Review of The River Wild

[Mayang Bature]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The River Wild" by Ken Bridge.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Caleb and his older brother, Jacob, used to fight and play a lot as kids. While Jacob was meticulous and thoughtful, Caleb preferred to hunt and be alone in the woods. Rachel was a childhood friend from their neighborhood. Caleb and Rachel had a close relationship and enjoyed spending private time together planning their future. The news that Rachel would soon wed Jacob came as a complete surprise to Caleb. He set out for the west with the Ashley 100 to hunt beavers because this betrayal was too great to bear. His tale combines the experiences of a circus preacher, a runaway slave, and old friends to create a narrative of happiness, regret, adventure, and dashed hopes.

Accurately titled, "The River Wild" follows the flow of Caleb’s life throughout all its peaks. Caleb's love of reading and hunting, which he had had since he was a young boy, were both clear. The ambitions of the characters were established and upheld throughout the story. This ability to weave together the lives of numerous characters demonstrated the author's commitment to character development, which was skillfully accomplished. This character development was my favorite aspect, which led to an adventurous narrative where the protagonists were full of curiosity and a desire to explore the uncharted. The slave girl who managed to escape exhibited unwavering courage in the face of overwhelming odds. Her mentors' guidance and unwavering faith in God complemented her naivety. The circus preacher and anyone else who heard her story were inspired by her strength. I became deeply engrossed in the stories of the characters and was constantly interested in what adventure they would present next.

“The River Wild” by Ken Bridge had its own unique style. The narrative initially felt too bland and had an erratically fast pace. As I read on, however, I quickly grew accustomed to it and started to enjoy this narrative style. I never discovered anything that I did not like again. Every character was brought to life, and the plot was told in an engaging manner. Even the way it implied the characters' religious faith never came across as forced; rather, it made sense given the historical context of the narrative.

I loved reading this book and would rate it 4 out of 5 as a result. Only the numerous errors I discovered caused me to take a point away; they could have been handled more effectively. Fans of historical fiction would appreciate this book because some elements were based on actual historical events. Even though the majority of the characters in this book were adherents of the Bible's teachings, I think that its subtle application will make this book appealing to non-Christians as well.

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The River Wild
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[Miracle Oge Adaeze]

It seems like this book has many characters. Well, your review shows that the author manage the narrative well. However, I'd like to know for myself. Thank you for the review.