3.5 STARS

Called home for the first time in ten years, Bard Jack Tamerlaine returns to the mystical and magical isle of Cadence. Jack left as a young boy to be schooled in music on the mainland which, unlike his homeland, has no special enchantments. Jack’s leaving was not without a lot of sadness and heartbreak so returning home for him is filled with complex emotions. The reason Jack is summoned by the Laird is that young girls have gone missing on the island. His clan is in need of a bard who can summon with music the capricious spirits of fire, water, air, and earth who rule this fairy-tale place. The spirits help, hinder, or harm depending on their whims over the inhabitants, and how those peoples behave especially since two warring clans occupy Cadence.

Adaira Tamerlaine, who is the heiress of East Cadence, grew up with Jack until he left; they were always in competition trying to outdo each other. Now as adults, Adaira desperately needs Jack's help to find out where the lost girls are and deal with overtures from the other clan, the Breccans, for a possible peace and trade between their two factions. Private conversations are hard to keep secret on Cadence as the words are carried on the wind. Several other magical elements play important roles in the island enchantments; they also function to reveal sinister plots and dark secrets which threaten harm to all the inhabitants on both sides of the dividing line.

This story has a lot to recommend for it for YA fantasy readers especially those who enjoy a fairy-tale version of a Scottish island and its creative mythology, rivaling clans, dark and light magic as well as some romance. First in the Cadence series, while this tale is enjoyable for the most part, the pacing was a more than a bit slow. This book ends on what I consider a cliffhanger of which I am not a fan. It does not detract from the quality of the writing although as noted, the story does drag in places and certain elements are of the plot are predictable.

I am furious with Rebecca Ross. Yet I am also enchanted by this story. It was wonderful in all its pages and though it did not offer a gratifying ending, I could read it over and over again without tire. Rebecca Ross is brilliant with her words and I expect great things from the second book.

Thank you so much to Harper Voyaged for sending me a copy of this amazing story in exchange for an honest review!

First and foremost, I think it should be noted that I will literally read anything Rebecca Ross writes. I’ve read all of her young adult work so naturally I had to request this immediately and I’m so happy I did.

this story is definitely a slow burn, set in the Scottish highlands we meet Jack who is called home due to reports of girls going missing from his home and is called back to help investigate.

This story felt so cozy and magical and definitely the perfect thing to read during fall, I couldn’t put it down and I’m a sucker for enemies to lovers which this story definitely has! I can’t wait for my finished copy to come! Please go read this!

Oh, this beautiful book! I'm so grateful that NetGalley allowed me to read an advanced copy. I have grown very attached to Rebecca as an author. Her writing is exactly what I'd mentally design for any book I'd want to read, alluring and thoughtful and magical. I loved the slow build and effortless whimsy of this story. Mysterious and powerful spirits, both troublesome and noble; two warring clans on a very enchanted Isle; music and romance and secrets. I absolutely loved the Scottish influences and the weird and delightful ways the isle and its people lived. Names on the wind, secrets woven in plaid. This book will stay with me for a while, I really sank heavily into it.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

5/5 stars

Wow did I enjoy this book!! The writing and world building was beautiful. The love stories that were weaved through the book was well done. The initial mystery and story kept me glued. I can’t wait for book 2!

Jack and Adaira’s love story was beautifully written. You could really feel their emotions and it felt like I watched them fall in love. I loved how they challenged each other and grew to trust each other.

Sidra and Torin were an unexpected story line that I really enjoyed. I enjoyed reading how they met and overall getting to know them. They played an important part to the plot so I was glad I got to know them better.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the actual story telling. Learning about the folk and hearing how the isle work was so fascinating. I loved seeing the different aspects of the isle and learning it’s secrets.

Overall this was one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. The story telling and magic that was weaved was beautiful. I am excited to see where the rest of the story goes!

Thank you to Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross is a brand-new adult fantasy from the author of The Queen's Rising and Dreams Lie Beneath. The story reminded me of the world of Game of Thrones meets the mystery of Samantha Cohoe's Bright Ruined Things. The story revolves around Jack, a bard, and Sidra, an herbalist. They live in Cadence, an enchanted island with plenty of magic and curses to go around. Jack is returning to Cadence after 10 years because his father has summoned him. But why has he been summoned after all this time? Who will he meet once he's back on the island? And why are young girls disappearing from Cadence?

Here is an atmospheric excerpt from Chapter 1, which follows Jack's character:

“Very well. For two Cadence dirks, I will carry you across the water tonight. Meet me by my boat in a few minutes. It’s that one, in the berth on the far right.”
Jack glanced over his shoulder to look at the darkened quay. Weak moonlight gleamed on the hulls and masts, and he found the fisherman’s boat, a modest vessel that had once been his father’s. The very boat that had originally carried Jack in his first crossing.
...
He lifted his eyes to the darkness. There was a wavering trail of celestial light on the ocean, the silver path the fisherman needed to follow to reach Cadence. A sickle moon hung in the sky like a smile, surrounded by freckles of stars. It would have been ideal if the moon was full, but Jack couldn’t afford to wait for it to wax.
He didn’t know why his laird had summoned him home, but he sensed it wasn’t for a joyous reunion."

Overall, A River Enchanted is a beautifully-written adult fantasy that will appeal to fans of Circe by Madeleine Miller. One highlight of this book is the wonderful, magical world that the author transports us to. From the beginning of the book, I felt drawn into the enchanting world of Cadence, and I wanted to stay there for a long time. I did take off 1 star, because the old-style dialogue was perfect, but it got tiring after a while. I also wish that there had been a bit more action, although I realize that the author wanted to focus more on the characters and the relationships between characters. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of fantasy books, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in February!

I wanted to love this book. Scottish mythology, a magical island, rival clans and missing girls… sounded like my jam. And I really loved Sisters of Sword and Song, and am excited for Dreams Lie Beneath. But I’m afraid this one was a miss for me.

The number one issue I had was the pace. This story was so, so slow. I don’t know if it was because this is adult rather than YA, but the first 50% was a LOT of info-dumping and meandering around the island, and it only marginally picked up from there. Awkwardly, the spirits/mythology element, while cool, didn’t add anything to the actual plot—this could have been a historical fiction piece just fine. And I confess, I couldn’t connect with any of the characters. The ending had great potential—I really liked where she was going—and then it was a complete reversal of what I was starting to love about the book. Maybe she’ll address it in the second book, but honestly—I wasn’t drawn in enough by the first to read the next.

If you like slow-burn stories and Scottish mythology, maybe this is for you! But sadly, it wasn’t for me. I still appreciate Rebecca Ross’s writing, and will absolutely still read her books, particularly her YA stories.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

-A

Thank you Avon/Harper Voyager and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review,

I’ll be honest I didn’t know exactly what to expect when I first started this book. But wow this was a captivating beautiful story. I absolutely loved the prose. The story is filled with magic and folklore. The story does start off a little “slow” but it’s a lot of world building and learning about the spirits and magic systems. I felt that it was done well and helped build more relatable characters. After the 50% point in the story I couldn’t stop reading and finished this in one sitting. I loved the mystery surrounding the missing girls. I could tell the mystery ran deeper and I adored how it connected all of the main characters. The slow burn enemies to lovers was just beautiful. I loved the side romances that were present too. I definitely need the next book and I think describing this story as a mix of House of Earth and Blood and The Witch’s Heart was a perfect description but it’s definitely it’s own beautiful story and I highly recommend this book.

A River Enchanted captivated me in a way that a book hasn’t in quite a long time. For one, this is probably the first story told from multiple POV that I’ve ever loved. Each voiced enriched the narrative, telling a much more in-depth and emotional tale than if we had stayed in Jack’s head the entire time (I love that grumpy bard, but the book was so much better because we also get to experience first-hand Frae’s childlike wonder, Adaira’s fierce leadership, Torin’s strength and turmoil, and Sidra’s spirited healing of herself and others).
The book also had an unexpected depth in regard to the plot. While the main idea can be surmised in a few words (childhood enemies reunite to search for missing isle girls), Ross does a lovely job of crafting the plot in such a way that no given chapter felt like a lull. The reader is constantly pushed forward with the characters into the mystery. And while the book is wrapped up nicely by the story’s end, there’s a healthy amount of content to drive the reader’s interest and desire for the next installation.
Overall, I would highly recommend picking up a copy of A River Enchanted. I’m already more than ready for the second installment of the Elements of Cadence series to release.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Alrighty! This was... fine. I picked up this book because it had a lot for me to be excited about (aka mystery on a magical fantasy/folklore island), but it fell flat for me. It's a quiet, cozy, mystical read, and I think it might have some crossover appeal with Juliet Marillier fans.

Things I enjoyed:
- Sidra, I thought she was a great character and I liked her chapters, as well as the relationship between her and Torin.
- It was atmospheric in a cool way, and I liked how the isle felt like a character itself.
- Folklore! I'm a big fan of anything folklore/mythology inspired.

Quibbles:
- Characters largely felt dry and bland. Even though we were in their heads the whole time, I never felt like I truly got to know them, particularly with Jack and Adaira (which was frustrating since they're the main characters.)
- Some major plot points felt really shaky.
- The dialogue was incredibly formal, and felt stilted much of the time.
- The mystery wasn't engaging for me.

So, not the book for me, but maybe the book for you if you're looking for some quiet, Scottish-inspired folklore fantasy.

I don’t even know where to begin with this review because this book had so many elements (no pun intended 😉) that were just perfect in every way and also broke me into tears. It’s a book I know I will remember and one that I need the sequel ASAP!

The book starts out with a young man named Jack being summoned home back to an isle off of the mainland. He has been studying as a bard and is well on his way to being a professor at the university one day. There has been young girls going missing and since the isle is divided between two clans that have a long ongoing feud, Jack is swept back into it all by his childhood rival. Although the book starts off with his point-of-view, the book is told through the eyes of many.

The point-of-views are not separated by chapters but it was easy to understand the switch as there was a break in the text. Life on the isle is different for everyone, including those that remain on the same side and in the same clan. I liked learning more about Sidra, Torin, Adaira, and even the worries of young Frae. Each of these characters, including Jack, are going through something deeper than what is at surface level for those around them to see as well. It brought layers and depth to them which in tern brought their characters to life and made them feel human.

I wouldn’t be able to pick a favorite as each one spoke to me in a different way but Jacks or Sidra definitely take the lead in some ways. The book introduces other characters as well and some we don’t get as much time with as they are introduced later in the book. Since this is going to have a sequel, I am sure I will learn more about the ones I am interested to know more about. After certain plot twists/reveals it’s hard not to want to know more about a select few!

The plot is filled with secrets, marriage, faith, elemental spirits, feuds, and wanting to belong. There is so much packed into this book that it’s hard not to find more than one thing to love about it. It can be a bit slow paced but I enjoyed the journey and learning about their way of life as well as the lore behind the folk.

When it comes to romance, there is an older couple who is learning more about their relationship and the love they have never openly spoken about and a newer couple who is learning what it truly means to love. They both wrecked me and just writing this makes me sad all over again. The newer couple is a fantastic slow burn and I couldn’t help but hold out hope for them.

Overall, this is a beautifully written book and one that I truly adored. I feel like even though I wrote a longer review, there isn’t enough words to describe this book and it’s just one I’m going to shout about forever. So, do yourself a favor and add this to your tbr!

This was a delicious, lyrical tale. Moving themes, relatable characters, and a rich, enchanting world had me breathlessly turning page after page.

I highly recommend this story for lovers of classical prose, eerie settings, and a magical experience you won't soon forget.

NA count me in. This was pretty good. The pacing was way too slow for my liking. I caught myself skimming or forgetting what I read a few times and having to go back. But over all the book as a whole was good. I would recommend to a friend with the knowledge that it's a little slow in parts. Looking forward to the other book in this series. 3.5 rounded to 4⭐

*4.5 star rating

Wow! This was my first read of Ross', and I can say that was was very impressed! I know this is her first time delving into the adult fantasy area, since her other published works have all been in the YA genre, but I can imagine I would enjoy those as well after being sent this one for review!

A River Enchanted is very whimsical. It reminded me of Stephanie Garber's writing, whom of which I've always enjoyed. This tale follows a number of POVs, (Jack, Adaira, Frae, Sidra, and Torin). Though the beginning is a smidge slow from the world building and set up of the plot, I found that I quite enjoyed the ride. Our two "MCs", Jack and Adaira are made to team up--no matter their dislike for one another since childhood--to figure out why young girls are going missing. A larger plot line involves both the East and the West and their old discourse that has been going on for years.

Overall, I would say if you are new to adult fantasy (like myself, who is still relatively new), DEFINITELY give this one a shot! I'm greatly looking forward to the other installments in this series. Hopefully this will be *soon* given that Goodreads has it on a series link.

Well. Now all there is for me to do is wait until the finished copy is published so I can buy one and reread it!

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Netgalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for allowing me to read and review this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 stars

I really loved so many parts of this book. It's filled with incredibly beautiful imagery, and one word that I would use to describe it would be "atmospheric", which made it the perfect cozy, early fall read. The magical/fantasy elements were so creative! How the author described the spirits of the earth seriously gave me chills. I will be thinking about that particular scene for a long time. Also, I did not at all see the main "twist" coming, so that was fun!

While I wanted to completely love this book (and I really did love so much of it), I found the pacing to be way too slow to keep my interest throughout the book. I often found myself skimming at times. The main scenes of conflict never seemed to be high-stakes enough to really keep me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what was going to happen, so when the book ended, I didn't really feel much one way or another.

All-in-all, this was an enjoyable read for me, and I would definitely recommend it. Looking forward to the rest of the installments in the series!

Thank you Netgalley and Avon/Harper Voyager for allowing me to read and review this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A River Enchanted is about two childhood enemies who later have to team-up to find out why young girls are being taken/disappearing. Jack has been away from home since he was sent away to the mainlands at the age of eleven. He returns to Cadence in his twenties with a letter from the Laird (King) asking for Jack's help. Jack then finds out it wasn't the Laird who contacted him but his childhood nemesis Heiress Adaira. Adaira asks Jack to become the Bard of the East to help use his musical abilities, to speak with the spirits, to find out why the clan is missing young girls and who is stealing them from home.

We get a couple of different POVs: Jack, Adaira, Torin (Captain of the Guard and of the East line), his wife Sidra (a healer), and Frae (Jack's younger sister, who he doesn't know about until he returned home). Not only are they all dealing with the threat behind the takings, the East and the West have been at each other's throats for hundreds of years. Adaira tries to negotiate peace/trades with them, and find out if the West is involved.

After reading Rebecca Ross's other works: The Queen's Rising duology and Sisters of Sword and Song, this book has been on my highly anticipated list as soon as it was announced. Same with her new YA release coming in December: Dreams Lie Beneath (which I'm getting through Litjoy Crate and Bookish Box).

Keeping in mind this is Ross's first Adult Fantasy with Scottish folklore mixed in, this book did not disappoint. I've always been a fan of Rebecca Ross's whimsical writing, character development, and world building. A River Enchanted reaches my expectations and also surpasses them as well.

The ONLY nitpick I have is the pacing is very slow (in the beginning) due to the world building and character development needed to tell this enchanting and magical story. There are three "Parts" to the story and the first part is filled with information you need, to get through the story. Once the first Part reaches it's end is when the story picks up the pace while still developing it's characters.

The characters are complex and never blend with each other's POV. I hope Rebecca Ross will be able to use this technique in her YA selection as well. I was never bored with any of the POVs and enjoyed each one's tale.

I do adore the book and am looking forward to read it's sequel. I'm unsure if this is a duology or a series but I am ready for book two and would love to know more about what happens next.

4.5 stars