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The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky
After centuries of religiously motivated war, the world has been split in two. Now the Blessed Lands are ruled by pure faith, while in the Republic, reason is the guiding light—two different realms, kept apart and at peace by a treaty and an ocean.
Children of the Republic, Helena and Jason were inseparable in their youth, until fate sent them down different paths. Grief and duty sidetracked Helena’s plans, and Jason came to detest the hollowness of his ambitions.
These two damaged souls are reunited when a tiny boat from the Blessed Lands crashes onto the rocks near Helena’s home after an impossible journey across the forbidden ocean. On board is a single passenger, a nine-year-old girl named Kailani, who calls herself “the Daughter of the Sea and the Sky.” A new and perilous purpose binds Jason and Helena together again, as they vow to protect the lost innocent from the wrath of the authorities, no matter the risk to their future and freedom.
But is the mysterious child simply a troubled little girl longing to return home? Or is she a powerful prophet sent to unravel the fabric of a godless Republic, as the outlaw leader of an illegal religious sect would have them believe? Whatever the answer, it will change them all forever… and perhaps their world as well.
Children of the Republic, Helena and Jason were inseparable in their youth, until fate sent them down different paths. Grief and duty sidetracked Helena’s plans, and Jason came to detest the hollowness of his ambitions.
These two damaged souls are reunited when a tiny boat from the Blessed Lands crashes onto the rocks near Helena’s home after an impossible journey across the forbidden ocean. On board is a single passenger, a nine-year-old girl named Kailani, who calls herself “the Daughter of the Sea and the Sky.” A new and perilous purpose binds Jason and Helena together again, as they vow to protect the lost innocent from the wrath of the authorities, no matter the risk to their future and freedom.
But is the mysterious child simply a troubled little girl longing to return home? Or is she a powerful prophet sent to unravel the fabric of a godless Republic, as the outlaw leader of an illegal religious sect would have them believe? Whatever the answer, it will change them all forever… and perhaps their world as well.
290 pages, Paperback
First published April 12, 2014
57 people are currently reading
1426 people want to read
About the author
David Litwack
11 books293 followersThe urge to write first struck at age sixteen when working on a newsletter at a youth encampment in the woods of northern Maine. It may have been the wild night when lightning flashed at sunset followed by the northern lights rippling after dark. Or maybe it was the newsletter’s editor, a girl with eyes the color of the ocean. But he was inspired to write about the blurry line between reality and the fantastic.
Using two fingers and lots of white-out, he religiously typed five pages a day throughout college and well into his twenties. Then life intervened. He paused to raise two sons and pursue a career, in the process — and without prior plan — becoming a well-known entrepreneur in the software industry, founding several successful companies. When he found time again to daydream, the urge to write returned.
In this new stage of his life, he’s published Along the Watchtower in June, 2013 and The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky in May, 2014. His latest book, The Children of Darkness, the first of the Seekers series, a dystopian trilogy, was published in June, 2015.
David now lives in the great Northwest and anywhere else that catches his fancy. He no longer limits himself to five pages a day and is thankful every keystroke for the invention of the word processor.
Using two fingers and lots of white-out, he religiously typed five pages a day throughout college and well into his twenties. Then life intervened. He paused to raise two sons and pursue a career, in the process — and without prior plan — becoming a well-known entrepreneur in the software industry, founding several successful companies. When he found time again to daydream, the urge to write returned.
In this new stage of his life, he’s published Along the Watchtower in June, 2013 and The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky in May, 2014. His latest book, The Children of Darkness, the first of the Seekers series, a dystopian trilogy, was published in June, 2015.
David now lives in the great Northwest and anywhere else that catches his fancy. He no longer limits himself to five pages a day and is thankful every keystroke for the invention of the word processor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
May 14, 2014
The daughter of the Sea and the Sky by David Litwack is a stunningly constructed story of a young girl who is deeply troubled but goes out of her way to help others. Tender yet tense, it is a story that explores the issue of faith and reason, and the wisdom and discernment to choose between right and wrong. David Litwack’s exquisitely crafted story is thoughtful, passionate and simply delightful.
Kailani is a young girl who is only nine years old. She is fleeing the Blessed Lands across the forbidden ocean on a tiny boat when it crashes against a rock and starts to sink. She is saved in the nick of time by Helena and Jason, children of the Republic. When the two learned that Kailani is “the Daughter of the Sea and the Sky” they are resolute in their determination to protect her and make it possible for her to get back home. They embarked on journey that will change not only the course of their destinies but also that of the Blessed Lands and the Republic.
David Litwack’s sweeping novel The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky is a powerful story that follows the journey of a mysterious but charming little girl whose mere presence seems to have changed the lives of those people around her. In more ways than they bargained for, even troubled souls like Helena and Jason have seen major transformation in their lives. Superbly imagined with a tense plot which makes it difficult to put down, David Litwack has another bestseller to his name.
Kailani is a young girl who is only nine years old. She is fleeing the Blessed Lands across the forbidden ocean on a tiny boat when it crashes against a rock and starts to sink. She is saved in the nick of time by Helena and Jason, children of the Republic. When the two learned that Kailani is “the Daughter of the Sea and the Sky” they are resolute in their determination to protect her and make it possible for her to get back home. They embarked on journey that will change not only the course of their destinies but also that of the Blessed Lands and the Republic.
David Litwack’s sweeping novel The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky is a powerful story that follows the journey of a mysterious but charming little girl whose mere presence seems to have changed the lives of those people around her. In more ways than they bargained for, even troubled souls like Helena and Jason have seen major transformation in their lives. Superbly imagined with a tense plot which makes it difficult to put down, David Litwack has another bestseller to his name.
May 19, 2014
The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky is a story about an alternate world similar to our own...with one big exception. Those who are spiritual in nature and those who follow the path of reason are kept strictly apart, in different countries separated by an ocean. The people of this world have negotiated this solution after decades of religious wars.
This split in the world is the setting for the arrival of a little girl from the Blessed Lands, whose boat crashes on the shores of The Republic, the land of reason. This girl, Kailani, is an amazing child, beautiful and charismatic, but with a mysterious past. She says nothing about her past other than to say she’s the daughter of the sea and the sky. Most of the people from the Republic have never met anyone from the other side of the ocean. They become fascinated with this child, who speaks in the dreamy metaphors of her homeland. While not trying to, she changes everyone she meets.
Her past is hinted at throughout the book but not revealed until the end. Is she a prophet or priestess sent to save the soulless; or a troubled little girl with a dark past of her own? Kailani is one of the most fascinating characters I’ve met in a novel in a long time. Her mystery kept me turning the pages to find out who she really was.
This story raises a lot of issues similar to ones we can find in our world today. The author, David Litwack, takes no sides but asks questions that make you think. Wonderful read.
This split in the world is the setting for the arrival of a little girl from the Blessed Lands, whose boat crashes on the shores of The Republic, the land of reason. This girl, Kailani, is an amazing child, beautiful and charismatic, but with a mysterious past. She says nothing about her past other than to say she’s the daughter of the sea and the sky. Most of the people from the Republic have never met anyone from the other side of the ocean. They become fascinated with this child, who speaks in the dreamy metaphors of her homeland. While not trying to, she changes everyone she meets.
Her past is hinted at throughout the book but not revealed until the end. Is she a prophet or priestess sent to save the soulless; or a troubled little girl with a dark past of her own? Kailani is one of the most fascinating characters I’ve met in a novel in a long time. Her mystery kept me turning the pages to find out who she really was.
This story raises a lot of issues similar to ones we can find in our world today. The author, David Litwack, takes no sides but asks questions that make you think. Wonderful read.
May 13, 2014
This is a fantastic novel about a very imaginative and loving little girl on a mission to make things right. She's full of riddles, secrets, compassion, and an endearing wisdom beyond her years. Both directly and indirectly, she helps everyone she meets deal with the troubles of their souls. What those people don't know, though, is that her own soul is just as troubled as theirs. The characters in this story are so deep and intricate. They warmed my heart, wet my eyes, and - in the case of Benjamin - made me shudder. This story asked a lot more questions then it answered, but in a good way. It really challenged the way I view things and made me reevaluate my position on the line between faith and fact. It was a very interesting, thought-provoking look at the line between faith and fantasy, fanatics and followers, and religion and reason. It's also just a really good read and I highly recommend it.
June 3, 2014
I began David Litwack's novel The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky expecting the title character to be a fabulous creature supercharged with magical power. Instead I met Kailani, a nine-year-old girl who has run away from home. Kailani does have the ability to transform the lives of those she meets, but her power isn't supernatural. It comes from the altogether human qualities of beauty, innocence, and love.
The world of the novel consists of two hostile nations, the Blessed Lands where people believe in the Spirit, and the Republic of Reason where people embrace empiricism. Most of the action unfolds in the Republic, a place much like our own world with technology circa 1985. The Blessed Lands are less advanced. Decades after a long and bloody war, the two nations have an uneasy peace maintained through rigid diplomatic protocols. Each side demonizes the other. Believers are zealots; non-believers are soulless. Free travel between the nations does not exist although procedures exist to seek asylum. Those who enter surreptitiously are considered enemies until proven otherwise.
When Kailani arrives on the shores of the Republic of Reason in a foundering boat, proclaiming herself the Daughter of the Sea and the Sky, she presents a problem for the authorities. Although only a child, she breaks the law by preaching the existence of the Spirit. She tells Helene and Jason, the young couple who rescue her from the sea, that she has come from the Blessed Lands to do penance. For what sin she refuses to say. The couple tries to protect her and discover that doing so requires greater personal sacrifice than they imagined. Meanwhile subversive elements within the Republic see in Kailani a means of advancing their own agenda.
A major theme of the novel is that grief is unavoidable for anyone capable of love. Almost every major character mourns a loved one and struggles to make sense of the loss. Yet love gives meaning to life. After the death of her father Helene is cast adrift until she reconnects with Jason, her childhood sweetheart. Significantly, the villain, a religious fanatic who would sacrifice Kailani to his faith, feels neither love nor grief. He only cares about getting what he wants.
Another theme examines the dichotomy of faith and reason. The two nations struggle to coexist yet they need each other. The Blessed Lands lack modern technology. The Republic of Reason prospers materially, but it's a drab and uninspiring place where many people hunger for a greater meaning. Kailani shines there like a candle in the dark. Litwack suggests that we need both faith and reason and our challenge is to find a way for them to coexist within us.
The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky is a beautifully written story with a fully imagined world and complex characters. I would have preferred a bit more subtlety in the presentation of theme, but other readers will disagree. Without a doubt this is a novel worthy of your time even if you don't usually read fantasy.
The world of the novel consists of two hostile nations, the Blessed Lands where people believe in the Spirit, and the Republic of Reason where people embrace empiricism. Most of the action unfolds in the Republic, a place much like our own world with technology circa 1985. The Blessed Lands are less advanced. Decades after a long and bloody war, the two nations have an uneasy peace maintained through rigid diplomatic protocols. Each side demonizes the other. Believers are zealots; non-believers are soulless. Free travel between the nations does not exist although procedures exist to seek asylum. Those who enter surreptitiously are considered enemies until proven otherwise.
When Kailani arrives on the shores of the Republic of Reason in a foundering boat, proclaiming herself the Daughter of the Sea and the Sky, she presents a problem for the authorities. Although only a child, she breaks the law by preaching the existence of the Spirit. She tells Helene and Jason, the young couple who rescue her from the sea, that she has come from the Blessed Lands to do penance. For what sin she refuses to say. The couple tries to protect her and discover that doing so requires greater personal sacrifice than they imagined. Meanwhile subversive elements within the Republic see in Kailani a means of advancing their own agenda.
A major theme of the novel is that grief is unavoidable for anyone capable of love. Almost every major character mourns a loved one and struggles to make sense of the loss. Yet love gives meaning to life. After the death of her father Helene is cast adrift until she reconnects with Jason, her childhood sweetheart. Significantly, the villain, a religious fanatic who would sacrifice Kailani to his faith, feels neither love nor grief. He only cares about getting what he wants.
Another theme examines the dichotomy of faith and reason. The two nations struggle to coexist yet they need each other. The Blessed Lands lack modern technology. The Republic of Reason prospers materially, but it's a drab and uninspiring place where many people hunger for a greater meaning. Kailani shines there like a candle in the dark. Litwack suggests that we need both faith and reason and our challenge is to find a way for them to coexist within us.
The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky is a beautifully written story with a fully imagined world and complex characters. I would have preferred a bit more subtlety in the presentation of theme, but other readers will disagree. Without a doubt this is a novel worthy of your time even if you don't usually read fantasy.
August 20, 2014
**A free copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
This book is so timely. Faith is on one side and reason on the other. It is all of one or all of the other, faith or fact, black or white. There is no grey. This book is well written and explores faith and reason, right and wrong. It is the story of a little girl who has come from across the ocean to the Republic which is based on reason. She is on a mission to help others, to make things right. It challenges views and shows that there can be grey areas and that things are not always black or white. This book is well written and should be read by everyone because it shows how we often see others and how our own thoughts and beliefs can cause us to miss things or people in our lives just because we do not look past stereotypes or the surface. We to often see things as black or white, bot grey and it is in the grey area where there is much to learn and discover. I believe this book is relevant to what is happening in our country today and makes you look at both sides of the story. It is thought provoking. Highly recommend it to others to read.
This book is so timely. Faith is on one side and reason on the other. It is all of one or all of the other, faith or fact, black or white. There is no grey. This book is well written and explores faith and reason, right and wrong. It is the story of a little girl who has come from across the ocean to the Republic which is based on reason. She is on a mission to help others, to make things right. It challenges views and shows that there can be grey areas and that things are not always black or white. This book is well written and should be read by everyone because it shows how we often see others and how our own thoughts and beliefs can cause us to miss things or people in our lives just because we do not look past stereotypes or the surface. We to often see things as black or white, bot grey and it is in the grey area where there is much to learn and discover. I believe this book is relevant to what is happening in our country today and makes you look at both sides of the story. It is thought provoking. Highly recommend it to others to read.
September 11, 2014
The daughter of the sea and the sky... Who is she? She never answered directly that she came from the Blessed Lands... Everyone around her assumes and the assumptions continues.... More detail reviews here www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com
May 3, 2019
I requested The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky because I wanted to read something different and it sounded good story and something I wouldn't usually pick up immedialy. I had some expectations like mature characters as they're older than what I usually read and I think, a different kind of perspektive. Also, it has really good ratings on Goodreads, the average is 4.26 and I don't think I've seen so high before. So yes, I had expectations. Sadly, the book didn't meet them.
Firstly, I got the image that this was supposed to be fantasy. While I'm flexible with the genres and read from different genres, it was a little disappointing that this had no fantasy elements. Mostly it felt like contemporary dystopia set in time that wasn't defined - if it makes anything sense. I could deal with that but I had difficulties with the religious aspect. The synopsis revealed that there will be some religious aspects but not the majority of it. The story took mostly place in the Republic which was place for rational thinking but mostly the story contained people who believed and yes, even preached about it. They also talked about it all the time. What was almost disturbing was that the child, Kailani, talked and preached basically all the time about the Spirit and yeah, it felt more like a preach book than literature. A fair warning would have been nice, especially since nowhere was said that it'll have this much religious aspects.
However, what I had most problems with was the characters. They were bland, especially Helena and Jason. And there was no chemistry, no spark, between them. People told them they were good together but they didn't do anything about it. It was just all about how they had walked together from school as children. There was no building between them, no romance and no chemistry, it just felt like it was given to reader: that hey, here's the romantic couple but I'm not giving you any build up or passion. Also, they were supposed to be adults. All of them, if Kailani wasn't included, but they didn't act like it. Helena and Jason basically didn't listen the government officials, the officials didn't communicate with each other and all they had left was a huge misunderstanding and it could've all been avoided if they had communicated. And it was quite, how I could say it, disturbing how most of the adults did what the kid, Kailani, said. What she wanted, she got - that was the basic feeling behind the story and it felt so unrealistic.
Maybe I'm being too critical here. There was nothing wrong with the writing style, some aspects in the story were enjoyable and last twenty pages saved so much because everything was explained and Kailani's actions made finally sense. But it was too late. I was so close giving up this one and my stubborness was only thing that kept me going. The ending saved a lot and the story would have been so much better if builded a little differently. Mainly explained some things earlier and actually builded a solid relationship between Helena and Jason - oh, and been a little less preachy.
So, I'm not saying The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky was horrible read but it just wasn't for me. If your interest pikes up, then give it a go but do your research first. As I said, it has really good rating on Goodreads and maybe I'm just a odd one in the mainstream. It wasn't for me but it could be for you.
(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)
Firstly, I got the image that this was supposed to be fantasy. While I'm flexible with the genres and read from different genres, it was a little disappointing that this had no fantasy elements. Mostly it felt like contemporary dystopia set in time that wasn't defined - if it makes anything sense. I could deal with that but I had difficulties with the religious aspect. The synopsis revealed that there will be some religious aspects but not the majority of it. The story took mostly place in the Republic which was place for rational thinking but mostly the story contained people who believed and yes, even preached about it. They also talked about it all the time. What was almost disturbing was that the child, Kailani, talked and preached basically all the time about the Spirit and yeah, it felt more like a preach book than literature. A fair warning would have been nice, especially since nowhere was said that it'll have this much religious aspects.
However, what I had most problems with was the characters. They were bland, especially Helena and Jason. And there was no chemistry, no spark, between them. People told them they were good together but they didn't do anything about it. It was just all about how they had walked together from school as children. There was no building between them, no romance and no chemistry, it just felt like it was given to reader: that hey, here's the romantic couple but I'm not giving you any build up or passion. Also, they were supposed to be adults. All of them, if Kailani wasn't included, but they didn't act like it. Helena and Jason basically didn't listen the government officials, the officials didn't communicate with each other and all they had left was a huge misunderstanding and it could've all been avoided if they had communicated. And it was quite, how I could say it, disturbing how most of the adults did what the kid, Kailani, said. What she wanted, she got - that was the basic feeling behind the story and it felt so unrealistic.
Maybe I'm being too critical here. There was nothing wrong with the writing style, some aspects in the story were enjoyable and last twenty pages saved so much because everything was explained and Kailani's actions made finally sense. But it was too late. I was so close giving up this one and my stubborness was only thing that kept me going. The ending saved a lot and the story would have been so much better if builded a little differently. Mainly explained some things earlier and actually builded a solid relationship between Helena and Jason - oh, and been a little less preachy.
So, I'm not saying The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky was horrible read but it just wasn't for me. If your interest pikes up, then give it a go but do your research first. As I said, it has really good rating on Goodreads and maybe I'm just a odd one in the mainstream. It wasn't for me but it could be for you.
(A copy of this ebook was provided in return for an honest review.)
September 6, 2016
Nine-year-old Kailani is rescued from a small boat that shipwrecks near some cliffs where two young people, Jason and Helena are enjoying the beach. Kailani is from the Blessed Lands where society is based solely on their religious beliefs and she has landed on the shores of The Republic whose society is based only on science and reasoning (no religion).
Jason and Helena have just rekindled an old childhood friendship after a several-year parting of ways when she went away to school. Helena had returned to nurse her father in his final days before succumbing to terminal illness.
Kailani is taken away by an officer of the Department of Separation for entering the country illegally and Jason and Helena, having been touched by the sweetness of the young child are concerned about her being imprisoned in such a place see what they can do to help her.
Daughter of the Sea and Sky was a very captivating story. It was a story with many dimensions. It was a love story. It was a story of endings and beginnings. And it was a story about spiritual beliefs and the right to have that belief.
Kailani was a very mysterious child. She would not tell anyone who her parents were beyond that she was the child of the sea and the sky. They knew she was from the Blessed Lands because of the things that she said. Anyone in the Republic would be put in prison for talking about spiritual things.
I enjoyed how Kailani's presence affected the relationships of the people around her. Without Kailani's presence, it's probably doubtful that Helena and her mother would have reconciled, and quite possible that they might never have seen one another again. Kailani shows how important spiritual beliefs are to people.
The love story in The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky is not just between Jason and Helena, but it is about the love of parents for their children, and what they will do to find them when they are lost. This was the most touching part of this book.
This was an emotional story, discussing a theme that many people have distinct and varying opinions on. I thought David Litwack’s did an excellent job of showing that there is room for both science and faith.
The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky is a memorable story. I definitely wanted to know who she was and why she was there. I got so lost in the story that I had to be careful when I was reading it because I would literally tune out everything around me and not hear my name being called (nearly missed an appointment!) while I was reading.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky and would happily read it again. I gave it 5 stars out of 5.
Thank you to the author for providing a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.
This review was published on my blog Shelf Full of Books http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogs...
Jason and Helena have just rekindled an old childhood friendship after a several-year parting of ways when she went away to school. Helena had returned to nurse her father in his final days before succumbing to terminal illness.
Kailani is taken away by an officer of the Department of Separation for entering the country illegally and Jason and Helena, having been touched by the sweetness of the young child are concerned about her being imprisoned in such a place see what they can do to help her.
Daughter of the Sea and Sky was a very captivating story. It was a story with many dimensions. It was a love story. It was a story of endings and beginnings. And it was a story about spiritual beliefs and the right to have that belief.
Kailani was a very mysterious child. She would not tell anyone who her parents were beyond that she was the child of the sea and the sky. They knew she was from the Blessed Lands because of the things that she said. Anyone in the Republic would be put in prison for talking about spiritual things.
I enjoyed how Kailani's presence affected the relationships of the people around her. Without Kailani's presence, it's probably doubtful that Helena and her mother would have reconciled, and quite possible that they might never have seen one another again. Kailani shows how important spiritual beliefs are to people.
The love story in The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky is not just between Jason and Helena, but it is about the love of parents for their children, and what they will do to find them when they are lost. This was the most touching part of this book.
This was an emotional story, discussing a theme that many people have distinct and varying opinions on. I thought David Litwack’s did an excellent job of showing that there is room for both science and faith.
The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky is a memorable story. I definitely wanted to know who she was and why she was there. I got so lost in the story that I had to be careful when I was reading it because I would literally tune out everything around me and not hear my name being called (nearly missed an appointment!) while I was reading.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky and would happily read it again. I gave it 5 stars out of 5.
Thank you to the author for providing a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.
This review was published on my blog Shelf Full of Books http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogs...
November 2, 2014
I received this book from NetGalley for review
When I first thought about reading this book, I checked the reviews here on goodreads, and with so many 5 star reviews it was easy to decide to read it.
This book was a did-not-finish for me, I made it about 30% into the book before I just couldn't read it anymore. That rarely happens, but when it does, it means something. This story started out really interesting, and I thought it was pretty well written, but then everything quickly went down hill. The main characters were boring, and the mysterious little girl I didn't feel any urgency to find out what was going on with her. She didn't talk in a way that any normal human would, but it wasn't something that I felt was different enough to make me care about what her deal was.
The main characters, whose names I already forgot, they are supposed to be "in love" or something I guess, but since they are from different social classes they can't be together. Personally I felt that was a wasted plot device. They hardly talk and when they do they bore me to tears.
Another thing that started to get to me was the random jumps through time in the girl MC's life. It wasn't done very smoothly and I could never tell when it was supposed to be a memory or something happening in current time.
But the thing that was the nail in the coffin of this book for me, was all the religious aspects. I'm not exactly anti-religion, but neither am I interested in reading a book where the focus or main plot driving point is religion. Also when a book either criminalizes, or places religion on a pedestal, I get really irritated. It is also always worse when the author does both. Reason over religion seemed to be the main theme of this book, and I honestly don't know what the author was trying to do, and since I didn't finish the book and never will, I won't know if they did later in the book. But if you haven't gotten to your point 30% into the book, you probably didn't really have one and just wanted to write a fiction biased story about religion vs. science.
When I first thought about reading this book, I checked the reviews here on goodreads, and with so many 5 star reviews it was easy to decide to read it.
This book was a did-not-finish for me, I made it about 30% into the book before I just couldn't read it anymore. That rarely happens, but when it does, it means something. This story started out really interesting, and I thought it was pretty well written, but then everything quickly went down hill. The main characters were boring, and the mysterious little girl I didn't feel any urgency to find out what was going on with her. She didn't talk in a way that any normal human would, but it wasn't something that I felt was different enough to make me care about what her deal was.
The main characters, whose names I already forgot, they are supposed to be "in love" or something I guess, but since they are from different social classes they can't be together. Personally I felt that was a wasted plot device. They hardly talk and when they do they bore me to tears.
Another thing that started to get to me was the random jumps through time in the girl MC's life. It wasn't done very smoothly and I could never tell when it was supposed to be a memory or something happening in current time.
But the thing that was the nail in the coffin of this book for me, was all the religious aspects. I'm not exactly anti-religion, but neither am I interested in reading a book where the focus or main plot driving point is religion. Also when a book either criminalizes, or places religion on a pedestal, I get really irritated. It is also always worse when the author does both. Reason over religion seemed to be the main theme of this book, and I honestly don't know what the author was trying to do, and since I didn't finish the book and never will, I won't know if they did later in the book. But if you haven't gotten to your point 30% into the book, you probably didn't really have one and just wanted to write a fiction biased story about religion vs. science.
October 29, 2014
I want to say thank you to Evolved Publishing and Netgalley for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review. So this book was slow and confusing for me. I didn't really get the story line of the book. For me it was all over the place. It had a really good concept just very confusing. It dragged a lot of different parts for me as well. If it had a quicker pace then it would be a good book other than that it was a good book. I probably wouldn't recommend this book to anyone because I don't really know what to classify this book.
July 22, 2015
Set in a world not so different from our own, readers will find both the technology and the scripture familiar, yet different.
Read full review in the 2015 July/August issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2015 July/August issue of InD'tale Magazine.
April 26, 2016
If you're looking for a unique fantasy story, check this one out! Very unique premise, with just enough mystery to have me guessing until the end!
November 5, 2015
Loved this book and story.
August 20, 2018
Book club book. Gutted out about half of it and gave up. I'm trying to figure out how it has over 4 stars on Amazon!!!
October 23, 2019
Such a powerful story about how a young girl can change the world. This book was not a fantasy in traditional sense. I'm not sure if it is supposed to be. I am sure that it's a great read. It's a simple story of how much each of us can affect the lives of others. Or how much one person can change the world.
David Litwack is a master story teller. He has a way of using language and shaping images that is truly inspired. Along with well developed characters and a wonderful world of differences. There is a lot of positive energy that each reader gets to experience. Truly fun and inspiring read.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way has influenced this review.
David Litwack is a master story teller. He has a way of using language and shaping images that is truly inspired. Along with well developed characters and a wonderful world of differences. There is a lot of positive energy that each reader gets to experience. Truly fun and inspiring read.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This in no way has influenced this review.
May 6, 2021
David is actually one of my favorite authors. That being said this book wasn’t as good as the rest of his stories. Still great but I expect to just be swept away by him at all times. He is awesome at world building and character development.
These characters were likable and good. Not certain they will stick with me in the same way some of his characters from his other works have.
Sarah Zimmerman was an excellent choice for narration.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
These characters were likable and good. Not certain they will stick with me in the same way some of his characters from his other works have.
Sarah Zimmerman was an excellent choice for narration.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
May 29, 2015
Book – The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky
Author – David Litwick
Star rating - ★★★★★
Plot – captivating, beautiful, nicely plotted
Characters – lovable, diverse, relatable
Movie Potential - ★★★★★
Ease of reading – very easy to read
Cover - ✔
Suitable Title - ✔
Would I read it again - ✔
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
First off, let me start by saying this book is something special. I don't say that often, but there is something un-pinpoint-able and undefined that is wholly beautiful, endearing and magical about this book and the story. I'm going to lay this at the author's feet. If this author bring out another book, you can bet I'll snap it up as soon as it's in print, because I can tell from this one alone that me and David's books are going to be lifelong friends.
When I saw this book was up for a blog tour, I knew I had time in my blog calendar to fit it in, so although it didn't sound like anything I'd read before, I snapped up the chance to read something new. And I'm glad I did. This may be one of my favourite YA novels, ever and it's probably the biggest surprise a book has given me since I started reading at ye high.
I'm always nervous about starting a new book, especially one that I didn't technically choose for myself. With Read4Review books, I tend to take a bigger chance and hope for the best, so when a new one comes along, I always worry that I'm not going to enjoy it and I hate to turn that first page and be proven right. This time, I was proven wrong.
From page one, this story sucked me in. The start was intriguing, and held a lot of promise for what would come next. Then, we got whisked away into the future and saw Helena and Jason's story, which only caught even more of my attention. Helena is, to me, broken during the majority of this novel and a lot of what she goes through is a test to see if she can cope, if she can finally be honest with herself and if she's willing to take a risk. All of that is down to Jason. And let me just admit right now that whether the author planned it or not, Jason is kind of my perfect guy. He doesn't disappoint. Not once, throughout the story, do I fall out of love with him.
I don't want to go into too much detail about what I loved about this story because I could be here all day. It's safe to say that I want, no, NEED you to read this book. And trust me, you NEED to read this for you too. I'm not going to include spoilers, so let's get down to what I thought about what I can talk about.
The story itself is original, and somehow familiar. Not in the way that I've read anything similar, but in a way that it's comforting and sort of similar in a dream sense. Like when you have Deja Vu and you swear you've felt a certain way before; that's how this book makes me feel. All warm and fuzzy and slightly disorientated and not sure if I'm dreaming. It's a good feeling.
I didn't have a lot of time to read this book, but I started early enough that a few hours at the end of each night, I'd have enough time for a chapter before bed. Well, that chapter turned into 20% of the book each time I sat down to read it. I even spend four hours, one day, just reading it when I first started it because it was so good. I don't even care that I'm completely sleep deprived; it was more than worth it.
This author is a new favourite of mine. Yes, it's only one book and it may be a fluke, but the writing isn't. This is a great author with a talent for storytelling. Litwick weaves an intricate, but not complicated tale into a book that would seem long if not for the fact that it was easily devoured in not a lot of time. Overall, it took me three days, which is pretty good for a book this size.
The characters are all real, lovable people, relatable and with vast personalities. There are no two characters alike in this story, as far as I can tell. Each one is an individual that is enjoyable to read. Even Benjamin, because although he's sometimes overbearing, scary and often unhinged in my opinion, he's still a complete mystery that, as a read, I want to solve. The same goes for Martha. I spent most of the book believing both were as dangerous as each other to little Kailani, our MC, but I was surprised by what really happened.
Kailani herself, the Daughter of the Sea and the Sky, is adorable, too cute and beyond words for me. She is the character the book is about, but we're shown her story through other characters, which is pure genius. She's a character you want to know and hold and love, and tell everything is going to be okay. At the same time, you wonder about her fate and the effect she has on others, whether she'll get back to the Blessed Lands or have to stay with the Soulless.
I also really like that the author gives different characters the chance to show their side of the story. This is a method I fell in love with years ago, because you get such different angles on the same story, and it's done excellently here.
The ending is, in one word, perfect. I couldn't imagine a better ending. Not everything is wrapped up in bright red ribbon, wrapped up for convenience and a nice tidy finish. But we get the story we want and asked for when we opened the book. And that's pretty perfect to me.
Author – David Litwick
Star rating - ★★★★★
Plot – captivating, beautiful, nicely plotted
Characters – lovable, diverse, relatable
Movie Potential - ★★★★★
Ease of reading – very easy to read
Cover - ✔
Suitable Title - ✔
Would I read it again - ✔
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK, BY THE AUTHOR, IN RETURN FOR AN HONEST REVIEW **
First off, let me start by saying this book is something special. I don't say that often, but there is something un-pinpoint-able and undefined that is wholly beautiful, endearing and magical about this book and the story. I'm going to lay this at the author's feet. If this author bring out another book, you can bet I'll snap it up as soon as it's in print, because I can tell from this one alone that me and David's books are going to be lifelong friends.
When I saw this book was up for a blog tour, I knew I had time in my blog calendar to fit it in, so although it didn't sound like anything I'd read before, I snapped up the chance to read something new. And I'm glad I did. This may be one of my favourite YA novels, ever and it's probably the biggest surprise a book has given me since I started reading at ye high.
I'm always nervous about starting a new book, especially one that I didn't technically choose for myself. With Read4Review books, I tend to take a bigger chance and hope for the best, so when a new one comes along, I always worry that I'm not going to enjoy it and I hate to turn that first page and be proven right. This time, I was proven wrong.
From page one, this story sucked me in. The start was intriguing, and held a lot of promise for what would come next. Then, we got whisked away into the future and saw Helena and Jason's story, which only caught even more of my attention. Helena is, to me, broken during the majority of this novel and a lot of what she goes through is a test to see if she can cope, if she can finally be honest with herself and if she's willing to take a risk. All of that is down to Jason. And let me just admit right now that whether the author planned it or not, Jason is kind of my perfect guy. He doesn't disappoint. Not once, throughout the story, do I fall out of love with him.
I don't want to go into too much detail about what I loved about this story because I could be here all day. It's safe to say that I want, no, NEED you to read this book. And trust me, you NEED to read this for you too. I'm not going to include spoilers, so let's get down to what I thought about what I can talk about.
The story itself is original, and somehow familiar. Not in the way that I've read anything similar, but in a way that it's comforting and sort of similar in a dream sense. Like when you have Deja Vu and you swear you've felt a certain way before; that's how this book makes me feel. All warm and fuzzy and slightly disorientated and not sure if I'm dreaming. It's a good feeling.
I didn't have a lot of time to read this book, but I started early enough that a few hours at the end of each night, I'd have enough time for a chapter before bed. Well, that chapter turned into 20% of the book each time I sat down to read it. I even spend four hours, one day, just reading it when I first started it because it was so good. I don't even care that I'm completely sleep deprived; it was more than worth it.
This author is a new favourite of mine. Yes, it's only one book and it may be a fluke, but the writing isn't. This is a great author with a talent for storytelling. Litwick weaves an intricate, but not complicated tale into a book that would seem long if not for the fact that it was easily devoured in not a lot of time. Overall, it took me three days, which is pretty good for a book this size.
The characters are all real, lovable people, relatable and with vast personalities. There are no two characters alike in this story, as far as I can tell. Each one is an individual that is enjoyable to read. Even Benjamin, because although he's sometimes overbearing, scary and often unhinged in my opinion, he's still a complete mystery that, as a read, I want to solve. The same goes for Martha. I spent most of the book believing both were as dangerous as each other to little Kailani, our MC, but I was surprised by what really happened.
Kailani herself, the Daughter of the Sea and the Sky, is adorable, too cute and beyond words for me. She is the character the book is about, but we're shown her story through other characters, which is pure genius. She's a character you want to know and hold and love, and tell everything is going to be okay. At the same time, you wonder about her fate and the effect she has on others, whether she'll get back to the Blessed Lands or have to stay with the Soulless.
I also really like that the author gives different characters the chance to show their side of the story. This is a method I fell in love with years ago, because you get such different angles on the same story, and it's done excellently here.
The ending is, in one word, perfect. I couldn't imagine a better ending. Not everything is wrapped up in bright red ribbon, wrapped up for convenience and a nice tidy finish. But we get the story we want and asked for when we opened the book. And that's pretty perfect to me.
December 12, 2019
I thought the book did a good job showing that we need balance in our lives and in our society. Normally I would have finished a book this short in two days. I can't decide why I only read a few pages each day. I think it was frustration with the characters. Once I finished the book I realized that each character played his/her part to perfection. Worth reading.
November 29, 2018
I didn't feel any connection with the main characters.
April 4, 2019
An interesting read. Different from my usual reads. It took me several chapters to really get into the story but once I had I found it gripping and easy to read.
November 4, 2015
Title: THE DAUGHTER OF THE SEA AND THE SKY
Author: David Litwack
Type of Book: Audiobook - Unabridged
Narrator: Sarah Zimmerman
Length: 9 hours and 39 minutes
Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: February 23, 2015
Publisher: Evolved Publishing LLC
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~ I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
The land was split in two during the Great Sundering, with an ocean between the two lands. The only place where the two countries connected was the tiny strip of land known as "The Land Bridge" which was home to two massive gates. "They called them 'Asylum Gates' because any refugee who passed through them, even by a hair's breadth, had the right to request asylum from the other side ... It straddled a negotiated boundary and provided the only contact between the Minister's people and the Soulless. Races that had kept apart except in time of war."
Geography was not the only difference between the two groups. If you lived in "The Blessed Lands," you referred to your people as "The Blessed" while the others were called "The Soulless." However, if you happened to live in "The Republic" you referred to the Blessed as "Zealots" and your own people as the voice of reason.
Helena and Jason grew up learning to quash their "passions" and to use logic and reason when problem solving or when making decisions.
Helena grew up in a privileged family. Her mother was scientific in every way, including child rearing. Her father was a beloved teacher at the Polytechnic Institute.
Jason grew up with Helena, but his family was not as well off. Despite the difference in their social status, they were the best of friends throughout their childhood. Jason moved away to further his education and to achieve something with his life and Helena missed him terribly.
Through a quirk of fate, (although their analytical brains would never have accepted fate as a valid hypothesis) Jason's new job brought him back into Helena's life at exactly the time she needed him most.
Helena's father had recently died and she had watched him slowly fade away. Since she idolized her father she had been devastated by his death. Compounding Helena's heartache was her mother's emotional and eventually even physical absence.
Helena was contemplating her loss and what to do with her future when she sees Jason running nearby. They both notice something in the water and quickly realize that someone is drowning.
Jason dives in to save the person who turns out to be a nine year old girl named Kaylani.
What neither Jason nor Helena realized at the time was that Kaylani would change their lives forever.
You would think that just the plot lines I have already mentioned would be enough for one book, but those things are just tiny parts of a much more epic tale.
Throw in the supernatural, priests and priestesses, a government bent on jailing anyone and everyone who defies the law even in the smallest way. Add an artist commune for people with damaged souls, a retiring government official who is a stickler for the rules whether they are right or wrong and a zealot with delusions of grandeur. Once you add all these characters into the story, you have one heck of an interesting read or in my case, an interesting listen since I was lucky enough to listen to the audiobook version.
THE DAUGHTER OF THE SEA AND THE SKY surprised me, but I am very glad that I chose to listen to it. I enjoyed this audiobook very much.
The narrator did an outstanding job of relating the story of this audiobook. Sarah Zimmerman was the perfect choice for this audiobook. Her tone, her pacing, her inflections and enunciation were sheer perfection. I rate the narration as 5 out of 5 stars.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The audiobook in its entirety was well done. The characters were well written and easily relatable. The setting was unique and interesting. I loved the division of the two countries. The author does an incredible job of detailing how different groups of people see themselves and each other.
David Litwack seems to have an ingrained understanding of how different people view the world around them. It is always interesting to me how multiple people can view the same event and draw vastly different conclusions from it.
David Litwack also does an excellent job of portraying the many character's personal quirks and in explaining how each character's life experiences and their personal history has contributed to their character and beliefs. By the end of this audiobook the listener feels that he (or she) really knows each character and is able to understand what motivated them to act in the ways that they did.
I rate the audiobook version of THE DAUGHTER OF THE SEA AND THE SKY as 5 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
To read more of my reviews check out my blog at http://AMIESBOOKREVIEWS.wordpress.com or follow me on Twitter @Amieroger
Author: David Litwack
Type of Book: Audiobook - Unabridged
Narrator: Sarah Zimmerman
Length: 9 hours and 39 minutes
Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: February 23, 2015
Publisher: Evolved Publishing LLC
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
~ I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
The land was split in two during the Great Sundering, with an ocean between the two lands. The only place where the two countries connected was the tiny strip of land known as "The Land Bridge" which was home to two massive gates. "They called them 'Asylum Gates' because any refugee who passed through them, even by a hair's breadth, had the right to request asylum from the other side ... It straddled a negotiated boundary and provided the only contact between the Minister's people and the Soulless. Races that had kept apart except in time of war."
Geography was not the only difference between the two groups. If you lived in "The Blessed Lands," you referred to your people as "The Blessed" while the others were called "The Soulless." However, if you happened to live in "The Republic" you referred to the Blessed as "Zealots" and your own people as the voice of reason.
Helena and Jason grew up learning to quash their "passions" and to use logic and reason when problem solving or when making decisions.
Helena grew up in a privileged family. Her mother was scientific in every way, including child rearing. Her father was a beloved teacher at the Polytechnic Institute.
Jason grew up with Helena, but his family was not as well off. Despite the difference in their social status, they were the best of friends throughout their childhood. Jason moved away to further his education and to achieve something with his life and Helena missed him terribly.
Through a quirk of fate, (although their analytical brains would never have accepted fate as a valid hypothesis) Jason's new job brought him back into Helena's life at exactly the time she needed him most.
Helena's father had recently died and she had watched him slowly fade away. Since she idolized her father she had been devastated by his death. Compounding Helena's heartache was her mother's emotional and eventually even physical absence.
Helena was contemplating her loss and what to do with her future when she sees Jason running nearby. They both notice something in the water and quickly realize that someone is drowning.
Jason dives in to save the person who turns out to be a nine year old girl named Kaylani.
What neither Jason nor Helena realized at the time was that Kaylani would change their lives forever.
You would think that just the plot lines I have already mentioned would be enough for one book, but those things are just tiny parts of a much more epic tale.
Throw in the supernatural, priests and priestesses, a government bent on jailing anyone and everyone who defies the law even in the smallest way. Add an artist commune for people with damaged souls, a retiring government official who is a stickler for the rules whether they are right or wrong and a zealot with delusions of grandeur. Once you add all these characters into the story, you have one heck of an interesting read or in my case, an interesting listen since I was lucky enough to listen to the audiobook version.
THE DAUGHTER OF THE SEA AND THE SKY surprised me, but I am very glad that I chose to listen to it. I enjoyed this audiobook very much.
The narrator did an outstanding job of relating the story of this audiobook. Sarah Zimmerman was the perfect choice for this audiobook. Her tone, her pacing, her inflections and enunciation were sheer perfection. I rate the narration as 5 out of 5 stars.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The audiobook in its entirety was well done. The characters were well written and easily relatable. The setting was unique and interesting. I loved the division of the two countries. The author does an incredible job of detailing how different groups of people see themselves and each other.
David Litwack seems to have an ingrained understanding of how different people view the world around them. It is always interesting to me how multiple people can view the same event and draw vastly different conclusions from it.
David Litwack also does an excellent job of portraying the many character's personal quirks and in explaining how each character's life experiences and their personal history has contributed to their character and beliefs. By the end of this audiobook the listener feels that he (or she) really knows each character and is able to understand what motivated them to act in the ways that they did.
I rate the audiobook version of THE DAUGHTER OF THE SEA AND THE SKY as 5 out of 5 stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
To read more of my reviews check out my blog at http://AMIESBOOKREVIEWS.wordpress.com or follow me on Twitter @Amieroger
May 23, 2014
This novel caught my attention right away because of the gorgeous cover and beautifully poetic title. I was therefore expecting a delightfully enchanting fantasy. It turned out to be more of a post-apocalyptic tale, with touches of fantasy. It's also much more; it incorporates an analysis of several important themes, such as the paradoxical relationship between faith and reason, the insidious effects of misplaced guilt, the steadfastness of true love, and how the innocence of a special child can hold an amazing wisdom. Adding to this fascinating brew, the author also analyzes the inevitable connection between art and spirituality.
The pivotal, and remarkable, character is a nine-year-old girl named Kailani, which is an exotic name that immediately made me think of Hawaiian religious beliefs. In fact, the god of the Blessed Lands is named Lord Kanakunai.
Young as she is, Kailani has set sail from the Blessed Lands to the land of the soulless -- as her people call the Republic, the land where Reason rules -- on a mysterious mission that is not revealed until the very last pages of the novel.
The other two main characters are Jason and Helena, residents of the Republic, who discover the young girl and bring her ashore, just as her frail boat collides with the rocks and is destroyed.
The two young people take an immediate interest in and liking to Kailani, who answers their concerned questions by simply stating that she's The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky. They are unable to obtain any more information from her. Unfortunately, they soon find themselves having to turn the child over to the authorities, and Kailani is detained, pending further questioning.
Thanks to the help of Carlson, a civil servant with a conscience (a very appealing, compassionate character; I really like him), Jason and Helena succeed in having the little girl transferred, in their custody, to an art colony headed by another wonderful character -- Sebastian.
The plot of this novel is gentle, gradually developing as the characters are inevitably drawn into the mystery that is Kailani. She seems to speak in riddles, yet these apparent riddles are really very wise sayings. The story moves along, one detail after another unraveling, and the reader follows the trail laid by the author, delighted and mystified at the same time. This is a novel of inner quests and spiritual growth, written in impeccable prose.
Without really meaning to, Kailani has a definite impact on everyone she meets. Her calm, secure acceptance of the world of Spirit impresses everyone, precisely because she is so sure about its existence. Kailani is totally unfazed when Helena repeatedly tells her that she doesn't believe in myths.
I loved the underlying, yet also important, plot of the novel, which is the gradually evolving romance between Jason and Helena. As the mystery of the wise child deepens, they find their love tested in unexpected ways. They also discover that love, in its highest aspect, is something spiritual.
Most of the novel takes place at what Sebastian calls, simply, "The Farm". The place is self-sustained, and is very similar to a late 1960s commune. People go there for inner healing, and many have found it through crafting, painting, and sculpture. Art thus leads to the finding of the true self, a self nurtured by Spirit. This is very much evident in the case of Martha, Helena's mother, who finds comfort and peace in crafting jewelry. When Kailani arrives, Martha rapidly bonds with her. This is a source of distress for Helena, because of the strained relationship she herself has with her mother.
Litwack connects storytelling with spirituality, as well. In fact, one of the statues on the grounds is known as "Grandmother Storyteller".
This is a tale of the heart and soul, of the beautiful yearning for meaning, and of how it can be found in the union of faith and reason, as well as in creativity.
Everything, Litwack seems to say, points to Spirit. In this novel, nature itself embodies the spiritual world. The farm's overseer, Sebastian, knows this well, for he has been at the farm for many years, and is completely attuned to the rhythm of the seasons.
I'm delighted to have truly found nothing negative to say about this book. The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky is a beautiful, moving novel, one that I predict will become an instant classic, especially in the literature of spirituality. It is a novel to be treasured and re-read many times, not only for its beauty, but for its thought-provoking treatment of universal themes.
The pivotal, and remarkable, character is a nine-year-old girl named Kailani, which is an exotic name that immediately made me think of Hawaiian religious beliefs. In fact, the god of the Blessed Lands is named Lord Kanakunai.
Young as she is, Kailani has set sail from the Blessed Lands to the land of the soulless -- as her people call the Republic, the land where Reason rules -- on a mysterious mission that is not revealed until the very last pages of the novel.
The other two main characters are Jason and Helena, residents of the Republic, who discover the young girl and bring her ashore, just as her frail boat collides with the rocks and is destroyed.
The two young people take an immediate interest in and liking to Kailani, who answers their concerned questions by simply stating that she's The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky. They are unable to obtain any more information from her. Unfortunately, they soon find themselves having to turn the child over to the authorities, and Kailani is detained, pending further questioning.
Thanks to the help of Carlson, a civil servant with a conscience (a very appealing, compassionate character; I really like him), Jason and Helena succeed in having the little girl transferred, in their custody, to an art colony headed by another wonderful character -- Sebastian.
The plot of this novel is gentle, gradually developing as the characters are inevitably drawn into the mystery that is Kailani. She seems to speak in riddles, yet these apparent riddles are really very wise sayings. The story moves along, one detail after another unraveling, and the reader follows the trail laid by the author, delighted and mystified at the same time. This is a novel of inner quests and spiritual growth, written in impeccable prose.
Without really meaning to, Kailani has a definite impact on everyone she meets. Her calm, secure acceptance of the world of Spirit impresses everyone, precisely because she is so sure about its existence. Kailani is totally unfazed when Helena repeatedly tells her that she doesn't believe in myths.
I loved the underlying, yet also important, plot of the novel, which is the gradually evolving romance between Jason and Helena. As the mystery of the wise child deepens, they find their love tested in unexpected ways. They also discover that love, in its highest aspect, is something spiritual.
Most of the novel takes place at what Sebastian calls, simply, "The Farm". The place is self-sustained, and is very similar to a late 1960s commune. People go there for inner healing, and many have found it through crafting, painting, and sculpture. Art thus leads to the finding of the true self, a self nurtured by Spirit. This is very much evident in the case of Martha, Helena's mother, who finds comfort and peace in crafting jewelry. When Kailani arrives, Martha rapidly bonds with her. This is a source of distress for Helena, because of the strained relationship she herself has with her mother.
Litwack connects storytelling with spirituality, as well. In fact, one of the statues on the grounds is known as "Grandmother Storyteller".
This is a tale of the heart and soul, of the beautiful yearning for meaning, and of how it can be found in the union of faith and reason, as well as in creativity.
Everything, Litwack seems to say, points to Spirit. In this novel, nature itself embodies the spiritual world. The farm's overseer, Sebastian, knows this well, for he has been at the farm for many years, and is completely attuned to the rhythm of the seasons.
I'm delighted to have truly found nothing negative to say about this book. The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky is a beautiful, moving novel, one that I predict will become an instant classic, especially in the literature of spirituality. It is a novel to be treasured and re-read many times, not only for its beauty, but for its thought-provoking treatment of universal themes.
September 12, 2014
Read the full review at Tales Between the PagesThe story itself is understated. It has a quiet narrative that is introspective even during the climax at the end. I enjoyed that. The premise is that two nations are at a tentative truce. The Blessed Lands value faith. The Republic values reason. There is no middle ground. I expected a grossly exaggerated story focusing on how "right" one or the other is. What I found was that Litwack uses his quiet narrative to show the gray area that exists between faith and reason. The major characters all experience a kind of destabilization that shakes their core beliefs. It seems like the farm's role is to act as a space where others can enact their doubts without feeling fear from the government. My only qualm here is that Litwack disproportionately depicts these doubts in characters from The Republic. I'd have liked to see a better split. But, Kailani does experience moments of doubt in her beliefs, especially when confront with Benjamin's extremism. Since we see so few characters from The Blessed Lands, perhaps this is enough. Or, and this is something I'm just thinking of now, perhaps Benjamin's ejection from The Blessed Lands exhibits a kind of rationality that doesn't take a destabilizing moment for us to see it.
The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky is almost literary. It's like reading Margaret Atwood with the volume on mute. It had the potential to live up to these literary speculative fiction pieces that we're familiar with but it just isn't executed as flawlessly. Helena and Jason's relationship at the beginning of the novel is glossed over. It's too understated. I'd have liked to have read a little more about their connection before they lost touch. I get the general idea but they're such interesting characters that I wanted more. I think it could have helped give Litwack's world a little more dimension too. I feel like I had enough of the story to process all the information in the novel but I craved that extra little *something* that makes a fictional world come alive. Though, I do think learning about The Republic and The Blessed Lands from Carlson is a nice touch. Viewing the world from a middle-management perspective is an interesting take on world-building.
Kailani is a riveting character. Litwack writes her alive in the text. She embodies the kind of innocence and curiosity that all people have when they're young. But that magic dies for me at the end. Yes, she's the daughter of the sea and the sky but not in the magical-mystical-faith kind of way. Her mother's name means sea. Her father's name means sky. It's a literal phrase she calls herself when she wants attention. This bit of information changed my opinion of her a little. She runs away to do penance ... but what if she runs away to get attention? I doubted Kailani for a bit. But, she is a child. Helena and Jason remind everyone of that throughout the book. Why wouldn't she want attention? So, in the end I think I wanted Kailani to be this mythical child of the sea and sky. I wanted to believe she was this prophet that could change the world. What I got was a child who is a child. But she's an extraordinary child who has the ability to see inside of you and pull out all the good parts. I've decided that's good enough for me.
I think Litwack does a good job showing just how negative religious extremism is. Though, I think he doesn't go quite as far as he could have. Benjamin has a lot of wasted potential. This brings me to my one problem with the novel: the climax wasn't really climactic. The stakes weren't high enough. Zealots exist all over the world in every religion, destabilizing and shaking our core beliefs, making us choose sides, and relishing the aftermath of the chaos they cause. Benjamin represents all of this. His actions are only 3/4 developed though and Litwack's point gets a little muted. He never really causes chaos. He causes problems with the potential to be chaos but the actual chaos part never happens.
The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky is almost literary. It's like reading Margaret Atwood with the volume on mute. It had the potential to live up to these literary speculative fiction pieces that we're familiar with but it just isn't executed as flawlessly. Helena and Jason's relationship at the beginning of the novel is glossed over. It's too understated. I'd have liked to have read a little more about their connection before they lost touch. I get the general idea but they're such interesting characters that I wanted more. I think it could have helped give Litwack's world a little more dimension too. I feel like I had enough of the story to process all the information in the novel but I craved that extra little *something* that makes a fictional world come alive. Though, I do think learning about The Republic and The Blessed Lands from Carlson is a nice touch. Viewing the world from a middle-management perspective is an interesting take on world-building.
Kailani is a riveting character. Litwack writes her alive in the text. She embodies the kind of innocence and curiosity that all people have when they're young. But that magic dies for me at the end. Yes, she's the daughter of the sea and the sky but not in the magical-mystical-faith kind of way. Her mother's name means sea. Her father's name means sky. It's a literal phrase she calls herself when she wants attention. This bit of information changed my opinion of her a little. She runs away to do penance ... but what if she runs away to get attention? I doubted Kailani for a bit. But, she is a child. Helena and Jason remind everyone of that throughout the book. Why wouldn't she want attention? So, in the end I think I wanted Kailani to be this mythical child of the sea and sky. I wanted to believe she was this prophet that could change the world. What I got was a child who is a child. But she's an extraordinary child who has the ability to see inside of you and pull out all the good parts. I've decided that's good enough for me.
I think Litwack does a good job showing just how negative religious extremism is. Though, I think he doesn't go quite as far as he could have. Benjamin has a lot of wasted potential. This brings me to my one problem with the novel: the climax wasn't really climactic. The stakes weren't high enough. Zealots exist all over the world in every religion, destabilizing and shaking our core beliefs, making us choose sides, and relishing the aftermath of the chaos they cause. Benjamin represents all of this. His actions are only 3/4 developed though and Litwack's point gets a little muted. He never really causes chaos. He causes problems with the potential to be chaos but the actual chaos part never happens.
September 17, 2014
[Full disclosure: I received a free ebook as part of the blog tour in exchange for an honest review.]
What I find interesting is that in David Litwack’s world of religious extremes (blind faith on one hand and clinging to reason on the other hand), one little girl finds a way to bring both together toward a common goal. Both sides clearly are committing atrocities and are scarily dystopian toward their citizens, so by the end of the book there’s still quite a long way to go but things are getting better. And that’s really the beauty of the world-building in this book: it mirrors our own society in a lot of ways, particularly with the current events going on in the Middle East. Finding common ground is a start, both in the real world and in fiction, and David Litwack portrays a slow transition both for society and the main characters in a realistic way.
The characters were quite interesting in their own ways. Helena is dealing with the death of her father alone because her mother ran away to bury her head in the woods at a farm for artists. Jason is struggling because he’s never been given the opportunities of Helena, having worked a job after school for so long to pay for university and get a decent job. Then everything changes when Helena and Jason help a girl whose boat crashed on the reefs and she claims to be the daughter of the sea and the sky who must be forgiven by the wind. The character of Kailani is interesting but I feel like it had a little more potential because of the way the book ended. Maybe a clue or something about whether or not she truly is a prophet.
David Litwack’s writing keeps improving with each book, but the narrative of this one seemed a bit off. His actual writing was nice; lots of descriptions, easy flow, etc. But the story itself felt like it was building up toward something that was changed in the climax, leaving readers a little disappointed. Maybe it’s something personal, but I kind of wanted more at the end of the book. More of an explanation for Kailani, more of the circumstances surrounding her journey explained, etc. I try not to be too thrown by surprise endings, but this one did affect my overall opinion of the rest of the book.
In short, if you’re looking for a good science fiction/fantasy mash-up book, look no further. The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky wasn’t necessarily the book I’m the best suited for but I still found a lot about it to love.
I give this book 4/5 stars.
What I find interesting is that in David Litwack’s world of religious extremes (blind faith on one hand and clinging to reason on the other hand), one little girl finds a way to bring both together toward a common goal. Both sides clearly are committing atrocities and are scarily dystopian toward their citizens, so by the end of the book there’s still quite a long way to go but things are getting better. And that’s really the beauty of the world-building in this book: it mirrors our own society in a lot of ways, particularly with the current events going on in the Middle East. Finding common ground is a start, both in the real world and in fiction, and David Litwack portrays a slow transition both for society and the main characters in a realistic way.
The characters were quite interesting in their own ways. Helena is dealing with the death of her father alone because her mother ran away to bury her head in the woods at a farm for artists. Jason is struggling because he’s never been given the opportunities of Helena, having worked a job after school for so long to pay for university and get a decent job. Then everything changes when Helena and Jason help a girl whose boat crashed on the reefs and she claims to be the daughter of the sea and the sky who must be forgiven by the wind. The character of Kailani is interesting but I feel like it had a little more potential because of the way the book ended. Maybe a clue or something about whether or not she truly is a prophet.
David Litwack’s writing keeps improving with each book, but the narrative of this one seemed a bit off. His actual writing was nice; lots of descriptions, easy flow, etc. But the story itself felt like it was building up toward something that was changed in the climax, leaving readers a little disappointed. Maybe it’s something personal, but I kind of wanted more at the end of the book. More of an explanation for Kailani, more of the circumstances surrounding her journey explained, etc. I try not to be too thrown by surprise endings, but this one did affect my overall opinion of the rest of the book.
In short, if you’re looking for a good science fiction/fantasy mash-up book, look no further. The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky wasn’t necessarily the book I’m the best suited for but I still found a lot about it to love.
I give this book 4/5 stars.
October 7, 2014
This eBook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky by David Litwack is set in a world similar to our own, however there have been many wars as a result of religion and the people have separated themselves into believers and non-believers. Helena Brewster and Jason Adams live on the republic where the people rely heavy on reason and reject the supposedly irrational ramblings of the zealots who live on the “Blessed Lands”. One day a nine-year-old girl, Kailani, escapes from the Blessed Land and sails over to the republic where Helena and Jason find her. Kailani is immediately captured and questioned by the authorities that want to send her to a correctional facility to undo the brainwashing of the zealots.
In the meantime, as it is several months until her tribunal, Helena and Jason become Kailani’s legal guardians and take her to live at Glen Eagle Farm away from the main population of the busy towns. Kailani is loved and admired by the inhabitants on the farm, however there are people on the Blessed Land that want her back.
This is certainly an interesting story that explores a range of themes. For Helena there is the grief she is suffering as a result of the recent death of her father, and the feelings she has towards her mother whom she felt abandoned by. Between Jason and Helena there is also a developing romance as the two connect in their determination to protect Kailani. The most important theme, however, is that of the antagonism between the believers and non-believers. Those living on the Blessed Land want to indoctrinate everybody with their ideals about the soul whereas on the republic this is forbidden as they insist on living a life ruled through fact. As the story goes on certain characters begin to understand the need for both realism and religion. One person even suggests, “In our pursuit of reason, we’ve become as unreasonable as the other side.”
Kailani is a lovable character, which makes the novel a joy to read. It is interesting to compare how a child brought up under a strict religion innocently views the world in comparison with adults who have no faith what so ever. Although written for adults it is suitable for young teens to read too who, although may not understand the significance of the two different sides, are sure to love and enjoy reading about Kailani.
The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky by David Litwack is set in a world similar to our own, however there have been many wars as a result of religion and the people have separated themselves into believers and non-believers. Helena Brewster and Jason Adams live on the republic where the people rely heavy on reason and reject the supposedly irrational ramblings of the zealots who live on the “Blessed Lands”. One day a nine-year-old girl, Kailani, escapes from the Blessed Land and sails over to the republic where Helena and Jason find her. Kailani is immediately captured and questioned by the authorities that want to send her to a correctional facility to undo the brainwashing of the zealots.
In the meantime, as it is several months until her tribunal, Helena and Jason become Kailani’s legal guardians and take her to live at Glen Eagle Farm away from the main population of the busy towns. Kailani is loved and admired by the inhabitants on the farm, however there are people on the Blessed Land that want her back.
This is certainly an interesting story that explores a range of themes. For Helena there is the grief she is suffering as a result of the recent death of her father, and the feelings she has towards her mother whom she felt abandoned by. Between Jason and Helena there is also a developing romance as the two connect in their determination to protect Kailani. The most important theme, however, is that of the antagonism between the believers and non-believers. Those living on the Blessed Land want to indoctrinate everybody with their ideals about the soul whereas on the republic this is forbidden as they insist on living a life ruled through fact. As the story goes on certain characters begin to understand the need for both realism and religion. One person even suggests, “In our pursuit of reason, we’ve become as unreasonable as the other side.”
Kailani is a lovable character, which makes the novel a joy to read. It is interesting to compare how a child brought up under a strict religion innocently views the world in comparison with adults who have no faith what so ever. Although written for adults it is suitable for young teens to read too who, although may not understand the significance of the two different sides, are sure to love and enjoy reading about Kailani.
July 19, 2014
Faith or reason – What if you had to live a life of one or the other?
What I liked the most about "The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky" was the strong main characters and their fascinating interaction. The backdrop to the story is a world separated into two, with one driven by reason and the other by faith. Jason and Helena perform a daring, last moment rescue of a young girl who sailed alone from a foreign land.
After their rescue of this refugee, Kailani (who mysteriously calls herself the Daughter of the Sea and Sky), Helena talks friend Jason into jointly taking custody of Kailani until a tribunal is called to decide her fate. Kailani is obviously from the ‘faith’ side, as there is little reason for a young child to sail a great distance alone in a small craft - IMHO. Little do they know that their actions may affect the future of both worlds.
Unable to live with the idea of a child held over in a reformatory alone, they take Kailani to Helena’s mother’s remote Glen Eagle Farm; a self-contained community full of eccentric artists and rolling green hills. The interplay between these three characters held my attention from start to finish. What they continually learn and yet still don’t know about one other made the book impossible to put down. The Kailani character is fascinating as she tries to understand this foreign world. The Jason and Helena characters struggle with taking responsibility for this rescued child while they deal with their more personal feelings after being reunited following several years apart. Their rescue of Kailani both interrupted and cemented their budding romance.
The plot is exciting and the writing is full of vivid imagery as it paints the story of two contrasting worlds and the result of going too far with either reason or faith. Like other books I have enjoyed, The Daughter of the Sea and Sky provides strong characters who do impressive things while exhibiting creativity, friendship, and courage. An added bonus was a major twist in the story at the end that I did not see coming at all!
This intriguing and well-crafted story has something in it for everyone. Unable to put it down, this book completely took over much of two days of my vacation. My recommendation is an unqualified ‘MUST READ’ for all ages from young adult to old adult.
What I liked the most about "The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky" was the strong main characters and their fascinating interaction. The backdrop to the story is a world separated into two, with one driven by reason and the other by faith. Jason and Helena perform a daring, last moment rescue of a young girl who sailed alone from a foreign land.
After their rescue of this refugee, Kailani (who mysteriously calls herself the Daughter of the Sea and Sky), Helena talks friend Jason into jointly taking custody of Kailani until a tribunal is called to decide her fate. Kailani is obviously from the ‘faith’ side, as there is little reason for a young child to sail a great distance alone in a small craft - IMHO. Little do they know that their actions may affect the future of both worlds.
Unable to live with the idea of a child held over in a reformatory alone, they take Kailani to Helena’s mother’s remote Glen Eagle Farm; a self-contained community full of eccentric artists and rolling green hills. The interplay between these three characters held my attention from start to finish. What they continually learn and yet still don’t know about one other made the book impossible to put down. The Kailani character is fascinating as she tries to understand this foreign world. The Jason and Helena characters struggle with taking responsibility for this rescued child while they deal with their more personal feelings after being reunited following several years apart. Their rescue of Kailani both interrupted and cemented their budding romance.
The plot is exciting and the writing is full of vivid imagery as it paints the story of two contrasting worlds and the result of going too far with either reason or faith. Like other books I have enjoyed, The Daughter of the Sea and Sky provides strong characters who do impressive things while exhibiting creativity, friendship, and courage. An added bonus was a major twist in the story at the end that I did not see coming at all!
This intriguing and well-crafted story has something in it for everyone. Unable to put it down, this book completely took over much of two days of my vacation. My recommendation is an unqualified ‘MUST READ’ for all ages from young adult to old adult.
May 20, 2014
From an early age, Helena has been taught to never question the world around her. Things are black and white, and she must live with the consequences of her every action. She's made do with what she has, and is now dealing with the death of her father. Part of her wishes that she could bring him back. That she could continue living the life she had before. Unfortunately, she knows that's not possible.
Helena's life takes an unexpected turn when she comes across a nine-year-old child foundering in the seas. The child is beautiful, unlike anything she's ever seen. The fact that the girl has crossed into uncharted territory isn't lost on her. She lives in a faction that refuses to have anything to do with those locked in faith. The girl clearly comes from the other side, yet she knows she can't abandon her. She's willing to be the helping hand she needs, no matter the cost.
Determined to help Kailani at every turn, Helena soon realizes that doing so will change her life forever. Deep inside, she understands that she's risking her life as she knows it. More so, when it comes to questioning everything around her. Her saving grace comes in the guise of her beloved Jason. He's willing to give her the helping hand she needs to get Kailani to where she needs to be. The question is, can they overcome the multitude of adversities headed their way at every turn?
A bittersweet and heart-wrenching story, The Daughter Of The Sea And The Sky is a story about survival and the willingness to do what needs to be done despite the pain and heartache that comes with decisions made. David has created a post-apocalyptic world that is certainly believable. He vividly pens a tale that digs deep into your heart, making you care for these characters more than you care to admit.
It begs the question, what if this were to happen in real life? What if a religious war tore everything asunder? What side would you choose? What would you do? Who and what would you be?
A truly intriguing and thought-provoking story, this is one you'll definitely enjoy reading. David is an author to keep an eye on. One whose work inspires the urge to continue reading more. I look forward to more of what he's got coming in the future.
Helena's life takes an unexpected turn when she comes across a nine-year-old child foundering in the seas. The child is beautiful, unlike anything she's ever seen. The fact that the girl has crossed into uncharted territory isn't lost on her. She lives in a faction that refuses to have anything to do with those locked in faith. The girl clearly comes from the other side, yet she knows she can't abandon her. She's willing to be the helping hand she needs, no matter the cost.
Determined to help Kailani at every turn, Helena soon realizes that doing so will change her life forever. Deep inside, she understands that she's risking her life as she knows it. More so, when it comes to questioning everything around her. Her saving grace comes in the guise of her beloved Jason. He's willing to give her the helping hand she needs to get Kailani to where she needs to be. The question is, can they overcome the multitude of adversities headed their way at every turn?
A bittersweet and heart-wrenching story, The Daughter Of The Sea And The Sky is a story about survival and the willingness to do what needs to be done despite the pain and heartache that comes with decisions made. David has created a post-apocalyptic world that is certainly believable. He vividly pens a tale that digs deep into your heart, making you care for these characters more than you care to admit.
It begs the question, what if this were to happen in real life? What if a religious war tore everything asunder? What side would you choose? What would you do? Who and what would you be?
A truly intriguing and thought-provoking story, this is one you'll definitely enjoy reading. David is an author to keep an eye on. One whose work inspires the urge to continue reading more. I look forward to more of what he's got coming in the future.
October 22, 2014
I received this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This makes you give a soft, ahh, when you realize some of the mystery's that the novel tells about. It made me feel really sad, mostly though it was just little smiles throughout the book though.
The Daughter of Sea and Sky begins on a beach, where Helena is waiting for Jason to run by her again, hoping to rekindle an old flame. When he does come, fate has other plans though like a little girl on a small boat washing up on the beach, just barely surviving. Jason recuses her and not long after she's taken into custody. It's obvious she comes from the Holy Lands, meaning she can't legally be here with them. No one knows what to do with her, and they can't have her spouting these tales of the Spirit, her being the daughter of the sea and sky, and a penance she must pay to the Spirit. Preaching in public is illegal. Can Jason and Helena save this little girl?
This book was kind of odd, in the beginning I thought this was going to be a fantasy novel, because it talked about the soulless and on and on about the different cultures. But then it started to take on the tone of a mildly religious book with all the talk of The Spirit, but it's fiction. More of a dystopian setting but fiction none the less.
The characters really just sprung to life in this novel. There personalities are all so vivid and real, most of them will probably have you thinking of someone you know. I even got strong feelings about some of them one was a bitter distaste and on the opposite end I loved them to death. So reading this book will definitely have you feeling for the characters.
Technically the ending was a twist, I was expecting something really spectacular what with all the fuss being put up about this girl. But I was kind of disappointed in the end. The ending felt like an easy way out for me. I guess I was looking for something more complicated, and less diplomatic.
A lot of the book was a debate with religion and logic, neither of which wins in the novel. Both points are made for both side, and both are important. In fact the two lands in the novel are separates by those who live on pure faith and those who reject in favor of reason.
The Daughter of Sea and Sky begins on a beach, where Helena is waiting for Jason to run by her again, hoping to rekindle an old flame. When he does come, fate has other plans though like a little girl on a small boat washing up on the beach, just barely surviving. Jason recuses her and not long after she's taken into custody. It's obvious she comes from the Holy Lands, meaning she can't legally be here with them. No one knows what to do with her, and they can't have her spouting these tales of the Spirit, her being the daughter of the sea and sky, and a penance she must pay to the Spirit. Preaching in public is illegal. Can Jason and Helena save this little girl?
This book was kind of odd, in the beginning I thought this was going to be a fantasy novel, because it talked about the soulless and on and on about the different cultures. But then it started to take on the tone of a mildly religious book with all the talk of The Spirit, but it's fiction. More of a dystopian setting but fiction none the less.
The characters really just sprung to life in this novel. There personalities are all so vivid and real, most of them will probably have you thinking of someone you know. I even got strong feelings about some of them one was a bitter distaste and on the opposite end I loved them to death. So reading this book will definitely have you feeling for the characters.
Technically the ending was a twist, I was expecting something really spectacular what with all the fuss being put up about this girl. But I was kind of disappointed in the end. The ending felt like an easy way out for me. I guess I was looking for something more complicated, and less diplomatic.
A lot of the book was a debate with religion and logic, neither of which wins in the novel. Both points are made for both side, and both are important. In fact the two lands in the novel are separates by those who live on pure faith and those who reject in favor of reason.
September 19, 2016
Engaging, interesting and thought provoking. While a complete work of fiction you can't help but compare the two sides to things that are happening in today's world.
Not a fast paced story but one that slowly and continuously moves forward weaving a well written, creative, entertaining and unusual story.
In an effort to put and end to a religious war there is a separation between the two sides. On one side are The Blessed Lands and on the other The Republic. Referred to as The Blessed or The Soulless. One side devoid of religion one devoid of reason.
Each side has their preconceived notions about the other through what they have been taught. Each side has become stagnant/controlled in their society. While most are content to continue life as it has always been there are people on each side who feel as though their world is missing something. When a boat arrives from across the sea carrying a child from the Blessed Land her appearance has a ripple effect on the lives of the people she encounters. Can one child change the coarse of two worlds.
The story takes place in the same world as his other series the Seekers Trilogy, even though this is a separate book I'm curious about where it fits into the timeline of the seekers trilogy. It states the land bridge was built 52 years ago when treaty of separation was signed. So to me this is a "prequel" of the other series. But since I have not read the rest of the Seekers trilogy yet I could be wrong
I will definitely be continuing with any future installments set in this thought provoking world Mr. Litwack has created.
This is the first time I have heard Sarah Zimmerman narrate an audio. She did an good job. While she has a pleasant voice all her character voices sounded the same. She does use a different inflection and tone at times according to the scene but for the most part there is no difference in her character voices. I prefer more difference between male and female characters. At the same time her narration was enjoyable and fit the story.
This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom.com
Not a fast paced story but one that slowly and continuously moves forward weaving a well written, creative, entertaining and unusual story.
In an effort to put and end to a religious war there is a separation between the two sides. On one side are The Blessed Lands and on the other The Republic. Referred to as The Blessed or The Soulless. One side devoid of religion one devoid of reason.
Each side has their preconceived notions about the other through what they have been taught. Each side has become stagnant/controlled in their society. While most are content to continue life as it has always been there are people on each side who feel as though their world is missing something. When a boat arrives from across the sea carrying a child from the Blessed Land her appearance has a ripple effect on the lives of the people she encounters. Can one child change the coarse of two worlds.
The story takes place in the same world as his other series the Seekers Trilogy, even though this is a separate book I'm curious about where it fits into the timeline of the seekers trilogy. It states the land bridge was built 52 years ago when treaty of separation was signed. So to me this is a "prequel" of the other series. But since I have not read the rest of the Seekers trilogy yet I could be wrong
I will definitely be continuing with any future installments set in this thought provoking world Mr. Litwack has created.
This is the first time I have heard Sarah Zimmerman narrate an audio. She did an good job. While she has a pleasant voice all her character voices sounded the same. She does use a different inflection and tone at times according to the scene but for the most part there is no difference in her character voices. I prefer more difference between male and female characters. At the same time her narration was enjoyable and fit the story.
This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of AudiobookBoom.com
September 13, 2015
The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky is a self-discovery story of two individuals, Helena and Jason living in the Republic. Both have lost their perspective in their lives where it became meaningless until a nine-years old child, Kailani came from the Blessed Land, entered into their lives. Now Helena and Jason will protect Kailani from the authority and a religious fanatic from harm.
As the readers/listeners are reading through this book, there is a mysterious man in asking about Kailani while the Republic Authority is trying to integrate Kailani into their system. Readers/Listeners will ask themselves what is Kailani doing penance in the Republic. Is she fleeing from something she did in the Blessed Lands, and why is she referring herself as the Daughter of the Sea and Sky? Is Kailani the Chosen One and is that why the mysterious man is after her?
The story is told with the background of why this fictional world is divided into two governments: Blessed Land and the Republic. Little is known about the Blessed Land except it is for people who want to follow their religious practice without the involvement of government. The Republic doesn't put religion first. It is about law and order of a socialist system.
When Kailani entered into Helena and Jason's lives, Helena and Jason have to find a balance for Kailani. Doing so, they also rediscovered what is important in their lives.
One thing that I found fascinating with Kailani is that she is wise beyond her nine years old and yet still remains a child. She has me wondering who are her parents in the Blessed Lands.
Since I was listening to the audible book, the narrator, Sarah Zimmerman gave life to the characters. This is a book that I would not pay attention to except that the narrator made it interesting to listen to. There are so many point of views from six of the characters in the story that I have to listen carefully to understand what the story is trying to say to the audience.
I would like to give this book a 3.5 stars.
I was given this audiobook by the author via Audiobook Blast in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated or influence in writing this review.
As the readers/listeners are reading through this book, there is a mysterious man in asking about Kailani while the Republic Authority is trying to integrate Kailani into their system. Readers/Listeners will ask themselves what is Kailani doing penance in the Republic. Is she fleeing from something she did in the Blessed Lands, and why is she referring herself as the Daughter of the Sea and Sky? Is Kailani the Chosen One and is that why the mysterious man is after her?
The story is told with the background of why this fictional world is divided into two governments: Blessed Land and the Republic. Little is known about the Blessed Land except it is for people who want to follow their religious practice without the involvement of government. The Republic doesn't put religion first. It is about law and order of a socialist system.
When Kailani entered into Helena and Jason's lives, Helena and Jason have to find a balance for Kailani. Doing so, they also rediscovered what is important in their lives.
One thing that I found fascinating with Kailani is that she is wise beyond her nine years old and yet still remains a child. She has me wondering who are her parents in the Blessed Lands.
Since I was listening to the audible book, the narrator, Sarah Zimmerman gave life to the characters. This is a book that I would not pay attention to except that the narrator made it interesting to listen to. There are so many point of views from six of the characters in the story that I have to listen carefully to understand what the story is trying to say to the audience.
I would like to give this book a 3.5 stars.
I was given this audiobook by the author via Audiobook Blast in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated or influence in writing this review.
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