Review: “The Cursed River” – TrekZone

We look at the new fantasy novel from Panini.

content (propaganda)

Rhythm is an enchanted island: winds whisper mysteriously, tartans can be as strong as armor, and sometimes the tiniest cuts of a knife inspire unfathomable fear. The fickle spirits that rule the island of fire, water, earth, and wind play tricks on the people who call the island home. Bard Jack Tamerlaine has not set foot on Rhythm for ten long years, but when several young girls go missing from the island, he is called upon to help locate the missing. The cry for help is unexpected, coming from Adira – Jack’s avowed childhood enemy. Willing to forget her old quarrels, knowing that spirits only respond to the bard’s music, she hopes Jack can entice her with his singing so they can bring back the missing girls. But with each song that follows, it becomes clear that the feud with the spirits is more sinister than they first suspected, and that an older and darker secret lurks in Cadence that seeks to destroy them all…

criticism

With “The Enchanted River” a new fantasy series begins, namely about Rhythm Island. This is also the setting of the novel, for two enemy clans live on that island, separated by a land, as well as many souls with whom one lives in more or less harmony. At this time comes Jack, who has been away from home for some time and now returns home – and has to face some adventures there.

This is the starting point of this story, which must be said quite clearly at this point, that it is more than a story of love and family. Everything here is a little quieter, and if you’re expecting big fantasy with lots of action, you’re definitely in the wrong place. The fact that everything is supported by the characters isn’t bad in this case, but supports the story well. However, you have to like her in order to warm up to her, and that may take some time, depending on your personal attitude to the topic.

Because of course there are also some cliches used here, for example that the “enemies” from childhood days, Jack and Adira, have become a couple. This becomes apparent to the reader at the outset, as well as this or that revelation or the other revealed in the course of the volume. At least you have to take credit for the fact that there’s also a surprising twist or two you might not expect after all.

Because, as is often the case, the path is sometimes more interesting than the overly obvious goal. Nothing is rushed here, but the characters develop a stronger bond with each other in the course of the story, which one believes too. This applies to the named couple as well as to the second that appears in this volume about Turin. Here, too, there is a twist in which the characters (or family) grow closer to each other.

But there are actually two other scenes besides these two, because on the one hand girls from the eastern clan are being kidnapped and on the other hand Adira wants to make peace between the two clans. At first glance this seems a bit overloaded, for example when Adaira wants to go on a journey to the West, although there is a major background crisis about kidnapped people rocking their clan. Almost as if you had a few days to do other things in this serious crisis. Yes, the lines come together at the end, and in a really good way, but it’s bumpy in some places even then.

On the other hand, fantasy elements are used sparingly. There are a few ghosts and stories surrounding them at play here, as well as some magic and magic elements, but this is just scratching the surface and is more of a background theme at most points. Like I said, it works well here, it doesn’t always have to be huge fantasy monsters or other horror, and it’s okay to play with folklore and ghosts.

In the end, the situation comes to a head in a way that makes you feel carried on despite everything. This comes at some point and the story does not end with a major event. But if the author managed to evoke such feelings, then, of course, not everything could be bad.