Review - Tempest's Fury (Jane True #5) by Nicole Peeler

Title: Tempest's Fury

Author: Nicole Peeler

Pages: 356

Series: 5th (Tempest Rising, Tracking the Tempest, Tempest's Legacy, Eye of the Tempest)

Published:  June 26th 2012 by Orbit 

ISBN: 9780316128117

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Description: Jane's not happy. She's been packed off to England to fight in a war when she'd much rather be snogging Anyan. Unfortunately, Jane's enemies have been busy stirring up some major trouble -- the kind that attracts a lot of attention. In other words, they're not making it easy for Jane to get any alone time with the barghest, or to indulge in her penchant for stinky cheese.  Praying she can pull of a Joan of Arc without the whole martyrdom thing, Jane must lead Alfar and halflings alike in a desperate battle to combat an ancient evil. Catapulted into the role of Most Unlikely Hero Ever, Jane also has to fight her own insecurities as well as the doubts of those who don't think she can live up to her new role as Champion. Along the way, Jane learns that some heroes are born. Some are made. And some are bribed with promises of food and sex 

I Give This ...

 

Ok, so 5 books into the series seems like a strange time to introduce a whole lot of history.  But oddly enough it worked well in this book.  I don't think the chain of events would make a whole lot of sense without it, and it didn't need to be introduced before now.

Jane's character has grown tremendously throughout this series.  She's gone from learning about who she really is to truly beginning to accept her role as champion.  She may think she's not the right person for the job, but she's willing to give it the best she can.  She's got a spirit in her that I greatly admire and I'm also realizing why she was chosen (and not just because the storyline tells us it is this way).  

I also have enjoyed how Jane's relationships have progressed.  At first she seems so juvenile and its really reflected in her relationships.  By this point you can tell who is important to her and the role they have all played in her life.  I particularly love her relationship with Anyan.  I relished in the little tidbits of information we get about his life and how his relationship with Jane is special.  Yes, the sex scenes in the book are a little bit raunchy, but that's part of the fun.

I think my favorite part was honestly the history.  Turns out England is steeped in it (and I don't mean the obvious).  The Alfar, supernatural creatures, and haflings have been apart of the island so long that the seem to abide by their own rules.  I loved the idea of the library with the greatest collection about the supernatural.  The librarian guarding all its secrets was especially intriguing.  I also was fascinated with the history of the children born from Fire and Air, the Red and the White.  The power and destruction was just awesome.  And the way the Alfar have gone to such great length to keep them hidden yet the way to find them was written in plain sight.

A great addition to the series, maybe one of my favorites.  The ending was a shocker and I'm curious as to how this will all work out.  There has to be something...right?    

 

 

 

Review - Eye of the Tempest (Jane True #4) by Nicole Peeler

Title: Eye of the Tmepest

Author: Nicole Peeler

Series: 4th (Tempest Rising, Tracking the Tempest, Tempest Legacy)
Pages: 352
Published: August 1st 2011 by Orbit
ISBN: 9780316128087
Source: Purchased









Description: 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.

I Give This ...

 

I kind of forgot about this series for awhile. I guess it just hasn't been on the top of my to-read list, so it got pushed back.  I made the effort to get catch back up and I'm glad I did.

Its interesting having Jane's point of view in this one.  Since she's was basically unconscious for a month, the world went out without her.  That's a whole lot of time for the bad guys to come up with a plan.  It's also a long time for Anyan to wonder if she will make it through, and to realize exactly how he feels about that.  She seems to spend the rest of the book trying to catch up with everyone else.  I did really appreciate the fact that she's willing to become the champion now.  I think she recognizes that she's doesn't have to be something extraordinarily special.  She may not think she can help, but she will do her best.

I like how this book introduced us to something new.  Turns out there are mythical creatures as old as the earth itself.  They're mostly dominant, but extremely powerful.  Rockabill is home to one of those, leading us to realize that it's really no coincidence that so many creatures come to Rockabill and never leave.  I was extremely curious as to what this creature was or what he could do.  Interesting to see how he was connected to Jane and to Blondie.

I felt that this one was a little slower than the others.  Still really good though and set up the stage for the showdown that occurs in book 5!

Review: Tempest's Legacy (Jane True #3) by Nicole Peeler

Title: Tempest's Legacy

Author: Nicole Peeler

Series: 3rd in Jane True

Pages: 352

Published:  Availble now from Orbit

ISBN:  9780316056601

Source: Netgalley

Description: 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 Give This ...

 

I've decided that it's getting increasingly harder to write reviews for books in a series, especially the farther into the series you get.  And it's especially hard when you've read the books almost back to back.  I feel like I'm being redundant.  

That said, I feel like this might be a pivotal book in this series.  And to date, it's all my favorite.  Jane has huge character growth.  She discovers she's not the weakling she keeps labeling herself.  I think she needs to spend some time with strictly halflings to get a true pictures of the scope of her powers.  There is also some wonderful developments in the relationship department.  I was so glad it took the direction it did!

Jarl is out in the open by the end of this book.  Which should be no surprise to anyone except for maybe the fact that it's taken this long.  What will surprise you is who has been in on it all along.  I fell for it, as I was expecting it to be someone completely different.  The acts against their own kind are atrocious which I'm glad I was able to dissociate from since I couldn't in the very next book I read.

All in all, the best edition to the Jane True series.  I will be looking forward to the next one that should be out in August!

Review: Tracking the Tempest (Jane True #2) by Nicole Peeler

Title: Tracking The Tempest

Author: Nicole Peeler

Series: 2nd in Jane True

Pages: 320

Published: Available now from Orbit

ISBN: 978031605657

Source: personal copy

Description:  Valentine's Day is fast approaching, and Ryu - Jane's bloodsucking boyfriend - can't let a major holiday go by without getting all gratuitous. An overwhelming dose of boyfriend interference and a last-minute ticket to Boston later, and Jane's life is thrown off course. Ryu's well-intentioned plans create mayhem, and Jane winds up embroiled in an investigation involving a spree of gruesome killings. All the evidence points towards another Halfling, much to Jane's surprise...

I Give This ...

 

You know those series that you read the first book, and you like it ok.  So, you decide to reserve judgment until after you've read the second.  And then you are really glad you did because it's much better than the first.  That was the case with Tracking The Tempest.

I liked Jane's character quite a bit more in this one.  She still has all the defining qualities that I liked about her in the first book, but add some backbone.  She refuses to be treated like a weakling, not matter what the others think of her and her powers.  I really like that.  I also enjoyed the fact that she is half human actually gave her the insight to be able to understand things the others couldn't.  I enjoyed her relationship with Ryu the most.  It becomes something other than just physical. I think was really hard for her to come to terms with all of that.

I liked that the storyline seems to have more direction.  I had a feeling after the first book were it was going to go.  But, it's always nice to get that reassurance.  I like how much the culprit seems to be working in the shadows, never truly revealing themselves.  I'm curious as to what will happen next.

I'm looking forward to the next in the series and what direction the story will take!

Tempest Rising (Jane True #1) by Nicole Peeler

Title: Tempest Rising

Author: Nicole Peeler

Series: 1st in Jane True

Pages: 344

Published: Available now from Orbit

ISBN: 9780316056588

Source: Purchased Copy

Description: Living in small town Rockabill, Maine, Jane True always knew she didn't quite fit in with so-called normal society. During her nightly, clandestine swim in the freezing winter ocean, a grisly find leads Jane to startling revelations about her heritage: she is only half-human. Now, Jane must enter a world filled with supernatural creatures alternatively terrifying, beautiful, and deadly- all of which perfectly describe her new "friend," Ryu, a gorgeous and powerful vampire. It is a world where nothing can be taken for granted: a dog can heal with a lick; spirits bag your groceries; and whatever you do, never-ever rub the genie's lamp.

I Give This ...
 

 

I really struggled with my rating for this one.  It's a promising start to a series, but I didn't connect with the characters as much as I would like.

I think the issue here is that Jane feels very juvenile, and the cover doesn't help.  It's not that I didn't like her character because I did.  I just think that living her life as the social outcast has left her in a little bubble.  So, when the bubble breaks and reveals this whole supernatural world, she sees it through the eyes of a child.  Which is funny at times and annoying at others.  But, by the end of the story, I think she's grow up a little.  

I liked the supernatural world that Peeler has created although it's a tad overwhelming.  Instead of concentrating on a few supernatural beings, we get everything you could think of a few that you wouldn't.  Some of them were really interesting like the genie (he made me laugh).  While others were down right creepy like Jimmu.  It's a large cast of characters, but I never felt bogged down with information like I have been with other first books in paranormal series.

I'm still not sure about Ryu.  I just don't think he's good for Jane.  He's devoted to her for now, but sex seems so casual for him.  I don't think that's how Jane operates.  He sure knows how to wine and dine though, and I get how Jane is attracted to him.  

It was a fun beginning to the series, and I will be continuing it.  I just haven't found that "it" series yet!