This book starts out like a fantasy version of the hitler's reign. Anyone in Abisina's village that did not conform to their standards were outcasts and treated like dogs. They weren't allowed the privileges (meager though they were) that the other villagers were allowed. Then the purging happens, and Abisina barely survives.Through some harrowing adventures, she finds her father and that she is more prejudiced against beings than she thought. It was an interesting book. I did enjoy it, but her prejudices drove me a little nuts. I could understand to a certain point, but when she cast her fear against all members after her bad experience, I wanted to hit her upside the head.All in all, a good book. This book is about a girl named Abisina, raised in a village, Vranille, that had outcast her because of the color of her hair and skin, and for not having a father. Her mother's status as the village healer has kept her safe. However, when Vranille's idol/leader arrives in Vranille, Abisina's life is torn apart. She escapes the outcast slaughtering and tries to find her father and his home that she has never seen.One of the key themes in this book is the difference in culture and atmosphere in Vranille and Watersmeet. In Vranille, the people are judged on whether they have traits similar to the "idea" of Vran, a person of some sort of god-like existence to them. Whether they carried these traits determined what status they had in the village, or if they were outcast. These traits could vary from hair and skin color to personality traits that may detract them from being like Vran; "The others were outcast as older children or adults, where hidden flaws were discovered: ominous birthmarks, missing digits, simplemindedness, excessive timidity, or softness- any trait that moved them further from Vran's Paragon of beauty, intelligence, strength, and bravery" (page 16). The villagers were also subject to the Elders of Vranille, who were similar to religious leaders, and lived in poverty as they sacrificed food to Vran. However, in Watersmeet,the people were much more accepting of each other, regardless of their appearance or race. In fact, the town was founded by Vigar, a woman who hoped that all races (fauns, centaurs, dwarves, humans, minotaurs, and other "evil" races) would be able to live peacefully with each other. Also, the atmosphere in Watersmeet was that of a place where people were treated equally, in comparison to Vranille who compare its own people with their Vran's Paragon.Another key theme in this story is the main characters, Abisina, identity issues, concerning whether she belongs to Watersmeet or Vranille. Her main conflict with this the fact that she was despised in Vranille for her dark features and the fact she didn't have a father, even among other the other outcasts. She continually struggles with this, even after she arrives in Watersmeet and meets her father. However, when she finds about her father being a shape-shifter (shifting between a man and a centaur), she runs away and begins to confront him about her suffering in Vranille because of her resemblance to him and the fact that she was raised to despise centaurs in Vranille. Eventually though, she comes to accept her heritage and try to be on friendly terms with centaurs in Watersmeet.I think that people who enjoy adventure and fantasy in books would like this book because it focuses on a different perspective of the world that the main character, Abisina, lives in.
What do You think about Watersmeet (2009)?
Very good, but I don't like that her father dies at the end. Why can't he live?
—saritangel696
I think teen girls will like this gothic feel romance. Interesting twist.
—mypalaldog
Stumbled upon this one at the library...giving it a try :)
—kashishk36
