I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
"The River's Gift"
by
Mercedes Lackey
fantasy in Hardcover edition that was published by ROC Hardcover on October 2, 1999 and has 128 pages.
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Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Unnatural Issue, Finding the Way and Other Tales of Valdemar, Foundation, Intrigues, Gwenhwyfar: The White Spirit, Owlknight, Charmed Destinies, Changes, Beauty and the Werewolf, Invasion, Home From the Sea, Dead Reckoning, Conspiracies, Bedlam's Edge, Crown of Vengeance, Redoubt, Harvest Moon, World Divided, Elemental Magic: All New Tales of the Elemental Masters, Sacrifices, Steadfast, Burdens of the Dead, Bastion, Victories, Blood Red, The House of the Four Winds, Games Creatures Play, Closer to Home, Born to Run, Wheels of Fire, When the Bough Breaks, Chrome Circle, Changing the World: All-New Tales of Valdemar, Under the Vale and Other Tales of Valdemar, Arcanum 101, A Tangled Web, Winter Moon, Moving Targets and Other Tales of Valdemar, Elementary: All-New Tales of the Elemental Masters, No True Way: All-New Tales of Valdemar, From a High Tower, Hunter, Closer to the Heart, Silence, A Study in Sable, Elite, Closer to the Chest, Tempest: All-New Tales of Valdemar, A Scandal in Battersea, The Hills Have Spies, The Bartered Brides, Dragon's Teeth, Eye Spy, Breaking Silence, Pathways, The Case of the Spellbound Child, Passages, Magic's Pawn, The Black Gryphon, Magic's Promise, The Serpent's Shadow, The Oathbound, The White Gryphon, The Silver Gryphon, Beyond, Spy, Spy Again, Oathbreakers, The Lark and the Wren, The Gates of Sleep, Phoenix and Ashes, The Wizard of London, The Robin and the Kestrel, Oathblood, Take a Thief, Exile's Honor, The Silver Bullets of Annie Oakley, Owlflight, Brightly Burning, Exile’s Valor, Sword of Ice and Other Tales of Valdemar, Crossroads and Other Tales of Valdemar, Crucible, Choices, Into the West, Into the West
A short fairy tale outside Lackey’s usual style.
My Take
This was a lovely short fairytale of a maiden happily tending the creatures of the forest, the minor fae, and the villagers in her father’s manse.
The Story
Ariella was happy until her father died and her wicked cousin appeared to whisk her away.
The Characters
Ariella of Swan Manor has a gift of healing which she uses to help the creatures of the forest.
Merod is a gorgeous black kelpie in need of aid.
The Cover and Title
The cover has a bright fuchsia surround with a boiled white border on the sides and bottom with a narrow white border surrounding the author’s name and the title which are also in white. It’s Ariella and Merod, both in a medieval-style dress, descending a grand staircase in the gardens while their escape hovers overhead, but what the staircase has to do with this story, I dunno.
The title is perfect as Merod is indeed The River’s Gift and hope for Ariella.
