The River Has Roots is an enchanting fantasy novella and the solo debut from Amal El-Mohtar. It’s an adaptation of the British murder ballad “The Cruel Sister” (aka “The Twa Sisters”). Like the ballad, El-Mohtar’s story features two sisters, one dark and one fair, Ysabel and Esther Hawthorn, who live in the small town of Thistleford, close to the boundary of the Faerie Kingdom of Arcadia, a world where rules are different from the mortal realm and time flows differently. Tasked with tending enchanted willows along the river Liss, their harmonious songs to the trees are infused with magic. The sisters’ bond is tested when Esther attracts two suitors: Samuel Pollard, a mortal with dubious intentions, and Rin, a shape-shifting being from Arcadia. Esther’s choice sets off a chain of events that affects their sisterhood and alters the fabric of the mortal world.

At its core, this is a story about sisters and how the strength of their bond transcends time and space. Esther is the older and wiser of the two sisters, but the lesser of the two singers. Her love interest, Rin, is depicted as a non-binary shape-shifter, which adds contemporary and fantastical elements to the story. Ysabel and Esther’s deep bond is wonderfully demonstrated when they sing duets harmoniously to the willow trees. The two suitors intent on pursuing Esther present a threat to their relationship—one is the self-serving Samuel Pollard, who wants to marry Esther for the benefit that family’s wealth/land would bring him; the other is Rin, who Esther feels genuine love for. Esther’s choice of partner ultimately reshapes the future for her entire family.

El-Mohtar’s prose is lyrical and poetic. The enchanting and whimsical setting, a mythical version of England, is richly described, and readers will literally feel the warmth of the town’s winds and the sounds of the river Liss coming right out of the pages. The magic system is highly original—it is intricately tied to language and song, with the sisters’ melodies influencing the enchanted willow trees to maintain balance in the world. Readers may need to read this story a few times to fully grasp how the magic works! The story is evenly paced and has compelling dialogue and several magical singing scenes and comes to a quick and harrowing climax before its abrupt end. The story could have benefited from a few more chapters for better character resolution after such an enchanting and immersive tale.

Overall, This River Has Roots is a lyrical and enchanting novella that incorporates so much in its short pages—folklore, strong sister bonds, faerie magic, and beautiful romance. The story showcases the author’s talent in creating a magical narrative that lingers long after that final page! This is a novella you’ll want to reread again and again to discover all of its magic. For readers who love reimagined fairy tales and whimsical characters, this novella is a must-read!