To Stream an Ocean by Sharon RoseMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
The first book in the Arts of Substance series, To Form a Passage, focused on the Formers and their work with stone, whilst the second, To Weave the Wind, focused on Wind Weavers and their work with air. I suppose it's only fitting that we finally get a story that focuses on Streamers and water. It's also the first that is wholly above ground!
The king of Welcia is dead and the Dirkland Ambassador, Danivid, returns to Regissa City to take the throne. But his coronation is marred by a quake and by his sister-in-law attempting to steal the crown for her daughter, Aneen. Recent changes during his brother's reign and the state of their finances soon make Danivid question what has been happening in the years that he was away.
A repeated theme from the earlier books is the misuse of the gifts for personal gain as well as the gradual falling away from faith as a society. However, unlike the other two books, To Stream an Ocean doesn't focus as directly on Ellincreo and the gifts, even though it's woven into the background. Yes, the frequent quakes are a concern and Danivid is butting heads with Shevnal, the Chief Former, to properly protect the city, but the main concern is the use of Ambertrop, a controversial new drug that seems fine in the short term but has devastating impact in the long term.
There's a lot of lovely political intrigue going on in Regissa, including poisoning, attempted murder, and theft. Trellian - a detective/ambassador from the neighbouring country of Felverland - was an interesting addition, and whilst I predicted some turns of events, I was expecting a little reveal at the end about her background that... doesn't happen. Oh well.
If you're looking for disability representation, Aneen's development is delayed, (view spoiler). Whilst everyone ignores her, Aneen proves smart and observant despite her speech delays; she trains her Flyound dog to track down the people she loves, and her knowledge of events in the palace helps Danivid and Trellian fit the missing pieces together, even if her testimony cannot be used in court.
Overall, To Stream an Ocean is a great read, but personally, it a little weak compared to the first two books.
Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
View all my reviews
To Stream an Ocean will be available from Amazon and Kindle Unlimited on December 26,
2025. The paperback version can also be ordered from bookstores and libraries.
A note about reading order: The books of this trilogy can be enjoyed in any order. There are
some minor spoilers in novels 2 and 3, but they won’t ruin your enjoyment of earlier novels if
you read out of order.
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