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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
fast-paced
This series focuses on a different romance in each book, so each book tells the story from a new point of view. This one in particular felt like it was just filling in blank spaces missing from the other books. With more and more points of view it feels like there's not enough character development, like the book is spread too thin over too many characters.
Each new book delves into new characters, and in Stormcaster Chima begins the tale with Evan Strangward and Destin Karn - who we met briefly in Flamecaster. Evan is a pirate who has a secret. When Celestine discovers him on board a pirate ship his life is forever changed as he instinctively draws upon his powers for self-preservation. He hides in a port town under an assumed name until he's ready to start captaining his own ship. While in hiding, he meets Destin Karn - who nearly killed him on sight. Destin also hides a secret, but his fortune turns for the worse when he is discovered by his father. Sparks start flying between Evan and Destin early in the novel, though other than looks, thoughts and one kiss, their relationship doesn't develop due to their separation. A gay love story to open the novel will put off some readers. I found I wasn't as interested in Evan and his background, because he feels like a secondary character. I was anxious to move to the characters in whom I already have a vested interest. Evan is barely found after the first half of the novel.
A little past the first third of Stormcaster Ash/Adrian sul'Han comes back from the "dead" and returns to his kingdom. While rejoicing over her son being alive, the wolf queen receives the news that her daughter Alyssa has been captured, and though presumably alive, details are scarce.
At the same time, Hal Matelon has returned to his father's estate to try to convince the Thanes to unite with the king and the wolf queen to defend their home from the threat of Empress Celestine's invasion. The Kingdom of Arden is oblivious to the threat. However, the Thanes are preparing to march against King Jaret, who holds their women and children as hostages. Robert, Han's younger brother, is a hot-head and determines to rescue his mother and sister.
Lyss, Princess Alyssa ana’Raisa, joins the story at about page 300. She is in a tight spot. To preserve her life she has agreed to train Empress Celestine's bloodsworn army. While training them she searches for ways to defeat them. Unexpectedly, Lyss meets Jenna and Cas, who tell her that her brother is alive. They begin to form an alliance, but what can two women and one dragon do against hordes of bloodsworn and a powerful enchantress?
It's fun to see how Chima begins to pull all the threads together in this epic series. Will the Kingdom of Arden avoid civil war? Where will Lyss get the army she needs to fight the enemy? Will Ash be successful in rescuing the next wolf queen? Do the different types of magic have one source? There is a huge twist - which I'm not mentioning - but I was caught off guard and felt like it changes the direction for the next book!
There continue to be many questions to be answered in the next, and final book of the Shattered Realms Series. I loved the second half of Stormcaster as I could see the characters weaving everything back together. There is no doubt the realm is shattered and I have a feeling it will get worse before it gets better.
Cinda Williams Chima has been one of my favorite fantasy authors since I first found The Wizard Heir, and loved the Seven Realms Series. I love her world building and characters.
To get more suggestions on book selections go to www.talesuntangled.wordpress.com
A little past the first third of Stormcaster Ash/Adrian sul'Han comes back from the "dead" and returns to his kingdom. While rejoicing over her son being alive, the wolf queen receives the news that her daughter Alyssa has been captured, and though presumably alive, details are scarce.
At the same time, Hal Matelon has returned to his father's estate to try to convince the Thanes to unite with the king and the wolf queen to defend their home from the threat of Empress Celestine's invasion. The Kingdom of Arden is oblivious to the threat. However, the Thanes are preparing to march against King Jaret, who holds their women and children as hostages. Robert, Han's younger brother, is a hot-head and determines to rescue his mother and sister.
Lyss, Princess Alyssa ana’Raisa, joins the story at about page 300. She is in a tight spot. To preserve her life she has agreed to train Empress Celestine's bloodsworn army. While training them she searches for ways to defeat them. Unexpectedly, Lyss meets Jenna and Cas, who tell her that her brother is alive. They begin to form an alliance, but what can two women and one dragon do against hordes of bloodsworn and a powerful enchantress?
It's fun to see how Chima begins to pull all the threads together in this epic series. Will the Kingdom of Arden avoid civil war? Where will Lyss get the army she needs to fight the enemy? Will Ash be successful in rescuing the next wolf queen? Do the different types of magic have one source? There is a huge twist - which I'm not mentioning - but I was caught off guard and felt like it changes the direction for the next book!
There continue to be many questions to be answered in the next, and final book of the Shattered Realms Series. I loved the second half of Stormcaster as I could see the characters weaving everything back together. There is no doubt the realm is shattered and I have a feeling it will get worse before it gets better.
Cinda Williams Chima has been one of my favorite fantasy authors since I first found The Wizard Heir, and loved the Seven Realms Series. I love her world building and characters.
To get more suggestions on book selections go to www.talesuntangled.wordpress.com
A mixed bag; the introduction with Evan went on for quite a while, and was not the most interesting. The rest of the book was enjoyable, and it was good to see Ash go back home.
This has been my favorite fantasy series in SO LONG!!!!!
I loved the Seven Realms series and the first two Shattered Realms books, but I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about the new Stormcaster storyline since I loved Hal and Lysse’s so much in book two. However I really shouldn’t have been concerned because I have loved all of Cinda Williams Chima’s books. Evan and his story with Destin was so cute and was exactly what this series needed. I think it takes a really skilled writer to make you hate a character in one book and then have you routing for them and their happiness in the next. I can’t wait to see how the series will end in book four
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book begins to answer some of the burning questions you have in the first 2 books, leaving you speechless! And then more questions develop and you wonder what in the world is happening!!! I love the continuing development of all these characters.
However, This book was a bit hard to follow for the first half. The timeline felt sort of jumbled for awhile which did lead to some confusion.
However, This book was a bit hard to follow for the first half. The timeline felt sort of jumbled for awhile which did lead to some confusion.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual assault
Back when I read the first book in this series, Flamecaster, I absolutely fell in love with it. I had already loved the Seven Realms series that is set before this one, but it took my love to a whole new level. But by the time I read the second book, I was starting to lose some of that enjoyment. It was largely because both books covered almost entirely separate storylines, and it was hard for me to remember what was happening with more than a year between them both. But reading Stormcaster has definitely reminded me of my love for this series and this universe. It was definitely one of the best books I have read this year, and I'm dying to read the next one.
What this book did better than the previous one did was tie the story lines together. I do think it was smart to develop the story of Jenna and Ash and the story of Lyss and Hal separately, but seeing everyone's plots continue in this book was definitely very satisfying. Not only that, but the story of Evan and Destin still gets a chance to shine. I feel like nearly every single big character introduced in the books so far got some great development, which I think is a real feat. What I also love is that this book, more than the previous ones, connected to the old series. I'm really impressed by how much was contained in this book, and how intricately it was all woven together into a cohesive story.
I really, really can't wait to see what happens next. I almost wish I had waited to read this book a little longer so the wait for the final one would be less horrible.
What this book did better than the previous one did was tie the story lines together. I do think it was smart to develop the story of Jenna and Ash and the story of Lyss and Hal separately, but seeing everyone's plots continue in this book was definitely very satisfying. Not only that, but the story of Evan and Destin still gets a chance to shine. I feel like nearly every single big character introduced in the books so far got some great development, which I think is a real feat. What I also love is that this book, more than the previous ones, connected to the old series.
Spoiler
Having Ash and Raisa reunite made me very emotional, and I love seeing Raisa as queen so much.I really, really can't wait to see what happens next. I almost wish I had waited to read this book a little longer so the wait for the final one would be less horrible.