REVIEW: The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar
Amal El-Mohtar took the Internet by storm with her novella This is How You Lose the Time War, co-written with Max Gladstone. She now returns with her solo debut novella The River Has Roots, stretching the legs of her whimsical and lyrical prose. The River Has Roots follows two dutiful sisters, Esther and Ysabel Hawthorn, devoted to tending and harvesting the enchanted willows by the River Liss, on the edge of Faerie, by singing their joint tunes to honour the magical trees. This devotion takes root, first and foremost, in the sisters’ love for one another, who cherish each other more than anything. When Esther rejects a forceful human suitor for her Fae lover, the dejected takes matters into his own hands, testing the strengths of sisterhood between Esther and Ysabel.
The writing is atmospheric and charming, flitting between verses of poetry and prose, supported by the illustrations throughout the story, giving readers breaks to supplement the whimsy of the tale. I loved the main characters; Esther and Ysabel were a delight, and so multifaceted. The realities of sisterhood felt encompassed within their relationship, which is no small feat at all. They captured the sweetness of having a constant companion in your sibling, as well as the acute heartbreak of losing them to the love of another. El-Mohtar writes emotion as if she is peaking into the window of a soul and transcribing what she sees; it is genuine artistry.
I found myself slightly confused and frustrated at the magic system, known as Grammar. It is essentially an elusive form of magic that changes and transforms. Had the story been slightly longer, perhaps it would have allowed the magical system to create a concrete foundation in the story, and thus flow easier. Nevertheless, the magic added to the overall charm of the novella, and also added to the grimdark aspect. The mystery behind Faerie, and what you do and do not see, lends a grimdark hand in the story as a whole; you could easily step forth into your demise, as much as into a dream.
At its heart, The River Has Roots is an ode to sisterhood, before it is an ode to love, poetry or revenge. For any readers who are looking for a swift and quick novella, one filled with heart and charm and the promise of an everlasting bond, I’d suggest picking up this gem. In the hands of Amal El-Mohtar, any fairytale can be transformed into an epic story.
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