It is also mentioned throughout that some married partners take a blood vow, where palms are cut and then fastened together. In another scene, a character cuts someone (with their approval) in order to ensure they cooperate. There is a scene where a raid occurs, and warriors steal livestock and set fire to a family’s home.Ī male character is wounded during the raid.Īnother male character has their throat sliced with a blade and bleeds out.Ĭutting: there is a scene where two characters willingly draw shallow cuts on their palms and forearms, in order to test the enchantment of a blade. It can be unsettling in some instances, so please be advised that there is a sinister undercurrent throughout the story, which involves kidnapping. The underlying mystery of the entire novel is that young girls are disappearing on the isle. This scene can be found on pages 151-152. It is not sexual, but this still might be triggering to some readers. The most triggering scene I would like to point out is that a female character is physically assaulted.

As an example, the old ballad that depicts the two clans’ history is one where a husband and wife (from opposing clans) quarrel and then kill each other, which initially sparks the unbalance of the isle. Violence: there is a simmering level-or feeling-of violence throughout this story, as one clan on the isle is of a threatening and raiding nature to the other, who then kills in retaliation. Last time I counted, there were 4 curse words total. (Feb.Please be aware that there will be *** SLIGHT SPOILERS*** in this content guide (although I have done my best to keep it minimal!). Agent: Suzie Townsend, New Leaf Literary. This will appeal to lovers of fantasy from Name of the Wind to the Earthsea series. Ross puts a faith-based spin on the familiar elemental magic system and infuses her richly drawn world with dangerous spirits, while raising thoughtful questions about spirituality, morality, man’s relationship with nature, and the meaning of home. The rescue mission forces Jack and Adaira to work together to appease the spirits of earth, fire, water and air-but this magic comes at a high cost, one Jack may be unable to pay. Young girls are going missing from the island, and Adaira Tamerlaine, future Laird of the East and Jack’s childhood enemy, needs Jack’s help to find them. Now he is summoned back to the childhood home he hoped to leave behind. Jack Tamerlaine departed Cadence, an island divided by an age-old feud between two clans, 10 years ago to train as a bard on the mainland.

With this vividly imagined, Scottish-inspired mythic fantasy, Ross makes her adult fantasy debut (after the YA novel Dreams Lie Beneath) and launches the Elements of Cadence duology.

A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross