“Progress is like water. It will always find a way”

Bursting with mystery and intrigue, The Shadow of Water, is full of danger at every turn. Set against the backdrop of 1914 London, the series (my review of book 1 here) continues with Lily and her friends as they confront another twisted tale that could have dire consequences if not unraveled.

As the world is on the brink of falling to war, Lily has a vision of a cataclysmic event that she knows must be stopped at all costs. Together with Strangford and the other members of The Refuge, they must use their gifts as Charismatics in order to prevent the disaster before its too late. It took me a while to get into this one. For me, it didn’t build as easily as The Fire in the Glass but then, I also recognise that Lily is growing into her powers in this book and that meant some back and forth. 

There was definitely a strong sense of foreboding throughout the book. Though its set on the eve of World War I, it was more than that. The characters were on the precipice of huge change in the world and for themselves. I especially loved reading Sam in this book, and look forward to seeing him develop as a character in his own right.

“The door of The Refuge will always be open to you”

My love of The Refuge really grew with this book. Admittedly, I was skeptical early on about whether I really believed Lily’s bond to the other members of The Refuge outside Strangford. Lily’s relationship with the other members of The Refuge is still growing, and given how much time passed between The Shadow of Water and The Fire in the Glass, that’s how it should be. By the end of The Shadow of Water, I felt almost teary as certain events around The Refuge took place.

The strongest part of the book for me was Lily’s relationship with Strangford. Their dynamic grew not just between them, but I loved reading as they navigated the reality of Lily’s social standing and the reactions from members of the Ton. Above all, a good deal of this book is Lily and Strangford solidifying what they want and having the confidence to take it.

“Stop. Ask for what you want” 

I definitely think I’ve grown into the Charismatics as a series. The Shadow of Water did take some time to come together but its ultimately a well-researched and well-structured follow up in the series.

Thanks to BookSirens for providing an ARC of this book, I am leaving this review voluntarily.