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The Stormwatch Tales #3
Legend of the Tempest Teaser
Stories definitely shouldn’t end with cliffhangers…right?
Sephone Darrow is tired of being "the Chosen One”. Everyone always expects her to save the day. But her heroics are put to the test when her team's search for the legendary Mouth of Eternity lands them in a prison locked with secrets that could kill. An infamous inmate has gone missing, prisoners are covered in mysterious bruises, and there's a sinister cellblock of ghosts waiting to break free of their iron bars.
Rose doesn't trust the leader of the Blackouts, Heartstone Asylum's adventurous league of legend seekers. But when a traveling wax museum full of familiar faces—including her own—shows up at Heartstone, the Blackouts' leader makes an ominous prediction, and it's up to Rose and her team to stop it from coming true, which means confronting the ghostly secrets haunting the museum.
Sephone and Rose must rely on each other's wits and witticisms to solve their respective mysteries before their stories collide in a showdown for the ages.
And not everyone is making it out of this one alive.
A delightful mashup of whimsy, fantasy, spookiness, and quirk, with a dollop of Harry Potter and a sprinkling of Neil Gaiman.
Sephone Darrow is tired of being "the Chosen One”. Everyone always expects her to save the day. But her heroics are put to the test when her team's search for the legendary Mouth of Eternity lands them in a prison locked with secrets that could kill. An infamous inmate has gone missing, prisoners are covered in mysterious bruises, and there's a sinister cellblock of ghosts waiting to break free of their iron bars.
Rose doesn't trust the leader of the Blackouts, Heartstone Asylum's adventurous league of legend seekers. But when a traveling wax museum full of familiar faces—including her own—shows up at Heartstone, the Blackouts' leader makes an ominous prediction, and it's up to Rose and her team to stop it from coming true, which means confronting the ghostly secrets haunting the museum.
Sephone and Rose must rely on each other's wits and witticisms to solve their respective mysteries before their stories collide in a showdown for the ages.
And not everyone is making it out of this one alive.
A delightful mashup of whimsy, fantasy, spookiness, and quirk, with a dollop of Harry Potter and a sprinkling of Neil Gaiman.
- GenresMiddle GradeFantasy
420 pages, Paperback
Published October 24, 2023
17 people want to read
About the author
Kristiana Sfirlea
8 books55 followersKristiana Sfirlea is the award-winning author of The Stormwatch Tales, a darkly whimsical horror fantasy series for kids and teens. The first installment, Legend of the Storm Sneezer, is returning in 2026 to haunt bookshelves across the worlds.
Like their popular characters Rose and Marek, Kristiana has faced some scary things in their life—though their ghosts and monsters look a little different. But like their characters, Kristiana has learned that the best way to face your fears is by putting them into a story.
Kristiana's dream is creating safe places for readers to explore their experiences through the power of storytelling. As a disabled, queer, autistic author of faith, Kristiana has found the safest place in their books. Their greatest joy is when readers do the same.
Kristiana loves Jesus, laughing too hard at their own jokes, imaginary life with their characters, and real life with their partner.
Follow them on Instagram and Tumblr at @KristianasQuill, on Facebook at @KristianasQuillBooks, and visit their website www.KristianasQuill.com.
Like their popular characters Rose and Marek, Kristiana has faced some scary things in their life—though their ghosts and monsters look a little different. But like their characters, Kristiana has learned that the best way to face your fears is by putting them into a story.
Kristiana's dream is creating safe places for readers to explore their experiences through the power of storytelling. As a disabled, queer, autistic author of faith, Kristiana has found the safest place in their books. Their greatest joy is when readers do the same.
Kristiana loves Jesus, laughing too hard at their own jokes, imaginary life with their characters, and real life with their partner.
Follow them on Instagram and Tumblr at @KristianasQuill, on Facebook at @KristianasQuillBooks, and visit their website www.KristianasQuill.com.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 11, 2023
I'm so glad I followed the series to book three and got to read this one early. Everything comes together so, so well in this installment. The characters and world are already established, so you really get to dive into some deeper plots. I fell in total love with Sephone and Aiden, who felt more like background characters previously. And we see a different side of Marek, and it's heartbreaking. This book has time to flesh everyone out more. That said, it is still the same wacky universe with way-too-lifelike wax museums and prisons for dogs. And it ends on a HANGCLIFFER like no other...I need book four now.
October 27, 2023
Legend of the Tempest Teaser is the third entry in the award-winning Stormwatch Diaries series. This MG / YA offering by Kristiana Sfirlea advances the characters and plot of the first two novels of a world populated by character angels, inherent magical abilities, and time paradoxes.
This third book finds not one, but two, main characters in Rose Skylar and Sephone Darrow. In one thread, Sephone and her team are cast into a jail in search of an elusive legend as well as her friend Aiden’s aunt. In the other, Rose encounters a mysterious traveling waxwork museum that comes to her living quarters. She doesn’t trust the proprietors who have taken an unusual interest in Rose herself and her secret missions. The novel alternates between the two young ladies, negative Sephone playing off Rose’s sunny personality, until climaxing in a spectacular ending.
Humor and horror sit side by side, sometimes within the same sentence. From an irritated teleporting carrier pigeon to a sadistic guard that loves to knit to a character who has to use her “womanly wiles”—something she’s never even heard of before—to acquire a magic elixir, the jokes and creativity never stops. And just when you think the book doesn’t have a dark side, the characters shrink and…well, that’s all I’ll tell you. (I was told to put in a cliffhanger in the review.)
Does this third entry live up to the first two? Yes. Is this worth reading if I’m older than a middle grader or young adult? Yes. If, after waiting for a few years, does this book live up to its hype and cliffhanger? Yes! Send your teleporting carrier pigeon out right now and have it pick up a Legend of the Tempest Teaser from a bookstore near you. You’ll be happy you did.
This third book finds not one, but two, main characters in Rose Skylar and Sephone Darrow. In one thread, Sephone and her team are cast into a jail in search of an elusive legend as well as her friend Aiden’s aunt. In the other, Rose encounters a mysterious traveling waxwork museum that comes to her living quarters. She doesn’t trust the proprietors who have taken an unusual interest in Rose herself and her secret missions. The novel alternates between the two young ladies, negative Sephone playing off Rose’s sunny personality, until climaxing in a spectacular ending.
Humor and horror sit side by side, sometimes within the same sentence. From an irritated teleporting carrier pigeon to a sadistic guard that loves to knit to a character who has to use her “womanly wiles”—something she’s never even heard of before—to acquire a magic elixir, the jokes and creativity never stops. And just when you think the book doesn’t have a dark side, the characters shrink and…well, that’s all I’ll tell you. (I was told to put in a cliffhanger in the review.)
Does this third entry live up to the first two? Yes. Is this worth reading if I’m older than a middle grader or young adult? Yes. If, after waiting for a few years, does this book live up to its hype and cliffhanger? Yes! Send your teleporting carrier pigeon out right now and have it pick up a Legend of the Tempest Teaser from a bookstore near you. You’ll be happy you did.
October 24, 2023
Once again, Kristiana Sfirlea has knocked it out of the park with The Legend of the Tempest Teaser, her third installment of The Stormwatch Diaries. Her tales never fail to delight young fans of spooky fantasy. Jam packed with energy and imagination, her effervescent prose bubbles with joy on every page. The comical asides along with the unique storylines all make for a rollicking good time. Throw in a creepy traveling wax museum and a bunch of wisecracking characters, and the hijinks insure (along with a few life lessons on the way). Five Stars!
October 27, 2023
This was a great fun YA book! I thought it was ----
*
Sorry about that. Where was I? Oh yes, that cliffhanger of an ending was crazy right?
*
Sorry about that. Where was I? Oh yes, that cliffhanger of an ending was crazy right?
January 17, 2024
Rose Skylar and the other Blackouts are taking you, (“Reader Name Here”), on an adventure sure to keep you glued to the pages—(figuratively of course, otherwise, how would you know what happens next?).
A story that is full of both whimsically creeps and creepy whimsies, both middle grade and older readers will enjoy this fast-paced plot sprinkled with heartfelt fuzzies. Just as the other books in this well-loved series, The Tempest Teaser has strong elements of the power of friendship, healing, and faith. This book also explores communication and navigating big emotions in friendships and other relationships such as with family. One aspect that standouts in this MG read, that has stayed tried and true throughout the series, is the focus on friendship. With so much of modern media pushing romance and the concept of being less than if not in a romantic relationship, even when a child, it is refreshing to see these books embracing “being worthy because you’re you; even by yourself.” Our children need to see it is okay to be kids and not rush to grow up AND understand they are valued as they are (and not because of their connection—or lack thereof—to another).
This book does have a bit more violence than I was initially expecting—and the cliffhanger has me more tangled than Sephone’s vines and more discombobulated than Ogle’s Odds and Ends—but there’s all the things I love about The Stormwatch Diaries present. Plus, even with big questions waiting to be answered, there is some closure from earlier in the series provided. AND there’s clearly a love for dogs shown in the book which I respect and adore. I am 10/10 a dog person (but not a “dog-person;” genetically speaking I am fully human. I just love dogs. Like a lot).
Saying I’m excited for book 4 would be an understatement!!
I won an ARC in a giveaway via Instagram. I was not required to leave a review. All thoughts and opinions shared are my own.
A story that is full of both whimsically creeps and creepy whimsies, both middle grade and older readers will enjoy this fast-paced plot sprinkled with heartfelt fuzzies. Just as the other books in this well-loved series, The Tempest Teaser has strong elements of the power of friendship, healing, and faith. This book also explores communication and navigating big emotions in friendships and other relationships such as with family. One aspect that standouts in this MG read, that has stayed tried and true throughout the series, is the focus on friendship. With so much of modern media pushing romance and the concept of being less than if not in a romantic relationship, even when a child, it is refreshing to see these books embracing “being worthy because you’re you; even by yourself.” Our children need to see it is okay to be kids and not rush to grow up AND understand they are valued as they are (and not because of their connection—or lack thereof—to another).
This book does have a bit more violence than I was initially expecting—and the cliffhanger has me more tangled than Sephone’s vines and more discombobulated than Ogle’s Odds and Ends—but there’s all the things I love about The Stormwatch Diaries present. Plus, even with big questions waiting to be answered, there is some closure from earlier in the series provided. AND there’s clearly a love for dogs shown in the book which I respect and adore. I am 10/10 a dog person (but not a “dog-person;” genetically speaking I am fully human. I just love dogs. Like a lot).
Saying I’m excited for book 4 would be an understatement!!
I won an ARC in a giveaway via Instagram. I was not required to leave a review. All thoughts and opinions shared are my own.
April 14, 2024
My teen son and I read these together, and LEGEND OF THE TEMPEST TEASER was just so, so fun. Sfirlea widens her already amazing scope to include a new narrator, Sephone, and Sephone adds a new grounding to The Stormwatch Diaries. Every book is a treasure hunt where we get to find one whimsical delight after another. Dogs, a werecat, shady angels, haunted wax works, and a transporting carrier pigeon are some in this one. AND we get to spend more time with a favorite character, Gormonger!
Getting to know a new narrator always stretches a reader, and we are better off for it. Plus, after every single chapter, my son and I were like, "WHERE IS THIS GOING?!? How do the clues fit together?!"
As always, all the kudos to Sfirlea and bravo once again!
Getting to know a new narrator always stretches a reader, and we are better off for it. Plus, after every single chapter, my son and I were like, "WHERE IS THIS GOING?!? How do the clues fit together?!"
As always, all the kudos to Sfirlea and bravo once again!
November 5, 2023
5/5 stars
I received an ARC of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
The Stormwatch Diaries is a series near and dear to my heart. It's the very definition of whimsical, and magic exudes from every page. Each book is a different adventure that sucks you in and makes you laugh from start to finish.
The Legend of the Tempest Teaser was just as excellent as the first two books were! Told from Rose's and Sephone's points of view, the reader gets to follow both teams along on their current Blackout assignments. I got just as attached to Sephone and Aiden as I am to Rose and Marek, and I thoroughly enjoyed both of their stories in this book. The characters are so loveable and it feels like reuniting with an old friend when I pick up another book of their adventures.
As usual, the world-building is so fun and quirky! This tale brings the reader into a world with creepy wax figures, haunted werewolf prison, plenty of ghosts, and a whole lot of magic and mayhem. Not to mention, the story is filled with the clever wordplay and charming puns that I've come to expect from Kristiana Sfirlea. This book is an absolute delight!
Even though this is a middle grade series, I'd recommend it to all ages! It also manages to be spooky but wholesome at the same time, so it's a great book if you're looking for a Halloween read that doesn't get graphic or scary.
I received an ARC of this book, and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
The Stormwatch Diaries is a series near and dear to my heart. It's the very definition of whimsical, and magic exudes from every page. Each book is a different adventure that sucks you in and makes you laugh from start to finish.
The Legend of the Tempest Teaser was just as excellent as the first two books were! Told from Rose's and Sephone's points of view, the reader gets to follow both teams along on their current Blackout assignments. I got just as attached to Sephone and Aiden as I am to Rose and Marek, and I thoroughly enjoyed both of their stories in this book. The characters are so loveable and it feels like reuniting with an old friend when I pick up another book of their adventures.
As usual, the world-building is so fun and quirky! This tale brings the reader into a world with creepy wax figures, haunted werewolf prison, plenty of ghosts, and a whole lot of magic and mayhem. Not to mention, the story is filled with the clever wordplay and charming puns that I've come to expect from Kristiana Sfirlea. This book is an absolute delight!
Even though this is a middle grade series, I'd recommend it to all ages! It also manages to be spooky but wholesome at the same time, so it's a great book if you're looking for a Halloween read that doesn't get graphic or scary.
December 5, 2023
So far, the Stormwatch Diaries has been one of my favorite Middle Grade series, just under The Girl Who Drank the Moon. The books are filled with quirkiness, relatable characters, unique magic, and fun adventures. And Legend of the Tempest Teaser is no different.
Within this volume, we finally get to see things from Sephone’s point of view, which I found interesting. I love Rose, but seeing the story and world from a new perspective was exciting. Her personality really shines through and is a great foil to Rose’s otherwise sunny personality.
I will always love how the story takes us to different places that further expand on the world. The first book was the asylum, the second a somewhat terrifying ice cream/funeral parlor with serious Five Nights at Freddy’s vibes. And this time we are brought to a literal dog house, filled with every werewolf, hellhound, and strangely enough, a werecat who kind of ended up being one of my favorite characters because, well, cat. Also the teleporting birds that I feel were just thrown in there to make things frustrating.
Overall, I really enjoyed Legend of the Tempest Teaser and am very upset about that terrible cliffhanger. The next installment can’t come soon enough!
Within this volume, we finally get to see things from Sephone’s point of view, which I found interesting. I love Rose, but seeing the story and world from a new perspective was exciting. Her personality really shines through and is a great foil to Rose’s otherwise sunny personality.
I will always love how the story takes us to different places that further expand on the world. The first book was the asylum, the second a somewhat terrifying ice cream/funeral parlor with serious Five Nights at Freddy’s vibes. And this time we are brought to a literal dog house, filled with every werewolf, hellhound, and strangely enough, a werecat who kind of ended up being one of my favorite characters because, well, cat. Also the teleporting birds that I feel were just thrown in there to make things frustrating.
Overall, I really enjoyed Legend of the Tempest Teaser and am very upset about that terrible cliffhanger. The next installment can’t come soon enough!
May 2, 2024
Everyone's favorite "cutely disturbed" characters are back
This one takes a darker turn than the other two, but it's worth it. The Tempest Teaser does a great job of fleshing out Sephone and Aiden, two side characters initially. The simple and great truths revealed in its pages are heartwarming.
I was not actually bothered by the very sad cliffhanger. Yes, I will read on, but I've read quite a few cliffhangers in my life, good and bad, and sometimes, it just is. This story is leading up to something BIG, and so, it could never be finished in one book. I just wish the publisher had a release date set for the next one.
The second one actually disappointed me a bit and I'm SO GLAD this one returns to feeling authentic because I love Rose and Merrick and I like nothing better than to share their adventures with them. It has to feel like them, and not something just inserted for a good story. Anyway, so if you are like me and were nearly ready to only ever read the first one, albeit, over and over again, take heart, Rose and Merrick are back, the adventure is on for real, and it is a GREAT story!
This one takes a darker turn than the other two, but it's worth it. The Tempest Teaser does a great job of fleshing out Sephone and Aiden, two side characters initially. The simple and great truths revealed in its pages are heartwarming.
I was not actually bothered by the very sad cliffhanger. Yes, I will read on, but I've read quite a few cliffhangers in my life, good and bad, and sometimes, it just is. This story is leading up to something BIG, and so, it could never be finished in one book. I just wish the publisher had a release date set for the next one.
The second one actually disappointed me a bit and I'm SO GLAD this one returns to feeling authentic because I love Rose and Merrick and I like nothing better than to share their adventures with them. It has to feel like them, and not something just inserted for a good story. Anyway, so if you are like me and were nearly ready to only ever read the first one, albeit, over and over again, take heart, Rose and Merrick are back, the adventure is on for real, and it is a GREAT story!
October 17, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. The gang is here again. Yet, a big focus is on Sephone, Rose, and Aiden. My favorites are Sephone and Aiden. The way they interacted with each other. Plus, Aiden helped Sephone overcome some things to shine again.
There was the dual storylines of Rose and the Blackouts and Heartstone Asylum and the Mouth of Eternity with Sephone. I was very intrigued by what was happening in both stories. There is another the matter of Well and Good. There is mystery surrounding them.
Warning: There is a major cliffhanger ending moment! I am not sure if I can wait that long for the next book, but I will try.
There was the dual storylines of Rose and the Blackouts and Heartstone Asylum and the Mouth of Eternity with Sephone. I was very intrigued by what was happening in both stories. There is another the matter of Well and Good. There is mystery surrounding them.
Warning: There is a major cliffhanger ending moment! I am not sure if I can wait that long for the next book, but I will try.
April 19, 2024
This series is an absolute DELIGHT and I cannot wait for the next book!
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January 24, 2026Marek from Legend of the Storm Sneezer is asexual!
Rose Skylar from Legend of the Storm Sneezer is asexual!
https://aspeccharactersoftheday.tumbl...
Rose Skylar from Legend of the Storm Sneezer is asexual!
https://aspeccharactersoftheday.tumbl...
November 27, 2025
Been here since Stormwatch Tales was name Stormwatch Diaries. This has to be bmy favorite out of all three of them. I can't wait for book four! (not true, I've already been waiting 2 years but regardless!)
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews