The Living Waters

Weirdwater Confluence

by Dan Fitzgerald

When two painted-faced nobles take a guided raft trip on a muddy river, they expect to rough it for a few weeks before returning to their life of sheltered ease, but when mysterious swirls start appearing in the water even their seasoned guides get rattled.

The mystery of the swirls lures them on to seek the mythical wetlands known as the Living Waters. They discover a world beyond their imagining, but stranger still are the worlds they find inside their own minds as they are drawn deep into the troubles of this hidden place.

The Living Waters is a Sword-Free Fantasy novel featuring an ethereal love story, meditation magic, and an ancient book with cryptic marginalia.

Author's note: The two books in this duology are sequential and related, but The Isle of a Thousand Worlds is not a traditional sequel; it's more of an adjacent story with significant points of contact. It follows some of the characters from The Living Waters, but not all, and one of the side characters in The Living Waters is a main character in The Isle of a Thousand Worlds. While the first book has only one kiss, the second book is quite steamy and includes explicit, consensual sex scenes. Either could be read by itself, but readers intending to read them both should probably read them in order.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

293 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 15, 2021

About the author

Fantasy and romance author of the Maer Cycle trilogy (low-magic fantasy) the Weirdwater Confluence duology (sword-free romantic fantasy), and the in-progress Time Before Trio (spicy romantic fantasy). The Time Before Trio will include The Delve (a smutty dungeon crawl, out now), Wings so Soft (an owl-themed fantasy romance, out now), and Cloti's Song (a poly fantasy romance, February 2024).

I also have a short romance: Unpainted (a queer arranged marriage fantasy romance, a standalone in the world of the Weirdwater Confluence) and another one coming, Jagged Shard (an enby/sapphic dungeon crawl fantasy romance coming early 2024, a standalone in the Time Before featuring characters from The Delve).

I write non-epic fantasy books, mostly romantic, in which you will find:

Mystery. Darkness. Wonder. Action. Romance. Otherness examined and deconstructed. Queer and straight characters living and fighting side by side. Imaginary creatures and magic with a realistic touch.

What you won’t find in my books:

Wholesale slaughter. Sexual assault. Unquestioned sexism or discrimination. Evil races. Irredeemable villains. Predestined heroes. An ancient darkness that threatens to overspread the land.

Catch me on Twitter or Instagram as danfitzwrites.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://www.bookwormblues.net/2021/11...

I write “sword-free fantasy”. I also write fantasy that deeply explores relationships and the human condition. It’s my jam. So when this book came across my radar, I knew I had to read it. It’s right up my alley. Fantasy minus the violence, an exploration of the human condition and the fluid, changing nature of relationships is what I’m here for. Sometimes I want something a little softer to read. That being said, I think to say this book is “soft” is misbranding it a bit. A book doesn’t have to have swords to be something that impacts you powerfully. I, by far, find personal stories like this to be more captivating than many other stories. Empires rising and falling are great, but the real meat on the bones of any story I read is with the characters’ personal journeys.

The Living Waters was one of those books that filled me with an infectious sense of wonder. In fact, when I think of my experience reading this book, I realize the overall feeling I’m left with is that very same wonder. Fitzgerald writes with a deep appreciation for the natural world, the awe and majesty of it, and its magic. There were times when he dipped his toes into the waters of lyrical prose (which I freaking love) and the world itself came alive with his vibrant descriptions. A few well-placed words, some poetry-lined sentences, and we have a landscape that felt so real, I lived in it.

At the core, this book is about the relationship between man and nature, and between man and their fellow man. There’s a lot of relationships in this book, different kinds of them that take different shapes, explore different things, and pull on different emotions. Fitzgerald put a lot of thought into just how he wanted to explore these relationships, and it really pays off with a dynamic book that was both unexpected and extremely thought provoking. Add his careful prose to the mix, and you have a book that is almost hypnotic, it’s so good. Gentle, and yet not, because there is pain here as well, and some mystery. There are moments of inner struggle and emotional turmoil, and yet I never once lost my trust in the author, that he would see me through to the end. We’d arrive on the other shore, safe.

The characters are well fleshed out and three-dimensional, even the secondary characters impressed me. The social strata, and the way it is structured was extremely interesting, and a very empathic exploration of what truly divides us as people. With characters on opposite ends of the social ladder, readers get a good perspective of the dynamic spread of this society, and how it has structured itself. Add in the poignant emotional notes and that pervasive sense of wonder, and you have something special on your hands.

In a lot of ways, I felt a very unexpected kinship to this book, because it reminded me so much of some of what I was trying to do with my own Songs of Sefate series, and what I try to do with all the fantasy I write. In fact, I will go so far as to say, this might be the first time I’ve ever read a book and thought, “Whatever genre this is, its pretty close to the genre I write.” And you know, I can’t answer what genre this is. Sword-free fantasy works, but I feel like that’s too limiting a term. This is more of an exploration of the inner landscape, which is mirrored in the outer landscape, and I just absolutely love this sort of thing. It’s full of metaphor and meaning, with a macro-level look at characters and their development, how relationships in their numerous forms impact not just those immediately involved but spread outward and have the potential to impact the very world itself.

This is my first Dan Fitzgerald book, but it won’t be my last. I look forward to seeing where the next book takes us. The Living Waters came to me at a time when I really needed to read something like this, something a bit more meditative, perhaps. Something that works on a deeper level. Less flash-bang, and more a slowly unfolding story about what it means to be human and and the ripple-effect of relationships.

[Anj✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

We follow Temi and Silvan, two painted-face nobles paired together as they embark on a "roughabout", a journey where they can experience the struggles of the common folk. Gilea, a certified herbalist has been assigned to be their minder to protect them and Leo, a nature lover and the captain of the boat they would be boarding.

𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆:
- character-driven, imaginative, well-paced and as in, no bloodshed!
- it focuses on characters' development and their relationship with each other
- I love how the book poses the question, "Does everything need to be shared with the world?"
— Leo's the most relatable for me coz with he's impulsive, wants to be alone most times and can't stay still 😂 I just want to hug him with what he endured 🥺
- Temi's character arc is my favorite! Delightful seeing how she finally learned to stand up for herself
- it's whimsical and I can't help feeling awe with how the author portrayed the world especially the waters
- I find this book oddly calming. It's serene and unassuming which is a good thing coz I've been too into grimdark lately 🤪 (I heard the author has one 👀)
Rating: 4.5/5★

[Michele Quirke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed The Living Waters! I was intrigued by the concept of sword-free fantasy and I have to say, I'm a fan! This book is definitely character-driven with a heavy focus on world-building, which was absolutely phenomenal.

I found the whole plot to be super unique. The world-building was by far my favorite thing about this novel. There was so much detail and I really loved the unique practice of the nobles painting their skin in order to prevent the sun from adding color to their skin. Paleness was measured on a scale and was actually a type of currency, which was very intriguing. I also really enjoyed the idea of young nobles and wealthy members of society going on the "roughabout" in order to see how others lived. The early chapters were really laid back and chill. I liked getting to know the characters (particularly Sylvan and Temi) as they tried new foods, met new people, and suffered new ailments during their roughabout. The addition of the ipsis added a new level of excitement and it was hard to put this book down.

I definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for a unique fantasy with a cast of interesting characters and some really, really awesome world-building!

[S. Bavey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a digital arc by the author to read in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Dan!

The Living Waters is a character driven “sword-free” fantasy. In the world of The Living Waters there are two main societal classes – the nobles and the less well-off. The nobles put such value on having pale skin that they paint their faces with thick paint to stop the sun’s rays from penetrating and affecting their skin tone. Their skin tone is assigned a number depending on their pallor and that is then used as a bargaining chip for marriagability. Because of this they constantly wear hats, gloves and shoes for protection. Before settling into their chosen profession or getting married they are sent on a “roughabout” which is a rite of passage to show young adult nobles a little bit of the world outside their city and help them understand what life can be like for the less privileged. I found the detail of this race’s customs and culture fascinating and would have liked to have spent more time among them.

Temi is the very likeable main female character. She is a gentle yet strong-willed painted face noble, whose family has fallen on hard times and whose mother hopes her pale skin will help her to find a husband who might disregard their family’s debt. She is also a gifted illustrator and appreciator of nature, who paints pottery, which is her family’s source of income.

She and Sylvan, another painted face noble, who is a scholar, a recently graduated doctor of life sciences and obsessed with creatures of the river, are paired together for their roughabout. They have been assigned a minder to protect them on their journey, a certified herbalist called Gilea, and their riverboat will be captained by the affable nature lover, Leo, and his dog Sea Wolf.

Sylvan is gifted a book by his mother before he leaves on his coming of age journey – a beautiful copy of a text he has already studied at university, with sketches and descriptions of all of the life forms seen in and along the river and the mythical wetland area known as The Living Waters which few people believe actually exists. There is also some mysterious writing in the margins which seems to suggest the book’s author may have never visited The Living Waters but that the writer of the marginalia has been there. They briefly mention creatures previously unknown to Sylvan, called the ipsis, sitri and duni in the marginalia and he becomes compelled by the thought of discovering what these creatures might be – if they even exist. I found the idea of this book fascinating and would like to see some sample pages! It reminded me of The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden, but with a river theme.

The four travelers embark on their journey and the reader is treated to brilliantly evocative descriptions of the river – a calm place for mediation, fishing and reading. The tone of the story is very blissful and peaceful as they float downstream, even when the nobles are working hard building a cabin on the boat, fishing, then gutting the fish and rowing, all tasks they have never attempted up until their roughabout, earning themselves blisters on their previously pristine hands.

Before long they begin to notice mysterious swirls in the water which don’t seem to have any cause. Leo soon becomes obsessed with them and he and Sylvan are determined to get as far down the river as the wetlands, where they believe the Living Waters are located, in the hope of discovering more about these swirls:

"They saw a handful of swirls heading downstream from the creek, with a reddish tint. They moved in clusters of two and three, in sync, though they occasionally swapped positions. One pair, in particular, moved in a kind of dance, side to side, then one in front of the other, then circling around each other. No one said anything about them, but their eyes were all watching, studying the swirls’ movements."

On the way the nobles have a disturbing episode with some parasites which made me cringe really badly! Temi also becomes so ill they think she might die if not treated soon and they witness increasingly weird behaviour from the swirls, which Sylvan begins to think might be the duni from the book.

The author’s imagination and love of nature are to the fore throughout this book as the travelers encounter weird and wonderful sentient creatures who are concerned they have been discovered by humans:

"The water churned and bubbled in zigzags and circles, which moved toward the center of the pool, then around the edges, splashing waves up onto the stone, which slithered back into the roiling mass. The water rose up in an unruly column, which flailed and morphed into a furious array of wild shapes, growing taller and thinner, the top billowing like an uncontrolled chemical flame. The sides of the column grew straight and smooth, the tongues of water at the top grew smaller and less frantic, and the column froze in place, more than ten feet tall, glistening in the sunlight filtering in through the clouds."

There is also a lot of emphasis on the soothing practice of mediation, whether preparing for medical intervention or even to enable communication and mind reading and this aids the peaceful, calm tone of the book. Gilea is a skilled practitioner of meditation and is able to teach Temi how to relax her mind and open herself up to the healing powers of their new friends.

Leo has to go through some traumatic experiences but he is happiest on the river:

"Leo slept on the roof that night with Sea Wolf, who stretched along his leg, snoring contentedly. He could almost feel the starlight bathing his body like a million cooling suns. As he stared up into the infinite spiderweb of the heavens, he was struck by his own insignificance, a feeling he knew all too well."

My favourite character in The Living Waters was Temi. She underwent hardship and health probems without complaining and was curious about Sylvan and Leo’s discoveries and about Gilea’s meditation practices. Her character evolves during the story, becoming more independent and able to stand up for herself against her mother and the expectations of her society by the end of the story:

“What would be a shame is for me to live in fear of how people perceive me, or to marry someone who only valued me as a shade seven.” Temi lowered her eyes and her voice, which had grown unexpectedly loud. “I’ll be fine, mother.”

I really enjoyed this book – it was easy to keep on reading, there were not too many names to have to remember, no gore or gratuitous sex (or any sex actually) – although there was both love and conflict. I would have liked a map as I found myself a little geographically confused at one point in the story where Leo is on his way to undertake a task and I couldn’t figure out where he was in relation to the other characters. It would also have been interesting to see how far down the river they had travelled from their home town.

For fans of the other books written by Dan Fitzgerald, there are some links between this and the Maer at the end of the story which will no doubt be explored in the future. I can’t wait to see where Fitzgerald is going with those.

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Living Waters is my first book by Dan Fitzgerald and I was eager to read his work and it did not disappoint. It is a unique fantasy and beautifully told story. I have seen Mr. Fitzgerald’s many nature photos, and his love for the natural world leaps off the pages. His prose as he describes in detail the organisms in the world he has created, is nothing short of remarkable. Having a degree in Environmental Science, when I read about ecosystems, they must make sense to me. All of what Mr. Fitzgerald writes about the animals and interconnectedness, was so detailed and vivid, I felt as if I was there along with the characters.
The story centers around Sylan and Temi, who are from wealthy families, though Sylan’s family has quite a bit more money. They have been sheltered and pampered and come from a society that has odd behaviors about skin color. This was the only part that was a bit confusing. Both wear paint to cover their skin, but how pale one is seemed to be better. The paint protects them from the sun and they use many different colors. Sylan has a doctorate in the natural sciences and Temi is an artist. They embark on a river journey, called a roughabout, with a man named Leo as their guide and Gilea as their protector. Leo is truly adventurous, often diving into the water to escape the confines of the raft they are on. Gilea, as protectory, watches over Sylvan and Temi. While she does not wield magic, she has a unique power. Through her meditation, she can sense people and how they feel, and she can touch minds with others, sharing their deepest thought and forming a bond. She is a skilled healer as well. Temi and Sylvan would go on this journey, have some adventure before returning to their pampered lives. It becomes complicated when Gilea and Temi develop feelings for each other. It is a beautifully written part of the book. The characters are well developed, and the LBGTQ representation in the book is so important.
Sylvan has a natural science book with him that he uses to identify the many species of animals they encounter. While it was written by a famous naturalist, there are marginal notes that give more accurate information that was added later by another scientist. Mr. Fitzgerald’s details were a field guide to this entire system. They all fit in perfectly with the environment and it all felt organic. Detail like this is very difficult to accomplish. It was not only the animals, but the plant life as well. This is just one detailed example of a fish and note how detailed it is. There are so many examples of the complexity that he pours into each species:

“…they’re said to be much more sensitive to vibration than other fish, and the plates on their head are thought to be some kind of sensory organ. I wonder if the optic nerve somehow connects to those plates as the grow over the eyes, so it can feed by sight alone.” Dan Fitzgerald, The Living Waters

What are the Living Waters? It’s a place that both Leo and Sylvan are eager to find. What resides there? As they traverse the river on the roughabout, the encounter swirls of water that seem to have consciousness. These swirls only pique their curiosity and even more determined to find the living waters. They find the Living Waters along with a humanoid race, the ipsis, that has lived there for generations, hidden from the rest of the population. They are kind and welcoming. The water is living. The swirls are beings that arise from the water in various forms, most taking a human shape. Danger lurks in the Living Waters and the ipsis turn to our four companions for help. There are many twists and turns in the book. The touching of minds was a very important component and it added a nice level of uniqueness to the fantasy. The description of the Living Waters is beautiful-a place I would love to visit.

“The Living Waters” he breathed…dragonflies and half-moon butterflies danced above the grasses, tracing erratic patterns in the gray skies. Splashes, croaks, and high-pitched humming if insects filled the air…brown, green and even blue stickbirds waded silently away…several swirls floated alongside them as they went…the shimmering water formed into a hump, which rose above the surface, thinning into a shape like a staff made entirely of water…” Dan Fitzgerald, The Living Waters

Overall Thoughts
I enjoyed the Living Waters and I think fantasy fans will certainly enjoy it as well. The natural diversity developed by Mr. Fitzgerald is brilliant in its complexity and organic nature. The characters are very well-developed and it’s always wonderful to have LBGTQ representation. The mystery of the Living Waters was beautifully written, and it contrasted with a deeper, deadly mystery. I loved the adventurous spirit of Leo, the scientific nature of Sylvan, reading how Temi goes from a timid young woman to one of strength through her experiences, and finally the tough protector, Gilea, who falls in love with Temi and forms a bond that know will never break. The Living Waters is a wonderful book and I highly recommend it.
You can find this (and all my reviews) on my website at: https://bookandnatureprofessor.com/20...

[FantasyBookNerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a lot to admire in Dan Fitzgerald’s writing. I like how he is pushing the boundaries of fantasy to tell unconventional stories, which is always going to get my attention.

Now, I know that much has been said about the fact that this book does not contain a sharp pointy thing called a sword, and that makes no difference to the level of threat that is there in the story, except it comes from a different source than loads of fantasy peoples running around or threatening people with oversized cutlery.

The story centres around a raft trip down a river, and the events that happen on the trip.

Temi and Sylvan are two members of an aristocratic society who come from two ends of the specctrum. Sylavn is from a highly successful, well to do family, whilst Temi’s family are down on their luck and are hoping that the hue of Temi’s skin will bag her a rich, powerful husband in order to save the family’s fortunes.

The thing that these two have in common is that they are planning to take something called a Roughabout. A kind of trip that is designed to give the rich folk a bit of resilience and character. A sort of toffee nose rite of passage that lets the pampered, cosseted children of rich folk experience ‘real’ life.

Along with Temi and Sylvan is Leo, the organiser of the roughabout, and Gilea, Temi’s protector and aide.

Now whilst they all have one thing in common, they all have very different goals. Sylvan is a scholar of nature, particularly marine nature and biodiversity, and hopes to study the environment and compare what he finds to a work of scholarly art that he received for his graduation. Temi has her own plans that do not involve any of these things. Leo is in it for the money, but also some level of excitement and a hope to find The living Waters. Whilst Gilea is initially in it for the money, but finds that she has other motivations on the trip.

Essentially, I felt that it was a very gentle story about development and growth, and how experience affects each of differently. Each of the characters grow throughout the book in different ways and it was such a delight to see how each of the characters took different things away similar experiences and how they interpreted those experiences.

The book is a character driven book, and I got attached to all the characters in different ways. Temi and Sylvan are both nobles, and I found the construct of the upper eschelons quite fascinating. The nobles in The Living Waters paint their faces, and cherish their lightened skins as a way to denote their wealth and standing. Conversely, the regular folk of the country who work outside have sun browned skins that imply that these are commoners.

I adored each of the characters in the story, although I liked some more than others. I think most people will find Temi and Gilea’s arc the most satisfying, and I did enjoy their stories. Temi is strong willed , she becomes quite ill in the story with a disease that resembles consumption (Tuberculosis), and she bravely copes with this condition. However, I liked Sylvan. He has an unassuming way of looking at the world. He is constantly in awe of the natural world and the environment that he finds himself in, and in the end undergoes a dramatic change that shows his strength and willingness to assimilate into new cultures and experiences.

I have to say that I did find Leo a little overwhelming at times, he just never sits still, or goes off on impulsive little side trips. He is at once charming and aloof, and at times a little difficult to emapthise with.

Now I know that I said that this is a gentle story. However, that does not mean that there isn’t action and tension, because quite the opposite, there are a number of scenes of tense action. Particularly the end, and the dangers posed by the different events that occurs on their journey.

The journeying aspect of the book give it a chance to introduce a rich source of world building that Dan Fitzgerald does in organic and underwhelming manner. He evokes a rich and well realised world that constantly changes at different parts of the river. In addition to this, he brings in a lot of cultural and environmental diversity.

Furthermore, there is an intriguing magic system in the book that doesn’t involve explosions of fireballs, but revolves around a mixture of natural magic, alchemy and a spiritual and meditative approach, and this becomes more prominent when the gang meet the Ipsis and the Sitri.

The Living Waters is an ambitious book, showing how fantasy can be used to tell different types of stories, and it is one of those books that will stay with me.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Living Waters is the first in a new duology from Dan Fitzgerald, the author of The Maer Cycle trilogy of books. I haven’t read his other series, but they are now definitely being shuffled closer to the top of my TBR, as The Living Waters grabbed ahold of my heart from the first page and didn’t let go. While his first series was full of the ol’ stabby stabby, the Weirdwater Confluence duology is what he has labeled as “Sword-Free Fantasy”. According to Fitzgerald, he wants to “use fantasy to explore relationships and the human experience through a different lens, one that doesn’t have to involve so much violence.” You can read his full blog post about Sword-Free Fantasy here), but suffice it to say that this ended up being a very refreshing read in a lot of ways. It’s a story bursting at the seams with adventure, wonder, and heart, and it’s one that has catapulted itself to the top of my favorite reads this year.

The sweet spot between belonging and isolation had evaporated, and the only thing that gave him a feeling of peace was the pursuit of the swirls, of the mystery they represented.

The Living Waters was partially inspired by the real life raft trip down the Mississippi River that the author took when he was a child (you can read more about the inspiration here) and it really shows. The sense of wonder and adventure that he must have felt while floating down the muddy Mississippi River really bleeds through onto the page. Indeed, the whole book is absolutely dripping with fascination and I constantly found myself being drawn deep into the world that Fitzgerald has built. The book itself takes it name from a field guide within the book covering the flora and fauna of the mythical wetlands called the Living Waters. It is this legendary place that the main characters are determined to reach and they’re driven by an almost dogged need for the truth. Are the Living Waters real and, if so, what wonders do they contain?

The waters and lands of the world are teeming with life and Fitzgerald captured their beauty wonderfully. The Living Waters is a tribute to nature and the majesty of the wild, but it also shows the effect that civilization has on it. Industry is growing and pollution is making its way into the waterways, driving away the creatures that once called it home. The question is raised: where do we draw the line between our need to know and our need to preserve? And, how will nature respond when threatened? Don’t mistake the moniker Sword-Free Fantasy to mean one without conflict or action because there’s plenty of that in here, too!

Temi’s words wrung her heart like a sponge, but she retained a drop of hope at the word. Yet. “That’s okay. We feel what we feel.”

I instantly fell in love with each of the four main characters. The culture and upbringing of the two painted-face nobles, Sylvan and Temi, was incredibly interesting to me. Social standing and influence is based on the pallor of your skin, with the palest shades wielding more power than those that are darker of complexion. This means the nobles spend a lot of time in the shade and wear heavy, colored makeup to protect their delicate tones. Whereas Sylvan and Temi are fragile and refined, their guides, Gilea and Leo, are the exact opposite. Low of birth and thus free to bare their skin in the sun, the other two main characters live a much more honest life of guiding nobles on their “roughabouts.” The conflicting nature of these social standings and upbringings made their relationships with each other all the more nuanced and interesting. I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention that each of the side characters in the book were equally as interesting and fleshed out as the main cast and each had a role to play in moving the story along. As much as The Living Waters is about nature, it is equally focused on relationships. At the heart of it, this is a story about connection. Connection with nature, with each other, with oneself.

I could really go on forever about how much I adored this book. The Living Waters came at just the right time for me. I have been struggling with burnout and so much depression and anxiety, but this book gave me a safe space to lose myself in the pages and float. The book had an almost magnetic attraction in a way that no other book has before and I couldn’t quit going back to it with shorter and shorter periods between reading. I really think that Fitzgerald has stumbled upon something great with Sword-Free Fantasy and, while I do love a read filled with murder and mayhem, this story was alive with hope and the promise of adventure and that’s something I really needed right now. I think we all do.

The swirls moved downstream towards them, side by side, pausing when they came to within ten feet of the canoe, two almost identical swirls of water, each as wide as a barrel top. They began moving again, one passing on each side of the boat. Sylvan watched the one to his right, hoping to see what fish or other creature was responsible. He saw nothing but the swirl on the surface, which rejoined the other behind the canoe and continued down toward the river.

[Tom Mock]

This is not a full review. I read through the beginning of all 300 SPFBO9 contest entries. This was a book I wanted to read more of.

This reminds me of Ellen Kushner’s writing. It is heavily reliant on dialogue. The dialogue is good, but is there enough here? It does feel unique, the MC a gentle academic…

More descriptive prose is finding its way onto the page, and I find myself relaxing into the story. I don’t know where this is going, but I’m enjoying it.

Our departing graduate (or some kind, some more detail here would be appreciated) gets a special unabridged book complete with marginalia, and I feel taken in by his quiet earnestness.

It might have been nice if the MC discovered things about the book instead of just being told, but I think this will be an interesting and calming read. I like that sensibility.

I don’t know a great deal about where I am, but I know our gentle academic from a wealthy family is headed for an adventure of self discovery of sorts on a river, and that’s enough. I’m in!

[Peter Wagar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up for SPFBO.

This tells the story of two nobles going on a “roughabout” which is like a gap year where they figure out what “normal people” live like.
There’s a mysterious and vibey river cruise on a raft they helped build, and mysterious place called the Living Waters and a *lot* of introspection.
Definitely a slow start to a book, so you might need to just wade through it.

There’s some wonderful world building in this book, but the good parts really don’t kick until after the halfway part, which I won’t spoil. The river is a great vibe and the ecosystem that’s described over the course of the book is fascinating.

The characters were a little hard to engrave with for several reasons. The first half of the book was mostly characters being introspective about themselves, but little meaningful interactions between the characters, despite the main four characters living on a raft together. Additionally, I didn’t feel like the voices of the characters sounded different. I was constantly getting the POV confused since there wasn’t much change in the writing between different perspectives.

Once the halfway mark hits, most of these concerns go away. Once the characters start interacting with the world around them and things start happening, the story becomes more engaging and the world gets beautiful.


Disclaimer: I don’t do star ratings, so five stars is a default for self pubs to counteract the star inflation for popular read authors in this economy

[Rowena Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness where to even begin with this review. I’ve been sat here for an hour trying different ways to start it, and you know what? I am going to gush. I didn’t just love this book, I ADORED IT. There are some books that you read at just the right moment, and The Living Waters was definitely one of them. I curled up in bed with it last night, with the Scottish weather doing what it does best at this time of year and pouring down outside. I intended to just make a start on reading this one as I had some other stuff to work on… I was at nearly 50% before I realised what was happening because I was just so enthralled by the story, the characters and the world. I then attempted to work…and gave up barely half an hour later, because I just wanted to dive back into The Living Waters.

I finished this book in an evening because I couldn’t pull away from it and you know what? I am more than okay with that because it has been a while since I’ve felt so full – of emotion, tranquillity and just general contentment – from reading a book, or so at peace.

Part of that can very much be attributed to the setting, as reading The Living Waters felt very much like that feeling you get when you turn off all technology, wrap up warm and cosy, and go out for a walk in the depths of nature.

“Big ones like this, usually, but nature does love to surprise you…”

This book is an ode to nature, and I loved all the little details and the care that was taken to capture that feeling. From the information in the ancient book from the blurb (and the cryptic marginalia) – also I really want that book, and it was so easy to imagine what it would look and feel like, and the old book smell (I may have been slightly immersed in this book) – to all the unfolding details as Sylvan and Temi are introduced to the world on and alongside the river, and of course within The Living Waters themselves. I loved the balance between the practical details, for those living on and around the water, from fishing and hunting to dealing with pests and dangers (and my toes definitely curled at the bit with the mudworms), and the scientific/naturalist aspect – and I loved how they worked together to create that sense of wonder and discovery, with the different sides often blurring together.

I also loved the interplay of that naturalist/scientific approach and mythology, from the question of whether the mystical Living Waters exist, to what lives within those wetlands if they do, to the intersection of philosophy and spirituality and medicine. Amongst everything, it was a wonderful exploration of the question about whether everything needs to be proved or shared with the world, or whether sometimes it’s enough just to believe, or to let something remain ‘mythical’ in a world hellbent on answers. Sylvan’s journey in particular felt like a reflection of that, although he wasn’t alone in opening up to new experiences.

Amongst all that questioning though, there is very much a sense of wonder and whimsy – as a character Leo felt very much like the embodiment of that. The Living Waters though were the pure essence of that and were written so vividly that there was no need to close your eyes to envision that place, and as much as I loved the journey up the river – it was the time spent in the Living Waters and with the ipsis that was my favourite. There was just something so wonderfully magical and yet natural about the ipsis and how they lived and worked with their surroundings.

That said, while the majority of The Living Waters is about nature and the river, and the flowing water, we also get to see the world around and beyond the water, and it was fascinating in its own way. From the restrictions and traditional ways of the painted-face nobles (and I absolutely adore the imagery of the painted faces, and how that is built into so much of the story), to the bureaucracy of cities divided into rings, to different ways of living along the river that ties them all together. There was such a distinct feel to the different settlements as well, whether it was a brief glimpse, a short visit or just shared through memories and conversations, and it added another layer to the world and to the characters.

Speaking of characters, one of my favourite aspects of how Fitzgerald writes has always been his characterisation, and as much as I loved the characters in the Maer Cycle, it feels as though he has reached a whole new level here. From the four main characters to those they meet along the river, to the ipsis, he does an amazing job of making them vivid and real, and so wonderfully human, with flaws and quirks and so much emotion.

There wasn’t a single character that I wasn’t immediately attached to, particularly our main group of four – Gilea, Leo, Sylvan and Temi – and I loved the counterbalance between the two painted-face nobles and the two who had lived and experienced the wider world. But, also, that for all that experience, the journey turned out to be one of discovery for all of them, and not just in terms of learning more about the river and its secrets, but discovering more about themselves and one another. The development within the group, and for each of them as individuals, was beautifully done from start to finish. It’s honestly hard to choose a favourite between the four of them, although they are very different.

I think if I had to choose, Temi would edge out the others, there was something about her inner strength that I just loved, and her journey was possibly my favourite – although it most certainly wouldn’t have been the same without the others. I also enjoyed how her story was paralleled by Sylvan, that these two who had come from similar origins but with different goals, found their paths not only intersecting but almost changing over at the end of the book. Sylvan was just wonderful, and at the end of the book there was a feeling that he had almost grown the most, but changed the least – confusing I know, but it felt very true to who he was. Leo, I just felt an immediate connection with. That desire to be alone, and then needing to come back and be involved, to be connected is one that resonated with me, and that paired with his sense of wonder just made him such a wonderful character. I also appreciated that for all of his skills and confidence, he had the softer moments, the moments of wavering and needing support – and there was a moment towards the end where I just wanted to wrap him up in a hug. Gilea was fantastic, and her journey by far felt the most internal and personal and yet the most open because a lot of the journey and relationships – between them, and with the ipsis and sitri was the internal becoming external.

So many contradictions – and I love it.

'Temi’s words wrung her heart like a sponge, but she retained a drop of hope at the word. “That’s okay. We feel what we feel.”'

There were so many wonderful relationships – romantic, platonic and familial within this book, but the one between Temi and Gilea was beautiful and delicate, and it felt like watching that last, reluctant bud flowering in spring. The moments between them, the connection, was some of the most beautiful writing in this book, and Fitzgerald captured the emotions perfectly.

(My one and only complaint is that I want more of them!!)

This level of characterisation and emotion is not limited to the main four. There were the people they met along the river, including two brothers whose bond was a thing of joy to behold. Then there were the ipsis and the sitri. As I mentioned above I loved the ipsis as a people, but I also adored them as individuals – and what really stood out for me is how well we get to know them, the connections that were forged, without a shared language. Sadie and Ranger were absolutely fantastic with barely a word spoken in a shared language, and yet there was no doubting their emotions and feelings, or the bonds they forged and I loved how Fitzgerald used other means of communication – from the opening and sharing of minds, to touch and blinks -and it just added so perfectly to that mystical feeling of that part of the book.

This same care is shown with the duni and sitri, again without the use of language as we tend to know it, and how they have found a way to communicate. However, what really stood out for me, as we got into the conflict properly was that the ‘villains’ were not black or white and that you could you can understand where the spreaders are coming from. Throughout the journey, we’ve seen the different settlements along the river and the impact they’ve had on the river, with pollution and muddying the water. Why wouldn’t they want to claim more of the river for themselves? To fight for clear waters? Their methods admittedly left a lot to be desired, but you can empathise with their desire, and I think that’s why the conflict works so well – because you can see and feel for both sides, and you can understand the costs on both sides and it just adds such a wealth of depth to the moral questions of how to solve the problem.

The Living Waters is called a sword-free fantasy, and it really is, but that does not mean that there isn’t tension or stakes or risk, and the action as the conflict built to its zenith was gripping. This would have been a very different book with swords, and nowhere near as powerful. I also love that the ‘magical’ aspect such as it is, is also subtle and not the bright, sparkling thing we often think of with fantasy. Instead, we have a combination of alchemy (and hello Patia) and a philosophical/spiritual approach with meditation and a focus on learning to open up and let the world and others in. I’d seen snippets and was excited to see how this would work within the whole, and I cannot think of anything else that could have worked so beautifully within this story, again its that embracing of nature and self, and I know that I found myself breathing deeply and feeling the calm in those moments.

Fitzgerald has really created a thing of beauty here.

The Living Waters was one of my most anticipated books for the latter part of 2021, but I was not prepared for just how much I needed this book or how much I was going to love it. There was not one aspect of this book that I didn’t adore, and I can see this one becoming a frequent reread whenever I need a break from the helter-skelter of the modern world. Plus I just want to spend more time with the characters. Fitzgerald had already become a must-read author for me, but The Living Waters has cemented that and I will be counting down the days until the release of the second book. This book had everything (apart from swords, but honestly who needs swords?), and I also loved a couple of little almost ‘easter eggs’ from the Maer making an appearance to encountering a friend within the city of Endulai. All I can do is reiterate that I truly, deeply adored this book and that I cannot recommend it highly enough. So, please take a break from the world, preorder this work and lose yourself in its pages as soon as you can.

[Westveil Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was granted complimentary access to The Living Waters as part of my participation in a blog tour for this title with Storytellers on Tour. Thank you to all involved in affording me this opportunity! My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

I've been hosting spotlights, cover reveals, and even a guest post or two (if I'm not mistaken) for Dan for about as long as I've been in the book blog tour game (you write fast, man!) and I've wanted to support in the ultimate way with a review for quite a while but I never had the time to catch up on his other series. Well, The Living Waters is the start of a new series. This was my chance! I'm so glad I took it.

Dan Fitzgerald is one of those authors who writes characters who truly feel like the real people you know in your life. The interactions, the emotions, the relationships, they're all so spot on! Another thing he does really well is writing about the natural world, describing outdoor environments, and conveying the connections his characters feel with the great outdoors. (If you follow him on social media, that shouldn't be surprising! If nothing else, follow him for the great nature & wildlife photography.)

A small group of unlikely allies, both nobleborn and not, find themselves on a journey to find The Living Waters. What they find is far more interesting than just some swirling water. They find new people and cultures, they learn about the world's magic, and they find new worlds within themselves. This book is full of whimsy and wonder, but in a serious way that teaches lessons and asks important questions between the lines.

Something that really stuck out to me that I haven't really seen mentioned in the reviews that came before mine is neurodivergence. This world doesn't appear to label or understand neurodivergence in the same way we do, so I can't say for sure what any particular character would be diagnosed as, but I do think many neurdivergent readers are going to see positive representation in this book. Some of these characters read that way to me and I was pleased to see that other characters treated them well, accepted differences as a matter of fact, and never made it an issue. It's just positive, subtle inclusion in a world that doesn't seem to think twice about such differences.

You'll hear a lot of people describing The Living Waters as "sword-free fantasy," and it is, but don't think that means boring. This book is rich, intricate, fresh, and imaginative. I can't wait to read further instalments in this series (and one of these days get around to reading his other books!)

[Jenny (ofproseandspells)]

The Living Waters by Dan Fitzgerald is a character-driven, “sword-free” fantasy that focuses one's journey and discovery of growth and development. It is the first book in the Weirdwater Confluence duology, and you can bet on it that I'll be reading the next book as well.

This novel was a refreshing read for me. Whenever I read fantasy books, it was already imbedded in my mind that 'violence' also went along with it. This book changed my perspective. Although the overall atmosphere and tone of the novel was whimsical and calm, it also had enough tension and conflicts that made it engaging. On the other hand, I really enjoyed the world-building. Being cooped up in the house for almost two years because of the pandemic, it made me want more to be close to nature. This book provided me a quick escape from all the noises happening right now.

Of course, the characters were well-written. I really like the dynamics. Each had their own motivations, came from different social status, and flaws. Not only the main characters were fleshed-out but the side characters, too. This is one of the books wherein it was easy to connect emotionally to the characters because they just felt so vivid and real.

Overall, The Living Waters is a beautiful, fantasy novel highlighting nature and human connection at heart. Highly recommend. 4.5/5 stars!

A big thanks to Storytellers on Tour for the review copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[SeasaltRose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a little different from what I normally read and so it’s a bit difficult to review.

The main plot of the book is a somewhat routine boat trip that leads to a wonderful and fantastic place.

One of the strengths of the book is the characters and each main character has a clear voice. I especially liked Sylvan as I am a scientist myself and it’s a bit rare to see a fantasy biologist character.

The other strength was the description and depth of the natural environment and the fantastic environments the characters find themselves in later on.

Some of the magical or metaphysical parts were admittedly a bit confusing but it added to the atmosphere!

[E.P. Stavs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was quite different from the books I usually read, and I found I enjoyed it all the more for it. The characters were wonderful and easily my favorite part. Loved Temi & Gilea together, and I’m always a sucker for a furry companion (Sea Wolf!) Their journey together with Sylvan and Captain Leo down the river looking for The Living Waters is fascinating and what they finally find even more so. Definitely recommend.

[Bjørn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an unusual book this is.

I don't know where to begin. The Living Waters seems to be a genre in itself – meditation fantasy? Nature fantasy? (Not cli-fi.) There are no swords and no bloodsheds. The pacing is… meditative. Whatever's fashionable in 2021 fantasy – fast-paced action-packed grimdark etc. – this isn't it.

I can just about describe the mood; somewhere between Arthur C Clarke's Songs of the Distant Earth and Krzysztof Boruń/Andrzej Trepka's Space Trilogy, except those books are science fiction. This is my second Dan Fitzgerald's book, after Hollow Road, and both of them pose a curious dilemma, where the characters are the opposite of grimdark, yet would fit into it. There are no heroes and there are no villains – there are the POV characters and the other. "What if the opposite is true?" Fitzgerald's prose seems to ask – or, "what if nothing's handily black or white?"

In nature, there is no good or bad. Survival is about surviving. One day humanity will be gone, but it won't be the end of the world or of nature itself. There will be a different world and a different nature. Perhaps this is what The Living Waters is about. And also about connection, and openness, and why "different" means neither better nor worse. The worldbuilding is multi-dimensional, each arc getting its own world… see? This is why I'm not a book blogger. "It's just really amazing" isn't a detailed review.

There is one thing I didn't really like about the book. There was quite a lot of foreshadowing that led nowhere – "maybe in the next book." The endings – each of the main characters gets one, which makes the final part oddly paced – suggests there is a lot more coming. While I wouldn't call them "cliffhangers" those endings leave me… unfulfilled. A lot of the promises made throughout the book are not fulfilled and many new ones are peppered all over the final part, which makes The Living Waters feel less like book one of a series and more of an episode awaiting a follow-up. It's not that I won't sleep at night, breathlessly waiting for book two – I'm simply disappointed that I can't go on reading. I'm not done and, clearly, neither is Fitzgerald.

Here's hoping for rapid release – and the promises made better get fulfilled, or I'll have to come back and revise my score.

(9/10)

[Alex (soulfullyalex) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really interesting fantasy story about young adults going on a “roughabout” and exploring the world through a boat tour. They are drawn in by mysterious swirls to a mythical land. I think the worldbuilding and fantasy elements of this book was really interesting. There were a lot of cool concepts and ideas about the way magic works in the world.

I really enjoyed the adventure and study aspect. We follow Temi and Silvan that are painted-faces, essentially rich kids on a tour before starting the rest of their lives. I liked the fact that Silvan was a biologist of aquatic creatures and he was constantly interested in the new creatures he got to see on his boat tour. I thought it was interesting seeing both Silvan and Temi’s motivations for being on this roughabout and what they wanted to get out of it.

I thought the beginning of the book was a bit slow as they made their way toward what they hoped were the Living Waters, but the action picked up and I liked how it all came together in the end. It was definitely interesting to learn how the two worlds were colliding and working against each other. The magic that was based in water and meditation was also really interesting.

I think this is a really interesting take on the rich kid tour and I liked that it was a sword-free fantasy and I think it is a great read for anyone who likes fantasy with not a lot of violence and was focused on exploration and character development.

[Kriti | Armed with A Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading The Living Waters was like being on a boat, going on a journey, but also being on the journey that is led by the current and motions of the waters.



The face painted nobles in the story went out to explore the world and I went with them. I felt like I was a face painted noble myself because I knew nothing. I loved the characters that Dan portrayed in this book! I gravitated towards Sylvan as a scholar and connected deeply with his passion to understand the life around him. I was the starry-eyed person who wanted to devour the book front to back and figure out the cryptic messages in its margin, while adding my own notes to the book I was reading.

I also felt a connection to Temi. While she may have more privileges than some in the world, she isn’t one to live completely by the rules and roles set by society. She has a thirst for exploration, a need to be her own person, a compassionate heart and a loving nature. She is observant and a hard worker and, as Gilea and Leo find out as they take Temi and Sylvan on the roundabout, she makes people rethink what they know about nobles.

On Meditative Magic
Hands down my favourite part of The Living Waters was the meditative magic in this book. I find Fantasy very hard to read sometimes because the magic systems can be quite complex and the character arcs can be deeply rooted in history that only gets revealed later. The Living Waters isn’t like that. The Living Waters is a book in the present. Don’t get me wrong. Of course the characters have a past and their own missions in life, but at the same time, they are present in what is happening to them on this journey. They are curious. They are open to new experiences and they have grown to care about each other. While it might have been money that would have brought them together originally – Gilea and Leo being hired to take Sylvan and Temi on the roundabout – they are people who believe in building relationships and want the best for everyone in the group.

Coming back to meditative magic – I loved looking at meditation as a way to access and share magic! It is one of the most liberating concepts I have read because it is an exercise of the mind. We can all do it if we put our minds to it! While I am not much of a meditator, I see the appeal in it and I am very excited to learn more about this magic system in the following book, and other worlds that Dan has created. It reminds me a bit of how the One Power is portrayed in the Wheel of Time Amazon adaptation.

I love this line about Gilea! Recently, I have been noticing the thoughts that I have and journaling them. Acknowledging something, I believe, is the first step to changing it if change is warranted. Memories and thoughts can indeed be tended to like a garden! Working through the stuff that needs to be confronted and adjusted and keeping the wonderful things that bring us joy. 🙂

The Living Waters is a wonderful book I hope to revisit again. It is a prized possession for me because it is a signed copy from Dan! The ethereal and grounding feel of the world is like none other I have experienced. The relationships that the characters form are beautifully written and I enjoyed the exploration of liking someone and then realizing that you have fallen in love.

Read full review on Armed with A Book and also check out the interview with Dan!

[Paul Cochrun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two of the elite painted-faced nobles of the city on a roughabout: a rite of passage for the wealthy to test their meddle in the outdoors. Temi is a talented artist whose family is has fallen on hard times; she plans to disappear during the journey, so she can to get a fresh start. Sylvan has recently graduated in from school with a degree in biology and has been waiting to explore his area of focus, aquatic animals.

They are joined by Leo their guide and Gilea their minder who is also a trained herbalist. They will to take the two adventurers downsteam… hopefully keeping them safe.

A float that will give them experience. Some wildlife to study, a storm to wait out, and maybe even a run-in with bugs, nasty creepers that find their way under your skin… But, the object of this quest is The Living Water. An occurance of mythological heights… the unexplainable swirls in the water that are allegedly the cause of so many unexplainable happenings. Will they be able to get past the gauntlet and find their destination?

At first I had no idea what type of book I was getting into… Is this Indiana Jones? Are we going upriver to find Kurtz? Or, is this a more of an inner journey? Two things come to a strict confluence in this book. One is the emphasis the royals put on skin color. They cover themselves head to toe and keep exposed skin painted at all times to keep an ultra-white pallor. Juxtapose this obsession with purity with the constant muddy and toxins in the river waters and Fitzgerald and definitely saying something. There’s so much subtlety in his writing that takes some reflection to really appreciate. I found myself going over select passages several times.

An easy read at just 300 pages and a small cast of characters… like the atmosphere of this book. The rhythm of the days and nights spent manning the oars. This book sneaks up on you and the freshness of the narrative continually made me want to read more.

My only criticism lies in the early characterization. Much of it was through the actions of others to get a read on the main characters. I think I wanted a bit more from the narrator to fill in some of the gaps. The result was that it took me a little too long to get connected to Temi and Sylvan

Overall, a book that I will recommend to people looking to step away from so many of the overused tropes in fantasy writing.

4 out of 5

Many thanks to Storytellers On Tour, and the author for putting together this tour.

[Dylan West · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vivid Imagery

At some point, I'm going to go back and study the way this author handles action beats (descriptions of character gestures). He shows the ancillary actions surrounding dialogue so vividly. Examples: "...her face crinkling into a warm smile." and "She unstoppered her vial and drank the tincture in time with Amini, scrunching her face against the metallic tang." This book is jam-packed with images just like this.

I like the overall premise of companions on a journey away from their privileged lives as part of a custom like Rumspringa. And as a world building fiend, I reveled in the rich details of the biology and geography of this world. There was so much realism and attention to detail with how they sustained themselves on the river journey. I didn't know what a trotline was until I'd read this book :) Here's some of the attention to detail I really appreciated: "Sylvan's hands burned with every stroke of the paddle, even through the gloves. His palms were raw from the morning's work sawing and hauling wood for the raft..." and "A brazier in the center of the room gave off thin streams of purplish-gray smoke, which rose into the high, arched ceiling, merging to form a nebulous haze."

And then there are touching interactions like this: "She pulled out her handkerchief and dabbed around her eyes, breathing a small laugh as she saw the yellow on the cloth where some of her paint had come off. Her laughter grew into a snort when she looked up and saw the yellow smudge on Gilea's forehead."

My favorite lines were: "Leo had promised safer travels and greater wonders on this trip, but he was ever one to paint the sky with the colors of his heart." and "She wondered if this is what everyone referred to when they spoke of love." and "Gilea felt something release inside her, and a space opened like a bubble surrounding them, and Gilea's awareness filled the bubble." Writing like this is beautiful without being overly flowery.

The brief mention of the Maer makes me want to try out the Maer trilogy now. I love how this series ties in with the other.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was provided for review by the author. Thank you!

When Dan Fitzgerald originally reached out to me to review the first book in his Weirdwater Confluence series, I admit I was intrigued. At the mention of “fantasy” as a genre, one’s thoughts often tend towards swords and monsters and epic action scenes. The Living Waters does have some action and there can be arguments made for monsters but as for swords, there isn’t one to be found. One would have to look hard to find weaponry of any kind and then one might find an oar or a fishing pole.

As someone who enjoys a good fantasy but doesn’t always want epic fight scenes, The Living Waters was a wonderfully refreshing read.

Much like the river our characters travel on, The Living Waters is a meandering story. It starts and stops never settling in one place for long and when it does actually pause we the reader are treated to lush landscapes and fresh faces. Fitzgerald’s writing captures the lands around the river superbly, evoking thoughts of Mark Twain and his writings on the Mississippi River.

The one and only quibble I have with The Living Waters was the lack of backstory. We are told members of the upper classes paint their faces and exposed skin to protect them from the sun. Why did this practice start and when? The same goes for the rough about Temi and Silvan take. Why exactly is this done? It’s never fully explained and I personally think it would have added to my enjoyment if it had been.

Like I said above, The Living Waters is a wonderfully refreshing read and I enjoyed it very much. It is my understanding there is a second book in the works and I am personally looking forward to it. I recommend this book to all my readers and hope they enjoy it as much as I did.

[Susan Hancock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh…that delicious feeling when a book wraps you into its world. So that even when you surface, you feel the characters tugging at you to draw you back to their ‘lives’. This ticks all my star boxes and more, so much more.

There are lovingly-crafted main characters to care deeply about: 'Painted Faces', Temi and Sylvan; 'minder and meditator', Gilea; 'free spirit' Leo (who owns the most heart-breaking moment of the book) - with point of view segueing seamlessly between them, so that you can learn of their hearts and minds. Fitzgerald's other characters, too, are convincingly and intricately imagined, whether from different races, such as the ipsis, or even other forms of being, such as the sitri.

There is truly amazing world-building - Fitzgerald’s imagination in creating the living waters and their world is unique and irresistible - and all of this told in evocative prose which is a real joy to read.

Another essential ingredient for me is the reading-pleasure afforded by the forward momentum of a story which may be “sword-free”, but is certainly not danger-free. Last, but very far from least on my list, is the fact that The Living Waters puts forward a world view filled with painful moral dilemmas which reflect those of our own.

Please don’t miss this! I can’t wait for the second part… and not only have I bought the ebook, I'm going to treat myself to the printed book, drawn in by that enticing cover and the knowledge that I will want to re-read and re-read this super-special book.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally picked up this book due to one of my reading TBR games! Technically I was hoping for a science fiction book, given that I read this in SciFi September. But I largely enjoyed this one!

In this story, we are following two “painted faces” nobles and two rafters on a rite of passage journey up a river. The nobles are meant to “rough it” for a little while, doing some fishing and staying in river towns, before settling down.

Sylvan recently completed a doctorate program in life sciences, making this a bit of an academic trip for him in more ways than he first realizes. Temi is an illustrator from a struggling family and is looking to use this trip to escape from the social restrictions of her life. Leo is a happy-go-lucky guide and Gilea is a bit of a guardian whose meditation skills are kinda magical. Especially where the plot goes.

As they traverse the river they come across some swirling waters that also make no biological sense. As a going-away present, Sylvan has this “cryptic marginalia” book, as it’s described on page. The book posits the idea of Living Waters, a mythical wetlands where the swirls are actually living beings. This is supposed to be mythology but as our crew discovers, it’s in fact very real. (And they rely on mind speak, which Galea can pick up because of her meditation magic.)

This book is billed as “ethereal romance” (more on that later) and “sword free” fantasy, which was the main reason I gravitated towards it at a local book fair a few years ago where the author was selling their wares. That being said, once Sylvan, Temi, Galea and Leo make it to the Living Waters, they more or less cause a political upheaval (some members don’t want dangerous humans around). Things get a bit murder-y, swords or not.

I admit, I was least taken in by this aspect of the story. The worldbuilding for these mythic creatures didn’t intrigue me as much, and the bloody conflict felt surprisingly unimportant. Or rather, it should have been important but ultimately it didn’t have much to do with the characters we were invested in.

Frankly (because it’s so easy to make big developmental edit changes from the sidelines) I wonder if Fitzgerald could have reworked the Living Waters to be less consuming. The strongest parts of this story were when we were with the characters on the river as they were getting to know each other and figure out their lives. The “ethereal romance” was between Temi and Galthea (Fitzgerald gave me a separate picture of them!), and I can only assume they called it such because it wasn’t too spicy. :P

The non-mythological cities referenced, some of which made it in at the end of the story, were more intriguing to be than the Living Waters. (Temi’s idealism vs Galea’s lived experience in Rotaia, for example.) But I did enjoy the “real life” river life and villages. Fitzgerald’s knowledge of nature and waterways was obviously apparent and a very different feel than most fantasy novels.

Should I read the sequel, which could take some of these other secondary world cities into account? My understanding is Fitzgerald will be following largely a different cast of characters. I’m also not entirely certain I’ll be able to find the book. They are no longer easily findable on the publisher page, Shadow Spark Publishing. Doing a little bit of digging, it seems like Fitzgerald now goes by a now name and gender identity (previously a "he"), so a lot of the links printed in my book are now moot. They appeared to be a prolific writer, active in the indie space. I hope they are well.

[C.K. Sorens · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Living Waters presents the reader with a leisurely boat ride steeped in the mystery of an unexplained phenomenon - the swirls. Though they'd been seen rarely in clear waters, they are now appearing closer to human settlements and no one knows why.


The novel was a bit tricky for me to get into at first, simply because we were dropped into some very specific cultural events before two of the main POV characters go off on their roughabout, which is the core of the novel. Once we're on the river, though, I felt as if I was floating along with them, meeting new people and discovering new things. By the time we're caught in the Living Waters, I was fully in, and ready for the next book so the story wouldn't end.


There were some moments it was tricky for me to follow whose POV I was reading as it's in third person, though every POV has a definite and specific role to play so I wasn't too bothered to flip back to remind myself. Just something to keep in mind for readers who prefer fewer POV's.


Over all, I love Dan's easy style and the way the chapters flow into one another. The world he has created is diverse and well developed and I am excited to read more of it in the future.

[Zach · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a fun adventure romp with some light romance/pining, The Living Waters feels like going on a camping trip with new friends. I was charmed by the world building-- Finn offers enough depth to tease a unique fantasy world, but the road-trip multi-protagonist set up has us moving along at a rapid clip, and doesn't let us get bogged down in any one worldview. We have tiered cities, fisherfolk, telepathic meditation, art, science, symbiotic ecosystems, and living water entities! I could go on!

The balance of the POV characters did feel a little off-- the main thrust of the narrative centers around Gilea and Temi, whose not-quite-romance is the emotional core of the story. Unfortunately, that leaves Leo, our ranger, with barely enough room to begin exploring his emotions over the devastating choice he has to make. It keeps the tone light, but at the expense of a plot line that could be a solid novella on its own.

This was a refreshing read, especially if you have been looking for unironic escapist fantasy with a real heart.

Full Disclosure: I received a copy of the Weirdwater Confluence Omnibus from the author, in exchange for an honest review.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this one! The world building is fantastic. I absolutely loved everything about the river, the swirls and the cultures we meet.
I adored Leo and wouldn't mind an entire book just with his and Sea Wolf's shenanigans when paddling around and talking to all walks of life along the river.

It's a 4 only because there were a couple of quips that are entirely due to my personal preferences regarding POV's, timelines and (healing) magic. I much prefer very close POV and it got a bit too distanced sometimes, I think maybe it's just the writer's voice -- which overall was so lovely and relaxing to read I breezed through while I've had trouble concentrating most of this year.
It's an easy recommend from me, light on the romance, amazing world, loveable characters. A perfect comfort read imo!

[Cydney Daemon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very unique fantasy, different from anything I'd read before. Full of a magical sense of wonder, I felt myself pulled into the world and traveling on the journey with the characters. Everything was so rich and vivid, but it flowed without feeling bogged down or overwhelmed with information. The characters, even the side characters, were all sharply defined with their own stories, personalities, and interactions with the world around them. The prose added to the magical feel throughout the book, and I was enthralled with the world-building with the focus on the ecosystems and the relationship the humans and other beings have with the world. This was a fascinating and wonderful read, and I really enjoyed how different and unique it was.

[Mr. Bear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I expected. Full of delivered potential.

The Living Waters is the first of Dan Fitzgerald's work I have read, and I am very pleased with it. He gives us a story quite unlike the standard fare one thinks of when thinking about fantasy stories. It is full of diverse characters who we learn have some important things in common. The desire to see dreams come true.
I'm not quite sure who I'd recommend this story to specifically, but I think anyone with the ability to see beyond the apparent will take something they can use from learning about and from the wonderful characters presented to us. Give yourself the opportunity to explore a world you never knew you wanted to visit.

[Izabela Raittila · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second encounter with Dan Fitzgerald's work, the first being 'The Delve'. Though set in the same universe as 'The Delve','The Living Waters' has a considerably slower pace and far less action. It's a quirky, character driven, slow burn fantasy romance. There's lots of beautiful descriptions and attention to detail in the world building is impressive. I particularly liked the culture of the painted face nobles as well as the creatures and the mythology of the Living Waters. The characters are complex and unique in their way especially Gilea, Sylvan, Leo and Temi. The only thing I wasn't super keen on was the slow start.

[Hannah Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy little fantasy adventure! The idea of the Living Waters and their 'portal' to a new world is very cool concept that was moderately executed! The transition from th roughabout and the discovery of the waters is very abrupt and feels like two separate stories! And the track the story takes after their discovery feels like a totally different vibe than the book leads you to believe. I did love the idea of an artist and a biologist and a 'monk' and a roughened river man teaming up to help the alien population a very fun combination! The characters are well fleshed out and I very much enjoyed them while reading!

[Jami Fairleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tranquil, Immersive Fantasy

I was curious to see what sword-free fantasy was, and The Living Waters didn't disappoint. The story is lovely; character-driven and well-imagined. Despite the unusual social and cultural customs, the world felt familiar. Although Fitzgerald doesn't over describe the world, I had a clear visual image of the landscapes, both urban and rural. I enjoyed this quiet story.