Review of The Rivers Brothers and the Prince of Shadows

[Kigen Valarie]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Rivers Brothers and the Prince of Shadows" by R. Antoine.]

---

4 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Krys and Kide are close brothers even though they have slightly different interests. So when they were told about the accident their parents had been in and that they had died (or so they thought), they were sent to live with their uncle Horace. Life was not comfortable here, and they did not even like him because he gave them bizarre punishments. However, the bullying they faced at school made matters worse. Everything changed when Kide had to stand up for himself against the bully. On the next school day, they realized people were being secretive and wanted to know what people (including their friend and his mother, who was the teacher) were hiding, so they decided to find out. However, were they ready to learn the truth?

The Rivers Brothers and the Prince of Shadows by R. Antoine has an enticing introduction. It is humorous, enticing, and nostalgic. It is a trip back to a time when you are one with the story. The story takes place in an enchanted world. I actually loved how the story moved along. The story revolved around Krys, and he mirrored all the other characters, mainly Kide, which made it easy to understand their characters.

The development of the story is quite commendable. From when the brothers lost their parents, the author dropped subtle clues on how special the brothers were. When they were being experimented on by their uncle Horace, I could tell something sinister was happening. The author created suspense as the plot moved forward, and I wanted to find out what everyone was hiding and what lay in store for the brothers.

For an enchanted world, the characters were diverse and well described: the fae, the shadows, the duggers, sand guards, and even tree nymphs. I would, however, have loved to see these characters in full power. There was so much potential in seeing all the characters demonstrate their capabilities. Instead, the story didn't reach the expected climax. I expected more insight into how the fae and the shadows relate and even if the brothers get to specialty school. I also failed to understand Katya's motive. Also, I do not think the title is suitable for the book. The story is more about the love between the Rivers brothers than the prince of shadows (whom we didn't interact much with in the book). I would like to interact with the Prince of Shadows more and know his stand exactly, assuming the author was referring to Semias (again, not much insight is given).

I rate The Rivers Brothers and the Prince of Shadows by R. Antoine 4 out of 5 stars. I love the whole idea, but it didn't reach the proper climax, and the title is not the best fit. Despite this, I love the idea and how well the narration, the suspense, and the mystery were done. The title would work if there were a sequel, and that way, the reader could dive more into how this world works and where the parents actually went, since this is also a mystery that wasn't solved.

I recommend this book to all who love adventure, villains, and heroes. The setting is also magical, making it a perfect read for those who love enchanted reads set in fantastical cities. It is perfect for 10- to 15-year-olds. It is a book with a perfect presentation of the power of love, bravery, and caring for others.

******
The Rivers Brothers and the Prince of Shadows
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

[Kutloano Makhuvhela]

Good job with this review. You went into great detail without letting out too much of the plot. That way, I am enticed. I will give this book a chance when I come across it. Good job.

[NetMassimo]

I'm too old for this story, but for teenagers or kids close to their teen years it's probably a great book set in an enchanted world with adventure and positive messages. Thank you for your great review!