The River's Gift

by Mercedes Lackey

Book Overview

Award-winning author Peter S. Beagle presents a deeply personal story of dreams abandoned and recovered, friends loved and lost, and the strength it takes to let go...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451457595
• ISBN13: 9780451457592
• Release Date: October 1999
• Publisher: Roc
• Length: 122 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.7" x 6.5"
• Age Range: 1 year and up
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 6

Customer Reviews

Better for Young Adults

I read this book a while back. I was like sixteen I think, which marks me closer to the age of our heroine. The book is a quick, light read that is delightful, but it suffers from being so short. A lot of time is spent before the 'trouble' of the book even begins and the detail is well placed there. We learn about the daily lives of the people, of Ariella and a lot about the Harvest Time. Unfortunately when her father dies and her life changes the nature of the book changes. The action happens quickly and the resolution even quicker. I think if this had been a book of Lackey's normal length we would have been given better details as far as the feelings and thoughts of Merod and Ariella are concerned. As it is 128 pages is just too short a novel to richly imagine the world and circumstances.

Cute

As this is being my first title read by Lacky I have nothing else to base her writings on, although i must say that I enjoyed the story. I thought it was cute, and although it was a bit predictable it had its own innocent and altruistic qualities. I didn't purchase this book, i got it from the local library, and I wouldn't buy it...because 16$ for that is quite a lot of money. LOL. I felt that Merod should have been developed more, and I also thought that he should have been less "dainty". He is supposed to be this luring & ominous creature and yet he falls in love with a mortal, that which he has despised his whole being. I could appreciate that the girl had these healing abilities, and I did wonder if her mother could do the same. I also wondered why she didn't make an attemp to heal her father when he had his "heart attack". It was sappy and cute and allowed for my needed catharsis at that moment so I cannot be too disappointed. I feel that if you are going to read this then remind yourself that it is a damned short story and won't have tons of character development.

You have to give it a chance

This book was not intended for the authors normal readers. When you pick up the book you can tell it will be short. I read it in an hour. However for what it is intended to be it is wonderful. Yes I would like her to extend the story to give the reader a little more to chew on. However you know it is a short story when you pick it up to read it and they rarly are in depth as a novel.

Wonderful!

This is a great book, though -very- short(I read it in less then two hours). It's based on the song "Captive" that Misty(Mercedes) wrote and later got produced on a CD from Firebird. 'Rivers Gift' is wonderful and the cover is one of the most stunning I have ever seen. It's obviously aimed toward young adults, but it's stunning! Buy it now, you won't be disappointed by Misty's work!

ITS ABOUT TIME!!!!!

At long last Mercedes Lackey has written another quality novel.I hope that this is a sign that she is going to start living up to thehigh standard she set when she first began publishing her Velgarth series. Despite being a short story, it is well worth the price for anyone familiar with her quality work.