Released on Amazon on November 16th, 2016, this book is a beautiful addition to the Yarnsworld series by Benedict Patrick. It’s just simply and truly fantastic!
When gods and monsters battle, her music will not protect her…
The Crescent Atoll is a remote string of tropical islands, connected by long canoe journeys and a love of stories.
When Kaimana, a young ocarina player, discovers the lair of a taniwha – a legendary monster – she finds herself inspired. The song she is composing about their encounter will be her masterpiece, but her disturbance of the beast attracts the ruining gaze of the god of war. She must convince the taniwha to trust her if they are both to survive.
Where the Waters Turn Black is a standalone novel from Benedict Patrick’s Yarnsworld series. Inspired by the myths and legends of South Pacific island cultures, this book is perfect for those seeking fantasy stories with a hint of the unfamiliar.
Imagine a baby blue clear ocean, lots of sunshine, golden sandy beaches, canoes… coconut trees and colorful fish. People who live a simple life, believe, fear and celebrate gods. The Crescent Atoll is a laid back paradise of breathtaking sights… and yet… gods are not the only ones the people of the Atoll feel weary about, there are also the taniwhas. The monsters.
Like many Atoll villages, Pukotala was a small collection of wooden huts thatched with dried palm leaves. It was a fishing settlement, built on the edge of the tree line, to give easy access to the water these people needed for their livelyhoods….
Our main character is Kaimana. A young lady whose Knack for music took her away from her home island, Pukotala, to travel with a musical troupe across the Atoll islands to perfom songs about the gods. She is now back on Pukotala, preparing to perform to the people she grew up with and to her parents, to prove to them that her Knack for music is what she should pursue not the simple life as a wife to a fisherman.
“There’s a monster in the village.”
Kaimana raised her eyebrows at the toddler’s words. “No, don’t worry. There’s no taniwha here.”
The young girl was not convinced. She stuck out her bottom lip, kicked up some of the sand at her feet and stared at Kaimana. “No, there is. In the cave in the hills where the stream comes to life. My uncle went to catch it, and he never came back.”
Having a Knack is all well and good, but Kaimana needs the Spark. She needs something to spark the Spark, to compose the musical piece that would make her known across the islands. That is her goal. The search for inspiration is what makes Kaimana act, against everyone’s wiches and warnings, and she can’t help herself but go check out that cave where the alleged taniwha now lives. And for me, this is where the truly magical part of the story gets its beginning.
The taniwha Kaimana finds looks like a log… a tree stump… but huge! Gray-ish in colour, but covered with moss here and there, and has some destructive limbs… No one knows where taniwha come from, how long they live or if they have families… But it is a long known truth that the taniwha are dangerous, very dangerous in fact and no one can be sure if they can be trusted.
Due to some unfortunate events, Kaimana finds out the taniwha of her island is after her. Is Rakau following Kaimana to kill her and her travelling troupe? How will the troupe act and feel when they find out the taniwha is after them… Is it all Kaimana’s fault for waking the monster?
It was a clear night, the moon was full, and the crystal water of the reef was undisturbed by any nearby rivers. The moonlight painted the rocks and coral of the reef a pale blue, and this was strongly contrasted by the powerful green of Rakau’s eyes, which illuminated the sea bed and even tinted the water in front of him.
As if the situation doesn’t seem odd and scary enough, Nakau the pig-headed War God doesn’t take lightly to the fact that his temple now has a gaping hole in its wall! And Kaimana’s troupe isn’t happy either… the performance for the pig god was their biggest event yet, in years! So, who’s to blame? The inner dynamics of the troupe members also come into play and it’s weaved into the story perfectly!
The pig god had chosen to build his temple in the middle of the area of the Atoll that gave him most opportunity to practice his art of war. Most Atoll islanders who ate human flesh were civilised enough to only do so to people who had angered them, but one always heard stories…
A chase for revenge by Nakau and his army across the seas surrounding the Atoll Islands starts, throughout the story of Kaimana’s survival, myth and folk tales mix with current events. The Birdmen of the Broken Island, the gods of volcanoes and farming and song, the Lava Racer and many more legendary tales strategically placed n between scenes of Kaimana’s journey. And it is a journey to capture her Knack’s Spark and finish the Song, to stay alive, to find shelter for her friend. ‘Where Waters Turn Black’ is fantastically imaginative and beautifully fluous, taking me on a journey unlike any other.
Personally I loved ‘They Mostly Come Out at Night’, the first book in the Yarnsworld series by Benedict Patrick, and I absolutely, if possible, loved ‘Where the Waters Turn Black‘ even more! I simply cannot wait for the next book in this collection. The books in this series are standalone novels so you do not need to read ‘TMCOaN’ to enjoy ‘WtWTB’… however, I do suggest reading both of the books.. they’re ah-mazing! A very satisfied bookworm, I am slapping a very grateful 5 stars on this book! ‘Nuff said! 😉
Wow 5 stars and the series got better with the next edition! This sounds so good! I love how much enthusiasm you convey for this book. I am double checking to see if the first has been added to my goodreads list. I have seen several positive reviews and this looks like a refreshing read for when I need something a little different 😉
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🙂 Yes, I think you would actually really enjoy the two books… they’re so imaginative and adventurous and well written with distinctive characters…
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So glad you loved this. It really shows in your review. 🙂 I am on a string of blah books lately. I need some good book mojo. Send yours my way. 🙂
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🙂 yeah, Patrick’s books are like- man, are you for real? This is really coming from your brain? Fabulous stuff! 🙂
Aww… sending super positive book vibes your way through space/time and dimensions… feel the vibrations! 😀
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Haha! I need good vibrations! Lol
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😀 Don’t well, girl.. don’t we all! 😀
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This sounds like paradise taken over by a bit of hell in a magnificent way! I was quite sure this book would not be for me, and then I read your review and I don’t feel so sure any more!
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😊 it really is great… i think no matter what genre someone favors, this book could appeal to anyone… glad i could plant a little seed of interest in you 😉
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Fabulous! I had only seen the cover so far and didn’t read up on the story itself but this sounds bloody awesome again :D. And this is the second time Zelda will be mentioned on your blog. I love stories from the Southern-Pacific cultures, and the little addition of ‘magic’ to it, totally reminds me of The Legend of Zelda video games again. Which is awesome! 😀 It’s great to see the basics are still in this story. The Knacks, the animal-like people. I can’t wait to read this myself! 😀 In 2017, obviously ;). Awesome review Liis! ❤
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Yaaayyy, Zelda is back! 😀 Hehehe… yes, the Knacks are still in the play and the taniwhas are just awesome.. I’m sure your imagination would go wild picturing them when you read about them 🙂
I can’t wait for you to read this as well! 🙂 In 2017 of course 😉
Thanks you ❤
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;). Oh, it’s already going wild now! 😀 I actually bought it this morning because it was only 1 euro on Amazon :3. But yeah, 2017 it shall be ;). ❤
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Oh wow! I love the idea of a series of standalone books. That’s something we don’t see often enough in YA, and we RARELY see it in fantasy. I haven’t heard of this series, but it sounds right up my alley. I have been learning a lot about the cultures of the South Pacific lately, too. Great review!
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😊 thank you! Indeed, standalones are a rarity and even though Patrick’s books are in a series, they can be read as standalones, so that’s brilliant!
Since you’re familiar with the cultures, I think you’ll find this book to your liking! It’s on a special offer at the moment as well if you like a bargain 😉 thanks for stopping by!!!
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Pft, who can say no to a bargain! Thanks for the heads up!
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😀 hahahaha, I know right? 🙂
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Love your take the book. I tried not to talk about the plot as i really wanted to focus just how good the book is without saying too much.. it’s the style of writing i loved, easy chapters, great characters. I loved Yam 🙂
Also love we both made the comment about the previous book and that you don’t need to have read it.. but they should ha. I finished my review before i had chance to read yours so it’s really great to see us both point that out
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Thank you… yes, I had written a whole different review at first but then didn’t really feel the mojo in it… so went and changed everything again 🙂
Yes! I loved Yam as well… he was such an awesome character! 🙂
Cheers!
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Psst – I heard that Yam is the author’s favourite character to write… :p
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😂 of course! that sounds like the author has good taste in characters as well!
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Bought it the second I saw your review on Goodreads! Thanks for the info! 😉
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I hope you enjoy reading it 😊
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I have a feeling I will…but if not, at least I can look at that pretty pick on my Kindle! I refuse to even download ugly books anymore, lmao!
😂😂😂😂
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😂 you are so fussy!!!
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I am…I am. I’m a book snob! 😂😂😂
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high maintenance, girl! nothing wrong with that 😉😎😂
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There is something so beautiful about folklore songs and mystical fantasy monsters!!! I feel like there aren’t enough books pairing the two these days!
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Agreed, and if it’s well executed then it’s such a great reading experience! 🙂
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