The River Has Roots
core novella 2025 The River Has Roots
Record
| First published | 2025 |
|---|---|
| Original language |  EN |
| Work type | novella |
| Canon status | core |
| Reader rating | 3.94 (50,649 ratings, collected 2026-08-19) |
| Page count | 133 |
| First-edition ISBN | 9781250341082 |
Synopsis
The River Has Roots is set in the small town of Thistleford, built along the River Liss, whose waters flow directly out of Arcadia, the neighboring fae realm, blurring the line between the ordinary town and the magic that borders it. Sisters Esther and Ysabel Hawthorn maintain their family's long tradition of singing to the magical willow trees that grow along the riverbank, a practice passed down through generations that keeps the town's relationship with Arcadia in careful balance. When circumstances disturb that balance, the sisters' devotion to the ritual draws them into old, half-forgotten entanglements between their family and the fae, testing how much of the tradition they have inherited they truly understand.
Where it sits
- Universe: The River Has Roots
- Series: not part of a registered series (standalone work within its universe)
- Author: Amal El-Mohtar
Awards (verified)
- Nebula Award (Best Novella), 2026: won
- Locus Award (Best Novella), 2026: won
- Hugo Award (Best Novella), 2026: finalist; 2026 ceremony had not yet been held as of the latest update; registered as finalist, not winner.
Notes
- A single-volume fairy-tale novella about two sisters and a river that can talk; not part of a series.
Sources
- Publisher listing: The River Has Roots
- Wikipedia: The River Has Roots
- The Nebula Awards: Introducing SFWA's 61st Annual Nebula Award Winners
- Reactor: 2026 Locus Awards winners
- The Hugo Awards: 2026 Hugo Awards history
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