Return to Roots

Roots #3

by Anne Elizabeth

TORN BETWEEN WORLDS. TORN BETWEEN LIVES.

Juliet Barrows, the Otherworlder, has survived the Uprising, even though betrayal has torn her apart. Tristan is captured, Saya has escaped, Adnan is missing, and Juliet is back home. But echoes of her encounters with Natsumi remain, along with her warning, “Beware the pretender!”

Home is not what Juliet remembers. Her brother returns to haunt her as she strives to act the part of an amnesiac and live a normal life. But it’s not so easy to forget the past five months. Her parents demand normalcy, Cam doubts the truth, and Juliet doesn’t know what she wants. Her heart and her mind are at odds as she longs for what she lost. Realizing she is fighting a losing battle, she leaves her parents to find Adnan and seek peace.

What happened in Ryujin is not over: Tristan must be dealt with, Natsumi must answer questions, and new leadership must prove itself under the threat of war. Worlds clash as Juliet faces tests of her will and endurance. Torn between who she is versus who others want her to be, she must take the final step to overcome her past and present fears.

334 pages, Paperback

Expected publication November 11, 2025

About the author

Anne Elizabeth lives in the beautiful PNW with her husband and two children. Her series, The Roots Trilogy, was envisioned after a trip to Japan to help with the 2013 tsunami relief efforts. Inspired by the grandeur of the world around her and the works of authors such as Tolkien and Lewis, Anne joyfully gifts her imagination and storytelling as she establishes her niche in familiar genres. Along with her literary pursuits, she enjoys adventures outside, a variety of arts and crafts, and is an avid board gamer.

Reviews

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Return to Roots is the conclusion in the The Roots Trilogy. This book hooked me from the very beginning. Juliet, Adnan, and Saya, along with the minor characters, are characters in whom I am invested from the first two novels. I was all in to see their stories play out. The plot in this finale was fast-paced with plot twists that kept me guessing. I was engaged throughout to see what would happen next, especially since I never knew what would occur! I highly recommend Return to Roots, but be sure to read A World Within Roots & Roots Unearthed first!

I received an ARC copy of Return to Roots, and this review is my honest opinion. (I had previously purchased and read the first two books in this trilogy.)

[Anne Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a few weeks left until Return to Roots releases! This book was the most complex and difficult to write out of the three. I also believe it is my strongest by far. Grief, moving on from the past, and seeking the truth are some of the biggest themes that come to a head in this finale. But of course, woven throughout is the constant reminder that there is always hope amidst the darkness.

[Youngermillers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this finale to the Roots Trilogy. It has many twists and turns and keeps you guessing and made it hard to stop reading. It is filled with travels between worlds and loose ends being wrapped up. I appreciate the clean romance aspect and the sacrifices the characters are willing to make.