Why You Should Read The River Has Roots

Amal El-Mohtar’s first novella since This is How You Lose the Time War is a grammatical sapphic masterpiece.

Information

Media: Books & Literature
Genre: Fantasy
Demographic: Adult
Representation: Main F/F Romance (w/ a Non-Binary Character)
Do I Recommend? Yes!!!
Rating: 4.5/5

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In The River Has Roots, a pair of sisters cherish each other as much as they cherish the ancient trees they care for. But when one of the sisters, Esther, rejects a misogynistic suitor in favor of a lover from the land of Faerie, their precious bond is put at risk by both man and nature.

In the world of Thistleford, magic is controlled by grammar, and magic-users are called grammarians. As Amal El-Mohtar writes, grammar “is always tense, like an instrument, aching for release, longing to transform present into past into future, is into was into will.”

I think the hardcover synopsis seriously undersells one of The River Has Roots’ greatest strengths. The novella plays with grammar, as well as the theme of grammar, in unique and breathtaking ways. It is as much a part of the story as the story itself.

Sometimes, it’s easy to forget the pleasure of reading a story that can be enjoyed for its prose alone. I think, in today’s economical world, we’ve grown accustomed to literature where the language takes a backseat, allowing the story alone to command our attention.

The River Has Roots reminds us that it’s not a zero-sum game, and in fact, stylistic lyricism matters. It has a tangible effect on how we remember a story. And that, in turn, magnifies the affection I feel for its cast of characters and narrative.

Under its whimsical awning, The River Has Roots re-imagines the fairy tale through the lens of a wholly modern story about female autonomy and sisterly love with additional themes of displacement and consumeristic greed.

The trust Esther and Ysabel have for each other remains a breath of fresh air. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of authors subverting the trope of beautiful sisters fighting over a stupid man. I guess we have Frozen to thank for that.

I also loved how Esther and Rin’s romance underpins the narrative in a way that ultimately supports rather than antagonizes Esther’s relationship with her sister Ysabel. I was pleasantly surprised by just how much the romance mattered—and really, I can’t blame Amal El-Mohtar. They are just adorable together.

Ultimately, like all the best fairy tales, The River has Roots is a short and incisive story with twists that you won’t see coming but might catch if you were paying close enough attention. It has all the makings of a modern classic, and it’s also just a lot of fun in a small package. So if you haven’t had the chance to pick it up yet, I highly recommend it.

Have you read The River Has Roots? Are you a lover of fae romances? Let me know in the comments below!