Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was an entertaining read. The descriptions were great. The characters were fantastic. I think it was very well written. It really brought you to another place, to the world of Jessa. I loved the mysteries surrounding Jessa and her family. I hope to read more in the series.
Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a unique read. It was a slow start for me but quickly picked up when Jessa and her aunt set out on their journey. The author combined mystery and fantasy well, and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is enchanting! Beautiful title, wonderful writing style, delightful descriptions, unique plot, & charming characters. I especially adored all the entirely lovely comparisons to flowers! There’s just enough suspense to keep you curious & still be a welcome respite from the intensity other suspenseful stories tend to carry. This is the perfect kind of book to bring outside & read on a soft blanket laid out on grass soaked in springtime sunshine. I can’t wait for more of Jessa’s adventures!
Reviewed by @lalilovely
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Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
To read a story set back in the times where women were sent away for the most natural things is something new to me, but I enjoy the realism. To have a gift or something about oneself and have to wrestle with it is hard, but the author does a good job of presenting it. I love the scenery of the landscapes and the detail that is put into the characters. The story makes it easy for curious minds to grip onto and start asking questions.
Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to expecting Whispers In the Water to be like but far exceeded them. Although this story is about fae it’s more of a mystery like Nancy Drew. There are family secrets that may harm Jessa and her family, otherworldly creatures that may or may not be a myth, all the while protecting a stranger. Definitely a good read.
Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is a delightful, magical mystery. The main character Jessa is very relatable and just trying to fit in. I love the different dynamics in the relationships in this book. I can’t wait to read the next one in the series and get swept away in a magical whodunnit style book.
Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This the first novella I have read by Sara Chislon. I was not disappointed with this one. In this novella the world building and character building was well written. You will get to see what Jessa has started and what is to come in the upcoming story. This novella takes you back to another world with the Victoriana times wording but not so much you can’t understand it. I can’t wait gto see where this author goes with this story.
Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book left me intrigued. Jessa loves a good mystery. The interesting part is that she has to keep her emotions in check because of society. It can get her in trouble. I had a bit of trouble getting into the book. It is based in Victorian times. My issue was only because I don’t usually read a lot of this type of book. It took me longer to read but I loved it. I loved the whole supernatural air and touch of supspense to the story. The characters are well-written. They were each so different and tied in so well together. The storyline is perfect for the time period. I honestly am eagerly awaiting the next book. I have grown to love this series and think you should press that button to buy it too.
Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is such a good novella to prepare the reader for the series!! Jessa is hiding her true nature from family and friends. But, when the very same are threatened by an unknown person Jessa must decide if it is time to be her true self. This book is a wonderful fantasy book that has mystery to it as well.
Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is the prequel to “Tattoo of Crimson” and it was an interesting look into Jessa’s character. She is struggling with concerns she is fae-touched which is a sentence to an asylum if anyone finds out. She accompanies her aunt to visit a friend and has to decide if the potential risk of using her abilities is worth the reward of helping the family of her aunt’s friend.
The story is a bit slow at times, but it allows for time to really get to know Jessa, and I enjoyed the mystery. I loved Jade as well.
Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Whispers in the Waters (Blood of the Fae)
By: Sarah Chislon
Review by: Susan Ratchford
5 Stars
This book was an unexpected gem with a very unique blend of fantasy and mystery! Although this book was a really quick read Chislon does a beautiful job at introducing us to the world and the characters. I still have so many questions!!!! This book serves as a prequel to her Blood of the Fae series and I for one cannot wait to learn more about Jessa’s story and her connection with nature and flowers. I love the Gaslamp fantasy setting and the way Chislon includes pure curiosity and creativity within her world. I highly recommend this novel for a cozy late night read!
Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a good read! It was a very descriptive book, especially for being as short as it was. While I enjoyed the descriptions, sometimes they were a bit much though and it made this story feel longer than it was. This book had a historical and fantasy feel, made more so by the formal language and wording used. This was a good prequel though and makes me excited to read the next book!
Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Jessa is the youngest daughter of a widowed father, who has his sister filling the void of mother for his daughters. Growing up, Jessa is inexplicably drawn to plants and flowers. They seem to want to sing to her, but her father has strictly forbidden her from pursuing such thoughts as it could lead to being “fae-touched”. People who are “fae-touched” are turned over to the Vigil, who in turn take them away to some unknown place. When her aunt is summoned to help a friend in a border town, Jessa jumps at the chance to leave their quiet town for the opportunity to sketch other plants and protect her aunt. However, she finds it harder and harder to block out the whispers as she is drawn into a mystery that must be solved before the wrong person is blamed. Can she keep the whispers at bay? Or will she find that she must embrace the whispers to solve the issue at hand?
I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters were well written, and the story moved along at a good pace. It was interesting to read how Jessa worked through her struggles and found herself in the process of solving the mystery. There is more to her story then the author let the reader in on and several questions left unanswered in regard to her family. I am looking forward to reading more about Jessa’s story!
Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The narrator/main character of this story gives me Sherlock Holmes/Nancy Drew vibes. She’s drawn to questions and puzzles and puts herself in situations she shouldn’t by sheer stubborn will.
Jessa travels with her aunt to a town called Milburn after her aunt receives a letter requesting help from a friend. In Milburn, near the Crossing, the Dyott Mill seems to be smothered in secrets and mysteries and it will take everything Jessa has, including what she’s scared of to solve the investigation and hopefully save the life of a few people.
Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This novella is a prequel to the Blood Fae series. It is the first work I have picked up from this author, and I am not disappointed. This is a quick, but compelling, read. The main character, Jessa, is relatable, and I had no problem falling into the world of the fae along with her. As Jessa struggles with coming to terms of who she really is and what she really wants, there is no shortage of mystery and intrigue, as well as vibrant storytelling. I absolutely will be looking into more work from this author. I highly recommend this short book! You will wish it were longer!
Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a really quick and fun read. It’s the prequel to a series that I am excited to read. The world building was good and the mysteries surround the main part of the story was really interesting. I hope Jessa steps out of her shell more as the story goes on. Ready for more.
Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
So this one is a huge let down for me. I grabbed it from the blurb expecting a girl and a fae world story. That is not what I got. I got a kid who tries to solve a mystery and make adult decisions while traveling with aunt. There is a small touch of fae mentioning but mot at all what I felt the blurb led me to believe. It also seemed slow moving and there is a lot of narrative which led me to skimming.
Maybe I just wasn’t in the right frame of mind when I picked it up but it was a let down for me. The cover is wonderful as is the title but it took way too long to get anywhere.
Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
5 Stars
Whispers in the Waters is the first book in the Blood of the Fae series by Sarah Chislon. This was such a wonderful little find- a surprising little gem of a story that captivated me right from the very first page. I didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did, but Ms. Chislon cleverly wove a spellbinding tale that had me engrossed the whole way through.
It is a fantastic Gaslamp fantasy with historical details, a bit of a whodunnit mystery, with masterful world building, suspense, danger, adventure, action, secrets, paranormal details, and dramatic developments- also with some dystopian elements. The worldbuilding and mystery captured my attention and imagination, and I devoured the pages just to discover how it all played out in the end.
Jessa is one of three sisters; she has a love of nature- plants in particular which prompted her herbalist interests. She may only be 16, but she really is wise beyond her years. She holds a secret, one that could cause quite a scandal in their society circles if it were to be revealed. So, she is determined to keep her secret caged within her, never to come to light. But that may not be quite so easy when she accompanies her aunt on a trip to aid an old friend. What happens when they arrive at their destination begins quite an intriguing adventure…..
I am thrilled to find that this is the start of a new series, one I am excited to continue asap.
Highly recommended.
Happy Reading…
Thank you, Sarah Chislon!
Reviewed by @angelahayes
Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book, well written fantasy novella. It is a prequel to her new series Blood of the Fae. It’s an easy read with a fantastic writing style. Set in historical Victorian times. It’s very descriptive in world building and to get you set up for more to come.
Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Whispers in the Water is a prequel novella to kick off the author’s new Blood of the Fae series. This is a Victorian gaslamp story with a slow start. There is a lot of story-building and character-building in this initial story. I enjoyed the characters and the premise. I look forward to the next book to see where this series will go. Jessa is smart and curious. I want to see how she develops as a character. The story also provided some nice intrigue and mystery. There is a lot of good here, and I can’t wait for the next book.
Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was a cross between a fantasy with the Otherworld and fae and mystery. The main character, Jessa, is an herbalist who lost her mom when she was young and now lives with her two older twin sisters, her father, and her aunt. Her aunt gets upsetting news and decides to travel towards a town near a crossing. Jessa talks her aunt into letting her tag along so she can try and figure out the mystery that her aunt is keeping secret. She also really wants to sketch the countryside. Jessa meets new people and steps out of her comfort zone to make small talk with others so she can help her aunt. It was an interesting read and I just learned it is a prequel!
Reviewed by @bibliophilenerd
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Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Jessa Caldwell comes from a proper family. One where the ladies are all proper and timid. She may try her hardest to become a proper lady but she has always known that she is different from her sisters.
Her aunt got called to help a friend in another town and Jessa offered to accompany her. What was waiting for them was not what Jessa was expecting. The friend owned a mill that had bad things happen to it over and over. Jessa takes it upon herself to find out why the mill is being targeted and by whom.
In order to do this, she must embrace her differences which makes her scared. Any woman who shows differences are considered to be fae-touched and taken away by the vigil. Jessa will do anything to restore the mill and go back home safely with her aunt.
This book was nice and slow paced, letting you get to know the main character better. There are hints of magic throughout the book. There was a lot of vocabulary about plants that I had to look up. Which was understandable considering Jessa was considered a herbalist.
This book is a prequel to another book in the series called Tattoo of Crimson. The books ends with a nice plot hook for the following book.
Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Whispers in the Waters (Blood of the Fae) by Sarah Chilson
3 Stars
Honestly, I’m not sure how I feel about this book. On one hand, the author did a wonderful job world building. The story takes place in a Victorian era. It showed the restrictions and standards that women had to live by very well. The writing and speech fit in with the era. The cursed mill was an interesting mystery to be solved and I enjoyed the paranormal aspect especially the fact that the author used the lesser Fae in her story.
On the other hand, I found the story slow. It failed to grip my attention and keep it. I prefer stories with strong female leads. Although Jessa has certain strengths, I found that she was too scared most of the time and she constantly questioned herself. Seeing as this is a prequel, I believe that she will gain confidence and become stronger as the series progresses. I found it sad that my favourite character was the cat. I believe that there are a lot of readers who will enjoy this book but for me I prefer a little more action and intensity.
Review by @Anna Hirsch
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Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The book is short and it’s very descriptive mainly because it’s a setup for the books to come. The story premise is good and enjoyable, although somewhat slow. Since this is a prequel that is understandable.
I feel like it is definitely good and makes the reader very interested in continuing into the series.
Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
3.5 stars
Whispers in the Waters is a Gaslamp fantasy novella and is the prequel to her new series the Blood of the Fae. It is an interesting premise and introduction to new worlds set in Victorian times and Otherworldly creatures. It is a short story and a slow story but I found it even slower going at times due to the formality of the writing and felt it was overly detailed. This could be because it is the setting up for what’s to come.
Whispers in the Waters introduces us to Jessa who has abilities she has hidden away for fear of what would happen if they were revealed. What is the price you would be willing to pay?
The ending was a little predictable but left questions which I’m sure will be revealed in future books. I am interested in seeing how things develop in the series and particular the first book Tattoo of Crimson
Reviewed by @jennadb
Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed reading this fantasy story. This is a new author for me which I enjoyed. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. This is a well written story that brings fae, magic and mystery into a combined engaging story to read. The characters are relatable and truly brought the story to life. They pulled me into their world with ease and had me coming back for more just to see what would happen next. I found them to be creative and unique and just added to the story’s plot. Jessa made such a great, strong, supportive character that she is my favorite of the story. Will she be able to expose truths and protect those that she holds dear? You don’t want to miss what happens with her. This is a great story to read that has great growth throughout which makes it easy to read. I highly recommend this book.
Review by @bjwagner
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Ladies don’t shame their families.
Ladies don’t confront Otherwordly threats.
Ladies certainly don’t admit some taint of the fae has touched their souls—unless they wish to find themselves confined to an Institution.
Gently-bred herbalist Jessa Caldwell is trying to be a lady. She conceals her true nature amongst her plants and her sketches—where she can almost shut out the whispers she alone hears. But a threat to her beloved aunt forces her from the comfort of home to a town perilously near an Otherworldly Crossing, with its ever-present risk of fae incursions.
To protect her aunt and the townsfolk she comes to care for, she must uncover the individual responsible for a series of increasingly dangerous attacks—but to find this saboteur will require embracing the part of herself she fears most, an act that could cost her dearly. In a world where Vigilists lock up fae-touched mortals, Jessa must decide if she’s willing to risk exposing her true nature to obtain the truth and protect those she loves.
Whispers in the Waters, a gaslamp fantasy novella, serves as the prequel to Tattoo of Crimson, the first book in the Blood of the Fae series. If you like quick-minded heroines who solve cases with logic and intuition, Otherworldly intrigues, and beautiful yet deadly fae, then you’ll love this mystery set in a world of manners and mythical monsters.
Sarah Chislon lives in Virginia with her husband and three daughters. When she’s not writing, she’s homeschooling her children and running a web development business with her husband. As an avid reader and a lifelong story-weaver, she delights in creating fantastic worlds and exploring them alongside her characters.
