Song of the Current, by: Sarah Toclser

       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.

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My rating: ★★★☆☆

       I received Song of the Current in the June Uppercase Box and was really excited to delve into it. It sounded like something that I had never read in the young adult genre. When I got into it, I realized it wasn't really my cup of tea, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
       The book started off with a bunch of exciting events all right in a row. (Okay, watching your father get thrown in prison and a beloved dock burn isn't exactly "exciting", but you get what I mean.) These first 50 pages or so really got me excited for a fast-paced action novel. But after the beginning, the story slowed down quite a bit, which I wasn't expecting at all. Sure, there were a few major events here and there, but the action-y bits scattered throughout the book were very short and sweet. The story didn't really pick back up until the very end. (And all I can say about the end of the book without spoiling anything is that it is fantastic. Totally worth sticking out the slow bits.)
       Even though parts of the book were slow, I fell in love with the characters. Every single character that was introduced had a purpose and a story all their own. I love that Sarah Toclser didn't throw around characters and put in unnecessary extras just for the sake of it. The best part, however, is how deep Caro gets throughout the story. At first, she just starts out as an unassuming wherryman who hopes to become a captain. Throughout the story, her layers start to peel back, and just when you think you know everything, something unexpected is revealed, and as the reader, you are forced to start thinking something completely different.
       I also just want to touch on the fact that the world that Caro lives in is so interesting and unique. The mythology that surrounds the rivers and the details that go into describing it are creative. I also have to bow down to Sarah Toclser for a minute because of the way she describes the boating aspects. They are amazing. It is so clear that she knows and loves what she's talking about, and it comes across so well through Caro.

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       Overall, this book was just an okay read for me, but I've heard countless people swoon over it. Hopefully you will like this book more than me, and let me know your thoughts in the comments!

From her vacation,
Ashton

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'Magic doesn't make a man evil,' he said. 'It's just a skill. It isn't inherently good or bad. It's what's in his heart that makes him evil, the same as anyone else.

― Sarah Tolcser, Song of the Current