A River Enchanted

How does Jack and Adaira’s relationship develop over the course of the novel (from childhood rivals to friends to lovers)? What hints can you find in the narrative that a romance between the two is imminent?

Explore how faith in the spirits is depicted in several characters (Sidra, Mirin, Torin, Jack, Adaira, etc.). How does faith inform the different worldviews of these characters?

Do research into Celtic mythology. Find specific stories from Celtic myth that connect to the novel’s worldbuilding, and consider why Ross included those elements in A River Enchanted.

Magic is important to the understanding of Cadence. What role does magic play in the conflict between the Tamerlaines and the Breccans? How does it help/exacerbate political tensions?

Examine the depictions of the different elemental spirits (water, earth, air). How does the novel differentiate them? How do they reflect their elements?

Consider the unheard Breccan perspective on the history of Joan and Fingal’s marriage. How does perspective influence Cadence’s cultural heritage and history?

The feud between the Tamerlaines and the Breccans plays a massive role in the plot of A River Enchanted. Consider other novels from literature that center on feuds. What similarities and differences do they have with A River Enchanted?

Unconventional families appear frequently in this novel (Mirin with Jack and Frae, Sidra with Torin and Maisie, and Adaira and her two families). What role does family and the rediscovery of family play in the narrative? How does it impact different characters’ arcs?