Review: Song of the Current by Sarah Tolcser

 Caroline Oresteia is destined for the river. For generations, her family has been called by the river god, who has guided their wherries on countless voyages throughout the Riverlands. At seventeen, Caro has spent years listening to the water, ready to meet her fate. But the river god hasn’t spoken her name yet—and if he hasn’t by now, there’s a chance he never will.

Caro decides to take her future into her own hands when her father is arrested for refusing to transport a mysterious crate. By agreeing to deliver it in exchange for his release, Caro finds herself caught in a web of politics and lies, with dangerous pirates after the cargo—an arrogant courier with a secret—and without the river god to help her. With so much at stake, Caro must choose between the life she always wanted and the one she never could have imagined for herself.

From debut author Sarah Tolcser comes an immersive and romantic fantasy set along the waterways of a magical world with a headstrong heroine determined to make her mark.
 
Props to this book because from the description I really didn't think I was going to like it. Full disclosure, I listened to the audiobook version of this book and I know that audio can sway a persons opinion.

Caro is a child of the river, she and her dad live on their wherrie sailing up and down the river on various missions and voyages. But when Carro's father is jailed for smuggling, the only way Carro can free him is to deliver a mysterious box to another land. When Carro opens to the box, the one thing she was told not to do, she discovers a boy with a mission all his own. As Carro and Markos rush to save what is left of Markos' family, they battle pirates, traitors, suspicious family members, and their growing feelings to each other (awwwwwww).

I really liked this book, and I realized I was going to like it when (small spoiler) Markos, tried to kiss Caro like two days after she sprung him from his box. I like it because she called him on his bull. He claimed he thought she wanted him to kiss her, and she promptly fired back (I'm paraphrasing) "why be cause I'm a breathing girl, I don't want you" (yeah heavily paraphrasing but it was something to that effect). Any seasoned reader will know that these two are going to get together at some point, and when they do, Markos makes darn good and sure that he has her consent before doing anything. He repeatedly asks her "yes?" and wont make a move until she verbally responds with a "yes". Thank you Sarah Tolcser.

The wold building in this fantasy was pretty good. Tolcser was able to provide the details of her world by showing us and not always stopping the story for an explanation. It wasn't perfect but I was pleased.

I also liked seeing Caro interact in both of her worlds. The life Caro has when she's with her father (which is most of the time, as a daddy's girl I also liked that), is very different than the life she has with her mother. I don't want to say anything else because it's kind of funny to watch, but I was a fan.

The surprise ending was nicely done. Readers had an inkling that something weird was going on, but when "all was revealed" I actually said out loud "oh, okay." Over all this debut was well executed and well received. I actually can't wait to buy it for my library. The ending also feels like we might be able to expect a sequel. I'm all about it. What can I say, I was a pirate in another life!

3.5 stars... or maybe like 3.75 stars.