foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Kidnapping, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Death and Violence
naomi_k's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Chronic illness, Torture, Classism, Death, Grief, Kidnapping, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Xenophobia, Bullying, and Stalking
Minor: Sexual content and War
fn2902's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Infertility, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Terminal illness, Self harm, Chronic illness, and Gore
Minor: Sexual content, War, Abandonment, Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
thewildmageslibrary's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this, now I want the sequel! There were more POV characters than I expected, but I ended up loving them. This was really family-oriented, but I did love the romance plotlines too.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Violence, Blood, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Death, and Miscarriage
chloemakesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
This was fine. I'm not burning to read the next installment, although the book did end on a cliffhanger of sorts. Probably a good thing because it'll probably be 5 years til the next one publishes.
When I read the description to my husband, he said he tuned out after a single sentence, which cracked me up. A lot of mysterious hinting throughout (sigh), partnerships where one partner can't just say what they want/are thinking (HEAVY sigh), and some basic fantasy conventions. Worldbuilding was minimal and based on Celtic lore. Characterization was a bit ham fisted, but I liked them anyway because that's my thing. Writing was forgettable except for the few places I snorted at cliches. (Do authors know you don't HAVE to write sex scenes?) Just not sure I'll remember this one.
When I read the description to my husband, he said he tuned out after a single sentence, which cracked me up. A lot of mysterious hinting throughout (sigh), partnerships where one partner can't just say what they want/are thinking (HEAVY sigh), and some basic fantasy conventions. Worldbuilding was minimal and based on Celtic lore. Characterization was a bit ham fisted, but I liked them anyway because that's my thing. Writing was forgettable except for the few places I snorted at cliches. (Do authors know you don't HAVE to write sex scenes?) Just not sure I'll remember this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Grief, Violence, Kidnapping, and Murder
Moderate: Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Chronic illness, and Death of parent
motleybooksandtea's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Medical content, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
hanarama's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Book at a Glance:
• Scottish-inspired setting
• Clan fueds
• Artisanal magic
• Elemental spirits
• CWs: kidnapping, death of a parent, chronic illness, injury detail, assault
It's been a decade since Jack Tamerlain left the island of Cadence to study music on the mainland. He's built a life in academia, working towards a professorship, when he's called home with an urgent message for help. Young girls are being kidnapped and Jack's music may be the key to finding them.
Returning to Cadence, he must work with his childhood rival and heiress of the Clan: Adaira. Now a steadfast leader, she will stop at nothing to protect her people. She hopes to establish peace with the Clan's ancestral rivals, but first must save the missing girls. Together, Jack and Adaira seek out the spirits of the island for guidance.
The overall mystery of what happened to the girls is fairly obvious from the get go. As is the mystery of Jack's father. However, this story is primarily character driven, and so the joy of this book comes primarily through the interactions between characters.
The narrative follows four main characters: Jack, Adaira, Torino (captain of the guard and Aidaira's cousin), and Sidra (Torin's wife). The interactions between these characters are full of emotion, joyous and painful. In particular, Torin and Sidra have a powerful relationship that is tested through the story, and they are forced into vulnerability. For the reader, Ross lays her characters bare and builds them up stronger. While there's no spice, Ross captures the complexities of relationships in a very adult way, making human connection feel as powerful as the island's magic.
The world building isn't particularly complex. I didn't realize that this wasn't a historical fantasy for a while. Places outside of Cadence are not really defined or named. And the island itself felt very small. With only a handful of side characters, and only one city marked on the map, the world can feel a bit empty at times.
However, Ross manages to establish a magic system that feels woven into everyday life. There is a marked effect on the people of Cadence, and the spirits are a part of everyone's lives. Ross' prose is rich and atmospheric, capturing the magic of the island and weaving in the emotions of her characters like an enchanted plaid.
• Scottish-inspired setting
• Clan fueds
• Artisanal magic
• Elemental spirits
• CWs: kidnapping, death of a parent, chronic illness, injury detail, assault
It's been a decade since Jack Tamerlain left the island of Cadence to study music on the mainland. He's built a life in academia, working towards a professorship, when he's called home with an urgent message for help. Young girls are being kidnapped and Jack's music may be the key to finding them.
Returning to Cadence, he must work with his childhood rival and heiress of the Clan: Adaira. Now a steadfast leader, she will stop at nothing to protect her people. She hopes to establish peace with the Clan's ancestral rivals, but first must save the missing girls. Together, Jack and Adaira seek out the spirits of the island for guidance.
The overall mystery of what happened to the girls is fairly obvious from the get go. As is the mystery of Jack's father. However, this story is primarily character driven, and so the joy of this book comes primarily through the interactions between characters.
The narrative follows four main characters: Jack, Adaira, Torino (captain of the guard and Aidaira's cousin), and Sidra (Torin's wife). The interactions between these characters are full of emotion, joyous and painful. In particular, Torin and Sidra have a powerful relationship that is tested through the story, and they are forced into vulnerability. For the reader, Ross lays her characters bare and builds them up stronger. While there's no spice, Ross captures the complexities of relationships in a very adult way, making human connection feel as powerful as the island's magic.
The world building isn't particularly complex. I didn't realize that this wasn't a historical fantasy for a while. Places outside of Cadence are not really defined or named. And the island itself felt very small. With only a handful of side characters, and only one city marked on the map, the world can feel a bit empty at times.
However, Ross manages to establish a magic system that feels woven into everyday life. There is a marked effect on the people of Cadence, and the spirits are a part of everyone's lives. Ross' prose is rich and atmospheric, capturing the magic of the island and weaving in the emotions of her characters like an enchanted plaid.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Kidnapping, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Violence, Death of parent, and Mental illness
kirstym25's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping and Violence
Moderate: Chronic illness
jessgreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⬜
Title: A River Enchanted (Elements of Cadence #1)
Author: Rebecca Ross
Genre: Fantasy
Setting: The Isle of Cadence
Month Read: February, 2022
Book Type: Hardcover
Publication: 2022
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Pages: 467
TRIGGER WARNING-
Death / Kidnapping / Murder
"We are the earth, the land. The tongue that speaks and trips on the names of the dead as it dares to tell these stories of a woman’s line. Her people and her dirt, her trees,"
No Spoiler Summary:
A River Enchanted is a fantasy novel that takes place on the Isle of Cadence after Jack is called back by the King after leaving the Isle almost a decade before to go to school to be a Bard. He's brought back to help his childhood foe, the Heiress, find village girls who have been going missing without a trace.
Jack and Adaira must appease the spirits (Water, Wind, Fire, and Earth) with his music to try to find out where, and how, the girls went missing. As their partnership continues, they grow closer and start putting their old feelings in the past. Jack is also on a search to figure out who his unknown Father is as secrets and plans begin to unravel the farther, and harder, they search.
Review:
I'm very glad I listened to my gut, and the great reviews, and got this book in my last Book of the Month box! I am not used to reading Adult Fantasy novels, but this book gripped me from the very beginning, and the British Isle location/lore drew me right in!
The stakes are high, you get just enough questions answered to both hold your interest and keep you wanting more, and there is *just* enough romance to not make it seemed super forced. As a musician, I am drawn to Jack and the incredible magic he possesses through his music. Adaira is a fair and just ruler, an Heiress of the People who is kind, but tough, and supposedly beautiful to boot. The side characters (Sidra, Torin, etc) keep the book going with mixed POV's.
If you believe what you read on the internet, we might be getting a sequel this year as well, and let me tell you that this cliffhanger leaves you BEGGING for more. A perfect crescendo of drama, revelations, and high stakes climb until the last sentence of the book. I'm so happy Book of the Month chose such a perfect fantasy novel, because they don't normally offer this genre, and it's definitely one I enjoy quite a bit.
See more reviews at: https://jessgreads.wixsite.com
"These are the incongruities of memory. It is hard to hold on to the entirety of something, but pieces may be held up to light."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Kidnapping
Moderate: Chronic illness, War, Animal death, Grief, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Death of parent, and Sexual content
erinmjustice's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Blood, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, and Chronic illness
Minor: Sexual content, Death of parent, and Child abuse