The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky


Fiction - General
290 Pages
Reviewed on 04/20/2014
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

The urge to write first struck when working on a newsletter at a youth encampment in the woods of northern Maine. It may have been the night when lightning flashed at sunset followed by northern lights rippling after dark. Or maybe it was the newsletter's editor, a girl with eyes the color of the ocean. But he was inspired to write about the blurry line between reality and the fantastic.
Using two fingers and lots of white-out, he religiously typed five pages a day throughout college and well into his twenties. Then life intervened. He paused to raise two sons and pursue a career, in the process becoming a well-known entrepreneur in the software industry, founding several successful companies. When he found time again to daydream, the urge to write returned.
There Comes a Prophet, the first novel in this new stage of life, was published in July 2012. His second, Along the Watchtower, will be available in June 2013.
David and his wife split their time between Cape Cod, Florida and anywhere else that catches their fancy. He no longer limits himself to five pages a day and is thankful every keystroke for the invention of the word processor.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Faridah Nassozi for Readers' Favorite

Two major life changing events had taken place in Helena Brewster's life in the recent past; her father had passed away and she had seen Jason again after four years. However, neither of these compared to the effects of the sudden appearance of an angelic 9-year-old girl from the Forbidden Sea. When Helena and Jason rescued Kailani from the ocean, they did not anticipate her extraordinary nature and the effect it would have on them and everyone else around her. Kailani's nature was a mixture of the innocence of a 9-year-old and the wisdom of a mythmaker beyond her years. As Helena and Jason got to know her better, their lives changed in ways they had never imagined before. They promised to protect this child from the Blessed Lands from the ruthless laws of the Republic. However, no one really knew what this daughter of the sea and the sky was; was she just another zealot here to cause trouble in the land of the soulless? A prophet as some had come to believe? Or just a troubled innocent child?

The Daughter Of The Sea And The Sky by David Litwack is an intriguing tale of faith versus reason as each of the two lands separated by a horrible war fought to stay true to what they believed. David Litwack's writing style draws a very vivid picture of the setting of the story and the different characters that form part of this extraordinary tale. His description of Kailani's innocent and yet dazzling beauty and her personality gives you a real image of the little girl whose strange character and innocent wisdom touched so many lives. The story keeps you on the edge from one page to the next as you wait to discover the reason behind her sudden appearance in the land of the soulless and, in the end, the truth is very awe-inspiring and most deserving.

Jack Magnus

The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky by David Litwack is an epic fantasy with dystopian elements. The land where this tale takes place had been subject to years of war until the Treaty of Separation was agreed upon. Thereafter, there were two realms - The Blessed Land for Believers and The Republic of Reason - separated by a land bridge. Asylum was available, but the petitioner would be subjected to scrutiny to make sure the request was genuine, and the petitioner sincere. Helena Brewster and Jason Adams went to school together and had been close friends when they were younger. Helena is trying to reestablish that friendship and waits for him by the shore where he goes for his daily run. As they're talking, they see a boat out on the ocean, manned by a young girl with golden hair. Her boat crashes upon the rocks that dot the shoreline, and the two run through the surf to save her. Her name is Kailani, and she's come to the land of reason to do penance.

David Litwack's coming of age fantasy, The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky, is an enthralling look at an alternative world where the solution to the ongoing and often violent struggle between religious conservatism and reason is resolved through a treaty of separation. Jason and Helena are children of reason and Kailani is a child from the Blessed Lands, but they are drawn together by her need. The reader gets to meet some compelling characters while following the trio in their adventures. There's Helena's mother, now living in an arts and crafts colony founded by Sebastian, a kind and fatherly man, and Carlson, the official assigned to handle Kailani's interview. Litwack also breathes life into this world with his lavish descriptions of the ocean, the forests, and the rugged mountain ranges. I really enjoyed The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky -- it's thought-provoking, beautifully written and highly entertaining.

Kathryn Bennett

The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky by David Litwack takes us into the saga and life of a young girl who was saved from the sea. The world has been split into two because of centuries of a religiously motivated war. The two lands are the blessed lands which are ruled only by faith and the Republic reason is what motivates and guides its people. The two lands have a treaty and an ocean that keep them separated and war-free. Helena and Jason are children of the Republic who have drifted down different paths in life; it isn’t until Kailani, a nine-year-old girl who calls herself the Daughter of the Sea and Sky, crashes onto the shore line of Helena’s home that things begin to change. Is this child one who has come across from the Blessed lands and just wants to go home or is she actually a powerful prophet?

I wasn’t sure at first if I was going to like this book, but after I got into it I found myself enjoying the story and the land that has been created. You can tell that author David Litwack has put a lot of work into the world he has created. I have often wondered what would happen if the world got so separated on religion and reason matters, and this story has given me a look at one of the things that could happen. The characters are intriguing and bring you into their lives. The writing is well done and the story flows nicely. I truly enjoyed the book. If you are looking for a novel to keep your attention and introduce you to a new realm, I would recommend this one.

Lisa Jones

The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky by David Litwack is about the fate of a nine-year-old girl named Kailini. She is discovered by Helena and Jason on board a boat as it crashes onto some rocks. These two souls are indeed troubled, but are reunited through Kailini. The land in which they live has been ruled through a war of religion and it is split into two realms, which is perilous in its own right. Helena and Jason become entwined as they embark on a most dangerous journey. They both agree to protect Kailini and hide her from the authorities. As the novel unfolds the plot thickens as they discover who Kailini really is. One thing is most certain: their lives will never be the same again.

David Litwack brings us the most divine novel in The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky. It is beautifully written and the story has plenty of twists and turns. I found myself unable to put this book down as I just had to find out what would happen next. The little girl Kailini is indeed a unique little character and it was lovely how Helena and Jason reunited after drifting apart in their childhood. I suppose I am a romantic at heart and that is what made this book all the more special for me. A lot of care and attention went into this book and that is what shines through in the story itself. I would recommend this book to all as it is uplifting yet powerful.

Mamta Madhavan

The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky by David Litwack is the story of Jason and Helena, childhood friends who go their separate ways. They both travel through troubled lives and by a twist of fate they find themselves meeting again. The meeting happens when a boat crashes onto the rocks outside Helena's home. The lone survivor is a nine-year-old girl, Kailani. The twist in the plot happens from there when Jason and Helena unite for the purpose of protecting innocent people. In the meantime, there is mystery surrounding Kailani, who calls herself 'The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky.' Is she just a small child who wants to go back to her home or is she someone powerful? Maybe the answer will change the lives of the people and the world!

'The girl motioned for more to drink, this time grasping the bottle with both hands and emptying it. When she finished, she sat up and lifted her chin like royalty. “I am Kailani, the daughter of the sea and the sky.” It is a story of love, hope, faith and redemption. The theme is original and compelling and will keep readers riveted to the story till the very end. The main characters - Jason, Helena and the mysterious Kailani - have been portrayed strongly and their role in the story progresses beautifully along with the plot. Lord Kanakunai, the Blessed Land, and other fictitious characters and places give the theme a surreal feeling. The spiritual undertones add to the mysticism of the theme and the story.