The River Has Roots is a quick read, but has all the emotional depth that I've come to expect from Amal El-Mohtar.

In a house near a river that flows from the heart of a land that is beyond all understanding, there are two sisters who love each other dearly. Sisters who sing the trees by the river awake and to sleep. Their love is their song and there are none who could sour its tune.

There comes a time when the older sister must choose between the land beyond where her lover dwells and the home where her heart sleeps. While there is also one among the ordinary men who would take her and make her his own.

This book is full of so much magic and I couldn't put it down. I fell in love with Amal El-Mohtar's writing with This Is How You Lose the Time War and I love this new take on a Fairy love story that is as much about the familial as it is about coming of age romance. The world building in such a small book is second to none and you will wish to start it over again as soon as you've finished.

This was STUNNING. Absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking and contender for my book of the year. And it alerted me to the fact that Amal El-Mohtar has a short story collection coming next year that I am really looking forward to now. Including one of the short stories at the end of the audiobook was genius.

Amal El-Mohtar's writting is incredibly beautiful, as is the way she can spin a tale, magical and sharp and deadly and true. I absolutely loved This is How You Lose the Time War, but I loved this even more.

While listening, I got chills several times as the story played out. It was familiar and at the same time new. Which, as someone who grew up steeped in fairy tales, is exactly what I want from them now. I want a sharper edge, cutting truths, and words that flow like magic. And this 100% delivered.

*Thanks to Tordotcom for providing an early copy for review.

3 Stars for The River Has Roots
5 Stars for John Hollowback and the Witch

I wish The River Has Roots had been included in El-Mohtar's upcoming (as of 2025) short story collection instead of being published as a standalone novella. It was far too insubstantial to stand on its own, and it didn't help that I ended up much preferring John Hollowback and the Witch, a short story from the upcoming collection, which was included as a "sneak peak" at the end of the novella (and was maybe 25% of the entire book). Both the novella and the short story were about two of the myriad ways male domestic violence shows up in the world. But the villain of The River Has Roots was obvious, a blunt instrument of pain and anger. As a result, his betrothed did not come across particularly well; she seemed weak and stupid, which is an unfortunate message. I much preferred the complexity and subtlety of the characters in John Hollowback; it fitted with what I've seen and experienced in the real world. Villains rarely think of themselves as such while the abuse is ongoing, and oftentimes, neither do victims.

The atmosphere of The River Has Roots felt skimmed off the top of the world of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke — and much like Clarke's own novella, The Wood at Midwinter, it's an unsatisfying tease of a world that could have been much deeper and much richer. I wanted much more of the central metaphor of grammar as magic.

This is one that's worth reading, but not worth purchasing - check it out from your local library.

The River Has Roots is simply extraordinary. El-Mohtar crafts a poetic, folkloric tale that feels ancient and utterly alive at the same time. What else can I expect from the other half of the duo that wrote This is How You Lose the Time War?

The story, focused on two sisters bound by magic and memory, has prose so lyrical I found myself rereading lines just to sit in their beauty. It’s a novella, but it holds the emotional weight of something much larger. The imagery, the rhythm of the language, the emotional payoff–it’s all exquisite. I adored this!

I want to crawl into this world and live a few days. Amal El-Mohtar has a way with words that is poetic, evocative, and lush.

I've been waiting for this book eagerly since Time War, and it did not disappoint. It was so beautiful, so hopeful, so tangible you could taste it, but ethereal enough that I was never quite sure what I was looking at. Highly engaging, I love Amal's style so much, and her characters were perfection. The murder ballad doesn't get enough written about it!!

Beautiful, ethereal, and dreamy read! Loved the characters, world, and overall vibe of the book. Amal El-Mohtar's writing is gorgeous as usual. Would recommend to fans of fairytale-esque books like THE LAST TALE OF THE FLOWER BRIDE by Roshani Chokshi

A spell-binding tale of love, magic, and sacrifice. This novella is a breathtaking and poetic fantasy that weaves together the delicate threads of duty, family, and the dangerous allure of Faerie. The author's prose is rich and lyrical, making the story so enchanting!

Amal El-Mohtar has written a lyrical story about the bond between sisters. It's very hard to describe this without giving every twist and turn away, and for a novella, El-Mohtar packs quite a few twists in.

It is sweet, diabolical and winds its way to a happy ending. Recommended for older teens and up, while familiarity with traditional ballad forms will add a frisson while reading, you don't have to be.


I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Absolutely enchanting! This story swept me away like a lullaby sung through ancient trees. The Hawthorn sisters, Esther and Ysabel, are the kind of characters that feel carved from folklore—tender, fierce, and beautifully bound to one another. The world of Thistleford is rich with magic, mystery, and just the right amount of menace. I was completely hooked by the haunting atmosphere, the deep-rooted family legacy, and the tension between duty and desire. It’s part fairy tale, part tragedy, and entirely mesmerizing. I didn't want to leave the willows—or these sisters—behind.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tordotcom for the digital galley of this book and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of the audiobook.

If you read This is How You Lose the Time War, then you’re familiar with Amal El-Mohtar. If you haven’t, turn off your phone and go do it right now.

Anyway. El-Mohtar’s newest book, The River Has Roots, is no less poetic and turns its focus on two sisters, Esther and Ysabel, who honor an ancient pact to sing to the trees. Esther falls for a citizen of Faerie and rejects a persistent suitor. This sparks an incident that will put the sisters’ bond (and their lives) at risk.

I loved this story in different ways than Time War. The love story was beautiful, but the sisters’ bond was even better. I loved their characterizations and the love they share. It stretches across the lands of their world and Faerie. Extra points for nonbinary rep and the many folktale elements. As expected, the poetic prose is beautiful. It was a quick read, but one I will be revisiting.

The River Has Roots is a lyrical and quietly powerful novella that feels like a whispered spell. Amal El-Mohtar tells a story rooted in English folklore, where songs are sacred, love is complex, and language is a form of living magic.

Set in the town of Thistleford, which borders Faerie, the story follows sisters Esther and Ysabel Hawthorn, keepers of enchanted willow trees and caretakers of an ancient song-bound tradition. Their bond is deep and tender, creating emotional depth that anchors the story, even as both mortal and magical forces start to pull them apart.

El-Mohtar’s writing is poetic and immersive. It has a musical quality that fits the themes of memory, transformation, and the significance of words. The novella explores the relationship between love and responsibility in a way that feels both mythic and personal, especially as Esther’s forbidden connection with a fae being named Rin slowly unravels the world the sisters know.

What stood out most to me was the idea of magic as a grammatical act—conjugation as transformation and language as alchemy. This narrative device adds originality, even if the details of the magic system remain unclear. However, the prose can become dense at times, requiring patience and rereading to understand certain metaphors or symbols.

Although the novella isn’t long, it encourages slow reading. Each word feels carefully chosen for rhythm as much as for meaning, and while this enhances the atmosphere, it may alienate readers who prefer a straightforward narrative. Still, the emotional rewards make the effort worthwhile.

Overall, The River Has Roots is a haunting story about sisterhood, sacrifice, and the power of language to connect or divide us. It is a rich, folkloric read that lingers like a half-remembered song, echoing long after the story is complete.

The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar is a lyrical novella set on the edge of Faerie.

I followed along in my gorgeous physical review copy (the illustrations are STUNNING) while listening to the audiobook, which I borrowed from my local library. I highly recommend doing a blended read for this one!

The audiobook is wonderfully produced. The narrator does a phenomenal job, especially when she's singing! The author and her sister also sing and play the harp and flute throughout the novella. It truly transported me to the edge of Faerie myself.

This novella is apparently a reimagining of a 17th century murder ballad, which totally makes sense. I loved it so much.

There's lovely rep here as well--the main relationship we follow throughout the book is a queer one, and our MC's love is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns. Said love is also from Faerie, so their looks are ever-changing like the landscape.

I really can't say much about this book since it's short--but it packs a mighty punch. I definitely cried a few times, and it's only 133 pages! The music really affected me, and I was truly here for the ~*~vibes~*~.

If you like fae, music, or language, you should absolutely pick this one up!

The River Has Roots is eerie and mesmerizing with excellent and intriguing worldbuilding. Amal El-Mohtar knows how to set a mood.

The River Has Roots is a dark, beautiful novella about two sisters dedicated to their family lands. But when one sister rejects an unwelcome suitor and chooses her love in the land of Faerie, it puts their lives and everything they love at risk. Novellas are a tough genre, and El-Mohtar does an excellent job of giving making this story feel rich and detailed even with limited space. Fans of This is How We Lose the Time War and authors like T. Kingfisher will devour this great read.

Cannot properly review this book as Netgalley has made it difficult to review anything. This is an accessibility issue now going from ASCM to LCPL.

"Now where were we. Ah yes." (I love a rambling narrator)

I am sooo on board for short stories lately. Grammar as a magic system? Incredibly original!

I think this narration style would be best served as an audiobook honestly, so if you enjoy those then give this a whirl.

CW: Drowning, Body Horror (Mild)

This novella was a marvelous mix of word play, love, and murder ballads. Two sisters, Esther and Ysabel, carry on a family treaty to sing to the trees that border Arcadia, aka land of the fae folk. The deep sisterly bond they share is one of the highlights of the novella. Esther has a non-binary fae lover, Rin, and a would-be human suitor greedy for her land, not her heart. If you like word play, fairy tales, riddles, murder ballads, and true love (familial and romantic), then I’d highly recommend this novella.

The River Has Roots is a whimsical experience. If you love stories that feel like fairy and folk tales. That transport you and give you that nostalgic feel while being unique, this is for you. There's elements you can recognize and El-Mohtar breathes new life. It's a world of musical magic and I love the idea of grammar and magic - how it shapes the world. The world building and premise are enchanting.

This was beautifully written! A great fairytale and the illustrations complimented the story perfectly. The pacing was pretty good it was a good length.