Storytelling is an art. If told properly, a small account can evolve into an infamous legend. An adept narrator will captivate the audience, flawlessly inserting new details and leveraging their literary license.

The Swan is an ancient inn along the Thames – the perfect location to drink a pint and hear a story from the imaginative and exaggerative locals. One night, the pub becomes the center of a saga when a drenched and beaten man bursts into the tranquil bar holding a seemingly lifeless child.

Hours later, the girl awakens from an eternal rest with no ability to speak. Her savior claims to have found her along the river but is unable to offer any further information. Three different people come to claim the four year old, which overwhelms the patrons of the bar and causes further confusion – who is she and who does she belong to?

Once Upon a River was a truly unique book, rich with symbolism and allegories as the reader navigates between fact and folklore to find out Alice/Amelia/Ann’s origins. Some have criticized this book as slow. These concerns are warranted, but I would argue, like a proper tale, this novel was not slow, but methodical.

Get ahead of the hype train and pick up a copy today!

Verdict: 4/5 Stars
Length: 480 pages
When: You want something different that has a nice mix of mystery and myths.
Quote: A body always tells a story – but this child’s was a blank page.
Also Try: Nothing like it. If you want to go old school, it has a Canterbury Tales vibe.

Buy Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield