Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the ARC.

Magic. Mystery. Murder. All three components come together to make The River Has Teeth a book you won't want to put down.  
 
The story pulls you in with the first interaction between Della and her mother, who's being kept in an abandoned prison to protect her and everyone else from her. Off the bat, we see a hint of the complexity of their relationship with her mother's drastic mood changes, Della's perceived indifference to her mother's hurtful actions as well as the way she takes care of her. When news spreads that two girls have gone missing in the woods nearby the prison, Della's first suspect is her mother because, despite her love for her, she understands the true nature of the monster she's become.  
 
Next, we're introduced to Natasha Greymont. Her sister, Rochelle, has gone missing, and the police have no leads, so Natasha's angry. Angry enough to do the things no one else will do. Angry enough to make a deal with the devil to get her back. Though in this case, her devil is a witch named Della.  
 
As the story progresses, Natasha learns her sister's secrets, finding that maybe she didn't know Rochelle as well as she thought. Della, on the other hand, struggles to not only reconcile the mother she knew with the monster she's become but also with the knowledge that her mother is most likely responsible for the disappearances. As the two work together to uncover the truth, one thing's certain: sometimes we need a little bit of magic. 
 
This book really captures the immense rage and despair that often comes with grief and loss. The way anger can result in isolation, and the need to take back control - the lengths one will go to to regain that control. Natasha's pain is palpable, and while I did think she could be egocentric at times, I didn't hold it against her. Her anger and need for retribution were only a means to distract her from her loss. Though her fixations annoyed me at times, I could understand where she was coming from. I only wish her anger was directed into more fruitful pursuits. 
 
Della's endurance and unrelenting love for her mother really speak to her character. The way she steps up and takes charge, in situations, someone at her age definitely shouldn't have to deal with-- shows her resilience. I loved her POV, but some of her inner monologues did become repetitive at times. She's hilariously ridiculous. There's nothing I love more than a character who can piss everyone off with just a few words. They both have their flaws, like all characters do, but watching their story unfold was beautiful.