March 2026
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    I discovered Once Upon a River by accident and found it extraordinary. I have read Setterfield's other books and they don't even come close. Following genre or author recommendations has landed me nowhere near a book that has the same traits that make this book so special. Here's what I love about it:

    Style: the language is low-key gothic, descriptive, subtle, and the book is full of small arcs that interconnect flawlessly.

    Characters: they are complex, multidimensional, endearing, flawed, diverse, relatable, and they are not predictable or have an obvious agenda or gimmick.

    Setting: Victorian England with all its mysterious moodiness and cozy beauty. (I would also gladly take Scotland)

    Plot: the multiple stories are emotional without being depressing. The sadness is compensated by happy twists and wholesomeness.

    Magic realism: there is a pinch of fantasy. Just a touch of the unexplainable within a very realistic world.

    The closest I've found with the right style and setting are Shannon Morgan's Her Little Flowers (too dark and gloomy) or In The Lonely Hours (too predictable). I think the closest in literary quality and character development is The Shadow of the Wind series by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.

    Is there anything remotely similar? TIA!

    by Viejaheavy

    2 Comments

    1. rainbowsforeverrr on

      Ooh I read that recently and loved it!

      Other books that strike me as similar:

      Frozen River

      Fresh Water for Flowers by Valérie Perrin

      Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell

      A Gentleman in Moscow

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