Outside of the division, the half of the Cadence where we spend our story is just exceptionally lovely. Both sides have things the other needs, but neither is willing to enact a treaty, as neither feels they can trust the other to honor it. And the divide between the two is something of a magical leyline any crossing of it immediately alerts the watchers of the boundary. The other side could practice magical crafts with ease, but would strive against the land itself to no avail, never able to grow enough food to feed their people through winter. One side would be lush and fertile, but the cost of magic would be steep. In the distant past, when a potential alliance between the Tamerlaines (of the east) and the Breccans (of the west) ended in tragedy and war, the island was divided by magic. The isle of Cadence is fascinating, with its multi-layered division between the east in the west politics and ideology and history all divide them, but that division is also seen in tangible, and magical, ways. But romance and magic, politics and a history fraught with division, are equally important tot the tale being spun. It is this mystery, of who is taking the girls and why, that drives the story. While the two might not see eye to eye, they are bound by a shared purpose: find the girls who are being kidnapped from their homes. Once there, Jack finds himself face to face with the heiress of his side of the divided isle, a woman who, as a girl, was his nemesis.

But the draw of duty is too much to ignore, so he leaves the life he has made for himself for the home where he never felt accepted. But Jack’s parentage, with his single mother and unknown father, made him feel judged and found wanting in the land of his birth, so he is hesitant to return. His laird has called him home, in need of his musical talents. Our story follows Jack, a Tamerlaine of Cadence who was sent to the mainland to become a bard. While it did take me a while to warm up to various aspects of this book, I grew to love it. There were multiple slow-burn relationships in these pages that didn’t capture me at first, but my investment in them grew as the story progressed.

And the romance was beautifully balanced, core to the story without ever overwhelming the plot.

The plot and the mystery element were intriguing enough to keep me invested while letting the setting and lore and characters be the true stars of the show. The magic was wild and enchanting and costly, and fascinatingly different across the island. The cast was varied, with some very interesting characters some were even lovable. The setting was lush, a balance of both familiar and fresh. A River Enchanted is lovely fantasy brimming with Celtic-inspired lore.

A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross