Troubled Waters

Elemental Blessings, Book 1

By: Sharon Shinn

Narrated by: Jennifer Van Dyck

Length: 13 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

The author of the Twelve Hours series welcomes readers to a new fantasy world, where the elements rule.

Zoe Ardelay receives astonishing and unwelcome news: she has been chosen to become the king's fifth wife. Forced to go to the royal city, she manages to slip away and hide on the shores of the mighty river.

It's there that Zoe realizes she is a coru prime, ruled by the elemental sign of water. She must return to the palace, not as an unwilling bride for the king, but a woman with power in her own right. But as Zoe unlocks more of the mysteries of her blood - and the secrets of the royal family - she must decide how to use her great power to rise above the deceptions and intrigue of the royal court.

©2010 Sharon Shinn (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"This entertaining and suspenseful story is full of lively characters, and the intriguing new system of magic and politics provides plenty of potential for sequels." ( Publishers Weekly)

"Filled with vivid characters, beautiful scenery, sweet friendships, surprising destinies, political intrigue, mystery, a slow satisfying romance, and an interesting take on personality types, Troubled Waters by Sharon Shinn is a book that just feels good." ( Fantasy Literature)

Good story... but it just ENDS

What made the experience of listening to Troubled Waters the most enjoyable?

Narration was nice... Zo is an amazing woman, although it's never explained where her talents/worldliness comes from. She's thrown into a new world, and just adapts... I guess as a Coru woman....

Any additional comments?

The story just ends... the last hour or two are so dramatic and then it's as if the author was in a hurry to finish or was tired of writing. The same drama/plot/dialogue was not put into the last part as the rest of the book. It was very hurried along to get it over with.

lovely, lovely, lovely!

i just love sharon shinn's writing. this one is rather slower paced than most and it took me a while to get into. in fact, i nearly gave up after part 1 but decided to stick with it. the pace really picks up at the beginning of part 2.

i thoroughly enjoyed this book. the characters are interesting, the reading excellent and the world-view created is beautifully thought through. i was really sorry to get to the end and frantically searched audible for more of sharon's work. i had a thoroughly enjoyable 10 hours or so listening. am so looking forward for the rest of the series. one of my most enjoyable listens on audible. more sharon shinn. please!

Fun, nice ideas, and not too challenging

What I liked about this story
The fully fleshed culture. Sharon Shinn really knows how to create a culture with a fully realized set of beliefs, and traditions. And she carries this through very well, explaining celebrations, as well as daily rituals and interactions. It feels like a real place that I would love to go to and study, it's full bodied! I also enjoyed how we really move around the whole world, following our character through a nice variety of living situations. We really get a sense of how everyone lives, and how this world sustains itself. I belive this storys strengths are in these day to day reactions and lives. The window into each little world contained within the larger whole. It's the over arching connection that is a little weak.

What I didn't like
The love story is a bit weak, a long the lines of "And they were soul mates, Ta-da!" The main character is almost a little too powerful, and a little too unchecked. Answers were sometimes a little to ready at hand. Evil characters are too easily an embodiment of all ills.

Overall, I enjoyed a lot of the elements of this book, and it's a nice light-hearted listen. I will probably listen to this again in a casual manner if I'm doing housework or the like.

Easy entertainment

Would you consider the audio edition of Troubled Waters to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the printed version, so it's hard to say. But the performance is fine, and allows us to engage in the story, so it works great as an audio book.

What did you like best about this story?

This story is an easy read (or listen), with an engaging story, likable characters and enough court intrigue to make things interesting. Although you can guess where the romantic interest will be rather early on, as "brain candy" this story is the perfect entertainment when you don't want to think too hard afterwards. At the same time, it's not so fluffy and light that your teeth will ache (as per the candy reference).

Sharon Shinn has created a very interesting world in this novel, and I'd love to read more stories from it.

Which character – as performed by Jennifer Van Dyck – was your favorite?

I liked the heroine, but over all I thought most of the characters were well thought out and performed. Sometimes Van Dyck couldn't keep the accents straight, but it wasn't much of a problem.

Any additional comments?

Go listen to this! :)

Hard to follow

Would you try another book from Sharon Shinn and/or Jennifer Van Dyck?

yes..mabe

What do you think your next listen will be?

not sure

Would you listen to another book narrated by Jennifer Van Dyck?

mabe

Do you think Troubled Waters needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

no

Any additional comments?

This book has a great plot...overall...but seams the little things were hard to follow....left alot of questions of why this and why that...could just be me...couldn't really place a face with the main characters....

Not up my alley

This was a hard book to listen to and to become immersed in. I felt distracted by the unfamiliar words and they gave me the impression that if I were to see the written word, I might understand it a little more.

The narrator did a great job and I enjoyed her voice.

Some of the points in the story felt like they were tossed in just for the shock value and no obvious plot movement. There were points where the story felt thin, boring, or even slow. The points that sparked excitement in me as a reader were few and far between. I’m not sold on reading another book by Shinn, but I hx

loved the world this author creates.

This was easy to listen to, and engaging. Really enjoyed this book and the characters.

Gotta love a strong woman

What was one of the most memorable moments of Troubled Waters?

I personally love when an author creates a new social structure within the story. In this case, the world the characters reside in is dictated by random fortunes that are drawn when a child is first born. These fortunes don't necessarily reveal themselves in obvious ways, but definitely play a part in creating the personality of their recipients.

Any additional comments?

One thing I don't particularly like about this story is how obnoxious the main character starts to sound. I think she stops being all sensible and strong, and instead starts to sound downright bossy.

Absolutely Delightful Shinn Series!

It is a joy to once again read the work of a talented author who crafts entertaining, well crafted stories with skillfully developed characters.
I look forward to reading the next book.

Captivating book!

An avid reader of fantasy fiction, I have held author Juliet Marillier in high esteem. Sharon Shinn now shares that high standing. I loved Troubled Waters! I was excited by the theme of the 5 elements throughout the story. I loved Shinn's writing, level of detail and her ability to tie up all loose ends in a coherent way. I also loved actor Jennifer Van Dyck's exquisite reading. I highly recommend this book to all fantasy enthusiasts. I look forward to reading subsequent books in the series.