A River Enchanted – Rebecca Ross

Published By: HarperCollins
Pages: 480
Released On: 03/02/2022

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 armour, and the smallest cut of a knife can instil 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 apparant 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.

*****

Thanks to HarperCollins for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

Okay, this book has everything you could possibly want from a book – fantasy, magic, love, family and friends, fighting, action, comedy, music, passion.

One concern with fantasy books is that because it doesn’t have to follow real-world rules or conventions, it can become lost and unruly. But this has one foot in reality and one foot in fantasy, and they complement each other perfectly.

It’s not one of those ‘happily-ever-after’ rom-com books I often find it easy to curl up with, but it produces the same sentiment. It draws you in and you become part of their clan, perfectly safe and cosy. Once you’ve started this, there’s no putting it down until you’ve finished it.

It is so atmospheric and magical but tangible. It’s written so well that you can see yourself climbing the hills, swimming the river, touching the spirits.

It’s so delicious and whilst it’s written in the 21st century, it has the feel of a classical novel about it, one that will inspire audiences to come, and hopefully sit on the shelves next to the likes of C.S Lewis. There’s nothing negative I can say about it, and on a selfish note (because I don’t want to leave the world) I hope there’s more of this story to come.