Review: Unbroken - Rachel Caine

For millennia, Cassiel was a powerful Djinn - until she was exiled to live among mortals. Now the threat of an apocalypse looms, and Cassiel is in danger of losing everything she has come to hold dear....

As the world begins to fall apart around her, Cassiel finds herself fighting those she once called her own: the Djinn. With Warden Luis Rocha and the rescued child Ibby by her side, Cassiel struggles to find a way to protect those who are in her charge and come to terms with the leadership role she never asked for.

Cassiel is opposed by Pearl - a powerful Djinn bent on raising an army of kidnapped Warden children to bring about nothing less than the end of the world. It will take everything Cassiel has to stop the Djinn from starting a war that will wipe all of humanity from the face of the earth. She knows that this might not be a battle she can survive, but protecting those she loves is worth any cost....

Outcast Season Series:
(This is a spin off from The Weather Warden Series)
Undone
Unknown
Unseen
Unbroken

The Weather Warden Series:
Ill Wind
Heat Stroke
Chill Factor
Windfall
Firestorm
Thin Air
Gale Force
Cape Storm
Total Eclipse

Visit Rachel Caine's Website for more information.

Review:
Unbroken is the fourth and final book in the Outcast Season series and in the Weather Warden time line runs alongside the last book Total Eclipse. Rachel Caine's Weather Warden and Outcast books are some of my favourite urban fantasy stories and they are ones I would highly recommend but you should really read the books in order, starting with the Weather Warden series and then following with these books. You could read the Outcast series without having read the other one first but you'd be missing out on a lot of world building and some fab characters so I wouldn't recommend it.

I didn't actually realise that Unbroken was the last book about Cassiel until I started reading it and I have to admit that I'm really sad to reach the end of the journey. The world Rachel Caine has created with both Djinn and Wardens who have the power to control the elements has been a fascinating one to spend time in and I'll miss it now it's over. Still, if you're going to come to the end of a series you want it to end on a high and that is certainly the case here.

I have really enjoyed watching Cassiel change throughout the series. As one of the old Djinn she started off as very cold and unfeeling but the longer she has spent living as a human the more she has started to show her emotions. Having said that she hasn't completely lost her original way of looking at things and she isn't afraid to make difficult decisions if it means achieving her goals. I do love the way she has come to care for Luis and Ibby though and the way they have bonded and become a little family in their own right has been really sweet. Ibby has been through a terrible ordeal and things get even harder for her in this instalment - it was quite heartbreaking to see some of the things she goes through here.

Anyone who has read Total Eclipse will recognise part of the story and I found it really interesting to see the same events but from the opposite angle. That is only a small part though because for the majority of the book Cassiel's journey is in a very different direction to Jo's in Total Eclipse. I loved getting to see more of the Djinn, spend some time with David, Jo & Lewis and of course find out if Cassiel would be able to stop Pearl. The stakes have really been raised in the last few books of both series and I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how things would play out. I would highly recommend both of these series and I'm sure I'll be re-reading them myself at some point in the future.

Source: Library

Other Reviews:
Between Dreams and Reality
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Review: Unseen - Rachel Caine

For millennia, Cassiel was a powerful Djinn - until she was exiled to live among mortals.  Reluctant at first, she has grown affectionate toward her new human compatriots.  But for one Warden in particular, she feels something much more powerful.

After Warden Luis Rocha and Cassiel rescue an adept child from a maniacal Djinn, they soon realise two things: The girl is already manifesting an incredible amount of power and her kidnapping was not an isolated incident.

All over the world, young Wardens are showing their potential far too early.  and this Djinn - aided by her devoted followers - is snatching the children seemingly at will and indoctrinating them so she can use their strength for herself.

With no other options, Cassiel infiltrates the Djinn's organisation.  Deprived of the ethereal gifts allowed her by the Wardens, she soon begins to question her own ideas of right, wrong, and true power.  But if Cassiel cannot stop the Djinn's apocalyptic designs, all of humanity may be destroyed - including Luis.

Outcast Season Series:
(This is a spin off from The Weather Warden Series)
Undone
Unknown
Unseen
Unbroken

The Weather Warden Series:
Ill Wind
Heat Stroke
Chill Factor
Windfall
Firestorm
Thin Air
Gale Force
Cape Storm
Total Eclipse

Visit Rachel Caine's Website for more information.

Review:
This is the third book in Rachel Caine's spin off from the Weather Warden series and I would definitely recommend it to Weather Warden fans.  I loved the first series but I'm growing to like the Outcast Season books even more, the only disappointment is having to wait a whole year to get my hands on the next (and final) book in the series.  I would say you could pick up the Outcast Season books even if you've not read any of the Weather Warden series but I would definitely recommend reading this series in order starting with Undone.

Cassiel is still struggling to fit into her new place in the world - no longer fully Djinn but also not quite human she finds her lack of power and the fact that she has to rely on the Wardens to live frustrating.  Working in such close contact with her Warden partner Luis has had a big effect on her though and we are starting to see a much more human side to her, she is more caring and wants to do everything she can to help those suffering at the hands of her enemy.  She hasn't had a personality transplant though, she can still be very cool and logical when she needs to be, she will do what needs to be done no matter how much it hurts her to do it.  What I really love about Cassiel is that we are seeing a lot of development in her character, she never comes across as one dimensional and although you might not agree with her decisions sometimes you can understand why she makes the choices she does.

I have been really enjoying the developing relationship between Cassiel and Luis but I have to admit I was disappointed with some of Luis' behavior in this installment.  I can't really say why without giving spoilers but there were times I wanted to shake him!  I will say that he had started to redeem himself by the end of the book so I have high hopes that I'll be back to liking him more again in the next installment.  It broke my heart watching Ibby at the beginning but I was so proud of her by end of the book that I wanted to cheer.  I'm also very intrigued the snake girl and wonder if we'll see more of her in the future.

I can't wait to get my hands on Unbroken which will be the final installment in this series.  Considering the books so far have coincided with the last few Weather Warden books I'm curious to see where we will be in the timeline for the last book, if it runs alongside Total Eclipse there should be some very interesting times ahead for Cassiel and the Djinn.  I would recommend this series to any urban fantasy fan, personally I'd say you're better off starting with the Weather Warden series and reading all of the books in order but if you're not sure you should definitely give Undone a try.

Source: Library

Other Reviews:
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Review: Unknown - Rachel Caine

For millennia, Cassiel was a powerful Djinn.  But then she defied her ruler, who cast her out and reshaped her in human flesh as punishment.  She found refuge among the Wardens - and discovered that her perceived human weaknesses may be her greatest strengths.

Living among mortals, Cassiel has begun to develop a reluctant affection for them - especially the intriguing Warden Luis Rocha.  As the mystery deepens around the kidnapping of innocent Warden children, Cassiel and Luis are the only ones who can investigate within both the human and the Djinn realms.

But the more Luis and Cassiel search, the more dangerous the trail becomes, reaching not only into a fanatical splinter group, but into the highest ranks of Cassiel's immortal kin.  An outcast from her own kind, Cassiel must now rely on her own limited earthbound powers to save the young Wardens...if it's not already too late.

Outcast Season Series:
(This is a spin off from The Weather Warden Series)
Undone
Unknown
Unseen
Unbroken

The Weather Warden Series:
Ill Wind
Heat Stroke
Chill Factor
Windfall
Firestorm
Thin Air
Gale Force
Cape Storm
Total Eclipse

Visit Rachel Caine's Website for more information.

Review:
I've said it before but I'll happily say it again - I'm a massive fan of Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series, in fact I'd rate it right up there amongst my all time favorite urban fantasy series for it's fast paced, action packed, unique story lines and fantastic well drawn out characters.  Of course I was expecting to like the spin off Outcast Season series but what has surprised me is the fact that I think I'm growing to love these books even more than I love the Weather Warden ones.  Although I would recommend reading the Weather Warden series first I think you can probably pick up this series first if you prefer - I would say it's vital to read each series in order though so don't read Unknown unless you've already read the first Outcast Season book Undone.

Cassiel was one of the old Djinn, one of the first who was created and has been around since before humans even existed.  She has been cast out by her leader Ashan after refusing to obey his order to destroy humanity and is now in human form.  Cut off from her own source of power she has been forced to work with the Weather Wardens so she can use them as a link to gain the power she needs.  This isn't easy for Cassiel who has never had any interest in humans before but living among the Wardens has started to change her in ways that she would never have expected.  She has found herself growing to care for some of them, Luis and his niece Ibby in particular.  With Weather Warden children going missing, seemingly taken by an old enemy that Cassiel believed was dead, it is up to Cassiel and Luis to try and figure out what is happening and find a way to get the children back.

Jo (from the Weather Warden series) is one of my favorite fictional heroines and in a lot of ways Cassiel is her complete opposite but I love her just as much.  I love the way Rachel Caine has captured her personality and made her thought process feel so alien.  From everything we know of the Djinn from the previous series the majority of them come across as cold and uncaring and this shows through in Cassiel.  As much as they don't sound like great qualities to have in a heroine it is the way that you see Cassiel change as the books progress that make her such a lovable character.  Watching her come to care for those around her has been really interesting but I also love the way that she still does or says things that prove she still has more to learn.

I'm also really liking Luis and the way things are developing between the two of them.  There was no trust between them in the beginning but they are slowly coming to rely on each other.  The chemistry between them is great but their romance has a slow build to it that I'm enjoying.  Things between them are both sweet and funny (especially Cassiel's thoughts about Luis and the effect he has on her) but I'm expecting the heat levels to go through the roof when they finally get their acts together.

If you're already a fan of the Weather Warden series then you'll know to expect a action packed thrill ride when reading any of Rachel Caine's adult books (I'm sure this is probably the case in her YA Morganville vampire series too but I've not read any of them yet so I can't comment) and Unknown will not disappoint.   If you liked Undone then you're sure to love this installment to the series and if you haven't started reading the Outcast Season books yet then you should definitely give them a try.

Source: Library

Other Reviews:
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Review: Total Exlipse - Rachel Caine

Unnatural Disaster

Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin has defeated her longtime enemy and saved the world - again.  But at what cost?  Standing at ground zero for the last attack, Joanne, the Djinn David, and the Earth herself have been poisoned by a substance that is destroying the magic that keeps the world alive.

Joanne and David have already lost their powers, but that's just the beginning.  The poison that has seeped into the planet is destabilising the entire balance of power, bestowing magic on those who have never had it and taking it at critical moments from those who need it.  It's just a matter of time before the delicate balance of nature explodes into chaos, destroying mankind - and every living thing on Earth - with it.

The Weather Warden Series:
Ill Wind
Heat Stroke
Chill Factor
Windfall
Firestorm
Thin Air
Gale Force
Cape Storm
Total Eclipse

Outcast Season Series:
(This is a spin off from The Weather Warden Series)
Undone
Unknown
Unseen
Unbroken

Visit Rachel Caine's Website for more information.

Review:
Total Eclipse is the 9th and final book in the Weather Warden series and I would strongly recommend reading the series in order.  I think if you tried to read this as a stand alone book you'd probably be missing too much of the back story to get the full enjoyment from the book.  This is an urban fantasy series that I've thoroughly enjoyed though so I'd definitely recommend checking it out starting with book 1 Ill Wind.  Although this review won't contain spoilers for Total Eclipse it is impossible to review without giving hints to previous events in the series so if you haven't read as far as Cape Storm yet I'd recommend you don't continue reading this review.

Total Eclipse picks things up right after the ending of Cape Storm so Jo and David have beaten their enemy but at great cost - they have been left without their powers and the damage caused to the earth has fully awoken the Mother.  Not only is Mother Earth awake, she is also seriously unhappy and has decided that humanity has blown it's chance.  With the Mother determined to wipe humans out of existence the few remaining Wardens are stretched thinly trying to control fires, floods, earthquakes and storms on a never before seen scale.  Their only chance is to try to plead their case directly to the Mother through one of the Oracles.  Despite knowing they are heading on what is likely to be a suicide mission Jo and David know they have no choice but to accept the task.  They are in a race against time to try and stop things before humanity is destroyed but will they be able to get the mother to listen?

I have been a massive fan of the Weather Warden series since I first read Ill Wind so although I was desperate to find out how things are resolved in the final book I was also sad to be saying goodbye to the characters I've grown to love.  I have to say I loved Total Eclipse and thought that the series ended really well.  Although I'd happily have read more books about Jo & David I'd prefer to see the series end on a high note than drag on until I'm bored with it.

I'm glad that Jo and David got to spend a little quality time together at the beginning of the book as the cruise ship returned to shore.  It was interesting to see how they reacted to losing their powers and I enjoyed seeing them as equals for the first time.  When they hit shore the storyline really picks up pace and I was completely unable to put the book down.  You never knew quite what to expect next and there were plenty of twists to keep you interested.  I enjoyed the road trip they take with Cherise and Kevin trying to get to the Oracles, it was nice to be reminded of the earlier books and I thought it was a great way to end the series.  All of the wardens are facing plenty of danger and not everyone survives to the end of the book, I'm not going to say any more because I don't want to give spoilers but I found myself getting quite emotional at times while reading.

Overall I thought this was a great ending to the series & I loved the epilogue.  I'm happy with how things turned out for most of the characters and glad that we are going to get to carry on reading more about the world Rachel Caine has created in the Outcast Season Series.  I have to say that I'm hoping that we get to see more of Jo, David, Lewis, Rahel & Venna in the new series as I'm not ready to completely say goodbye to them all yet.  I know this is a series that I will be reading again in the future and I'd recommend it to any urban fantasy fans.

Source: Library

Other Reviews:
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Review: Undone - Rachel Caine

"I was one of the Old Djinn, the First Djinn, who came before any human walked the earth.  I was a spirit of fire and air, and Ashan cast me down to this heavy, crippling flesh..."

Once she was a powerful Djinn.  Then Cassiel defied her ruler, Ashan, who tore her very essence away, and reshaped her in human flesh as punishment.  Forced to live among mortals, Cassiel has found refuge among the Weather Wardens - whose power she must tap into regularly, or she will die.

Cassiel earns her keep by assisting the Earth Warden Manny Rocha on his missions - which she finds much easier than coping with the emotions and frailties of her human condition, especially her growing affection for Manny's brother, Luis.  But when Cassiel encounters a malevolent force that threatens the Rocha family, she discovers that her perceived human weaknesses may be her greatest strengths...

Outcast Season Series:
(This is a spin off from The Weather Warden Series)
Undone
Unknown
Unseen
Unbroken

The Weather Warden Series:
Ill Wind
Heat Stroke
Chill Factor
Windfall
Firestorm
Thin Air
Gale Force
Cape Storm
Total Eclipse

Visit Rachel Caine's Website for more information.

Review:
Cassiel is one of the Old Djinn, the more powerful Djinn who came before humans walked the earth.  She was one of the most powerful but when she refused to follow Ashan's orders he cast her away.  Stripped of her powers and trapped in human form Cassiel is forced to go to the Weather Wardens for help.  She needs to access their power regularly to sustain herself or she will die.  She is partnered with Earth Warden Manny and finds it easier to help him with his missions than she does to deal with her new human body and emotions.

Undone is the first book in Rachel Caine's Outcast Season series which a spin off from her popular Weather Warden series.  Being a massive fan of the Weather Warden series I was really looking forward to getting started on this series - I was expecting a fast paced thrill ride and Rachel didn't disappoint me. 

I loved getting to find out more about the Djinn by looking at the world from Cassiel's perspective.  She is one of the Djinn who had never chosen to take human form so her new body is a strange experience for her.  She has never had to deal with humans before so everything is very new to her - she doesn't know the rules and is still learning how her body works.  I really enjoyed her interactions with Manny and his family (his daughter Isobel is adorable) and watching her opinion of humans start to change as the story progressed.  I mustn't forget to mention Manny's brother Luis - the sexual tension between him and Cassiel was great & I'm looking forward to seeing how things may develop between them in the future.

It was nice to see Jo, David and Lewis (from the Weather Warden series) make an appearance although this was brief and only at the start of the book.  To be honest although I liked the chance to see them again I'm glad they didn't feature more prominently in the story as it would make it too easy to get confused between the 2 series.  I think you could probably pick up this series even if you've never read any of the Weather Warden books although that is a series I would highly recommend to those who haven't tried it yet.

Undone was a great start to a new series, it had me gripped from the very beginning and took me through a full range of emotions from tugging at my heartstrings to making me laugh out loud.  My one minor complaint would be the cliffhanger ending.  I think anyone who is familiar with Rachel Caine's work will know by now that she is a master at leaving you desperate for more and Undone was no exception.  I have already ordered book 2 (Unknown) but I'm not too sure what I'll do with myself between reading that and the long wait until Unseen is published next year.  Perhaps I'll finally make a start on the Rachel's Morganville series while I wait!

Source: Library

Other Reviews:
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Review: Cape Storm - Rachel Caine

Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin was supposed to be enjoying a romantic honeymoon with her new husband, the Djinn David - not running from a malevolent hurricane bent on destroying her.  Joined by an army of fellow Wardens and Djinn on board a hijacked luxury liner, Joanne has lured the storm into furious pursuit.  Only one problem: Even their combined magic may not be enough to stop it.

Now Joanne's being drawn into uncharted dark territory, both at sea and in a battle for her own soul... and if she doesn't change course, her fellow Wardens - and even David's Djinn - won't have any choice but to blow her away...

The Weather Warden Series:
Ill Wind
Heat Stroke
Chill Factor
Windfall
Firestorm
Thin Air
Gale Force
Cape Storm
Total Eclipse

Outcast Season Series:
(This is a spin off from The Weather Warden Series)
Undone
Unknown
Unseen
Unbroken

Visit Rachel Caine's Website for more information.

Review:
Cape Storm is book 8 in the Weather Warden series and I would strongly recommend reading the series in order.  I think if you tried to read this as a stand alone book you'd probably be missing too much of the back story to get the full enjoyment from the book.  I'm really enjoying this urban fantasy series though so I'd definitely recommend checking it out starting with Ill Wind.  Although this review won't contain spoilers for Cape Storm it is impossible to review without giving hints to previous events in the series so if you haven't started reading it yet I'd recommend you don't read this review.

Instead of enjoying her honeymoon with David this installment sees Jo running for her life from a hurricane that seems determined to destroy her.  In order to stop the hurricane devastating the coast of Florida the Wardens and New Djinn hijack a luxury cruise ship and take to the sea with the hurricane on their tail.  With Bad Bob feeding the storm with his new weapon and Jo fighting to stop his mark from taking over her completely they're in for a difficult journey - even the combined powers of the Wardens and the Djinn may not be enough to stop the force of this hurricane.

I've been a big fan of Jo and David since the first book and I still love the pair of them as a couple and as individuals.  Jo is finding it harder and harder to fight the darkness of Bad Bob's mark so we see quite a change in her personality as the story develops and I was left wondering if she would ever be able to escape from his clutches.  Lewis is forced to make some very difficult decisions in this installment - decisions that are going to have serious consequences for the already strained relationship between the Wardens and the Djinn.  Cherise also has her role to play despite being the only main character without any supernatural abilities, I'm liking her character more and more with every book.

Overall this was a fast paced story in the series, action packed from the beginning it will leave you on the edge of your seat.  Although I felt the ending was tied up a little too easily there are still major consequences for Jo and David that have left me itching to get my hands on Total Eclipse (the final book in the series).  I'm looking forward to seeing how Rachel Caine manages to tie up all the loose threads in the ending.  If you're a fan of the series then I'd definitely recommend Cape Storm and if you haven't started the series yet then I'd highly recommend it to urban fantasy fans looking for something a bit different but you really should start with book 1 Ill Wind.

Source: Library

Other Reviews:
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Review: Gale Force - Rachel Caine

Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin is taking a vacation from her duties when her idyll is interrupted by her worst nightmare: a reporter from a legitimate newspaper. The last thing Joanne needs is someone exposing the supernatural world she inhabits.

The sun chases the clouds away when her Djinn lover, David, asks Joanne to marry him. She's thrilled to answer yes, but there are certain parties - some human, some otherwise - who will be less enthusiastic.

Joanne's premarital bliss ends when a freakish devastating earthquake hits Florida - and this time, she won't be able to ask David and his kind for assistance. The cause of the quake is unlike anything Joanne has ever encountered, and it is fueled by a power even the Djinn cannot perceive...

The Weather Warden Series:
Ill Wind
Heat Stroke
Chill Factor
Windfall
Firestorm
Thin Air
Gale Force
Cape Storm
Total Eclipse

Outcast Season Series:
(This is a spin off from The Weather Warden Series)
Undone
Unknown
Unseen
Unbroken

Visit Rachel Caine's Website for more information.

Review:
Gale Force is book 7 in the Weather Warden series and I would strongly recommend reading the series in order. I think if you tried to read this as a stand alone book you'd probably be missing too much of the back story to get the full enjoyment from the book. I'm really enjoying this series though so I'd definitely recommend checking it out starting with Ill Wind.

The story starts with Jo on a well deserved vacation - not that she actually wants to be there, she'd much rather be getting stuck into her job as a Warden than sat around doing nothing. When David proposes she is thrilled and begins planning the wedding but not everyone is happy for them - in fact there are a lot of people who are prepared to stop the wedding at any cost. Ashan and the old Djinn are determined to stop the wedding but the wardens aren't too keen on it either. After events in the previous books relations between Wardens and Djinn are still volatile with the Djinn harbouring a deep seated resentment for the thousands of years of slavery they have suffered at the hands of the Wardens. The Wardens are still wary of the Djinn after seeing so many of their friends die in the war between the 2 races.

In the midst of planning the wedding of the year Jo is also being chased by reporters who want to know more about the Warden organisation. On top of that when a devastating earthquake hits Florida it soon becomes clear that they are facing an enemy unlike anyone they have faced before. Worse still is the fact that David and the Djinn are completely unable to detect the danger and unable to help in the fight. With the wedding ceremony planned as a way to bring out their enemy are Jo and David actually going to make it down the aisle? Even if they do will they survive to enjoy their wedding night?

Events in Thin Air made book 6 in the series a very different read than the previous books in the series, I still enjoyed it but not as much as I had enjoyed the previous books. I'm very pleased to say that with Gale Force the series is back on top form and was a thoroughly enjoyable read. I still love Jo as a heroine - I like the fact that she is prepared to fight for what she believes in no matter what the personal cost. She has a lot to deal with in this book but I thought she coped admirably.

I absolutely love David - who wouldn't want this gorgeous Djinn as their own? - and I really liked the development in his and Jo's relationship throughout the book. I also really like Jo's best friend Cherise and loved her in this book. It's great to have a supportive female character who is human with no supernatural abilities but still has an important role to play in the story. The plot is fast paced and has so many twists thrown in you'll feel like you're on a roller coaster ride. With past characters making re-appearances and old friends making devastating betrayals it is hard to tell who Jo can trust. Although some of the plot lines are tied up at the end things are left wide open for the next book & I can't wait to get my hands on Cape Storm. I really am struggling to work out how Rachel Caine is going to be able to resolve things between the Djinn and the Wardens but also how they are going to be able to fight this new enemy.

If you're a fan of the series then I'm sure you'll enjoy Gale Force, even if you weren't keen on Thin Air I'd definitely recommend giving it a try. If you haven't started the series yet then I'd recommend it to urban fantasy fans but you really should start with book 1 Ill Wind.

Source: Library

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Review: Thin Air - Rachel Caine

On top of that, it was raining

Joanne Baldwin has had better days - at least she hopes she has. After waking up naked and freezing in a forest, she's located by two rescuers she doesn't recognise at all. One supernaturally gorgeous guy might have been her lover. The other says he can control the weather...and so can she.

Not everyone looking for Joanne has her best interests at heart, and with no way to tell friend from foe, Joanne is quickly lost in a fog of deception. Her tenuous hold on life is fading with every passing moment. Now she must rebuild herself, one memory at a time, before someone else steals her life - and she disappears into thin air. Oh, and along the way, it seems that she has to save the world...

The Weather Warden Series:
Ill Wind
Heat Stroke
Chill Factor
Windfall
Firestorm
Thin Air
Gale Force
Cape Storm
Total Eclipse

Outcast Season Series:
(This is a spin off from The Weather Warden Series)
Undone
Unknown
Unseen
Unbroken

Visit Rachel Caine's Website for more information & to read excerpts from all of her books including the Morganville Vampire Series. You will also find a selection of short stories, both linked to the series & stand alone that can be read online.

Review:
Thin Air is book 6 in the Weather Warden series & in some ways it is quite different to the previous books. Jo has completely lost her memory so she has no idea who she can trust and doesn't know her about her powers and how to use them. She's got to learn everything again from scratch and it's a steep learning curve. A lot of the book is focused on Jo trying to regain her memory & we get glimpses of events from previous books from other character's perspectives.

Joanne's interaction with the other characters is changed significantly due to her memory loss & I found I missed the ongoing chemistry with her & David although this does develop more towards the end of the book. We get to see what is happening with a lot of the characters we've known and either loved or hated in earlier books & I did find my opinion of some of them changed quite radically with the new knowledge we now have.

Although I wouldn't say this is my favourite book in the series I did find it interesting to see things from different viewpoints. There is still a fair amount of action but it isn't as fast paced as I've come to expect the books in this series to be. I wouldn't recommend reading this book if you haven't read any of the other Weather Warden books but if you are a fan of the series then I still think it is worthwhile reading. Overall I think the ongoing story between the Wardens & the Djinn is developing well & it will be interesting to see what happens over the next 3 books and how the series will actually finish.

Source: Library

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Lily's Bookshelf
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Review: Firestorm - Rachel Caine

The Genie is out of the bottle

Rogue Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin is racing to New York to warn her former colleagues of the impending apocalypse. An ancient agreement between the Djinn and the Weather Wardens has been broken, and the furious Djinn, slaves to the Wardens for millennia, are now free of mortal control.

With more than half the Wardens unaccounted for in the wake of the Djinn uprising, Joanne realises that the natural disasters they've combated for so long were merely symptoms of restless Mother Nature fidgeting in her sleep. Now she's waking up - and she's angry...

The Weather Warden Series:
Ill Wind
Heat Stroke
Chill Factor
Windfall
Firestorm
Thin Air
Gale Force
Cape Storm
Total Eclipse

Outcast Season Series:
(This is a spin off from The Weather Warden Series)
Undone
Unknown
Unseen
Unbroken

Visit Rachel Caine's Website for more information & to read excerpts from all of her books including the Morganville Vampire Series. You will also find a selection of short stories, both linked to the series & stand alone that can be read online.

Review:
I read the first 4 books in the Weather Warden series last year after spotting them in my local library. I enjoyed them so much that the whole series has been on my book wishlist ever since. I still haven't got round to buying them so when I spotted book 5 & 6 in the library just before Christmas I just had to read them so I can catch up on what is happening with Jo & David! As it was almost a year ago when I read the first 4 books I really wish I'd started the series again from the beginning as it was hard to remember everything that has already happened but that didn't take away the enjoyment I got from reading Firestorm.

It will be hard to review the book without at least giving some hints about what has happened in previous books but I'll try to give away as little as possible. I would point out that if you like the sound of this book then I would strongly recommend you start with Ill Wind & read the series in order. There is so much going on in the series that although you can read the books as stand alone stories it really is much better to read them in order to get the full experience.

Like the first 4 books Firestorm is very fast paced & action packed from beginning to end. I love the character Joanne, she has a great sense of humor and is devoted to her family & friends. She is willing to fight for what she believes in & despite the fact that things often go wrong for her she refuses to give up.

I love the chemistry between her & her boyfriend David, although we see less of this than usual in this book. Although I would have liked to see more of David I can see why that was impossible at this point in the storyline & there was just enough of him in there to keep things interesting. We also see a few of the other characters we've known & loved in the earlier books including Wardens Lewis & Paul and Djinn Rahel & Venna.

I really liked the major new character in this book Imara who is Jo & David's daughter. She is only 1 day old at the start of the book but as she is half-human/half-djinn she is already fully grown. I found the interaction between Jo and Imara really interesting - it must be quite confusing to be pregnant one day and have an adult daughter the next!

I'm really looking forward to seeing how the story develops over the next 4 books and I still intend on buying the series as I know I'll be happy to re-read the books again in the future.

Source: Library

Other Reviews:
Lily's Bookshelf
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