The River and the Ravages

by J.M. Lawler

’Written in very clear and beautiful prose, JM Lawler's novel is both inspiring and entertaining. This is one of the finest books I have read on women's issues, a book with characters that are real.'
READERS’ FAVORITE

Aaliya Reiner is made of strong stuff. But when her mother passes on, she seems to lose her grip on life. Things don’t seem to get better with her sister, Maddalena, who’s estranged and enjoying the benefits that come in a marriage of power and opulence.

Aaliya takes refuge in a passionate and hidden love affair, hoping to fill the void left by her mother’s death.

But desire can be deadly and the Kingdom of Traegos is becoming a dangerous place. When the dark web of politics and power begins to ensnare the kingdom’s inhabitants, choice and chance collide leaving Aaliya with only one option left to survive.

The River and the Ravages is the start of a gripping romantic fantasy trilogy.

Contains mature content. Not suitable for younger readers.

Genres: Fantasy

366 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

J. M. Lawler (first name Jann) grew up devouring doomed love stories and drawing her favorite tragic characters. Then she didn’t draw them so much and began writing more. Either way, hunched over a desk exploring her mind has been her path. Having completed a Political Science and Korean language degree at the Australian National University, Jann went on to to nothing remotely associated with politics or Korean. She’s the mother of two young adults, but has also been a Police Officer, Intelligence Analyst, speech writer, lazy rock climber, and wannabe intrepid explorer.

Jann prides herself on writing high fantasy love stories with an edge. She loves to transport readers to a world where love is a perilous undertaking, the heroes and heroines are endearing but flawed, and lessons are learned the hard way.

She lives in Adelaide with her children in a house where the floorboards sag under the weight of books, where chooks rule the backyard, and the bathroom could do with a good clean.

The River and the Ravages is her first book. She is currently working on the follow up novel, The Tempest and the Turning.

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Reviews

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was well written. The dialogue was honest and the descriptions were very well crafted. Aaliya and Maddalena's differences as women was done well. The characters have been described with such detail but not overly so and the characterization with such authenticity. I felt Aaliya had more depth than her sister, Maddalena. Not to say Maddalena didn't have her own depth. Both women seemed to be independent and powerful in their own right. But there's an evident reminder they are still in a man dominated society. The world building was very good which was a plus.

[yorkshirebooknerd · Rating 3 out of 5]

The River and The Ravages tells the story of two very different sisters and their struggles to navigate the world they’ve been born into.

This book in the whole was an interesting read but it did have its flaws.

What did I like about it. Firstly it was well written. The language and style of writing was descriptive and immersive and added real depth to the story and world building.
The story is told from two different perspectives so we get to hear from both sisters, Maddalena and Aaliya. The fact that both sisters have different personalities means it’s almost like experiencing two completely different worlds.
The plot was refreshing for a fantasy read and I particularly liked that both sisters were portrayed as strong, independent minded women despite living in a very male oriented world. Initially I felt more drawn to Aaliya’s character as she was much more likeable than Maddalena however as the story develops and we learn more about Maddalena’s life I started to understand her and her motives better which meant by the end of the story I felt respect for Maddalena and her ability to make the best of her situation.

The main flaw for me in this book was the pacing. Personally I felt that the first half of the book moved too slowly. Although some of what happens in the first half is necessary to give the reader some background and understanding about events it seemed to go on too long. The second half of the book however was really well paced and seemed to move along nicely.

Overall it was an interesting read with some fascinating characters. I particularly liked that the author showed a different side to the female characters and their attitude towards sex and their own sexuality.

I would rate this book 3.5 stars ⭐️

Thank you to the author for providing a copy. All opinions are my own and provided willingly.

[Kelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was very well written and I was instantly pulled into this story which was told from two very different sisters perspectives as they try to navigate the lives that they were born into. Both sisters were such interesting and well developed characters. One sister I found more like able than the other in the beginning but as the story progressed I understood both of them better. There was plenty of intrigue and surprises but what I enjoyed most was the depth and complexities of these sisters and their relationship with each other and the way they dealt with trying to find their place in the world they lived in. They both grew so much as the story progressed. I was pleasantly pleased that although there is a romance in the story it did not center around it. Although the ending was solid and satisfying I would love to continue following these sisters and their story in a second book. I would recommend this book to any mature reader looking for a good fantasy book. I really look forward to seeing what this author writes next!

*Thank you to the author for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review*

[claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I don't even know where to start. I was tempted to leave my feedback in the form of a long and overly excited keyboard smash—since that was the only accurate description of my feelings after I finished reading—but that would probably be considered rude. Now that some time has passed and all the impressions settled in, I'll try to express my thoughts as coherently as possible because it's what the book deserves.

The style this book is written in is so beautiful that it took me less than one page to fall in love with the story, which is something that rarely happens. The Dream Thieves was the only other book in the last two, three years that managed to grip my attention from the very first sentence. On the other hand, the pace and the rhythm are optimal, and the way the sentences flow into each other is effortless and natural. The style is descriptive and almost poetic, but at the same time, the reader shouldn't have any problems finishing the book in one sitting. I didn't do it; I was not ready for the story to end that soon, but, you know, it's very much possible, even if you're not the type of a reader that can devour any book in one morning like I am.

I'm not sure what genre this story falls under officially, but I'm under the impression that some readers expected a romance story. There are (just enough) elements of romance, but it's not the main focus of the story. And, while I might seem a tad cruel, I'm happy with the way it was resolved. I didn't have anything against Justen, but I recognize a redshirt when I see one. However, I do wish he had more scenes with Maddalena. It would've been an interesting dynamics to see.

Generally speaking, I'm not a huge fan of secret and/or forbidden love stories and Aaliya/Justen (Jaliya? Austen?) is no exception. Though I understood the importance of their relationship to the plot and genuinely didn't dislike them together, my feelings towards them were kinda lukewarm. Which, in my opinion, isn't such a bad thing for me as a reader considering the end of Justen's arc. I usually have this awful habit of getting attached to the side characters and redshirts. Justen's character also fell a little flat for me, at least in the first half.

Relationship-wise, I do wish Joshva/Santo/Maddalena was more explored. At the beginning of the book, I hoped that the first two characters would be more developed and more prominent.

I loved every bit of this book, but the final chapter must be my favorite out of them all. Focused intensely on Maddalena and Aaliya's relationship, it makes a point about how far they have come. One thing that's really interesting to see is how, instead of tearing the sisters apart, Justen ultimately serves as a catalyst for this moment and in the end, it's Maddalena reaching out to Aaliya and not vice versa. He makes it possible for Maddalena and Aaliya to need each other (and admit it out loud) as well as grow as characters. This is why I love how this...triangle of sorts is handled. The story isn't about pinning the girls against one another, but rather about two strong women—sisters—coming to appreciate and support each other. This plot could've taken a completely different route, but it didn't and I appreciate that immensely. It was such a pleasant surprise. (Another thing about this book that surprised me was seeing a character with the same first name as mine. Unlike my middle name, it's pretty much rare, so I never thought that would happen. It was cute.)


The final chapter also makes it clear that isn't the end of their character developments and individual arcs. It's the first step at moving forward and healing. Maddalena tells that to her sister: "This is not your end point, Aaliya. This is your beginning. It's mine, too."

They're on this journey together, Maddalena says it herself. Their differences are still there and they're palpable. They have yet to overcome their pain and grief, and Justen is something they'll eventually have to deal with both individually and together. Now more than ever, Aaliya will have to find a balance between her heart and her mind in order to thrive and survive, but this time, she won't have to do it alone.

This is also a chapter we get a very detailed insight into Aaliya's mindset, making the character more relatable and more realistic. This isn't a story where we're introduced to a strong female lead who easily overcomes all the problems thrown at her without any tolls. There are consequences and there are repercussions.

In the very beginning, Aaliya was my favorite sibling, but it didn't take long for Maddalena to take her place. Last two chapters made me appreciate and love Aaliya just as much as her sister, and this is the main reason why.

Aaliya, at her core, is still herself. She's still overwhelmed with grief for her mother, and now Justen too. But we also see she's slowly coming to terms with who she's turning into. It's crystal clear: Aaliya's troubled with the blood on her hands, but at the same time, by saying: "If you didn't speak, I would've killed you." , she showed that her internal struggle to accept her actions still doesn't stop her from doing what has to be done in order to survive.

Touching on some other just as interesting topics, the ending chapter sets the bar even higher for the sequel.

All in all, The River and the Ravages is a great start to a hopefully wonderful trilogy and I'm really excited for the next book.

(This review is all over the place, just like my feels.)

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was graciously given a copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

The River and the Ravages is a story filled with secrets, turmoil and forbidden love; all seen through the eyes of two sisters, Aaliya and Maddalena. This novel was well written and left little to the imagination. however, the sometimes overly detailed scenes or descriptions made it difficult to concentrate on the story as whole.

Main character development was key and so spot on in this story. Maddalena and Aaliya are very strong and passionate characters. Maddalena, although at times seeming sinister, was my favorite character because of her clever and outspoken nature. She had more of a spunk to her whereas Aaliya was more soft and definitely more of a romantic. I also enjoyed how the author included Maddalena in many of the meetings that would normally only see men in. It gave Maddalena some form of voice when possible and added to her confident and powerful demeanor.

Although Maddalena is who she is, Aaliya also has a uniqueness in her personality that allows her to be a likeable character. Aaliya is tough and pretty realistic, but also love passionately. I think her passion may stem form the love that she couldn't receive from her mother who *SPOILER* died. Each main character was great and well developed, although I would have loved to have more of a backstory of characters like Viggio and their father Thormund.

Overall, this book wasn't just a simple romance story. It was a story of viewing the world in the eyes of two very different girls who were sisters. It was filled with tensions of war and scenes of erotica that sometimes felt so realistic. If this is a continued series, I would love to see more world building, but I could settle if the characters are as developed and real as Aaliya and Maddalena.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Maybe mild spoilers. TW: Scene that is borderline rape, but isn't technically rape. Still unsettling/upsetting to read.*

First off, I must say that this is so beautifully written. I really enjoyed the way the author described things, the setting and characters.

I liked the younger sister, Aaliya, but had a very hard time liking the older sister. First impressions stick with me, and Maddalena annoyed me from the get go. However, I think that might be what the author intended, so good job! But the girl got some brownie points from me as the story went on. The ending was quite unexpected for how the book began. I liked that a lot.

I loved how both girls had a distinct and different personality; you can tell which chapter belonged to who with no problem whatsoever.

I really disliked the sex scenes, especially the last one in the book.

Aaliya has this one sex encounter that caused me to cringe a lot. It's a horrible situation to be in. You got to do what you got to do, I understand, but still felt unneeded to be so graphic about it. [Trigger Warning: It wasn't rape, per say, but it also wasn't wanted sex. Sounds confusing, but it is what it is.]

Each person has their own idea of graphic. The sex/violence in books might be fine for some, but too much for others. I wasn't bothered by the violence. I'm just not an "erotica" fan for the most part and this book did have some juicy and descriptive scenes. I'm honestly not a prude at all, but I am asexual, so that might have something to do with my feelings.

There is also threesome sex (2 male, 1 female) for anyone wanting to know.

Overall, I believe many would like the book.

*Author sent me this to review. I am very thankful!*

[Helgaleena Healingline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has love in it, but is not a romance. Instead, the possibility for love is strangled by the nets of international politics in this well-drawn mythical world. In the end, what is celebrated is survival -- of beauty, of potential, of hearts capable of love-- against overwhelming odds.

There is also sex, but only incidentally does it intersect with love that could lead to a happily ever after. Often it is used as a weapon that hurts both parties. Even as it is so used it lays bare the deepest flaws in the society in which these two sisters were raised, where even bonds between mother and child and siblings are forfeit to social expectations and individual gifts.

The characters and the author get much solace from the perception of beauty and affection in their world but it's always temporary and seldom encouraged. After a while this made me so melancholy (because I read to escape?) that I could not believe in the hope available at story's end. For that I had to deduct one star; sorry.

[Alice Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

The River and the Ravages is a story about Aaliya and her sister Maddalena. The story starts out with Aaliya attending her mother’s funeral. It shows that while Aaliya is grieving, her father and older sister do not seem to really care much at all, except how it looks to others. Aaliya is relieving how she loved going out with her mother, until her father through her older sister Maddalena put a stop to it as if it was very humiliating for them to walk and identify plants and gather food. Maddalena is a widow now and enjoying lovers and trying to learn about business in a society that sees her as a secretary at best.

This story is good. The characters develop fast and draw the reader right in. The way things start it just grabs the reader and keeps you wanting to read more and not put it down. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys some political intrigue with their romance. Warning this is for mature readers with sexual situations.


I’m giving this book 4 hearts

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from
Romance Authors that Rock. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Beth Orsborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aaliya Reiner is made of strong stuff. But when her mother passes on, she seems to lose her grip on life. Things don’t seem to get better with her sister, Maddalena, who’s estranged and enjoying the benefits that come in a marriage of power and opulence.
This book is very well written, but takes a bit to get into. You can tell which chapter belonged to which sister and the feelings that were put towards which sister. The ending throws you for a loop so be prepared to stick through til the end if you want the cliff hanger answered. Sadly I wasn’t fully attached to this book and couldn’t keep to reading it day after day like I normally do. I took me a bit to get into this one but once I did I was determined to finish and see what happened.
Reviewer for Romance authors that rock.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I intended to read this over the Christmas holidays, however I picked it up to glance through it, and didn't put it down. It is extremely well written, and has excellent character development. Aaliya and Maddalena are both strong women characters, yet very different . Each page took me completely to Aaliyas world, and for 48 hours I lived with her. Don't you just love it when a book does that! Hot and steamy, tender and thoughtful. Can't wait to read more.

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was beautifully written. The characters rich, the story line powerful. I turned each page with great anticipation...
The River and the Ravages has the potential of an erotic romantic fantasy trilogy. Fifty Shades are Grey pales in comparison. I hope the story continues....I can't wait to read more!!!!

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am grateful to author J.M. Lawler for the gift of a free copy of The River and the Ravages in exchange for my honest review.

While I enjoyed this book it took awhile for me to read because it seemed to move rather slowly in the beginning - there was so much detail that it was at times hard for me to follow the ongoing plot. There didn't seems to be a great significance to the majority of the details provided.

With that said, I did get captivated a little over half way into the book and appreciated the philosophical outlook the author took throughout. I was under the impression this was a romance novel (there was little romance, although there were erotic scenes placed throughout) but felt that the story is more about political agendas, and choices in loyalty.

Overall a good book but wish Justen hadn't been killed off (I personally wanted a bit more revenge).

[Veracious · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, it was different to what I would normally read but it had a unique story line to me.

I did struggle a little to understand who I was reading about but I picked it up quicker at each chapter, the first quarter was really enjoyable but I felt it plateaued in the middle for a bit with not much happening and then it picked up greatly near the end.

Some of the stuff in the middle I felt was dragged out but I can understand and appreciate why it's there it's adding to the back story and world building, but I did feel it was more of a chore to read it then a pleasure, I will say I was very happy that I did push through and finish I really enjoyed the last quarter of the book immensely.

I felt this deserves a 4.5 out of 5 but I don't have that option to give.

I enjoyed reading about the 2 sisters and how different they are and how I started off not liking Maddalena very much but came to understand and actually like her very much and maybe more so then Aaliya.

Thank you J.M for this I look forward to the next book.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written novel about finding oneself in the wake of facing the adversities of womens issues. The loss of her Mother sends Aaliya on a path completely out of her control. Womens issues that are as old as time teach Aaliya the need for self love, acceptance and preservation. This novel is page turner that I found hard to put down. A story that stays with you long after finishing. I look forward to reading more of Aaliya's journey in the next chapter of her story.

I was given a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Christine Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received an advanced copy of this book.

Excellent writing! The characters are interesting and well thought out, though I could have used more development.

Perhaps that's what the sequels are for! Absolutely recommend for a quick and fun read. Looking forward to future stories from this author.

[Timea B · Rating 4 out of 5]

The River and the Ravages by J.M. Lawler touches on universal themes from a predominantly female perspective. This fiction-romance tells the story of a girl coming to terms with her true self, while being pulled in opposite directions by competing forces.

The core relationship explored by J.M. Lawler seems to be that between mother and daughter. Aaliya only felt truly understood by her mother, of whom’s recent passing threw the world off-balance. Freeing burning emotions is not something that comes naturally to her; instead she keeps the pain to fester inside. In her desperate desire to find a way to cope with a seemingly unbearable loss she recklessly throws herself in different directions, into the arms of a lover or into the hard labor of saddle making. The way to redemption and acceptance is crookedly paved, but this makes the journey all the more interesting and relatable.

Aaliya’s relationship with her sister unravels throughout the book. If in the beginning they start at opposite spectrum, by the end, they converge. What unites them is the burden and experience of life, which accentuate their similarities rather than their differences. Sibling rivalry is certainly a common occurrence and can take on several subtle variations. What makes this version special is precisely the gentle balance of the similarities and differences; but most of all, how this dynamic outlines an inter-dependency of the two sisters.

The story has a strong and often explicit erotic edge to it. Desire and sensuality are presented under many variations, but never gratuitously. Nevertheless, this remains an aspect to take into account when thinking of the target audience. On the other hand, rather in contrast, there is a stylistic simplicity and innocence, which is palpable throughout the pages. However, this could make it a bit more difficult to pinpoint a clear target audience.

All in all, The River and the Ravages remains an easy and overall pleasant read especially on a cozy autumn day. While the main characters are women, I would not say that J.M. Lawler explores strictly women’s issues, but rather universal themes from a female perspective.

[Megan Tee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book for what it was, a gorgeous romance which I fell in love with somehow. As well the topics that it discussed in the way that I wanted it to.

I like Aaliya in the way that she is rather real, and makes an effort to make romance works. And Maddalena, even if she did have a remarriage, there is some form of ambition with her. And well with me, I like a woman witj ambition and hopes. Aaliya is rather different than that, but nonetheless I enjoyed her. Although still cannot be compared to Maddalena. To me she was the one who I not only liked but loved the most.

As for the intrigue, I found it really interesting and also really interesting. The writing gave it an added edge which made me love it even more, when it flows nicely and all the while making a lot of interesting situations.

Overall, the world is rather interesting and the way that despite this being a male dominated society. There is a lot of nuance to these characters presented here and to me they felt vivid and even complicated. As for the mature parts of the novel, I believe that it is handled well and even presented in a way that I enjoy it.

Overall this was a very interesting and even enjoyable novel. In a way that the characters were well rounded and real, with the ending being rather well done in the way that I enjoyed this. For me, I will recommend this.

[Marty Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rivers and the Ravages was a wonderfully written novel of social and political intrigue set in a medieval aged fantasy world. The character are well described and developed, I found myself feeling really empathy with how their lives were being played out, feeling sympathy and concern for some characters and repulsion and hatred for others.
The story line was very appealing and engaging, with plenty of twist and turns, to keep the reader interested in where this adventure was taking us. The female characters were well defined and had a great confidence and strength in themselves even though it was set in a world strongly control and dominated by men.
I am hoping that in future books in this series that the world will be expanded and multiple storyline will be applied to continue the twists and turns of the first. I really enjoy this book and look forward to revisiting this world again.

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my honest and unbias opinion of the story. I loved reading this book very much it has really strong characters and a wonderful written story line. I love reading about danger, surprises, suspicion, love and intrigue threw the whole story. I hope there will be a book 2 to this sisters story.

[Anupama C K(b0rn_2_read) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Detailed review later

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon

[Edma · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was a nice story with good narrating skills, but I feel like I have outgrown these young adult novels. Now it's time to experience new genres.

[Steffi]

CW/TW: Child abuse, Domestic abuse and Emotional abuse
Yikes

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok so now that I finally am done reading this book; I essentially love the different dimension of the two protagonists. Two sisters from different world entirely tell their tales from their 2 very different perspectives. It is as if you yourself are living two lives while reading it. The writing was imersive and involving. I do think however that the first half of the book dragged on a little. It probably was essential to give the readers the details and the background, I however think that this could have been done so a little more efficiently. The 2nd half of the book was nicely paced and well written. The best thing about this book is how well it was written, I fell in love with the prose. Also, the perspective of 2 different characters written in the 1st person point of view was also something that made me wanna come back to the book whenever I could manage. The story was not at all generic and I love how one of the protagonists is one of the type that is usually in other stories casted as villains whereas here she is a protagonist. Her side of the story being told is something I loved about this book.
Overall, I definitely recommend reading this book to anyone who wants to have a good time reading in their own cozy corners.
Ps: thanks to JM Lawler for sending me a copy of this all the way from Austrailia.