i was lucky enough to receive a physical ARC of this book at NYCC this year and DEVOURED it and loved it. but when a friend posted a review of the audio saying it had MUSIC! and SINGING! i had to know what the audio experience was like. i did not think i could love this book more but the production quality of this audiobook is next level. the way the music is woven in throughout, and the sound effects are so effectively used I was sitting on the banks of the River Liss. Gem Carmella's narration is pitch perfect - she draws you in to this folkloric tale and weaves her own grammarian magic of words. I cried more on this read than i did the first time and i ABSOLUTELY blame Carmella's compelling narration for it. HIGHLY highly recommend the audio version of this book.

Okay Amal, you win, guess I'll read anything you write. This was poetry. I found myself doubling back to re-read sections, I couldn't get enough. Eventually, I'll read this book again and I can't wait to find everything woven through that I didn't notice on my first go around.

I both read and listened to this book. Wow Gem Carmella I could listen to you read a phonebook. The audiobook was produced with music underscoring throughout which I thought was plenty clever attention to detail until I got the finished print version and saw Kathleen Neeley's beautiful prints throughout. Again, wow. These additions to both formats aid in beautifully bolstering this fairytale of a book.

Bonus short story at the end, cannot wait for whatever collection that ends up printed in.

ps. don't skip the acknowledgments

A borderline purple prose novella with sibling relationships, the importance of language and grammar, magical rivers and dimensions and sinister intentions.

Disclaimer: I did read this as a tandem read with a physical arc from the publisher, TorDotCom and an audiobook copy via NetGalley. Thank you so much for the respective arc copies and this is my honest and voluntary review.

I'm not gonna lie. I was a little worried that I wouldn't be smart enough to understand this book when I first started reading it. The prose is extremely lyrical and flowery and is borderlining purple. But once you really get into this novel it is so immersive and captivating that it is an emotional experience that leads you to fully understand it through your feelings. It is a story meant to make you feel. And it accomplishes that.

The audiobook in particular it is extremely well done. It is a cinematic experience that blends typical narration with sung music, nature noises and background tunes. The narrator, Gem Carmella absolutely nails this novel. They make it such an emotional experience through their impeccable storytelling that I could not help with fall in love with them as a narrator. I will be looking for more novels narrated by this person. A short audiobook, coming in at just over three hours makes it a quick and interesting read.

Usually with novellas I feel like something must be sacrificed in order to make the story short and yet still work on at least a few levels. Typically for me that seems to be the world building. But honestly in this novella I don't feel like anything was sacrificed. We got exceptional character development and we got a background story for the world and I did not feel like there was anything I didn't understand or enjoy. The magic system being tied to language and grammar was extremely interesting and I felt it was well explained overall for a novella. To be honest, I would love to see a full length novel within this world and with these characters. I do feel like Agnes was a little bit of a missed opportunity, because she was so interesting and I would love to see more about her in future in installments.

This fantasy novella literally did have it all. From a compelling and interesting worldbuilding and storyline scenario, to a sinister and brooding villain. I enjoyed the multiple metaphorical references related to the storyline and its subjects. I also really enjoyed the sibling relationship as well as the overall love story that was intertwined into this novel. It really was a sweeping fairytale in every aspect of the phrase. I even got misty at the end.

Bravo. Eagerly awaiting more

This book is a love letter to language.

This is How You Lose the Time War is my all time favourite book, so when I saw that Amal was coming out with a re-telling of a 17th century murder ballad, I knew I needed to read this - and I wasn't wrong! If you're here just like me, because of TIHYLTTW, then you'll be so pleased with this book.

The worldbuilding is creative and expansive. The characters are fully formed, with the bond between our two sisters showing their nuanced relationship, vulnerabilities and enduring love. The prose are lyrical and lushly descriptive.

This audiobook is so immersive. You can hear the river running, the songs, music and chanting. It's an entire experience and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves audiobooks.

A big part of this book revolves around language. Language as a currency, language as power, language as magic. Language in this story is also music and riddles that change the way our characters frame a situation.

A few of my favourite quotes
" But that is the nature of grammar - it is always tense, like an instrument, aching for release, longing to transform present into past into future . . ."
"Ysabel was fascinated by boys and their company while esther found them tedious and enjoyed being alone."
"The first time Esther met Rin, they were a storm"

The only thing I wish we had a little bit more about is there's a narrator who speaks to us, the reader. Telling us the story. I wish there was more from them, or a reveal as to who they were to us and to the story. Perhaps it's like a riddle and I'll uncover it on my second read through.

Read this if you love
- Queer romance 🏳️‍🌈 (n/b + f)
- Vengeance
- Beautiful prose
- Riddles + Wordplay

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for this ARC.

This book is best read while under a willow tree, watching the branches bleed.

This is a perfect little book just like El-Mphtar's last book. I loved this book and the audiobook was amazing! I listened to the whole book in one sitting it was that good!

This audiobook was such a pleasant surprise! I absolutely loved the sound effects, they were delightful. I honestly could have stayed in this world for much longer. El-Mohtar's ideas were really unique. I'm a bit sad this wasn't a full novel. If you're picking this up, i'm definitely recommending the audio.

A super cute fairytale about two sisters who run into fae in a forest near their home. overall it's a cute little story, the only thing is the magical system in the story has no explanation just reiterated multiple times. Also the villain of the story is dealt with in one page and i felt there wasn't any closure on that. overall it's a cute magical story.

This was such a good book. It was different than anything I have read in a very long time and I loved every minute of it. I would have loved to have this be a full length novel, cause I wanted to know much more about the characters.
The novella was very well written and it grabbed ahold of me and didn't let go until I was done.
The narration was well done and the lady reading made it easy to listen to.

This is how you lose the time war is a novella which I couldn’t make sense of too much but it still left a very deep impression on me, so I was quite excited to read this new book by one of the author’s Amal El-Mohtar. I’ve read a couple of her short fiction before and always found them very interesting. And this one didn’t disappoint.

This is a book that literally sings. Every single line is poetic and evocative, brimming with emotion and whimsy, bringing the River and the willows and the songs to life. It’s a magical tale of love and sisterhood - love so strong and eternal that even death can’t stop them. And amidst all of this are our two protagonist sisters who sing their hearts out together, creating a magic of their own.

But the beauty of the book still falls short of the wonder that is the audiobook. The narrator Gem Carmella, the author Amal and her sister Dounya El-Mohtar bring this audio to life with their songs, music (harp and flute) and overall stunning narration which left me completely mesmerized. If there is one book that you would ever wanna try in the audiobook format, this is the one I will highly recommend.

In the end, I went into this book without knowing anything and it swept me away like the river Liss. It’s an exquisitely spun tale that left me feeling all kinds of emotional. And it’s an audiobook that I would say is unmissable. My only gripe is that I wish it was a novel instead of a novella and we had gotten a more fleshed out love story.

A story that breathes its own magic, The River Has Roots captivated me from start to finish. The lush, lyrical writing paired with beautiful narration lead to a truly immersive audio experience. The added songs built into the linguistic magic system and came as a fresh surprise. I did have to slow down the audiobook (I usually listen on 2.5x+ speed) in order to listen to the songs, as they were integral to the story but sounded much better at regular speed. This is just personal preference though, and does not affect the overall audiobook experience or the calibre of the book.

The writing, the story, the characters, the magic system—all of these elements were unique, taking what was familiar and turning it on its head. Filled with riddles, sisterhood, and a story of love, I was impressed with how much Amal El-Mohtar accomplished in such a short book.

The River Has Roots is perfect for readers who like:
Fairy tales
Folklore
Sisters
Linguistic-based magic systems
Music
A thin veil between realms
Love stories
Writing that feels like poetry

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the Audiobook ARC. I look forward to Amal El-Mohtar’s future projects.

This book. This. Book. I think I can safely say The River Has Roots is one of my favorites of 2025.

First of all, I just love Amal El-Mohtar, and I will read anything that she writes. I'll admit that when I first started The River Has Roots, I couldn't stop comparing it to This Is How You Lose the Time War, El-Mohtar's 2019 collaboration with Max Gladstone. Amal El-Mohtar has such a distinct authorial voice that shines through in her creative storytelling, and I haven't really read any other books that feel quite like The River Has Roots *other than* This Is How You Lose the Time War. The way the romance unfurls in this book is also reminiscent of Time War (especially the unique modes of communication between the love interests). But The River Has Roots is also very much its own story, and I encourage anyone who loved Time War to go into this book with no expectations and just soak it all in.

I cannot understate the absolute joy of listening to The River Has Roots on audiobook. If you are a reader who is able to listen to audiobooks (and enjoys them), audio is simply the way to go here. The narration is gorgeous. The production is perfect. There is music and singing, and for once I actually didn't speed the book up as I usually do because I just wanted to savor every second of the audio. Listening to this book felt like being a child again and having someone read me a fairytale before bed. It was so comforting and warm, and when it was over I wanted to start over from the beginning.

I don't think this book will be for everyone. As I mentioned above, Amal El-Mohtar has such a unique style of writing, and while this book spoke (sang) to my soul, I think you really have to be willing to go into this book without any expectations of how a story should unfold or be told.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for my advanced listener copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for letting me listen to an ALC of The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar, narrated by Gem Carmella! I rated this one 4.5 stars rounded up to 5 for this review.

This was a sweet and beautiful novella. It’s extremely lyrical and, with strong ties to music and sound effects, the audiobook contains extra audio features such as women singing, water running, crickets chirping, and more. While these features aren’t something I particularly want in an audiobook, I think this adds another layer of immersion to the story for many listeners. Aside from sound design choices, the narrator, Gem Carmella, brings the characters to life and has a timbre to her voice that makes it easy to listen to.

Readers follow the river Liss to two sisters, Ysabel and Esther, who are devoted to their sacred familial task of singing to the Willow trees in thanks for their magic and craft. Nothing can separate the two, not even when Esther falls in love with a fae creature from another realm, nor when one of the sisters is forced out of the realm and away from her sister. What triumphs over all? Their love for and devotion to each other.

Reading this story is like reading a slightly longer fairy tale with just enough information about the characters and the world to make sense of the story’s events. I would’ve happily read a full-length novel about these two sisters or the world to which they belong. It’s an enchanting and (literally) magical place. If you’re looking for a brief escape and into a quick read (or listen), I recommend this as a great place to start. El-Mohtar has a way with words, and I look forward to seeing what else she creates in the years to come.

Imagine a simpler time when our biggest life lessons came directly from an enchanting cautionary folklore or a magical fairytale with sweetness and principles. "The River Has Roots" brought me right back to those times.

The novella opens with one of the most stunning first chapters I have ever come across and introduces us to a world of prose and wit. Amal El-Mohtar suspends our disbelief by capturing the mundane magic of grammar in this fantasy tale of sisterly bond.

I urge you to try this book in its audio format because it has become one of my favorite audiobooks ever! A very well produced experience with ambience and singing and magic! I only wish it had lasted longer...

ANOTHER CONFUSING MAGIC SYSTEM BASED ON GRAMMAR!

This audiobook is absolutely perfect. The sound effects, music, and singing on top of the gorgeous lyrical prose. It doesn't need to make perfect sense to me, I adore this kind of book.

The audiobook also includes a short story (~1 hr long) from Amal El-Mohtar's upcoming collection and I loved that as well, though I didn't realize what it was aside form a new story and had to go look it up.

Perfection!!!

The River Has Roots is a stunning, lyrical novella. It's a fairy tale recrafted like a meandering river, with clever touches and nods to the traditional murder ballad form. It's a world where the magic system is built on grammar. (oh my heart!!) There's enough plot to carry the book through, too, which is pleasing, because the style risks being form over substance.

Ysabel and Esther Hawthorn are sisters who live by the River Liss. The Hawthorn family is responsible for singing to the willows, and Ysabel and Esther love each other as dearly and completely as they love the singing. Esther is being courted by her neighbor Samuel Pollard, who she cannot abide, and and Arcadian named Rin who "is a feeling, a lightness in her step, a burr in her throat..." as ethereal as the land they come from. Love and power can be a treacherous game though, and Esther comes to a crossing point where she must face the most difficult of choices.

This has perhaps my new favorite twist on an old favorite murder ballad, The Two Sisters/The Cruel Sister/Bonny Swans, wherein the sisters are dearest friends rather than bitter enemies, and yet the outcome is still much the same. For those familiar with folk songs, you'll find other recognizable ballads lightly referenced throughout. There are some similarities in lyrical style to Time War, and with the same amount of whimsy, but with perhaps more grounding in plot.

I look forward to reading and rereading this story over the years. Simply put, it's gorgeous.

A reread via audio was both gorgeous as expected, and also a little surprising! The narrator, Gem Carmella, performs songs where appropriate, but there is also background music performed by Amal El-Mohtar and her sister Dounya El-Mohtar. For those (like me) who typically listen at a faster speed, this one is absolutely worth slowing down for.

This is the most beautifully produced audio book I have ever read. I honestly don't know how to compare this to other audiobook performances. I started reading this novella as a physical arc, and admittedly was having some trouble following the story. Hearing the narrated story drew me into the world in a powerful and immersive way. Reading The River Has Roots in an audio format has made this one of my top reads of all time. Absolutely stunning!

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!

what a treat this book was, especially the audio! everything from the singing to the sound effects of nature and music was spectacular.

the river has roots is a beautifully lyrical magical realism novella about two sisters and how their bond perseveres death.

i absolutely devoured amal el-mohtar’s writing and cannot wait for the upcoming short story collection!

This beautifully written novella follows two bonded sisters who sing to enchanted trees as part of an ancient family deal with the fairies. Their idyllic life, however, is threatened though by both love and hate: will the sisters' bond survive?

It's easy to get lost in the author's lyrical style of writing, which perfectly compliments the story's musical themes. While the setting will feel familiar to fairy tale readers, the author introduces unique elements and a creative take on magic. The magic itself is not explained in detail, which I thought enhanced the story’s sense of wonder.

The audiobook features music, singing, and sound effects that align well with the story’s tone. The sung passages are particularly effective in conveying key moments. However, at times, the background sound effects and music made it difficult for me to hear the narration, which I personally found frustrating (though this is more of a general issue I have with sound effects in audiobooks rather than a flaw in the production itself).

At it's heart, this is a love story. Watching the relationships unfold was captivating, and while the ending felt abrupt, it was ultimately satisfying. I highly recommend this book to fairy tale lovers, and the lyrical prose is best experienced through the audiobook format!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

One of the most beautiful experiences I've had in the book world is listening to the audiobook for The River Has Roots. The narration by Gem Carmella is wonderful, but there is music and gorgeous singing that transports the reader into the world of the story.

I loved Esther and Ysabel, and Rin, and thoroughly despised the villain - and the way the book is written makes it very much feel like a fairy tale.

What a journey - look forward to reading more by Amal El-Mohtar.

The River Has Roots
Amal El-Mohtar
Narrated by Gem Carmella

ALC courtesy of MacMillan Audio and NetGalley.

Enchanting novella about sisters Esther and Ysabel, in the small town of Thistleford. It has magic (here called grammar), faeries, fantasy and wonderful world building. It is lyrical and musical, qualities best appreciated in this audio version, which I found quite enjoyable.

That being said, this novella is not for everyone. It is not plot driven. If you are looking for hard facts and clear explanations, this may not be for you. It is not “to the point.” If you like to take the long, scenic route rather than drive from point A to B, then yes, you will appreciate this. It is like listening to a symphony. You do not say, what was Bach trying to say. This is literary. It is artistic. It is about the magic of words and music. It is about feeling. It is ethereal and dreamy - even the narration evokes the world of Tolkien.

3.5 stars for the novella, and 4 stars for the narration.