Reviews with content warning for Chronic illness - A River Enchanted

Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross

19 reviews

motleybooksandtea's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

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hanarama's review against another edition

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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.

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kirstym25's review against another edition

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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

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jessgreads's review against another edition

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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."

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erinmjustice's review against another edition

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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

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jzthecatlady's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious sad 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

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I was an easy to digest fantasy, as the world was easy to understand and get accustomed to. I did wish the beginning had not gone quite as slowly, but once the book hit it's stride, I read most of it pretty quickly. I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of the series, as I've grown attached to all of these very distinct and well-constructed characters. My two biggest issues were 1. we got multiple perspectives, which fundamentally is fine, but some perspectives we got throughout the entire books, some only once or twice, and sometimes the shift in perspectives was a little clunky. But that's always a pet peeve of mine with multiple perspectives, so it probably won't bother most people. Also, I feel like this book is terribly mismarketed. The blurb makes it seem like Jack and Adaira's story, and while it is, it's also equally Torin and Sidra's story. We got their perspectives just as much if not more than the supposed main characters. And while it worked for the book, it was surprising as it wasn't what I was expecting. We barely saw Adaira for the first 100 pages. All that to say, I loved the characters and the story, despite it not being exactly what I was expecting, and I'm excited to see what happens in the rest of the series.

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allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition

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adventurous 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? No

4.0

This Scottish-inspired epic fantasy is somehow cozy and inviting while still ushering in that prickling sense of being watched, of spirits that work in unfathomable patterns. The isle of Cadence is a wild place caught between two lairds with a magical barrier and a long history of enmity between them. Our story begins when Jack and his harp are called home to the isle after a decade away. His clan needs a bard in a time of crisis. Young girls are disappearing without a trace. There's a slow build of tension and mystery for the first part of the book, no less compelling for the steady pace that layers in intrigue and the weariness of an impossible task. Secrets lose their power in the final, wild unfurling of the plot, giving the buildup a worthy conclusion and a taste of the drama that's yet to come.

The story packs in not one but TWO romance plots with all POVs accounted for. On the one hand, we have childhood rivals who have become unwilling allies in adulthood. There's not exactly a wedding of convenience, but it's in the vicinity. There's also a marriage tested by the kidnapping of their daughter. What was once started as a practical match now runs much deeper if the two can share some honesty. This second romance plot convinced me that all men should experience a silencing enchantment so they might suffer time with their inner thoughts, revelations about their feelings, etc. without the sound of their own voice. It seems a good use of their time.

The book has world-building that is enticing, steeped in legend, and detailed without feeling heavy. There's also a clear sense that we have much more to learn about the enemy clan to the west and about the machinations of the spirits. From the brief interactions summoned by Jack's harp, I found all the spirits arresting, but the aesthetic of the air folk has me especially hoping we'll see more detail about the four winds in future books. I'm always chasing that magical ambience.

This fantasy kicks off a new series with lingering atmosphere, introducing a cast of characters I'm excited to see more of. I particularly demand more Sidra content in future outings. Thanks to Harper Voyager for my copy to read and review!

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abrich's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

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veronicats's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I'm not a fantasy person, so I had a hard time with this. Mostly found it uninteresting though I will say the writing and imagination of it is very good. Just not my thing I guess. I would've liked it more if I liked the characters better I think.

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