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Storm: Dawn of a Goddess

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Before she was Storm of the X-Men, she was Ororo of Cairo, a girl whose destiny began on the streets of Egypt and will lead to her extraordinary heritage in Kenya. An epic origin story that will blow you away, from Marvel and the New York Times bestselling author of Monday's Not Coming.

Before she was the super hero Storm of Marvel's X-Men, she was Ororo of Cairo—a teenaged thief on the streets of Egypt, until her growing powers catch the eye of a villain who steals people's souls. An epic origin story that will blow you away, from the New York Times bestselling author of Monday's Not Coming.

Few can weather the storm.

As a thief on the streets of Cairo, Ororo Munroe is an expert at blending in—keeping her blue eyes low and her white hair beneath a scarf. Stealth is her specialty . . . especially since strange things happen when she loses control.

Lately, Ororo has been losing control more often, setting off sudden rainstorms and mysterious winds . . . and attracting dangerous attention. When she is forced to run from the Shadow King, a villain who steals people's souls, she has nowhere to turn to but herself. There is something inside her, calling her across Africa, and the hidden truth of her heritage is close enough to taste.

But as Ororo nears the secrets of her past, her powers grow stronger and the Shadow King veers closer and closer. Can she outrun the shadows that chase her? Or can she step into the spotlight and embrace the coming storm?

304 pages, Paperback

First published June 4, 2024

66 people are currently reading
4200 people want to read

About the author

Tiffany D. Jackson

23 books10.3k followers
Tiffany D. Jackson is the New York Times Bestselling author of YA novels including the Coretta Scott King — John Steptoe New Talent Award-winning Monday’s Not Coming, the NAACP Image Award-nominated Allegedly, Let Me Hear A Rhyme, and her 2020 title GROWN. She received her bachelor of arts in film from Howard University, her master of arts in media studies from the New School, and has over a decade in TV/Film experience. The Brooklyn native is a lover of naps, cookie dough, and beaches, currently residing in the borough she loves, most likely multitasking.

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5 stars
197 (36%)
4 stars
203 (37%)
3 stars
115 (21%)
2 stars
16 (2%)
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6 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
Profile Image for Robert.
2,191 reviews148 followers
January 13, 2025

Not the Storm you're going to find in this origin story.

This was a fun very much YA-geared audioread for me, the author did a good job stitching together and updating the tortured continuity of Ororo Munroe's comic book origins. I was pleasantly surprised by the middle portion in which but the strongest segment, for me anyway, was the guidance and mentorship she receives in rural Kenya that allows her to truly come into her own and understand her roots.

Recommended for X-Fans.
Profile Image for Rosa.
Author 8 books24 followers
June 11, 2024
I read this as a Storm fan so my rating reflects that. This book is a bit disjointed. There are some highs, like Storm coming into her powers. But I think the self-loathing is a bit over the top. And Storm being so male-centered was not on my bingo list. I think this was a difficult task to do and since the author isn’t a speculative writer, it unfortunately highlights that. I think this would have been better if the author would have opted to write this as a YA graphic novel similar to Nubia.
Profile Image for Quirkybookwormkat.
433 reviews39 followers
May 30, 2024
wasn’t really impressed with this book. I just didn’t feel Storm in this book. I could be wrong. The attitude, repetitive self consciousness, self entitlement half of the time and etc just rubbed me the wrong way. Also, I just didn’t see the connection between her and T’challa. It seemed forced especially with their conversation.
Author did a good job writing it for the kids. Made it easy to read and understandable.

Look, everyone has their own version of our heros/heroines from their pasts and what made them today. This isn’t just for me because that’s not how it was for me. So three stars from me for effort and imagination.

Thank you RandomHouse and NetGalley for this interesting eARC. As usual, all of my reviews are purely my own opinions without any influence from any publisher.
Profile Image for akacya ❦.
1,861 reviews319 followers
May 28, 2024
2024 reads: 142/250

i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.

this novel follows our beloved storm as a teenager, when she was ororo and lived in egypt. she does her best to blend in, both to help with her thievery and prevent people from gawking at her blue eyes and white hair. but when the powers she never learned how to use start getting out of control, and a man known as the shadow king wants to use them for evil, she’s forced to flee egypt and find her own way.

i was SUPER EXCITED when this book was first announced, because not only is storm one of my favorite x-men, but tiffany d. jackson is one of my favorite authors! i’ll admit, i’m not super far into my comic-reading journey, so all i know about storm comes from the cartoons and the movies. however, while i can’t answer to comic book accuracy, i feel like tiffany d. jackson did her story justice. ororo had a tough upbringing, but i loved seeing her grow throughout this origin story.

i highly recommend this to fellow x-men fans!
Profile Image for Logan.
208 reviews24 followers
September 9, 2024
Where to even begin with the itemized receipt of my disappointment?

First I'd like to say do not recommend this to anyone who is a fan of the X-Men, or the idea of Storm as the most iconic Black female superhero and one of the strongest women in the franchise, because that is not at all who she is here.

In making her origin story Tiffany Danelle Jackson had the gall to strip Ororo Monroe of all her agency, characterizing her as an insecure, temperamental, Bella Swan coded, fool. She took the most iconic Black female superhero and turned her into a damsel in distress of her own power.

This version of Ororo Monroe's major characteristics for most of the story are 1) my hair is so big and white and weird I must hide it away so no one sees me as the unlovable freak I am, 2) these mysterious powers are not cool at all, and are only a burden to me, the girl who only ever wanted to be normal, 3) no one could ever love me because I'm so freakishly weird!!

Which results in a truly annoying character I see no reason to like because she cannot bother to like herself. It is the cheapest, most shallow and immature interpretation of this character I could ever imagine, and it almost feels malicious to me for Jackson to take this approach. She takes a strong female character and strips her of the dignity you'd think a supposed goddess would be born with.

We spend the story watching T'Challa and then a random African woman instill self love and confidence into Ororo through practically beating it over her head in this preachy, boring, and uninspired dialogue.

Ororo has no interest in learning her own powers until page 232 of her own 293 page story. It's unacceptable stupidity, written with disdain for the hero genre because where is the journey? The excitement?

I've been aware of Tiffany D. Jackson's shortcomings as a writer ever since my introduction to her. Even as a fan, I know her writing style is simple, her characters and prose leaning to the more juvenile side of Young Adult, but boy was she out of her element here. The fight scenes are terrible. Worse than the ones I wrote in middle school and come from someone who doesn't seem to understand they should be exciting???

The banter and the romance was poorly written, the entire story is weak and meandering. I have so many issues with this book, too many to name, but another important issue is Tiffany D. Jackson's decision to further light wash Storm. She describes her skin as copper while writing the girl turning bright red from T'Challa's touch. A Black woman furthering the ridiculous myth of Black women blushing bright red is unforgivable to me. Like do you know how light you have to be for that??

📣IF YOU ARE THE COLOR OF PENNIES YOU ARE NOT BLUSHING BRIGHT RED.🤦🏾‍♀️

Tiffany, you are on my list forever and ever after this. I hate you for real. I will never forgive you for taking this opportunity to make Storm a girl who hates herself and I wish you nothing but hangnails and stubbed toes for the rest of your days. I hope a hair grows in your eye and there are always crumbs in your bed. Thank you. 🙏🏾
Profile Image for Monique B..
188 reviews12 followers
September 29, 2024
Storm is one of my favorite superheroes! BUT Storm was written to be so annoying in this book. I couldn't stand her & her major attitude, which made this hard to read. I figured there was a reason why and she would loosen up by the end of the book. And yes, it was the. very. end when she finally stopped chewing everyone's head off & realized she was the problem.

"Tuh!" 😒 (Only 100 times...)

Her relationship with T'Challa was forced. Just wasn't what I was expecting. I'm not sure if this book was out of the norm for the author (since I've not read any of her other books yet) but I was disappointed & unfortunately bored.

Anddd that's pretty much the book. Wish there was more focus on her powers & a bit more action. One key note: embrace who you are & keep those who show that they love & care you in your life!

**The cover glows in the dark & is beautiful!!"**
Profile Image for Jay DeMoir.
Author 25 books77 followers
June 28, 2024
2.5 stars.
This didn’t feel quite like the Ororo I’ve come to know and love. Nevertheless, this was decent.
It was a nice surprise to see T’Challa.
Profile Image for Jackie.
857 reviews46 followers
October 17, 2024
A wonderful story! I hope there’s a 2nd book coming because we need to continue exploring these characters. The author did a wonderful time exploring the early days of these superheroes and I’d love to see Storm meet the X-men
Profile Image for Misse Jones.
579 reviews47 followers
June 2, 2024
Impressive...Standing ovation!

Let me begin by saying (rather loudly) GIVE TIFFANY D. JACKSON HER FLOWERS NOW! Storm: Dawn of a Goddess is now easily sitting at the top of the upper echelon of her work for me. I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley and I am thankful for the gifted copy. I am highly impressed by the research done and the concise presentation of the story of Ororo Monroe better known as Storm! It is indeed an origin story about Marvel's X-Men Storm but when she was just Ororo Of Cairo. An orphan who is unsure of herself and her power who finds home among thieves. I loved the build up to her self-discovery journey and how for much of her early years, she has developed a penchant for hiding herself and making herself small. She does what she must to survive until she can no longer deny that she is being called to her true home, to embrace her heritage and learn herself. Essentially like many, she is seeking out her calling. It's the dynamic layout of the people she meets along the way, including T'Challa, that gives this story so much flavor. It's a novel that I think that most will find relatable in some way. Admittedly, I learned quite a bit because this was the first full account that I'd landed upon to learn more of Storm's adventures in becoming a superhero and one of the most powerful goddesses and mutants in the entire universe. And, it feels like this is only the beginning. Kudos! The book publishes on Tuesday, June 4. Make sure you grab a copy or two!
Profile Image for Storm.
1 review
June 8, 2024
A REAL storm fan here! This book is NOT COMIC BOOK ACCURATE. The plane that crashed into Storms house, killing her parents, was a fighter jet from The Suez Crisis or the Second Arab–Israeli War, which took place in the 1950s. How the heck is Storm in Nairobi, Kenya listening to THE RAPPER DRAKE???? Horrible. Immediately three the book away.
Profile Image for Latoya.
254 reviews
August 5, 2024
I give this 3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ this wasn’t true to Storms origins in the comics and it wasn’t what I expected for an origin retelling.
Profile Image for ♡*WithLove, Reesie*♡.
500 reviews16 followers
June 24, 2024
Great origin story for Ororo and T'Challa. And a good villain. However, I do wish the ultimate end battle between Ororo and The Shadow King was longer. I also was a little confused as to why Storm was quick in deciding to go with Professor Xavier and not even visit Wakanda. Are you no longer looking for your ancestors' tribe? I understand wanting to learn and grow her powers in order to help others but Tchalla offered that too and she didn't go so she could continue your search.  *shrug* But I also understand the story has to take her to the X-Men.

As a romance reader, this was a  wonderful read. Right at the first meet cute I was like "oh, this is a love story!" and it is. A story of young love, self-discovery, and found family. Love the way T'Challa was quietly and then openly protecting her. *swoon*

I know she's a thriller and horror writer, but Tiffany D Jackson should write romance too! Or just go through, stay with Marvel and their couples' love story. Misty Knight and Iron Fist, Luke Cage and Jessica Jones, Monica Rambeau, etc.... I'd read every one of them!

I would read again. I do recommend. 
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jerrica (Mrsmar10Reads) Martin .
1,653 reviews9 followers
December 22, 2024
A Goddess

"A dream so big that it may scare you. That’s when you learn just how brave and powerful you can be."

This was my favorite book of the ENTIRE year. Tiffany Jackson soothed my Marvel loving heart beyond my wildest dreams. Her writing was so descriptive I could see every scene play out vividly in my head. Storm, originally Ororo was different. She didn't like her looks - the black girl with white hair and blue eyes that was always teased on the playground. After being orphaned, she turned into to a street kid in Cairo. Along the way she meets an interesting cast of characters who shape her in many ways, as well as help her realize just how special she is. The suspense and intrigue was on par with finding oneself. The adventures Ororo and T'Challa experience made me want to be transported across the continent. Again, as a lover of all things Marvel, I was so excited that we get some of Storm and T'Challa's orgin story. Let me tell you this, Storm is young here. She is not the confident woman we know feom the X-men movies. This book is about her finding out who she is and how to deal with her abilities. So you can't approach this book with those eyes. I absolutely loved that I waited to read this toward the end of the year because it is officially my #1 book of 2024! Highly recommended read!🤍🤍🤍
Profile Image for rae ♡.
109 reviews15 followers
June 2, 2024
thank you cocoachapters and getunderlined for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review 🩶


I started watching the X-Men movies in December 2023 with some friends so when I saw this book tour, ofc I signed up. and I enjoyed this book! I think it was a pretty good origin story. sad, happy, cute, funny. the feels lol.

shoutout to Ainet. she was so real. she was pretty patient with and encouraging to Ororo. and I think that helped her so much.

and shoutout to T’Challa 🥹 their friendship was so cute! he respected her boundaries. he protected her. he had her back. pretty good friend me thinks lol.

Ro’s growth from constantly dimming her light and downplaying who she is to proudly living in it, embracing her beauty and her powers >>>

if you like fantasy and you like YA, and definitely if you’re a Marvel fan, then maybe check this out! it releases soon 🥰


thank you also to NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review 🩵
Profile Image for Sarah Krajewski.
1,229 reviews
April 2, 2024
After losing her parents at a very young age, Ororo is a sneaky thief of the streets in Cairo, Egypt. A girl who does what she must to survive. But even her fellow thieves don’t know her truth: she hides her blinding-white hair beneath a scarf, as well as her true self. Ororo doesn’t want anyone to know that she is cursed; she can somehow change the weather. Lately, she loses control more often, and now a dangerous creature, the Shadow King, has taken notice. He wants Ororo’s powers for himself, and will do whatever it takes to get them. Fearful of what he’ll do to her friends, Ororo leaves Cairo in search of her true family. She hopes to find others like her so she can break her curse.

A great read, and not just for Marvel fans!

NOTE: comes out June 4, 2024. I got an early copy from Net Galley.
Profile Image for LittleMissReadsALot21.
445 reviews7 followers
Read
July 6, 2024
✨BOOK REVIEW✨- Storm Dawn Of A Goddess by Tiffany D. Jackson

Storm is legit my favorite superhero since I was a kid watching X-Men on Saturday mornings. I even thought about studying meteorology for college, but I don’t like math 🤣🤣🤣. I definitely vibed with this book. I enjoyed the beginning and the end. The middle was a little meh for me. I liked T’Challa, but I wanted more focus on Storm. If you’re into superhero’s, definitely checkout this book. It’s a quick read.

UNOFFICIAL BOOK SUMMARY
After a tragedy, follow Ororo as she discovers who she is and learns how to control her powers.
Profile Image for Revae.
182 reviews13 followers
January 16, 2025
It was truly a coming of age/origin story. The action was sparse, until the end. I think that’s the way it is with origin stories, though - so much growth and development needs to happen before the fighting. It was a quick, easy read. I love Storm, the hero. This novel made me love Storm, the human. She was annoying at times with her negative self-talk. I had to remember that she was a teenager who experienced a lot.
Profile Image for Ekene.
1,547 reviews171 followers
June 18, 2024
Where movie directors fail to give us the origins or character-focused stories we want to see onscreen, writers come through by delivering their story through the pages.

Tiffany D. Jackson did that because we are so overdue for a Storm origin story. Goddess of storms, for crying out loud.

At first I wasn't too sure about this given the synopsis but this was really was better than expected
Profile Image for Renata.
2,926 reviews437 followers
August 4, 2025
I downloaded the ARC of this last summer and didn't get around to reading it until now, when I was in the mood for some superhero stuff.

In general I like the idea of prose novel superhero stuff, especially backstory--I think it can be an accessible entry point for readers who are intimidated by comics.

This was...fine.
Profile Image for Scott Widener.
313 reviews10 followers
June 6, 2024
Who is she? Where did she come from? How did she learn about, learn to use, and learn to control her powers? Storm…we have heard about her, read about, and maybe have seen her on the screen a time or two, but do we really know the answers to the questions I first asked. This short but still interesting fantasy book gives us a glimpse of Storm’s story and how her experiences molded her into the hero we know.
I was never a huge comic book reader as a kid but have come to really enjoy Marvel and its various heroes and having a storyline about the origin of Storm was a very interesting idea. The author does a good job in the pacing of this book, creating diverse and interesting characters, and still keeping the reader interested and wanting more. After finishing this book I want the next installment in Storm’s story.
Profile Image for Emily Cissell.
76 reviews
December 19, 2023
A fun adventure that is sure to capture every superhero loving heart! The creativity and imagery in this book truly bring Storm to life.
Profile Image for Cassandra Hamm.
Author 26 books75 followers
January 1, 2025
My first Marvel book! I very much enjoyed it. Exciting and empowering.
Profile Image for Kyla.
34 reviews5 followers
January 4, 2024
Tiffany D. Jackson has been an autobuy author for me ever since I read “Monday’s Not Coming,” so as soon as I saw that she was releasing a new novel, I knew I absolutely had to get my hands on it.

For me not to know too much about Storm’s character and background, I felt that I was able to easily understand who she was by the end of the novel. I thoroughly enjoyed Jackson’s take on Storm’s character, make it a very quick and easy read for me. I can’t wait to see what comes next!

Thank you Random House Children’s and NetGalley for giving me early access to this novel in exchange for an honest review!
Profile Image for Liane Joly.
Author 4 books13 followers
June 30, 2024
Wanted to love it, as a Storm fan, but didn't. Too repetitive with her not feeling good enough or lovable almost the whole book. Maybe I just couldn't connect to her younger self as I grew up with her as a powerful, confident woman in the comic books.
Profile Image for Shameka.
433 reviews29 followers
January 1, 2026
I was not a fan of this book at all. It was incredibly boring and difficult to get through. This Storm is nothing like the one Marvel fans have come to know through the comics. If you are a comic purist stay far away.
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