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It has been 10 years since Jack Tamerlaine left Cadence 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. Capricious spirits of fire, water, earth and wind rule the isle, finding mirth in the humans who call their land home. Adaira, heiress of the east and Jack’s childhood nemesis, knows the spirits will only answer to a bard’s music. If Jack can draw them forth with song, perhaps they can entice them to return the missing girls.
As Jack and Adaira put aside their rivalries and form a tentative partnership, they find unexpected allies in each other. But with each song that is sung and each spirit they face, a more sinister nature is unveiled. And beneath it all, an older, darker secret lurks that threatens to undo them all.
A River Enchanted is an atmospheric comfort read, full of Celtic charm and a fairy tale-esque magic. Rebecca Ross describes her stories as “cozy fantasies,” and there’s really no better way to describe her writing.
While the overall vibe of the story feels more like a young adult novel, the book is marketed as adult fiction. The characters are older and two tender romances are woven throughout the story. The characters themselves are complex and intriguing, and while I didn’t connect at the start of the book with every character whose point of view is shared, they all quickly found a special place in my heart.
While this writing style isn’t for everyone, it is perfect for fans of The Scorpio Races, or for readers with a love of lyrical, immersive prose. For me, A River Enchanted is so beautifully descriptive and immersive that I felt as though I’d stepped into the pages myself. This fantasy romance is the perfect blend of mystery and magic, coupled with themes of family and home that left me aching for the second book.
RATING
Rated: Mild. There is one use of moderate profanity and two uses of mild language. Some characters reference having past lovers. There are two brief, fade-to-black sex scenes, both featuring married couples.
