• Born of Water: An Elemental Origins Novel

  • The Elemental Origins Series, Volume 1
  • By: A.L. Knorr
  • Narrated by: Gabra Zackman
  • Length: 9 hrs and 56 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (295 ratings)

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Born of Water: An Elemental Origins Novel  By  cover art

Born of Water: An Elemental Origins Novel

By: A.L. Knorr
Narrated by: Gabra Zackman
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Publisher's summary

Everything you thought you knew about mermaids is wrong.

Life for a small-town high school kid in Saltford should be simple and straightforward—for 17-year-old Targa MacAuley, it’s anything but. Navigating life with a supernatural mother is tricky enough, but dealing with the feelings of guilt that she’s never been able to "change" and confusion that she doesn’t seem to be attracted to boys (or girls for that matter), Targa feels like she’s got more demons than the average kid.

When the opportunity to salvage a mysterious wreck in the Baltic arises for her mom, a professional salvage diver by day, Targa jumps at the chance to go abroad for the summer. But it’s when she meets Antoni Baranek, and a boating accident puts them both in danger, that Targa’s world turns completely inside out in more ways than one.

Note: This audiobook includes the bonus material included in the book The Wreck of Sybellen: Excerpt from the Diary of Aleksandra Iga Novak.

©2016 Intellectually Promiscuous Press; A.L. Knorr (P)2017 Intellectually Promiscuous Press

What listeners say about Born of Water: An Elemental Origins Novel

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

great story but...

I really enjoyed the story. However, I have a huge problem with the 17 year old minor getting involved with a 27 year old man. That is not okay. Especially since this book is listed under children's books and young adult books. We should not be teaching young girls that this is ok. It is not!! There are too many young girls that are taken advantage of. We should not glorify a relationship with an older man at age 17.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Beautifully written story proving Mermaids are real.

Strong world and character development. Mermaid's must keep in contact with salt water, the saltier the better. This makes life difficult for them. Targa lives with her mother and her mother thinks her daughter will never make the change to Mermaid. On a trip to a restoration dive in the Baltic, she falls into the water and drowns. She awakens underwater able to breath hear and see perfectly. Her new life starts.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing!

This book was wonderful and a delight from start to finish. My teenage son and my 10 year old daughter both zoomed through it with complete enjoyment too. Thank you A L Knorr and Gabra Zackman!

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

YA and Adult, Confusing and Great

I really like the personalities and the differences between species as to what is perceived as important and worth worrying about. I’m a fan of elemental-based stories. This is a great twist on water, and one I’ve never personally encountered. It was a fantastically engaging story! Now to the rest of my review subject...

The YA is due to the 17/18-year olds about to become seniors in high school. I totally appreciate the realistic reversal of roles between mother and daughter. It did cause some brain glitches occasionally, since Targa “read” like an adult, but wasn’t. Yet.

I get other cultures and species have different ideas about teens and intimacy, but if you’re going to blur that line, why not twist it to 2275 and recognize if you can do something that inherently requires responsibility just in case the consequences are expensive, then you can own a company. Why wait until 18 for one and not the other?

Totally dig the book on balance.

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3 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Too creepy, 20 something guy pursuing a 17 y/o

Sorry, the romance trope was just too off-pudding for me. She's (Targa) 17, just finished her junior year of high school. Her love interest is a 20 something, and based on his work responsibilities is probably closer to 30 than 20. Just can't get past it.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Listener received this title free

I'm Hooked!

I love this book. I am addicted to the story now and must hear the entire series. I like fantasy stories very much and romance as well. This book has those things plus some action, mystery, and intrigue. The thing that I should say that is important, it is very clean and suitable for a teenager to read. And the history from the diary at the end was a nice touch too. Thank you A.L.Knorr for the great way you describe the setting without dragging it out like I've seen so authors do. I like to be able to SEE the setting but sometimes other authors share way too much detail. You have that part just right. Great Listen!

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2 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

started off great

book started off great but sizzled out towards the end. I do like how the author depicted mermaids

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Truly wonderful and since your story

I don’t usually write reviews but this one really deserved itThe story is really good, after all of the mermaid stories I’ve listened to on audible this is by far my favorite. And I greatly appreciate the little extras the author gives at the end of the book so that we can learn more about the ocean and how we can protect it. It’s clear to see she’s so sincere and passionate with her works and desires to protect the sea. I can’t wait to read the rest of her works.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Definitely added to my most favorites of all time.

Absolutely loved this book! Sirens/Mermaids have always been my favorite ever since I was a little girl. To be able to listen and learn about what their culture could be like and their everyday life was very interesting and warming to me.

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1 person found this helpful

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Great listen

I am sure that it is a great read as well, but I enjoyed the listen! Thank you Gabra.

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1 person found this helpful