I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This was honestly quite boring. I wanted to like it (I respect and appreciate wanting to write a fantasy that doesn't have egregious amounts of smut in it), but it dragged. I think the world is interesting, and the main character is interesting, but past that there is nothing that stands out about this book. I also think the descriptions were uneven, by which I mean some things had what felt like an entire page of description and other things had maybe a line. It left me feeling very confused and unable to fully immerse myself in the story. I like what they were trying to do, but I don't think there was anything unique about this, and the writing was not for me.

Did not finish

Due to low reviews from others, having too many other reviews to provide and lack of interest in the book since I have not reviewed this.

4/5 Stars – A Lush and Promising Start to a Magical Saga

A.S. Dampt’s Daughter of Water is an enchanting blend of myth, magic, and self-discovery that pulls readers into a richly imagined world. With its combination of court intrigue, elemental magic, and a heroine caught between two identities, the novel is both a coming-of-age story and a sweeping fantasy tale. While not without a few pacing stumbles, it is a highly enjoyable first installment that promises even greater things to come.

At the center of the story is Heidi, a young woman raised in the quiet human village of Hull, far removed from the legends of the Verdélia. For Heidi, talk of imps and mystical royalty is the stuff of children’s tales—until a mysterious stranger arrives and forces her father to reveal the truth: Heidi is one of the long-lost Firstborn, a child of destiny meant to rule Verdélys. This revelation sets her on a journey from rural obscurity to the heart of a magical kingdom, where she must reckon not only with the weight of her heritage but also with the lingering threat of enemies who once sought to destroy her kind.

Dampt does an excellent job of balancing worldbuilding with character development. Verdélys is painted with striking detail, from its magical customs to its political tensions, yet the world never feels like an info-dump. Instead, Heidi learns alongside the reader, stumbling through etiquette, rituals, and alliances with both awe and apprehension. Her sense of wonder is infectious, and it grounds the fantastical elements in an emotional realism that makes the narrative immersive.

The novel also shines in its cast of supporting characters. Heidi’s fellow Firstborn are distinct and memorable: Gaëtan’s charm and sociability bring warmth and humor; Loïc’s stoicism adds a note of gravity and loyalty; and Margot, perhaps the most fascinating of all, embodies the novel’s themes of difference and belonging as an imp-born royal. The interplay between these four characters offers both moments of tension and camaraderie, laying the groundwork for rich interpersonal dynamics in future installments.

If there is a weakness in Daughter of Water, it lies in its pacing. The first act, centered in Hull, takes its time, which allows for a deep connection with Heidi’s family but may test readers eager for action. Later, once the setting shifts to Verdélys, the opposite occurs: events move quickly, and certain conflicts—particularly those surrounding the forces gathering against the Firstborn—feel underdeveloped or rushed. A few plot twists are predictable, though still satisfying in their execution.

Despite these quibbles, Dampt’s prose carries the novel with elegance. There is a lyrical quality to the descriptions, particularly in the elemental imagery tied to Heidi’s identity as the Daughter of Water. Themes of belonging, duty, and identity are woven seamlessly into the narrative, making the book not just a fantasy adventure but also a meditation on what it means to be torn between worlds.

Overall, Daughter of Water is a strong, imaginative debut that delivers both heart and spectacle. It introduces a heroine worth rooting for, a kingdom brimming with lore, and a conflict that feels both personal and epic. Fans of YA and NA fantasy—particularly those who enjoy Tamora Pierce or Sarah J. Maas—will find much to love here. With tighter pacing and further exploration of its darker threads, future installments could elevate this already solid start into something extraordinary.

I'm not really sure why the author chose Hull as a location for this book, however I really wish they hadn't.

I'm a Hull girl, born and bred and I was so excited to see a fantasy book based in my hometown. But right from the beginning, it became clear that the author had never visited Hull, or even done their research. The book was full of inaccuracies and it was painful to read to me.

Perhaps to readers not from Yorkshire, this may be more acceptable but for me it was a huge miss I'm afraid.

I love a love triangle and this was no exception hehe. I did enjoy this book, I think the plot could have been a bit stronger, but apart from that, I can't really complain. Maybe some more depth in the characters would have been helpful as well. Overall, fun, easy read!

Thank you so much for allowing me to read this ARC! I absolutely loved it and couldn't put it down! I love everything mermaids andwas drawn right in! The story brought me straight into the world!

This is a slower paced fantasy. Heidi, a girl with gifts for growing plants, meets a stranger who tells her of her hidden past- her parents are not her parents, and he is here to take her to her true home; a kingdom that many think of as a myth.

"Daughter of the Water" is an entertaining fantasy story that reminded me a lot of the feeling I had reading Narnia. It's perfect for young readers who are just starting out with fantasy. It features a powerfully crafted universe that easily allows the reader to situate themselves, and charismatic protagonists with whom one can identify.
I look forward to seeing new stories from the author.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to enjoy the book.

thank you to NetGalley and the author and publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book! my opinion and thoughts are my own only 💌

• 3.8/5 stars

what a wonderful experience this was! the world building was good, and I loved how descriptive the author was about each race of people, what they do and what their Origins were. I really enjoyed learning about the Verdelia and their abilities, and I loved all the 'politics' surrounding them! I find that for the majority of the book, I was hooked and loved to learn about all this.. but near the end it just kind of,, fell off? I'm not sure how to explain it properly but I'll try.

Overall, following the story of our main character Heidi was quite entertaining. I loved learning about her studies and how she adapted to a new environment. however, I will say that when it started getting a little bit deeper into the story, I kind of lost interest a little bit. I believe that that's due partially to the way that the author executed it. Basically, without spoiling anything, I really found that after Heidi had "settled into" her new role.. things just started either speeding up or it just felt like the author was writing it as quickly as she could to finish the book. especially towards the end, I found that the things moved way too quickly and the the ending of the book kind of left me unsatisfied. I will say, this was still a fantastic read because the overall book was still captivating to me, and I enjoyed all the characters.

I think I understand the trouble with having so much you want to say in one book, but also wanting it to be a series or a trilogy, and sometimes finding the sweet spot as to where to stop is hard. I unfortunately kind of felt like the spot where the author left was not the right one. yes it did leave me wanting for more, but at the same time I just wasn't that into it in the end? I also find that their relationship between Heidi and specific people (without naming them to not spoil) moved in a pace that was unexpected. then again that might just be the way that the author wanted it to be so I can't really complain about that. all I'm saying is I wish there would have been a little bit more depth towards the end of the book just as much as there was in the beginning.. that way it would have kept me hooked on a bit more.

I am still quite excited to see where this story will go, and I'm looking forward to reading the next books! I absolutely loved the world that this was set in, and I did quite like our main character and got attached to her.

so overall I'd say this is a very good book, however, definitely don't go into it with your hopes too high. although the ending in my opinion would need a little bit of work, I still would recommend this book to my friends.

I really enjoyed Heidi’s journey of self-discovery in Daughter of Water. Her connection to water whether through healing, visions from a forest pond, or uncovering her Verdélian heritage is portrayed beautifully, with a poetic vibe that pulls you into this world.

The pacing is relaxed and mood-driven, which works well for character moments, like when she interacts with Sylvie or adjusts to life in Verdélys alongside Gaëtan, Loïc, and Margot.

On the plus side, the core group of firstborn siblings Heidi, Gaëtan, Loïc, and Margot creates a nice balance of personalities. Heidi’s shy, thoughtful nature plays well against Gaëtan’s extroversion, Loïc’s dutiful seriousness, and Margot’s unique backstory. The slow-burn romance felt sweet and low-key nice if you’re not here for sparks everywhere.

I was hooked on the lore, the concept of elemental magic, and watching Heidi grow into her role. If you’re a mood reader fantasy with rich character moments and aren’t in a hurry, this one is very worth reading.

A beautifully written fantasy debut with lots of heart. I’m giving it a solid 3.5 stars I’m looking forward to book 2 and seeing where the story goes!

This is a fantasy that feels real. The people are reacting and behaving like normal people and the romance is not forced or over the top. Everything seems like it could happen, but in this beautiful fantasy world. I really enjoyed this.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

The first in a four book series about four Verdelian children. Heidi who was brought as a child to her village 20 years ago finds out her heritage. So she travels to the magical city of Verdelys the capital of Verdelia. This is an awesome start to a tale of magic, strange creatures and intrigue. I can't wait for the next one. Thanks#Netgalley and #DamptCreativeStudioLLC for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

This book follows Heidi, an elite member of a magical bloodline raised human, as she discovers of her true identity and makes a new home for herself among the royalty of a magical city called Verdélys.
While the story's concept very much intrigued me, I really struggled to stay engaged while reading this book. Every character felt and spoke like an NPC, even the main character. In fact, she seemed pretty indifferent to her own story which made it difficult to relate to her and emotionally invest in her journey. How do you live 20 years of your life with special powers that you are well aware of and use daily without being consumed by curiosity about their origin?
That said, I truly believe that this story has all the makings of a great book, but it needs an editor to pair down on filler and info dumping. There is no reason for this book to be so long. I also think this book is improperly categorized and should be marketed to younger audiences. Similarly to Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia, Daughter of Water appeals to a wide range of audiences. While teen, young adult, and new adult audiences can certainly enjoy this story, the authors are missing out on a large group of potential readers. I also would have been less disappointed in the books' pacing and the authors' tendency to tell not show if I realized ahead of time that I would be picking up what is essentially a middle grade book.

Actual rating: 2.5 stars
Thank you to the authors and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to A. S. Dampt and NetGalley for gifting me an eARC of Daughter of Water.

While I liked that the Daughter of Water had a cool premise and very traditional fairy tale vibes, I unfortunately found the writing to be very repetitive with a lot of redundant words. I don’t think there was a lot of trust placed in the reader as a lot of characters' actions were described down to minute details, which could have easily been implied. The overuse of the characters' names was also overwhelming. For context, in the first two chapters alone, ‘Heidi’ is mentioned 165 times. I get that it’s in third person and it needs to be said to orient the reader but it is excessive. The majority of what I read was very mundane, and while it did pick up, I wasn’t feeling particularly captivated by the 40% mark. I feel as if I have read enough to know this book’s not for me and is not something I will continue with.

Not a bad book by any means, but I'm not entirely certain it was the story for me. Can absolutely see why people would love it, though.

This book was a welcome change to the fantasy genre, where there was a lot less smut (none whatsoever) and a lot more whatever the opposite of that is. The characters were neither likeable nor unlike-able and I feel like they were severely underdeveloped. The authors may have done too much in the way of trying to write this genre differently (come to think of it the only difference was the lack of well ykw) to bring out the best in an otherwise promising plot line.There was some instances where the plot moved too fast(towards the end) and too slow(in the beginning). Overall it was a shallow but otherwise unproblematic read for me, maybe intended for a much much younger audience.

The world building in Daughter of Water is phenomenal. The cultures and histories of these fictional beings is really well done. The characters are really well written and developed as well.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 3.5 stars rounded to 4.0.

The world building is intricate and the premise is unique, I like the idea of the heirs and the line of succession to rule. Our FMC is likeable and we get to see her really grow along the way. There is a very endearing slow burn romance included in this story which had been a nice touch.

I’m not completely sold on the pacing of the story and this is my main grievance with the book.

I would read book 2 to see the story develop further because of the characters and world building, plus I feel like now the details are established the 2nd book would be a faster paced read.

Thank you for letting me have a copy of this book

This is a very interesting story with a lot of potential, however the pacing it killed it completely. The slow day by day learning as she is the chosen one and leaving the village, then walking to the city and the lessons, it was just way too slow for my taste.
Its a shame, I really think it could have been an amazing story