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The Crimson River
The war is over, but the fight continues.
A desperate class struggle rages on between Covedale and Riverlea—sister cities far from the front lines and the newly-established global government, World United—that threatens to tear them apart from the inside. Organized crime has infiltrated key positions locally and is using its control to pit the cities against each other, manipulating citizens and businesses alike to achieve their mysterious ends. On one side of the river, residents enjoy modest creature comforts and never want for food. On the other side, however, it’s a fight to survive. Basic rights like food, shelter, and safety are mere wishes in Riverlea.
Upholding the status quo is in Covedale’s favor, but Riverlea won’t continue living in abject poverty. An underground movement has firmly established itself as enemy to the unknown puppet masters who have thus far acted without repercussions and kept Covedale in power.
The last thing either side is expecting is the impact Oliver Conway’s seemingly-innocent arrival will have on events. Oliver may be ignorant to how deep the machinations go that brought him to Riverlea, but his instinct for self-preservation may just see him through . . . if he can avoid falling victim to his own ambition and resist being used as a pawn. Can one haunted soldier inspire a revolution or will he instigate a massacre?
"The plot of Sabanto starts off strong, with intriguing worldbuilding. Anderson's vision for her world is brimming with interesting tidbits and threads that help it stand out."
The BookLife Prize
A desperate class struggle rages on between Covedale and Riverlea—sister cities far from the front lines and the newly-established global government, World United—that threatens to tear them apart from the inside. Organized crime has infiltrated key positions locally and is using its control to pit the cities against each other, manipulating citizens and businesses alike to achieve their mysterious ends. On one side of the river, residents enjoy modest creature comforts and never want for food. On the other side, however, it’s a fight to survive. Basic rights like food, shelter, and safety are mere wishes in Riverlea.
Upholding the status quo is in Covedale’s favor, but Riverlea won’t continue living in abject poverty. An underground movement has firmly established itself as enemy to the unknown puppet masters who have thus far acted without repercussions and kept Covedale in power.
The last thing either side is expecting is the impact Oliver Conway’s seemingly-innocent arrival will have on events. Oliver may be ignorant to how deep the machinations go that brought him to Riverlea, but his instinct for self-preservation may just see him through . . . if he can avoid falling victim to his own ambition and resist being used as a pawn. Can one haunted soldier inspire a revolution or will he instigate a massacre?
"The plot of Sabanto starts off strong, with intriguing worldbuilding. Anderson's vision for her world is brimming with interesting tidbits and threads that help it stand out."
The BookLife Prize
272 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2022
About the author
Ewa Anderson
2 books2 followersEwa Anderson was born and raised in Warsaw, Poland. When she was eighteen, and with very limited English, she immigrated to Canada. She took the challenges of living on a new continent and learning a new language as an opportunity for growth. Living in Canada as an immigrant increased her awareness of the importance of belonging, acceptance and diversity in society which she tries to relate in her work.
She is an alumnus of York University in Toronto and McMaster University in Hamilton where she received a Masters of Computer Science. She is also a long-standing member and volunteer at Mississauga Festival Choir, and the local arts scene.
She lives with her husband in Oakville Ontario.
She is an alumnus of York University in Toronto and McMaster University in Hamilton where she received a Masters of Computer Science. She is also a long-standing member and volunteer at Mississauga Festival Choir, and the local arts scene.
She lives with her husband in Oakville Ontario.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 4, 2023
This was a timely read – written during a global pandemic with its implications for personal struggles, social upheaval, and strain on healthcare systems. Politicians and conspiracy theorists alike debate the implications of climate change and “the great reset.” Protestors – peaceful and otherwise -- resist government policies and arguably, have brought some countries to the brink of revolution. The world has divided itself into factions over the invasion of Ukraine. Families struggle financially to keep landlords from “renovicting” them while the cost of groceries skyrockets. Set in the near future during a time following massive global unrest gives the reader a chance to ponder the possibilities for our own future and who might take advantage of crises for their own gain.
Sabanto brings the reader on a fascinating journey with its characters who have been left to rebuild after a devastating, global fifty-year war. The divide between Covedale and Riverlea, rich and poor, the haves and have nots has been amplified by war, a class system, and the Crimson River – a physical barrier symbolic of the obstacles which the rich try to maintain and the poor try to overcome. Who will survive? Who will thrive and by what means?
In this character-driven, dystopian novel, Oliver Conway, the protagonist, returning from the front lines of the war, plans to remake himself. His first order of business is getting out of Riverlea, something he can only do with the help of the Gutters, an underground organization that controls everything that goes on in Riverlea. In accepting their help towards his goal of dragging himself out of the gutter and into “polite” society, he has compromised his future. His arrival doesn’t go unnoticed by Steven White, the so-called “protector of Covedale” -- a leader who filled the void left by councillors who “got themselves assassinated” and a mayor who abdicated any responsibilities that might cause him to meet the same fate. When Sophia, White’s daughter who seems blissfully unaware of her father’s dealings, enters the picture, the complications begin as she and Oliver become close.
There are tender love stories. There are power struggles. There are those who better themselves through education and their natural abilities. There are stories of evil as people play both sides. Are they good or evil or is it that all of them possess the ability to be either? Perhaps this is where Sabanto best hits the mark. Any one of us dropped into the lives of these characters would have to make the difficult choices they have made. It is left to the reader to decide who may have gone too far.
World United is, in a sense, its own character – urging the people to work hard for the good of all, to pay their taxes, and to be good citizens. World United has its idea of what constitutes a good citizen and in the end, that idea will drive the plot into book two in a dramatic fashion.
Sabanto brings the reader on a fascinating journey with its characters who have been left to rebuild after a devastating, global fifty-year war. The divide between Covedale and Riverlea, rich and poor, the haves and have nots has been amplified by war, a class system, and the Crimson River – a physical barrier symbolic of the obstacles which the rich try to maintain and the poor try to overcome. Who will survive? Who will thrive and by what means?
In this character-driven, dystopian novel, Oliver Conway, the protagonist, returning from the front lines of the war, plans to remake himself. His first order of business is getting out of Riverlea, something he can only do with the help of the Gutters, an underground organization that controls everything that goes on in Riverlea. In accepting their help towards his goal of dragging himself out of the gutter and into “polite” society, he has compromised his future. His arrival doesn’t go unnoticed by Steven White, the so-called “protector of Covedale” -- a leader who filled the void left by councillors who “got themselves assassinated” and a mayor who abdicated any responsibilities that might cause him to meet the same fate. When Sophia, White’s daughter who seems blissfully unaware of her father’s dealings, enters the picture, the complications begin as she and Oliver become close.
There are tender love stories. There are power struggles. There are those who better themselves through education and their natural abilities. There are stories of evil as people play both sides. Are they good or evil or is it that all of them possess the ability to be either? Perhaps this is where Sabanto best hits the mark. Any one of us dropped into the lives of these characters would have to make the difficult choices they have made. It is left to the reader to decide who may have gone too far.
World United is, in a sense, its own character – urging the people to work hard for the good of all, to pay their taxes, and to be good citizens. World United has its idea of what constitutes a good citizen and in the end, that idea will drive the plot into book two in a dramatic fashion.
March 23, 2023
This novel is set in a war-torn world that resembles our own in some ways but feels bizarrely different in others. While cities like New York and Boston are mentioned (and the crossing of the North American continent in a week?), the book focuses on a pair of fictional, small cities on the west coast.
I'll start by giving this book some credit: This is a fun, engaging read that jumps off the pages and transports you away - just like all good books should. The writing is not overly concerned with complicated prose or hiding information from you which makes following along an easy task - allowing one to focus on the characters instead.
And I say characters over plot because this novel is very much concerned with that aspect of writing over a structured narrative. While there is a build towards a climax, it took me 3/4ths of the novel before it started to become apparent what the novel was actually about. Furthermore, the conclusion itself is not particularly satisfying and did not make a lot of sense to me (in terms of execution or theory).
It is clear that there is a philosophical undertone present that I as a reader was meant to take away from it all, but I just cannot really grasp exactly what. While capitalism and elitism is under heavy critique in the novel, and the proposed solution seems somewhat rooted in socialism, I cannot say with certainty that this is the intention. Rather, it seems more as if the idea is that to start fresh you sometimes need to burn away the sickness or the parts that refuse to grow.
There is a fair number of other critiques I could mention. For example, there is a lot of telling where showing would be more appropriate. Characters all having such traumatic backstories make them seem somewhat unrealistic or at least they don't seem to act in accordance with their own pasts. And finally, vague recalls to past conversations within the story made it very difficult as a reader to figure out which conversations, events or deals they were referring to throughout the novel.
All in all, this novel was a fun, great read, but it does require some willingness to roll with the punches. Looking too far into motives and trying to discern the plot feels like a wasted endeavor. However, if you let yourself be swept away, you'll not regret it.
I'll start by giving this book some credit: This is a fun, engaging read that jumps off the pages and transports you away - just like all good books should. The writing is not overly concerned with complicated prose or hiding information from you which makes following along an easy task - allowing one to focus on the characters instead.
And I say characters over plot because this novel is very much concerned with that aspect of writing over a structured narrative. While there is a build towards a climax, it took me 3/4ths of the novel before it started to become apparent what the novel was actually about. Furthermore, the conclusion itself is not particularly satisfying and did not make a lot of sense to me (in terms of execution or theory).
It is clear that there is a philosophical undertone present that I as a reader was meant to take away from it all, but I just cannot really grasp exactly what. While capitalism and elitism is under heavy critique in the novel, and the proposed solution seems somewhat rooted in socialism, I cannot say with certainty that this is the intention. Rather, it seems more as if the idea is that to start fresh you sometimes need to burn away the sickness or the parts that refuse to grow.
There is a fair number of other critiques I could mention. For example, there is a lot of telling where showing would be more appropriate. Characters all having such traumatic backstories make them seem somewhat unrealistic or at least they don't seem to act in accordance with their own pasts. And finally, vague recalls to past conversations within the story made it very difficult as a reader to figure out which conversations, events or deals they were referring to throughout the novel.
All in all, this novel was a fun, great read, but it does require some willingness to roll with the punches. Looking too far into motives and trying to discern the plot feels like a wasted endeavor. However, if you let yourself be swept away, you'll not regret it.
April 16, 2023
"Sabanto: The Crimson River" by Ewa Anderson is a gripping dystopian science-fiction novel that sets the stage for a complex and thought-provoking trilogy. The story is set in a world that has just emerged from a devastating global war, and the plot revolves around the desperate class struggle between two sister cities, Covedale and Riverlea, that threatens to tear them apart from the inside. Organized crime has infiltrated key positions locally and is manipulating citizens and businesses to achieve their mysterious ends. Anderson's world-building is impressive, and the plot starts off strong with interesting tidbits and threads that help it stand out. The tension between the two cities is palpable, and the author masterfully builds the suspense as the story progresses. The characters are well-developed, and the protagonist, Oliver Conway, is a haunted soldier whose seemingly-innocent arrival sets off a chain of events that will have far-reaching consequences. This is an intelligent but entertaining read that involves a story with all the elements of a great crime thriller novel: steamy romance, deception, deceit, and murder. The author paints a fascinating, dystopian world that is worryingly close to where the real world seems to be going, making the story even more engrossing. Overall, "Sabanto" is a well-written and engaging novel that is sure to appeal to fans of dystopian fiction and crime thrillers.
August 14, 2023
Sabanto is a cerebral science fiction novel that reminded me of a different age of science fiction. An age where science fiction books were used to more obviously deconstruct philosophical and political ideas more than their modern counterpoints. So, if you are a fan of books of this ilk (think Olaf Stapleton, Aldus Huxley and George Orwell) then Sabanto could be a good pick up.
Similar to those style of novels, Sabanto by Ewa Anderson, is driven more by idea and character than plot.
Set in a dystopian nightmare of a world struggling with the end of a brutal war, Sabanto focuses on two cities; Covedale and Riverlea. While the former is thriving the other is starving, leading to tension, crime and general discontent. Enter Oliver Conway: an outsider thrust into this shadowy world. Oliver is an interesting character, haunted by his own past and just trying to survive, whose journey we largely follow in this novel.
Through Oliver’s actions, and the machinations of the various gangs, businessmen and government figures, the authors discuss ideas of inequality and revolution pertinent to the modern age.
It’s also hard to read Sabanto and not see a possible future scenario for our world (War, catastrophe, inequality and poverty), which lends it an air of horror alongside the elements of philosophy, mystery and even romance already present in the novel.
Similar to those style of novels, Sabanto by Ewa Anderson, is driven more by idea and character than plot.
Set in a dystopian nightmare of a world struggling with the end of a brutal war, Sabanto focuses on two cities; Covedale and Riverlea. While the former is thriving the other is starving, leading to tension, crime and general discontent. Enter Oliver Conway: an outsider thrust into this shadowy world. Oliver is an interesting character, haunted by his own past and just trying to survive, whose journey we largely follow in this novel.
Through Oliver’s actions, and the machinations of the various gangs, businessmen and government figures, the authors discuss ideas of inequality and revolution pertinent to the modern age.
It’s also hard to read Sabanto and not see a possible future scenario for our world (War, catastrophe, inequality and poverty), which lends it an air of horror alongside the elements of philosophy, mystery and even romance already present in the novel.
September 25, 2023
In "Sabanto: The Crimson River" by Ewa Anderson, readers are transported to a dystopian world where the echoes of a past war still reverberate. The story revolves around the ongoing class struggle between two sister cities, Covedale and Riverlea, both far removed from the global government, World United. These cities are manipulated by organized crime, which has seeped into key positions, exacerbating their divisions.
Anderson presents a stark contrast between the two cities, with one enjoying relative comfort and the other facing severe poverty and constant hardship. Amid this backdrop, an underground movement in Riverlea seeks to challenge the oppressive order.
The arrival of Oliver Conway, an apparently unremarkable individual, introduces an element of unpredictability to the narrative. Anderson crafts a tale of mystery and suspense around Oliver, whose actions may either spark a revolution or trigger a catastrophe.
"Sabanto" begins strongly with its well-constructed world and intricate plot. Ewa Anderson's detailed worldbuilding adds depth to the story, making it a noteworthy addition to the dystopian genre. This novel promises a thought-provoking exploration of a world teetering on the edge of transformation, where the boundaries between hero and pawn become increasingly blurred.
Anderson presents a stark contrast between the two cities, with one enjoying relative comfort and the other facing severe poverty and constant hardship. Amid this backdrop, an underground movement in Riverlea seeks to challenge the oppressive order.
The arrival of Oliver Conway, an apparently unremarkable individual, introduces an element of unpredictability to the narrative. Anderson crafts a tale of mystery and suspense around Oliver, whose actions may either spark a revolution or trigger a catastrophe.
"Sabanto" begins strongly with its well-constructed world and intricate plot. Ewa Anderson's detailed worldbuilding adds depth to the story, making it a noteworthy addition to the dystopian genre. This novel promises a thought-provoking exploration of a world teetering on the edge of transformation, where the boundaries between hero and pawn become increasingly blurred.
May 1, 2023
This is not your desolate entire world population wiped-out and you are on a solo journey dystopia, this is a time where after a 50 year war, the government is run by private profiteering men (but more obviously than it is now), communities are run by thugs, gunfire is common, and poverty is the norm. Here hanging men from the trees are common occurrences, borders are locked tight, daughters of powerful men have little say in their lives, and their poor counterparts are often raped or forced into prostitution to provide for themselves and their families.
The author is building a world and characters here, setting everything in place for the growth of the series, so at times it can feel slow, but the end payoff is great and I saw a lot of potential for where the series might be going.
The main characters are complex and conflicted. No one is perfect in this world. I did struggle to keep track of the women characters at first, but as the story evolves, they evolve, and it becomes easier to know them.
There was the occasional overuse of a word too close together, and the time jumps often lessoned the tension, but the writing overall is strong and the dialogue is superb.
The author is building a world and characters here, setting everything in place for the growth of the series, so at times it can feel slow, but the end payoff is great and I saw a lot of potential for where the series might be going.
The main characters are complex and conflicted. No one is perfect in this world. I did struggle to keep track of the women characters at first, but as the story evolves, they evolve, and it becomes easier to know them.
There was the occasional overuse of a word too close together, and the time jumps often lessoned the tension, but the writing overall is strong and the dialogue is superb.
March 22, 2024
Ever thought of consequences? Ever thought of what some political 'mistakes' could lead to? Well, it could probably be much worse. And this novel shows just that.
Without getting into the spoiler flag, I want to say that the book is written in a well-paced narrative, showcasing details that really plunge you into this broken world. It's weird how lately I seem to be reading indie authors and a majority of them end up being of worlds where humanity has been broken and divided, poverty spread-out, and as you read, you question yourself what is truly righteous.
That being said, I need to say there are a few things that get me hooked on a book from the start.
I open the first page, and if I get greeted by a nice font, I smile, then I go to the next page where the actual book usually starts.
If I see a one-liner, like I did in this book, then I'm for sure going to read it.
Without getting into the spoiler flag, I want to say that the book is written in a well-paced narrative, showcasing details that really plunge you into this broken world. It's weird how lately I seem to be reading indie authors and a majority of them end up being of worlds where humanity has been broken and divided, poverty spread-out, and as you read, you question yourself what is truly righteous.
That being said, I need to say there are a few things that get me hooked on a book from the start.
I open the first page, and if I get greeted by a nice font, I smile, then I go to the next page where the actual book usually starts.
If I see a one-liner, like I did in this book, then I'm for sure going to read it.
February 24, 2024
Title: THE STRUGGLE TO TURN THE TIDE FROM CHAOS TO A NEW WORLD
SABANTO: The Crimson River by Ewa Anderson
"We have failed... Countries failed to maintain order. Politicians failed to maintain peace...devastated our cities...multitudes died...global unrest led to...conflict. That's how the fifty-year war started. Now, two years after we signed the peace treaty, the world is still in ruins." (Prologue p1).
So begins the story of Sabanto: The Crimson River by Ewa Anderson. The Prologue describes the world lies in ruin after fifty years of war. A group called "World United" seeks to gather the pieces and connect with those who will start to rebuild a new world. But the more we see of the devastation, the more the reader has to wonder if this project can in any way succeed.
Protagonist Oliver Conway arrives on a military ship from Europe that returns to one of the ravaged towns somewhere near what was once the state of Maine. Oliver is not one of the impoverished former soldiers who have no idea of which way to turn. He arrives with purpose, looking for a man named Mark Rodden. Rodden is or once was an accountant. Working with the local power structure, a group called the Gutters who search for money to launder because the Gutters, for all their brutal behaviour, try to help the utterly destitute dwellers in Riverlea. Oliver's talent is that he can work with people whether he likes them or not--even the ferocious Riverlea gang that takes him down into the sewers to meet the boss.
Once Oliver gets his first part of money from Mark, he moves across the river to Covedale. Thanks to his cagey autocracy, Steven White has created a town financially more stable than Riverlea. Covedale resembles a middle-class suburb of the world of the readers today with electricity, indoor toilets, a local factory that employs many citizens, and a market that functions. Despite the law that trespassers in Covedale will be hung on the local hanging tree, Oliver manages to make a deal with Steven so that he can continue to live there. He gathers carpenters and other skilled workers to renovate a derelict house on land with a view he very much enjoys. Oliver buys the local factory; Mark helps use the profits to help launder the money Oliver managed to steal during his military service in the war. With his competence and political sophistication, he secures his position in Covedale and becomes one of its favoured personalities. His goal is financial security, although he occasionally weakens when he sees suffering people he wants to make life better for.
Of course, Oliver and everyone else encounter obstacles. Oliver has to keep Steven, Mark and the Gutters happy while he tries to secure his position. Steven White has to get along with the elites of Covedale and the surrounding area. He also has to face the troubling issue of his adult daughter's attraction to Oliver. Mark has to keep the money coming while satisfying the demands of the Gutters.
Women fare worse. In Riverlea, if they don't end up in Peter Milner's brothel where violence is common, they either die or exist in tenuous relationships with whatever man they can attract. In Covedale, the elite women have status, but the female factory workers who go home at night to Riverlea are only marginally better off than their nonworking peers.
SABANTO: The Crimson River is a complex dystopian novel portraying characters who fight to survive. Ewa Anderson creates believable settings and characters. This strong narrative suggests a future that economic and diplomatic failures could well bring about.
I felt very engaged with the characters and their situation. I did wonder about a future fifty years from now—climate change may be a factor in Anderson's tale, but all the deadlines for climate disaster would have passed by the time this story comes into being. Yet people still breathe, and it's hot but not burning up. However, I'm not an authority on dystopian stories. And maybe the other books in the trilogy deal more with the impact of climate change.
Anderson has written this story well and made it entertaining. This narrative gives readers much fodder to ponder as we contemplate the future.
SABANTO: The Crimson River by Ewa Anderson
"We have failed... Countries failed to maintain order. Politicians failed to maintain peace...devastated our cities...multitudes died...global unrest led to...conflict. That's how the fifty-year war started. Now, two years after we signed the peace treaty, the world is still in ruins." (Prologue p1).
So begins the story of Sabanto: The Crimson River by Ewa Anderson. The Prologue describes the world lies in ruin after fifty years of war. A group called "World United" seeks to gather the pieces and connect with those who will start to rebuild a new world. But the more we see of the devastation, the more the reader has to wonder if this project can in any way succeed.
Protagonist Oliver Conway arrives on a military ship from Europe that returns to one of the ravaged towns somewhere near what was once the state of Maine. Oliver is not one of the impoverished former soldiers who have no idea of which way to turn. He arrives with purpose, looking for a man named Mark Rodden. Rodden is or once was an accountant. Working with the local power structure, a group called the Gutters who search for money to launder because the Gutters, for all their brutal behaviour, try to help the utterly destitute dwellers in Riverlea. Oliver's talent is that he can work with people whether he likes them or not--even the ferocious Riverlea gang that takes him down into the sewers to meet the boss.
Once Oliver gets his first part of money from Mark, he moves across the river to Covedale. Thanks to his cagey autocracy, Steven White has created a town financially more stable than Riverlea. Covedale resembles a middle-class suburb of the world of the readers today with electricity, indoor toilets, a local factory that employs many citizens, and a market that functions. Despite the law that trespassers in Covedale will be hung on the local hanging tree, Oliver manages to make a deal with Steven so that he can continue to live there. He gathers carpenters and other skilled workers to renovate a derelict house on land with a view he very much enjoys. Oliver buys the local factory; Mark helps use the profits to help launder the money Oliver managed to steal during his military service in the war. With his competence and political sophistication, he secures his position in Covedale and becomes one of its favoured personalities. His goal is financial security, although he occasionally weakens when he sees suffering people he wants to make life better for.
Of course, Oliver and everyone else encounter obstacles. Oliver has to keep Steven, Mark and the Gutters happy while he tries to secure his position. Steven White has to get along with the elites of Covedale and the surrounding area. He also has to face the troubling issue of his adult daughter's attraction to Oliver. Mark has to keep the money coming while satisfying the demands of the Gutters.
Women fare worse. In Riverlea, if they don't end up in Peter Milner's brothel where violence is common, they either die or exist in tenuous relationships with whatever man they can attract. In Covedale, the elite women have status, but the female factory workers who go home at night to Riverlea are only marginally better off than their nonworking peers.
SABANTO: The Crimson River is a complex dystopian novel portraying characters who fight to survive. Ewa Anderson creates believable settings and characters. This strong narrative suggests a future that economic and diplomatic failures could well bring about.
I felt very engaged with the characters and their situation. I did wonder about a future fifty years from now—climate change may be a factor in Anderson's tale, but all the deadlines for climate disaster would have passed by the time this story comes into being. Yet people still breathe, and it's hot but not burning up. However, I'm not an authority on dystopian stories. And maybe the other books in the trilogy deal more with the impact of climate change.
Anderson has written this story well and made it entertaining. This narrative gives readers much fodder to ponder as we contemplate the future.
June 6, 2022
Interesting setting in search of a story
The premise of this story spoke to me, and the opening chapters had me quickly intrigued. Unfortunately, from there the story quickly spiralled into an increasingly confusing tale that did not recover.
(Minor spoilers ahead...)
The story centres around a man named Oliver. Oliver served in the war, and somehow managed to gain access to an outrageous amount of money. He contacts a man called Mark, who ends up helping him to funnel the money. Mark lives in Riverlea, a city renowned for the poor and criminal, but Oliver, using the money that Mark is sending him, settles in Covedale, across the river, where the upper class lives. It seems a great setup, and to make things more interesting, Oliver gets entangled with the Riverlea underworld, because they want a share of the money Mark is transferring. He makes them a promise to keep them off his back -- for now.
Unfortunately, things take a turn as the author seems to become entangled between her own story lines and the purpose of the book she is writing. What follows is an increasingly mundane telling of Oliver's rise to become a renowned and powerful business leader. He takes an interest in a factory that he uses to provide clothing for the poor. A love interest comes along, and story lines pop up around his business partners that never really add any substantial weight to the plot. In fact, I'm still not entirely sure what the plot was supposed to be.
Page after page follows, but Oliver's motivation remains a mystery. Not an interesting mystery, but the kind you have to accept to not know, because the story doesn't make any effort to help. Where did all the money come from? It remains an open question that is not alluded to, until suddenly it is vaguely explained. Why is Oliver both a socialist and a killer? What was the promise he made? Answers are given, but they are too little and too late, and they don't connect and don't convince.
In the end I can't help but wonder, did I read a piece of fiction that failed to hit the mark, or a disguised manifesto? Maybe I didn't get it, but I can't recommend it.
The premise of this story spoke to me, and the opening chapters had me quickly intrigued. Unfortunately, from there the story quickly spiralled into an increasingly confusing tale that did not recover.
(Minor spoilers ahead...)
The story centres around a man named Oliver. Oliver served in the war, and somehow managed to gain access to an outrageous amount of money. He contacts a man called Mark, who ends up helping him to funnel the money. Mark lives in Riverlea, a city renowned for the poor and criminal, but Oliver, using the money that Mark is sending him, settles in Covedale, across the river, where the upper class lives. It seems a great setup, and to make things more interesting, Oliver gets entangled with the Riverlea underworld, because they want a share of the money Mark is transferring. He makes them a promise to keep them off his back -- for now.
Unfortunately, things take a turn as the author seems to become entangled between her own story lines and the purpose of the book she is writing. What follows is an increasingly mundane telling of Oliver's rise to become a renowned and powerful business leader. He takes an interest in a factory that he uses to provide clothing for the poor. A love interest comes along, and story lines pop up around his business partners that never really add any substantial weight to the plot. In fact, I'm still not entirely sure what the plot was supposed to be.
Page after page follows, but Oliver's motivation remains a mystery. Not an interesting mystery, but the kind you have to accept to not know, because the story doesn't make any effort to help. Where did all the money come from? It remains an open question that is not alluded to, until suddenly it is vaguely explained. Why is Oliver both a socialist and a killer? What was the promise he made? Answers are given, but they are too little and too late, and they don't connect and don't convince.
In the end I can't help but wonder, did I read a piece of fiction that failed to hit the mark, or a disguised manifesto? Maybe I didn't get it, but I can't recommend it.
April 6, 2022
In The Crimson River, we see the dystopian world created by Anderson through the eyes of the protagonist Oliver.
Oliver is recently returned from the world war. When he arrives at the Crimson River, he becomes entangled in the politics and lives of the residents of the two cities there.
Riverlea is full of downtrodden people, ruled by a Gang and struggling to survive on a daily basis. Most residents dream of saving enough money to flee to the other side of the river -- Covedale.
The elite live in Covedale, businessmen and politicians. They struggle only to find new fashion to one-up each other.
Anderson does a wonderful job of weaving the characters together in The Crimson River.
Through murder, romance and the many subplots of the story, I enjoyed accompanying Oliver through this tale.
I definitely look forward to the next installment of Sabanto.
Oliver is recently returned from the world war. When he arrives at the Crimson River, he becomes entangled in the politics and lives of the residents of the two cities there.
Riverlea is full of downtrodden people, ruled by a Gang and struggling to survive on a daily basis. Most residents dream of saving enough money to flee to the other side of the river -- Covedale.
The elite live in Covedale, businessmen and politicians. They struggle only to find new fashion to one-up each other.
Anderson does a wonderful job of weaving the characters together in The Crimson River.
Through murder, romance and the many subplots of the story, I enjoyed accompanying Oliver through this tale.
I definitely look forward to the next installment of Sabanto.
April 18, 2023
Excellent book for futuristic literature fans. Find out how society could evolve at the end of another protracted world war. Anderson’s imagination is in full gear with her first in what promises to be an interesting series of novels.
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