Water Princess, Fire Prince

The Rizkaland Legends #1

by Kendra E. Ardnek

When the Lady Dragon does come,
Hold fast, do not fear, do not run.
Your Water Princess will fight,
Fire Prince will set all to right.
Each shall come from a Fall,
Their union will save you all.

Despite the fact that she's on track for competing in the Olympics, and he's practically raised his younger brothers since they lost their mom in a car accident, Clara Mandras and Andrew Stevenson are pretty much normal teens. They have normal hopes, normal dreams, and they live in a normal world.
All this is torn away from them when they are thrust into another world and declared Water Princess and Fire Prince. With no experience ruling a country, meeting each other for the first time, and being expected to fight the Lady Dragon – an evil sorceress plaguing the world of Rizkaland – Clara and Andrew are underprepared and inexperienced. Unless they learn to work together despite their standing opposition, Rizkaland's hope will be lost.

What is to come will change their lives forever.

Genres: Fantasy, Christian Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Romance, Adventure, Christian Fantasy

455 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 31, 2015

About the author

Kendra E. Ardnek is the self-proclaimed Arista of Fairy Tales. She makes her home in the hills of central Texas with her fellow author husband, who she found at a writer’s conference. When not writing, you can usually find her crocheting her own cloaks, valiantly attempting to read every retelling ever written, and pretending that owning toy dragons makes her a dragon trainer.

Reviews

[Amanda Beguerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Water Princess, Fire Prince centers around two teenagers, Clara Mandras and Andrew Stevenson. In a whirlwind of events, those two end up in another world called Rizkaland, in the country of Klarand. A prophecy is thrown upon them stating firstly that Clara and Andrew will fight the Lady Dragon, for she has been tormenting the people of Klarand, turning them to ice, and melting them. An unescapable fate. And the second part of the prophecy? Their union will be the key to the country’s salvation. Did I mention that Andrew is declared the Fire Prince and Clara the Water Princess?
Problem is, Andrew and Clara are meeting for the first time, and they don’t want to be united. Not at sixteen. And Andrew can’t exactly fight. He could probably whack someone in the head with a frying pan, but that’s about it. Clara’s attitude is highly uncooperative, and that’s putting it kindly.
How in Rizkaland is it all going to work out?

Water Princess, Fire Prince tugged ever so strongly at the strings of my heart. The message is clear, strong, and inspiring, and I related to it so much. I identified with Clara. (I've heard that most people did not. However, she's a lot like me when it comes to interests, looks, and personality.) I became her, and I fell in love with Andrew. (Is that a problem?) I laughed, I cried, I squealed, and I glared right back at Clara in her glaring moments.

The dialogue is witty, hilarious, deep, and I felt at some points as though I would say the exact same things. I felt everything along with Clara and Andrew, and even Amber at some points. Because you're inside Clara and Andrew's heads (at different times) throughout the book, you see the rationalization of actions and motives behind choices. It's so wonderful because it's so real. IT IS JUST SO REAL.
The worldbuilding was magical. Literally magical. It was like a whole new Narnia, and absolutely amazing. DID I MENTION THE PART ABOUT IT BEING SO REAL?

Every part melted my heart. The faith aspect is so deep, and theologically accurate, but never preachy.
It's so amazing, and I can't say enough good things about it.
The romance aspect was done ever so well, and very tastefully. No insta-love here. (That's one of my top pet peeves in today's mainstream novels.) Water Princess, Fire Prince demonstrated that love is something to fight for, and not something that is anything even remotely close to easy. It's one of the sweetest love stories I've ever read. It's raw. It's real. It's heartbreaking and tear-jerking, and also something you're cheering for and fangirling over the entire time.

The dynamics of the entire story are absolutely perfect. I can't talk enough about it.
I've been squealing to my family and friends about it since April when I read it. I wasn't a prior Kendra E. Ardnek fan, but I did know her a little bit from Goodreads and other online author-y book-y read-y things. So I went into it somewhat unbiased and definitely skeptical. I didn't expect to dislike it per se, I just had no idea how much I'd fall in love with it.
But I did.
And I'm speechless.

[H.M.R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Water Princess, Fire Prince by Kendra E. Ardnek.

I’m still not sure it’s safe for me to write a review. Total fangirl is a kind way of saying I’m going crazy. Yup, I know I’m going krazy. I’ll just assume you know what Water Princess, Fire Prince is about and carry on with my review.

Okay this book was simply amazing! If you have not read it, you need to. Said. Now do. *waves to book and glares at you till you pick it up to read*

So, I wasn’t actually sure I would like WPFP to the extent I do. I’m not one for magical fantasy as much. Yes, I do like a dragon or two occasionally, but I didn’t know if I would like Lady Dragon in particular. I only started actually reading the Fantasy genre six months ago, and was a little leery about WPFP. But it seems as my worries were in vain. I absolutely loved this and I actually liked the air of intrigue that the Lady Dragon held. (I mean she can freeze people. That is really cool. Not to mention turn herself into a Dragon. :D)

The Romance. This was one thing I’m not sure what to think about it. I mean I found it a little odd that they were just sixteen and at that level of romance. But considering that they were *claps hand over mouth to stop the endless amount of spoilers to follow* It’s not at all odd, I guess. So, you’ll just have to judge for yourself. I thought it well done and I did love the Clarand moments. *fangirl squeaks and hand motions*

One thing I found humorous was how that Clara’s mom and dad and best friend’s parents just happened to specialize in the things they would need to know in their adventure in Rizkaland. But it was meant to be that way. *smiles knowingly and also stupidly* You just have to read this!

The Characters. So, I actually didn’t really like Clara at the start. She seemed a bit demanding and unappreciative of the things others did for her. But towards the end I couldn’t help but love her. Don’t get me started about Andrew. He was simply awesome, and if I start thinking about everyone else …. This would be a very long review full of nonsense. In fact, it might already be so.

[C.B. Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm admitting RIGHT NOW that I really meant to review this AGES ago. *sigh* But at least I'm getting around to it now.

Kendra Ardnek did an AMAZING job with the worldbuilding in this book! Not only is the world intriguing, it's one of the most unique worlds I've ever read about. I mean, hello, it's a world shaped like a cylinder! It's also sitting in a lake of fire. The different colors of water and the world itself are just amazing.

The characters are absolutely wonderful, too. Clara and Andrew were really sweet (I ship Clarand!) and LAURA. OH MY GRAVY LAURA. I was very glad to hear that she'll be in other parts of the series, because I'm pretty sure she's my absolute favorite. Lady Dragon was a super interesting villain, too. AND GRANITE!!!! I want to hug him SO BAD!!!!!

And then of course there was fighting and superpowers (technically, not in name) and archery and sword-fighting and martial arts... I LOVE IT!!!

So basically, I am a ginormous fan, and I'll definitely be looking out for the next book in the series!!! I recommend this to pretty much everyone. ;)

[Lilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful book

Full of Narnia vibes which I absolutely loved –Narnia practically being my childhood.
The characters were great. They had great ARCs and were relatable. The world building was very unique and original. The plot was great, slightly predictable but I didn’t mind because that’s a trait all allegories posses. And the writing style was easy to follow.
Generally this was just an amazing read and I thoroughly loved it. The absolute best part for me is how relatable and real the characters felt as I read it. Can’t wait to continue the series before my KU subscription ends!

[Shantelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to read Water Princess, Fire Prince by Kendra E. Ardnek, as the story description sounded like something I’d enjoy. And I did quite enjoy this story! Akin to The Chronicles of Narnia in some ways, it swept me away into a strange and intriguing world along with its characters.

Clara is a normal fifteen-year-old girl, practicing diving one day with her friends. She never expected time travel. She never expected princes or princesses.
Andrew has younger brothers to care for; responsibilities to attend to. Saving Rizkaland was not exactly in his future plans.
What happens when the Water Princess and the Fire Prince clash? … And when the dreaded Dragon attacks?

From the beginning, my interest was piqued. Water Princess, Fire Prince starts with a splash, and fast paced excitement. From there, it slows down a bit. But perhaps we’re too intrigued with the new world to notice, *smiles* Truly, I feel Kendra did a genius job with Rizkaland; so much imagination, color, and fun! It was a bit mind-boggling at points, the time-traveling theme … but definitely captivating! I really enjoyed exploring this fantasy world along with our time-traveler characters.

Speaking of those characters … I had a hard time with Clara sometimes. She had a bit of arrogance about her that bothered me time and again. The way she treated some people with a certain rudeness, as if they were beneath her. She just didn’t seem, hmm, happy, for a lot of the time. Kind of a moody teenager mixed with “tough” heroine sort of girl. That was just my initial reaction, maybe other readers saw her differently. But I will say, I liked her by the end of the book. She had her faults, but she definitely seemed to grow and mature—especially with the loyalty and sweetness of a certain young man. (It kind of reminded me of the Katniss and Peeta relationship). So while some of her attitude rubbed me wrong, Clara did end up being a good character! *smiles* She grew, and learned, and loved, and did some great things.
Andrew was wonderful. At first, he was portrayed almost as a bit wimpy. But quickly you saw his strength and leadership show though. Coupled with steadfastness and gentleness … *sigh* He’s a pretty great guy.
I liked the array of other characters. Lots of different interesting people.

I mentioned the romance … it was pretty cute. I admit, I was slightly startled at reading this deep of romance with two sixteen-year-olds, but Kendra presented it tastefully and pretty maturely. Some people do get married young and have a strong, loving relationship. As long as God wills it and works in their hearts at a young age! *smiles* Anyway, it was a sweet journey. It was touching to watch two young people bound together fall in love within the will of their King. There was some kissing and romance-y stuff. I don’t know. I’d maybe say fifteen/sixteen and up as for audience.

I don’t remember much for violence, though there were some battles. Nothing particularly frightening either.

But we have time-travel, complex happenings, griffon-like creatures, an evil dragon, a unique love story, an ancient prophesy, war, intriguing abilities, and lessons of courage, trust, and humility woven throughout the pages of this book.

Overall, I really liked it! The reason for not five stars? Well, I don’t really know. Clara bothered me a bit at first, but like I said, that changed! At the end, something happens that I wasn’t expecting. It was really shocking and sad to me, and I was wondering where the emotion from Clara was?? Yeah … I just would have liked to see more real and raw emotion from her at this point.

But other than that, I think Water Princess, Fire Prince is a great story! Filled with wild imagination, this tale is sure to intrigue you! I very much enjoyed returning to its pages, and am excited to read the next book in the series! So much mystery still waiting to be unraveled! *grins*

I received a copy of Water Princess, Fire Prince from the author in exchange for my honest review.

[Claire Banschbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Portal fantasy is always exciting. You get to experience a new world through the eyes of someone from (usually) our world instead of an inhabitant of said world. This lets both the reader's and the author's imaginations go wild. The world of Rizkaland is no exception. We start off with two teens who get transported from our world into a different realm where they're expected to defeat a dragon and take their place as the new king and queen. And get married. No pressure.

Overall, it was a really great story. I know other readers have had issues with Clara and I lump myself into that category. She was pretty irritating for the first section, but she steadily improved especially when the second half of the book hit. I did at times want to shake Andrew in an attempt to bring him to his senses, but his reactions were more understandable than Clara's. (Although who wouldn't want to go explore a new land and learn how to use a sword and bow? Granted the whole prophecy thing and being separated from your family is less than optimal.)

The second half of the book was really good. I enjoyed the story a whole lot more once Andrew and Clara finally met and started on the official "quest". The romance was pretty cute. I did like how that developed. The ending was a little rushed and abrupt to me, but everything gets resolved so it's not a big deal. I just wanted more of what happened after...well, spoilers...

The world building was awesome. A cylindrical world and water of varied colors that each have a different purpose? Pretty cool! If nothing else, just read the book to learn about this crazy new world that Ms. Ardnek invented. I know I wouldn't mind going for a visit. The plot had plenty of little twists that kept it fresh. The ending sort of introduces you to the next book in the series, and it's enough to keep me interested in this new world of Rizkaland!

Recommended to anyone who like fantasy, adventure, romance, and stories about finding one's true path.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommended for: Ages 10 to Adult

Rating: PG (fantasy violence and romance)

I found out about Kendra through following Homeschool Author stuff and downloaded and read The Ankulen once when it was free. I then got some Bookanias on kindle and liked those a good bit. I also got to know Kendra on Goodreads because we ended up in groups together. Which was fun. When she asked for beta readers for WPFP, I signed up because, well, why not? I liked Bookania and she's a friend and I like to help friends. She sent part one, and it took me awhile to get around to it, but one day I was sick, so I pulled it out. I liked it. She sent me part 2. I liked Andrew better than Clara and wanted to see them meet. I really loved part 3. I couldn't wait to see how their relationship developed. Then came part 4. And it became one of my favorite books. With a "whoa, I did not see that one coming" and a "how could part 4 end like that?!" And then part 5 which I love so much left me sighing with contentment and wanting more at the same time. And reading and rereading the ending several times on the way home from church. And, I admit, I kind of fangirled over it. Primarily to Kendra and in the Goodreads group. Which actually caused me to make a new friend.

It takes a good book to get that kind of response from me. The kind that has me driving my sisters crazy by talking about it all the time. The kind that has me daydreaming about making it into a movie. The kind that has me determined that I have to have a paperback. That's Water Princess, Fire Prince.

Writing: 4.5/5

Kendra understands deep character point of view. Clara and Andrew, the Water Princess and Fire Prince, are the two points of view and it alternates between them. It's clear whose head we are in. They have their ways of thinking, their little quirks. I was pulled into the story. I was pulled into the world. I lived this adventure with them. And Kendra has a way of throwing in references and making fun of cliches while using them that's brilliant. I can't necessarily say the writing is completely perfect, but it's far more than sufficient.

Setting: 5/5

Rizkaland is the most unique and interesting fantasy world I've visited. The world is a cylinder rather than a ball. Water is of multiple different colors, depending on its use. The trees are thus rainbow colored. There are interesting versions of animals and mythical creatures like etrinas and rowandas and hinequas. They have prophets called Bookholders or Bookdaughters. They have unique traditions and customs (if I talk too much about that, I could tread into spoiler territory). There is the Doorkeeper, Laura, who was given the task of opening doors between worlds by Alphego Himself. It's a very well developed world. You can tell Kendra spent a lot of time on the worldbuilding. It's on my list of worlds to visit once I meet Laura. :)

Plot: 4.5/5

On its surface, Water Princess, Fire Prince might seem like any portal fantasy story: teens pulled out of their own world, brought to a land where they have been prophesied to defeat the oppressor, which they then proceed to do. However, WPFP is very unique. Kendra, or rather Clara, makes fun of those cliches and fantasy stereotypes. There are unusual challenges they face, not the least of which the fact that the Water Princess and Fire Prince are prophesied to get married, and they barely even want to be friends. It's fun. It's serious. It's exciting. It's romantic. It's...Water Princess, Fire Prince.

Character Development: 5/5

The characters are what really stand out. I admit, Clara was kind of hard to connect with in part 1. But the more I got to know her, the more I could relate to her. As she resisted everyone pushing her to fall in love with Andrew, I found myself thinking that, yep, that's probably how I would react too. I wanted her to stop being so stubborn, yet I saw myself in her stubbornness. Andrew is awesome. I liked him pretty much from the start. He doesn't like the situation any more than Clara does, but he handles it better. He's really a great guy. And while she's the little fighter that Lord Abraham compared to an etrina, he's the definition of a true leader. After all, he kind of had to take over the care of his three little brothers after he lost his mom in a car accident. Funny, though Clara's a fighter (sword, martial arts, bow and arrow), she's still feminine, and while Andrew did take over from his mother and is a good cook, he's very much a man. I love how they're not a stereotypical gentleman and lady while still being quite a gentleman and a lady.

A couple of secondary characters worth mentioning. Jill Anna is the girl I aspire to be. She's a seamstress and a big sister, and fills both the roles of mentor and friend to Clara, sometimes simultaneously. Such words of wisdom come from her mouth that struck a chord with me and continue to stick around. I can relate to her a lot personality-wise, and, well, I want to know more of her story. Lor'Son Jakob is a remarkably perceptive guy, as Clara says. He's the one who is calm and steady, but has a big heart that doesn't care about class or rank. I like him a lot. Jasmine and Karlos are the kids, and they can be quite entertaining, particularly Jasmine. Laura, the Doorkeeper. With influence from River Song, the Doctor, and even the TARDIS herself. She lives a lonely life, but she's always ready to encourage. She shows up where she is needed, where Alphego needs her to be. There are so many characters, too many to talk about, this review is already too long. But WPFP has quite a colorful cast of characters. Even Amber and Granite are interesting, and I'm actually looking forward to learning more about them in book 2 of The Rizkaland Legends.

Water Princess, Fire Prince is a really good book. If you like fantasy, if you like adventure, if you like discovering new worlds, if you like tales of good vs. evil, if you like romance, if you like book characters, particularly ones who can carry on conversations with quotes and references, you will love Water Princess, Fire Prince.

I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

For more reviews from me and my sisters, visit www.shirereviews.blogspot.com

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are many ways to write portal fantasy. Quite a few, sadly, are distinctly non-awesome. In Water Princess, Fire Prince, however, Kendra E. Ardnek found one of the awesome ways.

There are four main things that I love about this book. The first two are characters. First is Laura, who although a secondary character, is one of the most intriguing people in the story. She's fun and absolutely fascinating, though I can't tell you why- spoilers! Second is Andrew, one of the two main characters. I loved Andrew from his very first line; his steady, quiet personality, his protectiveness, and his sense of responsibility all make him awesome, while his reluctance to accept his place in Klarand and struggle to figure out the path ahead of him make him real (and relatable). His relationship with Clara- the third thing I love- is also funny and rather sweet and adorable once it really gets going, and filled with quotes and references from the start. (Fact: if a couple, any couple, can carry on a conversation in book quotes and references, they get awesomeness points.) The fourth main thing I love in this book is the worldbuilding. From the first few Klarand chapters, I could tell that, when it came to creating her world, Kendra let her imagination run free, making Klarand unique and (literally) colorful.

However, the book does have one or two faults. One of the biggest can, unsurprisingly, be found with a certain character: Clara. For most of the book's first part, I struggled to connect with Clara. Her stubbornness and certain of her choices annoyed me, and her skills threatened my suspension of disbelief and occasionally made her seem a bit (dare I say it?) Mary-Sue-ish. Thankfully, once Andrew came into the picture to balance her out, she improved quite a bit. Otherwise, there were no major issues.

Overall, Water Princess, Fire Prince is a fun and exciting addition to the portal fantasy genre. Fans of The Chronicles of Narnia and The Door Within trilogy will definitely enjoy this unique adventure through a fascinating world.

I received a free copy of Water Princess, Fire Prince from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Kate Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in a matter of hours; and, believe me, traveling to other worlds does really mess with your timeline! ; ) Here’s what I thought of my adventure…

Rizkaland (once I figured out how to pronounce it) was a very intriguing world. Just familiar enough to keep it from being confusing, but very original and fascinating! I loved the different colors of water, and the journey through the mountain.

My favorite character was definitely Andrew, with Clara as a close second (once she came around). They both had so much to learn, and I loved watching them grow. Jill Anna, Jasmine, and one surprise character (whom I can’t name) were also big favorites. I found Laura amusing and mysterious, and I look forward to finding out more about her.

The whole story was a book nerd’s dream—tons of literary references from the start that added so much! (Who else begins their book with a hilarious take-off on Jane Austen’s famous beginning of Pride & Prejudice or throws Alice in Wonderland references in with the dialogue?!!) Quite the clever plot with lessons in trust, hilarious moments (like teaching medieval friends to play Monopoly!), great action, and even some mystery. (That was definitely my favorite!! Some big surprises.)

Just a note, there is some strong romance between married teens, thematic action, and slight feminism.

Altogether I found it to be a great non-magical (nearly) fantasy for older readers! Please excuse me while I go use the great seal of England to crack nuts. ; )

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this book (especially the second half)! I really enjoyed reading about these characters and their journey.

AND I GOTTA SAY IT AGAIN THE COVER BLOWS ME AWAY! ❤️

Going to definitely get my hands on the next book. 👍

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Planning on giving a full review on my blog... But I will say *points to five stars* I loved this book and can't wait to read the second one!

[Aria · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOOAAAHHH OKAY I LOVED THIS BOOK.

[Erika Mathews · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

It starts slow.

But it quickly becomes an engrossing and intriguing tale of two ordinary teenagers thrust into a non-ordinary life.

Kendra E. Ardnek has been working on this story for seven years, and the depth of her work shows in her characters. She has infused life into Clara, Andrew, Laura, and their friends. Each one has a true-to-life personality that it's easy to befriend while poring over the pages of their story.

The entire concept of the story is intriguing. It answers a fundamental question that everyone has wondered: "What if I stepped in the shower and it was really a waterfall and I stepped out as a Water Princess?"

Okay, so maybe most people never have that thought. But the idea touches a chord inside of us - the thrilling realm of the imaginative "what-ifs" that adulthood never truly loses. And when Kendra had that thought, pursuing the trail of where it led her resulted in a complex and deep story that reveals the workings of Alphego (God) in the lives of those whom He has called.

Following Clara, Andrew, and their friends as they find themselves caught in His plan is an adventure of trusting Him, no matter what personal preferences might be or how crazy the situation looks.

As for the plot and content, it's masterfully done. Some parts are predictable and the action is slower, but so many unique elements fill the sequence that the story is indeed a page-turner. There's a bit of romance. And thumbs-up to Kendra for how her characters don't rush into things but are willing to step back, wait, and take things slowly.

The world-traveling element of the story is also a unique plot element that adds interest to the story with the twists and turns of time, connections, and how past, present, and future mix themselves up. It keeps the readers as well as the characters on their toes.

This book has a very large cast of characters that can be slightly difficult to keep straight. However, the story is long enough that the major characters are clear and the minor characters are mentioned in such a way that they can be kept track of, even if their personalities and roles might not always be developed thoroughly.

Watching Clara and Andrew work through their struggles, both individually and together, was inspiring. Both of them are normal teens with normal feelings and issues, but both of them seek Alphego and learn to submit to Him instead of running their own lives. As they learn to put the needs of others above their own, both grow and mature throughout the book. Cause/effect is strong and clear in this story.

Dialogue is realistic and believable. The backstories are hinted at just enough to support the main story with their own unique strength. Elements of the story in the beginning tie in very well throughout the book and in the end. Overall, Rizkaland is a fresh and believable world with interesting geography, science, and history that are revealed in small snippets in natural ways interspersed throughout the story.

I recommend it for all ages. There is very minimal violence (some creatures are killed and on occasion, characters are injured by animals), there is minimal romance, and there is a very clean feel to the story.

This is not a light read - it is a thick book with five parts. However, it is well worth the time, both in entertainment and, more importantly, on an inspirational level. Kendra's goal in her writings is to glorify God, and this theme is clear in Water Princess, Fire Prince.

[Firefly · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I really wanted to rate this book a four, even five. Truth is I almost rated it two stars. My friend recommended it to me; it seemed liked people really like it, but.... I did not enjoy most of it at all. I think it's a me thing? There was just a ton of the stuff in the book that annoyed me or bothered me and I was frustrated with the characters like a hundred percent of the time. Also I felt like I'd read it a hundred times before :/
I do think Kendra's creativity in world building is amazing. The world, at least, was unique. Like, different colored waters that have different purposes? That's amazing.

[Megan McCullough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, where do I even start? This book was fantastic! Seriously, go read it. :D

The Plot
Very Narnia-ish. :) But also very unique! It revolves around 2 teens who get thrust into a medieval world and hailed as the Water Princess and Fire Prince. These aren't just normal, average teens though. They are alive with personality, flaws, and awesomeness, which brings me to my next point.

The Characters
Oh my goodness, the characters are some of my favorites in Book History! Clara is a fiery teen with a sharp temper and athletic abilities. There are other things I could tell you about her, but...spoilers! Andrew is more laid back and organized. He is also very selfless.

The Negative
There isn't much to put here. :) The only thing I saw was that there were a couple of typos (aside from the purposeful ones due to Rizkaland spelling). They might have been changed in the final version, I just read the Advanced Reader Copy.

Final Thoughts
Go. Read. It. Now. You won't be disappointed! This book has become one of my favorites, right up there with the Ilyon Chronicles, the Out of Time Trilogy, and Tales of Goldstone Wood. Way to go Kendra! I will definitely be reading the rest of this series!

[Faith Gilliosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book, love this series. Masterful worldbuilding, awesome characters, great prose, and just a really good story. This is the kind of fantasy I can sit down and mull over long after it's over.

And can I just say, I LOVE the characters in the next books, but the two MCs in this one will remain my favorite characters. Maybe in the universe(s).

[Jenelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the Bookania books a few years ago and thoroughly enjoyed them and the fun fairy-tale world setting. Rizkaland is not the same as Bookania, and I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy it as much…

I needn’t have worried.

Rizkaland is unique and every bit as much fun as Bookania, but in different ways. The world is cylinder-shaped, science works differently there, and of course, portals exist between our world and there, so our hero and heroine are not native to Rizkaland.

The main characters, Clara and Andrew, hail from our world, and get pulled through a doorway into Rizkaland in order to fulfill a prophecy and save multiple kingdoms from Amber, the dragon who threatens their world. However, Clara and Andrew aren’t certain they want anything to do with this destiny that has been thrust upon them. And they certainly have no interest in falling in love with each other, as the prophecy seems to imply must happen!

Things I Loved:

The Writing Style – It’s hard to describe a writing style, as each reader is going to have a different sort of taste or preference, but Kendra’s writing just sort of draws me in and invites me to pull a warm blanket around my shoulders and settle in, because I just know I’m about to embark on a fun adventure.

Andrew – Andrew is my favorite character in this story. He is responsible, caring, compassionate, and exactly the sort of person you’d want on your side if you had to go up against a dragon. I love that he represents a more “hearth-like” sort of fire, the steady, gentle glow that keeps you warm, rather than the raging inferno or devouring monstrosity that “fiery” personalities usually engender. But that doesn’t mean he’s weak, on the contrary, it might take more to get him riled, but Andrew is no slouch when it comes to protecting the people he cares about. He has a core of steel.

Clara – Although it took me longer, I did eventually grow to enjoy Clara. She got on my nerves a bit in the beginning, but she was frightened and so I suppose it makes sense that she felt the need to be prickly. I also have a soft spot for feisty, talented female protagonists who are a bit marshmallowy inside than they seem. Clara’s not as tough as she’d like you to think she is.

The plot - From mazes and puzzles to solve, journeys across foreign lands, quests to find each other, hints that not all is as it seems, and the culmination of an epic battle… this story was fun to read!

The references – Clara quotes things. I quote things. I think, on that front, we’d be kindred spirits. It makes me happy that I “got” every reference she made, and it was entertaining to come across these little quote-nuggets throughout the book.

Things I Didn’t Love:

As I mentioned earlier, Clara took a while to grow on me. She starts out kind of obnoxious, and I sort of wanted to shake her every now and then.

There were a few places where the story felt like it dragged a little and nothing seemed to be happening.

The battle at the end sort of felt like it ended too easily, like Amber had been hyped-up a bit too much… I guess I was expecting something a bit more epic and grand in scope.

The “it’s all going to end okay” use of prophecy throughout the story kind of grated a bit on my nerves. Don’t get me wrong, I love the prophecy trope (I wrote one, myself!), I love books with happy endings and I always want the good guys to win… but I don’t want to know a quarter of the way into the book that the ending WILL be happy and that the good guys will win. For me, that detracts from the adventure. Everything was spelled out so neatly in the prophecy, it wasn’t a mysterious prophecy, it was a “this is what is going to happen, so get on board and go do it” kind of prophecy, and for me, that made it hard to get too worried about the characters.

These are minor quibbles, however, and overall the story was an enjoyable read. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys The Chronicles of Narnia, Alice in Wonderland, Inkheart, or portal fantasies in general.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is actually two reviews: mine, and my 9 year-old brother's.
DISCLAIMER: I beta-read this book and then received an ARC copy from the author in exchange for my honest review. Ezra also got an ARC review copy.

My Review:
I loved this book. I have raved about it to my friends, family, grandfather- pretty much anyone who gave me a chance to. Seriously, it's fantastic.
Okay, worldbuilding: I have never read a book set in such a unique world. Water comes in every color, and each color is useful in a different area (cooking, bathing, drinking, etc.) There's the Firefall (think waterfall, only with liquid fire) in Lower Klarand, and the Waterfall in Upper Klarand. Also, the world is cylindrical. Intriguing, no? Not to mention all the creatures, legends, traditions and such scattered throughout the book.
Romance: Oh, Clarand. *sighs happily*. I must say, the two of them are adorable. I may or may not have squealed out loud several times whilst reading WPFP.
Plot: (from the description)
Despite the fact that she's on track for competing in the Olympics, and he's practically raised his younger brothers since they lost their mom in a car accident, Clara Mandras and Andrew Stevenson are pretty much normal teens. They have normal hopes, normal dreams, and they live in a normal world.
All this is torn away from them when they are thrust into another world and declared Water Princess and Fire Prince. With no experience ruling a country, meeting each other for the first time, and being expected to fight the Lady Dragon – an evil sorceress plaguing the world of Rizkaland – Clara and Andrew are underprepared and inexperienced. Unless they learn to work together despite their standing opposition, Rizkaland's hope will be lost.
What is to come will change their lives forever.
The romance is not the sole plot of the book. The two of them must fight Amber (also known as the Lady Dragon), a sorceress who is capable of turning herself into a dragon. And freezing people.
I won't say any more, for fear of spoiling parts, but I will say this. READ. THIS. BOOK!
Trust me, you won't regret it!
Five full stars!

Ezra's review:
Water Princess, Fire Prince is an awesome book. There is this sorceress that can turn into a dragon. She’s called The Lady Dragon. She looks like a young girl, but she is really 5,000 years old! The world is like a huge soup can in shape. There are different colors of water there. If water and fire are mixed in that world, it becomes a REALLY, REALLY, REALLY DANGEROUS LIQUID. The Lady Dragon’s island is built so if anyone sets foot in it they can’t leave for 500 to 1,000 years! She even has a device that can turn people to ice!!!!! She’s dangerous. It’s cool how there is a firefall (A waterfall with fire instead of water)

[gabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book. I mean amazing!!! I got to beta read Water Princess, Fire Prince (this was my first time beta reading) before it came out and I’m so glad I did.

Clara Mandras is just a normal sixteen year old who wants to go to the Olympics in a few years. Andrew Stevenson (a sixteen year old too) has taken the responsibility of taking care of his three younger brothers ever since his mother disappeared. Both definitely don’t want to be transported to the island Klarand and proclaimed Water Princess and Fire Prince of the world Rizkaland. In a prophecy it is proclaimed that only the Water Princess and Fire Prince can save Rizkaland. For Amber (also known as the Lady Dragon), an evil sorceress, is terrorizing Rizkaland. Clara and Andrew must get over their differences and the unfairness of life to unite and save them all.

I loved every ounce of this book. It had a bit of a slow start for me and took me longer to read than I expected. But, I must say, I had a lot going on at the time. So I didn’t get to read for long amounts of time to really get into it, at least, until close to the end. Then I read like a maniac. It was that good.

Clara and Andrew were amazing characters from the start. I loved each of them for different reasons. Clara, with her amazing skills and stubbornness (I can say I wanted that stubbornness to go at some points, but I liked it too). Andrew, with his leadership skills and kindness no matter how Clara acted toward him. The romance between Clara and Andrew was so sweet and didn’t get inappropriate like some books get. The romance was definitely one of my favorite parts about the book! The book was written pretty well (I even got to help with some of the editing!). To me, it also had a distinctive Narnian flair. I just fell in love with Rizkaland. It was so unique, so colorful. I just wish I could go there… To sum up my feelings: Water Princess, Fire Prince is an amazing journey into a fascinating new world. It contains the attributes of what creates an epic fantasy book: characters that are easy to connect with, sweet romance, adventure, breathtaking danger, exciting battles, and a touch of humor. I can’t wait to dive into Rizkaland again in the next book!!!

I recommend this to anyone who likes fiction (especially Narnia fans). You won’t be disappointed.

You can check out this review on my blog too, at: https://aheartredeemed.wordpress.com/... Thanks!

[Ghost Ryter · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting "portal fantasy", that reminded me of The Chronicles of Narnia and The Door Within. This book whisks you away to the fascinating world of Rizkaland, where the Lady Dragon stalks and the people wait for the prophesied Water Princess and Fire Prince to come and fight her.

The world building is amazing. Well crafted and deep. Rizkaland just feels so real! And the characters filling it were interesting, not the least of which is Laura, the Doorkeeper. She instantly captured my attention. We only learn snatches about her, but little we know is intriguing, if rather sad. She's a character I'd love to know more about.

At first the story seems pretty standard, but the more you read the twists begin to be revealed. Small, seemingly random things from the beginning have explanations you never would imagined.

There were a few things I didn't like about Water Princess, Fire Prince. To be honest, the heroine, Clara, was one of them. I had a bit of a hard time standing her.Somewhere around have way through the book, I came to like her a little more (may or may not have had something to do with the absolutely adorable romance...), but she's definitely not a favorite character. I also was disappointed with the epilogue.

But the ending...*excited squeal*. Next book, please!



I received a free copy of this in exchange for an honest review, which I have given.

[Mary Emma Sivils · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book wasn't really my style, I was able to appreciate some of the things I found within its pages (Well, not physical pages. It was an e-book.😛)

Pros:

-The worldbuilding. Although I would have liked to see the unique qualities of the world utilized more often in the plot, I enjoyed just reading about them.

-The mix of traveling through worlds and traveling through time. It was hard to wrap my mind around, but in a good way.

-Many of Clara's and Andrew's interactions with each other. Their personalities were so opposite that it was fun to watch.

Cons:

-The length of the story. I enjoy plenty of long books, but in this one, very little seemed to happen for chapters at a time--especially near the beginning.

-The characters. Overall, I didn't find most of them that interesting on their own. Clara seemed the most three-dimensional, but even with her, I didn't get to see all of the depth I hope for in a main character.

-The climax/ending. I know, I know. There's always someone complaining about the ending, right? But after spending so much time reading the book, I was disappointed with how quickly everything was wrapped up.

To sum it up, I'm probably not the target audience for Water Princess, Fire Prince. But if you enjoy stories with a slower pace and a lighter tone, you might want to give this one a try!

[Bailey Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great read. It was entertaining, it had a great start to the world-building, characters that felt realistic, and a plot that made me want to keep going.

Ms. Ardnek, I've noticed, also has a special talent for keeping her writings PG but is also on the realistic side with humor/violence/etc which makes her stories especially enjoyable.

Recommended 13+ for romance and violence.

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting mix of time travel and dimension/world jumping. The story took a little to get going, but once I got into it, I really enjoyed it. There was romance but it was secondary to the fantasy and action.

[AnnaScott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the longest books that I have read within a 24 hour time period. It was that good. When I got it, and saw that it had almost five hundred pages, I guessed that it would take at least two or three days. Twenty-four hours later, I am moaning because it is over.

It was so original, and different. A lot of fantasy tends to follow certain themes/settings/etc., but this was completely new! Even the romance didn't follow a pattern - they were literally forced to get married (or tied as they call it in Rizkaland) and didn't even want to until afterwards.

A lot of people don't love Clara's personality, which is understandable, since she kind of goes out of her way in the beginning to be disagreeable. I however liked her personality. It was different. A lot of books I've read have a sweet, damsel-in-distress-type heroine, and Clara was anything but.

Andrew balanced Clara out really well. While she was passionate and somewhat moody, he was gentle and levelheaded. He took the situation and decided that since they couldn't do much about it, they might as well make the best of it.

And my favorite part: The connections Kendra made! The teasing that Kath does in the beginning, to the coincidental talents of their parents, everything fits together and all makes sense! I loved it!

Overall it was a clean read. A little bit of kissing, but nothing bad. It was such a different book than any that I have read recently, and was really refreshing. Overall, I would thoroughly recommend this book!

[Brie Donning · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my new favourite book.
I'm not sure how to put what I like about it.
It has realistic characters, a great plot, an amazing world.
I really liked all of the characters. Especially Jakob and Kiona and Laura. Laura is amazing. And Clara and Andrew are a delightful couple. And Amber is one of the most delightful villains I have ever met. Looking forward to more of her in the next book. And...

Now that I've got some of that out of my system I'll try to say something sensible.
This story has a great message or messages without being overdone. It is subtle and so woven into the story that it is hard to pin down.

There is some mild fantasy violence, but nothing gory or unsuitable. Also some mild romance, including a few kisses.

The world-building is stunning. There is rainbow coloured water, or liquid. Some of it behaves very differently to ordinary water. The science behind some of it is revealed in such a way that it isn't info dumping.

There is great humor in this book. Many great quotes. Some original to it, others references to other books.

The romance is one of my favourite types, the 'two people must learn to get along' kind. I love that.

One thing I don't like is the cover. It just isn't to my taste. However, I don't have to look at while I am reading.

I had the pleasure of beta reading this book and received an advanced review copy for free.

[Merenwen Inglorion · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!

Things I loved:
-Worldbuilding (in addition to in-story explanations sprinkled throughout, there are several portions after the epilogue giving an overview/more detail on things like the water colors, the layout of the world, etc.) (THE WORLD IS A CYLINDER)
-Tying in with the worldbuilding, description! Wonderful scenery, from the mountains to the otherworldly horizon line
-No insta-love! Slow, developing, and often reluctant (a-la Meg from Disney’s Hercules) romance. <3
-All of the fantasy/fiction/classic references and meta jokes
-The MCs don’t immediately accept/constantly fight being in a new world; there is an element of reluctance/disbelief, and they each work through it in their own ways (kinda wish a few things had been emphasized though...)
-A hint of time travel shenanigans
-Laura! A mysterious traveler between worlds, she’s the cryptic mentor of the series. Though she is often only 12 years old, depending on which version of her steps into the world...
-Overall, characters; lots of different personality types (though they were sometimes hard to distinguish; see below), clashes that weren’t overdramatized (unless it suited the character)
-The new cover is amazing

Things I didn’t like so much:
-The characters could have used a bit more description; while their personalities are great, as is their clothing, they often don’t have physical characteristics mentioned until later on
-It was over kind of fast? Everything’s building up to the fight with Amber, and then it was just...chase her to the water and make her swim back to her island. I was expecting/hoping for a stronger reaction from Amber as well, but it seemed that as soon as Andrew spoke the banishing speech, Amber just kind of flopped. Well, she floated, to be technical...right back to her island, with nary a scream of rage. Or if she did scream, I didn’t notice... (‘^.^)
-Dialogue; a few characters had their own distinct speech patterns, but a majority of them “sounded” the same, which made them hard to distinguish without dialogue tags

Definitely something I’d read again, and recommend to anyone looking for a new fantasy read.

[diann walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Long live the 10

I got this book for free, I think it’s a YA. But the story was very good I throughly enjoyed it. I will definitely read the series just so I can go back to Rizkaland and drink the blue water.

[Kirsten · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://kiribeth.blogspot.com/2015/10/...

When Kendra was looking for advance readers for this book, there was absolutely no question in my mind. I'd already been waiting long enough to read it, so it was imperative to get my hands on it just as soon as possible.

Yes, it was that important.

And honestly, it blew me away. It was everything and yet nothing like what I had imagined. Wonderful. What did I like about it so much? Read on, Lizzy. (P&P reference because of reasons)

First of all, Kendra is fantastic when it comes to world building, and even though she's created so many different worlds for her stories, each one is unique and wonderful, and this one is no exception. Rizkaland and Klarand were just epically penned into being and I loved them. For one thing, it's not round. And the water comes in every color of the rainbow and each color has a different flavor and a different purpose. I'm afraid I had very many rainbow songs stuck in my head as I read this. But it was marvelous.

REALISTIC CHARACTERS! For once, we have two kids thrown into a strange world, and they react like a normal kid would! They don't automatically assume their standing and adapt perfectly. Nope. It takes them a bit of time to figure out what's going on, and even balk at what's expected of them. As much fun as it would be to be thrown into a new world, it would also be terrifying and strange, and Clara and Andrew were true to that impression.

Also -- I LOVED the shameless references to Alice in Wonderland, Narnia, The Prince and the Pauper, Pride and Prejudice, etc. There were probably many more that I didn't catch, but they were wonderful. You'd expect kids from our world to reference things from our world, right? Right! And the inside joke made me laugh out loud:

[Clara] sighed. "But now that you mention it, you're right. I just don't think this is a movie. Probably just a book."

"A book?"

"And, knowing our luck, not even one of the good ones. Probably some self-published work." She shook her head. "I'd hate to know what the cover art looks like. Probably some photoshop fail."

[Andrew] laughed. "That would be just our luck."

No, Kendra, it was most certainly NOT a photoshop fail. Still, this was probably my absolute favorite scene in the book.

I also wanted to take a moment to say something about Clara. I'd been expecting her to be a warrior princess, but I'll admit I was a little skeptical. Warrior princesses tend to be very feministic, with the I-can-do-what-I-want-because-I'm-better-than-anyone-else attitude, and it really drives me bonkers. I don't enjoy heroines like that. But Clara wasn't. True, she was amazingly skilled at fighting. She has plenty of spunk, but even right from the beginning, she has a vulnerable side. There's no nonsense about her, but she has her own share of fears. Plus, she had some wonderful character development.

To be truthful, though, I will admit I was disappointed with the ending. While everything was monstrously satisfactory, I had anticipated a greater final battle with Amber. It was fine the way it was, but I was hoping for some more action, and I felt it wrapped everything up just a little too fast.

Advisory: Fantasy violence. But quite suitable for the tone of the novel. I have no further need to elaborate.

Also, some romance -- there is a type of arranged marriage in here, and it takes a while for boy and girl to fall in love. They do share some kisses near the end of the story, after some physical contact (i.e. hand-holding, hugging, sleeping next to each other, etc.), but nothing inappropriate. There were also a few comments that I didn't care much for in regards to girls in bathtubs and in swimsuits, but they weren't very descriptive.

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I thought:

Well, a few months ago (or, maybe a little more then a few) I saw that some blogs I followed were doing a cover reveal (I think) for WPFP (Water Princess, Fire Prince), and I thought the cover looked interesting. Then I saw that there was a sign-up for those who wanted to do a review for it, and I signed up almost immediately. Without reading about it. Yeah.

So when it came, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But, I thoroughly enjoyed it! And when my paperback came, I was shocked at how big it was, because I had read the ebook so fast, I didn’t realize that it was 450+ pages!!

Anyways, I loved this book and am so excited for the next book! Even though it doesn’t include Clara and Andrew. :(

There were times that Clara annoyed me. For most of the whole part, actually. Then, I realized that my personality seemed pretty similar to Clara’s, or, at least in that situation. And that if I was in the situation that Clara was in, I’d act the same. After that, I enjoyed her a whole lot more. ;)

Also, I’m not one for romance-y books, and this one had a little. But I was pleasantly surprised at how Kendra handled that! Like, I really liked it!!

And there were so many WP/FP moments that I’m sure all of us readers LOVED, but the two didn’t. :P So, yeah. Actually, one of my favorite parts is a WP/FP moment.

Writing/Plot:

While Kendra’s style of writing isn’t my favorite, it is still really good! It flows well and stuff, it’s just that it’s pretty different from my own, so, yep. So don’t worry, she’s a great writer!! It just took me a bit to get use to.

And the plot was awesome! And though there were a couple slower parts, it kept me enthralled and it was pretty fast paced in the later parts.

Characters:

Above, I already said what I thought about Clara. Now, for our other MC. Oh, dear Andrew. He is just the sweetest! Can I just say that I want him? I mean seriously. I just loved him! :)

Jasmine? The child is brilliant! Like, she was one of my favorites! She’s quite the chatterbox, but that just makes her more likable. :D

And Karlos. The dear child. He might be my favorite, well, other then Laura. ;) What can I say about him? He is just a cute little kid who somehow puts Andrew back in his place as FP.

Then lastly, Laura. Though there wasn’t much of her, but I really enjoyed her. Her life is so complicated, and we only get a glimpse of it. But, it’s really, really hard to not love her. <3

Problems:

Well, as already mentioned, there were a couple slower parts, but they didn’t last long.

It wasn’t exactly ‘my style’ of writing, so the beginning few chapters it bothered me. Basically, she phrased things differently then I do. But, I quickly got use to it.

And as mentioned above, I’m not usually one for romance, but I was pretty happy with how Kendra handled it.

And that’s basically it!

Other/Summary:

So in summary, this book is now one of my favorites! And I’d definitely recommend this to teenagers, and those older and younger! And after countless asking from Trevor, I’m currently reading this to him!

[R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually thought I’d like this book more. The plot idea was intriguing. Creativity was not lacking, “just” the execution of the creativity.
Her land, even though she gave plenty of details of Klarand, felt underdeveloped. I still haven’t pinned down why. It was just flat (which would make sense since it’s a cylinder) so better imagery could have really helped.
Character arch could have been improved. Suddenly, someone just talks to Clara, and she suddenly decides to stop detesting Adrew. It would have felt more natural if she would have changed with action. Also, Ms. Ardnek kept telling us that Andrew hated everything that was happening just about as much as Clara did, but almost all his actions were complacent.
There was a lot of “showing” with the antagonist, Amber. I never was convinced that she was all that bad or creepy. She was just kind of. . .there. That’s not quite as big a deal though because the central conflict was more between Clara and Andrew, each one against themselves and everything that was happening. But still, it was pretty anticlimactic. Laura says, “stop fighting”. “Sure, I guess you’re right,”Clara responds. Then Clara disappears and we do not see her delightful sarcasm anymore.
I’m still confused; is Tying an engagement or a marriage? Everyone acts like it’s a marriage, but Andrew says that’s more like an engagement. If it was only engagement then I’d feel even more awkward for them at certain moments. I have no problem with romance. . .if it’s artfully woven into books (Dreamlander and Men of Iron are good examples). These subplots greatly increase the intensity of the story. However, I hate it when the book gets mushy. This book got mushy (holding hand ever other scene? Kissing 61 times?) and ended up detracted from the pace of the book.
The epilogue was rather dissatisfying. What happened to Jill Anne? Has Clara really grown over the past 25 years?
I enjoyed the puns, quotes, allusion, and modified quotes. The beginning was definitely a catching way to begin a book.
I liked the characters (more so at the beginning). It was a bit unrealistic that Clara is a star at achery, gymnastics, diving fencing, Tae Kwon do, etc., etc. Maybe I say that, though, because after finding out that she excelled at martial arts I already went blue with envy (or is that green? Colors have a way of going haywire in Klarand).