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 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.
Deborah Gray holds a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning degree and writes for enjoyment. "The Water Kingdom" is her first full length novel for young adults in the fantasy genre.
She is a member of the Christchurch Writers' Guild and currently lives in New Zealand with her husband, family and a mischievous black Labrador.
Find out more at http://www.thewaternovels.com
Reviewed by Michelle Randall for Readers' Favorite
For Sebastian, the only choice he feels he can make is to take action and look for the missing queen, even if it means he can never go home again. This way, at least someone is actually doing something, not just sitting around. Nell has lived a structured and rigid life, never breaking a rule, but never feeling she fitted in either. Stowing away on a field trip that she never got permission to go on is the biggest rule break she has ever done, and she is sure something bad is going to happen to her for it. The Water Kingdom (The Water Novels Book 1) tells the story of Sebastian and his quest, and what happens when he accidentally runs into Nell. Author Deborah Gray takes a fantasy/fiction story of two different worlds and mixes it with coming of age, romance, and finding your voice to give young adult readers a meaningful and rich story.
The Water Kingdom is titled to be the first in a series so let me warn you now, the end is a cliffhanger! It's a natural ending point, but at the same time there are many unanswered questions, so a second book feels like a must. Author Deborah Gray writes in an easy, confident manner that engages the reader, and has you identifying with the characters, remembering people just like them from your own high school experience. Although it is set in a fantasy/fiction setting, the plot line and issues of not fitting in, feeling alone, and not having a choice in life are issues that teens today all feel that they are faced with. This is a great book for all readers; it is clean, there is no sex or graphic violence so I recommend it for any age group.
