Waterspell Book 1: The Warlock

Deborah J. Lightfoot

Jul 2021 · Waterspell Book 1 · Seven Rivers Publishing

About this ebook

Making a place for yourself in a world where you don’t belong takes courage. So does moving in with a warlock.

Drawn into the schemes of an angry wizard, Carin glimpses the place she once called home. It lies upon a shore that seems unreachable. To learn where she belongs and how to get there, the lost traveler must decipher the words of an alien book, follow the clues in a bewitched poem, conjure a dragon from a pool of magic — and tread carefully around a tortured, emotionally scarred sorcerer who can’t seem to decide whether to love her or kill her.

Book 1 of a series. The story continues in Waterspell Book 2: The Wysard, Book 3: The Wisewoman, and Book 4: The Witch.

Editorial Reviews:

“A marvelously complex and captivating fantasy series.” The Published Page

“A must-read for fantasy enthusiasts who enjoy immersive world-building, well-developed characters, and a storyline that seamlessly blends magic and human emotion.” NetGalley

“An extremely well written fantasy story ... flows well with a very readable style that holds your interest throughout. The world building is solid and intriguing, the magical aspects well drawn and versatile and characterisation is energetic so that you are immediately invested in their future. The ending with its wonderful cliffhanger will ensure that you read on ... All in all a marvellous addition to the fantasy genre and I would recommend it for lovers of magical mystical tales.” Liz Wilkins

“An epic fantasy world full of magic, danger, romance, and travel through time and space. The characters are vivid and complex, including a young woman on a hero’s quest, and a powerful warlock who isn’t sure whether to kill her or embrace her. This is a most enjoyable read for fans of fantasy and fine writing.” NetGalley

“This book made me FEEL - and strongly! I also loved that this story was so completely unpredictable. It's one that I'd find hard to forget ... it is one of those rare stories that will stick with me.” Ali's Books

Ratings and reviews

As a foundling, Carin has had it hard in the house of her adopted parents, and when she is encouraged by the town's wise woman, she starts on a long trek north in search of her home. She unknowingly stumbles onto the lands of Lord Verek, a Warlock, grieving the loss of his wife and young son. In the woods, Carin also meets a wood sprite living in the land's trees that Verek had cursed on the death of his wife and son. Soon it becomes clear that Carin is immune to some of Verek's enchantments. He sees in her the opportunity to find out the message hidden in a book in a foreign language that Carin can read. Carin fears the Warlock and the secrets he keeps. Why is he obsessed with the unique book, and what will his experiments in the magic vortex in the bowels of his house lead to? When Carin is forced to help him to interact with another world, something goes wrong. What will become of Carin? Is Verek a black hearted Warlock with no feeling left for others? The book, the first in a trilogy, ends in a cliffhanger that begs one to read the next instalment to find out what happens. I liked that the book is a young adult fantasy with no romance. What left me unsatisfied is that although Carin shows growth, Verek is all over the place. Sometimes brooding, seemingly amiable and other times evil. Not one of the best fantasy reads I have had lately.

The flow and detail of this book had me hooked from the beginning! I love the character development and how all their interactions flow. A truly wonderful, original fantasy. Amazingly well done, can't wait to get to book 2!

very interesting story

About the author

Castles in the cornfield provided the setting for Deborah J. Lightfoot's earliest flights of fancy. On her father's farm in Texas, she grew up reading tales of adventure and reenacting them behind ramparts of sun-drenched grain. She left the farm to earn a degree in journalism and write award-winning books of history and biography. High on her bucket list was the desire to try her hand at the genre she most admired. The result is Waterspell, a complex, intricately detailed fantasy comprising the original four-book series (Warlock, Wysard, Wisewoman, Witch). In the "Nina sequels" to that earlier quartet — The Karenina Chronicles and The Fires of Farsinchia — new generations of powerful wysards carry the saga into the magical future of an ancient world. Having discovered the Waterspell universe, the author finds it difficult to leave. Lightfoot is a professional member of the Authors Guild. She still lives in rural Texas. Find her on Instagram @booksofwaterspell and explore her overflowing, catch-all website at waterspell.net.