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jcaesara's review against another edition
5.0
I haven't realized how much I missed Talise until I started reading Water Gate.
It's been so long
It's been so long
lienata's review against another edition
5.0
Water Storm
Apparently I accidentally skipped over reviewing for this book because I got too excited with reading the next one!! This book was really enlightening. We finally delve into more detail about the Storm and the harsh life that people who live there deal with. We come across some disturbing discoveries and see Talise's caring nature shine, as well as some WOW moments with her shaping.
Apparently I accidentally skipped over reviewing for this book because I got too excited with reading the next one!! This book was really enlightening. We finally delve into more detail about the Storm and the harsh life that people who live there deal with. We come across some disturbing discoveries and see Talise's caring nature shine, as well as some WOW moments with her shaping.
constant2m's review
5.0
What I hate the most about Kay's books (this series in particular) is that I lose sleep every time she sends me a new book. They are simply unputdownable! I was particularly excited for this book because Aaden was back. We all needed him to be back. This book covered Talise dealing with her recent betrayal and struggling to trust Aaden again, while simultaneously doing what she always does, bringing help and hope to those most in need - this time in the Storm.
A couple things I totally loved about this book. In the first chapter, there is this thought by Talise, "She had no time to be worried about romance or kisses or frustrating young men." I remember reading The Hunger Games and thinking, they're in the middle of a war, why is Katniss always thinking about boys. So happy that this was acknowledged and pushed aside. They are also in the middle of a war.
Second, we finally get some sense of the emperor's agenda. And whether or not he is a good guy (although his strategy was never in question). In my opinion, the not knowing had dragged out way too long, to the point that I didn't even care if he was good or bad - I just wanted to know! So now we know. At least until Kay throws another twist at us in the next book.
Finally, Aaden. I have always loved Aaden and had a hard time believing he had betrayed Talise. Regardless of everything, he just didn't seem the type. But I love how this book shows even more clearly the type of person he is and everything he has going for him. I love that he is for Talise no matter what she decides, even if that means defying his father and the emperor and everyone else. I love that while he may have had little choice in the decision he made, he still regrets making it. And I love what Wendy, the ultimate best friend says to Talise when she is still struggling to trust Aaden. "It's okay... You'll learn to trust again; you just need more time to heal. But you should know, I trust Aaden." And I also have faith that Talise will come to trust and fully love Aaden again. I can't wait for the next book. Please write faster!
I received a free ARC from the author and have reviewed it willingly.
A couple things I totally loved about this book. In the first chapter, there is this thought by Talise, "She had no time to be worried about romance or kisses or frustrating young men." I remember reading The Hunger Games and thinking, they're in the middle of a war, why is Katniss always thinking about boys. So happy that this was acknowledged and pushed aside. They are also in the middle of a war.
Second, we finally get some sense of the emperor's agenda. And whether or not he is a good guy (although his strategy was never in question). In my opinion, the not knowing had dragged out way too long, to the point that I didn't even care if he was good or bad - I just wanted to know! So now we know. At least until Kay throws another twist at us in the next book.
Finally, Aaden. I have always loved Aaden and had a hard time believing he had betrayed Talise. Regardless of everything, he just didn't seem the type. But I love how this book shows even more clearly the type of person he is and everything he has going for him. I love that he is for Talise no matter what she decides, even if that means defying his father and the emperor and everyone else. I love that while he may have had little choice in the decision he made, he still regrets making it. And I love what Wendy, the ultimate best friend says to Talise when she is still struggling to trust Aaden. "It's okay... You'll learn to trust again; you just need more time to heal. But you should know, I trust Aaden." And I also have faith that Talise will come to trust and fully love Aaden again. I can't wait for the next book. Please write faster!
I received a free ARC from the author and have reviewed it willingly.
momwithareadingproblem's review
4.0
I received an eARC of this book via the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.
Talise and her friends are entering the lowest circle of the empire in Kay L. Moody's latest release Water Storm, the 9th installment in The Elements of Kamdaria. This serial series is addictive! I love the bite sized novellas. Each one tells a story of its own while expanding the series arc. Please note that while I do my best to avoid spoilers, there may be spoilers to previous installments in this review. In Water Storm, Talise must learn to trust her own judgment after a devastating betrayal and loss at the Ember Gate.
Talise is once again unsure of herself after someone close to her betrayed her in the worst possible way. Confused and angry, she tries to push it out of her mind and instead focus on their immediate problem: the Storm. To escape Kessouku, Talise leads her friends into the Storm. What was once her childhood home, Talise now sees the Storm for what it truly is: a prison. Determined to make a difference while they are there, Talise enlists her friends’ help in finding a way to keep the citizens fed through the harsh winter ahead.
Aaden is back and full force. I missed him! He is such an integral character to the story and Talise. His quiet confidence is shaken slightly by Talise’s cold reception, but that doesn’t stop his own feelings. It was easy for me to forgive him, Talise not so much. They have a ways to go yet.
This installment focuses on what I believe to be the endgame for the series. New information makes it to Talise, and it rocks her to the core. Now she and her friends must decide who they can trust and a shaky alliance is formed. Water Storm is everything I’ve come to expect from the series: high stakes action, a touch of romance, and a dash of adventure. If you enjoy serial series or YA fantasy, I highly recommend it.
Talise and her friends are entering the lowest circle of the empire in Kay L. Moody's latest release Water Storm, the 9th installment in The Elements of Kamdaria. This serial series is addictive! I love the bite sized novellas. Each one tells a story of its own while expanding the series arc. Please note that while I do my best to avoid spoilers, there may be spoilers to previous installments in this review. In Water Storm, Talise must learn to trust her own judgment after a devastating betrayal and loss at the Ember Gate.
Talise is once again unsure of herself after someone close to her betrayed her in the worst possible way. Confused and angry, she tries to push it out of her mind and instead focus on their immediate problem: the Storm. To escape Kessouku, Talise leads her friends into the Storm. What was once her childhood home, Talise now sees the Storm for what it truly is: a prison. Determined to make a difference while they are there, Talise enlists her friends’ help in finding a way to keep the citizens fed through the harsh winter ahead.
Aaden is back and full force. I missed him! He is such an integral character to the story and Talise. His quiet confidence is shaken slightly by Talise’s cold reception, but that doesn’t stop his own feelings. It was easy for me to forgive him, Talise not so much. They have a ways to go yet.
This installment focuses on what I believe to be the endgame for the series. New information makes it to Talise, and it rocks her to the core. Now she and her friends must decide who they can trust and a shaky alliance is formed. Water Storm is everything I’ve come to expect from the series: high stakes action, a touch of romance, and a dash of adventure. If you enjoy serial series or YA fantasy, I highly recommend it.
onebookmore's review
5.0
When Talise and her small band of friends return to the Storm, the most dangerous and deprived part of the empire, things are worse than she remembered. People are starving and hopeless with little chance of prosperity and lack the basic necessities to live. As she and her friends work to bring water, greenhouses, and hope to the people, Talise realizes that something is poisoning the land and people.
Talise strives to find out more about the poison, and when her suspicions are realized, she must decide who the real enemy is. She must also face her breaking heart and feelings for the men who hurt her. With so much at stake, Talise has everything to lose.
I love that Talise continues to learn from her mistakes and from the issues she encounters along her journey. Talise has several epiphanies about her father, her enemies, her relationships, and herself throughout the story. She finally comes to terms with the man that her father is and continues to process her turbulent feelings for all of the main men in her life. She is deeply wounded by betrayal and finds it hard to forgive and move forward, especially when she has to face her feelings for Clay and Aaden. Luckily, she has Wendy to support her and offer guidance.
Wendy shines in this book. Smart, talented, and fiercely loyal, she’s the one person who has stood by Talise from the beginning. She shows such strength of character and loyalty to Talise – not the cause or kingdom, just to her best friend. I love her character, and this book really highlights the wonderful and deep friendship between Talise and Wendy. She is also Talise’s advisor and often offers wisdom and clarity, which I love! The women in this series are strong, wise, and fierce!
Like the other books in this series, Water Storm is filled with unexpected twists and turns. As they travel through the Storm, malnutrition, starvation, and desperation is evident. Talise and her small band of followers encounter new and shocking obstacles, and alliances change. I feel like just when I think I know which direction the story is heading, Moody changes paths in the most intriguing and thought-provoking way. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book as alliances continue to shift, and Talise has to face feelings of betrayal, guilt, and more.
Thanks so much to Marten Press and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Talise strives to find out more about the poison, and when her suspicions are realized, she must decide who the real enemy is. She must also face her breaking heart and feelings for the men who hurt her. With so much at stake, Talise has everything to lose.
I love that Talise continues to learn from her mistakes and from the issues she encounters along her journey. Talise has several epiphanies about her father, her enemies, her relationships, and herself throughout the story. She finally comes to terms with the man that her father is and continues to process her turbulent feelings for all of the main men in her life. She is deeply wounded by betrayal and finds it hard to forgive and move forward, especially when she has to face her feelings for Clay and Aaden. Luckily, she has Wendy to support her and offer guidance.
Wendy shines in this book. Smart, talented, and fiercely loyal, she’s the one person who has stood by Talise from the beginning. She shows such strength of character and loyalty to Talise – not the cause or kingdom, just to her best friend. I love her character, and this book really highlights the wonderful and deep friendship between Talise and Wendy. She is also Talise’s advisor and often offers wisdom and clarity, which I love! The women in this series are strong, wise, and fierce!
Like the other books in this series, Water Storm is filled with unexpected twists and turns. As they travel through the Storm, malnutrition, starvation, and desperation is evident. Talise and her small band of followers encounter new and shocking obstacles, and alliances change. I feel like just when I think I know which direction the story is heading, Moody changes paths in the most intriguing and thought-provoking way. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book as alliances continue to shift, and Talise has to face feelings of betrayal, guilt, and more.
Thanks so much to Marten Press and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
alishabrookx's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
marjories's review against another edition
5.0
The previous book left Talise and her supporters fleeing to Storm - a place that might be even more dangerous than what they are running from. Once there they are shocked by what they find - not only are these people cut off from resources, they are being actively poisoned. Talise is again forced to evaluate who she can trust, who are her allies, who is the enemy. All while trying to convince the residents of Storm that she is not their enemy as they act out of desperation and self-preservation. Unlikely alliances are forged in this complex battle to save a fractured kingdom. As with previous books, I appreciate the thought given to unintended consequences. Even the best intentions can have grievous side effects and this series does not shy away from exploring those. Sometimes circumstances demand that the "best" choice is one our characters thought they would never entertain.
For #TeamAaden vs #TeamClaye.... yeah more drama. Talise has matured and is seeing both men through different eyes. She's more guarded, but her heart refuses to give up. Some nice moments of teamwork that hearken back to better times.
This is the first book in the Storm arc, but book 9 in the elements of Kamdaria. This series builds on previous books and really needs to be read in order as there is a lot of information from previous books that is necessary to understand this book.
For #TeamAaden vs #TeamClaye.... yeah more drama. Talise has matured and is seeing both men through different eyes. She's more guarded, but her heart refuses to give up. Some nice moments of teamwork that hearken back to better times.
This is the first book in the Storm arc, but book 9 in the elements of Kamdaria. This series builds on previous books and really needs to be read in order as there is a lot of information from previous books that is necessary to understand this book.
onebookmore's review against another edition
5.0
When Talise and her small band of friends return to the Storm, the most dangerous and deprived part of the empire, things are worse than she remembered. People are starving and hopeless with little chance of prosperity and lack the basic necessities to live. As she and her friends work to bring water, greenhouses, and hope to the people, Talise realizes that something is poisoning the land and people.
Talise strives to find out more about the poison, and when her suspicions are realized, she must decide who the real enemy is. She must also face her breaking heart and feelings for the men who hurt her. With so much at stake, Talise has everything to lose.
I love that Talise continues to learn from her mistakes and from the issues she encounters along her journey. Talise has several epiphanies about her father, her enemies, her relationships, and herself throughout the story. She finally comes to terms with the man that her father is and continues to process her turbulent feelings for all of the main men in her life. She is deeply wounded by betrayal and finds it hard to forgive and move forward, especially when she has to face her feelings for Clay and Aaden. Luckily, she has Wendy to support her and offer guidance.
Wendy shines in this book. Smart, talented, and fiercely loyal, she’s the one person who has stood by Talise from the beginning. She shows such strength of character and loyalty to Talise – not the cause or kingdom, just to her best friend. I love her character, and this book really highlights the wonderful and deep friendship between Talise and Wendy. She is also Talise’s advisor and often offers wisdom and clarity, which I love! The women in this series are strong, wise, and fierce!
Like the other books in this series, Water Storm is filled with unexpected twists and turns. As they travel through the Storm, malnutrition, starvation, and desperation is evident. Talise and her small band of followers encounter new and shocking obstacles, and alliances change. I feel like just when I think I know which direction the story is heading, Moody changes paths in the most intriguing and thought-provoking way. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book as alliances continue to shift, and Talise has to face feelings of betrayal, guilt, and more.
Thanks so much to Marten Press and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Talise strives to find out more about the poison, and when her suspicions are realized, she must decide who the real enemy is. She must also face her breaking heart and feelings for the men who hurt her. With so much at stake, Talise has everything to lose.
I love that Talise continues to learn from her mistakes and from the issues she encounters along her journey. Talise has several epiphanies about her father, her enemies, her relationships, and herself throughout the story. She finally comes to terms with the man that her father is and continues to process her turbulent feelings for all of the main men in her life. She is deeply wounded by betrayal and finds it hard to forgive and move forward, especially when she has to face her feelings for Clay and Aaden. Luckily, she has Wendy to support her and offer guidance.
Wendy shines in this book. Smart, talented, and fiercely loyal, she’s the one person who has stood by Talise from the beginning. She shows such strength of character and loyalty to Talise – not the cause or kingdom, just to her best friend. I love her character, and this book really highlights the wonderful and deep friendship between Talise and Wendy. She is also Talise’s advisor and often offers wisdom and clarity, which I love! The women in this series are strong, wise, and fierce!
Like the other books in this series, Water Storm is filled with unexpected twists and turns. As they travel through the Storm, malnutrition, starvation, and desperation is evident. Talise and her small band of followers encounter new and shocking obstacles, and alliances change. I feel like just when I think I know which direction the story is heading, Moody changes paths in the most intriguing and thought-provoking way. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book as alliances continue to shift, and Talise has to face feelings of betrayal, guilt, and more.
Thanks so much to Marten Press and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
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