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At the End of the River Styx
Before he can be reborn, Zan has spent 499 years bound in a 500-year curse to process souls for the monstrous Ferryman―and if he fails he dies.
In Portland, Bastian is grieving. He survived a car accident that took his mother and impulse-purchased a crumbling bookstore with the life insurance money.
But in sleep, death’s mark keeps dragging Bastian into Zan’s office. It shouldn’t be a problem to log his soul and forget he ever existed. But when Zan follows Bastian through his memories of grief and hope, Zan realizes that he is not ready for Bastian to die.
The boys borrow time hiding in the memories of the dead while the Ferryman hunts them, and Zan must decide if he’s willing to give up his chance at life to save Bastian―and Bastian must decide if he’s willing to keep living if it means losing Zan.
In Portland, Bastian is grieving. He survived a car accident that took his mother and impulse-purchased a crumbling bookstore with the life insurance money.
But in sleep, death’s mark keeps dragging Bastian into Zan’s office. It shouldn’t be a problem to log his soul and forget he ever existed. But when Zan follows Bastian through his memories of grief and hope, Zan realizes that he is not ready for Bastian to die.
The boys borrow time hiding in the memories of the dead while the Ferryman hunts them, and Zan must decide if he’s willing to give up his chance at life to save Bastian―and Bastian must decide if he’s willing to keep living if it means losing Zan.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published September 24, 2024
About the author
Michelle Kulwicki
2 books48 followersMichelle Kulwicki grew up in the Pacific Northwest overturning every rock and stick in an unending quest to find portals to worlds far more exciting than her own. After moving to the mountainless Midwest, she earned her bachelors and master’s degrees in music performance, and spent years in the symphony and musical theater pit circuit. She’s now a mom by day, musician by night, and writer in all the spaces in between—a life that is somewhat lacking in portals, but is still full of magic.
Her short fiction has been both Locus Recommended and Hugo nominated, and her first full length novel, At the End of the River Styx, will be debuting in Spring of 2024 from Page Street Kids.
Her short fiction has been both Locus Recommended and Hugo nominated, and her first full length novel, At the End of the River Styx, will be debuting in Spring of 2024 from Page Street Kids.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
September 28, 2024
Actual rating 4.5 stars.
Zan sounded like Bastian felt on the heels of a panic attack. Scared and anxious, like he couldn’t catch a breath.
Bastian is lost since his mom died in a car incident. The car incident HE caused. His identical twin brother, Dorian, escaped physically unscathed, but Bastian still experiences the consequences, and his guilt works overtime. Zan is lost, too. 499 years ago, he saved his mom by giving his soul to the Ferryman. Just one more year until he’s free. Until then he has to guide people who are stuck between life and death so the Ferryman can eat their souls. People like Bastian, who meets Zan in his dreams.
Michelle Kulwicki delivered a beautiful and honest take on grief and healing through love. I wanted to hug Bastian and Zan so many times. The sadness from both boys penetrated the pages from the first sentences, but I also felt Dorian's powerlessness in my bones, the ever-outstretched hand to grieve together instead of alone. The twin, who is not in the blurb but is such an essential part of Bastian's story. I also loved, loved the side characters, Riley jumped off the page, and Mathais was such a sweet jock. And when I was done hugging Bastian and Zan virtually, I wrapped my arms around Dorian for a long, long time.
Don't worry if you're not much of a fantasy reader. At the End of the River Styx is, far and foremost, a contemporary novel, vividly written and so easy to read. Be prepared for lumps in your throat and watery eyes, though. This story is a sad one, but in the end imbued with hope.
I ended the story with a smile on my face, but when I read the acknowledgments, tears crept up behind my eyes again because of that last sentence. A sentence with probably a world behind it and probably the reason you wrote this book, Michelle.
Thank you, Jane, from Pagestreet Publishing, for this beautiful ARC. I can't wait for what Michelle has in store for us next!
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Zan sounded like Bastian felt on the heels of a panic attack. Scared and anxious, like he couldn’t catch a breath.
Bastian is lost since his mom died in a car incident. The car incident HE caused. His identical twin brother, Dorian, escaped physically unscathed, but Bastian still experiences the consequences, and his guilt works overtime. Zan is lost, too. 499 years ago, he saved his mom by giving his soul to the Ferryman. Just one more year until he’s free. Until then he has to guide people who are stuck between life and death so the Ferryman can eat their souls. People like Bastian, who meets Zan in his dreams.
Michelle Kulwicki delivered a beautiful and honest take on grief and healing through love. I wanted to hug Bastian and Zan so many times. The sadness from both boys penetrated the pages from the first sentences, but I also felt Dorian's powerlessness in my bones, the ever-outstretched hand to grieve together instead of alone. The twin, who is not in the blurb but is such an essential part of Bastian's story. I also loved, loved the side characters, Riley jumped off the page, and Mathais was such a sweet jock. And when I was done hugging Bastian and Zan virtually, I wrapped my arms around Dorian for a long, long time.
Don't worry if you're not much of a fantasy reader. At the End of the River Styx is, far and foremost, a contemporary novel, vividly written and so easy to read. Be prepared for lumps in your throat and watery eyes, though. This story is a sad one, but in the end imbued with hope.
I ended the story with a smile on my face, but when I read the acknowledgments, tears crept up behind my eyes again because of that last sentence. A sentence with probably a world behind it and probably the reason you wrote this book, Michelle.
Thank you, Jane, from Pagestreet Publishing, for this beautiful ARC. I can't wait for what Michelle has in store for us next!
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October 1, 2024
✰ 2.75 stars ✰
“You can never be lonely when you love.”
I actually do like the double entendre to the title, At the End of the River Styx. It rings quite true as Zan's time slowly ticks down towards his final end of his agreement with his contract tying him to the Ferryman, only for him to face another impossible decision of choosing another five hundred years of servitude of ferrying souls or choosing to hand over the one soul that cheated death, for the sake of his own freedom - the chance to live again. 😟
“You were supposed to be a dream.”
The way their respective paths crossed was well-played upon; not so much about the way Bastian was able to cross over, but the slow dawning of where it was he was crossing over to, and what part Zan played in his dream. Bastian's grief over his mother's death was a bittersweet reflection of Zan's own longing for a chance to be human. 🥺 'You’re stuck. You’re supposed to be dead. I’m supposed to lead you.'It was that ethereal feeling that was sort of like an escape for both of them, but still a place where Bastian's very existence hung in the balance that made it a double edged sword even to be here.
Loneliness is something tangible; it eats away. And misery loves company, and what better way than for two souls who have both paid the price of losing someone dear to bond and share in their grief. Share in the memories and exchange the sorrow, in order for them both to move past it; until it tumbles into a heartfelt and meaningful connection that be it a year or five hundred years - here is someone who understands. ❤️🩹❤️🩹 There was something soothing about being around each other, even though it cost so much just to spend time together. That aching yearning to be yourself with another - without judgment or remorse was heartfelt and sincere.
It was also interesting to see how each of them had their own descents into despair and darkness with their respective evil presences. Zan, very much alone, only had Bastian as the light to pull him out from drowning, whereas the love and support of Bastian's friends as well as his bookstore and Cat, made him realize that he was not alone in drowning his sorrows - that he had no reason to die. 😥 While I do still feel that it felt a bit too much at times - especially when Bastian became dependent on adverse methods to get to Zan - I got it.
“Five hundred years, the voice in his head murmured on repeat.
Was one life worth that?”
My issues with certain points, while insignificant maybe to other readers, are what essentially weighed in on my slightly lower rating than what I had initially hoped it to be.
For as much as it is described in much detail - the central focus of both perspectives, the strange thing was - I don't know why I did not feel their grief. I was numb to their pain and sadness and guilt. And perhaps this weighs in on the fact that I relate to them very strongly and truly to their sorrow. But, my heart never tinged with an ache for their heartache. 'Grief was a strange thing.' 😢 Maybe because it was being written in a way that you had to be told with a certainty that Bastian was in a shell-stocked state of mourning - spiraling into a descent of ill-advised choices. And Zan, who made the ultimate sacrifice of a choice that left him with no palpable certainty that it was not all for naught. That forced feeling left me feeling detached to their plight, rather than being empathetic to their emotions. 😔
As much as I liked Zan's parting words to Bastian, I don't know how I felt about the continuous repetition of hop, step, jump that he took him on through various memories; it reminded me of Jumper as they were 'playing with borrowed time' and it made the story drag on more than it should have; even though each setting was like trusting each other with their innermost parts of themselves. But, I think what really sealed the deal was the resolution of the conflict. I felt cheated by the ending; after all the hints to the ultimate sacrifice, it felt like a wasted potential to truly cheat Death. 🙎🏻♀️ 'You miss being human. But this one is no different. He belongs to me.' You cannot spend so much time building up towards a countdown, only to leave it like that for us to surmise what exactly it was that happened; it was anti-climatic. It leaves more questions than answers, and it feels like such a waste to the Ferryman's character, especially when it leaves with the intent that the story is not quite completed yet. 😮💨
I know Riley and Mathias had good intentions and it was nice to know that there were people in Bastian's life who cared for his well-being, but sometimes they felt a bit too excessive in their behavior that made me like them a little less. 😕 I would have liked Dorian and Bastian's sibling bond to be explored a bit more. Why Bastian seemed to have forgotten that he was not the only one who lost a mother - that his pain is no greater than his brother's simply because he was not the one in the driver's seat - felt unfair. 'He misses you, he feels like he’s being totally left out, he’s angry, he’s sad, he’s feeling all the same stuff, and you’re supposed to be his friend.' 😟 It's not that Dorian behaved more maturely, he was just more aware and focused and I respected that about him. And that he did not let his emotions get swayed by his own desperation to protect and look out for him felt gratifying, too. The closure to their relationship was heartfelt and believable for me. 🫶🏻🫂
“You can never be lonely when you love.”
I actually do like the double entendre to the title, At the End of the River Styx. It rings quite true as Zan's time slowly ticks down towards his final end of his agreement with his contract tying him to the Ferryman, only for him to face another impossible decision of choosing another five hundred years of servitude of ferrying souls or choosing to hand over the one soul that cheated death, for the sake of his own freedom - the chance to live again. 😟
“You were supposed to be a dream.”
The way their respective paths crossed was well-played upon; not so much about the way Bastian was able to cross over, but the slow dawning of where it was he was crossing over to, and what part Zan played in his dream. Bastian's grief over his mother's death was a bittersweet reflection of Zan's own longing for a chance to be human. 🥺 'You’re stuck. You’re supposed to be dead. I’m supposed to lead you.'It was that ethereal feeling that was sort of like an escape for both of them, but still a place where Bastian's very existence hung in the balance that made it a double edged sword even to be here.
Loneliness is something tangible; it eats away. And misery loves company, and what better way than for two souls who have both paid the price of losing someone dear to bond and share in their grief. Share in the memories and exchange the sorrow, in order for them both to move past it; until it tumbles into a heartfelt and meaningful connection that be it a year or five hundred years - here is someone who understands. ❤️🩹❤️🩹 There was something soothing about being around each other, even though it cost so much just to spend time together. That aching yearning to be yourself with another - without judgment or remorse was heartfelt and sincere.
It was also interesting to see how each of them had their own descents into despair and darkness with their respective evil presences. Zan, very much alone, only had Bastian as the light to pull him out from drowning, whereas the love and support of Bastian's friends as well as his bookstore and Cat, made him realize that he was not alone in drowning his sorrows - that he had no reason to die. 😥 While I do still feel that it felt a bit too much at times - especially when Bastian became dependent on adverse methods to get to Zan - I got it.
“Five hundred years, the voice in his head murmured on repeat.
Was one life worth that?”
My issues with certain points, while insignificant maybe to other readers, are what essentially weighed in on my slightly lower rating than what I had initially hoped it to be.
For as much as it is described in much detail - the central focus of both perspectives, the strange thing was - I don't know why I did not feel their grief. I was numb to their pain and sadness and guilt. And perhaps this weighs in on the fact that I relate to them very strongly and truly to their sorrow. But, my heart never tinged with an ache for their heartache. 'Grief was a strange thing.' 😢 Maybe because it was being written in a way that you had to be told with a certainty that Bastian was in a shell-stocked state of mourning - spiraling into a descent of ill-advised choices. And Zan, who made the ultimate sacrifice of a choice that left him with no palpable certainty that it was not all for naught. That forced feeling left me feeling detached to their plight, rather than being empathetic to their emotions. 😔
As much as I liked Zan's parting words to Bastian, I don't know how I felt about the continuous repetition of hop, step, jump that he took him on through various memories; it reminded me of Jumper as they were 'playing with borrowed time' and it made the story drag on more than it should have; even though each setting was like trusting each other with their innermost parts of themselves. But, I think what really sealed the deal was the resolution of the conflict. I felt cheated by the ending; after all the hints to the ultimate sacrifice, it felt like a wasted potential to truly cheat Death. 🙎🏻♀️ 'You miss being human. But this one is no different. He belongs to me.' You cannot spend so much time building up towards a countdown, only to leave it like that for us to surmise what exactly it was that happened; it was anti-climatic. It leaves more questions than answers, and it feels like such a waste to the Ferryman's character, especially when it leaves with the intent that the story is not quite completed yet. 😮💨
I know Riley and Mathias had good intentions and it was nice to know that there were people in Bastian's life who cared for his well-being, but sometimes they felt a bit too excessive in their behavior that made me like them a little less. 😕 I would have liked Dorian and Bastian's sibling bond to be explored a bit more. Why Bastian seemed to have forgotten that he was not the only one who lost a mother - that his pain is no greater than his brother's simply because he was not the one in the driver's seat - felt unfair. 'He misses you, he feels like he’s being totally left out, he’s angry, he’s sad, he’s feeling all the same stuff, and you’re supposed to be his friend.' 😟 It's not that Dorian behaved more maturely, he was just more aware and focused and I respected that about him. And that he did not let his emotions get swayed by his own desperation to protect and look out for him felt gratifying, too. The closure to their relationship was heartfelt and believable for me. 🫶🏻🫂
Want to read
September 24, 2024LGBTQ+ YA Fantasy
Mythology Hurt/Comfort
No Rating-Will Pick Up Later
I like this but I’m not in the right mental space for a book with this much grief. I think most people will really enjoy this book though and I hope one day I’ll be able to come back to it.
We’re in present day but it’s set in two different worlds, Portland and The Styx. The boy in Portland just lost his family less than a year ago and is having trouble moving past that because he’s responsible for the accident. He’s a senior in high school and barely scraping by. He’s having nightmares of a river every night and it’s a very lucid dream where he can interact with the surroundings but no one ever hears him and it’s spooky. Then in The Styx we have our other MC who sells his soul to the ferryman in the prologue to save his mom and he’s been there for 499 years. He’s only indebted for 500 so he’s about to be freed soon but he has his own demons and sadness from the path his life took based on the decisions he made in the prologue and he’s so lonely. He can feel the Portland boy’s presence every time he dreams but they haven’t been able to interact yet. Technically, that means that the Portland boy has to be teetering on death because the Styx is where souls in limbo go before they die. The Styx MC entertains himself by living in people’s memories but they are like still pictures and he can just look but never actually interact with the people in them.
I received an arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review but since I’m not able to finish the book I provided a synopsis of what I have read so far.
Mythology Hurt/Comfort
No Rating-Will Pick Up Later
I like this but I’m not in the right mental space for a book with this much grief. I think most people will really enjoy this book though and I hope one day I’ll be able to come back to it.
We’re in present day but it’s set in two different worlds, Portland and The Styx. The boy in Portland just lost his family less than a year ago and is having trouble moving past that because he’s responsible for the accident. He’s a senior in high school and barely scraping by. He’s having nightmares of a river every night and it’s a very lucid dream where he can interact with the surroundings but no one ever hears him and it’s spooky. Then in The Styx we have our other MC who sells his soul to the ferryman in the prologue to save his mom and he’s been there for 499 years. He’s only indebted for 500 so he’s about to be freed soon but he has his own demons and sadness from the path his life took based on the decisions he made in the prologue and he’s so lonely. He can feel the Portland boy’s presence every time he dreams but they haven’t been able to interact yet. Technically, that means that the Portland boy has to be teetering on death because the Styx is where souls in limbo go before they die. The Styx MC entertains himself by living in people’s memories but they are like still pictures and he can just look but never actually interact with the people in them.
I received an arc from netgalley in exchange for an honest review but since I’m not able to finish the book I provided a synopsis of what I have read so far.
July 27, 2024
This is a solid 4.5 stars, but rounding up. Thank you to NetGalley, Page Street Publishing and Page Street YA for the ARC!
This was, first and foremost, a story about grief. In modern-day Portland, Bastian is grieving the loss of his mother and processing the trauma of a car accident that should have killed him, too. Zan is bound to the Ferryman for 500 years of servitude and must deliver Bastian's soul to him. Overall, the book was emotionally difficult - it was tough to watch Bastian's depressive cycle and there were some scenes that just emotionally wrecked me.
The use of mythology and the world building was so unique (I mean, the love story takes place in frozen, stolen memories of the dead - will never be over that); Bastian and Zan were loveable as they learned to fall back in love with living together; and while the focus of the story was definitely on Bastian's journey with grief, the secondary characters felt like they belonged in the story, not just to support Bastian or the plot. Overall, this story will stick with me for a long time.
The ending gutted me - I am desperate for more and I know that that's the intention. I will say that while this book is emotionally devastating at times, Kulwicki pulled her punches and deliver a nuanced ending to the story that felt right. (That's not to say that it didn't wreck me.)
This was, first and foremost, a story about grief. In modern-day Portland, Bastian is grieving the loss of his mother and processing the trauma of a car accident that should have killed him, too. Zan is bound to the Ferryman for 500 years of servitude and must deliver Bastian's soul to him. Overall, the book was emotionally difficult - it was tough to watch Bastian's depressive cycle and there were some scenes that just emotionally wrecked me.
The use of mythology and the world building was so unique (I mean, the love story takes place in frozen, stolen memories of the dead - will never be over that); Bastian and Zan were loveable as they learned to fall back in love with living together; and while the focus of the story was definitely on Bastian's journey with grief, the secondary characters felt like they belonged in the story, not just to support Bastian or the plot. Overall, this story will stick with me for a long time.
The ending gutted me - I am desperate for more and I know that that's the intention. I will say that while this book is emotionally devastating at times, Kulwicki pulled her punches and deliver a nuanced ending to the story that felt right. (That's not to say that it didn't wreck me.)
September 26, 2024
Many thanks to the Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I very much want to highlight that this might simply be just the wrong book for me. A strong theme of this book is grief and dealing with post traumatic stress - I have not experienced either, so I cannot say how authentic it is. However, as far as I am able to judge, it does feel well presented and I think this story can resonate with readers who are looking for these themes in a story.
This is a very strong debut book - the writing is well done and it's largely well paced. There are times where I did find that it dragged a bit, but at the same time it was also adding to the atmosphere and how death slowly creeps in. Or main characters Bastian and Zan are well rounded, but I want to argue that this is more Bastian's than Zan's story. I honestly didn't always find Bastian likeable - he is very much stuck in his grief and is more often than not unpleasant to those around him. That being said, I did find it believable and I don't necessarily mean this as criticism; it is his way of dealing with grief, it just doesn't mean it's going to endear him to me. Zan has his own share of grief and I found him the more likeable of the two.
Speaking of likeable characters, I could never decide whether I liked Bastian's circle of friends or not. Some of them felt surplus, the others were important for Bastian's environment and story to unfold, but that also doesn't mean that I necessarily liked them. His brother Dorian is probably the one I liked most and I wish we had seen more of him rather than him just being pushed away over and over again. I also wasn't a fan of the drinking and drug usage, although it wasn't overly explicit. All the above is very much subjective to my personal reading taste - others may very well like these characters more than I did and will find the partying and consumption realistic. Non of this is meant to throw a poor light on this book, it's merely highlighting why it perhaps wasn't the right book for me.
However, what did ultimately not work for me in a way that I'd consider it criticism is the romance. I confess that I went into this expecting a tad more of it, and while there's definitely a love story at the heard of the story, this is very much first and foremost about Bastian's journey of healing. That it didn't have as much romance as I expected isn't the problem - I'll happily read a well thought out story without any romance whatsoever. But I found it a little hard to buy into - this could have been a very interesting and bittersweet romance, and yet I just did not feel any chemistry between the two. It took a long time before they were trying to get to know each other and after that it just seemed quite rushed and I just did not feel when things started to grow between them. I also felt there was a certain imbalance, as in, did they truly like each other or was it circumstances pushing them together? For example, Zan misses life as a human - he craves for someone to talk to. Enter Bastian, the first person in 499 years who he can have a proper conversation with. Now does he like Bastian for Bastian's sake or because he happens to be the first person he can talk to? Had there been more chemistry, I could have glanced over that but something about it just felt off to me.
And then there's the ending - it felt incomplete and and unsatisfying. I was stumped when I read The End and just found myself wondering - wait, that's it? I felt that there was no climax, neither for the romance nor any form of showdown that could have led to a satisfying conclusion. Many things felt left unresolved and while an ending doesn't always need to fit neatly together like a puzzle, I just found that something was lacking.
I would still recommend people to give this book a try - once again, this is by no means a bad book and a lot of what I Noted above is simply things not living up to my personal taste. I would still be willing to try more works by this author in the future, but I won't be revisiting this particular book.
August 26, 2024
A book with a really unique world building, switching between two different planes of existence (lacking a better description for it), which has a strong symbolism as Bastian struggles to move on with his life after the accident that took his mother away from him.
His lifeline is death's threshold: the River Styx, where he goes every time he dreams, and finds meaning in life again in the sad and charming Zan, who has been trapped for 500 years to serve the cruel Ferryman.
The book is mostly sad with glimmers of hope, as the author focuses a lot on grief and the long way to overcome it.
The reason I'm not giving it a 5-stars is that I didn't like the ending. I have a rule that the ending makes or breaks a book: it can make its weak parts be forgiven or cause its suspense and strong emotions to turn to disappointment for me. The rating will change to 5-stars if there is a direct sequel, otherwise I'm not satisfied with the outcome.
Thank you NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for the ARC!
His lifeline is death's threshold: the River Styx, where he goes every time he dreams, and finds meaning in life again in the sad and charming Zan, who has been trapped for 500 years to serve the cruel Ferryman.
The book is mostly sad with glimmers of hope, as the author focuses a lot on grief and the long way to overcome it.
The reason I'm not giving it a 5-stars is that I didn't like the ending. I have a rule that the ending makes or breaks a book: it can make its weak parts be forgiven or cause its suspense and strong emotions to turn to disappointment for me. The rating will change to 5-stars if there is a direct sequel, otherwise I'm not satisfied with the outcome.
Thank you NetGalley and Page Street Publishing for the ARC!
September 21, 2024
my heart!!!
This book was full of so much grief as Bastian struggles with survivor's guilt and wants nothing more than to have been the one who died rather than his mother. Then there’s Zan, who lives along the river Styx guiding those who’ve died to the Ferryman. Their worlds collide when Bastian one day appears in Zan’s office, but the weird thing is, Bastian isn’t dead.
Prior to reading this I had never heard of the Ferryman myth, but Greek mythology has always been interesting to me. It was such a compelling addition to the story and really heightened your feel for the characters. The agony of Zan being stuck working under the Ferryman for nearly 500 years alone made my heart wrench.
The writing in this story was so lush it was almost as if I was watching everything pan out right in front of me. I could feel the character’s fear of the Ferryman simply from the way his presence was described. The emotions also really jumped off the page. There was such emotional whiplash throughout the story, I would be smiling along with the characters but then next thing you know my heart would feel like it was being ripped out of my chest. I was so invested in everything and couldn’t help but yearn for the two of them to end up happy.
My favorite element of the story was definitely the traveling through memories, it was so magical! Although it is a bit grim to think of it as someone's last dying thought of happiness. The development of Bastian’s character was also extremely well done. At the start of the story he is very standoffish and borderline unlikable but it’s due to the grief of his mother and guilt overtaking him. Once meeting Zan and going to the Styx you can see his perspective and attitude sort of change for the better.
The ending is very bittersweet and I need an extended epilogue immediately. Overall, At the End of the River Styx was remarkable and unique making it definitely one to remember! Thank you so much to Page Street Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with this arc.
This book was full of so much grief as Bastian struggles with survivor's guilt and wants nothing more than to have been the one who died rather than his mother. Then there’s Zan, who lives along the river Styx guiding those who’ve died to the Ferryman. Their worlds collide when Bastian one day appears in Zan’s office, but the weird thing is, Bastian isn’t dead.
Prior to reading this I had never heard of the Ferryman myth, but Greek mythology has always been interesting to me. It was such a compelling addition to the story and really heightened your feel for the characters. The agony of Zan being stuck working under the Ferryman for nearly 500 years alone made my heart wrench.
The writing in this story was so lush it was almost as if I was watching everything pan out right in front of me. I could feel the character’s fear of the Ferryman simply from the way his presence was described. The emotions also really jumped off the page. There was such emotional whiplash throughout the story, I would be smiling along with the characters but then next thing you know my heart would feel like it was being ripped out of my chest. I was so invested in everything and couldn’t help but yearn for the two of them to end up happy.
My favorite element of the story was definitely the traveling through memories, it was so magical! Although it is a bit grim to think of it as someone's last dying thought of happiness. The development of Bastian’s character was also extremely well done. At the start of the story he is very standoffish and borderline unlikable but it’s due to the grief of his mother and guilt overtaking him. Once meeting Zan and going to the Styx you can see his perspective and attitude sort of change for the better.
The ending is very bittersweet and I need an extended epilogue immediately. Overall, At the End of the River Styx was remarkable and unique making it definitely one to remember! Thank you so much to Page Street Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with this arc.
Read
December 28, 2023An honest and lyrical look at grief, with a fascinating perspective on the Ferryman myths!
June 20, 2024
4.5 ✨️
Crying but in a cool way.
Despite some pacing issues this had me hooked the entire time. Bash and Zan were so...real. Also the ending is sad (be warned) but so realistic and fit so well with the grief aspect and how it's never really resolved all the way that I can't even be mad about it. 🤷♀️
Crying but in a cool way.
Despite some pacing issues this had me hooked the entire time. Bash and Zan were so...real. Also the ending is sad (be warned) but so realistic and fit so well with the grief aspect and how it's never really resolved all the way that I can't even be mad about it. 🤷♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2024
A Joyfully Jay review.
5 stars
At the End of the River Styx is a contemporary urban fantasy set in Portland, Oregon. After a short prologue that establishes Zan’s deal with the Ferryman, the main story switches between Zan and Bastion as narrators. The two main characters and the worlds they inhabit are well established in the prose and, much like the characters they envelope, go through a transformation as the story goes on.
I loved the tension present in the story. The End of the River Styx is a long, carefully and thoughtfully planned out exploration of an “either/or” trope, where either Bastion survives or Zan does. The problem is that I liked Zan and Bastion both. The action unfolds in a way that had me guessing who might purposefully (or accidentally…or accidentally on purpose) sacrifice himself for the other. Even as the ending came into focus during the last few pages, I loved being on my toes for all possible outcomes.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
5 stars
At the End of the River Styx is a contemporary urban fantasy set in Portland, Oregon. After a short prologue that establishes Zan’s deal with the Ferryman, the main story switches between Zan and Bastion as narrators. The two main characters and the worlds they inhabit are well established in the prose and, much like the characters they envelope, go through a transformation as the story goes on.
I loved the tension present in the story. The End of the River Styx is a long, carefully and thoughtfully planned out exploration of an “either/or” trope, where either Bastion survives or Zan does. The problem is that I liked Zan and Bastion both. The action unfolds in a way that had me guessing who might purposefully (or accidentally…or accidentally on purpose) sacrifice himself for the other. Even as the ending came into focus during the last few pages, I loved being on my toes for all possible outcomes.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
October 5, 2024
Thanks to @pagestreetya and @netgalley for the eARC of At the End of the River Styx. As a fan of the romance genre and contemporary Greek mythology retellings, I was very interested in the premise of an Achillean paranormal romance between two teenage boys, one who is struggling with the guilt and grief of the recent loss of his mother and the other who is in the final year of his 500-year curse of working for the Ferryman of the River Styx. I found Bastian’s character to be compelling as he struggles to relate to his friends, schoolmates, and surviving family members and finds solace and escape with a dead teen boy, Zan. Kulwiki also handled Bastian’s experiences with panic attacks and PTSD with sensitivity and care. I also appreciated how she showed how two people can experience the same life-altering experience as Bastian and his twin brother, Dorian, do and not process grief the same way. I loved the connection between Bastian and Zan and how they could not fight the pull they felt toward each other despite all the drawbacks and consequences. This book was an emotional and poignant read. I only wish the ending had been slightly different.
September 22, 2024
It is a slow-burn/slow-pacing novel but slow in this case is the best pacing for this theme: death of a parent, grieving, and guilt. Two brothers are dealing with the death of their mother. One feels guilty for her death (Bastian) and can't cope with it as well as the other.
I love that Bastian at the age of 18 is rehabilitating a bookstore although he has no plans for his future. Somehow it is as if he is hugging himself, anchoring himself to life. He is carrying too much guilt.
I liked Zan (he traded places with his mother more or less 400 years ago and now serves the underworld) he appeared to Bastian in his dreams and Zan was assigned to bring Bastian from the living world. I like his struggle. He hesitates and relates to Bastian.
I also like Bastian's best friend Riley. She keeps him with a foot in daily life.
I love that Bastian at the age of 18 is rehabilitating a bookstore although he has no plans for his future. Somehow it is as if he is hugging himself, anchoring himself to life. He is carrying too much guilt.
I liked Zan (he traded places with his mother more or less 400 years ago and now serves the underworld) he appeared to Bastian in his dreams and Zan was assigned to bring Bastian from the living world. I like his struggle. He hesitates and relates to Bastian.
I also like Bastian's best friend Riley. She keeps him with a foot in daily life.
September 30, 2024
A boy who's involved in a car accident, that causes the d3ath of his mother.
Another boy who decides to completely give up his own life in order to save his mother.
Living in different worlds, but linked by strong feelings.
They will meet on the banks of the river Styx.
A tale of life and d3ath, survival, love and sacrifice.
Full review on my Instagram!
Another boy who decides to completely give up his own life in order to save his mother.
Living in different worlds, but linked by strong feelings.
They will meet on the banks of the river Styx.
A tale of life and d3ath, survival, love and sacrifice.
Full review on my Instagram!
September 18, 2024
I think a lot of people will really like this book, I’m just not one of them. It just took too long for something to happen, I didn’t really like any of Bastian’s friends, and I wanted more Zan and Bastian. I do like seeing more stories about grief, especially YA books
September 18, 2024
I LOVED THIS BOOK. I LOVED IT SO MUCH. DID I MENTION HOW MUCH I LOVED IT?
In all seriousness, At the End of the River Styx may be my favorite YA fantasy read of the entire year (and it has some steep competition!). It was queer, it was heartbreaking, it was beautiful, it was utterly magical, and its characters and their stories will remain etched upon my brain forever.
At the End of the River Styx finds Bastian, an 18 year old living in modern day Portland, burdened with grief and guilt over his mother's death and struggling to move forward (unlike his twin brother Dorian). In a last ditch effort to make something of his life, Bastian uses his inheritance money to purchase and renovate an old rundown bookstore. However, Bastian doubts he will live to see it open because he knows deep down that he was not meant to live through the car accident that took his mother and his continuous dreams of purgatory are not helping to change his mind. Zan is a young man trapped in a 500-year sentence of servitude in exchange for his mothers life to guide souls who are stuck in between life and death to be consumed by the mythical Ferryman. Zan is near the end of his 500 year deal when one boy’s soul keeps turning up in the Styx but disappears before he can log it and take it to the Ferryman. Completing this task is crucial–if he fails, Zan will forfeit his own soul and lose his final chance at freedom. Yet, as his bond with this boy deepens, so does the realization that in order for either of them to live, one of them must die.
What stands out the most about this book is how masterfully the author handles themes of grief and loss while providing one of the most authentic portrayals of post traumatic stress disorders that I have ever seen (Mental Health Therapist here so authenticity in these portrayals is important to me). The journey these characters go through is painful, but it’s handled with such care that it never feels gratuitous and the character relationships and strong sense of found family and the love, support, and warmth they bring to each other is beautifully woven into the narrative and provides a much needed balance to the darker themes.
Secondarily, the vividness in which Kulwicki describes Zan and Bastian navigating through their own memories and memories of others passing through the Styx is utterly enchanting. Whether it was a visit to a carnival, an ancient library, a hike through the forest, or playing games at an old thrift store from Bastians childhood, these scenes are painted with such detail that the settings seem just as alive as the characters themselves. I could have honestly spent 50 chapters more just watching their bond grow through these experiences.
While the ending didn’t resolve in the way I had hoped, I cannot deny the emotional impact it had on me regardless. Sometimes, a story’s power lies not in the resolution but in the journey and At the End of the River Styx is a journey I would gladly take again and again.
Thank you to Page Street YA and ColoredPages Book Tours for the opportunity to read At the End of the River as an advanced reader – though my heart may never be the same!
In all seriousness, At the End of the River Styx may be my favorite YA fantasy read of the entire year (and it has some steep competition!). It was queer, it was heartbreaking, it was beautiful, it was utterly magical, and its characters and their stories will remain etched upon my brain forever.
At the End of the River Styx finds Bastian, an 18 year old living in modern day Portland, burdened with grief and guilt over his mother's death and struggling to move forward (unlike his twin brother Dorian). In a last ditch effort to make something of his life, Bastian uses his inheritance money to purchase and renovate an old rundown bookstore. However, Bastian doubts he will live to see it open because he knows deep down that he was not meant to live through the car accident that took his mother and his continuous dreams of purgatory are not helping to change his mind. Zan is a young man trapped in a 500-year sentence of servitude in exchange for his mothers life to guide souls who are stuck in between life and death to be consumed by the mythical Ferryman. Zan is near the end of his 500 year deal when one boy’s soul keeps turning up in the Styx but disappears before he can log it and take it to the Ferryman. Completing this task is crucial–if he fails, Zan will forfeit his own soul and lose his final chance at freedom. Yet, as his bond with this boy deepens, so does the realization that in order for either of them to live, one of them must die.
What stands out the most about this book is how masterfully the author handles themes of grief and loss while providing one of the most authentic portrayals of post traumatic stress disorders that I have ever seen (Mental Health Therapist here so authenticity in these portrayals is important to me). The journey these characters go through is painful, but it’s handled with such care that it never feels gratuitous and the character relationships and strong sense of found family and the love, support, and warmth they bring to each other is beautifully woven into the narrative and provides a much needed balance to the darker themes.
Secondarily, the vividness in which Kulwicki describes Zan and Bastian navigating through their own memories and memories of others passing through the Styx is utterly enchanting. Whether it was a visit to a carnival, an ancient library, a hike through the forest, or playing games at an old thrift store from Bastians childhood, these scenes are painted with such detail that the settings seem just as alive as the characters themselves. I could have honestly spent 50 chapters more just watching their bond grow through these experiences.
While the ending didn’t resolve in the way I had hoped, I cannot deny the emotional impact it had on me regardless. Sometimes, a story’s power lies not in the resolution but in the journey and At the End of the River Styx is a journey I would gladly take again and again.
Thank you to Page Street YA and ColoredPages Book Tours for the opportunity to read At the End of the River as an advanced reader – though my heart may never be the same!
October 4, 2024
Well, this was WILDLY underwhelming.
I basically hated/couldn't be bothered with all of the characters, except for Zan and Mathais.
I sympathised with Bastian and could understand his motivations to some extent, but he really was kind of a big, gaping, selfish, self-centered asshole. I especially despised the way he treated his twin brother, as if Dorian wasn't also going through the pain and grief of losing their mother. There definitely weren't penance and apologies enough for that behavior by the end of the book. He was nice to Cat, though, so not all bad.
Joon was okay, I guess, as cardboard cutouts characters go.
Dorian gets a pass, too. He's an annoying weirdo, but he generally means well, and he is at least in touch with his emotions in a somewhat healthy manner. Also, he never once gave up on his brother even when Bastian fully deserved it. That's a real ass G there.
Riley is definitely the most annoying of the bunch. Seriously, every time she came up on page, I was like, 'Oh God, not her again!' Even the fucking Ferryman is a better character than her, and that's saying something...
That Greer situation? Literally, what on earth was that?
Mathais is a cutie.
My kooky king Zan is an absolute DARLING, and he deserves the world. The author seems to hate him, though, because she just wouldn't let him catch a fucking break, like, EVER.
The writing was generally nice, and the world building more than apt, but the storytelling... Yeah, no.
Also, I feel like the biggest failure of this book is the fact that the love story that's supposed to be the core of it is barely even believable. Like, there's literally zero chemistry between these boys, even after like ten thousand pages.
For me, this is a case of a book poorly marketed. The publisher wanted to sell it as this great mythological love story, when in reality, it would have served it better to be showcased as a book on grief and friendship. That definitely would have worked much better.
I would also note that the absolute strangest thing about this book is how rushed it feels while also being far too long.
And the ending? Bad. So bad! Zan deserved better than that botched, anemic epilogue.
A huge disappointment for me overall.
I basically hated/couldn't be bothered with all of the characters, except for Zan and Mathais.
I sympathised with Bastian and could understand his motivations to some extent, but he really was kind of a big, gaping, selfish, self-centered asshole. I especially despised the way he treated his twin brother, as if Dorian wasn't also going through the pain and grief of losing their mother. There definitely weren't penance and apologies enough for that behavior by the end of the book. He was nice to Cat, though, so not all bad.
Joon was okay, I guess, as cardboard cutouts characters go.
Dorian gets a pass, too. He's an annoying weirdo, but he generally means well, and he is at least in touch with his emotions in a somewhat healthy manner. Also, he never once gave up on his brother even when Bastian fully deserved it. That's a real ass G there.
Riley is definitely the most annoying of the bunch. Seriously, every time she came up on page, I was like, 'Oh God, not her again!' Even the fucking Ferryman is a better character than her, and that's saying something...
That Greer situation? Literally, what on earth was that?
Mathais is a cutie.
My kooky king Zan is an absolute DARLING, and he deserves the world. The author seems to hate him, though, because she just wouldn't let him catch a fucking break, like, EVER.
The writing was generally nice, and the world building more than apt, but the storytelling... Yeah, no.
Also, I feel like the biggest failure of this book is the fact that the love story that's supposed to be the core of it is barely even believable. Like, there's literally zero chemistry between these boys, even after like ten thousand pages.
For me, this is a case of a book poorly marketed. The publisher wanted to sell it as this great mythological love story, when in reality, it would have served it better to be showcased as a book on grief and friendship. That definitely would have worked much better.
I would also note that the absolute strangest thing about this book is how rushed it feels while also being far too long.
And the ending? Bad. So bad! Zan deserved better than that botched, anemic epilogue.
A huge disappointment for me overall.
September 24, 2024
**Big thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of the eBook!**
At the End of the River Styx follows Bastian, a high school senior who lost his mother in a car accident he walked away from, and Zan, the Ferryman’s indebted assistant who traded his life for his mother’s. Their paths cross when Bastian begins showing up in Zan’s office, meaning he has been marked for death by the Ferryman. After 499 years of his 500 year service, if Zan can’t lead Bastian’s soul to the Styx, he’ll never get his life back—but Bastian just might end up being worth the sacrifice.
I’ve seen this book marketed as a romance—and it definitely has one—but at its core, I think, is a story about grief. I’ll avoid spoilers, but it touches on survivor’s guilt especially hard, as well as how the loss of the same mother affects siblings differently. That aspect was much more prevalent in my experience reading the book. I didn’t find the characters had too much chemistry as lovers, but it didn’t really bother me as it didn’t read (in my experience) as the main point of the story. In addition to heavy loss and grief, sacrifice is a big topic from Zan’s side of things. I think these two themes were done very well and meshed cohesively together.
As you could guess, the novel is an interpretation of Charon (the Ferryman). It is a loose one in my opinion. I found it inspired by the (majority Greek) mythos rather than based directly on it. It’s even mentioned in the text that there are many different interpretations of Charon across cultures and time. To me, the Styx elements were just an intriguing background for a story centered around the aforementioned grief.
The side characters were charming enough. I felt repeatedly bad for Dorian, Bastian’s twin brother who consistently makes attempts to reach out to Bastian and share their grief in a realistic way. He isn’t mentioned in the blurb, but he’s so important to Bastian’s story that I couldn’t leave him out.
Overall I think this is definitely worth checking out if you like bittersweet, character-driven stories!
At the End of the River Styx follows Bastian, a high school senior who lost his mother in a car accident he walked away from, and Zan, the Ferryman’s indebted assistant who traded his life for his mother’s. Their paths cross when Bastian begins showing up in Zan’s office, meaning he has been marked for death by the Ferryman. After 499 years of his 500 year service, if Zan can’t lead Bastian’s soul to the Styx, he’ll never get his life back—but Bastian just might end up being worth the sacrifice.
I’ve seen this book marketed as a romance—and it definitely has one—but at its core, I think, is a story about grief. I’ll avoid spoilers, but it touches on survivor’s guilt especially hard, as well as how the loss of the same mother affects siblings differently. That aspect was much more prevalent in my experience reading the book. I didn’t find the characters had too much chemistry as lovers, but it didn’t really bother me as it didn’t read (in my experience) as the main point of the story. In addition to heavy loss and grief, sacrifice is a big topic from Zan’s side of things. I think these two themes were done very well and meshed cohesively together.
As you could guess, the novel is an interpretation of Charon (the Ferryman). It is a loose one in my opinion. I found it inspired by the (majority Greek) mythos rather than based directly on it. It’s even mentioned in the text that there are many different interpretations of Charon across cultures and time. To me, the Styx elements were just an intriguing background for a story centered around the aforementioned grief.
The side characters were charming enough. I felt repeatedly bad for Dorian, Bastian’s twin brother who consistently makes attempts to reach out to Bastian and share their grief in a realistic way. He isn’t mentioned in the blurb, but he’s so important to Bastian’s story that I couldn’t leave him out.
Overall I think this is definitely worth checking out if you like bittersweet, character-driven stories!
August 11, 2024
4.5 stars
What if you were supposed to die — but instead, someone you loved died instead, and now the Ferryman wants to claim your soul?
I lost a close relative a few months ago and I could relate to Bastian's state of mind. I loved how the mythology was interwoven with the story, as Bastian battled with whether he could find his way through his grief and remember how to live, or whether it was easier to simply let go. The author did a great job of portraying this mystical hidden world where souls pass through, and the description of people's memories/lives was very vivid. The relationship between Bastian and Zan was touching; they both needed each other. The ending was pretty heart-wrenching and yet it was fitting.
All in all, I was fully absorbed in Bastian's story, and aside from a few minor pacing issues, this is a wonderful debut. Definitely recommended!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
What if you were supposed to die — but instead, someone you loved died instead, and now the Ferryman wants to claim your soul?
I lost a close relative a few months ago and I could relate to Bastian's state of mind. I loved how the mythology was interwoven with the story, as Bastian battled with whether he could find his way through his grief and remember how to live, or whether it was easier to simply let go. The author did a great job of portraying this mystical hidden world where souls pass through, and the description of people's memories/lives was very vivid. The relationship between Bastian and Zan was touching; they both needed each other. The ending was pretty heart-wrenching and yet it was fitting.
All in all, I was fully absorbed in Bastian's story, and aside from a few minor pacing issues, this is a wonderful debut. Definitely recommended!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
September 21, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author for my ARC!
Going in, I knew I was ready to cry reading this. Dealing with grief and guilt, Bastion was a character that you want to just give a big hug to. Zan was equally as lovable. They both have been through so much and still found a way to anchor each other. I actually cried a little near the end with it being so bittersweet. The character development for Bastion was great, and I was glad he had such a strong friend group and his brother to help him. The things he’d been through I can’t even imagine. This was such a beautiful look at love and learning to move on and let go. I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future.
Going in, I knew I was ready to cry reading this. Dealing with grief and guilt, Bastion was a character that you want to just give a big hug to. Zan was equally as lovable. They both have been through so much and still found a way to anchor each other. I actually cried a little near the end with it being so bittersweet. The character development for Bastion was great, and I was glad he had such a strong friend group and his brother to help him. The things he’d been through I can’t even imagine. This was such a beautiful look at love and learning to move on and let go. I can’t wait to read more from this author in the future.
September 22, 2024
Thank you so much to Page Street YA and NetGalley for the arc.
Holy crap. This book.
Zan and Bastien have my whole heart and soul. The way this book was written has me crying in the club. Truly this could be taken as everything was real or this was Bastiens way of letting go of his grief and guilt.
I am DEMANDING that people read this book. The vulnerability, the queerness, the FREAKING BEAUTY THIS BOOK HAS. Just makes me fucking cry. Please please PLEASE read this.
I love how this is a combo of originality, The Midnight Library and SoA.
Holy crap. This book.
Zan and Bastien have my whole heart and soul. The way this book was written has me crying in the club. Truly this could be taken as everything was real or this was Bastiens way of letting go of his grief and guilt.
I am DEMANDING that people read this book. The vulnerability, the queerness, the FREAKING BEAUTY THIS BOOK HAS. Just makes me fucking cry. Please please PLEASE read this.
I love how this is a combo of originality, The Midnight Library and SoA.
October 5, 2024
4.5 Stars
An absolutely beautiful book. I am at a loss for words after finishing this book. The author did a fantastic job at conveying the feeling of grief and loss and love. At the End of the River Styx was heart wrenching.
I think the scene that was most heart wrenching and that made me bawl my eyes out was I had to physically put the book down a few times because of how well it was written.
An absolutely beautiful book. I am at a loss for words after finishing this book. The author did a fantastic job at conveying the feeling of grief and loss and love. At the End of the River Styx was heart wrenching.
I think the scene that was most heart wrenching and that made me bawl my eyes out was I had to physically put the book down a few times because of how well it was written.
July 24, 2024
I didn’t expect to feel so many emotions when I started reading At the End of the River Styx. Michelle Kulwicki has crafted a magical—and more importantly for me—honest story about grief, love, and healing that left me with tears in my eyes. In a good way. That is where the honest part of my previous statement comes from and I truly respect Kulwicki and her story for it. At the End of the River Styx is a wonderful debut by Michelle Kulwicki and I really recommend it to anyone who wants a story that will both catch them by surprise and exceed their expectations.
September 19, 2024
ARC REVIEW
📖 Book Tropes 📚✨️
Bisexual+ Rep
Found Familly
Myth
Slow Burn
Curses
Lost Memories
Couldn't Stop Reading
Did I mention there's a cat?
🌊 Mini Review 🌊
When I tell you this book gripped me and would not let me go till the very last page!? Michelle Kulwicki found a way to combine the singing, humor and tragedy of first love in a way that will leave you heartbroken the book is over. I am so grateful to have gotten an early copy of this book and will carry these characters with me!
This book will pull you in with the found family, slow burn romance and legends all tied together. I feel like I flew through this story as I followed Bastian and Zan. The way grief and love are written in this story was both original, iconic and vulnerable all at once. I felt like I was on a journey and in many ways... I felt like I could see Zan's story specifically like a movie in my mind. The tragedy and major elements of family, time and a deep love left me on the brink of crying many times. I felt like I could see these characters in my mind and I can't wait for yall to read this book!
📖 Book Tropes 📚✨️
Bisexual+ Rep
Found Familly
Myth
Slow Burn
Curses
Lost Memories
Couldn't Stop Reading
Did I mention there's a cat?
🌊 Mini Review 🌊
When I tell you this book gripped me and would not let me go till the very last page!? Michelle Kulwicki found a way to combine the singing, humor and tragedy of first love in a way that will leave you heartbroken the book is over. I am so grateful to have gotten an early copy of this book and will carry these characters with me!
This book will pull you in with the found family, slow burn romance and legends all tied together. I feel like I flew through this story as I followed Bastian and Zan. The way grief and love are written in this story was both original, iconic and vulnerable all at once. I felt like I was on a journey and in many ways... I felt like I could see Zan's story specifically like a movie in my mind. The tragedy and major elements of family, time and a deep love left me on the brink of crying many times. I felt like I could see these characters in my mind and I can't wait for yall to read this book!
October 3, 2024
Dnf @ 32%
I tried giving this a chance but Bastian is making me mad. I get it he is hurting but that gives him no right to treat his friends the way he is and especially his twin brother who is going through the same loss.
I tried giving this a chance but Bastian is making me mad. I get it he is hurting but that gives him no right to treat his friends the way he is and especially his twin brother who is going through the same loss.
Currently reading
July 11, 2024A July find from Mrs. Bookdragon. https://mrsbookdragon.substack.com/p/...
October 7, 2024
The end brought tears to my eyes, this was so good!
July 17, 2024
It was a pleasant read that went on for far too long. If this book was shorter and concentrated on the romance a bit more, I would have rated it higher.
August 25, 2024
1.5 stars
I enjoyed the writing and the topic of grief in the book. I felt like the grief felt raw and real. I did like that they both grieved in different ways in a way that felt real. I just didn’t connect to the characters in the way I had hoped. Connecting with characters is always the main aspect that makes a book enjoyable for me and that can make or break a book. I’m very nit picky about how therapy and therapists are portrayed in books. I’m have a social work degree and that makes me very very nit picky and there were some moments that I did not necessarily agree with, concerning the main characters therapist.
Overall, I love the concept. I love how the book deals with grief but the lack of connection that I had with the characters was the downfall for me.
Thank you Page Street YA for sharing the arc with me in exchange for an honest review
I enjoyed the writing and the topic of grief in the book. I felt like the grief felt raw and real. I did like that they both grieved in different ways in a way that felt real. I just didn’t connect to the characters in the way I had hoped. Connecting with characters is always the main aspect that makes a book enjoyable for me and that can make or break a book. I’m very nit picky about how therapy and therapists are portrayed in books. I’m have a social work degree and that makes me very very nit picky and there were some moments that I did not necessarily agree with, concerning the main characters therapist.
Overall, I love the concept. I love how the book deals with grief but the lack of connection that I had with the characters was the downfall for me.
Thank you Page Street YA for sharing the arc with me in exchange for an honest review
March 27, 2024
This book exceeded my expectations. Intensely loveable and relatable characters set in a fantastic and imaganitive setting. I was deeply invested from the first chapter. A knock out of a debut novel!
April 27, 2023
This sounds INCREDIBLE -- can't wait to read!!
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