A review by anchovysaurus
Adrift in Currents Clean and Clear by Seanan McGuire

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

3.5

The commentary about disability, adoption, and US missionaries was intriguing and the highlight of this novella.

Belyrreka's an interesting world, but there are holes in the worldbuilding:
  • Except for the giant turtles, the citizens live similarly to people in our world, including making fires and baking under water. One could argue that this is simply whimsical and "magical", but that seems insufficient. I think it would've been better to fully embrace this water world. Even if the author created an underwater geyser as a source of heat, that could've made more sense than a fire. 
  • The fox warns Nadya that the river doesn't give gifts, only obligations. However, the river seemingly gives Nadya a
    water-based hand [thereby undoing the commentary about her being whole with her disability]
    and a
    sword
    , without any obligations. She does end up
    going back through the door soon after the sword gift
    , but that seems more like a consequence than an "obligation".

It also seems that the audiobook narrator isn't Russian; she's from the US and put on a Russian accent. This stood out to me because I think some of the Eastern European names may have been mispronounced ["Vasyl" in particular].