rmfw logo long
Menu
  • Join!
  • Members
    • Member Hub
    • Professional Authors Alliance
  • Blog
    • Blog
    • Blog Contributors
  • Events
  • 2025 Conference
    • Conference Homepage
    • Registration
    • Keynotes
    • Agents
    • Presenters
    • Workshops
    • Thursday Intensives
    • Masterclasses
    • Add-Ons
    • Schedule
    • Program
    • Handouts
    • Sponsors
    • Scholarships
    • FAQ
      • Code of Conduct
      • Accessibility
  • Awards
    • Colorado Gold Rush Literary Awards Contest
      • Colorado Gold Rush Winners & Finalists
    • Jasmine Awards
    • Honored Guiding Members
    • PEN Awards
    • Writer of the Year Award
      • Writer of the Year Award
      • 2025 WOTY Nominations
  • Books
  • Anthology
  • Resources
    • Podcast
    • Critique Groups
    • Service Providers
    • Youth Writers Program
  • About
    • About Us
    • Board of Directors
Menu

Waterwight

Laurel McHargue

Book Cover: Waterwight
Amazon
Part of the Waterwight series:
  • Waterwight
Editions:Paperback
ISBN: 978-0996971102

CIPA EVVY Silver Award for Fantasy!

In a post-cataclysmic world threatened by stinking ooze, a brave girl searches for her missing parents with the help of talking animals and evolving powers. When a mountain spirit challenges her to save the planet, she and a flying frog must overcome a magical, malicious castle of sand and a shapeshifter who wants her dead.“

Mustn’t. Just mustn’t. Now run along and be a good girl like the others . . .”

But the protagonist in Waterwight isn’t like the others. She’s done with being shunned by those who refuse to discuss “The Event,” the global catastrophe that changed the planet, left them orphans, and continues to pose a threat to frightened survivors.

Celeste has been troubled by bizarre dreams and nightmares while living in the children’s home, and shortly after running away one night in search of answers, she questions her sanity when it appears she can communicate with animals. Delighted in other evolving powers, especially her ability to fly, she nevertheless questions a mysterious mountain spirit’s challenge that she must find the key to stopping the water--a silvery-pink, stinking ooze that destroys everything in its path.

But Celeste has no idea how to do it or why she’s the one who must find the answer. She also doesn’t know why a wicked shapeshifter wants to kill her. A flying frog, Orville, saves her from certain death and becomes her guardian as she navigates to a village of superstitious survivors on the other side of “the big water.” There, she finds other young people with emerging superpowers; they are kept isolated and in fear, though, by one old lady who disciplines the survivors.

Meanwhile, the planet continues to change in horrible ways. Although Old Man Massive tells her she must hide her true identity, he also reminds her to “never forget who you are.” Celeste must discover who she is to save the planet.

Waterwight: Book I of the Waterwight Series is the first book in a new fantasy adventure series. If you’re looking for a fantastical escape from reality, a fun, fast read for vacation, a new novel for advanced grade school readers, a little mystery and a lot of suspense—then Waterwight just might be for you! The novel is complete with an extensive synonym glossary, foreign language translations (there’s some French, Spanish, and one Japanese word) and questions for discussion.

KIRKUS REVIEWS calls Waterwight ". . . powerfully spooky, reminiscent of Neil Gaiman's Coraline. . . . "

Published: February 29, 2016
Genres:
Coming of Age, Dystopian, YA Fantasy

Tags:
Laurel McHargue

Category:

Mission Statement

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization dedicated to supporting, encouraging, and educating writers seeking publication in fiction.

Important Links

Board of Directors

By-Laws (Updated 2024)

Conference Code of Conduct

Diversity Statement

Privacy Policy

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Newsletter Signup

© 2025 Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme