A River Enchanted
- Authors: Rebecca Ross
- Series: Book 1 in the Elements of Cadence series
- Type: Novel
- Genres: Fantasy
- Rank:Top 500 in Best Romantic Fantasy Books on AmazonTop 1000 in Best Epic Fantasy Books on Amazon
- Rating: 4.3 based on 7,877 reviews
- Release Date: October 28, 2025
- Print length: 480 pages (Hardcover)
About the book
Enter the isle of Cadence in this novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Divine Rivals - a Scottish-inspired fantasy brimming with enemies-to-lovers romance, magic and spirits, and a captivating mystery
It starts with a letter and an ominous journey across dark waters. Ten years after being sent away to the mainland to become a bard, Jack Tamerlaine is summoned home to Cadence. Girls are going missing from the island, and Adaira, his childhood nemesis and the future leader of the clan, believes Jack is the only one who can find them.
The elemental spirits that dwell in every breath of air, splash of water, blade of grass, and flicker of fire find mirth in the lives of the humans, and a bard's music is the only way to summon them and ask that the girls be returned. Yet as Jack and Adaira get closer to solving the mystery, it becomes apparent that an older, darker secret about Cadence lurks beneath the surface, and no harp song may be strong enough to stop it.
With unforgettable characters, a thrilling plot, and a lush folklore-infused world, A River Enchanted is a stirring story of duty, love, and creating harmony between opposing forces. This first book in the Elements of Cadence duology marks Rebecca Ross's brilliant entry on the adult fantasy stage.
Praise for A River Enchanted
Exquisitely written with compelling characters and romance... I was swept away by the enchanting and magical world Rebecca Ross crafted, and loved every moment of it.'
A River Enchanted is a melodic and sweeping tale filled with whimsical magic, unforgettable characters, and heartfelt romance. Every line is a lyrical masterpiece, breathlessly taking you on a poignant journey through the mystical isle of Cadence. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough!
Reading A River Enchanted is like being swept away by a song. The novel is exquisitely crafted and rich with emotion. I loved every word of it!
An alluring and rich tale, at once a fast-paced mystery and a love story as warm as a hearth. Like music, it will bewitch your senses, carrying you to the wind-swept hills and effervescent waters of the isle of Cadence. A River Enchanted made me homesick for places I've never been. This is a classic in the making.
Riveting and richly imagined, A River Enchanted flows like a song you cannot forget. Rebecca Ross has crafted a tale as tricksy and elemental as the human--and inhuman--heart.
With lush worldbuilding and lyrical prose, A River Enchanted feels like the echo of a folktale from a world right next to our own.
Missing girls, an enchanted island, two enemies forced to work together-I was hooked from the first page. Rebecca Ross’s debut adult novel does not disappoint!
A River Enchanted swept me away from the very first page. A memorable cast, a unique magic system, and a mystery that will keep you turning the pages long past bedtime, Rebecca Ross’s adult debut is truly magical.
A vivid fantasy that is impossible to put down.
A sublime mix of romance, intrigue and myth, A River Enchanted is a stunning addition to the canon of Celtic-inspired fantasy. With its lyrical prose and tight world building, this story is both modern and timeless, drawing from the traditions of genre greats like Steven Lawhead and marrying them to the sensibilities of modern works like Genevieve Gornichec’s The Witch’s Heart and Tana French’s In the Woods.
Delightfully atmospheric, this compelling first book in a new fantasy series makes for a perfect rainy day read.
A tale that blends political intrigue with elements of a fantasy thriller... Ross has built a fully realized world clearly inspired by Scottish myth and legend and thick with heroes... A rich fantasy of bards and bairns in which the magical island setting becomes the main character.
A complex exploration of nature, family, and what the idea of home means, there’s plenty to love here, and much to build upon in the Cadence duology’s forthcoming second half.
A gorgeous and thoughtful addition to the fantasy genre.
Vividly imagined... This will appeal to lovers of fantasy from Name of the Wind to the Earthsea series.
The word that comes to mind when I think back on this book is 'lovely'. The characters in this novel are so well-written, you’ll forget you’re reading about fictional people.
About the author
