| What if fear itself is the deadliest undercurrent of all? Nica would do anything to avoid the hassles of her sister’s bonding ceremony—the wrap fittings, hairstyles, and braided fire coral—but she never imagined that the waters covering her planet would be broken. As the heavens rained fire and stone, mountains erupted from the sea and dry ground was birthed on the Deep, dividing the water—and the Olomi people—for the first time in their history. In the wake of her world’s violent re-formation, Nica’s family is shattered. When the rookie Guardian leaves the safety of the Deep to find her sister, she is abducted by strange landwalkers who possess strength and technology beyond her imagination. Nica realizes that the disaster from above was by their design—a calculated plan to terraform the water planet and conquer her people. All Nica wants to do is find her sister and swim home to safety, but with the landwalkers closing in, escape may not be possible. And if Nica can’t save herself, how can she hope to save her sister—or her people? |  |
Genre: YA sci-fi
Release Date: January 9, 2024
Release Date: January 9, 2024
Click here to get your copy!
My Review
What things are worth every sacrifice...
I'm not really sure what I was expecting when I started Water's Break but it turned out to be quite a different story altogether. The book starts off with a kaboom as the underwater people, the Olomi, face the near destruction of their underwater home and the loss of many of their people. I'll admit that after that, and the next important incident, I found it more difficult to get into the story. That is until much later into Sophia L. Hansen's novel than it should have ever taken me, I finally realized what the story was really talking about...
There was so much more than I could have imagined. It wasn't just a quest to find a lost sister, though that was important. No, it was a story of a girl taking the last step into adulthood as she goes through unimaginable circumstances and pain to discover that there are things more powerful than fear; such as freedom, love, sacrifice, and hope. That those things are always worth fighting for even to the bitter end. And that home, family, and community are worth any and every price. One thing to note is that the tale was definitely on the grittier side so it would be better for mid to older teens.
After that little belated epiphany the story had me quite intrigued and turning those pages. Water's Break really did surprise by the time I reached the end. I really didn't expect to spend so much time thinking about this book even after I finished it but Sophia L. Hansen had me hooked with her vivid world-building and those important elements that I mentioned before. Quite a different and interesting story....
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Water's Break by Sophia L. Hansen a 4 Bark rating.
I'm not really sure what I was expecting when I started Water's Break but it turned out to be quite a different story altogether. The book starts off with a kaboom as the underwater people, the Olomi, face the near destruction of their underwater home and the loss of many of their people. I'll admit that after that, and the next important incident, I found it more difficult to get into the story. That is until much later into Sophia L. Hansen's novel than it should have ever taken me, I finally realized what the story was really talking about...
There was so much more than I could have imagined. It wasn't just a quest to find a lost sister, though that was important. No, it was a story of a girl taking the last step into adulthood as she goes through unimaginable circumstances and pain to discover that there are things more powerful than fear; such as freedom, love, sacrifice, and hope. That those things are always worth fighting for even to the bitter end. And that home, family, and community are worth any and every price. One thing to note is that the tale was definitely on the grittier side so it would be better for mid to older teens.
After that little belated epiphany the story had me quite intrigued and turning those pages. Water's Break really did surprise by the time I reached the end. I really didn't expect to spend so much time thinking about this book even after I finished it but Sophia L. Hansen had me hooked with her vivid world-building and those important elements that I mentioned before. Quite a different and interesting story....
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Water's Break by Sophia L. Hansen a 4 Bark rating.
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
More from Sophia
Once upon a time, there was a mom.
A mom with many children.
She was a very busy mom.
One day the pastor’s wife asked her to write something for the Christmas program.
“Why would you ask me?” she replied. “I’m just a mom.”
“Because you love words,” was the quiet answer.
When the mom heard this, she realized it was true. And so, she began to write.
The Beginning
~
A mom with many children.
She was a very busy mom.
One day the pastor’s wife asked her to write something for the Christmas program.
“Why would you ask me?” she replied. “I’m just a mom.”
“Because you love words,” was the quiet answer.
When the mom heard this, she realized it was true. And so, she began to write.
The Beginning
~
Stories don’t grow in a vacuum. Neither do they flourish in a pressure cooker. Our ideas are like seeds; full of potential but needing time and space to germinate. My season of writing started after more than a decade of birthing, raising, and educating my children. We had five at the time and I was full up. There was little space in church activities for attached moms whose children didn’t nursery well, and I spent more of my Sunday mornings in the playground rather than the pews. Then, finally, a friend invited me to a study in her home, and all children were welcome.
As my soul feasted on the fellowship, Bible study, and sharing, I felt like a child sitting down to a holiday meal. I’d been so busy taking care of others that I didn’t remember what it was like to have an oxygen mask for myself. It had been far too long since my spiritual self had been nourished. Out of that beautiful season the seeds of my words, long dormant, began to sprout, including my what ifs about what would become the world of Water’s Break.
Water’s Break dives into Nica’s world, a water-covered planet inhabited by amphibian people. When disaster strikes, landmasses rise from the seabed, separating the water and its people for the first time in their history. Nica’s family is devastated: her father is gravely injured, her sister is missing, and her mother, grief-stricken. Nica, a rookie Guardian, is determined to find her sister and bring her home, even if it means she must venture out of the Deep. But no one knows what lies in wait abovewater.
I hope your hearts are encouraged as you join Nica’s fight to survive in a sea of oppression. And when survival is not enough, will she risk everything to choose life?
As my soul feasted on the fellowship, Bible study, and sharing, I felt like a child sitting down to a holiday meal. I’d been so busy taking care of others that I didn’t remember what it was like to have an oxygen mask for myself. It had been far too long since my spiritual self had been nourished. Out of that beautiful season the seeds of my words, long dormant, began to sprout, including my what ifs about what would become the world of Water’s Break.
Water’s Break dives into Nica’s world, a water-covered planet inhabited by amphibian people. When disaster strikes, landmasses rise from the seabed, separating the water and its people for the first time in their history. Nica’s family is devastated: her father is gravely injured, her sister is missing, and her mother, grief-stricken. Nica, a rookie Guardian, is determined to find her sister and bring her home, even if it means she must venture out of the Deep. But no one knows what lies in wait abovewater.
I hope your hearts are encouraged as you join Nica’s fight to survive in a sea of oppression. And when survival is not enough, will she risk everything to choose life?
 Sophia L. Hansen | Sophia L. Hansen, raised in the melded cultures of Korea and America, understands not fitting into society’s boxes. Born on a tiny island in Alaska, then growing up in New York City and Boston, she now resides in the Southeast, writing and editing between fresh(ish) cups of coffee and slices of crisp bacon. She embraces life with her husband, their adulting children, and her new grandson, but her favorites are Jesus, family, coffee, and dark chocolate, mostly in that order. |
It's Time For A Giveaway!
To celebrate her tour, Sophia is giving away the grand prize package of
a signed hardcover with swag (bookmark, stickers, character cards)!!
a signed hardcover with swag (bookmark, stickers, character cards)!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
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Texas Book-aholic, January 30
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Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 8
Wishful Endings, February 9
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 10
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, February 11 (Author Interview)
The Lofty Pages, February 11
Simple Harvest Reads, February 12 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Exploring the Written Word, January 31
Blogging With Carol, February 1
Artistic Nobody, February 2 (Author Interview)
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 3
Locks, Hooks and Books, February 4
Guild Master, February 5 (Author Interview)
Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, February 5
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, February 6
Beauty in the Binding, February 7 (Author Interview)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 8
Wishful Endings, February 9
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 10
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, February 11 (Author Interview)
The Lofty Pages, February 11
Simple Harvest Reads, February 12 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
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