*Daughter of Water* by A.S. Dampt is a captivating and richly woven tale that combines elements of fantasy, mystery, and profound emotional depth. The story centers around a strong, complex heroine, navigating a world of magic, secrets, and personal discovery. Dampt’s writing is immersive, creating an atmosphere that draws readers into its lush, vivid world. The narrative is both thrilling and introspective, exploring themes of identity, power, and resilience. With its intriguing plot and well-developed characters, *Daughter of Water* is an enchanting read for fans of epic fantasy and character-driven stories. A beautifully crafted novel that will stay with readers long after the last page.

Daughter of Water by A.S. Dampt is a mesmerising fantasy novel that excels in its intricate world-building and immersive storytelling. Set in a richly imagined world where elemental magic and ancient traditions shape the lives of its inhabitants, the novel follows the journey of a young protagonist who discovers her extraordinary connection to the element of water. Dampt crafts a vivid and expansive universe that feels both magical and grounded, drawing readers into a realm where every detail is meticulously thought out.

The world-building in Daughter of Water is nothing short of exceptional. Dampt creates a tapestry of cultures, histories, and landscapes that feel alive and dynamic. From the shimmering, water-filled cities to the rugged, elemental temples, each setting is described with such clarity and depth that it’s easy to lose yourself in the story. The magic system, rooted in the four elements, is both innovative and well-integrated into the world, adding a layer of authenticity to the narrative. The author’s attention to detail extends to the societal structures, myths, and rituals, making the world feel cohesive and fully realised.

The protagonist’s journey is compelling, as she navigates the challenges of her newfound powers and the responsibilities they entail. Her growth is intertwined with the world around her, and Dampt does an excellent job of showing how the environment and culture shape her character. The supporting cast is equally well-developed, with each character contributing to the richness of the story and the world they inhabit.

While the novel’s pacing is deliberate, allowing readers to fully absorb the intricacies of the world, it never feels sluggish. The plot is driven by a mix of personal discovery, political intrigue, and elemental conflict, keeping the stakes high and the tension palpable. Themes of identity, belonging, and the balance between humanity and nature are explored with nuance, adding depth to the narrative.

In summary, Daughter of Water is a stunning debut that showcases A.S. Dampt’s talent for world-building and storytelling. Fans of epic fantasy and elemental magic will find much to love in this beautifully crafted tale. It’s a book that invites you to dive in and explore its depths, leaving you eager for more from this promising new voice in the genre.

As a previous reviewer had said, I loved the setting for it.
The other Firstborn kinda grew attached to me :)
Apart from that though, It is way too focused on Heidi, and I wish to see more development in character relationships.
Also, the writing is lacking in the "show" aspect, at times and the copy I received has some minor errors in relation to punctuation. Did not detract from the story at all though!
Thank you for the review copy, NetGalley

I loved the setting of this novel. The world-building was incorporated well and throughout the book. It was also written in a way that the reader and the FMC learn about the world at the same time, which I enjoyed following along with. I would have liked to have gotten to know the characters more personally; I feel like I knew about them but I didn't know them as deeply. I was not very attached to them. Gaetan was fairly present in the beginning of the novel and after halfway he was hardly even relevant. The opposite happened with Margot; I didn't really care or know about her in the beginning, but I liked her part in the plot near the end of the book.
The plot was very interesting. The pacing was a little on the slower side at first, but it is understandable as it is going to be a series. I like the dynamics of Sylvie learning about the Firstborns and how to use her magic, while the Firstborns were also trying to fight against the rising enemy in Verdélys. I think the plot needed higher stakes. Even when the conflict occurred, it wasn't very suspenseful. Because of that, the ending was not as climactic as it should have been, although I will still continue to the next book when it is released. However, the actual content of the plot was good and I was enjoying the story a lot. There wasn't much in the novel that was emotionally impactful to me, but it was a fun book to read. I did enjoy it. I am very expectant of the next book in the series. I'd give this book 3.75 stars. I would recommend it, but it's not on my favourites list.

quality rating: 6.5/10
enjoyment rating: 3.75 stars
vulgarity: none
spice: none
violence: very little

The FMC, Heidi, discovers where she comes from and tries to navigate who she has learned she is and how to move forward presently. She ventures on a path to newfound relationships while uncovering truths she had no idea existed. She also discovers that there are groups divided (humans, imps, and Verdélys) and what that means in her current position as well as where she originated from. Learning about the other firstborns as well as the dark magic that ensues was interesting and made for the potential to be a great book. Unfortunately, this fell short for me.

I didn't feel like the character development was done well outside of the FMC. I'm sure there is a lot to discover as this is supposed to be a series; however, I felt no real connection to any of these characters. Not much grabbed my attention and kept a stronghold, and I sadly found myself incredibly bored. I didn't find any real excitement or climax to any part of this story. It was just so bland and lacked any real entertainment. There was no romance or true heroism at all. I just felt that given the amount of pages written in this book, it could have been used to create more excitement and evoke more emotions than it did.