Diane Setterfield’s Once Upon a River is a thoroughly captivating and enchanting read. Inspired by the Victorian River Thames photographer, Henry Taunt, the novel centres around the local inhabitants who depend on the river and their folkloric tales and superstitions surrounding its power and mystique. Skilfully crafted and powerful imagery forces the smells, tastes, and physical sensations of the river to seep into the writing. Stylised in the fairy tale genre, Once Upon A River offers tragedy, surprise, wonderfully rounded characters, as well as happy endings all round in a cleverly contrived plot.

A beautiful fairytale. Once Upon a River truly has it all, drama, crime, love, loss, magical realism, shocks, mysteries and resolutions. Setterfield has created an amazing array of characters with complex backstories and woven them together against the backdrop of the mysterious Thames. I finished reading to feel like I had just woken up from a dream.

I'm having trouble deciding what I liked most, the skillful language? The eerie setting? The fascinating characters? The overall plot? The style of telling a tale through stories? I loved it all. I enjoyed how many secrets there were to be discovered and even more that the revelations came at different times and not just in a bundle at the end. These left me feeling satisfied and every question I had was answered by the end. An absorbing, fulfilling read that will stay with me.

This is a good book and I do like Diane Setterfields writing. Some might find this slow to get in to but perserver. Totally worth it! The story is part historical fiction, a little fantasy and magical. The plot is well written and builds intrigue> it has something for all readers. I highly recommend it.

Very accomplished and the atmosphere and sense of place is terrific - I know the part of the country where it is set well. After a strong and arresting opening though, I felt that the number of different threads followed and the 'cleverness' of the structure was done slightly at the expense of the storytelling and engagement with the individual characters. I would still recommend it - but this stopped me from falling in love with it in the way that I did with THIRTEENTH TALE.

I tried and tried to get into the book. I loved the concept of it, but I had so much trouble keeping track of all the characters as there were so many. I ended up adding it to my small DNF pile. However, this said, I will try and finish it as I got to about 60%

I'm not even sure how to start to say how much I loved this book. Everything from the mysteries, the characters, the plot and the unique narration was just perfect. From the first sentence, I was pulled deeply into the world around the river. I loved how the folk tales surrounding the river were interwoven with the story, how they were spoken of as facts because that's how the locals would see it. Stories passed from mouth to mouth and seen as true despite the fact that it's more local superstition.

Stories are a massive part of this book, the way that stories were passed by word of mouth, the way that folklore and rumours were spread back then from people talking to one another and spreading the gossip. I loved to see how all the characters were connected and how they found out about the girl and what happened on the night she was found.

I loved the narration so much. The omniscient narrator connected everything back to the river, talking about the story in terms of the river and conspiring with the reader to tell the story. Often I like to fall into a book and get lost in the story, but in this case with stories at the very heart of the book, it was just the perfect way to tell the story.

Whether you want a story full of magic and mystery or a story full of scientific reasoning this is the story for you. It balances the story perfectly to explain everything reasonably as well as leaving it open for those like me who would rather believe in magic.

This is a wonderful tale full of warm and memorable characters in a magical setting, I have always found books set by a river appealing and I had enjoyed The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield so was very pleased to be read her latest novel. I had no difficulty turning the pages and was sad to finish, though the ending was definitely satisfying. I became very fond of many of the characters along the way, especially big-hearted Robert Armstrong and kindly, capable nurse/midwife Rita. I loved the writing. It drew me in and the book made me think of Dickens (without the long, complicated sentences!) as the setting and characters are so beautifully described. Sometimes I found I was re-reading a paragraph just for the beauty of the writing. There are sad scenes and happy ones, evil characters and those who are the salt of the earth. The action starts at The Swan Inn and I really wish I could go there, to witness the magical storytelling firsthand, A novel to treasure and to buy for friends.

Once upon a river is a slow meandering tale just like the River Thames which is the main part of this story .Set in the 19th century this is a very different story ,part folk tale with a little sprinkling of the supernatural .The Swan is an ancient pub situated by the Thames where folk come to tell their stories and the best ones are spread far and wide .The action happens at the beginning of the book and I did find the story very long and slow and confusing at times when the story goes off on another thread .!It is very atmospheric I could almost feel the cold damp if the Thames seeping into my bones !! Many thanks to the Publisher ,the Author and NetGalley for my review copy in return for an honest review .

Meandering and slow-paced like it's setting near the source of the Thames, Once Upon A River is a well-written modern folktale worthy of accolades. Each sentence is beautifully constructed, each character finely-wrought, and historical research is meticulous.

A mystery/folktale set in the 19th century, the novel has many point of view characters and many twists and turns, which leads to quite a slow pace of storytelling. This might not be to everyone's taste, but if you like your novels gentle yet immersive, Once Upon A River is the one for you.

Though the action of the story takes place over a year, there’s so many characters that it feels as if it’s taken longer.
Much of the story focuses on The Swan Inn, and the family who work it. We establish this place as a great setting for stories...and what unfolds over the course of the novel is the most fantastic story ever.
One evening a stranger enters the pub carrying a dead girl. The stranger is patched up, and the dead girl comes back to life. Rumours abound about the girl, and all manner of people seem to stake a claim on her.
There’s a large cast of characters, and some of them certainly are of more interest than others. Over the course of the story we learn more about many of these characters and their backgrounds.
Throughout, we are set near The Thames and it comes as close to a character as one could hope.
From the opening pages I was captivated by the writing. It certainly isn’t a thrill-a-minute read, though there’s plenty of action, and the twists and turns won’t be to everyone’s taste.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this prior to publication in exchange for my thoughts.

After reading the first few sentences of this book I knew it was for me and I fell in love.  I just knew it was going to absolutely magical, beautiful, heartbreaking.

An old Inn known for its storytelling, set on a river, midwinter, a half dead man carrying a dead child bursts through the door.  However, the child isn't dead - who is she? and what happened that night?

This story unfolds beautifully, dipping into folklore and the beliefs of the characters - of which there are many. Sometimes if there is a large cast of characters I tend to forget who is who, and their part in the story, but I didn't in this case - all of the characters are integral to each unfolding part, and I certainly felt that I knew them all well.

I'm so pleased that this was my 2019 opener book - it's beautiful - almost fairytale like (but with minor adult themes). Absolutely loved this book. I'm definitely checking out The Thirteenth Tale!

My thanks to Transworld Publishers and Netgalley for this copy

This is a well written book combining folklore with mystery..

It is set on the Thames in midwinter. The regulars of The Swan and telling each other stories and drinking ale when the door opens and a stranger enters. He has been injured but in his arms is a corpse of a young girl.
Along the river there is an awareness of something waiting to happen.
Then the little girl wakes up but who is she. There are several possibilities but only one family will get the answer they are looking for.
This book draws you in and is an ideal read for this time of year.

I loved this book and found it hard to put down - I could have read it in one sitting. The story weaves like the river, taking you into the lives and thoughts of the characters. It begins one evening at the Swan, famed for its story telling, when an injured man crashes into the pub with a dead girl in his arms and a true-life story begins which holds the locals in thrall until the last mystery is resolved. The superstitious believers in ghosts, magic, talking pigs and fortune tellers are contrasted with the latest scientific discoveries which explain some, if not all, of the goings-on.
The quality of writing and plot reminds me of Thomas Hardy, (Far from the madding crowd); George Eliot (Silas Marner); and Kate Atkinson (Behind the scenes at the museum).

If you have seen the old photographs of the Cottingley Fairies, this novel evokes a very similar sense of magic, childhood and romance. but without its innocence. This is a fairy tale story of lost children with dark sometimes brutal undertones set in a dreamy semi-fantastical alternate England in an unstated period but with hints of the Victorian or Edwardian period . Like the river of the title, the story is told in a lyrical flow of evocative words. This is a story of lost little girls, of how the grief and loss and desperation of their families lead to a series of painful mistaken identities and slow realisation of the truth which is sometimes painful but in all cases the right outcome. But not all the girls are human, some are dead and some are living but all are trying to get home in some way and all are loved. It's not clear until the end which little girl belongs to which family - human or otherwise. What sets this story apart is the blurry slightly unreal setting of a romantic sepia- toned chocolate box England, a rural English village where it turns out that magic and myth are woven into the river and the village and have an effect on those who live there. It gives this story a breathless quality of suspense as you read it. There is a constant sense of expectation that the magic that inhabits this world can at any moment reveal the truth of what happened to these children. This was truly a spellbinding novel with a difference.

Beautiful, haunting book.. winding its way, indeed like a river, with tributary stories, shifting in times and place .. a little girl is taken... and the people around are tuned in to atmosphere and dark happenings, even in the future. Really gorgeous, maybe long winded with whimsical flavor of fairy tale at times, the the grim events. But we fall in love with the women, and soft loving men who attend to them .. except not all. Really recommendable liked crazy .. sometimes it's teaching evocative words, ideas and about characters almost for its own sake .. which is a fine experience here too

I have to admit to struggling with the first half of the book. The descriptive passages are quite beautiful but for me the story lacked pace. The description became almost an indulgence that overshadowed the plot. I do not enjoy this style of writing. I very nearly gave up. The threads are cleverly woven but it is not until well into the book that the reader begins truly to see how they weave together. From that point on I did thoroughly enjoy this and was satisfied with the ending. For this reason I have found it difficult to know how many stars to award. I have given 3 because it is not for me and because my enjoyment was spoilt by the slow pace at the beginning but I can equally see how others might disagree.

A very thought provoking and compelling read. A story packed full of emotions, complex relationships and colour. I very much enjoyed it. It did however need my full dedication to finish it and I felt my interest drop off about halfway through where I felt it struggled to keep up the momentum. I’m glad I did though and will read more by this author.

Once Upon a River

A Perfect book about love, loss and telling stories.

On the banks of the River Thames, tales are being told at the Swann Inn, an ancient inn, perhaps the most ancient of them all. Regulars and travellers alike gather, as they have for hundreds of years, for storytelling is their favourite pastime.
On Solstice night in 1887 a new tale is born with the arrival at the Inn of an injured stranger and in his hands a dead child.
In the middle of night the child rises. Is it a miracle, is it magic? Who does she belong to? Several people appear to have claims on this mysterious child but why all so convinced she is theirs?

This is a slow read but in a good way.
This is a beautiful book, beautifully written, to be read slowly and enjoyed preferably on a lazy Sunday in Winter.
It’s full of folklore, magic and alot of mystery. It’s incredibly atmospheric and maintains suspense throughout. There are twists and turns to keep you guessing.

The characters are excellent, from Rita the ‘unofficial’ nurse, a perfectly written female character, to 'Quietly' the Ferryman, a mythical figure that patrols the river and rescues the unfortunates who fall foul of the river... then decides who will remain, or who will cross to the other side. These are the standouts, but there are so many that are expertly brought to life and made so interesting. The villains of the piece were also excellent, perfectly creepy and unlikable.
The author does well by not just using the Thames as an effective setting, but cleverly ensuring it acts as a character itself. It’s the perfect setting for this story, and the author manages to convey the benefits, the trappings and a psyche of a close knit community, all tied to the river in some way.

I had enjoyed the author’s previous novels and this one did not disappoint. I enjoyed the mixture of history, fantasy and magical realism. There was perfect contrast of the old and the new, folklore versus fact, in an age of increasing enlightenment, especially scientifically.
A beautiful novel about stories,
life and death ...and the bit in between.

A great start to my reading year.

I loved this book. I like books that are different, strange, out of the ordinary, even weird. Once Upon a River has all those components and more. The last book I liked as much was Gareth Hanrahan's The Gutter Prayer which drew me in from the first line and didn't let go, still hasn't let go. Once Upon a River is another such book, slipping easily into my category of not only must read but must have my own copy even though I've read it now. It will sit on my shelf exclusively for once in a lifetime special reads. It's hard to describe properly but the basic premise is an injured man walking into an inn on the river Thames carrying a child in his arms. The child appears to be dead but subsequently comes back to life. Who is she? Who does she belong to? This book is a story within stories wrapped up in overarching story. When I started reading I thought I could be reading something by Neil Gaiman but it also has (in my view) touches of Tim Burton and even M Night Shyamalan. The writing is frequently beautiful, magical and charming as well as dark with touches of the supernatural and fable.and intriguing characters. I don't think it's entering spoiler territory if I quote from the Author's Note at the end of the book, "The river Thames irrigates not only the landscape but also the imagination, and as it does so, it alters." This book can irrigate your imagination with all the charm and intrigue that reminds you why you fell in love with reading in the first place.

I hadn't read anything by Diane Setterfield before but I'll be looking to see what else she's written now. This will be one of my Books of the Year for 2019. Highly recommended and essential reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK/Transworld for ARC.

I started reading this book feeling very excited about the story as it seemed to be a very different type of story. Unfortunately I didn't get very far before I felt I couldn't go any further. I felt that the story didn't move very quickly - it reminded me of the style of Charles Dickens, which is not my taste at all. I don't want to leave a negative review as I feel that the book was probably just not what I was expecting, but it had a feel of historical fiction rather than a fantasy novel.