My first impressions of to the Waters and the Wilds mostly held up. From the beginning it starts out beautifully atmospheric. The opening dream sequence gives you a feeling of an old or timeless Scotland that is mirrored in the cover image. The writing is solid and it seems like it will be a great read for any historical fiction fans. Great characters are introduced and a viable love-interest is set up for romancing. That being said, there isn't much substance to it. The dialogue can be awkward, the characters can be obtuse, and overall the book is pretty predictable. If you're looking for a light read when you're lacking concentration and you're into historical romance this would be great.