booking_along 's review for:

Into the Riverlands by Nghi Vo
4.0
adventurous reflective fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I enjoyed how this Novella was written.
I really like how the author manages to point out or mention a lot of true real life elements or things that are noticeable throughout history but just bring it up in casual conversation and without there being a debate about it or a discussion of if its true or false. 
For example in this book there is a brief mention while sharing stories about women, that one character says something like "there are only stories about beautiful or ugly women and no mention of any other women in history" (not directly quoted!), and its not something that doesn't fit in with what is being said or talked about buts it fits very well since the characters at that moment talk to each other about the stories they know or the other one doesn't, and one of them mentioned that they know a lot more stories about ugly women, than beautiful ones and than makes that comment. 

This entire Story, and the other ones as well, are sprinkled with those little truths that the reader can either notice or choose to ignore. But i always enjoy it if an author mentions something very true to real life and real history in a completely fantasy and fictionalized story. It shows in many ways that all stories -true or fiction- do have the same foundation. 

What i am trying to say with this - with too many words as always- is that i really love the writing and the words the author choose and how it feels with the few pages and compared to other fantasy stories few words the author chooses to use, that they really made sure to think about how and what they are saying. 
(Or i am readying to much into this entire thing. Which is also possible.)

I also like that each of the Stories/Novellas in this series can be read as a Standalone and start to this series, or just be its own individual read in itself. But it also works together very well as a series overall, since we do have the connecting factor of the Clergy that tries to keep and learn all the stories and history that is being shared in the books. But since each of them takes place at a very different section of this fantastical place, each book is very much its own contained story. 

I think the author is doing a fantastic job with how they are telling and writing this series and i am very happy i continued after enjoying but not loving the first one and really enjoying the second and now this third one!

I highly recommend this book and the series overall if you want something a bit different, but easy and quick to read, but still something that sticks with you and you enjoy the writing and the chosen language and can be amused by the sometimes a bit outlandish stories that are being told.