The River Has Roots

De: Amal El-Mohtar

Narrado por: Gem Carmella

2026 Audie Awards winner for Best New Voice and for Production & Sound Design!

The River Has Roots is the hugely anticipated solo debut of the New York Times bestselling and Hugo Award winning author Amal El-Mohtar. 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.

This program features music performed by the author and her sister, Dounya El-Mohtar with Amal and Dounya on harp, flute, and vocals; and songs sung by the narrator, Gem Carmella. It also includes the short story "John Hollowback and the Witch," from the author's upcoming collection.

"Half delicious murder ballad, half beguiling love story." —Holly Black • "An absolute must-read." —T. Kingfisher • "Every sentence sings!" —Sarah Beth Durst • "Utterly enchanting." —Fonda Lee • "A story that outlasts itself." —Alix E. Harrow • "Truly exquisite." —Zoraida Córdova • "A beautiful, musical, and loving story." —Emma Törzs

“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…

"...Gem Carmella’s narration kicks the book up several notches. Her rich rural English accent and animated delivery lend the air of a tale told fireside by a beloved relative, adding so much to the novel’s charm..." — Slate

“Musical effects combine with Carmella’s singing at key moments…A stunning performance.”—AudioFile (Earphones Award Winner)

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor.com.

Excellent!!!

Fast paced, sisterly bonds and mysterious places. The performance for this novella was *chefs kiss*

Poetic and Lyrical Fairy Tale

I loved “The River Has Roots” by Amal El-Mohtar.

It’s a very short novella (133 pages in print or 3 hours and 53 minutes in audio) and is written by the author of one of my favorite books, “This is How You Lose the Time War” (Amal El-Mohtar co-wrote it with Max Gladstone). Her new book has the same ethereal writing style as Time War.

It’s a fairy tale about two sisters who care for and harvest enchanted willow trees and they thank the trees for their magic by singing to them. One of the sisters is a lesbian who falls for a non binary fae, but the story is centered more about the connections between sisters.

“The River Has Roots” is a poetic and lyrical fairy tale wrapped in folk songs. What makes the audio version special though is that it’s a book whose themes are sisterly bonds and the audiobook has background music which is performed by the author and her sister. The narrator, Gem Carmella also sings the songs.

“The River Has Roots” is a beautifully written fairy tale and I do recommend listening to the audio version. The narration is excellent.

Performance and word use

Just beautiful. I’ll not read a book the same again. Amal has a way words

Poetic fairy tale

I liked the magic and music, the story is slow and poetic. It’s definitely different from a lot of mainstream romantasy, so maybe not for you if you’re looking for fast paced drama. The narrator performed beautifully.

Perfect fairytale

Pure fairytale magic!

I cannot believe how wonderful a production it is.

The perfect narrator who sings the beautiful songs and tells the gripping tale with so much heart and love, that I couldn’t but cry.

I was transported to this magical land of mystical faeries, loving sisters, living landscapes, and awful dangers. As in all stories of fae, the more you consume of the treats offered the less likely it is that you might want to return to your original life.

My heart is still lost somewhere in this eerie world, doesn’t know how to come back.

I guess you know this feeling. This blues when a story ends.

I’ve rarely felt it this strong.

And it wasn’t even that long.