Bride of Darkwater

by Wendy Godding

She was raised to believe the world was divided into good and evil―until she was forced to marry the enemy.

To secure peace in a centuries-old feud, Princess Isolde must surrender her soulmate and true love―and bind herself instead to the monstrous Duke Jasper. As she speaks her wedding vows, she makes a silent promise of her earn her husband’s trust, uncover his weaknesses, and destroy him from within.


But a powerful curse forces Isolde to travel with Jasper to Darkwater, plunging her into a realm of dark magic, mythical creatures, and dragons that defies everything she believed about good and evil. As tension simmers and forbidden attraction ignites, Isolde begins to question the truths she was raised on―and the enemy she swore to kill.

When a devastating secret comes to light, Isolde’s world threatens to collapse. Her crown, her marriage, and her life hang in the balance―and choosing the wrong side could cost her everything.

Perfect for fans of romantasy, forced marriage, enemies to lovers, dragon-filled fantasy, dark magic, and morally gray heroes.

Genres: Romantasy, Fantasy, Enemies To Lovers, Magic, Romance

372 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 22, 2026

About the author

Wendy Godding is an Australian author of romantic fantasy and gothic romance. She writes stories filled with unforgettable love, dangerous secrets, cursed kingdoms and a touch of magic. When she isn't writing she's usually planning her next adventure, reading or spending time with family and friends. She lives in Perth, Western Australia with her husband, three sons and mini schnauzer.

Bride of Darkwater is her latest novel.

Reviews

[Amy Callista · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Bride of Darkwater was a really enjoyable read that kept me engaged from start to finish. The pacing is a real strength: the story moves along at a steady clip that kept me interested and intrigued. There are plenty of secrets and lies woven through, and enough is revealed in book one to leave me well and truly hooked for book two.

I connected with our FMC, Isolde’s, innocence, and her heartache as she comes to understand her own naivety in the world that she’s been brought up in. The dual POV was another highlight for me. I love it in contemporary romance, and it was great to see it used here. The supporting cast also felt meaningful and well suited to the story and there was otherwise lots of twists and turns with those characters too, which kept interest high. The ending of book one definitely left me eager to read more.

In terms of reader preference, I would have loved to see more of the magic system in book one, although that has only added to my anticipation for the sequel. Isolde's sheltered nature was occasionally hard to relate to, but it's clearly a key part of her character arc and so I’m interested to see how she evolves from here.

Overall, a great read and I'm really looking forward to book two!

[Red Ink Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bride of Darkwater – Wendy Godding

I was extremely lucky to be a part of the amazing street team for this author and this book.

Wendy Godding is an Australian author. She enjoys writing romantic fantasy and gothic romance stories. She loves writing stories filled with unforgettable love, dangerous secrets, cursed kingdoms, and of course a touch of magic.



Like many princesses, Isolde, knew she had a duty to her father and her kingdom, but always had the naive belief she would one day marry for love.

All of this is shattered; the day she is forced to marry Duke Jasper of Darkwater. Told she has to forsake the man she loved, in order to broker peace for her father's kingdom.

But Jasper was not just any Duke. If any of the tales about him were true, he was not kind or gentle or good – he was violent, evil, and utterly immoral.

Yet as she vows to marry Jasper, to do her duty, she makes herself a silent promise. She will destroy Jasper and everything he knows and loves for being forced to marry him. And once she has done that, so will get back to the man that has her heart.

Little does Isolde realise she is not the only one with a plan; Jasper has his won he is trying to put into motion as well.

But as they say, best laid plans and all that – there is a curse binding Isolde, threatening her plans as well as Jasper's. Everything Isolde holds dear hangs in the balance, everything threatening to crumble all around her.

Tensions slowly simmer between Isolde and Jasper, yet Isolde must make the right choice here, or it will all be lost.



"Bride of Darkwater" is a fantasy story all about enemies to lovers, forced proximity, dragons, secrets and of course a dash of magic. Isolde starts out as your typical sheltered princess, yet during the course of the story you see her grow and truly find herself, learning things about herself and the world around her. Jasper is your typical fantasy MMC, dark, brooding, morally grey, and I was absolutely here for it. I loved reading the banter between the two and the secrets building and building until it all slowly started coming undone. This story was told at a good pace, great world building without information overload and dam that ending. I won't spoil it for those who haven't read it yet but dam – where is book two?!

[Bookish_Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off Thank you Wendy Godding for an ARC of Bride of Darkwater!

This book has everything a Romantasy reader could ever ask for! The story follows Princess Isolde as she faces an arranged marriage with King Jasper to untie their kingdoms after years of feuds. I adored that this book had dual POV because it allowed me to see into the minds of both Isolde and Jasper. The world building was outstanding and the magic system and secrets also kept me guessing until the last page! I love how Isolde and Jasper’s relationship developed throughout this book too, the story really had a true enemies to lovers feel to it. I really enjoyed the pacing; it was not too dragged but not too rushed. The ending was so strong and with more truths revealed I cannot wait for book 2!

[Erika (latebloomerreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOLY. SMOKES. 🔥🔥🔥

This book is a 5 STAR FROM ME and honestly??? I would like to personally apologize to my TBR because apparently I have found another book to scream about.

The pacing was INSANE.
The enemies-to-lovers??? EXCUSE ME???
The arranged marriage???
The tension??? I AM UNWELL.

And THEN you throw in:

- Enemies to lovers
- Arranged marriage
- Questioning everything you thought you knew
- Murder
- Magic
- Betrayals
- And enough tension to keep me turning pages like my life depended on it

The premise alone had me like 👀:

"Princess Isolde has been raised to believe the world is divided into good and evil. Then, to secure peace in a centuries-old feud, she’s forced to marry the enemy—the monstrous Duke Jasper.

Her plan? Earn his trust. Find his weaknesses. Destroy him from within."

And me? I was just sitting there happily watching the disaster unfold. 😂

I genuinely loved how this book kept making me question what was actually true. Just when I thought I had something figured out, the book was like, “Oh, you thought that? Cute.” 🤣

This comes out September 22nd, and I CANNOT CANNOT recommend it enough.

PLEASE ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR.

If you like romantasy, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, arranged marriages, dragons, magic, morally questionable decisions and a healthy dose of sexy slow burn realness then...

YOU NEED THIS BOOK.

Wendy… you have OUTDONE YOURSELF. 👏

Thank you for sending me this as an ARC Wendy. All thoughts and opinions are my own ♡

[Mylanna P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Wendy for this ARC.

Bride of Darkwater was a captivating read!! The enemies to lovers and arranged marriage trope did not disappoint!

The banter between the main characters and the side characters kept you hooked. Excited for book 2…. Because that ending…. 😳

[Among The Shelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Bride of Dark Water reminded me just how GOOD a dual POV can be when the balance is right.

Wendy Godding does such a beautiful job of giving both characters a perspective that actually feels necessary. Isolde and Jasper’s POVs complement each other without simply repeating what we already know, and each gives you another piece of the story while somehow leaving you with even more questions. I was constantly trying to work out what was happening, what I could trust, and what these two were refusing to admit to themselves.

And the tension between Isolde and Jasper? YES.

There were so many moments where their thoughts were very clearly telling me one thing while they were stubbornly saying the complete fucking opposite. Did I occasionally want to reach into the book and shake them both? Absolutely. But that frustration was also part of what kept me invested in their relationship. The meaning behind their words changes as the story progresses, even when neither of them is willing to acknowledge it yet, and I really enjoyed watching that happen.

Jasper was probably my favourite of the two. There’s a groundedness to him that I really liked, even when he says or does something that makes you remember very quickly that you are, in fact, reading a dark romance. He felt consistent throughout the story, and I loved getting his perspective.

Isolde took me a little longer to connect with. There were moments where I struggled with how sheltered and naïve she could be, particularly because she’s also written as incredibly observant. But the more I’ve thought about it, the more I’ve realised that this didn’t feel inconsistent with her character. Her understanding of the world has been shaped by everything she’s been taught to believe, and I really enjoyed watching that understanding begin to shift throughout the story.

I had my suspicions about where some of the story was heading, so the ending itself wasn’t entirely unexpected.

What I WASN’T expecting was how badly I didn’t want the book to end.

Apparently knowing something is coming and being emotionally prepared for it are two very different things, because excuse me??? THAT’S where we’re stopping???

I wanted more time with these characters. More answers. More of this world. More Jasper. And I absolutely need to know what happens next.

There were things in this book that frustrated me, and I think that’s ultimately where my 4.5 sits. But I’ve also realised there’s an important difference between being frustrated because something in a story isn’t working and being frustrated because I’m so invested that I desperately need the characters to figure their shit out.

Bride of Dark Water was overwhelmingly the latter.

And the fact that, after finishing it and giving myself some time to think, I still keep coming back to how much I wanted to continue reading probably says everything I need it to.

Bring on book two!!

[Stephanie Schaper · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 Stars - Rounded up for Goodreads!

First off, I want to say thank you to the author - for the ARC and for writing this book! I have to say, I read this book in under two days, it really did have me flipping through it to know what happens next. The beginning was very promising and I would say that the pace felt pretty fast throughout the whole book, not a boring moment. That being said, I was pretty torn about how to feel about this book. The writing itself was good, I really enjoyed all the descriptions and rather vivid imagery.
Isolde is our FMC and, while I know she’s supposed to be innocent and naive, she felt a little unrealistic at times for my taste. I understand being raised to believe in certain things and to feel a certain way with how much she was brainwashed, but it felt a little too much. She didn’t even have a hint that people were unhappy? Be a bit more cognizant of those around you, especially if you are supposed to become a queen one day. I will say - I did appreciate her growth throughout the book and how she turned out to be good unlike her parents. However the starting point was just too far removed in my opinion.
When Jasper was introduced I was really hoping he wasn’t the MMC, but he was. I just didn’t like how he seemed to be infantilizing her a bit at times and the language used, i.e. calling her the b-word in their very first interaction. Like okay, I know why, but still that was off putting for me. Now do I hate him entirely? No. I understand it’s a true enemies to lovers book, and I am glad it wasn’t insta love right away, but I just wish there was more of a progression for Jasper’s character as well. I know we see his inner conflict and his thoughts but I needed more action from him. So here’s hoping for the future books in the series. On a side note, I really wonder how old he is. It may have mentioned it, but if so, I missed it.
This book was definitely a true slow burn enemies to lovers - I will give credit where credit is due. I did overall enjoy this book but the characters were just a bit frustrating, and I realize that was the intention, but still. Communication is key is what I would tell Isolde and Jasper. Now, surprisingly, I do want to read more, and I did enjoy this book overall. I just had to get all my thoughts out first. I really am rooting for this main couple and I hope that their love story continues and that they both go through even more development. I definitely want to see where this story goes!
I would recommend this book for people who enjoy enemies to lovers, slow burn, magic, and arranged marriage. Just be sure to expect the full array of human emotions when you read!

[Twisted Chapters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything I wanted it to be... Enemies to lovers in an arranged marriage that would heal the wounds of the past and unite the kingdoms.... What could go wrong?? (apart from when she stabs him (of course) in the first few chapters- but hey! Accidents happen, it's not her fault his thigh was in the way of her knife). Then in a turn of events to rival the red wedding (GoT fans will know) our FMC Isolde's world implodes and she finds herself alone, married to the enemy, cursed and a prisoner of her own life.

The sympathy I had for poor Isolde when it became apparent that everything she thought she knew about her life, her kingdom and her family... she didn't. What follows is a journey of discovery- the growth of Isolde throughout the book left me feeling like a proud big sister. Isolde starts as an extremely naive character, completely unaware of how her kingdom is being run outside of her little bubble and you could ALMOST be frustrated with her ignorance... but you quickly learn it isn't just her subjects that have been mistreated... she's been groomed and moulded to see the world exactly as she's been taught to see it.

I'm not one to judge another parent but Isolde's parents did NOT parent at all, to the point where Isolde was giving me Rapunzel vibes from being locked in a tower and isolated from the world... so what a culture shock it was for her to go out into the world and see the reality through the eyes of her historic enemy.

Beneath the naivete, there is an inner strength to Isolde that is show by her resilience as she faces constant hate from her people for the sins of her parents and the destruction of everything she thought was real. Isolde is the reason I left the book needing part 2. We saw signs that she was feisty from the first chapter but her character growth by the end of the book was the ultimate chef's kiss. She is the definition of a woman that has been held back by circumstance that is now coming into her power and I hope she burns the world down in book 2!

And then there was Jasper.... our Prince of Darkwater is pretty arrogant in places but I couldn't help but like him. This book almost seems to explore the theme of reverse enemies to lovers. We have Jasper, the dark and brooding enemy who I grew to like, and Edward, the perfectly groomed lover who I grew to hate.

The magic, the dragons, the slow burn yearning had me disappearing into a whole new world and I cannot wait to find out what happens next!

[Martina dos Santos · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

🇬🇧 ING

ARC:
Bride of Darkwater is an engaging romantasy with political tension, arranged marriage, enemies to lovers, magic and a slow burn romance at its centre.
The premise immediately caught my attention. I liked the idea of two kingdoms being forced into an alliance after years of conflict, and I enjoyed how the story slowly reveals that the truth is more complicated than what Isolde has always believed. Her journey of questioning what she was taught was one of the strongest parts of the book for me.
The dual POV worked well, especially because both Isolde and Jasper have their own doubts, secrets and emotional barriers. Their relationship is full of mistrust and tension, and while their lack of communication frustrated me at times, it did fit the slow burn nature of the story.
I also liked the world-building and the magic system. They were interesting without feeling too heavy, and the ending left enough open to make me curious about the next book.
My main issue was that some character choices felt frustrating, and Isolde came across as a little too naive in certain moments. Still, I appreciated her growth and I think there is a lot of potential for both the characters and the series going forward.
Overall, this was a solid first book with an interesting premise, political intrigue, magic, secrets and a romance that I’m curious to see develop further.

—
🇵🇹 PT

ARC:
Bride of Darkwater é uma romantasy envolvente, com tensão política, casamento arranjado, enemies to lovers, magia e um romance em slow burn.
A premissa chamou-me logo a atenção. Gostei da ideia de dois reinos serem obrigados a formar uma aliança depois de anos de conflito, e gostei da forma como a história vai mostrando que a verdade é mais complexa do que aquilo em que a Isolde sempre acreditou. O percurso dela, a começar a questionar o que lhe foi ensinado, foi uma das partes mais interessantes para mim.
O dual POV funcionou bem, principalmente porque tanto a Isolde como o Jasper têm dúvidas, segredos e barreiras emocionais. A relação entre eles tem muita desconfiança e tensão, e apesar da falta de comunicação me ter frustrado em alguns momentos, senti que fazia sentido dentro do slow burn da história.
Também gostei do worldbuilding e do sistema de magia. Foram interessantes sem se tornarem demasiado pesados, e o final deixou abertura suficiente para me deixar curiosa em relação ao próximo livro.
O meu maior problema foi sentir que algumas escolhas das personagens eram frustrantes, e a Isolde pareceu-me um pouco ingénua em certas partes. Ainda assim, gostei do crescimento dela e acho que há bastante potencial para as personagens e para a continuação da série.
No geral, foi um primeiro livro sólido, com uma boa premissa, intriga política, magia, segredos e um romance que fiquei curiosa para ver desenvolver melhor.

[Shalene Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bride of Darkwater has everything a Romantasy reader could ask for, while also being a quick and enjoyable read. There is the sheltered, naive princess, Isolde, who is being forced into a marriage she doesn’t want. There there is the dark prince, Jasper, from a far off kingdom, rumoured to be ruthless and evil. It doesn’t take long for everything around Isolde to begin to unravel as hidden truths about her family come to light. Isolde and Jasper are immediately drawn to eachother, despite what they were taught in childhood. Initially, Isolde is an insufferable FMC as her naivety is purposefully exhausting. She does change and grow as she discovers all the lies she’s been told and it was easy to start rooting for her. I found Jasper likeable from the get go and for awhile I preferred him to Isolde.

The Bride of Darkwater grabbed my attention from the get go with Isolde’s antics and the first meeting between her and Jasper. The magic system and family secrets kept me guessing right until the end. I enjoyed the banter between Isolde and Jasper and how their relationship developed.

I found the beginning and end of the book ran at a great pace. I did feel that the middle section could have been sped up a tad, but there was a lot of world building to establish. I loved the imagery of the dragons and the party’s travels across the kingdom. The ending was very strong, with more truths revealed and a mild cliffhanger that will have you looking immediately for book 2!

If you love these tropes, you should pick up this book!
💎 Forced marriage
♥️ Enemies to lovers
💎 Cursed crown
♥️Hidden magic
💎Secret identities

[Hannah Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new favourite book boyfriend right here. Jasper, King of Darkwater, is delicious. He calls her 'My Wicked Little Queen' which she both loves and hates!

Oh wow, I really enjoyed this book.
It starts with a great fast pace and we're thrown right into the tangle and fued between the kingdom of Darkwater and Grailborn. Isolde is the Gailborn princess who was promised to another. She believed he was her true love, her soul mate her onky chance of happiness. But with the promise of binding contract ending the war between kingdoms, she's given to the King of Darkwater, Jasper.
All her existence, she has been taught to hate the Darkwater. They're monsters, murderers, savages, who are never to be trusted. But when the King doesn't turn out to be any of those things her world and all she knew begins to unravel.

She cannot resist him. She cannot deny what she wants any longer.
She has taken over his every thought. He cannot remember she's the enemy.

There's betrayal, life long lies and power plays everywhere. This is a story of a woman finding her own voice and power and breaking away from the expectation for her to be nothing but a pretty face. Jasper sees her, wants to believe she's the enemy but the more he learns, the harder he finds it to keep his thoughts and hands away from her.

The ending. The ENDING.
It feels like a new beginning.

This has all the tropes we love...
-Enemies to lovers
-Arranged marriage
-Forced Proximity
-One horse
-Hidden Magic
Go and read this on release date. You will be kicking you feet and throwing your kindle at the ending.
Give us Book 2!

Thank you Wendy for the ARC.

[CariReadsItAll · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🌶️

🐉 Dragons

💍 Arranged marriage

⚔️ Rival kingdoms

🔥 Enemies to lovers


Bride of Darkwater was a fast-paced, plot-forward romantasy that gave me exactly what I want from enemies to lovers.
Isolde and Jasper are forced into an arranged marriage, but betrayal and some pretty big truths coming to light force Isolde to grow into the Queen she was never raised to be. Marrying Jasper, the King of Darkwater, opens her eyes to just how much she’s been lied to her entire life. About herself. Her kingdom. And especially her new husband.

And Jasper?! This man might be the King of Darkwater, but when it comes to Isolde, he is just a BIG OL’ SOFTY. 😭 He also had Dragons and they are big and beautiful! 

I loved that Jasper and Isolde actually make you WORK for the lovers part of enemies to lovers. There’s no forgetting that these two come from rival kingdoms with betrayal constantly hanging over their heads.

But the BANTER? The TENSION?! Isolde is a sassy little thing who absolutely loves busting Jasper’s balls, and their back and forth only makes the tension better. I was clinging to my Kindle waiting for these two to finally DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
While the ending didn’t emotionally destroy me, it definitely left me with A LOT of questions. 👀 I had such a good time reading this and I’m already ready for the next book!

Basically, if you like your romantasy with dragons, betrayal, political drama, and two enemies who desperately need to kiss already… ADD IT TO THE TBR. 📚

[Savanah · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review

This book was extremely difficult for me to get into. The first chapter was so incredibly interesting that I had really high hopes for the rest of the book. However, after that first chapter, the FMC is insufferable.

She initially came across as a firey, independent woman that seemed capable. After the first chapter, though, she was suddenly naive and, for lack of a better word, stupid. It drove me absolutely insane when she disregarded things she found odd or suspicious.

The MMC wasn't much better, in my opinion. He sort of seemed like a tool to add background information for the reader as well as to try to help the FMC develop. But, he didn't help the FMC much given his overall dislike of her (even if he was attracted to her).

Outside of the characters, I found the plot interesting and I would like to see where it progresses. The second half of the book, where the plot really seemed to pick up, was much better than the first half, in my opinion.

I felt that the writing throughout the book was a bit disconnected with plot points seeming to not have any importance on the plot overall. A good example of this would be the prologue which does not seem to have any importance on this book, but maybe it will be important in the future.

Altogether, I found the book interesting plot-wise, but the characters were insufferable. My hope is that the characters will become less insufferable by the next book, as I truly am curious about the story as a whole.

[SuzieLeigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS YOUR NEXT READ ! From the moment I started reading the pages, the lives of Isolde and Jasper were etched into my soul. For lovers of a classic Romantasy, Bride of Darkwater has it all. From kingdoms to dragons, magic to mayhem, this fantastical adventure unfolds in a dual POV that has the perfect blend of both characters, bearing their thoughts and feelings with us all. Isolde is a Princess of Elmwood and is to be married to Jasper, the despicable and dangerous Duke of Darkwater in order to bring peace to the kingdom. Being stuck with in close proximity with your centuries old enemy is anyone's biggest nightmare, but to have to be married to this monster, Isolde is heartbroken and frantic about whether she will actually live to see the morning. I absolutely fell in love with Jasper and his slightly sarcastic banter and wicked smirk. He definitely knows how to bring a blush to Isolde's cheeks, even if she says otherwise. I honestly could not put this book down, it was fantastic from start to finish and had me hooked, line and sinker. I was left absolutely broken and desperate to know more. With a great pace and packing the perfect punch of tension between the characters, Wendy, can absolutely not wait for the next instalment of this fabulous tale. I need more Jasper and Isolde in my life. Brilliant.

[Nat · Rating 4 out of 5]

That second half came out swinging! Romance, angst, yearning, betrayal, misinformation (a GOOD use of this trope!), enemies-to-lovers?!

Plot: Princess Isolde is forced to marry King Jasper of a neighbouring, and enemy, Kingdom to secure a peace treaty between their kingdoms. But each is secretly working against the other to bring down their family. Which is not helped by their growing attraction.

Character development! Holy dooly. I cannot stress how unlikable I found Isolde for the first part of this book. But my girl she learned, she educated, she developed. Sure she didnt do a complete 180 and turn into a sword-weilding warrior, but not everyone needs to to have really good change. And she was still true to herself.

Really enjoyed the dual POV. There was some serious yearning from both sides! Sure, it was predominantly lust, but it did grow.

Not gonna give spoilers or part of the big plot away, but slow clap for using misinformation correctly! Beautifully done. And there are so many "is this person bad, good or grey" characters it kept everything up in the air.

Only problem? I need the next book asap. Devoured this one in a day.

I received an advance review copy of this book and am leaving a voluntary review.

[Morgan Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an ARC of Bride of Darkwater by Wendy Godding. It was my pleasure to read this book and my review is below.

Bride of DarkWater is an absolute page turner set in gothic romance and suspense! From the very first chapter, the book grips you with an incredible sense of intrigue and a thick, atmospheric magic that feels like a character all on its own.

Let’s talk about the main characters Isolde and Jasper. I absolutely love Isolde. Her character growth is phenomenal—she becomes so resilient and strong, even though she was constantly lied to and kept completely in the dark, and used as a pawn by her parents. And Jasper? I am completely obsessed with him. His sheer strength, combined with the deep mystery and intrigue that surrounds him, makes him utterly captivating. A new book boyfriend for all.

The story is a beautifully crafted true slow burn, building tension so perfectly that you can't bear to put it down. I may of read past my bedtime a few nights! Just when you think you have a handle on where the plot is going, a brilliant twist turns everything upside down. The suspense peaks in an ending that leaving me absolutely speechless! It is a stunning, dark, and thrilling read from start to finish. Highly recommend!

[tigressfair · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need book 2, like yesterday.

The Darkwater Bride ARC 4.5 stars

I am completely at a loss. What the actual. Why is book two not out. I am literally in tears. The mystery deepens, the tension spikes, and then… to be continued. What a ride.I really like these characters. Isolde grows beautifully throughout the story, finding her strength piece by piece. Jasper is, well, Jasper. Complicated, stubborn, loyal, and changing in ways I did not expect. The side characters add so much richness to the world. The queen is awful, the king is no better, and Edward absolutely sucks.Darkwater itself feels alive. I want to visit. It sounds amazing and terrifying in the best way. I feel so bad for Isolde and Jasper, torn between lies, duty, revenge, justice, and their families. I am excited to see what happens next, what they will decide, what is actually going on, and whether she will live long enough to grow into a great ruler. I need to know what her magic truly is. It feels like something incredible is about to happen.The story is well paced, easy to read, and
well written. The premise is interesting and the execution kept me hooked. I enjoyed it immensely.And the ending. Wow. Just wow.
I need book 2, like yesterday.

[Maxime C · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing pulled me in right away. I really appreciated how mentally strong Isolde is. Considering everything she’s been through, her resilience stands out and makes her easy to root for.

Where the book didn’t work as well for me was in the dynamic between the main characters. The MMC’s habit of thinking of Isolde as “girl” or “b*tch” instead of simply seeing her as an adult woman really bothered me. Everyone else in the story is treated as a man or a woman — but not her. It made her feel infantilized, and it pulled me out of their interactions.

Their enemies‑to‑lovers arc also stayed in the “enemies” stage for a long time. I appreciate realism in this trope — I wouldn’t trust my enemy quickly either — but every time it felt like they were finally making progress in trust or connection, it was shut down just as fast. I would’ve liked more space for the romance to grow.

The ending didn’t surprise me, but I still enjoyed it. Overall, the book is well written, the world is interesting, and I liked the direction the story ultimately took. Even with the issues I had with the central relationship, I enjoyed the read.

[Jess | Earbuds & Epilogues · Rating 5 out of 5]

I looked forward to reading this from the moment I read the blurb and it did not disappoint. There’s political intrigue, an arranged marriage, betrayals, dragons and a unique magic system. There’s characters you will love and characters you will absolutely loathe. I was not a huge fan of Isolde at the beginning, she’s a petulant child who I found grating. However, as things are revealed I grew to understand her and her personality made sense. I found myself feeling bit proud of her growth as she discovers herself and starts questioning everything. You can see she’s going to bloom in the next book. Jasper has just the right amount of cockiness and dominance, add in some yearning for Isolde and he’s the king you want to rule the whole kingdom… and her. It’s a SLOW burn and it’s well done with little lusty moments to keep you wanting more. I cannot wait for the next instalment of this series to see what’s coming for Jasper and Isolde and to learn more about their magic.
I received an ARC copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Bride of Darkwater’ was a truly captivating and powerful read, I felt so many emotions during this read that I am finding it hard to put it into words. There were so many emotional parts to the story which I found admirable because these were portrayed impressively.

My heart kept breaking for Isolde because she was just pawn in a game, in which I won’t go into further detail to avoid spoilers. Her character growth was astonishing, she’s an incredibly brave strong lady who has battled with so much and I don’t think she’s as naive as she thinks she is, she didn’t turn a blind eye when things were explained to her, she handled the challenges really well and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for her & Jasper because I love them both!

As a whole, this was such an ethereal read, as we all know I’m a dragon lover and the detailing of the dragons in this book did not disappoint!!! It was stunning and now I’d love a trip to Darkwater myself!

If you are looking for your next Romantasy read, then add this to your tbr!

[Ginger & Inked · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!

Straight away I was drawn in and already made my mind up about 2 characters.

Isodel was raised to be the perfect princess who is ready to marry her soulmate and childhood friend Prince Edward of the Silverlake Kingdom when her parents suddenly ordered her to marry her kingdoms enemy King Jasper of Darkwater.

Suddenly she is faced with conflicting emotions to her duty and what her heart wants. Darkwater has been an enemy to kingdom for years - why the sudden change?

She needs to figure out who to trust and discover the truth.

Honestly this book had me really wanting to just shake some sense into Isolde at the start but as events continued she slowly started thinking for herself and questioning things.

I loved Jasper and I was team Jasper from the start.

Omg the ending! I started to kind of piece things together and then was left with that ending?!

So many questions, see my reaction to chapter 33 when you reach it here 😱

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ddqu6I...

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just pure magic. And I'm not talking about the cool magic system (which we are only just starting to uncover in this first book), or the awesome dragons, or the witches, or the jewels or the Castles that are, you know, castleing (spectacular!). I am not talking about my new book boyfriend, Jasper or his 'I'd declare war on anyone and any kingdom who dared take you from me' sentiments (swoon and also way to break my heart!).
I am talking about how this book, this story, pulls you in.
I started sharing this authors posts a while ago. She just appeared in my socials, with her gorgeous artwork, her eye-catching cover, and her cheeky one-liners. Then, before I knew it, I had signed up to arc read it. Now I am hopelessly addicted to this world and these characters and that ending??? I need book 2 like yesterday, please and thank you.
I INHALED this book. I was in a slump. I am no longer in said slump.
Absolute witchcraft....

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was different than what I’ve been reading and I loved the reasons why. The main thing is the focus on the character arc for the FMC. She’s been raised to believe one thing only to find out that maybe none of it is true. And instead of her instantly adapting, you get to go along for the true ride of coming to terms with that. Sometimes I almost hated her for her naivety and other times I felt like she was the strongest FMC I’ve come across. It’s a serious emotional ride.

Then in addition to that there is a morally grey man, court politics, magic, and a feeling that there’s something you aren’t piecing together. I had soooo many theories that were so wrong 😆. Not to mention the spice was the perfect tease and taste.

I can tell you this gripped me from the start and I cannot wait to see where it goes.

[🫧 Katherine 🫧 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feel like falling down from the cliff

I don’t ever write reviews, as yapping away on my POV and opinions always seems pointless. However, this book, a slow burner to an extend at the start, was an emotional rollercoaster. Maybe it feels so acutely now because own emotional instability in real world, nonetheless, it was as watching (in my head) a beautiful story full of turns and yearning and magic unfold before me only to **spoiler ahead**…

… having been left with a cliffhanger. I’m no writer but if I wrote such lovely book I’d definitely make sure I release a follow up within weeks to not torment your readers and let them wait to find out what happens with Isolde and Jasper. Especially after such big revelation!

Other than that I enjoyed this book, very much.
P.S. please release 2nd book asap. Thank you very much!

[Tamararosereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are interested in romantasy but not sure where to begin? Bride of Darkwater is a perfect start! Want a book that has the political intrigue of Cruel Prince? This is the book for you! Want a book that is FULL OF ROMANTIC TENSION? Love romantasy? THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU!

Jasper, the King of Darkwater, must marry Isolde, a princess of an enemy kingdoms, to bring peace to their realm. The author does a terrific job describing both kingdoms and exploring the relationships between the characters. Jasper will be everyone's next book boyfriend- he is deadly and brave, yet would do anything for his love. He gave me Slade Ravinger vibes! He is totally swoon worthy!

This book was a 5 star read for me, I absolutely loved it and can't wait to see what else this author writes!

[Jess - Mood Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book so much. No lulls or slow moments where i might lose interest at all. I was vibing the entire read and I am already wanting more and this book is not even released officially yet!!
The enemies to lovers... brilliantly done. So much so that even though Jasper and Isolde tip toes the line of lovers, they are still very much enemies still at the end.
The ending felt a little sudden, i wasn't expecting the book to finish so quickly (probably because i was enjoying it and was so invested), but that sudden ending has me wanting the next one EVEN MORE.
I don't really have much else to say because i loved the story, and the writing, so much, and I don't want to spoil any moments for anyone.
The world-building, the MAGIC, the creatures, the politics.... SO WELL WRITTEN.

[knottychickenafterdark · Rating 5 out of 5]

She was raised to believe the world was divided into good and evil—until she was forced to marry the enemy.

This sentence alone had me rushing to apply as an ARC reviewer (cover art was a delightful added bonus 🩵). The story itself I COULD NOT PUT DOWN!!!

My emotions were taken for a wild and crazy ride that I WON’T recover from until I have book 2 in my hands 😆 Who do you trust, are they really who they say they are, is the real enemy dripping in diamonds 💎 or covered in scars?!

Bride of Darkwater is a MUST read for any Romantasy lover 🩵 I haven't felt the “need” for the next book, this hard, in a LONG time. Wendy has the power of taking words and forming them into a beautiful world I want to live in!!

[Savannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of advance copy received from author.

This book was a rollercoaster from start to finish. The world building was excellent and you really got a sense for the locations and the landscape without it feeling like too much and taking away from the plot. The constant push and pull between Jasper and Isolde was so addictive and there were times where I wanted to bash their heads toegther because of how obtuse they were being. I struggled to warm to Isolde to begin with but I ended up rooting for her so much and I cannot wait to see her develop more with book 2. I loved how this book constantly kept you guessing as to what was actually happening instead of making the plot twist too obvious. The end was so good and I am desperate for book 2 so I can find out what happens next!

[Zoe Amanda ✨️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cliffhanger!

The lies.
The betrayal.
The secrets revealed.
The strengths found.

BRIDE OF DARKWATER is a phenomenal read by Perth based author Wendy Godding.

Featuring dual POV with shifting versions of truth. One of the best tropes of all time (only one horse). A mysterious MMC who will quickly become one of your favourite book boyfriends. And a tale of a young woman stepping out of the role moulded for her and finding her own strength.

Book two will be promising, with an inricate magic system that is yet to be explained and explored. And we are also yet to see the part dragons will play in this world (and I'm betting it's a big one).

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this ARC ❤️

[The_enchanted.Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excuse me?! That ending!!! How am I supposed to wait to read the next in the series. I'm so invested with Isolde and Jasper and their fates.

This romantasy has all the elements I desire. I loved how Isolde was shown to have flaws and that she changed as she discovered hidden truths about her and her family. Their POVs are really entertaining as you see the events through alternate thoughts and feelings. I just loved the way the story unfolded, with the different secrets revealed and how the characters were thrust into situations that challenged them and upped the stakes.

I'm so grateful for the ARC, I saw the tropes and I just knew I would enjoy reading this. All opinions are my own.