This is going to be the next big fantasy duology and I cannot wait for everyone to read it!

Two worlds separated by a wall and dwindling magic, both under siege by power hungry fae called peri. Two rebellions come together when scholar Yaseema crosses the River into the other side in search of a magical relic that could save them all.

Mixing popular fantasy themes with a battle against colonialism. The world building and magical system felt very fresh and exciting. Interesting lore and diverse characters round out the themes of this book but the nuances are plenty!

I loved Yaseema and her personality, as a human with magic, she’s not physically strong, but the journey and her growth really make this story special. I would say more fantasy than romance, although I deeply appreciate the slow burn and Varga does a fantastic job blending the yearning and emotion in the characters. Enemies to lovers and the dual POV worked so well, especially in audio format. We glimpse into the life of Kiyan as the captain and enforcer of the Viceroy’s army. The struggle of his double life and the wrench Yaseema throws into his plans when she shows up. I cannot wait to see where this story goes and I’m sad to have to wait so long!

Narrated wholly by Safiyya Ingar, she did an outstanding job voicing both characters. The control and delivery were so distinct, feminine for Yaseema and masculine for Kiyan, you could immediately tell the chapters were from which POV. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Wednesday Books for the advance review copies.

Title: The River She Became
Author: Emily Varga
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Rating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️