (Yaseema) was a true, glasses-wearing scholar. She doesn't learn sword-fighting, and there is no training montage--she's valued throughout the book for her mind and unique magical skill of finding lost things, which was really refreshing to read. I also really liked the first few chapters in the human world. It's a more modern one than we typically see in fae (peri, in this one) stories, so I can't wait to read the next installment and see the peri's reaction to human tech (there's not like, super modern technology like computers, but there are guns, so that'll add an interesting element to the story, I think). I also adored the interactions between FMC and MMC once they get more comfortable with one another. Their teasing and jokes had me giggling and kicking my feet.
Why I couldn't quite give this 5 stars: The only thing that really irked me was that some of the conflict felt...manufactured. I fear that if you dislike a micommunication trope, you'll have a hard time with this one. It's a bit more forgivable in this book because the FMC and MMC have no reason to trust one another for most of the book, so the fact that they aren't honest with each other is pretty understandable. But past a certain point, I was screaming at them to just talk to each other already, dammit! Yaseema's motivation to go home and tear down the wall between human and peri worlds also gets pretty thin past a certain point, so that central tension feels forced. Like, girl, you want to abandon the peri to their evil dictator so you can tear down the wall to the human world so the...evil peri dictator can go there, too? I get she's concerned for her family and not thinking clearly, but even that felt like a stretch for an intelligent woman who cares deeply for others. There's also a bit at the end that I hope gets explained more in the next book, because the current explanation was almost infuriating. Like, "This whole mess could've been so easily avoided" infuriating. I also didn't realize this was a duology (which is totally my bad), so the way that ending made me maaaad until I read the full overview blurb, lol.
But, this was a fun fantasy with lovable characters and some fresh elements, and I'm eager to read the second book! Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
What I loved: The Pakistani-inspired world and fantasy elements, which were new to me! I also loved that our FMC (Yaseema) was a true, glasses-wearing scholar. She doesn't learn sword-fighting, and there is no training montage--she's valued throughout the book for her mind and unique magical skill of finding lost things, which was really refreshing to read. I also really liked the first few chapters in the human world. It's a more modern one than we typically see in fae (peri, in this one) stories, so I can't wait to read the next installment and see the peri's reaction to human tech (there's not like, super modern technology like computers, but there are guns, so that'll add an interesting element to the story, I think). I also adored the interactions between FMC and MMC once they get more comfortable with one another. Their teasing and jokes had me giggling and kicking my feet.
Why I couldn't quite give this 5 stars: The only thing that really irked me was that some of the conflict felt...manufactured. I fear that if you dislike a micommunication trope, you'll have a hard time with this one. It's a bit more forgivable in this book because the FMC and MMC have no reason to trust one another for most of the book, so the fact that they aren't honest with each other is pretty understandable. But past a certain point, I was screaming at them to just talk to each other already, dammit! Yaseema's motivation to go home and tear down the wall between human and peri worlds also gets pretty thin past a certain point, so that central tension feels forced. Like, girl, you want to abandon the peri to their evil dictator so you can tear down the wall to the human world so the...evil peri dictator can go there, too? I get she's concerned for her family and not thinking clearly, but even that felt like a stretch for an intelligent woman who cares deeply for others. There's also a bit at the end that I hope gets explained more in the next book, because the current explanation was almost infuriating. Like, "This whole mess could've been so easily avoided" infuriating. I also didn't realize this was a duology (which is totally my bad), so the way that ending made me maaaad until I read the full overview blurb, lol.
But, this was a fun fantasy with lovable characters and some fresh elements, and I'm eager to read the second book! Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
November 11, 2025
Two countries that although they are separated by a magical wall, seem to be a mirror of each other—the original people of both are forced into silence and oppression by the people who have taken over. The book itself centers around two people who, like their countries, seem to have a lot more in common that at first glance.
I really loved this book. Yaseema was such a great fmc—she’s bookish, she’s smart, and she’s secretly a rebel trying to free her people. It was great to see how she grew into herself throughout the book, and honestly she’s one of the few main characters that never annoyed me at any point of the book.
Kiyan on the other hand, ugh he was just so good—I loved having chapters from his point of view, as I was not expecting it, but I felt like seeing his pov added a lot to the story—mostly him just being totally gone for Yaseema from the very start. But also, seeing his quiet rebellion that mirrored Yaseema. I loved seeing them slowly realize they have similar goals even with their different homelands. They have a great romance going in this first book and I really cannot wait to see where it goes in the next book.
As far as the plot goes, I would definitely say this is much more of a fantasy, although there are bits of the Mummy in there, just less than I thought there would be going in, as a large chunk of the book is spent at the castle on the fae side. Even with that difference, I absolutely loved this book—it took both familiar and unique aspects and blended into this completely amazing book.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really loved this book. Yaseema was such a great fmc—she’s bookish, she’s smart, and she’s secretly a rebel trying to free her people. It was great to see how she grew into herself throughout the book, and honestly she’s one of the few main characters that never annoyed me at any point of the book.
Kiyan on the other hand, ugh he was just so good—I loved having chapters from his point of view, as I was not expecting it, but I felt like seeing his pov added a lot to the story—mostly him just being totally gone for Yaseema from the very start. But also, seeing his quiet rebellion that mirrored Yaseema. I loved seeing them slowly realize they have similar goals even with their different homelands. They have a great romance going in this first book and I really cannot wait to see where it goes in the next book.
As far as the plot goes, I would definitely say this is much more of a fantasy, although there are bits of the Mummy in there, just less than I thought there would be going in, as a large chunk of the book is spent at the castle on the fae side. Even with that difference, I absolutely loved this book—it took both familiar and unique aspects and blended into this completely amazing book.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 21, 2025
Wow! What a great story this turned out to be. I was enamored by the description, title, and cover and the story turned out to hold up to the hype I’ve heard!
The story had a bit of a slow start for me as it was a jump into a bit of a somber mood after previous lightweight romances I had been reading. I knew the story would be amazing but the subject matter was serious both in topic and in how it relates to our current world and the past. I spent a long time thinking about this topic, particularly the United Kingdoms colonization of India and just so many other places and the impact on the native peoples.
I was intrigued by Yaseema and Kiyan’s actions on both sides of the river but it wasn’t until they met that the story really started taking off for me.
I loved following the plot and the was particularly fascinated by Yaseema’s powers and watching her discover more about them.
I think Varga also did a good job with the pacing and character descriptions although the romance was a little quick for me in the middle.
How amazing it was to read a book with not only a person of color as the FMC but also the inclusion of non western types of food, clothing, jewelry, folklore, vocabulary so common in this genre. A lot of this was new to me and I loved learning about it.
I loved/had a lot of feelings about the ending and desperately *desperately* need another book! What torture that this one isn’t even released yet!
Absolutely recommend!
Thank you NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story had a bit of a slow start for me as it was a jump into a bit of a somber mood after previous lightweight romances I had been reading. I knew the story would be amazing but the subject matter was serious both in topic and in how it relates to our current world and the past. I spent a long time thinking about this topic, particularly the United Kingdoms colonization of India and just so many other places and the impact on the native peoples.
I was intrigued by Yaseema and Kiyan’s actions on both sides of the river but it wasn’t until they met that the story really started taking off for me.
I loved following the plot and the was particularly fascinated by Yaseema’s powers and watching her discover more about them.
I think Varga also did a good job with the pacing and character descriptions although the romance was a little quick for me in the middle.
How amazing it was to read a book with not only a person of color as the FMC but also the inclusion of non western types of food, clothing, jewelry, folklore, vocabulary so common in this genre. A lot of this was new to me and I loved learning about it.
I loved/had a lot of feelings about the ending and desperately *desperately* need another book! What torture that this one isn’t even released yet!
Absolutely recommend!
Thank you NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 24, 2025
⭐ 4.5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
The River She Became follows Yaseema, a human girl watching her homeland collapse under a powerful occupying force. Desperate to save her starving city, she crosses the River into the fae lands to find a relic that could destroy the wall dividing their worlds, thus letting magic back into her land. Kiyan, a fae trying to save his own people, is after the same relic–and since only one side can ultimately use it, the two of them are forced into a tense, uneasy partnership. Their journey is dangerous, emotional, and full of sparks.
I was hooked from the first chapter. Even when the pacing slowed down a little in the middle, Emily Varga’s writing stayed so immersive and atmospheric that I never lost interest. Yaseema and Kiyan are both compelling in their own way and felt layered and honest, and every side character had a purpose in the story’s political and emotional web. The slow burn between the two leads was amazinggg! The yearning, the tension, the partnership was everything I could want in a fae-human fantasy dynamic.
The themes of colonialism and family woven throughout give the book real weight, and the worldbuilding is rich without ever feeling overwhelming. And the twist at the end? Absolutely got me. I’m already impatient for book two in this duology.
If you like strong female leads, fae magic, court politics, force proximity, and slow-burn tension, this one should be on your radar.
Beautifully written, atmospheric, and powerful–I’m so glad I picked this up.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
The River She Became follows Yaseema, a human girl watching her homeland collapse under a powerful occupying force. Desperate to save her starving city, she crosses the River into the fae lands to find a relic that could destroy the wall dividing their worlds, thus letting magic back into her land. Kiyan, a fae trying to save his own people, is after the same relic–and since only one side can ultimately use it, the two of them are forced into a tense, uneasy partnership. Their journey is dangerous, emotional, and full of sparks.
I was hooked from the first chapter. Even when the pacing slowed down a little in the middle, Emily Varga’s writing stayed so immersive and atmospheric that I never lost interest. Yaseema and Kiyan are both compelling in their own way and felt layered and honest, and every side character had a purpose in the story’s political and emotional web. The slow burn between the two leads was amazinggg! The yearning, the tension, the partnership was everything I could want in a fae-human fantasy dynamic.
The themes of colonialism and family woven throughout give the book real weight, and the worldbuilding is rich without ever feeling overwhelming. And the twist at the end? Absolutely got me. I’m already impatient for book two in this duology.
If you like strong female leads, fae magic, court politics, force proximity, and slow-burn tension, this one should be on your radar.
Beautifully written, atmospheric, and powerful–I’m so glad I picked this up.
December 5, 2025
Two worlds divided by a magical river. Two rebels trying to end the rule of an evil empire and save their family -- and their people. This book is an epic quest, a fantasy that blends Lara Croft Tomb Raider and Indiana Jones with Lord of the Rings. In other words -- it's really good, and I really want. sequel.
Yaseema is a scholar who works with archeologists trying to find ancient magical artifacts. When she unlocks the riddle to the location of a powerful key, she uses her intelligence and athleticism to outwit the Citadel overlords who want to use it for evil. The key grants passage through the magical wall in the river into a fairy realm in order to find her mother disappeared years before, hoping to end the tyranny of the Citadel. On the side of the wall where Yaseema's mother disappeared, Kiyan is a royal prince and leader of the rebels. Kiyan's keeps his identity hidden, and he's working as an enforcer for the Viceroy who has diminished the magic of Kiyan's people and basically imprisoned them with his salt army. Both Kiyan and Yaseema are searching for the same artifact -- the queen's crown -- that both believe will solve their crises. For Kiyan, finding the crown will help him free the royal family that's been imprisoned in a mountain. For Yaseema, the crown will tear down the river barrier between worlds and end the tyranny of the Citadel. But there is only one crown, and sparks are flying between Yaseema and Kyran.
For high school librarians, this is a must buy for your collection. For young adult romantasy readers, put this on top of your to-be-read list!
Yaseema is a scholar who works with archeologists trying to find ancient magical artifacts. When she unlocks the riddle to the location of a powerful key, she uses her intelligence and athleticism to outwit the Citadel overlords who want to use it for evil. The key grants passage through the magical wall in the river into a fairy realm in order to find her mother disappeared years before, hoping to end the tyranny of the Citadel. On the side of the wall where Yaseema's mother disappeared, Kiyan is a royal prince and leader of the rebels. Kiyan's keeps his identity hidden, and he's working as an enforcer for the Viceroy who has diminished the magic of Kiyan's people and basically imprisoned them with his salt army. Both Kiyan and Yaseema are searching for the same artifact -- the queen's crown -- that both believe will solve their crises. For Kiyan, finding the crown will help him free the royal family that's been imprisoned in a mountain. For Yaseema, the crown will tear down the river barrier between worlds and end the tyranny of the Citadel. But there is only one crown, and sparks are flying between Yaseema and Kyran.
For high school librarians, this is a must buy for your collection. For young adult romantasy readers, put this on top of your to-be-read list!
November 17, 2025
The River She Became is a richly imagined romantasy that masterfully weaves together high-stakes adventure, slow-burn romance, and a profound meditation on colonialism and cultural erasure.
The way Emily Varga handles themes of colonialism and historical erasure is stunning. The relics themselves feel like metaphors for stolen memory, and Yaseema’s quest is not only a magical mission but a fight for her people’s identity. This theme is never just “tacked on”. It permeates every aspect of the plot.
The romance is slow, pining, and deeply satisfying and is an emotional journey rooted in betrayal, loyalty, and the weight of their worlds. Meanwhile, the action keeps you hooked throughout: relic hunts, ancient curses, secrets, and dangerous fae creatures all drive the story forward.
Varga’s writing is lyrical yet sharp, balancing political commentary with personal stakes so that the book never feels preachy. Her worldbuilding draws on fae mythology which gives the Indiana Jones/Mummy vibes of the story a unique, fresh flavor.
If you’re someone who loves fantasy with heart, action, and meaning — especially stories about resistance, identity, and healing — this book will leave you breathless. One warning, it does leave you with such a cliff-hanger ending and an intense need for the sequel.
Thank you to the publisher for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. It is now my favorite read of the year.
The way Emily Varga handles themes of colonialism and historical erasure is stunning. The relics themselves feel like metaphors for stolen memory, and Yaseema’s quest is not only a magical mission but a fight for her people’s identity. This theme is never just “tacked on”. It permeates every aspect of the plot.
The romance is slow, pining, and deeply satisfying and is an emotional journey rooted in betrayal, loyalty, and the weight of their worlds. Meanwhile, the action keeps you hooked throughout: relic hunts, ancient curses, secrets, and dangerous fae creatures all drive the story forward.
Varga’s writing is lyrical yet sharp, balancing political commentary with personal stakes so that the book never feels preachy. Her worldbuilding draws on fae mythology which gives the Indiana Jones/Mummy vibes of the story a unique, fresh flavor.
If you’re someone who loves fantasy with heart, action, and meaning — especially stories about resistance, identity, and healing — this book will leave you breathless. One warning, it does leave you with such a cliff-hanger ending and an intense need for the sequel.
Thank you to the publisher for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. It is now my favorite read of the year.
November 4, 2025
For fans of fae everywhere, a new twist on the faerie worlds. This book grabbed me from the very first sentence and would not let me go… Not until I found out what happened! This is the story of a brave scholar, a human named yaseema, who travels over the river to find her mother and to save her people from their oppressors. She travels to the faerie lands…the peris, who are also fighting for their freedom. Kiyan is a prince of his people, living in his family’s river court and doing the bidding of the usurper Reza, while trying to find the crown which will save his family.His family have been imprisoned in a mountain tomb, and evil. Reza is bleeding Peri magic from them through torture and torment. When kiyan meets yaseema together, they try to solve the problems of their people. This is a love story, a story of rebellion and strength and hope. The two must travel through magic lands and solve dangerous puzzles in their search for hidden faerie artifacts. I loved the setting… The gorgeous fae palace and the terrific fae beasts. The characters, love story and friendships were intoxicating. Even the villains were wonderful… I loved to hate Reza.! I burned through this book so quickly… And now I need to wait for the next one to find out what happens next! Thank you, NetGalley for the advance digital copy. All opinions are my own!4 1/2⭐️
November 25, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. The world was very expansive and I thought the magic system was pretty unique. I did think that the world-building was a little bit confusing at first. It takes a little time before we get the whole picture of how the society is structured. I felt like I was stumbling through the first few chapters and was only really able to enjoy the story after certain aspects of the world were explained.
I am not always a huge fan of first-person, multi-POV books. I think a lot of authors struggle to make the various POVs sound distinct enough, sometimes to the point where I don't even know which chapter is supposed to be from which character's POV. This was not the case for this book. I think the author did a great job writing the unique personalities of two main characters.
I thought the pacing was a little be off. There were some parts of the story that were a little slow and struggling to keep my interest. But then the ending was packed with action and I was devouring it. I did really enjoy the fact that there were a lot of small mysteries sprinkled into the plot throughout the book that we got to discover more about as the story progressed. I think the ending introduced a lot of things that will be explored in the next book and I am very excited to see how the author ties up this story.
I am not always a huge fan of first-person, multi-POV books. I think a lot of authors struggle to make the various POVs sound distinct enough, sometimes to the point where I don't even know which chapter is supposed to be from which character's POV. This was not the case for this book. I think the author did a great job writing the unique personalities of two main characters.
I thought the pacing was a little be off. There were some parts of the story that were a little slow and struggling to keep my interest. But then the ending was packed with action and I was devouring it. I did really enjoy the fact that there were a lot of small mysteries sprinkled into the plot throughout the book that we got to discover more about as the story progressed. I think the ending introduced a lot of things that will be explored in the next book and I am very excited to see how the author ties up this story.
October 18, 2025
En un mundo donde la magia fue robada por un imperio invasor, Yaseema es una joven erudita que vive bajo el yugo del Citadel, el régimen que controla su tierra y saquea los antiguos artefactos fae que alguna vez dieron vida a los campos y ríos de Astola. En secreto, Yaseema los busca también, pero no para entregarlos, sino para devolverlos a su pueblo moribundo. Su don: la habilidad de hallar lo perdido, la convierte en la única esperanza para restaurar la magia.
Al otro lado del muro que divide ambos mundos, Kiyan, un príncipe del derrotado Reino del Río, sobrevive infiltrado entre sus enemigos, fingiendo lealtad mientras planea liberar a su familia y recuperar el poder perdido de su corte.
Sus destinos colisionan en medio de conspiraciones, antiguos hechizos y una guerra silenciosa entre humanos y fae. Ambos persiguen la misma reliquia: la corona de la reina Azari, capaz de desatar o destruir todo lo que queda de la magia. Pero cuando el deber y el deseo se entrelazan, Yaseema y Kiyan deberán decidir si la libertad vale el precio de su humanidad.
___
Necesito el siguiente libro, no puede terminar así.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
Al otro lado del muro que divide ambos mundos, Kiyan, un príncipe del derrotado Reino del Río, sobrevive infiltrado entre sus enemigos, fingiendo lealtad mientras planea liberar a su familia y recuperar el poder perdido de su corte.
Sus destinos colisionan en medio de conspiraciones, antiguos hechizos y una guerra silenciosa entre humanos y fae. Ambos persiguen la misma reliquia: la corona de la reina Azari, capaz de desatar o destruir todo lo que queda de la magia. Pero cuando el deber y el deseo se entrelazan, Yaseema y Kiyan deberán decidir si la libertad vale el precio de su humanidad.
___
Necesito el siguiente libro, no puede terminar así.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
October 27, 2025
**ARC Review**
A masterful start to a new duology, Emily Varga's The River She Became is a breathtakingly immersive romantasy that swept me away from the very first page. Following Yaseema, a brilliant scholar and secret relic hunter in a colonized kingdom, the story is rich with high stakes, ancient magic, and the irresistible pull of forbidden romance. Varga's world-building, inspired by Pakistani faerie mythology, is both intricate and fresh, creating a fantasy that feels alive and unique.
The slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance between Yaseema and the enigmatic fae captain is a delicious slow-dance of tension, betrayal, and longing that is perfectly paced and utterly captivating. Both characters are complex and compelling, each fighting for their people in a world determined to erase them. Yaseema's journey to reclaim her heritage and restore magic to her dying land is filled with jaw-dropping twists and turns that kept me guessing until the explosive finale.
What truly elevates this book is its compelling exploration of colonialism, cultural erasure, and the power of history. Varga weaves these themes into the very fabric of the narrative, giving the adventure and romance a profound and meaningful core.
A masterful start to a new duology, Emily Varga's The River She Became is a breathtakingly immersive romantasy that swept me away from the very first page. Following Yaseema, a brilliant scholar and secret relic hunter in a colonized kingdom, the story is rich with high stakes, ancient magic, and the irresistible pull of forbidden romance. Varga's world-building, inspired by Pakistani faerie mythology, is both intricate and fresh, creating a fantasy that feels alive and unique.
The slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance between Yaseema and the enigmatic fae captain is a delicious slow-dance of tension, betrayal, and longing that is perfectly paced and utterly captivating. Both characters are complex and compelling, each fighting for their people in a world determined to erase them. Yaseema's journey to reclaim her heritage and restore magic to her dying land is filled with jaw-dropping twists and turns that kept me guessing until the explosive finale.
What truly elevates this book is its compelling exploration of colonialism, cultural erasure, and the power of history. Varga weaves these themes into the very fabric of the narrative, giving the adventure and romance a profound and meaningful core.
October 31, 2025
First of all thank you NetGalley and Macmillan publishing for providing me with the ARC of this book!
Wait hello? I’m not going to lie I was a little bit skeptical at the begging, but the last 20% of the book had me gripping my bedsheets. I feel like book 2 could have A WAY bigger potential if the author plays her cards right!
Our FMC, Yaseema, is a human girl who is determined to take down the Citadel and save her people from starvation and losses. She is a scholar, brave and selfless! She is on a journey to cross a river to find a crown to take down the wall between human and Far worlds. I like her, she was determined, funny, and she loves books (+10 points to her).
Then we have Kiyan, our MMC. He is Fae in hiding, doing dirty business to a current nasty King of the Fae world. He needs to find a crown to free his family and give magic back to his people. Loved him for his love to his people, and even though I think he had suffered a lot, he still has kindness on his heart.
Not a lot of side characters stood out to me, they were all pretty vague and shallow, although *minor spoiler* I would not forgive Mishah.
Overall, great book, with a great story and I think it had a very big promise to become the next IT book!
Wait hello? I’m not going to lie I was a little bit skeptical at the begging, but the last 20% of the book had me gripping my bedsheets. I feel like book 2 could have A WAY bigger potential if the author plays her cards right!
Our FMC, Yaseema, is a human girl who is determined to take down the Citadel and save her people from starvation and losses. She is a scholar, brave and selfless! She is on a journey to cross a river to find a crown to take down the wall between human and Far worlds. I like her, she was determined, funny, and she loves books (+10 points to her).
Then we have Kiyan, our MMC. He is Fae in hiding, doing dirty business to a current nasty King of the Fae world. He needs to find a crown to free his family and give magic back to his people. Loved him for his love to his people, and even though I think he had suffered a lot, he still has kindness on his heart.
Not a lot of side characters stood out to me, they were all pretty vague and shallow, although *minor spoiler* I would not forgive Mishah.
Overall, great book, with a great story and I think it had a very big promise to become the next IT book!
November 26, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for providing this ARC.
I was intrigued from the very beginning, as we start with Yaseema’s quiet but daring rebellion against the Citadel, researching and stealing artifacts from her work. I quickly found I couldn’t stop reading, eager to see what would happen next after she takes on responsibilities that push her further into acts of rebellion. From start to finish, the story had me completely glued to my seat.
The author masterfully weaves in details of Pakistani culture throughout the story, which were really interesting to learn about. I also loved watching Yaseema’s character development: she evolves from someone quietly rebelling, into a figure whose actions challenge the very structures around her, all while guided by a strong moral compass and a passion for restoring balance. Her growth into a strong-willed and determined character made her easy to root for, and I’m excited to see where she goes next.
The story also includes a slow-building, tension-filled romance that develops naturally alongside Yaseema’s journey. The banter and connection between the characters felt authentic and enjoyable, even if the full progression is cut short by circumstances that will likely be explored in the sequel - no spoilers here!
My only disappointment is that I now have to wait for the next book to see what happens!
I was intrigued from the very beginning, as we start with Yaseema’s quiet but daring rebellion against the Citadel, researching and stealing artifacts from her work. I quickly found I couldn’t stop reading, eager to see what would happen next after she takes on responsibilities that push her further into acts of rebellion. From start to finish, the story had me completely glued to my seat.
The author masterfully weaves in details of Pakistani culture throughout the story, which were really interesting to learn about. I also loved watching Yaseema’s character development: she evolves from someone quietly rebelling, into a figure whose actions challenge the very structures around her, all while guided by a strong moral compass and a passion for restoring balance. Her growth into a strong-willed and determined character made her easy to root for, and I’m excited to see where she goes next.
The story also includes a slow-building, tension-filled romance that develops naturally alongside Yaseema’s journey. The banter and connection between the characters felt authentic and enjoyable, even if the full progression is cut short by circumstances that will likely be explored in the sequel - no spoilers here!
My only disappointment is that I now have to wait for the next book to see what happens!
November 22, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, Emily Varga, and St. Martin's Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
4.75 stars
For She Is Wrath was a solid debut book. But I'm blown away by The River She Became. Emily Varga's storytelling has continued to improve. This book was an impressive second novel. I appreciate the time Emily Varga took to show the reader more about Yaseema. There are a lot of YA Fantasy books that drop the reader into the story, which can make it hard to understand the characters' motives. But Emily Varga not only showed the reader who Yaseema is but also what she is fighting for. Yes, there could have been even more detail about how the Citadel has taken over, but we get a general gist. I would have loved to see more of Yaseema using her powers to find items. I do believe this is the first book in a duology, so maybe we'll get more of it in the second book too. Yaseema and Kiyan's love story was so good. I'm curious to see how Emily Varga does with the ending to this duology. I mean, the first book was a banger. I'm very intrigued. I highly recommend this book!
4.75 stars
For She Is Wrath was a solid debut book. But I'm blown away by The River She Became. Emily Varga's storytelling has continued to improve. This book was an impressive second novel. I appreciate the time Emily Varga took to show the reader more about Yaseema. There are a lot of YA Fantasy books that drop the reader into the story, which can make it hard to understand the characters' motives. But Emily Varga not only showed the reader who Yaseema is but also what she is fighting for. Yes, there could have been even more detail about how the Citadel has taken over, but we get a general gist. I would have loved to see more of Yaseema using her powers to find items. I do believe this is the first book in a duology, so maybe we'll get more of it in the second book too. Yaseema and Kiyan's love story was so good. I'm curious to see how Emily Varga does with the ending to this duology. I mean, the first book was a banger. I'm very intrigued. I highly recommend this book!
December 22, 2025
~Thank you to the publisher and author for the e-ARC on NetGalley. All opinions are my own.~
I read For She Is Wrath by Emily Varga earlier this year and immediately checked to see if this author had any other published works. I was very excited to see The River She Became being marketed as The Cruel Prince meets The Mummy, which is everything I love. This book absolutely delivers on those fronts but remains its own unique thing.
This book follows our FMC Yaseema, a bookish scholar, secretly doing all she can to work against the Empire that has decimated her homeland. Her journey to reclaim magic and rejuvenate her homeland puts her in a precarious situation as she is dragged into the dangerous world of politics and power.
Together with the MMC Kiyan, who is a reserved fae captain who feels conflicted with what is transpiring around him. Yaseema and Kiyan’s journey is fraught with tension, reluctant trust, and a slow burn romance. The dual POV’s help to build a layered and compelling narrative.
This story shows the heart and strength of those resisting colonization and cultural erasure. If you loved For She Is Wrath you will greatly enjoy this book.
I read For She Is Wrath by Emily Varga earlier this year and immediately checked to see if this author had any other published works. I was very excited to see The River She Became being marketed as The Cruel Prince meets The Mummy, which is everything I love. This book absolutely delivers on those fronts but remains its own unique thing.
This book follows our FMC Yaseema, a bookish scholar, secretly doing all she can to work against the Empire that has decimated her homeland. Her journey to reclaim magic and rejuvenate her homeland puts her in a precarious situation as she is dragged into the dangerous world of politics and power.
Together with the MMC Kiyan, who is a reserved fae captain who feels conflicted with what is transpiring around him. Yaseema and Kiyan’s journey is fraught with tension, reluctant trust, and a slow burn romance. The dual POV’s help to build a layered and compelling narrative.
This story shows the heart and strength of those resisting colonization and cultural erasure. If you loved For She Is Wrath you will greatly enjoy this book.
December 1, 2025
Now THIS is how you start a duology!
The River She Became kicks off when Yaseema crosses the River, the magical boundary between the human lands and the land of the Fae. She plans to find her mother and save her people from the cruel empire that rules them, but finds herself entangled in a plot to find a missing crown, restore power to the River kingdom, and overthrow its ruler.
One of the things that really stood out to me in this book was the plot. I find that a lot of the time in fantasy novels, there are just too many characters, places, and plot lines for one person to follow. The River She Became had a great cast of characters and multiple plot lines, but they were so well written that I never felt confused.
My only complaint with this book was how slow it felt at the start. It took me much longer than the typical 1-2 chapters to get into the story, but once I did, I was so hooked I read right through my lunch break.
AND THAT CLIFFHANGER!!! I can't wait to see how this plays out in book two!
The River She Became kicks off when Yaseema crosses the River, the magical boundary between the human lands and the land of the Fae. She plans to find her mother and save her people from the cruel empire that rules them, but finds herself entangled in a plot to find a missing crown, restore power to the River kingdom, and overthrow its ruler.
One of the things that really stood out to me in this book was the plot. I find that a lot of the time in fantasy novels, there are just too many characters, places, and plot lines for one person to follow. The River She Became had a great cast of characters and multiple plot lines, but they were so well written that I never felt confused.
My only complaint with this book was how slow it felt at the start. It took me much longer than the typical 1-2 chapters to get into the story, but once I did, I was so hooked I read right through my lunch break.
AND THAT CLIFFHANGER!!! I can't wait to see how this plays out in book two!
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