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The River Has Teeth
Natasha’s sister is missing.
Her car was found abandoned on the edge of a local nature preserve known as the Bend, but as the case goes cold, Natasha’s loss turns to burning anger.
She’ll do anything to find answers.
Della’s family has channeled magic from the Bend for generations, providing spells for the desperate. But when Natasha appears on her doorstep, Della knows it will take more than simple potions to help her.
But Della has her own secrets to hide.
Because Della thinks she knows the beast who’s responsible for the disappearance — her own mother, who was turned into a terrible monster by magic gone wrong.
Natasha is angry. Della has little to lose.
They are each other’s only hope.
Her car was found abandoned on the edge of a local nature preserve known as the Bend, but as the case goes cold, Natasha’s loss turns to burning anger.
She’ll do anything to find answers.
Della’s family has channeled magic from the Bend for generations, providing spells for the desperate. But when Natasha appears on her doorstep, Della knows it will take more than simple potions to help her.
But Della has her own secrets to hide.
Because Della thinks she knows the beast who’s responsible for the disappearance — her own mother, who was turned into a terrible monster by magic gone wrong.
Natasha is angry. Della has little to lose.
They are each other’s only hope.
11 pages, Audiobook
First published July 27, 2021
266 people are currently reading
22814 people want to read
About the author
Erica Waters
6 books620 followersErica Waters is a lifelong Southerner who now lives in Salem, Massachusetts. She writes dark fantasy and horror for young adults. Her second novel, The River Has Teeth, won the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel and was also an Indie Next pick and a Kirkus Best Young Adult Book of 2021. Erica’s other works include Ghost Wood Song, The Restless Dark, and All That Consumes Us. She is also a contributor to the bestselling folk horror anthology The Gathering Dark. You can visit her online at ericawaters.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 949 reviews
August 2, 2021
4.50 Stars. This book sure got my attention. It was dark, emotional, a bit creepy, but it was also magical with a bunch of badassery. Three words: angry, sapphic, and witches, is why this book was on my list of most anticipated reads of 2021. I’m happy to say that it was the kind of read I was hoping for and a book that really clicked with my personal tastes. It’s the kind of book I can’t stop thinking about and I know I won’t soon forget.
This is quite the mix of genres being Southern Gothic, paranormal, mystery, and YA with a light WLW romance. This is a book that won’t appeal to everyone, but if you like that dark and angry feel mixed with magic, murder and mayhem, then this is the book for you. While this is YA, I honestly kept forgetting that it was. I missed the part that might have said if the characters had just finished high school or were still in it, but this felt much more like a New Adult story to me. Therefore, if you are not a big YA fan, I would not let it put you off in this instance.
I love mystery and crime books and when you put in some paranormal elements it just takes it to another level for me. I loved the feel of the mystery. A young woman is missing. Is she alive? Is there a monster out there human or the non-human kind? I just thought it all worked really well. My only real complaint is that I was able to solve the mystery too early for my tastes. I could have used another red herring or something to throw me off balance a bit more. It may be because I read so many crime books that I picked it up so early so I’ll keep my fingers crossed that other readers don’t.
What impressed me the most was the pace and readability of this book. Once you get a few chapters in, you just become completely hooked. This is one of those books I would highly recommend reading when you have a large chunk of time to yourself. I started reading this last night thinking I would read half and finish today. No way! Thank goodness I’m on my vacation because I read this until 3am because I could not put the book down. Just one more chapter, one more, I had to know what was going to happen. The entertainment value of this book was through the roof for me.
As I mentioned before there is a light WLW romance. While it was on the lighter side, I liked it quite a bit and I thought it fit the story very well. These two young women are not going to go on a romantic date together, but they might just steal a kiss over learning a spell. These characters both have a lot of anger, so their relationship starts out angry too, but their sweeter moments together gave the story a little lightness that it needed.
This story has a great mix of this darkness and anger, but it is also about two young women -both a little morally gray- who want to take their power back. This story was tough to read in places, but it wasn’t too depressing so you can see a way out of that anger towards some sort of hope. This was my kind of book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would read a book by Waters again in a heartbeat.
An ARC was given to me for a review.
This is quite the mix of genres being Southern Gothic, paranormal, mystery, and YA with a light WLW romance. This is a book that won’t appeal to everyone, but if you like that dark and angry feel mixed with magic, murder and mayhem, then this is the book for you. While this is YA, I honestly kept forgetting that it was. I missed the part that might have said if the characters had just finished high school or were still in it, but this felt much more like a New Adult story to me. Therefore, if you are not a big YA fan, I would not let it put you off in this instance.
I love mystery and crime books and when you put in some paranormal elements it just takes it to another level for me. I loved the feel of the mystery. A young woman is missing. Is she alive? Is there a monster out there human or the non-human kind? I just thought it all worked really well. My only real complaint is that I was able to solve the mystery too early for my tastes. I could have used another red herring or something to throw me off balance a bit more. It may be because I read so many crime books that I picked it up so early so I’ll keep my fingers crossed that other readers don’t.
What impressed me the most was the pace and readability of this book. Once you get a few chapters in, you just become completely hooked. This is one of those books I would highly recommend reading when you have a large chunk of time to yourself. I started reading this last night thinking I would read half and finish today. No way! Thank goodness I’m on my vacation because I read this until 3am because I could not put the book down. Just one more chapter, one more, I had to know what was going to happen. The entertainment value of this book was through the roof for me.
As I mentioned before there is a light WLW romance. While it was on the lighter side, I liked it quite a bit and I thought it fit the story very well. These two young women are not going to go on a romantic date together, but they might just steal a kiss over learning a spell. These characters both have a lot of anger, so their relationship starts out angry too, but their sweeter moments together gave the story a little lightness that it needed.
This story has a great mix of this darkness and anger, but it is also about two young women -both a little morally gray- who want to take their power back. This story was tough to read in places, but it wasn’t too depressing so you can see a way out of that anger towards some sort of hope. This was my kind of book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would read a book by Waters again in a heartbeat.
An ARC was given to me for a review.
Want to read
May 7, 2024After Ghost Wood Song, I will read anything Erica Waters writes. Anything, ever, forever and ever. Amen.
🖤🖤 💗💜💙 🖤🖤
🖤🖤 💗💜💙 🖤🖤
January 4, 2022
fulfilling my 2021 goal to read one ARC each month i'd been so excited to get my hands on and then...never read
July 27, 2021
"Women spend so much time trying to make ourselves small so we won't get hurt, or we make ourselves so visible our visibility becomes a shield."
3.5 stars
Angry Girl x Exhausted Witch Sapphic Romance
This book was very atmospheric, had eerie writing, and a twist I didn't see coming until it was too late. I also loved the feminist undertone to the entire novel, the story of how women go missing and no one gives a crap. That women have so much power but men try and take it away any chance they get. There was a lot of female badassary in this book. But I just couldn't connect to Natasha. When you have two POVs and one of them is subpar compared to the other, it hurts the book.
I would've been more happy to of just had Della's POV because she was so interesting to follow and I loved learning about her world and the magic of the Bend. The way Della's magic is written is beyond beautiful, I felt myself immersed in the Bend and the raw power it exudes. Honestly, Della's entire family was interesting to me and I loved whenever we got her POV. She was snarky and tired and loyal to fault, I loved her.
I know Natasha was supposed to be angry at the world, but she was blinded by her anger for the entire book that I just lost interest. I am sure there will be people out there who adore her and relate to her, but that person isn't me. I just couldn't let go of the fact that at no point Natasha saw the lack of rational in her thinking, it wasn't until death was staring her in the face that she realised she was wrong.
I would have to say I prefer Waters' freshman novel over this one, but she is still an author I want to read more from and one I will keep on my radar.
3.5 stars
Angry Girl x Exhausted Witch Sapphic Romance
This book was very atmospheric, had eerie writing, and a twist I didn't see coming until it was too late. I also loved the feminist undertone to the entire novel, the story of how women go missing and no one gives a crap. That women have so much power but men try and take it away any chance they get. There was a lot of female badassary in this book. But I just couldn't connect to Natasha. When you have two POVs and one of them is subpar compared to the other, it hurts the book.
I would've been more happy to of just had Della's POV because she was so interesting to follow and I loved learning about her world and the magic of the Bend. The way Della's magic is written is beyond beautiful, I felt myself immersed in the Bend and the raw power it exudes. Honestly, Della's entire family was interesting to me and I loved whenever we got her POV. She was snarky and tired and loyal to fault, I loved her.
I know Natasha was supposed to be angry at the world, but she was blinded by her anger for the entire book that I just lost interest. I am sure there will be people out there who adore her and relate to her, but that person isn't me. I just couldn't let go of the fact that at no point Natasha saw the lack of rational in her thinking, it wasn't until death was staring her in the face that she realised she was wrong.
I would have to say I prefer Waters' freshman novel over this one, but she is still an author I want to read more from and one I will keep on my radar.
Want to read
October 13, 2020
April 7, 2023
One of my favorite things about audiobooks is that at the end they are making sure I enjoyed their production while I'm busy bawling my eyes out.
The writing style was not my favorite because it's more telling than showing, but I loved the characters, the romance and the story, although it made me realize how deeply terrified I am of men and how careful I am around them not even on purpose.
Even though I was sure the MCs will be alright, I still cried so hard because it could have been me, it could have been any of us and I felt so unsafe while I read this book.
So yeah,
The writing style was not my favorite because it's more telling than showing, but I loved the characters, the romance and the story, although it made me realize how deeply terrified I am of men and how careful I am around them not even on purpose.
Even though I was sure the MCs will be alright, I still cried so hard because it could have been me, it could have been any of us and I felt so unsafe while I read this book.
So yeah,
We all know that it's not all men
But it's some of them
So we hold our brеath
Baby, nonetheless
March 29, 2023
Actual Stars 4.5
This book came at just the right time! I was thinking maybe I was about to give up on YA because I just keep reading so many mediocre books. Then The River Has Teeth showed up at my door!!
The River Has Teeth is a Dark YA Mystery with a Southern Gothic setting infused with witchcraft, paranormality, and 2 sapphic teens that live on opposite sides of Georgia’s social-class. Della born on The Bend and into a family rich in witchcraft but poor in money, helps her family makes ends meet anyway she can by working when necessary and selling the family’s spelled brews to customers. Natasha lives a charmed but angry life, she has 2 loving and wealthy parents and wants for nothing. But that wasn’t always the case, she grew up poor, neglected and abused by her drug addicted biological parents, along with her older sister Rochelle. Her younger childhood is where her anger stems from.
Rochelle goes missing one night, leaving her car abandoned outside of The Nature Park right in Della’s backyard. Natasha using the anger that drives her sets out to find her sister. She starts by knocking on Della’s door desperate to try anything even though she doesn’t really believe in magic. Della agrees to help Rochelle because she desperately needs the money but she also has a secret she needs to protect, her own mother might be behind Rochelle’s disappearance after a spell gone wrong turned her into a river monster. She may be the one responsible for Rochelle going missing as well as several other girls. This way she can keep an eye on Natasha and collect some cash. After spending so much time together they are attracted to each other. But how can there be any type of relationship when there are lies and secrets between them.
I was hooked pretty much from the start.
Erica Waters writing style sucked me in completely. And the way she brought these two very different (but similar in ways at the same time) girls to life is phenomenal. Just be warned there will be parts that are hard to read, parts that will hurt your soul and make you want to cry. But there are also healing moments that make your heart swell and bring about a balance of sorts.
This is a book I will not soon forget! Thank You Harper Kids for gifting me The River Has Teeth for my honest review.
This book came at just the right time! I was thinking maybe I was about to give up on YA because I just keep reading so many mediocre books. Then The River Has Teeth showed up at my door!!
The River Has Teeth is a Dark YA Mystery with a Southern Gothic setting infused with witchcraft, paranormality, and 2 sapphic teens that live on opposite sides of Georgia’s social-class. Della born on The Bend and into a family rich in witchcraft but poor in money, helps her family makes ends meet anyway she can by working when necessary and selling the family’s spelled brews to customers. Natasha lives a charmed but angry life, she has 2 loving and wealthy parents and wants for nothing. But that wasn’t always the case, she grew up poor, neglected and abused by her drug addicted biological parents, along with her older sister Rochelle. Her younger childhood is where her anger stems from.
Rochelle goes missing one night, leaving her car abandoned outside of The Nature Park right in Della’s backyard. Natasha using the anger that drives her sets out to find her sister. She starts by knocking on Della’s door desperate to try anything even though she doesn’t really believe in magic. Della agrees to help Rochelle because she desperately needs the money but she also has a secret she needs to protect, her own mother might be behind Rochelle’s disappearance after a spell gone wrong turned her into a river monster. She may be the one responsible for Rochelle going missing as well as several other girls. This way she can keep an eye on Natasha and collect some cash. After spending so much time together they are attracted to each other. But how can there be any type of relationship when there are lies and secrets between them.
I was hooked pretty much from the start.
Erica Waters writing style sucked me in completely. And the way she brought these two very different (but similar in ways at the same time) girls to life is phenomenal. Just be warned there will be parts that are hard to read, parts that will hurt your soul and make you want to cry. But there are also healing moments that make your heart swell and bring about a balance of sorts.
This is a book I will not soon forget! Thank You Harper Kids for gifting me The River Has Teeth for my honest review.
October 18, 2022
Well, this was a fun read for my October list. It took a few turns I wasn't expecting and it took a few I was. It's YA but doesn't really feel that way.
Recommended for people that love mystery/horror with a side of witches and monsters.
Edited to add that's it's on sale in US Amazon for $1.99 right now.
Recommended for people that love mystery/horror with a side of witches and monsters.
Edited to add that's it's on sale in US Amazon for $1.99 right now.
November 1, 2022
It had the right ingrediens and was well narrated as an audiobook but it didn't quite do much for me. Some parts was very interesting and was very invested. But the story overall wasn't quite my cup of tea
February 19, 2024
I’m a slut for anything Erica Waters writes; my wonderful provider of Sapphic mysteries and twisted situations
January 16, 2021
Rochelle, Natasha’s older sister, is missing and when her vehicle is found abandoned on the edge of a local nature preserve, Natasha’s loss turns to burning anger (that is just about borderline psychotic) when the case goes cold. She takes it upon herself to play detective (cue the eyeroll people) and appears at the door of Della, a witch whose family has channeled magic from the Bend for generations, providing spells for the desperate and vengeful. Unbeknownst to Natasha, the witch thinks she knows the beast who’s responsible for the disappearance—mommy dearest, who was turned into a terrible monster by magic gone wrong that also led to the gruesome murder of her Aunt Sage.
Now with a synopsis such as that, you would think I would love this instantaneous, right?
Eh'nt! You're wrong.
Natasha ruined this for me.
She was aggressive, confrontational, entitled and fixated on her missing sister's boyfriend who she believed was responsible for Rochelle's disappearance. Characters like her usually lures me away and destroy most to all books for me. She didn't have any redeemable qualities and she was a down right bitch. I just couldn't find anything remotely likable about her which is a shame because when I read the blurb I was more than excited to read about queer witches, magic, and monsters with a mystery thriller twist. And spoiler alert: can we talk about how when dumb dumb went to Della to ask if she can teach her how to become a witch so she could force Jake to admit he killed her sister and was a serial killer (far-fetched idea she claimed was true), why did Natasha 'magical powers' come out of the woodwork at that very moment when we reached the halfway point? There was no hint at all she could wield magic nor did Della pick up on it. That whole scenario had me scratching my head and at that very moment, I came to realize I just didn't have the willpower to read this anymore.
Della, Miles and Ruby (mother) even her father (not mentioned as far as I recall) were the only standouts of this YA novel and I really like their dysfunctional family dynamic and background story as to what led Della's mother to be locked away. Unfortunately as the story progressed and the more Natasha appeared, I found it difficult to immerse myself in this novel because she is everything I hate in a character and since she is one of the main two, the enjoyment I once had for this started to slowly shimmer.
All in all, if Natasha wasn't there I would have been all over this book. Plus I know for a fact that if I had reached the romance portion of this, I would have surely been gagging. Della and Natasha were total opposites and there was a huge huge lack of chemistry and a strong connection. Their relationship would've been unbelievable and lackluster at best.
Nonetheless the build up and the author's writing style was up my alley so I will definitely read more from her again as long as there aren't any more Natashas or characters similar to her in any of her future works.
August 17, 2021
4.25 stars. Dark and gloomy and an interesting mystery. It took me some time to get really invested in this book, but once I was I couldn’t stop listening. The mystery is what did it for me, it brings everything together.
The two mains of this book are both in the middle of a family crisis. Della’s family is involved in witchcraft, but their magic has gone wrong and turned her mother into a monster and now the only thing she and her family can do is damage control and a lot of that falls on Della’s shoulders. Natasha’s sister is missing and she’s determined to find answers, which brings the Natasha to Della’s doorstep. Two girls that would, under normal circumstances, never mingle. This is a YA book, but it feels as a NA book due to the dark content and the maturity of the mains. They both have not lived the easiest or average lives and the recent events leave them angry and also a bit hopeless, but they refuse to let the hopelessness overtake them.
There is a small romance between Natasha and Della, which is not particularly sweet due to the circumstances and their emotional state, but it fits the story and I liked it. As I mentioned, the mystery is what did it for me, that is what brings Della and Natasha together and there were some unexpected twists. I also liked how it was combined with magic, it gives the book its dark, Southern atmosphere. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Katherine Littrell (Della) and Sura Siu (Natasha) and the narration was a good fit for the characters. I had to get used to the voice of Della, but the southern drawl worked well for this book.
The two mains of this book are both in the middle of a family crisis. Della’s family is involved in witchcraft, but their magic has gone wrong and turned her mother into a monster and now the only thing she and her family can do is damage control and a lot of that falls on Della’s shoulders. Natasha’s sister is missing and she’s determined to find answers, which brings the Natasha to Della’s doorstep. Two girls that would, under normal circumstances, never mingle. This is a YA book, but it feels as a NA book due to the dark content and the maturity of the mains. They both have not lived the easiest or average lives and the recent events leave them angry and also a bit hopeless, but they refuse to let the hopelessness overtake them.
There is a small romance between Natasha and Della, which is not particularly sweet due to the circumstances and their emotional state, but it fits the story and I liked it. As I mentioned, the mystery is what did it for me, that is what brings Della and Natasha together and there were some unexpected twists. I also liked how it was combined with magic, it gives the book its dark, Southern atmosphere. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Katherine Littrell (Della) and Sura Siu (Natasha) and the narration was a good fit for the characters. I had to get used to the voice of Della, but the southern drawl worked well for this book.
August 16, 2021
Star Rating: —> 5 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
OH MY GOD. This book. I don't even have words for how absolutely, completely, AMAZING THIS IS!
This book truly has it all & I am just... it SUCKED. ME. IN. Like I was an absolute goner. I am just SPEECHLESS!
READ THIS BOOK! I promise, you will NOT be disappointed!
This was just FANTASTIC! Ahhhh!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
OH MY GOD. This book. I don't even have words for how absolutely, completely, AMAZING THIS IS!
This book truly has it all & I am just... it SUCKED. ME. IN. Like I was an absolute goner. I am just SPEECHLESS!
READ THIS BOOK! I promise, you will NOT be disappointed!
This was just FANTASTIC! Ahhhh!
January 5, 2022
2.5/5 stars
This cover deserves some awards though...
This cover deserves some awards though...
September 25, 2024
It's a shame, but I didn't connect with this one. I wasn't a fan of Natasha, and considering the fact that half of the story is told through her...well, it didn't make things easy. That romance was so sudden, magic abilities that are awoken then conveniently wielded with near perfection by a novice never works for me, and the antagonist was obvious from the first moment they stepped onto the scene. It's nonetheless good writing, and Della alone makes it a worthy read (loved her), but the magic was missing for me.
July 16, 2023
Maravillosa obra.
.
Wonderful story.
.
Wonderful story.
August 19, 2021
The River Has Teeth was such a fun and unique murder mystery to dive into. The reason why it was unique definitely had to deal with the magic. It just felt like I was always wanting more information about it and I was never satisfied with the little crumbs of information.
Then there's the characters, Della and Natasha, and I was hooked after meeting them. Their relationship was pretty cute but I did find it annoying how often people were trying to tear them apart. It was pretty obvious that they had feelings for one another and I just wanted them to be happy. Especially with the murders going around and Natasha wanting to find out what actually happened to her sister.
Each twist, turn, and secret that came out kept me wanting more. I had feelings that the true monster wasn't who we thought it was going to be. Which, yes, I was very happy that I was correct but I still ended up surprised with the big reveal.
In the end, I'm really happy that I took the chance on this book and I will definitely be looking out for another one of Erica's books.
Then there's the characters, Della and Natasha, and I was hooked after meeting them. Their relationship was pretty cute but I did find it annoying how often people were trying to tear them apart. It was pretty obvious that they had feelings for one another and I just wanted them to be happy. Especially with the murders going around and Natasha wanting to find out what actually happened to her sister.
Each twist, turn, and secret that came out kept me wanting more. I had feelings that the true monster wasn't who we thought it was going to be. Which, yes, I was very happy that I was correct but I still ended up surprised with the big reveal.
In the end, I'm really happy that I took the chance on this book and I will definitely be looking out for another one of Erica's books.
January 3, 2024
I liked Della a lot. She was a complex character fighting with a lot of warring instincts and desires. Natasha was fine but never as three-dimensional as Della for me. A more robust character could have pushed this book up to a five-star read for me.
I loved the magic! I loved the approach to feminism. I loved the mythology that was different from the norm.
The mother-daughter relationship portrayal was well done, and the internal struggles for Della felt real.
I loved all of the interesting animal representations throughout the book.
Also, a serial killer? Yes, I am here for it!! However, I would have liked to have MORE about the other victims and deaths.
Some great quotes include:
"Powerful women are always stopped by greedy men."
"Here, we are witches, and men are nothing. Here, the river has teeth."
There was a lot to love in this magical realism approach to a contemporary murder mystery.
4 Stars for me.
I loved the magic! I loved the approach to feminism. I loved the mythology that was different from the norm.
The mother-daughter relationship portrayal was well done, and the internal struggles for Della felt real.
I loved all of the interesting animal representations throughout the book.
Also, a serial killer? Yes, I am here for it!! However, I would have liked to have MORE about the other victims and deaths.
Some great quotes include:
"Powerful women are always stopped by greedy men."
"Here, we are witches, and men are nothing. Here, the river has teeth."
There was a lot to love in this magical realism approach to a contemporary murder mystery.
4 Stars for me.
October 14, 2021
4.5 stars, rounded up to 5!
I haven't read a ton of Southern Gothic/Gothic Horror and also don't gravitate towards mysteries that often, but in my inexperienced opinion, this one was excellent! I was gripped from start to finish, and the narration of the audiobook was top tier. Also, just to ensure expectations are accurate: there was an f/f romance subplot, but it was just that - a subplot. Read this book for the atmospheric setting, murder mystery, Southern gothic witchery, complex family dynamics, and magic - the romantic subplot is just an added bonus to an already great read!
That being said, The River Has Teeth delves deeply into some heavy and potentially triggering topics, so definitely check CWs, but highly recommend!
An incomplete list of potential CWs (check other reviews too, these are just the big ones I can remember - I listened to the audiobook while driving & couldn't take notes): murder, intimate partner violence (past, towards one MC's sister), violence/body horror, parental neglect (past and kinda present), parental drug addiction (past), misogyny (graphic).
I'm sure there are more I'm forgetting, so read with care!
Love sapphic books, too? Let's be friends! Booktok | Bookstagram | Twitter | Booktube
I haven't read a ton of Southern Gothic/Gothic Horror and also don't gravitate towards mysteries that often, but in my inexperienced opinion, this one was excellent! I was gripped from start to finish, and the narration of the audiobook was top tier. Also, just to ensure expectations are accurate: there was an f/f romance subplot, but it was just that - a subplot. Read this book for the atmospheric setting, murder mystery, Southern gothic witchery, complex family dynamics, and magic - the romantic subplot is just an added bonus to an already great read!
That being said, The River Has Teeth delves deeply into some heavy and potentially triggering topics, so definitely check CWs, but highly recommend!
An incomplete list of potential CWs (check other reviews too, these are just the big ones I can remember - I listened to the audiobook while driving & couldn't take notes): murder, intimate partner violence (past, towards one MC's sister), violence/body horror, parental neglect (past and kinda present), parental drug addiction (past), misogyny (graphic).
I'm sure there are more I'm forgetting, so read with care!
Love sapphic books, too? Let's be friends! Booktok | Bookstagram | Twitter | Booktube
August 11, 2021
Wow, the lesbian part of this book really comes out of NOWHERE. Around 2/3 into the book it was like the author suddenly realized "Oh I wanted to have this be a romance," and suddenly the two main characters were aching for each other. It was literally like a switch had been flipped and "And now I love and trust her with all my being." It could have happened between any two other characters and it would've had the same build-up, I feel. I can't believe I'm docking points for the lesbian content, which is the only reason I started it in the first place, but the story was actually strong (if incredibly predictable) and then out of nowhere the two leads are soulmates. I don't know, I have whiplash from the insta-love. Three stars because two feels too low given the quality of the writing. It's fine. I don't regret reading it, but I'm definitely not going to revisit it.
March 12, 2024
this one of those books that is just okay. it's there. it served its purpose. it was fine, but lacking in some aspects.
it felt a bit predictable, too, which is something you don't really want to see in something tagged as a mystery/thriller book (but it's not its main genre, so i'm choosing to not let that weigh too much in my rating), and some aspects of it felt underdeveloped, like the relationships between the characters. the side characters felt more like accessories to the main characters most of the time.
overall, it was fine. nothing groundbreaking. just fine.
it felt a bit predictable, too, which is something you don't really want to see in something tagged as a mystery/thriller book (but it's not its main genre, so i'm choosing to not let that weigh too much in my rating), and some aspects of it felt underdeveloped, like the relationships between the characters. the side characters felt more like accessories to the main characters most of the time.
overall, it was fine. nothing groundbreaking. just fine.
February 7, 2023
En términos de ambientación me recordó a Laguna negra, en ambos libros creo que la ambientación fue uno de sus puntos fuertes.
No sé si esta fue la intención de la autora, pero considero este libro una re-imaginación de caperucita roja, y sí me gustó, pero considero que se alarga mucho en el medio; yo le quitaría por lo menos 100 páginas, y el romance adolescente que no les pude ver la química por ningún lado.
No sé si esta fue la intención de la autora, pero considero este libro una re-imaginación de caperucita roja, y sí me gustó, pero considero que se alarga mucho en el medio; yo le quitaría por lo menos 100 páginas, y el romance adolescente que no les pude ver la química por ningún lado.
January 23, 2022
Girls have gone missing in the woods and when Natasha’s sister is one of them she turns to a supposed witch Della for help, hoping magic gets her sister back home. Della has a secret though, she believes she knows who’s responsible for the disappearances, her own mother that was turned into a horrible monster by magic. Natasha is furious and Della has barely anything to loose. They may be each other’s last hope.
____________________
possible spoilers ahead:
Before I start I would like to mention: this book was pretty dark and gruesome at times. There are also some topics that are important to mention like racial and socioeconomic injustice, sexuality and misogyny. The author does a good job covering them. Now onto the rest of the review:
I loved this book so much! I personally thought I was going to be bored because this book is almost 400 pages (390) but I wasn’t at all. There was always something going on and I was so invested in this story.
As some may know this book has a small f/f relationship and I wasn’t the biggest fan of the romance at first because I felt like it came too fast but after thinking about it more I think it was perfect. Della and Natasha are looking for love in some way since they both have lost someone they love and they’re hurt by the loss.
Della calls Natasha princess and I loved it even though Nat hates it. I loved how they can understand each other since they have both gone through so much.
Now into more details for the main characters:
Della: I have always loved witches and Della is a witch who’s magic has been in her family for generations. Della is so responsible and I love how she cares about her family even through everything. I also love how she helps Natasha even through the everything they went through alone and together.
Natasha: Nat is so strong and when her sister goes missing she took action right away and wanted to find out what happened to her. She goes through so much and I’m so glad she let Del help her, they worked great together. Natasha is so understanding and I loved that for her.
The action and magic in the woods and the book was so thrilling. I felt like the author really knows how to world build and explain the magic system because I was so immersed. Also, I have to mention how beautiful the writing was; I was so hooked and I absolutely flew threw the pages.
My favorite aspects of the book:
witches 🧙♀️
magic 🪄
lgbtq+ and poc characters
f/f romance 🌈
beautiful writing ✍️
mysterious circumstances 👀
____________________
possible spoilers ahead:
Before I start I would like to mention: this book was pretty dark and gruesome at times. There are also some topics that are important to mention like racial and socioeconomic injustice, sexuality and misogyny. The author does a good job covering them. Now onto the rest of the review:
I loved this book so much! I personally thought I was going to be bored because this book is almost 400 pages (390) but I wasn’t at all. There was always something going on and I was so invested in this story.
As some may know this book has a small f/f relationship and I wasn’t the biggest fan of the romance at first because I felt like it came too fast but after thinking about it more I think it was perfect. Della and Natasha are looking for love in some way since they both have lost someone they love and they’re hurt by the loss.
Della calls Natasha princess and I loved it even though Nat hates it. I loved how they can understand each other since they have both gone through so much.
Now into more details for the main characters:
Della: I have always loved witches and Della is a witch who’s magic has been in her family for generations. Della is so responsible and I love how she cares about her family even through everything. I also love how she helps Natasha even through the everything they went through alone and together.
Natasha: Nat is so strong and when her sister goes missing she took action right away and wanted to find out what happened to her. She goes through so much and I’m so glad she let Del help her, they worked great together. Natasha is so understanding and I loved that for her.
The action and magic in the woods and the book was so thrilling. I felt like the author really knows how to world build and explain the magic system because I was so immersed. Also, I have to mention how beautiful the writing was; I was so hooked and I absolutely flew threw the pages.
My favorite aspects of the book:
witches 🧙♀️
magic 🪄
lgbtq+ and poc characters
f/f romance 🌈
beautiful writing ✍️
mysterious circumstances 👀
July 12, 2021
This book is angry. The tone, though feeling slightly angsty is this mix of sadness, despair, and most of all, this over arching anger at everything. Natasha is angry and lost without her missing sister, and her grief at the loss manifests itself in this almost overwhelming drive to do something, anything to get her back. When she meets Della Boyd, the youngest member of a family living in a lonely part of a national park in North Carolina, they butt heads. Because Della is angry, too. The magic in the forest is wrong, and it twisted her mother so much that she changed into something terrible and uncontrollable. They then are pulled together into the mystery of the dead girls in the forest, and Natasha's sister.
I'll have to say this, it is not a subtle book. Natasha and Della are allowed to spiral into unhealthy feelings and are allowed to work through their grief. Because both girls are mourning the loss of family members. Now, both the family members in question aren't presumed dead, but either because their missing, or transformed, it doesn't matter, they're both not there. I wouldn't say this is a heavy book, but the girls are in the middle of an emotional ringer. Then there's the magic, and supernatural beings. I loved their journey to falling for each other, mostly because they don't necessarily change, they just soften.
I love the magic and mystery of the book. Della's family has a very natural magic, that is derived from their land. Each power is manifested differently, with Della being able to grow things, her mom a siren, her late aunt a healer, and her cousin a sort of tracker. And that it got twisted into something wilder and darker is amazing. There are some other aspects of the magic that assist the girls as they solve their perspective mysteries, that are beautiful and terrifying.
Della and Natasha each have very strong personalities that are very much alike. They each are very angry and lonely, because they are terrified of being left alone. Natasha is because she and her sister were fostered at a young age, and Della was super close to her mother. Now that both of their rocks are gone, the girls are adrift. Their family and friends feel farther apart; Della's dad is broken, while Natasha kind of blames her friends for her sister's disappearance. Once they realize they can have each other, the girls become unstoppable.
There are some minor things that bug me about the book, but I think I understand where she's coming from ( like carefully making sure to say the white characters are white), so it is a little distracting. Most of the male characters are inept or broken people. Even though Della's father is sympathetic, because he is seen through Della's eyes, the narrative doesn't give him much slack. Della's cousin is a nice counter balance to her, but he's not in the story enough. I wish he was, because he was a good calming presence.
I wouldn't say this is an uncomfortable read, but it is a beautifully written paranormal mystery about female anger. I wasn't expecting this, especially in a young adult novel, so this was a nice surprise. Other than a few things that bothered me here and there, this is a great novel to read. Like Sorrowland the magic is heavy with metaphor, and is dark. But unlike that book, it gives some hope while still managing to stay angry.
*I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I'll have to say this, it is not a subtle book. Natasha and Della are allowed to spiral into unhealthy feelings and are allowed to work through their grief. Because both girls are mourning the loss of family members. Now, both the family members in question aren't presumed dead, but either because their missing, or transformed, it doesn't matter, they're both not there. I wouldn't say this is a heavy book, but the girls are in the middle of an emotional ringer. Then there's the magic, and supernatural beings. I loved their journey to falling for each other, mostly because they don't necessarily change, they just soften.
I love the magic and mystery of the book. Della's family has a very natural magic, that is derived from their land. Each power is manifested differently, with Della being able to grow things, her mom a siren, her late aunt a healer, and her cousin a sort of tracker. And that it got twisted into something wilder and darker is amazing. There are some other aspects of the magic that assist the girls as they solve their perspective mysteries, that are beautiful and terrifying.
Della and Natasha each have very strong personalities that are very much alike. They each are very angry and lonely, because they are terrified of being left alone. Natasha is because she and her sister were fostered at a young age, and Della was super close to her mother. Now that both of their rocks are gone, the girls are adrift. Their family and friends feel farther apart; Della's dad is broken, while Natasha kind of blames her friends for her sister's disappearance. Once they realize they can have each other, the girls become unstoppable.
There are some minor things that bug me about the book, but I think I understand where she's coming from ( like carefully making sure to say the white characters are white), so it is a little distracting. Most of the male characters are inept or broken people. Even though Della's father is sympathetic, because he is seen through Della's eyes, the narrative doesn't give him much slack. Della's cousin is a nice counter balance to her, but he's not in the story enough. I wish he was, because he was a good calming presence.
I wouldn't say this is an uncomfortable read, but it is a beautifully written paranormal mystery about female anger. I wasn't expecting this, especially in a young adult novel, so this was a nice surprise. Other than a few things that bothered me here and there, this is a great novel to read. Like Sorrowland the magic is heavy with metaphor, and is dark. But unlike that book, it gives some hope while still managing to stay angry.
*I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 24, 2021
♥︎♥︎♥︎♥︎♡︎/♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎♡︎
𝙸𝚗 𝚊 𝚗𝚞𝚝𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚕: A southern gothic tale with magic and mystery between every page
𝚃𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚆𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜: mentions of abuse/alcoholism, hitting, murder, kidnapping, dead body description
𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠: Natasha’s sister is missing, and the case is slowly falling apart- much to Natasha’s anger.
She will do whatever she can to find answers, even turning to the resident witch, who supposedly deals in dark magic.
Della knows that Natasha is going to need her help, and she won’t take no for an answer. But as she starts to help Natasha, she starts to realize that she just may know who the monster is...Della’s own mother.
This is a dark and sinister tale about the horror of not knowing where your loved one is, and just how far you are willing to go to try and figure it out.
Natasha was FILLED with pain and anger, it radiated from the pages as you dived into the story. And sometimes, it seemed a bit too much, making her chapters hard to read since she couldn’t see past her initial opinions and anger.
Della was easier to enjoy. She was so wrapped in her own mystery and drama, that each one of her chapters balanced her own struggle with Natasha’s struggles.
The whole story was just full of mystery, magic, and dark vibes and I loved it.
It can sometimes be somewhat confusing at certain points, but each point just matches up so great that it ends up in a wonderfully written story.
𝚁𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚘: If you’re looking for a dark and magical tale, full of anger and plans for revenge- then you’re gonna love this!
𝙸𝚗 𝚊 𝚗𝚞𝚝𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚕: A southern gothic tale with magic and mystery between every page
𝚃𝚛𝚒𝚐𝚐𝚎𝚛 𝚆𝚊𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜: mentions of abuse/alcoholism, hitting, murder, kidnapping, dead body description
𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠: Natasha’s sister is missing, and the case is slowly falling apart- much to Natasha’s anger.
She will do whatever she can to find answers, even turning to the resident witch, who supposedly deals in dark magic.
Della knows that Natasha is going to need her help, and she won’t take no for an answer. But as she starts to help Natasha, she starts to realize that she just may know who the monster is...Della’s own mother.
This is a dark and sinister tale about the horror of not knowing where your loved one is, and just how far you are willing to go to try and figure it out.
Natasha was FILLED with pain and anger, it radiated from the pages as you dived into the story. And sometimes, it seemed a bit too much, making her chapters hard to read since she couldn’t see past her initial opinions and anger.
Della was easier to enjoy. She was so wrapped in her own mystery and drama, that each one of her chapters balanced her own struggle with Natasha’s struggles.
The whole story was just full of mystery, magic, and dark vibes and I loved it.
It can sometimes be somewhat confusing at certain points, but each point just matches up so great that it ends up in a wonderfully written story.
𝚁𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚘: If you’re looking for a dark and magical tale, full of anger and plans for revenge- then you’re gonna love this!
Want to read
October 17, 2020THE RIVER HAS TEETH AND I AM GAY WHAT EVEN IS THIS COVER
April 4, 2021
2021 is the year for feminist gothic books and I am HERE FOR IT. Proper review later.
April 9, 2022
Estuve leyendo este libro durante un periodo estresante: universidad + clases de conducir (¡aprobé!) = estrés y poco tiempo libre. Esto puede haber influenciado en mi disfrute del libro, como ya me ha pasado en otras ocasiones. Teniendo eso en cuenta, a continuación mi opinión.
La verdad es que tenía muy buena pinta y a mí todo lo que tenga fantasía me encanta. En este libro nos encontramos una más oscura, tirando a "terror gótico" (por la nocturnidad, la oscuridad y el misterio del bosque, las muertes y el monstruo).
Empecé con buen pie con la historia, pero es cierto que a medida que leía me iba alejando de la historia y esperaba algo más de acción y de avance con el misterio del monstruo.
El romance no lo llegué a captar en ningún momento. Creo que le ha faltado más digestión, porque el "daría mi vida por ella" después de toooodo lo que pasa entre estos personajes (ironía) me pareció demasiado = alejarme más de la historia.
Es cierto que los personajes evolucionan en su medida, sobre todo Della desde mi punto de vista. Como la narración es desde las dos perspectivas de las dos protagonistas (Natasha y Della) se seguía la historia sin perderse ningún detalle de su vida.
También hay a lo largo del libro algunas erratas que me sacaban de nuevo :(.
El final no me ha parecido del todo justo para el lector, es cierto que se dan pistas para que uno lo adivine por su cuenta sin ser muy evidente, pero creo que tampoco se dan las suficientes y que se engaña un poco para que se siga un hilo que luego no es.
Quedan algunas cosas en el aire, sobre todo el "por qué" de todo, y Natasha nunca le llega a decir sobre su pasado a Della cosa que era, según parecía, muy importante.
Acaba muy poéticamente aunque no me ha terminado de convencer, puede que también debido a que no estaba tan metida en el libro como me hubiera gustado.
La verdad es que tenía muy buena pinta y a mí todo lo que tenga fantasía me encanta. En este libro nos encontramos una más oscura, tirando a "terror gótico" (por la nocturnidad, la oscuridad y el misterio del bosque, las muertes y el monstruo).
Empecé con buen pie con la historia, pero es cierto que a medida que leía me iba alejando de la historia y esperaba algo más de acción y de avance con el misterio del monstruo.
El romance no lo llegué a captar en ningún momento. Creo que le ha faltado más digestión, porque el "daría mi vida por ella" después de toooodo lo que pasa entre estos personajes (ironía) me pareció demasiado = alejarme más de la historia.
Es cierto que los personajes evolucionan en su medida, sobre todo Della desde mi punto de vista. Como la narración es desde las dos perspectivas de las dos protagonistas (Natasha y Della) se seguía la historia sin perderse ningún detalle de su vida.
También hay a lo largo del libro algunas erratas que me sacaban de nuevo :(.
El final no me ha parecido del todo justo para el lector, es cierto que se dan pistas para que uno lo adivine por su cuenta sin ser muy evidente, pero creo que tampoco se dan las suficientes y que se engaña un poco para que se siga un hilo que luego no es.
Quedan algunas cosas en el aire, sobre todo el "por qué" de todo, y Natasha nunca le llega a decir sobre su pasado a Della cosa que era, según parecía, muy importante.
Acaba muy poéticamente aunque no me ha terminado de convencer, puede que también debido a que no estaba tan metida en el libro como me hubiera gustado.
May 30, 2022
3.5 ⭐️
This one wasn’t as great as the debut novel. It intriguing in the beginning and in the last 100 pages or so. The middle was just bleh and I didn’t find any of the characters likable until the very end—and even then just barely. Plot wise, I very much enjoyed figuring out who was the real villain though. That’s one good thing lol
Also liked that the main characters are queer 🏳️🌈
This one wasn’t as great as the debut novel. It intriguing in the beginning and in the last 100 pages or so. The middle was just bleh and I didn’t find any of the characters likable until the very end—and even then just barely. Plot wise, I very much enjoyed figuring out who was the real villain though. That’s one good thing lol
Also liked that the main characters are queer 🏳️🌈
July 26, 2021
I received an ARC from Edelweiss
TW: domestic abuse, substance abuse, child neglect, kleptomania, mentioned pet death, drugging & kidnapping
4.5
Natasha's sister is missing, and she's determined to find her. Della's heard the news about the missing girls and is trying not to get involved- because she's terrified she'll find out her mother is one who killed them. But Della's family has a reputation and a need for cash, so when Natasha's willing to pay plenty for some magical help she can't turn her down. Tangling together, and Della's mother seeming to get closer and closer to monster, it seems impossible to end in anything but pain, and possibly blood.
I love reading Waters writing- her aesthetics are great and well written, and this is book is no exception. This is a fantastic follow up to her debut novel, with the same creepy vibes and murder ballads, but in a whole new direction that feels entirely fresh.
This concept is great. The idea of a magical forest with a monster in it and a girl determined to care for and save the monster immediately grabs me by the heart, but when you add in an increasingly more desperate and furious girl willing to set the world on fire and the secrets both of them keep, you've got a wildly imaginative and compelling plot.
Really, I loved Della and Natasha so much. Della, a bit more, because her rough-and-tumble Southern witch who masks their vulnerabilities thing worked so, so well. But both of them are well written, given depth, and grow so well on the page.
They also work together really well! Which brings me to the romance- exceptional. I wasn't sure how it would work with so much of the focus elsewhere, but Waters manages to integrate it easily without it taking up spotlight or showing up suddenly like instalove. Their dynamic is fabulous because they're both powerful and from "trashy" backgrounds but given a certain higher up position in society now (Natasha from her adoption, Della from their potions) and completely committed to family, and yet they're incredibly different characters. They push and pull immediately, and the chemistry is there from the first page they interact.
I mean, there's a dramaticscene where one of them almost accidentally drowns the other that goes immediately into bantering and it works.
This book is written well, over all. The tension is there throughout, the two (three?) mysteries intertwine well, and there's never really a dull moment. But Waters also does well injecting casual moments of social justice and education without it feeling out of place.
The only problems I had were really based in Natasha's half of things. For one, the tension itself does get a little thrown with her more petty squabbles. I wish that had been cut down a little. But, more worryingly, there's a point where Natasha, spiraling, decides that all men are to blame for what happened to her sister. While I get where she was coming from in her headspace, and this could have been examined in a feminist lens of "society makes this easy/men quiet us" or something more specific like that, it's pretty much just left that way, which makes me really uncomfortable. I love that Natasha spent this whole book getting pushed further and further and got to this really horrific place, but I wish we had gotten to see Natasha cool down a little after her ramping up to this point and had a little more social justice or just a conversation there.
I liked this book a lot! This was exactly the creepy, swampy, monster-based, sapphic horror I wanted!
Pre-review comments below
oooh my god I'm so excited I got an arc for this!
update 6/8 Erica Waters knows my brain, I swear to God. So good!
TW: domestic abuse, substance abuse, child neglect, kleptomania, mentioned pet death, drugging & kidnapping
4.5
Natasha's sister is missing, and she's determined to find her. Della's heard the news about the missing girls and is trying not to get involved- because she's terrified she'll find out her mother is one who killed them. But Della's family has a reputation and a need for cash, so when Natasha's willing to pay plenty for some magical help she can't turn her down. Tangling together, and Della's mother seeming to get closer and closer to monster, it seems impossible to end in anything but pain, and possibly blood.
I love reading Waters writing- her aesthetics are great and well written, and this is book is no exception. This is a fantastic follow up to her debut novel, with the same creepy vibes and murder ballads, but in a whole new direction that feels entirely fresh.
This concept is great. The idea of a magical forest with a monster in it and a girl determined to care for and save the monster immediately grabs me by the heart, but when you add in an increasingly more desperate and furious girl willing to set the world on fire and the secrets both of them keep, you've got a wildly imaginative and compelling plot.
Really, I loved Della and Natasha so much. Della, a bit more, because her rough-and-tumble Southern witch who masks their vulnerabilities thing worked so, so well. But both of them are well written, given depth, and grow so well on the page.
They also work together really well! Which brings me to the romance- exceptional. I wasn't sure how it would work with so much of the focus elsewhere, but Waters manages to integrate it easily without it taking up spotlight or showing up suddenly like instalove. Their dynamic is fabulous because they're both powerful and from "trashy" backgrounds but given a certain higher up position in society now (Natasha from her adoption, Della from their potions) and completely committed to family, and yet they're incredibly different characters. They push and pull immediately, and the chemistry is there from the first page they interact.
I mean, there's a dramaticscene where one of them almost accidentally drowns the other that goes immediately into bantering and it works.
This book is written well, over all. The tension is there throughout, the two (three?) mysteries intertwine well, and there's never really a dull moment. But Waters also does well injecting casual moments of social justice and education without it feeling out of place.
The only problems I had were really based in Natasha's half of things. For one, the tension itself does get a little thrown with her more petty squabbles. I wish that had been cut down a little. But, more worryingly, there's a point where Natasha, spiraling, decides that all men are to blame for what happened to her sister. While I get where she was coming from in her headspace, and this could have been examined in a feminist lens of "society makes this easy/men quiet us" or something more specific like that, it's pretty much just left that way, which makes me really uncomfortable. I love that Natasha spent this whole book getting pushed further and further and got to this really horrific place, but I wish we had gotten to see Natasha cool down a little after her ramping up to this point and had a little more social justice or just a conversation there.
I liked this book a lot! This was exactly the creepy, swampy, monster-based, sapphic horror I wanted!
Pre-review comments below
oooh my god I'm so excited I got an arc for this!
update 6/8 Erica Waters knows my brain, I swear to God. So good!
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