Review: A River Enchanted (Elements of Cadence #1)
Available at Bookshop.org
4/5
For fans of: Outlander, Scottish-inspired, folklore, rivals-to-lovers, tribal politics, mystery, elemental gods/spirits, ancient rivalries
The Big Questions:
What genre is this in? Fantasy, romance fantasy, mystery
Are there any swoon-worthy characters? Jack is a young university teacher who singing and musicianship entices gods and is beyond loyal to the ones he loves. Adaira is a young leader who is feisty, knows what she wants, and fights for her people.
Is it spicy? No
Is it violent or gory? No
Should I buy, borrow, or pass on this book? If you love a good fantasy mystery with a slow-burn romance, buy it!
“I tried to turn myself into stone. To not feel anything. But now I realize it is better to live, to feel and have a clean break than be half-dead and cold, cracked from resentment.”
Synopsis: Jack Tamerlaine hasn’t set foot on Cadence in ten long years, content 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: gossip is carried by the wind; plaid shawls can be as strong as armor, and the smallest cut of a knife can instil fathomless fear. The capricious spirits that rule the isle by fire, water, earth, and wind find mirth in the lives of the humans who call the land home. Adaira, heiress of the east and Jack’s childhood enemy, knows the spirits only answer to a bard’s music, and she hopes Jack can draw them forth by song, enticing them to return the missing girls.
As Jack and Adaira reluctantly work together, they find they make better allies than rivals as their partnership turns into something more. But with each passing song, it becomes apparent the trouble with the spirits is far more sinister than they first expected, and an older, darker secret about Cadence lurks beneath the surface, threatening to undo them all.
“I once thought home was simply a place. Four walls to hold you at night while you slept. But I was wrong. It’s people. It’s being with the ones that you love, and maybe even the ones that you hate.”
Review: Full disclosure, I was expecting this book to be more like ACOMAF in terms of romance and spice. I don’t know where I got that idea, but that’s where my mind was at when I picked this for my winter TBR. It’s not that, but I wasn’t disappointed! I was pleasantly surprised by this entire novel. I loved the world building and pacing of the story. It never felt overly rushed or boringly slow. The mystery and magic felt so organic and seamlessly part of the culture without being too bogged down with specifics. The magic of the island is very much alive and a deeply ingrained part of the Tamerlaine clan. The visuals were described so specifically and lovingly that I was definitely transported to the Scottish coast.
The characters really made me want to be part of this island life. These people truly love their home and are fiercely protective of it, but seeing it all through Jack’s experience makes me understand his reluctant desire to return and face the mystery and people he left behind. As anyone who comes from a small town knows, being an outsider or unique in a significant way makes you the target of unkindness that sticks. Speaking of the mystery, this book was terrifying in speaking of and portraying the kidnappings of young girls. The Breccans were characterized so barbarically by the Tamerlaines that the twists in the story really hit hard. What drew me in the most was the relationships between characters as they fall in love, realize how important they are to each other, and recognize what they are willing to do to stay together. I loved the change between Adaire and Jack as they realized how their relationship changed from childhood rivals to reluctant allies could not just bring the girls home but bring about lasting peace to their island. The relationship between Torin and Signa from good partners born out of necessity to true passion and oneness was beautifully gentle.
I cannot wait for the sequel to this story as the island thinks peace has come at a cost they were willing to pay, but will soon realize it was only the beginning. Just like the title suggests, this story and these characters are truly enchanting.