Review by oxian_d - A River Enchanted

oxian_d 's review for:

A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross

4.0

adventurous hopeful lighthearted mysterious reflective relaxing medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This was a light read, a mellow musical love book filled with colorful emotions shaping the land. A story of a childhood nemesis turned lovers after years of resentment they met unexpectedly. A boy bard who was summoned to return to his long lost hometown and yet felt unwelcomed, unloved, so eager to leave. And an heiress girl who he hated to see but needed him most in solving the case of the missing girls of Cadence. Although this was a mystery fantasy, it's the most soothing magical read I ever had. I almost felt serene in all its scenery and just drifting within the story. It's like I was the narrator but other times I'm one of the spirits observing them through the pages. It's very peculiar to be there and yet I love to stay. Such was what Jack too has learned over the days with Adaira. And with a gossiping wind, a girl-napper in the midst and a musical mission it was too interesting to pass.

The land and its people were divided east from the west for so many centuries and they couldn't cross the boundary without alarming each other magically. With the Eastern lasses mysteriously vanished without a trace, they suspected the spirits took them. So Jack and Adaira sought the aid of the elemental spirits with the heiress mother's ballad. First, they called the water then the earth, but it was of no help. They were put to silence by the wind and time was running out still they're not getting any clue. And each time Jack played the harp he's physically drained of life. But there were those who helped them like Sidra and Torin among the few who got clues from spirits since their daughter was taken. It was all connected and the spirits were not to blame but they knew who was responsible.

With the ballad from the past and the bard of the present they ventured and uprooted the land's greatest secrets. That's why everything there felt alive. So alive I was living there already with Mirin's loom, Sidra's herbs or Jack's harp. It felt intoxicatingly mesmerizing , if only I could not stop reading. This was a land filled with mystery splendor and magic, full of reverie as it was all revealed with his musical string of harp. But the ending felt like there was a second part, so I'm so thrilled. Hoping they'd find the happy ending they deserve.

Content Warnings