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The Waters of Nyra #2
The Waters of Nyra: Volume II
After braving the ocean, Nyra finds herself incarcerated on the other side of the world. The would-be saviors are in the midst of civil war, and her presence inflames their rivalry. Caught by the Sorja herd, Nyra is held prisoner with Olieve; a Royal as garrulous as she is blind, neither friend nor foe, but essential to the young dragon’s escape. Yet even escape has little promise, as the opposing Raklisall herd has a poisonous outlook on Agrings, so potent it reawakens an old scandal of superstition and murder.
At the crux of deceit, scorn, and prejudice, Nyra must unearth new weapons in her natural repertoire and learn the identity of a mysterious hero. Only then can she return home, and at long last free her downtrodden kin.
At the crux of deceit, scorn, and prejudice, Nyra must unearth new weapons in her natural repertoire and learn the identity of a mysterious hero. Only then can she return home, and at long last free her downtrodden kin.
- GenresDragons
361 pages, Paperback
First published July 15, 2015
2 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Michelle Baker
2 books16 followersBorn an Air Force brat, Kelly grew up on both coasts and everywhere in between. She studied at the University of Colorado at Boulder and California State University Stanislaus, earning a master’s in Ecology and Sustainability. When not writing or trying to save the world, she enjoys drawing, theater, long walks, and new recipes. The Waters of Nyra is her first novel. She calls Colorado Springs home.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/kellymichell...
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/kellymichell...
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 27, 2018
The second half of Nyra's adventure is more climatic and fantastic than the first half. Battling age-old lies and seemingly-mythical creatures are just some of the things Nyra must do to save her homeland, with the aid of allies new and old. The return of Oharassie is especially my favorite, because he endeared himself to me so! If you enjoy dragons, talking animals, adventure fantasy, give this and its predecessor an honest try. They warm the spirit! :)
December 11, 2022
Great continuation of the first with a satisfying conclusion.
Plot twists are cleverly done, using the different povs and their subjectivity very well.
Even though Nyra has the main focus, there are other characters both original and likable in their own way (not necessarily with their own pov).
There's very good character development and backstories, neatly blended into the story.
All that makes this second part even better than the first, which was already pretty good.
Plot twists are cleverly done, using the different povs and their subjectivity very well.
Even though Nyra has the main focus, there are other characters both original and likable in their own way (not necessarily with their own pov).
There's very good character development and backstories, neatly blended into the story.
All that makes this second part even better than the first, which was already pretty good.
November 15, 2016
Over all great story. Each of the characters is well developed and has their own arc (particularly Nyra), the story surprises you with twists along the way, and the suspense builds as the story progresses. I like the world created here with its conflicting races of dragon on land, air, and sea.
I hope to see more of Ms. Baker's writing.
I hope to see more of Ms. Baker's writing.
April 24, 2015
A wonderful and satisfying conclusion to Nyra's adventure!
December 27, 2020
The Waters of Nyra Part 2 Review
I was eagerly waiting to read the second part of this story and let me tell you it did not disappoint in the slightest. Part 1 was already a strong story in itself but somehow it feels like the second verse is better than the first. The story just felt more grand in a way despite the way it managed to keep grounded in the very personal nature of the narrative with the way the characters interact with each other. I must warn you there may be some spoilers with regards to the first book but I'll try to keep those to a minimum.
What I liked about it:
The Characters: The heart and soul of the duology are the characters themselves. Nyra herself was as charming as ever with her youthful naivety and optimism. However, I do feel like I could tell a difference between how she started out and where she is now. It's subtle but then again that makes a lot of sense given the underlying theme of growing up and time moving on in the story. In addition to her POV, there are two other chapters dedicated to Thaydra (spoiler alert: her suicide attempt at the end of part 1 failed) and Darkmoon. Thaydra's chapter really explores the mindset of someone who has been shaken from grief; it also shows through other characters actions how she's really hurt the people she has loved throughout the years and the hearts she's broken. It also elaborates more on her deep disdain for Tesset and yet forces her to confront her own past. I especially liked Darkmoon's moment in the spotlight because it really allows the reader to see how he views the world. He has viewed the Angrings as nothing more than an amusing game throughout the years, like a mere chess match to be won. He logically deduces the underlying nature of the strang goings on that happen through his chapter and you can really see just why he has so easily crushed every attempt at rebellion that has been made the past 30+ years in story. It really illustrates how frighteningly competent he is as the Alpha of the Sperks. In addition to the POV characters, we have delightful additions to the cast in the form of Olieve the blind blueblooded deadpan snarker and her lover Zacka, a rather insecure male who would do anything for her. The two of them have to hide their relationship from Olieve's axe crazy aunt who rules their tribe of Zealers. The dialogue in this book is just golden and really establishes just who these characters are as people so to speak.
Theme: Part 2 is a continuation of the themes of growing up and the inevitable march of time and the way it effects our lives. In addition, I detected a hint of how we can fail to realize the negative consequences of our own actions and the importance of taking a long hard look in the mirror.
Issues:
Like with Part 1 I am honestly trying to figure out anything I could really ding the book for and I am coming up short in that regard. The entire book was delightful and well executed.
Conclusion:
I positively loved this entire saga and think it was a very fitting way to end the reading year. I cannot recommend this series enough to anyone who is looking for a heartfelt journey in what it means to become mature and also anyone who just loves dragons like myself. 5 out of 5 for the duology.
I was eagerly waiting to read the second part of this story and let me tell you it did not disappoint in the slightest. Part 1 was already a strong story in itself but somehow it feels like the second verse is better than the first. The story just felt more grand in a way despite the way it managed to keep grounded in the very personal nature of the narrative with the way the characters interact with each other. I must warn you there may be some spoilers with regards to the first book but I'll try to keep those to a minimum.
What I liked about it:
The Characters: The heart and soul of the duology are the characters themselves. Nyra herself was as charming as ever with her youthful naivety and optimism. However, I do feel like I could tell a difference between how she started out and where she is now. It's subtle but then again that makes a lot of sense given the underlying theme of growing up and time moving on in the story. In addition to her POV, there are two other chapters dedicated to Thaydra (spoiler alert: her suicide attempt at the end of part 1 failed) and Darkmoon. Thaydra's chapter really explores the mindset of someone who has been shaken from grief; it also shows through other characters actions how she's really hurt the people she has loved throughout the years and the hearts she's broken. It also elaborates more on her deep disdain for Tesset and yet forces her to confront her own past. I especially liked Darkmoon's moment in the spotlight because it really allows the reader to see how he views the world. He has viewed the Angrings as nothing more than an amusing game throughout the years, like a mere chess match to be won. He logically deduces the underlying nature of the strang goings on that happen through his chapter and you can really see just why he has so easily crushed every attempt at rebellion that has been made the past 30+ years in story. It really illustrates how frighteningly competent he is as the Alpha of the Sperks. In addition to the POV characters, we have delightful additions to the cast in the form of Olieve the blind blueblooded deadpan snarker and her lover Zacka, a rather insecure male who would do anything for her. The two of them have to hide their relationship from Olieve's axe crazy aunt who rules their tribe of Zealers. The dialogue in this book is just golden and really establishes just who these characters are as people so to speak.
Theme: Part 2 is a continuation of the themes of growing up and the inevitable march of time and the way it effects our lives. In addition, I detected a hint of how we can fail to realize the negative consequences of our own actions and the importance of taking a long hard look in the mirror.
Issues:
Like with Part 1 I am honestly trying to figure out anything I could really ding the book for and I am coming up short in that regard. The entire book was delightful and well executed.
Conclusion:
I positively loved this entire saga and think it was a very fitting way to end the reading year. I cannot recommend this series enough to anyone who is looking for a heartfelt journey in what it means to become mature and also anyone who just loves dragons like myself. 5 out of 5 for the duology.
June 2, 2020
The second book in a two book series!
Like the first one, this is a book about dragons that any 11-year old would love. It is lighthearted with fire, ice, water, and earth, and more. This book was a little slower paced to me and not as easy to read, but I liked the new blind character and the new dragons that Nyra learned more about. Such a great way to breach the topic of diversity with the idea of purple dragons.
My favorite part is when the journey home goes off course. It is such a imaginative land with strange but slightly familiar landscapes turn fantasy into something you could imagine out in your own backyard. If I had kids, I would imagine wings flying between makeshift islands on our lawn and garden.
Like the first one, this is a book about dragons that any 11-year old would love. It is lighthearted with fire, ice, water, and earth, and more. This book was a little slower paced to me and not as easy to read, but I liked the new blind character and the new dragons that Nyra learned more about. Such a great way to breach the topic of diversity with the idea of purple dragons.
My favorite part is when the journey home goes off course. It is such a imaginative land with strange but slightly familiar landscapes turn fantasy into something you could imagine out in your own backyard. If I had kids, I would imagine wings flying between makeshift islands on our lawn and garden.
November 14, 2025
Good and Deep Waters
(This is the same as my review for the first book. As I discuss below, these books are best treated as a single larger book. Spoilers for both books are tagged.)
The introductory blurb to the first book was rather confusing, so I almost passed up on this title. I'm glad I didn't. It's not my ideal dragon book, but I think it's quite well-written, and I can't deny that what I got was a well-grounded story with good characters, good prose, and decently thought out themes.
In this series, Nyra is our protagonist, a young dragoness who is about to grow up into a life of slavery. She's ripped away from her world, however, and must bring an end to the imprisonment of her species of dragons. This brings her on An Adventure.
It isn't easy, though. What I really loved about this book was how it treated the grim matter, you know, the slavery. . It has a very satisfying ending, and yes, I think I am generally satisfied with the themes present.
The characters are very good, and each one had a personality that shined through. I was especially taken aback by the depth of the character of Nyra's mother. But there's more examples too.
As I said, this isn't the fare I'm most excited about. There's no magic, and the dragons don't really have civilization to speak of. Just dragons living in holes, aside from one artificially constructed dam. It works for the book, but it makes things a little... Simple. The book was not interested in making the world feel particularly large or lived in. But not all books should feel the need to do that. This one doesn't need to. I would have also preferred it if more dragons died; for being such a grounded take on the things it tackles, , but maybe that would have been too heavy.
The biggest and most actual of an issue is one I also had with Mating Flight: this duology should have been a single large book. Putting this into two volumes just makes the first book feel like a tragedy, when it really wasn't trying to.
In the end, this book is well written. The chapter to chapter prose is very descriptive and evocative, something I don't see in a lot of dragon books. (Certainly it isn't my writing style, either). Something so well physically written was a joy. I think this one is a quality product that says good things. May the waters of Nyra flow.
(This is the same as my review for the first book. As I discuss below, these books are best treated as a single larger book. Spoilers for both books are tagged.)
The introductory blurb to the first book was rather confusing, so I almost passed up on this title. I'm glad I didn't. It's not my ideal dragon book, but I think it's quite well-written, and I can't deny that what I got was a well-grounded story with good characters, good prose, and decently thought out themes.
In this series, Nyra is our protagonist, a young dragoness who is about to grow up into a life of slavery. She's ripped away from her world, however, and must bring an end to the imprisonment of her species of dragons. This brings her on An Adventure.
It isn't easy, though. What I really loved about this book was how it treated the grim matter, you know, the slavery. . It has a very satisfying ending, and yes, I think I am generally satisfied with the themes present.
The characters are very good, and each one had a personality that shined through. I was especially taken aback by the depth of the character of Nyra's mother. But there's more examples too.
As I said, this isn't the fare I'm most excited about. There's no magic, and the dragons don't really have civilization to speak of. Just dragons living in holes, aside from one artificially constructed dam. It works for the book, but it makes things a little... Simple. The book was not interested in making the world feel particularly large or lived in. But not all books should feel the need to do that. This one doesn't need to. I would have also preferred it if more dragons died; for being such a grounded take on the things it tackles, , but maybe that would have been too heavy.
The biggest and most actual of an issue is one I also had with Mating Flight: this duology should have been a single large book. Putting this into two volumes just makes the first book feel like a tragedy, when it really wasn't trying to.
In the end, this book is well written. The chapter to chapter prose is very descriptive and evocative, something I don't see in a lot of dragon books. (Certainly it isn't my writing style, either). Something so well physically written was a joy. I think this one is a quality product that says good things. May the waters of Nyra flow.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews