Book Review #55: Struggling with the Current by A.R.K. Horton

Hello Dear Reader!

I got one more book review before the end of the year. Before I start this review, I will say that it covers a lot of mature topics while also managing to keep its age rating to young adult, such as sexual assault/harassment, trauma, and physical and emotional abuse among others. So, if you’re someone who doesn’t prefer reading books with these topics, even when toned down to suit the age rating, you may want to skip over this one. Still, I highly recommend the read because while dark, it’s also very empowering.

ANYWAY! This book review is on another indie read, titled Struggling with the Current by A.R.K. Horton. I actually met her during a book event, and I got the wonderful opportunity to buy this book directly from her! It’s a YA fantasy book that focuses on uncomfortable but very important topics and places a great deal of emphasis on empowerment and collaboration between women to hold each other up and keep going through tough times. Before I get deeper into that, here's the back-cover summary (from her website):

Princess Eya’s life changes forever with the discovery of the Statue of the Goddess Winds, just as she’s coming of age. The long-overlooked kingdom of Hicares finds itself in a war it isn’t prepared for against the far more powerful empire of Pescel. To survive, Eya must flee her home, losing everything and everyone she loves in the process.

Yet, by leaving behind all she’s ever known, she learns that her sheltered life didn’t prepare her for the real world’s strange and frightening nature. She encounters people, places, and creatures beyond anything she ever imagined, along with sinister enemies from every direction. Perhaps her most surprising revelation is that she is developing terrifying powers of her own. Will Eya be able to find happiness in her new life, or will she continue struggling with the current?

Now, on to the review!

Struggling with the Current follows the story of the strong-willed Princess Eya as tragedy falls upon her country and family as the result of the selfish actions of the most toxic villain I’d ever come across, Regent Farek.  As she makes her way across Telverin to keep herself safe and learn how to survive, she learns more about the lore behind the Statue of the Goddess Winds and her role in an old foretold prophecy.

At 17-years-old, Eya is a disciplined and mature young lady due to her strict lifestyle as princess of Hicares. Under the perfect picture of daintiness is a fiery spirit and the longing of living a life beyond her duties as princess. Unfortunately, Eya gets this and more when Farek invades her little kingdom and she escapes, not wanting to live a life as a prisoner. Despite all the horrific things she goes through, Eya keeps her head held high through it all and perseveres, staying strong for herself and for others. She never fails to show kindness towards those in need, and I found it very admirable, especially for someone going through big life changes.

Surrounding Eya is a great cast of well-developed characters, including her wonderfully different and loving brothers, the amazingly strong and humble Lady Immelda Pleffort, the absolutely abhorrent Brilsen Rabrith, the intelligent and mellow scholar-turned-soldier Daijah, and one of the most toxic fictional characters I’ve ever run into, Regent Farek. And I seriously mean toxic, because good god, that man is the embodiment of an abusive manipulator, and I both love and hate it that he represents this kind of person so well.

These characters reside in the massive, wonderful world of Telverin, a realm with countries that are all bordered by oceans. The different countries are as diverse the characters residing in them. From the awful egg-smelling factories of Serenchea to the lovely seashores and gardens of Pescel, the descriptions and scenery of these kingdoms were really well-done and made me feel as if I was going on Eya’s journey along with her.

There are a lot of mature themes covered in Struggling with the Current, such as the ones I’ve mentioned previous, and I really like how they were written and addressed in a way that made it appropriate for teenagers to consume. It’s a great book to bring awareness to such heavy topics, since I feel it accurately depicts acts of toxic manipulation, sexual assault, and trauma among other things despite being set in a fantasy world.

I also love how all the characters, even Eya, are not depicted as completely good. These characters are very human and think and act in a way that makes them feel as such. Temptations exist, and you see these characters give into it. There are times when they stray off their normal compass for a bit to then get back on it, which I think is something people in real life do from time to time. All of Horton’s characters were vey believable, and they’re easily my favorite part of this book. Not to mention watching Eya grow into her own person after living a sheltered life as princess was a rollercoaster ride to read. She goes through a lot, and she comes out stronger in the end, and it was amazing seeing her grow from princess to skilled warrior.

So, Struggling with the Current rating:

5/5 and highly recommend if you like books that focus on empowerment and collaboration between women. I will say, if any of the above topics make you feel uncomfortable or are a trigger for you, you may want to stay away or be aware in case you choose to read it, as they come up rather frequently within this book.

Thanks for reading!