Scan barcode
A review by jessiereads98
A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross
adventurous
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
A River Enchanted follows bard Jack Tamerlaine’s return to the divided Isle of Cadence, where he has been summoned by Adaira Tamerlaine, heiress of the East, to help her solve the mystery of girls going missing. Rebecca Ross weaves together fantasy, romance, and mystery in this atmospheric novel with lyrical prose.
The setting of the Isle of Cadence and the magic in this book clearly take their inspiration from Scotland. I really enjoyed the world building here. The magic system is well crafted, and I appreciated the way Ross handled the cost of wielding magic. I also really enjoyed the concept of the folk here. It was well done, and the folk felt both mystical and like just another part of nature, as they should. Ross definitely got it right in creating folk who were benevolent, those who were tricksters, and those who were ambivalent. The descriptions of the setting in this book also feel magical. The surroundings are described with reverence, without it feeling overwrought.
Ross also created compelling relationships between her characters.Jack and Adaira’s progression from childhood nemeses to lovers is incredibly sweet. Neither character’s development is sacrificed for the sake of their relationship. We get to see them grow together in such a tender and heartwarming way. I also really enjoyed the relationship between Sidra and Torin. Following a more mature relationship as it changes and grows isn’t something you see often in fantasy romance, and Ross executed it very well. They face real problems, and have real mature conversations about them. Things aren’t perfect, but they’re working on them. This is handled without it ever feeling clunky or like the author is trying to spoon feed a point to the readers without taking previous characterization into account. The characters, and their relationships, felt very real and grounded here.
The mystery of the missing girls is sensical, without being too easy solve. As a reader, I was able to add things up and notice the important details as things progressed, so when we reached the solution it didn’t seem to come out of nowhere. The final twist to the mystery managed to be both predictable in one way, and surprising in another. I was satisfied by the conclusion, and didn’t feel that I had been tricked for the sake of the shock value of a twist. It set up nicely to leave me looking forward to the second book in the duology, without being devastated by the cliffhanger.
A River Enchanted reads like folklore with its lyrical prose and lush setting inhabited by the folk. I can’t wait to return to the Isle of Cadence and its inhabitants in the conclusion to the duology.
The setting of the Isle of Cadence and the magic in this book clearly take their inspiration from Scotland. I really enjoyed the world building here. The magic system is well crafted, and I appreciated the way Ross handled the cost of wielding magic. I also really enjoyed the concept of the folk here. It was well done, and the folk felt both mystical and like just another part of nature, as they should. Ross definitely got it right in creating folk who were benevolent, those who were tricksters, and those who were ambivalent. The descriptions of the setting in this book also feel magical. The surroundings are described with reverence, without it feeling overwrought.
Ross also created compelling relationships between her characters.
The mystery of the missing girls is sensical, without being too easy solve. As a reader, I was able to add things up and notice the important details as things progressed, so when we reached the solution it didn’t seem to come out of nowhere. The final twist to the mystery managed to be both predictable in one way, and surprising in another. I was satisfied by the conclusion, and didn’t feel that I had been tricked for the sake of the shock value of a twist. It set up nicely to leave me looking forward to the second book in the duology, without being devastated by the cliffhanger.
A River Enchanted reads like folklore with its lyrical prose and lush setting inhabited by the folk. I can’t wait to return to the Isle of Cadence and its inhabitants in the conclusion to the duology.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Blood, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
Minor: Self harm, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail