Four lives and three storylines told with incredible skill weave There Are Rivers in the Sky into a read not to be missed. The story starts before that, however, with a tale older than time that turns up throughout found civilizations and which will continue to turn up versions in ones we uncover in centuries ahead.

The author has written masterfully about water, and through these linked tales, readers will focus for a moment on that random raindrop on the windshield, or back of their hand, or rolling off their umbrella and wonder. . .what whens have you come through and where have you been?

All the stars. I highly recommend just starting the book without further information - that said, know that all the hardest things in life are considered herein and some explicitly.

*A sincere thank you to Elif Shafak, Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #ThereAreRiversintheSky #NetGalley

I am such a sucker for stories that follow multiple timelines and characters. There Are Rivers in the Sky scratched that special itch for me because of that and also my need for historical fiction. Elif Shafak has crafted an amazing world and story that I know will stay with me for quite some time (and a reminder to read her other work.) My thanks for NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

“Time is a river that meanders.” Eliot Shafak tells the story of three individuals separated across the world and time but connected by a single raindrop: Arthur in London in the late 1800s, Narin in the Middle East in 2014 and Zaleekah in London in 2018.
There’s great character development and a thread that leads back to ancient Mesopotamia, the land of Narin’s ancestors, now under the threat of ISIS.
As a historical fiction fan, I enjoyed learning more about this part of the world in a more intimate portrait that what we see on the news. Shafak makes a thought provoking statement not only about life giving water but also the meaning of home, humanity and the rightful resting place for their artifacts.

I somehow never posted a review for this one. But months and months later, I still remember treasuring it. I've now read Shafak's entire backlist and let me just say, she's master at her craft.

Each book was just so different but also equally developed and magical. I would have to say my two favorites are: The Island of Missing Trees and 10 Minutes. I'm eager to see what Shafak publishes next

Elif Shafak has long been on my list to read. There are Rivers in the Sky traverses centuries from ancient Mesopotamia to modern day London. The story of seemingly disconnected people flows seamlessly together, but the real heart of the book are the ideas that shine through these characters. Through the entire book come life views and thoughts that I find myself furiously underlining passages. I am so glad I finally read this author. I look forward to reading more.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2025/01/there-are-rivers-in-sky.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

Elif Shafak's writing is undeniably beautiful. Her prose is detailed and nuanced, and I genuinely felt transported to each setting in this book (of which there are many). Overall, however, I felt that Shafak was doing just a little bit too much. As soon as I'd get swept up in one character's narrative, she would switch to the perspective of a different character. This happened over and over, and I honestly found it jarring. I also felt that the connections between storylines were tenuous, at best. I understand what the author was trying to do with all of the different narratives; I just don't necessarily feel it was done successfully. By the end of the book, I mostly felt exhausted, which was unfortunate given the amount of time I had invested in the stories and the characters. I would absolutely read Shafak's work again, and I would even recommend this book to some readers (particularly those who are interested in the Epic of Gilgamesh), while cautioning that this book is likely not for everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced reader copy.

*There Are Rivers in the Sky* by Elif Shafak is a beautifully written and deeply moving novel that captures the complexities of human emotions, love, and the search for belonging. Shafak's prose is lyrical and evocative, effortlessly transporting readers between past and present as she explores the lives of characters bound by fate and memory. The themes of migration, displacement, and identity are powerfully woven into the narrative, making this both a personal and universal story. Shafak’s ability to blend history with rich character development creates a profound, unforgettable reading experience. This novel is a stunning achievement, deserving of five stars for its emotional depth, storytelling, and timeless relevance.

I don't think there are words to adequately explain just how much this book affected me. I'm pretty sure this is the best historical fiction novel I've ever read. I kept talking about it the whole time I was reading it. I told my family. I posted about it in my Facebook groups. I shared it with friends. I even bought a physical copy as soon as it was released! This is a must read!

The amount of research this must have taken is astounding. The intricate way the three stories were woven together was breathtaking. I fell in love with Narin, Arthur, and Zakheelah. It's just such a moving story. Learning about London and the Thames during Victorian times. Learning about the history of the Yazidis. Learning about the Mesopotamian history. The clash of cultures. Who does history belong to? The responsibility of humanity. It is heartbreaking to realize there are horrors happening today.

This book has profoundly affected me. It was heartbreaking and beautiful all at once.

Read this if you like:
- book club reads with lots of great topics for discussion
- historical fiction
- books that will break you and enlighten you

"Epic tale with multiple timelines and characters that all come together for an emotional and satisfying conclusion" is one of favorite genres of literature and I am happy to proclaim that this novel is a member of that club. The only thing holding it back would be the 2018 story took far too long to get going and with characters it was difficult to bond with, though the payoff was well worth it. 4.5 stars rounded to 4.

Extremely dark book that covers difficult topics.
The writing was excellent but I did not enjoy the subject matter.

I am a huge fan of the author Elif Shalak! I read her other book "The Island of Missing Trees" and I rated it highly as well. Shalak writes really beautifully and she always puts in an element of magic to her historical fiction, which I find really interesting. In this story, we follow three people Narin, Arthur and Zaleekah. In the beginning, I found the connection between characters really unlikely but Shalak proves me wrong and weaves their stories together seamlessly. The author explores the magical element of water, and how water can actually remember events that occur. There were so many beautiful quotes in this book and this story will stay with me long after I have read it. Shalak is also one of the only authors I know writing about Turkey and the area of Mesopotamia. I am always eager to learn about these cultures and she explains their way of life very clearly. I will always be looking forward to more books from Elif Shalak.

This novel truly took my breath away. It is a historical fiction tale that weaves 3 narratives together across generations connecting them through a drop of water. I absolutely loved Elif Shafak’s previous book “The Island of Missing Trees” and this one did not disappoint. One of my favorite books of the year for sure. The amount of research that went into creating this story and maintaining historical accuracies is unfathomable. Highly recommended!

Thank you to NetGalley for an opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a book you will want to buy to keep on your bookshelf and as a back-pocket recommendation for others. There Are Rivers in the Sky is a captivating, poignant exploration of identity, belonging, and the unseen forces that shape our lives. Elif Shafak’s prose is beautifully rendered, and her characters are complex and deeply human. While the narrative structure may challenge some readers, the novel’s emotional depth and philosophical insights make it a compelling read for anyone interested in stories that engage with both the personal and the political. Highly recommended.

I love Elif Shafak writing style.

This is beautifully written I just loved the multiple views and time lines. The character build was interesting and i just wanted to find out what was happening with the characters. I love how it all came together and will be buying this book for my shelf.

The cover is stunning as well. Will recommend and read more from the author.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

The beautiful prose and storytelling of the author is staggering. I loved the multiple points of views spread over vast time periods. The directions and course of each character throughout the book was interesting to watch. I loved this history and strong sense of place that was established. I ultimately loved the beginning place of Ninevah and how each was connected to it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf for the gifted e-arc of this book.

Elif Shafak is a really good writer. I really liked her writing style. I loved the first chapter - following the story from the point of view of the drop of water and its perspective and "feelings". I was really excited after the first chapter. However, even though water has a big presence in the book, she quickly dropped this structure for the rest of the narrative. I was let down by that.

But that wasn't my only hurdle with the book. Even if the writing is really good, I didn't care at all about any of the characters and their stories and struggles. I was a little bit interested on Arthur because of his interest in history but even him I really didn't care about. There isn't anything wrong with any of them, I was just completely uninterested on the book.

I thought the book to be really dull to be honest.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.

Such an interesting story. Three characters with overall
Sad stories to tell their lives history and the history of their heritage and how it shaped their lives. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

When I heard Elif Shafak was writing her next novel heavily inspired by Assyria I almost cried. As an Assyrian, it is an honor to have our history and identity shared with the world through the pen of such a gifted writer. Overall, I found the story a little difficult to connect with. I found it a little heavy handed and I could see clearly what the author was doing in crafting vs getting lost in the words and story.

The book begins with a drop of water, which touches the lives of various characters across various timelines spanning centuries. Author Elif Shafak brilliantly weaves this historical fiction novel's strands: three different characters, two different rivers (the Tigris and the Thames), and the ancient Mesopotamian poem The Epic of Gilgamesh. The Assyrian city of Nineveh is also common ground for the three characters. This novel's truths are hard truths. They are bitter medicines to swallow, but there are glimmers of sweet hope as well as troves of rich historical and cultural tidbits.

[Thanks to Knopf and NetGalley for an opportunity to read an advanced reader copy and share my opinion of this book.]

This is a multilayered and multiple time framed story of three characters connected through time by single drop of water. An all encompassing novel about words and ideas, about good and evil, tying past to near present with water. At times it felt a little too ambitious and a little slow moving. However, it merits 4 stars for the beautiful writing and wonderful characters, my favorite of whom was Arthur .

I received a copy of this from Knopf through NetGalley.