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 a lyrical fairytale in the vein of Silver in the Wood, and I appreciated the nod to the Greek myth of Procne and Philomena. While it did take me a bit to get into, I feel that I could love this even more on a reread. I do think that the backgrounds noises in the audiobook took me out of it a bit rather than immerse me further. I found it distracting and like the mixing could have been adjusted better since there were parts where I couldn't hear the narrator that well over the sounds.

This is a whimsical tale that feels like a myth someone might tell for ages. It structures around sisterhood which I enjoyed, however it’s not memorable.

This was fine. It's a short little novella and it's beautifully written. However, I didn't understand why grammar was a magic system, I feel like nothing about grammar was used in the magic. It was more symbolism than anything else. I did like the ultimate decision one of the main characters had to make towards the end of the story, it was high stakes

I listened to this and frankly, the audio had too many sound effects and everything sounded Irish.

I received this ALC from MacMillan Audio.

The River Liss runs out of Faerie, full of magic, and two sisters grow up singing to the willows that soak up it's magic. This is such a beautiful and lyrical story about sisterhood, love, grief, and magic.

In the audiobook, the narrator sings all the songs, and I think that adds so much to an already incredible story. I really recommend listening to the audiobook.

I enjoyed this short story and listened to it in 1 go. I liked the sister relationships, sacrificing attitudes, and fae plot. I think fans of Half a Soul will like this. I would have enjoyed this if it was a full length novel cause I think it had room for more development.

After reading This Is How You Lose the Time War, I was convinced that I'll read anything that Amal El-Mohtar puts out — she's witty and unapologetically romantic, facetious without the cynicism. And of course, The River Has Roots only exemplifies that further. It's a testament to her whimsy and brilliance and falls nothing short of impressive, especially with this being her solo debut after Time War.

Her words often read like melodies, so lyrical and enchanting, which is the perfect vehicle to deliver this novella of fable and song. The River Has Roots follows the relationship between two sisters, Esther and Ysabel, and how it metamorphoses through love, music, and promise. The backdrop of mystical Arcadia and the eccentric magic system were some of my favorite parts. While the format of the novella confines the story to a shorter page count, the narrative never feels compromised, nor does its characters come off as ungarnished.

That being said, I still wish this had been longer, but mostly, I'm just greedy and want more of El-Mohtar. Looking forward to her book of short stories to come. Thank you to the publishers for the copy!

This audiobook was stunning. I felt like I was listening to a magical folktale passed down through generations of orators. El-Mohtar is such a stunning storyteller and I imagined myself reading this again, year after year. This take is short, under 150 pages, but there is so much life and beauty in this story. It was reminiscent of favorite books I had as a children, such as The Phantom Tollbooth and The Little Prince - written with so much hidden depth and meaning. At the end of the audio was a short story for (I believe) an upcoming story collection by El-Mohtar, which was lovely and whimsical and filled with meaning. If you enjoy magic, myths, love, and LGBTQ+-themes, please pick up this book, out March 4th. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio, and Amal El-Mohtar for the opportunity to read this advanced reader copy and provide my unbiased review.

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. The audio version is the way to experience this book. . Not only is the narration perfect, but the musical accompaniment makes it even more spectacular.

Gorgeous. Stunning. I’m honestly mostly still speechless. The most perfect fairy tale I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading.

4.5
This is easily one of the best audiobooks I've ever read. It is truly a work of art as it is not involves not just narration but lyrical snatches of song (which are very significant to the story) and some nature sounds (particularly of the river) in the background. The story itself is lovely too.

Ultimately, 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.

An unbelievable story from one who is rapidly becoming one of my favorite writers. Amal El-Mohtar, co-author of This is How You Lose the Time War, delivers a stunning novella about two sisters. She somehow fits the depth of Esther and Ysabel’s love for each other, a gorgeous exploration of the world around them, and an adventure into a magical realm into less than 150 pages of some of the most gorgeous prose I’ve ever read. There is so much to explore in this book and all I can really form as a coherent thought is: read this, now.
I also found the audiobook to be a richly rewarding way to experience this story. There’s so much music in this book and to hear the songs (performed in this audiobook by El-Mohtar and her sister) really added to the experience!

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL writing, and the audiobook was so whimsical I was instantly sucked into their world. It has music, singing, and riddles with the pacing and feel of a fairy tale. 10/10 recommend, do as an audiobook if you can!

I knew the writing was going to be poetic and beautiful from Amal El-Mohtar, but I wasn’t expecting to have so much emotional investment in the story and relationships in such a short book.

This was a beautiful fairytale-esque story told about a family that lives on the border of the between the human world and the land of the Fae. The two worlds (and humans happening upon the Fae realm) reminded me of The Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire which I loved as well.

It is a heartfelt story about the bond between two sisters and the lengths they will go to to keep their promises to each other. The magic system itself is based in language and metaphor and fits beautifully into the writing and tone of this book.

The audio book production also adds to the story. It features sound effects, music, and singing that really transport you into the world.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. wow. wow. I know it's early in the year, but The River Has Roots is my top book so far in 2025 and I can't imagine it being knocked off that praise any time soon. A tight fantasy novel with queer love, an incredible bond between two sisters, amazing magic system, and just an absolutely lush setting. This is Amal El-Mohtar's solo debut novel, after the incredible This is How You Lose the Time War.

In the small town of Thistleford, Esther and Ysabel Hawthorn, tend to enchanted willows along a river that runs into the land of Faerie. Esther and Yssabel care deeply for each other, but when Esther is courted by a neighbor vying for their lands, their bond is tested due to the consequences.

I cannot say enough good things about this novel and it's short so I do not want to give much away, I promise it is worth your time. The audiobook is gorgeous in addition to incredible, lyrical narration by Gem Carmella, Amal and Dounya El-Mohtar play music that accompanies the narration at key points within the story. You will be transported away to Thisleford and Faerie and will enjoy every minutes.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy.

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.

The audiobook was a production! It had ambience, sound effects, harp music, and singing throughout. This could be overstimulating for some audiobook listeners, but I found this audiobook very immersive while following along the e-ARC. Fun fact: the author and her sister played the harp and sang for the audiobook.

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, which is also included in the audiobook as well (1-hour excerpt).

The story was so short that it felt more like a fairy tale than a fantasy novel. The writing was poetic and melodic and the plot concept felt like an original take on a classic trope of a girl being taken into faerie.

To me, the story felt a bit rushed and could have really soared if it was given more space/pages to develop. Being so short, the only love that really felt true what was between the sisters.

I experienced this story as an audiobook and there were pros and cons to that. They included actual singing and harp music which gave the story life. Unfortunately the audio also included a lot of background sounds (river, rain, chimes, etc), which were there to create ambiance and tension, unfortunately, for me at least, the conflicting sounds with the narration over top made the experience feel like nails on a chalkboard. The audio wasn’t listed as a “graphic audio” and it should have been.

*3.5/5 stars

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for sending me an arc of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

A short yet delicious treat of a book, full of whimsical prose and a fairytale-like atmosphere that will invoke sweet nostalgia in anyone who grew up reading classic fairy tales.

I had the great pleasure of getting an arc of the audiobook, which I loved. I adore when audiobooks have more interactive elements to it, so when I heard sound effects and actual singing, I was delighted! It added so much to the short story, enriched the settings and allowed for more connection to the story and characters. The narrator, Gem Carmella, did a fantastic job, their voice suited the story so well.

I loved the sisterly love aspect, good portrayals of sibling love are my favourite, I eat them up everytime. The queer representation was lovely too.

My only gripe (which is one that I tend to have with most short stories), is that it felt just a little too short. I was hoping for a little more time in this world with its wonderfully unique language based magic and lovely songs.

All in all, a very short and easily consumable fantasy story that has a complex but understandable magic system and world with wonderful folkloric vibes!

I thought the audiobook was very well done. The sound effects and music added a lot to the story! It felt very slow for a novella though. It didn't resonate with me that much, but that's not to say it wouldn't resonate with other readers/listeners.

With beautifully accented narration, melodic singing, and gothic soundscapes this audiobook was a truly atmospheric experience. It felt like listening to an ancient bard weaving a centuries old, mythic tale. I loved it!