The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mothar

"The River Has Roots" by Amal El-Mohtar is a novella about two sisters, Esther and Ysabel Hawthorn, who live on the border between the mortal world and Faerie, tending to enchanted willows that connect the two realms. The story, inspired by the ballad "The Cruel Sister", explores themes of sisterhood, love, magic, and the power of language, set against a backdrop of murder and transformation.