Daughter of Water

by A.S. Dampt

Twenty years ago, the land of Verdélys was plunged into war when a group of insurrectionist imps rose up to slay the newly born Firstborn, four Verdélian children destined to take up the mantle of the Verdélian royalty.

From her home far to the East in the human village of Hull, such things are unknown to Heidi, a young woman who lives with her parents on the outskirts of town. In Hull, the Verdélia are a myth, a tale of unnatural creatures and witchcraft. A myth, that is, until a peculiar stranger appears at Heidi’s cottage home and coaxes a secret from her father Heidi is a Verdélian, brought as a child to Hull under desperate circumstances twenty years prior.

Guided by fate, Heidi—who discovers she is one of four members of Verdélian royalty—travels to the magical city of Verdélys, capital of the fabled Verdélia. There she meets the other the outgoing and sociable Gaëtan, the reserved and duty-driven Loïc, and Margot, a young woman born as an imp, but a Firstborn all the same.

Caught up in her new world, Sylvie must learn quickly if she is to fulfill her role among the Verdélia. But Sylvie soon finds she may be up against more than learning the customs and culture of the Verdélia, for the same forces that orphaned Sylvie as a baby are on the move once more…

541 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 12, 2024

Reviews

[Karina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unique Worldbuilding!

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

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

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

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

[Hadley Archey · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars all around.

There are not enough words in the English language to explain how much I enjoyed reading this :). The feeling you had when you were younger watching/reading Narnia for the first time? This encapsulates that feeling. But do not go into this book expecting a main stream romantasy, or something fast paced and action packed, this book is simply not that, but is all the better for it. (no hate to mainstream romantasy) This book is a piece of literature to put it simply, with all the cozy cottage core vibes and the scope of an epic fantasy. (the romance in this is SUB-plot :) )

Heidi grows up in a quaint cottage surrounded by farmland with her two human parents. Heidi makes the assumption that since her parents are human she must be too! WRONG. Heidi's entire world that she has grown to know and love gets flipped upside down when a mysterious stranger comes to visit her small village. Heidi discovers she is one of four heirs to kingdom she thought was myth, and is taken on a journey to Verdelys where she will learn to become a resilient, brave, and clever heir to the throne. As Heidi adapts to her new role, she is left to confront an uprising darkness that threatens the citizens of her kingdom and her place as heir. Heidi is challenged with the navigation of court politics, a culture and religion that is completely new to her, and the task of combatting the threat against the world she has grown to know and love.

The world building was absolutely phenomenal. I felt I was walking into the world Dampt built every time I picked up this book. I LOVED THE SETTING SO MUCH. The political intrigue, the elemental magic system, the detailed history and lore of the world were so well done and presented to the reader in a riveting way.
While I can imagine many may dislike the pacing, I personally loved the slower steady pace. Knowing that this is the first installment of a series, the pacing choice for this only made sense with the depth of the world created. This first book has set up the rest of this series to be nothing short of fantastic.

I loved Heidi's character for her resilience, and her ability to stay true to herself, and her gentle demeanor even when presented with violent happenings within her kingdom. As someone who had a rough upbringing, seeing a character go from humble beginnings, with little education, to being a leader of a Kingdom made Heidi easy to relate to. I enjoyed the incorporation of side characters, and the character development of Loic going from cool exterior, to kind and empathetic with Heidi. [I also enjoyed the legal system and the lawyer joke made somewhere around 60%, and these things only became more humorous to me upon finding out one of the co-authors is an attorney. ]

To say I will be anxiously awaiting the next book in this series is a gross understatement, and I will be sharing this book with every individual, who has the ability to read, that I come across.

The only remotely negative thing I have to say (which is partially my own fault) the chapter titles are a bit of a spoiler when you're clicking around on your kindle. I shouldn't have been looking.... but here we are lol...

[Kiki · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you to NetGalley and the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book! my opinion and thoughts are my own only 💌

• 3.8/5 stars

what a wonderful experience this was! the world building was good, and I loved how descriptive the author was about each race of people, what they do and what their Origins were. I really enjoyed learning about the Verdelia and their abilities, and I loved all the 'politics' surrounding them! I find that for the majority of the book, I was hooked and loved to learn about all this.. but near the end it just kind of,, fell off? I'm not sure how to explain it properly but I'll try.

Overall, following the story of our main character Heidi was quite entertaining. I loved learning about her studies and how she adapted to a new environment. however, I will say that when it started getting a little bit deeper into the story, I kind of lost interest a little bit. I believe that that's due partially to the way that the author executed it. Basically, without spoiling anything, I really found that after Heidi had "settled into" her new role.. things just started either speeding up or it just felt like the author was writing it as quickly as she could to finish the book. especially towards the end, I found that the things moved way too quickly and the the ending of the book kind of left me unsatisfied. I will say, this was still a fantastic read because the overall book was still captivating to me, and I enjoyed all the characters.

I think I understand the trouble with having so much you want to say in one book, but also wanting it to be a series or a trilogy, and sometimes finding the sweet spot as to where to stop is hard. I unfortunately kind of felt like the spot where the author left was not the right one. yes it did leave me wanting for more, but at the same time I just wasn't that into it in the end? I also find that their relationship between Heidi and specific people (without naming them to not spoil) moved in a pace that was unexpected. then again that might just be the way that the author wanted it to be so I can't really complain about that. all I'm saying is I wish there would have been a little bit more depth towards the end of the book just as much as there was in the beginning.. that way it would have kept me hooked on a bit more.

I am still quite excited to see where this story will go, and I'm looking forward to reading the next books! I absolutely loved the world that this was set in, and I did quite like our main character and got attached to her.

so overall I'd say this is a very good book, however, definitely don't go into it with your hopes too high. although the ending in my opinion would need a little bit of work, I still would recommend this book to my friends.

[Clover · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
I researched the authors a bit, and found out one of their purposes in writing this book was to build something that could be shared “without feeling embarassed” - which is why you won’t find explicit scenes of any kind in it. I’m perfectly fine with this: I’m not keen on the recent tendency to advertise a book as fantasy only to sketch a superficial fantasy worldbuilding where characters can do stuff in bed.
I’m also, unfortunately, not keen on generic descriptions and plain characters, and, guess what, action, suspense and plot twists don’t need violence or spice to have impact. They need a good pen behind the words.
This was not the case for this book. When entering the fantastic kingdom the MC comes from, you find nothing’s really different from the rest of the world - except the buildings are pretty, there’s lots of flowers everywhere and people can use elemental magic. A palace made of crystal, magical creatures that are made up and not taken from existing folklore, a menace coming from something different that a good guy turned bad: instead of this or other interesting novelties to the fae tradition (because, let’s face it, Verdèlyans are faes who don’t copulate as one imagines living beings do), Daughter of water is a diluted experience, that tries to please prude parents and give kids and teens something that’s right up their alley, that won’t make them think, object nor mature.
Little tip from a reader who doesn’t know better: roasting and mocking readers’ reviews on social media is kind of cringe.

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review of Daughter of Water by A.S. Dampt

First, thank you to the authors and publishers at NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. The premise of Daughter of Water immediately intrigued me. There’s a clear effort toward world-building, and the setting, especially the Verdélian theatre scenes, offers a whimsical and detailed fantasy backdrop.

That said, I struggled with the writing style, particularly the dialogue. Much of it felt overly polished, stiff, and lacking in emotional depth. Characters often spoke in a very formal, overly polite way that didn’t feel natural, even in a fantasy setting. Conversations tended to tell rather than reveal, with characters saying exactly what they meant, leaving little room for subtext, tension, or emotional complexity. As a result, interactions came off as scripted, and I had difficulty connecting with the characters.

Another challenge was that most of the characters spoke in a similar tone, making their voices hard to distinguish. The stakes also felt muted in scenes where I expected more emotional grit or spontaneity.

It’s clear the author put thought into crafting the world and lore, and I think the story will appeal to readers who enjoy elegant, courtly-style fantasy. I was hoping for more narrative friction, layered dialogue, and deeper emotional resonance.

I think the book has a lot of potential, and with some refinement in character voice and dialogue pacing, it could become a standout in its genre.

This book could be marketed towards families with children from 12 years old who would like to read clean and well-mannered fantasy books.

As I was not the intended target market, this book gets a decent 2.5 stars from me. I struggled to finish the book, and by the end, I mostly skim-read just to see if the writing or premise improved, which it did not. Also, the titles of each chapter were a dead giveaway, and it helped me to see what I "missed out" on.

I wish the authors the best of luck with their future endeavours, and hopefully, my review will not be made a mockery of on their Instagram page as they did with other reviewers.

[Cyd’s Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 3.5 stars rounded to 4.0.

The world building is intricate and the premise is unique, I like the idea of the heirs and the line of succession to rule. Our FMC is likeable and we get to see her really grow along the way. There is a very endearing slow burn romance included in this story which had been a nice touch.

I’m not completely sold on the pacing of the story and this is my main grievance with the book.

I would read book 2 to see the story develop further because of the characters and world building, plus I feel like now the details are established the 2nd book would be a faster paced read.

[Demi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can I just say WOW. I couldn’t come up with a better, more fun read than Daughter of Water. It has effortlessly become one of my new favourites 🌸
I laughed. I cried. & I was shook.
The story provoked a whirlwind of emotions and I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
There is magic, action, self-discovery, loss, friendship, & last but not least, romance (which is subtle and isn’t necessary to be the main focus because of how content heavy the book is, but our patience is rewarded 🧜‍♀️🐉)

Sylvie, our FMC, is the most empathetic & intelligent person in any which room; she is determined and never fails to overcome prejudice & underestimation. And you know what? she has my heart ❤️

The world of the Verdelia is one of wonder and magic…what I wouldn’t give to be apart of it.
I loved learning the lore of their world and the intricacies of Sylvie mastering her talents. I loved the diversity in each characters personalities and how they are all different but end up complementing each other and making the perfect quad.

The fact that it ended on a cliff-hanger is rude, but it can be rectified by releasing the next book 😊 hehe

Many thanks to Dampt Creative Studio LLC & NetGalley for a copy. All above opinions are uniquely my own.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story a lot. I feel like there may have been some plot holes, although I suppose they may be filled in later. However I did have some issues with the writing. There were times when what was happening was extremely written out and detailed, and yet other where it was just "this happened." I feel like having these other things more detailed and written out to match the other scenarios, or finding a balance between the two, would have been really good and made things flow better. There were some time jumps that were done this way, and they felt a bit jarring because, for example, you're reading about the characters traveling and it gives things that happened in the first 3 days, and then it jumps to something else without saying anything about the time spent traveling until after you're already like wait, what happened. Or when one character travels alone, a trip that should take "a moon," and the other characters go about their lives. It details a couple days, and then suddenly the traveling character is knocking on her door. The time jumps like this are plentiful, and i found myself reading it, then having to stop and read back to be like okay did i miss something? I also found that some things gotmore detailed descriptions than other things did, and I found that sometimes info was given where i was like okay I kind of dont care what this guy looks like, and other times I wanted more details. I also felt that there would be other/more questions that Heidi/Sylvie would ask. As an example, the first time ethera is mentioned, she doesnt ask what it is, what that word is. Growing up in the small village she did i feel like she would question way more things than she does. I sometimes thought 'Why did you ask that question and not...?' There were some grammatical errors that I feel like should have been fixed before sending the story out into the world, and even a moment where a character is mentioned as Meredith. Using context clues, you can deduce that they actually meant to say Margot, but maybe her name was Meredith before Margot and they forgot to change it. There are some sentences that just sound weird to put it plainly. For instance, there's a sentence that uses the word "arches" twice. There's one fairly short sentence that uses the characters name three times. Things like that. Some sentences sounded short and clipped, while others felt like run ons. I found myself wishing that things flowed a bit better, with better sentences. Some sentences also dont feel natural. It kind of felt like maybe a first draft. When I read the synopsis, I thought that Heidi and Sylvie might have been different characters, although maybe that was intentional to draw readers in. Th first bit after she went to the palace, I felt like the other Firstborn were kind of one note characters. They weren't, but their personalities that are given in the beginning definitely ring true and seem to be something the Heidi/Sylvie brings up frequently and throughout the book. I felt that Heidi/Sylive's character development had some holes. From the first part of the book, I got the vibe that she's very family oriented, and I find that hard to see in the later part. For instance, it takes until towards the end of the book for her to call Nadine her friend and to treat her like one, and I feel like she would have been more open and want a friend in the palace rather than just a handmaiden. I also felt like not mentioning her parents her Hull ever again until the end was unrealistic. If she loved them so much, wouldn't she have thought about them, perhaps missed them at meals, in a large room with people she barely knows and people serving her and catering to her every while, instead of in their small home, warm and cozy with her family? Would she have missed them at night, when the chaos of a day settled and she was left alone with her own thoughts? I also found her relationship with death was odd. In one scene she condoms two men to their death and is prepared to stand and eatch them die, and in another she's reeling and rendered useless when attacked and someone's death results from what she did. I feel like some difference is normal, it's different seeing someone killed and doing it yourself, but it just felt like she should have handled the second scenario better, or had some sort of feelings in the first scenario. It seemed like she stepped into the role easily and fully on the day of the first trial, but then kind of back tracks and tends to not act as quickly or forcefully. Included in the time jumping was the story overall. The way it seems, she's been at the palace for months, and yet at the end when they leave it's mentioned that two months have passed. It felt so much longer, given the circumstances, actions, and events. While I had a lot of issues with the book, I did enjoy it. I was interested in the story, and as it went on I found myself having more questions than answers. Especially for how people are born! I found it very intriguing and from the first moment it was mentioned I was questioning and looking for more info and answers about it, which did eventually come. The weirdness of the time jumps excluded, the book itself felt like a good length, and the things happened at a good pace. I was compelled to continue reading by the characters and the plot. I really enjoyed how everything came together. I had questions throughout the whole thing, and sometime that I questioned on page 45 would be answered on page 150. Like, I feel like it all matched up well, the lore is good and detailed. I got disappointed at the ending, just in the way you do when you want more before it just stops. I wanted them to get to Hull and see her parents, or maybe just like walk into the house and opening the door is the end. This was when I wondered if Heidi/Sylvie would explain more about the people of Hull to the others. If she doesn't, they have no clue what they're getting into, and at the first sign of anything magical or nefarious they would have been branded witches and burned at the stake probably. So I hope that the beginning of the next book has her explain things to them. The only other thing I had against the book was the naming. The handmaiden name, Nadine, is fairly normal by our standards, but it seems that everyone else has a very Verdalian name, and I feel it makes Margot and Sylvie seem a bit plain in comparison. Regardless of the issues I had, I enjoyed the story itself, and will be reading the sequel.

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book review: 3.25/5 ⭐️
Genre: high fantasy
Themes: nature, light versus darkness, societal hierarchy
📖 Read if you like: Uprooted, Emily Wilde, Under the Oak Tree

One of my reading goals from this year was to read more debuts from indie authors or publishers. So I was ever so excited to receive a copy of this self published fantasy from NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this book for the magical integration of plants and the wildly imagined creatures that roamed these lands. It was a very well developed world with a people that vaguely resembled fae in their connection to nature and magic, but that had a society all of their own. Within their ranks were imps and humans and all the strife that can arise from being different. It was certainly creative and the slow pace let me enjoy exploring this world with our MC Heidi/Sylvie.

Sylvie has been raised human, but she has always known she is different. Running barefoot in fields that she is able to coax into growth, seeing memories in water and being able to read minds she is certainly something else. When an ethereal stranger comes to collect Sylvie, her origin and task reveal themselves. She is one of four born every 200 years to rule the Verdelians with their unique gifts. Sylvie is Morwenna reborn fated to be in control of the judicial system with her powers of insight. As Sylvie sets foot in this new land and her new role on shaky legs she must begin to learn and discover who and what she can trust in this new land. The start of this novel and the premise were certainly the makings of a great fantasy series.

If I thought too much about this book too much, I would be critical of the pace. It was slow at the beginning and the character development really only focuses on one character despite there being four Firstborns. The love stories in particular lacked foundation besides the historical coupling. I couldn’t understand Sylvia’s choice to swing from Gaetan to Loic without any critical event or conversation to cause this shift. There really wasn’t any relationship development between any of the four to indicate anything beyond friendship. Even Margot was an enigma, but Sylvie was expected to extend kindness towards her. She could have been such an interesting character or POV given her background. A missed opportunity in my opinion. Overall, I thought there needed to be some tension between the characters and more of the other Firstborn.

I also thought there needed to be a little more that happened it terms of motivation or a high stakes event to drive this plot. It meandered a bit in the middle, which can be an easy way to loose readers. When the dark conspiracy finally started to reveal itself I thought it needed to have been introduced in a darker way earlier in the plot. The difference between aether and Rhys continued existence also needed to be better explained to understand the chain of events. I just didn’t feel the emergency or dread that started the attack or the siege.

So a commendable debut with an interesting world, but I thought there needed to be more character development for the other three Firstborn and that the plot needed a little more fine tuning for logic and to keep readers invested. I do wonder how this series will continue.

[East of Reality · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

[Alora · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the setting of this novel. The world-building was incorporated well and throughout the book. It was also written in a way that the reader and the FMC learn about the world at the same time, which I enjoyed following along with. I would have liked to have gotten to know the characters more personally; I feel like I knew about them but I didn't know them as deeply. I was not very attached to them. Gaetan was fairly present in the beginning of the novel and after halfway he was hardly even relevant. The opposite happened with Margot; I didn't really care or know about her in the beginning, but I liked her part in the plot near the end of the book.
The plot was very interesting. The pacing was a little on the slower side at first, but it is understandable as it is going to be a series. I like the dynamics of Sylvie learning about the Firstborns and how to use her magic, while the Firstborns were also trying to fight against the rising enemy in Verdélys. I think the plot needed higher stakes. Even when the conflict occurred, it wasn't very suspenseful. Because of that, the ending was not as climactic as it should have been, although I will still continue to the next book when it is released. However, the actual content of the plot was good and I was enjoying the story a lot. There wasn't much in the novel that was emotionally impactful to me, but it was a fun book to read. I did enjoy it. I am very expectant of the next book in the series. I'd give this book 3.75 stars. I would recommend it, but it's not on my favourites list.

quality rating: 6.5/10
enjoyment rating: 3.75 stars
vulgarity: none
spice: none
violence: very little

[ava · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m super on the fence about this book.

The good stuff was super good! I enjoyed worldbuilding—it was definitely unique. The political climate and tensions were perfectly described, as was the setting. Heidi enters Verdélys with no knowledge of their history, traditions, culture, or even herself. Overcoming the learning curve with Heidi made for an intriguing read, and Hiedi’s curiosity and ambition felt authentic. I personally haven’t read much elemental magic, so exploring the Firstborns and their respective powers (like mind reading!!) was super interesting.

However…

I struggled to get through this book. It felt extensively long. And I don’t mind a nice long book! This novel, however, fell victim to overexplaining. There were full on chapters dedicated to Heidi learning from a textbook, or the Firstborns attending an opera. By 40%, I felt as though nothing significant happened (besides her moving from Hull to Verdélys). Some parts of the book lacked substance—I would have much rather learnt about the other three Firstborns alongside Heidi as opposed to reading about her reading a textbook. Therefore, it was hard to connect to Heidi and the other main characters. Unfortunately, they lacked depth and context, and felt like plot devices rather than individuals. The climax also wasn’t a showstopper. It kind of just…existed without any real suspense.

Overall not terrible, but I do wish the novel stuck out a bit more. It has extensive potential, and I hope in future books the conflict and characters are fleshed out.

* I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Bella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 2.5 stars

Daughter of Water by A.S. Dampt follows Heidi, an elite member of a magical bloodline raised human, as she discovers of her true identity and makes a new home for herself among the royalty of a magical city called Verdélys.
While the story's concept very much intrigued me, I really struggled to stay engaged while reading this book. Every character felt and spoke like an NPC, even the main character. In fact, she seemed pretty indifferent to her own story which made it difficult to relate to her and emotionally invest in her journey. How do you live 20 years of your life with special powers that you are well aware of and use daily without being consumed by curiosity about their origin?
That said, I truly believe that this story has all the makings of a great book, but it needs an editor to pare down on filler and info dumping. There is no reason for this book to be so long. I also think this book is improperly categorized and should be marketed to younger audiences. Similarly to Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia, Daughter of Water appeals to a wide range of audiences. While teen, young adult, and new adult audiences can certainly enjoy this story, the authors are missing out on a large group of potential readers. I also would have been less disappointed in the books' pacing and the authors' tendency to tell not show if I realized ahead of time that I would be picking up what is essentially a middle grade book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Georgia · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

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

[Miriam NietD · Rating 3 out of 5]

#daughterofwater #NetGalley

The world building is nice described and unique. You can picture all colors, flowers and love every time Sylvie interacts with water. I also liked how the magic is wielded and the nice connection between female characters. I loved the way the feeling of hope, a double-edged sword, is described and felt by Margot and Nadine.

However, this is not my favourite book and it took me some time to finish it:
1. The book is slow until you reach the 20% of the book. The main issue is the lengthy descriptions that could be voidable. For instance, the first fight training between Sylvie and Loïc takes too many pages as well as the description of the forests, rooms and architecture of the city. Also, many times Sylvie was explained why imps do not wield magic and it became repetitive.
2. I would have sent this book for a second review and make the structure more readable. For example, Heidi's name appears tree times in only 5 sentences. Titles of the chapters give too much information and I knew what was about to happens before starting reading it. Sometimes authors explains things in advance killing all for surprises for the reader.
3. I barely know the characters and I really do not feel the love connections were well developed in this novel.

I will not continue with the series but I felt entertained reading this book.

[iris [updating reviews] · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the idea behind the book—a group of four known as the Firstborn that are born every 200 years to rule the land of Verdélys. It's a prompt that has so much potential if done right. Personally, I think the authors did it right. The plot and its progression, the portrayal of the Firstborn—both as individuals and as a group—and the obstacles faced by them while trying to maintain peace in their lands. With this type of context, the book was easily a 4★ read for me.

However, as with any other book, there were things that didn't bode well for me. As many other reviewers have mentioned, the pacing was terribly slow. For me, it was quite slow for most of the book and a bit rushed for the parts where it wasn't required. So much of the plot revolves around Sylvie's day-to-day activities around Verdélys to the point where you'd think you're reading a journal. But when we get to the tension and supposed fight scenes, it goes on for 2 paragraphs and that's it. Not only is there no buildup to such scenes, but the scenes themselves are not written particularly well.

All in all, it was actually a good book. I think I would've enjoyed it more if the pacing was better.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.

[Cassandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

The FMC, Heidi, discovers where she comes from and tries to navigate who she has learned she is and how to move forward presently. She ventures on a path to newfound relationships while uncovering truths she had no idea existed. She also discovers that there are groups divided (humans, imps, and Verdélys) and what that means in her current position as well as where she originated from. Learning about the other firstborns as well as the dark magic that ensues was interesting and made for the potential to be a great book. Unfortunately, this fell short for me.

I didn't feel like the character development was done well outside of the FMC. I'm sure there is a lot to discover as this is supposed to be a series; however, I felt no real connection to any of these characters. Not much grabbed my attention and kept a stronghold, and I sadly found myself incredibly bored. I didn't find any real excitement or climax to any part of this story. It was just so bland and lacked any real entertainment. There was no romance or true heroism at all. I just felt that given the amount of pages written in this book, it could have been used to create more excitement and evoke more emotions than it did.

[Mika Vartiainen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daughter of Water by A.S. Dampt is an intriguing start to The Verdélian Chronicles, blending rich world-building with a coming-of-age fantasy journey. The story follows Heidi, a young woman who learns she is one of the four Firstborns destined to lead the magical land of Verdélys. As she navigates this new reality, she faces challenges, discovers her powers, and uncovers her true identity.

The novel’s strongest aspects are its immersive world-building and unique magic system, which feel well thought out and detailed. Heidi’s character growth is handled with care, making her journey engaging. However, the pacing is slow at times, and certain plot points could have been explored more deeply to enhance emotional impact. While the romance subplot develops naturally, it remains subtle compared to the larger themes of destiny and leadership.

Overall, Daughter of Water is a solid fantasy read, but it doesn’t quite reach its full potential. With a bit more depth in character dynamics and pacing adjustments, it could have been even more compelling. I’d rate it 3.5/5 stars—an enjoyable read with great promise for the rest of the series.

A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read this ARC

[Margian Ghadimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Daughter of Water" is a beautifully written fantasy that echoes the charm of traditional fantasy storytelling. It doesn’t rely on constant twists or relentless danger lurking behind every stone. Instead, it unfolds naturally, drawing the reader into its world with depth and steady pacing.

The story follows four Firstborn heirs, each destined to rule, as they navigate a kingdom threatened by a hidden darkness. The protagonist’s journey stands out—she isn’t instantly powerful or fearless. Instead, she learns, stumbles, and grows, making her a truly relatable and compelling character. The contrast between her and the more experienced figures is well-balanced: she doesn’t overshadow them, yet she proves her worth when it matters most.

Another highlight is the romance, which develops with an endearing softness. It’s not an all-consuming love story but a gentle, slow-burn connection built on small moments and quiet gestures, making it even more touching and sincere.

Bonus points for titled chapters, which add extra charm! I can’t wait to read the sequel.

I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book through NetGallery in exchange for an honest review.

[Sherry Altman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this cozy epic fantasy. It’s strange to string those words together, but they oddly fit this book. It evokes the sort of feelings you had as a child/young adult reading series like “The Chronicles of Narnia” or other wholesome (read: not spicy) fantasy stories for the first time. You just know from the very beginning that no matter how things work out in the end, they will work out exactly as they should.

While there is a bit of romance in this book it definitely takes a backseat and functions as a sub-plot to the main storyline, which is something I found to be refreshing. This is definitely *not* a romantasy, and if you go into it this book expecting that you’re going to be sorely disappointed.

Also something to note: this is not the type of fantasy that is action-based or super fast paced. Rather it spends time on the little details and really constructs the cozy, almost soft world in which the cast of character live. The magic system and world-building is positively superb. It’s clear A.S. Dampt put a great deal of thought into making everything unique. I won’t spoil the story for you, but I will say this is a great palate cleanser!

[Hika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book twice now and found it to be a refreshing take on bad verses evil. The authors took the time to think through the world and how it functions culturally, politically and magically.

There is depth and history to the Verdelian world that reminds me of other great authors and avoids coming off as trying too hard to be like them. The writers get it. They were able to deliver a world that has very unique ideas that add to the fantastical genre and leaves you wanting to know more about its design.

I appreciated the pace of Heidi's story and that she was inquisitive so you understand the vastness of the story in a realistic amount. The way she thought and spoke represented her age well and the fact that she was not the classic main character was relieving. Through and through she is a gardener and did not suddenly become a mighty warrior overnight. The design of the Firstborn was nice in that sense because they all had their own strengths that make them useful to the Verdelia.

I am looking forward to the rest of the series and learning more about all its characters. I'd also like to see if Pemberley makes a return because he was an interesting character.

[Lili’s little library · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

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

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

I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this book through NetGalley. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book and provide an honest review.

[Wanja Kiragu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a welcome change to the fantasy genre, where there was a lot less smut (none whatsoever) and a lot more whatever the opposite of that is. The characters were neither likeable not dislikeable and I feel like they were severely underdeveloped. The authors may have done too much in the way of trying to write this genre differently (come to think of it the only difference was the lack of well ykw) to bring out the best in an otherwise promising plotline.There was some instances where the plot moved too fast(towards the end) and too slow(in the beginning). Overall it was a shallow but otherwise unproblematic read for me, maybe intended for a much much younger audience.

[Olivia-Jobi Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Taylor (areadingsailor) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is such an incredibly unique world! I loved the world building. It follows Heidi who is raised by humans and keeps her magical powers secret. One day, she learns she is one of four reincarnated souls destined to lead Verdelys Kingdom. The setting was so cool! The magic system, the politics, the history and lore. It was very well done.

However, the pacing was a bit to slow for me, I struggled to get into this book due to how long it took to get going,

Heidi was a likeable character. Predictable, in that she is good and wants to be good. Yet, she fell a bit flat for me.

Overall, I liked this book! I think the author has a great concept here and I look forward to the next book.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantasy, first in a series. A Princess, hidden, revealed. Heidi knows little of Verdélian when she is brought as one of the four members of the Royalty. Thrown in at the deep end she has Much to learn about Verdélian life and politics, magic and romance. And a prophecy that now hangs over this place. Insurrection in the city and Country abounds as a fifth, and evil player, spreads their insidious evil. This first book sets the scene of a much larger story to come. Thank you to Damon Creative Studio LLC and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

[Marisa J · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

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

[gj indieBRAG · Rating 5 out of 5]

We proudly announce that DAUGHTER OF WATER (The Verdélian Chronicles, #1) has been honored with the prestigious B.R.A.G. Medallion (Book Readers’ Appreciation Group). This honor places it among a distinguished group of award-winning, reader-recommended works at indieBRAG. This award is a testament to this book's quality and its impact on readers.

[B.Z. Norohna · Rating 2 out of 5]

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

[Sidney Hatch · Rating 4 out of 5]

The premise of this book drew me into the first portion of it. The slow-burn is worth the ending! This is the start to a series and I can't wait to see what else is in store for the Firstborn's.