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Twelve Baronies #1
Watersmeet
When a stranger tells her she's a mage, Ailith is intrigued but she's also afraid. Magic is heresy, and heresy means death under the Temple Law. Even literacy is suspect in a girl of her background, and her sister's impending wedding only serves as a reminder that she should be focusing on her future. Then a local priest asks her to rescue his son, and she starts to wonder if her talents could be a blessing, after all.
The Lord Baron of Watersmeet, Leofwin isn't accustomed to welcoming uninvited visitors. A commoner turning up at his gates should be no more than a minor footnote to his day, but something about Ailith catches his attention. Alchemy can be lonely work and an apprentice might be just what he needs.
As their lessons grow into shared experiments, Leofwin wonders if he might even trust her with his greatest challenge. But Ailith can't forget why she came to the castle.
The Lord Baron of Watersmeet, Leofwin isn't accustomed to welcoming uninvited visitors. A commoner turning up at his gates should be no more than a minor footnote to his day, but something about Ailith catches his attention. Alchemy can be lonely work and an apprentice might be just what he needs.
As their lessons grow into shared experiments, Leofwin wonders if he might even trust her with his greatest challenge. But Ailith can't forget why she came to the castle.
428 pages, Paperback
First published December 25, 2014
3 people are currently reading
375 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Cotterill
8 books103 followersRachel lives in the Cotswolds. When she's not writing, she can probably be found wandering in the hills.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 20 reviews
March 9, 2015
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author Rachel Cotterill, and RMS.)
“The Lord Baron of Watersmeet is an alchemist?” “One of the very best.”
This was a lovely YA fantasy story, and I liked the unique ideas about alchemy.
I really liked Ailith, she was brave and kind, and she really stood up and made a difference when put to the test. It was sad the way she had to leave home to get the teaching and guidance that she needed, but she didn’t let that stop her from doing what she needed to do.
“My father caned me,” Ailith said. “But he sent me here for punishment not healing.”
The storyline in this was about Ailith and her alchemy skills, Leofwin who liked her as more than a student, and Garrick who wanted to take Leofwin’s castle for himself. Ailith had to tackle many different situations, from alchemy problems to siege’s, and learned a lot along the way. I did find the pace to be a little slow in places, but this didn’t spoil the story.
“It seems the gods have already sent the answer to my prayers. Ailith is perfectly suited to go.”
There was some romance, but it was very slow building. It seemed quite obvious quite early on how Leofwin felt about Ailith, but she just didn’t seem to catch on at all! I have to say that when he popped a certain question it really wasn’t romantic at all though, he seriously needs to work on that!
“You’re not old, even if the library is dusty. And…” She blushed. “I’m afraid I pictured you as rather stern and unforgiving.”
The ending to this was good, but I’m still interested to find out what happens to this pair in the next book in the series.
7.5 out of 10
“The Lord Baron of Watersmeet is an alchemist?” “One of the very best.”
This was a lovely YA fantasy story, and I liked the unique ideas about alchemy.
I really liked Ailith, she was brave and kind, and she really stood up and made a difference when put to the test. It was sad the way she had to leave home to get the teaching and guidance that she needed, but she didn’t let that stop her from doing what she needed to do.
“My father caned me,” Ailith said. “But he sent me here for punishment not healing.”
The storyline in this was about Ailith and her alchemy skills, Leofwin who liked her as more than a student, and Garrick who wanted to take Leofwin’s castle for himself. Ailith had to tackle many different situations, from alchemy problems to siege’s, and learned a lot along the way. I did find the pace to be a little slow in places, but this didn’t spoil the story.
“It seems the gods have already sent the answer to my prayers. Ailith is perfectly suited to go.”
There was some romance, but it was very slow building. It seemed quite obvious quite early on how Leofwin felt about Ailith, but she just didn’t seem to catch on at all! I have to say that when he popped a certain question it really wasn’t romantic at all though, he seriously needs to work on that!
“You’re not old, even if the library is dusty. And…” She blushed. “I’m afraid I pictured you as rather stern and unforgiving.”
The ending to this was good, but I’m still interested to find out what happens to this pair in the next book in the series.
7.5 out of 10
November 2, 2016
Some stories keep you on the edge of your seat with non-stop drama, and some are gentler tales, of people learning about themselves and each other, quietly resolving their problems with thoughtful research or experimentation or negotiation, instead of reaching for the swords every time. This book is in the latter category, which makes it very much my kind of story.
The opening of the book is a nice introduction to the background, one of a basically illiterate population, where both magic and writing are frowned upon. Ailith can read and write, but she has to keep that secret. However, a meeting with a mysterious older man, Malachi, reveals that she has another secret - she is a mage.
Ailith is one of twins, with several other sisters and (maybe?) a brother, too. Her twin is about to be married to a man three times her age, a match arranged by the family and the twin seems to be quite content with that. Ailith, too, has had possible marriages arranged for her, but scared off the suitors by her forthright style, and is resigned to spinsterhood. This is an aspect of the society that absolutely fascinated me. It’s rare these days to find a setting where arranged marriages are calmly accepted as a normal facet of life, yet are not a big plot point. I felt like saying: wait a minute, tell me more about this. How does it actually work? But the story veered off in a different direction, and I never did find out about it. Maybe later in the series.
The magic in this world verges on science. There’s a great deal of herbalism and mixing of minerals to make an amalgam, and the mage then adds just a smidgen of ‘intention’ to turn it into something magical. It’s clear that the author has done her research on herbs and other materials, and if I could have done with less detail, that’s a personal preference, and didn’t impact the story.
Ailith is an interesting character - smart and brave and (frankly) completely reckless sometimes in her willingness to experiment, whether it’s on herself or some other hapless character. I liked that she came from a happy family background, with all the petty little squabbles and differences of any family, but clearly wrapped in affection.
Of the other characters, Leofwin is the most compelling, prowling round his castle at night, obsessively weeding and pruning and tinkering in his garden. I loved his habit of leaping up with a ‘Let’s try it!’ whenever Ailith suggests some particularly outlandish concoction.
I don’t want to give too much away, but I have to congratulate the author on changing the reader’s perceptions of two characters in particular, in very slow, subtle ways. This is difficult to do successfully, and although I think it works better with one character than the other, it’s still very well done.
One aspect that worked less well for me is that Ailith manages to solve all her problems rather too easily. It reduces the tension almost to nothing if, when a crisis arises, she simply decides what particular method is needed, and finds a way to do it. There are no hiccups and nothing goes wrong, everything is resolved quickly and easily. I would have liked a few magical disasters along the way to make me worry for her a bit more.
There is one event in the story which stands out for me. Again, I don’t want to give too much away, but Leofwin’s experience in the temple is a brilliant example of an author successfully subverting expectations, while at the same time creating a deeply thought-provoking scenario. I loved this section of the book.
The climax of the story is suitably dramatic, with some unexpected twists and turns. I would have liked a stronger resolution to Malachi’s story, however. He was a major character early on, but his tale trickled away to nothing. I’d have liked more made of Garrick’s father, too. What happened to him should (I thought) have been a momentous event, and given more prominence. And, as mentioned above, I wished I could hear more of Ailith’s twin, and find out whether her marriage was happy or not.
But these are minor points. This was a very enjoyable, well-written read, recommended for fans of quieter, more thoughtful and less action-filled fantasy. Four stars.
The opening of the book is a nice introduction to the background, one of a basically illiterate population, where both magic and writing are frowned upon. Ailith can read and write, but she has to keep that secret. However, a meeting with a mysterious older man, Malachi, reveals that she has another secret - she is a mage.
Ailith is one of twins, with several other sisters and (maybe?) a brother, too. Her twin is about to be married to a man three times her age, a match arranged by the family and the twin seems to be quite content with that. Ailith, too, has had possible marriages arranged for her, but scared off the suitors by her forthright style, and is resigned to spinsterhood. This is an aspect of the society that absolutely fascinated me. It’s rare these days to find a setting where arranged marriages are calmly accepted as a normal facet of life, yet are not a big plot point. I felt like saying: wait a minute, tell me more about this. How does it actually work? But the story veered off in a different direction, and I never did find out about it. Maybe later in the series.
The magic in this world verges on science. There’s a great deal of herbalism and mixing of minerals to make an amalgam, and the mage then adds just a smidgen of ‘intention’ to turn it into something magical. It’s clear that the author has done her research on herbs and other materials, and if I could have done with less detail, that’s a personal preference, and didn’t impact the story.
Ailith is an interesting character - smart and brave and (frankly) completely reckless sometimes in her willingness to experiment, whether it’s on herself or some other hapless character. I liked that she came from a happy family background, with all the petty little squabbles and differences of any family, but clearly wrapped in affection.
Of the other characters, Leofwin is the most compelling, prowling round his castle at night, obsessively weeding and pruning and tinkering in his garden. I loved his habit of leaping up with a ‘Let’s try it!’ whenever Ailith suggests some particularly outlandish concoction.
I don’t want to give too much away, but I have to congratulate the author on changing the reader’s perceptions of two characters in particular, in very slow, subtle ways. This is difficult to do successfully, and although I think it works better with one character than the other, it’s still very well done.
One aspect that worked less well for me is that Ailith manages to solve all her problems rather too easily. It reduces the tension almost to nothing if, when a crisis arises, she simply decides what particular method is needed, and finds a way to do it. There are no hiccups and nothing goes wrong, everything is resolved quickly and easily. I would have liked a few magical disasters along the way to make me worry for her a bit more.
There is one event in the story which stands out for me. Again, I don’t want to give too much away, but Leofwin’s experience in the temple is a brilliant example of an author successfully subverting expectations, while at the same time creating a deeply thought-provoking scenario. I loved this section of the book.
The climax of the story is suitably dramatic, with some unexpected twists and turns. I would have liked a stronger resolution to Malachi’s story, however. He was a major character early on, but his tale trickled away to nothing. I’d have liked more made of Garrick’s father, too. What happened to him should (I thought) have been a momentous event, and given more prominence. And, as mentioned above, I wished I could hear more of Ailith’s twin, and find out whether her marriage was happy or not.
But these are minor points. This was a very enjoyable, well-written read, recommended for fans of quieter, more thoughtful and less action-filled fantasy. Four stars.
December 31, 2014
This is one of those fantasy books that you start reading after dinner and look up from to realise it's gone midnight and really you ought to go to bed but no, just one more chapter first... and then another. Perfect for reading on dark winter evenings. I really enjoyed this story about Ailith, the young woman who discovers she has magical talents and finds her place in the world with them. Unlike a lot of fantasy, I thought the explanation of how the magic worked was pretty good, and thought out, rather than just something glossed over. I admit that when I first saw Rachel had a new book out I was disappointed it wasn't another Charanthe book, as I'm dying to know what happens next with that series, but actually, if anything I enjoyed this more than the two Charanthe books. It would probably be improved with a map, but I tend to think that about all fantasy books that don't have one!
January 24, 2018
The story was decent, the writing was rather good, but the plot moved like molasses. A good editor would have saved this novel for me. It was hard to keep track of characters because both minor and important characters were often given the same importance and then dropped, so when they came back later I'd forgotten who they were. But the part I liked least personally was just the overabundance of details. I'm so glad that she was wearing a green dress and eating a cold chicken leg while talking to her friend Ymma, but when I couldn't keep track of what Ymma did or what they were talking about, it was really hard to care. The magic was interesting and I'm all for strong female characters, but I won't be reading others in this series.
August 28, 2017
When alchemy is heresy--and death--alxhemists have to be very careful about who they trust. Since this is a story about several alchemists, it's about trust, and distrust, half-truths and evasions, leaps of faith and betrayals. Each side has a story, and characters reveal their complexity as the story progresses. No one is as simple as they seem.
The romance has some troubling inequalities, but this isn't, despite the setting, a story about women who need to know their place. Or about a woman who needs rescuing--she can rescue herself.
The romance has some troubling inequalities, but this isn't, despite the setting, a story about women who need to know their place. Or about a woman who needs rescuing--she can rescue herself.
July 31, 2017
Another summer read!I was riveted from the start, and every night exclaimed to my husband that I wanted to finish but was too far away to finish before bedtime. More than once I was reminded of Uprooted by Naomi Novik, a very popular novel about a strong-willed girl being imprisoned by an imposing and distant lord. I was disappointed to learn there are currently no other books in the series that has been labeled "Twelve Baronies", and will be keeping a look out for more.
July 26, 2017
Older man/younger woman and teacher/student will always skeeve me out, but at least she never felt much like a student and the book didn't make too much of his age. Good story despite that bit of ick. That said, not entirely sure I'll continue in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 4, 2019
Loved it. Waiting for next in series.
February 1, 2020
A excellent slow paced fantasy which was about negotiating not head charging sword fights.
January 24, 2017
This was excellent - engaging and entertaining with interesting characters.
May 18, 2015
I was given a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
Rachel Cotterill has created a fantasy world that is both inviting and intriguing. She has established a seemingly ordinary environment and interspersed it with the extraordinary.
The book began slowly, and in hindsight that was a good thing. The background was laid out carefully and in a way that was entertaining. To begin, there was no sign that the book would not continue in this vein. Ailith and her family appear to be relatively ordinary people in an unusual time. They are a family that is loving and caring, even though a bit harsh at times based on modern day standards.
As always though - there is a family secret. One that is slowly and cleverly unveiled as we get to know our main character. I do believe that this family has a few more secrets yet to be discovered.
Bring in Malachi, the old and wise alchemist who is leading a secret life. He sees in Ailith what very few others see. He is instrumental in changing the direction of the story (and in my opinion we need to hear more from him).
As she begins to discover her true powers Ailith also discovers a world outside her family home and pottery. A world of excitement and possibly romance. That cute young boy from the temple... I thought I knew what was to happen. Thank you Cotterill for leading me there, and then away again. The first cute boy who pays attention always turns a girls head - you made Ailith far more real to me.
The story continues with Ailith's punishment for her impertinence. She is sent by the temple on a quest. A temple that too, holds many secrets. This is where the story veers off in a completely different direction. The pace picks up and the characters begin to go.
The transition is nicely done - however the existing world is completely left behind. From this point on we hear little of Ailith's family. For such a close knit group this is surprising and a little unnerving. Me- I would like to see that she misses them, wants to contact them, needs their approval. Too, a glimpse into the life she left behind would go a long way in building character in my opinion.
Now I am not one for spoilers. I don't want to read them, and I don't want to write them. To me a review is to help one decide if they would like to explore this book or not. They are not to be a synopsis. Having said that, I have very little left that I can say except for this.
Cotterill has done a fine job of weaving a tale that is spiritual, historical, romantic and magical. She has allowed us to get to know characters slowly, developing and changing them as happens I the real world. She leads us in many directions, yet always brings us back to Watersmeet.
There are areas that I wish had been expanded upon (Ailith's family, Malachi, life in the temples, Garrick's family and background to name a few). There are areas that have been overdone (herbs and flowers, descriptions of clothing). There are also areas that disappoint me slightly. (I really wish that there had been a bit more of a struggle with Ailith and her unfolding abilities). All in all however this is one book I will gladly recommend. Rachel Cotterill is now a name I will look for, particularly when I see the continuation of this series.
Rachel Cotterill has created a fantasy world that is both inviting and intriguing. She has established a seemingly ordinary environment and interspersed it with the extraordinary.
The book began slowly, and in hindsight that was a good thing. The background was laid out carefully and in a way that was entertaining. To begin, there was no sign that the book would not continue in this vein. Ailith and her family appear to be relatively ordinary people in an unusual time. They are a family that is loving and caring, even though a bit harsh at times based on modern day standards.
As always though - there is a family secret. One that is slowly and cleverly unveiled as we get to know our main character. I do believe that this family has a few more secrets yet to be discovered.
Bring in Malachi, the old and wise alchemist who is leading a secret life. He sees in Ailith what very few others see. He is instrumental in changing the direction of the story (and in my opinion we need to hear more from him).
As she begins to discover her true powers Ailith also discovers a world outside her family home and pottery. A world of excitement and possibly romance. That cute young boy from the temple... I thought I knew what was to happen. Thank you Cotterill for leading me there, and then away again. The first cute boy who pays attention always turns a girls head - you made Ailith far more real to me.
The story continues with Ailith's punishment for her impertinence. She is sent by the temple on a quest. A temple that too, holds many secrets. This is where the story veers off in a completely different direction. The pace picks up and the characters begin to go.
The transition is nicely done - however the existing world is completely left behind. From this point on we hear little of Ailith's family. For such a close knit group this is surprising and a little unnerving. Me- I would like to see that she misses them, wants to contact them, needs their approval. Too, a glimpse into the life she left behind would go a long way in building character in my opinion.
Now I am not one for spoilers. I don't want to read them, and I don't want to write them. To me a review is to help one decide if they would like to explore this book or not. They are not to be a synopsis. Having said that, I have very little left that I can say except for this.
Cotterill has done a fine job of weaving a tale that is spiritual, historical, romantic and magical. She has allowed us to get to know characters slowly, developing and changing them as happens I the real world. She leads us in many directions, yet always brings us back to Watersmeet.
There are areas that I wish had been expanded upon (Ailith's family, Malachi, life in the temples, Garrick's family and background to name a few). There are areas that have been overdone (herbs and flowers, descriptions of clothing). There are also areas that disappoint me slightly. (I really wish that there had been a bit more of a struggle with Ailith and her unfolding abilities). All in all however this is one book I will gladly recommend. Rachel Cotterill is now a name I will look for, particularly when I see the continuation of this series.
December 30, 2014
This fantastic fantasy book is the beginning of a new series that is about to hit our bookshelves near you soon and is aimed at teenagers and adults who love fantasy books. It's about a young girl who in love with the prince and realises she can do magic but in her land it is illegal and even being able to read is punishable with death.
I loved the way Ailith is so good at keeping her secret from everyone except for one old man who she never met till her twin sister wedding day.
The characters are very fictional but do have a sense of reality to them which really gives the read a sense of depth.
Even though the chapters alternate between two characters ,Garrick and Ailith, it is a very gripping read it a book you just feel you gotta know what happens next and so you end up keep reading on.
My favourite part of the book is where Ailith really gets to know what she is capable of doing but is worried of being punished for it so keeps it between her and the old man she becomes to know.
I find it overall a fantastic gripping read. I would recommend this book for all budding readers especially those who love a romantic fantasy. My only only down point was there seemed to be no introduction to the characters so made you guess a bit to get to know them until you built a picture in your mind as you read through the book.
You can buy this fantastic book on Amazon using the link below. it is available as an ebook for just £1.91 a bargain for such a great beginning to rest of the new series coming soon.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product?AS...
I loved the way Ailith is so good at keeping her secret from everyone except for one old man who she never met till her twin sister wedding day.
The characters are very fictional but do have a sense of reality to them which really gives the read a sense of depth.
Even though the chapters alternate between two characters ,Garrick and Ailith, it is a very gripping read it a book you just feel you gotta know what happens next and so you end up keep reading on.
My favourite part of the book is where Ailith really gets to know what she is capable of doing but is worried of being punished for it so keeps it between her and the old man she becomes to know.
I find it overall a fantastic gripping read. I would recommend this book for all budding readers especially those who love a romantic fantasy. My only only down point was there seemed to be no introduction to the characters so made you guess a bit to get to know them until you built a picture in your mind as you read through the book.
You can buy this fantastic book on Amazon using the link below. it is available as an ebook for just £1.91 a bargain for such a great beginning to rest of the new series coming soon.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product?AS...
March 25, 2015
I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. This in no way influenced my review. Thank you to the author and to RMS.
I have always loved fantasy novels, but since I have become a Christian, it has been difficult to find fantasy novels that I enjoy. I view fantasy books that have magic and alchemy as just what they are: fiction. Although this book contains alchemy, the story line is amazing! The main character, Ailith, discovers that she is a mage and has a natural talent for alchemy. Ailith is asked to become the apprentice of the Lord Baron of Watersmeet in order to find out more about a kidnapping and whether the mage that was kidnapped is still alive.
I believe that the way that alchemy is used in this novel is very unique, but as I do not read many novels involving alchemy I am not very versed in the genre. In this novel, in order to use alchemy one must project their intentions into the object that he or she is working with. I found this aspect of the book very interesting and entertaining.
The dynamic relationships between the characters in Watersmeet is what initially drew me into the novel. Each character is unique and has their secrets which are revealed throughout the novel. The suspense of the character building is brilliant.
Like all great fantasy novels, Watersmeet includes a great deal of description but not an overabundance of description. The writing is just fantastic.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy and adventure.
I have always loved fantasy novels, but since I have become a Christian, it has been difficult to find fantasy novels that I enjoy. I view fantasy books that have magic and alchemy as just what they are: fiction. Although this book contains alchemy, the story line is amazing! The main character, Ailith, discovers that she is a mage and has a natural talent for alchemy. Ailith is asked to become the apprentice of the Lord Baron of Watersmeet in order to find out more about a kidnapping and whether the mage that was kidnapped is still alive.
I believe that the way that alchemy is used in this novel is very unique, but as I do not read many novels involving alchemy I am not very versed in the genre. In this novel, in order to use alchemy one must project their intentions into the object that he or she is working with. I found this aspect of the book very interesting and entertaining.
The dynamic relationships between the characters in Watersmeet is what initially drew me into the novel. Each character is unique and has their secrets which are revealed throughout the novel. The suspense of the character building is brilliant.
Like all great fantasy novels, Watersmeet includes a great deal of description but not an overabundance of description. The writing is just fantastic.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy and adventure.
January 11, 2015
This book focuses around Ailith a young potter's daughter who discovers she has a talent for magic. She is invited to secret guild of Alchemists (the mages in the story) and held with some distrust as she has never been tutored in the way of magic. At the same time one of the alchemists, and also priest of the town, discovers that his long lost son, Anselm, is still alive after thinking he'd been dead for a long time but unfortunately he is being held captive by the Baron of Watersmeet, Leofwin. Ailith promises to try and rescue Anselm by trying to become apprenticed to Leofwin, who is renowned for being one of the most powerful alchemists there are.
This is a story of friendship, love, family and betrayal set within a fictional world with different rules. Alchemy is prohibited by temple law and the temple structures remind of that within most fantasy realms. The thing that was most different about this book, was the fact that the main character was female and that she was also a well developed character. I have only come across one or two other books like this where the character has been developed fully and hasn't been left to languish as 2 dimensional.
As in the case with goodreads I don't like to write too detailed a review here in case some people don't want to see any spoilers but for those of you who would like to read a full review head to my blog at http://anawfullotofreviews.blogspot.c...
This is a story of friendship, love, family and betrayal set within a fictional world with different rules. Alchemy is prohibited by temple law and the temple structures remind of that within most fantasy realms. The thing that was most different about this book, was the fact that the main character was female and that she was also a well developed character. I have only come across one or two other books like this where the character has been developed fully and hasn't been left to languish as 2 dimensional.
As in the case with goodreads I don't like to write too detailed a review here in case some people don't want to see any spoilers but for those of you who would like to read a full review head to my blog at http://anawfullotofreviews.blogspot.c...
June 9, 2015
2.5 stars
This high fantasy novel is about a girl, Ailith, who gets told that she is a mage. Magic is forbidden where she lives. Ailith can read and write, but it has to stay a secret because it's frowned upon for a girl to have that ability. There is a big family secret that we get to know in the book. She gets into some trouble and gets sent off. At the same time, the local priest asks her to save his son. So she goes to the castle where she finds more than she was looking for and has to remember why she came.
The beginning of this book was slow. It was a little bit too slow for me because I didn't get all the details and characters that were given in the first 3 chapters. but as soon as Ailith gets sent off, the pace picks up. I'm not a big fantasy reader because I just don't enjoy the genre that much, but I have to say that I liked the magic system in this book. It was explained very well. At some points I even felt like there was too much explaining about the flowers ect. I liked Ailith, she didn't feel fake and made up. the further you go in the book the less complex it becomes. That was nice because then you could focus 100% on the story.
I recommend it to anyone who likes the fantasy genre.
This high fantasy novel is about a girl, Ailith, who gets told that she is a mage. Magic is forbidden where she lives. Ailith can read and write, but it has to stay a secret because it's frowned upon for a girl to have that ability. There is a big family secret that we get to know in the book. She gets into some trouble and gets sent off. At the same time, the local priest asks her to save his son. So she goes to the castle where she finds more than she was looking for and has to remember why she came.
The beginning of this book was slow. It was a little bit too slow for me because I didn't get all the details and characters that were given in the first 3 chapters. but as soon as Ailith gets sent off, the pace picks up. I'm not a big fantasy reader because I just don't enjoy the genre that much, but I have to say that I liked the magic system in this book. It was explained very well. At some points I even felt like there was too much explaining about the flowers ect. I liked Ailith, she didn't feel fake and made up. the further you go in the book the less complex it becomes. That was nice because then you could focus 100% on the story.
I recommend it to anyone who likes the fantasy genre.
May 13, 2015
I really enjoyed Watersmeet, and quickly found myself so hooked that I read most of its 452 pages in one day. The reader is plunged straight into the heart of the action from the first page, when Ailith finds herself musing over some seemingly unbreakable pottery shards. From there the story dances along at a rollicking pace, with twists and turns which continue right up until the final pages. Although more detail is given for key events, people and objects, Rachel Cotterill eschews page upon page of setting the scene for swift but deft description. I really like this approach as it makes the reader feel they are travelling through the book at the same pace as the characters, and keeps a freshness to the story.
This was a welcome dose of escapism and an engrossing and uplifting read, which I would very much recommend!
This was a welcome dose of escapism and an engrossing and uplifting read, which I would very much recommend!
January 23, 2015
I was given a copy of this book by the Author for an honest review, all opinions are my own.
WATERSMEET has great world building, a great storyline, and well-developed characters. Ailith is a potter’s daughter, and when she accidentally makes a green glaze that when applied to the pots and when they fired, the pot will not break where the glaze is applied. Ailith goes to Watersmeet to apprentice under Leofwin, The Lord Baron of Watersmeet. Here she learns to control her magic and finds out secrets about Watersmeet that could cost him his life. I loved this book with its many intriguing aspect of magic and Alchemy. I recommend this book to everyone who loves a good tale. I give WATERSMEET 5/ 5 STARS.
WATERSMEET has great world building, a great storyline, and well-developed characters. Ailith is a potter’s daughter, and when she accidentally makes a green glaze that when applied to the pots and when they fired, the pot will not break where the glaze is applied. Ailith goes to Watersmeet to apprentice under Leofwin, The Lord Baron of Watersmeet. Here she learns to control her magic and finds out secrets about Watersmeet that could cost him his life. I loved this book with its many intriguing aspect of magic and Alchemy. I recommend this book to everyone who loves a good tale. I give WATERSMEET 5/ 5 STARS.
January 19, 2015
Fantastic fantasy story with really likeable (or easy to dislike) characters. The plot is much simpler than it first implies which is very welcome, the only difficulty I had was the amount of names to remember and names I couldn't pronounce - or the little reading voice in my head couldn't anyway.
Very much looking forward to a sequel if this plot is anything to go by, I really enjoyed it.
Very much looking forward to a sequel if this plot is anything to go by, I really enjoyed it.
December 19, 2016
Quite a solid generic fantasy novel with fun personality twists. The deity names kept throwing me out of the world though; I'd be reading a passage about how someone had to go to the goddess of death whose name was death. Not sure why those names basically just got cribbed from Turkish. Cute reference, I guess?
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