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Weather Warden #3
Chill Factor
GAMBLING WITH HER LIFE
In Rachel Caine's Ill Wind and Heat Stroke, Weather Warden extraordinaire Joanne Baldwin, who protects the human race from monster storms, was killed, reborn as a Djinn, and then restored to her original form. She's been through a lot -- and stuck her neck out many times -- to save innocent lives. Now she's rolling the dice to stop an infinitely powerful, deeply disturbed kid from destroying the world....
A teenager named Kevin has holed up in style at a Vegas hotel with the most powerful Djinn in the world, planning who knows what kind of mischief. The Wardens' senior leadership is dead, Djinn are disappearing, and a secret society wants to help Joanne destroy Kevin, even if doing so kills her (again). But everybody in Vegas has a game going, and Joanne has to learn the rules fast because the stakes have never been higher -- and all hell is about to break loose....
In Rachel Caine's Ill Wind and Heat Stroke, Weather Warden extraordinaire Joanne Baldwin, who protects the human race from monster storms, was killed, reborn as a Djinn, and then restored to her original form. She's been through a lot -- and stuck her neck out many times -- to save innocent lives. Now she's rolling the dice to stop an infinitely powerful, deeply disturbed kid from destroying the world....
A teenager named Kevin has holed up in style at a Vegas hotel with the most powerful Djinn in the world, planning who knows what kind of mischief. The Wardens' senior leadership is dead, Djinn are disappearing, and a secret society wants to help Joanne destroy Kevin, even if doing so kills her (again). But everybody in Vegas has a game going, and Joanne has to learn the rules fast because the stakes have never been higher -- and all hell is about to break loose....
337 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 4, 2005
95 people are currently reading
3491 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Caine
217 books19.3k followersRachel Caine was a pen name of Roxanne Longstreet Conrad.
She has also published as:
Roxanne Longstreet
Roxanne Conrad
Julie Fortune
Ian Hammell
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She has also published as:
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Roxanne Conrad
Julie Fortune
Ian Hammell
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 346 reviews
September 11, 2010
Fuck.
Fuck the Wardens. In particular, Paul and his cronies. Though Marion can suck it too. I don't give a shit about her tortured past. She made a choice. Fuck her.
Fuck the Djinn. Arrogant assholes. "You broke him, you fix him." Fuck you Jonathan. He was "broken" saving your ass.
Fuck the Ma'at. Cowardly douchebags who are no better than the Wardens, and quite possibly are worse.
Fuck Lewis. She loves you, and you haven't spared even a pinch of care or respect for her. She would have gone along with your plan if you ASKED. She has gone along with your hare-brained shit before. Maybe you wouldn't be struggling with the whole "weight of the world" shit if you would actually fucking ALLOW a connection to people. Wah wah. I hope she's done rescuing your arrogant ass. Fuck you, Lewis.
Fuck David. You love her, and yeah, I love you. But can we stop being a martyr? Please? It is getting tiresome. It is to the point where, if she sneezes, I worry that you will pour out your lifeblood to cure her cold. Fuck. And also? Ask next time. Ask if she WANTS the help. It is her choice too, you asshole.
This series really makes me angry. I hate everyone in it.
Why am I reading this?
Fuck.
Fuck the Wardens. In particular, Paul and his cronies. Though Marion can suck it too. I don't give a shit about her tortured past. She made a choice. Fuck her.
Fuck the Djinn. Arrogant assholes. "You broke him, you fix him." Fuck you Jonathan. He was "broken" saving your ass.
Fuck the Ma'at. Cowardly douchebags who are no better than the Wardens, and quite possibly are worse.
Fuck Lewis. She loves you, and you haven't spared even a pinch of care or respect for her. She would have gone along with your plan if you ASKED. She has gone along with your hare-brained shit before. Maybe you wouldn't be struggling with the whole "weight of the world" shit if you would actually fucking ALLOW a connection to people. Wah wah. I hope she's done rescuing your arrogant ass. Fuck you, Lewis.
Fuck David. You love her, and yeah, I love you. But can we stop being a martyr? Please? It is getting tiresome. It is to the point where, if she sneezes, I worry that you will pour out your lifeblood to cure her cold. Fuck. And also? Ask next time. Ask if she WANTS the help. It is her choice too, you asshole.
This series really makes me angry. I hate everyone in it.
Why am I reading this?
Fuck.
September 2, 2012
This review has also been posted on my Happy Indulgence Blog. Check it out for more reviews!
This is fast becoming one of my favourite series, it just gets better and better as the series progresses. My review contains spoilers for the first two books for the series so progress with caution.
Joanne Baldwin is a weather warden, the book opening with her racing towards Las Vegas to stop her enemy from creating the next Ice Age. Kevin is a force to be reckoned with, he's absorbed powers from the most powerful combined Warden ever, and he's also got an extremely powerful Djinn to boot.
Soon after, things turn around for the worse and Joanne starts to get jerked around by first the Wardens, a secret organisation, and her own worse nightmare. If it wasn't Joanne, I think anyone would have broken down from the things she endured in this book.
Joanne's an extremely likable character, she's powerful, has great fashion sense, has great strength of character, and she has lots of snarky retorts in this book. Unlike the previous two books, we learn that her character can be attributed by some nightmares in the past. This journey is highly personal for her, and had an incredible emotional impact in this book.
There's just so many aspects to the story that makes the series a 5 star one. The writing is just so absorbing and easy to read. It has an addictive quality about it. The scientific weather manipulation powers and the use of Djinn (or genies as we may know them) is unique and compelling. The Weather Warden world itself, is a fascinating one with Earth, Fire and Weather Wardens looking after the world. The story itself just feels so epic, with a powerful archenemy in each book. This always leads to an explosive grand finale at the end of each book.
Building upon all of these concepts, this book adds a different dimension to the world with a different organisation to the wardens. That's what makes this series so compelling, there's just so many factors to it that constructs the story. I'm glad I'm reading this in a buddy read, so we can discuss it to our hearts content. Check out our discussions if you’ve read the book.
If you haven't picked up this series yet, definitely put it on the To Read list!
This is fast becoming one of my favourite series, it just gets better and better as the series progresses. My review contains spoilers for the first two books for the series so progress with caution.
Joanne Baldwin is a weather warden, the book opening with her racing towards Las Vegas to stop her enemy from creating the next Ice Age. Kevin is a force to be reckoned with, he's absorbed powers from the most powerful combined Warden ever, and he's also got an extremely powerful Djinn to boot.
Soon after, things turn around for the worse and Joanne starts to get jerked around by first the Wardens, a secret organisation, and her own worse nightmare. If it wasn't Joanne, I think anyone would have broken down from the things she endured in this book.
Joanne's an extremely likable character, she's powerful, has great fashion sense, has great strength of character, and she has lots of snarky retorts in this book. Unlike the previous two books, we learn that her character can be attributed by some nightmares in the past. This journey is highly personal for her, and had an incredible emotional impact in this book.
There's just so many aspects to the story that makes the series a 5 star one. The writing is just so absorbing and easy to read. It has an addictive quality about it. The scientific weather manipulation powers and the use of Djinn (or genies as we may know them) is unique and compelling. The Weather Warden world itself, is a fascinating one with Earth, Fire and Weather Wardens looking after the world. The story itself just feels so epic, with a powerful archenemy in each book. This always leads to an explosive grand finale at the end of each book.
Building upon all of these concepts, this book adds a different dimension to the world with a different organisation to the wardens. That's what makes this series so compelling, there's just so many factors to it that constructs the story. I'm glad I'm reading this in a buddy read, so we can discuss it to our hearts content. Check out our discussions if you’ve read the book.
If you haven't picked up this series yet, definitely put it on the To Read list!
June 26, 2016
I read this one directly after Heat Stroke because, well, Heat Stroke ended on a cliffhanger. That annoying trope that makes me cranky.
I still enjoy Joanne and David. Joanne is still snarky and fun to spend time with. David takes things more seriously and makes better plans. I still like Lewis and I still want to hug Kevin. Jonathan . . . needs to be smacked upside the head.
Never, EVER, saw the plot twist coming. Should have . . . . things happened that I was trying to figure out why we even cared . . . but I didn't. So, kudos to Ms. Caine for surprising me.
We still have the whole "what we did last book to fix the world, broke it for us to fix again" syndrome happening. And, we still ended on a cliffhanger. (These are only minor cliffhangers, not major ones - still makes me cranky.)
Ultimately, again, I read these because I enjoy spending time with the characters and Jo makes me laugh. Don't really foresee reviews changing a whole lot as I continue the series. When I have time.
4 stars.
I still enjoy Joanne and David. Joanne is still snarky and fun to spend time with. David takes things more seriously and makes better plans. I still like Lewis and I still want to hug Kevin. Jonathan . . . needs to be smacked upside the head.
Never, EVER, saw the plot twist coming. Should have . . . . things happened that I was trying to figure out why we even cared . . . but I didn't. So, kudos to Ms. Caine for surprising me.
We still have the whole "what we did last book to fix the world, broke it for us to fix again" syndrome happening. And, we still ended on a cliffhanger. (These are only minor cliffhangers, not major ones - still makes me cranky.)
Ultimately, again, I read these because I enjoy spending time with the characters and Jo makes me laugh. Don't really foresee reviews changing a whole lot as I continue the series. When I have time.
4 stars.
January 18, 2019
Three books in and the Weather Warden series is keeping me on the edge of my seat. These books are so engaging and unpredictable. I think one of the things I like best about them is that Rachel Caine feels no need to stick to a formula. The trials of the heroine take her to very different places by the end of each installment, yet the series maintains a consistent feel and tone throughout.
This book picks up immediately after the events of the last one. All three installments, in fact, show the roller coaster Joanne has been on in a very short period of time. Only a couple of weeks have passed since her story began. Now she’s human again; David is bound as her djinn and the they are working together to try and contain Kevin, the troubled teenager who escaped with Jonathan. Kevin is using his djinn to keep her away from Las Vegas where he’s holed up, trying to live the high life.
Here’s the thing: Jonathan is stronger than David, so Joanne is basically spinning her wheels. Until Lewis and the weather wardens step in. They seem to turn on her—separate her from David—and she ends up facing not only Kevin on her own, but an entirely new group which appears to be working against her.
I still don’t understand where Lewis fits in this series. David is painted as Joanne’s true love. (Ignore the fact that they’ve only known each other two weeks and just go with it.) Still, Caine puts a fine point on the connection Jo has with Lewis. (And then there’s some thread with Rahel that only makes it murkier.) I can’t figure him out and I don’t know how I feel about him. I do know that David is completely in Joanne’s corner and there is a deep connection there, even if they are separated for much of the book.
The new group I mentioned, the Ma’at, and their claims about corruption among the weather wardens are interesting. But their methods leave much to be desired. Joanne gets put through an awful lot here and I can’t say I was thrilled about that. Something about the world we live in makes me double cringe to see a woman tortured cavalierly to force her to bend to the will of a bunch of entitled, rich, privileged men.
There is one twist I don’t particularly love, but I enjoy the serious enough as a whole that I’m willing to give it a chance to see it play out.
In the meantime, if you missed this series the first time around, and you’re looking for a fast-moving, action packed urban fantasy that skips the traditional vampires and shifters, I’d recommend giving these books a try.
Rating: B
This book picks up immediately after the events of the last one. All three installments, in fact, show the roller coaster Joanne has been on in a very short period of time. Only a couple of weeks have passed since her story began. Now she’s human again; David is bound as her djinn and the they are working together to try and contain Kevin, the troubled teenager who escaped with Jonathan. Kevin is using his djinn to keep her away from Las Vegas where he’s holed up, trying to live the high life.
Here’s the thing: Jonathan is stronger than David, so Joanne is basically spinning her wheels. Until Lewis and the weather wardens step in. They seem to turn on her—separate her from David—and she ends up facing not only Kevin on her own, but an entirely new group which appears to be working against her.
I still don’t understand where Lewis fits in this series. David is painted as Joanne’s true love. (Ignore the fact that they’ve only known each other two weeks and just go with it.) Still, Caine puts a fine point on the connection Jo has with Lewis. (And then there’s some thread with Rahel that only makes it murkier.) I can’t figure him out and I don’t know how I feel about him. I do know that David is completely in Joanne’s corner and there is a deep connection there, even if they are separated for much of the book.
The new group I mentioned, the Ma’at, and their claims about corruption among the weather wardens are interesting. But their methods leave much to be desired. Joanne gets put through an awful lot here and I can’t say I was thrilled about that. Something about the world we live in makes me double cringe to see a woman tortured cavalierly to force her to bend to the will of a bunch of entitled, rich, privileged men.
There is one twist I don’t particularly love, but I enjoy the serious enough as a whole that I’m willing to give it a chance to see it play out.
In the meantime, if you missed this series the first time around, and you’re looking for a fast-moving, action packed urban fantasy that skips the traditional vampires and shifters, I’d recommend giving these books a try.
Rating: B
February 8, 2024
“Human life is cheap. There’s only one race I have a vested interest in protecting — the one you use and degrade and throw away. [...] If a war with the Wardens is what needs to happen to get my point across, well, that’s just very sad for you. I’m not letting you trade us like trinkets any longer.”Chill Factor is a frustrating read from start to finish. Everyone is plotting away, sometimes even conspiring with each other, while Jo is thrown into the fray, none the wiser.
And by everybody, I mean everybody — except Jo. The result is a chronically reactive main character ping-ponging from one high-stakes situation to the next in Vegas.
The Djinn swap, stopping Jo’s heart, impregnating her with a Djinn, getting caught up in the affairs of a covert organisation trying to undermine the Wardens — all of that happens to Jo. A plucky protagonist winging it with half the facts is one thing. With none of the facts it's a train-wreck of incidences that often miss their mark from sheer arbitrariness.
“The Ma’at are dedicated to exactly the same principles that you honour. The Wardens are no longer the saviors of humanity; they’re parasites, perpetuating the cycle of violence and destruction, enslaving beings who ought by rights to be free. You can’t want to be part of that.”Opposition to the Wardens is more than welcome, even if the Ma’at’s approach to environmental catastrophe is alarmingly laissez-faire. Their stance on Djinn enslavement is unimpeachable and offers a clearer, alternative perspective to the Wardens than Caine has given up until this point. I'm curious to see what Caine does with them.
Like with the last two, there’s a bait-and-switch antagonist in Quinn, whose so woefully underdeveloped I have little opinion on him. Even adding a little history between him and Jo did nothing to change that.
Honestly, most of the flashbacks didn’t serve the story. We already know the Wardens are corrupt; the Ma’at's existence reinforces that already. And as a reason for Quinn’s knowledge of the Djinn, the added trauma for Jo just felt needless. There are plenty of ways he could have gotten that information and I would have preferred any one of them.
My main point is that Jonathan worked better as a bait-and-switch antagonist and I'm genuinely disappointed at how little we actually got of him. What we got, I loved, but I needed more for this book to work.
Also, I’m having an issue with how David is used in this series. Since Ill Wind, Caine has contrived reasons to separate them: in Heart Stroke, it was Jonathan separating them; here, its the Wardens. A little repetitive, but I understand that stakes are easier to up when Jo doesn’t have a hopelessly devoted, powerful Djinn at her disposal. That means he disappears for large sections of the books (he’s in less than a third of this one) and pops in to save Jo every fifth near-death experience.
My issue lies in the unmitigated bullshit he pulls at the start of this book and ultimately doesn’t have to answer for. He impregnates Jo with a Djinn without her knowledge and quasi-dies before he can answer for it. And by that point, Jo has accepted the idea through flash-forwards from Jonathan — and I’m just not there.
What David did was fucked up. I need more discussion about that, and I’m afraid that with the ending of this book, we’ve moved past that. I have not moved past that.
On the bright side, all of this chaos does get Jo to quit the Wardens at the end.
May 21, 2021
Hold on to your hats, it’s about to get windy. Kevin has Vegas on lockdown, Djinn are going missing and our girl has a secret.
I quickly learned that our weather warden, Joanne Baldwin, and her Djinn David never catch a break. Kevin has Vegas locked down while he lives it up, living on the strip with Jonathan, the most powerful Djinn in the world. And he is at Kevin’s beckoning command.
When Weather Wardens Paul, Marrion and other show up at Joanne’s hotel she knows there is trouble and oh boy…. what happens to Joanne and David had me screaming, but then Lewis and his shenanigans send Joanne smack dab into the middle of Vegas where she will have to contain Kevin and get him to hand over Jonathan’s bottle. To complicate matters, she will have to do it without David.
Caine took me on one hell of a ride. We met another group similar to the Wardens called the Ma’at who claim to want balance. We learn Joanne has a secret and watch things go all to hell. Don’t start this unless you have a clear schedule, wine, tissues and chocolate. Damn. I hate the weather wardens, and the Ma’at aren’t much better.
Power plays, evil villains and Joanne linking them created a tale that was non-stop action with loss, double crosses, and Joanne left to clean up the mess. For me the series keeps getting better and has me emotionally invested even as it rips out my heart and makes me want to slap a few characters in the face.
The audio was produced in 2010 and all I can say is, “We’ve come a long way, baby.” The sound quality and production isn’t the best, but Dina Pearlman does a brilliant job at bringing these characters and their emotions to This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
I quickly learned that our weather warden, Joanne Baldwin, and her Djinn David never catch a break. Kevin has Vegas locked down while he lives it up, living on the strip with Jonathan, the most powerful Djinn in the world. And he is at Kevin’s beckoning command.
When Weather Wardens Paul, Marrion and other show up at Joanne’s hotel she knows there is trouble and oh boy…. what happens to Joanne and David had me screaming, but then Lewis and his shenanigans send Joanne smack dab into the middle of Vegas where she will have to contain Kevin and get him to hand over Jonathan’s bottle. To complicate matters, she will have to do it without David.
Caine took me on one hell of a ride. We met another group similar to the Wardens called the Ma’at who claim to want balance. We learn Joanne has a secret and watch things go all to hell. Don’t start this unless you have a clear schedule, wine, tissues and chocolate. Damn. I hate the weather wardens, and the Ma’at aren’t much better.
Power plays, evil villains and Joanne linking them created a tale that was non-stop action with loss, double crosses, and Joanne left to clean up the mess. For me the series keeps getting better and has me emotionally invested even as it rips out my heart and makes me want to slap a few characters in the face.
The audio was produced in 2010 and all I can say is, “We’ve come a long way, baby.” The sound quality and production isn’t the best, but Dina Pearlman does a brilliant job at bringing these characters and their emotions to This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
September 28, 2017
I really enjoyed this story. And I'm really enjoying this series! This particular story took off fast and never quit. It was really enjoyable, a fun ride. :-)
On page 7, Kevin and Jonathan put paid to Joanne and David's efforts to reach them in Las Vegas. And the action just kept on keeping on right through to the end from there. It was quite a ride.
Rahel
Kevin
In addition to the above, Joanne And then in the end, ! I totally don't know how that's going to work out for her, so I need to see if my library has book four. :-)
But in case I'm not able to check out book four right away, I'll share this book's final lines:
In the end,
I know I didn't say much about this story that wasn't a spoiler, so if you haven't read this book, sorry! But it was very good, really enjoyable. As I said somewhere above, it was a wild ride.
Now, when can I get my hands on book four? :-)
On page 7, Kevin and Jonathan put paid to Joanne and David's efforts to reach them in Las Vegas. And the action just kept on keeping on right through to the end from there. It was quite a ride.
Rahel
Kevin
In addition to the above, Joanne And then in the end, ! I totally don't know how that's going to work out for her, so I need to see if my library has book four. :-)
But in case I'm not able to check out book four right away, I'll share this book's final lines:
In the end,
I know I didn't say much about this story that wasn't a spoiler, so if you haven't read this book, sorry! But it was very good, really enjoyable. As I said somewhere above, it was a wild ride.
Now, when can I get my hands on book four? :-)
April 28, 2025
Chill Factor (Weather Warden #3) by Rachel Caine was such a fun return for me to this series. It had been far too long since I read the first too books, but I'm glad this had a handy little recap. So much happened that I can't wait to see what's next. I definitely won't wait as long between installments next time. I always like checking out the playlist Caine includes with her books as well.
September 13, 2015
You gotta have a junk food series to fall back on from time to time, and Weather Warden is one of mine. I like the concept and the scientific angle Caine takes on her magic system (especially as it's firmly grounded in our world), and I enjoy Joanne Baldwin as a character - she's smart-mouthed to the point of being unrealistic, sure, but she's determined and confident and stands up for herself, and that's always enjoyable.
This book is... many things. The series is getting decidely more serious with each book - the second book touched a lot on abuse, and this one does have some lengthy descriptions of kidnapping and implied rape. Topics like this aren't always handled carefully (a lot of things to do with Djinn are described as a kind of rape, both in this book and its predecessors, in a way that's pretty uncomfortable), but they're not played for titillation or disempowerment the way they are in some series.
The topic of pregnancy comes up... interestingly. In some circumstances, I would be bothered by the way Joan re-centers herself around the idea that she's pregnant and makes preserving her possible child's life her most important goal, but it fits her character well. She is, as someone else comments, "Goddamn Saint Joan the martyr" - so utterly committed to saving others that she keeps winding up in these hellishly dangerous situations and taking risks no one else will dare. In that context, of course she puts herself on the line again and again to preserve the most fragile life around.
By far the most fascinating concept this book offers/adds to the world is that of the Maat, who try to counteract the Wardens on the grounds that what the Wardens do has disrupted the balance of the world. This raises a moral question: is it ethical to let people die in natural disasters if the Wardens can prevent it, knowing that letting things take their course might save lives later? Not that the Maat are necessarily weighing it; they've already decided.
Human life in the short term or the natural world in the long term? It's presented here in a fantasy context, but it's a question relevant to a lot of aspects of the modern world - say, how we handle intensive farming that makes land vulnerable to drought, or our attitudes towards non-renewable resources like oil and coal. In the Wardens' world there's an added factor in that the Maat are all old, wealthy men - namely, not the people who are most vulnerable to natural disasters, and not necessarily the people best justified in making those calls.
As far as the plot goes, it's the same basic formula as the first two: Joanne starts out in some kind of trouble and does her best to dig her way even deeper into it until she runs into the biggest problem around. Not necessarily the smartest set of choices, but it sure makes her an interesting protagonist. In this case the plot feels a bit like a filler narrative, as it's building on things left hanging after Heat Stroke but not fully resolving all of the issues at hand. Still, it's a fair entry in the series, and I'm not complaining. Except about one thing - the jokes in these books still verge strongly on slut-shaming and, in this one, transphobia. Given that Joanne tends to be justified in a lot of her smartass comments, it stings that these prejudices are part of her humor.
This book is... many things. The series is getting decidely more serious with each book - the second book touched a lot on abuse, and this one does have some lengthy descriptions of kidnapping and implied rape. Topics like this aren't always handled carefully (a lot of things to do with Djinn are described as a kind of rape, both in this book and its predecessors, in a way that's pretty uncomfortable), but they're not played for titillation or disempowerment the way they are in some series.
The topic of pregnancy comes up... interestingly. In some circumstances, I would be bothered by the way Joan re-centers herself around the idea that she's pregnant and makes preserving her possible child's life her most important goal, but it fits her character well. She is, as someone else comments, "Goddamn Saint Joan the martyr" - so utterly committed to saving others that she keeps winding up in these hellishly dangerous situations and taking risks no one else will dare. In that context, of course she puts herself on the line again and again to preserve the most fragile life around.
By far the most fascinating concept this book offers/adds to the world is that of the Maat, who try to counteract the Wardens on the grounds that what the Wardens do has disrupted the balance of the world. This raises a moral question: is it ethical to let people die in natural disasters if the Wardens can prevent it, knowing that letting things take their course might save lives later? Not that the Maat are necessarily weighing it; they've already decided.
"And how may millions is that brilliant strategy going to kill?"
"As many as it takes, my dear."
Human life in the short term or the natural world in the long term? It's presented here in a fantasy context, but it's a question relevant to a lot of aspects of the modern world - say, how we handle intensive farming that makes land vulnerable to drought, or our attitudes towards non-renewable resources like oil and coal. In the Wardens' world there's an added factor in that the Maat are all old, wealthy men - namely, not the people who are most vulnerable to natural disasters, and not necessarily the people best justified in making those calls.
As far as the plot goes, it's the same basic formula as the first two: Joanne starts out in some kind of trouble and does her best to dig her way even deeper into it until she runs into the biggest problem around. Not necessarily the smartest set of choices, but it sure makes her an interesting protagonist. In this case the plot feels a bit like a filler narrative, as it's building on things left hanging after Heat Stroke but not fully resolving all of the issues at hand. Still, it's a fair entry in the series, and I'm not complaining. Except about one thing - the jokes in these books still verge strongly on slut-shaming and, in this one, transphobia. Given that Joanne tends to be justified in a lot of her smartass comments, it stings that these prejudices are part of her humor.
June 24, 2012
I love this series.
Last week, we had scorching hot weather in my part of the world. What better way to cool off than to find a book with a “cool” title? Chill Factor by Rachel Caine fit the bill nicely. Chill Factor is the third book in Ms. Caine’s Weather Warden Series, one of the more unique and original urban fantasy series out there.
What are Weather Wardens? The Weather Wardens are specially trained people that control the weather with the aid of Djinns. Together, they take the energy of weather systems and disperse it safely with minimal damage to humans. They are not always successful as evidenced by hurricane damage, but they do help out a lot.
Chill Factor starts off immediately where Heat Stroke left off. I liked how the author had a short, one page prologue by the main character that recapped the previous book and brings the reader up to speed. It was nicely done, without feeling repetitive. A little warning to people who like to read “just one more chapter” – chapters in this book are very long. Plan those bathroom breaks well.
Jo and David are on a road trip heading to Las Vegas where they plan to catch up to Jonathan, the most powerful Djinn. Jonathan is holed up in a Las Vegas hotel with Kevin a petulant, pimpled teenager with some issues of his own. Jo needs to take control of Jonathan, but it won’t be easy. At the same time, corruption runs rampant throughout the Weather Wardens organization. There is also a group that wants to free the Djinn.
Why do I love this series?
The weather is described in anthropomorphic terms. It has personality, malevolence, and a purpose. The weather systems are strong and powerful and carry a grudge.
The description of the aetheric. Ms. Caine’s describes the aetheric plane down to the molecule. It is absolutely beautiful. This is where the Djinn reside in their real forms.
The characters. Jo is snarky, but she also has a character that you can root for. She is tough, smart, and has strong morals.
The Djinn – You don’t often see Djinn depicted in urban fantasy. And David…so wonderful for Jo. And Lewis, wow. I am gushing about these characters.
The action and pacing. All I can say is that it was very hard to put this book down and take a break.
After reading this book, I’m ready for a road trip of my own to Vegas. I can’t wait to read the next book Windfall.
Favorite Quotes:
Review posted on Badass Book Reviews.
Last week, we had scorching hot weather in my part of the world. What better way to cool off than to find a book with a “cool” title? Chill Factor by Rachel Caine fit the bill nicely. Chill Factor is the third book in Ms. Caine’s Weather Warden Series, one of the more unique and original urban fantasy series out there.
What are Weather Wardens? The Weather Wardens are specially trained people that control the weather with the aid of Djinns. Together, they take the energy of weather systems and disperse it safely with minimal damage to humans. They are not always successful as evidenced by hurricane damage, but they do help out a lot.
Chill Factor starts off immediately where Heat Stroke left off. I liked how the author had a short, one page prologue by the main character that recapped the previous book and brings the reader up to speed. It was nicely done, without feeling repetitive. A little warning to people who like to read “just one more chapter” – chapters in this book are very long. Plan those bathroom breaks well.
Jo and David are on a road trip heading to Las Vegas where they plan to catch up to Jonathan, the most powerful Djinn. Jonathan is holed up in a Las Vegas hotel with Kevin a petulant, pimpled teenager with some issues of his own. Jo needs to take control of Jonathan, but it won’t be easy. At the same time, corruption runs rampant throughout the Weather Wardens organization. There is also a group that wants to free the Djinn.
Why do I love this series?
The weather is described in anthropomorphic terms. It has personality, malevolence, and a purpose. The weather systems are strong and powerful and carry a grudge.
The description of the aetheric. Ms. Caine’s describes the aetheric plane down to the molecule. It is absolutely beautiful. This is where the Djinn reside in their real forms.
The characters. Jo is snarky, but she also has a character that you can root for. She is tough, smart, and has strong morals.
The Djinn – You don’t often see Djinn depicted in urban fantasy. And David…so wonderful for Jo. And Lewis, wow. I am gushing about these characters.
The action and pacing. All I can say is that it was very hard to put this book down and take a break.
After reading this book, I’m ready for a road trip of my own to Vegas. I can’t wait to read the next book Windfall.
Favorite Quotes:
“You’re so expendable they practically fired you out of a circus cannon.”
“Hey,” I said as he shuffled me past a storefront full of reproduction Egyptian furniture, “you know what all villains have in common? They don’t shop. They’re too busy being evil to shop. You guys need to learn the fine art of browsing.”
Review posted on Badass Book Reviews.
October 16, 2016
This is where I end what from the first book I had been sure would be a fantastic series. Alas, the plot holes and poor characterization that I had been warned would grow numerous as the series continued have reared their ugly head.
Joanne faked her death in the last book, and at the beginning of this one she decides she's going to her funeral to watch everyone cry. She's not even going to disguise herself, just walk in and shock everyone because it will be fun. Never mind it will completely undermine the whole point of faking her death. I'm sorry, what?
And then David, who's a freaking genie and could magic her to the bed or something so she couldn't leave decides he's going to go with her because "I can't stop you." WHAT?!
And then, while they are there someone comes up to them and tells them it's very important that he talk with them, and then the chapter ends. You'd think the next chapter would be them talking, but no it's them meeting him DAYS later (huh?) and him going, "Well, you didn't talk to me when I first asked and now crazy stuff has happened so it's too late." Wha ... huh?
I might have been able to overlook these plot holes and glaring character stupidity for a few more books, but the way the men in Joanne's life treat her with such disregard and she acts like it's of no consequence ... no. Just no.
(spoilers) First, Lewis shoots Joanne, killing her. It's the only way to get her passed this magical barrier where she will be revived on the other side. But he doesn't explain any of this to Joanne. He just has her kidnapped and killed. And then David impregnates her, also not explaining his plan or even asking for her consent. The men's logic is Joanne is rash and impulsive and she wouldn't agree to their ideas. So they simply ask her to trust them when it's perfectly clear they don't trust her.
I'd expect Joanne to be pissed. These men have USED her and completely disregarded her own thoughts and feelings on the issue. She should curse them out. But no, it's like she's completely oblivious to the extreme trespass on her body that has occurred by both of them. It's like it never crossed her mind any act of betrayal by the men she loves and who profess to love her has even happened.
No. Just no. This is not acceptable. This is not how people who love you and respect you act. These are not healthy relationships. These men have acted like complete asses and Joanne just let's them walk all over her like their actions were right. No. No. This is wrong and disgusting and abhorrent. I draw the line here.
Joanne faked her death in the last book, and at the beginning of this one she decides she's going to her funeral to watch everyone cry. She's not even going to disguise herself, just walk in and shock everyone because it will be fun. Never mind it will completely undermine the whole point of faking her death. I'm sorry, what?
And then David, who's a freaking genie and could magic her to the bed or something so she couldn't leave decides he's going to go with her because "I can't stop you." WHAT?!
And then, while they are there someone comes up to them and tells them it's very important that he talk with them, and then the chapter ends. You'd think the next chapter would be them talking, but no it's them meeting him DAYS later (huh?) and him going, "Well, you didn't talk to me when I first asked and now crazy stuff has happened so it's too late." Wha ... huh?
I might have been able to overlook these plot holes and glaring character stupidity for a few more books, but the way the men in Joanne's life treat her with such disregard and she acts like it's of no consequence ... no. Just no.
(spoilers) First, Lewis shoots Joanne, killing her. It's the only way to get her passed this magical barrier where she will be revived on the other side. But he doesn't explain any of this to Joanne. He just has her kidnapped and killed. And then David impregnates her, also not explaining his plan or even asking for her consent. The men's logic is Joanne is rash and impulsive and she wouldn't agree to their ideas. So they simply ask her to trust them when it's perfectly clear they don't trust her.
I'd expect Joanne to be pissed. These men have USED her and completely disregarded her own thoughts and feelings on the issue. She should curse them out. But no, it's like she's completely oblivious to the extreme trespass on her body that has occurred by both of them. It's like it never crossed her mind any act of betrayal by the men she loves and who profess to love her has even happened.
No. Just no. This is not acceptable. This is not how people who love you and respect you act. These are not healthy relationships. These men have acted like complete asses and Joanne just let's them walk all over her like their actions were right. No. No. This is wrong and disgusting and abhorrent. I draw the line here.
January 2, 2013
Once again, Joanne Baldwin is in trouble. See, she's died once already (which sucked), got reincarnated in the form of a Djinn (which was cool, but, ultimately, sucked) and has since been returned to living flesh (much cooler, though now she has to pee after long car drives, and she never noticed how much that sucked before being a Djinn).
Not that she's negative.
Born a weather warden, Joanne can manipulate and control the air and water, and is a member of the Wardens, a group determined to do two things: keep as many humans alive in the much-more-volatile-than-you-know Earth, and stay a secret. The first isn't going so well, the second seems pretty dicey, too.
So, when the most powerful fella about with powers over all the elements has his powers stolen from him by a punk boy with major psychological trauma, and said punk boy also steals the world's most powerful Djinn, things get pretty nasty, pretty fast. And Joanne is pretty sure that people are trying to kill her (again).
What's a girl to do? Well, getting some kick-ass shoes, a fast car, and a dress that leaves just enough to imagination is a good start. The rest she'll come up with as she goes.
A load of fun as always, the writing of Rachel Caine is right up there with Jim Butcher and the early (non-overdosed) Laurel K. Hamilton. It rocks, but I'd suggest you start with "Ill Wind," which was the first book in the series.
Not that she's negative.
Born a weather warden, Joanne can manipulate and control the air and water, and is a member of the Wardens, a group determined to do two things: keep as many humans alive in the much-more-volatile-than-you-know Earth, and stay a secret. The first isn't going so well, the second seems pretty dicey, too.
So, when the most powerful fella about with powers over all the elements has his powers stolen from him by a punk boy with major psychological trauma, and said punk boy also steals the world's most powerful Djinn, things get pretty nasty, pretty fast. And Joanne is pretty sure that people are trying to kill her (again).
What's a girl to do? Well, getting some kick-ass shoes, a fast car, and a dress that leaves just enough to imagination is a good start. The rest she'll come up with as she goes.
A load of fun as always, the writing of Rachel Caine is right up there with Jim Butcher and the early (non-overdosed) Laurel K. Hamilton. It rocks, but I'd suggest you start with "Ill Wind," which was the first book in the series.
January 26, 2012
Hell yeah!
I adored this book, I love this series and I am totally smitten.
What a loaded book! Probably like a million things that happened and the surprises kept coming you don't get a chance to recover from the last one and then bam! You're shocked again.
The story pulled me hard it was agonizing not to keep reading. New elements showing and a promise of even more beautiful complications to come.
Seriously I could talk forever about how good this book was or how brilliant the series is, but I'd rather spare my little time and start book no. 4. Like right now!
I adored this book, I love this series and I am totally smitten.
What a loaded book! Probably like a million things that happened and the surprises kept coming you don't get a chance to recover from the last one and then bam! You're shocked again.
The story pulled me hard it was agonizing not to keep reading. New elements showing and a promise of even more beautiful complications to come.
Seriously I could talk forever about how good this book was or how brilliant the series is, but I'd rather spare my little time and start book no. 4. Like right now!
November 15, 2018
I finished the ebook bundle of the first three books, and I'm leaving the rest of the series for later. It's not bad. Far from it. I like it, but I don't feel compelled to pick up the next one right away. I am definitely curious how it's going to develop after the big change in Jo's life at the end of this book though, so I will continue with the series eventually.
I like the world building so far. It's slowly but surely getting more complex with the addition of another faction. And I think Chill Factor was way better about incorporating the flashbacks than Ill Wind. While in Ill Wind they often felt a little out of left field and interrupted the flow of the story, here they were less frequent (less is more), less random and much more relevant for the current storyline. Definite improvement there!
There are secondary characters I'd definitely like to see more of, like Lewis and Marion, even if or maybe especially because I can't be sure of their allegiances. And I like Jo and David well enough. However, I still think the romance happened way too fast. Not neccessarily too fast as in "book #1 in a series is too fast", even if I personally tend to prefer slow-burns. And not neccessarily as in "after knowing each other only a few days/weeks is too fast". But as in "I didn't get to see enough development/interaction between them before they were suddenly epically in love". I like reading at least a few scenes/chapters that make me think these two are totally in love, even if they haven't realized it yet. Here it was more like the book(s) told me see these two? just so you know, they're in love now. ok, bye! Even three books in, I still don't feel like I've seen enough of Jo and David's relationship to really feel it, unfortunately. I love the idea of their romance, but I'm not sold on the execution. That's just my impression.
Verdict for the series so far: slightly disappointed (maybe my expectations were just too high) but cautiously optimistic I'll enjoy the rest of the series more after taking a little break from it.
I like the world building so far. It's slowly but surely getting more complex with the addition of another faction. And I think Chill Factor was way better about incorporating the flashbacks than Ill Wind. While in Ill Wind they often felt a little out of left field and interrupted the flow of the story, here they were less frequent (less is more), less random and much more relevant for the current storyline. Definite improvement there!
There are secondary characters I'd definitely like to see more of, like Lewis and Marion, even if or maybe especially because I can't be sure of their allegiances. And I like Jo and David well enough. However, I still think the romance happened way too fast. Not neccessarily too fast as in "book #1 in a series is too fast", even if I personally tend to prefer slow-burns. And not neccessarily as in "after knowing each other only a few days/weeks is too fast". But as in "I didn't get to see enough development/interaction between them before they were suddenly epically in love". I like reading at least a few scenes/chapters that make me think these two are totally in love, even if they haven't realized it yet. Here it was more like the book(s) told me see these two? just so you know, they're in love now. ok, bye! Even three books in, I still don't feel like I've seen enough of Jo and David's relationship to really feel it, unfortunately. I love the idea of their romance, but I'm not sold on the execution. That's just my impression.
Verdict for the series so far: slightly disappointed (maybe my expectations were just too high) but cautiously optimistic I'll enjoy the rest of the series more after taking a little break from it.
December 15, 2020
3 stars.
Three books in, and things continue to go from bad to worse for Joanne Baldwin. After the events of book 2 she's desperately trying to get to Las Vegas to regain the world's most powerful djinn from the control of a criminally minded teenager, who's also magically stolen the elemental powers of Joanne's friend (and once almost-boyfriend) Lewis. But of course, there are other problems and complications, like a rival group to the wardens who are trying to restore the balance of the world, regardless of how many people will die as a result.
I enjoyed it; it was fast-moving and Joanne is a likable protagonist (even if I personally don't share her enthusiasm for shopping). The world is refreshingly different to many in UF (no weres, vampires or fae here), it just wasn't wildly exciting.
I will be reading the rest of the series, the question is whether I read another book or two in-between.
Three books in, and things continue to go from bad to worse for Joanne Baldwin. After the events of book 2 she's desperately trying to get to Las Vegas to regain the world's most powerful djinn from the control of a criminally minded teenager, who's also magically stolen the elemental powers of Joanne's friend (and once almost-boyfriend) Lewis. But of course, there are other problems and complications, like a rival group to the wardens who are trying to restore the balance of the world, regardless of how many people will die as a result.
I enjoyed it; it was fast-moving and Joanne is a likable protagonist (even if I personally don't share her enthusiasm for shopping). The world is refreshingly different to many in UF (no weres, vampires or fae here), it just wasn't wildly exciting.
I will be reading the rest of the series, the question is whether I read another book or two in-between.
December 8, 2021
I picked up this series at a library book sale and it doesn't disappoint. I love the aspects of the Dijn. I look forward to reading more.
December 23, 2008
Rachel Caine is an evil, evil temptress, and she does not let up for one single minute in the third book of her Weather Wardens series--and proves she had surprises and then some waiting for me as I tore my way through this installment. Browsing her site today, I spotted someone's comment that her books are just like M&M's--you rip right through them, and while they're a fluffy, snack-y sort of read, they are oh so tasty.
I have a huge morass of conflicting reactions to the tail end of this story. The fangirl reaction: "Nooooooooo! Rachel! You EVIL, EVIL TEMPTRESS! How could you give us David making sweet love to Joanne, murmuring words of fire into her ear, getting her pregnant, and then getting ripped to shreds by Rahel-turned-Ifrit? AIE! HE MUST BE ALL RIGHT!" The reader reaction: "Good gods, I need to get the next book NOW. NOW. NOW." The aspiring writer reaction: "Ahem. Muse? Hey, muse? You're taking notes on this, right? On How to Make One's Hero As Swoonable as Possible, and Then Even More Swoonable? Not to mention How to Set a Breakneck Pace and Keep Your Readers Coming Back For More?"
Because holy crap, that was a hell of a read. I don't even know where to begin, aside from sniffling over the aforementioned ripping apart of the aforementioned David (sniffle!). Okay, I will admit I'm just a trifle confused as to what exactly Lewis might have done that let David come back out of the bottle, even briefly, as himself rather than as Ifrit-David--but I'm sure I'll find out as soon as I rip into book four.
And how about that secret-society-founding Lewis, huh? Anybody besides me think "Ra's Al Ghul"? 'Cause all that talk that the Ma'at were giving Jo about restoring the balance of the Earth sure did spookily remind me of the speeches Liam Neeson kept giving Bruce Wayne in Batman Returns. And yet... Lewis seems better than that. We do get reminded that along with being The Most Powerful Warden Ever, Lewis does get a hefty dose of compassion as part and parcel of the Earth Warden section of his powers. On the other hand, I did want to smack him around a bit for giving Jo shit about David. On the third hand, I also wanted to hug the poor man for that last question he gave Jo: "Does he make you happy?"
Why do I smell a sacrifice to David of some of his own power on Lewis' part, hrmm?
I'd like that, and it'd be pretty neat if that's what's going on. There is still clearly Something There between Lewis and Jo, David all aside... and Jo is clearly aware of it. Clever, clever Rachel, keeping that in there just to keep things really interesting. ;)
What else? The beginning sure floored me with a whole bunch of "what the hell?" Very effective--because we as readers had no idea what was going on any more than Jo did, which was exactly the right way to go about doing that as Lewis sneakily arranged to "kill" Jo and then dump her inside Vegas.
And I really, really liked that Jonathan was way more in charge of the situation than Kevin was--that Jonathan, as Most Powerful Djinn Ever, wasn't about to let a pipsqueak teenage boy seriously take advantage of him. I still take a bit of issue with the convenience of how somebody snatching the bottle of a bound Djinn makes them the new master of that Djinn. (But thinking more about it, I wonder whether that was deliberately done by the Wardens if they set the whole thing up in the first place with enslaving the Djinn. I could see it causing the Wardens a fuckload of problems if someone could command a Djinn no matter where the bottle might happen to be. If a Warden goes rogue, that leaves too much power in their hands if their Djinn can't be snatched out from under them. Hrmm.)
And how about that Quinn? I should have known that the new character who got the most lines and who seemed likeable to Jo would in fact be the actual bad guy. Hee. A trifle too convenient that he was also the person who tortured the secrets of the Djinn out of Jo herself six years ago--but a forgiveable convenience, as far as I'm concerned, because see previous commentary on these books being oh so tasty. ;) Not to mention that it also led into some nice little revelations about Marion--apparently Sekrit Love Affairs With One's Djinn are more common among the Wardens than Jo might otherwise think, huh? Whee!
And OHMIGOD, Jo's got a Djinn bun in her oven! Oddly appropriate, given that 2006 in my experience thus far has been Year of the Baby--it's even leaking into the fiction I'm reading. ^_^ I wonder how long the gestation period is if you're carrying the child of a Djinn?
And that last note with Jo telling off Paul and his backup and walking off the job--nice. It will be very, very interesting to see if this situation gets repaired at all in the next book or two!
I have a huge morass of conflicting reactions to the tail end of this story. The fangirl reaction: "Nooooooooo! Rachel! You EVIL, EVIL TEMPTRESS! How could you give us David making sweet love to Joanne, murmuring words of fire into her ear, getting her pregnant, and then getting ripped to shreds by Rahel-turned-Ifrit? AIE! HE MUST BE ALL RIGHT!" The reader reaction: "Good gods, I need to get the next book NOW. NOW. NOW." The aspiring writer reaction: "Ahem. Muse? Hey, muse? You're taking notes on this, right? On How to Make One's Hero As Swoonable as Possible, and Then Even More Swoonable? Not to mention How to Set a Breakneck Pace and Keep Your Readers Coming Back For More?"
Because holy crap, that was a hell of a read. I don't even know where to begin, aside from sniffling over the aforementioned ripping apart of the aforementioned David (sniffle!). Okay, I will admit I'm just a trifle confused as to what exactly Lewis might have done that let David come back out of the bottle, even briefly, as himself rather than as Ifrit-David--but I'm sure I'll find out as soon as I rip into book four.
And how about that secret-society-founding Lewis, huh? Anybody besides me think "Ra's Al Ghul"? 'Cause all that talk that the Ma'at were giving Jo about restoring the balance of the Earth sure did spookily remind me of the speeches Liam Neeson kept giving Bruce Wayne in Batman Returns. And yet... Lewis seems better than that. We do get reminded that along with being The Most Powerful Warden Ever, Lewis does get a hefty dose of compassion as part and parcel of the Earth Warden section of his powers. On the other hand, I did want to smack him around a bit for giving Jo shit about David. On the third hand, I also wanted to hug the poor man for that last question he gave Jo: "Does he make you happy?"
Why do I smell a sacrifice to David of some of his own power on Lewis' part, hrmm?
I'd like that, and it'd be pretty neat if that's what's going on. There is still clearly Something There between Lewis and Jo, David all aside... and Jo is clearly aware of it. Clever, clever Rachel, keeping that in there just to keep things really interesting. ;)
What else? The beginning sure floored me with a whole bunch of "what the hell?" Very effective--because we as readers had no idea what was going on any more than Jo did, which was exactly the right way to go about doing that as Lewis sneakily arranged to "kill" Jo and then dump her inside Vegas.
And I really, really liked that Jonathan was way more in charge of the situation than Kevin was--that Jonathan, as Most Powerful Djinn Ever, wasn't about to let a pipsqueak teenage boy seriously take advantage of him. I still take a bit of issue with the convenience of how somebody snatching the bottle of a bound Djinn makes them the new master of that Djinn. (But thinking more about it, I wonder whether that was deliberately done by the Wardens if they set the whole thing up in the first place with enslaving the Djinn. I could see it causing the Wardens a fuckload of problems if someone could command a Djinn no matter where the bottle might happen to be. If a Warden goes rogue, that leaves too much power in their hands if their Djinn can't be snatched out from under them. Hrmm.)
And how about that Quinn? I should have known that the new character who got the most lines and who seemed likeable to Jo would in fact be the actual bad guy. Hee. A trifle too convenient that he was also the person who tortured the secrets of the Djinn out of Jo herself six years ago--but a forgiveable convenience, as far as I'm concerned, because see previous commentary on these books being oh so tasty. ;) Not to mention that it also led into some nice little revelations about Marion--apparently Sekrit Love Affairs With One's Djinn are more common among the Wardens than Jo might otherwise think, huh? Whee!
And OHMIGOD, Jo's got a Djinn bun in her oven! Oddly appropriate, given that 2006 in my experience thus far has been Year of the Baby--it's even leaking into the fiction I'm reading. ^_^ I wonder how long the gestation period is if you're carrying the child of a Djinn?
And that last note with Jo telling off Paul and his backup and walking off the job--nice. It will be very, very interesting to see if this situation gets repaired at all in the next book or two!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2010
Joanne has defeated her nemesis from the second book, Yvette Prentiss--sort of--and now moves on to nemesis number 2: Kevin Prentiss, Yvette's stepson. She would really love to negotiate with him or fight or draw pictures with sidewalk chalk, but Joanne, and every other living Warden, are blocked from entering Los Vegas. What? No gambling?! You heard me.
But is Kevin really the one Joanne needs to be watching out for, or is it the secret society that are trying to 'rescue her' from Kevin and Jonathan? Or maybe the Wardens themselves? Throughout the course of the book, Joanne is constantly tugged between the three mostly opposing sides (sometimes their goals are similar), without a clue who to trust.
Add in a few desperate iffrits and some really messed up flashbacks, and that's Chill Factor in a nutshell, though this is a book that cannot be summarized well without having read it yourself, so you should probably head out and pick up a copy right now, 'cause the Wardens are seriously hot stuff!
Another action packed adventure in the world of Joanne Baldwin, the third Weather Warden installment doesn't fail to excite. In fact, I think the biggest problem I had with Chill Factor was that the fast-paced, never-ending action was, well... never-ending. While it was definitely an awesome book, the reader doesn't really get a break between disasters, which may be just what the more visually-oriented book-lovers amongst us are looking for. As always, this sort of thing is very objective. I could've done with a few more quiet moments, but maybe someone else would've liked fewer.
As previously mentioned, I could have used some down-time to breath through Joanne's many perilous situations, any there were many of them, but it was still a really good book. None of the action scenes seemed unnecessary, or anything, it just needed some added conversations or thinking or something, maybe another fifty or so pages; nothing too drastic.
While Joanne majorly developed as a character, with flashbacks from her past fleshing out some of her fears and her reasoning, surprisingly, her love-interest, David, didn't get much airtime in this book. He was a bigger force in the first book, not so big in the second, and this was kind of a middle ground. I love me some David, though, so that was moderately disappointing until I got too wrapped up in the story to be worried about him. Lewis and Jonathan were more prominent than previously, which I liked.
Overall, I think that Chill Factor is stronger than the second book, but Ill Wind will eternally hold my heart. You can't beat the first Weather Warden book, which is completely devoid of First Book Syndrome, and one of the most amazing books ever. If you're in the mood for a movie-like Urban Fantasy with a hint of romance, this is your series!
This summer, go see Rachel Caine on the Smart Chicks Kick It Tour!
But is Kevin really the one Joanne needs to be watching out for, or is it the secret society that are trying to 'rescue her' from Kevin and Jonathan? Or maybe the Wardens themselves? Throughout the course of the book, Joanne is constantly tugged between the three mostly opposing sides (sometimes their goals are similar), without a clue who to trust.
Add in a few desperate iffrits and some really messed up flashbacks, and that's Chill Factor in a nutshell, though this is a book that cannot be summarized well without having read it yourself, so you should probably head out and pick up a copy right now, 'cause the Wardens are seriously hot stuff!
Another action packed adventure in the world of Joanne Baldwin, the third Weather Warden installment doesn't fail to excite. In fact, I think the biggest problem I had with Chill Factor was that the fast-paced, never-ending action was, well... never-ending. While it was definitely an awesome book, the reader doesn't really get a break between disasters, which may be just what the more visually-oriented book-lovers amongst us are looking for. As always, this sort of thing is very objective. I could've done with a few more quiet moments, but maybe someone else would've liked fewer.
As previously mentioned, I could have used some down-time to breath through Joanne's many perilous situations, any there were many of them, but it was still a really good book. None of the action scenes seemed unnecessary, or anything, it just needed some added conversations or thinking or something, maybe another fifty or so pages; nothing too drastic.
While Joanne majorly developed as a character, with flashbacks from her past fleshing out some of her fears and her reasoning, surprisingly, her love-interest, David, didn't get much airtime in this book. He was a bigger force in the first book, not so big in the second, and this was kind of a middle ground. I love me some David, though, so that was moderately disappointing until I got too wrapped up in the story to be worried about him. Lewis and Jonathan were more prominent than previously, which I liked.
Overall, I think that Chill Factor is stronger than the second book, but Ill Wind will eternally hold my heart. You can't beat the first Weather Warden book, which is completely devoid of First Book Syndrome, and one of the most amazing books ever. If you're in the mood for a movie-like Urban Fantasy with a hint of romance, this is your series!
This summer, go see Rachel Caine on the Smart Chicks Kick It Tour!
January 31, 2014
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.nikihawkes.com
After reading the first three books in both this series and the Morganville series, I have come to the conclusion that Caine’s work just doesn’t sing with me. There is something missing, and I’ve wracked my brain and analyzed the snot out of these books and I think I have finally figured out what it is (see below). I’m pretty sure I’m alone in this, too, because my best friend/favorite-go-to-person for book recommends ranks Morganville number one as far as vampire books go and really enjoyed the first few books in this series as well. It happens, I guess, but I’m still going to take a couple of paragraphs to explore why the book was just “okay”.
My favorite element to this book was the concept – it was the major reason why I bumped the book’s overall rating up from a 1.5 to a 2.5. People with abilities to control the weather with the help of mysterious, beautiful, and downright hostile djinn that are kept as slaves. It is a really neat idea, and for the most part Caine does a great job expanding on it. My only gripe here is that she sometimes managed to turn a fun ability into a highly technical event that made me feel like I was reading a textbook.
I actually really like the writing style – I am a sucker for good use of description and Caine had a couple of really stunning passages that I made note of to study for my own writing. What she accomplishes so well with that great description is a fantastic overall mood for the story. It takes me to a very distinct world with a very distinct feeling, and honestly if I pick the next book up it will be because I miss the overall feel of these novels.
With all of those good attributes, what’s my problem?
The only thing I can figure is that something about the main character, plot, or love interest wasn’t working for me. With this book in particular, I found myself constantly questioning the main character’s rationale (which incidentally took the plot to places I wasn’t invested in). I also didn’t really care for the love interest – while the main character is running around thinking ” OMG, this guy is the most important wonderful thing in the world, I can’t lose him!” I’m over here like, “Whatever, you could totally do better.” I guess this book goes to show just how important it is for me to be invested in the characters, otherwise it’s like pulling teeth to get through the novel.
Recommendations: with all of these things in mind, I probably wouldn’t recommend these books unless someone specifically said they liked the Morganville series (as I had all of the same struggles with those) so if you liked one you’ll probably like the other. As of right now, it’s pretty low on my urban fantasy totem and would have to go somewhere totally amazing in the next one for that to change. For any wary readers out there, this particular book contains language and violence.
After reading the first three books in both this series and the Morganville series, I have come to the conclusion that Caine’s work just doesn’t sing with me. There is something missing, and I’ve wracked my brain and analyzed the snot out of these books and I think I have finally figured out what it is (see below). I’m pretty sure I’m alone in this, too, because my best friend/favorite-go-to-person for book recommends ranks Morganville number one as far as vampire books go and really enjoyed the first few books in this series as well. It happens, I guess, but I’m still going to take a couple of paragraphs to explore why the book was just “okay”.
My favorite element to this book was the concept – it was the major reason why I bumped the book’s overall rating up from a 1.5 to a 2.5. People with abilities to control the weather with the help of mysterious, beautiful, and downright hostile djinn that are kept as slaves. It is a really neat idea, and for the most part Caine does a great job expanding on it. My only gripe here is that she sometimes managed to turn a fun ability into a highly technical event that made me feel like I was reading a textbook.
I actually really like the writing style – I am a sucker for good use of description and Caine had a couple of really stunning passages that I made note of to study for my own writing. What she accomplishes so well with that great description is a fantastic overall mood for the story. It takes me to a very distinct world with a very distinct feeling, and honestly if I pick the next book up it will be because I miss the overall feel of these novels.
With all of those good attributes, what’s my problem?
The only thing I can figure is that something about the main character, plot, or love interest wasn’t working for me. With this book in particular, I found myself constantly questioning the main character’s rationale (which incidentally took the plot to places I wasn’t invested in). I also didn’t really care for the love interest – while the main character is running around thinking ” OMG, this guy is the most important wonderful thing in the world, I can’t lose him!” I’m over here like, “Whatever, you could totally do better.” I guess this book goes to show just how important it is for me to be invested in the characters, otherwise it’s like pulling teeth to get through the novel.
Recommendations: with all of these things in mind, I probably wouldn’t recommend these books unless someone specifically said they liked the Morganville series (as I had all of the same struggles with those) so if you liked one you’ll probably like the other. As of right now, it’s pretty low on my urban fantasy totem and would have to go somewhere totally amazing in the next one for that to change. For any wary readers out there, this particular book contains language and violence.
August 9, 2010
Poor Joanne has really had a rough couple of weeks. She started on the run from murder charges, died, was reborn as a djinn, died again, and came back as a human. This book starts with Joanne and David trying to reach Las Vegas to stop the teenager, Kevin, who stole powers and enslaved the leader of the Djinn, Jonathan. Unfortunately they have not been able to make any progress as Kevin, via Jonathan always finds them before they get even close. Joanne finds herself stuck in the middle of a secret society and quickly learns she cannot trust anyone because even her friend seem to have no issue with using her as a pawn.
I've come to realize that I really should just expect the unexpected in this series. I cannot count how many times I thought "Woah, didn't see that one coming." Its amazing to see everything that is thrown at Joanne, yet she still seems to survive and come up kicking. At one point, Jonathan, who seems to have it out for her, even says "You really know how to survive, I'll give you that." I really admire her strength and determination to do the right thing. Yes, she does have a major weakness for cars and shopping, which she does at really odd moments, but in the end she makes sure to fight for what is right even if it means not taking the easy way out.
I'm starting to worry a little about Joanne and David's future. They just haven't been able to have any real time together, something always seems to tear them apart. I hope things do not fizzle between them. I love their chemistry and a lot of what I love of this series is the dynamic between the two. Hopefully they will at least get a little time together if not some peace in future books. However, with the way things ended in this book, it makes their future seem even more shaky.
This book was just as suspenseful as the first two. I love how the author integrates things from Joanne's past and makes them relevant to things happening now. Considering how she is always out to save the world, it was nice to see that she might actually be an important part of the puzzle, versus just a girl with a hero complex. This book is a great read, but beware that you will want to have the next book ready as the ending of this one will make you want to jump right into the following one.
I've come to realize that I really should just expect the unexpected in this series. I cannot count how many times I thought "Woah, didn't see that one coming." Its amazing to see everything that is thrown at Joanne, yet she still seems to survive and come up kicking. At one point, Jonathan, who seems to have it out for her, even says "You really know how to survive, I'll give you that." I really admire her strength and determination to do the right thing. Yes, she does have a major weakness for cars and shopping, which she does at really odd moments, but in the end she makes sure to fight for what is right even if it means not taking the easy way out.
I'm starting to worry a little about Joanne and David's future. They just haven't been able to have any real time together, something always seems to tear them apart. I hope things do not fizzle between them. I love their chemistry and a lot of what I love of this series is the dynamic between the two. Hopefully they will at least get a little time together if not some peace in future books. However, with the way things ended in this book, it makes their future seem even more shaky.
This book was just as suspenseful as the first two. I love how the author integrates things from Joanne's past and makes them relevant to things happening now. Considering how she is always out to save the world, it was nice to see that she might actually be an important part of the puzzle, versus just a girl with a hero complex. This book is a great read, but beware that you will want to have the next book ready as the ending of this one will make you want to jump right into the following one.
January 6, 2012
2.5 stars
Spoilers!
*sigh* I loved the first book of the Weather Warden series but since then the series has been declining in my opinion. While this installment had more humor and entertainment in it than the second, it still managed to greatly annoy me.
Joanne continues to be slightly slow and all too trusting. Her lack of realization at times made me want to scream at the book in frustration. Her mentions of clothes and cars is also starting to be very annoying and I wish Caine would have done away with such things. Joanne (or should I say Caine) also had a way of describing surroundings which make me want to skim until there is dialogue.
In this installment Joanne also seems to have a holier than thou complex when it comes to killing Kevin. Sure, it would kill Lewis as well but her main driving force seems to be the killing overall. One life to save the planet and she is not willing to consent? Seriously? Then near the end of the book a life would be required to save David and she pretty much says that is perfectly acceptable?? One life for another = fine to Joanne, one life to save the planet = crappy deal. Wow. And this is how she feels about saving David, despite comments about not being sure she could control herself sleeping in a bed with Lewis. So faithful and consistent!
And as authors seem to love to do in series, the main character is now pregnant! *sigh* Why do I dare believe the lie authors tell us in the beginning of series that a character/species etc. cannot reproduce? It always becomes a plot twist! It is such a cop-out, in this series as well. I'm definitely not happy with this plot development and hope that it is somehow a false positive (which I doubt it is) or the remaining books in the series may become entirely too unbearable for me. Not only will we have to then hear about the pregnancy constantly, then the having of the kid and so on, we'll probably have to read about what the damn kid is wearing too. (Oh and we'll have to read Joanne whining that she has to drive slow or some crap like that.) No thanks!! I guess I'll give the series one more chance but if that fails too I may be selling the series as I have collected them all.
Spoilers!
*sigh* I loved the first book of the Weather Warden series but since then the series has been declining in my opinion. While this installment had more humor and entertainment in it than the second, it still managed to greatly annoy me.
Joanne continues to be slightly slow and all too trusting. Her lack of realization at times made me want to scream at the book in frustration. Her mentions of clothes and cars is also starting to be very annoying and I wish Caine would have done away with such things. Joanne (or should I say Caine) also had a way of describing surroundings which make me want to skim until there is dialogue.
In this installment Joanne also seems to have a holier than thou complex when it comes to killing Kevin. Sure, it would kill Lewis as well but her main driving force seems to be the killing overall. One life to save the planet and she is not willing to consent? Seriously? Then near the end of the book a life would be required to save David and she pretty much says that is perfectly acceptable?? One life for another = fine to Joanne, one life to save the planet = crappy deal. Wow. And this is how she feels about saving David, despite comments about not being sure she could control herself sleeping in a bed with Lewis. So faithful and consistent!
And as authors seem to love to do in series, the main character is now pregnant! *sigh* Why do I dare believe the lie authors tell us in the beginning of series that a character/species etc. cannot reproduce? It always becomes a plot twist! It is such a cop-out, in this series as well. I'm definitely not happy with this plot development and hope that it is somehow a false positive (which I doubt it is) or the remaining books in the series may become entirely too unbearable for me. Not only will we have to then hear about the pregnancy constantly, then the having of the kid and so on, we'll probably have to read about what the damn kid is wearing too. (Oh and we'll have to read Joanne whining that she has to drive slow or some crap like that.) No thanks!! I guess I'll give the series one more chance but if that fails too I may be selling the series as I have collected them all.
September 23, 2011
It was still fun, but there were too many major coincidences, that kind of storytelling really annoys me, it totally takes away from my enjoyment of the plot twists. It just isn't believable that it could all come together that way, so it's not fun. It was fast-paced and had a lot of action, and there was some good heart too. Jo really does care about the Djinn and about the boy, Kevin, and people in general; she claims that she just wants to be left alone to shop and have fun but she can't help but try to be a hero when heroing is called for (heroing, probably not a verb, but it should be). The author did manage to keep Jo and David apart for much of yet another installment without annoying me, which is a good trick in a long series where the love interests got together so early on.
But it's not the deepest of books by far. It's odd, it tries. There is some stuff about freedom and what it means when it comes to Djinns. And also about responsibility and meddling when it comes to the Wardens and their basic mandate. But somehow it's just not deep. But it's fun, nothing wrong with that.
But it's not the deepest of books by far. It's odd, it tries. There is some stuff about freedom and what it means when it comes to Djinns. And also about responsibility and meddling when it comes to the Wardens and their basic mandate. But somehow it's just not deep. But it's fun, nothing wrong with that.
April 4, 2014
Book 3 in the Weather Warden Series, this is the first one I've read of the series having picked the book up because I've read some of The Morganville Vampire series by Rachel. Fitting into the NA market it does feature strong language.
Joanne Baldwin is a weather warden who looks after weather and tries to control freak weather patterns. So far in the series she has died, been reborn as a Djinn, saved the world, does again, woken up human and lost a kid. A kid with powers which are out of control.
Kevin is a sixteen year old kid who is full of anger and holed up in Las Vegas with a very powerful Djinn. Joanne finds herself being used as bait to flush him out in a battle on many levels. She is kidnapped by a new group who call themselves Ma'at, keepers of balance, but in the end she must use her past experiences to help battle the present.
I'm glad the book explained what had happened so far in the series at the start, it helped me get a feel for the setting. The book grew on me and once I'd got into a bit further I began to enjoy it.
Joanne Baldwin is a weather warden who looks after weather and tries to control freak weather patterns. So far in the series she has died, been reborn as a Djinn, saved the world, does again, woken up human and lost a kid. A kid with powers which are out of control.
Kevin is a sixteen year old kid who is full of anger and holed up in Las Vegas with a very powerful Djinn. Joanne finds herself being used as bait to flush him out in a battle on many levels. She is kidnapped by a new group who call themselves Ma'at, keepers of balance, but in the end she must use her past experiences to help battle the present.
I'm glad the book explained what had happened so far in the series at the start, it helped me get a feel for the setting. The book grew on me and once I'd got into a bit further I began to enjoy it.
November 8, 2010
I took this along on my recent trip to Europe. For two reasons: it's written by Rachel Caine so I was guaranteed a good read (I wasn't disappointed) and it's a smaller paperback and lighter - I'm not an ebook fan :)
This is the third book in Rachel's Weather Warden series - I started the first book, Ill Wind ready to tear it apart like the laughable yet entertaining movie Twister - I have a degree in meteorology so how could a mere author know enough about the science of the weather? She nailed it :)
In this installment, the poor main character gets quite battered trying to get to a young man who has stolen powers and a dinjin that doesn't belong to him. I was hooked and spent one very late night finishing this book.
This is the third book in Rachel's Weather Warden series - I started the first book, Ill Wind ready to tear it apart like the laughable yet entertaining movie Twister - I have a degree in meteorology so how could a mere author know enough about the science of the weather? She nailed it :)
In this installment, the poor main character gets quite battered trying to get to a young man who has stolen powers and a dinjin that doesn't belong to him. I was hooked and spent one very late night finishing this book.
May 28, 2016
This is the 3rd book in the series and Rachel Caine did a great job keeping me guessing as to what was going to go wrong next. Poor Joanne has such a horrific time trying to do the right thing while keeping Kevin alive through out the whole book. Lots of twists and turns, its also a good idea to jot down some notes on what you can and can not command a djinn to do if you ever manage to get your hands on one in a bottle ;)
February 10, 2025
2019 52 Book Challenge - 6) A Book Set In Southern USA
I enjoyed this novel, I liked the setting and the plot kept going at a steady pace. My major complaint about this book is that if the characters had considered just talking to each other, a lot of this book wouldn't have happened, and I find that quite frustrating.
I enjoyed this novel, I liked the setting and the plot kept going at a steady pace. My major complaint about this book is that if the characters had considered just talking to each other, a lot of this book wouldn't have happened, and I find that quite frustrating.
May 1, 2009
You never know what to expect with this series & this book is no exception. The twists and turns, the way the "villan" changes is so much fun! I can't wait to find out what troubles Joanne gets into in the next book.
November 29, 2013
A really good follow on to the second story - with an exciting twist! can't wait to read number four!
May 17, 2020
3.5 stars.
Was interesting being back in this world especially since I read book 2 back in 2014. That being said it was easy enough to follow even almost 6 years later.
I love the concept of the Djinn and Joanne is usually the right mix of snarky. Her character has some dense moments but mostly she is one tough gal filled with sarcasm. Oh and her fashion addiction can be rather amusing at times. I'd like to see that dress!
I enjoyed the flashback moments in this one. They allowed us to see a lot more of how Jo came to be who she is and horrors she would like to forget. I liked the addition of another faction and the realization that no organization is perfect and how easy it is to blind yourself from the things you dont want to see.
I'd like to know more about Lewis and what he is thinking half the time. I don't understand his motives a lot of the time and as he is an interesting character I would really like to get inside his head.
Marion is another side character we got a lot more info about in this one. I love the way she is changing as a character and hope to learn more about her Djinn in the future.
I still think the weather and its aliveness is so neat and love reading about how the weather systems change and grow.
Still the weakest part of this series is all the ways they leave Joanne in the dark. Not telling her plans, using her instead. If it was once it would be a plot point, but continually makes it a crutch and not a favourite one of mine.
Glad I finally went back to this series, I'll try not to let 6 more years pass before I read book 4.
Was interesting being back in this world especially since I read book 2 back in 2014. That being said it was easy enough to follow even almost 6 years later.
I love the concept of the Djinn and Joanne is usually the right mix of snarky. Her character has some dense moments but mostly she is one tough gal filled with sarcasm. Oh and her fashion addiction can be rather amusing at times. I'd like to see that dress!
I enjoyed the flashback moments in this one. They allowed us to see a lot more of how Jo came to be who she is and horrors she would like to forget. I liked the addition of another faction and the realization that no organization is perfect and how easy it is to blind yourself from the things you dont want to see.
I'd like to know more about Lewis and what he is thinking half the time. I don't understand his motives a lot of the time and as he is an interesting character I would really like to get inside his head.
Marion is another side character we got a lot more info about in this one. I love the way she is changing as a character and hope to learn more about her Djinn in the future.
I still think the weather and its aliveness is so neat and love reading about how the weather systems change and grow.
Still the weakest part of this series is all the ways they leave Joanne in the dark. Not telling her plans, using her instead. If it was once it would be a plot point, but continually makes it a crutch and not a favourite one of mine.
Glad I finally went back to this series, I'll try not to let 6 more years pass before I read book 4.
January 30, 2019
I’m really enjoying this series
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