Dark Water Daughter

I think this book is a great bridge book for those coming from YA genre into more adult fantasy. 

I personally wanted a bit more depth and a little less hand-holding in this book. While a lot happened in this book, I found that a lot of scenes in the middle part of the book could have been cut or replaced and the ending still would have been the same so it left me feeling like a lot of it was filler. There were scenes that furthered character bonds without actually furthering the plot and vice versa.
I still really like the world and some side characters in this to pick up the next book in this series as soon as it's released.

I was loving this book right up to the ending.
I love the world H M Long creates. The winter seas the magic I felt as if I had been transported there.

I have seen some reviews say there is a romance plot in this and I don't think there is. Maybe for future books but not for this one.

The plot was engaging. I loved the idea and the villan was well fleshed out. However. The ending. it felt rushed and almost too easy for the main characters to defeat said villain. It felt that instead of the characters using their wits to defeat the villan it was written to that point and came across to easy and rigid.

Otherwise I was really enjoying the book! The writing is easy and loved the characters.

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

Happy publication day!

Dark Water Daughter is an interesting pirate story, set in a world full of magic.

Mary has the rare ability to control the weather when singing, making her very valuable to navy and pirates in general. The use of her talent to survive sets in motion a series of events who will transform her life and identity completely.

The story is duas POV, giving a faster pace to the events. The characters are layered and well developed, and while I enjoyed both main characters, I feel the secondary and villains were the ones making the story shine.

The story is very original and I haven't read anything similar. I've felt it was somewhat a cross between Pirates of the Caribbean and Stranger Things I couldn't predict what was going to happen which is something that always delights me.

I liked it! Recommended for adult fantasy readers, especially those with a soft spot for pirate stories.

3.5 stars

I would like to thank Titan Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.