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jackelynvb's review against another edition
5.0
What a great book to kick off your summer reading. Beautiful, lush, heartbreaking, entertaining, and all the feels ❤️❤️❤️❤️
lizmcfarlin's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
yvo_about_books's review against another edition
5.0
Finished reading: April 16th 2017
“With his box-cutter knife in one hand and waterproof flashlight in the other, Barry felt, for the first time in his life, like a man. A terrified man on the verge of wetting his loincloth, but a man nevertheless.”
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
Sometimes (cover)love at first sight can lead to something extraordinary. When I first saw Dane Huckelbridge's debut novel Castle Of Water mentioned, I couldn't stop staring at the cover. The color combination, the abstract sunset over the sea... Just gorgeous. Of course I had no other choice but to request a copy, especially since the story itself sounded really intriguing as well. And Castle Of Water is without doubt a little masterpiece. It's a story about how two unlikely characters end up as castaways on a deserted island together and how they manage to survive... A modern 'Robinson Crusoe' twist that captured my attention from the very first page. The characters are spot on and their development is brilliantly done. It's really interesting to see how both Barry and Sophie react to the things that happen to them on the island and I love LOVE their bantering! I like that they represent different nationalities as well as personalities and it without doubt adds an original touch to an already excellent story and plot. The writing style really stands out as well; well written, enjoyable to read and even funny at points. I also loved the incorporation of many French elements/words, which were easy to understand and didn't slow down the pace even though my French is pretty basic. I honestly couldn't find something I didn't like about this novel... So as you might have already guessed, I can more than recommend Castle Of Water if you enjoy the genre. You won't be disappointed!
While it was the beautiful cover that made me first want to pick up this novel, it was the story and writing style itself that managed to blow me away in the end. Castle Of Water is basically a modern castaway story with a twist, and I loved every single moment of it. The prose is just wonderful and combined with the well developed and loveable characters you are definitely in for a treat. An emotional rollercoaster, in the best possible way!
christiek's review against another edition
3.0
It's a quick, engaging read. 80 pages in and we're settled with our castaways on a deserted island plot and I wonder how could there possibly be anything new to write? Where will the tension come from? Huckelbridge manages to maintain tension and interest despite there simply not being a whole lot of new plot points to add top the genre, and I was surprised to enjoy it quite a bit.
The rating is reduced because there are so many mentions of contact lenses and I'm pretty sure Huckelbridge and none of the editors have first-hand experience of contact lens use or what it is actually like to be super near-sighted. At least the experience is nothing like mine and I found the issues presented in this book contrived and unlikely, while the actual problems I'd anticipate didn't appear at all. This was increasingly annoying and wrecked the book for me a bit.
The rating is reduced because there are so many mentions of contact lenses and I'm pretty sure Huckelbridge and none of the editors have first-hand experience of contact lens use or what it is actually like to be super near-sighted. At least the experience is nothing like mine and I found the issues presented in this book contrived and unlikely, while the actual problems I'd anticipate didn't appear at all. This was increasingly annoying and wrecked the book for me a bit.
crizzle's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage and Death
joylene45's review against another edition
4.0
Not exactly what I expected. Shockingly good for a free book.
ericamcgowan7's review against another edition
4.0
Maybe not the most ideal book to start while you’re flying, but I did enjoy this book! What would you want if you were stranded on a deserted island? A question that becomes reality for Sophie and Barry - 2 strangers until their plane goes down on an uninhabited island. The only survivors, this story is not only about survival but how 2 strangers become more.
perrinmelaniphy's review against another edition
5.0
Y'all. This book. THIS book. This book has redefined the definition of 5 stars. From Castle of Water for the rest of my life, if a book doesn't have me devouring the last pages, with tears streaming down my cheeks- it's not 5 stars. If a book doesn't have me immediately buying multiple copies so I always have one in my house and a couple to share (because the world deserves to read this book)- it's not 5 stars. If a book doesn't have me waking my husband up at 11:30PM to tell him how wonderful this book was- it's not 5 stars. Castle of Water? It's 5 stars. And then some.