Summer Storm

The Wrath of the Northmen #0.5

by Elizabeth Baxter

Falen feels like an outsider. Raised in the male dominated, warrior culture of Variss, she struggles to be a good Varisean woman. She hates poetry. She’s no good at art. And the thought of marriage makes her shudder.

Instead, to the eternal disappointment of her father, Falen wants to be a scientist. She dreams of journeying to the southern city of Ral Tora to study at its famous engineering academy. But Falen’s dreams, it seems, are doomed to failure. That is, until a chance encounter with a stranger that could change everything.

Could this stranger hold the key to Falen’s hopes? Or will she realize she should be careful what she wishes for?

This 23,000 word novella is a prequel to the epic fantasy series, The Wrath of the Northmen

Genres: Fantasy, Novella, Young Adult, Fiction, Amazon, Short Stories, Magic

86 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 25, 2012

About the author

Elizabeth Baxter was born and raised in England. In her spare time she enjoys reading, hiking, traveling the world and watching England play cricket. She’s been writing since she was six years old and plans to continue for as long as she’s able to hold a pen (or a keyboard).

Reviews

[Bill Tillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Falen wants to be a scientist. She dreams of journeying to the southern city of Ral Tora to study at its famous engineering academy. But Falen's dreams seem doomed to failure. That is, until a chance encounter with a stranger that could change everything. Could this stranger hold the key to Falen's hopes? Or will she realize she should be careful what she wishes for?

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was really interesting. I loved the language and the expressions used in this and I’m so interested in what’s going to happen next!

[Kacey Hogan · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was a quick and easy read. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. I liked the book ok but the plot was weak. The protagonist was very relatable in my opinion, and that is the main reason I kept with reading the book. I just kept expecting a plot twist. You can't really even determine the antagonist until about 2/3 of the way through the story. The story built up the characters until the climax at the last few pages not leaving much for a storyline. It does have more parts so maybe they will have a better plot line.

[mirba · Rating 2 out of 5]

so imagine you plan to write a thousand pages book. Then after a while you've been writing you decide to sell the first 100 pages (or less) as a book on its own. there's kind of a beginning, but not much of it, but there's no ending or anything similar to a solution.
You don't even have the time to get to know or learn the name of the characters!

[Maria Beasley · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know that feeling, when you're reading a good book and the words seem to melt away and all you see are the characters in your head? That's how I felt about this book. I immediately related to Falen, a strong female character who young girls can look up to. She isn't just your typical tomboyish princess; she wants to be a scientist, but at the same time attends to her princess duties.

I would've given this five stars, but it was too short. It felt like the beginning of an epic novel. I would've liked if it were longer. The ending wasn't resolved at all.

[Tracey Jepsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it is an interesting book, I don't like books that don't really end or come to an unsatisfying conclusion

[Mr Kevin John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story to enjoy

Here is a story that starts by caught my attention and makes me want to carry on with the next part of the adventure

[Kyla Sixkiller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was pretty good! It’s short but not non descriptive. I enjoyed the story and I’m invested in seeing how it continues and how the next book intertwines the story more.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a great book to read

[Emmy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think this was meant to be a snap shot short of sorts ... Instead of it being the tip of an iceberg, it's like a bottom corner or something...
so it's uninteresting and not really attached to anything.

[Nova Brock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summer Storm is a compact but compelling fantasy novella by Elizabeth Baxter, serving as a prelude to her main series The Wrath of the Northmen. While brief, it offers readers an intriguing glimpse into a world on the brink of unraveling—largely due to the choices of its headstrong and morally driven protagonist.
Set in a richly imagined realm where science and fantasy blend, the story follows a young woman whose bold actions—though rooted in a desire to help—end up sowing the seeds of disaster in her homeland. Her pursuit of knowledge, particularly through scientific discovery, adds a refreshing layer to the genre and shows promise for more complex developments in the full-length novels that follow.
Though the plot itself may feel predictable at times, that seems almost by design; the novella’s role is to lay the groundwork, and in that, it succeeds. The pacing is tight, the worldbuilding is enticing, and the hints of ruin to come make it easy to see why this prequel would draw readers into the larger series.
The protagonist, while admirable in her moral resolve and intellectual curiosity, is also frustrating in her refusal to listen to those around her. Her impulsive choices and tunnel vision dampen some of the sympathy she might otherwise deserve, yet these flaws make her feel more real—and set up an interesting arc for the series ahead.
Overall, Summer Storm is a quick, worthwhile read for fantasy fans who enjoy a mix of intellect, magic, and the looming threat of consequences. It may be a short story, but it leaves a long shadow.

[Angie ~aka Reading Machine~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Falen is young woman that loves everything to do with science much to her father's dismay. Falen is a princess of Variss. Falen rescues a man from the river but never expected what happened next. The stranger named Nashir seems to be an honest fellow and genuinely interested in what Falen does. Falen's father King Beorl Godwinsson doesn't understand why Falen doesn't like to do womanly things like flower arranging and sewing. Things have been particularly difficult since Falen's mother Queen Anna's passing four years ago. Falen may look like her mother but certainly doesn't act like her. Falen hopes to be accepted to Ral Toran Engineering Academy based on her experiments. A significant change occurs within The King yet Falen is worried all the same. Who is Nashir really? What other changes are happening with the King? Will Falen be accepted? Your answers await you in Summer Storm.

A very enjoyable read that was fast paced. This book is what I call a page turner because you have to know what happens next. I also thought this is a great beginning to a series. I completely understood Falen's frustration at not being heard by her father. I found that it was refreshing to see how well the characters drove the story to it's fast paced ending. I will definitely look for more of this author's work.

[Kyra Halland · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Summer Storm, Falen is a princess who wants to be a scientist, much to the displeasure of her father the King. While working on the project she hopes will get her admitted to the academy of engineering, she meets an old man who might have the solution to her problem - or plunge her life into nightmare.

I liked this. I enjoyed the use of science in a fantasy world, and the sense of dark things to come. I had a little trouble with Falen; it was hard to tell how old she is. Sometimes she acts like a petulant young teenager because her life has demands and responsibilities she doesn't like, but in one scene her father tells her it's well past time she was married. So that's my one problem with the story.

Otherwise, Summer Storm is well-written and entertaining. It's a novella-length prequel to the author's Wrath of the Northmen series, which I look forward to checking out.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This fantasy novella is well written, professionally produced (editing, proofreading, formatting, and cover), and the characters are interesting if sometimes a touch flat, especially the villain. But while there's an ending, there's no real resolution of the problem, and the actual ending wasn't entirely satisfying. I might be old-fashioned here, but even in the set-up for a series, I want a satisfying resolution, especially as the first chapter of the next book (included at the end) didn't even mention the main character of this book, and she's the one I'm interested in and rooting for. Let's call it 3.5 stars.

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect when I began reading Summer Storm. It ended up being a good read though. I liked the main character Falen. She's a smart and tough girl. The writing was well done, and the story made me want to continue reading the rest of the series.

Summer Storm is actually a prequel novella to Everwinter, which I have not read yet. Apparently Falen shows up in Everwinter (not sure if she's a major character), so I'm glad I was able to read this before I started the first book. Hopefully she is able to figure out how to resolve the issues that were left open in this novella.

[Contessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's an interesting read. I didn't realize it was a short story from a bigger novel. Falen, the female main character, a princess who doesn't want to be a princess with responsibilities. She would rather do things on her own and not pay attention to anything other than herself. However, It seems it was too late, she should have listened to her servant. Now her father, the King, is letting his responsibilities go and his daughter has to cover for him and now there is someone whispering in her father's ear...

[Devon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Summer Storm was an okay tale, but I didn’t like it as well as I would have liked to. I think Falen is set up to be an interesting and compelling character, but the story around her in this novella is a little too predictable to complement her, and it was a little bland for my taste. As it is the prequel to a greater series, I can forgive that a little, but, while Falen’s world is interesting, I didn't feel compelled by plot or characters to continue reading. I might check out the rest of the series just to see the world the author built.

[Emmalg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to learn more about the main character, Falen, and am interested in the plot but I can't rate this more highly as I felt the writing just skimmed the surface of the story. I didn't find the setting came to life as the style is so narrative. Apart from Falen and Nashir the characters are very one dimensional but that may be due to the length of the novella.
I'll see how the first book in the series goes.

[Matthew Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good little novella. This is obviously intended as a lead in to a series and as such the story ends abruptly before you feel anything major has happened. On the plus side, great writing, fun main character. I liked the mix of science and magic, but I'm into that sort of thing anyway. I liked the villain(?) of the piece and I thought the author did a great job of building the world without overdoing it with explanations.

[Mella · Rating 1 out of 5]

I liked the premise of the main character but the execution fell short. Introductory novella but I just couldn't get into it and it ended too abruptly. I didn't like the villain and I didn't like the story overall enough to pick up the rest of the series. Interesting world building though, just not for me.

[Claire Carey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had me hooked. Had no idea what i was downloading. It was in free section but the title grabbed me.
A young woman determined to follow her dreams. Goes against the grain, gets the kingdom into trouble and is banished. The start of a series. Need yo get the next one now

[Tabby Shiflett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent prequel to Everwinter. Although the character Falen was likeable in the full-length novel, her backstory in this novella really gives her more depth.

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[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story follows along with more traditional fantasy novels, but seems like a decent read. It will be interesting to see how the main character gets along out in the world.

[Kim Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, good book. Left me wanting to know more. Will definitely read this series.

[Jagged · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too many "er"'s.

It was a great premise, even if I am sick of reading about women movements. Women are free; get over it already.

But I am keen to read further.

[Velvetink]

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[Hemera Carstairs · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a pretty good book. I would have liked some romance though! Especially between Falen and the Captain!

[Gen Giggles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story. Well written and plotted it really does set up for the rest of the books without forcing the purchase of other books. I do recommend the story.

[Julie Bird · Rating 2 out of 5]

pre=quel short story. Not bad, but not that enticing.

[Catherine Vickers · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kinda story. Some likeable, unlikeable and some annoying characters. When you feel passionate about the characters of a story, then the author has done their job properly.

Intriguing plot that you feel is going to develop and unravel, and you must be a part of it because you want to know the outcome.

Do I want the next book in the series? Yes. That says it all...