The Things We Water by Mariana Zapata blends fantasy, slow-burn romance, and paranormal wonder into a heartfelt story about belonging, sacrifice, and motherhood. Known for her signature emotional pacing and deep character introspection, Zapata ventures into magical realism with this 2025 release — and the results are both tender and triumphant.
Plot Summary: A New Kind of Fairytale
Nina Popoca is just trying to survive — emotionally, physically, and magically. Living a nomadic life in her RV with her puppy, Duncan, her reality turns from quaint to chaotic when Duncan’s true nature begins to emerge. With a flaming tail, red eyes, and magic that defies classification, Duncan is no ordinary dog — he’s a powerful being with unknown origins.
In search of answers and safety, Nina travels to a hidden ranch in Colorado: a secret haven for magical creatures who live in peace and secrecy. The only catch? To stay, she must join the community — and that means marriage. Enter Henri Blackrock: Nina’s best friend’s brooding cousin and the reluctant gatekeeper to the ranch’s hidden world. What starts as an act of duty slowly unfolds into something far deeper, and far more complicated.
Characters: Found Family, Magical Beings, and One Protective Cinnamon Roll
Nina Popoca: A Refreshing Heroine
Nina is a testament to Mariana Zapata’s ability to write strong, kind, and grounded female protagonists. She’s funny, resilient, fiercely loyal, and refreshingly maternal — not in a soft-focus way, but in the messy, panicked, do-everything-for-your-kid kind of way. Her bond with Duncan forms the emotional core of the novel. Nina is a heroine who feels like she could be your best friend, and her unwavering commitment to protect her magical pup gives this fantasy romance its pulse.
Duncan: A Mythical Mystery
Duncan, the not-a-puppy-but-also-still-a-puppy, steals every scene he’s in. He’s not just cute — he’s complex. The subtle progression of his telepathy, his flame-tipped tail, and his unexplained origins contribute to one of the most fascinating magical creatures in recent paranormal fiction. His character is as central as any human in the book and handled with remarkable nuance.
Henri Blackrock: The Grump With a Soft Center
Henri starts off as an enigma — hulking, stern, and more wolf than man. But Zapata unravels his emotional layers with the slow-burn precision she’s famous for. His protectiveness over the ranch (and eventually, Nina and Duncan) stems from trauma, duty, and deeply buried loneliness. Watching Henri transform from brooding gatekeeper to partner and father figure is one of the most satisfying emotional arcs in the story.
Themes: Magic, Motherhood, and Identity
The Power of Chosen Family
At its heart, The Things We Water is a book about chosen family. Nina isn’t Duncan’s biological mother, but her love for him is no less real. The ranch isn’t her birthplace, but it becomes her home. The story insists that family is defined not by blood, but by commitment, sacrifice, and unconditional love.
Magical Realism Meets Everyday Struggles
Despite the presence of werewolves, satyrs, shapeshifters, and even a Jenny Greenteeth, the book feels grounded in very human emotions. Nina struggles with housing, employment, parental fear, and self-doubt — issues any single parent would recognize. The magic enhances the stakes, but never overwhelms the core of the story.
Unraveling Identity in a Magical World
Nina’s mystery lineage and Duncan’s unknown origins are handled with sensitivity and open-ended curiosity. The book doesn’t rush to label either of them, instead letting them define their worth through actions and choices. This thematic patience echoes the author’s famous romantic pacing.
Zapata’s Signature Slow-Burn, Applied to Magic
Mariana Zapata is known for her slow-burn romance style, and in The Things We Water, she applies that same technique to world-building and emotional stakes. The first third of the book gently establishes Nina’s past, Duncan’s mystery, and the introduction to the ranch. The pacing is deliberate, immersive, and emotionally rich — though some readers might find it slower than typical fantasy fare.
What makes “The Things We Water” work is the depth of emotional investment. Every reveal feels earned. Every relationship is built from the ground up, with trust forming before affection. The romance between Nina and Henri simmers rather than burns, but when it finally ignites, it feels authentic, satisfying, and inevitable.
Strengths
- Unique Magical World: The ranch’s secretive magical community — complete with werewolves, satyrs, centaurs, and ancient folklore creatures — feels richly imagined and seamlessly integrated with the modern world.
- Emotional Authenticity: Zapata nails the emotional reality of being a parent to a non-human child. Nina’s protectiveness, anxiety, and even humor feel deeply real.
- Character-Driven Fantasy: Every magical encounter is filtered through personal stakes. This isn’t just fantasy for spectacle — it’s fantasy for emotional truth.
- Original Creature Lore: Duncan is a standout addition to fantasy creatures, and his evolution is unpredictable yet grounded.
- Inclusivity of Mythology: The book subtly references Mexican, Norse, and other world mythologies without cultural appropriation. It feels respectful and rooted.
Weaknesses
- Pacing in the First Third: The introduction could feel sluggish for readers expecting traditional fantasy urgency. The first 100 pages focus heavily on backstory and character introspection.
- Information Dumping at Times: Some sections include extensive mythological or magical exposition, which may disrupt the narrative flow for some.
- Henri’s Emotional Development Could Be Deeper: While compelling, Henri’s character arc sometimes leans on genre tropes and could have benefitted from more internal monologue or flashbacks.
- A Few Predictable Plot Points: The “marriage requirement” plot device, while well-executed, won’t surprise seasoned romance readers.
Comparison to Zapata’s Other Works
While Mariana Zapata is best known for contemporary romance like The Wall of Winnipeg and Me or All Rhodes Lead Here, The Things We Water shows her growing range. The tone here is warmer, more whimsical, and rooted in magical realism rather than sports or slow-burn office romance. But the emotional scaffolding is the same: complex characters, platonic love turning romantic, and personal growth driving the plot.
Fans of From Lukov with Love will appreciate the quiet, character-centered evolution. And those who loved the protective energy in Kulti or Wait for It will recognize a similar dynamic in Henri.
Readers Who Will Love This Book
- Fans of slow-burn fantasy romance like Radiance by Grace Draven
- Readers of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
- Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree – for its cozy, low-stakes fantasy world with high emotional returns
- Lovers of found-family stories and character-driven plots
- Readers who prefer maternal protagonists and non-traditional family dynamics
- Paranormal romance fans who want a fresh take on creature lore
Final Verdict
The Things We Water is Mariana Zapata’s most ambitious and genre-bending book to date. It’s a tender, funny, and poignant tale about motherhood, identity, and the strange ways magic sneaks into our lives. While it retains her signature slow-burn style, this foray into fantasy is bolder, more imaginative, and deeply heartfelt.
Whether you’re here for the magical mystery, the slow-burn romance, or just to follow a woman and her fire-tailed puppy across the country, you’ll find something to cherish in this story. It’s a beautifully weird, emotionally grounded paranormal romance that proves love — real, messy, and magical — can bloom in the strangest places.
