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willrefuge's review against another edition
4.0
8.5 / 10 ✪
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2023/01/27/where-the-waters-turn-black-by-benedict-patrick-review/
”It’s safe?”
Yam laughed. “No, of course not. Have you ever heard a good story that’s safe? What’d be the point?”
Welcome to Crescent Atoll, a remote string of emeralds in a sea of sapphire blue.
Islanders eke out an existence on this atoll, using canoes to travel the archipelago. To exist on the isles is to pay respect and homage where it is due: to the gods and taniwha in turn. Though Leinani they respect and fear the most—the goddess taking the shape of a beautiful woman of fire and flame, or a gigantic volcano at the atoll’s edge.
Kaimana is a young ocarina player, left home young to perform with a traveling troupe in pursuit of her Knack rather than stay and live and die a fisherman’s wife. But when she returns home after two years, she finds something has changed.
A monster—a taniwha—now inhabits her former home. And Kaimana must see it.
When she sees the monster for the first time, Kaimana finds herself inspired, the inspiration sparking behind her eyes, a song burning bright trying to find its way out. She is overjoyed—until the taniwha turns up again. And again.
Soon Kaimana is certain it is not just following her, but protecting her as well. Cast out by her troupe, she and the taniwha must learn to cooperate if they are to survive. Especially after they earn the attention of Nakoa, the god of war, former lover of Leinani herself. Formidable the taniwha may be, but to attract the gaze of a god is surely death. Unless the two overcome it—together.
—
It’s not safe, out there. There are cannibals, gods, and yes, taniwha. And more. All of which will not let a young woman travel safely alone.
—
A pretty simple setup: a boy and his dog against the world. Or, well, pretty much that. My favorite Yarnsworld story to date features a girl that befriends a monster, and their adventures together. Honestly, even before the intervention of Nakoa I was hooked. The archipelago setting, the travel, the exploration, the world of gods and demons—it was all I could’ve ever wanted. I probably would’ve loved to have just read about their adventures regardless of any hook.
The two characters that make this a story worth reading are undoubtedly Kaimana and Rakau, her taniwha. This pair, and their interactions, their relationship, is basically one of the two sides of the story—the gods and the atoll covering the other. Interspersed between the chapters again are the tales of the gods. We learn about Leinani, Nakoa, the Birdmen of Broken Island, the atoll’s origin story, and more fables that flesh out the archipelago’s lore. There might even be a few familiar faces—if you’ve read previous Yarnsworld stories.
I’d say that this shows a definitive improvement over the author’s debut—They Mostly Come Out At Night—in both writing and storytelling technique. The pacing is smoother, the language consistent, the characters recognizable, the world deep as the author warms to each in turn. It’s not perfect, but certainly a step in the right direction. The gods and taniwha are so colorful and unique; from Yam, the god of yams, to Rakau, a talking log-dog, to Leinani, a goddess of heat and flame, hot and fiery in equal parts. It’s really quite a nice world the author’s invented—I can see why he returns to it.
https://arefugefromlife.wordpress.com/2023/01/27/where-the-waters-turn-black-by-benedict-patrick-review/
”It’s safe?”
Yam laughed. “No, of course not. Have you ever heard a good story that’s safe? What’d be the point?”
Welcome to Crescent Atoll, a remote string of emeralds in a sea of sapphire blue.
Islanders eke out an existence on this atoll, using canoes to travel the archipelago. To exist on the isles is to pay respect and homage where it is due: to the gods and taniwha in turn. Though Leinani they respect and fear the most—the goddess taking the shape of a beautiful woman of fire and flame, or a gigantic volcano at the atoll’s edge.
Kaimana is a young ocarina player, left home young to perform with a traveling troupe in pursuit of her Knack rather than stay and live and die a fisherman’s wife. But when she returns home after two years, she finds something has changed.
A monster—a taniwha—now inhabits her former home. And Kaimana must see it.
When she sees the monster for the first time, Kaimana finds herself inspired, the inspiration sparking behind her eyes, a song burning bright trying to find its way out. She is overjoyed—until the taniwha turns up again. And again.
Soon Kaimana is certain it is not just following her, but protecting her as well. Cast out by her troupe, she and the taniwha must learn to cooperate if they are to survive. Especially after they earn the attention of Nakoa, the god of war, former lover of Leinani herself. Formidable the taniwha may be, but to attract the gaze of a god is surely death. Unless the two overcome it—together.
—
It’s not safe, out there. There are cannibals, gods, and yes, taniwha. And more. All of which will not let a young woman travel safely alone.
—
A pretty simple setup: a boy and his dog against the world. Or, well, pretty much that. My favorite Yarnsworld story to date features a girl that befriends a monster, and their adventures together. Honestly, even before the intervention of Nakoa I was hooked. The archipelago setting, the travel, the exploration, the world of gods and demons—it was all I could’ve ever wanted. I probably would’ve loved to have just read about their adventures regardless of any hook.
The two characters that make this a story worth reading are undoubtedly Kaimana and Rakau, her taniwha. This pair, and their interactions, their relationship, is basically one of the two sides of the story—the gods and the atoll covering the other. Interspersed between the chapters again are the tales of the gods. We learn about Leinani, Nakoa, the Birdmen of Broken Island, the atoll’s origin story, and more fables that flesh out the archipelago’s lore. There might even be a few familiar faces—if you’ve read previous Yarnsworld stories.
I’d say that this shows a definitive improvement over the author’s debut—They Mostly Come Out At Night—in both writing and storytelling technique. The pacing is smoother, the language consistent, the characters recognizable, the world deep as the author warms to each in turn. It’s not perfect, but certainly a step in the right direction. The gods and taniwha are so colorful and unique; from Yam, the god of yams, to Rakau, a talking log-dog, to Leinani, a goddess of heat and flame, hot and fiery in equal parts. It’s really quite a nice world the author’s invented—I can see why he returns to it.
thejdizzler's review against another edition
3.0
I'm reading these books backwards and it seems that Benedict Patrick is on an upward trajectory. Not that this book was bad, far from it. I loved the worldbuilding and the exploration of polynesian (seemed very Hawaiian to me) mythology. However, as compared to city of swords, I found the supporting cast lacking, the prose slightly worse and the overall narrative arc unsatisfying
queenterribletimy's review against another edition
5.0
This review was originally posted on Queen's Book Asylum! I recently reread my favorite Yarnsworld novel, Where the Waters Turn Black by Benedict Patrick via audiobook. Since my first review I wrote back in the summer of 2017 is pretty much useless, I decided to write a slightly better one.
If you are new to the Yarnsworld series, let me give you a quick heads up. If you are familiar with this world, feel free to jump to the next paragraph. All the books in the series are stand-alones, and can be read in whatever order you want. However, there are a couple that are connected to each other. Book 1, They Mostly Come Out At Night, and book 4, From the Shadows of the Owl Queen’s Court, are set in the same part of Yarnsworld, in the Magpie King’s forest, and are connected. The same goes for book 2, Where the Waters Turn Black, and book 5, To Dream and Die as a Taniwha Girl which are set at the Crescent Atoll. Book 3, Those Brave, Foolish Souls from the City of Swords has no connected novel yet, but never say never. This novel is set in yet again another part of the same universe. If you are into audiobooks, the Yarnswold novels are now available, paired together, so you can enjoy them all at once.
Right, let’s talk about Where the Waters Turn Black, the second book set in the Yarnsworld series. This is the story of Kaimana, a girl with a Knack for music. In the Yarnsworld, people can develop Knacks, a magical skill of their profession. Kaimana is a talented ocarina player, traveling around the Crescent Atoll with her troupe to perform and tell stories to the islanders. But what she wants more than anything is to create a masterpiece so people would know her name. She chases her spark – people with Knacks can spark which allows them magical abilities for a short amount of time to use, a gift from the gods – and a worthy story to tell. Until one day, on her home island, she finds a taniwha – mythical creatures, some of them with magical abilities -, one with whom the islanders live in harmony. Until, that is, when Kaimana wakes him up and things go out of hand from there.
Kaimana is unlike many women over the Crescent Atoll – while many of them settle down, marry and raise children, being content with their lives, Kaimana longs for adventures and to see the world outside of her home island. To find inspiration. With Rakau on her side, she gets a bit more than she bargained for, however. The islands are not only home to people and the taniwha, but the gods as well. Legends and myths are as real in the Crescent Atoll as the people themselves, and I think that’s one of my favorite aspects of this book. That beings from stories aren’t sentient, but real, breathing and occasionally bleeding living things. It’s not unusual for gods (Tangaloa, Nakoa, Leinani, Yam, and the others) to visit the islands, dishing out gifts and punishments, but their presence is always a blessing – of some sort. Kaimana definitely gets more than her fair share of these encounters during the book and her adventures. To her credit, she does not let her fear get in the way and even stands up to them when needed. Which is saying something when you have to stand up to the god of war. That takes some balls. Or…um…let’s settle with bravery.
My other favorite thing about Where the Waters Turn Black is the friendship between Kaimana and Rakau. It builds up slowly from beginning to end and it’s just as uplifting and heartbreaking and real as any other friendship is. But it’s also as pure and unconditional as only an animal-human friendship can be. I don’t read nearly enough books with an animal companion, which is such a shame. I’m also a sucker for stories about found families and this book definitely ticks that particular box of mine off as well.
And did I even mention the folktales between chapters? Aside from Patrick‘s widely imaginative world, these folktales are what is drawing me to the Yarnsworld so much. They not only tell interesting stories and teach valuable life lessons but also are an integral part of the book. They are giving depth to certain characters and let us learn more about the world without the necessity of info dumps in the main text. It’s a really cool way of storytelling. Patrick is crazy talented at bringing characters into life and make them seem real even if they are only secondary ones.
For Where the Waters Turn Black, Patrick drew inspiration from Polynesian stories and legends, which I find highly interesting. To the point that I’m tempted to do a bit of research to learn more. Not that I know much about this culture, but to my mind, Patrick‘s writing is making the islands and their people and gods and creatures alive. It just makes me wish I could travel all over the world – imagined or otherwise. Then again, I probably wouldn’t survive too long…
Epic in scope, but with its less than 250 pages, this is a compact book you can read just in one sitting if you need to get away from everyday life. And who doesn’t need a great escape to a world where the water is crystal clear (well, except when it turns black, in which case you probably better get away as you are getting close to Leinani’s volcano and you really don’t want to piss her off), the sky is blue and the islands are green and lush and full of vibrant life, and where the gods and taniwha are walking among the people?
I said many times before that Benedict Patrick had become one of my favorite authors over the years, and it was Where the Waters Turn Black that sealed the deal for me of becoming a Yarnsworld fangirl. And I’m not even into fangirling. Anyway. You are really missing out on an amazing journey if you don’t read these books. And before I start sounding like a broken record, let me just say this: Where the Waters Turn Black is as close to perfection as a book can be. It’s got music, magic, monsters, gods, found family, adventure, and a heroine who fights to write her own story. What would you do to earn a place in legends? Would you befriend a monster and deal with gods even if you might die trying? Kaimana certainly did all that and more.
Do yourself a favor, start reading the Yarnsworld novels today!
If you are new to the Yarnsworld series, let me give you a quick heads up. If you are familiar with this world, feel free to jump to the next paragraph. All the books in the series are stand-alones, and can be read in whatever order you want. However, there are a couple that are connected to each other. Book 1, They Mostly Come Out At Night, and book 4, From the Shadows of the Owl Queen’s Court, are set in the same part of Yarnsworld, in the Magpie King’s forest, and are connected. The same goes for book 2, Where the Waters Turn Black, and book 5, To Dream and Die as a Taniwha Girl which are set at the Crescent Atoll. Book 3, Those Brave, Foolish Souls from the City of Swords has no connected novel yet, but never say never. This novel is set in yet again another part of the same universe. If you are into audiobooks, the Yarnswold novels are now available, paired together, so you can enjoy them all at once.
Right, let’s talk about Where the Waters Turn Black, the second book set in the Yarnsworld series. This is the story of Kaimana, a girl with a Knack for music. In the Yarnsworld, people can develop Knacks, a magical skill of their profession. Kaimana is a talented ocarina player, traveling around the Crescent Atoll with her troupe to perform and tell stories to the islanders. But what she wants more than anything is to create a masterpiece so people would know her name. She chases her spark – people with Knacks can spark which allows them magical abilities for a short amount of time to use, a gift from the gods – and a worthy story to tell. Until one day, on her home island, she finds a taniwha – mythical creatures, some of them with magical abilities -, one with whom the islanders live in harmony. Until, that is, when Kaimana wakes him up and things go out of hand from there.
Kaimana is unlike many women over the Crescent Atoll – while many of them settle down, marry and raise children, being content with their lives, Kaimana longs for adventures and to see the world outside of her home island. To find inspiration. With Rakau on her side, she gets a bit more than she bargained for, however. The islands are not only home to people and the taniwha, but the gods as well. Legends and myths are as real in the Crescent Atoll as the people themselves, and I think that’s one of my favorite aspects of this book. That beings from stories aren’t sentient, but real, breathing and occasionally bleeding living things. It’s not unusual for gods (Tangaloa, Nakoa, Leinani, Yam, and the others) to visit the islands, dishing out gifts and punishments, but their presence is always a blessing – of some sort. Kaimana definitely gets more than her fair share of these encounters during the book and her adventures. To her credit, she does not let her fear get in the way and even stands up to them when needed. Which is saying something when you have to stand up to the god of war. That takes some balls. Or…um…let’s settle with bravery.
My other favorite thing about Where the Waters Turn Black is the friendship between Kaimana and Rakau. It builds up slowly from beginning to end and it’s just as uplifting and heartbreaking and real as any other friendship is. But it’s also as pure and unconditional as only an animal-human friendship can be. I don’t read nearly enough books with an animal companion, which is such a shame. I’m also a sucker for stories about found families and this book definitely ticks that particular box of mine off as well.
And did I even mention the folktales between chapters? Aside from Patrick‘s widely imaginative world, these folktales are what is drawing me to the Yarnsworld so much. They not only tell interesting stories and teach valuable life lessons but also are an integral part of the book. They are giving depth to certain characters and let us learn more about the world without the necessity of info dumps in the main text. It’s a really cool way of storytelling. Patrick is crazy talented at bringing characters into life and make them seem real even if they are only secondary ones.
For Where the Waters Turn Black, Patrick drew inspiration from Polynesian stories and legends, which I find highly interesting. To the point that I’m tempted to do a bit of research to learn more. Not that I know much about this culture, but to my mind, Patrick‘s writing is making the islands and their people and gods and creatures alive. It just makes me wish I could travel all over the world – imagined or otherwise. Then again, I probably wouldn’t survive too long…
Epic in scope, but with its less than 250 pages, this is a compact book you can read just in one sitting if you need to get away from everyday life. And who doesn’t need a great escape to a world where the water is crystal clear (well, except when it turns black, in which case you probably better get away as you are getting close to Leinani’s volcano and you really don’t want to piss her off), the sky is blue and the islands are green and lush and full of vibrant life, and where the gods and taniwha are walking among the people?
I said many times before that Benedict Patrick had become one of my favorite authors over the years, and it was Where the Waters Turn Black that sealed the deal for me of becoming a Yarnsworld fangirl. And I’m not even into fangirling. Anyway. You are really missing out on an amazing journey if you don’t read these books. And before I start sounding like a broken record, let me just say this: Where the Waters Turn Black is as close to perfection as a book can be. It’s got music, magic, monsters, gods, found family, adventure, and a heroine who fights to write her own story. What would you do to earn a place in legends? Would you befriend a monster and deal with gods even if you might die trying? Kaimana certainly did all that and more.
Do yourself a favor, start reading the Yarnsworld novels today!
arachnichemist's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed the darker and grittier feel of the first Yarnsworld novel, so I wasn't sure how much I would like this one from the blurb. However, once it got rolling it easily became my favorite of the two.
Instead of a bond between potential lovers like the first book, this is one of a bond between a young women and a monster. This again focused on what lengths one would go in order to protect that friendship regardless of the circumstances and I felt the author did this very well.
Another thing, is the Knacks are more on display here and play a critical role in the novel. I felt in the first one they were there, but not much depth was given to them. Here, they go into more detail and what is like to have a spark going in someones head. I felt it was really interesting to follow.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and won't hesitate to pre-order the next book.
Instead of a bond between potential lovers like the first book, this is one of a bond between a young women and a monster. This again focused on what lengths one would go in order to protect that friendship regardless of the circumstances and I felt the author did this very well.
Another thing, is the Knacks are more on display here and play a critical role in the novel. I felt in the first one they were there, but not much depth was given to them. Here, they go into more detail and what is like to have a spark going in someones head. I felt it was really interesting to follow.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and won't hesitate to pre-order the next book.
nathan_towns's review against another edition
5.0
This book was delightful. I liked the first book in the series, but it did occasionally suffer from "first book" syndrome. The author was clearly trying to find his voice. This one did not suffer from that in the slightest.
chayote's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
etherealiz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I didn't have high expectations coming into this novel as it wasn't recommended to me or anything. This was such a great read, a beautiful world with very intricate myths and legends that were a joy to discover. I loved the world, the writing as well in the end, and especially the characters : Kaimana and her taniwha, Rakau. They are both adorable, and I'm a big fan of Kaimana's characterization which doesn't fall into usual tropes / stereotypes. A truly great read, I'd recommend it.
greenherring's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
kylecat22's review against another edition
5.0
Awesome story and great lore to follow up the previous Yarnsworld book. Can't wait to read the next!
feelingferal's review against another edition
5.0
I lovelovelovelovelovelovelove this book. I love it as a reader who is always down for a good folktale retelling. And I love it as a Pacific Islander who hadn't realized until this moment how much they craved representation in their favorite genre. Loved it.