In The Things We Water, Mariana Zapata delivers a genre-defying blend of romance, paranormal fantasy, and emotional intimacy — a story as much about the strength of motherhood as it is about the mysteries of magic. For readers who have followed Zapata’s rise from contemporary slow-burn expert to full-fledged fantasy storyteller, this book is a daring and graceful expansion of her signature style.
Set against the rugged beauty of Colorado and the whispering unknowns of magical lineage, the novel explores how love — romantic, familial, and communal — can heal even the deepest fractures. Zapata’s characteristic slow-burn pacing takes root here in a story not just of two people falling in love, but of a woman finally discovering where she belongs.
Story Overview: A Magical Escape from Isolation
Nina Popoca has spent most of her life trying to stay invisible — hiding in plain sight with a mysteriously magical puppy named Duncan and a list of unanswered questions about both her past and her present. Her life is nomadic, her job precarious, and her future uncertain. But everything changes the day Duncan sprouts flames and his eyes turn red.
Desperate to protect her magical companion and herself from a world that wouldn’t understand, Nina seeks sanctuary at a private ranch in Colorado known to be a haven for magical beings. There, she meets Henri Blackrock — aloof, enormous, and definitely not thrilled to have a stranger crashing his sanctuary. A bargain is struck: Nina can stay if she agrees to a marriage of convenience with Henri.
But as secrets begin to unravel and the stakes grow higher, Nina realizes the ranch holds more than just answers to Duncan’s identity — it holds the key to her own transformation.
Characters that Anchor the Magic
Nina Popoca: A Mother in the Midst of Mayhem
Nina is a refreshingly unconventional fantasy protagonist. She’s not a warrior, not a chosen one, and not particularly gifted — at least at first. But her fierce love for Duncan, her instincts for survival, and her empathy toward even the strangest creatures make her magnetic. Mariana Zapata writes Nina with quiet power, allowing her growth to feel earned, raw, and unfiltered.
What’s most compelling about Nina isn’t her latent magic or mysterious origins — it’s her unshakable will to protect a creature she calls family, even when she doesn’t understand him. Her journey is one of emotional empowerment, not just magical awakening.
Henri Blackrock: A Gentle Giant in Werewolf’s Clothing
Henri begins the story with all the gruff, silent alpha energy romance readers expect — but Zapata is careful not to reduce him to a trope. As the story progresses, Henri’s complexity unfurls. He’s a man burdened by duty, protective to the point of paranoia, and still scarred from losses he doesn’t speak about.
His growing affection for Nina and Duncan develops slowly, through small gestures, subtle shifts in body language, and rare but potent words. Zapata gives Henri space to be vulnerable, especially in the second half of the novel, where his protective instincts blossom into something deeply romantic and emotionally rich.
Duncan: The Emotional and Magical Centerpiece
Duncan might be the most original character Zapata has written to date. A fiery-tailed, telepathic not-quite-puppy who exudes personality and evokes fierce emotional attachment from the reader, Duncan is a symbol of innocence, transformation, and the unknown.
As Duncan evolves, so too does Nina — not just as a caretaker, but as a woman reclaiming agency in a world she never fully understood.
Core Themes: Belonging, Self-Discovery, and Magical Motherhood
Chosen Bonds Over Blood Ties
One of the most touching aspects of The Things We Water is its unwavering celebration of chosen family. Nina isn’t biologically tied to Duncan, and Henri isn’t immediately warm or welcoming, yet the trio forms a family through shared struggle and unconditional trust.
This theme is echoed throughout the ranch community, where centaurs, witches, werewolves, and other magical creatures coexist in secrecy, bonded more by empathy than ancestry.
The Emotional Labor of Parenthood
Unlike many fantasy novels where children are plot devices or absent altogether, this book centers maternal love in all its rawness. Nina’s exhaustion, fear, joy, and fierce protectiveness are not romanticized — they are deeply human, grounding the more fantastical elements in emotional reality.
Her bond with Duncan transcends species and logic. It is this love that drives the story forward, making the stakes feel immediate and compelling.
The Quiet Strength of Ordinary Magic
There are no epic battles, no world-ending wars. Instead, Zapata crafts a narrative where magic exists in the everyday: in shared meals, in the rustling of trees, in the flick of a fiery tail. This understated approach allows the emotional depth of the story to shine, particularly in scenes where Nina must navigate life-altering choices.
Writing Style: A Slow-Burn Symphony
Zapata’s prose remains as intimate and unhurried as ever. Fans familiar with her past works — such as Luna and the Lie or From Lukov with Love — will recognize her love for inner monologues, deeply personal observations, and dialogue that builds emotional tension rather than exposition.
In The Things We Water, this writing style serves the fantasy genre surprisingly well. The slow pacing gives readers time to immerse themselves in the ranch’s rhythms, to learn its rules organically, and to fall in love with its eccentric inhabitants.
Yet the most impressive element of her prose here is how seamlessly she blends modern language with mythic undertones. A conversation about magical fire or enchanted contracts might be laced with sarcasm and warmth, making the mystical feel refreshingly familiar.
Highlights and Memorable Elements
- Original Worldbuilding: From water spirits to shapeshifting wolves, Zapata introduces a unique magical society hidden in the Rockies, where rules are enforced with kindness rather than fear.
- Authentic Dialogue: Every character speaks with a voice that feels real — witty, flawed, human. The humor throughout the book keeps the tone buoyant even during heavy moments.
- Wholesome Romance: The love story is rooted in emotional respect, mutual care, and shared burdens. There are no power games or toxic dynamics — just two people learning how to coexist, then how to love.
- Strong Emotional Arcs: Every major character undergoes transformation, not just physically or magically, but emotionally. Growth is gradual, but deeply satisfying.
Constructive Criticism
- Exposition-Heavy Midsections: There are portions where Nina receives long explanations about magical lore or ranch politics, which slightly stall the narrative flow.
- Limited Conflict Beyond the Ranch: Most of the story takes place in one setting, which creates intimacy but occasionally lacks broader stakes.
- Secondary Characters Could Shine More: While the main cast is rich and layered, a few side characters feel underutilized — especially those from the magical council.
- Predictable Romance Structure: As with most of Zapata’s works, readers will likely anticipate the romantic beats early on, although the journey remains worthwhile.
Similar Reads for Fans
- The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen – for the blend of fantasy and romance with emotional depth
- Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett – for academic meets whimsical magical realism
- Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree – for its cozy, low-stakes fantasy world with high emotional returns
- The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata – for fans who want to revisit Zapata’s classic slow-burn dynamic in a new genre
Final Thoughts: An Enchanting Tale for the Soul
Mariana Zapata has always excelled at writing stories that build slowly but last forever. With The Things We Water, she expands her canvas to include myth, magic, and maternal love — without sacrificing her core strengths: authenticity, intimacy, and emotional resonance.
It’s a book about what we nurture — our children, our relationships, and the homes we create. It doesn’t try to shock with plot twists or overwhelm with lore. Instead, it invites readers to sit down, stay awhile, and fall in love with a quiet kind of magic.
The Things We Water is an emotionally rich and genre-blending fantasy that proves Zapata’s storytelling heart thrives wherever she plants it — especially when love is what’s being watered.