Book Review: The Living Waters by Dan Fitzgerald
Genre(s): Fantasy
Book Synopsis:
Wonder swirls beneath murky water.
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.
Review:
I initially picked up this book because it was promoted as “sword-free” fantasy, which sounded intriguing. It’s an adventure-based fantasy, and though there are no swords, it isn’t completely free of conflict. There are a few tense situations, but they’re resolved in ways that don’t involve conventional fantasy weaponry (it isn’t completely nonviolent, as there is some violence toward the end.)
There are four main characters in the book. Temi, a young noblewoman from a struggling family who is also a gifted illustrator; Sylvan, another noble who has just earned his doctorate in life sciences; Gilea, who is something of a guardian for the nobles’ trip down the river; and Leo, their guide.
Sylvan’s character made my biologist’s heart very happy. I loved his curiosity, his fascination with the fish and other creatures they encountered, and his desire to explore and learn more about his environment. I love stories that feature an expedition, and when there is some form of science involved…well, I’m a happy reader. And while the science isn’t central to the story, it’s always a bit refreshing to see it referenced—particularly in a fantasy novel.
Gilea was interesting, in that she was a practitioner of a meditative art and could often sense things about people or her surroundings. She was also determined to do her job and do it well; she was very protective of Temi and Sylvan, as she’d been hired to watch over.
I didn’t connect as much with Temi or Leo, but they were both interesting characters in their own ways.
As the story progresses, Leo and Sylvan are intrigued by some of the creatures and phenomena they encounter along the river, which prompts them to make the decision to seek the area known as the Living Waters. And that’s where this book gets really interesting.
Without going into spoilers for this book, I can say I enjoyed the metaphysical nature of the magic in this world, as well as the creatures and people encountered in the Living Waters. It was a unique story set in a fascinating world that felt complete, but with much more to explore. (The author has a few other books set in this world, but as I understand it, they’re more romance-heavy than this one was.)
If you’re looking for a different sort of fantasy, definitely check out The Living Waters.
Author’s Amazon Page: Dan Fitzgerald
Amazon link: The Living Waters
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