This book has a very lyrical and fairytale esque feel to it. While I loved the writing from the beginning, it took me a while to get into the stories. I wasn’t really hooked by the characters or the plot until about halfway through, but I absolutely loved the second half and the conclusion of the story.

Ultimately this is a story about sisterhood, and how the bond between people who are close to each other can transcend time, and bring two people back together who are separated by death or living in different lands

Comp titles I would give this book are T. Kingfisher’s Thornhedge and Katherine Arden’s The Bear and the Nightingale. Around 20% in I was thinking this had a similar feel to Thornhedge, but as I continues, and the more we learned about the magical world and magical beings in this book, the story started to feel more like The Bear and the Nightingale

I listened to the audio for this book, and I feel like this story was made for audio. Or maybe I just like the music and singing that is added to the audiobook. While I’m not one for full cast audios, tastefully adding music where appropriate in the story is something I appreciate, and it especially works here because music is such an important part of the magic in this world.

I absolutely adored this short novel. I read This Is How You Lose The Time War last year and fell in love with El-Mohtar's beautiful and romantic prose, so I was really looking forward to something Fantasy from this author. This was dark and whimsical and gorgeous. This is my exact brand of Fantasy!!! I am a fan of Rachel Gillig and AB Poranek, and this book fits right alongside their works and I will definitely be using that as a base point when recommending to customers. My only complaint is that I want MORE Esther and Rin. Obsessed with them.. these two had more chemistry than some book couples do in a full length novel, and I applaud the author for that!!!

This is a story of imagery, scenery- the details are in the background. In this novella, the Hawthorns are known for singing to the willows and the forbidden love of the tale of the Professors. It was interesting, the way the author told this historical tale. As if told through the branches of the trees.

As the sisters look to be tied to matrimony, Esther cannot seem to let go of Rin from Arcadia, a mysterious tale described almost like a riddle to solve and descriptions with metaphors and similes to keep the reader intrigued. Esther must decide if the journey to love is worth it. For Esther, the journey feels like its own character, much like the trees and the river. Adding a slight magic to a historical romance concept and this is a mix of fantasy and magical realism.

A short fantasy novel of forbidden love and sisterly bonds. Almost felt like a Disney movie, specifically with the singing. A quick tale, that proves true love can come in and survive any shape. Just a lovely heartfelt endearing story. An amazing amount of world building but keep in mind, the characters can only be so much in such a short amount of time.

A gorgeous fairy tale by one of the authors of the immensely beloved THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR. I adored that the wit, humor, and deep feelings present in El-Mohtar's first book come through even more so in this tale of two sisters, a magical faerie world, and a vengeful scorned suitor. So much of this book is about music and the prose sings in this book. This magical novella is sure to delight fans of T. Kingfisher and Naomi Novik.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! This book will be released in the US on March 4th, 2025 by Tordotcom.

Full Rating: 4.75 stars rounded up

Amal El-Mohtar’s The River Has Roots is a spellbinding novella steeped in the alchemy of language and transformation. At its heart is the River Liss, running north to south, its waters brimming with “grams”—linguistic fragments that can be conjured into magic. Within this world of mutable meaning and shifting forms, sisters Esther and Ysabel Hawthorn care for the willow trees on their family’s land, singing to them in gratitude for their grammar. Esther, sharp-minded and drawn to riddles, is endlessly fascinated by Arcadia—a mystical city beyond a veil—while Ysabel, tender-hearted and poetic, fears the unknown it represents. Their bond is one of deep devotion, even as their perspectives on change threaten to pull them in opposite directions.

El-Mohtar’s prose is exquisite, layered with intricate metaphors that weave seamlessly into the novel’s thematic core. Magic here is not just spoken but conjugated and transformed, illuminating a world where the structure of language dictates the shape of reality itself. The novel’s central tension—between the fixed and the fluid, the named and the nameless—is mirrored in the sisters’ relationship, as well as in Esther’s love for Rin, a nonbinary shape-shifter from Arcadia.

The narrative unfolds with an immersive sense of wonder, carrying readers like the River Liss itself—ever-shifting, never stagnant. The story’s resolution, while poignant, arrives perhaps too swiftly; I found myself wishing for just a little more time in its luminous world. Still, The River Has Roots is a stunning meditation on language, love, and the transformative power of both. El-Mohtar crafts a tale that reshapes itself in the reader’s mind long after the book is closed, much like the grammar that bends the reality of Arcadia.

📖 Read this if you love: Lush, language-driven fantasy, stories of sisterhood and devotion, and folklore-infused worldbuilding.

🔑 Key Themes: Language as Magic, Transformation and Change, Family and Inheritance, The Tension Between Stability and Freedom.

Content / Trigger Warnings: Violence (minor), Murder (minor).

Oh what is stronger than death?
Two sisters singing with one breath.

Amal El-Mohtar you are a poet and a weaver, and everything you write is art in its purest form.
Don't let its size fool you, this novel is more full and dense than most novels. El-Mohtar writes with a purpose, every word carefully selected and oriented, in less than 100 pages she has created a gallery's worth of pieces.
The story of two sisters and a love that is unrelenting.
There is no bond stronger than that of two women.
Sisters, friends, lovers. Romantic, platonic, familial.
And once again Amal El-Mohtar has shown this to me in the most beautiful way possible.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Tordotcom for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review.

Stunningly beautiful prose, a magic system rooted in language, the strongest of sister relationships, and a breathtakingly beautiful romance - all wrapped up in less than 150 pages.

This is one you’ll want to re-read again and again, to discover all there is to offer in this novella.

The audio production is out of this world good and the superior way to consume this book. The atmosphere is brought to life with just enough sound effects in all the right places, the songs are sung and accompanied by music and the narrator has the most soothing voice - reminiscent of being told a story by your favorite grandmother.

What’s to love…
- lyrical prose
- family forward story
- queer romance
- non-binary love interest
- quick read that packs a punch
- magical and fairytale vibes
- layered and thought provoking

What’s not to love…
- Honestly? I loved everything about this book and the audio performance made this an out of this world experience.
- That said, if you’re someone who does not enjoy being confused at all or very lyrical writing you may not enjoy this one. Upon my first read I’m still a little unsure how the magic works and there are definitely places the writing leaned very close to purple prose, which can be confusing - this is definitely one I will want to reread, and I imagine gaining more understanding and insight with each iteration.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor (Tordotcom) for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This was such a unique and beautiful story. The setting and magic system, while rich and complex, is also straightforward and explained eloquently. The use of language and grammar as the basis of the magic was so fascinating. And while, at first, I was worried about how that would play out and what that would mean, I quickly understood and fell into the rhythm of the story. The writing was lyrical and fluid and the story had this fairy tale vibe that was so enchanting and pleasant to read. I loved the sister dynamic and the dilemma that was presented to them due to the promises and love the have for each other. The fantasy elements and world so effortlessly blend with the overall plot and I loved reading about how they interacted.
And the villain of the story and the way the ultimate conflict plays out was harrowing and heartbreaking. And reading the aftermath was tense and emotional without being over the top or unrealistic. The way that the foreshadowing is laid out in the story and how the characters sort of settle in place as the dominoes all fall exactly how they are set up had me physically reacting to events and emotions in the story. And by the end, I loved seeing how everything all came back around.
There is a richness to this story and so much intrigue that is introduced. I almost feel like this was an excellent introduction to this world and magic and that there could easily be more to come. And while this particular story is done, it does hold a sort of folklore air about it that I could easily see be a set up or warning for others in this universe.

4.5

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group and Tordotcom for providing me with a digital review copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

If you liked This Is How You Lose the Time War, you'll like this standalone by Amal El-Mohtar. It is a beautifully imagined fairy tale about sisters and the power of words. I enjoyed this immensely.

As a linguist and a poet, The River Has Roots was exactly up my alley. Although we're only in March, it's definitely a strong contender for favourite book of the year. It's a whimsical and beautiful fairytale about sisterhood and language and meaning and the transformation of forms. I enjoyed the language used, the embedded verses, and the world building. The narrative style, while uncommon, perfectly suited the purpose of this narrative. I think that everyone can find beauty in this book but I think that it may take some a bit longer to get into it than others, simply given that unique flavour of oddity that comes with Amal's writing.

This is a delightful short story of two sisters whose bond is stronger than anything, even death. Amal El-Mohtar’s solo debut delivers more of the lyrically gorgeous prose I loved from This Is How You Lose The Time War along with a unique, grammar oriented magic system and queer romance. Although I personally struggled with the relative lack of worldbuilding (I know, it’s a novella, I can’t help it ok!) I would absolutely recommend this book to everyone who enjoys quick & enchanting reads.

This is a quick, but gorgeous and moving book. The bond between Esther and Ysabel, the River Liss, the power of love and choices…The River Has Roots is exactly what I needed.

This one went way over my head. No idea what it was about and the writing was really confusing. I think if I could figure out what was going on I may have enjoyed it. It seems like there were a lot of metaphors that I just literally did not understand. The writing was fun and short. I like the idea of the other world Arcadia and wish we spent more time there.

4.5/5
This is a story of the deep love between two sisters who will let nothing, not even the lure of romance and the threat of death, separate them. It is also a story of humans dwelling near to faerie with magic at their fingertips, particularly the magic of music and grammar.

A beautiful novel led by two sisters whose love for song and each other lead us in, around and through a magical adventure. El-Mohtar's writing is atmospheric and magic---some may say just grammar (best use of Faerie I've experienced).

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. Cannot wait for my hardcover copy to reach me upon release.

Thanks to TorDotCom for an e-ARC and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listening copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

I had no idea what to expect from Amal El-Mohtar’s solo debut, but I was impressed nonetheless. This is a story following the bond between two sisters who live near the edge of humans and faerie. I was invested in Esther and Ysabel’s bond, especially as one of them was more intrigued with faerie than the other but still didn’t want to abandon each other. The magic was very ethereal, but I had some trouble initially following how the magic worked. Once I understood the rules of Grammar, then the magic started to make more sense to me even though I am bad at solving riddles. I really liked the ending, even though I wished for a little bit of an explanation.

Overall, I am so excited to read more from Amal El-Mohtar. That excerpt from her upcoming short story collection was really good, so looking forward to reading the full collection whenever it comes out.

Side note: the novella is actually 104 pages. There is a 40-page excerpt of El-Mohtar’s upcoming short story collection.

The River Has Roots is short but enchanting. It is a fairytale-like story about the bond between two sisters.

It has beautiful writing that left me wanting more. The magic was confusing, but I enjoyed it along with its faerie world.

I think this could have been longer to further develop the magic, the world, and the relationships.

I am looking forward to reading more from this author!

What a lovely, whimsical, beautifully written fairytale. Reading this felt like being wrapped in the coziest blanket that is somehow also the lightest, most ethereal blanket you’ve ever laid eyes on. The word play and riddles were such a fun element. I will definitely be seeking out more of Amal El-Mohtar’s short stories!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

4.5 ⭐️

Thank you Tor for the gifted copy.

The River Has Roots
Amal El-Mohtar
Publishing Date: March 4, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A whimsical Fairytale about the love between sisters. This little gem comes in at only 99 pages, making it a very quick one to get through. The prose and writing style is as lovely as the cover of the book. This story has an ethereal feeling to it, provided by the lyrical and poetic style of writing.

It took me a minute to get into the flow of this story, but once I did I couldn’t look away. It was so beautifully written. With vivid imagery, magical realism, and romance combined with metaphors, riddles, and plays on words, I was constantly taking pause to look for the deeper meaning of things.

“Oh what is stronger than death?
Two sisters singing with one breath.”

The bond and trust between the two sisters was wonderful. In a book this short there isn’t time for doubt and miscommunication and it was so satisfying. I found this story to be the perfect length to provide the reader a quick journey to a magical land without leaving things feeling unfinished.

What a quick yet stunning story about the bond between two sisters. This was a true modern fairytale filled with riddles, lyrical prose, and a fateful twist. Perfect for fans of short stories that are filled to brim with magic, fae, and sisterly love. I was enraptured from beginning to end.