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Sword Of Waters (2009)

by Hilari Bell(Favorite Author)

3.97 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

1416905979 (ISBN13: 9781416905974)

languge

English

genre

Historical Fiction

publisher

Aladdin

series

The Shield, Sword, and Crown

review 1: The second book in Hilari Bell's Shield, Sword and Crown trilogy turns the focus from reformed pickpocket Weasel (who was featured in Shield of Stars) to Arisa Benison, his friend and fellow adventurer. As the daughter of the infamous former bandit and rebel the Falcon, Arisa finds her life has changed dramatically in recent months. Since the Falcon was made Lord Commander of the Army and Navy, Arisa has moved into the palace and struggles every day against those who would teach her to be a proper lady. Her mother would like her to befriend Prince Edoran, as Weasel seems to have done so easily, but Arisa has little use for the spoiled, self-centered young royal. She longs for something real to do, a task that is truly meaningful. Even so, when the Falcon asks Arisa to find... more the Sword of Waters, one of the legendary symbols of Deorthas's power and the King's right to rule, Arisa isn't sure how to respond. It's not clear that anyone can locate the Sword, which vanished from history several hundred years ago. Then again, Weasel stumbled upon the Shield of Stars quite by accident, so it is entirely possible that the Sword still exists.Once Arisa agrees to undertake the search, she realizes she'll need help from both Weasel and Prince Edoran. As she gets to know the Prince a little better, Arisa admits that, every once in a while at least, he isn't that bad. But the trio have barely begun their research when politics and jealousies threaten to overtake them. When Arisa uncovers a pair of secret plots and a deadly threat to the Kingdom's peace, a conspiracy that could shake Deorthas to its very foundations, she learns that not all dangers come from outside the palace walls.As she did with Weasel's story in Shield of Stars, Hilari Bell has delivered a top notch fantasy novel in Sword of Waters. Fast-paced and dynamic, the wonderful plot compels readers to keep the pages turning. While the action is exciting and the intrigues suitably tense, it is Ms. Bell's characters that make this middle story of the trilogy shine. No one personality in this book is purely good or purely evil, they are all composed of multi-faceted shades of gray and their actions are shaped by their individual pasts, as well as the larger events of the present. The heroes and heroines can be petulant and jealous from time to time and the villains have moments of kindness and self-sacrifice. The depth of the characters is matched by Ms. Bell's brilliant world-building. Deorthas is so real you can see it your mind's eye. All of this combines to bring the story of Sword of Waters wonderfully to life.
review 2: The Sword of Waters is the second book in the Shield, Sword, and Crown trilogy by Hilari Bell. It takes place shortly after the first book but, where the first book was from the point of view of Weasel, this book is Arisa's story.14-year-old Arisa hates court life, she hates the fancy dresses, the corsets, the balls, the other girls, but, most of all, she hates that Weasel is now best friends with Prince Edoran who she also hates. Her mother, the Falcon and now commander of the navy, suggests that she try to find the sword, which, like the shield of the first story, is seen as an important symbol by the country folk and is still missing. Soon, she, Weasel, and the prince are caught up in conspiracies which could bring down the new regent, the prince and even the kingdom.This book is a YA fantasy but can easily be enjoyed by adults. It's fast-paced, fun, and the characters are likable. My only quibble is that old buggaboo of fantasy and horror stories - why didn't they tell someone. I spent large parts of the story annoyed that the three adolescents didn't tell any one of the several adults they trusted - so much could have been prevented. But, that aside, the story is charming enough that I was able to overlook this enough to still enjoy the adventure. less

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