My Book of the Month
A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross
If you are looking for an atmospheric,
magical, and romantic story to dive
into, look no further. Rebecca Ross'
A River Enchanted sweeps readers away to
a Scottish-inspired island filled with magical realism and a gripping
mystery.
Summary
“Jack Tamerlaine hasn’t set 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."
Read full Goodreads summary here
My Thoughts
While I'm a character-driven reader, I was satisfied by not only the
interesting personalities on the page, but the magic system and the
secrets of the Isle of Cadence, too. I was just invested in the outcome
of the mystery of the missing girls as I was the relationships in the
book.
Speaking of which, both the relationships and the friendships in this
book feel so authentic and dreamy all at once. Jack and Adaira, once
rivals, become a dynamic duo and develop into something sweet.
My personal favorite was the marriage-of-convenience that blossomed into
an abiding love between Torin and Sidra.
(P.S. Sidra is one of my absolute favorite female leads — her
attitude and strengths were so refreshing!)
There was tension, truly high stakes, wonderfully lyrical prose, and
just enough of a romantic undercurrent to keep things interesting.
Recommendation
I think this is a very fun read for anyone who is even remotely interested in romantic fantasy. It’s a great introduction to fantasy for readers new to the genre, and it’s delightfully cozy for those of us well-versed in magical worlds. It’s a New Adult fiction, but the story doesn’t rely on explicit content. I would recommend it to anyone 16+.