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River Rule (River Rule #1)

Ameeta Davis (Goodreads Author)

3.64 · Rating details · 28 ratings · 23 reviews

River Rule is a dark fantasy which pivots on the unlikely friendship between a boy and girl from different cultural backgrounds. They are brought together by the deceit and treachery of their families.

Following the death of her mother, Una, a Manchester born teenage girl, finds herself living with her grandparents in a primitive Himalayan jungle. Her dare devil ways and no ...more

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ebook, Second, 308 pages

Published November 10th 2020 by Ameeta davis (first published December 5th 2017)

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Jan 09, 2018 Murali Ryan rated it liked it · review of another edition

My views

River Rule is an Suspense thriller by Ameeta Davis, start from the cover I liked it lot its looking like a mere painting. Cover shows two different lands an beautiful art. Title of the novel also well justified with author's fantasy story line.

About the story, majorly story revolves around khamosh valley, After 35years Una and her father comes to India especially to khamosh valley where their grandfather house located, after that story tooks it turns Una suffers a lot hence Avi been as a ...more

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Jan 09, 2018 Aakanksha Mishra rated it liked it · review of another edition

River rule - The name of the book doesn't give any information about the book but it is unique in itself. However, titles are meant to be according to the theme of the book but even if this title is not in accordance with the book, it looks interesting.

This book is a fantasy thriller filled with suspense and twists. The main characters are Avi and Una who belongs to totally different cultures yet they became friends. The book is interesting from the start where Una discovers that the car - accid ...more

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Dec 29, 2017 Sohinee Reads & Reviews (Bookarlo) rated it liked it · review of another edition

“River Rule” written by Ameeta Davis can be categorised as a book of the fantasy genre fuelled with bits of thrilling and mysterious scenes. Definitely dark in its approach (not the kind you might be thinking though). The concept was new to me and totally different from what I have read. I have read urban fantasy books before but, this one was quite different.

The story starts off with Una boarding India with his father to visit her grandparents. Born in Manchester, England but having roots in In ...more

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Jan 09, 2018 Enakshi J. rated it liked it · review of another edition

“She is free in her wildness, she is a wanderess, a drop of free water. She knows nothing of borders and cares nothing for rules or customs. 'Time' for her isn’t something to fight against. Her life flows clean, with passion, like fresh water.”
― Roman Payne

‘River Rule’ is a complete pot-boiler! This novella focuses on the life of Una and her diabolical present. Set in the urban village of Uttrakhand (Khamosh Valley), the story explores the relationship shared between Una and her friend, Avi. The “She is free in her wildness, she is a wanderess, a drop of free water. She knows nothing of borders and cares nothing for rules or customs. 'Time' for her isn’t something to fight against. Her life flows clean, with passion, like fresh water.”
― Roman Payne

‘River Rule’ is a complete pot-boiler! This novella focuses on the life of Una and her diabolical present. Set in the urban village of Uttrakhand (Khamosh Valley), the story explores the relationship shared between Una and her friend, Avi. Their bond is has a scaffolding of trust and mutual gratitude; they can count on each other and stand with each other through the thick and thin. Their never-ending quest to live safely and peacefully amidst the forest is something that inspires and also helps us recount the importance of friendship.

The story begins on a grim note as the protagonist meets with an accident only to realize that it is all a figment of her screwball imagination. But Una is not crazy, for she knows that something is not right. From the moment she enters the valley, bizarre things start happening. Moreover, when her father abandons her on the strange land, she struggles to cope with the situation. But Avi comes to her rescue and becomes her backbone.

The lucid narrative style of the author makes this an interesting read. At times, the explication becomes too long and extra descriptive. Even though the authoress has succeeded in meticulously portraying the emotional turmoil of the characters, the meek character sketch of the characters nullifies the impact. The characters appear as mere caricatures. The vocabulary is exemplary, yet I could spot minute errors (like the use of incorrect past participle of sit in this sentence- Una glanced down to where her dad was sat~ should have been seated). ‘Sat’ is used in conventional or local dialect but the standard English does not allow the use of this form of the verb.

I liked the cover. Though it is very simple, yet speaks volumes. The plot serves as a delight for the ones who like reading fantasy thrillers. The story also exposes us to some of the stereotypes and social barriers like the friendship between opposite genders and cultural boundaries that restrict a person from being mindful.

Overall, ‘River Rule’ is a refreshing story that will not only intrigue you but also keep you on the edge of your seat. ...more

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Nov 24, 2020 Jacob rated it liked it · review of another edition

The opening chapters captured me, and the plot was very well put together. There were small details littered throughout the book that came back around later on. The writing style was difficult to get used to, it seemed as though a thesaurus was used at some points just to raise the reading level. Though it is from the perspective of a 16-17 year old girl, the vocabulary is that of a scholar.

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Dec 29, 2017 Subhajit Das rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Book Name (with subtitle): River Rule (She’d broken all the Valley Rules. Except for one.)
Authoress Name: Ameeta Davis
Format: Kindle
No of Pages- 257
Publisher: Ameeta Davis (UK, 2017)
Blurb: The jungle is closing in.
First it sends a welcoming party of parakeets.
Next, a garland of disembodied chicken parts.
Finally the tribesmen and their spears arrive demanding human trades of Avi and Una, the property developer’s firstborn grandchildren.
Twice before, the jungle tried to take Una when she took ris ...more

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Dec 28, 2017 Dimple Singh rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Title: River Rule

Author: Ameeta Davis

ASIN: B077LSSXCL

Number of Pages: 257

“She’d broken all the Valley Rules. Except for one. River Rule.”

Is it possible for two people from different cultures to develop a strong bond of friendship? Life is full of hurdles and so there were a lot of hurdles in the lives of Avi and Una. They both had a different point of view yet they shared a bond of friendship. River Rule by Ameeta Davis is a fantasy thriller filled with suspense. The story initiates in a very su ...more

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Jan 04, 2018 Swapna Peri ( Books Review Cafe ) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: indian, kindle, sappy-s-reads

Book Title: River Rule
Author: Ameeta Davis
Format: Kindle
Number of pages : 301
Sold by: Amazon Asia-Pacific Holdings Private Limited
Publishing Date: 1st Nov 2017
Printed Price: INR 199
ASIN: B077LSSXCL

Book Title:
The title of the book 'River Rule' is new and fascinating yet the it doesn't give any idea about the story.

Book Cover :
The book cover is simple and sober. The single eye and the light colors create an interest to read.

Plot:
The plot of the story is a new form of fantasy thriller. The story ...more

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Dec 17, 2017 Rajan rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Paranormal romance is the new normal. The Twilight series threw up many followers. This book is one of those.

There is a girl named Una who comes to India with her father they go to a spooky place called Khamosh Valley. There all kinds of weird things happen. On the way she has premonition that her driver died and they somehow escaped. When they reach their grandfather doesn’t open the gates and they have to climb over the boundary wall. There she meets Avi. There is some mumbo jumbo about tribal ...more

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Jan 14, 2018 Sayan Basak rated it really liked it · review of another edition

REVIEW OF THE BOOK-
Set in the villages of Uttarakhand, River rule gives us a different aspect of what friendship is. When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, wh REVIEW OF THE BOOK-
Set in the villages of Uttarakhand, River rule gives us a different aspect of what friendship is. When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.
The characterization of Una was beautifully crafted with context to the theme. It brings out the feeling of love keeping friendship in the backdrop. The beginning of love is the will to let those we love be perfectly themselves, the resolution not to twist them to fit our own image. If in loving them we do not love what they are, but only their potential likeness to ourselves, then we do not love them: we only love the reflection of ourselves we find in them. Avi also plays a pivotal role in driving the plot of the novel as he introduces the concept of bonding and the feeling of togetherness. They had battled and bloodied one another, they had kept secrets, broken hearts, lied, betrayed, exiled, they had walked away, said goodbye and sworn it was forever, and somehow, every time, they had mended, they had forgiven, they had survived. Some mistakes could never be fixed - some, but not all. Some people can't be driven away, no matter how hard you try. Some friendships won't break.
It is not the dead rather the ones who lives through war have seen the dreadful end of the war, you might have been victorious, unwounded but deep within you, you carry the mark of the war, you carry the memories of war, the time you have spend with your comrades, the times when you had to dug in to foxholes to avoid shelling, the times when you hate to see your comrade down on the ground, feeling of despair, atrocities of the war, missing families, home. They live through hell and often the most wounded, they live with the guilt, despair, of being in the war, they may be happy but deep down they are a different person. Not everyone is a hero. You live with the moments, time when you were unsuccessful, when your actions would have helped your comrades, when your actions get your comrades killed, you live with regret, joyous in the victory can never help you forget the time you have spent. You are victorious for the people you have lost, the decisions you have made, the courage you have shown but being victorious in the war has a price to pay, irrevocable.

You can't take a memory back from a person, even if you lose your memory your imagination haunts you as deep down your sub conscious mind you know who you are, who you were. Close you eyes and you can very well see your past, you cant change your past, time you have spent, you live through all and hence you are a hero not for the glorious war for the times you have faced. Decoration with medals is not going to give your life back. the more you know, more experiences doesn't make it easy rather make its worse. Arms and ammunition kills you once and free you from the misery but the experiences of war kills you everyday, makes you cherish the times everyday through the life. You may forgot that you cant walk anymore, you may forget you cant use your right hand, you may forgot the scars on your face but you can never forgot war. Life without war is never easy and only the ones how survived through it can understand. Soldiers are taught to fight but the actual combat starts after war which you are not even trained for. You rely on your weapon, leaders, comrades, god, luck in the war but here you rely on your self to beat the horrors, they have seen hell, heaven, they have felt the mixed emotions of hope, despair, courage, victory, defeat, scared.

I enjoyed the novel not because I love reading romantic genre but because this book brings out a different version of love. This book proves that If you promise to love, trust, respect, support and stand by someone no matter what, do not just speak those words when times are good. Live those words when challenges arise. The stronger the love and commitment, the more unbreakable the bond. United hearts will never be easily divided.

.
RATINGS-
Overall I would like to rate the book 42 on a scale of 50.
4 stars out of 5
1. Originality of the plot and sub plots- 8/10
2. Net emotions in the story- 8/10
3. Usage of words and phrases-9/10
4. The title, cover and the illustration-9/10
5. The net impact on the readers- 8/10
KUDOS TO Ameeta Davis
...more

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Jan 05, 2018 Aparna Prabhu rated it liked it · review of another edition

Una visits her paternal grandfather's abode along with her father in Khamosh valley. Meanwhile, a series of murders and rapes committed by an anonymous taxi driver rocks the valley. After reaching her grandfather's home, she encounters Meeru and Avi. Avi is attracted to Una at first sight and they strike an unusual friendship.

Things become complicated for both Una and Avi due to the tribal prophecy. Una's problems are escalated when her father leaves her alone and returns to Manchester. Avi stan ...more

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Jan 08, 2018 Pavan Sharma rated it really liked it · review of another edition

River Rule is a dark, urban fantasy thriller which pivots precariously on the friendship between a boy and girl from different cultural
backgrounds. It deals with deceit and treachery, but it shows that, even when familial unconditional love is withdrawn, strength and kindness can be found elsewhere even in a jungle.
River rule is a story of a girl named Una who comes to her grandfather's home in Uttrakhand,where she feels many uneven incidents happen with her. Una has to face many hurdles and pro ...more

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Jan 25, 2018 Anmol Singh rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

“She’d broken all the Valley Rules.. except for one… RIVER RULE!

Th artistic and alluring cover design and the intriguing blurb and the tag-lines… piques great interest from the readers and you can’t help but grab a copy and dig in and that itself is a major plus point for a book.

RIVER RULE takes you along to meet Una, her normal life Manchester took a grave turn as she landed in India followed by her mother’s death. There she finds herself as well the truth of the jungle which leads to further a ...more

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Dec 30, 2017 Nidhi Author rated it really liked it · review of another edition

River Rule is a different kind of Book from all other books available in the market. Starting with the cover it has been designed amazingly. The blurb of the book just added the cherry to the cake. The blurb had that full energy to force one to turn the pages as soon as possible. The author chose a totally different concept. She very well knew how to maintain the interest of the readers. The starting of the book with accident made me a bit sad. But then after a few pages, the eyes remained opene ...more

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Jan 04, 2018 My Bookshelf rated it liked it · review of another edition

The blurb of River Rule is quite intriguing and promised to be an interesting read. The book started well and managed to intrigue for a couple of pages. However, after a certain point of time the story lost its track. To make the book interesting, the author seemed to add some confusing twists that made it a bit complex. The plot seemed unique but the execution somehow didn’t match it.
The character development is also not done well. The author could have devoted some more pages to build the char ...more

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Dec 31, 2017 Deepali Gupta rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Starting off with the cover it is simple but definitely a cover you will like. The blurb is really interesting and gets you to read the book immediately. The title gives you an idea of the book being a little about ancient or related to the tribes. The vocabulary is good and you will get to learn many new words too. The characterization is alright. The book consists of the friendship between avi and una who have to deal with alot hurdles as they are from different cultures. It is a fantasy thril ...more

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Mar 23, 2018 Jyotsna Sindhi rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Finished reading River Rule ! What an amazing engrossing story teller Ameeta is ! Amy you are Una or is Una you ! Is the metamorphosis complete or can Una and Avi still live a city life like Clark Kent and Lois Lane ...I am picturing that romance and am so a YA reader cant wait for Broken Rule !!! I can so see this amazing book in film it will be nothing short of riveting !

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Dec 25, 2020 Aaron I W rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Great book. Loved the story and adding book 2 to my reading list!

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Apr 04, 2018 Deborah J Miles rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2017-dectheshelves

I loved the narration style, and the odd typo - at least I assume 'flumes' is a typo for 'plumes' - made it feel more authentic and only increased my enjoyment.

Throughout the story, however, I did not have a clear image in my head of any of the characters and I found the some of the plot twists more than a little confusing. Despite this, it was a story I had to finish. ...more

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John Williams rated it liked it
Jul 01, 2018

Nakul rated it it was ok
Oct 31, 2018

Jan 13, 2018 Janci Rani rated it really liked it · review of another edition

River rule - This book is built on the life stories of Avi and Una, who are poles apart in their lifestyle but are united by friendship. It further deals with the struggles Una undergoes when she returns to her grandfather's home and the stories of robbery and murders start affecting Una more deeply. When she was left helpless, Avi extends her helping hand to Una and they build a strong friendship with each other. Further, the book deals with how Avi and Una are embroiled and how they together o ...more

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Keziah Seth rated it it was amazing
Dec 06, 2020

Jan 15, 2018 Ravi Gurunani rated it really liked it · review of another edition

River Rule is Contemporary/Fantasy fiction written by Ameeta Davis where author serves us intriguing plot with amazing storytelling skills. This book is one of the brilliant thriller i have read by an Indian Author.

Book Title and Cover- Book Title is interesting and creates curiosity about it. Cover is alluring and appropriate. Blurb is interesting and attracts readers to pick up the book. Overall, First Impression of this book demands attention of readers.

Language and Narration- Language used b ...more

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Jan 10, 2018 Tushar Jain rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Blurb-

The jungle is closing in.
First it sends a welcoming party of parakeets.
Next, a garland of disembodied chicken parts.
Finally the tribesmen and their spears arrive demanding human trades of Avi and Una, the property developer’s firstborn grandchildren.
Twice before, the jungle tried to take Una when she took risks.
Twice Avi foiled their attempts.
This time he’s not there — yet she can feel him somewhere near.

River Rule is a dark, urban fantasy, which pivots precariously on the friendship betwe ...more

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Jan 17, 2018 Yogiraj Gaigole-Patil ( Anjaan ) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Book Review
Book Details-
Book Name- River Rule

Author- Ameeta Davis

Pages- 301 pages

Price- ₹ 199 (kindle copy)

Blurb - River Rule is a dark, urban fantasy, which pivots precariously on the friendship between a boy and girl from different cultural
backgrounds. It deals with deceit and treachery, but it shows that, even when familial unconditional love is withdrawn, strength and kindness can be found elsewhere – even in a jungle

Review -
River Rule is a Contemporary fiction novel filled with mystery and ...more

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About Ameeta Davis

Ameeta Davis

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Ameeta Davis lives in the Chiltern Hills in England with her husband, mother and two adult children when they aren’t at university. Her love of mythology began with her split upbringing between her parents’ Indian household of Gods, goddesses, demigods and demons and Aunty Anne’s Polish and Welsh of Grimm’s tales and Celtic stories before she was seven and lived in Manchester. Her love of mytholog ...more