An easy 5 stars to the first book in the Beginning of the End Series
The title character is everything. She’s real, authentic, and vivid. River is the epitome of what it feels like to be a teenage girl. And even though she’s a Fair from the glorious ebb, she still struggles with the things all teens struggle with, like her looks and dealing with hot guys (and by hot guys, I mean unfairly gorgeous Warriors) and figuring out how she fits into this world.
Everyone who reads this will see a bit of themselves in River, whether it’s in her untamable wildness, her stubborn spirit, her awkwardness, or her sense of isolation. She is a girl torn between two worlds with an unforgiving mother and a past that haunts her. I can’t remember the last time I read a teenage character who felt so relatable.
The world building is PERFECTION. It’s consistent, has depth, and is inviting. I mean, who wouldn’t want to live like Robin Hood in the trees (with cinnamon rolls more glorious than Cinnabon) in the Banyans aka the Redwood forests of California? All of settings come alive with Lesli’s superbly-crafted descriptions that utilize all five senses and touch on the energy of a place. She found a way to describe the indescribable, to show the way a place affects someone. Lesli’s world engages your imagination and leaves you wanting more.
And let’s not forget the two beautiful-beyond-measure men both vying for River’s attention. Forget being Team Edward or Team Jacob: will you be Team Wolf or Team Cat? (good luck choosing between them). This glorious lust-triangle fits in perfectly with the rest of the plot, which will have you from the very first sentence. This books DEMANDS to be read in one sitting. The pace is perfection, there’s always something happening, something new to explore, something lurking in the shadows.
Like the marvelous villain Angel. Don’t let her name deceive you, she makes Maleficent look positively pleasant. Angel is another way in which Lesli stands out from the crowd. She has the rare gift of showing the effect a villain has on those around them. This character is complex, vicious, terrifying, and addictive. A wonderful contrast to River.
RIVER has a unique voice that stands out from other YA books on the shelves in the best possible way. It’s so refreshing to read a book that combines the best YA has to offer with an authentic teen voice and a world that you’ll be dying to live in. This book will pull on your heartstrings and pull you along on an emotional roller coaster you won’t want to get off.