The Riverman Review *No Spoilers*
- Tiffany Borys
- May 23, 2016
- 2 min read
The Riverman by Aaron Starmer
Synopsis:
"To sell a book, you need a description on the back. So here's mine: My name is Fiona Loomis. I was born on August 11, 1977. I am recording this message on the morning of October 13, 1989. Today I am thirteen years old. Not a day older. Not a day younger." Fiona Loomis is Alice, back from Wonderland. She is Lucy, returned from Narnia. She is Coraline, home from the Other World. She is the girl we read about in storybooks, but here's the difference: She is real. Twelve-year-old Alistair Cleary is her neighbor in a town where everyone knows each other. One afternoon, Fiona shows up at Alistair's doorstep with a strange proposition. She wants him to write her biography. What begins as an odd vanity project gradually turns into a frightening glimpse into a clearly troubled mind. For Fiona tells Alistair a secret. In her basement there's a gateway and it leads to the magical world of Aquavania, the place where stories are born. In Aquavania, there's a creature called the Riverman and he's stealing the souls of children. Fiona's soul could be next. Alistair has a choice. He can believe her, or he can believe something else...something even more terrifying.
I bought this book solely based on the beautiful cover! It is lovely work of art depicting our story elements. Well I'm glad I did because I loved this book and really helped to pull me out of my reading slump. It had wonderful world building and a lovely writing style. I would describe the book as an unexpected middle grade fantasy. While reading the book you are questioning what is real, is the book a fantasy book or a contemporary; Which I loved and thought it was something quiet different. The writing was so good and made forget at times that I was reading a middle grade book. There was such deep subject of life approach within the book that were unexpected, yet wonderful.
The plot was one the most creative ones I have heard in a long time. Children having mystical access to a world called Aquvania where they held the power to create their own personal worlds. Then the villain, the Riverman was truly a terrifying threat. The idea that a creature of some sort could get to you, use your dreams against you to capture you.
Alistar our main character was rather interesting and I loved seeing everything through his perspective. You really got to watch him grow at such a critical time of development within his life. The children were faced with such real life challenges and made for a epic fantasy drama. Even the ending was very satisfying and draws you in for the next book, making you want more. I would go far as say I found this book a beautiful it is piece of art and would rate it a 4.5
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