Series: Elements of Cadence #1
Author: Rebecca Ross
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Released: February 15, 2022
Received: Own (BOTM)
Warnings: Death of a parent, kidnapping

A River Enchanted was one of my three choices for February’s BOTM. I just finished reading another novel by Rebecca Ross (Dreams Lie Beneath), and since I loved it, I was more than willing to give this new fantasy book a try.

Jack Tamerlaine left Cadence a decade ago, and for the longest time, he was content to never look back in his life. However, a strange summons forces him to come home – and acknowledge everything he had missed about the place.

Unfortunately, his trip back home is not for leisurely purposes, as girls of the aisle are missing. He is one of the few people who stand a chance to uncover what is happening to the girls and, with luck, bring them home.

A River Enchanted is a slow-building yet oddly ethereal read. In other words, this book is perfect for fantasy and urban fantasy fans – of any age. There’s a gentle beauty to the writing and world that captivated me, leaving me eager for more.

The story of Cadence was slow to unravel. There are many twists, turns, and surprises along the way, as new characters arrive and motivations are revealed. Honestly, though, I think I would have been enchanted with it even without all of that. The worldbuilding is phenomenal, as is the character development.

I know many readers will be quick to label A River Enchanted a Young Adult novel and move on, but having read the book, I don’t think that will be accurate. There’s a nuance to this world that feels uniquely adult while still having approachable themes for younger audiences. It’s a perfect balance.

Something about A River Enchanted felt familiar to me. Familiar in the sense that it felt like I was settling into a childhood book. I can’t quite place my finger on that sensation. The marketing campaign promised a novel that feels like House of Earth and Blood or The Witch’s Heart, but I haven’t read either, so that can’t be it. Regardless, I am very much looking forward to the release of the next novel in the series, A Fire Endless, which thankfully is due to come out at the end of this year.

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