The River Has Roots cover art

The River Has Roots

The Sweeping, Magical Solo Debut by the Best-Selling Co-Author of THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR

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The River Has Roots

By: Amal El-Mohtar
Narrated by: Gem Carmella
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About this listen

 This audiobook features music performed by the author and her sister, Amal; and Dounya El-Mohtar, on harp, flute, and vocals, as well as songs sung by the narrator, Gem Carmella.

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.

'Oh what is stronger than a death? Two sisters singing with one breath.'

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...

The River Has Roots is the hugely anticipated solo debut of the New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award winning author Amal El-Mohtar.©2025 Amal El-Mohtar Best of 2025 Editors Select Fantasy Heartfelt

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Editorial Review

A love letter to words
I adored This Is How You Lose the Time War, which Amal El-Mohtar co-wrote with Max Gladstone, so I had my hopes up for her solo debut. If you also loved that book for its stunning use of language, you will adore The River Has Roots. Grammar is magic in this fairy tale—but it’s not the grammar you’re thinking of: the stuffy subject of our school days. In this story, grammar is the beauty and power of the way words meld together, play off one another and construe meaning. I hesitate to reveal too much lest I ruin the journey. Let Gem Carmella’s effusive, playful performance. —Sam D., Audible Editor

Critic reviews

Half delicious murder ballad, half beguiling love story, Amal El-Mohtar transports us to Faerieland so seamlessly it seems as though she just stepped out of it
When it comes to storytelling, Amal El-Mohtar is like one of the grammarians of Thistleford, a magician capable of deftly transforming the familiar into the unfamiliar and the numinous into the humane. The River Has Roots is an utterly enchanting tale of love and longing, language and song, and the unbreakable bond of sisterhood
Gorgeous and glorious! Every sentence sings! Amal El-Mohtar weaves a lovely and poignant fairy tale that will linger in your heart
This book is lyrical, elegant, and above all, kind. I devoured it in one sitting. This story feels like the smell of rain. This is a fairy tale wrapped in brilliant language. An absolute must-read. Amal El-Mohtar is quite simply one of the best writers on the scene in ages
The River Has Roots is the perfect fable: both bright and brutal, very old and brand new. It's a story that outlasts itself, lingering like a song; I adored it
Amal El-Mohtar's genius fairytale reflects a truth we can never forget: words carry enormous power. The River Has Roots is truly exquisite
The River Has Roots is a beautiful, musical, and loving story, perfectly rendered in El-Mohtar's beautiful, musical, and loving prose. This novella has all the dark comforts of an old tale and all the light vigors of a new classic, and will inspire you to raise your voice in song with those you love
A powerful, gorgeous little story of sisterly love, the power of words, and revenge as a dish best served in verse
A pitch-perfect story of love and sacrifice, yearning and discovery, like a classic folk tale, but freshly minted
A rich and evocative story that's one part fairy tale, one part murder ballad, and one part ode to the magical power of language itself
One consequence of the spell that El-Mohtar weaves is that the reader is taken out of the mundane everyday world of seconds, minutes and hours. There are sentences and paragraphs here, not to
mention the riddles, which induce reverie and contemplation such that one loses track of the passage of time . . . All in all, this is a book to savour and wonder at.
All stars
Most relevant
I loved this performance, it much more than a book. It has a 3D shape.
Much recommended.

Such an exquisite experience

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Amal el-Mohtar's story is a magical tale told with brio by the narrator and interspersed with music and songs mentioned in the story. It is an immersive performance which makes you want more, even though it is perfectly structured and just long enough. The additional short story provides an interesting counterpoint with a slow careful reveal of the truth.

Magical

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a brilliant story with excellent narration. the background atmospheric sounds and singing really brought the wonderful writing to life

fantastic story

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An enjoyable listen, I especially loved the end chapter and would recommend this to anyone interested in a relaxed pace fantasy.

Brilliant ending

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I don't often read audio books, but this one had me staying up two nights in a row. if you enjoy a good fairytale and playing with words, this is for you.

The immersive content, music and accent made this book magical.

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