Betrayal cuts deep, a truth Diana knows all too well. After being captured by Donika—the tyrannical ruler of Istmere and Diana’s half-sister—she faces torture and interrogations in the infamous prisons of Akra.
When help comes in the form of a secret underground resistance, the means to defeat the malevolent queen are finally within Diana’s grasp. But first, she must learn to harness the dangers of her Stormshade magic, the secrets of her family history, and the emotions she tries—and fails—to ignore.
Because despite her heartbreak and pain, Nik is the only one she can turn to when new enemies and deception close in on all sides. In the battle for the throne of Istmere, nothing is as it seems, and no one is safe. In the end, Diana and Nik’s renewed trust could be their greatest weapon—or their most devastating downfall.
A true queen would give anything for her people.
When Storms Ruin is the heart-pounding second installment in the Realm of Istmere, a New Adult Fantasy Romance series.
Michelle Frohman is a writer, avid reader, and devoted animal lover with a passion for crafting captivating fantasy and paranormal romance tales.
She resides in New England with her three beloved cats—Kasha, the spicy one; Kiwi, the sensitive one; and Peach, the fluffy one—who provide endless inspiration (and occasional keyboard interference).
When she’s not lost in a book or writing her next novel, she can be found indulging in her love for interior design, riding horses, or drinking an arguably excessive amount of peach tea.
“When Storms Ruin” picks up where When Storms Awaken left off, diving deeper into the high-stakes war between elemental magic and political betrayal. Diana is forced into a powerful new role that tests her strength, loyalty, and heart. Meanwhile, Nik is navigating his own path in the shadows—and every time they’re pulled apart, it hurts just enough to keep you hooked.
This installment brings major plot twists (including that ending—!!!), new realms of magic, and a few spicy moments that shake things up between our leads. The forbidden love tension between Nik and Diana definitely delivers again, and the ending sets the stage for a dramatic and emotional finale.
That said, this book does feel a bit familiar at times—it echoes elements from ACOTAR and Fourth Wing with a vibe that fantasy readers will recognize. I personally wished for stronger world-building and more nuanced character development to really bring the story to life. There’s also some repetitive phrasing that took me out of the moment now and then. BUT… the concept has real potential, and I’m rooting for this story to shine in the final book.
I was given an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is Michelle’s second book set in the world of Istmere following the FMC Diana who is the rightful heir to the throne, on her way to wage war against her evil sister Donika, but first she needs to escape the prison she is thrown into at the end of book 1 (not a spoiler if you’ve read book 1).
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the second book in this series! It had romance, spice, action, betrayal, plot twists, magic and of course THE ENDING! Like literally I am still struggling to even process it atm. I can’t even rn!
If you’re looking for an easy read that is fast paced then definitely pick this series up! I cannot wait until book 3 in the near future comes out!
Thank you once again Michelle for allowing me to read your book ahead of official publication. It has once again been an absolute joy!
This book had me in a chokehold from start to finish! The plot was masterfully woven with gripping twists and turns, and the character development was on another level. Diana is now one of my favorite FMCs EVER, and the slow-burn romance between her and Nik had me falling head over heels. With witches, monsters, war, and a hint of spice, this book truly had everything. When Storms Ruin surpassed all my expectations, and I am eagerly counting down the days until the next book. If you’re looking for a read that will leave you breathless, this is it! 💔📚💫
So life got busy so it took longer than expected to read but apparently so did Diana and Nik. Oh my gosh the way everything was written it made me feel as though I was right there. I can say that the plot twists were very unexpected and had me gasping. Fighting, monsters, romance, spice, it all made the story perfect. I’m not one for spice so I did skip that part but this book was phenomenal!! Guess now I’ll have to wait for another one.
Omg Angels!!! I finally finished it and that ending!!!
Hello Angels, it’s your favorite friendly Diana Kotova cosplayer and number 1 fan of the series. I am seriously obsessed. Now I’m not going to spoil anything as this is my first review. I plan on rereading the book very very soon. However all you angels need to know is Michelle has done it again and this was a 1000000/10 read.
I was given the opportunity to be an ARC reader for this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book in the world of Istmere following Diana, the FMC, and her journey as the rightful heir to the throne.
I absolutely loved this book! The romance, the slow burn, the betrayal, the SPICE!! AHH! My favorite part of this whole series is that Diana is relatable. She’s young, she’s a student, she’s smart and artistic; and she’s fallen for the bad boy. I cannot wait to read the third book!
If you are looking for an intro to fantasy, or just a fast read, this is definitely a book you should pick up!
Thank you Michelle for the opportunity to be among the first people to continue reading Diana’s journey! I loved every second of it!!
I was given both the first and the second book for an ARC, thank you so much for trusting with this.
Diana and the gang return again, still trying to learn how to control her stormshade magic, only to find out that Liss is her biological mother, this was obvious from the start, just by how the character was written, and her relationship with Issac, Zion. So no surprises there.
What Donita needs to learn, that just because what she thinks is happening isn’t always what is, she’s so bent on getting revenge for someone, that she hasn’t even stopped to ask them if that’s what they want. In the process she looses her mum, dad, and her half sister, who hills her time as the black heart queen is over.
What happens at the end, well technically Nik isn’t dead, but he is a magic sucking noctoni now, and now onto the third book.
Again a few basic spelling errors, hopefully the editing of the third book will be better. But if you can get past that, get past how immature Dianna is, not realising she is going to have to kill to get her thrown back, it’s a good read. When she finally forgives Nik for his betrayal in the first book, you will be crying, so make sure to have tissues ready, as it comes at a high price for both of them.
The spice this time is there but only just so I give it a 🌶️🌶️ as it’s there, but then is written off the page, and unless they find a cure for noctani, or Diana gets changed into one, I’m there won’t be much in the third.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is the second book in the Realm of Istmere Series. If you have not caught up with book one, you definitely should. This book continues where we left off in the last one, and we follow Diana, who is now captured by her sister, the ruler of Istmere. Diana is on the way to wage war with her sister, who truly is the rightful heir to Istmere, but she has to get away first. Diana learns who her bio mom is in this book and more about her family history and what that entails. I truly love the way Michelle Frohman narrates the story. There was so much world building, you almost feel like you’re a part of it. The story is fairly fast paced. There are tons of twists and turns, and I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. There is this slow burn romance blooming and being crushed at the same time. The character seems like a strong individual. However, she is also very impressionable by the people who have hurt and betrayed her the most. This book is action packed, and I enjoyed the writing style. I think if there was one thing I would want more of, it would be the romance part of the novel. Even though it was a slow burn from enemies to lovers, I did feel as if we missed out on some of the emotions that got them to that point. I feel as if more could’ve been written into their storyline. Apart from that, I enjoyed it very much. The cliffhanger truly wants you to get to book three asap!
Actual rating: 4.75 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫 Deducted .25 because of some frustrating moments when it felt like the fmc fell back into old patterns of feeling and thought unexplained. Plus I need some wiggle room for a potential better rating of book 3 😂
received this copy as part of the ARC package to read book 3
I flew through this book.
The author continues to take us along on the journey of Diana, the lost queen of the witch realm. In this book she learns to control her powers and lead a rebellion.
The character development was well done. Although the fmc and her grudges she holds were driving me up the wall at times, it is part of who Diana is and she author keeps emphasizing and using it to further the plot line and work on growth for her characters.
We get a lot of training scenes in this book, both with magic and swords/daggers. It made the book feel much more like a fantasy novel than the first one and I thoroughly enjoyed that.
The love story between Diana and Nik, although frustratingly slow at times, is a thing to behold. Written so beautifully ♥️
But please be warned: the ending is a terrible cliffhanger!! I mean right up there with the ending of Onyx Storm. So if you decide to read this book you will also have to read book 3 - which is exactly what I will go do now 😆
Amazing second book to ‘A Realm of Istmere’ trilogy! I was so curious and excited to see what was going to happen next after I read book one, & as soon as I started book two I was hooked all over again. Once again, like I’ve said in other reviews, there are so many twists & turns that you don’t see coming, & the story is so easy to get emotionally invested in. I’m always excited to keep reading & see what happens next when I read Michelle’s work. This book answered a lot of questions that you may have after finishing book one, and it leaves you asking more questions as you keep reading! I love how there’s always more to find out, my mind is always so stimulated while reading her books. There are parts that are heart wrenching, but is a positive type of heart wrenching. There are moments where you wonder if things will be ok, and this really kept me engaged as well. I absolutely love Diana & Nikolai’s story, and I love the story of Istmere too! You become hooked on both the characters and the setting in which the book is in— in this case, it’s a realm called Istmere. Thank you Michelle!
𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐒 ➳ enemies-to-lovers ➳ overprotective mmc ➳ found family ➳ rebel forces ➳ NA fantasy romance ➳ darker + spicier
When Storms Ruin is the second book of A Realm of Istmere series. This book is the continuation of book 1, When Storms Awaken.
𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 In this story, Diana needs to prepare to face the Black Heart and take back what was meant to be hers — the rightful heir to the throne of Istmere.
𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 This book did not disappoint and truly page-turner just like book one. I always want to know what’s next. The storyline is so good even when it’s face-paced. There are twists in this book that had me gasping + the slow burn between the FMC and MMC? chef’s kiss!
Oh and this book is another cliffhanger! I am so looking forward to book three. I need to know what happens next.
Thank you to author Michelle Frohman for sending me the e-ARC and letting me experience the realm of Istmere. A wonderful read!
What a great second book! in this book Diana learns more about her biological mother, her family, and the key to her power which she must unravel. it's fast-paced with just a balance amount of actions and romance, and I love the worldbuilding and the storyline, the author keeps the story flowing and engaging. I really want to give this book 5-stars, but what upsets me a bit is how Diana was easily swayed after betrayals, she looks strong and fierce to her people but in her POV she sounds easily swayed and sympathize towards others who have betrayed her. this book is a sequel of the first book in A Realm of Istmere series, this is definitely a series you must read each book in order so to better understand what is happening. and this book ends on another cliffhanger...I'm looking forward to the next book!
After being captured by Donika—the tyrannical ruler of Istmere and Diana’s half-sister—she faces torture and interrogations in the infamous prisons of Akra. when help comes in the form of a secret underground resistance, the means to defeat the malevolent queen are finally within Diana’s grasp. but first, she must learn to harness the dangers of her Stormshade magic, the secrets of her family history, and the emotions she tries—and fails—to ignore towards Nik.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. huge thanks to Michelle Frohman for giving me an advanced copy of this book!♥️♥️
The second book in Michelle Frohman's A Realm of Istmere series, When Storms Ruin does not disappoint.
The story picks up with FMC Diana, the rightful heir to the throne of Istmere, in the Stormvault and trying to find a way to escape to bring down her evil sister Donika who claimed the throne.
The back and forth of Diana's feelings towards MMC, Nik, and their relationship felt natural given the events of When Storms Awaken. Nik's words make you fall in love with him just a little more and will have you rooting for him.
When Storms Ruin is a fast paced, easy read that draws you into the characters world. It has it all - good vs evil, romance, spice, fighting, betrayal, action, monsters, magic and twists and turns that will make you gasp.
The cliffhanger ending will leave your jaw on the floor and have you counting down to the release of Book Three.
In this second Realm of Istemere novel Michelle Frohman deepens our connection with the characters, their personal journeys, and the understanding of the magic system in Istemere.
Notably, I fell head over heels all over again for Nik and Diana. The real, raw emotions portrayed on the page between these two is incredible, as is their steamy chemistry.
However, this depth of complexity does not belong to our leading cooked alone, but to the entire cast of When Storms Ruin. The whirlwind of the plot and expert pacing does not drown out or overshadow the character's interpersonal relationships.
The ramping of the plot in this second novel masterful, right from the very start. We are plunged right into the action and it does not ever slow down.
If you love fantasy, new adult, romance, and large scale battles you need to read this series!
Wow. This one threw so much at me. You think you know whats gonna happen then BAM no you don’t. So good. The ending though. How are we supposed to survive to book 3?!
This NA Fantasy Romance is book 2 in the Realm of Istmere series. The romance in this series is hesitant, and slow. The couple has some betrayal, and other issues looming above them. The book does have spice, and the spice is descriptive. There is not a lot of spice, but there is some. The book moves at a quick pace following Diane as she struggles to find a way to work along side Nik to defeat Donika and save Istmere. This book picks up where book 1 leaves off, giving you adventure, romance, spice, mystery, and even more betrayal. The book leaves you in shock, and wanting even more with an intense cliff hanger.
This story continues to captivate me. I did spend the first half being supremely annoyed at Diana. I wanted her to be the Boss I know she can be but she was so stuck on this great betrayal she couldn't get her head straight but then she did. She became the boss babe I knew she would be. I have so many unanswered questions and I am now eagerly awaiting book 3.
It was such a pleasure to read this ARC. I hope people go pick up a copy of this book. It was fast paced, family drama, tension and angst. It was everything you would need in a romantsy.
O.M.G THAT ENDING! 💔😭 This book just ripped my heart out and stabbed it 57 times…..soooooo good!
When Storms Ruin is Book 2 in the Realm of Istmere Series and takes place after Book 1, When Storms Awaken, We follow Diana through countless hardships where she proves her grit and stubbornness. She will not break and it is an amazing experience to watch her grown and change. Add in all the grovelling Nik is doing and how protective he is, increases the tension between them significantly. So much tension! Love it!
If you like enemies to lovers, a magical realm, a morally grey MMC, a stubborn and vengeful FMC, and a rebellion, this book is for you.
Book review: This was a great book for book 2 in the series I was excited to have some spice as the MC character brooding / pining for each other for so long.
As always the actions scenes are written FANTASTICALLY! The ending had me in a chokehold. I feel like some of the book could have been pushed forward as it felt dragged in some places but all in all it was a great book and I can’t wait to see what our dear author has for us to be tortured by in the next book🥹🫶
I would put a brief description, but y'all just need to read the first book first so you don't get any spoilers 😉 do it!!
My review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 This book is so good! The friendships, love, magic, everything! It gripped my attention and would not let go! The ending did have me wanting to throw my Kindle across the room, but I NEED more!! I can't wait for the third book to come out!
TLDR: Read When Storms Awaken and then run to read When Storms Ruin!
Thank you Michelle for giving me this opportunity! I'm so excited for the next book!!
The second book was just as fantastic as the first book! I devoured the continuation of Diana & Nik’s story. There are many plot twists in the book that you just don’t see coming. My jaw dropped in surprise for a few of them. The authors attention to detail & description is just so great. It is so easy to get lost in the story. The ending is absolutely jaw dropping & unexpected. It ends on a cliffhanger & I will be patiently awaiting the next book in this series!
I received an eARC of this book and im always thankful for a new read! This series is a good beginner fantasy. I think the character development could be a bit better and it can sometimes be a little corny and fake. But overall I enjoyed it! I like the storyline and there are some twists that i didn't see coming. I do think it ends more like a chapter rather than a cliffhanger but what a twist! I'll be waiting for the next one.
I read this book while traveling across the country this summer. It was so fun to take this journey with these characters as I took my own. After 14 1/2 hours of driving I decided to finish the book while I unwound. Well, that was a bad idea cause I got riled back up again! The story is an amazing build of worlds, characters and plot twists! It will keep you on your toes and guessing. But don't read the ending after a long drive haha it'll wake you back up again . :-)
“I am a Stormshade of the Kotova bloodline, and you cannot break me.”
I had originally read this book so fast that I truly thought the ending was just something I had imagined. So I read it again. Had I imagined the ending?
Nope.
This book will rip your heart out and stomp it in the dirt with NO REMORSE
I loved it. It absolutely destroyed me. I can’t wait for the next one.
If anyone needs me I’ll be bawling my eyes out for the next week.
The ending???!! 😱 OMGG. I didn't expect that to happen and the plot twist???! I think author really likes to dump the plot twist in 10% before the book finished. So for the plot I think it's good and I love the world building and I didn't expect that certain character gone or actually someone important. This book give me shock element more than I can count. Now with that ending I can't wait to read next book.
4.5✨⭐️✨ -ARC READ- Wonderful read had me going back for more, and the backwards and forwards of forgiveness felt organic and wasn’t drawn out, Nik’s words are beautiful and you really root for him after book 1’s drama.
That ending will have me waiting with baited breath for book 3 in the series 🥰
This book picks up immediately where book one ends. Diana and Tess find themselves in a bad situation with little hope in a rescue.
When Storms Ruin is a much faster paced book and leaves you on the edge of your seat. Betrayal and heartbreak, unknown enemies, and loss of self make this tale great.
I cannot wait to read the conclusion of this trilogy.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat! I couldn’t put it down. The ending is a huge cliffhanger! Waiting for the next one will be hard. This is book 2 of a very action packed, intense story. This author does a fabulous job telling the story and I really enjoyed her writing style. If you love fantasy, you’ll love this!
3.5 ⭐️ I was lucky enough to receive an arc copy of this book and I’m so glad I did. I can’t wait to continue reading the story of Diana and Nik. I struggled with the writing in the first book but I’m glad I read this because I feel like the writing improved, and while the story is similar to some other series I’ve read, it keeps me entertained and wanting more. Looking forward to book 3!
I was given an Arc copy for an honest review of the book, I loved the character development between Nik and Diana! The plot twists were wild! When I finished I knew I needed the next book. I can’t wait to find out what happens next! This book is an easy and fast paced fantasy read that anyone can enjoy!
Awesome story! It brings you among the characters through all the adventure. I was captivated by the story from the beginning, I didn't put the book down until I finished it. I can't wait for the sequel. it is a balanced combination between magic, physical combat, mental combat and enemy-to-lovers.