The River Has Roots
WINNER OF THE HUGO, NEBULA, LOCUS, AND AURORA AWARDS! • The River Has Roots is the hugely anticipated solo debut of Amal El-Mohtar, the New York Times bestselling co-author of This is How You Lose the Time War. Follow the river Liss to the small town of Thistleford, on the edge of Faerie, and meet two sisters who cannot be separated, even in death.
The hardcover edition features beautiful interior illustrations by Kathleen Neeley and a foil case stamp.
"Half delicious murder ballad, half beguiling love story." —Holly Black • "An absolute must-read." —T. Kingfisher • "Every sentence sings!" —Sarah Beth Durst • "Utterly enchanting." —Fonda Lee • "A story that outlasts itself." —Alix E. Harrow • "Truly exquisite." —Zoraida Córdova • "A beautiful, musical, and loving story." —Emma Törzs
In the small town of Thistleford, on the edge of Faerie, dwells the mysterious Hawthorn family.
There, they tend and harvest the enchanted willows and honour an ancient compact to sing to them in thanks for their magic. None more devotedly than the family’s latest daughters, Esther and Ysabel, who cherish each other as much as they cherish the ancient trees.
But when Esther rejects a forceful suitor in favor of a lover from the land of Faerie, not only the sisters’ bond but also their lives will be at risk…
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Readers say *The River Has Roots* by Amal El-Mohtar is a lyrical, intimate novella of folklore and sisterhood, steeped in haunting, musical atmosphere...
The River Has Roots
by Amal El-Mohtar
The River Has Roots reads like a folk song pulled dripping from enchanted waters. Part lush fairy tale and part chilling murder ballad, this spellbinding novella follows sisters Esther and Ysabel, whose devotion to each other—and to the magical willows of Thistleford—defies even death.
When tragedy strikes at the hands of a bitter suitor, the story transforms into a haunting symphony of grief, transformation, and reckoning. Drawing on ancient folklore and hypnotic wordplay, El-Mohtar weaves a world where magic lives in the cadence of song, language holds real teeth, and sisterhood acts as an unyielding anchor against cruelty.
Lyrical and aching with mythic power, this novella proves that true devotion can reach across the boundary of realms to demand justice.
In the small town of Thistleford, on the edge of Faerie, dwells the mysterious Hawthorn family.
There, they tend and harvest the enchanted willows and honour an ancient compact to sing to them in thanks for their magic. None more devotedly than the family’s latest daughters, Esther and Ysabel, who cherish each other as much as they cherish the ancient trees.
But when Esther rejects a forceful suitor in favor of a lover from the land of Faerie, not only the sisters’ bond but also their lives will be at risk…
I always have a hard time reviewing short stories they never feel like enoug.... I want more time with the characters, more time to sit with it.
That said, The River Has Roots was well done.
I read (well, listened to) it in one sitting, which feels fitting for a story like this. The atmosphere is rich despite the length. There’s something very intimate about how quickly you’re pulled into the sister's bond and the quiet magic surrounding Thistleford and the river Liss.
The audiobook was very immersive, the inclusion of the songs being sung added a whole other layer to the experience, like stepping into a folktale rather than just reading one. Honestly I would have skipped them if I had read it.... I am that person....
I just wish there had been more of it. More time, more depth, more moments to linger. But even within its short length, it tells a complete and compelling story.
That said, The River Has Roots was well done.
I read (well, listened to) it in one sitting, which feels fitting for a story like this. The atmosphere is rich despite the length. There’s something very intimate about how quickly you’re pulled into the sister's bond and the quiet magic surrounding Thistleford and the river Liss.
The audiobook was very immersive, the inclusion of the songs being sung added a whole other layer to the experience, like stepping into a folktale rather than just reading one. Honestly I would have skipped them if I had read it.... I am that person....
I just wish there had been more of it. More time, more depth, more moments to linger. But even within its short length, it tells a complete and compelling story.
Not really my thing but not bad. I like fluff but this was a kind of fluff that had me going back on paragraphs to make sure I know what's happening. Would've loved more build up but I understand it is a short story. Very heavy classic fairytale vibes. Don't regret reading it. Did think it was a little odd that like a quarter of the book is a preview for another book, but that is a personal issue.