Lend an ear to listen to Amal El-Mohtar’s bittersweet tale of two sisters whose love can transcend all. The River Has Roots is a short, sweet lullaby that will pluck at your heartstrings and give you a love to believe in.
As is tradition among the Hawthorn family, Esther and Ysabel sing to honor the magical willows that serve as a border between their lands and Faerie. And what a pair the two young women make, with such bright, beautiful voices that seem to conjure up magic into the very air. But as the women mature, a smarmy suitor arrives at Esther’s door looking to make a business deal, or rather, a marriage proposal; but she refuses to settle for anything so drab. Esther has fallen in love with someone from Faerie, and her heart is torn between the two worlds. She wishes to sing alongside her sister and love her fae suitor, too. But an advantageous man can be a dangerous thing that puts the sisters’ love to the test.
The River Has Roots is beautifully written, with prose as lyrical as the songs the sisters sing. The dialogue feels so purposeful, as if each word was carefully chosen to convey a deeper meaning. It is simple yet artistic. El-Mohtar constructs sentences with heart and enough double meaning to make the fae giggle in delight when untangling all the words. The dialogue often takes a lyrical form as well, as the two sisters sing to one another and Esther and her lover, Rin, communicate in riddles. I loved the story so much that I read it and listened to the audiobook as well. The book itself reads like a song, but the audiobook brings it to life and was specially curated for the listener. Amal and her sister, Dounya, played the harp and flute, respectively, to accompany narrator Gem Carmella’s singing. It is a wondrous thing. Each lyric and riddle is shared in song, giving an ethereal beauty to the love shared between the two sisters.Â
The magic system is fueled by grammar—the conjugation of it and its structure. Not only is this an incredible choice for a tale of two sisters living close to Faerie, but it also emphasizes the power of words and how they convey meaning. The fae in most fantasy stories are well known for their ability to use language and its layers to highlight or obscure communication. And this element saturates how magic is used in the story, shimmering with power when the sisters sing specific songs or craft riddles. The use of grammar is a magical art that makes each character interaction so purposeful, and it allows the plot to lean mischievously into grey areas where opportunities can be explored and meanings altered.
The story is made even more magnificent by the friendship and love shared between Esther and Ysabel. So often, sisters are pitted against one another in stories, and it was so refreshing to see the love, understanding, and admiration that Esther and Ysabel have for each other. Despite their singing talents and love of songs, they could not be more dissimilar; yet they both celebrate each other and all the ways they differ. We meet the sisters at a transitional time where both are beginning to long for different futures, yet they don’t want to lose the foundation of their sisterhood. As the story unfolds, Esther and Ysabel’s love has a gravitational pull that centers them and supports the future they want to create for themselves.  Â
Spend a day with The River Has Roots and be transformed by its grammar. Esther and Ysabel will carry you away on a lovely tune to tell a story of sisterhood, heartbreak, and a love that cannot be diminished.
Rating: The River Has Roots – 10/10
-Brandee
