Book Review: A River Enchanted
Rebecca Ross has created a beautiful work of fiction full of lush world building, fairy tale elements, slow burn romance, Scottish lore, and truly beautiful prose. She is gifted with words, and her descriptions transport us right into Cadence from the very first page of A River Enchanted.
A BRIEF SUMMARY
In A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross, we get to experience the captivating isle of Cadence, a Scottish-inspired fantasy realm brimming with magic, mystery, and romance. The story begins with Jack Tamerlaine, a bard summoned back to his homeland after ten years away. Girls have been disappearing from the island, and Jack finds himself entangled in a web of ancient secrets and elemental spirits, joined by his childhood rival Adaira in a quest to uncover the truth and hopefully bring the girls home.
WHAT I LOVED
Ross's writing is exquisitely crafted, immediately drawing us into a world rich with detail and atmosphere. As someone whose preferences lean more literary, and as a writer who has worked to make my style more commercial, I’m impressed by her ability to still write in an accessible way while maintaining so much of the richness I love in literary prose.
“There is no failure in love,” she said and covered the furrows. The soil was rich; it swallowed a portion of her grief. “And I have loved without measure.”
The pacing of the story is expertly balanced, blending character development with action that keeps the narrative moving forward. The characters themselves are vividly portrayed, each with their own complexities that make them feel like real individuals rather than mere archetypes. Even with the time and care put into setting description and exposition, I felt like it moved at the perfect pace, allowing us space to breathe in between the more loaded scenes.
While the plot is always moving and interesting, I cannot overstate how significant the overall atmosphere is. Ross's prose brings the island to life, from its mist-shrouded landscapes to its enchanting inhabitants. The relationships between the characters are also a highlight, with Jack and Adaira's dynamic serving as the emotional heart of the story. I do feel that their dialogue felt stilted at times, especially in the beginning, and I’m still unclear as to whether or not that awkwardness and redundancy was intentional. Regardless, it wasn’t enough to take away from my overall positive impressions of their relationship growth throughout the book.
While A River Enchanted leans more towards the atmospheric side of fantasy rather than high adventure (don’t get me wrong… there are high stakes and plenty of action), it still delivers a compelling and immersive reading experience.
If enjoy a good audiobook from time to time, like me, this is one you won’t regret getting on audio. Narrated by Scottish voice actor Ruth Urquhart, I feel like it adds an extra layer of ambiance to the story, enhancing the overall experience. I’ve read the physical book and have listened to the audiobook, and recommend both equally. As a writer, I like having the physical book so that I can really examine the prose and engage in the process of physically annotating. As a reader, I loved this one in audio format because I truly felt immersed. Either way, you can’t go wrong.
FINAL THOUGHTS
4.5/5 stars for the vibes, heartwarming story, and prose.
Overall, A River Enchanted is a beautifully written and creatively crafted novel full of magic, music, and mystery… all the things I happen to love in a good book! With its unforgettable characters, evocative setting, and timeless themes, it's a story that has stuck with me long since finishing it. Whether you're a fan of fantasy, romance, or Scottish folklore, this book is well worth the read. This is book one in the Elements of Cadence, and I’ve read the second already. I recommend that one as well!
Happy reading!
