Eye of the Tempest (Jane True book 4) by Nicole Peeler

 

I love it when an author allows her character to grow and change and evolve. And Nicole Peeler has Jane growing up in many, many, ways.

I also love what Ms. Peeler does with the metaphysics in Eye of the Tempest , the possibilities out there for someone who can do magic with water... very creative and somewhat mindblowing, at times.

That's not to say I enjoyed the entire book. I don't enjoy being teased, and there was way too much of that going on. Enough that I'll be taking at least one point away. There were also issues with pacing, though I'm not sure if that was enough for another whole point or not.

Here's the blurb:

Nothing says "home" like being attacked by humans with very large guns, as Jane and Anyan discover when they arrive in Rockabill. These are professionals, brought into kill, and they bring Anyan down before either Jane or the barghest can react. Seeing Anyan fall awakens a terrible power within Jane, and she nearly destroys herself taking out their attackers.

Jane wakes, weeks later, to discover that she's not the only thing that's been stirring. Something underneath Rockabill is coming to life: something ancient, something powerful, and something that just might destroy the world.

Jane and her friends must act, striking out on a quest that only Jane can finish. For whatever lurks beneath the Old Sow must be stopped...and Jane's just the halfling for the job.

There were a few other minor annoyances, but I won't talk about them too much as they would be spoilers. Mostly, it was a good book and I approve of the direction it appears things are going.

As for the writing elements:

• The plot was exceptionally well thought out and begins a whole passel of new arcs that will probably last through at least three or four more books.
• Pacing had issues - way too slow in some places and almost frenetic in others. Frenetic I can handle, but the slow periods were a problem.
• Prose and dialogue were mostly okay. Dialogue was great, and the snippiness was fantastic, but a few times the extravagant writing pulled me out of the story. Ms. Peeler is a great wordsmith, but at times it felt more like being a wordsmith than being a storyteller. I did enjoy the dozen or so laugh-out-loud moments, though.
• Character development continues to be stellar. We see a different side of Anyan, one I enjoyed seeing. We've seen him from a distance, it was nice to get to know him a bit better.
• World-building is amazing in the whole series, and book four continues that trend.

Book six in this series will be Tempest's Fury, and is apparently not going to be released until the summer of 2012. I don't want to wait that long for the next book.

• Book Rating: Eye of the Tempest: 9 of 10
• Series Rating: 9 of 10

1. Tempest Rising
2. Tracking the Tempest (July 1, 2010)
3. Tempest's Legacy (January 1, 2011)
4. Eye of the Tempest  (August 1, 2011)
5. Tempest's Fury

 

Tempest's Legacy (Jane True book 3) by Nicole Peeler

 

Can Tempest's Legacy really only be the third book in this series? So much has happened, and I know so much about this world, it seems as if it should be the fifth book. But it is, indeed, the third.

I rated the first book in this series a 9 of 10, the second book an 8 of 10, and I believe the third book, Tempest's Legacy, hits a home run with a 10 of 10.

There are no spoilers here for Tempest's Legacy, but if you haven't read the first two books in the series then you should probably stop here and read my review for Tempest Rising and Tracking the Tempest.

In Tempest's Legacy Jane is finally coming into her powers, and is beginning to feel more confident about who she is. I've wanted this for her from the beginning, so I was very happy to see this side of Jane.

We've seen a bit of a love triangle since the beginning, and let me say that I'm pretty happy with the events of Tempest's Legacy where that is concerned, too.  I can't wait until August when the next book, Eye of the Tempest, comes out. I also can't wait to see the cover for it.

Speaking of the covers - I almost didn't read this series because of the covers. Now that I'm into the series, I love the covers. They tell us so much about the books, and do such a good job of reminding me what was in each book, just by looking at the cover. The cover artist deserves serious kudos.

But back to a review of what is in the book: We see most of the people we've met in previous books, including plenty of Ryu and Anyan. We also meet some very interesting new people.  People who make this world that much more interesting, and who are probably going to play important parts in future events.

I also love where the author is taking the metaphysics of this world. I can't say much more without spoiling, so I'll stop there.

Here's the blurb:

After a peaceful hiatus at home in Rockabill, Jane True thinks that her worst problem is that she still throws like a girl - at least while throwing fireballs. Her peace of mind ends, however, when Anyan arrives one night with terrible news . . . news that will rock Jane's world to its very core.

After demanding to help investigate a series of gruesome attacks on females -- supernatural, halfling, and human -- Jane quickly finds herself forced to confront her darkest nightmares as well as her deepest desires.

And she's not sure which she finds more frightening.

I love the worldbuilding in this very unique series. Also, the main story arc threading its way through the books gives a lot of room for thought. Nicole Peeler has created a fantastic world, with good characters making their way through this world.

As for the writing elements:

• There are multiple plots, some carried forward from previous books. They are all good. I was pleased with the ending, even though Ms. Peeler threw a few unexpected curve balls near the end.
• Pacing had a few rough spots, but nothing major.
• Prose and dialogue were beautifully done. Expertly done. I love Jane's snarkiness, and I am in awe of the way Ms. Peeler brings her world to life for us.
• Character development is fantastic.
• I can't say enough about the world building. Seriously. And I love that this is our world - my world. I laughed so hard at the digs at Paula Deen that I had to stop and explain to my husband why I was laughing so hard I was snorting.

I've already said that Tempest's Legacy is going to get a 10 of 10 from me. I'm tempted to take the series there, but I think it remains at a 9 of 10 for now.

• Book Rating: Tempest's Legacy: 10 of 10
• Series Rating: Jane True series: 9 of 10

1. Tempest Rising
2. Tracking the Tempest (July 1, 2010)
3. Tempest's Legacy (January 1, 2011)
4. Eye of the Tempest  (August 1, 2011)

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Tracking the Tempest (Jane True, Bk 2) by Nicole Peeler

 

I enjoyed the first book in the Jane True series, Tempest Rising. I was really looking forward to Tracking the Tempest, and I'm not sure that it completely lived up to the hopes I had for it. Don't get me wrong, it was a good book, I'm giving it an 8 of 10, but I don't think it quite lived up to the first book. I did enjoy it though, and I am still looking forward to the next book in the series.

Here's the blurb:

Tracking the Tempest begins four months–and one eyebrow sacrificed to magical training–after the close of Tempest Rising. During that time, Jane’s been busy honing her supernatural powers and enjoying her newfound sense of confidence. Rockabill may not yet be heaven, but she’s realized it’s home. Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, however, and Ryu–Jane’s bloodsucker boyfriend–can’t let a major holiday go by without getting all gratuitous. This time his shenanigans involve a last-minute ticket to Boston and a hefty dose of direct interference in her life. But Ryu’s best laid plans inevitably create more upheaval than even he can anticipate, and Jane winds up embroiled in an investigation involving a spree of gruesome killings committed by a being of tremendous power . . .

. . . who, much to Jane’s surprise, happens to be another halfling.

I'm glad that Jane is learning to use her magical abilities. I compared her to Sookie Stackhouse and Stephanie Plum in the review of the first book, but I think she's going to eventually become a kick-ass Stephanie Plum. The simplicity of Stephanie Plum, with the ability to actually defend herself when necessary, but still kind of clumsy and not-always-so-smart about it.  Also, I saw the love triangle possibilities starting in book one, I hope Nicole Peeler handles this love triangle better than Janet Evanovich has handled the Ranger/Morelli issue with Stephanie, where sixteen books into the series there is no resolution.

One of the things I liked so much about the first series was the introduction to the various magical species. We still get that a little in book two, but it wasn't as awe inspiring as it was in book one. The humor from book one was still there, I still had periods of time where I put the book down to have a good laugh, and where my husband gave me the are-you-going-to-be-okay look.

As for my rundown on story elements, the plot was an extension of the plot in the first book, and there are still a lot of loose ends not yet tied up. I have a feeling those loose ends are going to take five or six books to get tied up. There was also sort of a single book plot, and I was not at all happy with how it was resolved. Doesn't mean it was a bad plot, it was a pretty good one, actually. But the resolution left a lot to be desired.

There were some pacing issues in Tracking the Tempest, nothing major, but I did put the book down a few times to do something else, and I had no problems going to sleep and picking up again the next day.

Prose was very well done, and dialogue was excellent. Character development continues to go well, and I love the world building in this series.

I'm giving Tracking the Tempest an 8 of 10, and after two books I'll give the series a 9 of 10. I'm looking forward to Tempest's Legacy, especially after reading the excerpt for Tempest's Legacy at the end of Tracking the Tempest. Only five months until the next book comes out, it's good that we don't have to wait a whole year. There are also lots of clues in the cover. Look at the hearts at the top of each book and you'll have a very good idea of who will be a big part of book three. (Nicole Peeler has a good image of book three on this page.) I wonder about the flames, there was water on 1 and 2, now there are flames at the bottom, plus the flames on the helmet.  Ah well, just have to wait to see, I guess.

Book Rating: Tracking the Tempest: 8 of 10
Series Rating: Jane True series: 9 of 10






1. Tempest Rising
2. Tracking the Tempest (July 1, 2010)
3. Tempest's Legacy (January 1, 2011)
4. Eye of the Tempest

Tempest Rising (Jane True, bk 1) by Nicole Peeler

This seems to be the time for me to begin new series. In the old, "Don't judge a book by it's cover" mantra, I'd have skipped this book based solely on the cover. But after reading a few positive reviews, I decided to give it a try.

And once again, I'm really glad I did. It was an enjoyable book, the kind that keeps me up later at night than I intended to be awake.

The world building is interesting, especially since I tend to favor worlds where there are supernatural beings that humans don't know about. In this world some supernatural beings are good, some aren't. Some appreciate humans, some feel that humans are far below them. That's become a pretty basic part of the Urban Fantasy genre, but an interesting part of this world has to do with half breeds, or halflings. In most urban fantasies it isn't possible for a supernatural and a human to mate, but it is possible in this world.

An example of the worldbuilding has to do with someone Jane had always thought was "slow". An adult man who bagged groceries at the local grocery store. She was surprised to see him with the supernaturals once she is made aware of them, and she's told he isn't slow, he's a rock. She's told that somewhere close there is a boulder he's attached to, that he lives within, but a few decades every centuries he leaves the rock to try to find a mate. Sometimes, things resonate with you in a way you can't describe, and that was one of those things.

Mostly though, Tempest Rising was good because the main character is so different. In some ways her simplicity reminds me of Sookie Stackhouse, or of Stephanie Plum. So perhaps not so different from all urban fantasy series, but definitely different than, say, Anita Blake or Mercedes Thompson or Rachel Morgan. Tempest Rising started slow for me, but the writing was good and I didn't consider putting it down. I think they knew it started slow, which is probably why we get a teaser at the beginning, showing us where things are going. Once things get going, the pacing is well done.

The other reason the book was good? It's funny. Laugh out loud funny. As in, my husband gave me strange looks as I laid the book down to get a good laugh in a few times.

Tempest Rising has the distinct feel of a first book in a series. A portion of the plot gets wrapped up, but there are more loose strings than there are neatly tied up bows at the end. There were no cliffhangers, but we have a good idea of at least some of the events of the next book.

Oh, and there promises to be a possible love triangle, too. I'm actually not so much looking forward to that.

Here's the official blurb, then I'll give my rating:

In the tiny village of Rockabill, Maine, Jane True—26-year-old bookstore clerk and secret night swimmer—has no idea that her absent mother’s legacy is entry into a world populated by the origins of human myths and legends.  It is a world where nothing can be taken for granted: vampires are not quite what we think; dogs sometimes surprise us; and whatever you do, never—ever—rub the genie’s lamp.   For Jane, everything kicks off when she comes across a murder victim during her nightly clandestine swim in the freezing winter ocean.  This grisly discovery leads to the revelation of why she has such freakish abilities in the water: her mother was a Selkie and Jane is only half human. With this knowledge, Jane soon finds herself mingling with supernatural creatures alternately terrifying, beautiful, and deadly—all adjectives that quite handily describe her new friend Ryu.  When Ryu is sent to Rockabill to investigate the murder, he and Jane fall hard for each other even as they plummet into a world of intrigue threatening to engulf both supernatural and human societies.  For someone is killing half-humans like Jane.   The question is, are the murders the work of one rogue individual or part of a greater plot to purge the world of Halflings?

I've wavered back and forth between a 10 of 10 and a 9 of 10, but in the end Tempest Rising gets a 9 of 10 from me.

Book Rating: Tempest Rising: 9 of 10

As always, I won't give a series rating after only one book.

And now I will point to the second book in the series, Tracking the Tempest. Here is the blurb:

Tracking the Tempest begins four months–and one eyebrow sacrificed to magical training–after the close of Tempest Rising. During that time, Jane’s been busy honing her supernatural powers and enjoying her newfound sense of confidence. Rockabill may not yet be heaven, but she’s realized it’s home. Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, however, and Ryu–Jane’s bloodsucker boyfriend–can’t let a major holiday go by without getting all gratuitous. This time his shenanigans involve a last-minute ticket to Boston and a hefty dose of direct interference in her life. But Ryu’s best laid plans inevitably create more upheaval than even he can anticipate, and Jane winds up embroiled in an investigation involving a spree of gruesome killings committed by a being of tremendous power . . .

. . . who, much to Jane’s surprise, happens to be another halfling.

Just three and a half months until this one is released. I'd love to get an ARC to review ahead of time, though. That would make my day.

1. Tempest Rising
2. Tracking the Tempest (July 1, 2010)
3. Tempest's Legacy (January 1, 2011)