I enjoyed reading River of Spirits. Senka is a fun main character and Charon is wonderfully grumpy and loveable as well. The tone was surprisingly light for a book about dying, and I really appreciated the humorous touches, like patterned pajamas and comfortable footwear. While Senka and Poppy's journey seems more accidentally successful, rather than a brave adventure, I find that more believable than two young children surviving in such a dangerous place. Each character met on their journey is interesting and fun. The mystery of Senka's past strikes a good balance between no foreshadowing at all and giving everything away on page one. The narrative is steeped in enough Greek myth to satisfy young Helenophiles, but includes enough obscure references and new additions to keep them interested.

With a familiar flair for danger and adventure like Percy Jackson and the Kane Chronicles, Underwild brings its own unique voice and tenacity to the world of Middle Grade Fantasy. Who would have thought that the after-life could hold a story of such intensity and hope.

A young girl who lives in the realm of the Dead dreams about becoming a ferrier for the underworld just like her guardian, Charon, the official ferryer, but her life is turned upside down when a living girl comes into the underworld in search of her brother and now they have to work together to travel throughout the Realm of the dead and possible discover many secrets. Senka is a young girl who is the ward of Charon, the official Ferryer of the Underworld. She yearns to become a ferryer herself and has been following all the rules Charon set. Yet when a living girl called Poppy arrives pleading for help in search of the ghost of her brother, Senka finds herself helping her. Senka and Poppy get lost in the undeworld and encounter quirky ghosts, terrifying dragon chimera, and other gods with their own agendas as Senka also unravels secrets about her own past and how she came into Charon's care that might change her entire life. I think this would make a fantastic read for middlegraders who want a bit of a Greek mythology/adventure read. It's sweet, it focuses on friendship, grief, and family. It's overall a nice read and I am curious how the rest of the series will go!

Release Date: March 25, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing | Aladdin for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

A fun take on Greek mythos with a focus on the underworld. It doesn't focus on big names like Hades himself but on smaller figures and the the rivers and I really enjoyed this. Reminiscent of Percy Jackson as a good book for middle grade kids to get a taste of what the myths have to offer.
I see that its set as book one of a series and am extremely curious to see if these characters continue on in the sequel somehow or if its more like various tales of the Underwild since this could be a nice standalone as it sits now. Hopefully any future installments keep having beautiful covers like this one has as well.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the Arc!

Absolutely loved this book! It was difficult to put it down once I got to reading it. There's a lot of life lesson, Greek Mythology, and details that make the reader drawn in. It was such a fun read and I'm exited to recommend this to other people!

I love how this book is full of Greek mythology. I also like how it is about the daughter of Charon! The story is very fast-paced, but it was also deep and emotional! It is filled with many life lessons about loss. Therefore, I recommend this for fans of Greek Mythology! I also recommend it for fans of Roshani Chokshi, Elizabeth Lim, and Liz Braswell!

This is a wonderful adventure. The world building was well done and worked the Greek Mythology into the story in a very organic way. The characters were well written though I did find Senka to be a bit passive at times. This was well balanced by Poppy's determination though and together the girls blooming friendship really drove the story well. The book also does a thoughtful job of addressing grief and memory throughout the story. All around this is well thought out and captivating book.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

River of Spirits by Shana Targosz is a first person-POV Middle Grade fantasy reimagining of the River Styx and the ferryman, or ferrymen in this case. Senka was created to be Charon’s assistant, but he hasn’t given her the responsibilities of ferrying souls to their Under-After. When Senka is finally given a chance to start, she meets Poppy, a young girl looking for her younger brother and wants to bring him back to the world of the living.

The cover is stunning. The use of multiple shades of purple creates depth while the golden color of the twilight butterflies adds a contrast to how very purple the cover is. The boat and Senka herself are incredibly detailed and I love the dynamic pose as Senka’s cloak billows behind her. It tells a story and immediately conveys what a reader can expect while also adding little details that are going to make more sense after reading the book. This is the kind of cover I love and I want more of them.

I’m very familiar with Greek mythology and can be picky with reimaginings and retellings. What I really liked about this one was that it recognized that the mythology exists in this world and introduced readers to some lesser known figures, such as Melinoë, as well as the more famous ones, like Charon and Prometheus. Orpheus and Eurydice are mentioned and parallels are drawn to them and Poppy’s search for her brother but they’re not shown as their story took place long before Senka existed and Hades and Persephone are given brief shoutouts but don’t play a part at all. Shana Targosz doesn’t comment on the state of their marriage or how it came about, which I think is the smarter choice because there are two wildly different camps on their relationship and this book is not a romance nor does it really have the space to explore the possible nuances while doing all the other things it wanted to do and did well.

There are some very complicated topics explored here for the younger MG readership. Poppy’s younger brother, Joey, passed away from an illness that led his family to moving and Poppy being homeschooled for the sake of his care. Losing a family member is always hard, but when you yourself haven’t had a ton of chances to live and so much of your life revolves around someone you love and suddenly they’re gone, what do you do? Even if you knew it was coming, can you move on? Poppy is struggling and wants her brother back, which I think anyone could relate to, not just young people in her situation.

I would recommend this to young readers who like Greek mythology, fans of Middle Grade fantasy that put a new spin on traditional stories and ideas, and those looking for a book for young readers exploring grief and death

I’m giving 4 stars because it’s a cute and entertaining middle grade story that explores Greek mythology! When reading stories meant for younger audiences i definitely try to imagine how my younger self would have enjoyed this book and i think i would have! One of the only issues i had with it was the over usage of parentheses to give extra information and thoughts.

I was so lucky to get approved for an ARC through NetGalley for this book! I have always been interested in Greek Mythology and this book wnt about incorporating it in such an interesting and accessible way (for me and) for kids! I love the father/daughter relationship between Charon and Senka. Their relationship as well as Senka's relationship with her first real friend, Poppy, had me in tears several times. I cannot recommend this book enough!

This book is perfect for fans of Rick Riordan. I have read many fantasy series about greek mythology but this one takes a new twist by having the main character be the daughter of the ferryman Charon. Charon is a figure from greek mythology that is traditionally more of a side character in fantasy books so it's nice to see him getting a bit more of the spotlight here. Being in the underworld the land of the dead the story easly and seamlessly introduces us to many other figures from greek mythology. The two main characters were enjoyable. The story being about grief and how it was handled was really well done, we need more books like this for middle grade audiences. The only other fantasy story I can think of that handled these topic this well while still being fun to read was Rick Riordan's The Sun and the Star, which if you liked that book you will also love this one. I am looking forward to seeing where this series goes!

It was a beautiful tale of overcoming and coming to terms with grief and loss, but also a tale of friendship and hope. Senka and Poppy are two brave girls and I enjoyed reading their adventure in the underworld, along with Em and Charon (ALL MY LOVE) and Mortimer and Mags. It was beautifully written and I really liked it!

This was my most anticipated read of 2025 and it did not disappoint! Readers who enjoy fantasy, myth, adventure, and relatable characters with depth and complexity will fall in love with Senka's story, just as I did. Themes of love and loss are threaded throughout Senka's journey that thrills and delights at every turn. This is a beautiful story that will touch you and leave its mark for a very long time.

The beautiful cover is what sold me on reading this one. I found it to be a wild, chaotic romp through the Underworld during which I enjoyed seeing the Senka and Poppy's friendship develop. It was an interesting take on Greek mythology. Unfortunately, the plot was a bit too disjointed and trying too hard to hit the same tone as Percy Jackson. That said, young Percy Jackson fans will probably love this.

Look. This book is incredible. I laughed. I cried. And now I am so sad I don’t have the next book to dive into. While it won’t be for everyone, I know there are kids out there who will see themselves in one or many of the characters, especially Senka. I am so grateful to have gotten a copy of this from the publisher. I can’t wait to get this in my library.