An immersive fantasy about girl discovering she is a lost heir to a magical kingdom.

The pacing was somewhat slow but still enjoyable! We saw a lot of character growth with our FMC and the world building is incredible.

I really loved this book and I’m looking forward to what comes next in this series.

I loved this! It was very nostalgic to read and reminded me of a few different fantasy books I've read before, including the Wings of Fire and Keeper of the Lost Cities. The world building and magic system is really interesting (and it's fun to see a French-inspired fantasy!) I love that we spend time with the characters before throwing them into action and we really get to see the relationships developing.

Very excited to see future installations in this series!

"Daughter of Water" is a captivating fantasy that embraces the essence of classic storytelling, opting for a more gradual and immersive approach rather than relying on constant surprises or imminent danger. The narrative unfolds naturally, inviting readers into a well-developed world at a measured pace.

The focus is on four heirs, each destined to lead, as they grapple with a kingdom veiled in mystery and threat. The protagonist’s path is especially notable—she doesn’t start off as a fierce or all-knowing figure. Rather, she stumbles, learns, and matures, making her a character readers can genuinely connect with. The balance between her and the more experienced individuals around her is carefully done—she doesn’t overshadow them, yet she steps up when the situation demands it.

The romance is another lovely aspect, evolving slowly and tenderly. It’s not an intense, overwhelming affair but a subtle connection that builds through quiet, meaningful interactions, making it all the more heartfelt.

I'm intrigued by the "Daughter of Water" and cannot wait to read the sequel!

This was a good book but it is definitely targeted to a younger audience. The story was a little slow paced and anti climatic.

Daughter of Water is a meticulously crafted and imaginative tale of intrigue, elemental magic, and destiny. The story follows four Firstborn heirs destined to rule the kingdom of Verdélys who realise they are battling forces larger and more sinister than they ever imagined. In a land steeped in magic and mystery, the characters come across as surprisingly human and compelling relatable.

The world-building is masterful and provides a rich foundation for the rest of the series. Stronger foreshadowing of some of the darker twists could have enhanced the otherwise immersive experience, but the ending is gripping and carries the book to an enticing conclusion that leaves the reader wanting more.

An epic fantasy that blends familiar elements with uniquely intricate twists, Daughter of Water is an impressive debut to what will surely be an enchanting series.

3.5/5 The concept of this book, as well as the cover art, really drew me in. The fantasy world the author created DID feel original and complete. The aspects where this story fell short were in length and monotony. I wasn’t able to fully connect with the main character, which may be because of the fact that this is book is more YA-focused. I did enjoy the details in the world the author created, it did feel drawn out at times, but overall a good fluffy read.

Unique Worldbuilding!

The book tells the story of Heidi, later called Sylvie, who is raised by humans and keeps her magical powers a secret in order to lead a normal life. However, her world is turned upside down when she learns that she is one of four reincarnated souls destined to rule the kingdom of Verdélys. In search of her true identity and fate, Sylvie embarks on a journey to the magical capital to learn more about her origins and her role in this extraordinary world.

The book immerses the reader in a unique and intricately crafted world filled with fascinating creatures and captivating magic. The worldbuilding is one of the book's strongest elements, as it brings the world of Verdélys and its rich history to life. The characters, especially the protagonist Sylvie, are very likable.

Unfortunately, the story has a very slow pace, especially in the beginning. The explanations of the world and many everyday scenes sometimes feel drawn out. This is particularly noticeable in the early chapters, where a lot of time is spent building the world and character backgrounds.

Despite this, the book has a lot of potential. The idea and setting are unique, and the world has many interesting facets that could have been highlighted more if the pace was quicker and there was more focus on tension and plot. The slow pace and lack of tension make it a cozy read, but not always gripping.
With some trimming and a stronger focus on the plot, the book could have been even more engaging.

There are some interesting ideas in this book, particularly regarding the world building. Magical beings imbued with elemental and seasonal powers that are reborn every 200 years ruling over a kingdom sounds fine, but add in a government of men and women who want the control in their own hands, who all but raise and train these elemental children — to make use of them, to use them, to destroy them — along with a magical wart between the Verdélys and the Imps, who are lower caste, cursed to be Imps often through not action or fault of their own … and it’s a lot.

Unfortunately, the pacing of this book is terrible. It’s a slow day-by-day slog of Heidi learning she’s a Chosen One, then leaving her village, then walking to the city — seeing the city in the distance — and then more walking. Then there are her endless lessons, which the reader gets to sit in on, a ballet where the entire playbill fills two pages, and on and on and on. It’s not just infodumps or exposition, it’s a lecture in a class that I’m not interested in.

Heidi,l whose true name is Sylvie, is a generic “good” person with the ability to read mines, something she doesn’t use intelligently. She knows or suspects someone’s not a nice, trustworthy person, and goes to take another lesson instead of even trying to see what this man is thinking. She has so little depth to her as a character that it’s hard for me to feel anything for her, and the rest of her quartet are just as hollow. I didn’t feel any personality from them, or any chemistry between Sylvie and Loic. Or between anyone and anyone.

For me, personally, if less time had been spent with history lessons and more time building up Sylvie and the others as characters — with less telling, and less describing and more feeling and thinking — this would have worked better for me. As it is, this is a three star read because Goodreads doesn’t let me give a 2.75. While the writing is decent, the pace and lack of characters are just glaring issues for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

a captivating fantasy filled with lost royalty, destiny, and an enchanting world. with rich lore and compelling characters, this is a must-read for fans of magical heritage and high-stakes adventure!!

I should've known that I wouldn't be able to fully connect with this book, but I was fully meamerized by the cover!!! It is definitely meant for younger readers.

The story follows Heidi, a young woman who was brought up by adoring parents in the town of Hull (not to be confused by the one in the UK). Shunned by many of the townsfolk for being strange she keeps to herself as much as possible, tending her garden, until one day a traveller calls and shatters her perception by decreeing that she is one of the fabled Verdelia, a notorious race from over the mountain.
This was an engaging story with good world building and an easy flowing storyline. The characters could have been developed further but this may happen in the next book and as such did not distract too much from my enjoyment of the story. Overall a solid fantasy read.

I think this book was a bit young for me now, but at 16/17 I would have devoured it. I did enjoy the inclusion of politics in addition to the usual sort of fantasy shenanigans, but overall this book failed to leave an impression on me.

Daughter of Water by A.S. Dampt is an intriguing start to The Verdélian Chronicles, blending rich world-building with a coming-of-age fantasy journey. The story follows Heidi, a young woman who learns she is one of the four Firstborns destined to lead the magical land of Verdélys. As she navigates this new reality, she faces challenges, discovers her powers, and uncovers her true identity.

The novel’s strongest aspects are its immersive world-building and unique magic system, which feel well thought out and detailed. Heidi’s character growth is handled with care, making her journey engaging. However, the pacing is slow at times, and certain plot points could have been explored more deeply to enhance emotional impact. While the romance subplot develops naturally, it remains subtle compared to the larger themes of destiny and leadership.

Overall, Daughter of Water is a solid fantasy read, but it doesn’t quite reach its full potential. With a bit more depth in character dynamics and pacing adjustments, it could have been even more compelling. I’d rate it 3.5/5 stars—an enjoyable read with great promise for the rest of the series.

A huge thank you to NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read this ARC

I truly enjoyed this cozy epic fantasy. It’s strange to string those words together, but they oddly fit this book. It evokes the sort of feelings you had as a child/young adult reading series like “The Chronicles of Narnia” or other wholesome (read: not spicy) fantasy stories for the first time. You just know from the very beginning that no matter how things work out in the end, they will work out exactly as they should.

While there is a bit of romance in this book it definitely takes a backseat and functions as a sub-plot to the main storyline, which is something I found to be refreshing. This is definitely *not* a romantasy, and if you go into it this book expecting that you’re going to be sorely disappointed.

Also something to note: this is not the type of fantasy that is action-based or super fast paced. Rather it spends time on the little details and really constructs the cozy, almost soft world in which the cast of character live. The magic system and world-building is positively superb. It’s clear A.S. Dampt put a great deal of thought into making everything unique. I won’t spoil the story for you, but I will say this is a great palate cleanser!

I’m super on the fence about this book.

The good stuff was super good! I enjoyed worldbuilding—it was definitely unique. The political climate and tensions were perfectly described, as was the setting. Heidi enters Verdélys with no knowledge of their history, traditions, culture, or even herself. Overcoming the learning curve with Heidi made for an intriguing read, and Hiedi’s curiosity and ambition felt authentic. I personally haven’t read much elemental magic, so exploring the Firstborns and their respective powers (like mind reading!!) was super interesting.

However…

I struggled to get through this book. It felt extensively long. And I don’t mind a nice long book! This novel, however, fell victim to overexplaining. There were full on chapters dedicated to Heidi learning from a textbook, or the Firstborns attending an opera. By 40%, I felt as though nothing significant happened (besides her moving from Hull to Verdélys). Some parts of the book lacked substance—I would have much rather learnt about the other three Firstborns alongside Heidi as opposed to reading about her reading a textbook. Therefore, it was hard to connect to Heidi and the other main characters. Unfortunately, they lacked depth and context, and felt like plot devices rather than individuals. The climax also wasn’t a showstopper. It kind of just…existed without any real suspense.

Overall not terrible, but I do wish the novel stuck out a bit more. It has extensive potential, and I hope in future books the conflict and characters are fleshed out.

* I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The story follows Heidi, who grows up in a charming cottage surrounded by farmland, raised by her two human parents. Naturally, she assumes that she must be human too—until a mysterious stranger arrives in her village and changes everything. Heidi learns that she is actually one of four heirs to a kingdom she always believed was just a myth. Suddenly, she’s whisked away to Verdelys, where she must grow into a strong, intelligent, and capable heir to the throne. But as Heidi adjusts to this new life, she faces challenges far beyond royal training. A rising darkness threatens her kingdom, forcing her to navigate the complexities of court politics, an unfamiliar culture, and a completely new religious system—all while fighting to protect the world she loves.
The world-building in this book was absolutely incredible. Every time I picked it up, I felt fully transported into the universe Dampt created. I adored the setting. The mix of political intrigue, elemental magic, and rich history made the world feel so immersive and alive.
I can see how some readers might not love the slower pacing, but personally, I really enjoyed it.

Book review: 3.25/5 ⭐️
Genre: high fantasy
Themes: nature, light versus darkness, societal hierarchy
📖 Read if you like: Uprooted, Emily Wilde, Under the Oak Tree

One of my reading goals from this year was to read more debuts from indie authors or publishers. So I was ever so excited to receive a copy of this self published fantasy from NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this book for the magical integration of plants and the wildly imagined creatures that roamed these lands. It was a very well developed world with a people that vaguely resembled fae in their connection to nature and magic, but that had a society all of their own. Within their ranks were imps and humans and all the strife that can arise from being different. It was certainly creative and the slow pace let me enjoy exploring this world with our MC Heidi/Sylvie.

Sylvie has been raised human, but she has always known she is different. Running barefoot in fields that she is able to coax into growth, seeing memories in water and being able to read minds she is certainly something else. When an ethereal stranger comes to collect Sylvie, her origin and task reveal themselves. She is one of four born every 200 years to rule the Verdelians with their unique gifts. Sylvie is Morwenna reborn fated to be in control of the judicial system with her powers of insight. As Sylvie sets foot in this new land and her new role on shaky legs she must begin to learn and discover who and what she can trust in this new land. The start of this novel and the premise were certainly the makings of a great fantasy series.

If I thought too much about this book too much, I would be critical of the pace. It was slow at the beginning and the character development really only focuses on one character despite there being four Firstborns. The love stories in particular lacked foundation besides the historical coupling. I couldn’t understand Sylvia’s choice to swing from Gaetan to Loic without any critical event or conversation to cause this shift. There really wasn’t any relationship development between any of the four to indicate anything beyond friendship. Even Margot was an enigma, but Sylvie was expected to extend kindness towards her. She could have been such an interesting character or POV given her background. A missed opportunity in my opinion. Overall, I thought there needed to be some tension between the characters and more of the other Firstborn.

I also thought there needed to be a little more that happened it terms of motivation or a high stakes event to drive this plot. It meandered a bit in the middle, which can be an easy way to loose readers. When the dark conspiracy finally started to reveal itself I thought it needed to have been introduced in a darker way earlier in the plot. The difference between aether and Rhys continued existence also needed to be better explained to understand the chain of events. I just didn’t feel the emergency or dread that started the attack or the siege.

So a commendable debut with an interesting world, but I thought there needed to be more character development for the other three Firstborn and that the plot needed a little more fine tuning for logic and to keep readers invested. I do wonder how this series will continue.

5 stars all around.

There are not enough words in the English language to explain how much I enjoyed reading this :). The feeling you had when you were younger watching/reading Narnia for the first time? This encapsulates that feeling. But do not go into this book expecting a main stream romantasy, or something fast paced and action packed, this book is simply not that, but is all the better for it. (no hate to mainstream romantasy) This book is a piece of literature to put it simply, with all the cozy cottage core vibes and the scope of an epic fantasy. (the romance in this is SUB-plot :) )

Heidi grows up in a quaint cottage surrounded by farmland with her two human parents. Heidi makes the assumption that since her parents are human she must be too! WRONG. Heidi's entire world that she has grown to know and love gets flipped upside down when a mysterious stranger comes to visit her small village. Heidi discovers she is one of four heirs to kingdom she thought was myth, and is taken on a journey to Verdelys where she will learn to become a resilient, brave, and clever heir to the throne. As Heidi adapts to her new role, she is left to confront an uprising darkness that threatens the citizens of her kingdom and her place as heir. Heidi is challenged with the navigation of court politics, a culture and religion that is completely new to her, and the task of combatting the threat against the world she has grown to know and love.

The world building was absolutely phenomenal. I felt I was walking into the world Dampt built every time I picked up this book. I LOVED THE SETTING SO MUCH. The political intrigue, the elemental magic system, the detailed history and lore of the world were so well done and presented to the reader in a riveting way.
While I can imagine many may dislike the pacing, I personally loved the slower steady pace. Knowing that this is the first installment of a series, the pacing choice for this only made sense with the depth of the world created. This first book has set up the rest of this series to be nothing short of fantastic.

I loved Heidi's character for her resilience, and her ability to stay true to herself, and her gentle demeanor even when presented with violent happenings within her kingdom. As someone who had a rough upbringing, seeing a character go from humble beginnings, with little education, to being a leader of a Kingdom made Heidi easy to relate to. I enjoyed the incorporation of side characters, and the character development of Loic going from cool exterior, to kind and empathetic with Heidi. [I also enjoyed the legal system and the lawyer joke made somewhere around 60%, and these things only became more humorous to me upon finding out one of the co-authors is an attorney. ]

To say I will be anxiously awaiting the next book in this series is a gross understatement, and I will be sharing this book with every individual, who has the ability to read, that I come across.

The only remotely negative thing I have to say (which is partially my own fault) the chapter titles are a bit of a spoiler when you're clicking around on your kindle. I shouldn't have been looking.... but here we are lol...

The premise of this book drew me into the first portion of it. The slow-burn is worth the ending! This is the start to a series and I can't wait to see what else is in store for the Firstborn's.

"she is the daughter of water, and it speaks to her."

a hidden princess. four firstborn heirs. an enchanting world brimming with politics, magic, myth, a prophecy, found family, genuinely likeable characters, clean slow burn romance, and traditional whimsical fantasy storytelling. and it's a debut novel as well! ✨️

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing this arc to read and review!! full review to come.