The River Has Roots Audiobook By Amal El-Mohtar cover art

The River Has Roots

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The River Has Roots

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

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…

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

A Macmillan Audio production from Tor.com.

©2025 Amal El-Mohtar (P)2025 Macmillan Audio
Editors Select Fairy Tales Fantasy Feel-Good Witchcraft

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."—Holly Black, #1 New York Times bestselling author

"El-Mohtar’s solo debut (after cowriting This Is How You Lose the Time War with Max Gladstone) is a heart-wrenching fairy tale about the bonds of love and family. It’s a murder ballad in book form that will linger long after the final page is turned."—Library Journal, starred review

"El-Mohtar’s ethereal prose paints a clear picture of the unbreakable bond between her worthy heroines."—Publisher's Weekly

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 elementary 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 (complete with gorgeous singing) guide you through this delightful tale. —Sam D., Audible Editor

What listeners say about The River Has Roots

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A balm for the soul

A truly lovely novella, and the audio performance makes it markedly better. I’m grateful to have listened to this.

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Rich and lush and ode to language and love

An astonishingly beautiful piece of work. The audiobook in particular is spectacular because of the inclusion of singing. This is murder ballad. It’s also a fairy tale, and a riddle song. It contains multitudes. The language pulls you in with its intimacy. It is the story of two sisters and their unshakable love and bond. There is murder, there is also justice, and in the end a happiness of sorts. This is a book that should be remembered forever. Do stick around to short story at the end, it is poignant and for me at least painful. Amal El-Mohtar has a gift with words and I can’t wait to see what she writes next. Do not hesitate to buy this. As final praise I cannot help but love a story that has a pun as an essential part of its story.

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Narrative poetry

There's something about Amal El-Mohtar's writing that sounds just like magic is supposed to be. and somehow the audiobook managed to elevate that with the sound production and music.
This story marked me in the best way possible.

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