This entry is part 46 of 80 in the series Reviews

The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky by David Litwack has launched! This fabulous title is available now on all online retailers and in your local book stores. You aren’t going to want to miss this new literary journey exploring the clash between reason and faith, and the power of hope and love.

The Book

After centuries of religiously motivated war, the world has been split in two. Now the Blessed Lands are ruled by pure faith, while in the Republic, reason is the guiding light—two different realms, kept apart and at peace by a treaty and an ocean.

Summary: A mysterious nine-year-old from the Blessed Lands sails into the lives of a couple in the Republic, claiming to be the Daughter of the Sea and the Sky. Is she a troubled child longing to return home, or a powerful prophet sent to unravel the fabric of the Republic? The answer will change the lives of all she meets… and perhaps their world as well.

Author: David Litwack
Genre: Fantasy/Speculative Literary Fiction
Publisher: Evolved Publishing

My Review

When religion and reason are at odds there is rarely peace. When a world is divided between those who worship Gods and those who prize logic and productivity above all else, war is the result. When a beautiful girl with golden hair arrives on the shores of the land of reason, Helena and Jason are immediately taken with her, so when the government steps in to take control of the girl from across the sea, they know it is up to them to make sure she is taken care of, but would they feel the same if they knew the storm that would arise from taking in the daughter of the Sea and the Sky?
David Litwack’s The Daughter of the Sea and the Sky is set in a fictional world divided by geography and belief. There is a slight steampunk vibe to the novel, but I wouldn’t classify it in that genre since the elements that make it feel that way do more to make the setting feel unique as opposed to being focused on that aspect of the world. Jason and Helena must sort out their feelings for each other and for the mysterious little girl that washed up on the beach as they strive to keep her safe from those who would worship her and those that would see her destroyed.

THE GOOD
The book is clever and well written. The emotions and reactions feel genuine as the reader is drawn into the story. I enjoyed the setting and the clash of ideologies that is front in center during the entire story. All of the characters are highly detailed, making it very easy to picture them mentally, and their complexity brings the setting to life in a way that allows it to overcome the book’s flaws.

THE BAD
This is not a fast read by any stretch. The same wonderful conflict of ideas that the story must traverse lends itself to lengthy exposition and that slows the book down to a snail’s pace in sections. Let me be clear here, I don’t mind a slow pace, but something about this book kept me thinking that at any moment the action would start in earnest, but it took so long for the conflict to get ratcheted up that I almost lost interest.

THE TAKEAWAY
I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it, especially if you’re looking for something to read in the evening. It’s a good book tackling a complex topic and it is filled with well written characters and settings that will stay in your mind for some time to come.