Rebecca   Ross

A River Enchanted

Liz Griffin

joy-lynn

Libby G

Heather Harrington

ausra

I once thought home was simply a place. Four walls to hold you at night while you slept. But I was wrong. It's people. It's being with the ones you love, and maybe even the ones you hate.

"But alas, hearts are meant to be broken, aren t they, bard?"

"If they must break," Jack said, "then they break and remake themselves into stronger vessels."

"I am but a verse inspired by your chorus, and I will follow you until the end, when the isle takes my bones and my name is nothing more than a remembrance on a headstone, next to yours." 

They drank to their wounds, their regrets, and their hopes, to the past, to how the choices each had made had unknowingly brought them back together. 

Valentina Williams

“I am but a verse inspired by your chorus, and I will follow you until the end, when the isle takes my bones and my name is nothing more than a remembrance on a headstone, next to yours”

Jillian Roberts

"There is no failure in love," she said and covered the furrows. The soil was rich; it swallowed a portion of her grief. "And I have loved without measure."

Rebecca Ross

"With lush world building and lyrical prose, A River Enchanted feels like the echo of a folktale from a world right next to our own." --Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author of For the Wolf House of Earth and Blood meets The Witch's Heart in Rebecca Ross's brilliant first adult fantasy, set on the magical isle of Cadence where two childhood enemies must team up to discover why girls are going missing from their clan. Jack Tamerlaine hasn't stepped foot on Cadence in ten long years, content to study music at the mainland university. But when young girls start disappearing from the isle, Jack is summoned home to help find them. Enchantments run deep on Cadence: gossip is carried by the wind, plaid shawls can be as strong as armor, and the smallest cut of a knife can instill fathomless fear. The capricious spirits that rule the isle by fire, water, earth, and wind find mirth in the lives of the humans who call the land home. Adaira, heiress of the east and Jack's childhood enemy, knows the spirits only answer to a bard's music, and she hopes Jack can draw them forth by song, enticing them to return the missing girls. As Jack and Adaira reluctantly work together, they find they make better allies than rivals as their partnership turns into something more. But with each passing song, it becomes apparent the trouble with the spirits is far more sinister than they first expected, and an older, darker secret about Cadence lurks beneath the surface, threatening to undo them all. With unforgettable characters, a fast-paced plot, and compelling world building, A River Enchanted is a stirring story of duty, love, and the power of true partnership, and marks Rebecca Ross's brilliant entry on the adult fantasy stage.

This was so good! Bit slow for the first quarter but the groundwork was being set for some excellent story building. Love the characters and setting, interesting magic system…I want to be Celtic now. Immediately reading the second book.

Bethany

“I once thought home was simply a place. Four walls to hold you at night while you slept. But I was wrong. It’s people. It’s being with the ones that you love, and maybe even the ones that you hate.”

This is undeniably a beautifully written book, the prose is flowery, poetic and so stunning, the premise is captivating and literally "enchanting", and the reading experience was so comfortable and cosy. But there was just something about this book that didn't fully capture my attention. It took me two weeks to read, and while I wanted to keep reading, I often couldn't get past more than 30 pages at a time and was easily distracted by other things. I find that so disappointed because I really wanted to like this book more than I did. The storyline follows multi POVs of people from the Isle of Cadence, there's Jack who is a bastard son, sent to the mainland to learn music when he was a boy and has returned home, Adaira who is the Laird's heiress and childhood rival of Jack, Sidra who is a healer on the isle, her husband Torin who is the Captain of the East Guard and Frae who is Jack's younger sister and also a bastard, with their father unknown. The plot falls into a mix of the fantasy, romance and mystery genres, the overarching plot following young girls going missing, and the above characters working out what is happening.

I really loved the characters, they were all unique voices with fascinating backstories. There was a good amount of wry humour, tension and intrigue to keep me reading and interested to see where this story led, and it was easy to slip into this world and feel swept away by the magic of it. The magic system is lovely, the idea of spirits and enchantments is so whimsical, and the plot elements surrounding this that tie into the world building with the clan line splitting the isle in two creating enemies of each other, the differents ways the spirits and enchantments interact with the people from each clan, as well as the rugged, isolation of the isle and the ambivalence of how the spirits connect with the people and the elements, made this story feel wonderfully wild and dynamic. Also the two romance subplots entwinted throughout the story were both really sweet, and show the diversity of ways someone can come to love another person and build a life with them. The messages surrounding the way you love people and what you call home, what ties you to a place and your community, exploring acceptance and belonging, was great as well.

But then on the other hand there were so many places that I felt this book was lacking. The pacing of the story felt almost like a trudge at points, with nothing much happening a lot of the time. This was really a understated, low key, calm book even when there were suspenseful scenes and apprehensive moments that should've had me on the edge of my seat, I still just felt a bit 'meh' about what was happening. I think this came down to feeling really distant from the characters, like I was on the sidelines watching them live their lives rather than feeling fully envolved and connected to their emotions and deeper feelings. 

>>>SPOILER Such as, when Alistair Tamerlaine, the Laird of the East, dies, it happens off page so we don't see much of Adaira's grief apart from being told she feels it, it's almost like it gets swept away as unimportant and that does the story a real disservice. Also when Adaira finds out the truth of her birth, this is a shocking and world altering piece of news and while it clearly rocked Adaira, I just didn't 

We get told a lot of information rather than really being shown it. I really wanted the scenes where Jack plays for the spirits to feel dangerous and wrought with emotions, the fear, the wonder and awe, the spiritual connection etc but it just wasn't there for me.

This was an endearing story but ultimately it disappointed me a bit with its execution. I think it had a lot more promise to be an epic fantasy romance with the mystical, mysteriousness of the whole world it could easily have led to a truly amazing book and I am so sad that I didn't really get that. Despite all of that I will absolutely be picking up the second book in the new year and am engaged enough with the story to be invested in where it leads, but I have a feeling this is going to be a firmly good but not great read. Having reading the 

 duology I wonder if the second book in this duology will change tone and vibes the way that 

 did, and if done right, I think it could mean the resolution will be very satisfying, so it will be interesting to see what I think of 

. I would still absolutely recommend this book despite my personal feelings being slightly neither here nor there.

“I am but a verse inspired by your chorus, and I will follow you until the end, when the isle takes my bones and my name is nothing more than a remembrance on a headstone, next to yours.”

Genevieve 

“I once thought home was simply a place. Four walls to hold you at night while you slept. But I was wrong. It’s people. It’s being with the ones that you love, and maybe even the ones that you hate.”

4⭐

This is undeniably a beautifully written book, the prose is flowery, poetic and so stunning, the premise is captivating and literally "enchanting", and the reading experience was so comfortable and cosy. But there was just something about this book that didn't fully capture my attention. It took me two weeks to read, and while I wanted to keep reading, I often couldn't get past more than 30 pages at a time and was easily distracted by other things. I find that so disappointed because I really wanted to like this book more than I did. The storyline follows multi POVs of people from the Isle of Cadence, there's Jack who is a bastard son, sent to the mainland to learn music when he was a boy and has returned home, Adaira who is the Laird's heiress and childhood rival of Jack, Sidra who is a healer on the isle, her husband Torin who is the Captain of the East Guard and Frae who is Jack's younger sister and also a bastard, with their father unknown. The plot falls into a mix of the fantasy, romance and mystery genres, the overarching plot following young girls going missing, and the above characters working out what is happening.

I really loved the characters, they were all unique voices with fascinating backstories. There was a good amount of wry humour, tension and intrigue to keep me reading and interested to see where this story led, and it was easy to slip into this world and feel swept away by the magic of it. The magic system is lovely, the idea of spirits and enchantments is so whimsical, and the plot elements surrounding this that tie into the world building with the clan line splitting the isle in two creating enemies of each other, the differents ways the spirits and enchantments interact with the people from each clan, as well as the rugged, isolation of the isle and the ambivalence of how the spirits connect with the people and the elements, made this story feel wonderfully wild and dynamic. Also the two romance subplots entwinted throughout the story were both really sweet, and show the diversity of ways someone can come to love another person and build a life with them. The messages surrounding the way you love people and what you call home, what ties you to a place and your community, exploring acceptance and belonging, was great as well.

But then on the other hand there were so many places that I felt this book was lacking. The pacing of the story felt almost like a trudge at points, with nothing much happening a lot of the time. This was really a understated, low key, calm book even when there were suspenseful scenes and apprehensive moments that should've had me on the edge of my seat, I still just felt a bit 'meh' about what was happening. I think this came down to feeling really distant from the characters, like I was on the sidelines watching them live their lives rather than feeling fully envolved and connected to their emotions and deeper feelings. 
>>>SPOILER Such as, when Alistair Tamerlaine, the Laird of the East, dies, it happens off page so we don't see much of Adaira's grief apart from being told she feels it, it's almost like it gets swept away as unimportant and that does the story a real disservice. Also when Adaira finds out the truth of her birth, this is a shocking and world altering piece of news and while it clearly rocked Adaira, I just didn't feel it.<<<END SPOILER
We get told a lot of information rather than really being shown it. I really wanted the scenes where Jack plays for the spirits to feel dangerous and wrought with emotions, the fear, the wonder and awe, the spiritual connection etc but it just wasn't there for me.

This was an endearing story but ultimately it disappointed me a bit with its execution. I think it had a lot more promise to be an epic fantasy romance with the mystical, mysteriousness of the whole world it could easily have led to a truly amazing book and I am so sad that I didn't really get that. Despite all of that I will absolutely be picking up the second book in the new year and am engaged enough with the story to be invested in where it leads, but I have a feeling this is going to be a firmly good but not great read. Having reading the Letters of Enchantment duology I wonder if the second book in this duology will change tone and vibes the way that Ruthless Vows did, and if done right, I think it could mean the resolution will be very satisfying, so it will be interesting to see what I think of A Fire Endless. I would still absolutely recommend this book despite my personal feelings being slightly neither here nor there.

“I am but a verse inspired by your chorus, and I will follow you until the end, when the isle takes my bones and my name is nothing more than a remembrance on a headstone, next to yours.”

HOW COULD SHE GO WEST WITHOUT JACK. MY SHAYLAAAAAA. In all seriousness this was so well written, so unexpected, and so complex. Had my riveted from the very beginning 

Monserrat Navarro 

Rebecca Ross has such an expressive way of writing. She shaped the Isle of Cadence with such intricate detail, and I felt fully immersed in the beauty of it. The romance in this novel truly captured deeper topics that stretch far beyond my own knowledge. I can't wait to purchase the sequel!

Reese Ruiz

Jennifer Gosnell

Such an interesting magic system. Really intrigued by this story and excited to see where the next book takes us!

Heather Margaret

I would like to roll around in the heather and be Celtic after reading this. The grumpy/sunshine trope always wins, I love Sidra and Torin endlessly.

Chloé

Okay so I loved this, like truly loved it.
The characters are so fleshed out normally when books are from multiple POVs I always have a POV I prefer and think through the others 'Come on I wanna read this one', however in this book I loved and cared about all the characters.

The beginning was slow, but then it really picked up. This book read like a poem...absolutely beautiful. 

Loved the prose, the world and the interactions between characters.  Plot was a bit slow, and the ending annoyed me.  Though, I will read the second book.

Jenny Engel

Sarah J Maas's Crescent City meets Uprooted in acclaimed YA author Rebecca Ross's brilliant first adult fantasy.

Mel 

Beautifully written and deliciously atmospheric.
I really enjoyed this story.
The characters were really distinct and unique.
My one issue is Adaira and Jack’s relationship is very meh to me. I like them as individuals but romantically I don’t buy it.
Everything else was just *chefs kiss*

Yaffa

After a slow start, which is immediately forgiven after a few chapters in, the book just keeps slamming me with some of the most beautiful prose I've laid my eyes on. I had low expectations and then the engaging story yanked me to the end of the book in just a few days. Just beautiful.

marta 

Wow I loved this story. Rebecca Ross has such a way with words: it’s descriptive, it’s lush, but it’s never overwrought. She combines that with a compelling plot entangled in Scottish folklore and characters that are extremely lovable. The quiet romances are beautiful and I’m convinced I will love anything by Ross. She is just as adept at adult fantasy as she is YA. I cannot wait to read the sequel. 

Katie Allard

House of Earth and Blood meets The Witch's Heart in Rebecca Ross’s brilliant first adult fantasy, set on the magical isle of Cadence where two childhood enemies must team up to discover why girls are going missing from their clan. Jack Tamerlaine hasn’t stepped foot on Cadence in ten long years, content to study music at the mainland university. But when young girls start disappearing from the isle, Jack is summoned home to help find them. Enchantments run deep on Cadence: gossip is carried by the wind, plaid shawls can be as strong as armor, and the smallest cut of a knife can instill fathomless fear. The capricious spirits that rule the isle by fire, water, earth, and wind find mirth in the lives of the humans who call the land home. Adaira, heiress of the east and Jack’s childhood enemy, knows the spirits only answer to a bard’s music, and she hopes Jack can draw them forth by song, enticing them to return the missing girls. As Jack and Adaira reluctantly work together, they find they make better allies than rivals as their partnership turns into something more. But with each passing song, it becomes apparent the trouble with the spirits is far more sinister than they first expected, and an older, darker secret about Cadence lurks beneath the surface, threatening to undo them all. With unforgettable characters, a fast-paced plot, and compelling world building, A River Enchanted is a stirring story of duty, love, and the power of true partnership, and marks Rebecca Ross’s brilliant entry on the adult fantasy stage.

A Novel

The novel is not without its merits even though it was ultimately a little boring and overlong and I could not wait for it to be finished.

On one side, the novel is atmospheric, with an interesting and enchanting (pun not intended) setting - it might well be the current storm but there is something very cosy about the novel. There are some really good and interesting elements to the world-building that could make for an excellent novel. 

However, the novel never quite expands on these elements. Instead it focuses on inter-personal drama, some of which drags on for an unnecessarily long time. It also introduces multiple POV's, some of which it could have well done without. The result is a meandering novel that seems to aim to build up its characters but never actually manages to entice with any of them. It puts the excellent concept on the backburner, ending up feeling unfocused. 

The novel is not without its merits even though it was ultimately a little boring and overlong and I could not wait for it to be finished.

On one side, the novel is atmospheric, with an interesting and enchanting (pun not intended) setting - it might well be the current storm but there is something very cosy about the novel. There are some really good and interesting elements to the world-building that could make for an excellent novel. 

However, the novel never quite expands on these elements. Instead it focuses on inter-personal drama, some of which drags on for an unnecessarily long time. It also introduces multiple POV's, some of which it could have well done without. The result is a meandering novel that seems to aim to build up its characters but never actually manages to entice with any of them. It puts the excellent concept on the backburner, ending up feeling unfocused. 

The writing was so beautiful, but the story fell flat and it dragged on too long :( I really wanted to like this. 

Wow. What a book. I love Fantasy but this felt so different. Probably because the world was so calm. This book was so Well written. It felt Like the words were enchanted. I loved all the characters And there was a plottwist I did not see coming at all. The Back of the book does not descripe what this is about at all. Dual pov from 4 persons. Everyone of them has a different purpose and they are all so well chosen. The isle was so imagible And i love that all of it felt so folkloreish. The vibes of the book were Just 5/5. Cant wait for the Second one.

Celina Irena Kuhn

Kendi Dockum

Captivating, indeed! The story contained all of my favorite genres weaved together in one neat package: romance, fantasy, and a hint of mystery, and even holds tales of folklore for your reading pleasure. The characters were amazing in their own unique ways. I am so hoping that there will be a sequel in the works! 🤞

This book came highly recommended from people who like similar books.

I unfortunately didn’t share their passion for this book.

The book drags a lot and the pacing is so slow. The worldbuilding is very clear, but too detailed. It also has a fair amount of repetition.

Most of the characters are sympathetic, except for Torren.

I alternated listening to this book and reading the ebook.

I thought it was a missed chance to have a book about a bard, and including zero songs. The audiobook could’ve included harp music to elevate it.

And a personal pet peeve, that in this fantastical stories with spirits and magic, there is still loads of sexism, misogyny etc.

All in all, parts were beautiful, parts dragged.

Suzanne

This book came highly recommended from people who like similar books.

I unfortunately didn’t share their passion for this book.

The book drags a lot and the pacing is so slow. The worldbuilding is very clear, but too detailed. It also has a fair amount of repetition.

Most of the characters are sympathetic, except for Torren.

I alternated listening to this book and reading the ebook.

I thought it was a missed chance to have a book about a bard, and including zero songs. The audiobook could’ve included harp music to elevate it.

And a personal pet peeve, that in this fantastical stories with spirits and magic, there is still loads of sexism, misogyny etc.

All in all, parts were beautiful, parts dragged.

The story moved a bit slow but I cared a lot about the characters. I’m too invested in finding out what happens next to not pick up A Fire Endless next. 

Courtney

SO MUCH BETTER THAN I EXPECTEDDD I’m obsessed with Adaira, and the ending made me mad enough to pick the next book right up!

Shai

Descriptive world building…without being too much so. Decent character development even with so many points of view. Truly enjoyed it.

Missie Burdick

Vilandra

I felt the author is very talented with her descriptions. This book felt a bit slow in parts, and I think the author struggled with the romance, especially between the main characters. I did enjoy it and want to find out what happens in the next book!

Kristen Claiborn

I’m not a big fan of fantasy, I usually actively avoid it. I’m the outlier in my family there, all the readers in my family enjoy fantasy and have tried to find books that I might enjoy, but I just don’t love it. I find them to be unnecessarily complicated, with intricate storylines, elaborate and foreign worlds, characters with weird names, and fantastical creatures. It’s just not my thing (I’m also not a fan of sci-fi for those exact same reasons). I read the George R. R. Martin books, but found I didn’t love having to keep notes on the characters: who is related to who, who hates who, who wants to kill who, who actually did get killed…it was exhausting. Every now and then I’ll encounter a fantasy that I enjoy, like the Harry Potter books. The thing about the Harry Potter books, though, is that they are based in a reality I know. The good thing here is that I don’t have to like them, I can read whatever the hell I want. 
	This book reads more like historical fiction than fantasy, with a little magic sprinkled in. It’s not even a lot of magic. The characters are doing things that seem pretty normal, except for that whole magic part…and playing a harp to summon spirits for guidance. There is family drama, secrets, some romance, all things that normal people in not fantasy books go through, so it didn’t feel like a fantasy. It’s also a pretty simple read, it feels a lot like a young adult novel. I didn’t know anything about the author prior to reading this one, so when I found out she is well-known for her young adult books, I wasn’t at all surprised. The areas concerning sexy time aren’t very steamy, the areas about fighting don’t really include much gore. Ross is definitely used to writing for a younger audience, and that’s ok. 
	Kudos to Ross, for writing one of the first fantasy novels I have enjoyed in an absurdly long time. I’m even looking forward to the next one in the series!

A key strength of this book is how atmospheric and picturesque it is. Think 

 intertwined with Scottish and Celtic lore.

This will take time to get into, and I was vaguely confused on the location placements which impacted my understanding of the timeline and pace of the book. As such some quests to me were accomplished too fast and some confessions told too late.

But that did not take away the cozy escapist enjoyment of the book, despite having a kidnapping plot. I cannot wait to pick up book two!

 Only read it during the gray winter days with the rain spattering outside your window, it is perfect.

Jawahir M

A key strength of this book is how atmospheric and picturesque it is. Think Outlander, Quest of Camelot intertwined with Scottish and Celtic lore.

This will take time to get into, and I was vaguely confused on the location placements which impacted my understanding of the timeline and pace of the book. As such some quests to me were accomplished too fast and some confessions told too late.

But that did not take away the cozy escapist enjoyment of the book, despite having a kidnapping plot. I cannot wait to pick up book two!

Do I recommend? Only read it during the gray winter days with the rain spattering outside your window, it is perfect.

A River Enchanted

Reviews

Highlights