Common Sense Media Review
By Andrea Beach
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Exciting second book in sports-themed fantasy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
THE RIVER OF SAND finds Pretia, now 11, excited about returning to the elite sports academy Ecrof for her second year. This year the Junior Epic Games are being held, which only come along once every four years. Pretia is devastated when her parents forbid her to go back to Ecrof and try out for the Epic team because they're afraid of unrest in the host city. Rovi, who's also 11, is excited about the Epic games, too, because the host city is Phoenis, where he grew up, and he's looking forward to seeing his old friends there. Unbelievably, it's precisely his old gang the Star Stealers who are accused of causing all the trouble in Phoenis. In order to compete in the Games and free the unjustly imprisoned Star Stealers, Pretia and Rovi will be pushed to their limits. But can they break through those limits toward a better future for all of Epoca?
Is It Any Good?
This second installment of a sports-themed magical fantasy series continues the excitement while shifting its focus to letting your abilities shine and bringing equal access to sports for everyone. It's unfortunate that co-creator Kobe Bryant's tragic death means The River of Sand brings an abrupt end to a series that was planned to be much larger, but readers interested in where the story was headed can find some answers in the Afterword. There's less violence, but lots of excitement and suspense from characters in danger, and lots of dark, spooky atmospheres. Kids will relate to Pretia and Rovi as they start to envision a better future for everyone, and which they themselves can help bring about. It's also a good opportunity to talk to kids about the benefits of sports, and why it's important that everyone who wants to has the opportunity and access to playing organized sports.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The River of Sand shows Pretia and Rovi as role models. What are their character strengths? What are their weaknesses? Do you like them, or admire them?
Did you read Epoca: The Tree of Ecrof first? If you did, how does this one compare? Are there any big changes or differences between the two? If you didn't read it, would you like to now?
Why is it important for everyone to be able to try a sport if they want to? What are the benefits of playing sports? What are your favorites, or which ones would you like to try?
Book Details
- Authors :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Granity Studios
- Publication date : December 15, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 10 - 14
- Number of pages : 416
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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