Absolutely BEAUTIFUL writing, and the audiobook was so whimsical I was instantly sucked into their world. It has music, singing, and riddles with the pacing and feel of a fairy tale. 10/10 recommend, do as an audiobook if you can!

I knew the writing was going to be poetic and beautiful from Amal El-Mohtar, but I wasn’t expecting to have so much emotional investment in the story and relationships in such a short book.

This was a beautiful fairytale-esque story told about a family that lives on the border of the between the human world and the land of the Fae. The two worlds (and humans happening upon the Fae realm) reminded me of The Wayward Children series by Seanan McGuire which I loved as well.

It is a heartfelt story about the bond between two sisters and the lengths they will go to to keep their promises to each other. The magic system itself is based in language and metaphor and fits beautifully into the writing and tone of this book.

The audio book production also adds to the story. It features sound effects, music, and singing that really transport you into the world.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. wow. wow. I know it's early in the year, but The River Has Roots is my top book so far in 2025 and I can't imagine it being knocked off that praise any time soon. A tight fantasy novel with queer love, an incredible bond between two sisters, amazing magic system, and just an absolutely lush setting. This is Amal El-Mohtar's solo debut novel, after the incredible This is How You Lose the Time War.

In the small town of Thistleford, Esther and Ysabel Hawthorn, tend to enchanted willows along a river that runs into the land of Faerie. Esther and Yssabel care deeply for each other, but when Esther is courted by a neighbor vying for their lands, their bond is tested due to the consequences.

I cannot say enough good things about this novel and it's short so I do not want to give much away, I promise it is worth your time. The audiobook is gorgeous in addition to incredible, lyrical narration by Gem Carmella, Amal and Dounya El-Mohtar play music that accompanies the narration at key points within the story. You will be transported away to Thisleford and Faerie and will enjoy every minutes.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and to Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy.

Thanks to TorDotCom for an e-ARC and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listening copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

I had no idea what to expect from Amal El-Mohtar’s solo debut, but I was impressed nonetheless. This is a story following the bond between two sisters who live near the edge of humans and faerie. I was invested in Esther and Ysabel’s bond, especially as one of them was more intrigued with faerie than the other but still didn’t want to abandon each other. The magic was very ethereal, but I had some trouble initially following how the magic worked. Once I understood the rules of Grammar, then the magic started to make more sense to me even though I am bad at solving riddles. I really liked the ending, even though I wished for a little bit of an explanation.

The audiobook was a production! It had ambience, sound effects, harp music, and singing throughout. This could be overstimulating for some audiobook listeners, but I found this audiobook very immersive while following along the e-ARC. Fun fact: the author and her sister played the harp and sang for the audiobook.

Overall, I am so excited to read more from Amal El-Mohtar. That excerpt from her upcoming short story collection was really good, so looking forward to reading the full collection whenever it comes out.

Side note: the novella is actually 104 pages. There is a 40-page excerpt of El-Mohtar’s upcoming short story collection, which is also included in the audiobook as well (1-hour excerpt).

The story was so short that it felt more like a fairy tale than a fantasy novel. The writing was poetic and melodic and the plot concept felt like an original take on a classic trope of a girl being taken into faerie.

To me, the story felt a bit rushed and could have really soared if it was given more space/pages to develop. Being so short, the only love that really felt true what was between the sisters.

I experienced this story as an audiobook and there were pros and cons to that. They included actual singing and harp music which gave the story life. Unfortunately the audio also included a lot of background sounds (river, rain, chimes, etc), which were there to create ambiance and tension, unfortunately, for me at least, the conflicting sounds with the narration over top made the experience feel like nails on a chalkboard. The audio wasn’t listed as a “graphic audio” and it should have been.

*3.5/5 stars

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for sending me an arc of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

A short yet delicious treat of a book, full of whimsical prose and a fairytale-like atmosphere that will invoke sweet nostalgia in anyone who grew up reading classic fairy tales.

I had the great pleasure of getting an arc of the audiobook, which I loved. I adore when audiobooks have more interactive elements to it, so when I heard sound effects and actual singing, I was delighted! It added so much to the short story, enriched the settings and allowed for more connection to the story and characters. The narrator, Gem Carmella, did a fantastic job, their voice suited the story so well.

I loved the sisterly love aspect, good portrayals of sibling love are my favourite, I eat them up everytime. The queer representation was lovely too.

My only gripe (which is one that I tend to have with most short stories), is that it felt just a little too short. I was hoping for a little more time in this world with its wonderfully unique language based magic and lovely songs.

All in all, a very short and easily consumable fantasy story that has a complex but understandable magic system and world with wonderful folkloric vibes!

I thought the audiobook was very well done. The sound effects and music added a lot to the story! It felt very slow for a novella though. It didn't resonate with me that much, but that's not to say it wouldn't resonate with other readers/listeners.

With beautifully accented narration, melodic singing, and gothic soundscapes this audiobook was a truly atmospheric experience. It felt like listening to an ancient bard weaving a centuries old, mythic tale. I loved it!

The perfect book. Genuinely, the PERFECT book.

I cried through the ending. Absolutely gorgeous. Lyrical and magical and tragic and lovely. It's delightfully queer. It's poetic.

And the AUDIOBOOK!!!! Just perfect. The singing and the music and background sounds added so much to the telling of the story. It claimed not to be a folk tale but it felt like one. I don't have the words.

The writing was ethereal. Breathtaking. Just perfect. No notes.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for this burst of beauty in the midst of a bad time.

This was the most atmospheric and immersive audiobook I have ever listened to, and is, without a doubt, THE best audiobook production I have ever listened to. I loved how it made me slow down and savor it - I can't remember the last time (if ever) I've kept the speed at x1. Just... Wow. Gorgeous. And paired with reading along with the physical copy, which had it's own artwork and atmosphere to it was just astounding.

What a story, what prose - I'm floundering for words. This blew me away.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and ALC.

Thank you @torbooks and @macmillan.audio for the gifted book and audiobook! The audiobook production value is stunning with real singing and music to complement the plot.

This was such a lovely change of pace for me. It’s not quite romance, just enough fantasy, but a whole lot of eloquent and immersive writing. I appreciated the dominant theme of sisterhood and its transcendent nature over time, betrayal, and even death. Loved the Queer rep, as always 🫶🏾

I loved the same complexity Amal El-Mohtar brought to the table as they did in This is How You Lose the Time War but in a completely new light.

I’d recommend The River Has Roots to Tolkien fans, advocates for feminist reclamations of common tropes, and anyone looking to try something a little different!

“Oh what is stronger than a death? Two sisters singing with one breath.”

A really sweet novella, with really excellent audio book production.
Thanks to @macmillianaudio and @netgallery for the advanced copy.

This novella will be published on March 4th, but I would really recommend the audio version, there is beautiful singing, and lovely, eerie background noise and sound effects that add to this story.

This is basically a fairytale about two sisters, and the fae who live in Arcadia, and magical trees, and wishes and love told with beautiful, sharp prose.

A sweet story, and one I truly enjoyed.

If wistfulness was a book, this would be the one! This audiobook was a whole experience, centering on music, trees, and water. Two sisters live on the edge of Faerie and are in charge of singing to the willows to thank them for their magic. And that's all you really need to know going into this story. This is short and fast and filled with longing and despair, and if you are able to listen to it on audio, you should! It reads like a fairytale, and listening to it felt like I was young, hearing the fable from my mother.

Thanks to MacMillan Audio and Netgalley for the ALC!

This was very atmospheric. I really liked that the audio included singing/music in the background to really give the vibes. I felt like the story was well written and felt very old timey. Also very lyrical.

This is my second time reading this author and I fear we are just not the right fit. It was beautifully written, but I honestly do not get it. It was entirely fine and I wasn't wowed. Also, the audiobook production kind of ruined it for me, as there was often singing beneath the words and I couldn't make anything out.

You know when you start reading a book and you know you will just love the whole thing and start thinking about who you want to gift this book to… this had that.

Lyrical, atmospheric, stunning fairytale of two sisters that live near a river and sing to the willows when they get entangled with the Arcadian people who’s magic is rooted in grammar (which is as smart and as lovely as it sounds)

The audiobook had sound effects and it definitely added to the experience and was a great time.

Thanks to netgalley and Macmillan audio for an alc

5-stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC!

This story will have a chokehold on your attention from page one! I was immediately all-in on the story of Esther and Isabelle and their bond. It felt like listening to a fairytale that was being performed around a campfire in a mythical wood.

I am serious when I say this was the most captivating audiobook I've ever listened to! The narrator, Gem Carmella, was dynamic and their voice fit the story so well. The narration paired with the supplemental sounds of music and nature created a beautiful flow from beginning to end. It was a calming and intriguing experience that I didn't want to reach the end of.

I look forward to reading more titles by Amal El-Mohtar and being transported to the different worlds they write about.

Thank you to both NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review.

This fable of a book drops you into a ethereal world that you are immediately lost within, whisked into the river alongside two dedicated sisters whose love for each other powers this short, but mesmerizing book.

Without a doubt, Amal El-Mohtar excels in crating near tangible yearning between characters that makes a reader's heart beat and ache for the experiences on the page. The language in this book is rich and poetic while keeping the reader engaged and concerned for the plot. The book balances character and plot driven elements exceedingly well and the pacing is impeccable.

I both wanted this book to be longer, because of how much I was loving the world and these characters, and also think this book was the perfect length. The restraint the author showed in keeping such a deep idea in novella form feels truly magic.

The author takes a very standard plot, especially the predictable actions of a rejected and jealous male suitor, and completely reinvigorates the outcomes.

I had been highly anticipating this book and at no point was a disappointed. I think this well will be one of my favorite books of the year.

Amal El-Mohtar's book immediately wraps its tale around you in the classical method of ballads or fairy tales. The river is enchanted. Grammar is magic. And in the same way as those old stories, you immediately understand that you don't need to entirely understand. This magic isn't the sort with rules set down in ancient tomes worked out like unpicking stitches from a tapestry. It is the wild magic of nature and the oldest tales. Just allow yourself to be swept along by the river's flow.

And yet, at the same time, El-Mohtar's story gives new depth and context to one of the strangest centuries-old murder ballads in existence: The Two Sisters. I would rather read one more book like this that sings with luscious prose (and literally sings in the audiobook version) than a hundred other forgettable carbon copy novels.

I absolutely adored _This Is How You Lose the Time War_ so when I heard Amal El-Mohtar had a solo book coming out, I knew I needed to get my hands on it. I don’t even think I read the synopsis, because if I knew it had elements of the Twa Sisters murder ballad, I would have been even more feral for this book. The way language and grammar is described and used to create the magic of the world is so, I don’t even have words. The writing is so lush and exquisite, I could not put this down. And the audiobook is truly an experience, with musical accompaniment and the narrator singing. This was so incredible and beautiful and gave me so many feelings. I loved this, simply put, and cannot wait to see what else El-Mohtar will write!