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Weather Warden #5
Firestorm
The genie is out of the bottle. Rogue Weather Warden Joanne Baldwin is racing to New York to warn her former colleagues of the impending apocalypse. An ancient agreement between the Djinn and the Wardens has been broken, and the furious Djinn, slaves to the Wardens for millennia, are now free of mortal control. With more than half the Wardens unaccounted for in the wake of the Djinn uprising, Joanne realizes that the natural disasters they've combated for so long were merely symptoms of restless Mother Nature fidgeting in her sleep. Now she's waking up - and she's angry -
292 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 5, 2006
80 people are currently reading
3732 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews
June 7, 2008
One of the things I'm noticing about this series is that the author does a really good job of making sure that after her heroine defeats something apocalyptically big, there's still something left to pose a credible threat. Sometimes she does it by depowering Jo, and sometimes she does it by coming up with a bigger apocalypse for next time, and so far it hasn't gotten annoying.
One thing I did find irritating: throughout the series, it is hinted, implied, and sometimes outright said that Lewis is carrying a torch for Joanne. In this book, Joanne decides she might have feelings for Lewis as well, and reacts by declaring to herself, horrified, "No! I love David!" (not a quote, but I can't be bothered to find it.)
Joanne. Honey. It is possible to love two people at once. If you want to be monogamous about it, fine, but loving one person does not remove from you the ability to love another, and loving another does not deprive the first person of any of your love.
One thing I did find irritating: throughout the series, it is hinted, implied, and sometimes outright said that Lewis is carrying a torch for Joanne. In this book, Joanne decides she might have feelings for Lewis as well, and reacts by declaring to herself, horrified, "No! I love David!" (not a quote, but I can't be bothered to find it.)
Joanne. Honey. It is possible to love two people at once. If you want to be monogamous about it, fine, but loving one person does not remove from you the ability to love another, and loving another does not deprive the first person of any of your love.
February 8, 2024
The laws of nature were only laws so long as nature intended them to be. I wasn’t sure where we stood anymore.In a genre overstuffed with world-ending scenarios, Caine’s take on the apocalypse is fairly unique. In a universe of Djinn and magical humans of different elemental persuasions, the calamity is Mother Nature waking up from her eons of slumber.
Up until now, the Wardens have only contended with the nightly stirrings of Mother Nature; if she wakes up, life as humanity knows it is over.
Firestorm has Jo dealing with the fallout of that imminent awakening: earthquakes, tsunamis, firestorms wreck havoc at an exponential rate, sending the remaining Warden’s scrambling. Having lost the Djinn, the Wardens aren’t even at their full capabilities — and in that one respect, I have less than zero sympathy for them.
Sadly, that doesn’t mean the Djinn are free. The Mother’s taken their reins.
I’ve never really liked the idea of sentient storms, and the personification of Mother Nature is no different. The issue for me is how goofy any interactions are bound to be.
For the first hundred pages, Jo races to Seacasket to speak to an Oracle, who, presumably can speak to the Mother. The “conversation” is just the Oracle projecting out images of humanity being awful and Jo agreeing, but arguing "we try not to be awful all the time". How the Oracle immediately shuts her down is too funny, even if I’m about 99.9 per cent sure it wasn’t suppose to be.
With open-world game logic, Jo collects herself and focuses on leveling up by doing some smaller scale quests for other Wardens. When that also blows up in her face, we get a surprise appearance from Eamon.
Eamon, the psychopathic British guy hellbent on getting a Djinn. He’s kidnapped Jo’s sister as a bargaining chip and his inclusion here is a glorious non-sequitur. It mixes with the apocalyptic stakes like oil and water. It’s a side-plot too removed from the world Caine’s created to work right now.
Everything about this diversion is barely serviceable drama that doesn’t even have the decency to conclude here: by the end of the book, Eamon still has Sarah and giving creepy calls to Jo.
My Djinn child was getting a full-on inferiority complex. More than human, less than full Djinn. That was a burden I wasn’t sure how to help her carry.David’s taken Jonathan’s place and is too compromised by the Mother to be of much use to Jo. To off-balance his continued absence, we get Imara, David and Jo’s Djinn offspring.
Unfortunately Firestorm spends little to no time on Imara, let alone her relationship with Jo, and that wouldn’t be so infuriating had Caine not had Ashan kill her off. There’s a potentially rich parallel between Jo’s nascent motherhood and Mother Nature’s with humanity that is so spectacularly missed, I’m at a loss for what Imara’s inclusion even contributed.
Imara is this series greatest missed opportunity.
Also, the love triangle rears its head again, and not just in Jo’s internal monologue. Lewis buys Jo an expensive car, loaded with implications, and once David see it, they finally discuss how Lewis is in love with Jo, and how Jo is a little bit in love with Lewis, too.
This would have been a worthwhile discussion about three books ago. Now, with David and Jo as committed to each other as possible, it feels borderline petty of David to bring up. It’s the end of the world and Jo’s complicated feelings for Lewis couldn’t matter less.
Firestorm is a missed opportunity on several accounts and feels a little too cobbled together. While reading, I could almost feel Caine’s deadline snaking up behind her.
November 22, 2015
(this review is a little scatterbrained but honestly, no one who's not 5 books into the series was going to understand it anyway, so I'm not gonna sweat it.)
My favorite junky UF series continues to be junky, full of lovingly described fast cars, and a favorite.
Yet again, Rachel Caine has upped the ante by taking away one of Joanne's supports. Last book she lost her own powers, and largely her access to David's; this book she's got her own abilities back in hand, but the Djinn - including a resurrected David - are outright Warden-cidal and can't be counted on at all. In the past Rahel or 'Alice' have shown up to pull Jo's bacon out of the fire, but that's not an option for (most) of this book.
It's just Joanne Baldwin against the apocalypse, and honestly: that's what I like most in this series.
Jo is an indomitable heroine and, what's more, she's supremely devoted to humanity. While some of the scenes of her trying to convince the Mother - that is to say, the Earth - that humanity was worth saving were a bit awkward, I believe them from Jo more than I would from a lot of characters. She's always put other people first, be they friends, strangers, or antagonists, and she's always had an unshakable faith in humanity being worthwhile despite all the crap other humans (and specifically other Wardens) have put her through.
And later, facing down a Demon-powered wildfire:
Narratively speaking, this is a great example of a protagonist whose greatest strength is also their weakness. Joanne is the only one with a chance of speaking to an Oracle to calm the Mother - but her fervent love for humankind takes her on detours to try and save lives, keeping her from dealing with the big picture. The quality she needs to communicate her plea is the same one that slows her down in getting there. It works brilliantly in the plot, upping the stakes and the tension as the book progresses.
Speaking of plot - this is clearly an installment in a series; there's no way it could be read as a stand-alone. Partly, I think, because of that the ending felt a bit flat and rushed: it was setting up for Book 6 as much or more than it was rounding out Book 5's story. I'd be more bothered by this if I hadn't gone to the library and checked out the next 4 volumes, but it may be frustrating for others who don't have easy access to the rest of the series.
Also, before I get into spoilers: Cherise is still around and advocating for the power of the ordinary non-Warden human in a crisis; bless her heart. While the character she's flirting with in this book is... not a good choice, I'm glad she's still involved in the story and that she's insisting on her own ability to help with magical disasters.
My favorite junky UF series continues to be junky, full of lovingly described fast cars, and a favorite.
Yet again, Rachel Caine has upped the ante by taking away one of Joanne's supports. Last book she lost her own powers, and largely her access to David's; this book she's got her own abilities back in hand, but the Djinn - including a resurrected David - are outright Warden-cidal and can't be counted on at all. In the past Rahel or 'Alice' have shown up to pull Jo's bacon out of the fire, but that's not an option for (most) of this book.
It's just Joanne Baldwin against the apocalypse, and honestly: that's what I like most in this series.
Jo is an indomitable heroine and, what's more, she's supremely devoted to humanity. While some of the scenes of her trying to convince the Mother - that is to say, the Earth - that humanity was worth saving were a bit awkward, I believe them from Jo more than I would from a lot of characters. She's always put other people first, be they friends, strangers, or antagonists, and she's always had an unshakable faith in humanity being worthwhile despite all the crap other humans (and specifically other Wardens) have put her through.
By my very nature, I wasn't good at taking in the big picture; for me, the whole world was that lost, scared little girl wandering in a field. Those college boys trapped in their wrecked truck. The world revealed itself to me one person at a time.
And later, facing down a Demon-powered wildfire:
Of course, we didn't leave. We didn't even discuss it. We just went to work.
Narratively speaking, this is a great example of a protagonist whose greatest strength is also their weakness. Joanne is the only one with a chance of speaking to an Oracle to calm the Mother - but her fervent love for humankind takes her on detours to try and save lives, keeping her from dealing with the big picture. The quality she needs to communicate her plea is the same one that slows her down in getting there. It works brilliantly in the plot, upping the stakes and the tension as the book progresses.
Speaking of plot - this is clearly an installment in a series; there's no way it could be read as a stand-alone. Partly, I think, because of that the ending felt a bit flat and rushed: it was setting up for Book 6 as much or more than it was rounding out Book 5's story. I'd be more bothered by this if I hadn't gone to the library and checked out the next 4 volumes, but it may be frustrating for others who don't have easy access to the rest of the series.
Also, before I get into spoilers: Cherise is still around and advocating for the power of the ordinary non-Warden human in a crisis; bless her heart. While the character she's flirting with in this book is... not a good choice, I'm glad she's still involved in the story and that she's insisting on her own ability to help with magical disasters.
November 2, 2012
After seeing Joanne Baldwin, kickass weather warden being bruised, beaten, powerless, and everything else thrown in her way, it was great to see her finally manifesting her powers here and using them to save herself and others.
Let's face it, she's been dragged through the ditches and back in the series so far, and we're all getting a little tired of that. But the stakes are now higher, with her adult, half-djinn daughter around and her sister under hostage by a madman.
She can no longer rely on David saving her in every situation because he can become psychotic at any point and kill her. It's an impossible love that you can't help to root for at any point.
I've thoroughly enjoyed the Weather Warden series and will continue to do so. Can't stop now, I'm halfway through!
Check out my Happy Indulgence blog for more reviews.
Let's face it, she's been dragged through the ditches and back in the series so far, and we're all getting a little tired of that. But the stakes are now higher, with her adult, half-djinn daughter around and her sister under hostage by a madman.
She can no longer rely on David saving her in every situation because he can become psychotic at any point and kill her. It's an impossible love that you can't help to root for at any point.
I've thoroughly enjoyed the Weather Warden series and will continue to do so. Can't stop now, I'm halfway through!
Check out my Happy Indulgence blog for more reviews.
July 6, 2020
I love the Weather Wardens, and its spin-off series Outcast Season, and highly recommend both to UF fans! One of these days I'm going to read the books in order, but for now I'm catching up on the last two book I missed (the other is Thin Air).
Caine's writing is amazing! It's like no time has passed even though it's been ages since I've last read the series, and you drop right back into Jo's crazy, dangerous, fascinating world.
This time around, she's dealing with her new half-human, half-Djinn, fully-grown daughter Imara, but the two get very little time together.
Mother Earth is just starting to wake up and has forced the Djinn to do her bidding, cleansing the planet of its blight, humanity.
Jo's life is always a rollercoaster ride of one deadly weather event and narrow escape after another, but this time she's at her wit's end.
David has been captured by Ashan, who also takes Imara, and with the Wardens decimated by Djinn battles, she's truly on her own.
Desperate to stop the Mother, Jo journeys to plead the case for humanity's continued existence with the three Djinn Oracles - only to find them infected by Demon marks.
A pulse-pounding, emotional adventure!
Caine's writing is amazing! It's like no time has passed even though it's been ages since I've last read the series, and you drop right back into Jo's crazy, dangerous, fascinating world.
This time around, she's dealing with her new half-human, half-Djinn, fully-grown daughter Imara, but the two get very little time together.
Mother Earth is just starting to wake up and has forced the Djinn to do her bidding, cleansing the planet of its blight, humanity.
Jo's life is always a rollercoaster ride of one deadly weather event and narrow escape after another, but this time she's at her wit's end.
David has been captured by Ashan, who also takes Imara, and with the Wardens decimated by Djinn battles, she's truly on her own.
Desperate to stop the Mother, Jo journeys to plead the case for humanity's continued existence with the three Djinn Oracles - only to find them infected by Demon marks.
A pulse-pounding, emotional adventure!
August 13, 2024
Ashan needs his ass kicked, like yesterday.
January 26, 2021
After losing her powers in the last book, Joanne Baldwin is back up to par with her abilities as a weather warden restored (and a burgeoning new fire power to boot). And just as well, because the apocalypse is just around the corner. Mother Earth is close to waking up from her millennia long sleep, and guess what? It turns out she's not a fan of the greedy hairless species called humanity at all, to the point that she wants to be rid of us, and is using all the tools at her disposal, including hurricanes, earthquakes and forest fires, to do just that. The djinn, being the firstborn children of the Earth, are subject to her whims to the point that they might flip out and go all red-eyed and warden-killer in an instant, so they can't be used to help. Add in demons running around looking for wardens or djinn to infect and you have a dire situation on your hands.
Luckily, although Joanne's djinn lover David can't be relied upon to help her, she does have some allies, some familiar like Lewis and the other wardens, some, like her half-djinn daughter Imara, are new. Sadly, some old enemies are also around. In the case of Ashan and the 'evil djinn' that's not a problem, but in the case of Eamon and Jo's sister Sarah, they were rather tiresome and annoying - that particular sub-plot could've been cut out without losing anything from this book.
It was an enjoyable, quick read, although I feel like I should warn new readers that this really does read like a book in a series rather than a standalone, so if some reason you haven't read the previous books, this is not a place to start. But then why would you? If you'd enjoyed the previous books in the series, you'll probably enjoy this one. I'm going to continue with the series, but damn, it'd be nice if Jo & co could catch a break!
Luckily, although Joanne's djinn lover David can't be relied upon to help her, she does have some allies, some familiar like Lewis and the other wardens, some, like her half-djinn daughter Imara, are new. Sadly, some old enemies are also around. In the case of Ashan and the 'evil djinn' that's not a problem, but in the case of Eamon and Jo's sister Sarah, they were rather tiresome and annoying - that particular sub-plot could've been cut out without losing anything from this book.
It was an enjoyable, quick read, although I feel like I should warn new readers that this really does read like a book in a series rather than a standalone, so if some reason you haven't read the previous books, this is not a place to start. But then why would you? If you'd enjoyed the previous books in the series, you'll probably enjoy this one. I'm going to continue with the series, but damn, it'd be nice if Jo & co could catch a break!
February 21, 2019
Holy cow! I am so glad I stuck with this series. If the last installment was a bit of a miss for me, this one more than made up for it. It was the best of the series yet.
This book had everything I love about the Weather Wardens. Jo has her power back and she is on a mission. It’s not unlike Ill Wind, where she is tearing across the country in a fast car. Only this time, instead of trying to rid herself of a demon mark, she is trying to stop the destruction of humanity at the hands of Mother Earth.
Jo is healthy and strong. So is David. Unfortunately, they are on opposite sides of a battle that is pitting the djinn against humans. Though he has moments of clarity, David is now the conduit to the Mother and could be a danger to the woman he loves. Thankfully, she has their daughter to help her on her mission.
It’s a wild ride and it takes us through all the elements of book past. Lewis, Paul, and the weather wardens… or what is left of them. Cherise. Sarah. Eamon. The djinn: Rahel and Ashan. Jonathan. David. All the threads come together, and it’s action packed from the first page to the last. Jo is put through the wringer, but unlike what felt like a near-constant state of defeat in the last book, she is unwilling to give up the fight for any reason. Everything she loves is put on the line, but still she fights. She sacrifices, but she never lays down and dies, and that is so powerful.
I wish we could get a bit more time in the romance department. Let Joanna have just a shred of happiness before it gets ripped away over and over again. I am Team David, for sure, but there is only so much “we can never be together” I can take. The scenes they have together are great, but I need more.
That may be my only complaint, because this book rocked. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Imara. I didn’t know if an “adult” child could give me feels, but I really liked her dynamic with Jo. I want more. I’m worried.
And the ending? It’s a game changer… I just don’t know how yet. I’m just so glad I am reading these books years later and can binge them one after another. Great stuff. Would recommend.
Rating: B+
This book had everything I love about the Weather Wardens. Jo has her power back and she is on a mission. It’s not unlike Ill Wind, where she is tearing across the country in a fast car. Only this time, instead of trying to rid herself of a demon mark, she is trying to stop the destruction of humanity at the hands of Mother Earth.
Jo is healthy and strong. So is David. Unfortunately, they are on opposite sides of a battle that is pitting the djinn against humans. Though he has moments of clarity, David is now the conduit to the Mother and could be a danger to the woman he loves. Thankfully, she has their daughter to help her on her mission.
It’s a wild ride and it takes us through all the elements of book past. Lewis, Paul, and the weather wardens… or what is left of them. Cherise. Sarah. Eamon. The djinn: Rahel and Ashan. Jonathan. David. All the threads come together, and it’s action packed from the first page to the last. Jo is put through the wringer, but unlike what felt like a near-constant state of defeat in the last book, she is unwilling to give up the fight for any reason. Everything she loves is put on the line, but still she fights. She sacrifices, but she never lays down and dies, and that is so powerful.
I wish we could get a bit more time in the romance department. Let Joanna have just a shred of happiness before it gets ripped away over and over again. I am Team David, for sure, but there is only so much “we can never be together” I can take. The scenes they have together are great, but I need more.
That may be my only complaint, because this book rocked. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Imara. I didn’t know if an “adult” child could give me feels, but I really liked her dynamic with Jo. I want more. I’m worried.
And the ending? It’s a game changer… I just don’t know how yet. I’m just so glad I am reading these books years later and can binge them one after another. Great stuff. Would recommend.
Rating: B+
August 3, 2012
Honestly i don't know what else to say about this series...
Strong female character....check!
A swoon worthy hero/Djinn guy.....check!
Non stop action with high stake risks.....check!
Cars to die for...well at least in Joanne's perspective...check!
Strong family bonds _LOL _ yes, definitely!!
Although i have to say that i was kind of expecting a baby Djinn. That would have been cute, but very time consuming...oh, well, maybe next time...
I could clarify about what i'm babbling about, but then, where would be the fun, when you got to read it?? Right?
And then, ahhhhhh, that ending!! Arrrgh!!! The Drama!!
All this to say that i really could use the next book to read.
Strong female character....check!
A swoon worthy hero/Djinn guy.....check!
Non stop action with high stake risks.....check!
Cars to die for...well at least in Joanne's perspective...check!
Strong family bonds _LOL _ yes, definitely!!
Although i have to say that i was kind of expecting a baby Djinn. That would have been cute, but very time consuming...oh, well, maybe next time...
I could clarify about what i'm babbling about, but then, where would be the fun, when you got to read it?? Right?
And then, ahhhhhh, that ending!! Arrrgh!!! The Drama!!
All this to say that i really could use the next book to read.
January 11, 2023
This book felt like 2 steps forward and 1 step back. It was intense in a good way and we learned a lot.
But it was a long one.
So yeah a lot going on and I know I just gave a bunch of spoilers but its hard not to when the book is this intense!
Book 6 is going to be a ride.
But it was a long one.
So yeah a lot going on and I know I just gave a bunch of spoilers but its hard not to when the book is this intense!
Book 6 is going to be a ride.
June 30, 2023
3.5 stars-Hold on to your seat. This one was a wild ride. Lots of action going on. I rated it down a half star though because of the ending. It is a cliff hanger and I was a little frustrated with one of the events that happened. I will definitely be reading the next one though because I do want to know what will happen.
August 9, 2010
After narrowly escaping the event of the last book, Joanne has a whole new challenge, maybe the biggest one yet, motherhood. When Johnathan sacrificed himself for David to be restored as a djinn, he also gave life to Joanne's djinn daughter, Imara. She never really believed Imara could possibly be able to be born without David's death, and she really did not expect her to be born as a six foot tall amazonian goddess. Imara looks just like Joanne, just made "exotic." Now that all the normal djinn, including David, have been possessed by mother nature and turned against all of humanity, Joanne realized its up to her to try and convince Mother they are worthy of survival. If she fails, so does all of humanity.
Even though it came at a complete shock, Joanne takes to motherhood very well. She instantly forms an unbreakable bond of love with her daughter and would do anything to protect her. This is kind of ironic considering Imara is a djinn who is so much more powerful than a human, but a mother wanting to protect her child truly is universal. Imara has all of the knowledge from both her parents, but she still has a vulnerable aspect to her. At times it is almost easy to forget she is only a few days old, but then she will do or say something to show that vulnerability. I don't know if it was as a result of Joanne and David's immense love for her, but I found myself instantly caring for her. She was born just in time for the world to start crumbling, and must learn immediately the hard lessons of life.
Joanne has always been special. When she was human, she was abnormally powerful with weather, then she became a djinn and all the powers that came with that. Now that David is no longer draining her, Joanne's powers are finally back in full force, with a new addition as well. Her change back to human made her manifest new powers in the fire warden category, which is extremely rare. Putting her powers aside, there is something even more special about her. She is the only one who even has a chance at convincing Mother Earth of humanity's worthiness. It isn't really clear why this is, but my guess would be that it is because of her constant self-sacrifice and drive to do the right thing no matter the cost.
This is yet another fast paced book in the Weather Warden series that will not disappoint. Each book makes me only care more for the characters, especially the newest one, Imara. The ending is very heart wrenching, and lives up to cliffhangers of the previous books. Just like its predecessors, this book is a must read for any urban fantasy lover.
Even though it came at a complete shock, Joanne takes to motherhood very well. She instantly forms an unbreakable bond of love with her daughter and would do anything to protect her. This is kind of ironic considering Imara is a djinn who is so much more powerful than a human, but a mother wanting to protect her child truly is universal. Imara has all of the knowledge from both her parents, but she still has a vulnerable aspect to her. At times it is almost easy to forget she is only a few days old, but then she will do or say something to show that vulnerability. I don't know if it was as a result of Joanne and David's immense love for her, but I found myself instantly caring for her. She was born just in time for the world to start crumbling, and must learn immediately the hard lessons of life.
Joanne has always been special. When she was human, she was abnormally powerful with weather, then she became a djinn and all the powers that came with that. Now that David is no longer draining her, Joanne's powers are finally back in full force, with a new addition as well. Her change back to human made her manifest new powers in the fire warden category, which is extremely rare. Putting her powers aside, there is something even more special about her. She is the only one who even has a chance at convincing Mother Earth of humanity's worthiness. It isn't really clear why this is, but my guess would be that it is because of her constant self-sacrifice and drive to do the right thing no matter the cost.
This is yet another fast paced book in the Weather Warden series that will not disappoint. Each book makes me only care more for the characters, especially the newest one, Imara. The ending is very heart wrenching, and lives up to cliffhangers of the previous books. Just like its predecessors, this book is a must read for any urban fantasy lover.
April 23, 2019
Not for me. Dnf for now.
December 23, 2008
With this, the fifth book in the Weather Warden series, Rachel Caine continues her fine tradition of plots that never let up on the pace for an instant. I've got to hand it to her, she's got that pacing thing down to an art.
Picoreview: A whole lot of "not what I was expecting" throughout this plot, based on where Windfall left off. Some of it was the "wow, that was pretty cool" kind of unexpected; some of it, more the "who put what in the where now?" variety. Still a riproaring read, but one which didn't play out for me quite as well as earlier installments of the series. This may change as Book Six comes out and I get more of an idea of where we're going with all this, but I don't know yet.
Whoo boy. When last we left off, we'd had Jo running for her life from a cadre of Djinn who'd all gone red-eyed and psycho with the impact of Mother Earth Herself waking up and being pissed. And given that the cadre was led by none other than the Uberhot David Himself, this was shaping up for eight or nine thousand kinds of Oh Shit.
So I was totally expecting a book that was going to be all about the Wardens going at it with the Djinn. This was not what we got, and part of me was disappointed by that. I mean, the fangirl in me was all about the YAY! when David showed up for his first scene and was coherent, and was coherent in all of his subsequent scenes as well, sure. But it also felt like a little bit of a copout. Just about all of the on-camera Djinn action involved the Djinn going after Demonmarked Wardens specifically, not all Wardens in general. And while the whole "hunting down the demonmarked Wardens" thing was great and all, it also really kind of took the sting out of the whole idea of the Djinn as vengeful servants of the Mother about to eradicate humanity from the face of the planet.
Most of the book as well, at least from Jo's perspective, was running around putting out fires. In some cases, literally. And that fire sequence went on way, way too long given that Jo didn't actually accomplish anything, and that the only real reason it needed to be there in the plot was for her to find out that David and the other Djinn had killed Demonmarked Wardens. This kind of thing made the overall plot feel a quite a bit less cohesive to me, and it didn't really feel like it started getting its legs under it until we saw that a Demon Mark had come after the first Oracle--and that Ashan was in alliance with Demons. And by then, we were pretty far into the book.
Also? I kinda liked that Eamon wanted a Djinn to heal this person in the hospital--and I do have some curiosity as to what exactly the story is there--but through most of his on-camera time, my reaction was "yeah yeah yeah, he's a slimebucket, can we get back to Jo saving the Earth now?" It just felt like that was a subplot that was out of sync with the main goings-on, in terms of threat level. Something that would have been a more credible subplot earlier in the series, and which loses a lot of steam when paired up with a "the world is literally about to end" main plot.
But. I really disliked that he lets Sarah go and then she winds up right the heck back in his clutches, presumably while Imara is getting captured and beaten senseless by Ashan. Granted that this all happened off-camera and that therefore it would have been hard to show in a novel told in first person, but it all left me feeling "buh huh what just happened there?" Not to mention that it really left me irritated with Sarah as a character. I didn't like her very much in Windfall, and I like her even less now that this has happened. I'm not seeing any redeeming characteristics in Sarah at all, and no reason for her to be in the overall plot except as a victim for Jo to be obligated to go out of her way for since she's her sister. Bah.
On the other hand, we had plenty of goodness to exult in, so let's get down to that.
While I could have done without the bits involving Emily only half-assedly healing Jo and then trying to take Imara, I did like that Emily had some genuine fear about rumors that Jo was behind all the shit that's gone down in all the prior books. Which makes absolute and utter sense. I mean, if you're some low-level random Warden who hasn't been in on the details of the recent scary shenanigans and suddenly you're alone with the person suspected of causing it all, you've got every right to be absolutely scared. So that was pretty cool. So was Emily backing off once she learned that Imara was Jo's daughter (though one can also argue that she should have had a bigger WTF?! reaction there as well).
Liked me some Cherise, who was around just long enough to provide some interesting mortal viewpoints and then got the hell out of the way. I really liked that she immediately came up with "catering" as a reason to hang around--she may not have superpowers, but by gods, she can organize getting food. And Jo did need the reminder that yeah, while the Wardens may have the power to save the planet, everybody else on the planet has a vested interest in hanging around too, so it's really not fair to tell a regular mortal like her to just fuck off and do nothing. So, kudos there.
How about that Lewis, then, giving Jo the car? This, ladies and gents, is part of why Lewis is still in the game when it comes to Jo's affections. He totally understands her and what she loves. And I liked that we had just enough of a fight between David and Jo about the car to get across just a touch of jealousy on David's part and to hit Jo with the cluehammer that Lewis is in love with her. No more than that, and very quickly moving on, since bigger things are still at stake. Perfect.
David? Oh my yes, still Uberhot even if I'm starting to swing to the Jo/Lewis ship camp. LJ user kisanthe has posited to me that David is really too much of a Dream Guy, a point with which I think I agree. Jo's got tons and tons of hot burning passionate love for him--but you could make a very good case that there isn't much substance beneath it. After all, every single time David's with Jo, he's generally doing one of two things: having hot burning passionate sex with her, or else making grand romantic gestures like oh, say, sacrificing himself on her behalf. Kinda light on the whole "daily existence" connection you need if you want to spend the rest of your life with someone. The ties she has with Lewis still feel like they're more real. See previous commentary re: car. ;)
Raise your hand if you totally envisioned the Earth Oracle as played by the lady who played the Oracle in The Matrix. I kept expecting her to offer Jo a cookie.
Also, raise your hand if you're also an LKH fan (or former fan) and kept reading "Asher" for "Ashan" every time he was on camera. I kept doing that all throughout this book. Hell, I've kept doing it typing up this LJ post. But! Really, really liked that Ashan had teamed up with the Demons in his desperate attempt to purge humanity from the planet. Really nice touch, that, and I hadn't seen it coming at all. His fate was exquisite justice as well--that brief description of his gagging on every breath he took in his shiny new human form spoke volumes.
I'm not sure yet what I think about the whole idea of Jo losing her memory, though. I came out of that ending with a big ol' mental case of whiplash, going, "What the hell just happened here?!" And naturally I read the preview chapter for Thin Air, and I'm all "Timmy's still in the well! AAAAAAH!"
Long story short, shakier work perhaps than previous installments--but keep 'em coming, Rachel. Very anxious to see how this story is going to end!
Picoreview: A whole lot of "not what I was expecting" throughout this plot, based on where Windfall left off. Some of it was the "wow, that was pretty cool" kind of unexpected; some of it, more the "who put what in the where now?" variety. Still a riproaring read, but one which didn't play out for me quite as well as earlier installments of the series. This may change as Book Six comes out and I get more of an idea of where we're going with all this, but I don't know yet.
Whoo boy. When last we left off, we'd had Jo running for her life from a cadre of Djinn who'd all gone red-eyed and psycho with the impact of Mother Earth Herself waking up and being pissed. And given that the cadre was led by none other than the Uberhot David Himself, this was shaping up for eight or nine thousand kinds of Oh Shit.
So I was totally expecting a book that was going to be all about the Wardens going at it with the Djinn. This was not what we got, and part of me was disappointed by that. I mean, the fangirl in me was all about the YAY! when David showed up for his first scene and was coherent, and was coherent in all of his subsequent scenes as well, sure. But it also felt like a little bit of a copout. Just about all of the on-camera Djinn action involved the Djinn going after Demonmarked Wardens specifically, not all Wardens in general. And while the whole "hunting down the demonmarked Wardens" thing was great and all, it also really kind of took the sting out of the whole idea of the Djinn as vengeful servants of the Mother about to eradicate humanity from the face of the planet.
Most of the book as well, at least from Jo's perspective, was running around putting out fires. In some cases, literally. And that fire sequence went on way, way too long given that Jo didn't actually accomplish anything, and that the only real reason it needed to be there in the plot was for her to find out that David and the other Djinn had killed Demonmarked Wardens. This kind of thing made the overall plot feel a quite a bit less cohesive to me, and it didn't really feel like it started getting its legs under it until we saw that a Demon Mark had come after the first Oracle--and that Ashan was in alliance with Demons. And by then, we were pretty far into the book.
Also? I kinda liked that Eamon wanted a Djinn to heal this person in the hospital--and I do have some curiosity as to what exactly the story is there--but through most of his on-camera time, my reaction was "yeah yeah yeah, he's a slimebucket, can we get back to Jo saving the Earth now?" It just felt like that was a subplot that was out of sync with the main goings-on, in terms of threat level. Something that would have been a more credible subplot earlier in the series, and which loses a lot of steam when paired up with a "the world is literally about to end" main plot.
But. I really disliked that he lets Sarah go and then she winds up right the heck back in his clutches, presumably while Imara is getting captured and beaten senseless by Ashan. Granted that this all happened off-camera and that therefore it would have been hard to show in a novel told in first person, but it all left me feeling "buh huh what just happened there?" Not to mention that it really left me irritated with Sarah as a character. I didn't like her very much in Windfall, and I like her even less now that this has happened. I'm not seeing any redeeming characteristics in Sarah at all, and no reason for her to be in the overall plot except as a victim for Jo to be obligated to go out of her way for since she's her sister. Bah.
On the other hand, we had plenty of goodness to exult in, so let's get down to that.
While I could have done without the bits involving Emily only half-assedly healing Jo and then trying to take Imara, I did like that Emily had some genuine fear about rumors that Jo was behind all the shit that's gone down in all the prior books. Which makes absolute and utter sense. I mean, if you're some low-level random Warden who hasn't been in on the details of the recent scary shenanigans and suddenly you're alone with the person suspected of causing it all, you've got every right to be absolutely scared. So that was pretty cool. So was Emily backing off once she learned that Imara was Jo's daughter (though one can also argue that she should have had a bigger WTF?! reaction there as well).
Liked me some Cherise, who was around just long enough to provide some interesting mortal viewpoints and then got the hell out of the way. I really liked that she immediately came up with "catering" as a reason to hang around--she may not have superpowers, but by gods, she can organize getting food. And Jo did need the reminder that yeah, while the Wardens may have the power to save the planet, everybody else on the planet has a vested interest in hanging around too, so it's really not fair to tell a regular mortal like her to just fuck off and do nothing. So, kudos there.
How about that Lewis, then, giving Jo the car? This, ladies and gents, is part of why Lewis is still in the game when it comes to Jo's affections. He totally understands her and what she loves. And I liked that we had just enough of a fight between David and Jo about the car to get across just a touch of jealousy on David's part and to hit Jo with the cluehammer that Lewis is in love with her. No more than that, and very quickly moving on, since bigger things are still at stake. Perfect.
David? Oh my yes, still Uberhot even if I'm starting to swing to the Jo/Lewis ship camp. LJ user kisanthe has posited to me that David is really too much of a Dream Guy, a point with which I think I agree. Jo's got tons and tons of hot burning passionate love for him--but you could make a very good case that there isn't much substance beneath it. After all, every single time David's with Jo, he's generally doing one of two things: having hot burning passionate sex with her, or else making grand romantic gestures like oh, say, sacrificing himself on her behalf. Kinda light on the whole "daily existence" connection you need if you want to spend the rest of your life with someone. The ties she has with Lewis still feel like they're more real. See previous commentary re: car. ;)
Raise your hand if you totally envisioned the Earth Oracle as played by the lady who played the Oracle in The Matrix. I kept expecting her to offer Jo a cookie.
Also, raise your hand if you're also an LKH fan (or former fan) and kept reading "Asher" for "Ashan" every time he was on camera. I kept doing that all throughout this book. Hell, I've kept doing it typing up this LJ post. But! Really, really liked that Ashan had teamed up with the Demons in his desperate attempt to purge humanity from the planet. Really nice touch, that, and I hadn't seen it coming at all. His fate was exquisite justice as well--that brief description of his gagging on every breath he took in his shiny new human form spoke volumes.
I'm not sure yet what I think about the whole idea of Jo losing her memory, though. I came out of that ending with a big ol' mental case of whiplash, going, "What the hell just happened here?!" And naturally I read the preview chapter for Thin Air, and I'm all "Timmy's still in the well! AAAAAAH!"
Long story short, shakier work perhaps than previous installments--but keep 'em coming, Rachel. Very anxious to see how this story is going to end!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2023
The apocalypse is finally here. I love a good apocalypse. The headrush and adrenaline. The fight and sacrifice to save the world. I live for the torture characters put themselves through, and Jo really put herself through it. Well, it was more like she was volunteered for the job. Life of a chosen one, right?LOL.
As weather warden, Jo, struggles to contact Mother Nature, the big one, the almighty creator of Earth,
as the world literally falls apart around her. Weather wardens are losing. The Djinn have defied them and run away. Those that haven't evacuated the planet are used as Mother NAture's pawns. It'll take everything Jo's got to save the world and even then, she's not sure she can win this one.
This one upped the ante for this series. I was not disappointed. I got a little nervous that Jo and David were breaching lovers to enemies but I still love them. But, with Lewis possibly getting thrown into the mix? Oh boy.
I'll never not love when all characters come together to kick some major a**. And when it's intense, witty, and fast-paced, that gets me hopelessly addicted. Which is precisely what happened. Caine does not disappoint. Right as it seems like things are about to cool down, she pushes you right back in.
It's Jo against the world, and I was glad that she wasn't alone. Still, this was a close call. It was both endearing and tragic that while Jo was shoved into this savior position she was still blamed for so much that had never fully been in her control. People wanted so much for her but never hesitated to tell her what a traitor she was (which she wasn't). And after the events of this, I can't wait to see how they remedy all of the a**holery they've inflicted on her. The woman is tough, but dang. She still deserves an apology.
As you can tell, I was super invested in this one. LOL. I promise I haven't given away as much as you think I have. However, I couldn't stop myself from a rant.
This was spectacular and I was unhinged while I read this. The action and everything in the cracks of it was just what I wanted and needed. My perfect mix. Like I said, I love a good apocalypse.
Full Review:
https://thescarletreaderreviews.wordp...
As weather warden, Jo, struggles to contact Mother Nature, the big one, the almighty creator of Earth,
as the world literally falls apart around her. Weather wardens are losing. The Djinn have defied them and run away. Those that haven't evacuated the planet are used as Mother NAture's pawns. It'll take everything Jo's got to save the world and even then, she's not sure she can win this one.
This one upped the ante for this series. I was not disappointed. I got a little nervous that Jo and David were breaching lovers to enemies but I still love them. But, with Lewis possibly getting thrown into the mix? Oh boy.
I'll never not love when all characters come together to kick some major a**. And when it's intense, witty, and fast-paced, that gets me hopelessly addicted. Which is precisely what happened. Caine does not disappoint. Right as it seems like things are about to cool down, she pushes you right back in.
It's Jo against the world, and I was glad that she wasn't alone. Still, this was a close call. It was both endearing and tragic that while Jo was shoved into this savior position she was still blamed for so much that had never fully been in her control. People wanted so much for her but never hesitated to tell her what a traitor she was (which she wasn't). And after the events of this, I can't wait to see how they remedy all of the a**holery they've inflicted on her. The woman is tough, but dang. She still deserves an apology.
As you can tell, I was super invested in this one. LOL. I promise I haven't given away as much as you think I have. However, I couldn't stop myself from a rant.
This was spectacular and I was unhinged while I read this. The action and everything in the cracks of it was just what I wanted and needed. My perfect mix. Like I said, I love a good apocalypse.
Full Review:
https://thescarletreaderreviews.wordp...
October 11, 2019
A bit abstract with Mother Nature "waking up" but otherwise good. Again, so many people died and the assholes survived. Can we get some new bad guys, please?
September 19, 2020
3.5 stars
June 30, 2015
Another fast-paced whirlwind of explosive energy and excitement, this time with a little apocalypse thrown in to the mix. The weather has gone crazy as the Earth Mother stirs in her sleep and Joanne Baldwin, rogue Warden tries to find ways to bring it to a close, one that preferably doesn't involve the death of the entire human race. Lots of road trips, and one very unnerving plane flight, this is a book for literary adrenalin junkies. I have cottoned on to Rachael Caine's writing style now - she things "okay this situation is really, really bad for Joanne. How can I make it worse?" There seem to be a lot of additional threats thrown in to the mix, which distract rather from the main narrative - Eamon, for example. Why can't he give up already? And I do feel it is kinda cheating to give her a daughter that is already, pratically, an adult. Then again, a baby in this sort of story would have a very short life expectancy.
Overall, a great, adrenalin pounding, wild ride, with a rather irritating ending. Not because it's a cliffhanger - because I have book #6 right here, so I don't need to stress about that at all, but because it seems kinda cheap. Still, we'll see what "Thin Air" delivers to us.
Off to the library now to acquire those final three books. I reckon I'll be done with this series within the week, and then I should read something a little more literary. Yeah, right!
Overall, a great, adrenalin pounding, wild ride, with a rather irritating ending. Not because it's a cliffhanger - because I have book #6 right here, so I don't need to stress about that at all, but because it seems kinda cheap. Still, we'll see what "Thin Air" delivers to us.
Off to the library now to acquire those final three books. I reckon I'll be done with this series within the week, and then I should read something a little more literary. Yeah, right!
September 28, 2011
It's another 3.75 star book for me. It was a bit frantic, the stuff with Eamon was all unnecessary, the parts with Imara never really rang true, but it was still very entertaining. And what I have to give the author the most credit for is having a really strong plan for the series, it isn't one of those series where the author had a good idea for the first few books but just sort of wings it after that. It reminds me of Butcher's Dresden in that way (yes, not to his level), things keep coming together and building in a way that is very satisfying and really makes me want to pick up the next book. I'm glad I discovered the series late so I've been able to read so many of the books in a row without having to wait.
January 21, 2014
I powered through the first 4 books of the Weather Warden series, and slowly lost momentum. I doubt I'll finish this one. I loved the basic premise of weather wardens so much that I missed a few warning signs. Basically, the main character is a Mary Sue. The chick has died and come back to life about a billion times, her emotional problems with her relationships are never her fault, and everyone she meets falls in love with her or hates her instantly and unfairly. It's solid writing, don't get me wrong - I just think the characterization could do with a few more flaws and a bit less dying dramatically as a way of ending a book, only to reverse it as a way to start the next book.
Even Harry Potter doesn't die this much.
Even Harry Potter doesn't die this much.
November 18, 2008
It took me a while to get through this book and I'm not sure why. It has a lot of action and I still love the characters - although I'm not sure of my feelings for Imara, a grown daughter just jumping into things felt odd (which it probably should). The ending is once again not expected, so I'm looking forward to the next book to see how things progress.
January 19, 2012
Probably my favourite book of the series. Quite fast-paced, theres a lot going on (it is an apocalypse after all!) and Jo is running around from crisis to crisis trying to save the world. Loved Imara, she is such an interesting character. Liked the Mother Earth aspects, though I do wonder about whats so special about Joanne that Mother Earth will listen to her, and take her advice!
December 15, 2014
It really is necessary to read these in order. Each one is more a segment of a very long book rather than a story with a conclusion. I was pleased with the personification of the Oracles that communicate with the sentient being we call earth, The Mother. The Oracles are 3 not the usual 4 in regards to elements; Earth, Fire and Weather, nice Goddess concept of 3s.
January 19, 2016
I thought this book was okay, I definitely did not like the fact that at the end she didn't know who David was or even who herself is, but I do hope that she will remember David and have her memories of her undying love for him. I hope that this series spent them into one where it leaves you mad at how the author leaves things. I really do love Jo and David together since the very first book!
September 12, 2016
Another great action packed edition to the Weather Warden series. The Djinn have freed them selves from slavery and are running amuck. Mother nature is waking up and she is not happy with the state of the earth. Joanne has a fully grown daughter who is half Djinn and David has gone awol and thats just the start of the book.:)
May 1, 2023
Ok. Not happy with the VERY vague ending...
November 1, 2021
Enjoyable, but still missed a bit
I really like the series, and this was a good novel, but there were a few things I found frustrating.
First the writing could be a bit tighter. I think the last novel and this could easily have been one book.
Second, Sarah and Eamon. That whole storyline just seems pointless. I don’t understand the reason for having them involved in the story. Yes it introduces a secondary plot, but not one I care about. I always had the impression that Orry, Eamon and Sarah were only brought in to magically make it so Jo would be near to whatever she needed to suddenly pull off whatever miracle she was currently involved in. She should have realized that even an Earth Warden, Imara or David could have fixed the drug in her system. Why keep giving Eamon moments to control the situation. As far as Sarah, throw her butt in an involuntary rehab, I’m sure the Wardens have the connections and get her figured out. If that requires drying her out or lots of therapy to make her understand what she’s doing.
Last, in the final battle in Sedona, a Demon just magically appears as its needed to deal with the Demon Mark that had been feeding on the Earth Oracle. Too convenient. Maybe if they had captured that demon in a jar somehow, or even fought it off enough and then led it to Sedona knowing they’d need it, possibly. That it just pops up so they can magically fix the Oracle wasn’t believable and seemed like lazy writing. Also, how does a Demon Mark equal dispensing a fully formed Demon. I thought Demon Marks were just juvenile Demons, shouldn’t a Demon be able to handle their juveniles without losing themselves in the process?
It was good they finally explained why Weather Wardens usually drive. They’ve hinted at this since the first novel, but to actually have finally explained was good.
It’s still a fun story and I like the unique view of the Djinn and elemental powers, thought it does seem odd they limit it to 3 elements, but have brought up there are 4, but for some reasons Air and Water merged. That could be a story unto itself if done right. Also would an Air and Water, also known to them as Weather Wardens be some of the strongest powered individuals? They have control of 2 elements already, unlike with a Fire or Earth Warden.
I really like the series, and this was a good novel, but there were a few things I found frustrating.
First the writing could be a bit tighter. I think the last novel and this could easily have been one book.
Second, Sarah and Eamon. That whole storyline just seems pointless. I don’t understand the reason for having them involved in the story. Yes it introduces a secondary plot, but not one I care about. I always had the impression that Orry, Eamon and Sarah were only brought in to magically make it so Jo would be near to whatever she needed to suddenly pull off whatever miracle she was currently involved in. She should have realized that even an Earth Warden, Imara or David could have fixed the drug in her system. Why keep giving Eamon moments to control the situation. As far as Sarah, throw her butt in an involuntary rehab, I’m sure the Wardens have the connections and get her figured out. If that requires drying her out or lots of therapy to make her understand what she’s doing.
Last, in the final battle in Sedona, a Demon just magically appears as its needed to deal with the Demon Mark that had been feeding on the Earth Oracle. Too convenient. Maybe if they had captured that demon in a jar somehow, or even fought it off enough and then led it to Sedona knowing they’d need it, possibly. That it just pops up so they can magically fix the Oracle wasn’t believable and seemed like lazy writing. Also, how does a Demon Mark equal dispensing a fully formed Demon. I thought Demon Marks were just juvenile Demons, shouldn’t a Demon be able to handle their juveniles without losing themselves in the process?
It was good they finally explained why Weather Wardens usually drive. They’ve hinted at this since the first novel, but to actually have finally explained was good.
It’s still a fun story and I like the unique view of the Djinn and elemental powers, thought it does seem odd they limit it to 3 elements, but have brought up there are 4, but for some reasons Air and Water merged. That could be a story unto itself if done right. Also would an Air and Water, also known to them as Weather Wardens be some of the strongest powered individuals? They have control of 2 elements already, unlike with a Fire or Earth Warden.
March 14, 2022
This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: Firestorm
No Djinn can be trusted. Not even those once thought of as friends and lovers. The Mother is waking, and she’s not happy. At any moment she can take over the Djinn, forcing them to kill all wardens in their vicinity. And each new nightmare the Mother has brings disaster to the forefront, toppling towns and cities alike. The Wardens are desperately fighting, but they are overburdened and dying. There is a slim chance the mother can be put at ease. Joanne is going to hold onto that slim hope while fighting to save the world alongside her fellow wardens.
Firestorm is another adrenaline-flued ride. Each new book in the Weather Warden series takes the action to a new level. And the Mother isn’t the only threat Joanne will have to contend with. Rachel Caine certainly knows when to bring back opponents from previous novels in fashion. Joanne is going to have to pull new tricks out of the bag this time as she is confronted from multiple angles. And some folks frankly don’t care if the world is falling to pieces.
Joanne doesn’t hesitate to put herself on the line to save humanity. She’s proven herself time and time again to readers and made so many sacrifices in the process. But other characters view her simply as the rebel who likes fashion and fast cars. Despite all she’s done, they continually try to bring her down over her past mistakes and refuse to admit she is capable. Joanne certainly started off as the reluctant hero, but now she puts her foot down and dares to try things others won’t. She’s come a long way since Ill Wind, and this time most of her battles will be fought alone.
However, one character, in particular, I wish more time was spent with, Imara. She’s a powerful ally to Joanne, but readers never have the chance to see her for long. Imara will be in the scene for a few brief moments, share quips with Joanne, and then be forced off the page for one reason or another. This was well executed, as even Joanne admits to hardly knowing Imara and wishes to spend more time with her. But I’ve learned Rachel Caine never does anything without a reason. This on again off again relationship was created with a purpose. Readers will just have to continue reading to find out the why behind it all.
Firestorm is another fast read, filled with action, a bit of romance, and plenty of drama to go around. It’s one of those urban fantasy books you read knowing the stakes are going to be ridiculously high, and you sit back to watch the main character struggle through it all. It’s entertaining, at times unconventional, but nonetheless another great read.
No Djinn can be trusted. Not even those once thought of as friends and lovers. The Mother is waking, and she’s not happy. At any moment she can take over the Djinn, forcing them to kill all wardens in their vicinity. And each new nightmare the Mother has brings disaster to the forefront, toppling towns and cities alike. The Wardens are desperately fighting, but they are overburdened and dying. There is a slim chance the mother can be put at ease. Joanne is going to hold onto that slim hope while fighting to save the world alongside her fellow wardens.
Firestorm is another adrenaline-flued ride. Each new book in the Weather Warden series takes the action to a new level. And the Mother isn’t the only threat Joanne will have to contend with. Rachel Caine certainly knows when to bring back opponents from previous novels in fashion. Joanne is going to have to pull new tricks out of the bag this time as she is confronted from multiple angles. And some folks frankly don’t care if the world is falling to pieces.
Joanne doesn’t hesitate to put herself on the line to save humanity. She’s proven herself time and time again to readers and made so many sacrifices in the process. But other characters view her simply as the rebel who likes fashion and fast cars. Despite all she’s done, they continually try to bring her down over her past mistakes and refuse to admit she is capable. Joanne certainly started off as the reluctant hero, but now she puts her foot down and dares to try things others won’t. She’s come a long way since Ill Wind, and this time most of her battles will be fought alone.
However, one character, in particular, I wish more time was spent with, Imara. She’s a powerful ally to Joanne, but readers never have the chance to see her for long. Imara will be in the scene for a few brief moments, share quips with Joanne, and then be forced off the page for one reason or another. This was well executed, as even Joanne admits to hardly knowing Imara and wishes to spend more time with her. But I’ve learned Rachel Caine never does anything without a reason. This on again off again relationship was created with a purpose. Readers will just have to continue reading to find out the why behind it all.
Firestorm is another fast read, filled with action, a bit of romance, and plenty of drama to go around. It’s one of those urban fantasy books you read knowing the stakes are going to be ridiculously high, and you sit back to watch the main character struggle through it all. It’s entertaining, at times unconventional, but nonetheless another great read.
July 13, 2025
Book five in the Weather Warden series begins with Jo racing to the Wardens' HQ in New York to warn them that it's the end of the world. Mother Nature is waking up and she does not like humans. All number of natural disasters are breaking out as the Mother has dreams, and the djinn are occasionally at the mercy of her will and therefore cannot be trusted. Or controlled any more, because the bottling agreement died with Jonathan at the end of the last book.
Never a dull moment in Jo's life. So she flits from New York to Maine to attempt to speak to the Oracle, gets attacked by a Demon Mark along the way and then again when she gets there, also she gets attacked by Ashan, she then proceeds to throw herself into fighting a forest fire on the Canadian border, goes back to Maine when that fails and finally gets kidnapped and taken to Boston before she randomly flies to Phoenix, Arizona. Kinda facetious to say that she covers a lot of ground in this one.
However, it's all a bunch of the same old stuff here. Jo is so busy reacting to crisis after crisis that she barely has any time to be sassy any more though, which is sad. I miss her attitude, and her personality bleeding through onto every page. It's still there, just muted.
Jo just gets pummelled repeatedly in this book, it's kinda sadistic. And the stakes are constantly getting higher in every book even though it seems impossible. I'm as invested as ever in the series however, and interested to see where it goes.
Never a dull moment in Jo's life. So she flits from New York to Maine to attempt to speak to the Oracle, gets attacked by a Demon Mark along the way and then again when she gets there, also she gets attacked by Ashan, she then proceeds to throw herself into fighting a forest fire on the Canadian border, goes back to Maine when that fails and finally gets kidnapped and taken to Boston before she randomly flies to Phoenix, Arizona. Kinda facetious to say that she covers a lot of ground in this one.
However, it's all a bunch of the same old stuff here. Jo is so busy reacting to crisis after crisis that she barely has any time to be sassy any more though, which is sad. I miss her attitude, and her personality bleeding through onto every page. It's still there, just muted.
Jo just gets pummelled repeatedly in this book, it's kinda sadistic. And the stakes are constantly getting higher in every book even though it seems impossible. I'm as invested as ever in the series however, and interested to see where it goes.
November 24, 2025
🧡🔥très bonne suite !
Joanne Baldwin est une "Gardienne" : chargée de protéger l'Humanité contre le déchaînement des Eléments (Terre, Feu, Air et Eau).
Joanne est une Gardienne des Cieux (air et eau). Depuis quelques temps, la Terre ne tourne plus rond : les catastrophes se multiplient. Joanne et d'autres gardiens essaient d'y remédier seuls. Autrefois, ils possédaient des Djinns. Ces êtres surnaturels les aidaient dans leur travail. Mais voilà, ils se sont révoltés... La Terre également se révolte, le combat est sans fin...
Et puis, il y a David, son Amour, le nouveau chef des Djinns, avec lequel elle a eu un enfant hybride, une fille qui lui ressemble comme deux gouttes d'eau : Imara...
Les aventures continuent dans ce 5ème tome.
Ca chauffe littéralement pour Joanne ! En effet, elle se découvre une nouvelle affinité avec le Feu et doit combattre un gigantesque incendie pour sauver l'Humanité.
Les évènements se succèdent à vitesse "grand V" et comme d'habitude, Joanne n'a pratiquement jamais le temps de changer de vêtements, de se laver ou de se nourrir dans ses aventures... Mais oui, on l'aime bien comme elle est !!!
Ce 5ème tome est trépidant, comme les autres de la série. Il vaut mieux avoir lu les 4 autres pour mieux comprendre l'histoire générale de la série...
Joanne est attachante et irremplaçable. Ses aventures sont un régal !
Essayez de deviner la fin du roman : ce n'est de toute façon pas celle à laquelle vous aviez pensé !
Vivement le 6ème tome : "Dernier souffle"!
Les 6 tomes de la série "les Gardiens des Eléments" :
1- La Maîtresse du Vent
2- Vague de Chaleur
3- Sueur Froide
4- Vent de Discorde
5- Retour de Flamme
6- Dernier Souffle.
Joanne Baldwin est une "Gardienne" : chargée de protéger l'Humanité contre le déchaînement des Eléments (Terre, Feu, Air et Eau).
Joanne est une Gardienne des Cieux (air et eau). Depuis quelques temps, la Terre ne tourne plus rond : les catastrophes se multiplient. Joanne et d'autres gardiens essaient d'y remédier seuls. Autrefois, ils possédaient des Djinns. Ces êtres surnaturels les aidaient dans leur travail. Mais voilà, ils se sont révoltés... La Terre également se révolte, le combat est sans fin...
Et puis, il y a David, son Amour, le nouveau chef des Djinns, avec lequel elle a eu un enfant hybride, une fille qui lui ressemble comme deux gouttes d'eau : Imara...
Les aventures continuent dans ce 5ème tome.
Ca chauffe littéralement pour Joanne ! En effet, elle se découvre une nouvelle affinité avec le Feu et doit combattre un gigantesque incendie pour sauver l'Humanité.
Les évènements se succèdent à vitesse "grand V" et comme d'habitude, Joanne n'a pratiquement jamais le temps de changer de vêtements, de se laver ou de se nourrir dans ses aventures... Mais oui, on l'aime bien comme elle est !!!
Ce 5ème tome est trépidant, comme les autres de la série. Il vaut mieux avoir lu les 4 autres pour mieux comprendre l'histoire générale de la série...
Joanne est attachante et irremplaçable. Ses aventures sont un régal !
Essayez de deviner la fin du roman : ce n'est de toute façon pas celle à laquelle vous aviez pensé !
Vivement le 6ème tome : "Dernier souffle"!
Les 6 tomes de la série "les Gardiens des Eléments" :
1- La Maîtresse du Vent
2- Vague de Chaleur
3- Sueur Froide
4- Vent de Discorde
5- Retour de Flamme
6- Dernier Souffle.
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