Diana Setterfield’s “Once Upon A River” is the best kind of story — the kind that keeps you awake long after bedtime asking what happens next. Its pages are filled with kidnappings, hauntings, mysteries, deceit, priceless treasures, secrets, fortunes, love and miracles.

It’s a miracle that launches this tale: A photographer and a doll turn up half drowned at the Swan, an inn by the River Thames. The doll turns out to be a nameless four-year-old girl without a pulse. She later breathes as if back from the dead, but doesn’t talk.

Naturally, she becomes the talk of the town.

Who was she? Where did she come from? Who does she belong to? What made her come alive again? What’s her story?

The answers to these riddles trickle in drips and drabs.

Perhaps she’s Amelia, the daughter of a fearless pirate girl whose infant daughter was kidnapped two years ago.

Or perhaps she’s Alice, the great granddaughter of a prince and a slave girl; their son didn’t known of her existence until recently.

Or perhaps she’s Ann, the sister of a maid who’s trying to atone for her sins.

Setterfield isn’t in a hurry to finish this five-part tale, which starts and slows, snaking down and up and across and back like the river where this story takes place. After all, “a river no more begins at its source than a story begin with the first page,” Setterfield explains.

By the end of this journey, this river’s tale has wound around our hearts.

Disclaimer: I received a free eARC of “Once Upon A River” from NetGalley in exchange for this honest review.

Diane Setterfield does an excellent job of describing pictures with the written word. As the locals set around the Swan telling stories, you can see them all and smell the wood smoke. You see Margot, Joe and Jonathan as a stranger comes in the door holding a dead little girl. You feel their anguish as they realize they can't do anything for her. Then you feel their wonder as the little girl is not dead. This author sets the reader into the scene and leads them into the story. Not many authors can craft this well. An excellent story line by a very good author. This book got a lot of publicity and it well deserved every word written about it.

I wasn't quite sure what to expect here, since I'd not read a Diane Setterfield book before (not that I hadn't heard of her, I just never got around to reading her). What I got was...well, a lot...a rich story full of science and magic, heroes and villains, love and hate, a storyteller telling a story full of storytellers. And a river runs through it all, carrying life and death. It's a lovely read, with excellent characterizations of the characters and the world they live in. Now I need to bump Setterfield's other books up my TBR list.
On a side note, I combined listening and reading on this one, and Juliet Stevenson's narration of the audiobook is brilliant.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

This book is not only beautifully written, but gloriously intricate. It begins when a stranger brings a lifeless girl into the town bar, and she miraculously comes back to life. Three different families claim her, and no matter what happens, someone will be disappointed. 

You will be swept up in its words from the very first page and you won't be able to forget it long after the last page. It's fabulous. Trust me, please read it!

This is a completely different book from the Thirteenth Tale. Whereas the Thirteenth Tale alternated between tense drama and calm, Once Upon a River softly flows forward, gradually gathering momentum until its dramatic reveals at the peak of the flood season, Both are extremely enjoyable in their own ways; however, you will be disappointed if you expect this book to be in the style of the Thirteenth Tale.

Once Upon a River is the epitome of a book that teaches you how to read it. At its core, there are five character driven plot lines that seem to be tied together by nothing more than claims on a mysterious little girl who suddenly appeared at the local inn. These characters are quietly and beautifully developed through their interactions with the mysterious girl and flashbacks. The Thames River itself is the sixth plot in the book, as it alternates between the foreground and the background. As the rains come and the river approaches its flood stage, the tension of interconnections of the characters becomes more intense and the plot action moves more swiftly. It all comes to a dramatic climax when the river crests, as the story reveals that they are all connected by something other than the mysterious little girl.

The book was so enjoyable that I spent more than a few late nights reading it. The slow calm motion of the ebb and flow of the character development and the storyline kept me engaged in a way that no cliffhanger could. And it was such a peaceful book that it was perfect for reading in bed late into the night, as it generally left a calm and peaceful feeling in my brain.

I originally received this book as an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, but was unable to finish reading it within the allotted time due to work obligations. I was so intrigued by what I had read that I borrowed it from my local library at the earliest opportunity.

This book is a complete dream. I loved The Thirteenth Tale by Setterfield so I was anxiously hoping this book would evoke the same feelings. ⁣⁣
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It’s hard to know exactly how to describe this book because while it feels magical at times, it also felt so real. It’s fairy tale-ish, but raw. ⁣⁣
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I don’t want to say much more other than read this one sooner rather than later. Then go back and find her other works. She has quickly become a favorite. She takes time to write her novels and the beauty of this one really shows. ⁣⁣

* I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

The Swann is an historic inn that sits along the river Thames. Late one night, a stranger walks in carrying a child that appears to be dead. When the local healer arrives and holds the child, she comes back to life. No one knows who the girl is, or who she belongs to, but everyone seems to want to lay claim.

This is a beautiful story, one that I would not typically select. I look forward to reading more from Diane Setterfield. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

The story starts with a mysterious man & little girl arriving at a small town pub late in the night. The man has pulled the girl from the river and she appears to be dead, but then revives inexplicably. She is initially believed to be the daughter of a local couple whose child was kidnapped years before, but something just doesn't add about about this silent girl. Many begin to wonder about her - where did she come from, why was she in the river, and how did she come back from death? This book was mysterious and lyrical. It had this air of a fairy tale about it, slightly mystical and magical, yet also rooted in a group of wonderful characters in 19th century England. The story started off a little slow for me, but once I got going, I was captivated by the mystery, and the way that all of the seemingly unrelated characters started coming together. It would be hard for me to enjoy a book as much as I did her previous novel, The Thirteenth Tale, but this book came close. It would be great for a book club too.

Such a magical way to tell a story - one I’m not sure I’ve ever experienced before. The captivating storytelling makes me want to pick up another book by the author.

A girl found on winter solstice, believed to be dead, creates a sweeping and emotional story about 3 families and the other friends and families as the town tries to make sense out of what happened to the little girl. It's beautiful and haunting, though a slow moving story at times. I really love the way the author writes, it's beautiful. I have received this copy for free in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Diane Setterfield's The Thirteenth Tale when I read it as a teenager. So when I heard she had a new book coming out finally, I knew I had to read it. It was a long time coming, but you know what? Good things are worth waiting for. Or that's what everyone always tells me, because as it turns out, I am not good at waiting.

Once Upon A River sets up a dark, mysterious story that heralds back to all the folktales of my childhood, with writing that's enchanting and easy to read.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for an eARC of this in exchange for an honest, unbiased review*

Thoughts:

- The prose has a folktale feel to it, which was easy to read and flowed right along. The cadence was lovely, and even though it has a historic setting and feel to it, the flow felt natural. It fit right in nicely with other folktales.

- Ms. Setterfield maintains her position as a brilliant mystery writer by delivering a mystery that was drawn out but engaging. Just when I thought I had things solved, nope, there was another twist. One that didn't feel contrived, necessarily, but we readers learn with the characters. And sometimes characters are slow at picking things up. There's nothing wrong with that. Once Upon A River also has a deliciously eerie vibe of something being just around the river bend (see what I did there? *snickers*).

- Despite whatever issues I had with it, and the few times I considered DNFing it, by the time I finished reading, I had the warm tingles of having read a masterpiece. The ending was so satisfying, and a happily ever after in its own right, which was refreshing and fit the vibe nicely. Did I love every bit of it? No. But did I love it overall? Heck yes. It feels like it could easily become a sort of timeless classic of its own, hearkening back to all the classics I enjoyed reading as a teenager.

- The river made one heck of a theme, and I loved every bit of it. There were plenty of times I felt the mention of the river to be tedious, I admit, but obviously, it played a very important part in the story. It actually almost became like a character in itself, and I really enjoyed that aspect of it.

- All the (very many) threads of story tie together at the end AND IT IS GLORIOUS. I mean, I can't spoil anything, because trust me, the journey really is most of the pleasure here, but man, that ending. Things started going sideways during part two, but I hadn't quite expected where it ended up, and I love that in books.

- The magical realism is so on point that it ended up giving me goosebumps. I've read good magic realism books. I've read bad ones. This one was fantastic. To the point where I'm not even sure what's real and what isn't in some instances, which was sort of the point. I get to form my own conclusions. Being the opinionated person I am, I approve of this. Because, if I'm honest, that's all I was going to do anyway. The open-endedness of this was so well done, and the not knowing 100% for sure only added to the creepy vibe of the story. 

Sticking Points:

- The story meanders A LOT, and I skimmed quite a bit, accordingly. For those of you who absolutely adore getting a very detailed, clear picture of the backdrop of a story, boy, have I got good news for you. It's arrived! This is your book! Go now and read it. For the rest of you who are still here, who, like me, really don't need a history for every stream and building and hillside, well, I have bad news. Not gonna lie, I completely lost track of the plot in quite a few places, because so much time was spent on seemingly insignificant buildings and settings and people. There's even a whole chapter, in the first quarter of the book, dedicated to describing the river and its tributaries.

- There are SO MANY CHARACTERS. By a quarter of the way in, I gave up on actually being able to remember everyone's names, their stories, and how they fit in with each other. Names are overrated, anyway, when you stop to think about it. In the end, I just started referring to them as their defining characteristics. There's a lot of people, is what I'm saying. Too many for me, certainly, and each with their own backstory and plot and arc. I kept track of virtually none of them as they all came and went randomly. Now, their stories all tied up in the end, yes, but I found myself having to go back pages to see when characters were introduced, who the heck they were, and what their story was again.

- If babies were even half as easy to make as this book suggests, I'd have about 20 of them by now. In all fairness, I understand that it's supposed to be part of the mysticism and magical realism, but seriously, everyone does it once and is pregnant, and I'm pretty sure that's not how it works a good portion of the time. Because ... science?

I'm not sure where to start with this one. I loved it, but I hated it all at once. The mystery of it drove me crazy! I had no idea what was truly going on which is what kept me reading. It had this creepy, ethereal feeling to it as well. I couldn't read it at night because I was nursing my newborn and had to walk through dark hallways to get to him. Setterfield brought such great descriptions through her words that cut right to your bone. I was scared without understanding why I was scared.

I absolutely loved Once Upon A River, the story was absolutely enchanting. The writing was just beautiful and I loved the slight magical realism feel to the novel. The characters were brilliant, vividly drawn and so very flawed. I had high hopes for this novel and Setterfield managed to surpass them.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I loved this book! I read most of this on Christmas day cocooned in a blanket in front of the fire. It was the comforting kind of book that you just want to live inside of. The writing and the setting flowed together beautifully. I loved how the characters were all treated with compassion.

I wish I handn't waited so long to dive into this book! Setterfield is a master of storytelling, so it is only appropriate that she center this novel around an inn with patrons who have a knack for wrapping you up in a tale. Throughout the story, there is a focus on sight, photography, and eyes, which contrasts perfectly with the issue at hand: who is this little girl? Why can no one identify her by looking at her face? I can think of nothing more unsettling than a parent being unable to tell whether or not the child before them is their own. Incredibly character development and a slightly spooky, very unsettling tale made this an excellent read.

I told my wife about the book after I finished it and she seemed mildly intrigued. But one evening recently I read her the first two chapters. She was mesmerized (and so was I, especially knowing the end from the beginning). Her comment: "I want that book!" We purchased the ebook version and she spent the next three or four days buried in the book every chance she got, She couldn't put it down.

What I realized when I read aloud the two chapters was Setterfield's attention to the sounds of words, something I didn't pick up on as much when I read the galley silently. The book is a big, glorious homage not just to story but to how language can. enrapture us, weaving readers into the warp and woof of the events themselves. In such a masterly author, that needs no strong arming,. Just an Armstrong,

Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield begins more than a hundred years ago at an inn along the River Thames. There, a mysterious child arrives dead and leaves alive. When three separate families claim her, the novel takes us through past and present to determine who she is. Read this when you are in the mood for an enchanting story that blurs the lines between reality and magic. It is Beartown by Fredrik Backman meets A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Best paired with a midnight feast of soup and cheese and apple pie with thick cream poured over it.

I had been meaning to read The Thirteenth Tale for a while now, but it wasn't until I saw this book first mentioned that I finally decided to try this author's work. Why ever did I wait?! Diane Setterfield is a master of this style, and while I normally read fast-paced YA stories, this one satisfied a craving I didn't realize I even had! The blurb drew me in, and though it's not a genre I read often, I can easily see myself coming back to this author! I loved the enchanting setting and the storytelling is superb! This is one of those that shouldn't be rushed, and one that should be read on those days where you have nothing better to do than to curl up with a good book and a steaming mug to enjoy.

What a beautifully written book! This author is new to me and has definitely acquired a fan. Many have compared it to a fairytale and that may be an apt description. When a child is found, there is a mystery surrounding her. Who is her family? Where did she come from? The author answers those questions slowly but magically.
This is a book that I will surely re-read!
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I had so much hope for this book - I loved The 13th Tale - but for me, this one was just okay. I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters, and the story took so long to unwind that I lost interest early on, despite some lovely writing