River Secrets by Shannon Hale
Fantasy. 290 Pages. 4 Stars
And, just because I can, here are two other cover editions! đ The above is the cover I personally own and have for many years now. The left is the original cover and the one I first read the story with. It’s quaint and charming and I love it! The right is the newest cover edition and, while I typically loathe cover updates, I am blown away by this one! IÂ love the colors and style of this new update!!
Synopsis:
Razo has no idea why he was chosen to be a soldier. He can barely swing a sword, and his brothers are forever wrestling him to the ground. Razo is sure it’s out of pity that his captain asks him to join an elite mission–escorting the ambassador into Tira, Bayern’s great enemy.
But when the Bayern arrive in the strange southern country, Razo discovers the first dead body. He befriends both the high and low born, people who can perhaps provide them with vital information. And Razo is the one who must embrace his own talents in order to get the Bayern soldiers home again, alive.
Newbery-Honor winner Shannon Hale returns the reader to the intrigue and magic of Bayern, first introduced in her critically acclaimed novel, The Goose Girl. Enter a world where even those with no special magical skills find in themselves something they never imagined.
My Review:
So, this is the third book in Shannon Hale’s Books of Bayern series. Personally, although I did very much enjoy the book–and even more so the second time around–it just isn’t as good as The Goose Girl or Enna Burning. But that could just be because I adore the first two books. Either way, it’s still an excellent read and a lovely addition to the series.
This book focuses on Razo, a comical and humble character. He’s forest born, but adapts pretty well no matter where you stick him. He’s loyal as they come, but when he’s sent on a dangerous mission to Tira, Bayern’s long-standing enemy, to help pave a new peace, he questions his captain’s choice. Razo doesn’t know why he’s been picked to go along for the adventure, but he’s sure grateful! As Razo is thrust into this whole new world in the heart of Tira, we really get to see his character shine. He’s tethered by a few familiar faces, but for the most part, we get a new cast in this book.
The setting too, is all new, save for the introduction. I loved getting to see more of Tira’s culture and meet Tiran people. His Radiance was such a cool factor and I loved how clever Razo was in cultivating a relationship with him and his people. The city can be a little confusing, but there’s a convenient map in the front of the book to help with that, and I never found that the geography pulled me from the story. The Tiran culture was presented in sharp contrast with the Bayern culture, but slowly, as the relationship of the people progressed, so did the presentation of the Tiran culture.
Oh my! The plot for this one, though quite different from previous plots, was intriguing in its own way. This story held more mystery than the first two. There’s tension between Tira and Bayern, fueled by the fresh wound of a lost war and a long history of violence. The Bayern have come to Tira as a sign of trust and in an attempt to form some kind of peace, to show the Tiran they aren’t all as horrid and morbid as the Tiran have been told. They’ve come at a pivotal time where the Tiran have an upcoming assembly that will determine whether they return to war or take hold of the preferred peace. And someone’s out to mess with this fragile peace and to stir up more trouble! Razo finds himself in a sticky mess, that’s for sure! Watching him struggle with the decisions before him, balance the future of two countries, and still remain good ole Razo was one of my favorite parts of the book.
As always, Hale’s writing is exceptional. Even in the new country, she maintains the same ancient and homey style in her writing. It’s simple, easy to read, and yet strangely stirring. I did find one typo in my copy of the book.
There is no foul language, but there is a little bit of mild violence. The book doesn’t take place during the war, but it does take place in the contentions of the aftermath of that war. There was very little romance, though Razo did think back to a lost love from his forest days a few times and a romance from the previous book continues, with nothing more than a kiss here or there. There was one kitchen maid that was…a little sensual for about a half a page in one scene, but the book is clean and not explicit in any way.
More:Â
The first Book of Bayern is The Goose Girl (5 Stars)More:
The second is Enna Burning (5 Stars)
The third is River Secrets (4 Stars)
The fourth is Forest Born (5 Stars)
I have reviewed each of the above on Goodreads. Follow the links to find more info on the books. This series should be read in order.
On GraceBought
See my review of the first two books in the series and stay tuned next week for my thoughts on the final book in the series!