The Chanters of Tremaris #2: The Waterless Sea

I loved this book almost as much as the first one. The plot actually progressed from B to C (Merithuros is now on its way towards healing) unlike some middle-of-trilogy books. I still find Kate Constable's writing very dream-like and uplifting, and I love that the Chosen One is a teenage girl with doubts and fear and drama, one who has to grow up: not just age, but deal with her feelings, cope internally with ambiguous outcomes, and learn to both weild power and command (not merely demand) respect. I think Calwyn's struggle to figure out how to relate to Darrow is realistic: he's an uncommunicative and preoccupied older male who likes her but has other things on his mind. He's just likable enough to keep the reader (and Calwyn) with him. I enjoyed Tonno as the well-meaning guy-who-doesn't-get-it. Mica became sort of irritating in this book however, as her brash defensiveness got in the way of good judgment. I also enjoyed the dichotomy between Calwyn's mystical healing and Darrow's practical, magic-free handling of daily administration in a crisis situation. Constable seems to know it takes all kinds to make a world. Her world-view is modern without being too preachily P.C., and her handling of the inner experience of magic/mysticism is a real strength.

Even from a reader who did not read the first book in this trilogy, I understood this entrire book in whole by Kate Constable's beautiful writing techniques that kept me reading every sentence and provided excellent ways of weaving information from the first book into the second. There wasn't ever a moment that I wanted to put this book down. I finished the book about three days ago, and I'm still left in the trance of the expertly drawn fantasy land of Tremaris and its interesting characters. I feel dreamy, all most, like the book hasn't ended to me yet. The relationship between Darrow and Calwyn is THE most well written one I've ever read. It literally held my breath page by page, keeping my mind guessing. I felt like I was there with everyone, breathing right beside them, their heart beating with mine, I could feel every emotion. And most definately, the end made me gasp! Now that I've finished with this one, I'm practically estatic that I will have the first book to read, and the third one when it becomes avalible. This book has everything that I love to read - suspense, romance, fantasy - and more. If you like even one of these subjects, please do read this (I might reccomend the first one first, I only read this one first because I was unaware it was in a trilogy). You'll be happy that you did.

Calwyn and her other chanter friends are out on a routine run. Their job is to put an end to piracy. Heben is a captive in a pirate ship. His goal is to find chanters that can help him free his twin siblings. They meet. Calwyn has never been herself since Darrow left. When Heben comes to her and her friends with his request for help, she can hardly refuse. Maybe it will take her mind off Darrow for a while. She has no idea what she is about to begin. Rescuing chanter children is no easy matter. Especially when, as Calwyn ventually finds out, one is being held in a palace and the other is in the lair of the iron chanters. Darrow knows he has to help her. He knows what it is like to live in the Black Palace and the dangers that come with it. When Calwyn rescues the children and, using new-found powers, begins the healing of Merithuros to prevent a war, she doesn't realize what she is about to lose. Her worst fears might have become reality after ll. The Waterless Sea is suspense through and through. Fantasy, love, danger, and friends intertwine to create a masterpiece. Kate Constable paints vivid pictures in your mind. She shows you everything, even the character's expressions and feelings. You feel as if you are three different people all at once. You feel different emotions; you see different things, and yet it's as if you aren't in the least confused by it. It seems natural. The Waterless Sea is so different from any other book that the reader almost expects the same feelings the next time he/she picks up a book. You love the tons of different feelings running through you, and yet you hate them too. You want something to happen; you're sure it's going to; every sense in your body encourages the words to be as they want them, but it is never as you want. Something different and unexpected happens each time. When you come to the end of the book, which is by no means the end of the adventure, you reread the end again and again, unbelieving. You almost feel like if you read it again, it will change, but it never does. Readers will have a hard time waiting for the third in the Chanters of Tremaris Trilogy. Reviewed by a Flamingnet Student Reviewer at www.flamingnet.com

Kate Constable has, if anything, surpassed her first book, The Singer of All Songs. The Waterless Sea pulls you in very quickly and takes you on an immersive journey through a fully developed world. Like the first book, both the physical world and all the characters are deep and rich. On those few occasions when one of the players might edge towards the line that separates three dimensional characters from caricatures, the author keeps the story on a very tight leash and pulls you along, involved and enmeshed. For a real treat, listen to both books on unabridged audio and the world of Tremaris will become even richer and more real. I can't wait for the next installment.

Calwyn and her friends have traveled to the deserts of Merithuros, a harsh, dry, and desolate land, in search of the Palace of Cobwebs. While searching for evidence of chantment there, they learn that children have been kidnapped and are being forced to use their magical gifts against their wills. Meanwhile, Darrow, who is having difficulty coming to terms with his past after their encounter with Samis, the evil sorcerer who hopes to control their land of Tremaris, forms his own alliance with a group of rebels. Now, Calwyn begins to wonder if she can even trust him anymore. I was very eager to read this book, the second in the Chanter of Tremaris trilogy, because I absolutely loved the story and characters of the first book. I am happy to say I was not disappointed. I recommend this book to all readers who enjoyed the first book, and teen readers who enjoy fantasy should definitely give this trilogy a try. I can't wait to read the final book, The Tenth Power.