Synopsis: After 10 years of being away from the island of Cadence, Jack is called home. Young girls start to disappear from the magical isle, and Jack needs to team up with his childhood enemy, the heiress of the East, Adaira. Together, with the help of Jack’s bard music, they will summon the spirits to find out what has happened to the missing girls.

What I Liked:
The Writing: The writing in this book blew me away. It is so beautifully written and I loved the multiple POVs that we were able to see.
The Aesthetic: I loved how eerie and dark it was, and how because of the writing, you were truly able to immerse yourself in this world.
The Characters: I truly enjoyed all of the characters in the book. The multiple POVs really helped you connect to each.

What Wasn’t For Me:
Too Much Description, Not Enough Dialogue: I really get into books when the dialogue is heavy. It’s just a personal opinion for me, but when there’s TOO much description, I start to space-out and forget what I’m reading.
Slow-Paced: this book is definitely a slow-burn, which I do like sometimes but I found myself getting a little bit bored. Usually books only take me a day or 2 to get through, but I was stuck on this book for almost a week.
The Romance: there were elements of the romances that I did like. At times, I just felt like the characters lacked chemistry and I wish there was MORE romance.

Overall, I can see why so many people so far have absolutely LOVED this book. It's magical, beautifully-written, and creates such amazing characters. There were just some parts of it that weren't necessarily for me!

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Voyager for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you Netgalley for the e-ARC.

Honestly, I should have loved everything about this book. Low world building? Check. Folklore/Fairytale and whimsical atmosphere? Check. A compelling plot and some cool magic? Check.

Yet, somehow none of its individually interesting components came together to create a compelling narrative. The characters felt flat, the relationships were one-dimensional, and the stakes couldn’t have been lower. The author originally intended for this to be YA and I think it shows. I would have loved to see that version of this book, because the adult themes felt underdeveloped.

I wish I would have come to this book completely blind because the marketing team absolutely missed the mark when selling this book. In the blurb it is compared to A House of Earth and Blood--I didn't see that connection at all. I would liken it more to Uprooted, but it does sand a part from other whimsical fairy tales. They also described the book as fast-paced... and it really was one of the slowest books I've read in a long time. They also are trying to sell this book as enemies to lovers, and that was only 1% true. Perhaps if I wasn't so focused on the missed opportunities I would have loved the book a lot more than I did, but I walked away apathetic and I probably won't think about it again.

Synopsis: Jack Tamerlaine hasn’t stepped foot on Cadence in ten long years. But when young girls start disappearing from the isle, He 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 entice them to return the missing girls.

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

My thoughts: I absolutely adored this book. Rebecca Ross truly has a gift when it comes to creating atmospheric and character-driven stories that you just cannot put down. The writing was lyrical, dark, and enchanting; the world-building and fantasy lore is well-crafted, compelling, and easy to follow; and the eerie Scottish isle split in two by warring clans made for a really compelling setting.

While I absolutely recommend picking up a copy of this book, I do want to say that I don’t think the comp titles are particularly accurate. River was marketed as “House of Earth and Blood meets The Witch’s Heart” and honestly I just don’t see it? This book is NOTHING like Crescent City and I think The Witch’s Heart is also a bit of a stretch. I would probably comp this as Outlander meets The Bear and the Nightingale.

Another wonderful adult fantasy. I absolutely loved exploring the Scottish-inspired world in this book, and the characters were absolutely deep and well thought-out. I loved the magic tied with art, the mystery of the missing lasses, and the magical folk of the land. The story does begin rather slowly though, and it takes its time establishing the world, magic, and inner workings of the characters. But once it all flows together near the middle, it's hard to put down. The writing itself seemed just as magical as the story, and I remembered how much I love Rebecca Ross's writing. It's a pleasure to read. I'm so glad this is a duology because I feel like I'm just getting started with these lovely characters and this mysterious, magical world. I highly recommend if you love all things Scottish, folk magic, mystery, and delightful romance!

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4

Thank you, Harper Voyager, for the review copy!

Content: one fade to black scene, one open door scene, kidnapping, violence

A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross is the 1st book in her new Elements of Cadence series. I have become a fan of Rebecca Ross’s wonderful fantasy novels. A River Enchanted has a Scottish feel filled with magic, in the isle of Cadence, with two warring clans (East & West). The focus of the novel, is centered on two childhood enemies that team up to find out why young girls are being mysterious taken.

Jack Tamerlaine (he is a Bard) returns to Cadence after a 10-year absence, studying music and getting a job at the mainland university, as he has been summoned home. Jack learns quickly that the person who really summoned him home, was his childhood enemy, Adaira, as she is now the heiress of East. Adaira explains why she needs Jack’s help, as the missing girls have not been found; she needs him to use his Bard music to bring out the spirits (fire, water, earth & wind). At the same time, Adaira makes an offer to the West to bring about peace, but can they be trusted?

Jack hasn’t seen his mom (Mirin) in all those years, and is surprised to discover he has a sister, Frae. Torin is the captain of the guard, and is also one of the POV’s; his wife Sidra, is a healer, who also takes care of Maisie (Torin’s daughter from his deceased wife). Jack and Adaira agree to work together, and in a short time, their feelings begin to change, as they continually become closer.

What follows was an amazing, fantastic adventure in a world filled with magic, spirits, enemies, betrayals and a slow burn romance. There are some surprising twists that will eventually change the game, with the East and West still very much divided. I loved Adaira, who was a fantastic heroine, as she was strong independent, determined, savvy and fierce. Jack was a very good hero, as I liked him too, but not as much as Adaira. Ross has created a wonderful group of secondary characters, such as Torin, Sidra, Frae, Mirin, just to name a few.

A River Enchanted was a captivating, unique story filled with spirits, magic and folklore. To say too much more would ruin it for you, as you really do need to read this fantastic book. Rebecca Ross once again gives us a wonderful fantasy, with great characters and keeping me enthralled from start to finish. I wholly suggest you read A River Enchanted and anything written by Rebecca Ross, as I cannot wait for her next book, especially with the surprise ending.

4.5 Rounded Up

A RIVER ENCHANTED thoroughly enchanted me. Rebecca Ross has delivered another great book yet again, this being her adult fantasy debut. This book gave me wonderful Outlander vibes I couldn't get enough of. The atmosphere of this Scottish-inspired fantasy was a beautiful Cadence (people who have read it will see what I did there) and it flows so much like a dream. I loved all of our 4 main characters--Jack, Adaira, Sidra and Torin, and how Ross used their characters to subvert certain literary tropes when it comes to characterization and romance. Jack and Adaira was probably my favorite duo, and I loved their childhood enemies to friends to marriage of convenience into something real, and Sidra and Torin's relationship development was really sweet as well. The female characters really shine in this book. I loved Sidra and Adaira and how well developed both of them were in different ways. Ross's worldbuilding is really great and I had a wonderful time getting lost in this Isle steeped in magic and lore. Her writing continues to be impeccable and has a lyrical quality about it that really absorbs you into it until you can't look away. There's a mystery not just in the story but of the isle itself, and about how unexpected change can bring about real and raw growth that a person desperately needs. With an intriguing plot and compelling characters, A RIVER ENCHANTED is a fantastic adult fantasy debut for Ross and makes me want to reiterate how much I adore her books. It's a book you don't want to sleep on.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Have you ever read a book where you try to read faster because you have to know what's going to happen? And you know it's okay to read faster and faster because you'll reread it?

That's how I felt reading A River Enchanted!

I was swept up in this world of enchanted plaids, daggers, and music. This fantasy is focused on family and relationships. How we relate to ourselves, to others, our family. What are the ties that bind us? Is our homeland the essence of our feeling home or is it the people? Or a combination of both? Even the internal clan politics relate to family. I love it when books have such an intimate setting even when big things are happening.

I loved the interplay between the fairy folk and the islanders. The fairy folk have their traditional role of causing mischief as well as good, but there are new layers added.

A River Enchanted is also a mystery. Why are the lasses disappearing? Who's taking them and why? There are secrets to unravel to find the end of the string. And it's not what you expect!

I highly recommend reading this book and look forward to more from Rebecca Ross. (Please, Rebecca, tell me the next one is in editing ready to read soooooon!)

A River Enchanted is a folklore feel book with multiple stories intertwined. I felt like it was a bit slow and I had a hard time getting through the slower parts. I liked the setting and the idea of the folk but I wish there was more details on the magic and the folk. I feel like that would've helped keep the storyline more intriguing. Overall a good read and I enjoyed the historical part entwined with folklore as well.

This book has such a lyrical tinge to it, and the writing is truly incredible. It truly felt enchanted at times. Though, it just was not the book for me. I think there will be lots of people who love it, and I hope they find it! It just was not the biggest fan.

In A River Enchanted, Jack the bard is summoned back home to the magical island of Cadence by his clan chief. It looks like his musical gift is necessary to solve an island mystery. The mystery forces him to work closely with his childhood nemesis, the heiress Adair’s. As Jack and Adaira work to uncover the truth they must unravel the island’s many secrets as well as their tangled feelings for each other.

A River Enchanted surpassed any expectations I might have had being a fan of Rebecca Ross’ Queen’s Rising Duology. The prose of this book came across as almost lyrical at times which worked perfectly with the protagonist’s role as a bard. There was also a clear Celtic influence to this story which I loved. In fact, whether intentional or not the island of Cadence made me think of the Scottish Highlands.

In addition to its musical prose, A River Enchanted had a fabulous cast of characters. Jack starts out as the central figure but quickly begins to share the spotlight with Adaira and then Torin and Sidra. Their stories are so heavily intertwined that I honestly can’t tell you which couple I grew to care about more.

As you read this story you are sure to find yourself wondering not only who has taken the children of Cadence, but also what home means to you and what you might be willing to give up for love.

In conclusion, this is definitely another masterpiece for the author and a favorite of mine for 2022.

As expected, I absolutely loved this adult debut by Rebecca Ross. I’ve loved her YA books in the past and A RIVER ENCHANTED did not disappoint.

My favorite thing about her books is that her fantasy worlds are so easy to sink into as you read. Her writing is so atmospheric and lovely, I always look forward to her books. A River Enchanted is set in a Scottish inspired land heavily influenced by the fae, where politics are ruled by feuding clans, and magic comes with a price. We start off with Jack, our resident grumpy bard, being called home by his childhood enemy in hopes that his music will help find the girls that have gone missing from the isle.

I loved our two main romances: Adaira and Jack’s political marriage of convenience slowly growing into more as they grow closer during their investigation. And Sidra and Torin’s established marriage of convenience where you, as the reader, can see the feelings have already developed for them both, but you get to watch them learn to admit it to each other.

The magic system was really interesting to me. Especially seeing the toll that it takes on Jack with his music and the payment that it takes from him. But I also liked that the fae were huge parts of the story and the elemental fae they deal with were especially interesting. But also Sidra’s encounters with the lesser fae/the other fae creatures gave us a different perspective and I loved that.

I was pretty surprised by the answer to the mystery and the ending was a little bittersweet. I’m very excited for the next book, I can’t wait to see what happens on the other side of the isle.

Highly, highly recommend!

A River Enchanted was a great first read for 2022.

Jack is a talented musician with a coveted teaching position until a distress letter from the home he’s tried to forget calls him back. Cadence is an island split down the middle with two warring clans, where the spirit world is only ever a breath away and it needs Jack to return. Girls are going missing and old feuds are coming to head. Jack is just one part of a tapestry of people the clan needs to divert disaster. Love blooms, violence looms, and music and magic fill the air.

There is a weight to this world. Magic has a price and the narrative doesn’t shy from darkness. The stakes feel real as does this Scottish influenced island world. There’s magic and action but also tight character drama and the multi-perspective narration really lets us get close to each character.

The two main romantic pairings are also exceedingly sweet. I think two people who rightfully hated each other in the past begrudgingly coming to love who the other has become in the present might be my new favorite oddly specific romance dynamic.

I’ve really enjoyed Ross’s writing in her YA books before, but always wanted them to not be afraid to lean towards the darker elements within them. A River Enchanted delivers and feels much deeper, more fully realized, more like a story you could reach out and touch. So excited for the sequel!!

A River Enchanted is an absolute delight. Everything in this book is written with such decadent prose. I fell in love with the Scottish inspired lore and the atmosphere created by the author. There are faeries, politics between feuding clans, and lots of unique magic.

My favourite part of Ross’s world is the way women are portrayed. Women are the equals to men in this fantasy and it’s so rare to find in a story.

I am so excited to read the next instalment in this stunning duology.

4 stars to this Scottish inspired fantasy novel! It took me a little while to get into the rhythm of this book, but it paid off. I've rarely read any stories from the perspective of a bard, so this was a nice change! One thing I absolutely enjoyed was seeing the different spirits that showed up and how they affected our main characters. Also Frae is just the sweetest child. Another great story from Rebecca Ross!

This is one of those books that I normally wouldn’t pick up, but I actually saw the most beautiful artwork of the characters on Instagram and requested it right away. I am so glad I was able to read A River Enchanted. This book was beautifully written and I was captivated the entire time. Reading this book really was a magical experience.

This is very much a slow burn, savor over days sort of read for me. I did not feel the urge to devour in one sitting. I slowly read section by section. The writing is beautiful and descriptive, allowing me to really sit in the story. There are not many stories that make me feel the same way. Even though it took me quite a but to get through it did not diminish my loe for this story.

The romance in this story was a little chemistry lacking. I never felt a zing between the two, but there does not always have to be a unwavering soul scattering romance to make a story great. I felt the mythalogical side of this story was super intriguing, and I love love the relationship between Jack and his little sister. Even though they had not met before she was quite a few years old, they formed a bond that was so endearing.

I also absolutely loved Sidra and Torin's relatonship. Born out of necessity, you can still see that there is love there adn it all comes out with the kidnapping of Torin's own daughter. The premise of this book is so sad. Young girls gne missing without a trace. Magic that can help find them but takes a major tole on Jack's body. The whole theme is overwhelmingly sad, with bits of redeeming happiness and love.

It may have taken me a while to read, but I kept coming back for more. This will suck you in and transport you to another beautiful, magical world. The wwriting is atmospheric and addicting. Laini Taylor's work comes to mind while reading this. They just have a way of writing that is so soothing and comforting.

I adored this story and an't wait for more from Rebecca

Fantasy is my favorite genre. No matter how many times I read its familiar tropes I enjoy them every time. In this beautiful Scottish folk-tale Rebecca Ross's characters are vibrant and loveable. Jack's return to his childhood home of Cadence, sets up the coming mystery perfectly.

If I had to compare 'A River Enchanted' to any other book I'd say it had a similar vibe as 'All the Murmuring Bones' by AG Slater. The love story here was sweet but secondary to the mystery of who is abducting young village girls. My only criticism is, the methodical and slow pacing will put some readers off. However, a side effect is wonderfully vivid fully fleshed characters and a fantasy setting which puts the reader right into the story.

What a beautiful, enchanting novel. I was mesmerized by the prose, the world building, the characters, and the story.

I am not familiar with Rebecca Ross, and I understand that this is her first adult fantasy. I will say that parts of this felt a little like a YA fantasy (like the relationship between Jack and Adaira), but the characters are older and some of the issues they deal with are more adult. A River Enchanted was a fast paced, exciting, and lovely read.

Jack Tammerlaine, a bard, has no idea why has has been summoned back to his home on the magical isle of Cadence, by Laird, it seems. He returns home to find that some of the isle's young girls have gone missing, and his old nemesis, Adaira, is hoping he can help her with his music in summoning the spirits to find out what has happened to them.
This reads a bit like a Scottish fairy-tale. I was mesmerized by the story and couldn't put it down, wanting to know more about the spirits, what happened to the girls, and about the conflict between the Breccan's and the Tammerlaine's. The characters were interesting and I liked most of them. I loved the reading of Jack's discoveries, of Torin and Sidra's inner conflicts, of Adaira's struggle to initiate peace and make the best decisions as heiress for her clan, and I adored Jack and Frae's relationship. I also appreciate that this novel had romance but was not dominated by it. Also, I was not expecting one of the revelations towards the end, which was a pleasant surprise. My only qualm is that now I will have to wait until the next installation is available.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for providing me with a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ★★★★ stars

"She had hated him. But she was coming to learn that it was hard to hate what made her feel most alive."

✍️ One Sentence Synopsis: In a fantasy, Scottish-inspired world, Jack and Adaira, once-childhood rivals, now must join together to fight the unknown entity that is stealing young girls from their land.

💭 Overall Thoughts: This book was such a fun reading experience! While the pace is slow and overall not many events happen, I found myself enthralled in the characters and world history. I felt a genuine connection with so many of the side characters, and I shockingly loved the multi-POVs this book features. Overall, this felt like a comfortable fantasy world to slip into, and I can't wait to read the next book!

What I Liked:
👍 Characters: This was a rare case where I felt the multi-POV strengthened the book. I would have never felt such a deep connection to characters if not for this, and therefore wouldn't have cared about half of the plot involving them. This story was so much more impactful for me once I had a vested interest in the characters. I loved Jack, Adaira, and Sidra especially.
👍 The Writing: Oftentimes, more wordy writing styles can cause me to disconnect from the story and lose interest. While this book had some expansive writing, it captivated me! I nearly finished this book in one sitting, because of this. It had pretty lines, while not being superfluous.
👍 The Romance(s): I adored the romance here. All the tropes were done so beautifully, I wanted to cry at times! It fascinated me that while all of the relationship origins took place off-screen, I felt immediately dialed into their history given the written explanations, flashbacks, and inner musings of our characters.
👍 The Lore: I really enjoyed reading history and lore of the two warring clans. Again, I find I typically can zone out on this aspect in books, but it was logical and to-the-point. I loved the other stories told within the book as well, such as the bedtime stories.
👍 The Atmosphere: It was dark and eerie at times. I ate it up!

What I Didn’t Like:
👎 The Ending: I was kind of disappointed here. Although I can see what it's setting up book 2 for, it just felt a touch illogical and was probably the one point during my whole reading experience where I felt taken out of the moment.
👎 The Need for MORE: While the characters are NA/Adult genre aged, this read like more of a YA book to me. I was drawn into this book by the House of Earth and Blood comparison title, and I expected a similar adult vibe, but I think it fell short of that. This book also has a very slow-moving plot which, in hindsight, feels underwhelming.

💞 Read this if you liked: For the Wolf by Hannah F. Whitten (for the dark atmosphere, eerie world, and secrecy of the past) and House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas (for the mystery-solving aspect and a few certain tropes).

⚠️ Content Warnings: Kidnapping, violence

"If we must drown, let us do so entwined."

This took me a while to read, in part because it was so unexpected. I knew going into this that Ross, one of my auto-buy authors, is a master of prose and world building, but this went beyond anything I had seen before from her. It was lush and delicate despite exploring some sharp themes like grief, identity, and responsibility, but still managed to convey a sense of urgency that propelled you through the story (though, I do have to say the second half of the book had a stronger pace, because I understood more of the stakes).

I think the form of the book was a little unexpected, switching POV (or I guess it really switched third person focalization), without explicit markers of the shift. I personally prefer dual POV or multiple POV with clear shifts/chapter markers, but this worked well as is, which surprised me (I’m usually a bit picky). I never was confused as to who we were focusing on, though the jumps skipped over scenes I would’ve loved to see (like Jack and Adaira, when they find out some explosive secrets about their identity - sorry to be vague, I just don’t want to spoil anything - I would’ve loved to see in the morning).

My only comment is that both the worldbuilding and the magic of this book are whimsical (not exactly the word I’m going for, but you get the gist), so this book takes a lot of concentration, in combination with some of the more adult themes and (Sidra/Torin) relationships. So when you combine that with a lush prose style, a fantasy world and magic system, and switching focalization, sometimes you have to read closely to really understand what’s going on. Ross won’t explicitly say, for example, that they’re having sex. It would be more figurative, rooted in more emotional and metaphorical language that describes the meaning of the scene, rather than the actual action itself. So if you need to be told exactly what’s going on (which is pretty common in YA), you’re going to need to put a little more energy into this book. And I think although frustrating if you’re trying to consume this quickly or while taking classes/working, it’s definitely worth the pay off. If you could see how many tabs I have in my book...

Lastly, I just want to say that the ending destroyed me. I can see why it needed to happen this way, but I think it also stems from some communication and trust issues that are manipulated in the guise of self-sacrifice, that need to be resolved before I can truly root for the idyllic reunion.