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The Fire Queen's Apprentice #1
The Watermight Thief
Welcome to Pendark, a city of murky canals, brutal gladiator fights, and sorcerers who feud over access to the silvery magical substance known as Watermight.
Tamri is a scrappy magic thief who’s trying to get her grandmother out of this festering swamp of a city. But when a quick score involving a dragon goes wrong, she’s shipped off to a distant mountaintop kingdom where the legendary Fire Queen is starting a school for magic wielders.
The King of Pendark suspects the Fire Queen is up to something more dangerous than training young wielders, and he orders Tamri to find out the truth. If she fails, neither she nor her grandmother will survive the school year.
Return to the world of Steel and Fire in this all new adventure set five years after Night of Flame.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: You don’t need to read the Steel and Fire books to enjoy The Watermight Thief, but it does contain spoilers for the original series.
Tamri is a scrappy magic thief who’s trying to get her grandmother out of this festering swamp of a city. But when a quick score involving a dragon goes wrong, she’s shipped off to a distant mountaintop kingdom where the legendary Fire Queen is starting a school for magic wielders.
The King of Pendark suspects the Fire Queen is up to something more dangerous than training young wielders, and he orders Tamri to find out the truth. If she fails, neither she nor her grandmother will survive the school year.
Return to the world of Steel and Fire in this all new adventure set five years after Night of Flame.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: You don’t need to read the Steel and Fire books to enjoy The Watermight Thief, but it does contain spoilers for the original series.
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 15, 2019
903 people are currently reading
1747 people want to read
About the author
Jordan Rivet
36 books528 followersJordan Rivet is an American author of YA science fiction and fantasy featuring determined heroines, vivid worlds, and daring missions. Originally from Arizona, she lives in Hong Kong with her husband.
Jordan's YA fantasy series include Steel and Fire, Empire of Talents, The Fire Queen’s Apprentice, and Art Mages of Lure. Her science fiction includes Wake Me After the Apocalypse, The Seabound Chronicles, and The Lost Clone.
Jordan's YA fantasy series include Steel and Fire, Empire of Talents, The Fire Queen’s Apprentice, and Art Mages of Lure. Her science fiction includes Wake Me After the Apocalypse, The Seabound Chronicles, and The Lost Clone.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
November 18, 2019
If you haven't read Jordan Rivet's Steel & Fire Series, I suggest that you do before starting this one. While technically a new series, it takes place some years after the first series, and many of the elements from the first carry over to this one. Of course, sometimes it's fun to meet characters after their stories are told and then go back to find out how they got there..like reading a prequel. I did that accidentally with another series and have no regrets. In this case, though, I wish I had finished the first series before starting this one.
Having read some of her other works, it's been almost like watching someone grow up. Each book is more polished than the last. Her characters and stories are always really good, but at times her work has felt a little stilted and perhaps overly simplistic. I never really got that vibe with this book. The dialogue and narrative felt fluid and natural. Really happy to see how far she has come with her writing.
Anyhoo, about this book. I liked Tamri, and I what I really liked that she acted like the 17-year-old that she is. She made rash choices the way a 17-year-old is wont to do, and surprise, not all of those choices were the right ones. The only thing I'm not 100% sold on is the chemistry between Tamri and Heath. They don't get a ton of screen time together, but somehow something is burgeoning between the two. I love a good slow-burn, sweet romance so I'm hoping she'll sell it to me in book 2. Heath is the quiet, stoic type that I love. You know when he opens up that he means it, and watching him get there is a beautiful and kinda heart-pulling thing. And the dragons are the best! I love how they each have distinct personalities. I'm looking forward to going back to Steel & Fire and meeting them for the first time! Plus, I need to finish Dara and Siv's story. I love those two.
I really enjoyed this first book and am looking forward to the next!
Having read some of her other works, it's been almost like watching someone grow up. Each book is more polished than the last. Her characters and stories are always really good, but at times her work has felt a little stilted and perhaps overly simplistic. I never really got that vibe with this book. The dialogue and narrative felt fluid and natural. Really happy to see how far she has come with her writing.
Anyhoo, about this book. I liked Tamri, and I what I really liked that she acted like the 17-year-old that she is. She made rash choices the way a 17-year-old is wont to do, and surprise, not all of those choices were the right ones. The only thing I'm not 100% sold on is the chemistry between Tamri and Heath. They don't get a ton of screen time together, but somehow something is burgeoning between the two. I love a good slow-burn, sweet romance so I'm hoping she'll sell it to me in book 2. Heath is the quiet, stoic type that I love. You know when he opens up that he means it, and watching him get there is a beautiful and kinda heart-pulling thing. And the dragons are the best! I love how they each have distinct personalities. I'm looking forward to going back to Steel & Fire and meeting them for the first time! Plus, I need to finish Dara and Siv's story. I love those two.
I really enjoyed this first book and am looking forward to the next!
February 15, 2019
Let me start with a confession: I have not yet read the Steel & Fire by Jordan Rivet, which is the prequel to The Watermight Thief. (I know, I know, what am I waiting for? It’s high on my TBR stack, believe me!) But I can wholeheartedly affirm that this new book does NOT need the first series to be completely and utterly enjoyable. The author introduces the characters and magic and world as though it’s all fresh and new—though with so much confidence, you know that she knows this world very well by now. The story is a page-turner from beginning to end, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.
One of my favorite things was the alternating heroine perspectives—Tamri and Selivia. I wasn’t expecting that, but it really did add depth and dimension to this tale. (Side note: my favorite book of the Empire of Talents trilogy also utilized alternating heroine perspectives. Jordan is really good at this particular approach!). The two young ladies, while different from each other in almost every respect, are both fascinating and compelling. I loved seeing the adventure through their eyes.
Anyway, if you’re looking for your next YA fantasy obsession, look no further! This book has plucky thieves, courageous princesses, beautiful dragons, unique magic, political intrigues, and basically everything you could possibly want. Jordan Rivet is a new favorite of mine, and I am so excited to see what she’ll do next!
One of my favorite things was the alternating heroine perspectives—Tamri and Selivia. I wasn’t expecting that, but it really did add depth and dimension to this tale. (Side note: my favorite book of the Empire of Talents trilogy also utilized alternating heroine perspectives. Jordan is really good at this particular approach!). The two young ladies, while different from each other in almost every respect, are both fascinating and compelling. I loved seeing the adventure through their eyes.
Anyway, if you’re looking for your next YA fantasy obsession, look no further! This book has plucky thieves, courageous princesses, beautiful dragons, unique magic, political intrigues, and basically everything you could possibly want. Jordan Rivet is a new favorite of mine, and I am so excited to see what she’ll do next!
May 3, 2019
I am a bit of a Jordan Rivet fangirl and of course I loved The Watermight Thief. Waiting at least a year for the second book in this Fire Queen's Apprentice series will surely be the death of me, so I would recommend y'all wait a bit to read so you're not hankering for too long. While you're waiting to get closer to the second book's release, you could read Steel & Fire and Empire of Talents series by Jordan Rivet!
August 22, 2019
Full review is here, on my blog!~
This is the story of two women, Tamri and Selivia. Tamri is a gutter urchin in the city of Pendark, who uses her ability to wield Watermight to steal it and sell it to the highest bidder. She does this primarily to make money to take care of her ailing grandmother. But one day, she gets roped into being a spy for the King of Pendark, and sent to gather information in the mountain kingdom where the Fire Queen runs a school for students to learn to use the magical substances, Watermight, Fire, and Air.
Selivia is the sister-in-law to the Fire Queen, and is on her way to a neighboring kingdom as she is betrothed to a nobleman there. Their betrothal is hopefully going to strengthen the alliance between those countries. But when she gets there, she finds out that her betrothed has gone missing. Selivia investigates his disappearance, which is likely due to his latest research on magical substances. Seems he may have gotten himself into some shenanigans.
This book apparently takes place after the events of a different series by this author, and it should be said that I have not read that series at all end yet had no trouble getting enjoyment from this book. This was a dragon-filled YA romp through several different lands. I started out not completely convinced that I was going to like it. Mainly because I didn’t start out really liking Tamri as a character, but it also took me a while to get really into the story. I did get there, though. This one got markedly more interesting as it went along, and as Tamri grew as a character, I was more and more on board. I listened to the last half of this one in one sitting, to put that in a bit of perspective.
The magic system is somewhat similar to Avatar’s idea of bending, though people are able to wield more than one element and require a specific magical substance to do anything. Each region in this world has a source of at least one of the magical substances, and so it is more likely that people from that region will learn what is the most available. Tamri starts out being quite talented with Watermight, as that is what there is abundant in Pendark, and yet learns to somewhat control Fire while at the Queen’s school where Fire is more abundant. There is consequence to not learning both at once from the beginning though. Because she is already so proficient with Watermight, it hurts Tamri to wield Fire, and she struggles to find ways to overcome this weakness. I enjoyed that the magic system had this complexity, consequences for its use and so on.
There is a bit of romance in store for each of the main characters, and I will admit that I was absolutely on board for both of them. The relationships were quite cute at times, and fleshed out really well, and as the book went on and I started to like the characters more and more, I cheered for them to end up happy in the end. The romance between Tamri and her beau felt a little rushed at times, considering his circumstances with other characters, but ultimately I cheered for the two of them.
As this was an audiobook, I have to say that the narrator, Caitlin Kelly did a pretty great job. She has a great tone of voice for narrating teenage/early twenties female characters, and I found that she made Tamri and Selivia seem more real to me. There are a few accents sprinkled here and there as well, which gave it a bit of depth that I probably wouldn’t have experienced in the print version.
So, all told, I thought this was a well-written and enjoyable YA romp, with a slower start, but plenty of action, intrigue, magic, romance, and dragons overall. After that ending, I’m interested to see where this series goes! 7.5/10 stars.
This is the story of two women, Tamri and Selivia. Tamri is a gutter urchin in the city of Pendark, who uses her ability to wield Watermight to steal it and sell it to the highest bidder. She does this primarily to make money to take care of her ailing grandmother. But one day, she gets roped into being a spy for the King of Pendark, and sent to gather information in the mountain kingdom where the Fire Queen runs a school for students to learn to use the magical substances, Watermight, Fire, and Air.
Selivia is the sister-in-law to the Fire Queen, and is on her way to a neighboring kingdom as she is betrothed to a nobleman there. Their betrothal is hopefully going to strengthen the alliance between those countries. But when she gets there, she finds out that her betrothed has gone missing. Selivia investigates his disappearance, which is likely due to his latest research on magical substances. Seems he may have gotten himself into some shenanigans.
This book apparently takes place after the events of a different series by this author, and it should be said that I have not read that series at all end yet had no trouble getting enjoyment from this book. This was a dragon-filled YA romp through several different lands. I started out not completely convinced that I was going to like it. Mainly because I didn’t start out really liking Tamri as a character, but it also took me a while to get really into the story. I did get there, though. This one got markedly more interesting as it went along, and as Tamri grew as a character, I was more and more on board. I listened to the last half of this one in one sitting, to put that in a bit of perspective.
The magic system is somewhat similar to Avatar’s idea of bending, though people are able to wield more than one element and require a specific magical substance to do anything. Each region in this world has a source of at least one of the magical substances, and so it is more likely that people from that region will learn what is the most available. Tamri starts out being quite talented with Watermight, as that is what there is abundant in Pendark, and yet learns to somewhat control Fire while at the Queen’s school where Fire is more abundant. There is consequence to not learning both at once from the beginning though. Because she is already so proficient with Watermight, it hurts Tamri to wield Fire, and she struggles to find ways to overcome this weakness. I enjoyed that the magic system had this complexity, consequences for its use and so on.
There is a bit of romance in store for each of the main characters, and I will admit that I was absolutely on board for both of them. The relationships were quite cute at times, and fleshed out really well, and as the book went on and I started to like the characters more and more, I cheered for them to end up happy in the end. The romance between Tamri and her beau felt a little rushed at times, considering his circumstances with other characters, but ultimately I cheered for the two of them.
As this was an audiobook, I have to say that the narrator, Caitlin Kelly did a pretty great job. She has a great tone of voice for narrating teenage/early twenties female characters, and I found that she made Tamri and Selivia seem more real to me. There are a few accents sprinkled here and there as well, which gave it a bit of depth that I probably wouldn’t have experienced in the print version.
So, all told, I thought this was a well-written and enjoyable YA romp, with a slower start, but plenty of action, intrigue, magic, romance, and dragons overall. After that ending, I’m interested to see where this series goes! 7.5/10 stars.
February 2, 2021
I really wanted to like this book but I’m afraid I just didn’t. I knew it was a YA Fantasy, but I found it was more a children’s book.
The author states that “you don’t need to read the Steel and Fire books before reading this one”, but I suspect you really do.
The author states that “you don’t need to read the Steel and Fire books before reading this one”, but I suspect you really do.
February 16, 2019
Having loved the Steel & Fire series by author Jordan Rivet, I couldn’t wait to immerse myself back into the world full of fantasy, mystery, and suspense! In The Watermight Thief, Rivet gives us everything we loved about the Steel & Fire series and more, in a brand new adventure! Expect well developed characters, both old and new, more dragons, more magic, and the same level of intensity and excitement! The Watermight Thief will have you sitting on the edge of your seat from start to finish. I found myself devouring page after page and completely unable to put it down. This book is simply a must read for fantasy lovers!
I know by now you’ve read the synopsis, so I’ll get to the details you’re looking for without oversharing. I absolutely loved how the tale is told alternating from Tamri and Selivia’s perspectives. While they’re nearly complete opposites, they’re both strong and intelligent young women, fighting for those they care for against stacked odds. Rivet flows easily from character perspectives and has exceptional plot progression. Prior to reading this book, I was unsure what to expect from the spin off series. After loving Steel & Fire as much as I did I was both equally excited and apprehensive to begin The Watermight Thief. Would this be the same caliber series as Steel & Fire? Would I love these characters as much? Would the story be as engaging and exciting? Yes, yes, and YES! Jordan Rivet delivers yet another incredible start to a series.
Although I do recommend that you read the Steel & Fire series first, (mostly because it’s amazing) The Watermight Thief can easily be read as a standalone; however there are some spoilers for the other series. If you enjoy strong characters, a world filled with magic, dignified dragons, sorcerers, and a bid for power, then this young adult fantasy is for you! Step back into the world of Steel & Fire with The Watermight Thief, releasing February 15th! Enjoy, xo
I know by now you’ve read the synopsis, so I’ll get to the details you’re looking for without oversharing. I absolutely loved how the tale is told alternating from Tamri and Selivia’s perspectives. While they’re nearly complete opposites, they’re both strong and intelligent young women, fighting for those they care for against stacked odds. Rivet flows easily from character perspectives and has exceptional plot progression. Prior to reading this book, I was unsure what to expect from the spin off series. After loving Steel & Fire as much as I did I was both equally excited and apprehensive to begin The Watermight Thief. Would this be the same caliber series as Steel & Fire? Would I love these characters as much? Would the story be as engaging and exciting? Yes, yes, and YES! Jordan Rivet delivers yet another incredible start to a series.
Although I do recommend that you read the Steel & Fire series first, (mostly because it’s amazing) The Watermight Thief can easily be read as a standalone; however there are some spoilers for the other series. If you enjoy strong characters, a world filled with magic, dignified dragons, sorcerers, and a bid for power, then this young adult fantasy is for you! Step back into the world of Steel & Fire with The Watermight Thief, releasing February 15th! Enjoy, xo
March 7, 2019
Wow.
So this is set in the same world as Steel and Fire, which I haven’t finished yet, but it doesn’t require you reading that series first to fully understand what’s happening here. But it WILL spoil several things from the first series, so bear that in mind.
Our story follows two very different young ladies—one a scrappy young thief who is forced to become a spy at a school of magic, the other a sensible princess tracking down her missing betrothed who had set out to discover a mysterious new source of magic.
The world-building here is a treat—all the cultures are vividly realized. And the magic system is fantastic. It’s based on elemental wielding, but the magic itself is a more powerful version of the elements...something stranger and sometimes almost sentient.
The new magical substance discovered is just...wow, it was freaky in the best of ways!
Anyway, I can’t wait for the next book.
Content warnings: mainly just some violence involving some predatory large birds that kill several people. Details are kept to a minimum, but it’s gruesome to imagine.
So this is set in the same world as Steel and Fire, which I haven’t finished yet, but it doesn’t require you reading that series first to fully understand what’s happening here. But it WILL spoil several things from the first series, so bear that in mind.
Our story follows two very different young ladies—one a scrappy young thief who is forced to become a spy at a school of magic, the other a sensible princess tracking down her missing betrothed who had set out to discover a mysterious new source of magic.
The world-building here is a treat—all the cultures are vividly realized. And the magic system is fantastic. It’s based on elemental wielding, but the magic itself is a more powerful version of the elements...something stranger and sometimes almost sentient.
The new magical substance discovered is just...wow, it was freaky in the best of ways!
Anyway, I can’t wait for the next book.
Content warnings: mainly just some violence involving some predatory large birds that kill several people. Details are kept to a minimum, but it’s gruesome to imagine.
February 21, 2019
I knew being back in the world of Steel and Fire would be a treat ... but I wasn't expecting to be blown away. In this new series, Rivet blends the old with the new in what I can only describe as mesmerizing. I struggle to connect with female protags more often that not but Tamri and Selivia pulled me in at the start and didn't let go till the last word. Rivet has always been a favorite of mine when it comes to crafting love arcs and the Watermight Thief was no exception. Sniff. I want all my darlings to be happy, so happy ... but by all means, Rivet, please give us a buttload more adventures in this world before we sign them all of to "and they lived happily ever after."
I mean, I can hope right ...
I mean, I can hope right ...
June 19, 2022
DNF @14%. The other series were much better, perhaps I’ll finish this another time but it was not as gripping as the first series.
June 11, 2020
Series Info/Source: This is the first book in The Fire Queen’s Apprentice series. I didn’t realize that this is a companion series to the “Steel and Fire” series. After reading this book I would recommend reading that series first since the rulers in this book are characters from that series. I borrowed this book through Kindle Unlimited.
Story (5/5): Right from the first page this was an engaging story. The story follows Tamri, a magic thief who tries to steal a dragon and finds herself sent off to a far off magic school as a spy because of her actions. The story also follows Princess Selivia who is sent to Pendark (Tamri’s home) in an effort to ensure the truce between the two nations holds. I loved watching Tamri navigate her way through a foreign magic school and the dragons were awesome. I also really enjoyed Selivia’s adventures to hunt down her betrothed.
Characters (5/5): The characters were definitely a highlight of this book. I love Tamri and all her classmates and Selivia as well.
Setting (5/5): The kingdom and world as a whole is very well thought out and I really enjoyed reading about it. There is a lot of interesting magic and the fantasy world presented here is unique and really well filled out.
Writing Style (5/5): This book was very well written and easy to read. You switch POV between Tamri and Selivia, which worked perfectly for this story. I was very eager to read both of their stories and never found myself wanting to read one POV over the other. They also both had very distinct voices so I never got confused about who’s POV I was reading from. The world is built out very nicely and I loved the characters. The story had a lot of adventure (which I love) but also had a good blend of politics and action in it.
My Summary (5/5): Overall I was really impressed with this fantasy story and loved it a lot. Rivet’s writing is engaging, exciting, and easy to read. The story was an excellent balance of world-building, amazing characters, intriguing magic, action, adventure, and (of course) wonderful dragons. I am very excited to read the next book in this series “The Thunderbird Queen”.
Story (5/5): Right from the first page this was an engaging story. The story follows Tamri, a magic thief who tries to steal a dragon and finds herself sent off to a far off magic school as a spy because of her actions. The story also follows Princess Selivia who is sent to Pendark (Tamri’s home) in an effort to ensure the truce between the two nations holds. I loved watching Tamri navigate her way through a foreign magic school and the dragons were awesome. I also really enjoyed Selivia’s adventures to hunt down her betrothed.
Characters (5/5): The characters were definitely a highlight of this book. I love Tamri and all her classmates and Selivia as well.
Setting (5/5): The kingdom and world as a whole is very well thought out and I really enjoyed reading about it. There is a lot of interesting magic and the fantasy world presented here is unique and really well filled out.
Writing Style (5/5): This book was very well written and easy to read. You switch POV between Tamri and Selivia, which worked perfectly for this story. I was very eager to read both of their stories and never found myself wanting to read one POV over the other. They also both had very distinct voices so I never got confused about who’s POV I was reading from. The world is built out very nicely and I loved the characters. The story had a lot of adventure (which I love) but also had a good blend of politics and action in it.
My Summary (5/5): Overall I was really impressed with this fantasy story and loved it a lot. Rivet’s writing is engaging, exciting, and easy to read. The story was an excellent balance of world-building, amazing characters, intriguing magic, action, adventure, and (of course) wonderful dragons. I am very excited to read the next book in this series “The Thunderbird Queen”.
September 13, 2021
I loved Rivet’s Fire and Steel series and was looking something more “epic” to balance out my reading, so I was super excited to jump into this sequel series. This one focuses on Tamri, a thief who accidently steals a dragon and gets the attention of some very familiar royals from the last series. And though this book starts out with much smaller stakes than the last series, I think it did an awesome job of balancing the new characters with the old and carving out its own story.
I was REALLY worried about the direction of the romance at the beginning, but it straightened itself out fairy quickly in that respect too.
Ready for the next one!
I was REALLY worried about the direction of the romance at the beginning, but it straightened itself out fairy quickly in that respect too.
Ready for the next one!
January 29, 2019
The Watermight Thief Jordan Rivet
Once in a Great While, we read a book that while still in the genre we love, is so different from the norm, that I feel as an Author must when they have Writer's Block. The Book begins in a Country called Pendark, the main supplier of a material called Watermight. Magical in itself, but only useful to the rare people who can draw it into themselves, and use it. It's a poor area having most the wealth concentrated in the Royalty, and of course, it's Military, poor Subjects like Tamri who can use the Watermight, steal it where they can, and sell it to survive.
She has a Grandmother who while still Scrappy, has memory problems who she must care for, but on this mission to steal, she is talked into using it to capture a Dragon from Vertigonia, because they serve as a form of Tanker to transport the Watermight back home. She does capture it, but is caught and brought before the King of Pendark; King Khrillin for punishment. The Princess of Vertigonia intercedes on her behalf and takes her back home to train at her school for Wielders of Magic, and the adventure, Intrigue, and Fun begins.
I rarely find a book that takes me off my Balance, serving up Surprise after Surprise because it's so different. This is one of those books that if you have a must read, or intend to read books list; "This should be at the top of that list." I can't wait for the next book to see what happens to Tamri as they try to retrieve her Grandma and bring her to safety.
Once in a Great While, we read a book that while still in the genre we love, is so different from the norm, that I feel as an Author must when they have Writer's Block. The Book begins in a Country called Pendark, the main supplier of a material called Watermight. Magical in itself, but only useful to the rare people who can draw it into themselves, and use it. It's a poor area having most the wealth concentrated in the Royalty, and of course, it's Military, poor Subjects like Tamri who can use the Watermight, steal it where they can, and sell it to survive.
She has a Grandmother who while still Scrappy, has memory problems who she must care for, but on this mission to steal, she is talked into using it to capture a Dragon from Vertigonia, because they serve as a form of Tanker to transport the Watermight back home. She does capture it, but is caught and brought before the King of Pendark; King Khrillin for punishment. The Princess of Vertigonia intercedes on her behalf and takes her back home to train at her school for Wielders of Magic, and the adventure, Intrigue, and Fun begins.
I rarely find a book that takes me off my Balance, serving up Surprise after Surprise because it's so different. This is one of those books that if you have a must read, or intend to read books list; "This should be at the top of that list." I can't wait for the next book to see what happens to Tamri as they try to retrieve her Grandma and bring her to safety.
January 29, 2019
I received an ARC in exchange for a fair review. The review below is spoiler free.
The Watermight Thief puts us back in the world from the Steel and Fire series. I enjoyed this book so much, and was so happy to revisit some of my favorite characters. It felt like breathing oxygen I didn’t know I needed!
This author is fantastic, and truly excels in this world. These books are just so exciting and fun. The books are hard to put down because of the pace. The other star in this story is the unique magic. I wish I could wield some of these substances!
The Watermight Thief is driven by a new character, but the story flows seamlessly with the prior series. The story was told from the perspective of two characters, but was done without excessive shifting. I can’t say much more without spoilers. All I can say is that if you need a nice lift, read this book! The conclusion sets up the next books problems, but there was still a lot to feel good about at the end! I’m enjoying a nice book high right now!
The only downside for me is that I really, really want a dragon, but I don’t see that happening any time soon!
The Watermight Thief puts us back in the world from the Steel and Fire series. I enjoyed this book so much, and was so happy to revisit some of my favorite characters. It felt like breathing oxygen I didn’t know I needed!
This author is fantastic, and truly excels in this world. These books are just so exciting and fun. The books are hard to put down because of the pace. The other star in this story is the unique magic. I wish I could wield some of these substances!
The Watermight Thief is driven by a new character, but the story flows seamlessly with the prior series. The story was told from the perspective of two characters, but was done without excessive shifting. I can’t say much more without spoilers. All I can say is that if you need a nice lift, read this book! The conclusion sets up the next books problems, but there was still a lot to feel good about at the end! I’m enjoying a nice book high right now!
The only downside for me is that I really, really want a dragon, but I don’t see that happening any time soon!
March 1, 2021
Weak MC - spoilers
I just couldn’t get past how weak the MCs were. Selivia didn’t bring anything important to the table but I liked her well enough which is basically all I can say about her but Tamri was just annoying. I get that she protected her granma by accepting the deal but come on even she can’t be naive enough to think the king will release her if she provides a ‘jewel of information’ and yes that’s how she constantly refers to it. And no one checked her letters?! Even though they had reasons to doubt her loyalty it still took Lady Vine to actually meet her before they started reading her letters! Then she gets a chance to prove her loyalty on Thunderbird Island but is more focused on wanting to see the lightening up close to report it back to king Khrillin or try use it herself then to actually have them trust her by just trying to save Latch (which is the stupidest name in the book. Latch Brach. Really?!)And her budding relationship with Heath! Where did that come from?? The trip to Vertigon where he didn’t trust her or talk to her or the two times they met after that where they had a pointless random argument and stormed away from each other?! Yet he falls for her so badly he would go against his king and country if she asked. Then even at the end when she has no oath binding her and the queen is bending over backwards to help her she still lies and when they talk of the lightening you can already tell Tamri wants the power and is going to take it. I don’t understand the attention she gets either when she isn’t a powerful student, which she assumed right from the start she would be and could take on king Khrillin and queen Dara once she learned, when other students can use water and fire better than her. I just don’t enjoy books where the main character is power hungry and steps on people then gets upset that they don’t trust her. She started out as a weak child and ended as a lying power hungry weak child and you can already tell by the bonus scene at the end of book one she just carrys on being exactly the same. No thanks.
I just couldn’t get past how weak the MCs were. Selivia didn’t bring anything important to the table but I liked her well enough which is basically all I can say about her but Tamri was just annoying. I get that she protected her granma by accepting the deal but come on even she can’t be naive enough to think the king will release her if she provides a ‘jewel of information’ and yes that’s how she constantly refers to it. And no one checked her letters?! Even though they had reasons to doubt her loyalty it still took Lady Vine to actually meet her before they started reading her letters! Then she gets a chance to prove her loyalty on Thunderbird Island but is more focused on wanting to see the lightening up close to report it back to king Khrillin or try use it herself then to actually have them trust her by just trying to save Latch (which is the stupidest name in the book. Latch Brach. Really?!)And her budding relationship with Heath! Where did that come from?? The trip to Vertigon where he didn’t trust her or talk to her or the two times they met after that where they had a pointless random argument and stormed away from each other?! Yet he falls for her so badly he would go against his king and country if she asked. Then even at the end when she has no oath binding her and the queen is bending over backwards to help her she still lies and when they talk of the lightening you can already tell Tamri wants the power and is going to take it. I don’t understand the attention she gets either when she isn’t a powerful student, which she assumed right from the start she would be and could take on king Khrillin and queen Dara once she learned, when other students can use water and fire better than her. I just don’t enjoy books where the main character is power hungry and steps on people then gets upset that they don’t trust her. She started out as a weak child and ended as a lying power hungry weak child and you can already tell by the bonus scene at the end of book one she just carrys on being exactly the same. No thanks.
May 28, 2022
Brilliant! One of the best and most original fantasy I’ve read in a long time.
December 25, 2019
"Go, and learn enough to make sure no one, not even me, can ever tell you what to do again.”
this quote spoke to me
I LOVED THIS SO MUCH me liking a book with dragons??? unbelievable. Tamri new favourite ya heroin we love to see it. Heath was getting slapped left and right due to this own damn fault stop having feelings son I gotta say the dialogue and side characters were a leeeeeetle underdeveloped and the villian was unconvincing but WHO CARES the world building and magic system were developed so nicely i love
i did not forget selivia she was a formidable and selfless af heroin too and her smart brain left me shook.
one thing i appreciated a lot was the attention to detail and tiny things that didn't go amiss. tamri wasn't used to touch and when someone touched her in a friendly way (like pat on a shoulder/tug her arm etc.) she flinched because she wasn't used to it i liked this aspect bc i could relate?? like don't touch me bitch
bitch you're telling me it was That fucking easy to break the bond???? we could've saved this fuckin mess from happening htg
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I'm quite liking this. middle grade vibes but i don't mind
this quote spoke to me
I LOVED THIS SO MUCH me liking a book with dragons??? unbelievable. Tamri new favourite ya heroin we love to see it. Heath was getting slapped left and right due to this own damn fault stop having feelings son I gotta say the dialogue and side characters were a leeeeeetle underdeveloped and the villian was unconvincing but WHO CARES the world building and magic system were developed so nicely i love
i did not forget selivia she was a formidable and selfless af heroin too and her smart brain left me shook.
one thing i appreciated a lot was the attention to detail and tiny things that didn't go amiss. tamri wasn't used to touch and when someone touched her in a friendly way (like pat on a shoulder/tug her arm etc.) she flinched because she wasn't used to it i liked this aspect bc i could relate?? like don't touch me bitch
bitch you're telling me it was That fucking easy to break the bond???? we could've saved this fuckin mess from happening htg
-----------------------
I'm quite liking this. middle grade vibes but i don't mind
September 7, 2023
Okay...how long do I have to wait for the next book?
I really enjoyed Steel and Stone, and was so excited when I realized the Watermight Thief was in the same world with Dara and Siv. I also loved that Sel got to hol dher own perspective, like she did at the end of the last series. I'm especially happy that the first book didn't give too much away. We, as readers, got a glimpse of the magnitude of what could be awaitingthese characters, but it was not enough of a glimpse to be able to form a full prediction, WHICH I LOVE. I loathe predictability, yet here I am not sure as to what direction this tale is going to take.
I do have to say I thought the ending was rather abrupt after the final main events of the story. I'm expecting this story will be as long as Steel and Stone (which I thought could have been one book less) so I am hoping that this wont be so drawn out.
Do you need to read Steel and Stone first? Technically, no. But honestly, yes. Read the first series. First of all it's awesome and second of all it gives you a better look at the world they're living in.
I really enjoyed Steel and Stone, and was so excited when I realized the Watermight Thief was in the same world with Dara and Siv. I also loved that Sel got to hol dher own perspective, like she did at the end of the last series. I'm especially happy that the first book didn't give too much away. We, as readers, got a glimpse of the magnitude of what could be awaitingthese characters, but it was not enough of a glimpse to be able to form a full prediction, WHICH I LOVE. I loathe predictability, yet here I am not sure as to what direction this tale is going to take.
I do have to say I thought the ending was rather abrupt after the final main events of the story. I'm expecting this story will be as long as Steel and Stone (which I thought could have been one book less) so I am hoping that this wont be so drawn out.
Do you need to read Steel and Stone first? Technically, no. But honestly, yes. Read the first series. First of all it's awesome and second of all it gives you a better look at the world they're living in.
March 27, 2019
2.5 stars.
I haven't finished the Fire and Steel series but this book doesn't spoil too too much.
I'm not sure how this book is so highly rated.
I found it a bit boring to be honest.
Both Tamri and Heath are dull characters with Sel being the only real redeeming character.
I haven't finished the Fire and Steel series but this book doesn't spoil too too much.
I'm not sure how this book is so highly rated.
I found it a bit boring to be honest.
Both Tamri and Heath are dull characters with Sel being the only real redeeming character.
February 19, 2019
4.5 stars
I'm always hesitant going into spin off series. How could I possibly love any characters more than the originals? It can't be!!
Well, Watermight was great. You get two main characters, one old and one new: Princess Selivia and a Pendarkian street rat named Tamri.
Sel, for her part is as plucky and happy-go-lucky as she ever was. Tamri, though has lived a life only of survival. Her goals are few and simple: stay alive and keep her gramma Teall in as much comfort as possible. If that means stealing watermight from the Vertigonian dragons, then morals be damned.
Unfortunately things don't go as planned and before King Krillin can hand out a brutal punishment set in stone, Selivia steps in and asks if she can have Tamri for the Fire Queen, Dara's school. Krillin has no choice to agree but sets a fate on Tamri that could end up being worse than any fate he could possibly bestow upon her.
While Tamri goes one way, Selivia must go another: she must travel to Sool to meet her fiance, Prince Latch. However, all is not well in Sool, and a mysterious and buried ancient power may threaten more than the strained alliance between the three lands of Pendark, Sool, and Vertigon. Much more.
Watermight is fun in that we get a new story but all our favorite characters are back. Selivia is back and more mature than her 14 year self. Dara and Siv are back as King and Queen of Vertigon. They are beloved and rule with benevolence. Something Tamri is not accustomed to. It's interesting to see Dara from the outside. A stoic, loyal, and somewhat overbearing queen. She's passionate obviously, but she can be very intimidating due to her no-nonsense personality.
As for Tamri, I did not care for her. Her story and plot line were interesting, but Tamri herself? I wanted to smack her a couple times.
I do think The Fire Queen's Apprentice series can stand on it's own from it's predecessor, the Steel Fire quintet, but I will say this: you will. SIGNIFICANTLY appreciate Queen Dara and her school, ad well as who Selivia has become by reading Steel Fire first. The magic system and world are much more fleshed out and it would be a shame to miss some of that going in. Not necessary to enjoy Watermight Thief, but definitely adds a great deal to the world.
Yes, there is romance, albeit it isn't heavy. Selivia and Latch are paired well together, though, we didn't get to see that relationship blossom. It just did-over the 4-5 year time jump between series in which it is explicitly understood they were in contact. Still, it's hard to feel anything when you don't get to see it happen.
Tamrism's romance is little but the beginnings are there. But again, I didn't really see why it was a thing. It felt thrown in there because she simply HAD TO have a love interest. Mostly, Tamri's story is one of survival in the Watermight Thief. I'm hoping this romance is fleshed out and had a chance to breath before just coming into being. Half a star off on an otherwise excellent and riveting new beginning for new and old characters alike.
I'm always hesitant going into spin off series. How could I possibly love any characters more than the originals? It can't be!!
Well, Watermight was great. You get two main characters, one old and one new: Princess Selivia and a Pendarkian street rat named Tamri.
Sel, for her part is as plucky and happy-go-lucky as she ever was. Tamri, though has lived a life only of survival. Her goals are few and simple: stay alive and keep her gramma Teall in as much comfort as possible. If that means stealing watermight from the Vertigonian dragons, then morals be damned.
Unfortunately things don't go as planned and before King Krillin can hand out a brutal punishment set in stone, Selivia steps in and asks if she can have Tamri for the Fire Queen, Dara's school. Krillin has no choice to agree but sets a fate on Tamri that could end up being worse than any fate he could possibly bestow upon her.
While Tamri goes one way, Selivia must go another: she must travel to Sool to meet her fiance, Prince Latch. However, all is not well in Sool, and a mysterious and buried ancient power may threaten more than the strained alliance between the three lands of Pendark, Sool, and Vertigon. Much more.
Watermight is fun in that we get a new story but all our favorite characters are back. Selivia is back and more mature than her 14 year self. Dara and Siv are back as King and Queen of Vertigon. They are beloved and rule with benevolence. Something Tamri is not accustomed to. It's interesting to see Dara from the outside. A stoic, loyal, and somewhat overbearing queen. She's passionate obviously, but she can be very intimidating due to her no-nonsense personality.
As for Tamri, I did not care for her. Her story and plot line were interesting, but Tamri herself? I wanted to smack her a couple times.
I do think The Fire Queen's Apprentice series can stand on it's own from it's predecessor, the Steel Fire quintet, but I will say this: you will. SIGNIFICANTLY appreciate Queen Dara and her school, ad well as who Selivia has become by reading Steel Fire first. The magic system and world are much more fleshed out and it would be a shame to miss some of that going in. Not necessary to enjoy Watermight Thief, but definitely adds a great deal to the world.
Yes, there is romance, albeit it isn't heavy. Selivia and Latch are paired well together, though, we didn't get to see that relationship blossom. It just did-over the 4-5 year time jump between series in which it is explicitly understood they were in contact. Still, it's hard to feel anything when you don't get to see it happen.
Tamrism's romance is little but the beginnings are there. But again, I didn't really see why it was a thing. It felt thrown in there because she simply HAD TO have a love interest. Mostly, Tamri's story is one of survival in the Watermight Thief. I'm hoping this romance is fleshed out and had a chance to breath before just coming into being. Half a star off on an otherwise excellent and riveting new beginning for new and old characters alike.
March 6, 2019
Back into the world of Steel and Fire!
I was given a free ARC for my honest review.
3.8 stars.
This is Rivet's first in a new series that takes place in a world we already know and love. Set 5 years after the end of Night of Flame, this book starts by throwing us into conflict. Tamri, a self-proclaimed gutter urchin, is going to /borrow/ a dragon with a belly full of watermight that she hopes to steal. She's a Pendarkan worker that depends on her skills to provide for herself and her ailing grandmother. Being known as the fastest whip in the gutter district gives her great pride but also makes her stupidly bold. Once caught, she tries to escape her punishment only to make things worse. Luckily, a familiar princess steps in to save the day. Selivia and the Cindral dragon riders go to Pendark several times a year to fill the beasts and take the watermight back to Vertigon where workers keep it ever-turning in a pool. She can't bear to see what Khrillin will do to Tamri and she suggests the girl for Queen Dara's worker school. Khrillin accepts the offer, but then secretly threatens Tamri by taking away her grandmother for "care" and demanding her allegiance with a watermight bond. She is forced to accept and become his spy. On the way to Tamri's new home, Sel and her guard leave the group so she can head to Soole. The time has come for her and Latch to prepare for their wedding! She's nervous about the last letter she recieved from him, and the scarcity of the ones before, so she goes to the capital early hoping for more time to get to know her intended. Selivia's instincts are spot on and all is not as it seems. Latch has apparently disappeared and there are whispers of a new substance that can be worked by the gifted. The crown prince of Soole, Chadrech, is a vile man who wants the princess to himself. Nonetheless, he lures Sel on an adventure to a forgotten island in search of Lord Latch Brach
On this journey we bounce between Sel and Tamri's perspectives. This was done in a way that promotes anticipation in the reader. You become invested in Sel and Tamri (and their love lives). I was rooting for Tamri to find a way out from under Khrillin and for Sel to save Latch from himself and the royals of Soole. Despite my general enjoyment of the story, I have to admit I felt as if something was missing. I didn't quite become immersed in this novel the way I have Rivet's other works. I do think you will like it if you liked the Steel and Fire series, especially as we see brief glances of Dara and Siv from an outsider's perspective. I am looking forward to book 2.
I was given a free ARC for my honest review.
3.8 stars.
This is Rivet's first in a new series that takes place in a world we already know and love. Set 5 years after the end of Night of Flame, this book starts by throwing us into conflict. Tamri, a self-proclaimed gutter urchin, is going to /borrow/ a dragon with a belly full of watermight that she hopes to steal. She's a Pendarkan worker that depends on her skills to provide for herself and her ailing grandmother. Being known as the fastest whip in the gutter district gives her great pride but also makes her stupidly bold. Once caught, she tries to escape her punishment only to make things worse. Luckily, a familiar princess steps in to save the day. Selivia and the Cindral dragon riders go to Pendark several times a year to fill the beasts and take the watermight back to Vertigon where workers keep it ever-turning in a pool. She can't bear to see what Khrillin will do to Tamri and she suggests the girl for Queen Dara's worker school. Khrillin accepts the offer, but then secretly threatens Tamri by taking away her grandmother for "care" and demanding her allegiance with a watermight bond. She is forced to accept and become his spy. On the way to Tamri's new home, Sel and her guard leave the group so she can head to Soole. The time has come for her and Latch to prepare for their wedding! She's nervous about the last letter she recieved from him, and the scarcity of the ones before, so she goes to the capital early hoping for more time to get to know her intended. Selivia's instincts are spot on and all is not as it seems. Latch has apparently disappeared and there are whispers of a new substance that can be worked by the gifted. The crown prince of Soole, Chadrech, is a vile man who wants the princess to himself. Nonetheless, he lures Sel on an adventure to a forgotten island in search of Lord Latch Brach
On this journey we bounce between Sel and Tamri's perspectives. This was done in a way that promotes anticipation in the reader. You become invested in Sel and Tamri (and their love lives). I was rooting for Tamri to find a way out from under Khrillin and for Sel to save Latch from himself and the royals of Soole. Despite my general enjoyment of the story, I have to admit I felt as if something was missing. I didn't quite become immersed in this novel the way I have Rivet's other works. I do think you will like it if you liked the Steel and Fire series, especially as we see brief glances of Dara and Siv from an outsider's perspective. I am looking forward to book 2.
May 3, 2019
I was initially drawn to The Watermight Thief because of its gorgeous, electric cover. I love the bright, cool blue and the dark metalwork decorating the cover. That, in itself, gets a star from me. Besides that, the story of a magic thief seemed like an interesting premise, so naturally, curiosity got the better of me and I just had to know who this little thief was!
Confession: I have not read the Steel and Fire series. I’ve heard a lot of praises for Jordan Rivet’s work and although I had planned on picking up her books, this is my first read of hers. I’ll admit there was a bit of regret in me that I did not read the Steel and Fire series first! I wish I had picked up her books earlier but I’m still glad for the chance I was given to review her newest release!
From the beginning of this story, our little magic thief is the gutsiest, and most reckless character. We open the story of The Watermight Thief with Tamri about to steal a dragon. Or in her words, “borrow.” I knew from that moment that this was a story that would keep me up at night. And it did.
The Watermight Thief is a fast-paced, adventure story moving between two perspectives. The first is Tamri, a street thief from Pendark whose future is changed after trying to steal Watermight from a dragon. Her skill with the magical substance called Watermight catches the eye of the Princess of Vertigon who believes Tamri might be better learning at a school for magic wielders. At the beginning of the story, Tamri is this really closed off person who is always on the defense and is unused to warm relationships with anyone besides her grandmother. Having to be the breadwinner for her grandmother, Tamri had to grow up callous. Although she moves away, Tamri is not offered a chance of a new beginning as she is still tied to King Khrillin who uses her as a spy. In spite of this limit, Tamri grows into a self-assured and friendly person, and because of this limit, Tamri pushes herself out of her comfort zone. You really see this ache in her to want to make friends, to want to belong, but she’s held back. Tamri’s love for her grandmother shines through her story; you get to know who Grandma Teall and you see how much of her feistiness is in Tamri. I love reading of the bond between grandmother and grand-daughter.
The second perspective is from Princess Selivia, who is sister to the King of Vertigon. Selivia’s storyline flows differently than Tamri’s. While Tamri’s plot arc involves her trying to belong, Selivia’s is more about her having to step out and take risks. Again, unlike Tamri, Selivia is level-headed and diplomatic. Being royalty, she has to play by politics and calculate every move. What begins as a trip to visit her fiancé turns into a dangerous unraveling of dark powers. I’ll be honest, I enjoyed reading about a frazzled Selivia. She is not a wielder like Tamri or a soldier like Heath, rather Selivia’s strength lies in her speech and her compassion. She’s a very insightful character who meets every obstacle with determination.
The magic system itself is quite simple; imagine Avatar: The Last Airbender, its four elements and you have a pretty good idea of the magic in The Watermight Thief. However, unlike the former, in Jordan Rivet’s world, a majority of the magic wielders are able to wield Watermight or Fire. But an affinity for one makes it harder to wield the other. Air is a magical and rare magic that can also be used to carry messages. I found it very unique that Fire magic was not only written as a weapon of destruction but was used in a majority of the world’s technology like Fire Lanterns, Fire Blades, Everlights, Firegold threads. In this world, Fire was also a means to create art.
The Watermight Thief is a standout book that I would love more readers to pick up. It’s more than just a fantasy read, but is a story about friendship and family, about the assumptions we make of people, and about change. The plot progression is strong and you get to watch these characters grow into stronger people.
WHAT'S TO LOVE
A fast paced story-line that parallels between a thief find her place, and a princess learning to step out.
If you love
🐉 Dragons
🐉 Sword-fighting
🐉 Strong female characters
🐉 Elemental like magic
🐉 Fantasy politics
🐉 An undefined evil
Confession: I have not read the Steel and Fire series. I’ve heard a lot of praises for Jordan Rivet’s work and although I had planned on picking up her books, this is my first read of hers. I’ll admit there was a bit of regret in me that I did not read the Steel and Fire series first! I wish I had picked up her books earlier but I’m still glad for the chance I was given to review her newest release!
From the beginning of this story, our little magic thief is the gutsiest, and most reckless character. We open the story of The Watermight Thief with Tamri about to steal a dragon. Or in her words, “borrow.” I knew from that moment that this was a story that would keep me up at night. And it did.
The Watermight Thief is a fast-paced, adventure story moving between two perspectives. The first is Tamri, a street thief from Pendark whose future is changed after trying to steal Watermight from a dragon. Her skill with the magical substance called Watermight catches the eye of the Princess of Vertigon who believes Tamri might be better learning at a school for magic wielders. At the beginning of the story, Tamri is this really closed off person who is always on the defense and is unused to warm relationships with anyone besides her grandmother. Having to be the breadwinner for her grandmother, Tamri had to grow up callous. Although she moves away, Tamri is not offered a chance of a new beginning as she is still tied to King Khrillin who uses her as a spy. In spite of this limit, Tamri grows into a self-assured and friendly person, and because of this limit, Tamri pushes herself out of her comfort zone. You really see this ache in her to want to make friends, to want to belong, but she’s held back. Tamri’s love for her grandmother shines through her story; you get to know who Grandma Teall and you see how much of her feistiness is in Tamri. I love reading of the bond between grandmother and grand-daughter.
Go, and learn enough to make sure no one, not even me, can ever tell you what to do again.
The second perspective is from Princess Selivia, who is sister to the King of Vertigon. Selivia’s storyline flows differently than Tamri’s. While Tamri’s plot arc involves her trying to belong, Selivia’s is more about her having to step out and take risks. Again, unlike Tamri, Selivia is level-headed and diplomatic. Being royalty, she has to play by politics and calculate every move. What begins as a trip to visit her fiancé turns into a dangerous unraveling of dark powers. I’ll be honest, I enjoyed reading about a frazzled Selivia. She is not a wielder like Tamri or a soldier like Heath, rather Selivia’s strength lies in her speech and her compassion. She’s a very insightful character who meets every obstacle with determination.
She wasn’t a Wielder, and she wasn’t in line for a crown, but she had done what was required to help the people she loved.
The magic system itself is quite simple; imagine Avatar: The Last Airbender, its four elements and you have a pretty good idea of the magic in The Watermight Thief. However, unlike the former, in Jordan Rivet’s world, a majority of the magic wielders are able to wield Watermight or Fire. But an affinity for one makes it harder to wield the other. Air is a magical and rare magic that can also be used to carry messages. I found it very unique that Fire magic was not only written as a weapon of destruction but was used in a majority of the world’s technology like Fire Lanterns, Fire Blades, Everlights, Firegold threads. In this world, Fire was also a means to create art.
The Watermight Thief is a standout book that I would love more readers to pick up. It’s more than just a fantasy read, but is a story about friendship and family, about the assumptions we make of people, and about change. The plot progression is strong and you get to watch these characters grow into stronger people.
WHAT'S TO LOVE
A fast paced story-line that parallels between a thief find her place, and a princess learning to step out.
If you love
🐉 Dragons
🐉 Sword-fighting
🐉 Strong female characters
🐉 Elemental like magic
🐉 Fantasy politics
🐉 An undefined evil
A big thank you to the author, Jordan Rivet, for providing me with a review copy of the book. However, this does not affect my review.
Find me at Camillea Reads || Twitter || Instagram
September 6, 2021
Not going to say Jordan Rivet is a bad writer but she's NOT. The writing was well done and I was once again drawn into the world of Dara and Siv. Jordan does an amazing job world building and I loved it! Felt like I was taking a trip there.
This would have gotten a 5 star if it weren't for 2 things. Latch's character destroyed, which also made it hard for his and Sel's relationship to truly blossom and.....the main character. I couldn't stand Tamri. Yes, she had legit reasons to do what she did but the fact she didnt feel sorry about it and when she did had NO issues justifying herself just made me mad. Its selfish people like her that make worse things possible. Would WW2 have been AS bad if neighbor hadn't turned against neightbor? Informants double crossing for personal preservation or money? I dont think so, and yet this girl thought her aging grandmother who is already basically dying was more important than the lives of entire nations and the lives of everyone else she met. She could SEE how good Vertigonians were, she even liked them but she still made it a point to snitch on every little detail, even non important ones. And she felt proud and thought herself oh so superior to Dara just because she accomplished ONE itty bitty rescue. How many rescues has Dara pulled? Too many to count and one would have to read the Steel and Fire series to know that, but still. It sickens me that this selfish weak girl thinks only her life matters and that SHE can beat everyone else with power one day. Hating this power hungry scheme going on.....AGAIN. I dont know what I thought would go down in this companion series but...this wasn't it. I read it quickly, like I said it was still good I just couldn't get behind Tamri and I love Sel and hated this happened to Latch.
I WAS happy that I got a continuation of Dara, Siv, Sel, and Vine's story! Loved every minute of THAT! Vine is still my favorite and proved it by proving she's the only one with a brain and good character judgement. Nobody should underestimate Vine and I'm glad the King and Queen still have her by their side. Hoping to read more of my favorite characters within this trilogy and that Latch gets better. I won't hold my breath when it comes to Tamri, I've already gone through this with Dara, her father, the bratches and Waterworkers lol
This would have gotten a 5 star if it weren't for 2 things. Latch's character destroyed, which also made it hard for his and Sel's relationship to truly blossom and.....the main character. I couldn't stand Tamri. Yes, she had legit reasons to do what she did but the fact she didnt feel sorry about it and when she did had NO issues justifying herself just made me mad. Its selfish people like her that make worse things possible. Would WW2 have been AS bad if neighbor hadn't turned against neightbor? Informants double crossing for personal preservation or money? I dont think so, and yet this girl thought her aging grandmother who is already basically dying was more important than the lives of entire nations and the lives of everyone else she met. She could SEE how good Vertigonians were, she even liked them but she still made it a point to snitch on every little detail, even non important ones. And she felt proud and thought herself oh so superior to Dara just because she accomplished ONE itty bitty rescue. How many rescues has Dara pulled? Too many to count and one would have to read the Steel and Fire series to know that, but still. It sickens me that this selfish weak girl thinks only her life matters and that SHE can beat everyone else with power one day. Hating this power hungry scheme going on.....AGAIN. I dont know what I thought would go down in this companion series but...this wasn't it. I read it quickly, like I said it was still good I just couldn't get behind Tamri and I love Sel and hated this happened to Latch.
I WAS happy that I got a continuation of Dara, Siv, Sel, and Vine's story! Loved every minute of THAT! Vine is still my favorite and proved it by proving she's the only one with a brain and good character judgement. Nobody should underestimate Vine and I'm glad the King and Queen still have her by their side. Hoping to read more of my favorite characters within this trilogy and that Latch gets better. I won't hold my breath when it comes to Tamri, I've already gone through this with Dara, her father, the bratches and Waterworkers lol
October 31, 2024
Wow! I had difficulty putting this book down to do my daily chores. Yes, it is that good!
Tamri and her gramma Teall live in the humid slums of Pendark amid the stench of canals and the dregs of society.
Pendark has a wealth of Watermight which is a silvery magical substance that enables the wielder to become stronger and perform many magical feats. It is coveted my many neighboring countries.
A local gang- leader named Pel talks Tamri into a daring heist involving stealing Watermight from the carriers of a neighboring country. There is only one problem, the carriers are dragons.
Tamri steals enough Watermight to lasso the dragon and fights the beast for control as they fly across the city where she lives. The dragon finally lands and they wrestle for control until another dragon with a rider lands beside them and gains control. The dragon rider then returns to the King of Pendark's castle and hands her over to the local authorities.
The Princess of Vertigon is there when Tamri is brought before the king and when she finds out that Tamri stole a dragon with Watermight she intercedes with the king of Pendark and requests that Tamri be surrendered to them since she stole from Vertigon. The King releases Tamri to the Vertigonians but then binds her with a Watermight Oath that will kill her if she doesn't become his spy and send him everything she can learn about Vertigon. He also threatens to harm Gramma teall if she fails.
Tamri goes to Vertigon and is placed in the Queen's academy for magic wielders and is taught Fire magic. Her life is filled with tension because of the Watermight Oath and she is forced to send messages to the king of Pendark telling him everything she learns.
There is danger everywhere for Tamri as she begins to care for the people in Vertigon and she worries constantly that her lies and secrecy will be discovered.
This is a marvelous beginning story for the series of The Fire Queen's Apprentice. I can hardly wait to begin the next book.
Tamri and her gramma Teall live in the humid slums of Pendark amid the stench of canals and the dregs of society.
Pendark has a wealth of Watermight which is a silvery magical substance that enables the wielder to become stronger and perform many magical feats. It is coveted my many neighboring countries.
A local gang- leader named Pel talks Tamri into a daring heist involving stealing Watermight from the carriers of a neighboring country. There is only one problem, the carriers are dragons.
Tamri steals enough Watermight to lasso the dragon and fights the beast for control as they fly across the city where she lives. The dragon finally lands and they wrestle for control until another dragon with a rider lands beside them and gains control. The dragon rider then returns to the King of Pendark's castle and hands her over to the local authorities.
The Princess of Vertigon is there when Tamri is brought before the king and when she finds out that Tamri stole a dragon with Watermight she intercedes with the king of Pendark and requests that Tamri be surrendered to them since she stole from Vertigon. The King releases Tamri to the Vertigonians but then binds her with a Watermight Oath that will kill her if she doesn't become his spy and send him everything she can learn about Vertigon. He also threatens to harm Gramma teall if she fails.
Tamri goes to Vertigon and is placed in the Queen's academy for magic wielders and is taught Fire magic. Her life is filled with tension because of the Watermight Oath and she is forced to send messages to the king of Pendark telling him everything she learns.
There is danger everywhere for Tamri as she begins to care for the people in Vertigon and she worries constantly that her lies and secrecy will be discovered.
This is a marvelous beginning story for the series of The Fire Queen's Apprentice. I can hardly wait to begin the next book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 7, 2021
Wait For the Pieces to Fall In Place
*****Spoilers*****
I admit to a little frustration with the book at first with the point of view changes between Tamri and Selivia. However, once the story progressed to the mountain with the lightening, I could better understand and appreciate the reason for the split. It does make me wonder what the next will be like now that the two viewpoints seem to no longer be needed but we'll see. Another frustration of mine was Tamri, better said the whole we'll kill your grandmother if you don't do this theme. Sighs. Even though Tamri feels she doesn't have a choice but to save her grandmother, for once I think I'd like a character to call the bluff. Even though it didn't seem like it, I thought that Tamri had more leverage over the king's request for a spy at the school.
Tamri heads off with an oath she can't break that ties her to the pendark king and she has to send reports to him regularly to save her neck and keep her grandmother well taken care of in her absence. Slowly Tamri starts to feel guilty for the spy reports she sends as she builds relationships with the folks at the school, the most intriguing to the Pendark King is the knowledge of another magical power. Lightening.
Selivia's intended, Latch, rediscovered it and went to the island where the power rested only to be sucked in and entrapped. Thanks to Selivia's calls for aid, her brother King Siv and Queen Dara along with the Wielders from the school come to the rescue. The Queen fails in her attempt to rescue Latch but Tamri doesn't and she's able to get Latch out and away they all go. It'll be interesting to see what's next for the power of Lightening.
I wasn't really buying Tamri and Heath in terms of a couple. They barely had any interaction after the first few days and saw one another sporadically after they reached the school for Wielders. In any event, by the end of this book, there's something developing there between them.
*****Spoilers*****
I admit to a little frustration with the book at first with the point of view changes between Tamri and Selivia. However, once the story progressed to the mountain with the lightening, I could better understand and appreciate the reason for the split. It does make me wonder what the next will be like now that the two viewpoints seem to no longer be needed but we'll see. Another frustration of mine was Tamri, better said the whole we'll kill your grandmother if you don't do this theme. Sighs. Even though Tamri feels she doesn't have a choice but to save her grandmother, for once I think I'd like a character to call the bluff. Even though it didn't seem like it, I thought that Tamri had more leverage over the king's request for a spy at the school.
Tamri heads off with an oath she can't break that ties her to the pendark king and she has to send reports to him regularly to save her neck and keep her grandmother well taken care of in her absence. Slowly Tamri starts to feel guilty for the spy reports she sends as she builds relationships with the folks at the school, the most intriguing to the Pendark King is the knowledge of another magical power. Lightening.
Selivia's intended, Latch, rediscovered it and went to the island where the power rested only to be sucked in and entrapped. Thanks to Selivia's calls for aid, her brother King Siv and Queen Dara along with the Wielders from the school come to the rescue. The Queen fails in her attempt to rescue Latch but Tamri doesn't and she's able to get Latch out and away they all go. It'll be interesting to see what's next for the power of Lightening.
I wasn't really buying Tamri and Heath in terms of a couple. They barely had any interaction after the first few days and saw one another sporadically after they reached the school for Wielders. In any event, by the end of this book, there's something developing there between them.
April 7, 2019
This book is set in the same world as the author's Steel and Fire series, happening a few years later. You knew that the truce that ended the Steel and Fire series was going to break down; here is the beginning of the unraveling.
I'm not sure if you could read this and understand it without having read the previous 5 books; *maybe* it would make sense on its own, but I think you'd miss a lot. On the other hand, you probably *ought* to read that series, because it's pretty good (and the whole thing is on kindle unlimited, too).
I actually liked this book a bit more than the original series. The main character is a spunky thief who is caught up in political maneuvering between several of the kingdoms. She finds herself in a position where she is literally unable to be honest, or to form deep relationships based on truth, due to a geas-type magical compulsion. The story is the outworking of that, and how she manages, in the end, to establish real trust.
This book is obviously only the beginning of a new series (as I write this, it's the only one out so far). But the action is complete in itself, so you won't be left with a horrible cliff-hanger. Thank you, Jordan Rivet, for *not* doing that to your readers (unlike certain other authors I could name). But I thought this book was definitely good enough that I look forward to the next one; I would have binge-read the series if it had been available.
I'm not sure if you could read this and understand it without having read the previous 5 books; *maybe* it would make sense on its own, but I think you'd miss a lot. On the other hand, you probably *ought* to read that series, because it's pretty good (and the whole thing is on kindle unlimited, too).
I actually liked this book a bit more than the original series. The main character is a spunky thief who is caught up in political maneuvering between several of the kingdoms. She finds herself in a position where she is literally unable to be honest, or to form deep relationships based on truth, due to a geas-type magical compulsion. The story is the outworking of that, and how she manages, in the end, to establish real trust.
This book is obviously only the beginning of a new series (as I write this, it's the only one out so far). But the action is complete in itself, so you won't be left with a horrible cliff-hanger. Thank you, Jordan Rivet, for *not* doing that to your readers (unlike certain other authors I could name). But I thought this book was definitely good enough that I look forward to the next one; I would have binge-read the series if it had been available.
March 4, 2020
First Jordan River book I've read: My YA Review
A hint of homosexuality: "She vaguely remembered one of the women being much more interested in Reya." (Reya is a woman, rest of crew are male.)
Have you ever noticed how many authors write about an angry or surprised character, "he cursed"? I will quit reading a book where the author feels obligated to be more explicit, but still, I wonder what that term suggests to Young Adults about strong language (and I believe this is categorized as a YA book). Does it persuade the reader it is OK to curse because 'everyone' does it? And what does a youth imagine was actually said by the angry character. Something like, "Oh darn!"?
Yet, here's a sample of the worst I read by Jordan Rivet:
"Stumbling and swearing, she climbed higher",
... and another, ...
"Well, Selivia could blasting curse if she blasting wanted to."
> Far better than popular authors today, I'd say.
Some violence, but without graphic or gory description: "Tamri briefly lost sight of her friends amidst the carnage. She scanned the slope until she spotted Kay’s pale hair. She and Taklin were hauling Dentry between them, all three bleeding from multiple gashes."
Comical Observation: "Tamri took a bite of her goat pie to hide a grimace."
Really? Have you ever 'hid a grimace' by stuffing your face. Maybe I'm different, I'd probably just 'grimace' right at'em. *mischievous grin*.
Recommended author AND book.
A hint of homosexuality: "She vaguely remembered one of the women being much more interested in Reya." (Reya is a woman, rest of crew are male.)
Have you ever noticed how many authors write about an angry or surprised character, "he cursed"? I will quit reading a book where the author feels obligated to be more explicit, but still, I wonder what that term suggests to Young Adults about strong language (and I believe this is categorized as a YA book). Does it persuade the reader it is OK to curse because 'everyone' does it? And what does a youth imagine was actually said by the angry character. Something like, "Oh darn!"?
Yet, here's a sample of the worst I read by Jordan Rivet:
"Stumbling and swearing, she climbed higher",
... and another, ...
"Well, Selivia could blasting curse if she blasting wanted to."
> Far better than popular authors today, I'd say.
Some violence, but without graphic or gory description: "Tamri briefly lost sight of her friends amidst the carnage. She scanned the slope until she spotted Kay’s pale hair. She and Taklin were hauling Dentry between them, all three bleeding from multiple gashes."
Comical Observation: "Tamri took a bite of her goat pie to hide a grimace."
Really? Have you ever 'hid a grimace' by stuffing your face. Maybe I'm different, I'd probably just 'grimace' right at'em. *mischievous grin*.
Recommended author AND book.
May 11, 2020
You have no idea how excited I was to figure out that this series was a follow up series to this author's Fire and Steel series. I didn't know how much I missed all these characters until I stepped back into this world.
While this book is a follow up series to a previous series, it could still be read without reading the other series, though it would spoil the ending of that series and some of the characters might not have quite the meaning to the reader as they do if you read the other series first.
Five years after the ending of the previous series, we get to see where Siv, Dara, and the rest have ended up and how they are doing. The main characters in this book are a new character Tamri from Pendark and Princess Celivia (no idea how to spell since I have listened to the audiobooks of both series). Cel has a lot of unfinished business with Latch Brack, and I was so glad we are getting the conclusion of her story in this series.
The stakes are already so high in this book! The happy ending that they worked so hard to achieve is in peril. Can't wait for the next book!
Also, this book has the same narrator as the previous series, which also made it feel like stepping back into the same world and same characters. The narrator does an amazing job!
While this book is a follow up series to a previous series, it could still be read without reading the other series, though it would spoil the ending of that series and some of the characters might not have quite the meaning to the reader as they do if you read the other series first.
Five years after the ending of the previous series, we get to see where Siv, Dara, and the rest have ended up and how they are doing. The main characters in this book are a new character Tamri from Pendark and Princess Celivia (no idea how to spell since I have listened to the audiobooks of both series). Cel has a lot of unfinished business with Latch Brack, and I was so glad we are getting the conclusion of her story in this series.
The stakes are already so high in this book! The happy ending that they worked so hard to achieve is in peril. Can't wait for the next book!
Also, this book has the same narrator as the previous series, which also made it feel like stepping back into the same world and same characters. The narrator does an amazing job!
March 31, 2019
The Watermight Thief.
This was the first Jordan Rivet book that I have read, so I was not sure what to expect. I have to admit the cover is what caught my eye originally, it is absolutely stunning.
Once I started the book, I found it to be a really interesting story, in an intriguing world, which I would love to see a map of.
I listened to the audiobook version, which I have to say I really enjoyed. The narration is brilliant. Caitlin Kelly read it well. The characters were really interesting, I liked the contrast between the two narrative perspectives. Tamri and Selivia, one of which is a family orientated, poor thief from the swamps of Pendark, the other a princess. Both of which are strong female leads. Story wise I enjoyed it very much, and yes there are dragons, and dragon riders. Who could resist anything dragon? Need I say more.
I will have to read the prequel now, Steel and Stone, as I have heard that the characters, such as Selivia are in it. I would love to get a greater insight into them.
Overall a great read.
This was the first Jordan Rivet book that I have read, so I was not sure what to expect. I have to admit the cover is what caught my eye originally, it is absolutely stunning.
Once I started the book, I found it to be a really interesting story, in an intriguing world, which I would love to see a map of.
I listened to the audiobook version, which I have to say I really enjoyed. The narration is brilliant. Caitlin Kelly read it well. The characters were really interesting, I liked the contrast between the two narrative perspectives. Tamri and Selivia, one of which is a family orientated, poor thief from the swamps of Pendark, the other a princess. Both of which are strong female leads. Story wise I enjoyed it very much, and yes there are dragons, and dragon riders. Who could resist anything dragon? Need I say more.
I will have to read the prequel now, Steel and Stone, as I have heard that the characters, such as Selivia are in it. I would love to get a greater insight into them.
Overall a great read.
April 8, 2019
Tamri is just trying to provide for herself and her grandmother when she is whisked into a world of rival kingdoms and dragons.
The Watermight Thief is full of adventure and intrigue. I thought the magical angle was original and I liked how the author blends that with the fantasy. I didn't know until later that Jordan Rivet also has a series in this world - Steel & Fire. I plan to check that out. However, you can pick up on The Watermight Thief right from the start without any prior knowledge of that series.
I also highly recommend this story via Audible. Caitlin Kelly narrates and she has a way of weaving her voice to match the character's point of view regardless of gender - accent or not.
I'm looking forward to more by this author.
The Watermight Thief is full of adventure and intrigue. I thought the magical angle was original and I liked how the author blends that with the fantasy. I didn't know until later that Jordan Rivet also has a series in this world - Steel & Fire. I plan to check that out. However, you can pick up on The Watermight Thief right from the start without any prior knowledge of that series.
I also highly recommend this story via Audible. Caitlin Kelly narrates and she has a way of weaving her voice to match the character's point of view regardless of gender - accent or not.
I'm looking forward to more by this author.
January 7, 2020
I chose to read this book because of Jordan Rivet's riveting book 'Wake Me After the Apocalypse' which grabbed me like a noose around the neck with the first page. This did not have the same affect on me. It wasn't until the second half of the book that I got hooked. It is a great read, don't get me wrong but it took a bit to get into the story. Once you meet all the characters, it becomes a great read. The characters are interesting with a nice interplay between them. The plot is really well done with enough energy and mystique to make me want to read the next in this series ASAP. I love Rivet's style and pacing. Even in the first half of the book, things move right along. Okay, I've written enough, I need to download the next book in this series.
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