The Last Stormlord (Watergivers, #1) in Beyond Reality

Feb 11, 2010 Stefan rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

Sometimes you find a fantasy novel that's not extremely original, but is so much plain fun to read that you just can't help but love it. The Last Stormlord by Glenda Larke is one of those books: despite using some recognizable fantasy templates, it's a great story and a book I found extremely hard to put down.

Whenever the main character in a fantasy novel is poor and young, you can be almost certain that they're destined for great things later in the book or series. The Last Stormlord uses this Sometimes you find a fantasy novel that's not extremely original, but is so much plain fun to read that you just can't help but love it. The Last Stormlord by Glenda Larke is one of those books: despite using some recognizable fantasy templates, it's a great story and a book I found extremely hard to put down.

Whenever the main character in a fantasy novel is poor and young, you can be almost certain that they're destined for great things later in the book or series. The Last Stormlord uses this "Ugly Duckling" trope for not one but two main characters. Terelle is a poor young maid in a snuggery (an elegant euphemism for a brothel), who is looking desperately for escape because the next step in her career path is to become a prostitute. Shale is a poor young boy growing up in a desert village, trying to hide his unique gift — finding hidden water in the desert — from his abusive father.

Shale's gift is especially meaningful because in the Quartern, water is the most precious and valuable commodity. The land depends on its Stormlord for rain: he creates rain storms, and the water is collected in an elaborate system of pipes and cisterns that distribute it to the population. The population relies on its leaders for their water rations... and now the last Stormlord is dying.

The Last Stormlord's perspective switches back and forth from Terelle to Shale to several rainlords who are trying to cope with the imminent water shortages in various ways, such as looking for a new stormlord, or finding new ways to stretch the limited water supplies (e.g., cutting off the storms for specific parts of the land).

Glenda Larke gradually reveals the novel's fantasy world as the story progresses: first the established cities of the Scarpern quarter, then the more primitive and poor Gibber lands where Shale grows up, later the Red Quarter and its nomadic Reduners, and towards the end the White Quarter and its mysterious "Alabaster" inhabitants, with even some hints about the lands beyond the Quartern. There's only one noticeable infodump about the land's history, and it’s short and more or less integrated into the story. The rest of the world's details are gracefully revealed to the reader throughout the story.

The Last Stormlord is also extremely well-paced, occasionally skipping a few weeks or months between chapters so the story keeps moving along at a pleasant pace. You won't find 100-page descriptions of a single journey here: this novel is basically all story and zero filler, so the pages just keep turning themselves. I hope this pacing will continue in Stormlord Rising, the next book in The Watergiver trilogy.

Plotting is at times a bit transparent and predictable, and a couple of characters have names that are truly cringe-inducing, but despite those minor problems, this novel is easy to love. With its smooth storytelling style that should go over very well with fans of Brandon Sanderson, and an overall theme — water shortage and conservation — that's acutely relevant in today's world (how rare in a fantasy novel!), The Last Stormlord is a tremendously entertaining read that's easy to get sucked into, hard to put down, and never boring. Recommended.

(This review was also published at the Fantasy Literature website: www.fantasyliterature.com - come check us out!) ...more

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Jan 17, 2011 Stephanie I rated it liked it

I liked the premise of this book, how everything revolved around water. But what I really loved was the relationship between Kaneth and Ryka. I didn't necessarily like Shale because I've seen characters like him too often before-- some kid from a poor place suddenly becoming important. I didn't feel like he really had any personality and I didn't believe his emotions too much. I liked Terelle and how she was trying to escape her life. ...more

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Mar 05, 2010 Reginac1 rated it really liked it

When you live in grey, rainy Seattle, it is comforting to read a fantasy novel set in an arid, hot desert land. This book has that setting plus a fully formed world and religions and excellent character development along the way. It's the first book I've read by author Glenda Larke, but it will not be my last. I'm already looking forward to no. 2 in the series which is due out in August of this year. ...more

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Feb 23, 2014 Tani rated it it was amazing

Shelves: female-author, fantasy, favorites, five-stars, 2014

So glad that my fiancee picked this one out for me a few weeks ago. It was a bit of a slow start, but once I started to learn more about the world, I found myself completely sucked in. Glenda Larke really has a way of making you care about her characters, even when they have views you don't like and methods you don't agree with. The magic and culture are both very intriguing as well. Not to mention that once you get going, the action never stops. Definitely a surprise five stars from me. ...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Kiri rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

Wow it's such a great surprise to find a new fantasy author that I really like right away! She has a great story, very creative world, likeable characters, and it's well written. I can't wait to read more of her stuff. ...more

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Feb 15, 2010 Kerry rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2010, 9-out-of-10, fantasy, ebooks

I found this a really solid, really enjoyable read.

I like the world Ms Larke has created. The worldbuilding doesn't goes as deep as some novels, but it's real and well thought out and the idea of waterpower is a good one.

I liked the characters - and I especially diskliked the antagonists we're introduced to throughout the book. I find myself very worried about what they might do and the effect their actions might have.

I'm looking forward to book 2 and will be buying it when it comes out.

It's goi ...more

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Jun 23, 2011 Christine rated it it was amazing

Great story from a great storyteller; I'm about to start the second volume and looking forward to the conclusion in a few months ...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Sergio rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy, fiction

I really liked the setting for this book. The characters grew on me, even if I sometimes thought they were acting a little imature. I look forward to reading the next in the series. I blew through this one in about 4 days.

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Jul 07, 2010 Marty rated it it was ok

took too long for me to get interested in any of the characters or the story.

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Oct 08, 2009 Jo Wake rated it it was amazing

This is one of the best books I have read in a long while. Wonderful setting, wonderful world building, incredible imagination and all in all a good tale. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy spec fic. It is now available in the UK and North America.

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