Rachel Bower

It Comes From The River

Resilience, hope, and the power of women when they work together are central themes in Rachel Bower’s new work of fiction, infused with the folklore of Northern England. As an already acclaimed writer of short stories and poetry, It Comes From the River is a much-anticipated debut novel by the Bradford-born author.

We follow the lives of three women grappling with difficult circumstances in their lives. Alex is trying to hold her growing family together with a husband who is becoming increasingly controlling, Lauren is a single mother looking for a fresh start as she’s struggling to pay bills, while Nancy has reluctantly moved into a care home after inadvertently setting fire to her kitchen. There is something much darker lurking in the water, though, something menacing only they can see; it all stems from the river. All longing for escape while being haunted by an uncanny, inexplicable presence, these women must combat the coercive control in their lives that threatens to submerge them. Through an authentic exploration of motherhood, age, poverty, and abuse, It Comes From the River is perturbing yet hopeful. 

The narratives are divided between the three women and occasionally the elusive folklore creature, as they gradually weave together to assemble at the climax. Bower’s lyrical prose creates a foreboding sense of unease, intersecting mystery and folklore to conjure a uniquely haunting tale in a supernatural and literal sense. 

Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. The premise centred around folklore and women working together, but there was a lot less of that than I anticipated.

Eleanor 

Resilience, hope, and the power of women when they work together are central themes in Rachel Bower’s new work of fiction, infused with the folklore of Northern England. As an already acclaimed writer of short stories and poetry, It Comes From the River is a much-anticipated debut novel by the Bradford-born author.

We follow the lives of three women grappling with difficult circumstances in their lives. Alex is trying to hold her growing family together with a husband who is becoming increasingly controlling, Lauren is a single mother looking for a fresh start as she’s struggling to pay bills, while Nancy has reluctantly moved into a care home after inadvertently setting fire to her kitchen. There is something much darker lurking in the water, though, something menacing only they can see; it all stems from the river. All longing for escape while being haunted by an uncanny, inexplicable presence, these women must combat the coercive control in their lives that threatens to submerge them. Through an authentic exploration of motherhood, age, poverty, and abuse, It Comes From the River is perturbing yet hopeful. 

The narratives are divided between the three women and occasionally the elusive folklore creature, as they gradually weave together to assemble at the climax. Bower’s lyrical prose creates a foreboding sense of unease, intersecting mystery and folklore to conjure a uniquely haunting tale in a supernatural and literal sense. 

Unfortunately, this book wasn't for me. The premise centred around folklore and women working together, but there was a lot less of that than I anticipated.

It Comes From The River

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