Beautiful, lyrical with lush imagery and a creative plot line. This book is not the fast paced adventure I was hoping for and I did struggle initially to get into this story. Overall I can objectively appreciate the writing and storyline but I lacked the emotional connection to characters.

I’m not sure if I will continue reading this story but I appreciate the access to e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Some books really force you to decide what you like more: a fast-paced plot or a slowly-evolving character arc. A River Enchanted gives you enough reasons to go with the latter. Fantasy books, especially when not in the the young adult demographic, are often expected to let a complex plot, an extensively built world, and societal themes to take the centre (and I truly love those) but every once in a while some fantasy books like The Order of the Pure Moon Reflected in Water by Zen Cho truly rely on its characters and they definitely deliver. Rebecca Ross’ adult debut is one such character-driven tale.

The people of a Scottish-inspired island, Cadence, have lived under a curse —to be divided, their land literally torn in two— for centuries. The western clan, Breccans, can wield magic but their land isn’t fertile. The eastern clan, Tamerlaine, has a bountiful realm and abundant food but a limited ability to use magic. In this world, elemental spirits exist —who are hostile to the Breccans and (if not kind) at least not often cruel to the Tamerlaines. Having been at odds for hundreds of years, a boundary line exists as an attempt at peace but the hunger in the western land urges Breccans to raid the other side to steal food; and the Tamerlaines fight to hold them off.

After a decade with hardly any contact with his clan while he studied music in the mainland, Jack Tamerlaine is summoned home. He wonders the purpose behind this mysterious call and is surprised to discover the island in a crisis: young girls are going missing and people wonder if the spirits might be taking them away. Adaira Tamerlaine, the young Heir of the East, was the one who secretly summoned Jack, her former childhood rival. She’s devoted to her land and its people, willing to risk everything to find peace, and truly believes that Jack’s musical skills might be the clan’s last hope.

“She was adored, and he was reviled. She was the clan’s joy, while he was the nuisance.” Jack’s own words perfectly describe the connection that these two protagonists hold. With a particular sass, especially from Adaira’s side, and a classic banter that often led to those exciting moments of realising one’s growing feelings toward the other, the changing dynamics from their childhood feels natural at times. Certain phrases like Jack saying “Take delight in my surrender” or Adaira calling him “my old menace” will wonderfully give into the trope —not an enemies-to-lovers, though.

Still, who impresses the most is the quieter, more nuanced, and highly emotional couple: Torin and Sidra. A warrior, now named the Captain of the East Guard, who lost his wife had decided to marry a local skilled and generous healer for his daughter who needed a mother. This is the start to Torin and Sidra’s relationship, and is also the complex base that allows their individual personalities to shine through with intrigue. Torin is bound to the land by blood but a tragedy tests his duty. Sidra is a dutiful and loving mother but the fear of losing someone demands her deepest secrets.

While all four characters play important roles to propel the plot, the women easily win in terms of their arc and presence. Whether it’s Adaira’s unapologetic determination to set things right, lead the possibility of peace, or command those around her —even Jack as a bard who can draw forth the spirits by a song— or Sidra’s benevolent personality as she helps everyone around her while loving Maisie, Torin’s daughter from his first wife, like her own. She has an uncanny ability to mix herbs that reminds of Circe from Madeline Miller’s historical fiction and her unconditional love for Maisie upends the saddening classic trope of an evil stepmother —apologies for interrupting but this recommendation is a must here: Six Crimson Cranes by Elizabeth Lim— evident from this quote: “Even though the lass was not made from her own flesh and blood, Sidra imagined Maisie had been spun from her spirit.”

Despite not being too fond of secondary worlds set in and around waters, A River Enchanted pulled me in through the mist, the dark waters, the damp smell, and the unmissable coldness. With a soft magic system evolving mostly around the spirits, the island is allowed to unravel its political, historical, and mystical destinies in all its glory. It’s a little saddening to see this majorly be Jack’s story because of the least interest that he piqued, but the mystery and magic mixes well in this tale. Overall, the themes of family, home, and love were explored well through the music, the spirits, and the myths.

I really liked the folk tale inspired island and lyrical prose of this novel. The atmosphere was very magical and haunting. The plot could be described as slow, and while Jack and Adaira were the main characters ,I probably had more interest in the side relationship of Torin and Sidra and the exploration of love and loss, and the growth they went through. There was a lot I liked overall but I wish we got a bit more explanation of the spirits and magic and hopefully this will be expanded on in the sequel. Would recommend - Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley for sending me a digital arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is my favourite Rebecca Ross book yet. I mean it is in the title but there is something so enchanting about her writing style and this book is no exception. I loved the world and the characters. Jack and Adaira, once childhood rivals now bard and heiress, come together to face the spirits of the isle as Jack lures them to him to find out why girls are going missing and how to get them back but each song takes a toll and more girls go missing, to save them they must make choices no bard or heiress before them had been brave enough to. I think I’m right in saying this is Rebecca Ross' first adult book and the transition is seamless. It’s one of those stories that you imagine grew that way with no alternatives. It just feels so whole and truthful. I really loved it.

3.5/5 stars.

It was enchanting, comforting and Rebecca Ross's writing was beautiful as usual, but sadly this story wasn't my favorite from that author. I love that author and mostly her other books because her stories are always so atmospheric, immersive and beautiful with a comforting plot. I found that aspect present in A River Enchanted, but I wasn't as gripped by the plot and intrigue as I was hoping to be.

I loved the family aspect and the world-building in this book, the magic system was interesting, the writing was beautiful and the island's history was captivating. The romance was not my favorite though but it was cute. I think this book was wrongly advertised though, because it wasn't enemies to lovers at all. Maybe rivals to lovers and even that would not be entirely true. But in any case, there wasn't a lot of tension between the two main characters and it developed a bit too quickly for my taste. I also found that there wasn't enough character development or growth for the two main characters compared to Sidra and Torin's story. I enjoyed all the POVs, but Sidra and Torin's were my favorites.

Overall, it was a very enchanting and enjoyable read and I would totally recommend it. This is not Ross's best work in my opinion, but this is still a great book and worth a read. I will probably read everything this author releases because even though this one wasn't as strong as her other books, there's something in her writing that I will always love and cherish.

Maybe it was just wrong timing but this book was a DNF for me. I tried reading it several times but couldn't get myself to become invested in the story at all, and in the end, have decided to stop trying.

That's not to say that it's not well written because whatever I read was very gorgeous. This seems to be a strictly me problem because the premise is so good and even the writing is nice but I'm just not able to bring myself to read more of it.

I really enjoyed this, I adore Rebecca Ross's books, none of them have let me down!

A River Enchanted was a fantastic story, filled with mystery, some romance and magic!

It's done from multiple points of view throughout the story and I enjoyed all of them, usual I tire of one person but it wasn't the case with this one!

I'm very much looking forwards to the second book to see how it continues after the ending we were given!

What an enchanting, surprisingly spell binding read.

A River Enchanted tells the story of bard Jack, who has been summoned to the magical island of Cadence at the bequest of his Laird. Jack has spent the last ten years training to be a bard on the mainland, specialising in the harp, and the last thing he wants to do is return to the home island that treated him like an outcast because of his mysterious parentage. However, Jack soon finds himself thrown into a mystery with personal consequences, as girls have started to go missing on Cadence, and the spirits of the isle are reluctant to give away their secrets. Only a song could break their guard, and maybe the help of his former rival, and the Laird's daughter, Adaira.

The atmosphere for this was utterly captivating, as the reader is swept along into the ferocious yet wonderful island of Cadence. Here the spirits are tricky and playful, using humans as their playthings and source of entertainment. A whisper on the wind can expose a secret yet also pass on an urgent message, and wild plants can be tamed and used to heal as well as trap you forever in their earthy roots. I loved the nature of the spirits and how they've shaped the island and just how in tune the natives are to the environment around them. The descriptions of the land really allowed the reader to fully immerse themselves in this world.

I also really liked our main characters, which could essentially be split into two sets of couples. We have Jack and Adaira, lifelong friends and rivals, who are forced to work together to uncover the truth about what is happening on the island. Jack is incredibly reserved and unyeileding in his return to Cadence, untrusing of everyone, and he has a massive chip on his shoulder that he needs to overcome. Adaira plays a large part in Jack's changing attitudes, showing him that he's valued and worthy of a place on the island. She's also head strong and inquisitive, which lends herself well to Jack's more reserved personality. They work well together.

Torin and Sidra are perhaps my favourite couple however. Sidra is Torin's second wife after his first died in childbirth and together they are raising Torin's daughter. Sidra is a strong believer in the good that the spirits of the islae can do and she's a talented healer. However at the story of our story she's trapped in what appears to be a loveless marriage with Torin. They're very unsure of each other and seem to live seperate lives. When tragedy strikes the two are forced to confront these problems and I really enjoyed seeing them explore each other and find love all over again. It was endearing and felt very grounded in compwriosn to all the magical things going on around them.

I will say that the world building got a bit muddled in places. We get drips of info on the spirits and elementals of the lands through stories of their deeds in the past, but I always felt this could have gone deeper and in greater depth to add substance to the stories and threats. At the start of the story a lot of the action has already taken place, the island divided, and we never really get to explore the reasonings behind this or what the island is like in the West. I'm hoping the way this concluded that this will be addressed more in the sequel.

A perfect read for spring, with enchanting elemental spirits and realistic characters. Thankfully we don't have to wait long for the sequel as I can't wait to dip my toes into the waters of Cadence once again.

A River Enchanted Is a lovely, magical read.

The story is set on, the clearly Scottish inspired, isle of Cadence, which really felt like it’s own character. The isle is split between two warring clans, and it was interesting to learn about its history and magical system which was very well established.

The characters are really what drives this story. We have Jack, a bard who returns to the isle after spending time on the mainland and Adaira, his childhood rival and heiress to the lairdship. Their story is very sweet as they learn to trust and understand each other better, while each grappling with their responsibilities. Then there’s Torin and Sidra, a couple in a marriage of convenience. Their relationship is truly one between grown ups, they tackle their differing ideologies and learn from each other.

The story revolves around the mystery of local lasses disappearing from the Tamerlane clan. The way this was resolved felt a little obvious but I enjoyed the journey along the way. This brilliant world building and set up along with the reveal at the end, makes me very excited for the second book. I can’t wait to return to the Isle of Cadence!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest reviewed.

In A River Enchanted we follow bard Jack Tamerlaine as he returns home to the Isle of Cadence to discover young girls are going missing and joins forces with his old enemy Adaira to find out the truth of what is happening.

Before even picking up this book I had high expectations. I love Celtic stories, and the synopsis alone had me intrigued. This book is more romance than I had expected, but it has enough mythology and worldbuilding to make me want to pick up the next book.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read A River Enchanted.

I had a perfectly decent time with this book and I suspect a lot of the criticisms I have are more personal than anything else so please keep that in mind while reading, you're appreciation for Celtic fiction may vary from mine!
I thought that this book contained a decent story and some really lovely romances. I loved the emphasis on communication and coming clean about your feelings - often something left out of a romance. I also thought that there were some interesting ideas around imbuing items with magic and an emphasis on the cost of that magic.
However I can't say I was wowed by the book as a whole, it sort of just felt fine to me? I wanted to be blown away by this celtic inspired fantasy setting and instead I just felt like it was all fairly normal and there was plaid? I also couldn't get past the characters using the word 'mum' or 'mummy' which is *such* a nitpick but once I noticed it I couldn't stop seeing it and it just felt like it didn't quite fit with the setting - although granted the setting is fantastical so perhaps historical accuracy is not the order of the day.
I think this is a book that many could enjoy but I wouldn't be adding it to a favourites list simply because, for me, it didnt' feel as though it did anything particularly special. Maybe that would make it a great book for a large group of people to read - perfect for an indecisive book club perhaps?
Overall I wouldn't recommend this unless someone was looking for very specific celtic fantasy vibes - but when someone asks then I'm sure they'll have a good time!
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this story. I found the opening on particular very strong. As the story develops we have our main characters Adaira and Jack, two childhood nemeses now joined in purpose to solve a mystery plaguing their island.

There are spirits who interfere with the lives of the inhabitants of the East of the island, an enemy clan that inhabit the West of the island and magic and mystery weaves its way across the land.

I enjoyed almost all the characters, with Sidra and Torrin becoming equal footing protagonists for me. The other side characters were maybe a bit thin.

The mystery is solved in this book, with the second book seeming to be quite a different story from where we leave off with this one. I did find the actual reveal slightly anti-climactic although this did then set up things for book two - a book which I await eagerly.

My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

When I received this ARC, I had forgotten that I had requested it and thus went into it without knowing much about the plot. If you are a fan of Scotland like me, go and read it since the world is heavily inspired by this beautiful country and its culture!

We follow an interesting cast of characters, all adults, that are trying to go on with their lives in a troubled time since young girls are being kidnapped. Our hero, Jack, is called back on the island that saw him growing up to try to solve this mystery with Adaira, the heiress of the East. Thus, the reader is discovering the island and its inhabitants at the same time as Jack is rediscovering them. I particularly enjoyed all the parts linked to the different spirits, which seemed to be really in line with the atmosphere of the book and the one you can find in Scotland (especially with its numerous ghosts). The pace is (very) slow but in a quiet, cosy way and did not disturb me while I am usually easily bored with this type of rhythm. It really left room in the narration for the different stories of the characters and for their relationships to evolve as they would in real life. The mystery is in the same vein, long to be solved and simple but complex enough to keep the reader’s attention.

Among all these quiet elements one thing made my blood boil and shows the quality of the writing style: people. The way humans behave and their prejudices are wonderfully shown in this book, with people worshipping you (literally) one day and hating you the next. I was particularly disgusted by the islanders’ attitude towards Jack, who left the isle because they basically bullied him while he was only a kid, and now are welcoming him and even considering him as their property just because he has something they want…

In brief: this book will remain in my memory as a quiet, peaceful one with a dose of mystery. I am intrigued to see how the plot twist of the end will be solved in the sequel and hope to see more of the world of the spirits.

This beautiful Celtic-inspired magical fantasy is wonderful. Drawing on the best and most traditional fantasy elements, and weaving them into folklore with a distinctive Highland feel.. I loved it. the world building is spectacular, and I adored the interaction between the characters and the spirits. Wholesome, traditional, and yet original. This reads like a classic! I'd love for this to be a long series. Super stuff.

The plot progression is slow but captivating. One must have anough patience and focus to enjoy the world built to enchant us, the readers, a world of mystery, world of magic, a world of adventure, a world where everything feels lyrical and vivid imagery.
Absolutely stunning book.

When girls begin to disappear from the east clan of the Isle, Cadence, Jack must return to the place he once left ten years earlier to help the clan find the kidnapped girls.

But is it the spirits that live on the isle that is taking them or is it something or someone else entirely? It’s upto Jack and Adaira, the heiress of the East to try and save the girls and get them back. Can their magic help save the girls?

Jack and Adaira have never got on and have been sworn enemies since they was children but that soon changes as they get thrust together to try and save the girls. It was great to read their relationship progress within the story.

I loved the world that the author had built, there definitely felt something magical about it. She’s done a fabulous job of weaving in the mythology folklore and creating the place that is Cadence. The place not only felt atmospheric but also enchanting at the same time. It’s definitely a place I could imagine from her description!

Beautifully woven in detail and a captivating story that flows as wonderfully as though it was the river itself. It’s quite a fast paced read and I found myself caught up in the story, the action, the characters, the relationships, the magic and the details that really made this book for me.

A brilliant debut novel from Rebecca Ross. This book completely captured me and I definitely can not wait to see where the next book goes!

In a mysterious island, in the middle of a turbulent Scottish sea, mysterious disappearances, long held feuds, and the whims of strange, beautiful, and dangerous fey combine to bring secrets to light. For the first time in over a decade, Jack Tamerlaine is coming home to Cadence. Far away from his home and family, he has become a man, and a master musician, and has almost entirely convinced himself that he’s satisfied with the life that he has. He can become a fine teacher, he can write music, he can live out his life. Then comes a summons that he can’t ignore. His Laird needs him, and his harp, to come home. Jack, and only Jack can help Cadence now.
Having loved Rebecca Ross’ Queen’s Rising duology, I was excited to read her new adult fantasy. Her Isle of Cadence is a beautiful and atmospheric place, and definitely well researched. The characters lives are richly drawn with affection for the tiny details that make them come alive. Perhaps one of my favourite parts is that the magic of cadence is unique. Each casting costs the magic user. A plaid that keeps its wearer safe will drain the weaver. A knife that will always find its mark will put the smith into their bed for a week. Ross has even woven in a beautifully natural acceptance of queerness and a rejection of stifling gender norms within her Cadence. The female blacksmith and her wife, the Laird’s daughter who will one day rule, and NOT her spouse. There is also a gentle sex positivity that one doesn’t often find in historical fantasy.
A very strong beginning, but one that does end on quite a cliffhanger, and while it is slightly more adult than Ross’ previous work, I would not hesitate to pass it on to a younger reader too. For anyone who loves historical fantasy without the violence or forced romantic tropes, and for anyone who fell in love with Sam Heughan in a kilt.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy.

first impression

At first, when I started the book, I had a lot of mixed feelings about it because I am not the most attracted to the atmospheric, beautiful, writing style being the main aspect of the story. The book didn't seem to have a very concrete idea of the plot and where it was going till a good one-third of the book. It grabs your attention with its magic system and setting but it takes a good 30% of the book to fully be riveted to the story. It moves at a very steady pace, not exactly slow because something on the other keeps happening- but it also delivers the information very organically.

There are no in info dumps, flashbacks, or abrupt changes that give extra information. We only know what the characters know, and find things out as they do. It can be a very hit-or-miss way of storytelling, so that's why I dnf'd it at the beginning. But then I decided to give it a chance and ultimately ended up really enjoying it.

Overall, it felt like a drawn-out prelude to a bigger story. The ending more so seemed it had just been setting the stage for a bigger conflict. It can be kind of boring if a slow-moving plot isn't your sort of thing, but if you can stick to it and appreciate the story for what it is, it can make for a very interesting and unique story.

The main setup is that this boy named Jack Tamerlaine, who is a bard/musician living and teaching music on the mainland - receives a message from the head of the clan that he belongs to. The clan is a sort of village/tribe living on an island.

The head of the clan wants Jack to come back to the island immediately. But Jack had essentially been sent away to the island by the clan head himself, and the message does not explain anything other than that to come back asap.

characters

Meanwhile, on the island, tragedy has struck in the form of little girls mysteriously going missing and everyone is distraught. The synopsis implies that there are only two POVs, but there are actually 4 main characters, each with their own POV.
To be honest, it would have been really boring if it would have just been the two main characters, Jack (The bard), there is the daughter of the clan head,
2) Adaira, Adaira's cousin and
3) the Captain of the Guard, Torin, and
4) a healer and Torin's wife- Sidra (my personal fav!)

I think more than Jack and Adiara, who are the enemies-to-lovers "hook" couple for the story, my favorite characters were Torin and Sidra. They have a very complicated relationship with more emotional baggage and obligations and substance.

The magic system is sort of a softer magic system that depends on spirits and the magic in their lore and stories. The whole setting is a character and a magic system, both. That's where everything comes from. The island has a personality of itself and it's so prominent. It is also very intriguing very beautiful and something a little different from my usual type of reading.

Once you get into the action, it's very hard to let go. There are complicated relationships, complex politics, and questions about the magic that keeps arising. They are answered and the stakes also keep rising. It also has themes of grief, belonging, morality, and, family relations. I would recommend this book if it sounds like your type of thing.

This book I found to be really slow and I just didn't find it captivating. The main characters weren't interesting to me especially the relationship between Jack and Adaira. I liked the setting I thought it was really atmospheric. But the first half of the book in particular really drags

This was an interesting read, I was a bit scared to read this, as I didn’t enjoy early YA works from the same writer, but I heard this was going to be Ross’s attempt to move into adult fantasy, so I wanted to give it a go. I have to say, I really enjoyed A River Enchanted, the writing is melodic and exceptional, and I felt a strong connection with Jack from the very beginning and I felt so attached to him throughout the whole story.

The story is told from multiple POVs, but it’s clear that you have two romance-story lines, Jack the Bard and Adaira the clan heiress, and Torin the captain and his wife Sidra, the healer. To be honest, I thought Adaira was the weakest character, and I struggled a bit to get on board with Jack-Adaira romance line, which falls into an unusual combination of enemies to friends to marriage arrangement trope. I thought that the feelings they developed for each other developed too quickly and were not really justified? Torin and Sidra represented more complex characters and probably what you expect from an adult fantasy. Their story arc goes into a more mature discussion, such as dealing with grief and losing your own faith.

The premise of this story is that Jack has been forced to come back to his native island of Cadence because little girls are mysteriously disappearing. Along with trying to get clues about who takes the children and why, Jack has to readjust himself to the spirits of this land, which has a lot of Scottish/Outlander vibes, with magical plaid, enchanted blades and spirits. The world-building is absolutely fascinating and the writing is so beautiful, I was entrapped from the very beginning.

It has overall a slow pace, but I still appreciated how everything was combined with the politics of this world and the long struggles between the rival clans. The story slowly builds up towards the end and everything comes together with unpredictable plot twists, but it has an abrupt ending.

Many things happen right at the end that both the characters and the readers have no time to fully absorb. I understand this was all a ruse leading to the sequel, but a lot is cramped into two chapters. I am curious to see if the second book will change some of the POVs, and also it will be interesting how it will develop, so I really really hope this book won’t suffer from sequel syndrome.

PS: The comparison of this book with Crescent City is so wrong, at so many levels, lol.