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Gathering Water #1
Gathering Water
Growing up as a foster kid, there’s plenty Della Doe doesn’t know — like who her parents were and what her real name is. On the day she ages out of the system, Della knows her constrained life will be forever changed, but she didn’t know one thin folder would be the catalyst. Armed with her mother’s name and a tendril of hope, Della travels across country to claim an inheritance far larger than the sound-side home with her name on the deed. As she struggles to adapt to a new life, Della is pulled into an unimaginable world — one on the brink of war — and it will take everything she has not drown in a destiny she didn’t choose.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 25, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
June 30, 2023
3 and a 1/2 rounded up to 4 stars
This book is about Della, who has never known her parents or any of her family at all from the minute she was born. Her mother died during childbirth and Della was placed in the foster care system from the moment she was born. This book begins on her 18th birthday as she is “aging out” of the system. Her caseworker gives her an envelope with some information about her name and her family.
Della then begins the next phase of her life / finding out who she is and where she came from.
She travels to North Carolina and finds some family members- She also finds out that she and her family have special talents.
This wasn’t a bad story. If you like Cassandra Clare’s City of Ashes series you will probably enjoy this too. It is the first in a series and that is probably a good thing since the ending was a bit abrupt for me.
This book is about Della, who has never known her parents or any of her family at all from the minute she was born. Her mother died during childbirth and Della was placed in the foster care system from the moment she was born. This book begins on her 18th birthday as she is “aging out” of the system. Her caseworker gives her an envelope with some information about her name and her family.
Della then begins the next phase of her life / finding out who she is and where she came from.
She travels to North Carolina and finds some family members- She also finds out that she and her family have special talents.
This wasn’t a bad story. If you like Cassandra Clare’s City of Ashes series you will probably enjoy this too. It is the first in a series and that is probably a good thing since the ending was a bit abrupt for me.
May 26, 2022
I've has this one lying around for a long time, ironically on both my US and Aussie kindles, not sure why I picked it, but I am very glad I read this finally, and it's the first in a trilogy.
Della turns 18 and is about to finally leave foster care, where she has been since her birth, living in California, not knowing anything about her parents or family. Growing up in foster care can be fraught to say the least, which is why when she is given an envelope at 18 with details about her life she never knew, she is not overjoyed, but angry.
To say the least, she is in for a ride, moving across the country to North Carolina's Atlantic coast to discover her legacy, and it will not be boring. Really enjoyed this one, on to the next book.
Della turns 18 and is about to finally leave foster care, where she has been since her birth, living in California, not knowing anything about her parents or family. Growing up in foster care can be fraught to say the least, which is why when she is given an envelope at 18 with details about her life she never knew, she is not overjoyed, but angry.
To say the least, she is in for a ride, moving across the country to North Carolina's Atlantic coast to discover her legacy, and it will not be boring. Really enjoyed this one, on to the next book.
February 8, 2014
I.LOVED.THIS.BOOOK. for reals.
Warning: I was given this in exchange for an honest review <3 And honesty is what I do
Song Choice: "Sail" by AWOLNATION, "Fog" by Radiohead, "Always" by Panic! At the Disco
First thoughts: Debut book my ass! This was fantastic, then again i guess we need to take away the "idea" that debut authors/books/they are the same thing, are going to be "sub-par" or "meh" because this was kickass (sorry i like to swear) I will tone it down. This was a totally original idea that was executed beautifully and made me sitting on the edge of my seat (literally at some points) just wanting to know what would happen next. I saw get this on your TBR and get on there fast, also you know, buy the book and start reading it.
Thoughts on Plot: Did i mention this was super original because it was! I went into this book thinking oh i am about to lose my mermaid virgin card!!! so exciting! Nope, nope, nope still a mermaid virgin but i am okay with that! This book was while not an 100% new thing for me (i have seen a variation) please don't look unless you really want to know but it was also taken very differently and I loved it! So very freaking interesting! I loved the development of the relationships in this book but i will wait on the because it has to do more with Della as a character in general. Anywhos! So I was told that peoples thought that the beginning started off slow, I have to disagree, I think that it was well paced considering this was the first in a series and had a lot of background things to develop, while in most paranormal books one can just jump right in and move right along, that is when dealing with paranormals that are used all the time this was new, there was world building that needed to be done and to be honest with the fun-ness of the characters and all the smaller things we were learning I didn't even THINK about how it was "slow". The end, yes was faster paced i suppose, and more action-y, Can i say this now? Regan we are going to have a nice long chat about how cliffies are not nice! hahaha. I mean i figured out the last big secret (sorry doll) pretty early but I still loved it, and i still loved the reveal and OHMYFREAKINGGOD I NEED THE NEXT BOOK RIGHT MEOW
So the writing: beautiful. Seriously, beautiful. Well detailed, and well thought out, :) LOVE LOVE LOVE
Characters: (I don't do casting for every book I review, just some and this happens to be one of them)
Della:
Dove:
Cash:
So now about them
Della: She was amazing! Seriously amazing! I loved her! She was a foster kid, and the foster kid that didn't have a happy life and i loved that her traits didn't automatically change because suddenly there was a long lost family she didn't know about who were nice to her for five seconds, she took her time getting use to them, it was a while before she even called them family, to me she really felt real. There was a lot of slower developing relationships here and that I loved because it gave a very good sense of who she was, who others were and how they got a long, no insta-love here, via boytoys or family! So omgosh YAY seriously can't get over how happy i am by this! As a character herself though, she was strong, she was a little closed off, but when she wanted to be she was fun, loving and deeply loyal once you got to that point with her. I truly felt she was an amazing MC and I adored her!
Dove: He was the love interest yes but it wasn't about him, this was Della's story and that made me really happy, because love interest and happy so quickly and so instantly that you are left wondering what about the build up? What about the part that makes me see them really fall? Well its starting for them, and they are friends first and that is the way to do it! I loved Dove he was a really sweet guy, he was perfect for what Della needed and I think that when things really heat up, seriously in the words of Katy Perry - Fireworks, there will be fireworks!
Cash: What an awesome character! Seriously I adored him! He felt so real as well, he was that annoying brotherly type, not that fake kind, their relationship felt more like brother and sister, best friend and best friend then anything else. I loved him, Cash was a fun loving character who knew when to get down and be serious. He was entertaining, loyal, and beyond protective. I really, really do love him!!!
The ending: well i sort of already addressed this...but i will say it again, NOT NICE REGAN NOT NICE! <3
For more Becca-ness check me out here: http://theviolethourbookreviews.wordp...
September 1, 2018
I received an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review!
OK, this one started off really slow for me. I was seriously getting worried that I wasn't going to like it as much as my friends did!! I can honestly say that the first 40% of the story was only a 3 star for me. But holy cow, when it took off, it took off with a bang!! I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning devouring the rest of the book -- a SOLID 5 star plus!! Seriously, I couldn't stop thinking about it once it was finished...
So, let's get the meh part out of the way -- I'm still trying to figure out what exactly wasn't working for me. I found it really hard to get a read on Della personality wise....she just seemed very flat. And some of her initial reactions to the situations didn't feel genuine....like, more like I was *told* how she freaked out when she learned of her new powers, but I didn't see it in her actions and stuff. Thankfully, once Ms. Claire found her groove the characters truly developed, and the story just took over my imagination. So if you've started this book and been feeling like me, STICK WITH IT! You won't be disappointed!!
Seriously, the chemistry between Della and Cash was hilarious -- it made me want a cousin like Cash to hang out with. And while there wasn't a lot of movement in the romance between Della and Dove, what was there was so sweet and perfect. That boy just makes me happy *sigh*. I'm still not entirely sure about Uncle Connor and Luke -- there's so much that's hinted at with Luke and Toby's story, and I just really want to know what is up with them. I can't help but love them, but feel wary of them all at the same time.
I LOVED the magical world that we were dropped into -- it was a bit confusing at the beginning, but the terms were reiterated and explained and once the book finished I felt I really had a grasp on their powers. The cheat sheet at the end was perfection. Definitely a new and unique world that was well developed.
The action had me on the edge of my seat....seriously, the clash with the Clade was basically the point where everything fell into place, and I got a better feel for who Della was as a person.
I thought the foreshadowing in the book was well done as well...I mean, I would like to tell myself I am just utterly intelligent and figured out the Father mystery b/c I'm so smart, but there were some well placed hints throughout the book so you felt like you had a leg up on the mystery at times.
I'm not huge on cliffhanger endings, but this wasn't like a Buffy season 5 cliffhanger.... It was more of a setup sneak peak on where the series will be heading. I cannot WAIT until the next book is out....so sucked in, and have so many theories of where it's going!!
So in conclusion -- READ THIS!! It is a fabulous start to what will be an epic new paranormal series.
OK, this one started off really slow for me. I was seriously getting worried that I wasn't going to like it as much as my friends did!! I can honestly say that the first 40% of the story was only a 3 star for me. But holy cow, when it took off, it took off with a bang!! I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning devouring the rest of the book -- a SOLID 5 star plus!! Seriously, I couldn't stop thinking about it once it was finished...
So, let's get the meh part out of the way -- I'm still trying to figure out what exactly wasn't working for me. I found it really hard to get a read on Della personality wise....she just seemed very flat. And some of her initial reactions to the situations didn't feel genuine....like, more like I was *told* how she freaked out when she learned of her new powers, but I didn't see it in her actions and stuff. Thankfully, once Ms. Claire found her groove the characters truly developed, and the story just took over my imagination. So if you've started this book and been feeling like me, STICK WITH IT! You won't be disappointed!!
Seriously, the chemistry between Della and Cash was hilarious -- it made me want a cousin like Cash to hang out with. And while there wasn't a lot of movement in the romance between Della and Dove, what was there was so sweet and perfect. That boy just makes me happy *sigh*. I'm still not entirely sure about Uncle Connor and Luke -- there's so much that's hinted at with Luke and Toby's story, and I just really want to know what is up with them. I can't help but love them, but feel wary of them all at the same time.
I LOVED the magical world that we were dropped into -- it was a bit confusing at the beginning, but the terms were reiterated and explained and once the book finished I felt I really had a grasp on their powers. The cheat sheet at the end was perfection. Definitely a new and unique world that was well developed.
The action had me on the edge of my seat....seriously, the clash with the Clade was basically the point where everything fell into place, and I got a better feel for who Della was as a person.
I thought the foreshadowing in the book was well done as well...I mean, I would like to tell myself I am just utterly intelligent and figured out the Father mystery b/c I'm so smart, but there were some well placed hints throughout the book so you felt like you had a leg up on the mystery at times.
I'm not huge on cliffhanger endings, but this wasn't like a Buffy season 5 cliffhanger.... It was more of a setup sneak peak on where the series will be heading. I cannot WAIT until the next book is out....so sucked in, and have so many theories of where it's going!!
So in conclusion -- READ THIS!! It is a fabulous start to what will be an epic new paranormal series.
August 6, 2014
This is the kind of book you sit down and read all in one sitting. I loved the story line and how the main character Della Doe Deare, came from a background that shaped her into who she is. You will not be able to fall in with her character or the others.
Della grows up in the system, from one foster care home to another. Her mother died while giving birth to her, but when she turns 18 she learns her mother's real name and that she has living family members. Della sets out to find out why they never came to her and why her grandfather kept her a secret.
Della learns what it means to have a family and becomes close to her smart talking cousin Cash. While becoming a part of her new family, she learns she has powers and that she may be in danger for who her father may be.
Amazing first book that will have you laughing out loud, and then in tears the next!
Della grows up in the system, from one foster care home to another. Her mother died while giving birth to her, but when she turns 18 she learns her mother's real name and that she has living family members. Della sets out to find out why they never came to her and why her grandfather kept her a secret.
Della learns what it means to have a family and becomes close to her smart talking cousin Cash. While becoming a part of her new family, she learns she has powers and that she may be in danger for who her father may be.
Amazing first book that will have you laughing out loud, and then in tears the next!
September 26, 2014
YOU CAN ALSO READ MY REVIEWS HERE.
First, I would like to pat myself in the back for signing up for this tour. To think that I almost missed this one! Lucky me! Let me tell you, Gathering Water is something that you’ll rarely find this days. The concept is unique and thank the Book Gods because it was executed very well. This is a debut novel, it said.
So I’m telling you right now, this author is someone to watch out for and her book is something to be read and talked about!
Della, who is an orphan, just. found out that she has a living breathing relative existing.. One problem though, she wasn’t really ecstatic about it. Well why would she? They already know that she is alive and in a foster care but they didn’t do a thing about it. And the fact that this relative lives on the other side of the country didn’t help either. But her curiosity for her mother won her over and the next thing she know, she’s in North Carolina! And here starts Della’s kick ass way of uncovering her past and finding out what she’s capable of.
This might seem a little slow for some readers (like me) but I want you to be patient. Honestly, I’m not a patient reader myself (I’m trying to fix that) and i am just so happy that I waited and kept reading. It’s really hard not to anyway, because…
Della is a likeable narrator and heroine. She is descriptive, quirky and strong and wow, i can’t even think of a flaw.. Hmmm. Well she can be bitter sometimes, but totally understandable! But Della isn’t the only character I adored, there’s Cash..
and Dove…
Love these boys a lot! It’s so fun to have a break from dark and mysterious and brooding guys.. What a breath of fresh air! And did I mention that the Romance is absolutely sweet? No drama . No love triangles and hear/read this, NO INSTALOVE. YEP, you read that right!
Now the concept is the one that will completely draw you in. I’ve read a lot of powers before but I don’t think I’ve encountered Gathering Water before. Or air. Or any kind of Gathering. It’s absolutely uniquie and mesmerizing read. It’s intense all the way and I love being inside Dellas head the whole time.
But you know what I want? THE SEQUEL! I NEED IT. LIKE, RIGHT NOW. Although the words like evil and cruel passed in my mind when it comes to the ending, I will wait. Impatiently.
First, I would like to pat myself in the back for signing up for this tour. To think that I almost missed this one! Lucky me! Let me tell you, Gathering Water is something that you’ll rarely find this days. The concept is unique and thank the Book Gods because it was executed very well. This is a debut novel, it said.
So I’m telling you right now, this author is someone to watch out for and her book is something to be read and talked about!
Della, who is an orphan, just. found out that she has a living breathing relative existing.. One problem though, she wasn’t really ecstatic about it. Well why would she? They already know that she is alive and in a foster care but they didn’t do a thing about it. And the fact that this relative lives on the other side of the country didn’t help either. But her curiosity for her mother won her over and the next thing she know, she’s in North Carolina! And here starts Della’s kick ass way of uncovering her past and finding out what she’s capable of.
This might seem a little slow for some readers (like me) but I want you to be patient. Honestly, I’m not a patient reader myself (I’m trying to fix that) and i am just so happy that I waited and kept reading. It’s really hard not to anyway, because…
Della is a likeable narrator and heroine. She is descriptive, quirky and strong and wow, i can’t even think of a flaw.. Hmmm. Well she can be bitter sometimes, but totally understandable! But Della isn’t the only character I adored, there’s Cash..
and Dove…
Love these boys a lot! It’s so fun to have a break from dark and mysterious and brooding guys.. What a breath of fresh air! And did I mention that the Romance is absolutely sweet? No drama . No love triangles and hear/read this, NO INSTALOVE. YEP, you read that right!
Now the concept is the one that will completely draw you in. I’ve read a lot of powers before but I don’t think I’ve encountered Gathering Water before. Or air. Or any kind of Gathering. It’s absolutely uniquie and mesmerizing read. It’s intense all the way and I love being inside Dellas head the whole time.
But you know what I want? THE SEQUEL! I NEED IT. LIKE, RIGHT NOW. Although the words like evil and cruel passed in my mind when it comes to the ending, I will wait. Impatiently.
August 10, 2014
**Disclosure: A copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced by any person, place, or event.**
O M G! Can you fantabulous fantasy novel! This was such a gripping story from start to finish. This was a slightly different take on a ya fantasy.
Della was such an interesting character. Her take on life based on her being in the foster care system was different for me. Most characters seek for family relationships and enjoy the bonding, but she felt sort of indifferent to the idea of a family. Della was a curious person, but quiet at the same. She was feisty as well and sarcastic.
The idea of the town being so small and everyone knowing each other and/or being related was extremely interesting. I never read a book with such strong family ties and I totally enjoyed it. The family secrets, truths and drama revealed was intense.
The discovery she made early on about her powers and from reading the journals really was the point in which the story picked up. The fact that Chase knew more about her then she did herself was intriguing.
There were tons of amazing characters and some that made me want to puke. But the cliffhanger broke my heart...in a good way.
Will there be a sequel?!
Totally recommend this book.
O M G! Can you fantabulous fantasy novel! This was such a gripping story from start to finish. This was a slightly different take on a ya fantasy.
Della was such an interesting character. Her take on life based on her being in the foster care system was different for me. Most characters seek for family relationships and enjoy the bonding, but she felt sort of indifferent to the idea of a family. Della was a curious person, but quiet at the same. She was feisty as well and sarcastic.
The idea of the town being so small and everyone knowing each other and/or being related was extremely interesting. I never read a book with such strong family ties and I totally enjoyed it. The family secrets, truths and drama revealed was intense.
The discovery she made early on about her powers and from reading the journals really was the point in which the story picked up. The fact that Chase knew more about her then she did herself was intriguing.
There were tons of amazing characters and some that made me want to puke. But the cliffhanger broke my heart...in a good way.
Will there be a sequel?!
Totally recommend this book.
January 10, 2015
PLEASE NOTE: This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review… and I honestly loved it. :) Here are the details:
The Good:
The POV character – Della Doe Deare. First, love the name! She had always been a “Doe” from growing up in the foster system, her birth mother being a Jane Doe and no father in sight, then when she learned her real last name was Deare, she kept both even though it’s an alliteration people were sure to make fun of (and of course they do lol). But honestly, the name suits her – by keeping “Doe,” she’s honoring her past because it’s a part of her and has made her who she is, and by adding “Deare,” she’s embracing new beginnings and learning about her heritage. Her name might sound silly, but it’s a perfect reflection of her story. However, this character is so much more than her quirky, fitting name; she’s so well-written, I honestly feel like I know her.
I wasn’t a foster kid, and I’ve never been close to anyone who is, so discovering a little of what it’s like to bounce from place to place and never have a real sense of “home,” made my heart ache for her. Then, when she’s thrown into a new family – her real family, who’d been lied to about her existence until now – with a sweet but overbearing cousin (Cash), her caring Aunt and Uncle (Ellis and Conner), a helpful great uncle in Luke, and a swoon-worthy family friend (Dove. I’ll get to him later!) she’s so overwhelmed by every emotion imaginable it’s hard to compartmentalize, so a good portion of the beginning is discovering who they are and how she fits into the picture, therefore discovering parts of herself along the way. I also found it realistic that she was hesitant about them at first:
“I may have been wrong about their abandoning me, at least about Ellis and Connor, but I was still hesitant to rely on family just because of blood ties; I’ve met a lot of kids in the system who were taken from their family and knew that a blood relation doesn’t automatically mean a good relation.”
There’s definitely a coming of age element there – figuring out how she fits into the picture and if she even wants to, as well as trying to make a new home for herself in an unfamiliar place. But even though a good bit of this book explores all these things, it doesn’t weigh it down. It actually ads authenticity and charm.
Speaking of “discovering parts of herself,” now let’s discuss the Fantasy elements of this novel. I LOVE me some teenage kids discovering their abilities. It’s such a weird time in one’s life anyway – you’re not a kid anymore, but you’re also trying to find your place as a new adult. Especially at eighteen and fresh out of high school. So along with the whole discovering-her-place-in-a-new-family thing, add a newfound supernatural ability, and you have one heck of an interesting plotline. I won’t give away what the abilities are since it’s much more fun to discover them as you’re reading, but I will say they’re original and beyond imaginative. Not only that, but Ms. Claire’s descriptions of said abilities were incredibly well fleshed out. Della’s powers also have something to do with her bloodline and why her existence was kept a secret, but that’s as far as I’ll go with that, as well. :)
Another big plus to this book is how the author answers a little bit along the way instead of pulling an M. Night Shyamalan a la The Village and giving everything away too soon. There’s so much to find out – why Della has these abilities; why her existence was kept a secret from her family; who her father is; why did her mother run away with her when she was pregnant? Ms. Claire’s flawless execution in answering these questions at just the right time keeps the reader intrigued without making us frustrated. Nothing aggravates me more than presenting a ton of questions, then proceeding to not answer them over the course of several books, OR dumping it all into the last chapter. So kudos to Ms. Claire for having the balancing act down. *Golf clap* Of course, there are still some things we want to know after the novel ends, since it’s Book One of a series, but most of the questions are answered.
On to the next good thing about this novel.
Della’s relationship with Dove. *Sigh* Dove… Dove, Dove, Dove. How I love thee. He’s gorgeous, and best of all, he’s not cocky about it. I HATE cocky male love interests. Probably because I don’t like cocky guys in real life. Self-assured and confident are fine. Sexy even. Cocky is bad. And not only is he gorgeous, he’s not overly clingy or tries to rush into a relationship. He gives Della space, and as a result, their romance progresses slowly, but nicely. Realistically. And that last scene with them in the car… have mercy. *Fans self*
Della’s wit – another plus. Thankfully, the writer didn’t saturate the story with witty remarks every other paragraph, as some writers tend to do. This is a balancing act Ms. Claire also has down pat. Her writing has a perfect blending of tear, rage and chuckle-inducing moments.
The Bad:
The ONLY thing I can criticize isn’t really bad, per se, but in some places the descriptions needed to be better. For instance, when Della goes to the Elfennol’s compound, the runes and doorways and the bridge were described well, but then later, we finally get to the insides and inner workings of the place, but…. we don’t get much except for there are “buildings” as they make their way through. The arena is pretty well painted for the reader, and so are Della’s living quarters (I want to sleep in a bed like that!), but there are definitely some holes along the way that could be filled in to show us what she’s seeing. If some of these holes had been filled in, the book would have gotten 5 stars. There are also some other places in the novel when characters were introduced, and I still have no idea what they look like.
The Ugly:
Nothing to say in this category.
In conclusion, Gathering Water is well fleshed-out with believable, likable characters, real moments that make you laugh, cry and swoon, and is a MUST READ for YA Fantasy lovers everywhere.
Favorite Quote:
This quote was about Della wishing she knew her mother and came on the heels of a memorial service her new family threw for her. This goes to show how incredibly authentic the author’s writing was when it came to being foster kid and never knowing your parent. I teared up!!! “Every story that I heard, every joke and memory that was shared made me miss her. It made me wish she were the one sharing these things with me, made me really think about all the things that I’d never had with her, and never would.”
The Good:
The POV character – Della Doe Deare. First, love the name! She had always been a “Doe” from growing up in the foster system, her birth mother being a Jane Doe and no father in sight, then when she learned her real last name was Deare, she kept both even though it’s an alliteration people were sure to make fun of (and of course they do lol). But honestly, the name suits her – by keeping “Doe,” she’s honoring her past because it’s a part of her and has made her who she is, and by adding “Deare,” she’s embracing new beginnings and learning about her heritage. Her name might sound silly, but it’s a perfect reflection of her story. However, this character is so much more than her quirky, fitting name; she’s so well-written, I honestly feel like I know her.
I wasn’t a foster kid, and I’ve never been close to anyone who is, so discovering a little of what it’s like to bounce from place to place and never have a real sense of “home,” made my heart ache for her. Then, when she’s thrown into a new family – her real family, who’d been lied to about her existence until now – with a sweet but overbearing cousin (Cash), her caring Aunt and Uncle (Ellis and Conner), a helpful great uncle in Luke, and a swoon-worthy family friend (Dove. I’ll get to him later!) she’s so overwhelmed by every emotion imaginable it’s hard to compartmentalize, so a good portion of the beginning is discovering who they are and how she fits into the picture, therefore discovering parts of herself along the way. I also found it realistic that she was hesitant about them at first:
“I may have been wrong about their abandoning me, at least about Ellis and Connor, but I was still hesitant to rely on family just because of blood ties; I’ve met a lot of kids in the system who were taken from their family and knew that a blood relation doesn’t automatically mean a good relation.”
There’s definitely a coming of age element there – figuring out how she fits into the picture and if she even wants to, as well as trying to make a new home for herself in an unfamiliar place. But even though a good bit of this book explores all these things, it doesn’t weigh it down. It actually ads authenticity and charm.
Speaking of “discovering parts of herself,” now let’s discuss the Fantasy elements of this novel. I LOVE me some teenage kids discovering their abilities. It’s such a weird time in one’s life anyway – you’re not a kid anymore, but you’re also trying to find your place as a new adult. Especially at eighteen and fresh out of high school. So along with the whole discovering-her-place-in-a-new-family thing, add a newfound supernatural ability, and you have one heck of an interesting plotline. I won’t give away what the abilities are since it’s much more fun to discover them as you’re reading, but I will say they’re original and beyond imaginative. Not only that, but Ms. Claire’s descriptions of said abilities were incredibly well fleshed out. Della’s powers also have something to do with her bloodline and why her existence was kept a secret, but that’s as far as I’ll go with that, as well. :)
Another big plus to this book is how the author answers a little bit along the way instead of pulling an M. Night Shyamalan a la The Village and giving everything away too soon. There’s so much to find out – why Della has these abilities; why her existence was kept a secret from her family; who her father is; why did her mother run away with her when she was pregnant? Ms. Claire’s flawless execution in answering these questions at just the right time keeps the reader intrigued without making us frustrated. Nothing aggravates me more than presenting a ton of questions, then proceeding to not answer them over the course of several books, OR dumping it all into the last chapter. So kudos to Ms. Claire for having the balancing act down. *Golf clap* Of course, there are still some things we want to know after the novel ends, since it’s Book One of a series, but most of the questions are answered.
On to the next good thing about this novel.
Della’s relationship with Dove. *Sigh* Dove… Dove, Dove, Dove. How I love thee. He’s gorgeous, and best of all, he’s not cocky about it. I HATE cocky male love interests. Probably because I don’t like cocky guys in real life. Self-assured and confident are fine. Sexy even. Cocky is bad. And not only is he gorgeous, he’s not overly clingy or tries to rush into a relationship. He gives Della space, and as a result, their romance progresses slowly, but nicely. Realistically. And that last scene with them in the car… have mercy. *Fans self*
Della’s wit – another plus. Thankfully, the writer didn’t saturate the story with witty remarks every other paragraph, as some writers tend to do. This is a balancing act Ms. Claire also has down pat. Her writing has a perfect blending of tear, rage and chuckle-inducing moments.
The Bad:
The ONLY thing I can criticize isn’t really bad, per se, but in some places the descriptions needed to be better. For instance, when Della goes to the Elfennol’s compound, the runes and doorways and the bridge were described well, but then later, we finally get to the insides and inner workings of the place, but…. we don’t get much except for there are “buildings” as they make their way through. The arena is pretty well painted for the reader, and so are Della’s living quarters (I want to sleep in a bed like that!), but there are definitely some holes along the way that could be filled in to show us what she’s seeing. If some of these holes had been filled in, the book would have gotten 5 stars. There are also some other places in the novel when characters were introduced, and I still have no idea what they look like.
The Ugly:
Nothing to say in this category.
In conclusion, Gathering Water is well fleshed-out with believable, likable characters, real moments that make you laugh, cry and swoon, and is a MUST READ for YA Fantasy lovers everywhere.
Favorite Quote:
This quote was about Della wishing she knew her mother and came on the heels of a memorial service her new family threw for her. This goes to show how incredibly authentic the author’s writing was when it came to being foster kid and never knowing your parent. I teared up!!! “Every story that I heard, every joke and memory that was shared made me miss her. It made me wish she were the one sharing these things with me, made me really think about all the things that I’d never had with her, and never would.”
September 28, 2017
Wow, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I loved the writing and really liked Della, the main character of this first book in the Gathering Water trilogy. A young woman is thrown into another world when she is aged out of her foster care, and goes out to find her family who ignored her through her childhood in foster care. She discovers that she can control the elements and is part of something bigger than she ever expected. She also finds a loving family with great friendships that could be more?
August 24, 2019
I would give this book five stars, but it is a Modern, YA, Fantasy.
The romance is about a real relationship, I do think the main character needs more friends, but her current two are great. I feel like the characters were remarkably real.
The romance is about a real relationship, I do think the main character needs more friends, but her current two are great. I feel like the characters were remarkably real.
July 14, 2014
Review and playlist originally posted to The Story Goes...
This book follows one Della Doe Deare(say that ten times fast, I dare you), as she discovers who she is and of course that she has magical powers that have to do with harnessing the elements and potential war with alien(i think?) races.
Initial thoughts - Interesting and unique, I loved pretty much every minute of this book. A couple times I thought it was a little slow and like the "mystery" of who the main characters dad is was a little too obvious, I wanted to scream at Della "how can you not see it!?", but all around it was a really good book. I loved that it was way more focused on family relationships than romantic ones and I think Cash(her cousin) was my favorite character.
Likes -
Cash - He was my favorite character, he was funny and sweet and I loved that the kind of main relationship was a friendship between cousins, I loved that they became best friends and all the parts that he was in were my favorites.
The powers...I thought the magical powers in this book were really unique and I loved learning about it throughout the book, I've never really read anything like this and I was pleasantly surprised by it. Though I didn't understand it and the other races(aliens?) as well as I would have liked. I wanted a little more information.
Della she's not a stupid main character, she doesn't really make a lot of bad decisions which is probably one of my biggest pet peeves in YA, but also I didn't completely love her. I loved her relationship with Cash, I loved learning about her powers with her, but I didn't love her. I didn't hate her, I didn't dislike her but at the same time I didn't feel a whole lot for her besides her relationship with Cash.
Dislikes -
-This isn't exactly a dislike but throughout the book one of the mysteries is who Della's dad is and personally I thought it was pretty easy to guess, what made me mad and frustrated is I knew who it was and then that was the cliff hanger!? No. I wanted to see what happens next and then you go do a cliff hanger! I guess it was a surprise because it was so obvious that it never occurred to me it would be the cliffhanger.
- It was a little slow sometimes in the middle, I never lost interest but I did get bored once or twice.
-I kinda thought there would be more about her mom, I wanted there to be more about her mom, I assume there will be more about her in sequel?
-I also wanted to know a little more about these Gathering powers and where the come from and everything but I am assuming this will be explained more in the next book(s).
Despite the few problems I had with this book I really did enjoy reading it, there wasn't one time I considered not finishing it and even the few times I got bored it quickly grabbed my attention once more. Overall it's a really strong debut(I think?) with a really interesting and unique premise.
This book follows one Della Doe Deare(say that ten times fast, I dare you), as she discovers who she is and of course that she has magical powers that have to do with harnessing the elements and potential war with alien(i think?) races.
Initial thoughts - Interesting and unique, I loved pretty much every minute of this book. A couple times I thought it was a little slow and like the "mystery" of who the main characters dad is was a little too obvious, I wanted to scream at Della "how can you not see it!?", but all around it was a really good book. I loved that it was way more focused on family relationships than romantic ones and I think Cash(her cousin) was my favorite character.
Likes -
Cash - He was my favorite character, he was funny and sweet and I loved that the kind of main relationship was a friendship between cousins, I loved that they became best friends and all the parts that he was in were my favorites.
The powers...I thought the magical powers in this book were really unique and I loved learning about it throughout the book, I've never really read anything like this and I was pleasantly surprised by it. Though I didn't understand it and the other races(aliens?) as well as I would have liked. I wanted a little more information.
Della she's not a stupid main character, she doesn't really make a lot of bad decisions which is probably one of my biggest pet peeves in YA, but also I didn't completely love her. I loved her relationship with Cash, I loved learning about her powers with her, but I didn't love her. I didn't hate her, I didn't dislike her but at the same time I didn't feel a whole lot for her besides her relationship with Cash.
Dislikes -
-This isn't exactly a dislike but throughout the book one of the mysteries is who Della's dad is and personally I thought it was pretty easy to guess, what made me mad and frustrated is I knew who it was and then that was the cliff hanger!? No. I wanted to see what happens next and then you go do a cliff hanger! I guess it was a surprise because it was so obvious that it never occurred to me it would be the cliffhanger.
- It was a little slow sometimes in the middle, I never lost interest but I did get bored once or twice.
-I kinda thought there would be more about her mom, I wanted there to be more about her mom, I assume there will be more about her in sequel?
-I also wanted to know a little more about these Gathering powers and where the come from and everything but I am assuming this will be explained more in the next book(s).
Despite the few problems I had with this book I really did enjoy reading it, there wasn't one time I considered not finishing it and even the few times I got bored it quickly grabbed my attention once more. Overall it's a really strong debut(I think?) with a really interesting and unique premise.
October 26, 2018
https://celebrityreaders.com/2018/10/...
I’ve read this story before and loved it so when the author offered me the audio version to try I jumped at the chance. Now the story is wonderful but I did have some issues with the voice. I found her country twang for the males a bit stilted. It didn’t flow as easily as the females for some reason. I don’t know why. And because of that sometimes I would get confused as to which make was speaking because they all sounded the same to me.
But the story flowed on in spite of the voice issues I had. Della is an awesome heroine. And Cash is one of my favorite supporting characters of ALL time. I love how they first meet and she wacks him in the groin with a lantern. LOL, I knew this was gonna be a great relationship. And I was so happy that he was not a love interest, it was almost as if the author knew that the first mlae introduced in YA paranormal is usually the love interest and she thought to herself, “Hmm, how can I fuck with my readers? Muahahahha” It was awesome.
Della catches on pretty quickly in this story, being bombarded with so much family ties and background after being in the system her whole life should have screwed with her. Since she has her own secret makes it more easily digested. The family aspect of this book is very involved and I really liked that. We don’t see a lot of YA with strong familial support systems in place. Usually the MC is isolated in the story and the family doesn’t get the face time for the reader to care, not so in this book. The opposite actually, another aspect that makes this story unique.
I would recommend this book to YA readers, whether you listen or read it, its worth it.
I’ve read this story before and loved it so when the author offered me the audio version to try I jumped at the chance. Now the story is wonderful but I did have some issues with the voice. I found her country twang for the males a bit stilted. It didn’t flow as easily as the females for some reason. I don’t know why. And because of that sometimes I would get confused as to which make was speaking because they all sounded the same to me.
But the story flowed on in spite of the voice issues I had. Della is an awesome heroine. And Cash is one of my favorite supporting characters of ALL time. I love how they first meet and she wacks him in the groin with a lantern. LOL, I knew this was gonna be a great relationship. And I was so happy that he was not a love interest, it was almost as if the author knew that the first mlae introduced in YA paranormal is usually the love interest and she thought to herself, “Hmm, how can I fuck with my readers? Muahahahha” It was awesome.
Della catches on pretty quickly in this story, being bombarded with so much family ties and background after being in the system her whole life should have screwed with her. Since she has her own secret makes it more easily digested. The family aspect of this book is very involved and I really liked that. We don’t see a lot of YA with strong familial support systems in place. Usually the MC is isolated in the story and the family doesn’t get the face time for the reader to care, not so in this book. The opposite actually, another aspect that makes this story unique.
I would recommend this book to YA readers, whether you listen or read it, its worth it.
May 9, 2014
The author was kind enough to send me a digital ARC of this wonderful book. A big thank you to Regan Claire!
I absolutely LOVED this book. First off the cover is amazing and the title fits the story perfectly. All the characters were well developed and wonderful. Gathering Water did not have a single dull moment. I was captivated the entire book and honestly could not stop reading. Della is so amazing. She went on suuuch a journey in this book and despite everything she's been through, she's still so strong and so funny. I love her newfound family and the relationships she builds with them. She and Cash had me laughing out loud several times. Cash is so great, I absolutely adore him. He brought so much life and laughter to this story. Then there's Dove, swoon worthy Dove, I'm glad he was there for Della but I'm also glad the story didn't revolve around their romance. It was done perfectly and I can't wait to see where their relationship goes. That ending!! Oh my gosh, I was screaming "I knew it" at my kindle and then I was left muttering nononono. Thats all I'm saying! It was great though. I will definitely read the next book in this series and anything else this author writes.
I absolutely LOVED this book. First off the cover is amazing and the title fits the story perfectly. All the characters were well developed and wonderful. Gathering Water did not have a single dull moment. I was captivated the entire book and honestly could not stop reading. Della is so amazing. She went on suuuch a journey in this book and despite everything she's been through, she's still so strong and so funny. I love her newfound family and the relationships she builds with them. She and Cash had me laughing out loud several times. Cash is so great, I absolutely adore him. He brought so much life and laughter to this story. Then there's Dove, swoon worthy Dove, I'm glad he was there for Della but I'm also glad the story didn't revolve around their romance. It was done perfectly and I can't wait to see where their relationship goes. That ending!! Oh my gosh, I was screaming "I knew it" at my kindle and then I was left muttering nononono. Thats all I'm saying! It was great though. I will definitely read the next book in this series and anything else this author writes.
February 6, 2014
Okay - so this did start off very slow for me. But I feel with this story, that is to be expected.
You get a LOT of information on who Della is, who her family is and their abilities. You really are experiencing it right along with Della.
Sometimes it feels like a crazy info dump - but I think Regan did a great job at not overloading us with a ton of information at any particular time. She spaced it out well enough that you really truly did feel like you were training/learning right along with Della.
That being said - once Della and Cash (Cash, who I freaking LOVE!!) started practicing together, the story quickly starts to move along. There were so many laugh out loud moments between those two - I love their connection!
And Dove? Oh Dove. I love him too. Seriously, these boys in this book are awesome!
There is also a ton more action halfway through the book. I mean, "Holy hell, what the eff is happening?" action. It will keep you gripping your Kindle, reading quickly through trying to figure out what is going to happen next.
And the ending?! Holy cliffhanger! So excited to see what is coming in the next book!
You get a LOT of information on who Della is, who her family is and their abilities. You really are experiencing it right along with Della.
Sometimes it feels like a crazy info dump - but I think Regan did a great job at not overloading us with a ton of information at any particular time. She spaced it out well enough that you really truly did feel like you were training/learning right along with Della.
That being said - once Della and Cash (Cash, who I freaking LOVE!!) started practicing together, the story quickly starts to move along. There were so many laugh out loud moments between those two - I love their connection!
And Dove? Oh Dove. I love him too. Seriously, these boys in this book are awesome!
There is also a ton more action halfway through the book. I mean, "Holy hell, what the eff is happening?" action. It will keep you gripping your Kindle, reading quickly through trying to figure out what is going to happen next.
And the ending?! Holy cliffhanger! So excited to see what is coming in the next book!
February 20, 2014
I am already looking forward to the sequel.
December 7, 2025
Kindle.
February 14, 2014
I received this book for free for an honest review, but after reading it I had to buy Gathering Water to support this up and coming author. Some of the other reviews state that they thought this book started slowly, but I don't necessarily agree. Della is such an interesting character and I enjoyed getting to know her before she discovers her family and all of the secrets that come with them.
I love YA paranormal books and this one is right up my alley. But the paranormal elements weren't the only things that grabbed my attention in this book. The relationships were developed extremely well. And as much as I love Dove, the relationship between Della and Cash is fabulous. I need a Cash in my life too!
All in all, I highly recommend this book to anyone (and I have been to my friends and family.) Regan Claire tells a wonderful coming of age tale with a lot of magic thrown in. I loved it!
I love YA paranormal books and this one is right up my alley. But the paranormal elements weren't the only things that grabbed my attention in this book. The relationships were developed extremely well. And as much as I love Dove, the relationship between Della and Cash is fabulous. I need a Cash in my life too!
All in all, I highly recommend this book to anyone (and I have been to my friends and family.) Regan Claire tells a wonderful coming of age tale with a lot of magic thrown in. I loved it!
April 23, 2014
Wow! This book kept me flipping the pages. It's a story of a young girl trying to find herself through her past but is thrown a curveball. Full of fun and family! I usually am a person who does not like endings but I really love this ending. I don't feel I need another book just to explain the ending.
I would recommend this book to everyone.
I would recommend this book to everyone.
October 21, 2019
I like it when the author takes the time to build their characters.
No rush.
I really liked this story - but I don't like cliffhangers. 🤨
So - I will wait until the whole series is out before I continue reading this adventure 👀
'Hello darkness, my old friend...'
No rush.
I really liked this story - but I don't like cliffhangers. 🤨
So - I will wait until the whole series is out before I continue reading this adventure 👀
'Hello darkness, my old friend...'
November 8, 2019
For all books in the trilogy: Very Enjoyable
A pleasure to read, an enjoyable set of characters and not an overwhelming bunch of fantasy language to get in the way.
A pleasure to read, an enjoyable set of characters and not an overwhelming bunch of fantasy language to get in the way.
July 13, 2019
A must-read YA (an audio review)
As an adoptee, any book that starts out with an adopted young woman facing her eighteenth birthday is going to pull me in immediately. I was lucky enough to be adopted by a great family and therefore had a fairly normal childhood. The ever-present question of my roots was there in the background and I often wondered about the people who loved me enough to give me up to people who pledged to love me and care for me as if I were their own blood. Even if I never found my biological parents, my life was good. In the end I did find some of my relatives and I was lucky to have a good reunion.
Della was not one of the lucky ones. Her mother died giving birth to her and Della was put in the foster system, never managing to get adopted. She shuffled from foster home to group home and then another foster home, never finding a place she could call her own. Her final placement for the last few months before she aged out was with a nice older woman who treated her with respect. The kindness didn’t make up for the years of heartache but it did go a fair way to soften the blow of aging out. On her eighteenth birthday Della meets with her social worker and her whole life changes in a way she never could have predicted.
Her mother is no longer a Jane Doe. Della has family. Family who didn’t want her, but family nonetheless. She also has an inheritance. For a girl who has never had more than a couple of dollars, the thought there’s money and a house waiting for her is unfathomable. To claim what is rightfully hers she must leave California and head to North Carolina. She’s never left the state, so this whole process is daunting, but she’s looking for answers to questions she’s been asking her entire life. Who was her mother? Why did she die alone? What is Della’s place in the world?
North Carolina proves fertile ground for answers. Many of Della’s relatives embrace her, forced to face guilt that not only is Della’s mother dead but that her daughter lived in foster care for eighteen years. As times passes that guilt lessens and as Della spends time around her relatives, she learns she has special powers. This part surprised me but I was pulled in for the ride of discovery and found it fascinating. I always admire authors whose creativity allows them to move seamlessly into the paranormal realm and this book was a great one for that. I enjoyed learning about Della and her powers. A few of them made me jealous.
As Della learns more about herself, she quickly discovers her existence is not as simple as she’d first thought. She’s not just a former ward of the state of California – she’s an extraordinary person with powers exceeding even those of her family. So where does that leave her? Facing a world she never imagined.
I really enjoyed this book and part of me was disappointed it’s part of a trilogy because there wasn’t clear resolution at the end of this book but I’m looking forward to the next instalment. Jennifer Swanepoel is a new narrator to me and I loved her performance. She has a younger voice that was perfect for Della but she also handed the other characters really well. I’m glad I listened to this book and can recommend it.
As an adoptee, any book that starts out with an adopted young woman facing her eighteenth birthday is going to pull me in immediately. I was lucky enough to be adopted by a great family and therefore had a fairly normal childhood. The ever-present question of my roots was there in the background and I often wondered about the people who loved me enough to give me up to people who pledged to love me and care for me as if I were their own blood. Even if I never found my biological parents, my life was good. In the end I did find some of my relatives and I was lucky to have a good reunion.
Della was not one of the lucky ones. Her mother died giving birth to her and Della was put in the foster system, never managing to get adopted. She shuffled from foster home to group home and then another foster home, never finding a place she could call her own. Her final placement for the last few months before she aged out was with a nice older woman who treated her with respect. The kindness didn’t make up for the years of heartache but it did go a fair way to soften the blow of aging out. On her eighteenth birthday Della meets with her social worker and her whole life changes in a way she never could have predicted.
Her mother is no longer a Jane Doe. Della has family. Family who didn’t want her, but family nonetheless. She also has an inheritance. For a girl who has never had more than a couple of dollars, the thought there’s money and a house waiting for her is unfathomable. To claim what is rightfully hers she must leave California and head to North Carolina. She’s never left the state, so this whole process is daunting, but she’s looking for answers to questions she’s been asking her entire life. Who was her mother? Why did she die alone? What is Della’s place in the world?
North Carolina proves fertile ground for answers. Many of Della’s relatives embrace her, forced to face guilt that not only is Della’s mother dead but that her daughter lived in foster care for eighteen years. As times passes that guilt lessens and as Della spends time around her relatives, she learns she has special powers. This part surprised me but I was pulled in for the ride of discovery and found it fascinating. I always admire authors whose creativity allows them to move seamlessly into the paranormal realm and this book was a great one for that. I enjoyed learning about Della and her powers. A few of them made me jealous.
As Della learns more about herself, she quickly discovers her existence is not as simple as she’d first thought. She’s not just a former ward of the state of California – she’s an extraordinary person with powers exceeding even those of her family. So where does that leave her? Facing a world she never imagined.
I really enjoyed this book and part of me was disappointed it’s part of a trilogy because there wasn’t clear resolution at the end of this book but I’m looking forward to the next instalment. Jennifer Swanepoel is a new narrator to me and I loved her performance. She has a younger voice that was perfect for Della but she also handed the other characters really well. I’m glad I listened to this book and can recommend it.
January 26, 2020
This is one of those books that I looked on my kindle to see what I had and figured let me jump right into this book. The cover is really pretty!
We are introduced to Della who has been in the system all of her life and she has aged out. Being in the foster care system has shaped her into who she is now. It is hard for her to trust fully and you can tell she is a bit feisty with folks. I already like the girl. She is already making plans on where she is going to live and work, so when she finds out she has a house and an inheritance waiting for her she is a bit scared but excited at the same time. Will she get answers to who her family is. Why they didn't want her and why they left her in the system?
As the story unfolds we learn that Della is not normal, her family is not normal. They have a little something-something about them that is considered a secret. As the story unfolds it seems that Della is very powerful and for some folks that is scary. This was a new storyline for me as I have never heard of Gathering, Tempering, combining the elements. The author did a great job with Cash and Della being cousins and the banter back and forth. We see just how powerful Della might actually be and I want to read more in this series to see where it goes. To me, the book didn't end on a cliffhanger so to speak but you know there is more to this story!
As everything starts to unfold I was a bit surprised at who Della's father was, I honestly wasn't expecting that. Nice twist there Mrs. Claire.
Now Cash had me laughing quite a bit throughout the story. There was one part that I was like man I know someone who would tell me this same thing.
"Well, I'm moving too. I can either get one of the extra bedrooms or camp out on the lawn. Your choice. Just might not be the best way to get along with your neighbors if all my stuff is just sitting in your front yard."
Great fantasy book!
We are introduced to Della who has been in the system all of her life and she has aged out. Being in the foster care system has shaped her into who she is now. It is hard for her to trust fully and you can tell she is a bit feisty with folks. I already like the girl. She is already making plans on where she is going to live and work, so when she finds out she has a house and an inheritance waiting for her she is a bit scared but excited at the same time. Will she get answers to who her family is. Why they didn't want her and why they left her in the system?
As the story unfolds we learn that Della is not normal, her family is not normal. They have a little something-something about them that is considered a secret. As the story unfolds it seems that Della is very powerful and for some folks that is scary. This was a new storyline for me as I have never heard of Gathering, Tempering, combining the elements. The author did a great job with Cash and Della being cousins and the banter back and forth. We see just how powerful Della might actually be and I want to read more in this series to see where it goes. To me, the book didn't end on a cliffhanger so to speak but you know there is more to this story!
As everything starts to unfold I was a bit surprised at who Della's father was, I honestly wasn't expecting that. Nice twist there Mrs. Claire.
Now Cash had me laughing quite a bit throughout the story. There was one part that I was like man I know someone who would tell me this same thing.
"Well, I'm moving too. I can either get one of the extra bedrooms or camp out on the lawn. Your choice. Just might not be the best way to get along with your neighbors if all my stuff is just sitting in your front yard."
Great fantasy book!
August 18, 2019
I didn't read the backcover info on this when I started it, and it seemedc to be a fairly interesting personal story of a young woman coming of age after coping with a life of being shuffled around in the foster child care system after her single mother dies in California while giving birth to her. This interested me, and I looked forward to learning more of her plight in California foster care, as she depicted some aspects of it quite graphically.. However, things take a shift when the heroine, at age 18, gets access to a bank deposit box that reveals she has plenty of family on the other side of the country, on the Carolina coast. After some emotional turmoil, with no ties to California and few resources, she decides to move there and learn more about them.
Here the book shifts to familiar themes in YA fantasy adventure genre. She discovers she has special fidts and talents, and her relatives will help her train and devel0op them, as they need to use them to fight some dark forces. She also gets a love interest, a dark haired surfer dude that is best friends with her blonde haired rascal of a cousin, a strapping comedian who is also helping her to learn and love family, while she starts to think about other types of love with his buddy.
A twist reveal at the end confirms she is even more special than she has so far learned, setting up the move to the next book in the series/
Here the book shifts to familiar themes in YA fantasy adventure genre. She discovers she has special fidts and talents, and her relatives will help her train and devel0op them, as they need to use them to fight some dark forces. She also gets a love interest, a dark haired surfer dude that is best friends with her blonde haired rascal of a cousin, a strapping comedian who is also helping her to learn and love family, while she starts to think about other types of love with his buddy.
A twist reveal at the end confirms she is even more special than she has so far learned, setting up the move to the next book in the series/
September 13, 2019
Well, here I am with another review of a fantasy series that I absolutely could not put down! Do you love YA Fantasy? If so, stay tuned because this was an excellent series!
Many years ago, I was a foster child. Maybe that’s why I felt an immediate connection to the protagonist, Della Doe Deare, who doesn’t know her parents. Her mother died after Della’s birth, and no one knows the identity of her father. Now, she just wants to get on with her life.
On her 18th birthday, Della’s social worker presents her with the information that will change her life forever. Della learns that she has family alive on her mother’s side. She also learns that her mother left her a house along with a decent amount of money.
Della flies cross country to meet this family where she is welcomed into the fold. Difficult times lay ahead for her when she realizes that some in the family knew of her existence, but did nothing to assist her all those years she was alone. Can she overcome her bitterness?
It is when Della begins repairs on the house her mother left her that she experiences strange supernatural abilities. Eventually, Della comes to realize that she’s inherited these gifts from her family.
In the first book, this special skill is called “gathering water.” Della finds she can absorb the energy from water and store it for her own use. In book two, she learns to temper earth energy, which leads to the third book where she deals with the ability to ignite spirit!
Intrigued? So, was I. The entire concept of energy control drew me into this series. The characters are realistic and the plot captivated me along to the very end.
Each book delves deeper into Della’s elemental abilities, which increase until she becomes a force to be reckoned with. Along the way, she meets her father, learns of her destiny, and meets the love of her life. For me, this series was the perfect YA fantasy read! And don’t forget… the first novel is FREE!
Many years ago, I was a foster child. Maybe that’s why I felt an immediate connection to the protagonist, Della Doe Deare, who doesn’t know her parents. Her mother died after Della’s birth, and no one knows the identity of her father. Now, she just wants to get on with her life.
On her 18th birthday, Della’s social worker presents her with the information that will change her life forever. Della learns that she has family alive on her mother’s side. She also learns that her mother left her a house along with a decent amount of money.
Della flies cross country to meet this family where she is welcomed into the fold. Difficult times lay ahead for her when she realizes that some in the family knew of her existence, but did nothing to assist her all those years she was alone. Can she overcome her bitterness?
It is when Della begins repairs on the house her mother left her that she experiences strange supernatural abilities. Eventually, Della comes to realize that she’s inherited these gifts from her family.
In the first book, this special skill is called “gathering water.” Della finds she can absorb the energy from water and store it for her own use. In book two, she learns to temper earth energy, which leads to the third book where she deals with the ability to ignite spirit!
Intrigued? So, was I. The entire concept of energy control drew me into this series. The characters are realistic and the plot captivated me along to the very end.
Each book delves deeper into Della’s elemental abilities, which increase until she becomes a force to be reckoned with. Along the way, she meets her father, learns of her destiny, and meets the love of her life. For me, this series was the perfect YA fantasy read! And don’t forget… the first novel is FREE!
May 24, 2021
Overall the story was an enjoyable read, with a fun and interesting set of characters and a pretty cool premise. At the heart of the book is the theme of family and trust, and I really appreciated the focus on these two subjects.
I really enjoyed the family mystery, and though it was a bit easy to guess who was who (as in, who the people in the diary were, what probably happened between them, who Della's father is, why nobody came to get her all those years ago, etc.), it didn't stop me from reading on. But what I liked most was how realistic the main character felt. I truly enjoyed Della's childish banter with Cash, and her internal monologue did a great job explaining why she reacted to certain things in a particular way. The system that the characters' powers works on - the whole way that they prepare and train and use their powers - was also pretty cool.
I would have liked to know more about the symbol that seems to be important to the story - the one on the cover of the book and that presents itself at least once or twice in the book - but I went ahead and looked it up (thank you, Wikipedia!), and found out that in fact the triquetra with the circle, as seen above, a Christian Trinitarian symbol (what's more commonly referred to as a "Trinity knot"). However, taking it from a pagan Celtic perspective (and I hope I'm getting this right), it refers to the three stages of a woman's life and is related to the phases of the moon. I can kind of see a small connection - in that and the moon itself seems to be an interesting symbol in connection, though I can't put my finger on why that is, exactly.
Also, I felt it ended a bit too soon! I wanted more! (And I guess that's a good thing!) It seemed like lot of this book was setting up for the rest of the series, which I have a hunch will have much more action and romance.
I really enjoyed the family mystery, and though it was a bit easy to guess who was who (as in, who the people in the diary were, what probably happened between them, who Della's father is, why nobody came to get her all those years ago, etc.), it didn't stop me from reading on. But what I liked most was how realistic the main character felt. I truly enjoyed Della's childish banter with Cash, and her internal monologue did a great job explaining why she reacted to certain things in a particular way. The system that the characters' powers works on - the whole way that they prepare and train and use their powers - was also pretty cool.
I would have liked to know more about the symbol that seems to be important to the story - the one on the cover of the book and that presents itself at least once or twice in the book - but I went ahead and looked it up (thank you, Wikipedia!), and found out that in fact the triquetra with the circle, as seen above, a Christian Trinitarian symbol (what's more commonly referred to as a "Trinity knot"). However, taking it from a pagan Celtic perspective (and I hope I'm getting this right), it refers to the three stages of a woman's life and is related to the phases of the moon. I can kind of see a small connection - in that and the moon itself seems to be an interesting symbol in connection, though I can't put my finger on why that is, exactly.
Also, I felt it ended a bit too soon! I wanted more! (And I guess that's a good thing!) It seemed like lot of this book was setting up for the rest of the series, which I have a hunch will have much more action and romance.
July 20, 2019
Ima little so so on this. It's good, but slow. It seem to me to be dragged out to make another book. By that I mean it didn't feel like a natural 'all that happened and now we need another book for the rest', it felt more like that part of a book was stretched out to ensure we could have another book. The ideas are good, but it's all pretty basic. The world didn't feel real to me.
On the up side, there were one or two surprises, and there weren't any TSTL moments that I can remember.
I'm tempted to read the next book, but probably won't bother unless I stumble across it. Saying that tho, the blurbs for bk2&3 did not show the story I was expecting to see, so that does make me a bit more interested.
0719
On the up side, there were one or two surprises, and there weren't any TSTL moments that I can remember.
I'm tempted to read the next book, but probably won't bother unless I stumble across it. Saying that tho, the blurbs for bk2&3 did not show the story I was expecting to see, so that does make me a bit more interested.
0719
February 13, 2023
CW: death of a parent, (mentioned) sexual assault/pedophilia, Romani slur
I've been watching a lot of TBR clear out videos and the "Read It or Unhaul It" YouTube series by Emily Fox quite a bit recently and it's inspired me to return to my Kindle Clear Out Saga.
While I, once again, have absolutely no memory of acquiring this book on my Kindle, I enjoyed it! I thought the writing was fairly strong and the character writing was great! Della is an interesting person to follow and she had a very readable narrative voice.
My least favorite part was the early romance with Dove. It felt very "told" rather than "shown" and I was never really rooting for them as a couple, though I'm sure it will change in later books.
I've been watching a lot of TBR clear out videos and the "Read It or Unhaul It" YouTube series by Emily Fox quite a bit recently and it's inspired me to return to my Kindle Clear Out Saga.
While I, once again, have absolutely no memory of acquiring this book on my Kindle, I enjoyed it! I thought the writing was fairly strong and the character writing was great! Della is an interesting person to follow and she had a very readable narrative voice.
My least favorite part was the early romance with Dove. It felt very "told" rather than "shown" and I was never really rooting for them as a couple, though I'm sure it will change in later books.
January 1, 2020
Just what I was looking for!
As a middle school teacher and a general lover of paranormal fiction, I was so excited to find Gathering Water. The Southern setting—the Outer Banks of North Carolina—may only be a few Spanish moss laden trees short of Southern Gothic, but it was close enough for me!
The young adult characters—Della, Cash, and Dove—are believable and hilarious, annoying, and sometimes maddening, but are well-constructed. Della does not lose her edge as she begins feeling more comfortable in her new life with a family she never knew she had. The, at times, dysfunctional family dynamics, too are treated realistically despite the fact that at the heart of much of the family conflict is the paranormal abilities that abound.
Claire has created, in this first book of the trilogy, a world. Honestly, I was confused by the “powers,” etc. and wished she had explained them more. Then I thought that maybe this was done intentionally, allowing the reader to discover the meaning as Della did. And Della’s Cheat Sheet at the end? Brilliant!
I cannot wait to do book talks and make videos to share this book with my school community. I want my students to read and discuss with me! Oh yeah, and I am getting ready to order books two and three in the trilogy.
As a middle school teacher and a general lover of paranormal fiction, I was so excited to find Gathering Water. The Southern setting—the Outer Banks of North Carolina—may only be a few Spanish moss laden trees short of Southern Gothic, but it was close enough for me!
The young adult characters—Della, Cash, and Dove—are believable and hilarious, annoying, and sometimes maddening, but are well-constructed. Della does not lose her edge as she begins feeling more comfortable in her new life with a family she never knew she had. The, at times, dysfunctional family dynamics, too are treated realistically despite the fact that at the heart of much of the family conflict is the paranormal abilities that abound.
Claire has created, in this first book of the trilogy, a world. Honestly, I was confused by the “powers,” etc. and wished she had explained them more. Then I thought that maybe this was done intentionally, allowing the reader to discover the meaning as Della did. And Della’s Cheat Sheet at the end? Brilliant!
I cannot wait to do book talks and make videos to share this book with my school community. I want my students to read and discuss with me! Oh yeah, and I am getting ready to order books two and three in the trilogy.
June 17, 2020
I like it and hate it at the same time
As someone who always has her shields up, I pretty much despise Cash. I can't imagine someone who has been through as much as Della has allowing someone like Cash to continuously bulldoze her. He respects no boundaries. When you've learned early in life to erect shields around yourself, they don't fall so easily. Just reading all the instances of people bulldozing Della gives me anxiety. The Della character is, in my opinion, poorly written because of that. She doesn't have the fight and self-preservation drive that comes from a lifetime of having to protect oneself
But despite what it triggers in me, I like the story line. It's an interesting concept that could develope into a good read if I can get past the fact that the other characters do not treat Della with an ounce of respect and she rarely asks for any.
As someone who always has her shields up, I pretty much despise Cash. I can't imagine someone who has been through as much as Della has allowing someone like Cash to continuously bulldoze her. He respects no boundaries. When you've learned early in life to erect shields around yourself, they don't fall so easily. Just reading all the instances of people bulldozing Della gives me anxiety. The Della character is, in my opinion, poorly written because of that. She doesn't have the fight and self-preservation drive that comes from a lifetime of having to protect oneself
But despite what it triggers in me, I like the story line. It's an interesting concept that could develope into a good read if I can get past the fact that the other characters do not treat Della with an ounce of respect and she rarely asks for any.
July 29, 2019
This is a story about a young woman who ages out of foster care and is given information about her mother who died in childbirth. Dede goes accrue country to find her mother’s home which she has inherited and finds out she has family. Interesting so far. Then the novel gets into fantasy ( of my genre). However the fantasy parts start out so subtle that I was hooked and had to finish the novel. I’ll read the next in the series.
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