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The Winter Sea #1
Dark Water Daughter
A stormsinger and pirate hunter join forces against a deathless pirate lord in this swashbuckling Jacobean adventure on the high-seas.
Mary Firth is a Stormsinger: a woman whose voice can still hurricanes and shatter armadas. Faced with servitude to pirate lord Silvanus Lirr, Mary offers her skills to his arch-rival in exchange for protection - and, more importantly, his help sending Lirr to a watery grave. But her new ally has a vendetta of his own, and Mary's dreams are dark and full of ghistings, spectral creatures who inhabit the ancient forests of her homeland and the figureheads of ships.
Samuel Rosser is a disgraced naval officer serving aboard The Hart, an infamous privateer commissioned to bring Lirr to justice. He will stop at nothing to capture Lirr, restore his good name and reclaim the only thing that stands between himself and madness: a talisman stolen by Mary.
Finally, driven into the eternal ice at the limits of their world, Mary and Samuel must choose their loyalties and battle forces older and more powerful than the pirates who would make them slaves.
Come sail the Winter Sea, for action-packed, high-stakes adventures, rich characterisation and epic plots full of intrigue and betrayal.
Mary Firth is a Stormsinger: a woman whose voice can still hurricanes and shatter armadas. Faced with servitude to pirate lord Silvanus Lirr, Mary offers her skills to his arch-rival in exchange for protection - and, more importantly, his help sending Lirr to a watery grave. But her new ally has a vendetta of his own, and Mary's dreams are dark and full of ghistings, spectral creatures who inhabit the ancient forests of her homeland and the figureheads of ships.
Samuel Rosser is a disgraced naval officer serving aboard The Hart, an infamous privateer commissioned to bring Lirr to justice. He will stop at nothing to capture Lirr, restore his good name and reclaim the only thing that stands between himself and madness: a talisman stolen by Mary.
Finally, driven into the eternal ice at the limits of their world, Mary and Samuel must choose their loyalties and battle forces older and more powerful than the pirates who would make them slaves.
Come sail the Winter Sea, for action-packed, high-stakes adventures, rich characterisation and epic plots full of intrigue and betrayal.
457 pages, Paperback
First published July 11, 2023
413 people are currently reading
38087 people want to read
About the author
H.M. Long
11 books1,100 followersHannah (H. M.) Long is a Canadian fantasy author. She inhabits a ramshackle cabin in Ontario with her family, but she can often be spotted snooping about museums or wandering the Alps.
Hannah writes for Titan Books and is the author of the Four Pillars Quartet (Hall of Smoke), the Winter Sea Trilogy (Dark Water Daughter), the Entwined Duology (2026/27), Ashmarked (2027), and more.
For the latest updates, follow Hannah on TikTok (@hmlongbooks), Instagram (@hmlongbooks), and Twitter (@hannah_m_long).
Hannah writes for Titan Books and is the author of the Four Pillars Quartet (Hall of Smoke), the Winter Sea Trilogy (Dark Water Daughter), the Entwined Duology (2026/27), Ashmarked (2027), and more.
For the latest updates, follow Hannah on TikTok (@hmlongbooks), Instagram (@hmlongbooks), and Twitter (@hannah_m_long).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,373 reviews
July 17, 2024
Reread July 2024: Yep, still perfect. And the audiobook is fantastic.
•••
This book shot its way up to easily being one of the best books I've read all year. I can't imagine this not being in my Top 5 by the end of 2023.
The world building, the storm magic, both the ship combat and the on land action, the CHARACTERS...Dark Water Daughter does everything right. No notes. Not a suggestion or a complaint to be had.
Chapter one immediately hits you and sucks you in so well and the book manages to keep that energy going. I never wanted to put it down. Which is not to say that it's non-stop, fast-paced, action and adventure; the pacing in this book is impeccable, like everything else.
And if I haven't made it clear enough how much I LOVE this book, let me tell you that it completely took over my life because for about two weeks straight I listened to nothing but the Assassin's Creed: Black Flag (the pirate one) soundtrack* and when I finished the book I immediately reinstalled the game because I desperately needed to keep the pirate vibes going.
I cannot wait for this series to continue. Book 2 has immediately become one of my most anticipated releases of 2024. In the meantime I guess it's time to go through H.M Long's backlist to keep me busy.
*Listening to the AC: Black Flag soundtrack in the background is the objectively correct way to read this book. As someone who generally needs either complete silence or plain white noise to read, when I decided to pop that soundtrack on in the background it changed the game. 10/10 cannot recommend enough.
•••
This book shot its way up to easily being one of the best books I've read all year. I can't imagine this not being in my Top 5 by the end of 2023.
The world building, the storm magic, both the ship combat and the on land action, the CHARACTERS...Dark Water Daughter does everything right. No notes. Not a suggestion or a complaint to be had.
Chapter one immediately hits you and sucks you in so well and the book manages to keep that energy going. I never wanted to put it down. Which is not to say that it's non-stop, fast-paced, action and adventure; the pacing in this book is impeccable, like everything else.
And if I haven't made it clear enough how much I LOVE this book, let me tell you that it completely took over my life because for about two weeks straight I listened to nothing but the Assassin's Creed: Black Flag (the pirate one) soundtrack* and when I finished the book I immediately reinstalled the game because I desperately needed to keep the pirate vibes going.
I cannot wait for this series to continue. Book 2 has immediately become one of my most anticipated releases of 2024. In the meantime I guess it's time to go through H.M Long's backlist to keep me busy.
*Listening to the AC: Black Flag soundtrack in the background is the objectively correct way to read this book. As someone who generally needs either complete silence or plain white noise to read, when I decided to pop that soundtrack on in the background it changed the game. 10/10 cannot recommend enough.
July 5, 2024
Dark Water Daughter is everything I have ever wanted in a pirate fantasy book. The unique winter setting combines beautifully with the grit of the pirates and the darker tones of the magic to create a rich and engaging adventure.
The first chapter slaps you in the face with Pirate of the Caribbean vibes and then takes off running. This chaotic start is an incredibly unique opening to this fast paced adventure story and it serves as the perfect introduction to the characters. I have never been so immediately enthralled by a book and it made me genuinely excited to turn every page.
I am in love with the world building in this book. All of the powers and mythical creatures are unique to Dark Water Daughter and you can feel the time and effort HM Long put into crafting this world. Mary’s storm magic is everything I wanted it to be and I am incredibly excited to see her explore it further in the next book. The other forms of magic were equally fascinating. I really appreciate how Dark Water Daughter explores how magic can be used and abused. The story pushes past the known limits of magic in this world while leaving hints of even more to discover in later books.
HM Long uses the epigraphs in between chapters to support and enhance the world building. As someone who normally skips epigraphs, I can tell you that I read every single word of these. They clarify what is happening in the narrative without weighing down the story or info dumping. Each extract is perfectly placed to help the reader truly understand and appreciate the world building. I could genuinely write a whole review just about how perfect the epigraphs were. And if I can get this excited over such a minor part of the story, you know the rest of it is incredible.
All of the characters in this book are incredible. Mary and Samuel are compelling leads with intriguing backstories. Their interactions were so fun and I really appreciate the realistic dose of skepticism and distrust they each had for the other. Despite the hint of romance, it never distracted from the main plot of adventure and self discovery. Their banter at the end of the book had me smiling and giggling to myself. This book has a plethora of interesting side characters as well. My personal favorite is a pirate (who will remain unnamed to avoid spoilers) who reminds me of Alucard from A Darker Shade of Magic.
It is very rare for me to walk away from a book without a single complaint. With Dark Water Daughter, HM Long has delivered the pirate fantasy story that I have been searching for for years.
The first chapter slaps you in the face with Pirate of the Caribbean vibes and then takes off running. This chaotic start is an incredibly unique opening to this fast paced adventure story and it serves as the perfect introduction to the characters. I have never been so immediately enthralled by a book and it made me genuinely excited to turn every page.
I am in love with the world building in this book. All of the powers and mythical creatures are unique to Dark Water Daughter and you can feel the time and effort HM Long put into crafting this world. Mary’s storm magic is everything I wanted it to be and I am incredibly excited to see her explore it further in the next book. The other forms of magic were equally fascinating. I really appreciate how Dark Water Daughter explores how magic can be used and abused. The story pushes past the known limits of magic in this world while leaving hints of even more to discover in later books.
HM Long uses the epigraphs in between chapters to support and enhance the world building. As someone who normally skips epigraphs, I can tell you that I read every single word of these. They clarify what is happening in the narrative without weighing down the story or info dumping. Each extract is perfectly placed to help the reader truly understand and appreciate the world building. I could genuinely write a whole review just about how perfect the epigraphs were. And if I can get this excited over such a minor part of the story, you know the rest of it is incredible.
All of the characters in this book are incredible. Mary and Samuel are compelling leads with intriguing backstories. Their interactions were so fun and I really appreciate the realistic dose of skepticism and distrust they each had for the other. Despite the hint of romance, it never distracted from the main plot of adventure and self discovery. Their banter at the end of the book had me smiling and giggling to myself. This book has a plethora of interesting side characters as well. My personal favorite is a pirate (who will remain unnamed to avoid spoilers) who reminds me of Alucard from A Darker Shade of Magic.
It is very rare for me to walk away from a book without a single complaint. With Dark Water Daughter, HM Long has delivered the pirate fantasy story that I have been searching for for years.
September 27, 2023
”I was stripped bare in a world where I did not belong. A world of monsters and visions, where past and future had little meaning.”
A swashbuckling good time to say the least! The world building in this book is so intricately detailed; I could practically feel the winter chill on my skin. The plot is complex, the characters are developed, and the author is not afraid to delve into the darker aspects of the Other. The only reason I’m not giving this 5 stars is due to the pacing lagging just a bit in the middle, and I was hoping the romance would develop a little more steadily in this installment, but overall this was a compelling read. I can even see myself giving it a higher rating upon a reread with the audiobook when it is time to prepare for book 2’s release.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
A swashbuckling good time to say the least! The world building in this book is so intricately detailed; I could practically feel the winter chill on my skin. The plot is complex, the characters are developed, and the author is not afraid to delve into the darker aspects of the Other. The only reason I’m not giving this 5 stars is due to the pacing lagging just a bit in the middle, and I was hoping the romance would develop a little more steadily in this installment, but overall this was a compelling read. I can even see myself giving it a higher rating upon a reread with the audiobook when it is time to prepare for book 2’s release.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
July 25, 2023
This was so mid 🥴
Instead of being enthralled by a rollicking pirate tale, I spent the first third of Dark Water Daughter bored. I waited to connect with ANY of the characters emotionally... And guess what? That wait never ends.
The most egregious thing Long does as a writer is bank on two moments—where the FMC and MMC's lives go to pot—as being enough to tell the reader everything there is to know about these characters. Let me tell you now, it is not even close to enough.
Genuinely -- who the fuck is Mary? Describe to me her personality. Other than wanting to find her mum, what motivates her? She is the character equivalent of unseasoned chicken breast.
And likewise, who the fuck is Sam? We're told he's the best type of guy there is. Oh really? What has he done to deserve that title?
If the reader doesn't have a good grasp of the characters, it's nearly impossible to buy the romance.
It’s instant emotional attachment on the part of Samuel. These characters do not know one another. So why do they care? It makes zero sense.
The action scenes are done well... Until the climax of the book, where things got resolved faaaar too quickly.
But the chapters have titles. So that's a plus. I guess.
Instead of being enthralled by a rollicking pirate tale, I spent the first third of Dark Water Daughter bored. I waited to connect with ANY of the characters emotionally... And guess what? That wait never ends.
The most egregious thing Long does as a writer is bank on two moments—where the FMC and MMC's lives go to pot—as being enough to tell the reader everything there is to know about these characters. Let me tell you now, it is not even close to enough.
Genuinely -- who the fuck is Mary? Describe to me her personality. Other than wanting to find her mum, what motivates her? She is the character equivalent of unseasoned chicken breast.
And likewise, who the fuck is Sam? We're told he's the best type of guy there is. Oh really? What has he done to deserve that title?
If the reader doesn't have a good grasp of the characters, it's nearly impossible to buy the romance.
It’s instant emotional attachment on the part of Samuel. These characters do not know one another. So why do they care? It makes zero sense.
The action scenes are done well... Until the climax of the book, where things got resolved faaaar too quickly.
But the chapters have titles. So that's a plus. I guess.
July 29, 2025
”What I wanted to do was speak—I was dying to, with the wind curling in my lungs. I wanted to sing, to soothe the ache of it.”
i’m always on the hunt for pirate books to enjoy, so i’m happy to report that this one was a success! the magic was unique, the plot was fast paced and action packed and the characters had just enough depth to be interesting, while also keeping enough mystery to them to bring you back for more. Mary is a stormsinger, which is exactly what it sounds like.. she can control storms and the water at sea using her singing voice. this brings her into the forefront of a pirate hunter named Samuel, who she has to join forces with to try and avoid capture from a ruthless pirate lord. the familial drama in this had me at the edge of my seat for real, i had so much fun.
i’m always on the hunt for pirate books to enjoy, so i’m happy to report that this one was a success! the magic was unique, the plot was fast paced and action packed and the characters had just enough depth to be interesting, while also keeping enough mystery to them to bring you back for more. Mary is a stormsinger, which is exactly what it sounds like.. she can control storms and the water at sea using her singing voice. this brings her into the forefront of a pirate hunter named Samuel, who she has to join forces with to try and avoid capture from a ruthless pirate lord. the familial drama in this had me at the edge of my seat for real, i had so much fun.
July 12, 2023
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Publication date: July 11 2023! (Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!)
Rating: 3.5 stars
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 character(s): 🌟🌟🌟
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.
Publication date: July 11 2023! (Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!)
Rating: 3.5 stars
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 character(s): 🌟🌟🌟
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.
June 28, 2023
3.5 Stars
I love the idea and concept but couldn't immerse myself in the story.
The story follows Mary's journey to find and save her mother from Pirates. What makes the story intriguing is Mary's ability to control the weather with her singing.
I love the atmosphere and the world the author created. There are pirates, mythical creatures, and people with superpowers. Not to mention, the beginning was amazing! I don't want to give too much away, but it reminded me of the hanging scene from the Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.
That said, the story started to drag around the midway point. There were a few interesting scenes here and there, but they never fully captivated me. Also, I felt like we never got to fully explore Mary's power.
Overall, love the idea and concept. But wanted more from the story.
I would still recommend this to fans of fantasy and pirates.
***Thank you to NetGalley, H.M. Long, and RB Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
I love the idea and concept but couldn't immerse myself in the story.
The story follows Mary's journey to find and save her mother from Pirates. What makes the story intriguing is Mary's ability to control the weather with her singing.
I love the atmosphere and the world the author created. There are pirates, mythical creatures, and people with superpowers. Not to mention, the beginning was amazing! I don't want to give too much away, but it reminded me of the hanging scene from the Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End.
That said, the story started to drag around the midway point. There were a few interesting scenes here and there, but they never fully captivated me. Also, I felt like we never got to fully explore Mary's power.
Overall, love the idea and concept. But wanted more from the story.
I would still recommend this to fans of fantasy and pirates.
***Thank you to NetGalley, H.M. Long, and RB Media for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
July 12, 2023
Thank you to Titan Books and RB Media for providing me with an ARC and audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review. DARK WATER DAUGHTER is out on July 18 in North America!
Without a doubt, I can say DARK WATER DAUGHTER by H. M. Long is going to be one of my favorite reads of 2023! I am a sucker for pirate tales and let me tell you, this one was perfect! I enjoyed this book from start to finish. From the first chapter, DWD had me in its grasp and never let go until the very last page.
The worldbuilding is seamless and some of the best I have read. The early Georgian-inspired world feels original and “just right” as you read. I felt completely immersed in the world’s wintery setting. I’m not someone who visualizes what they are reading but I felt like I was there with the characters, Mary and Samuel, which is what was important to me. Speaking of Mary and Samuel…what incredible main characters they were. They’re both seeking freedom from their circumstances and you get to see how their circumstances influence their decision making. Mary Firth is a passionate, headstrong girl who just wants to find her mother. Samuel Rosser is a disgraced naval officer who will stop at nothing to restore his good name, even if it means he is slowly falling in love with Mary. AND GOSH, DO I LOVE THE BOY-OBSESSED TROPE. The tension that we get between Mary and Sam was IMMACULATE.
The audiobook is narrated by the iconic Moira Quirk, who performs as Mary Firth. Samuel’s character was performed by Samuel Roukin. Both narrators brought Mary and Samuel to life! Their performance made for an immersive and easy listening experience. I can only hope they get to narrate the rest of the books in this trilogy!
This is one of the easiest 5 stars I have ever given. I am a huge fan of H. M. Long. I can’t wait to get to her backlist. EVERYONE SHOULD READ DARK WATER DAUGHTER WHEN IT HITS SHELVES ON JULY 18!
Without a doubt, I can say DARK WATER DAUGHTER by H. M. Long is going to be one of my favorite reads of 2023! I am a sucker for pirate tales and let me tell you, this one was perfect! I enjoyed this book from start to finish. From the first chapter, DWD had me in its grasp and never let go until the very last page.
The worldbuilding is seamless and some of the best I have read. The early Georgian-inspired world feels original and “just right” as you read. I felt completely immersed in the world’s wintery setting. I’m not someone who visualizes what they are reading but I felt like I was there with the characters, Mary and Samuel, which is what was important to me. Speaking of Mary and Samuel…what incredible main characters they were. They’re both seeking freedom from their circumstances and you get to see how their circumstances influence their decision making. Mary Firth is a passionate, headstrong girl who just wants to find her mother. Samuel Rosser is a disgraced naval officer who will stop at nothing to restore his good name, even if it means he is slowly falling in love with Mary. AND GOSH, DO I LOVE THE BOY-OBSESSED TROPE. The tension that we get between Mary and Sam was IMMACULATE.
The audiobook is narrated by the iconic Moira Quirk, who performs as Mary Firth. Samuel’s character was performed by Samuel Roukin. Both narrators brought Mary and Samuel to life! Their performance made for an immersive and easy listening experience. I can only hope they get to narrate the rest of the books in this trilogy!
This is one of the easiest 5 stars I have ever given. I am a huge fan of H. M. Long. I can’t wait to get to her backlist. EVERYONE SHOULD READ DARK WATER DAUGHTER WHEN IT HITS SHELVES ON JULY 18!
December 12, 2023
I am finally free!!!!!
This book has been holding me hostage for the last 2 weeks, but because it was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, I just had to power through.
Every review I have seen of this book has been a glowing 5 star, so you can imagine my disappointment when I read this and was bored the entire time. That's not to say that nothing happens in this book (there's quite a lot of action), but sadly I didn't care enough about any of the characters to actually be invested in any of it.
Truth be told, the last 20% carried the whole book. I think it's fair to say that I will not be continuing on with this series.
This book has been holding me hostage for the last 2 weeks, but because it was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, I just had to power through.
Every review I have seen of this book has been a glowing 5 star, so you can imagine my disappointment when I read this and was bored the entire time. That's not to say that nothing happens in this book (there's quite a lot of action), but sadly I didn't care enough about any of the characters to actually be invested in any of it.
Truth be told, the last 20% carried the whole book. I think it's fair to say that I will not be continuing on with this series.
July 12, 2023
Being a hard core pirate story lover, I really wanted to love Dark Water Daughter. The premise lured me in, and as I started the novel I fell in love with the setting and lore of this story. However, as I continued, the characters never drew me in. Pardon my pun, but often times I found Mary to be quite the Mary Sue, and Samuel too cliche in his brooding. While there was a lot of potential to this story, and even aspects that I loved, the writing style and characterization just didn't align with what I look for in novels. I'm sure it will for some, just not for me.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Titan Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Titan Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2023
fast-paced, high-seas pirate fantasy was not on my 2023 bingo card, but I had fun — will probably pick up the sequel next year
July 18, 2023
This is one of the best books I've read, not just this year, but in my whole life. There's everything you could want: pirates, action, well developed characters, magic, and a dash of romance. WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED TO PICK UP THIS BOOK???
The beginning reminded me of The Pirates of the Caribbean which was when I knew I'd adore this. I kinda knew just from the cover and blurb but that solidified it. It's such a good opening that pulls you in right away.
Mary was a lovable character from the start, we watch her grow from a sheltered girl who never left her village, into a powerful Stormsinger. I so enjoyed taking this journey with her.
Samuel is the other PoV character, who's a disgraced navyman and Sooth. I took a quick liking to him as well and I think his PoV complemented Mary's well.
The two of them together had great tension, and they always seemed like an endgame ship to me, but we'll see. I liked Mary with Charles too, but I won't be upset if they end up as friends.
I also loved all the other characters, Demery, Anne, Fisher, Widderow, Athe, the Ghistings, even Lirr (yes I know, bad guy bad). It's hard not to when they're all so wonderfully written.
I am not a very big fan of Benedict though, he needs to do A LOT to be redeemed in my eyes.
As for the plot, it was so fun, and I love how magic was interwoven with it, if that makes sense. Like the plot wouldn't exist without the magic, they're bound together much like some other things in this book.
And it feels so natural, all of it. The flow of the story, the writing, etc, I felt like I was on a ship, being gently rocked by the sea as I read. Even though the seas here were not gentle, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
You can just tell the author put a lot of love in this story, it really comes through. And I CANNOT wait to read the next book(s), I NEED IT/THEM NOW!!!!!
Pleaseeeee go read this book if you like any of the above mentioned things and thank me later.
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
The beginning reminded me of The Pirates of the Caribbean which was when I knew I'd adore this. I kinda knew just from the cover and blurb but that solidified it. It's such a good opening that pulls you in right away.
Mary was a lovable character from the start, we watch her grow from a sheltered girl who never left her village, into a powerful Stormsinger. I so enjoyed taking this journey with her.
Samuel is the other PoV character, who's a disgraced navyman and Sooth. I took a quick liking to him as well and I think his PoV complemented Mary's well.
The two of them together had great tension, and they always seemed like an endgame ship to me, but we'll see. I liked Mary with Charles too, but I won't be upset if they end up as friends.
I also loved all the other characters, Demery, Anne, Fisher, Widderow, Athe, the Ghistings, even Lirr (yes I know, bad guy bad). It's hard not to when they're all so wonderfully written.
I am not a very big fan of Benedict though, he needs to do A LOT to be redeemed in my eyes.
As for the plot, it was so fun, and I love how magic was interwoven with it, if that makes sense. Like the plot wouldn't exist without the magic, they're bound together much like some other things in this book.
And it feels so natural, all of it. The flow of the story, the writing, etc, I felt like I was on a ship, being gently rocked by the sea as I read. Even though the seas here were not gentle, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.
You can just tell the author put a lot of love in this story, it really comes through. And I CANNOT wait to read the next book(s), I NEED IT/THEM NOW!!!!!
Pleaseeeee go read this book if you like any of the above mentioned things and thank me later.
*Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review*
November 10, 2023
4.5/5
This book is Pirates of the Caribbean with witches and it’s sooo enjoyable. We have a fast story line, a unique magic system, charismatic pirates, a brooding pirate hunter, an evil twin brother, a badass storm witch and her badass storm witch mom, a highwayman, and sooo much more. I cannot wait for more in this series to be out it was such a fun ride!
This book is Pirates of the Caribbean with witches and it’s sooo enjoyable. We have a fast story line, a unique magic system, charismatic pirates, a brooding pirate hunter, an evil twin brother, a badass storm witch and her badass storm witch mom, a highwayman, and sooo much more. I cannot wait for more in this series to be out it was such a fun ride!
July 18, 2023
Ahoy there me mateys! This first book of a series had pirates, pirate hunters, women that sing to storms, and magic tree dwelling creatures. Nautical flintlock fantasy should float me boat but this did not. I abandoned ship at 75% (348 pgs). I read that much in order to find out the major conflict and answers about the magic but was super disappointed when "answers" start to appear. The magic system seemed fun but ultimately didn't make much sense. The world building was also underdeveloped and the politics felt nonsensical. The pacing was extremely slow with very little action and lots of character angst. The clothing descriptions seemed never ending and also extremely impractical for life spent in a winter sea.
The main character, Mary, is the storm singer who doesn't know how to control her talent but seems to have extra special powers. Everyone is out to have her skills onboard. She seemed super naïve and in lust with any cute male that came along. Mary also was a bit flat with no interesting inner dialogue or motivations. Her eventual love interest, Samuel, was not much better. He is magically "twisted" and misunderstood. He doesn't seem to use his skills for any real purpose. Frankly, they both were hard to cheer for and annoyed me. The misunderstanding between the two would be resolved by some actual conversation. Also, in general, the characters all seemed to blend together.
I love a good sea yarn but this wasn't it. Arrrr!
The main character, Mary, is the storm singer who doesn't know how to control her talent but seems to have extra special powers. Everyone is out to have her skills onboard. She seemed super naïve and in lust with any cute male that came along. Mary also was a bit flat with no interesting inner dialogue or motivations. Her eventual love interest, Samuel, was not much better. He is magically "twisted" and misunderstood. He doesn't seem to use his skills for any real purpose. Frankly, they both were hard to cheer for and annoyed me. The misunderstanding between the two would be resolved by some actual conversation. Also, in general, the characters all seemed to blend together.
I love a good sea yarn but this wasn't it. Arrrr!
September 9, 2023
Dark Water Daughter is a delight.
I really mean that. It just swept me away from the very first page.
It features two main protagonists, both who have magical powers in a world filled with magic. It has been compared to The Pirates of the Caribbean, but I found it to be more magical than that. Another good comparison is Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. It has that same gothic vibe. The magic is mysterious. Even those who possess it do not understand it fully.
I think almost anyone would like this book. It has adventure, pirates, a thread of romance (although I wouldn’t describe it as a romantasy), and a unique magic system that feels so believable.
The romance element is also romantic – which I want to add quite strongly as a massive positive. Much of the romantasy field at the minute feels more like eroticantasy. Not that I’m saying that’s wrong, but sometimes I read books marketed as romantasy and I feel that while lots of sex is happening that the actual romance part is missing. To this point, in terms of a romantasy comp, I feel this book is more akin to Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan.
The adventure element is perhaps the strongest feature of the book. We have vicious pirates, dastardly schemes, highwaymen, mages and weather witches. I adored the idea of the ghistwold and ghistings – although I won’t elaborate as I don’t want to spoil what they are.
I’ve read books by H.M. Long before – she is a fabulous writer. However, I would add, here she is at the top of her game. The prose is sublime, somehow moving at pace, while being descriptive and thoughtful. It has quite the cast and with such a tight plot, it will keep you gripped until the last page.
I loved everything about this book. Honestly, I cannot recommend enough.
I really mean that. It just swept me away from the very first page.
It features two main protagonists, both who have magical powers in a world filled with magic. It has been compared to The Pirates of the Caribbean, but I found it to be more magical than that. Another good comparison is Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. It has that same gothic vibe. The magic is mysterious. Even those who possess it do not understand it fully.
I think almost anyone would like this book. It has adventure, pirates, a thread of romance (although I wouldn’t describe it as a romantasy), and a unique magic system that feels so believable.
The romance element is also romantic – which I want to add quite strongly as a massive positive. Much of the romantasy field at the minute feels more like eroticantasy. Not that I’m saying that’s wrong, but sometimes I read books marketed as romantasy and I feel that while lots of sex is happening that the actual romance part is missing. To this point, in terms of a romantasy comp, I feel this book is more akin to Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan.
The adventure element is perhaps the strongest feature of the book. We have vicious pirates, dastardly schemes, highwaymen, mages and weather witches. I adored the idea of the ghistwold and ghistings – although I won’t elaborate as I don’t want to spoil what they are.
I’ve read books by H.M. Long before – she is a fabulous writer. However, I would add, here she is at the top of her game. The prose is sublime, somehow moving at pace, while being descriptive and thoughtful. It has quite the cast and with such a tight plot, it will keep you gripped until the last page.
I loved everything about this book. Honestly, I cannot recommend enough.
July 7, 2023
I was so ready to make this book my entire personality, and so I'm honestly devastated by how underwhelming I found it.
What I think this book does do incredibly well is set up the world and atmosphere. This book immediately transported me with all the wintery, high-seas vibes, and all the epigraphs at the beginning of the chapters hinted at there being such rich lore and magic to this world. I thought the magic system in this book was incredibly interesting, and I was just eating up all the new information we learned about it.
I think this book also does the whole pirate theme incredibly well. This isn't just a book where they tell you they're pirates but spend most of the page time on land and away from ships — the majority of this book is on the ocean, jumping from one ship to another, and there's all the swashbuckling, plundering, and treasure hunting you can ask for. The beginning of this book gave incredibly strong Pirates of the Caribbean vibes, and starting this book made me immediately crave more pirate stories.
Unfortunately, however, the world and vibes alone weren't enough to make me enjoy this book. I spent the first 70% of this book waiting for something to happen that would make me invested in these characters or the stakes, but eventually, I had to accept that that moment was just never going to come.
I think part of the issue I had was that the actual plot and structure of the book felt incredibly all over the place. We spend most of the book just going from ship to ship, which I appreciated for the sake of keeping up the pirate theme but made the book feel like it had trouble being grounded. Pretty early on I stopped taking any particular interest in any one location or ship because I knew it was only going to be a matter of a chapter or two before some crisis would strike and we'd have to move on. While I can appreciate this to an extent for the sake of giving us the lay of the world and seeing many different locations, I think that because this was an intro book, I would have preferred if there was any semblance of a "home base" where we could see what life in this world looked like when things weren't constantly in upheaval.
I think my biggest problem, however, has to do with the character development in the book. Both of the main POV characters just felt incredibly flat and I could not for the life of me make myself care about them. Mary in particular just had nothing going for her and really no distinct personality traits I could identify. It felt like all we ever got to know about her was that she wanted to rescue her mother and she wanted to survive and that we never got to learn anything about her beyond that. She very much felt like a character who was just there to have things happen to her rather than actually making active choices to further the story or her own journey.
I thought Samuel was a lot more promising of a character, and that we got to learn a good deal more about his motivations and background, but his single-minded purpose still made him feel fairly one-dimensional. His chapters were still definitely my favorite, and I think if he was truly as much a main character as Mary was, I might have enjoyed the book more.
Hand in hand with this, I think the book suffered from the fact that it didn't have the opportunity for many meaningful character relationships. Because so much of the book is spent with Mary on the run and never knowing who she can trust, it takes until about 75% into the book for there to be any relationship between characters that doesn't feel liable to implode at any minute. I especially thought the "romance" between Samuel and Mary was underdeveloped, and consisted entirely of them seeing each other a couple of times and us just being told that they now had feelings for each other. It honestly felt like Samuel and Fisher's relationship got more development, despite Fisher only being on page every so often.
While I think there's something to be said for the lack of trustworthiness of the cast contributing to the feelings of a high-stakes pirate adventure, it just made me incredibly apathetic to anything that happened since I was never given a reason to root for any of the characters themselves or their commitment to anyone else.
All in all, I think it probably just comes down to this book not being for me. I think that if the character work had been more developed and the plot a bit less fast and loose, the vibes and world would have made me absolutely love this book, but as it was, I'm just left disappointed that it wasn't everything I'd hoped it would be.
Thank you to Titan and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What I think this book does do incredibly well is set up the world and atmosphere. This book immediately transported me with all the wintery, high-seas vibes, and all the epigraphs at the beginning of the chapters hinted at there being such rich lore and magic to this world. I thought the magic system in this book was incredibly interesting, and I was just eating up all the new information we learned about it.
I think this book also does the whole pirate theme incredibly well. This isn't just a book where they tell you they're pirates but spend most of the page time on land and away from ships — the majority of this book is on the ocean, jumping from one ship to another, and there's all the swashbuckling, plundering, and treasure hunting you can ask for. The beginning of this book gave incredibly strong Pirates of the Caribbean vibes, and starting this book made me immediately crave more pirate stories.
Unfortunately, however, the world and vibes alone weren't enough to make me enjoy this book. I spent the first 70% of this book waiting for something to happen that would make me invested in these characters or the stakes, but eventually, I had to accept that that moment was just never going to come.
I think part of the issue I had was that the actual plot and structure of the book felt incredibly all over the place. We spend most of the book just going from ship to ship, which I appreciated for the sake of keeping up the pirate theme but made the book feel like it had trouble being grounded. Pretty early on I stopped taking any particular interest in any one location or ship because I knew it was only going to be a matter of a chapter or two before some crisis would strike and we'd have to move on. While I can appreciate this to an extent for the sake of giving us the lay of the world and seeing many different locations, I think that because this was an intro book, I would have preferred if there was any semblance of a "home base" where we could see what life in this world looked like when things weren't constantly in upheaval.
I think my biggest problem, however, has to do with the character development in the book. Both of the main POV characters just felt incredibly flat and I could not for the life of me make myself care about them. Mary in particular just had nothing going for her and really no distinct personality traits I could identify. It felt like all we ever got to know about her was that she wanted to rescue her mother and she wanted to survive and that we never got to learn anything about her beyond that. She very much felt like a character who was just there to have things happen to her rather than actually making active choices to further the story or her own journey.
I thought Samuel was a lot more promising of a character, and that we got to learn a good deal more about his motivations and background, but his single-minded purpose still made him feel fairly one-dimensional. His chapters were still definitely my favorite, and I think if he was truly as much a main character as Mary was, I might have enjoyed the book more.
Hand in hand with this, I think the book suffered from the fact that it didn't have the opportunity for many meaningful character relationships. Because so much of the book is spent with Mary on the run and never knowing who she can trust, it takes until about 75% into the book for there to be any relationship between characters that doesn't feel liable to implode at any minute. I especially thought the "romance" between Samuel and Mary was underdeveloped, and consisted entirely of them seeing each other a couple of times and us just being told that they now had feelings for each other. It honestly felt like Samuel and Fisher's relationship got more development, despite Fisher only being on page every so often.
While I think there's something to be said for the lack of trustworthiness of the cast contributing to the feelings of a high-stakes pirate adventure, it just made me incredibly apathetic to anything that happened since I was never given a reason to root for any of the characters themselves or their commitment to anyone else.
All in all, I think it probably just comes down to this book not being for me. I think that if the character work had been more developed and the plot a bit less fast and loose, the vibes and world would have made me absolutely love this book, but as it was, I'm just left disappointed that it wasn't everything I'd hoped it would be.
Thank you to Titan and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 26, 2023
Everything you could want from a novel! Nautical flintlock fantasy is the best fantasy.
October 23, 2023
3.5 stars (rounded up)
What a wonderful seafaring/pirate adventure!!
This is exactly the type of high fantasy that I like, with just enough intriguing world building and thrilling action to keep you glued to the page, but not so much that the character work starts to suffer.
The character dynamics, especially the familial bonds, were extremely compelling and complex. Though at the same time, some of the side characters did feel a bit flat and they started to blend together in my mind. Not enough to hinder my enjoyment, since the two protagonists carried the story so well, but I would have liked a bit more from the supporting cast.
That said, I was fully on board for the delicious yet understated romantic tension, it was so innocent and slow-burn!! The romance is barely there, yet it added some extra tension that had me glued to the page.
Very glad I dove into this one fairly blind and just let myself get drowned in this whirlpool of emotions. Would highly recommend, especially with the audiobook, because the vibes are just immaculate!
What a wonderful seafaring/pirate adventure!!
This is exactly the type of high fantasy that I like, with just enough intriguing world building and thrilling action to keep you glued to the page, but not so much that the character work starts to suffer.
The character dynamics, especially the familial bonds, were extremely compelling and complex. Though at the same time, some of the side characters did feel a bit flat and they started to blend together in my mind. Not enough to hinder my enjoyment, since the two protagonists carried the story so well, but I would have liked a bit more from the supporting cast.
That said, I was fully on board for the delicious yet understated romantic tension, it was so innocent and slow-burn!! The romance is barely there, yet it added some extra tension that had me glued to the page.
Very glad I dove into this one fairly blind and just let myself get drowned in this whirlpool of emotions. Would highly recommend, especially with the audiobook, because the vibes are just immaculate!
September 24, 2025
4/5 stars
“There are fates worse than death, Mr. Rosser.”
For the past few years, a specific genre/trope has dominated my fantasy-novel wishlist. A single request I’ve been sending out into the universe, hoping for the Bookish Gods to grant me this favour:
please, give us an incredible pirate-novel set in a fantasy world that we’ve all been craving.
I think it was somewhere into 2022 that I gave up on this wish, after being burned by one too many ship-based-dud. Ironically, as I often the case when you stop searching for something, 2023 blessed me with not one but two pirate-favourites. Back in March, we had a whimsical take on the pirate-life in Tress of the Emerald Sea. Next month, you can look forward to swashbuckling start of an Adult Fantasy series set on the high seas of a world rich in lore, magic and mystery.
Our story begins with a young woman, facing the gallows for a crime she didn’t commit. In a desperate attempt at escape, she unleashes a power inherited from her missing mother, that she’s kept hidden within herself for years; a voice powerful enough to sing up a storm and command unruly waves. Although she’s spared the noose, her display of power does not grand Mary Firth the freedom she hoped for. Instead, she becomes the pawn and the lynchpin in a complex play between the Royal Navy and fleets of pirates, each hoping to hone her skills to guide them safely across the treacherous waters of the Winter Sea. Yet Mary isn’t the passive play-piece people take her for. Rather, she has alliances, loyalties, and motivations of her own. Her top priority: cross the Winter Sea in order to find and free her mother, who suffered a similar faith of captivity due to her powers.
Told through dual perspectives from both Mary, and the naval officer Samuel Rossner, who chases her across the oceans; this was every bit the fantasy-adventure I hoped it to be.
Without hyperbole, Dark Water Daughter has everything I want in a fantasy novel. If we take a look at it through the “Sandersons triad of story-telling”, it has nails all three: characters, world and plot.
Whilst Samuel and Mary carry the story, there are many memorable supporting characters that do a lot of heavy lifting too. Each of them has a distinct role to fulfill in the plot, but simultaneously has enough unique character-traits, skills (both magical and personal) and motivations to feel like a fully-fledged person inhabiting this world too. It creates a world that feels alive and lived in, adding a layer of “realness” that is so hard to capture. (also, the romance subplot never commit mutiny and overtakes the rest of the story, which is always a welcome change!)
Speaking of worldbuilding, this attention to detail and depth goes beyond the characters. Each place, spirit or magical power comes with its own lore and history supporting it. With every flip of the page, I was excited to learn more about this universe of H.M. Long’s creation. Although the synopsis focusses mainly on the Storm-singing, my favourite magical element was by far the Ghistwold. To avoid ANY spoilers, I won’t say anything else about this, other than that I hope to learn and explore so much more of it in the sequels.
Perhaps, if I keep singing this novels praises to my heart’s content, I might actually conjure up a storm myself. Suffice to say, it’s one of my new favourite nautical fantasy-novels and probably among my top reads of the year so far in general. If you’ve ever shared that craving for the perfect pirate fantasy-novel, or loved the likes of Pirates of the Caribbean, The Liveship Traders Trilogy and The Grisha Trilogy, and are curious as to what a mix-up of those three would look like: make sure to be on the look-out once this novel hits shelves next month.
Many thanks to Titan Books and Recorded Books Audio for providing me with an ARC (physical as well as Audio) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
“There are fates worse than death, Mr. Rosser.”
For the past few years, a specific genre/trope has dominated my fantasy-novel wishlist. A single request I’ve been sending out into the universe, hoping for the Bookish Gods to grant me this favour:
please, give us an incredible pirate-novel set in a fantasy world that we’ve all been craving.
I think it was somewhere into 2022 that I gave up on this wish, after being burned by one too many ship-based-dud. Ironically, as I often the case when you stop searching for something, 2023 blessed me with not one but two pirate-favourites. Back in March, we had a whimsical take on the pirate-life in Tress of the Emerald Sea. Next month, you can look forward to swashbuckling start of an Adult Fantasy series set on the high seas of a world rich in lore, magic and mystery.
Our story begins with a young woman, facing the gallows for a crime she didn’t commit. In a desperate attempt at escape, she unleashes a power inherited from her missing mother, that she’s kept hidden within herself for years; a voice powerful enough to sing up a storm and command unruly waves. Although she’s spared the noose, her display of power does not grand Mary Firth the freedom she hoped for. Instead, she becomes the pawn and the lynchpin in a complex play between the Royal Navy and fleets of pirates, each hoping to hone her skills to guide them safely across the treacherous waters of the Winter Sea. Yet Mary isn’t the passive play-piece people take her for. Rather, she has alliances, loyalties, and motivations of her own. Her top priority: cross the Winter Sea in order to find and free her mother, who suffered a similar faith of captivity due to her powers.
Told through dual perspectives from both Mary, and the naval officer Samuel Rossner, who chases her across the oceans; this was every bit the fantasy-adventure I hoped it to be.
Without hyperbole, Dark Water Daughter has everything I want in a fantasy novel. If we take a look at it through the “Sandersons triad of story-telling”, it has nails all three: characters, world and plot.
Whilst Samuel and Mary carry the story, there are many memorable supporting characters that do a lot of heavy lifting too. Each of them has a distinct role to fulfill in the plot, but simultaneously has enough unique character-traits, skills (both magical and personal) and motivations to feel like a fully-fledged person inhabiting this world too. It creates a world that feels alive and lived in, adding a layer of “realness” that is so hard to capture. (also, the romance subplot never commit mutiny and overtakes the rest of the story, which is always a welcome change!)
Speaking of worldbuilding, this attention to detail and depth goes beyond the characters. Each place, spirit or magical power comes with its own lore and history supporting it. With every flip of the page, I was excited to learn more about this universe of H.M. Long’s creation. Although the synopsis focusses mainly on the Storm-singing, my favourite magical element was by far the Ghistwold. To avoid ANY spoilers, I won’t say anything else about this, other than that I hope to learn and explore so much more of it in the sequels.
Perhaps, if I keep singing this novels praises to my heart’s content, I might actually conjure up a storm myself. Suffice to say, it’s one of my new favourite nautical fantasy-novels and probably among my top reads of the year so far in general. If you’ve ever shared that craving for the perfect pirate fantasy-novel, or loved the likes of Pirates of the Caribbean, The Liveship Traders Trilogy and The Grisha Trilogy, and are curious as to what a mix-up of those three would look like: make sure to be on the look-out once this novel hits shelves next month.
Many thanks to Titan Books and Recorded Books Audio for providing me with an ARC (physical as well as Audio) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
July 1, 2023
I just read Dark Water Daughter by H.M. Long and here is what I thought about it:
Let’s just get this straight right from the get-go, I enjoyed the hell out of this book. It is my fourth 5 star read of the year, and I am DYING for book two. As a person that is not often excited by a first book in a series to immediately want to pick up the next one, this was so good, and I’m UPSET that I have to wait for book 2.
Before I continue my raving, let me give you a short synopsis. The book focuses on two main POV characters. The first is Mary Firth, a stormsinger (a witch that can summon and control storms with her voice) who is faced with forcibly serving a Pirate Lord in exchange for protection from people that would use her for their own selfish gain. Our second POV character is Samuel Rosser, a disgraced naval officer that serves the crown in bringing pirate to justice. Both of our characters are seeking freedom from their circumstances by finding strength in survival. Meanwhile, we the reader are trying to solve a well-formulated mystery that appears as a result of following these characters.
H.M Long does this thing where she lets us, the readers, in on a secret that the characters don’t know yet which makes the reader feel like they know what’s going to happen before the characters do—but then she throws that confidence back in your face by crafting a perfect twist that utilizes that secret but in a totally different way than you expected. God, I loved that quality of the book.
So, what did I love about it? Everything. Literally everything about it made this book stand out from others in the genre.
I already talked about the characters a bit, but seriously, these characters are phenomenal. I LOVED both Mary and Samuel almost immediately. Both are flawed and passionate. They struggle with their own choices. They make decisions that are clearly influenced by their own trauma. They just work and I was cheering for both throughout the whole book even though they have conflicting goals for most of the book. I also have a crush on Mary… and you will too. I guarantee it.
The atmosphere of this book was spot on. This is an icy, early modern, high-stakes pirate adventure with an interesting magic system. I always talk about world building in a sense of “did I notice it or not?” If I noticed active world building, I tend to dislike that—it ruins the immersion of the reading experience. Dark Water Daughter was so seamless in its world building that everything felt right immediately. I really want to do a reread of this in the winter because this book feels like winter.
The pacing was also perfect. I am a stickler about pacing, often it makes or breaks a book for me. I can love the characters and the plot, but if I’m dragging or sprinting through it, I knock it down at LEAST one star, often more. This book was just right. The dual POV’s made for interesting story telling and the occasional inserts of a continuing story that broke up those chapters added a lot to the book.
This is the pirate book of the year in my eyes. It was well-crafted and well-told. I am going to jump into H.M. Long’s backlist later this year because the way she writes fantasy is everything I look for in an auto-buy author.
5/5
Let’s just get this straight right from the get-go, I enjoyed the hell out of this book. It is my fourth 5 star read of the year, and I am DYING for book two. As a person that is not often excited by a first book in a series to immediately want to pick up the next one, this was so good, and I’m UPSET that I have to wait for book 2.
Before I continue my raving, let me give you a short synopsis. The book focuses on two main POV characters. The first is Mary Firth, a stormsinger (a witch that can summon and control storms with her voice) who is faced with forcibly serving a Pirate Lord in exchange for protection from people that would use her for their own selfish gain. Our second POV character is Samuel Rosser, a disgraced naval officer that serves the crown in bringing pirate to justice. Both of our characters are seeking freedom from their circumstances by finding strength in survival. Meanwhile, we the reader are trying to solve a well-formulated mystery that appears as a result of following these characters.
H.M Long does this thing where she lets us, the readers, in on a secret that the characters don’t know yet which makes the reader feel like they know what’s going to happen before the characters do—but then she throws that confidence back in your face by crafting a perfect twist that utilizes that secret but in a totally different way than you expected. God, I loved that quality of the book.
So, what did I love about it? Everything. Literally everything about it made this book stand out from others in the genre.
I already talked about the characters a bit, but seriously, these characters are phenomenal. I LOVED both Mary and Samuel almost immediately. Both are flawed and passionate. They struggle with their own choices. They make decisions that are clearly influenced by their own trauma. They just work and I was cheering for both throughout the whole book even though they have conflicting goals for most of the book. I also have a crush on Mary… and you will too. I guarantee it.
The atmosphere of this book was spot on. This is an icy, early modern, high-stakes pirate adventure with an interesting magic system. I always talk about world building in a sense of “did I notice it or not?” If I noticed active world building, I tend to dislike that—it ruins the immersion of the reading experience. Dark Water Daughter was so seamless in its world building that everything felt right immediately. I really want to do a reread of this in the winter because this book feels like winter.
The pacing was also perfect. I am a stickler about pacing, often it makes or breaks a book for me. I can love the characters and the plot, but if I’m dragging or sprinting through it, I knock it down at LEAST one star, often more. This book was just right. The dual POV’s made for interesting story telling and the occasional inserts of a continuing story that broke up those chapters added a lot to the book.
This is the pirate book of the year in my eyes. It was well-crafted and well-told. I am going to jump into H.M. Long’s backlist later this year because the way she writes fantasy is everything I look for in an auto-buy author.
5/5
August 5, 2023
4.5/5 ⭐️ Now THIS is a pirate fantasy
September 9, 2023
If you are looking for a book that is full of high seas pirate adventure, mystical folklore, dark historical world building elements, and magic systems founded in alternative realms, PICK UP THIS BOOK!
I loved this book! It is so refreshing to read an adult fantasy that actually screams adult in both tone, dialogue and world building without adult spice. I was immersed in this story from page one and loved that it felt like something I had never read before.
Mary is on the run from a false accusation, in search of her mother and has a voice that can control the high seas...a talent that most would try to capture and detain her for. I loved the vast cast of characters from rogue highwaymen to pirate villains and friends. It was beautifully written with prose that reminded me slightly of Rebecca Ross.
I loved the added magic system that also felt unique and fitting to the story, especially when it came to the storm singers and the ships they commanded.
The audio is incredibly well done. I loved the two narrators who were spot on for each POV. While this book has little to no romance it has a spark that I hope grows in the next book and for someone who doesn't need romance to read a book, I'm telling you this is a FABULOUS story that was fine without it.
I cannot wait to read book 2, and pick up more books from this author. 4.5 stars.
*some strong language, pirate violence and gore.
I loved this book! It is so refreshing to read an adult fantasy that actually screams adult in both tone, dialogue and world building without adult spice. I was immersed in this story from page one and loved that it felt like something I had never read before.
Mary is on the run from a false accusation, in search of her mother and has a voice that can control the high seas...a talent that most would try to capture and detain her for. I loved the vast cast of characters from rogue highwaymen to pirate villains and friends. It was beautifully written with prose that reminded me slightly of Rebecca Ross.
I loved the added magic system that also felt unique and fitting to the story, especially when it came to the storm singers and the ships they commanded.
The audio is incredibly well done. I loved the two narrators who were spot on for each POV. While this book has little to no romance it has a spark that I hope grows in the next book and for someone who doesn't need romance to read a book, I'm telling you this is a FABULOUS story that was fine without it.
I cannot wait to read book 2, and pick up more books from this author. 4.5 stars.
*some strong language, pirate violence and gore.
June 21, 2023
“We’re all pirates, lass.”
I’d gone from one ship full of criminals to another. I clutched the rope and murmured a weepy, “Damn.”
Plot: 5/5
Opening chapter gave such hard core pirates of the Caribbean vibes and I was hooked. The plot moves at a very good pacing that didn’t have any lulls, the peaks of action are well spaced.
Characters: 5/5
“I’d won a chance at freedom, but I might be throwing that away, staring into the large, dark eyes of Samuel Rosser.”
I love Mary she’s smart and fierce, eager to learn what she needs to to survive. Her character growth is so well done. She’s already far into her roguish journey at the start of the book but now she has direction.
Samuel is such a complex character. He’s already a very defined character and his growth arc is more about admitting what wants and going for it.
Before Mary and Samuel even really met I was thinking okay now when will they kiss? I love their instinctual care for each other, even when they aren’t on the same sides.
Writing: 5/5
Long has fantastic voice and each POV has distinct personality. There is incredibly strong and unique world building and magic development. Never before have I cared about epigraphs in books but I read every single one of these. They added to the story and world building perfectly.
This story has winter vibes which isn’t something I knew I loved in a book. I am obsessed
Overall: 5/5
The perfect book for every fantasy lover, HM Long has earned a dedicated fan with this book.
I’d gone from one ship full of criminals to another. I clutched the rope and murmured a weepy, “Damn.”
Plot: 5/5
Opening chapter gave such hard core pirates of the Caribbean vibes and I was hooked. The plot moves at a very good pacing that didn’t have any lulls, the peaks of action are well spaced.
Characters: 5/5
“I’d won a chance at freedom, but I might be throwing that away, staring into the large, dark eyes of Samuel Rosser.”
I love Mary she’s smart and fierce, eager to learn what she needs to to survive. Her character growth is so well done. She’s already far into her roguish journey at the start of the book but now she has direction.
Samuel is such a complex character. He’s already a very defined character and his growth arc is more about admitting what wants and going for it.
Before Mary and Samuel even really met I was thinking okay now when will they kiss? I love their instinctual care for each other, even when they aren’t on the same sides.
Writing: 5/5
Long has fantastic voice and each POV has distinct personality. There is incredibly strong and unique world building and magic development. Never before have I cared about epigraphs in books but I read every single one of these. They added to the story and world building perfectly.
This story has winter vibes which isn’t something I knew I loved in a book. I am obsessed
Overall: 5/5
The perfect book for every fantasy lover, HM Long has earned a dedicated fan with this book.
April 19, 2024
I went in with nothing less than high expectations knowing this book came from H.M. Long who also wrote my first 5 star read of 2023 with her novel Barrow of Winter. And I’m here to tell you that Dark Water Daughter did NOT disappoint. The story hooks you from the first page where main character Mary, an untrained weather witch finds herself ready to be hanged for a crime she didn't commit and her trust in a fellow imprisoned highwayman sets off a series of events where she and a group of pirates AND pirate hunters pursue a deathless pirate lord across the sea who will stop at nothing to possess Mary and her powers.
This book is the pinnacle of good fantasy: a setting so rich and vibrant that you can honestly feel the cold wintery breeze, a unique magic system that includes seers, weather witches that can manipulate weather through the power of song, and a magical otherworld brimming with entirely original and unique and mystical creatures. In no surprise to anyone who has read H.M. Long’s other works, the depth and complexity of this story’s cast is just…unparalleled; with characters so nuanced that you can’t always draw clear lines to the heroes vs. the villains.
I was also pleasantly surprised to see how many women were in roles of power in this book. Pirate and Navy captains were just as likely to be female as male so for a book where the main female character spends the majority of her time around attractive men it was surprisingly feminist. There was just a HINT of romance to the story and though the ending sets up for more to explore in this area, it was never the focus of the book nor was it allowed to detract from the storyline or plot. It was so incredibly sweet though, and this line melted my cold unromantic heart “He’s the worst of men, Samuel Rosser. I know that now. And despite all that’s happened, despite your faults –and mine– I know now that you’re the very best.”
As the beginning of a new series, this book gives just a glimpse into the depth of the world this story is going to take place in; with each region having its own unique culture and social structure in how it relates to the magic system. And this aspect honestly gave Shannon Chakraborty (City of Brass series/ The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi) level world-building vibes. Despite the comparison, though, Dark Water Daughter stood out as something entirely unique and I am just simply blown away by the breadth of H.M. Long’s imagination.
It’s official - I’m going to read anything this author writes and will not rest until I have the next book in this series in my hands.
This book is the pinnacle of good fantasy: a setting so rich and vibrant that you can honestly feel the cold wintery breeze, a unique magic system that includes seers, weather witches that can manipulate weather through the power of song, and a magical otherworld brimming with entirely original and unique and mystical creatures. In no surprise to anyone who has read H.M. Long’s other works, the depth and complexity of this story’s cast is just…unparalleled; with characters so nuanced that you can’t always draw clear lines to the heroes vs. the villains.
I was also pleasantly surprised to see how many women were in roles of power in this book. Pirate and Navy captains were just as likely to be female as male so for a book where the main female character spends the majority of her time around attractive men it was surprisingly feminist. There was just a HINT of romance to the story and though the ending sets up for more to explore in this area, it was never the focus of the book nor was it allowed to detract from the storyline or plot. It was so incredibly sweet though, and this line melted my cold unromantic heart “He’s the worst of men, Samuel Rosser. I know that now. And despite all that’s happened, despite your faults –and mine– I know now that you’re the very best.”
As the beginning of a new series, this book gives just a glimpse into the depth of the world this story is going to take place in; with each region having its own unique culture and social structure in how it relates to the magic system. And this aspect honestly gave Shannon Chakraborty (City of Brass series/ The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi) level world-building vibes. Despite the comparison, though, Dark Water Daughter stood out as something entirely unique and I am just simply blown away by the breadth of H.M. Long’s imagination.
It’s official - I’m going to read anything this author writes and will not rest until I have the next book in this series in my hands.
April 30, 2023
Whew what a ride! I honestly only had to put it down because the tension towards the end was SO MUCH I couldn't take it!
I loved the magic system - but I loved in particular that HM Long explored the very dark aspects of that magic system. Stormsingers who can call upon the weather? Of course they'd be made a commodity for the Navy and pirates. People who can cross into the Other? Of course there are both monsters that chase you and/or want to possess you. It should be obvious, but to so many writers it very much is not and she has such a deft hand here.
I loved the characters, especially Mary and her mother. I do love respectful, bookish male love interests so Samuel was also right up my alley.
5/5 stars, I already can't wait for the next one!
I loved the magic system - but I loved in particular that HM Long explored the very dark aspects of that magic system. Stormsingers who can call upon the weather? Of course they'd be made a commodity for the Navy and pirates. People who can cross into the Other? Of course there are both monsters that chase you and/or want to possess you. It should be obvious, but to so many writers it very much is not and she has such a deft hand here.
I loved the characters, especially Mary and her mother. I do love respectful, bookish male love interests so Samuel was also right up my alley.
5/5 stars, I already can't wait for the next one!
June 19, 2023
“I was a Stormsinger, after my mother. I might have been silenced for sixteen long years, but I had my voice and the power to calm this storm, somewhere inside me. I simply had to do it…”
Was there ever any doubt that I wouldn’t utterly devour a Jacobean period flintlock fantasy with pirates, weather witches, mages and monsters? No, no there wasn’t! Dark Water Daughter by H.M. Long delves readers into the depths of an original fantastical world filled with morally ambiguous characters and a twisty seafaring adventure.
It all starts with a noose. Mary Firth is to be hanged for crimes she—mostly—never committed but on the day of her execution Mary ignores her mother’s warning and uses her long dormant powers to escape. For Mary is a Stormsinger, her voice can command the wind, rain and clouds, her melody can call down a treacherous storm or can calm tempestuous waters. The life of a Stormsinger comes with the burden of never having freedom as the Queen’s Navy and pirates alike all desire Stormsingers upon their vessels to aid their journeys across the Winter Sea. When Mary is caught between facing servitude to both parties she decides to make an alliance with the pirate, Captain Demery, who claims that Mary’s mother is a prisoner of the notoriously dangerous pirate lord, Silvanus Lirr. Demery and Mary both share reasons for chasing after Lirr yet they are not alone in their pursuit. Disgraced naval officer Samuel Rosser is aboard Hart and his Captain’s mission is to capture Lirr and bring him to the Queen’s justice. This mission will clear Samuel’s name and earn him back the respect that was wrongly taken many years before. Upon the Winter Sea Mary and Samuel’s paths will collide and both must choose where their loyalties lie, as well as battling some powerful foes.
The narrative is written with dual first-person perspectives. We alternate between Mary and Samuel and upon first meeting them it becomes apparent they are both meandering their way through dark unfamiliar waters. Mary begins as quite a passive character, she’s taken prisoner a fair few times and is jostled between sets of pirates who seek to use her powers. It is understandable why Mary is so out of her depth—having never left her home, the inn where she grew up surrounded her within relative safety. Yet as the novel progresses Long shows how her character grows. Mary develops a strong will to learn more about her abilities, to learn how to fight and defend herself and to survive by any means necessary. That’s not to say Mary becomes ruthless or unkind, it just means that she’ll do all she can to protect and save those she loves, even if that calls for morally questionable deeds. Whereas Samuel is more our idealistic hero with grand notions of honour and justice. These are principles he holds in high regard and having been disgraced Samuel is always in turmoil, he’s always seeking redemption, always holding himself accountable for every action he takes. Long creates two main protagonists who are easily likable and easy to root for.
There is also a wonderful array of side characters who are less heroic and more on the morally grey side. Dark Water Daughter is filled with pirates but not all of them are shown to be cruel or villainous. Captain Demery has a wonderful bantery relationship with his crew and some of the scenes where Mary is aboard his ship tickled me. However, my two favourite darker characters became Benedict Rosser, Samuel’s twin brother and Silvanus Lirr. Long never creates superficial villains in this book, they are more complex and have reasons beyond their control for their motives. So I was always questioning, are they really to blame here? For instance Benedict had a very troubled childhood, a father dead, a mother lost in her own grief and turned mad, and a world who wanted to use him and his brother’s powers for their own gains. Long plays with the ‘evil’ twin trope here and I really did enjoy watching Benedict and Samuel interact together. I just know Benedict will cause further mayhem along the way but I’m also hoping he’ll do some good by the end. Whereas Lirr is more our straight up villain, our feared pirate who too went through an event which irrevocably changed him and fed his malevolence. He’s a fantastic villain to hate, but also one who holds some monstrous secrets.
Despite there being some mildly dark scenes within these pages, I would ultimately say that Dark Water Daughter has a lovely cosy quality to it. I believe this is due to Long’s narrative style which I found to be rather nostalgic, it easily carries readers away on such an engrossing adventure. One of the aspects about Long’s narrative which immediately stood out to me was the clever way she uses epigraphs just before each chapter as a glossary of terms for her worldbuilding. Each word and its accompanying explanation is taken from the fictional, The Worldbook Alphabetica: a new wordbook of the Aeadines, and although the terminology may not make complete sense immediately it becomes clear as we read the following chapter. I’ll confess I’m a bit of a worldbuilding geek and I love when books include glossaries, so I took pleasure in how these entries help to deepen our knowledge of the magic system, the world and its politics. I found this to be a much more effective way rather than having a large glossary at the back of the book which can often be awkward to reference back and forth whilst reading. Long also uses short passages between chapters to give readers a glimpse into Mary’s backstory growing up within the ancient Ghistwold forest; these sections were titled, The Girl from the Wold, and they enriched the story with a mythical, fairytale-esque atmosphere. How they click into place by the end of the book was something that utterly impressed me.
The magic system was perhaps my favourite aspect of the book. Mary is one of many weather-witches but unlike the others she is untrained. She hones her abilities along the way and the more she takes command of her Stormsinger powers the more fascinating those powers become. Our Samuel is a Sooth and so is able to enter the Other plane of existence and see premonitions. The ability to enter the Other comes with its peril as within that plane monsters reside, or a Sooth may become lost and grounded within the Other unable to return to their body. The only protection lies in a rare talisman. Then there are those who are Magni’s with the power to manipulate people’s thoughts and feelings—this ability was particularly twisted to see in action!
“Sleet hit with hurricane force, battering my face and turning to snow. Darkness came with it, thick and eerie, but I grinned a wild grin. This was power. This was what I'd been denied all these years, rushing across my skin and turning my thoughts clean and sharp.
All too soon the wind stole my breath and my song died, but it didn't matter now. The storm was here, and it raged.”
There was also the concept of the Ghistwold and Ghistings and I loved the innovative way these were incorporated throughout the novel. Ghistings were spirits residing in Ghistwold trees and were harvested to create figureheads on ships with the Ghisting trapped inside making each figurehead sentient. The spirits would then essentially become prisoners and be forced to protect the ship to ensure its own survival. Some of my favourite scenes were when Mary interacted with the Ghistings, something others feared to do. Long builds a world where the fantastical can be found in every corner and I entirely loved this.
Nautical fantasy is fast becoming one of my favourite sub-genres and Long certainly delivers a delightful high-seas adventure here. Dark Water Daughter is the kind of book that just sweeps you away.
ARC provided by Kabriya at Titan Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the copy! All quotes used are taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
Dark Water Daughter will be released 11th July
Was there ever any doubt that I wouldn’t utterly devour a Jacobean period flintlock fantasy with pirates, weather witches, mages and monsters? No, no there wasn’t! Dark Water Daughter by H.M. Long delves readers into the depths of an original fantastical world filled with morally ambiguous characters and a twisty seafaring adventure.
It all starts with a noose. Mary Firth is to be hanged for crimes she—mostly—never committed but on the day of her execution Mary ignores her mother’s warning and uses her long dormant powers to escape. For Mary is a Stormsinger, her voice can command the wind, rain and clouds, her melody can call down a treacherous storm or can calm tempestuous waters. The life of a Stormsinger comes with the burden of never having freedom as the Queen’s Navy and pirates alike all desire Stormsingers upon their vessels to aid their journeys across the Winter Sea. When Mary is caught between facing servitude to both parties she decides to make an alliance with the pirate, Captain Demery, who claims that Mary’s mother is a prisoner of the notoriously dangerous pirate lord, Silvanus Lirr. Demery and Mary both share reasons for chasing after Lirr yet they are not alone in their pursuit. Disgraced naval officer Samuel Rosser is aboard Hart and his Captain’s mission is to capture Lirr and bring him to the Queen’s justice. This mission will clear Samuel’s name and earn him back the respect that was wrongly taken many years before. Upon the Winter Sea Mary and Samuel’s paths will collide and both must choose where their loyalties lie, as well as battling some powerful foes.
The narrative is written with dual first-person perspectives. We alternate between Mary and Samuel and upon first meeting them it becomes apparent they are both meandering their way through dark unfamiliar waters. Mary begins as quite a passive character, she’s taken prisoner a fair few times and is jostled between sets of pirates who seek to use her powers. It is understandable why Mary is so out of her depth—having never left her home, the inn where she grew up surrounded her within relative safety. Yet as the novel progresses Long shows how her character grows. Mary develops a strong will to learn more about her abilities, to learn how to fight and defend herself and to survive by any means necessary. That’s not to say Mary becomes ruthless or unkind, it just means that she’ll do all she can to protect and save those she loves, even if that calls for morally questionable deeds. Whereas Samuel is more our idealistic hero with grand notions of honour and justice. These are principles he holds in high regard and having been disgraced Samuel is always in turmoil, he’s always seeking redemption, always holding himself accountable for every action he takes. Long creates two main protagonists who are easily likable and easy to root for.
There is also a wonderful array of side characters who are less heroic and more on the morally grey side. Dark Water Daughter is filled with pirates but not all of them are shown to be cruel or villainous. Captain Demery has a wonderful bantery relationship with his crew and some of the scenes where Mary is aboard his ship tickled me. However, my two favourite darker characters became Benedict Rosser, Samuel’s twin brother and Silvanus Lirr. Long never creates superficial villains in this book, they are more complex and have reasons beyond their control for their motives. So I was always questioning, are they really to blame here? For instance Benedict had a very troubled childhood, a father dead, a mother lost in her own grief and turned mad, and a world who wanted to use him and his brother’s powers for their own gains. Long plays with the ‘evil’ twin trope here and I really did enjoy watching Benedict and Samuel interact together. I just know Benedict will cause further mayhem along the way but I’m also hoping he’ll do some good by the end. Whereas Lirr is more our straight up villain, our feared pirate who too went through an event which irrevocably changed him and fed his malevolence. He’s a fantastic villain to hate, but also one who holds some monstrous secrets.
Despite there being some mildly dark scenes within these pages, I would ultimately say that Dark Water Daughter has a lovely cosy quality to it. I believe this is due to Long’s narrative style which I found to be rather nostalgic, it easily carries readers away on such an engrossing adventure. One of the aspects about Long’s narrative which immediately stood out to me was the clever way she uses epigraphs just before each chapter as a glossary of terms for her worldbuilding. Each word and its accompanying explanation is taken from the fictional, The Worldbook Alphabetica: a new wordbook of the Aeadines, and although the terminology may not make complete sense immediately it becomes clear as we read the following chapter. I’ll confess I’m a bit of a worldbuilding geek and I love when books include glossaries, so I took pleasure in how these entries help to deepen our knowledge of the magic system, the world and its politics. I found this to be a much more effective way rather than having a large glossary at the back of the book which can often be awkward to reference back and forth whilst reading. Long also uses short passages between chapters to give readers a glimpse into Mary’s backstory growing up within the ancient Ghistwold forest; these sections were titled, The Girl from the Wold, and they enriched the story with a mythical, fairytale-esque atmosphere. How they click into place by the end of the book was something that utterly impressed me.
The magic system was perhaps my favourite aspect of the book. Mary is one of many weather-witches but unlike the others she is untrained. She hones her abilities along the way and the more she takes command of her Stormsinger powers the more fascinating those powers become. Our Samuel is a Sooth and so is able to enter the Other plane of existence and see premonitions. The ability to enter the Other comes with its peril as within that plane monsters reside, or a Sooth may become lost and grounded within the Other unable to return to their body. The only protection lies in a rare talisman. Then there are those who are Magni’s with the power to manipulate people’s thoughts and feelings—this ability was particularly twisted to see in action!
“Sleet hit with hurricane force, battering my face and turning to snow. Darkness came with it, thick and eerie, but I grinned a wild grin. This was power. This was what I'd been denied all these years, rushing across my skin and turning my thoughts clean and sharp.
All too soon the wind stole my breath and my song died, but it didn't matter now. The storm was here, and it raged.”
There was also the concept of the Ghistwold and Ghistings and I loved the innovative way these were incorporated throughout the novel. Ghistings were spirits residing in Ghistwold trees and were harvested to create figureheads on ships with the Ghisting trapped inside making each figurehead sentient. The spirits would then essentially become prisoners and be forced to protect the ship to ensure its own survival. Some of my favourite scenes were when Mary interacted with the Ghistings, something others feared to do. Long builds a world where the fantastical can be found in every corner and I entirely loved this.
Nautical fantasy is fast becoming one of my favourite sub-genres and Long certainly delivers a delightful high-seas adventure here. Dark Water Daughter is the kind of book that just sweeps you away.
ARC provided by Kabriya at Titan Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for the copy! All quotes used are taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.
Dark Water Daughter will be released 11th July
August 14, 2023
So after reading and loving The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi, I was like yes give me more pirates and thankfully we were blessed with Dark Water Daughter by HM Long.
I was a little worried because I was seeing the word romantasy thrown around with this book and we all should know by now, I have a heart of cold steel.
I’m joking, I just don’t like kissy kissy, smoochy smoochy.
This story reminded me a lot of Pirates of the Caribbean, if you miss those movies from your childhood, I recommend grabbing a copy of this. It begins with an execution and this is where we first get to experience our main characters magical power, she is a stormsinger, or a weather witch, she can control the weather through her singing. Stormsingers have been treasoned so if found out, it’s down in the poo poo pits for you. Well her power allows her to escape. But she’s not alone, she has a handsome companion with her, a disgraced naval officer and we see them journey on the high seas as escaped prisoners together on a beautiful ship but of course with many obstacles ahead of them. They have to stand together against a common enemy and that is an infamous pirate.
The vibes here, the aesthetic surrounding this made my heart super happy. I love cold winter enviroments, I love nautical piratey stories thanks to Assassins Creed Black Flag. This was so cinematic, some of the fight scenes were brutal, it is adult so keep that in mind. I found it to be paced really well from introducing us to the characters and world, how the magic worked and it’s purpose in the universe. I really loved this. It’s a very fast read. I can’t wait to read the sequel, I need some answers after some big reveals.
I was a little worried because I was seeing the word romantasy thrown around with this book and we all should know by now, I have a heart of cold steel.
I’m joking, I just don’t like kissy kissy, smoochy smoochy.
This story reminded me a lot of Pirates of the Caribbean, if you miss those movies from your childhood, I recommend grabbing a copy of this. It begins with an execution and this is where we first get to experience our main characters magical power, she is a stormsinger, or a weather witch, she can control the weather through her singing. Stormsingers have been treasoned so if found out, it’s down in the poo poo pits for you. Well her power allows her to escape. But she’s not alone, she has a handsome companion with her, a disgraced naval officer and we see them journey on the high seas as escaped prisoners together on a beautiful ship but of course with many obstacles ahead of them. They have to stand together against a common enemy and that is an infamous pirate.
The vibes here, the aesthetic surrounding this made my heart super happy. I love cold winter enviroments, I love nautical piratey stories thanks to Assassins Creed Black Flag. This was so cinematic, some of the fight scenes were brutal, it is adult so keep that in mind. I found it to be paced really well from introducing us to the characters and world, how the magic worked and it’s purpose in the universe. I really loved this. It’s a very fast read. I can’t wait to read the sequel, I need some answers after some big reveals.
August 30, 2023
I enjoyed this book, but I did end up wanting a bit more from it. The worldbuilding was really cool and the set up of the story reminded me of a more fantastical Pirates of the Carribean (the second lead is basically Norrington, and the first lead is that mermaid played by Kaya Scodelario in the fourth one). The story is about Mary Firth, a stormsinger -someone who can control storms- is taken captive by a fearsome pirate and then released by Samuel, and the two try to A) defeat the pirate and B) maybe find Mary's mother, a famous stormsinger.
I thought the characters were decent but could have used some more fleshing out, but one thing I consistently liked about this book is the same thing I liked about Long's previous books: the atmosphere. I always felt like I was in the midst of a sea faring, swashbuckling adventure. Long has descriptive prose without overweighing the scene. She knows how to make her sentences economical.
I'll read book two but probably not at release.
7/10
I thought the characters were decent but could have used some more fleshing out, but one thing I consistently liked about this book is the same thing I liked about Long's previous books: the atmosphere. I always felt like I was in the midst of a sea faring, swashbuckling adventure. Long has descriptive prose without overweighing the scene. She knows how to make her sentences economical.
I'll read book two but probably not at release.
7/10
July 5, 2023
Let’s just say it: Dark Water Daughter is by far my favorite book of the year so far. It’s unpredictable and dark and everything I look for when I get excited (and then disappointed by) every other pirate fantasy making the rounds.
Moira Quirk & Samuel Roukin really bring this audiobook to life. The only thing that would have made it slightly better is if she had actually sang, but I know that’s asking a lot. Both narrators were absolutely phenomenal.
Finally: a dark, brutal pirate/flintlock fantasy full of snark and subtle magic, rogue waves and bodies hanging from burning wrecks. Ships protected by natural spirits, rival captains, and of course, a treasure hunt to end all treasure hunts where the stakes are a lot higher than just striking gold.
What else could you want? There is action and danger right from the start and it stayed steady without being bogged down by inner monologue or iffy pacing. The action scenes are incredibly well done. I truly never knew who was going to make it out alive.
We are introduced to a world where storm singers are treated as slaves, or furniture, or worse. Why is a dark pirate so interested in the main character? Which crew is going to bring him down?
I loved the various characters and crews. Mary and Samuel both had interesting storylines and I love that nothing is given away easily. It’s not a predictable story. Their back stories are given slowly throughout the novel and are well crafted, adding a lot to the current events and our understanding of the characters. The side characters are perfect because you never know who is good or bad or morally gray, or who is going to end up saving the day
I’ve read so much shitty contrived “romance” in fantasy recently that this book would get five stars just for not having it. There is a connection and possibility hinted at, but all of that stays in the background and it’s just refreshingly nice to have main characters be friends and/or working partnerships for once. The crews are just wonderful overall since they all have distinct personalities and Long is really good at bringing that out.
So there’s plot, character, let me also add that the setting & atmosphere lend themselves perfectly to a dark nautical fantasy. It’s a cold weather climate with ominous storms and strange weather phenomena. Many pirate fantasies stay tropical so that was another refreshing change for them to be battling freezing winds and snow.
One last thing is that I love when the culture and lore of these worlds comes to life in the ships. Captain to ship magic is similar to King/land magic and I love it. The ships have their own souls almost, and you’ll just have to read to find out about the different listings and how they keep their crews afloat.
Danger, dashing pirates, snark, soullessness, pirate politics, treasure…. Gosh this is one of those books that you just need to read- and then come back here and tell me all about how you liked it too
Moira Quirk & Samuel Roukin really bring this audiobook to life. The only thing that would have made it slightly better is if she had actually sang, but I know that’s asking a lot. Both narrators were absolutely phenomenal.
Finally: a dark, brutal pirate/flintlock fantasy full of snark and subtle magic, rogue waves and bodies hanging from burning wrecks. Ships protected by natural spirits, rival captains, and of course, a treasure hunt to end all treasure hunts where the stakes are a lot higher than just striking gold.
What else could you want? There is action and danger right from the start and it stayed steady without being bogged down by inner monologue or iffy pacing. The action scenes are incredibly well done. I truly never knew who was going to make it out alive.
We are introduced to a world where storm singers are treated as slaves, or furniture, or worse. Why is a dark pirate so interested in the main character? Which crew is going to bring him down?
I loved the various characters and crews. Mary and Samuel both had interesting storylines and I love that nothing is given away easily. It’s not a predictable story. Their back stories are given slowly throughout the novel and are well crafted, adding a lot to the current events and our understanding of the characters. The side characters are perfect because you never know who is good or bad or morally gray, or who is going to end up saving the day
I’ve read so much shitty contrived “romance” in fantasy recently that this book would get five stars just for not having it. There is a connection and possibility hinted at, but all of that stays in the background and it’s just refreshingly nice to have main characters be friends and/or working partnerships for once. The crews are just wonderful overall since they all have distinct personalities and Long is really good at bringing that out.
So there’s plot, character, let me also add that the setting & atmosphere lend themselves perfectly to a dark nautical fantasy. It’s a cold weather climate with ominous storms and strange weather phenomena. Many pirate fantasies stay tropical so that was another refreshing change for them to be battling freezing winds and snow.
One last thing is that I love when the culture and lore of these worlds comes to life in the ships. Captain to ship magic is similar to King/land magic and I love it. The ships have their own souls almost, and you’ll just have to read to find out about the different listings and how they keep their crews afloat.
Danger, dashing pirates, snark, soullessness, pirate politics, treasure…. Gosh this is one of those books that you just need to read- and then come back here and tell me all about how you liked it too
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