Of Water and Dance by Leslie Griffin is a high fantasy novel that revolves around the themes of destiny and fate, and how the paths we take can alter not just our own lives, but potentially the lives of everyone around us. The book begins with a woman attempting to save a man she loves and the meeting it elicits. A revelation is made and the woman, Liliat, is given another future by a powerful Leviathan. The story then shifts to Bane, an ill prince from a cursed family in a matriarchal realm who must, for the salvation of the line, find a true queen with true power. Magic is drying up, as the home of those who harbor it is shrinking after a division between the mortal humans and the Gods. When the “glowing children” are separated, a cataclysmic revelation is the powder keg that rocks the Royals and the realm to its core.

Oops. That was my response when I finally finished and put Of Water and Dance down. Leslie Griffin writes beautifully and her skill at developing lifelike characters is really good. The pacing occasionally felt a little slow but when there's a twist, all the details that seemed superfluous at the time come together. It's unexpected and brilliant. My favorite character is Evengel. The theme of the power of womanhood is undiminished and made more authentic when she, a female with budding magic power and worthy of respect, is still subjected to the harassment of men. Griffin subtly shows us the disparity between men and women, and the reduction of even the most powerful women to sexualization by mere mortals. This is a wonderful novel that ticks all the boxes and I am certain others who read it will feel the same. Highly recommended.

Follow the labyrinth of clues and characters and unravel a story of destiny. The gods have been imprisoned deep within a forest until one day a priestess finds a leviathan and must choose between four fates. Her decision creates a crack in the wall between mortals and gods, which weaves the lives of an unlikely few together. Golden twins, a dying prince, a soldier with a secret, and a seer find themselves caught up in an ancient secret that could heal the land once more in this enchanting tale by Leslie Griffin. Will healing the land and the magic cost them the ultimate price? If you love fantasy, epics, mythology, or just a wonderful tale, Of Water and Dance is definitely for you.

Leslie Griffin’s characters are beautiful, not only in their physical beauty but in their individual, strong personalities. They abound with fresh fantasy elements as well as being relatable and full of resolve. I wanted to dance with Evengel and fight beside Rae. The descriptions in Of Water and Dance have a haunting beauty that gives the book depth, and I loved them. The plot is meticulously woven and, like an enchanting tapestry, took me on a fantastic journey. It is a story that I could read again and again. This is an intricately crafted work and I can’t wait for the next book, or better still, a whole series!