It's Not Like It's a Secret

In A River Enchanted, a bard by the name of Jack Tamerlaine is summoned to return home to the isle of Cadence, after ten years living on the mainland. Reluctantly, he answers the summons and will try to figure out why the daughters of the island are going missing.

He soon finds out that the nature spirits of the isle are just as capricious as he remembered and will only listen to his songs. Furthermore, the tension between the East and the West is higher than ever, which makes it even more difficult to find out what happened to the girls. He teams up with Adaira -his childhood rival and the daughter of the Laird- to finally solve this mystery.

In the beginning, I struggled a little with this book. Somehow it didn't really grab me and it felt quite melancholic at times. Jack had a rough start being back in Cadence and among the people he grew up with. He keeps wanting to go back to the mainland and his beloved career. Once he reluctantly agreed to team up with Adaira, it slowly got better -for Jack as well as for me.

The magic system and the nature spirits are really well written! I was very intrigued by the idea of the wind whispering rumors and warnings, the hills making your trip longer or shorter and the sea giving you fish or starving you.

The characters in this book are very lovable. I especially liked Jack's sister Frae, but also loved Sidra, Maisie, Thorin and Mirin. Each character has their own flaws and struggles and it all comes together nicely.

Overall I really liked this book. The first part was a bit hard for me, but the second part definitively made up for it. If you like Scottish folklore, a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance and stories entwined with magic and spirits, this book is perfect for you.

Books, Coffee & Passion
4.5 stars
Jack is summoned home to Cadence. He's not sure why until he reaches the island and is told that young girls are disappearing. Adaira is the heiress of the east. Her role isn't exactly what she wanted for herself, but as the only leaving heir of the laird, she doesn't have much choice. She understands her responsibilities and knows she needs to find the disappearing girls to return them safely to their parents. That means she needs to work with her childhood enemy. Jack and Adaira need to unite their efforts in order to solve the mystery.

Torin, Adaira's cousin and captain of the guard, and Sidra, the clan's healer and his wife, were my favorite characters from the beginning. I loved both of their POVs. Their callings, their relationship, and their character development were done in a beautiful way. I also enjoyed Jack's POV and his own journey regarding his complicated relationship with his mother and the clan. I loved the moments with his sister, and I liked his dynamic with Adaira. The glimpses we had into their past were fun to read. It took me some time to warm up to Adaira. At first, I wasn't sure what to think about her, and in my opinion, her character was a little underdeveloped. It got better as the story progressed. I enjoyed her relationship with Jack and loved her friendship with Torin and Sidra.

I loved the setting! The eerie island vibes were remarkable. The magic system and the isle spirits were intriguing and compelling. The pacing wasn't perfect, a lot was packed in the last chapters but I still loved this story. The writing was beautiful, the mystery kept me invested and I needed to know what was going on! I guessed some of the mysterious details but my enjoyment didn't waver.

A very atmospheric, beautiful, intriguing, emotional tale. Can't wait to read the next book!

This book is more about the writing and characters than the plot, as little actually happens in the majority of the book. The beautiful writing style of Rebecca Ross keeps you captivated in the Scottish lore surrounded by the mysterious fae. The magic is beautifully woven into the story and into the culture of the Isle. I loved the legend and story of Joan!

I understand that the book started as a YA then eventually changed to adult. I do not think Ross pushed enough into the adult fantasy/fiction world. I would have loved more descriptions and scenes of the budding romance between Adaira and Jack.

I want more. I want more worldbuilding and understanding. I loved when the secrets came about and things were finally understood. The author's voice is cool, peaceful, calm, and beautiful. The tone carries through the narrative and makes the book captivating and lovely.

It's a slow burn, don't get me wrong, but I really enjoyed it. I liked the lack of cliche romances, I liked the vibe and I liked the community. I wish there had been more world-building, I feel like the way the magic works is a bit incomplete but it doesn't ruin the read for me.

My biggest complaint is that the reason for the missing girls feels disappointing. It doesn't feel very realistic (and yes, I know this is a fantasy book). The motivations just feels lacking.

I will definitely read the next book and I'm excited to be pulled back into the world and these characters.

All the vibes!!!

I get Peter Pan vibes and I LOVE IT

The characters are just so warm and complex. I particularly loved the financial between the siblings. And how the relationship bloomed from dislike lovers was masterful.

This is the perfect YA I like not too much angst not too much sex and yet the relationships are deep of not deeper without the smut.

The whole time I was listening to it I was a giddy grin on my face. Such a warm book.

Highly anticipating book 2.

I thought this was great. I love folklore and fairytales. The Scottish folklore vibes are fantastic. It's very atmospheric. I enjoyed the clan dynamic.
The magic is interesting. It can be woven in plaids and worked into weapons. I also loved the part the elements played in this. How the wind can carry secrets, and if you call for someone the wind will carry your call.
I wish I had the next book in my hands right now!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the e-arc.

It has been a long time since I've felt that a book or a story was truly beautiful, but A River Enchanted was absolutely beautiful in every way! Rebecca Ross' writing style is one of the most lyrical I've ever read, and her storytelling is phenomenal! I can't think of anything I didn't like about this book. The plot, world, and magic were all very unique and fresh, which I appreciated. The imagery used to describe the world was excellent. There is a romantic element in the story, but I wouldn't say it is at the forefront. For me it was more more of an undertone that added depth to the overall story. There were however moments of tension which were very nice and well-written. We get multi-POV, which I am a sucker for! We get the POV of a married couple who are trying to recover after a traumatic event, and I loved how she wrote them rebuilding and repairing that relationship. It was one of my favorite elements in the book. There is a twist that I did not see coming at all, which is always fun. I don't like when a story is too predictable and this wasn't. Basically, I need everyone to read this and tell you every thought because I loved it so much! This is an adult fantasy novel but I say 16+ for themes and mild violence.