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A review by natashaleighton_
Dark Water Daughter by H.M. Long
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
A swashbuckling and vividly immersive, piratical fantasy that weaves an intricate tale of treachery, redemption and family in this Jacobean-set, high seas adventure that fans of Pirates of The Caribbean will absolutely devour.
It follows stormsinger Mary (whose weather controlling ability can still a hurricane or wreck an entire fleet with a single song) who decides to team up with pirate Captain Demery and then pirate hunter (and disgraced naval officer), Samuel to take down pirate Lord Silvanus Lirr in exchange for protection and to saving her mother. But the journey won’t be easy and their loyalties will be tested. For they find themselves battling creatures and magic far older (and deadlier) than just the pirates who to seek to harm them.
I loved every second of this! The world building was intricately crafted and the descriptions detailed and atmospherically immersive. The lore surrounding magic (stormsingers, sooths, magni) and Ghisting was soo cleverly woven into the plot (via text book style excerpts) that I was able to fully immerse myself without it becoming too info dumpy. Though, I did read over a fairly rainy week which definitely helped with the ambience of the books’ setting.
Even the tension (when we first meet Mary, staring down the gallows) is soo nerve-wrackingly high—that it’s next to impossible not to be on the edge of your seat. It’s honestly the one most shocking openings I’ve read to date and it definitely got my attention. The action is also pretty much non-stop too as Mary attempts to escape her fate and find her mother.
I really enjoyed the alternating, dual POVs of Mary and Samuel which definitely helped to keep track of both characters and their journey across the high seas.
Mary, our resident stormsinger and protagonist starts as a rather timid character, trying to survive in world where her powers a make her a valuable commodity—one that a lot of people would kill or commit treachery for. But as the story progresses, and her confidence grows (along with her abilities and forgotten memories) we see the beginnings of a woman who will risk anything to protect the ones she loves most.
However, Mary’s character didn’t feel as in depth and fleshed out as some of the other characters (specifically Samuel) and though I enjoyed watching her emotional journey searching for her mother, I would’ve liked to have seen a little more of her beyond her single minded focus. Though I did enjoy the flashback scenes we get in the later chapters of the book.
Samuel, In contrast was incredibly well developed with a nuanced and compelling backstory that made him quite endearing. I really loved delving into how someone as devoted and faithful as Samuel could end up in disgrace (as a privateer no less), and found his complicated relationship with twin brother Benedict both intriguing and rather heartbreaking (for Samuel, I absolutely despised Ben.)
The supporting characters were also incredibly fascinating in a complex, morally grey kind of way—even if I wasn’t a fan of all of them (*cough* Benedict and Lirr *cough* .) But I really liked Captain Demerys, our morally ambiguous pirate captain who helps Mary at a time when she needs it the most.
I can’t say much else without spoiling the plot but, if you’re a fan of heart poundingly high stakes action, and pirate based, high seas fantasy then you definitely need to check this out!
Also a massive thank you to Also Kabriya and Titan Books for the finished copy.
Graphic: Death, Gore, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence, Slavery, and Kidnapping