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Uncommon World #1
Waters of Salt and Sin
Set in a lush, high-fantasy world inspired by ancient Mediterranean cultures, Waters of Salt and Sin is perfect for Game of Thrones and Sabaa Tahir fans.
When seventeen-year-old salt witch Kinneret learns of a lost island of silver, she sets out to find it, raise her status, and finally have a chance to wed Calev, the high-caste friend she secretly loves.
But when a madman enslaves her sister, Kinneret must make a deal with the local ruler: Find the island to secure the ruler’s place in history. In return, the woman’s fighting sailors will rescue Kinneret’s sister.
Using Salt Magic to navigate cursed waters, Kinneret and Calev struggle to hide their taboo, caste-breaking feelings, knowing if the ruler witnesses the attraction, she will cancel the agreement. But when Calev makes a terrible mistake, Kinneret must choose between the life of her only remaining family member and saving the boy she loves from a traitor’s death.
When seventeen-year-old salt witch Kinneret learns of a lost island of silver, she sets out to find it, raise her status, and finally have a chance to wed Calev, the high-caste friend she secretly loves.
But when a madman enslaves her sister, Kinneret must make a deal with the local ruler: Find the island to secure the ruler’s place in history. In return, the woman’s fighting sailors will rescue Kinneret’s sister.
Using Salt Magic to navigate cursed waters, Kinneret and Calev struggle to hide their taboo, caste-breaking feelings, knowing if the ruler witnesses the attraction, she will cancel the agreement. But when Calev makes a terrible mistake, Kinneret must choose between the life of her only remaining family member and saving the boy she loves from a traitor’s death.
386 pages, ebook
First published April 4, 2017
371 people are currently reading
1714 people want to read
About the author
Alisha Klapheke
51 books772 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author Alisha Klapheke strives to write fantasy romance inspired by history and informed by her travel worldwide.
*Get a Deluxe Collector's Edition of Dragons Rising with faux leather, sprayed edges, and gold foil today https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
May 30, 2020
This was a re-read for me. I read Waters of Salt and Sin the first time two-ish years ago and loved it. But I have to say, I think I enjoyed it even more on a second read-through. For one thing, I took it slow and simply let myself savor the writing and world-building.
Kinneret was such a great heroine. I really enjoyed that her love for her little sister tended to be a much stronger motivation to her than her love for the hero, Calev. Don't get me wrong! Calev was a great, noble hero, and their bond was very endearing. But that sister-bond was what ultimately drove the story, even though Avi isn't physically present through much of this book.
Calev. He's got the dreamy-hero thing DOWN.
The world-building was so intriguing! The salt-magic, the wraiths, the wraith-lanterns. The caste system that holds Kinneret down proved such an interesting motivator for her actions. As I read the book, I could tell the author had given a LOT of thought to the creation of her world and this fantasy culture. It was all so atmospheric and adventurous.
Waters of Salt and Sin is a fantastically good read. A sea epic with a likeable heroine on a meaningful quest, a sweet romance, and some seriously awesome worldbuilding. This author is one to watch!
Kinneret was such a great heroine. I really enjoyed that her love for her little sister tended to be a much stronger motivation to her than her love for the hero, Calev. Don't get me wrong! Calev was a great, noble hero, and their bond was very endearing. But that sister-bond was what ultimately drove the story, even though Avi isn't physically present through much of this book.
Calev. He's got the dreamy-hero thing DOWN.
The world-building was so intriguing! The salt-magic, the wraiths, the wraith-lanterns. The caste system that holds Kinneret down proved such an interesting motivator for her actions. As I read the book, I could tell the author had given a LOT of thought to the creation of her world and this fantasy culture. It was all so atmospheric and adventurous.
Waters of Salt and Sin is a fantastically good read. A sea epic with a likeable heroine on a meaningful quest, a sweet romance, and some seriously awesome worldbuilding. This author is one to watch!
April 7, 2018
Review posted on Fafa's Book Corner!
Beware spoilers ahead!
Disclaimer: I received an E-ARC via the author. Apart of the street team. This review is based on the final version.
I heard about Waters of Salt and Sin on twitter. The author's twitter post about her book came up along with the prequel. I read and thoroughly enjoyed the prequel. Naturally I the next installment. I am happy to say that I enjoyed it!
I read Waters of Salt and Sin so long ago that I don't really remember the beginning too well. During a job Kinneret takes a huge risk to get some money. This actually results in her sister being taken as a slave. An old family friend tells Kinneret about the treasure and gives her the information to go and get it. In order to get her Avi back, Kinneret makes a deal with their queen in exchange for Avi's safe return.
Waters of Salt and Sin really surprised me! It is narrated in first person in Kinneret's point of view. The world was vivid and the magic system unique! I've never read about Salt witches before. The Caste system was explained in a lot of detail. A very brutal and cold world. It was easy to imagine myself amongst the characters.
The characters were fantastic! My favourite was Oron. I loved the relationship between the sisters! It was well written and relatable. When Avi is taken as a slave Kinneret doesn't stop until she can find her. It was realistic. The treasure hunt was a lot of fun to read about! There were obstacles, monsters, and a lot of plan changing.
Kinneret and Calev's relationship was great! I loved how well the forbidden romance was done. They went through a lot together and supported each other all the way. Especially when Calev killed their queen (he was taken over by a ghost). I was pretty happy when they were able to remain together.
The last part of Waters of Salt and Sin was so intense! I was on the edge hoping for a happy ending. Luckily enough it came and there was a really sweet ending.
My only problem was that there were times when things came easy to the characters. Despite their struggles and living in a cruel world that's what it felt like here and there.
Overall I enjoyed Waters of Salt and Sin! Highly recommend.
Beware spoilers ahead!
Disclaimer: I received an E-ARC via the author. Apart of the street team. This review is based on the final version.
I heard about Waters of Salt and Sin on twitter. The author's twitter post about her book came up along with the prequel. I read and thoroughly enjoyed the prequel. Naturally I the next installment. I am happy to say that I enjoyed it!
I read Waters of Salt and Sin so long ago that I don't really remember the beginning too well. During a job Kinneret takes a huge risk to get some money. This actually results in her sister being taken as a slave. An old family friend tells Kinneret about the treasure and gives her the information to go and get it. In order to get her Avi back, Kinneret makes a deal with their queen in exchange for Avi's safe return.
Waters of Salt and Sin really surprised me! It is narrated in first person in Kinneret's point of view. The world was vivid and the magic system unique! I've never read about Salt witches before. The Caste system was explained in a lot of detail. A very brutal and cold world. It was easy to imagine myself amongst the characters.
The characters were fantastic! My favourite was Oron. I loved the relationship between the sisters! It was well written and relatable. When Avi is taken as a slave Kinneret doesn't stop until she can find her. It was realistic. The treasure hunt was a lot of fun to read about! There were obstacles, monsters, and a lot of plan changing.
Kinneret and Calev's relationship was great! I loved how well the forbidden romance was done. They went through a lot together and supported each other all the way. Especially when Calev killed their queen (he was taken over by a ghost). I was pretty happy when they were able to remain together.
The last part of Waters of Salt and Sin was so intense! I was on the edge hoping for a happy ending. Luckily enough it came and there was a really sweet ending.
My only problem was that there were times when things came easy to the characters. Despite their struggles and living in a cruel world that's what it felt like here and there.
Overall I enjoyed Waters of Salt and Sin! Highly recommend.
March 27, 2017
4.5 Stars!
W-O-W! Waters of Salt and Sin was amazing!! I had very high expectations (just read that synopsis) and I have to say this right now - Waters of Salt and Sin really delivers on a fascinating and complex fantasy world with a fully formed magic system combined with brilliant romance, characters and drama.
The real strength of Waters of Salt and Sin is the characters. They are varied, complex, unique and very, very human. Kinneret is a fantastic MC - her voice and personality is strong, independent, intelligent and little hot-headed at times and best of all, loyal. She is supported by Calev (a great romantic lead, who sometimes bites off more than he can chew!), Oron (to be honest, my favourite character for being brilliant, snarky and just all round awesome) and Kinneret's sister Avi, who was sweet, sensitive but a rock underneath all that silk. I really loved reading about them all and found this to really enhance the reading experience and plot overall.
The plot was fun, and very fast paced! Something was always happening or about to go down. This was fun to read, but also the reason why this book loses half a star - sometimes it felt that this speed rushed over parts of the story that could have been fleshed out just a little more, but this is really a very small complaint.
Another strong factor to this book's appeal was the world itself - well-formed and the author described the nuances of the culture, people, places and attitudes very well. Also, Waters of Salt and Sin explores some complex and dark topics, which was refreshing and thought-provoking.
Have to add here that the author has a great writing style that made it very easy to read and I certainly fell into the world without any difficulties!
All in all, this review is mainly a gush-fest and I can't recommend this book enough for anyone looking out for a fun, fast-paced fantasy read populated with fascinating characters, plus, the cover is just gorgeous, so that doesn't hurt! I'm waiting impatiently for the next instalment.
*Thank-you to the author, Alisha Klapheke for this ARC. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review*
W-O-W! Waters of Salt and Sin was amazing!! I had very high expectations (just read that synopsis) and I have to say this right now - Waters of Salt and Sin really delivers on a fascinating and complex fantasy world with a fully formed magic system combined with brilliant romance, characters and drama.
The real strength of Waters of Salt and Sin is the characters. They are varied, complex, unique and very, very human. Kinneret is a fantastic MC - her voice and personality is strong, independent, intelligent and little hot-headed at times and best of all, loyal. She is supported by Calev (a great romantic lead, who sometimes bites off more than he can chew!), Oron (to be honest, my favourite character for being brilliant, snarky and just all round awesome) and Kinneret's sister Avi, who was sweet, sensitive but a rock underneath all that silk. I really loved reading about them all and found this to really enhance the reading experience and plot overall.
The plot was fun, and very fast paced! Something was always happening or about to go down. This was fun to read, but also the reason why this book loses half a star - sometimes it felt that this speed rushed over parts of the story that could have been fleshed out just a little more, but this is really a very small complaint.
Another strong factor to this book's appeal was the world itself - well-formed and the author described the nuances of the culture, people, places and attitudes very well. Also, Waters of Salt and Sin explores some complex and dark topics, which was refreshing and thought-provoking.
Have to add here that the author has a great writing style that made it very easy to read and I certainly fell into the world without any difficulties!
All in all, this review is mainly a gush-fest and I can't recommend this book enough for anyone looking out for a fun, fast-paced fantasy read populated with fascinating characters, plus, the cover is just gorgeous, so that doesn't hurt! I'm waiting impatiently for the next instalment.
*Thank-you to the author, Alisha Klapheke for this ARC. I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review*
March 4, 2017
When a friend told me about this one I knew I had to read it! I am such a huge fan of high fantasy and this is an excellent addition to the genre! Alisha has a way with words! Her world building is beautifully detailed and the characters are amazing! I also read the prequel novella and loved that too although it's not up on Goodreads yet to review. I really can't wait to see what comes next!
April 5, 2017
WATERS OF SALT AND SIN is Alisha Klapheke’s first book in her Uncommon World series. It is high fantasy, and the world Klapheke gives the reader is one to rival some of the best in that genre. And the cover—well, the cover is absolutely gorgeous.
In WATERS OF SALT AND SIN, Kinneret Raza is about to turn 18, and her sister Avigail is 14. The girls lost both parents to an illness, and Kinneret has been struggling to keep them alive with her sailing skill combined with her ability to do salt magic. Salt magic allows Kinneret to bend the sea’s currents and winds to her will, and it is forbidden. If she’s caught doing it, she’ll be made an outcast and Avi will be on her own.
As Kinneret begins to feel desperate about their overall situation, a family friend tells her about Ayarazi. Ayarazi is thought to be a mythical land where silver is plentiful, but Kinneret learns that the island is real, and there is a map that will show her the way to it. With silver as the only way to pull herself and Avi (and her first mate, Oron—my favorite character in the book) out of their low-caste life, Kinneret is determined to find the map and then find Ayarazi. With enough silver, Kinneret will not only move herself and her sister to a better caste, she will also put herself in a position to declare her feelings for Calev—her best friend and the young man who holds her heart. Unfortunately, Calev is of a higher caste—he’s the oldest son and apparent heir to the head of Old Farm. Once Kinneret and Calev turn 18, any interaction between them will have to come to a halt as Calev becomes betrothed to someone suitable for his station in life.
The first chapters of WATERS OF SALT AND SIN set the world in which we’ll be immersed: one where higher caste do as they please, lower caste strive to improve their lots, and outcasts struggle to survive. Boats and life on the water play an integral role in the story, and Kinneret’s skills as a boat’s “kaptan” are impressive. Kinneret also has a gift for inspiring allegiance in those with whom she comes in contact, and that gift serves her almost as well as magic throughout the book. My favorite parts of WATERS OF SALT AND SEA focused on those times when Kinneret was at her most confident: managing a boat, acting as a natural leader of men and women, and dealing with one of the many unexpected trials—both large and small—that life brings.
I really liked the world of WATERS OF SALT AND SIN, and it was great to read about a female protagonist with Kinneret’s skills and spunk. I wish her romance with Calev hadn’t been quite so formulaic, and I would have loved for the second half of the book to be as well layered and plotted as the first. That said, the excellent world building at the beginning and the fast pace of the final chapters pull everything together nicely. There are some plot points that don’t make complete sense in the larger context, but the charming cast of characters, the world Klapheke creates, and the promise of more stories about Kinneret and her friends combine to win the day. This is a series I’ll continue to follow, and I really look forward to the second book.
My thanks to the author for an advance copy of the ebook in exchange for my unbiased review.
In WATERS OF SALT AND SIN, Kinneret Raza is about to turn 18, and her sister Avigail is 14. The girls lost both parents to an illness, and Kinneret has been struggling to keep them alive with her sailing skill combined with her ability to do salt magic. Salt magic allows Kinneret to bend the sea’s currents and winds to her will, and it is forbidden. If she’s caught doing it, she’ll be made an outcast and Avi will be on her own.
As Kinneret begins to feel desperate about their overall situation, a family friend tells her about Ayarazi. Ayarazi is thought to be a mythical land where silver is plentiful, but Kinneret learns that the island is real, and there is a map that will show her the way to it. With silver as the only way to pull herself and Avi (and her first mate, Oron—my favorite character in the book) out of their low-caste life, Kinneret is determined to find the map and then find Ayarazi. With enough silver, Kinneret will not only move herself and her sister to a better caste, she will also put herself in a position to declare her feelings for Calev—her best friend and the young man who holds her heart. Unfortunately, Calev is of a higher caste—he’s the oldest son and apparent heir to the head of Old Farm. Once Kinneret and Calev turn 18, any interaction between them will have to come to a halt as Calev becomes betrothed to someone suitable for his station in life.
The first chapters of WATERS OF SALT AND SIN set the world in which we’ll be immersed: one where higher caste do as they please, lower caste strive to improve their lots, and outcasts struggle to survive. Boats and life on the water play an integral role in the story, and Kinneret’s skills as a boat’s “kaptan” are impressive. Kinneret also has a gift for inspiring allegiance in those with whom she comes in contact, and that gift serves her almost as well as magic throughout the book. My favorite parts of WATERS OF SALT AND SEA focused on those times when Kinneret was at her most confident: managing a boat, acting as a natural leader of men and women, and dealing with one of the many unexpected trials—both large and small—that life brings.
I really liked the world of WATERS OF SALT AND SIN, and it was great to read about a female protagonist with Kinneret’s skills and spunk. I wish her romance with Calev hadn’t been quite so formulaic, and I would have loved for the second half of the book to be as well layered and plotted as the first. That said, the excellent world building at the beginning and the fast pace of the final chapters pull everything together nicely. There are some plot points that don’t make complete sense in the larger context, but the charming cast of characters, the world Klapheke creates, and the promise of more stories about Kinneret and her friends combine to win the day. This is a series I’ll continue to follow, and I really look forward to the second book.
My thanks to the author for an advance copy of the ebook in exchange for my unbiased review.
September 15, 2018
This has to be the most disjointed and self-contradicting book I've ever read. Why the two stars and not one, then? In the beginning the inner monologue of the "heroine" felt refreshing. In the end I kind of enjoyed the challenge whether I would be able to make sense of the tale (I couldn't).
Very quickly, however, the inner conviction and bubbly personality of our main hero got me bored, as she turned out to be as shallow as all her enemies found her to be - self-interested, uncaring of others' opinions, foolhardy. I did actually side with her arch-enemy Berker throughout.
The worst bit is not that. It is not even how one page contradicts the next (for example, at the end they plot that they will say Berker killed the amir, then 4 paragraphs later somehow the oramiral did that, even though he never leaves his own little island, and everyone bought that tall tale).
I'll not even mention how an ostracized dwarf managed to organize a secret rebellion of slaves backed up by loyal soldiers to overthrow a ruler in 5 minutes. Literally 5 minutes. Oops, I just did, but I couldn't help it. This is just a prime example of the bullshit that gets worse with every page you read.
No, the worst part is how the author obviously never had to consider poverty, lack of money or lack of options in the world. All the people at the bottom are just full of joy, optimism, energy, they'll fight the odds and all the shit the world throws at them and then win. It was far too much. It made me want to puke even as I was beginning to read the book. It's fine to let some bad things happen to your hero, a hero needs a challenge to rise against. But the shitstorm and lack of basic sustenance would so depress and destroy a person that they won't even try to bite the foot that kicks them. I've seen it. I've also seen such characters in other books done much more convincingly.
I can't even try to read the next books even though I basically got them for free on a Kindle promo.
EDIT: I forgot to mention how the bastardized words and overall narative make you think of an epic empire that fell down so there will be an interesting world to explore. It's a ruse. No back story. The map is literally <100km across with most of it being sea.
Word to the wise - don't waste your time. Don't trust the 4.2+ rating this piece of trash has.
Very quickly, however, the inner conviction and bubbly personality of our main hero got me bored, as she turned out to be as shallow as all her enemies found her to be - self-interested, uncaring of others' opinions, foolhardy. I did actually side with her arch-enemy Berker throughout.
The worst bit is not that. It is not even how one page contradicts the next (for example, at the end they plot that they will say Berker killed the amir, then 4 paragraphs later somehow the oramiral did that, even though he never leaves his own little island, and everyone bought that tall tale).
I'll not even mention how an ostracized dwarf managed to organize a secret rebellion of slaves backed up by loyal soldiers to overthrow a ruler in 5 minutes. Literally 5 minutes. Oops, I just did, but I couldn't help it. This is just a prime example of the bullshit that gets worse with every page you read.
No, the worst part is how the author obviously never had to consider poverty, lack of money or lack of options in the world. All the people at the bottom are just full of joy, optimism, energy, they'll fight the odds and all the shit the world throws at them and then win. It was far too much. It made me want to puke even as I was beginning to read the book. It's fine to let some bad things happen to your hero, a hero needs a challenge to rise against. But the shitstorm and lack of basic sustenance would so depress and destroy a person that they won't even try to bite the foot that kicks them. I've seen it. I've also seen such characters in other books done much more convincingly.
I can't even try to read the next books even though I basically got them for free on a Kindle promo.
EDIT: I forgot to mention how the bastardized words and overall narative make you think of an epic empire that fell down so there will be an interesting world to explore. It's a ruse. No back story. The map is literally <100km across with most of it being sea.
Word to the wise - don't waste your time. Don't trust the 4.2+ rating this piece of trash has.
July 18, 2018
This was an awesome read!!! Beautifully written, and full of adventure!!
I loved the salt magic, the wraiths, and the sea adventures! I would get to a point in the book and need to post about it's awesomeness, but couldn't mention what happened because of spoilers!! Bah!
Great read! Highly recommended!!
If you like Sarah J. Maas, Leigh Bardugo, Emily R. King, and Jordan Rivet, you're going to love this swashbuckling tale!!
I loved the salt magic, the wraiths, and the sea adventures! I would get to a point in the book and need to post about it's awesomeness, but couldn't mention what happened because of spoilers!! Bah!
Great read! Highly recommended!!
If you like Sarah J. Maas, Leigh Bardugo, Emily R. King, and Jordan Rivet, you're going to love this swashbuckling tale!!
September 28, 2019
I originally purchased this book as a kindle book, but received an audiobook from the author to review.
This book was a great fast and fun read. The characters were very diverse and intriguing. The romantic lead is flawed but still very impressive. The main character is ambitious and strong. And the story had many twists and turns, danger, romance, and trials.
The narrator does an amazing job of telling the story. She definitely seems to be interested and engrossed in the story which adds to the overall storytelling experience. Definitely recommend this book on audio!
This book was a great fast and fun read. The characters were very diverse and intriguing. The romantic lead is flawed but still very impressive. The main character is ambitious and strong. And the story had many twists and turns, danger, romance, and trials.
The narrator does an amazing job of telling the story. She definitely seems to be interested and engrossed in the story which adds to the overall storytelling experience. Definitely recommend this book on audio!
September 8, 2017
When I pick up a fantasy book it’s not often that I choose a seafaring adventure. The only book I’ve read, I think, that consists of pirates and treasure is The Count of Monte Cristo. Stories about the ocean, pirates, and hidden treasures with a majority of the setting taking place on a ship or a boat wasn’t intriguing enough for me. Perhaps it was simply a lack of exposure to the trope.
I first came across Waters of Salt and Sin in a newsletter; I really liked the cover art for it and decided to give it a look. The words “salt witch” and “sisters” stood out for me. I really wanted to read it but was unsure whether I would enjoy it. So I left it on my TBR thinking, perhaps, I’ll get back to it. Which I didn’t, at least not until, I saw that the prequel claimed was available for free! It was around 30 pages or so. Anyways, I thought since it was free I’d give this a shot and if I liked it, I’d go ahead with the novel.
**
Very few books can make me fall in love with an entire set of characters. Protagonists, antagonists, and even side characters were well rounded for a book told from a first point of view. Young Kinneret Raza has made her way into my list of favorite female characters; she’s a young girl of sixteen from a low caste who practices Salt Magic and dreams of being kaptan of her own ship someday. A natural born leader, she is as sharp as whiplash but also very hard on herself. The family she brought together for herself – Avigail, Oron, and Calev – are so different from each other and yet there’s this bond between them that you, as a reader, will enjoy.
I loved the way the love interest was portrayed in this novel. I’m tired of the possessive bad boys that YA romances have become so filled with. Calev is protective but he is also respectful of Kinneret’s independence. He does not overstep his boundaries as a friend or impinge upon her role as kaptan even though he may be of a higher caste.
I really liked Oron who is more than just the funny side character; he’s witty, supportive, and the most vivacious of the lot. He isn’t as brave as the rest of them which, in comparison to Kinneret who is brave but not fearless, puts him as the “voice of reason” for the group.
My heart went out to Avigail’s capture and while I wished to know more about her side of the story in this tale, I also didn’t want to..?
The novel’s plot can be predictable at times but the author does really well with taking twists so as to keep readers on their toes. Even though you know Kinneret is going to get that treasure, and save her sister, and end up with Calev, Klapheke’s writes with a thrilling edge. She brings up a lot of obstacles for our characters that makes you wonder, “what more?”
The Uncommon World setting was very fascinating for me; from caste systems where you could buy your way out of, to a religion that centred on Holy Fire, to the political system, to the Salt Wraiths, to the prejudice of Salt Witches. The author does well in highlighting the latter, especially in a particular scene where she writes about Calev’s mistake of giving into it. I thought that was quite interesting to write in, rather than a perfect high caste boy. We read of each character’s struggles and mistakes, and sympathize with them. Each of them are so different yet relatable.
Alisha Klapheke’s has a beautiful style of writing – it is gripping, it is not very flowery but when it is, it hits straight home, and she has a way of bringing the Uncommon World surroundings to life with her words. The novel, through Kinneret, gives readers glimpses of her relationship with her family and friends. I don’t think I can stop right here with the Uncommon World series as there is so much more of the world left to be discovered!
For more bookish adventures follow me atCamillea Reads and on IG: @biblio.khaleesi
I first came across Waters of Salt and Sin in a newsletter; I really liked the cover art for it and decided to give it a look. The words “salt witch” and “sisters” stood out for me. I really wanted to read it but was unsure whether I would enjoy it. So I left it on my TBR thinking, perhaps, I’ll get back to it. Which I didn’t, at least not until, I saw that the prequel claimed was available for free! It was around 30 pages or so. Anyways, I thought since it was free I’d give this a shot and if I liked it, I’d go ahead with the novel.
**
Very few books can make me fall in love with an entire set of characters. Protagonists, antagonists, and even side characters were well rounded for a book told from a first point of view. Young Kinneret Raza has made her way into my list of favorite female characters; she’s a young girl of sixteen from a low caste who practices Salt Magic and dreams of being kaptan of her own ship someday. A natural born leader, she is as sharp as whiplash but also very hard on herself. The family she brought together for herself – Avigail, Oron, and Calev – are so different from each other and yet there’s this bond between them that you, as a reader, will enjoy.
I loved the way the love interest was portrayed in this novel. I’m tired of the possessive bad boys that YA romances have become so filled with. Calev is protective but he is also respectful of Kinneret’s independence. He does not overstep his boundaries as a friend or impinge upon her role as kaptan even though he may be of a higher caste.
I really liked Oron who is more than just the funny side character; he’s witty, supportive, and the most vivacious of the lot. He isn’t as brave as the rest of them which, in comparison to Kinneret who is brave but not fearless, puts him as the “voice of reason” for the group.
My heart went out to Avigail’s capture and while I wished to know more about her side of the story in this tale, I also didn’t want to..?
The novel’s plot can be predictable at times but the author does really well with taking twists so as to keep readers on their toes. Even though you know Kinneret is going to get that treasure, and save her sister, and end up with Calev, Klapheke’s writes with a thrilling edge. She brings up a lot of obstacles for our characters that makes you wonder, “what more?”
The Uncommon World setting was very fascinating for me; from caste systems where you could buy your way out of, to a religion that centred on Holy Fire, to the political system, to the Salt Wraiths, to the prejudice of Salt Witches. The author does well in highlighting the latter, especially in a particular scene where she writes about Calev’s mistake of giving into it. I thought that was quite interesting to write in, rather than a perfect high caste boy. We read of each character’s struggles and mistakes, and sympathize with them. Each of them are so different yet relatable.
Alisha Klapheke’s has a beautiful style of writing – it is gripping, it is not very flowery but when it is, it hits straight home, and she has a way of bringing the Uncommon World surroundings to life with her words. The novel, through Kinneret, gives readers glimpses of her relationship with her family and friends. I don’t think I can stop right here with the Uncommon World series as there is so much more of the world left to be discovered!
For more bookish adventures follow me atCamillea Reads and on IG: @biblio.khaleesi
September 5, 2017
A five star freebie!
I've not had much luck with freebies on my kindle lately but this one was awesome! It's an unique world with well developed characters. It also has a good balance of action and romance, where the romance doesn't take up the whole plot. I'd recommend it to fantasy fans.
I've not had much luck with freebies on my kindle lately but this one was awesome! It's an unique world with well developed characters. It also has a good balance of action and romance, where the romance doesn't take up the whole plot. I'd recommend it to fantasy fans.
November 13, 2018
Alisha Klapheke has given us a really interesting world with a unique magic in Waters of Salt and Sin. I particularly enjoyed the caste system and sailing aspects of this book as these are elements—especially the sailing—that we don’t often see a lot of in fantasy novels.
One thing that will absolutely stand out to readers of Waters of Salt and Sin is the engaging main character. Kinneret is determined. Determined to change her life, to save her sister, to succeed where others have failed. This determination is balanced nicely by a good helping of self-blame for anything and everything that goes wrong. The interplay of those two things made it fun to be in Kinneret’s head, though also slightly frustrating at times. Klapheke has also given us an interesting world that revolves around a caste system. Individuals are locked into a particular caste—indicated by a number of bells displayed on their clothing. Movement between the castes is possible if one is successful enough to buy one’s way upward, indicated by paying silver to remove a bell (or bells) from one’s clothing. It’s a fresh take on something that we’ve seen many times before and I thought Klapheke executed well. The magic system was a little soft for my tastes, but still fresh and interesting.
By “soft” I mean I would have preferred more explanation to the magic system, especially in a few instances where magic played a role in a plot point or at other points where it felt like maybe magic could have been helpful but it wasn’t used. It was frustrating to think, “hey, why don’t they use magic to solve that problem?” but then never have explained why they didn’t just magic themselves out of a particular jam. This wasn’t only an issue with the magic system, however. There were multiple times during the book when I felt a bit confused about why a character had made a specific decision, or why they didn’t try something that seemed (to me) an obvious alternative. At times it felt like the plot movement was slightly predictable and those times were especially disappointing because this is a really intriguing world that has a great deal of potential. Perhaps most frustrating for me in my reading is that, while I found Kinneret’s perspective very fun to read, I never felt much emotional connection—especially during scenes that were supposed to be emotional. For me many of those scenes fell flat. I imagine that’s probably down to some sub-conscious preferences on my part, so your mileage will probably vary.
All in all, Waters of Salt and Sin is a fun romp in a unique world. If you’re looking for something a bit fresh, and don’t mind some lack of explanation from time to time, consider giving this one a go. 3.2/5 stars.
5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing
One thing that will absolutely stand out to readers of Waters of Salt and Sin is the engaging main character. Kinneret is determined. Determined to change her life, to save her sister, to succeed where others have failed. This determination is balanced nicely by a good helping of self-blame for anything and everything that goes wrong. The interplay of those two things made it fun to be in Kinneret’s head, though also slightly frustrating at times. Klapheke has also given us an interesting world that revolves around a caste system. Individuals are locked into a particular caste—indicated by a number of bells displayed on their clothing. Movement between the castes is possible if one is successful enough to buy one’s way upward, indicated by paying silver to remove a bell (or bells) from one’s clothing. It’s a fresh take on something that we’ve seen many times before and I thought Klapheke executed well. The magic system was a little soft for my tastes, but still fresh and interesting.
By “soft” I mean I would have preferred more explanation to the magic system, especially in a few instances where magic played a role in a plot point or at other points where it felt like maybe magic could have been helpful but it wasn’t used. It was frustrating to think, “hey, why don’t they use magic to solve that problem?” but then never have explained why they didn’t just magic themselves out of a particular jam. This wasn’t only an issue with the magic system, however. There were multiple times during the book when I felt a bit confused about why a character had made a specific decision, or why they didn’t try something that seemed (to me) an obvious alternative. At times it felt like the plot movement was slightly predictable and those times were especially disappointing because this is a really intriguing world that has a great deal of potential. Perhaps most frustrating for me in my reading is that, while I found Kinneret’s perspective very fun to read, I never felt much emotional connection—especially during scenes that were supposed to be emotional. For me many of those scenes fell flat. I imagine that’s probably down to some sub-conscious preferences on my part, so your mileage will probably vary.
All in all, Waters of Salt and Sin is a fun romp in a unique world. If you’re looking for something a bit fresh, and don’t mind some lack of explanation from time to time, consider giving this one a go. 3.2/5 stars.
5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing
April 11, 2018
17-year-old Kinneret has been raised knowing the power of controlling the seas. Just like the high caste members of Old Farm who pray to the fire, she whispers to the waters, who come to her aid.
Kinneret is a strong willed force to be reckoned with. She has her sights on raising her and her younger sister from low caste to high caste, and proving her worth to marry her best friend, Calev. She's an admirable character, with her biggest flaw being not thinking things through. Because of this, she gets into trouble a LOT in the book, which I feel could've been avoided. However, her strong head obeys her heart. The book is a relatively easy fantasy to get into, and a quick read with lots of dialog and interesting plot points. I would recommend this series to a Young Adult audience or adults young at heart.
*Soapbox* Some of my readers might hold issue with the term "salt witch," but in a fantasy novel, I think it's totally acceptable and overall, the values in this book are ones that I would be comfortable passing to my children. Just keep an open line of communication with your kids; don't stop them from reading what interests them.
Kinneret is a strong willed force to be reckoned with. She has her sights on raising her and her younger sister from low caste to high caste, and proving her worth to marry her best friend, Calev. She's an admirable character, with her biggest flaw being not thinking things through. Because of this, she gets into trouble a LOT in the book, which I feel could've been avoided. However, her strong head obeys her heart. The book is a relatively easy fantasy to get into, and a quick read with lots of dialog and interesting plot points. I would recommend this series to a Young Adult audience or adults young at heart.
*Soapbox* Some of my readers might hold issue with the term "salt witch," but in a fantasy novel, I think it's totally acceptable and overall, the values in this book are ones that I would be comfortable passing to my children. Just keep an open line of communication with your kids; don't stop them from reading what interests them.
October 11, 2018
Heart wrenching, action packed, with a very driven young lady
Well written, heartfelt and a very focused and driven heroine. Powerful, emotional book, I enjoyed very much. Look forward to reading more by this author, thank you, Alisha Klepheke, thank you.
Well written, heartfelt and a very focused and driven heroine. Powerful, emotional book, I enjoyed very much. Look forward to reading more by this author, thank you, Alisha Klepheke, thank you.
May 31, 2017
I really, really wanted to love this book. (C'mon, who doesn't adore that cover?!?) Unfortunately, this book wasn't all I hoped it was going to be. (Perhaps it's partly my fault in the first place for having such high expectations.)
The plot wasn't what I was expecting: I was hoping for more of a swash-buckling, piratey adventure. Instead, this was more of a (slightly spoilery) let's-try-to-survive-while-planning-a-jailbreak kind of book. Like another reviewer mentioned, they find the island about halfway through the book, and then it becomes a minor background element. The story is pretty much them escaping from whatever's trying to kill them at the moment, while attempting to rescue Kinneret's sister. (end of tiny spoiler) I did enjoy the salt magic and salt wraiths (I thought they were the most believable of the fantasy elements), but I could have used a little more explanation on some other things, like the Fire religion, how salt magic works, and more about Kinneret's aunt's magic.
The characters themselves were meh. I liked Kinneret--but that was about it. I felt like the author just scratched the surface of the characters, and I didn't get a chance to get to know any of them except for Kinneret. I only cared about the other characters because Kinneret cared. Also, some of the characters just fell flat. They didn't react realistically to situations. The story was told in 1st person narration, when 3rd person might have suited the story better. There was also a lot of characters introduced, right from the beginning, and that may have added to my struggle to connect with them.
The world-building was pretty good: it felt unique, and I was interested in learning more about its history and customs. I liked how the setting wasn't your generic medieval European fantasy setting, but instead a Mediterranean-type culture. However, the author again could have delved a lot deeper into the world-building. It was a little confusing because the characters jumped around so much, and there wasn't a whole lot of description about the places they went to, or the cultures they visited.
Overall, I just couldn't get into this one. While I did finish out the book, I just as easily could have left it. If it had had deeper characters, more world-building, and a little more suspense, I probably would have loved it.
Rating: 3 stars.
Recommended: No.
Age Rating: For Ages 14 and up.
Content guide:
Language: 3/10 (characters start to curse, but are cut off. a lot of inappropriate innuendo bandied about.)
Sexual content: 6/10 (passionate kissing, once while half-clothed, some touching. lots of thinly-veiled innuendo. characters' relationship seems at times more lust than love.)
Violence: 8/10 (characters are killed and injured, sometimes graphically described. some characters place very little value on human life. a demon attacks the ship, killing several characters.)
*Many thanks to the author for providing a copy to review!*
For more book reviews, or to request your own book to be reviewed by yours truly, visit gabriellenblog.wordpress.com
The plot wasn't what I was expecting: I was hoping for more of a swash-buckling, piratey adventure. Instead, this was more of a (slightly spoilery) let's-try-to-survive-while-planning-a-jailbreak kind of book. Like another reviewer mentioned, they find the island about halfway through the book, and then it becomes a minor background element. The story is pretty much them escaping from whatever's trying to kill them at the moment, while attempting to rescue Kinneret's sister. (end of tiny spoiler) I did enjoy the salt magic and salt wraiths (I thought they were the most believable of the fantasy elements), but I could have used a little more explanation on some other things, like the Fire religion, how salt magic works, and more about Kinneret's aunt's magic.
The characters themselves were meh. I liked Kinneret--but that was about it. I felt like the author just scratched the surface of the characters, and I didn't get a chance to get to know any of them except for Kinneret. I only cared about the other characters because Kinneret cared. Also, some of the characters just fell flat. They didn't react realistically to situations. The story was told in 1st person narration, when 3rd person might have suited the story better. There was also a lot of characters introduced, right from the beginning, and that may have added to my struggle to connect with them.
The world-building was pretty good: it felt unique, and I was interested in learning more about its history and customs. I liked how the setting wasn't your generic medieval European fantasy setting, but instead a Mediterranean-type culture. However, the author again could have delved a lot deeper into the world-building. It was a little confusing because the characters jumped around so much, and there wasn't a whole lot of description about the places they went to, or the cultures they visited.
Overall, I just couldn't get into this one. While I did finish out the book, I just as easily could have left it. If it had had deeper characters, more world-building, and a little more suspense, I probably would have loved it.
Rating: 3 stars.
Recommended: No.
Age Rating: For Ages 14 and up.
Content guide:
Language: 3/10 (characters start to curse, but are cut off. a lot of inappropriate innuendo bandied about.)
Sexual content: 6/10 (passionate kissing, once while half-clothed, some touching. lots of thinly-veiled innuendo. characters' relationship seems at times more lust than love.)
Violence: 8/10 (characters are killed and injured, sometimes graphically described. some characters place very little value on human life. a demon attacks the ship, killing several characters.)
*Many thanks to the author for providing a copy to review!*
For more book reviews, or to request your own book to be reviewed by yours truly, visit gabriellenblog.wordpress.com
October 7, 2019
This was a really good start to the Uncommon World series! I was thrown into a completely new world filled with a caste system, magic, and mythology that I’ve never heard of before and it was action packed and enthralling. Kinneret is a salt witch who wants to marry Calev, but isn’t of the right status. She learns of a lost land of silver and hopes to raise her status, but when someone enslaves her sister, she makes a deal with the queen: she must find the lost land to secure her rulership so her sailors will rescue her sister, Avi. I found Kinneret’s devotion and loyalty to her sister over Calev realistic and admiring. I enjoyed Calev and Kinneret’s forbidden romance- they had many struggles, but were supportive for one another. All of the characters had different, but great personalities and development. Avi is sweet (even though we don’t see too much of her), Calev tends to bite off more than he can chew, Kinneret is hot headed, but fiercely loyal to those she loves, and Oron is full of snark and wit. Alisha did an amazing job with her creative and vivid world building that’s weaved in ancient Mediterranean cultures! I loved the idea of salt magic, which is completely new to me, and the political/ caste system as well as a religion centered on Holy Fire.
Heather does a good job with this narration! She used different voices for each character and it was always easy to distinguish who was talking. Her voice had a magical feel to it and kept me entertained from start to finish!
*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
Heather does a good job with this narration! She used different voices for each character and it was always easy to distinguish who was talking. Her voice had a magical feel to it and kept me entertained from start to finish!
*I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
June 29, 2017
Read my full review at http://blackwords-whitepages1977.blog...
WOW. What an amazing adventure this story was. It was so full of wonder, excitement, and secrets at the turn of every page and I enjoyed every single minute of it. This is a unique tale that I have never read before and it kept me guessing every time. This author has won herself a new reader with her style of writing.
The characters were phenomenal. I felt so sorry for Kenneret a lot in this story. Her struggles felt real. Her emotions poured out of the story as I continued to read it. Just when the character thought nothing else would go wrong, life would knock her and something tragic would happen again, but she always found the strength to get back up.
The story-line was incredible. So much happened in this story and the author did a spectacular job of keeping me turning the pages in the story. There was even a lesson to be learned in the story too. I would tell you, but it would spoil the story, so I won't. But I do highly recommend this read to all to enjoy.
WOW. What an amazing adventure this story was. It was so full of wonder, excitement, and secrets at the turn of every page and I enjoyed every single minute of it. This is a unique tale that I have never read before and it kept me guessing every time. This author has won herself a new reader with her style of writing.
The characters were phenomenal. I felt so sorry for Kenneret a lot in this story. Her struggles felt real. Her emotions poured out of the story as I continued to read it. Just when the character thought nothing else would go wrong, life would knock her and something tragic would happen again, but she always found the strength to get back up.
The story-line was incredible. So much happened in this story and the author did a spectacular job of keeping me turning the pages in the story. There was even a lesson to be learned in the story too. I would tell you, but it would spoil the story, so I won't. But I do highly recommend this read to all to enjoy.
Read
June 13, 2019Adventure on the high seas, a colourful setting inspired by the medieval/ancient Mediterranean, sea magic, water monsters, and a cinnamon-roll love interest gives WATERS OF SALT AND SIN, at its best, a real ODYSSEY vibe...but with a low-caste girl on a desperate quest to save her sister, rather than a heroic king on his way home.
June 9, 2017
I cannot wait for book two! What an adventure!! This book is filled with so much and there is never a dull moment! Surprise after surprise! Super entertaining!
August 23, 2017
Waters of Salt and Sin is an exciting adventure set in a unique fantasy world that isn't based on medieval Europe, castles, and knights in shining armor, which was hugely refreshing. One of the things I loved best about this book was the world-building and social structure. One of my favorite elements of this was the whole idea of caste status being made evident in the number of bells a person has to wear, and it played into the conflict nicely as we see characters buy their way into a higher status by having bells removed, which is what heroine Kinneret wants to do to raise herself and her younger sister from their low-caste status. She is also motivated by her romantic feelings for childhood friend Calev - a relationship that is forbidden because of Kinneret's social status. Kinneret sets out to seek a legendary island of silver, but her quest is complicated when her sister is captured and made a slave.
The book started off a little slow, and there wasn't much happening in the first few chapters. However, it didn't feel like it dragged, and I appreciated being slowly introduced to the world the author had created and coming to understand the role of the caste system, salt magic, and salt wraiths in this society. The salt wraiths were especially interesting. I loved that whole concept and seeing how they were integrated into the plot as more than just obstacles for the characters to overcome in their travels.
The story is well-written, and Klapheke does an excellent job of showing us the world through Kinneret's eyes. I'm not always a fan of first-person point of view, but I thought it was handled very well here. I connected with Kinneret almost immediately, which made me become more immersed in the story and more invested in what was happening to her and the people she cared about. Oron was another favorite character, and Berker made for a good - if somewhat one-dimensional - antagonist. I had mixed feelings about the constant banter between the main cast of characters. It was spot-on in some places and made me laugh out loud a few times, but there's a lot of it, and it started to feel forced and wear thin in some places.
The relationship between Kinneret and Calev was predictable and rather formulaic, but for the most part well-written and touching. I was rooting for them to get together by the end, even if I could see it coming from the first few chapters. My biggest complaint about the romance arc was Kinneret's attitude toward Miriam, the woman Calev is Intended to marry. It felt like Kinneret was being a little petty and even contradicted herself throughout the story, wanting to be with Calev and hating Miriam while also expressing a desire for Calev to be happy and not be Outcasted (which would be the result of a relationship with someone low-caste like Kinneret). I guess that's human nature, but it did grate on me a little that Kinneret hated Miriam so much for no reason other than that she's Calev's Intended. We don't see Miriam do anything to earn this hatred; she seems like a nice enough person, right up until the end of the story when we find out that she's not such a nice person after all, apparently. But we're just told this in passing, and it felt like kind of a forced way to show that Kinneret was justified in hating Miriam all along. I don't know; I guess I don't like seeing girls hating other girls in stories just because of a boy, especially when they don't even know the other girl that well.
The ending also felt just a little contrived for me, but it was still satisfying. Overall, I enjoyed the story and the author's writing style. I loved escaping into Kinneret's world and will probably read something else by this author in the future.
The book started off a little slow, and there wasn't much happening in the first few chapters. However, it didn't feel like it dragged, and I appreciated being slowly introduced to the world the author had created and coming to understand the role of the caste system, salt magic, and salt wraiths in this society. The salt wraiths were especially interesting. I loved that whole concept and seeing how they were integrated into the plot as more than just obstacles for the characters to overcome in their travels.
The story is well-written, and Klapheke does an excellent job of showing us the world through Kinneret's eyes. I'm not always a fan of first-person point of view, but I thought it was handled very well here. I connected with Kinneret almost immediately, which made me become more immersed in the story and more invested in what was happening to her and the people she cared about. Oron was another favorite character, and Berker made for a good - if somewhat one-dimensional - antagonist. I had mixed feelings about the constant banter between the main cast of characters. It was spot-on in some places and made me laugh out loud a few times, but there's a lot of it, and it started to feel forced and wear thin in some places.
The relationship between Kinneret and Calev was predictable and rather formulaic, but for the most part well-written and touching. I was rooting for them to get together by the end, even if I could see it coming from the first few chapters. My biggest complaint about the romance arc was Kinneret's attitude toward Miriam, the woman Calev is Intended to marry. It felt like Kinneret was being a little petty and even contradicted herself throughout the story, wanting to be with Calev and hating Miriam while also expressing a desire for Calev to be happy and not be Outcasted (which would be the result of a relationship with someone low-caste like Kinneret). I guess that's human nature, but it did grate on me a little that Kinneret hated Miriam so much for no reason other than that she's Calev's Intended. We don't see Miriam do anything to earn this hatred; she seems like a nice enough person, right up until the end of the story when we find out that she's not such a nice person after all, apparently. But we're just told this in passing, and it felt like kind of a forced way to show that Kinneret was justified in hating Miriam all along. I don't know; I guess I don't like seeing girls hating other girls in stories just because of a boy, especially when they don't even know the other girl that well.
The ending also felt just a little contrived for me, but it was still satisfying. Overall, I enjoyed the story and the author's writing style. I loved escaping into Kinneret's world and will probably read something else by this author in the future.
July 12, 2022
Waters of Salt and Sin is an easy to read fantasy with romance undercurrents that don't detract from the main narrative. It's got an interesting caste system underlying the main world, a strong female lead and a strong supporting cast of characters. Where it fell down slightly was in establishing the backdrop to the world building; things just are as they are without much explanation of why and some inconsistencies in the narrative. These are relatively small niggles in the grand scheme of things though as the narrative is very much one of a personal quest with the added romance subplot.
Kinneret is a sea-faring Salt Witch and one of the low caste. When she's given hints to the location of a fabled island full of silver, she sets her sights on it with the hopes of buying her way to a higher status. Without it, she has no chance of marrying Calev, whose status as Old Farm puts him very much in the high-caste realm. And time is running out. It's less than a year til their eighteenth birthdays and the transition from 'child' to 'adult' means they'll be Outcast if they spend time together. But Kinneret soon finds she may have bitten off more than she can chew and her decisions result in her younger sister being taken and enslaved. Time is even shorter if she wants to save her sister.
The story drew me in. It starts off being a teenagers wish fulfilment and then - as is so often the case with snap decisions for teenagers - everything goes wrong. But Kinneret doesn't have many trusted adults to fall back on. Her status in society puts her at risk of imprisonment for the slightest of offences, her parents are long since dead and so she's left to flounder alone. Or not quite alone. It's fairly fast paced, one misadventure leading to disaster leading to near catastrophe leading to what could be fatal errors.
There were some moments that didn't quite make sense though, hence my point about the inconsistencies. There's a moment fairly late on in the novel for example where Kinneret and Calev come up with a half decent lie to explain things. Then a chapter or so later, they do an abrupt U-Turn and use a completely different lie that makes absolutely no sense. A five year old child could pick apart the holes in the story and yet apparently intelligent - and senior - adults fall for it hook, line and sinker. There's a few other occasions where the inconsistency detracts from the story, but without spoilers I'd end up writing a full length essay to try and explain them!
The characters were very strong as a whole. I really felt for Kinneret, whose status was determined well before she was a even a twinkle in her parent's eyes. She's got the grit and determination to try to make something of herself, but it's beyond difficult when so much of her time is spent simply trying to ensure that her and her sister survive. Klapheke touches on poverty and the fear of not knowing where your next meal will come from, but doesn't dwell on it. This sometimes makes Kinneret seem too naïve and optimistic for her circumstances, but as the book is aimed at the Young Adult market I can see why some of the sharper edges were softened.
I would have liked to see more exploration of the magic system; there's a clear differentiation made between Salt Magic and Fire Magic, but why? We see Kinneret practice Salt Magic despite society's condemnation, but we never actually see any of the sanctioned Fire Magic. There are very slight hints from Calev about one being a request and one being a demand, but nothing else. I'd have also liked to see more of the world building; the entire tale takes place on small islands and the sea, why? What led to the caste system? Why is the slave island allowed to take such liberties? I enjoyed the novel despite these unanswered questions, but I can't help but feel it would be stronger with a little more world-building.
So, all in all, this is a strong and easy to read first entry in the series. It's well written and has strong, fairly relatable characters. It could have been a five star read with more world building and fewer inconsistencies, but I still very much enjoyed it. The romance is quite a sweet sub-plot that is directly relevant to main events, but doesn't take over the story. I'm intrigued to see where this goes... but I also have the box set of the authors Dragon series which I may have to read first.
Kinneret is a sea-faring Salt Witch and one of the low caste. When she's given hints to the location of a fabled island full of silver, she sets her sights on it with the hopes of buying her way to a higher status. Without it, she has no chance of marrying Calev, whose status as Old Farm puts him very much in the high-caste realm. And time is running out. It's less than a year til their eighteenth birthdays and the transition from 'child' to 'adult' means they'll be Outcast if they spend time together. But Kinneret soon finds she may have bitten off more than she can chew and her decisions result in her younger sister being taken and enslaved. Time is even shorter if she wants to save her sister.
The story drew me in. It starts off being a teenagers wish fulfilment and then - as is so often the case with snap decisions for teenagers - everything goes wrong. But Kinneret doesn't have many trusted adults to fall back on. Her status in society puts her at risk of imprisonment for the slightest of offences, her parents are long since dead and so she's left to flounder alone. Or not quite alone. It's fairly fast paced, one misadventure leading to disaster leading to near catastrophe leading to what could be fatal errors.
There were some moments that didn't quite make sense though, hence my point about the inconsistencies. There's a moment fairly late on in the novel for example where Kinneret and Calev come up with a half decent lie to explain things. Then a chapter or so later, they do an abrupt U-Turn and use a completely different lie that makes absolutely no sense. A five year old child could pick apart the holes in the story and yet apparently intelligent - and senior - adults fall for it hook, line and sinker. There's a few other occasions where the inconsistency detracts from the story, but without spoilers I'd end up writing a full length essay to try and explain them!
The characters were very strong as a whole. I really felt for Kinneret, whose status was determined well before she was a even a twinkle in her parent's eyes. She's got the grit and determination to try to make something of herself, but it's beyond difficult when so much of her time is spent simply trying to ensure that her and her sister survive. Klapheke touches on poverty and the fear of not knowing where your next meal will come from, but doesn't dwell on it. This sometimes makes Kinneret seem too naïve and optimistic for her circumstances, but as the book is aimed at the Young Adult market I can see why some of the sharper edges were softened.
I would have liked to see more exploration of the magic system; there's a clear differentiation made between Salt Magic and Fire Magic, but why? We see Kinneret practice Salt Magic despite society's condemnation, but we never actually see any of the sanctioned Fire Magic. There are very slight hints from Calev about one being a request and one being a demand, but nothing else. I'd have also liked to see more of the world building; the entire tale takes place on small islands and the sea, why? What led to the caste system? Why is the slave island allowed to take such liberties? I enjoyed the novel despite these unanswered questions, but I can't help but feel it would be stronger with a little more world-building.
So, all in all, this is a strong and easy to read first entry in the series. It's well written and has strong, fairly relatable characters. It could have been a five star read with more world building and fewer inconsistencies, but I still very much enjoyed it. The romance is quite a sweet sub-plot that is directly relevant to main events, but doesn't take over the story. I'm intrigued to see where this goes... but I also have the box set of the authors Dragon series which I may have to read first.
April 4, 2017
*I was given an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Let’s start with the positive sides! The writing is engaging and the author uses the five senses, which adds to the reader’s experience. She also writes detailed descriptions of the settings and events, and uses a good vocabulary (mostly linked to sailing, which makes it even more interesting). This story is intriguing, full of magic, adventure, and a realistic caste system! It is exotic with all the names, the caste system, the food, and the description of objects and titles. Moreover, the plot is interesting. There is drama, much conflict, and a sense of urgency. It is not a boring read due to its being action-packed! I felt as though I were in the story with Kinneret and her crew. Speaking of Kinneret, she is a strong main character – she makes decisions and gives her all to accomplish her goals, and her motives are clear. It was quite enjoyable. As for the characters in general, they are interesting; we care for Kinneret and Avi, and the rest are pleasant to read.
I find Kinneret headstrong and inspiring. Plus, she has a good dream: becoming a ship kaptan instead of the usual dream of piracy! The forbidden romance between Kinneret and Calev, her high-caste childhood friend, is bittersweet and well-done. It was quite fun to read. The story’s introduction was good and I’d just like to point out a thing that I liked: the author mentioned a woman’s bleed, which is rarely done in novels. Klapheke’s world-building is fantastic and exotic! It feels real because the people inhabiting her world live by their traditions, conventions, and social classes (mostly represented by the caste system). It feels both out-of-this-world and familiar. I greatly enjoyed her world-building skills!
Now, let’s talk about the negative sides. The dialogue is a bit too revealing and unrealistic. The characters disclose too much information and/or the sentences are too long. It could definitely be stronger and have more subtext. The action could use more description to make it even more engaging. The emotions could be more detailed. I could not identify them easily except for shame, anger, and love. Otherwise, it’s more telling than showing. The other characters (other than Kinneret) lack goals and motives or they’re not clear enough or too weak. Most of them just seem to fall in line behind Kinneret and whatever she does.
For all these reasons, I give this book a rating of 4 out of 5. I enjoyed spending time with Kinneret and her crew, living all those adventures at sea to rescue her sister, Avigail. Klapheke’s world is brilliant and exotic – a pleasure to read and travel to. However, the lack of showing the emotions instead of telling and the fact that nearly everyone goes Kinneret’s way are tiresome and unbelievable. This being said, I still recommend this book to those who love adventure-packed novels! One doesn’t grow bored with this novel! I will read the rest of Klapheke’s upcoming and past books about Kinneret and her crew and the Uncommon World.
Let’s start with the positive sides! The writing is engaging and the author uses the five senses, which adds to the reader’s experience. She also writes detailed descriptions of the settings and events, and uses a good vocabulary (mostly linked to sailing, which makes it even more interesting). This story is intriguing, full of magic, adventure, and a realistic caste system! It is exotic with all the names, the caste system, the food, and the description of objects and titles. Moreover, the plot is interesting. There is drama, much conflict, and a sense of urgency. It is not a boring read due to its being action-packed! I felt as though I were in the story with Kinneret and her crew. Speaking of Kinneret, she is a strong main character – she makes decisions and gives her all to accomplish her goals, and her motives are clear. It was quite enjoyable. As for the characters in general, they are interesting; we care for Kinneret and Avi, and the rest are pleasant to read.
I find Kinneret headstrong and inspiring. Plus, she has a good dream: becoming a ship kaptan instead of the usual dream of piracy! The forbidden romance between Kinneret and Calev, her high-caste childhood friend, is bittersweet and well-done. It was quite fun to read. The story’s introduction was good and I’d just like to point out a thing that I liked: the author mentioned a woman’s bleed, which is rarely done in novels. Klapheke’s world-building is fantastic and exotic! It feels real because the people inhabiting her world live by their traditions, conventions, and social classes (mostly represented by the caste system). It feels both out-of-this-world and familiar. I greatly enjoyed her world-building skills!
Now, let’s talk about the negative sides. The dialogue is a bit too revealing and unrealistic. The characters disclose too much information and/or the sentences are too long. It could definitely be stronger and have more subtext. The action could use more description to make it even more engaging. The emotions could be more detailed. I could not identify them easily except for shame, anger, and love. Otherwise, it’s more telling than showing. The other characters (other than Kinneret) lack goals and motives or they’re not clear enough or too weak. Most of them just seem to fall in line behind Kinneret and whatever she does.
For all these reasons, I give this book a rating of 4 out of 5. I enjoyed spending time with Kinneret and her crew, living all those adventures at sea to rescue her sister, Avigail. Klapheke’s world is brilliant and exotic – a pleasure to read and travel to. However, the lack of showing the emotions instead of telling and the fact that nearly everyone goes Kinneret’s way are tiresome and unbelievable. This being said, I still recommend this book to those who love adventure-packed novels! One doesn’t grow bored with this novel! I will read the rest of Klapheke’s upcoming and past books about Kinneret and her crew and the Uncommon World.
August 27, 2018
Did not enjoy this book.
The book had a shaky start. A common trope in books I love is the outcasted female lead who has skills and determination, bonus for magic or powers. However, this trope is a hard one to balance. Having a sibling to also take care of is also common, but one thing that really turns me off this genre is having a male character who is in a higher position (or caste) that the female lead pines after. That is this book. I think that that's all you need to know about the book. I should have realised how terrible this book would be as soon as Calev was introduced. Alas, I kept reading.
The main driver of the book is that Kinneret (gah I hate her name) really likes Calev, but since she is from such a low caste she cannot! Oh no! What is a low caste girl like her supposed to do?! Well apparently she's supposed to find a lost secret map of some mythical island of riches, sail there, and bring back the riches - allowing her to pay her way to a high enough caste to Calev. Ugh.
When I read this part, I thought that would be the whole book, if not the rest of the quartet. It's certainly a fun enough concept. Kinneret is a sailor with a sturdy ship and a capable first mate, in the form of Oron, a very Tyrion Lannister type character (complete with the dwarfism and alcoholism). A fun story about her seafaring adventures for her questions to find the island would be have great.
Alas, we got this story. The way they find the map is so stupid, and the ensuing adventures are equally stupid.
Whilst I tolerated the first third of the book, the rest of the story was filled with the characters making weird or terrible decisions and I was power-reading my way through. I think the author tried to make too many things happen in the book, it really could have been spread out over more books... Or cut out.
The book had a shaky start. A common trope in books I love is the outcasted female lead who has skills and determination, bonus for magic or powers. However, this trope is a hard one to balance. Having a sibling to also take care of is also common, but one thing that really turns me off this genre is having a male character who is in a higher position (or caste) that the female lead pines after. That is this book. I think that that's all you need to know about the book. I should have realised how terrible this book would be as soon as Calev was introduced. Alas, I kept reading.
The main driver of the book is that Kinneret (gah I hate her name) really likes Calev, but since she is from such a low caste she cannot! Oh no! What is a low caste girl like her supposed to do?! Well apparently she's supposed to find a lost secret map of some mythical island of riches, sail there, and bring back the riches - allowing her to pay her way to a high enough caste to Calev. Ugh.
When I read this part, I thought that would be the whole book, if not the rest of the quartet. It's certainly a fun enough concept. Kinneret is a sailor with a sturdy ship and a capable first mate, in the form of Oron, a very Tyrion Lannister type character (complete with the dwarfism and alcoholism). A fun story about her seafaring adventures for her questions to find the island would be have great.
Alas, we got this story. The way they find the map is so stupid, and the ensuing adventures are equally stupid.
Whilst I tolerated the first third of the book, the rest of the story was filled with the characters making weird or terrible decisions and I was power-reading my way through. I think the author tried to make too many things happen in the book, it really could have been spread out over more books... Or cut out.
September 20, 2019
Waters of Salt and Sin by Alisha Klapheke is the first book of the Uncommon World series. Kinneret is determined to have a better life for her sister and herself.
This story had the potential to be a really good read. There was action and magic, which are great for a fantasy novel, and what I look for as a lover of fantasy, and I was hoping to read of a strong female character, but the swooning became too repetitive, and the decisions the MC made were not of a strong willed female.
Others may enjoy this story, but it just wasn't for me.
This story had the potential to be a really good read. There was action and magic, which are great for a fantasy novel, and what I look for as a lover of fantasy, and I was hoping to read of a strong female character, but the swooning became too repetitive, and the decisions the MC made were not of a strong willed female.
Others may enjoy this story, but it just wasn't for me.
June 4, 2018
A fantastic whirl wind adventure
I don’t know where to start - I loved this exciting tale from the headstrong, determined characters to the magic of this world. The story never stops, it’s full of heart throbbing action and adventure leading up to a brilliant conclusion.
I don’t know where to start - I loved this exciting tale from the headstrong, determined characters to the magic of this world. The story never stops, it’s full of heart throbbing action and adventure leading up to a brilliant conclusion.
May 9, 2017
It has been a WHILE since I read a book, and I am SO happy I chose this one to "get back into my reading groove."
WATERS OF SALT AND SIN introduces you to a captivating new world where low-castes wear bells, and snooty high-castes look down on just about everyone. Klapheke did such an amazing job of making me interested in her characters from the moment they were introduced. Kinneret is one badass Salt Witch, and truly the star of the show, but she didn't outshine her supporting characters, which I find happens a lot these days. I miss Avi, Calev and Oron like I know them in real life, and cannot wait to read more about their adventures (which I'm about to do with the follow up novella, Fever)!
The world building is a whole beast in itself. From Jacokden to Kurakia and beyond, this world is huge, and leaves you breathless! Different customs, cultures, climates, clothes, food and more, suck you right in. Klapheke's world building skills are definitely on par with the greats, right down to her in-depth knowledge on how to sail a boat! The intense research she must have gone through, but damn was it ever worth it.
I give this book a 5/5, not only for the stellar world building, kickass heroine, and sexy love interest, but for the hungover longing for more I'm experiencing days after. Klapheke is one to watch out for!
WATERS OF SALT AND SIN introduces you to a captivating new world where low-castes wear bells, and snooty high-castes look down on just about everyone. Klapheke did such an amazing job of making me interested in her characters from the moment they were introduced. Kinneret is one badass Salt Witch, and truly the star of the show, but she didn't outshine her supporting characters, which I find happens a lot these days. I miss Avi, Calev and Oron like I know them in real life, and cannot wait to read more about their adventures (which I'm about to do with the follow up novella, Fever)!
The world building is a whole beast in itself. From Jacokden to Kurakia and beyond, this world is huge, and leaves you breathless! Different customs, cultures, climates, clothes, food and more, suck you right in. Klapheke's world building skills are definitely on par with the greats, right down to her in-depth knowledge on how to sail a boat! The intense research she must have gone through, but damn was it ever worth it.
I give this book a 5/5, not only for the stellar world building, kickass heroine, and sexy love interest, but for the hungover longing for more I'm experiencing days after. Klapheke is one to watch out for!
May 14, 2017
Couldn’t relate to the main character
Kinneret is a 17 year old low-caste sailor. She has her younger sister to take care of. It’s an adventure. In theory it has everything I like. But I just can’t get excited about it. I would have liked the magical element to have played a bigger role. But I guess the main reason why I didn’t LOVE this book is that I think Kinneret, the main character, is too intrepid, too insolent; she risks everything, including the sister she loves so much, just to have her say. And that doesn’t make sense to me, because she’d do anything to protect her sister. But were she to become an Outcast, what would she be able to do for her sister then? So I think that’s just plain stupid. Furthermore, she’s just too proud; she’d rather her sister died of hunger (or at least got very sick) than accept charity. And I just CANNOT understand that. I actually can’t believe she wouldn’t accept food from the boy she’s in love with in order to save her sister. It doesn’t make sense and I don’t like that. I can’t relate to Kinneret and that’s why I can’t give this book more than an ‘OK’.
Kinneret is a 17 year old low-caste sailor. She has her younger sister to take care of. It’s an adventure. In theory it has everything I like. But I just can’t get excited about it. I would have liked the magical element to have played a bigger role. But I guess the main reason why I didn’t LOVE this book is that I think Kinneret, the main character, is too intrepid, too insolent; she risks everything, including the sister she loves so much, just to have her say. And that doesn’t make sense to me, because she’d do anything to protect her sister. But were she to become an Outcast, what would she be able to do for her sister then? So I think that’s just plain stupid. Furthermore, she’s just too proud; she’d rather her sister died of hunger (or at least got very sick) than accept charity. And I just CANNOT understand that. I actually can’t believe she wouldn’t accept food from the boy she’s in love with in order to save her sister. It doesn’t make sense and I don’t like that. I can’t relate to Kinneret and that’s why I can’t give this book more than an ‘OK’.
May 10, 2017
Waters of Salt and Sin has everything that I want in fantasy. A new, intricate, interesting world; a magic system that I'm excited to learn more about; characters that blast off the page and sweep me up in their emotions, their struggles, and their ability to keep fighting when they need to; a romance that is oh so sweet.
And the sea. It's strange how many fantasy books talk about the sea, sail over the sea, live next to the sea, but never actually dive into the sea! In Waters of Salt and Sin, the sea is another character. I loved that about this book. It gave a realness, an authenticity to the setting, and - by extension - the story.
I highly recommend this book to fantasy lovers, and I implore you to judge it by its cover! (Oh my gosh, LOOK AT IT! The same kind of epicness is on the page too.)
And the sea. It's strange how many fantasy books talk about the sea, sail over the sea, live next to the sea, but never actually dive into the sea! In Waters of Salt and Sin, the sea is another character. I loved that about this book. It gave a realness, an authenticity to the setting, and - by extension - the story.
I highly recommend this book to fantasy lovers, and I implore you to judge it by its cover! (Oh my gosh, LOOK AT IT! The same kind of epicness is on the page too.)
November 1, 2019
I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked the characters well enough, particularly the heroine Kinneret. I liked her spunk, her drive and determination to get what she wanted, which was a chance at having a good life, with her love.
What I liked most about the story was it’s potential, and that’s where I docked it... it could have been a great story IMO, but it just was not developed enough. The story felt rushed, and sometime far fetched. I felt that things were happening one right after another, sometimes with no rhyme nor reason and I was like what?! How did that happened or where did that come from?
I admit I struggled to finish it... I liked the characters enough to want to see how it ended 🤷🏽♀️
Not going on my hall of fame, but if I might check out the following books.
What I liked most about the story was it’s potential, and that’s where I docked it... it could have been a great story IMO, but it just was not developed enough. The story felt rushed, and sometime far fetched. I felt that things were happening one right after another, sometimes with no rhyme nor reason and I was like what?! How did that happened or where did that come from?
I admit I struggled to finish it... I liked the characters enough to want to see how it ended 🤷🏽♀️
Not going on my hall of fame, but if I might check out the following books.
May 7, 2017
This was a beautifully-written, action-packed fantasy read. The characters were developed and distinct. I rooted for Kinneret, worried for Avi, swooned for Calev, detested the amir, and snorted with laughter at Oron, who was easily my favorite of them all. But even better than the characters was the world that Klapheke built around them. It felt real, and the details about sailing were masterfully done. The author has a way with words, and a beautiful descriptive voice. I'm looking forward to book #2.
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