Final Rating:
Date of Completion: 07/07/2023
Published by: Recorded Books
ISBN: 9781705065419
Publication date: July 11 2023! (Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!)
Cover:
With the sharp, bold font and blue colour scheme, this design nicely captures the essence of the story and genre. However, I would have loved it if the artwork stood out more and was less abstract.
Writing:
The rich, fresh world takes readers to unruly waters, lush land and everything in between. Further enriching this is a gritty historical setting filled with mythical creatures and magic. Each aspect of this complex setting is gradually established in well-timed, bite-sized pieces with a smooth and vivid writing style.
There are fates worse than death
Storyline:
The storyline is fast-paced, with constant action from the first chapter, as the main characters face challenges, difficult situations and betrayals. Character backstories and worldbuilding are also revealed throughout, adding complexity to the story and moving it towards a satisfying climax. Still, I wanted more tension and urgency, especially in the middle part of the story, to make it more engaging.
Main characters:
Mary Firth and Samuel Rosser are interesting protagonists who are given some complexity and relatability through their backstories and internal conflicts. However, I still struggled to connect with both characters as their roles and development seemed second to the demands of the plot.
I grinned a wild grin. This was power. This was what I’d been denied all these years
Secondary characters:
The waves of characters which pop in and out give the story an impressive scope, but I was soon confused by the relatively large cast. This was likely because of the interchanging use of the characters’ first and last names, plus the little depth these characters are given.
Romance:
Despite poor initial interactions and hints of a love triangle, the attraction between the characters involved is clear from their first meeting. Sadly, because this aspect of the story is given very little focus, the development of their feelings is not shown and feels rushed.
Narration & Audio:
Not only do Moira Quirk and Samuel Roukin bring the characters to life with different voices and accents, but their narrations are nicely matched to the gender of the viewpoint character. Besides this, skilful changes in vocal inflexion enhance the story’s emotional depth.
In short, ‘Dark Water Daugther‘ delivers a fast-paced, action-packed storyline in an exciting new world. While this leaves most characters and romance with little depth, the main characters are given backstories and struggles that make them somewhat engaging. The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty is a similar fantasy read to check out if you enjoyed this.
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