After an initial attempt, I was unable to connect with this book on a level that would allow me to finish it and leave a fair review. Others will surely enjoy this more than I did.

Originally didn’t give feedback because I DNF, but it’s hurting my feedback ratio, so I stopped reading because this book was so slow and wasn’t anything I expected it to be. I also never rate books k DNF but this makes me.

Magic and capricious spirits? I'M IN. I was so excited to see "element of cadence #1" because that means THERE WILL BE MORE! OK, so Jack isn't into Cadence - he's been away for a decade. But girls start disappearing and they want him home to help find them. Why? Because Jack can help bring spirits forth with his music, a fact that his childhood enemy, Adaira, knows. Oh, and Adaira? "Heiress of the east." It's truly a bummer in my life that I will never have the title "heiress of the east." Anyway, Adaira and Jack find that they work well together (enemies to lovers?) but the situation is a lot more complicated than they first expected. This is a simply a good book. I don't like YA books, and it seems like most fantasy books are YA, and are often bogged down with teenagers who are constantly worried about their crushes or significant others and I'm like, "You're supposed to be saving the world." So when I see a fantasy/magic book that's for adults, I'm always excited and this one definitely lived up to my standards!

this was such a sweet, atmospheric folk tale and like nothing I've ever read before -- it was the perfect rain day (week) read and I loved the story. Some parts were a bit hard to understand as fantasy isn't my usual genre but i loved the scenes and the mystery.

God this book was beautiful. A Scottish folklore book that truly just read so beautiful. The setting is brilliant and lush, and I could vividly picture every second of it. The prose is beautiful as well. Sometimes things can feel a bit clunky in fantasy but I feel like this was one of those brilliant fantasy prose pieces similar to that of The Song of Achilles in the way the words flow. The mystery elements were also perfect and really sold this story for me. I though that the overall story and setting was just incredibly well done and I'm so excited to read the next one in the series.

I apologize but I was not able to finish this book. I was in a different headspace at the time of requesting / recieving this book and the time I got it.

A RIVER ENCHANTED is an atmospheric tale of community, truth, and magic. Set in a land reminiscent of Scotland, Jack returns to Cadence at the behest of his Laird. It doesn't take long before he realizes a more sinister reason lies beneath his summoning. Jack teams up with Adaira, heiress of the east, to uncover the mysterious disappearance of young girls. Their quest leads them down a road of buried truths, which could change island politics, for better or for worse.

The atmosphere and writing style are reminiscent of HALF SICK OF SHADOWS-- ethereal, lyrical, almost like you're holding your breath waiting for a pin to drop. There were many times I felt at peace reading about the land, the magic system, and trusting in the spirits.

Both Adaira and Jack are strong characters, but I felt Adaira's development a bit more established than Jack's. Adaira is adept at both the physical (fighting) and mental (politics) exercises expected of an heiress. She exudes confidence, competence, and independence. Jack begins as disgrunted to return to Cadence because the east never fully accepted him owing to the fact no one knew who his father was. However, once he finds his purpose as Bard of the east, he has a change of heart, which I found a bit abrupt given the slower pace of the story.

Though Jack and, to a lesser extent, Adaira, are the main characters, I was most drawn to Sidra. Her specialty is plants and healing and she possess a sense of calm confidence, soothing those around her. Her faith in the spirits is admirable and I appreciated her inner struggle and growth when traumatic events shake that devotion. However, I think the emotional evolution of her husband, Torin, is the most impressive. Torin is a man of action, always on the move and reticent to show any weakness save for his daughter, Maisie. But as the mystery unfolds he's forced to face his fears buried deep within.

The most intriguing piece of this story is the magic system. In the east, use of magic slowly drains the user's life, but the land is plentiful and mostly balanced. In the west, the people can use magic with no consequence, but the land is bleak and weakly supports their community. Another interesting magic component is that the wind carries gossip and stories. So to ensure privacy, any discussion that seeks to maintain secrecy occurs behind closed doors. The winds also see most happenings and, as such, are crucial to unraveling the mystery of the girls' disapperances. But to speak with them requires Jack's musical talent and not all of the winds appreciate being summoned.

As the story progresses, the characters wrestle with feelings of inadequacy, what it means to love, and finding and exploring their place or role in the community. A RIVER ENCHANTED is a perfect read for those who want to immerse themselves in a folklore lullaby of enchantment.

This book is a beautiful and creative winding story. I loved that it had romance towards the end. But I found it hard to follow in the beginning and rather boring, boring enough I nearly didn't finish. I'll probably read the next one, but maybe not, for whatever that's worth. I love the idea of magic that costs, but it's also a little frustrating how few answers or explanations there are in this book especially with how long it is.

Thank you Harper voyage and net galley for a copy to read and review.

A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross is a fantasy novel based on Scottish folklore. I enjoyed the setting, especially how the novel established a sense of wonder, through an ever-changing landscape, and maintained a sense of mystery, by keeping the western part of the island entirely unknown (it’s not even drawn on the novel’s map).

Even with this fantastical setting, A River Enchanted is very character-driven. There is a plot, the mystery of the missing girls, but I thought the most interesting aspects of the story were how the characters reacted to that plot and interacted with each other. Personally, I think the most interesting character in this book is Torin, but the ending definitely sets Adaira and Jack up for great stories in the sequel. Speaking of the ending, it was probably my least favorite part of the book just because I don’t like how Adaira and Jack separated, but I’m looking forward to a reunion in the sequel.

I recommend A River Enchanted to fantasy readers who enjoy slower-paced, character-driven stories.

3.75 stars

This book was a little too slow for me and I struggled to get into it. If you are in the mood for a character driven, atmospheric story then this is for you. I just wasn’t in the mood for a story like this but I think it was more to do with me and less a reflection on the book and writing.

A whimsical and mysterious tale full of ambiance and wonder. I am so eager to read book two and so glad that it is releasing this year!

A River Enchanted by is the perfect combination of fantasy and mystery. A Scottish inspired tale that feels like stepping into a modern myth.
What worked for me
1. The Magic system being based on music was wonderfully done and worked well for the author’s almost lyrical writing style .
2. The story and romance were both a slow burn allowing the reader to ease into the world and thus into the characters lives.

What didn’t work as well for me

1. I didn’t go into this book expecting the dual pov so that definitely required a mental adjustment in my reading

Who do I recommend this book for

Readers looking for a modern story that makes them feel like they have stepped into the land of myth and magic have come to the right place . This would be a particularly good fit for those who are fans of Lani Taylor and Madeline Miller.

I enjoyed the premise of this book so much. It had a very unique plot and I really enjoyed learning about the world of Cadence. I think the characters were also very well written. However, this book felt very whimsical, to the point that certain things felt very vague. For example, the way the spirits work was very elusive and it made it difficult to fully grasp the magic system. I also did not feel very invested in the romance, but I'm sure this book set up the base and we will get a deeper connection in the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-galley.

I love Scottish-inspired slow-burn romances. I know that's weirdly specific, but here I am. I fell in love with the writing and the story instantly. The author's writing is lyrical and gorgeous in every way. She does an amazing job of painting a picture of the magical world she's built. It reminded me a lot of one of my favorite books, The Scorpio Races. Oh and it has one of my favorite tropes in the world: enemies to lovers!

The journey Ross takes us through is one of beauty. I definitely recommend this book for fantasy romance fans.

If you are a reader who lives and dies for a gorgeous setting, A River Enchanted is for you.

After receiving news of young girls going missing all over the small isle of Cadence, Jack returns home to the dark, ethereal Scottish-inspired landscape after ten years away, studying music on the mainland. As a bard, Jack knows that he can aid in their rescue, or at least find clues from the spirits of the island to locate their kidnapper through his music; however, he feels conflicted about staying for any longer than he needs to, especially after finding out that his childhood rival, Adaira, the heiress to the eastern part of the island, was the person responsible for his return. A River Enchanted follows their reluctant partnership, secret discoveries, slow burn romance, and quest to solve the mystery of the girls’ disappearance. The setting is lush, the mystery keeps you guessing, and the cast of characters is so well rounded that it will grip you from beginning to end.

Honestly the biggest tragedy within A River Enchanted is that the characters Torin and Sidra have about an equal amount of screen time, but are unfortunately relegated to being secondary characters because they lack the magical or political power that influence the storyline like the Jack and Adaira do. Their relationship as the granddaughter of a famous healer and a widower who leads the patrol on Cadence’s highly contested border as they discover themselves beyond those roles, work through tragedy, and find love together is such a strong storyline, and I wish it got the same amount of spotlighting that the rest of the plot seems to get.

My only hang up with this book really lies in the main characters themselves. Jack and Adaira are great, don’t get me wrong, but the other characters within this book are so much more interesting to me. In many ways, they make the book feel extremely YA, despite it being a new adult novel. The end felt so much like a cop out that it made me feel even more disappointed in the duo. As much as I want to know what happens next, I don’t know if I actually want to read a sequel.

Even with all of my complaints, this book is absolutely gorgeously written, and has such tender romance (even if it is between side characters) that I couldn’t help but love it on its own.

“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.”

Ahh, this book. I wanted to rate it so much higher but unfortunately, I kinda slogged through it. I loved the setting it portrayed and the writing, but I wasn't very invested in...well, anything. It needed stronger world-building and stronger romance, both of which make a story enjoyable for me! That being said, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it if you're interested in reading it :)

A lyrical, beautiful fable. It began a bit slow but once it picked up, it was a wonderfully fantastical tale filled with well written characters and an interesting mystery that had me rushing to the end to figure it all out.

Fans of Naomi Novik should definitely check this one out. I was able to also listen to the audiobook and the narration was fantastic. If you get a chance to check out the audiobook, I highly recommend it.

A River Enchanted is a story that has unforgettable characters and a world that you will get swept away in.
The writing has a very poetic and lyrical feel to it, which is really fitting to the storyline as music is intricately woven into the storyline. A bard's music is the only thing that the spirits will answer to after all. The story did take me a while to get into and read through, but this is one book you will want to take your time to read and not rush through.

I loved having the multiple point of views in this book. They were essential to this story as they provided a more in depth look into each of the characters as well as the story overall. I cannot even tell you who my favorite characters are from this story because each of them has a special place in my heart. They've all been through so much and I just want to wrap them all in a big hug.

As the story progressed closer to the end, the revelations kept coming faster and faster. The ending was phenomenal and I, for one, am excited to see where Rebecca Ross takes this story in book 2.

Wow! A River Enchanted absolutely blew me away. The worldbuilding and the magic system is intuitive but also mysterious and full of wonder. I really enjoyed the use of elements in the magic building, it's so effectively done and makes for absolutely gorgeous imagery. Every interaction with the spirits was tense but also lovely. Just as it is with the best folklore stories, the spirits reel you in with beauty only to frighten you with their power. I loved that. There's a real cost to using magic in Cadence and that gives the actions of the characters depth and meaning.

You can really feel the influence of Scotland as well throughout River, with the naming, culture, and folklore in particular. For a culture that can be really overdone at times (and not well often), I think Ross did an incredible job keeping the beauty and spirit in her interpretation.

The characters really shine in the world of Cadence. Jack is so instantly lovable, you can't help but root for him, and Adaira really grows into herself as the story continues. I was surprised by the addition of Torin and Sidra (the blurb makes it seem much more like a single love story) but their story is truly incredible. It's like you get the beginning of lifelong love with Jack and Adi and then see the deepening of love in a relationship already grown with Torin and Sidra. It's perfect and, if you twisted my arm to choose, I'd say Sidra was my favorite as her wrestling with herself and her world in the midst of loss was both fascinating and heartfelt.

The plot is expertly woven. There's a lot going on between all of the characters and five different POVs but the reader is always exactly where it's best to be for the scene. It doesn't slow down either. The mystery holds taut the whole way through, right into the last few chapters, and I found it impossible to put down.

I won't lie: I'm absolutely heartsick over the ending. Truly. But I think it's a perfect ending for the characters and the duology overall. Now I just need book 2 to get here so it can fix my sad soul! I highly recommend this to any fantasy reader. It's an incredible beginning to this two-book whirlwind and I can't wait for the second part.


Note: I received a free electronic edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank them, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to do so.

This book was beautifully written. I was pulled in and loved the writing style. I will definitely be keeping track of Rebecca's writing career and reading more of her books.