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Water Shaper
Margot is the daughter of a king, but she is beloved by neither his court nor his kingdom. She has “water in her blood,” a trait associated with magic and looked upon with distaste and suspicion. When she meets Orrin, a foreign king who is respectful, not scornful, of her affinity for water, she flees with him to his castle by the sea, though she soon realizes he is not as benevolent as she first thought. Intertwined with Margot’s story is that of Bird, a storyteller who must tell stories for Orrin, though he can barely stand him. When Orrin steals the Book of the Sea, a magical gift given to Margot by her mother, Margot knows she must run away once again, and the threads of the two stories begin to intertwine.
A convincing and beautifully realized world, a strong-minded female protagonist, and elements of Celtic folklore mark this rich, multilayered fantasy. Author’s note.
A convincing and beautifully realized world, a strong-minded female protagonist, and elements of Celtic folklore mark this rich, multilayered fantasy. Author’s note.
218 pages, Hardcover
First published April 17, 2006
3 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
About the author
Laura Williams McCaffrey
4 books47 followersI read, I write, I teach. I've published short stories in Cicada, YA Review Network, Solstice Literary Magazine, and Soundings Review. In 2016, Clarion Books released my YA dystopian fantasy MARKED, which Kirkus Books called "an original, textured page-turner." My other fantasy novels are WATER SHAPER and ALIA WAKING (both published by Clarion Books). For more information, it's best to visit my website: http://www.laurawilliamsmccaffrey.com
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
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March 11, 2017This makes no sense bc if you had pure, distilled water in your blood it would make your cells swell up and burst and then you'd die because they wouldn't be able to carry oxygen to your body parts and stuff. .-.
HYPOTONIC SOLUTION.
SCIENCE.
HYPOTONIC SOLUTION.
SCIENCE.
July 25, 2012
Fantastic YA book - big twist and unexpected emotional depth. And the author lives here in central Vermont. One of my favorites.
April 14, 2022
idk i think i'm just a sucker for the romance. bird is so cool.
July 27, 2013
This book is rather short. It only took me one day to read all the way through it.
But it's unique, at least to me, and I really enjoyed it.
The main character, Margot, doesn't belong in the place she was born. She has no real friends, although she has a stepmother that doesn't mesh with the usual fairytale evil stepmother. This woman helps Margot to escape. Margot goes with a king who's visiting from his home by the sea, and tells her she's one of the few who has 'water in her blood.'
On the way back to his city, Margot agrees to become the wife of this king. While in the city and preparing for their wedding, Margot uses her knowledge of water to help the people. But she doesn't tell her husband-to-be that her knowledge hasn't come from water in her blood, but from a book that came from her mother.
Water Shaper tells the story of a young woman who belongs nowhere, and begins her adventures by wanting to be loved and accepted. The story ends with her knowledge that she is unlike everyone around her, and she doesn't really belong anywhere.
It's not a typical happily-ever-after story, and that's part of its appeal. The ending isn't happy, but it's not really tragic, either. Margot has discovered the truth about herself, and the story ends with her being much stronger than she was in the beginning.
But it's unique, at least to me, and I really enjoyed it.
The main character, Margot, doesn't belong in the place she was born. She has no real friends, although she has a stepmother that doesn't mesh with the usual fairytale evil stepmother. This woman helps Margot to escape. Margot goes with a king who's visiting from his home by the sea, and tells her she's one of the few who has 'water in her blood.'
On the way back to his city, Margot agrees to become the wife of this king. While in the city and preparing for their wedding, Margot uses her knowledge of water to help the people. But she doesn't tell her husband-to-be that her knowledge hasn't come from water in her blood, but from a book that came from her mother.
Water Shaper tells the story of a young woman who belongs nowhere, and begins her adventures by wanting to be loved and accepted. The story ends with her knowledge that she is unlike everyone around her, and she doesn't really belong anywhere.
It's not a typical happily-ever-after story, and that's part of its appeal. The ending isn't happy, but it's not really tragic, either. Margot has discovered the truth about herself, and the story ends with her being much stronger than she was in the beginning.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2012
Margot has “water in her blood” a by-product of her deceased mother’s heritage, yet she dwells with her King father and other “land dwellers”. They shun her for her strange appearance and her strange ways, which she’s learned to hide from them (like her affinity for water and the strange, magical book that she found after her mom died). So, when holy man Orrin comes into the land and is appalled at the people’s treatment of Margot, she eats up his attention, falls in love and runs away with him and his men to his land. ...Where she discovers that being useful is not necessarily better than being ignored.
This book pretty much ended up feeling like a huge prequel to me where characters were introduced and a storyline was presented, but not really begun. My problem with this book was that the characters weren’t very likable and there wasn’t enough suspense built about Margot’s future to entice me to care and look for the next book.
Finally, this is on the back of the book as part of the description, “There’s a light out there. In the water.” She pointed. Then she dived back down. Dived? Shouldn’t it be dove? Am I just getting nit-picky now?
This book pretty much ended up feeling like a huge prequel to me where characters were introduced and a storyline was presented, but not really begun. My problem with this book was that the characters weren’t very likable and there wasn’t enough suspense built about Margot’s future to entice me to care and look for the next book.
Finally, this is on the back of the book as part of the description, “There’s a light out there. In the water.” She pointed. Then she dived back down. Dived? Shouldn’t it be dove? Am I just getting nit-picky now?
January 2, 2012
Margot, King’s daughter, has never been accepted by her people. She has power and insight into water and its creatures through a strange book that was passed down to her from her mother, and her blood is believed to be tainted. The King’s new wife introduces Margot to King Orrin, a powerful holy man and magician - they fall in love and Orrin helps her escape. When they return to his lands, suddenly Margot’s strangeness is valued – she’s useful and people come to seek her advice regularly. All is well for her until Orrin discovers her book, which he wants for himself. Margot is imprisoned, but eventually escapes with the help of Orrin's storyteller. They travel to Asrai (in the underworld), where Margot is once again targeted for her magical book. Margot realizes that the people in her life only want to use her for their own ends. She is able to retrieve her book (from Orrin) and journeys far from those who seek to control her and her power.
A short, quick read, but would benefit from better character development and world-building.
A short, quick read, but would benefit from better character development and world-building.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2014
This book was okay. I know that's rather benign praise when usually I'm exuberant about the books I read but it was just okay. A good read but nothing stellar, nothing moving, nothing to make me close the last page and sigh with happiness or longing. I really felt it wrapped up too quickly or perhaps it needed a sequel... I was three quarters of the way through the book thinking, "No way can they finish this with the number of pages left!" yet they did, or rather she did. It felt rushed. It felt like there was so much left to say, to do, and yet the ending was rushed felt lacking.
If you enjoy the fairytales of Ireland and Scotland about the selkie (or silkie) then you should enjoy this book as that is exactly what it's based on. I love those stories! I did enjoy this book and despite the ending I will consider reading it time well spent. :-)
XXOO
~Hope
If you enjoy the fairytales of Ireland and Scotland about the selkie (or silkie) then you should enjoy this book as that is exactly what it's based on. I love those stories! I did enjoy this book and despite the ending I will consider reading it time well spent. :-)
XXOO
~Hope
September 23, 2014
This book was okay. I know that's rather benign praise when usually I'm exuberant about the books I read but it was just okay. A good read but nothing stellar, nothing moving, nothing to make me close the last page and sigh with happiness or longing. I really felt it wrapped up too quickly or perhaps it needed a sequel... I was three quarters of the way through the book thinking, "No way can they finish this with the number of pages left!" yet they did, or rather she did. It felt rushed. It felt like there was so much left to say, to do, and yet the ending was rushed felt lacking.
If you enjoy the fairytales of Ireland and Scotland about the selkie (or silkie) then you should enjoy this book as that is exactly what it's based on. I love those stories! I did enjoy this book and despite the ending I will consider reading it time well spent. :-)
XXOO
~Hope
If you enjoy the fairytales of Ireland and Scotland about the selkie (or silkie) then you should enjoy this book as that is exactly what it's based on. I love those stories! I did enjoy this book and despite the ending I will consider reading it time well spent. :-)
XXOO
~Hope
January 16, 2013
This book has good bones, but it just wasn't fleshed out as well as it could have been. The basic characters, plot, originality and concepts were all there. The writing was just a bit... boring?...dull?...spare? I'm not quite sure. The richness of language and depth of emotion just wasn't there. The author also touches the edges of so many deeply profound issues. Magic vs. holiness. Male vs. female. Water vs. land. I almost want to ask the author to go back and try again because there is so much potential here that just was carried through a little to simply. She is obviously drawing from deep storytelling traditions but the story doesn't have that extra something that elevates it above the rest.
January 27, 2016
This was an enchanting read. The author really wove a beautiful work, taking aspects of real folklore. The main character is realistic and indecisive in her thoughts. She feels as if she belongs nowhere. She can't trust others because her whole life she's been harassed and belittled. But she has an inner fight. The magic brings a real element of curiosity. I wanted to learn more the whole story. I couldn't wait to see it's secrets unfold.
The book is just so amazing. A real tale told by a master storyteller.
Brilliant. I was completely sucked in.
Clean read. Would even be safe to read aloud as a family. Fairy-tale lovers would enjoy this book.
The book is just so amazing. A real tale told by a master storyteller.
Brilliant. I was completely sucked in.
Clean read. Would even be safe to read aloud as a family. Fairy-tale lovers would enjoy this book.
December 30, 2012
Hmmm... interesting. A bit old-school, Hans Christian Anderson style. Interesting and frustrating all at once. I can't imagine where it's going to go, and it will need to go somewhere because the ending isn't conclusive. However, it did keep me interested, and I would read a follow-up to decide for sure how much I liked it. For me, it's just hard to determine if I like the story if I don't have the whole story. I loved some parts, the style, the method, the way of writing. And then I would get frustrated with where the plot went. And then I'd like it again.
August 25, 2015
Margot lives in a country of people suspicious of her. She doesn't know why, but the kingdom her mother came from, by the sea, is calling to her. Margot intends to go, and figure out the Book of the Sea, a magic book left to her by her mother.
According to the men, women aren't supposed to use magic, but Margot isn't going to let that stop her. What she doesn't know is that the king of this new country is trying to find out the same things, and he plans to do anything to get that book...
According to the men, women aren't supposed to use magic, but Margot isn't going to let that stop her. What she doesn't know is that the king of this new country is trying to find out the same things, and he plans to do anything to get that book...
October 22, 2008
Not usually a fantasy lover, but met this author. All the elements I love: Celtic folklore, the sea, a love story. Wonderfully crafted.
January 12, 2009
The reason I didn't enjoy this book as much was because in the end, it didn't really wrap up very well, it kind of left you hanging there, waiting for a sequel that doesn't seem to be coming.
June 6, 2009
It was pretty good. The only issue, I thought, was that the writer rushed through the plot. Otherwise, I liked it.
July 17, 2009
This was very well written but I was so disappointed with the ending!
January 31, 2010
An enjoyable little book, with references to the Celtic selkie legends. It has a strong female protagonist and some nicely-rounded characters, which is a relief after enduring so much Twilight furor.
February 3, 2010
A young adult fantasy novel. Nothing special, but unique in that there isn’t really a love interest at all, instead the focus is on the completely independent female lead character.
September 20, 2010
I really enjoyed the fairy tale/fantasy aspect of this novel.
February 26, 2013
It was okay. The ending was kind of weak but the overall story was good.
May 31, 2016
This was a good book. Different from what I'm used to reading. It had loneliness, happiness, love, heartbreak, travel, adventure, disappointment and more! I wish there were a book 2.
November 19, 2016
Enjoyed reading it, as it was a nice kind of fluff to enjoy although the ending could have been better.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews