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The Vigilante #1
Who Knows the Storm
The Book One
In a dystopian near future, New York City has become the epicenter of decadence—gambling, the flesh trade, a playground for the wealthy. And underneath? Crime, fueled by “Dead Bolt,” a destructive designer drug. This New City is where Nox Boyet leads a double life. At night, he is the Vigilante, struggling to keep the streets safe for citizens abandoned by the corrupt government and police. During the day, he works in construction and does his best to raise his adopted teenaged son, Sam.
A mysterious letter addressed to Sam brings Nox in direct contact with “model” Cade Creel, a high-end prostitute working at the Iron Butterfly Casino. Suspicion gives way to an intense attraction as dark figures from Nox’s past and the mysterious peddlers of Dead Bolt begin to descend—and put all their lives in danger. When things spin out of control, Cade is the only person Nox can trust to help him save Sam.
In a dystopian near future, New York City has become the epicenter of decadence—gambling, the flesh trade, a playground for the wealthy. And underneath? Crime, fueled by “Dead Bolt,” a destructive designer drug. This New City is where Nox Boyet leads a double life. At night, he is the Vigilante, struggling to keep the streets safe for citizens abandoned by the corrupt government and police. During the day, he works in construction and does his best to raise his adopted teenaged son, Sam.
A mysterious letter addressed to Sam brings Nox in direct contact with “model” Cade Creel, a high-end prostitute working at the Iron Butterfly Casino. Suspicion gives way to an intense attraction as dark figures from Nox’s past and the mysterious peddlers of Dead Bolt begin to descend—and put all their lives in danger. When things spin out of control, Cade is the only person Nox can trust to help him save Sam.
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 17, 2014
19 people are currently reading
611 people want to read
About the author
Tere Michaels
40 books1,025 followersTere Michaels unofficially began her writing career at the age of four when she learned that people got paid to write stories. It seemed the most perfect and logical job in the world and after that, her path was never in question. (The romance writer part was written in the stars—she was born on Valentine’s Day.)
It took thirty-six years of “research” and “life experience” and well… life… before her first book was published but there are no regrets (she doesn’t believe in them). Along the way, she had some interesting jobs in television, animation, arts education, PR, and a national magazine—but she never stopped believing she would eventually earn her living writing stories about love.
Her home base is a small town in New Jersey, very near NYC, a city she dearly loves. She shares her life with her husband, her son—who is also her personal trainer—and an exceedingly spoiled cat. Her spare time is spent watching way too much sports programming, going to the movies and for long walks/runs in the park, reading, and doing yoga.
Nothing makes her happier than knowing she made a reader laugh or smile or cry. It’s the purpose of sharing her work with people. She loves hearing from fans and fellow writers and is always available for speaking engagements, visits, and workshops. Send her a message through her contact page or connect with her on Instagram (@TereMichaels) and Facebook.
She teaches regularly at SavvyAuthors, as well as running a private consulting and developmental editing business.
It took thirty-six years of “research” and “life experience” and well… life… before her first book was published but there are no regrets (she doesn’t believe in them). Along the way, she had some interesting jobs in television, animation, arts education, PR, and a national magazine—but she never stopped believing she would eventually earn her living writing stories about love.
Her home base is a small town in New Jersey, very near NYC, a city she dearly loves. She shares her life with her husband, her son—who is also her personal trainer—and an exceedingly spoiled cat. Her spare time is spent watching way too much sports programming, going to the movies and for long walks/runs in the park, reading, and doing yoga.
Nothing makes her happier than knowing she made a reader laugh or smile or cry. It’s the purpose of sharing her work with people. She loves hearing from fans and fellow writers and is always available for speaking engagements, visits, and workshops. Send her a message through her contact page or connect with her on Instagram (@TereMichaels) and Facebook.
She teaches regularly at SavvyAuthors, as well as running a private consulting and developmental editing business.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
September 30, 2015
babies and bathwater and et cetera.
my problems with this one began early, with the author's apparent lack of understanding into just what new york city means and how it works.
the premise here is that political apathy and unprecedented environmental catastrophe combine to kill tens of thousands and turn NYC into a ruin.
but it's just not... plausible.
like everything else that follows.
NYC is so massively important that the governor of new jersey lost all hope of winning his party's nomination for president of the united states when someone in his office deliberately caused a traffic jam on just one of NYC's thirteen bridges in order to spite a political rival.
he's politically toxic, now. because the financial implications of that traffic jam were so costly nobody dared support him.
one bridge. one day. that's all it took.
because you can't fuck with NYC.
you can't drop the ball. too many vital things are riding on it.
our country's financial infrastructure: NYC. the united nations: NYC. fashion, media, publishing: NYC, NYC, NYC.
more people travel to NYC each day to work than even live in nearly 98 percent of all the other cities in the whole country.
everywhere in the nation is connected to this one city. everywhere on the globe has a connection, as well.
it's so crucial that we actually moved the capitol of the united states out of NYC and built a completely new city over a swamp in virginia, so no invading power could sack everything of our everything all at once.
so.
no, new york won't be slipping into dystopian neglect anytime soon.
then there's the rest.
nothing makes any fucking sense. nobody in this book behaves in any way even remotely analogous to the way a sensible person motivated by recognizable goals and desires would behave.
it's this, like, clusterfuck of execrably poor decision-making and soap opera posturing, full of challenging declarations flung at people melodramatically while standing in heroic poses or while menacing people in alleys and shit.
a poor choice, also, was the decision to interleave irritatingly italicized flashbacks nearly all the way through, to no purpose whatsoever. they added nothing, drove me apeshit, and were even more angsty-shouty-drowny-scandalous than the main text.
foolishness. utter foolishness.
finally, a word about blowing shit up.
i don't know this author, and i dare not speculate on her motivations or intent as pertain to the weaksauce semi-conclusion of her story.
i am someone who walked this city in stunned grief after 9/11, with the stink of thousands of tons of smoldering rubble in the air for miles in all directions, with thousands of people lining the highways twenty four hours a day to show support for the rescue crews combing the wreckage for any of the other thousands of people buried underneath it, with every screen in every home replaying every beat of every tragic development from every angle and in living color sixty times an hour for weeks.
i remember what that felt like. what it sounded like. the terrible hush of grief and fear that fell over my city and put out the lights for a time.
so you can forgive me, i think, for insisting that if you're intent on bringing down a building in your little novel, you should probably make sure you have a reason for it more compelling than explosions are fun.
fuggeddaboudit.
my problems with this one began early, with the author's apparent lack of understanding into just what new york city means and how it works.
the premise here is that political apathy and unprecedented environmental catastrophe combine to kill tens of thousands and turn NYC into a ruin.
but it's just not... plausible.
like everything else that follows.
NYC is so massively important that the governor of new jersey lost all hope of winning his party's nomination for president of the united states when someone in his office deliberately caused a traffic jam on just one of NYC's thirteen bridges in order to spite a political rival.
he's politically toxic, now. because the financial implications of that traffic jam were so costly nobody dared support him.
one bridge. one day. that's all it took.
because you can't fuck with NYC.
you can't drop the ball. too many vital things are riding on it.
our country's financial infrastructure: NYC. the united nations: NYC. fashion, media, publishing: NYC, NYC, NYC.
more people travel to NYC each day to work than even live in nearly 98 percent of all the other cities in the whole country.
everywhere in the nation is connected to this one city. everywhere on the globe has a connection, as well.
it's so crucial that we actually moved the capitol of the united states out of NYC and built a completely new city over a swamp in virginia, so no invading power could sack everything of our everything all at once.
so.
no, new york won't be slipping into dystopian neglect anytime soon.
then there's the rest.
nothing makes any fucking sense. nobody in this book behaves in any way even remotely analogous to the way a sensible person motivated by recognizable goals and desires would behave.
it's this, like, clusterfuck of execrably poor decision-making and soap opera posturing, full of challenging declarations flung at people melodramatically while standing in heroic poses or while menacing people in alleys and shit.
a poor choice, also, was the decision to interleave irritatingly italicized flashbacks nearly all the way through, to no purpose whatsoever. they added nothing, drove me apeshit, and were even more angsty-shouty-drowny-scandalous than the main text.
foolishness. utter foolishness.
finally, a word about blowing shit up.
i don't know this author, and i dare not speculate on her motivations or intent as pertain to the weaksauce semi-conclusion of her story.
i am someone who walked this city in stunned grief after 9/11, with the stink of thousands of tons of smoldering rubble in the air for miles in all directions, with thousands of people lining the highways twenty four hours a day to show support for the rescue crews combing the wreckage for any of the other thousands of people buried underneath it, with every screen in every home replaying every beat of every tragic development from every angle and in living color sixty times an hour for weeks.
i remember what that felt like. what it sounded like. the terrible hush of grief and fear that fell over my city and put out the lights for a time.
so you can forgive me, i think, for insisting that if you're intent on bringing down a building in your little novel, you should probably make sure you have a reason for it more compelling than explosions are fun.
fuggeddaboudit.
November 7, 2014
*3.5 stars*
I've been sitting on this review forever because I just don't know what to do with it. This book is really hard to describe and even harder to dissect. A dystopian-lite story about a lawless New York City with a batman-esk vigilante defender, a high class prostitute, and a thriller-ish plot? How does one explain that?!
I think to enjoy this story at all you have to get past the idea that the country would let New York City, which is, let's face it, the gem of the United States, rot. It is a hard pill to swallow, and I had trouble with it myself. If you think of the setting as more location-vague, I think that helps.
Though I enjoy light sci-fi and dystopian stories, suspense and thrillers are not my thing. I don't like too much danger and tension in my books. However, this was a very engaging story. Though I found many of the details to be confusing and other aspects to be repetitive, I couldn't put this book down all night. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Nox and Sam, as well as the dynamic between Nox and Cade. I wish there had been a little more relationship development between Nox and Cade, but perhaps that's coming in the next few books in the series. I also hope we get more of Sam's POV. I loved Sam and could have read a whole book just about him.
I think the story unravels a bit towards the end, and I found myself getting lost at times. I also wasn't a fan of the cliffhanger ending. However, I think the majority of the book is surprisingly strong and very engrossing and will make most readers ridiculously happy.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
I've been sitting on this review forever because I just don't know what to do with it. This book is really hard to describe and even harder to dissect. A dystopian-lite story about a lawless New York City with a batman-esk vigilante defender, a high class prostitute, and a thriller-ish plot? How does one explain that?!
I think to enjoy this story at all you have to get past the idea that the country would let New York City, which is, let's face it, the gem of the United States, rot. It is a hard pill to swallow, and I had trouble with it myself. If you think of the setting as more location-vague, I think that helps.
Though I enjoy light sci-fi and dystopian stories, suspense and thrillers are not my thing. I don't like too much danger and tension in my books. However, this was a very engaging story. Though I found many of the details to be confusing and other aspects to be repetitive, I couldn't put this book down all night. I really enjoyed the dynamic between Nox and Sam, as well as the dynamic between Nox and Cade. I wish there had been a little more relationship development between Nox and Cade, but perhaps that's coming in the next few books in the series. I also hope we get more of Sam's POV. I loved Sam and could have read a whole book just about him.
I think the story unravels a bit towards the end, and I found myself getting lost at times. I also wasn't a fan of the cliffhanger ending. However, I think the majority of the book is surprisingly strong and very engrossing and will make most readers ridiculously happy.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
October 27, 2014
This was my first novel length feature from Tere Michaels (no, I don't read the "Faith, Love, & Devotion" series; haven't been inspired to) and I admit that the word "dystopia" was the key hook that intrigued me.
For the most part, I enjoyed this. The winning element for me was Cade Creel. Despite being a high-paid model slash companion, Cade didn't exactly come into the industry with wild-doe eyes. Cade knew what he was doing, being a companion, he knew how to deal with his clients. There were times I was worried for him, because his 'agent', Rachel, seemed to 'slave him out' to these people. But Cade proved that he was no damsel in distress. That made him a strong character that fits perfectly as Nox's love interest.
Nox was ... well, I guess he was the protector slash Alpha to his son and his own territory. But truthfully, compared to Cade, Nox was a bit bland for me. I was more interested in Nox when he was that scared teenagers finding out what happened to his parents (and that ). The grown-up Nox didn't stood out much for me. In fact, I was more intrigued with the innocent Sam and the police officer who seemed to be attracted to him.
The last 1/4 of this book felt rushed, though, like the author wanted to quickly wrap up the first part of the story. It also felt as light dystopian, since the impact of the storm only hit New York City and not exactly the rest of the America/World. I did have a huge question --- why the heck did the US Government think it was better to leave New York ruined??!? Considering the importance of the city to the country and the world, it just felt baffling.
The whole mystery was quite intriguing ... I did have my guesses along the way and since it wasn't fully resolved, I'm looking forward to book two.
For the most part, I enjoyed this. The winning element for me was Cade Creel. Despite being a high-paid model slash companion, Cade didn't exactly come into the industry with wild-doe eyes. Cade knew what he was doing, being a companion, he knew how to deal with his clients. There were times I was worried for him, because his 'agent', Rachel, seemed to 'slave him out' to these people. But Cade proved that he was no damsel in distress. That made him a strong character that fits perfectly as Nox's love interest.
Nox was ... well, I guess he was the protector slash Alpha to his son and his own territory. But truthfully, compared to Cade, Nox was a bit bland for me. I was more interested in Nox when he was that scared teenagers finding out what happened to his parents (and that ). The grown-up Nox didn't stood out much for me. In fact, I was more intrigued with the innocent Sam and the police officer who seemed to be attracted to him.
The last 1/4 of this book felt rushed, though, like the author wanted to quickly wrap up the first part of the story. It also felt as light dystopian, since the impact of the storm only hit New York City and not exactly the rest of the America/World. I did have a huge question --- why the heck did the US Government think it was better to leave New York ruined??!? Considering the importance of the city to the country and the world, it just felt baffling.
The whole mystery was quite intriguing ... I did have my guesses along the way and since it wasn't fully resolved, I'm looking forward to book two.
October 10, 2014
Ravaged by storms and floods, New York City has become a hollow shell of its former life. The city wasn't the only victim. Sixteen year old Nox Boyet also died that day, his life smothering in the flames of anger, love and paranoia. Nox's resolve pushed his body from the remaining ashes, and the Vigilante was born.
Seventeen years later, New York City is divided between the wealthy and poor. Nox is a man of the night, roaming his neighborhood to enforce his jurisdiction in the form of punishment to those who threaten the world he's created for his son, Sam. It's all for Sam, and always for Sam. Until a young man, famous for his looks, comes knocking with a letter addressed for Nox's son.
Who Knows the Storm is a mixture of things. I would tag it as: futurstic, dystopian-ish, mystery, action, thriller and romance. It's a story that progresses forward, with tidbits and glimpses into the past via memories from Nox. I'm normally not a fan of flashbacks, but the author did a good job in making them very brief.
The book felt more action-oriented than detailed oriented. And it worked in a way. Tere Michaels doesn't info dump the details of this dystopian New York City. She gives just enough information to create a solid world in the mind's eyes, and just goes with it. As such, the pacing matched the constant action of the book. There was never a moment of stasis, or of settling as things were always happening (which worked with such short chapters).
The narrative shifted mostly between Nox and Cade. I actually enjoyed both characters, as they bring different cards to the table. Nox was a little too over-the-top alpha male at times, which really showed during the sex scenes. Fortunately, the book wasn't weighed down by the metaphorical cum as the sex scenes were limited since the book was more plot-focused. While the jump from scared teenager to “The Vigilante” may seem a little too Hollywood for some, you can at least appreciate the back story that birthed such a man. I couldn't dislike a character who would go to such lengths to protect his family.
And Cade wasn't some damsel in distress, which really helped. While Tere Michaels could have gone the route of making Cade some spoiled model who needed rescuing from his own stubbornness, she instead made Cade to be a man that demonstrates his worth constantly throughout the book.
Let's not forget the UST. So delicious and paced perfectly. While I wished the book focused a little more on the chemistry between Cade and Nox, I could at least appreciate the realistic outlook each character had in terms of their future.
The weakest part of the book for me was the mystery. I'm horrible when it comes to understanding intricate plots and such. Therefore, it was no wonder I was a bit confused – not enough to be completely lost, but enough to make me wonder if I was reading into certain things correctly. That, combined with the fast pace, threw me off tract when things just suddenly happen. Fortunately, things rounded up towards the end and most of the confusion settled into a moderate curiosity.
Overall, Who Knows the Storm is a great, fast-paced action/thriller with a strong focus on family. Of the sacrifices we make for those we love. Of finding love ourselves. While the mystery and believability of the book may rival that of superhero comics and television shows, it still manages to become an interesting platform for everything else this book has to offer.
Seventeen years later, New York City is divided between the wealthy and poor. Nox is a man of the night, roaming his neighborhood to enforce his jurisdiction in the form of punishment to those who threaten the world he's created for his son, Sam. It's all for Sam, and always for Sam. Until a young man, famous for his looks, comes knocking with a letter addressed for Nox's son.
Who Knows the Storm is a mixture of things. I would tag it as: futurstic, dystopian-ish, mystery, action, thriller and romance. It's a story that progresses forward, with tidbits and glimpses into the past via memories from Nox. I'm normally not a fan of flashbacks, but the author did a good job in making them very brief.
The book felt more action-oriented than detailed oriented. And it worked in a way. Tere Michaels doesn't info dump the details of this dystopian New York City. She gives just enough information to create a solid world in the mind's eyes, and just goes with it. As such, the pacing matched the constant action of the book. There was never a moment of stasis, or of settling as things were always happening (which worked with such short chapters).
The narrative shifted mostly between Nox and Cade. I actually enjoyed both characters, as they bring different cards to the table. Nox was a little too over-the-top alpha male at times, which really showed during the sex scenes. Fortunately, the book wasn't weighed down by the metaphorical cum as the sex scenes were limited since the book was more plot-focused. While the jump from scared teenager to “The Vigilante” may seem a little too Hollywood for some, you can at least appreciate the back story that birthed such a man. I couldn't dislike a character who would go to such lengths to protect his family.
And Cade wasn't some damsel in distress, which really helped. While Tere Michaels could have gone the route of making Cade some spoiled model who needed rescuing from his own stubbornness, she instead made Cade to be a man that demonstrates his worth constantly throughout the book.
Let's not forget the UST. So delicious and paced perfectly. While I wished the book focused a little more on the chemistry between Cade and Nox, I could at least appreciate the realistic outlook each character had in terms of their future.
The weakest part of the book for me was the mystery. I'm horrible when it comes to understanding intricate plots and such. Therefore, it was no wonder I was a bit confused – not enough to be completely lost, but enough to make me wonder if I was reading into certain things correctly. That, combined with the fast pace, threw me off tract when things just suddenly happen. Fortunately, things rounded up towards the end and most of the confusion settled into a moderate curiosity.
Overall, Who Knows the Storm is a great, fast-paced action/thriller with a strong focus on family. Of the sacrifices we make for those we love. Of finding love ourselves. While the mystery and believability of the book may rival that of superhero comics and television shows, it still manages to become an interesting platform for everything else this book has to offer.
February 13, 2015
What a surprise: I picked this up and next thing I'm on the final page and it's 3am! I had a bit of trouble with the expositional opening, but once we passed that and met Cade, I was completely hooked. I really liked the dynamic between Nox and Cade, who have amazing heat, but most of all I just loved the plot, which kept taking unexpected twists and building mystery on mystery, none of which I saw coming. That's rare for M/M thrillers, where I usually find the romance much better done than the suspense plot. The story ends on a cliff-hanger, and all I can say is I hope that book 2 is finished and arriving soon since I really, really want to know what happens next.
October 31, 2014
This book grabbed me right from the start. Explanations for the storms that hit and destroy NYC weren’t there but I didn’t feel they were needed. The destruction happened and people had to deal with it and survive in any way that they could. Nox’s story is told both in the present and as flashbacks to Evacuation Day.
I think Cade is right and Nox is a superhero. What he went through to protect Sam was hardcore but I couldn’t help but feel that he over-protected Sam in certain ways and while I understand some of the secrets he kept I didn’t always agree with his reasons for doing so. I think that if he’d been more straight forward with Sam it could have avoided some of the problems that happened later but he did what he felt was best and what worked for him at the time.
I loved that I really didn’t know what was going to happen in this story, I was just along for the ride. I enjoyed the MC’s very much. Cade with his curious, sexual nature and Nox with his intense and solitary one. They mixed well and the sex scenes were highly charged. The chemistry between the men was off the charts hot.
The story ends but it’s an obvious lead-in to the next book. There are a lot of unanswered questions left but I never felt that this was a cliffhanger. I want to know what happens next but I felt satisfied with how this ended. This had a real dystopian feel to it and I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes next in this strange new world.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
I think Cade is right and Nox is a superhero. What he went through to protect Sam was hardcore but I couldn’t help but feel that he over-protected Sam in certain ways and while I understand some of the secrets he kept I didn’t always agree with his reasons for doing so. I think that if he’d been more straight forward with Sam it could have avoided some of the problems that happened later but he did what he felt was best and what worked for him at the time.
I loved that I really didn’t know what was going to happen in this story, I was just along for the ride. I enjoyed the MC’s very much. Cade with his curious, sexual nature and Nox with his intense and solitary one. They mixed well and the sex scenes were highly charged. The chemistry between the men was off the charts hot.
The story ends but it’s an obvious lead-in to the next book. There are a lot of unanswered questions left but I never felt that this was a cliffhanger. I want to know what happens next but I felt satisfied with how this ended. This had a real dystopian feel to it and I’m looking forward to seeing where the story goes next in this strange new world.
**Copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
September 29, 2015
Blew. Me. Away. This was an awesome book!
August 13, 2015
Please please tell me there's another book coming soon. I wanna know who the bad guy is!
back-burner-for-now
October 27, 2014NEW TERE FUCKING MICHAELS!!!!!!
October 22, 2014
A well written story with strong characters and a plot that will keep you thoroughly engaged and guessing until the end. This is a series, so please note you will not have all your answers!
November 25, 2024
What if Batman met Robin and Robin wasn’t so much a trapeze artist but rather a high end escort at a post-apocalypse casino and the post-apocalypse was contained to just New York City? And Batman wasn’t a billionaire playboy who stalks the streets at night with mommy/daddy issues but a construction worker who does pretty okay for himself who stalks the streets at night with mommy/daddy issues? And Batman likes to tie Robin up and go to town on that ass? Like he can’t control himself. And Robin doesn’t want him to.
Closer to 3.5 stars, but rounding down because of some paper cuts I have with the book. It’s quite short, less than 250 pages. Despite that, it has over 50 chapters. Kind of storytelling by whiplash as Michaels uses new chapters for every POV switch (there’s one continuous scene told over 4 chapters). It’s leisurely in the setup and then rushes to the conclusion with pretty critical plot plots occurring so fast you might miss them. It’s also very much not readable as a single book. The story ends on a huge cliffhanger. I assume we’ll get three fairly short books that ought to be read as one (I’ve already begun book 2 and it begins with the most erotic HJ I’ve ever read…)
That being said, I liked it quite a lot. Batman (who remember isn’t Batman), is a caring dom daddy and the first time he’s “with” Robin (who remember isn’t Robin) they don’t even fuck but it was so erotic. Batman has many secrets and pasts that haunt him and the plot and twist around each other in confusing yet satisfying ways. The city, especially its various intersecting economies, is well-realized. The characters are competent, but often make mistakes and choices that are well-motivated but nevertheless frustrating. And it’s an “everyone is gay” story (at least, everyone is either confirmed gay or I just assume they are). I like stories where everyone is gay.
Closer to 3.5 stars, but rounding down because of some paper cuts I have with the book. It’s quite short, less than 250 pages. Despite that, it has over 50 chapters. Kind of storytelling by whiplash as Michaels uses new chapters for every POV switch (there’s one continuous scene told over 4 chapters). It’s leisurely in the setup and then rushes to the conclusion with pretty critical plot plots occurring so fast you might miss them. It’s also very much not readable as a single book. The story ends on a huge cliffhanger. I assume we’ll get three fairly short books that ought to be read as one (I’ve already begun book 2 and it begins with the most erotic HJ I’ve ever read…)
That being said, I liked it quite a lot. Batman (who remember isn’t Batman), is a caring dom daddy and the first time he’s “with” Robin (who remember isn’t Robin) they don’t even fuck but it was so erotic. Batman has many secrets and pasts that haunt him and the plot and twist around each other in confusing yet satisfying ways. The city, especially its various intersecting economies, is well-realized. The characters are competent, but often make mistakes and choices that are well-motivated but nevertheless frustrating. And it’s an “everyone is gay” story (at least, everyone is either confirmed gay or I just assume they are). I like stories where everyone is gay.
January 26, 2015
Who Knows the Storm is a great, action-packed dystopia within the m/m romance genre (at least that's how I would define it).
I simply could not put it down until I had devoured the last page. It's not a secret that nothing gets resolved here, so I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this series.
New York (and presumably all northern parts of the States, as it is unlikely that ONLY New York would be affected) is destroyed by a weather catastrophy (resulting from climate change, probably), drowning thousands of people during the ongoing rains. Nox, a frightened 16 year old boy is desperately trying to reach his family to escape the city on Evacuation Day. However, he ends up with a new born baby instead and misses the ferry that would have brought him to safety (or not, as the ferry sinks, with thousands of casualties). Officially dead now, Nox and the baby vanish among the ruins of New York.
17 years later.
Nox is walking among the shadows of the Old Town, fighting against drug dealers and criminals in his neighborhood. He is sheltering Sam, his 17 year old son, from the cruel world out there. Their 'peaceful' life is shattered, though, when a young man knocks on the door, handing over an envelope to Sam, containing a letter that says someone might be able to help the boy find his real parents.
Sam, knowing Nox is not his biological father, has been trying to find his identity for years, which was not encouraged by Nox, who knows more about Sam and the reason why they're hiding than he ever told the boy.
The messenger who delivered the letter turns out to be a high-class prostitute working in the famous 'Iron Butterfly' casino that was established in New York to bring paying tourists and the high society back to the accessible areas of the city, which has become a Las Vegas-kind of environment with less strict regulations than in the southern parts of America.
Cade, the South Carolina-farm boy turned rent boy/escort, a 'star' among the indulgent society of 'The District', finds himself thrown into a dark conspiracy when one of his clients asks him to deliver a letter to a strange address in the darker parts of the city. Unaware about Nox' and Sam's past, he is drawn to the dark stranger and has to work hard to gain Nox' trust and - possibly - love.
I loved everything about the book. Tere Michaels uses short chapters, action-packed scenes and extremely interesting flashbacks to tell us about Nox and Sam. Nox, being some kind of con man who takes the law into his own hands due to the lack of police outside of the publicly accessible parts of New York, is a real action hero who never slowed down to find love. When he runs into Cade, he finds himself ignoring his own rules and falls hard for the pretty rent boy.
There wasn't even one boring moment in this book. Romance readers probably won't love this, as the romance developed among bomb threats and hired killers being after our heroes, but if you like dystopias with a m/m background, this is definitely for you.
I give this 5 stars and hope that the next book will be out soon!
I simply could not put it down until I had devoured the last page. It's not a secret that nothing gets resolved here, so I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this series.
New York (and presumably all northern parts of the States, as it is unlikely that ONLY New York would be affected) is destroyed by a weather catastrophy (resulting from climate change, probably), drowning thousands of people during the ongoing rains. Nox, a frightened 16 year old boy is desperately trying to reach his family to escape the city on Evacuation Day. However, he ends up with a new born baby instead and misses the ferry that would have brought him to safety (or not, as the ferry sinks, with thousands of casualties). Officially dead now, Nox and the baby vanish among the ruins of New York.
17 years later.
Nox is walking among the shadows of the Old Town, fighting against drug dealers and criminals in his neighborhood. He is sheltering Sam, his 17 year old son, from the cruel world out there. Their 'peaceful' life is shattered, though, when a young man knocks on the door, handing over an envelope to Sam, containing a letter that says someone might be able to help the boy find his real parents.
Sam, knowing Nox is not his biological father, has been trying to find his identity for years, which was not encouraged by Nox, who knows more about Sam and the reason why they're hiding than he ever told the boy.
The messenger who delivered the letter turns out to be a high-class prostitute working in the famous 'Iron Butterfly' casino that was established in New York to bring paying tourists and the high society back to the accessible areas of the city, which has become a Las Vegas-kind of environment with less strict regulations than in the southern parts of America.
Cade, the South Carolina-farm boy turned rent boy/escort, a 'star' among the indulgent society of 'The District', finds himself thrown into a dark conspiracy when one of his clients asks him to deliver a letter to a strange address in the darker parts of the city. Unaware about Nox' and Sam's past, he is drawn to the dark stranger and has to work hard to gain Nox' trust and - possibly - love.
I loved everything about the book. Tere Michaels uses short chapters, action-packed scenes and extremely interesting flashbacks to tell us about Nox and Sam. Nox, being some kind of con man who takes the law into his own hands due to the lack of police outside of the publicly accessible parts of New York, is a real action hero who never slowed down to find love. When he runs into Cade, he finds himself ignoring his own rules and falls hard for the pretty rent boy.
There wasn't even one boring moment in this book. Romance readers probably won't love this, as the romance developed among bomb threats and hired killers being after our heroes, but if you like dystopias with a m/m background, this is definitely for you.
I give this 5 stars and hope that the next book will be out soon!
May 27, 2015
REVIEW REPUBLISHED FROM 'CHRISTOPHER & ERIC'S FAVORITES' AT THE DINNER PARTY SHOW http://thedinnerpartyshow.com/2015/05...
I inhaled this book in several hungry sittings and immediately started sending author Tere Michaels gleeful, stalker-esque e-mails about it. This is the great dark gay superhero love story I’ve always hungered for. “Gay Batman” were the words Tere used to describe her latest novel as we enjoyed drinks together at a writer’s conference a few months ago, words that had me rushing to my Kindle to download a copy. I’d met Tere at the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in New Orleans in 2014 where I already aware of her reputation as a solid master of craft whose gay romance novels delivered a fair amount of angst along with their happily-ever-afters. But I’ve met plenty of writers with great personalities and even greater reputations only to lose interest in their books after a chapter or two. Not so with “Who Knows The Storm (The Vigilante Book 1).” The novel’s secondary characters are just as compelling and well-explored as the two gorgeous and haunted heroes. The dystopian Manhattan that serves as the book’s setting isn’t overwhelmingly bleak or chaotic. If you’ve ever fantasized about Batman and Robin falling in love (and getting it on), this novel will scratch that itch for sure, and it’ll scratch it with a smart character-driven romantic thriller that has a feel all its own. I’m breathless with anticipation over its forthcoming sequel.
I inhaled this book in several hungry sittings and immediately started sending author Tere Michaels gleeful, stalker-esque e-mails about it. This is the great dark gay superhero love story I’ve always hungered for. “Gay Batman” were the words Tere used to describe her latest novel as we enjoyed drinks together at a writer’s conference a few months ago, words that had me rushing to my Kindle to download a copy. I’d met Tere at the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in New Orleans in 2014 where I already aware of her reputation as a solid master of craft whose gay romance novels delivered a fair amount of angst along with their happily-ever-afters. But I’ve met plenty of writers with great personalities and even greater reputations only to lose interest in their books after a chapter or two. Not so with “Who Knows The Storm (The Vigilante Book 1).” The novel’s secondary characters are just as compelling and well-explored as the two gorgeous and haunted heroes. The dystopian Manhattan that serves as the book’s setting isn’t overwhelmingly bleak or chaotic. If you’ve ever fantasized about Batman and Robin falling in love (and getting it on), this novel will scratch that itch for sure, and it’ll scratch it with a smart character-driven romantic thriller that has a feel all its own. I’m breathless with anticipation over its forthcoming sequel.
October 24, 2014
If it's not for the dystopian claim, I'd give it higher star, maybe.
Because for a story claimed as dystopian it didn't felt dystopian enough for me.
Ok, let's put aside that, considered it's me-not-book case.
I do enjoy the story. The mystery kept me guessing, and the action manage to kept me awake. And I do enjoy the romance between Nox & Cade though I think it's happened too fast.
And I knew it's first book for a series so I dont get all the answer, but why they left New York City ruined? It's cheaper to left it than to rebuild? What kind of reason is that? I meant, we talking about New York City! NYC didn't have a plague, it's just ruined from the storm! Remember when Japan rebuild Nagasaki and Hiroshima?! Also the book failed to describe how massive the storm was so NYC better to left ruined!
Last but not least, I hope Sam & Mason got their own book. (^..^)v
Because for a story claimed as dystopian it didn't felt dystopian enough for me.
Ok, let's put aside that, considered it's me-not-book case.
I do enjoy the story. The mystery kept me guessing, and the action manage to kept me awake. And I do enjoy the romance between Nox & Cade though I think it's happened too fast.
And I knew it's first book for a series so I dont get all the answer, but why they left New York City ruined? It's cheaper to left it than to rebuild? What kind of reason is that? I meant, we talking about New York City! NYC didn't have a plague, it's just ruined from the storm! Remember when Japan rebuild Nagasaki and Hiroshima?! Also the book failed to describe how massive the storm was so NYC better to left ruined!
Last but not least, I hope Sam & Mason got their own book. (^..^)v
September 1, 2021
I was excited for this book because I love the author and I loved the cover. The dystopian aspect was a bit heavy for me and I am not a huge fan of flashbacks. However, I was won over by Nox and Cade’s attraction and friendship and things got crazy by the end. I look forward to reading more in the series. Dystopian may not be my favorite, but Tere Michaels does it well.
January 1, 2023
The life Nox has had to live drew me in. I found I was drawn in by the decisions he had to make and enjoyed seeing the story unfold to support these decisions. I also enjoyed some of the sub plots and cannot wait to read the next book in the series to see what else is revealed about this world.
December 11, 2014
I’m intrigued by this start to a new series and actually came close to speed-reading the book because I literally didn’t want to put it down. That said, I think the story is full of plot holes and does a lot of hand waving to cover up some illogical leaps. I’m on the fence about whether this actually bothers me or not because the characters are solid and the overwhelming action keeps the book moving so quickly it’s hard to stop and pick out the errors. I do hope the author slows down future books just a touch to make the plot more cohesive and solid. I’d also like it if the numerous open-ended questions from this book got answered but somehow I think they’ll always remain a mystery. Either way I’d recommend this book to fans that like a lot of action but can be very forgiving of weak plots and obvious gaps.
Nox Boyt’s life wasn’t all that great even before the apocalyptic floods that destroyed New York City. His mother was in a sanitarium and his father was absent for months at a time, leaving Nox on his own with a credit card. Once the floods came, however, Nox’s life changed in ways he couldn’t have predicted. Now ten years later he’s a vigilante for his neighborhood, a near slum that’s never recovered. He keeps the drug dealers and violence out of his area while maintaining a day job and raising his “son.” All Nox cares about is his son and safety so when a good hearted prostitute, Cade Creel, suddenly appears with a note for Nox’s son about his parents, complications ensue. It either helps or hurts matters that Nox can’t control his attraction to Cade.
The story starts with sixteen-year-old Nox in the days leading up to the floods. It then skips a decade to show Nox as an adult with a teenage child going on to intersperse flashbacks of what happened in the flood to current events going on. It’s a method that actually works here as it keeps the tension high and questions coming. It gives Nox’s backstory in bits and pieces so the reader is left wondering what exactly happened and how the various characters fit into the story both past and present. I liked this technique and found it more successful than most stories that use flashbacks. A downside is that it leaves crucial information hidden for most of the story but that helps keep the tension humming and wondering who can be trusted. So for the most part it works.
What I struggled with is that there are simply too many unanswered questions and plot holes that seem to be ignored. For example there is a massive suspension of disbelief required to think that the country would allow NYC to turn into a waste zone for most of the city and a den of iniquity in the other. NYC is supposed to become an exclusive area for the rich and famous to feed their seedy and illegal desires seems far fetched at the very least. The fact that the remaining city is basically a lawless slum is also a stretch too far. I put my disbelief on hold and went with it but it was always in the back of my mind that this would never happen. Additionally many times the logic of the story seems to falter. Without discussing them in too much detail
Aside from those issues, which I acknowledge affected my enjoyment when I stopped to actually think about the book, I liked the characters. Almost everyone feels well developed and intentional. There are a few obviously evil villains thrown in but thankfully not too many. Cade and Nox have off the charts chemistry and their sex scenes were hot. Sam is a great teenager with just enough stupidity to get himself in trouble but not enough to be really dumb. Cade is sometimes a little one note playing off a good hooker stereotype but overall delivers well. The pace of the book is almost lightening fast with so much action going on it’s sometimes hard to follow. I think there is actually too much action and the book could have pulled back a bit to reassess but I liked how each incident layers on the next and feels deliberate. It works well.
Overall I enjoyed the book a lot while reading but found a lot of questions and logic gaps when I thought about it in the ensuing days. I’m eager to read the sequels but I do fear the story is getting so complicated it could be hard to keep up. This is one I’ll probably have to read again before reading the sequels to remember all the various details. But I think it’s worth it.
Nox Boyt’s life wasn’t all that great even before the apocalyptic floods that destroyed New York City. His mother was in a sanitarium and his father was absent for months at a time, leaving Nox on his own with a credit card. Once the floods came, however, Nox’s life changed in ways he couldn’t have predicted. Now ten years later he’s a vigilante for his neighborhood, a near slum that’s never recovered. He keeps the drug dealers and violence out of his area while maintaining a day job and raising his “son.” All Nox cares about is his son and safety so when a good hearted prostitute, Cade Creel, suddenly appears with a note for Nox’s son about his parents, complications ensue. It either helps or hurts matters that Nox can’t control his attraction to Cade.
The story starts with sixteen-year-old Nox in the days leading up to the floods. It then skips a decade to show Nox as an adult with a teenage child going on to intersperse flashbacks of what happened in the flood to current events going on. It’s a method that actually works here as it keeps the tension high and questions coming. It gives Nox’s backstory in bits and pieces so the reader is left wondering what exactly happened and how the various characters fit into the story both past and present. I liked this technique and found it more successful than most stories that use flashbacks. A downside is that it leaves crucial information hidden for most of the story but that helps keep the tension humming and wondering who can be trusted. So for the most part it works.
What I struggled with is that there are simply too many unanswered questions and plot holes that seem to be ignored. For example there is a massive suspension of disbelief required to think that the country would allow NYC to turn into a waste zone for most of the city and a den of iniquity in the other. NYC is supposed to become an exclusive area for the rich and famous to feed their seedy and illegal desires seems far fetched at the very least. The fact that the remaining city is basically a lawless slum is also a stretch too far. I put my disbelief on hold and went with it but it was always in the back of my mind that this would never happen. Additionally many times the logic of the story seems to falter. Without discussing them in too much detail
Aside from those issues, which I acknowledge affected my enjoyment when I stopped to actually think about the book, I liked the characters. Almost everyone feels well developed and intentional. There are a few obviously evil villains thrown in but thankfully not too many. Cade and Nox have off the charts chemistry and their sex scenes were hot. Sam is a great teenager with just enough stupidity to get himself in trouble but not enough to be really dumb. Cade is sometimes a little one note playing off a good hooker stereotype but overall delivers well. The pace of the book is almost lightening fast with so much action going on it’s sometimes hard to follow. I think there is actually too much action and the book could have pulled back a bit to reassess but I liked how each incident layers on the next and feels deliberate. It works well.
Overall I enjoyed the book a lot while reading but found a lot of questions and logic gaps when I thought about it in the ensuing days. I’m eager to read the sequels but I do fear the story is getting so complicated it could be hard to keep up. This is one I’ll probably have to read again before reading the sequels to remember all the various details. But I think it’s worth it.
September 16, 2015
So, dystopia/scifi is not your thing?
Fear not, Who Knows the Storm is one of the least dystopian books in genre I read. The basic setting is this:
Endless storms and rain created floods that have taken many lives and completely destroyed infrastructure of New York. All those prime properties were now deserted and entrepreneurs saw great opportunity to turn NY into "Las Vegas ugly twin." 10+ years later, gambling and prostitution is legalized and NY is now the place you can indulge in anything your hedonistic heart wants if you have money to pay for it. But not everyone who lives in NY is rich enough for District, so they live on the outskirts of town called Old City, where curfew is enforced due to rising crime and corruption.
The reason I said this is one of the least "dystopian" books is because you don't have a sense of "otherness"; of impossibility of this arrangement...is sounds as possible as you can get; more like post-hurricane or earthquake look of the city- it changed infrastructure, but not enough for me to peg it dystopian. The other reason is the fact that setting is very localized- Storms affected change in socioeconomic look of NY, but everything outside of NY seems same, seems contemporary. Also, there is no totalitarian regime or cult-like ideology...it all comes to decadence and bling of District compared to dangers of Old City.
I personally liked this more simple concept here, because it's effective for this story- it shows you from the start that moving force of NY is money and you can make anything happen if you have enough of it.
I guess this is the reason opening chapters which I expected to be pure info-dump came out to be what I liked the most.
The troubles came with the plot.
Nox lives in Old City with his adopted son and by night he acts as vigilante, chasing away dealers of popular drug Dead Bolt from his neighborhood.
Cade is the highly sought,best paid escort in District, working for one of the most famous establishments in NY- The Iron Butterfly.
Their paths cross when one of Cade's regular asked him to deliver a letter to Sam, Nox's son.
From that point on, we become aware that the way Sam came into Nox's life as a baby happened under mysterious circumstances and that Nox is scared for their lives for some reason...but author chose to reveal this story alternating Nox's pov chapters from past, times of flood and from present as he tries to get to the bottom of letter.
This is a great plot device, but near the end it just became too erratic- Chapters are getting shorter and shorter and bunch of scenes at the end seemed unnecessary thrown in to prolong getting us to one particular point. It just made some characters ridiculous because their actions were in contrary with their agenda to make any sense.
Also, some things I think could have been handled in a more subtle way.
Both of characters were ok, especially Cade. There was not unnecessary relationship drama; they became an item= they share good and bad. I liked this.
The other reason for my rating is ending. Yes, ending is pretty much a cliffhanger. Nothing is handled.But it's not the cliffie that's bothering me so much- it's the vague wrapping of everything I read in this novel: Unknown person whom you don't know if it's bad or good pulled several completely contradictory moves in terms of Nox for unknown reasons. :\
Gee... throw me a bone, at least.
May 27, 2015
REVIEWED FOR PRISM BOOK ALLIANCE
This was very different from anything I have previously read from Tere Michael and as confusing as it sometimes was I really quite enjoyed it.
It appears that the apocalypse has hit New York when storms roll in and changes life as people know it.
Nox Boyet is from a wealthy family but when your father has just been murdered, your mother is in a mental institution and the rain seems to be sinking your world what are you supposed to do? He braves the storm to try and reach and rescue his mother but when he arrives it’s too late but another person there will ensure his life is never the same.
Roll forward 17 years and Nox and his son are alive and well but not really living. Holed up against the world New York never returned to how it was and there are now very clear divide lines between those who have and those who have not. Nox lives in constant fear with only one goal in mind – to protect his son.
There is a drug on the streets known as Dead Bolt and those involved in its production and its sale will do everything and anything needed to protect their product. When Nox’s past meets his present after a meeting with a high class prostitute known as Cade life once again changes.
Cade was feisty and a lot of fun but had no idea initially what he got himself tangled up in. Nox has never had a relationship, life just didn’t work out that way, so he is completely out of his depth when this young man barges into his life.
I think you have to suspend belief for a little of the story but it was fun, intriguing and compelling. Although they live to fight another day the ending was more a HFN and I hope there is a second book coming along soon to give us the answers left open at the end of this story.
My View – Narration:
Jonathan Young was a new narrator for me but definitely someone I would listen to again.
This was very different from anything I have previously read from Tere Michael and as confusing as it sometimes was I really quite enjoyed it.
It appears that the apocalypse has hit New York when storms roll in and changes life as people know it.
Nox Boyet is from a wealthy family but when your father has just been murdered, your mother is in a mental institution and the rain seems to be sinking your world what are you supposed to do? He braves the storm to try and reach and rescue his mother but when he arrives it’s too late but another person there will ensure his life is never the same.
Roll forward 17 years and Nox and his son are alive and well but not really living. Holed up against the world New York never returned to how it was and there are now very clear divide lines between those who have and those who have not. Nox lives in constant fear with only one goal in mind – to protect his son.
There is a drug on the streets known as Dead Bolt and those involved in its production and its sale will do everything and anything needed to protect their product. When Nox’s past meets his present after a meeting with a high class prostitute known as Cade life once again changes.
Cade was feisty and a lot of fun but had no idea initially what he got himself tangled up in. Nox has never had a relationship, life just didn’t work out that way, so he is completely out of his depth when this young man barges into his life.
I think you have to suspend belief for a little of the story but it was fun, intriguing and compelling. Although they live to fight another day the ending was more a HFN and I hope there is a second book coming along soon to give us the answers left open at the end of this story.
My View – Narration:
Jonathan Young was a new narrator for me but definitely someone I would listen to again.
October 19, 2014
After finishing that story, I'm just a big ol' bucket of confusion. I had no idea what was going on while reading. Not only that, but a lot of the character's actions seemed... implausible. For someone who supposedly built his whole life around protecting his kid, that someone left said kid alone WAY too much. More than I would ever feel comfortable leaving my own child, that's for dang sure.
And it was weird how when the author needed a character to be gone from the scene, she just let them run off and do mysterious things. And then never explain what those things were.
There was a serious lack of communication between the characters, which drove me nuts. I just wanted to throttle Nox and tell him to let everything out! His life would have been so much easier.
The whole world set-up didn't seem realistic either. Well, as realistic as a dystopian novel can get. Truthfully, I just didn't get it. The world, I mean. How NYC was just... left to rot and ruin. But I guess Detroit is in a real life, similar situation, so I guess it could happen.
And at the end of it all... confusion. Mass confusion about what the story is really about, or even a slight hint as to what direction it's going. I could have dealt with all my other issues, but it's that feeling that bothers me the most. So basically, the story wasn't for me. I've tried this author before, because everyone raves about her other series, but I couldn't even get through the first book. Perhaps this author's chemistry and I just don't mix?
And it was weird how when the author needed a character to be gone from the scene, she just let them run off and do mysterious things. And then never explain what those things were.
There was a serious lack of communication between the characters, which drove me nuts. I just wanted to throttle Nox and tell him to let everything out! His life would have been so much easier.
The whole world set-up didn't seem realistic either. Well, as realistic as a dystopian novel can get. Truthfully, I just didn't get it. The world, I mean. How NYC was just... left to rot and ruin. But I guess Detroit is in a real life, similar situation, so I guess it could happen.
And at the end of it all... confusion. Mass confusion about what the story is really about, or even a slight hint as to what direction it's going. I could have dealt with all my other issues, but it's that feeling that bothers me the most. So basically, the story wasn't for me. I've tried this author before, because everyone raves about her other series, but I couldn't even get through the first book. Perhaps this author's chemistry and I just don't mix?
April 30, 2016
Faith, Love and Devotion is one of my favorite series and so I was really excited to see this new dystopian series by Tere Michaels. But this one was much harder to get into and it lacked the emotional intensity that I was expecting.
While this book didn’t quite meet my expectations, but I will read book 2 to allow the author to continue building the characters and the world. Do not go into this book expecting an epic, emotional love story, you will be disappointed. I am hoping that this book was the birth of new heroes to stand up for community against the corruption laden police force. Sort of like the beginning of Batman in Gotham, I expect to see Nox, Caden and Sam being partners in the vigilante movement.
Full review at Oh My Shelves Blog: http://ohmyshelves.com/?p=1393
While this book didn’t quite meet my expectations, but I will read book 2 to allow the author to continue building the characters and the world. Do not go into this book expecting an epic, emotional love story, you will be disappointed. I am hoping that this book was the birth of new heroes to stand up for community against the corruption laden police force. Sort of like the beginning of Batman in Gotham, I expect to see Nox, Caden and Sam being partners in the vigilante movement.
Full review at Oh My Shelves Blog: http://ohmyshelves.com/?p=1393
November 28, 2014
This is was a very good story that I highly enjoyed. Why? Because it was surprisingly very different than what this Author has written in prior books I've read.
I was expecting it to be written well so no surprise there. The world building is very interesting and I was completely engulfed. The MC's were straight shooters and that is my kind of character! The sexy times were HOT! The action was intense and what most would class them as secondary characters really were stars of the show.
I was expecting it to be written well so no surprise there. The world building is very interesting and I was completely engulfed. The MC's were straight shooters and that is my kind of character! The sexy times were HOT! The action was intense and what most would class them as secondary characters really were stars of the show.
April 27, 2016
3.5 Stars
This book was an entertaining read. It did draw me and and I read it quite quickly but there was just something missing for me. Character development? How devasted NYC is while other cities thrive?
I can't decide if the flashbacks helped me or drove me insane with their lack of too much information. I guess since this is a series we have to read on to fully understand what the hell is really going on and why.
The premise is good and worth the time to read.
This book was an entertaining read. It did draw me and and I read it quite quickly but there was just something missing for me. Character development? How devasted NYC is while other cities thrive?
I can't decide if the flashbacks helped me or drove me insane with their lack of too much information. I guess since this is a series we have to read on to fully understand what the hell is really going on and why.
The premise is good and worth the time to read.
March 25, 2015
I really enjoyed listening to this. I think the interludes worked perfectly on audio version but I wanted to know more about Knox and who's after him!! Argg Also I can't wait to see Mason and Sam's relationship grow :)
March 3, 2015
OK where is book 2?
I need it RIGHT NOW
So confused
I need it RIGHT NOW
So confused
June 16, 2020
The world building and character development is completely on point in this book. You are quickly brought into this world and who Nox and Cade are now and some flashbacks give you the story leading up to the present. This is a large story with lots of moving parts, but is not difficult to follow. I really enjoyed both of the MCs and was really rooting for them. Yes, Nox's lies to Sam and his helicopter parenting are imploding, but it was easy for me to understand Nox considering all that he had done to keep Sam safe.
This is definitely not a standalone book and you will need to read the second book to get the whole story.
This is definitely not a standalone book and you will need to read the second book to get the whole story.
January 29, 2024
Been meaning to read this for ages and finally got to it. Suffice it to say, I expected more. Faith, Love, & Devotion is a series I absolutely adored back when I read it, so I had high hopes for anything by this author. This, however? This was a mess. The worldbuilding fo this supposed dystopia is thin enough to be laid out in its entirety within the first few pages, I didn't care for the speedrun romance nor the characters in general, all of whose personalities and behaviours made as little sense as the story on the whole. Not a series I'll bother to continue.
June 27, 2025
"Who Knows the Storm" by Tere Michaels is book one in "The Vigilante" series. It was a great book that had me wanting to not put it down. There was so much action and world building going on that I just couldn't get enough. The characters were constantly on the move and trying to figure out their next move. This series definitely has a ton of different things that can stem from just book one. This book left me on a cliffhanger, and I'm curious to see where book two goes. I really liked all the different relationships forming between each of the characters. Whether it be romantic or just plain being there for each other. The scene that tugged at my heart was when Nox was talking to his son. I am extremely curious about how that is going to pan out. Tere did a fantastic job with this book.
July 21, 2018
I have read this author before. This is a mm dystopian story.
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