Reviews of The River Keeper and Other Tales
(Updated April 07, 2025)

Illustrated by Andrea Alemanno

While each of these seven tales might be considered to be a fable, like all good fables, each addresses a theme relevant to our lives today. Themes of sacrificing of one's own life for the greater good, to the power of truth to break through hurtful intentions, to how wishing for things designed to help others can have disastrous results, to what an afterlife might be like and choices we might still have to make. This collection of tales introduces the reader to the imaginary Kingdom of Imlay, a world still filled magic, mythical creatures great and small, some good and some bad. Characters, both young and old, face making decisions which will affect those they hold dear. Original and thought-provoking, these stories will stimulate the intellect and engage the imagination.

Published by Subplot, an imprint of Amplify Publishing Group. The book was released on February 18, 2025.  Click here to view the Electronic Press Kit.

One can order the book on either Mascot Books or Amazon.

"A dreamy assortment of tales that contain kernels of worldly Truth." —KIRKUS REVIEWS, click here to read the entire review.

"Nancy Joie Wilkie's stories capture the simple language and romantic ethos of fables, and many of her tales could entertain children at bedtime.  Yet she has grounded her fantastical Kingdom of Imlay with very human lessons that will resonate with adults as well—tales about the power of love and goodness as well as the dangers of hubris and darker emotions.  In The River Keeper, she drew a spark from a Wake Forest Magazine story of a magical day on the Yadkin River with its former keeper, Brian Fannon, a man she rightly perceived as well-suited to magic and inspiration." —CAROL HANNER, Managing Editor, Wake Forest Magazine

Click here to read the FIVE-STAR Book Review by Readers' Favorite. —READERS' FAVORITE

"The River Keeper and Other Tales is a fantasy short story collection set in the Kingdom of Imlay.  The book contains seven stories exploring well known but profound themes explored through a magical narrative.  The collection offers original tales that feel familiar but still manage to engage the imagination (with lovely sketches sprinkled throughout).  Each story guides characters through making difficult choices, sacrifice, telling the truth, the consequences of our actions, pure love. and using magic to help others. "The stories all have a magical quality that blends fantastical elements with moral lessons, creating a timeless fairy tale feel that you won’t want to miss!  This is a great option for a short story to read with children of any age before bed." "Story Highlights: "Set in the imaginary Kingdom of Imlay; features characters like the inquisitive child Ya, an ambitious king, and a mischievous dog; and explores themes of personal sacrifice and moral decision-making." —ANDREA EDE, NetGalley Reviewer

"I really enjoyed each story in the book.  I was able to read it within one sitting.  Loved each short story and was transported into each story with every page." —EMMA JOHNSTON, NetGalley Reviewer

"The River Keeper and Other Tales by Nancy Joie Wilkie is an enjoyable collection of seven stories set in an imaginary land.  Each story has a different set of characters trying to overcome obstacles.  The stories are written in the style of tales from my childhood.  Not every one has a happy ending but they are all intriguing." —BECKY ABBOTT, Librarian and NetGalley Reviewer

"I thought this book was cute.  Well written and no grammatical errors or typos.  The storyline was unique.  I think this would be a good fit for YA." —MEEGAN STEWART, NetGalley Reviewer

"A collection of short stories with fable/fairy tale qualities.  In each story the characters had to overcome emotional challenges, which was intriguing.  I also enjoyed the fantasy elements woven throughout ..." —ZUZANNA, NetGalley Reviewer

️ ●   Tale 01—"The River Keeper" The tale of a girl whose love for nature has the ability to save her friends and family.  This story was beautiful and wholesome.  I loved the ending. ●   Tale 02—"The Morning Song" This is a story of compassion, forgiveness, and coming together for one another.  Another lovely ending. ●   Tale 03—"A Dream For A Dream" Wow, this story was right up my alley!  Very dystopian, children live in their own community, adults live in their own community.  Each does not have a recollection of the other (their child, parent, sibling).  This was a great story with a great ending. ●   Tale 04—"Aurora’s Ring" This was much like The Hobbit and I absolutely loved it!!  Dragons, adventure, action, what’s not to love? ●   Tale 05—"The Pit Of Truth" This was not at all what I was expecting but not in a bad way!  The ending had me so confused and shocked. ●   Tale 06—"The Day After Tomorrow" A great tale of why you should be careful what you wish for. ●   Tale 07—"The Innkeeper" Although this was not my favorite story, it was thought provoking. ●   Overall— All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!  It has BEAUTIFUL illustrations for each story.  It had a little bit of everything; great sci-fi, fantasy, action, love and maybe an adventure with a fire breathing dragon." —KAILEIGH SHIELDS, NetGalley Reviewer

"The River Keeper and Other Tales is a sprawling, modern take on the fables and stories we loved as children.  The writing is simple and digestible, while the themes and lessons are applicable to readers of all ages and walks of life.  The characters are charming and the world of Imlay is imaginative and magical. "As a teacher, I found myself brainstorming ways to use these stories to teach topics such as ethics, coming of age, and theme.  It would be a welcome addition to any English classroom. "Overall, this book was a charming, innovative take on the fable and I thoroughly enjoyed it." —HOLLAND.READS, Instagram Reviewer

"This is a book of short stories that all take place in the world of Imlay, where we see stories from seven different points of view.  First we start with The River Keeper, which gives us a first look at the world where a giant river makes its way across it.  The river is sick though, as Ya, a young girl in a village on the river finds out.  Her mother and a few others from the village go in search of the fabled River Keeper, but Ya heads out after them, knowing in her gut that something is going to go wrong. "The seven stories were quick to read, and some of them where quite engaging.  I can't say I was in love with all of them, but they were certainly unique.  There is one story where a dog plots to take away a farmer's farm, a story where a King can see two days in the future, a story where an evil witch takes children and adults away from each other and makes them forget.  All told, I thought that The River Keeper and Other Tales was a great afternoon of reading." —KRISTIN, GoodReads.com Reviewer

"The River Keeper and Other Tales was such a cozy, enjoyable read.  I have found myself really liking collections of short stories, and this book has a great collection of tales touched by a bit of magic.  This is definitely a book people should read together and the stories would be enhanced by being read aloud. "Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC!" —VERYA, GoodReads.com Reviewer

"Overall I have really enjoyed this collection of tales taking place in the fictional world of Imlay and I couldn’t help but get sucked into this world and all that was happening within it.  These tales will certainly stay with me a long time and I look forward to reading them again." —THE STRAWBERRY POST BLOG

"I thought that The River Keeper and Other Tales was a great afternoon of reading.  The world was interesting, with its different kinds of magic, talking animals, powerful rings, and costly spells.  I had 4/5 stars of fun with this collection of stories!" — SuperStarDrifter Blog" —SUPERSTARDRIFTER BLOG