“A River Enchanted” by Rebecca Ross is a fantasy novel with strong fairytale vibes. The isle’s lore and culture, think Scottish lore, enchanted me. Ross weaves the spirits and their mythology into the story as it unfolds, allowing the reader to piece everything together.

A river divides the Isle of Cadence, but the division goes deeper than water. The river separates the two clans, who hate each other because of a long-standing feud. In the past, the spirits divided the magic unequally between the clans. I suspect the series is going to deal with this issue. Add the elemental spirits, who are capricious, speak in riddles, and interfere in relations between the clans, to the mix and a reader can expect serious problems.

Jack, a young bard who left Cadence years ago, returns when the leader of his clan sends him a summons. He returns to discover he has a sister he didn’t know about, and someone is kidnapping young girls. He stays to help find the girls and stop the kidnapper.

At its heart, this story is about family, relationships, and romance. The story is told from multiple points of view. Jack, the bard, whose music can summon the spirits; Adaira, the Heiress of the East, who didn’t get along with Jack when they were children; Torin, the captain of the guards, and Sidra, Torin’s wife, are the main point of view characters.

What I liked:

The fairytale style of the story. This book could have started with “Once upon a time…” and I would have been happy to follow Jack and the other characters on their adventures.

I love stories about characters, relationships, and family dynamics. “A River Enchanted” digs deep into these relationships. This is the greatest strength of this story.

The lore intrigued me. An example: the wind hears what people say, and people can call each other by speaking aloud, but on the flip side, anything spoke where the wind can hear becomes public knowledge. If a character wants to say something private to another character, they have to get inside, make sure the windows aren’t open, and speak to each other.

What I wasn’t crazy about:

The romance: while other relationships developed at a realistic rate, the romance happened too fast and seemed superficial.

Slow paced: this didn’t bother me; I enjoy well-written books that focus on character. However, readers who want action and a plot that moves along at a faster pace beware.

Recommendation:

Go into the story knowing it’s slow paced and focused on characters and relationships. It takes awhile before the characters solve the mystery, and we get some of our questions answered.

I want to thank NetGalley and Harper Voyager for an ARC copy of “A River Enchanted.”

A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross is a charming, atmospheric book steeped in myth and lore. The prose is lyrical, and I was thoroughly engaged with the story, wanting to know what would happen next. Ross creates characters that you quickly grow to care about deeply. I highly recommend this beautiful book! I look forward with eager anticipation to the next book of the Elements of Cadence series.

Thank you so much for an opportunity to read this book! I fine from time to time an enchanted fantasy is exactly what the book reading vibes are sending me and this book did not disappoint.
This was an entrancing lyrical tale with thematic movement, relatable characters, and a rich, world building that left me wanting more after each page. It did take a while to get invested in the narrative, but I think this is always true for fantasy tales and particularly those that intend to become a series. I'll definitely be picking up the next book when it comes out.

An utterly enchanting read! This is Rebecca Ross’ first adult novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have read her The Queen’s Rising duology and loved those books as well. Her writing draws me in. Even though this is an adult novel, I would say readers of YA can enjoy this book. There are no lengthy and detailed sex scenes or disturbing violence. I don’t read a lot of adult fantasy books but I can say I didn’t need either of those things for me to enjoy this book.

Jack Tamerlaine, after years of being away, returns to his childhood home, the isle of Cadence. Jack wishes to return quickly to the Mainland and continue his teachings in music, but his clan needs his help in finding their missing girls. This brings Jack face to face with his childhood nemesis, Adaira. There is so much more than just two enemies working together but spirits of the isle, feud between the two clans, complicated relationships and mysteries to unravel.

I freaking loved the characters. Everyone seems so reasonable. The characters are so lovable because they are flawed and have issues to resolve, while having each other’s backs. We have perspectives for several characters but it never felt jarring or disjointed. Jack is a little grumpy pants who really doesn’t want to be there but knows they need his help as a bard to call the spirits. Adaira and him have a enemies to lovers type of dynamic but they overcome their past rivalry and work together because they care more about finding the girls as oppose to any prior pettiness. Really loved Jack and Adaira separately and working together. Torin, Captain of the Guard, has a lot on his plate but I love how slowly him and his wife, Sidra, work on their marriage. It isn’t easy sharing your burdens but they find a way to make it work.

The world-building is riveting and magical. Secrets are woven into plaids strong as armor, blades held enchantments and gossip can be carried through the wind. I love how there was history explained about the feuding clans and the isle. The world-building was amazing and rich but not so overly complicated that you wouldn’t be able to follow.

This book had a wonderful blend of romance, action, high stakes, mysteries, complex and realistic characters, enchanting setting and lyrical writing. I’m about to pre-order the next book because I can’t wait to find out what happens next!

*Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you to Rebecca ROSS and Avon and Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A River Enchanted is one of the most aesthetic books I’ve ever read. I wanted to read this book on my porch listening to rain while drinking a hot cup of tea.

We follow Jack, a bard who returns to his home island of Cadence upon receiving a note that takes him away from his studies. Through the perspectives of three other characters, we learn girls have gone missing on the island, and Jack with his music, may be the only one able to connect with the spirits of the island to figure out what is happening.

I loved the cast of characters we meet in this book. Each one is fleshed out beautifully and I found myself connecting with each one for different reasons. The author does a wonderful job of establishing each character and their backstory, so that each decision that the characters made felt like a valid choice.

Not to mention the atmosphere flowed beautifully into these characters lives. I found myself getting wrapped up in the setting of the story just as much as the characters. All due to the beautiful descriptive writing of Ross.

I would definitely say this book is more character driven rather than plot driven which I’ve begun to appreciate much more as I’ve read more books like this. Not to say there isn’t a plot but it’s a bit slow paced, which works with the book due to its magic atmosphere.

I wasn’t motivated through intrigue to read this book though, and I wish we had been given a bit more information throughout the book so as to allude to the ending a bit more, I think that would have allowed the pacing of the book to pick up a bit more.

Overall I did enjoy this book, it was a huge change of pace from the high paced fantasy books I have been reading recently, and think it’s the perfect book to read if you want something magical and aesthetic.

As I read this book I kept trying to identify why it seemed so much better than the run-of-the-mill fantasy I read these days. I can't put it in words, exactly, but this book is not pushing to prove itself. The pace is normal, not rushed, descriptions are normal not coruscating blam blam. The people seem normal, even with their unusual abilities.

It's a good book for a winter day like the ones we have had this week.

I wish that I'd enjoyed this one more. It sounded like my kind of fantasy novel, but in the end it just didn't really hold my interest.

I read Sisters of Sword and Song by this author and while I enjoyed aspects of that fantasy as well, there's something missing for me in the writing style. The prose is pleasant, but it sometimes feels over-done and then underwhelming and then over-done again. It just fades in and out. In this book, I also noticed that the characters very often addressed whoever they were speaking to by name, which felt unnatural.

I think the world-building is decent, although it could be both sporadic and rambling. The political intrigue really took center stage and while that was ok, I just didn't think it was all that interesting. The book felt too long, or maybe that was just the uneven pace. Either way, this wasn't my favorite.

Happy Tuesday y’all! And happy release day to A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross! So many amazing books came out today and I had a really long list of ones I needed to read, but the only one I actually was able to read was A River Enchanted (and I started it yesterday evening after work and was done by the time I needed to go to bed, so that’s a sign of how much I really enjoyed this book). Thank you so much to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for letting me read this book! I definitely enjoyed the other books I’ve read by Rebecca Ross, so I was expecting to enjoy this one too, but just a heads up, it’s for sure darker than her YA books (which makes sense, since it is an adult fantasy).

A River Enchanted 5/5 Stars

Summary from Goodreads:

House of Earth and Blood meets The Witch’s Heart in Rebecca Ross’s brilliant first adult fantasy, set on the magical isle of Cadence where two childhood enemies must team up to discover why girls are going missing from their clan.

Jack Tamerlaine hasn’t stepped foot on Cadence in ten long years, content to study music at the mainland university. But when young girls start disappearing from the isle, Jack is summoned home to help find them. Enchantments run deep on Cadence: gossip is carried by the wind, plaid shawls can be as strong as armor, and the smallest cut of a knife can instill fathomless fear. The capricious spirits that rule the isle by fire, water, earth, and wind find mirth in the lives of the humans who call the land home. Adaira, heiress of the east and Jack’s childhood enemy, knows the spirits only answer to a bard’s music, and she hopes Jack can draw them forth by song, enticing them to return the missing girls.

As Jack and Adaira reluctantly work together, they find they make better allies than rivals as their partnership turns into something more. But with each passing song, it becomes apparent the trouble with the spirits is far more sinister than they first expected, and an older, darker secret about Cadence lurks beneath the surface, threatening to undo them all.

With unforgettable characters, a fast-paced plot, and compelling world building, A River Enchanted is a stirring story of duty, love, and the power of true partnership, and marks Rebecca Ross’s brilliant entry on the adult fantasy stage.

I really, really enjoyed reading A River Enchanted. It started out a little boring, I won’t lie, but as soon as Jack is back on the island, things go from meh to great. I liked all of the characters- Jack and Adaira were amazing. Sidra and Torin were probably my favorite characters in the book. I really resonated with them, their problems, and the way that they grew, both individually and together. They were definitely more adult than Jack and Adaira, which makes sense since they were about 7-10 years older than them (I think). I loved the magic system of the island and the feud between the two sides-especially where things look like they’re going to go in book two. The world building was great and I loved the pace of the plot. Something was always happening, but nothing ever happened so fast that you were lost. I always knew where I was and was so excited to go where Rebecca Ross was going to take me next. Overall, this was an outstanding read and I highly recommend it. Go pick it up today!

Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Set on an enchanted island where girls have begun to go missing, this should have been right up my alley. But it just didn't pull me in the way I had hoped.

The writing was lovely, and I enjoyed the characters, but it just felt missing a little something extra- maybe a lack of chemistry in the hate to love relationship? (Even the "hate" was a bit a lackluster really, more of a bullying put years into the past.) The world building felt a little lacking, and the plot moved along very slowly.
I did enjoy the overall plot focused on Jack, the magical Bard, and him being summoned home to aid in finding the missing girls.
Maybe we don't always need t shoehorn everyone into a relationship?

“I am death. And you… You are life.”
“…Does that mean we cannot exist as one?”
“No… It means that without you, I am nothing.”

ARE is my first novel of Rebecca’s, and it stole me away within its first few pages. It’s my first five star fantasy rating of 2022, and I couldn’t be more excited to bestow that on this book. The storytelling and atmosphere of this novel are so viscerally poignant but also extremely hopeful. The hope drives this novel to its core along with love, duty, and change. Plus, the melancholy of young girls disappearing and the threat of war to the West are imminent, but so much joy is found amongst the characters. I laughed more than I expected to, and I’ll be thinking of the Old Menace for quite some time.

I would describe this novel as a modern fairytale. It feels like a story that’s been told in Grimms Fairytales or something along those lines, but it is a new 21st century release. Rebecca masterfully blends this air of history, fairytale world building into a seamless whole. If you couldn't tell, I'm quite obsessed with it.

Readers will find a character that matches them within this story. Could be Sidra or Adaira… Maybe Jack. Mirin possibly. Torin for sure. Each of them have a role to play in this story because they’re so individual and drenched in self discovery. I simply loved the breath of their personalities and head spaces.

Anyway, I’m going to impatiently but patiently wait for A Fire Endless, and I’m praying to all the spirits on Cadence that it does release in December like Goodreads says. In the meantime, I’ll be devouring all of Rebecca’s other novels.

Ross, known for her YA novels, creates a rich fantasy world inspired by Scottish mythology for her adult debut. Her writing is beautifully lyrical without veering into overly flowery or dense territory. Veteran fantasy readers will appreciate Ross’s faith-based twist on a familiar elemental magic system utilizing earth, wind, air, and fire as well as the rich world-building that gives history and depth to the community of Cadence--and the relationship between Jack and Adaira blossoms (for us romance readers). Unlike SOME fantasy series, this is going to be a duology, so you’ll only have to wait for one more book.

Happy book birthday to this gorgeously lyrical novel. My favorite part about this book is how utterly easy it was to get swept away into the story of two warring clans and its Scottish vibes — every time I picked it up I would completely block out the world. I did find the pace to be a bit slow, and yet it seemed fitting for the book. And the last third really picked up as secrets began to be revealed and characters reacted to them. I think fans of Outlander will want to get their hands on this, as well as anyone who enjoys good writing! I cannot WAIT for the next book!

Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

There are times that I sped through the pages of Rebecca Ross’s A River Enchanted, riveted to the page. There are other times, like in some sections focusing on the two main characters, when I lost some of that urgency & wanted to return to other characters’s stories.

At the beginning of the fantasy Jack Tamerlaine, a bard, is returning to the isle called Cadence after being summoned by his laird. He hasn’t been back for ten years & he’s felt isolated from that community & his own mother for nearly that long.

Cadence is a place where magic exists. Where the spirits can be malevolent or benevolent. & where the geographic space is split between two feuding peoples.

Jack’s childhood enemy Adaira informs him of the reason for his return: young girls are disappearing & she thinks he can help with his music.

There are aspects to Jack & Adaira’s relationship—like their moments of play—that pull me in, but on the whole I wanted more communication & less stiffness between them. Or at the very least for it to have been explained more convincingly for me.

More emotionally effective for me is the relationship between married for convenience couple Sidra & Torin.

The world Ross creates is by turns frightening & lovely, & always intricate. The fantasy aspect is where the book shines for me; the romance less so.

Notes about the book: this does not end in a HEA or HFN but another book is coming.

4 ⭐️. Release date: 02/15.

[ID: an ebook rests on an open hardback surrounded by romances with black &/or blue covers.]

"A River Enchanted" by Rebecca Ross was Magical and Lyrical!! This is one of the BEST books I have read!! The characters pull you in by raw emotions and you can't stop thinking about them!! Jack is Unforgettable!! His past weaves into the present but will it determine his future!?!
Jack is called home, to the isle to help his "old nemesis" Adaira find some missing lasses!! Along the way secerts are carried by the wind, the river is enchanted and a mixture of music, magic and love are ignited by deep passions!! 🏞

💫THANK YOU to Rebecca Ross, Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an Honest Review!!

#ARiverEnchanted
#NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Utterly magical. Rebecca Ross weaves a tale of love, loss, and loyalty, against a background of rich folklore.

I was enchanted by this book from start to finish. I’ve never read a book where I loved nearly every character and didn’t mind perspective changes but each character in this book is so unique and REAL.

My favorite interactions happen between Torin and Sidra, and Jack and Frae. Ross has a way of making you feel connected to every character. She truly knows how to bring them to life. To give them a soul.

This book made my heart ache with hope and happiness. But also with worry and dread.

An amazing story altogether.

When musician Jack is summoned home to his childhood home by his laird, he assumes he will shortly return to the mainland university. But the island holds a tragic secret: young girls are going missing. Every effort to find them has failed. Can Jack somehow help with his musical prowess? Deciding to stay until the dark mystery can be solved, Jack opens himself up to an island that he was once exiled from. He must work together with the other islanders to discover the secrets of this dangerous and magical island.

A River Enchanted is an immersive and melodic tale. This book will completely sweep you away to Scotland, where the fae/spirits are real and magic always comes with a price. The world-building delicately unveils itself piece by piece. The characters are very endearing, making it impossible to look away until the epic conclusion. As for that ending, I can’t wait for the sequel!! Seriously, I need to find out what happens next for Jack and the entire cast of characters.

One of my favorite parts was how the fae/elemental spirits were depicted and the rituals used to communicate with them. Meticulous care is placed on all the superstitions and beliefs that the islanders hold regarding the fae. Sidra was a particularly interesting character, always holding true to her beliefs while supporting her family.

Rebecca Ross is one of my favorite fantasy writers and I absolutely loved A River Enchanted. I would highly recommend it, especially for fans of Juliet Marillier, Adrienne Young, and The Scorpio Races. This is a wonderful book to get lost in, slipping away to the mists of Scotland for a time. If you enjoy slow-burn, atmospheric, and magical reads then you need to read A River Enchanted!

A River Enchanted is available on February 15, 2022. Thank you so much to Rebecca Ross, Harper Voyager, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on the publication date and I will publish it on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc

There is honestly only one word I can think of to describe this book and the word is magical! A River Enchanted is a slow burn, fantasy heavily inspired by Scottish folklore. Told primarily from the POV of Jack Tamerlaine, you will be swept away onto the isle of Cadence along with Adaira and other characters as they try to solve the mystery of why young girls are disappearing from their clan.

I do think that it is a bit unfair to compare this book to House of Earth and Blood because it leads readers to think this is an action packed, fast moving fantasy. Instead, A River Enchanted takes you along on a journey that is lyrical and compelling. There is plenty of slow burn romance, plot twists and beautiful words that keep the story moving along. I loved how Rebecca Ross has tied in both Scottish history and folklore to include magic and fae elements into the storyline. This book is not fast paced but after the first few chapters, you will not want to stop reading. One of my favorite reads on 2022 so far and I cannot wait for the next book.

10 Years ago, Jack Tamerlaine left the small isle of Cadence to study to become a bard on the mainland. However, when girls start mysteriously disappearing, he's urgently summoned back home. Now he must team up with his childhood enemy to try and find them.

A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross is a spellbinding and lyrical Scottish-inspired fantasy filled with nature magic, curses, and bitter feuds.

For me, what I loved most about this book was its magical world and luscious prose. Ross has a special knack for painting vivid imagery and I absolutely adored the inventive descriptions of the nature spirits.

However, this comes as a bit of a double-edged sword. I think because story focuses so much on the scenery and stopping to smell the roses, I feel like sometimes the plot itself gets lost in the background. As a result, I didn’t feel like there was enough tension or build up to the climax.

Overall, A River Enchanted is a gorgeous fantasy that interweaves Celtic folklore and family drama, and I think fans of Sistersong will fall in love with this one as well.

*I received an arc from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
This book is SLOW. I struggled a lot to get into this book. After about 30% into the story I finally got interested and found it hard to put down. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of this story. I thought it was so unique to be reading a Scottish fantasy. I haven’t found a lot of books like that. I really enjoyed the characters but I felt the main romance to be a bit lackluster. Something I did really enjoy is the the magic of the story. This book however is nothing like Crescent city so I’m unsure why it is compared to that. I definitely found myself wanting to know more and more and to discover the answer to the mystery of the missing girls. Jack being a magical Bard in charge of musically bringing forth the spirits of the different elements was so interesting and is what first caught my attention for reading this book. I am looking forward to seeing where the story goes in the next book.

This book is a slow burn. As you read about the isle of Cadence, the isle casts a spell upon you. Before you know it, you're enchanted. You no longer have the ability to put the book down. All you can do is become more and more swept away by this hauntingly beautiful story.

Rebecca Ross’ writing is top-notch in this book. You never have to wonder what the isle looks or feels like. Her descriptions are incredibly vivid and lush. But the true magic lies in her characters. The characters in this book will steal your heart before you can blink. I instantly fell for Sidra and Torin and their heart-achingly raw love story, just as I fell for Jack and his uncertainty and passion for music. Adaira’s determination to be the best Laird for her people earned my admiration and respect. These characters didn't feel like characters; they felt real.

A River Enchanted is a story about finding yourself, your place in the world, and a path forward in a world dominated by strife. We watch these characters make mistakes and doubt themselves, but we also see them continue to get up after life knocks them down.

If you’re looking for a deeply atmospheric fantasy book full of magic, mystery, and romance, then look no further.

4.5/5 stars

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.*