As the first book in a fantasy series, Daughter of Water introduces a new world with new lore. The FMC, Heidi, was raised by humans in a small village, but learns of her real identity - she's not human but Verdélia, a magical race strongly connected to plantlife. Whilst learning how to navigate this new life, she must also assume a position of leadership and royalty, as she comes to learn she is one of the four Firstborn who rule over the country.
The characters are likeable, and I enjoy that Heidi, although in a strange new world, still feels she is able to stand up for what she thinks, and gets a little bit sassy when it was necessary. The French influence throughout was interesting and felt unique to other stories I've read.
With this being the first book, I did expect lots of world building, particularly with how the readers learn the world alongside the FMC. However, I did feel as though most of the book was purely world building and understanding the lore. While I'm sure there is more action and plot progression in the next books, I think I would have preferred something to have happened earlier in the first book. I did also feel as though the end was quite abrupt - no big cliffhanger, but no solid endpoint either.

I'll be looking out for the next in the series - Thank you to A. S. Dampt and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book!

The book has a lot of potential and the story line was really good. But the storyline was not as fast as expected, and therefor a lot of questions about the world where the storyline is in are still there. This book didn't hooked me on as many others do, while reading I was fast distracted, which is a shame.

The world has a lot of different magical aspects, with creatures which were fictional, this is always nice. At this way we get to know more of the world. But the slow pace (again) has withheld me to really get to now the creatures and the other people in the book. At the beginning I thought there would be more on the four firstborns but the story mainly focusses on one, or the development. Maybe it is because of the next book and in there we will see more development of the others?

Although i' somewhat critical about this book, I really wanna now the rest of the story thus will also definitely read book 2!

Thank you for the ARC!

There were some truly standout moments in the story! The world-building was imaginative, and the intricate political landscape really drew me in. When Heidi steps into Verdélys, she’s clueless about both the world around her and her own identity, making her journey of self-discovery feel genuine and relatable. I found her curiosity and exploration of the Firstborns and their incredible powers, like mind reading, really fascinating.

However, I did struggle to get through parts of the book. It sometimes felt too lengthy and not always engaging enough. A lot of chapters were dedicated to Heidi’s academic experiences or the Firstborns attending opera performances, which slowed the pace down considerably. By the time I was about a third through, only her move to Verdélys felt like a significant development. I really wished we could have explored the other Firstborns more alongside Heidi instead of only focusing on her studies. Because of that, I had a hard time connecting with her, and the other characters seemed more like tools for the plot rather than real people we could invest in. Plus, the climax just didn’t deliver the suspense I was hoping for, leaving me a bit underwhelmed.
Overall I did enjoy the writing and the story, I just think it needed to be a bit more concise!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Unfortunately a DNF @ 20%.

The world building seemed really interesting and held a lot of potential but unfortunately the pacing was a little slow for me and the overall feel was just a little too young. Don't shy away if you don’t mind some time investment to build a really cool world! It just wasn’t for me.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I overall thought that this book was ok, the magic was interesting, but I didn't really connect with the characters. The middle of the book had a lot of background information, but none of it was really plot relevant leading the ending to feel very rushed and sudden. Not sure if I will continue with this series or not.

This book was a solid 3.5 stars. I loved Hedis (later known as Sylvia’s) journey to uncover her identity. This book is the story of a girl who has lived and been raised by humans and whilst hiding her magical gifts. She soon descovers she is one of four heirs to a mysterious kingdom she only believed to be a fable. The best part of this book is the immersive worldbuilding and the world of Verdelys is explored in depth with unique and amazing powers and creatures. I would only say that the pacing of this book was a little slow, I felt some aspects didn’t need to be drawn out - the walking and walking and some of Hedis training lessons. I think Heidis personality and character development could have been explored more if less time was spent on her day to day lessons etc.

I LOVED this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The book starts with the FMC Heidi and how she is going about her day to day life until an unexpected visitor arrives and she gets thrown into a world she didn’t think existed!

The pacing and details of her story and how her life changes is just perfect,
The world building is amazing, doesn’t feel rushed and you really get a sense of how the world works. The magic system is unique and interesting.
I enjoyed the relationship between the main characters and how their relationships evolved. The time was taken to delve into each relationship which is refreshing.

I can’t wait for the next book! Would highly recommend to read if you are wanting more of a high fantasy style read.

An immersive fantasy about girl discovering she is a lost heir to a magical kingdom.

The pacing was somewhat slow but still enjoyable! We saw a lot of character growth with our FMC and the world building is incredible.

I really loved this book and I’m looking forward to what comes next in this series.

I loved this! It was very nostalgic to read and reminded me of a few different fantasy books I've read before, including the Wings of Fire and Keeper of the Lost Cities. The world building and magic system is really interesting (and it's fun to see a French-inspired fantasy!) I love that we spend time with the characters before throwing them into action and we really get to see the relationships developing.

Very excited to see future installations in this series!

"Daughter of Water" is a captivating fantasy that embraces the essence of classic storytelling, opting for a more gradual and immersive approach rather than relying on constant surprises or imminent danger. The narrative unfolds naturally, inviting readers into a well-developed world at a measured pace.

The focus is on four heirs, each destined to lead, as they grapple with a kingdom veiled in mystery and threat. The protagonist’s path is especially notable—she doesn’t start off as a fierce or all-knowing figure. Rather, she stumbles, learns, and matures, making her a character readers can genuinely connect with. The balance between her and the more experienced individuals around her is carefully done—she doesn’t overshadow them, yet she steps up when the situation demands it.

The romance is another lovely aspect, evolving slowly and tenderly. It’s not an intense, overwhelming affair but a subtle connection that builds through quiet, meaningful interactions, making it all the more heartfelt.

I'm intrigued by the "Daughter of Water" and cannot wait to read the sequel!

This was a good book but it is definitely targeted to a younger audience. The story was a little slow paced and anti climatic.

Daughter of Water is a meticulously crafted and imaginative tale of intrigue, elemental magic, and destiny. The story follows four Firstborn heirs destined to rule the kingdom of Verdélys who realise they are battling forces larger and more sinister than they ever imagined. In a land steeped in magic and mystery, the characters come across as surprisingly human and compelling relatable.

The world-building is masterful and provides a rich foundation for the rest of the series. Stronger foreshadowing of some of the darker twists could have enhanced the otherwise immersive experience, but the ending is gripping and carries the book to an enticing conclusion that leaves the reader wanting more.

An epic fantasy that blends familiar elements with uniquely intricate twists, Daughter of Water is an impressive debut to what will surely be an enchanting series.

3.5/5 The concept of this book, as well as the cover art, really drew me in. The fantasy world the author created DID feel original and complete. The aspects where this story fell short were in length and monotony. I wasn’t able to fully connect with the main character, which may be because of the fact that this is book is more YA-focused. I did enjoy the details in the world the author created, it did feel drawn out at times, but overall a good fluffy read.

Unique Worldbuilding!

The book tells the story of Heidi, later called Sylvie, who is raised by humans and keeps her magical powers a secret in order to lead a normal life. However, her world is turned upside down when she learns that she is one of four reincarnated souls destined to rule the kingdom of Verdélys. In search of her true identity and fate, Sylvie embarks on a journey to the magical capital to learn more about her origins and her role in this extraordinary world.

The book immerses the reader in a unique and intricately crafted world filled with fascinating creatures and captivating magic. The worldbuilding is one of the book's strongest elements, as it brings the world of Verdélys and its rich history to life. The characters, especially the protagonist Sylvie, are very likable.

Unfortunately, the story has a very slow pace, especially in the beginning. The explanations of the world and many everyday scenes sometimes feel drawn out. This is particularly noticeable in the early chapters, where a lot of time is spent building the world and character backgrounds.

Despite this, the book has a lot of potential. The idea and setting are unique, and the world has many interesting facets that could have been highlighted more if the pace was quicker and there was more focus on tension and plot. The slow pace and lack of tension make it a cozy read, but not always gripping.
With some trimming and a stronger focus on the plot, the book could have been even more engaging.

There are some interesting ideas in this book, particularly regarding the world building. Magical beings imbued with elemental and seasonal powers that are reborn every 200 years ruling over a kingdom sounds fine, but add in a government of men and women who want the control in their own hands, who all but raise and train these elemental children — to make use of them, to use them, to destroy them — along with a magical wart between the Verdélys and the Imps, who are lower caste, cursed to be Imps often through not action or fault of their own … and it’s a lot.

Unfortunately, the pacing of this book is terrible. It’s a slow day-by-day slog of Heidi learning she’s a Chosen One, then leaving her village, then walking to the city — seeing the city in the distance — and then more walking. Then there are her endless lessons, which the reader gets to sit in on, a ballet where the entire playbill fills two pages, and on and on and on. It’s not just infodumps or exposition, it’s a lecture in a class that I’m not interested in.

Heidi,l whose true name is Sylvie, is a generic “good” person with the ability to read mines, something she doesn’t use intelligently. She knows or suspects someone’s not a nice, trustworthy person, and goes to take another lesson instead of even trying to see what this man is thinking. She has so little depth to her as a character that it’s hard for me to feel anything for her, and the rest of her quartet are just as hollow. I didn’t feel any personality from them, or any chemistry between Sylvie and Loic. Or between anyone and anyone.

For me, personally, if less time had been spent with history lessons and more time building up Sylvie and the others as characters — with less telling, and less describing and more feeling and thinking — this would have worked better for me. As it is, this is a three star read because Goodreads doesn’t let me give a 2.75. While the writing is decent, the pace and lack of characters are just glaring issues for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

a captivating fantasy filled with lost royalty, destiny, and an enchanting world. with rich lore and compelling characters, this is a must-read for fans of magical heritage and high-stakes adventure!!

I should've known that I wouldn't be able to fully connect with this book, but I was fully meamerized by the cover!!! It is definitely meant for younger readers.

The story follows Heidi, a young woman who was brought up by adoring parents in the town of Hull (not to be confused by the one in the UK). Shunned by many of the townsfolk for being strange she keeps to herself as much as possible, tending her garden, until one day a traveller calls and shatters her perception by decreeing that she is one of the fabled Verdelia, a notorious race from over the mountain.
This was an engaging story with good world building and an easy flowing storyline. The characters could have been developed further but this may happen in the next book and as such did not distract too much from my enjoyment of the story. Overall a solid fantasy read.

I could not get into this book, so it is not for me. I did like the cover art and I did like the overall plot I read in the description.

I think this book was a bit young for me now, but at 16/17 I would have devoured it. I did enjoy the inclusion of politics in addition to the usual sort of fantasy shenanigans, but overall this book failed to leave an impression on me.