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Storm Breaker #1
Storm Breaker
From the publisher who brought you Fourth Wing comes your next romantasy obsession...
For nineteen-year-old Poet Graves, New Manhattan has always promised safety―if she obeys. Raised within the ruling Houses and betrothed to a powerful heir, she enters Amery Academy knowing her future has already been decided.
But Amery is nothing like she imagined. Its trials are brutal, its loyalties conditional, and its rules designed to expose weakness. As Poet struggles to survive, she must hide the truth that could get her executed: the storms don’t fear her―they answer back.
When a dangerous outsider from beyond the city walls enters the academy, Poet is drawn to him despite everything she’s been taught to believe. He threatens the life she’s been promised. And choosing him could cost her not just her future, but her freedom.
A gripping dystopian romance filled with forbidden power, ruthless challenges, and a heroine who refuses to burn quietly―perfect for fans of Divergent and The Hunger Games.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published May 5, 2026
About the author
Nisha J. Tuli
21 books5,430 followersVisit my website to sign up for my newsletter and download a bonus chapter from Rule of the Aurora King and Not Safe for Work!
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Nisha J Tuli is a USA Today and international bestselling author of glittering fantasy worlds, steamy rom-coms, and kissing scenes full of angst. Her book, Trial of the Sun Queen, went on to become a BookTok hit, selling over a million copies and finding its way into readers' hands around the world. Her book Storm Breaker is currently in development with Amazon MGM for a TV series.
When she isn’t writing or reading, she can be found in the gym or the kitchen (to eat, not to cook) or maybe knitting scarves to survive a Canadian winter. She lives in Manitoba with her husband, their two kids, and their fluffy Samoyed.
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Nisha J Tuli is a USA Today and international bestselling author of glittering fantasy worlds, steamy rom-coms, and kissing scenes full of angst. Her book, Trial of the Sun Queen, went on to become a BookTok hit, selling over a million copies and finding its way into readers' hands around the world. Her book Storm Breaker is currently in development with Amazon MGM for a TV series.
When she isn’t writing or reading, she can be found in the gym or the kitchen (to eat, not to cook) or maybe knitting scarves to survive a Canadian winter. She lives in Manitoba with her husband, their two kids, and their fluffy Samoyed.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,290 reviews
May 9, 2026
YA dystopian fantasy + slow simmering feminine empowerment/rage but with yearning and butterflies (raging butterflies?) and I was so here for it.
You know that feeling when you read a book that makes you want to eat the rich, burn down the patriarchy and oppressive regimes, while sobbing over the destruction humanity has caused and will continue to cause to our beautiful planet... but it also makes you giggle and kick your feet? This was that.
This has a very clear target audience and I think the publisher’s comparisons to The Hunger Games and Divergent in their blurb are very fair, with the adrenaline-packed deadly trials component and the whole choosing between two factions type of vibe. Although it’s romantasy, so keep that in mind if you like keeping dystopian and romantasy separated, because YA romantasy is entwined here (mild, non-explicit spice and the vibe is more suited to an upper YA or NA audience, potentially).
I also would add that our beautifully brown-skinned, purple-haired FMC Poet Graves’s POV comes from a place of privilege and proximity to power and it’s kind of like we’re in the head of someone from the Capitol, just with more of a conscience. And that’s what I think sets this apart. Because Poet is coming to terms with her complicity in systemic oppression, classism, exploitation and starting to question the systems she’s been raised in, which is an interesting angle.
Oh and she has this cool elemental magic ability where she can get struck by lightning, absorb the shock and survive. A pretty useful skill if you live in an environment plagued with deathly storms on the reg! But oh wait, nope…apparently the government will disappear her if they find out she can do that… just a wee bit of irony there. And there are some obvious metaphors for our current society today here if you would like to spiral.
Another thing I noticed about this Venice-but-make-it-NY inspired world—(gondolas + canals! because the planet warmed and the glaciers melted and the world flooded and all the polars bears and other animals died, my eyes are leaking)—is the patriarchal society, with almost a subtle Handmaid’s Tale undercurrent. The implication that a woman’s autonomy and agency evaporates after marriage I didn’t find super cute, I’m sorry guys. Very “what in the Gilead is going on here?”. I’m pretty sure we’re all exhausted by the patriarchy, so if you like themes of finding the courage to stand up to oppressive systems, you will find it here.
The other thing that struck a chord with me was the very on the nose parallels to a certain country with a shrivelled mango apparently in charge. And, once you see who The E-Squad, aka the Extinguishers represent (is it a coincidence they wear red?), you can’t unsee it. (Reading is political, and dystopian fiction especially has always functioned as a reflection of anxieties over power structures, what can I say 💁🏽♀️)
Highly recommend it if you want a similar vibe to the classic YA dystopians of yesteryear, just with a lot more pining and romance. My teenage self would've loved this and my current self also loved it.
Not surprised, but am extremely delighted that this has been optioned for a TV series.
Thanks so much to Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC!
﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏
The blurb says this is "perfect for fans of Divergent and The Hunger Games." Guess my sleeper agent code's been activated
You know that feeling when you read a book that makes you want to eat the rich, burn down the patriarchy and oppressive regimes, while sobbing over the destruction humanity has caused and will continue to cause to our beautiful planet... but it also makes you giggle and kick your feet? This was that.
This has a very clear target audience and I think the publisher’s comparisons to The Hunger Games and Divergent in their blurb are very fair, with the adrenaline-packed deadly trials component and the whole choosing between two factions type of vibe. Although it’s romantasy, so keep that in mind if you like keeping dystopian and romantasy separated, because YA romantasy is entwined here (mild, non-explicit spice and the vibe is more suited to an upper YA or NA audience, potentially).
I also would add that our beautifully brown-skinned, purple-haired FMC Poet Graves’s POV comes from a place of privilege and proximity to power and it’s kind of like we’re in the head of someone from the Capitol, just with more of a conscience. And that’s what I think sets this apart. Because Poet is coming to terms with her complicity in systemic oppression, classism, exploitation and starting to question the systems she’s been raised in, which is an interesting angle.
Oh and she has this cool elemental magic ability where she can get struck by lightning, absorb the shock and survive. A pretty useful skill if you live in an environment plagued with deathly storms on the reg! But oh wait, nope…apparently the government will disappear her if they find out she can do that… just a wee bit of irony there. And there are some obvious metaphors for our current society today here if you would like to spiral.
Another thing I noticed about this Venice-but-make-it-NY inspired world—(gondolas + canals! because the planet warmed and the glaciers melted and the world flooded and all the polars bears and other animals died, my eyes are leaking)—is the patriarchal society, with almost a subtle Handmaid’s Tale undercurrent. The implication that a woman’s autonomy and agency evaporates after marriage I didn’t find super cute, I’m sorry guys. Very “what in the Gilead is going on here?”. I’m pretty sure we’re all exhausted by the patriarchy, so if you like themes of finding the courage to stand up to oppressive systems, you will find it here.
The other thing that struck a chord with me was the very on the nose parallels to a certain country with a shrivelled mango apparently in charge. And, once you see who The E-Squad, aka the Extinguishers represent (is it a coincidence they wear red?), you can’t unsee it. (Reading is political, and dystopian fiction especially has always functioned as a reflection of anxieties over power structures, what can I say 💁🏽♀️)
Highly recommend it if you want a similar vibe to the classic YA dystopians of yesteryear, just with a lot more pining and romance. My teenage self would've loved this and my current self also loved it.
Not surprised, but am extremely delighted that this has been optioned for a TV series.
Thanks so much to Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC!
﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏
The blurb says this is "perfect for fans of Divergent and The Hunger Games." Guess my sleeper agent code's been activated
June 4, 2026
4.25 🌟 “𝙿𝚘𝚎𝚝 𝙶𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚜, 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝙸’𝚟𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚖𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎.”
this book includes a few of my favorite things… dystopian romance, academia vibes, and new york city 🫶🏻✨ and oh boy!! it felt so very nostalgic of early 2000s YA dystopian (big Divergent vibes)
this takes place on a future Earth that’s been effected by climate change. this creates such a cool reimagining of NYC, it sort of gave me like Venice vibes since they have to use boats to get around after everything flooded.
we follow 𝙋𝙤𝙚𝙩, a college student whose the daughter of a high society Scion, as she attends Amery Academy. i love our girl Poet so much!! 💜 she is so relatable. i really enjoyed watching her grow and find herself in this book. and 𝙍𝙤𝙤𝙠 🤭 our mysterious love interest hehe that i need to know more about like HELLLOOO!!!! 🧸🪡🌩️
i loved the concept of the storms and i found the trials really interesting. the plot was a bit predictable and the dialogue is clearly aimed for a younger audience so i didn’t completely connect with it but i still had such a good time!! that ending and set up for book 2??! yes yes yes 🤭🙂↕️
this book includes a few of my favorite things… dystopian romance, academia vibes, and new york city 🫶🏻✨ and oh boy!! it felt so very nostalgic of early 2000s YA dystopian (big Divergent vibes)
this takes place on a future Earth that’s been effected by climate change. this creates such a cool reimagining of NYC, it sort of gave me like Venice vibes since they have to use boats to get around after everything flooded.
we follow 𝙋𝙤𝙚𝙩, a college student whose the daughter of a high society Scion, as she attends Amery Academy. i love our girl Poet so much!! 💜 she is so relatable. i really enjoyed watching her grow and find herself in this book. and 𝙍𝙤𝙤𝙠 🤭 our mysterious love interest hehe that i need to know more about like HELLLOOO!!!! 🧸🪡🌩️
i loved the concept of the storms and i found the trials really interesting. the plot was a bit predictable and the dialogue is clearly aimed for a younger audience so i didn’t completely connect with it but i still had such a good time!! that ending and set up for book 2??! yes yes yes 🤭🙂↕️
May 8, 2026
3.5 ★— Much like Jesus on the third day, the dystopian romance genre, believed to have been killed in the mid to late 2010s, is quickly rising back up, giving us all the feisty heroines and tall, broody love interests who will sneeringly call them “princess.”
Which is a thing that happened in this book. Which maybe already sets up the overall consensus I have for this story, which is: sometimes fun, kinda nostalgic, definitely predictable, but enjoyable if you’re ready for that.
Poet is from an upper-class family, living a life that has predestined her to being on the arm of a wealthy man and continuing on her family’s legacy, when she’s sent to Amery Academy, a school that will determine her future role in society. But, like these books usually go, she has a secret power as a Storm Breaker and meets a mysterious boy from the lower classes she isn’t supposed to get close to.
First and foremost, I appreciated that Poet is a brown girl, that we get her as a woman of color, and that the male love interest, Rook, is described as brown-skinned as well, as explicit main characters of color are frustratingly rare to find in this genre!
Poet herself is a very familiar dystopian heroine: brave, willful, and determined to control her future. What makes her more interesting is the story letting her reckon with some of her privileges through her budding relationship with Rook.
Another aspect I enjoyed was the backdrop of this book being a future ravaged by climate change, which is just a fantastic theme overall and made for very interesting world building that I wish had been explored in more depth and will undoubtedly be expanded on in sequels. The world didn’t feel too dissimilar from ours, with characters having electronics not far from our own, making the story feel grounded in our reality and helping to hammer in the societal critiques the narrative features.
Generally, though, the book really had a hard time truly captivating me. I felt like most story beats and twists were easily foreseeable, and Rook sadly felt quite bland. While he isn’t the typical bad boy and is actually nice and respectful once he and Poet get closer, I still thought he suffered from a lack of interesting characterization and that his and Poet’s romance followed a very typical, predictable progression that just didn’t manage to keep me fully invested.
All this being said, the novelty of a brown girl heroine and my nostalgic enjoyment have me curious enough to want to read the sequel, so I am definitely keeping my eyes open for that one!
_____________
Thank you to Entangled Publishing for the ARC.
Which is a thing that happened in this book. Which maybe already sets up the overall consensus I have for this story, which is: sometimes fun, kinda nostalgic, definitely predictable, but enjoyable if you’re ready for that.
Poet is from an upper-class family, living a life that has predestined her to being on the arm of a wealthy man and continuing on her family’s legacy, when she’s sent to Amery Academy, a school that will determine her future role in society. But, like these books usually go, she has a secret power as a Storm Breaker and meets a mysterious boy from the lower classes she isn’t supposed to get close to.
First and foremost, I appreciated that Poet is a brown girl, that we get her as a woman of color, and that the male love interest, Rook, is described as brown-skinned as well, as explicit main characters of color are frustratingly rare to find in this genre!
Poet herself is a very familiar dystopian heroine: brave, willful, and determined to control her future. What makes her more interesting is the story letting her reckon with some of her privileges through her budding relationship with Rook.
Another aspect I enjoyed was the backdrop of this book being a future ravaged by climate change, which is just a fantastic theme overall and made for very interesting world building that I wish had been explored in more depth and will undoubtedly be expanded on in sequels. The world didn’t feel too dissimilar from ours, with characters having electronics not far from our own, making the story feel grounded in our reality and helping to hammer in the societal critiques the narrative features.
Generally, though, the book really had a hard time truly captivating me. I felt like most story beats and twists were easily foreseeable, and Rook sadly felt quite bland. While he isn’t the typical bad boy and is actually nice and respectful once he and Poet get closer, I still thought he suffered from a lack of interesting characterization and that his and Poet’s romance followed a very typical, predictable progression that just didn’t manage to keep me fully invested.
All this being said, the novelty of a brown girl heroine and my nostalgic enjoyment have me curious enough to want to read the sequel, so I am definitely keeping my eyes open for that one!
_____________
Thank you to Entangled Publishing for the ARC.
May 5, 2026
If you’ve been searching for a book that captures the heart-pounding adrenaline of The Hunger Games, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire trials, mixed with the intense war college vibes of Fourth Wing, Storm Breaker by Nisha J. Tuli is your next obsession. I was so locked in while reading this that I found myself fighting my own eyelids at 2:00 AM, telling myself "just one more chapter" until the very end. This book had me hooked in the best possible way!
The story follows Poet Graves, a high-society daughter of a powerful Scion who is fed up with being a pawn in her father's patriarchal games. After being forced into an arranged marriage with the insufferable Knox, Poet decides to stage the ultimate rebellion. Instead of falling in line with the house her father chose, she pledges to a different one and signs up for the Storm Guard. It is giving major Mulan empowerment vibes—she is disciplined, regimented, and refuses to take anyone's nonsense as she trains to become a warrior.
I was absolutely obsessed with the dynamic between Poet and her love interest, Rook. He is mysterious, aloof, and brooding in the best way possible. Their connection is described so beautifully—especially the moments they share during the storms. But the real scene-stealer? There is a moment where he literally sews her childhood stuffed animal back together while she’s recovering. I’m sorry, but, swoon! Does it get any more sweet than that?
The world-building is centered around elemental storm magic, and the tests Poet has to pass are intense. It captures that same nail-biting feeling where anything can happen, much like the high-stakes pressure of The Hunger Games. People are disappearing, the tension is suffocating, and the action scenes are so vivid they play out like a movie in your head. There is also a heavy layer of classism, with Rook belonging to an ostracized class called the "Solitudes," creating a forbidden romance that kept me so hooked.
Just when you think you have the world figured out, Nisha J. Tuli flips the table over. I can’t believe that ending! My jaw was on the floor and I have so many questions! There are so many mysteries left at the end, and I need to know what happens next! I’m still in shock that this is only the first book, because so much ground was covered. I love Nisha's writing style, it was so addictive and it literally had my heart racing. I can't wait for the next book!
Perfect if you love:
✨️ Strong, disciplined FMC (Mulan energy!)
👀 Broody, mysterious MMC
✨️ War College and Dark Academia settings
🤯 High-stakes trials and deadly initiations
💜 Forbidden romance and class tension
😍 Addictive, fast-paced world-building
⚡️ Elemental storm magic
💜 Female empowerment
✨️ Rebellious vibes
Reminded me of:
❤️ 2000s Dystopian and Fantasy
✨️ The Hunger Games
🔥 Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire
✨️ Fourth Wing
❤️🔥 ACOTAR Series
✨️ Mulan
The story follows Poet Graves, a high-society daughter of a powerful Scion who is fed up with being a pawn in her father's patriarchal games. After being forced into an arranged marriage with the insufferable Knox, Poet decides to stage the ultimate rebellion. Instead of falling in line with the house her father chose, she pledges to a different one and signs up for the Storm Guard. It is giving major Mulan empowerment vibes—she is disciplined, regimented, and refuses to take anyone's nonsense as she trains to become a warrior.
I was absolutely obsessed with the dynamic between Poet and her love interest, Rook. He is mysterious, aloof, and brooding in the best way possible. Their connection is described so beautifully—especially the moments they share during the storms. But the real scene-stealer? There is a moment where he literally sews her childhood stuffed animal back together while she’s recovering. I’m sorry, but, swoon! Does it get any more sweet than that?
The world-building is centered around elemental storm magic, and the tests Poet has to pass are intense. It captures that same nail-biting feeling where anything can happen, much like the high-stakes pressure of The Hunger Games. People are disappearing, the tension is suffocating, and the action scenes are so vivid they play out like a movie in your head. There is also a heavy layer of classism, with Rook belonging to an ostracized class called the "Solitudes," creating a forbidden romance that kept me so hooked.
Just when you think you have the world figured out, Nisha J. Tuli flips the table over. I can’t believe that ending! My jaw was on the floor and I have so many questions! There are so many mysteries left at the end, and I need to know what happens next! I’m still in shock that this is only the first book, because so much ground was covered. I love Nisha's writing style, it was so addictive and it literally had my heart racing. I can't wait for the next book!
Perfect if you love:
✨️ Strong, disciplined FMC (Mulan energy!)
👀 Broody, mysterious MMC
✨️ War College and Dark Academia settings
🤯 High-stakes trials and deadly initiations
💜 Forbidden romance and class tension
😍 Addictive, fast-paced world-building
⚡️ Elemental storm magic
💜 Female empowerment
✨️ Rebellious vibes
Reminded me of:
❤️ 2000s Dystopian and Fantasy
✨️ The Hunger Games
🔥 Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire
✨️ Fourth Wing
❤️🔥 ACOTAR Series
✨️ Mulan
May 14, 2026
ew who would read this book?
ew YA y2k dystopian vibes
eww dark academia/combat college
forbidden romance? eww
eww elemental magic
ew the fmc has a character development
wait...
ew YA y2k dystopian vibes
eww dark academia/combat college
forbidden romance? eww
eww elemental magic
ew the fmc has a character development
wait...
June 16, 2026
« To everyone who hides in shadows but lives with a spark burning in their chest bright enough to burn down the world. »
Writing such an unoriginal story after that dedication should be a crime.
I’d rather read about a zombie apocalypse where everyone dies (even the MCs) than school bullying I swear 😭
I don’t really have anything good to say. The whole thing felt shallow & underdeveloped. The worldbuilding was practically nonexistent. I had many, many, many unanswered questions and some just pushed the boundary of ridiculousness. Because what was the point exactly?
The fmc lies heavily in self pity and the mmc had no personality. He just felt like a copy of every other mmc these types of books have lately and I’m so tired of the nickname ‘princess’… I want to vomit every time this nickname comes up.
The dialogues were disjointed and fizzled out like a song from the 60s slowly fading out in the distance. It was abrupt & convoluted. I couldn’t really tell the friend group apart and that fiancé of hers had too much page time.
I like my dystopians complicated, deep & philosophical. This was way too simplistic. It was predictable and underwhelming. When the bullying started at school I thought : well of course. He calls her princess in their first interaction? Of course. Her fiancé is a dick? Of course. She has powers she shouldn’t have and kept them secret since she was 8? Of course. The plot barely moves in 402 pages? Of course.
The abbreviations we use today were jarring in that setting. And why were people screaming so much? I sincerely did not like one thing about this novel and I kept reading because i really loved the first 100 pages. I was disappointed by the wasted potential.
Writing such an unoriginal story after that dedication should be a crime.
I’d rather read about a zombie apocalypse where everyone dies (even the MCs) than school bullying I swear 😭
I don’t really have anything good to say. The whole thing felt shallow & underdeveloped. The worldbuilding was practically nonexistent. I had many, many, many unanswered questions and some just pushed the boundary of ridiculousness. Because what was the point exactly?
The fmc lies heavily in self pity and the mmc had no personality. He just felt like a copy of every other mmc these types of books have lately and I’m so tired of the nickname ‘princess’… I want to vomit every time this nickname comes up.
The dialogues were disjointed and fizzled out like a song from the 60s slowly fading out in the distance. It was abrupt & convoluted. I couldn’t really tell the friend group apart and that fiancé of hers had too much page time.
I like my dystopians complicated, deep & philosophical. This was way too simplistic. It was predictable and underwhelming. When the bullying started at school I thought : well of course. He calls her princess in their first interaction? Of course. Her fiancé is a dick? Of course. She has powers she shouldn’t have and kept them secret since she was 8? Of course. The plot barely moves in 402 pages? Of course.
The abbreviations we use today were jarring in that setting. And why were people screaming so much? I sincerely did not like one thing about this novel and I kept reading because i really loved the first 100 pages. I was disappointed by the wasted potential.
April 25, 2026
4.5
Rook lands flat on his back, and I'm on him, my thighs straddling his chest, knees pinning his elbows to the floor.
"Now who's the princess?" I ask with a smirk.
"Sit a little higher and you'll be a Queen," he taunts, and it takes me a moment to process his meaning."
I owe you an apology Rook, I was not familiar with your game.
Storm Breaker felt like such a throwback to the 2010s dystopian reading era. If you loved the Divergent series, and most recently Silver Elite, I think you'll have a great time with this one.
I will say, I found the writing style a little inconsistent at times. Nisha J. Tuli has a really easy and enjoyable writing style for the most part but there were definitely a couple of chapters that the writing needs tightening up.
One thing that irritated me slightly was how often Poet's father's abuse was repeated. By chapter 5, I was like I GET IT. I think it could have been woven more subtly into the story rather than us just telling us, repeatedly. It was little things like this throughout that stopped this being a 5 star read for me.
The storyline had me hooked and I love a school/university setting. The relationship development between Poet and Rook was enjoyable and it felt natural alongside the main story. I was very relieved that the storyline about Knox and Poet's position in House Fiama wasn't dragged out unnecessarily. The pacing of this book was perfect for me and once I hit the 25% mark, I struggled to put this book down.
If you don't enjoy YA reads, this might not be the book for you. But as I said, if you were a reader/fan of the 2010s dystopian era then this may be the right read for you.
I'll definitely be picking up book 2 - I need to know what happens with Poet and Rook!
I received an advanced reading copy for free through the publisher (Mayhem Books), and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Rook lands flat on his back, and I'm on him, my thighs straddling his chest, knees pinning his elbows to the floor.
"Now who's the princess?" I ask with a smirk.
"Sit a little higher and you'll be a Queen," he taunts, and it takes me a moment to process his meaning."
I owe you an apology Rook, I was not familiar with your game.
Storm Breaker felt like such a throwback to the 2010s dystopian reading era. If you loved the Divergent series, and most recently Silver Elite, I think you'll have a great time with this one.
I will say, I found the writing style a little inconsistent at times. Nisha J. Tuli has a really easy and enjoyable writing style for the most part but there were definitely a couple of chapters that the writing needs tightening up.
One thing that irritated me slightly was how often Poet's father's abuse was repeated. By chapter 5, I was like I GET IT. I think it could have been woven more subtly into the story rather than us just telling us, repeatedly. It was little things like this throughout that stopped this being a 5 star read for me.
The storyline had me hooked and I love a school/university setting. The relationship development between Poet and Rook was enjoyable and it felt natural alongside the main story. I was very relieved that the storyline about Knox and Poet's position in House Fiama wasn't dragged out unnecessarily. The pacing of this book was perfect for me and once I hit the 25% mark, I struggled to put this book down.
If you don't enjoy YA reads, this might not be the book for you. But as I said, if you were a reader/fan of the 2010s dystopian era then this may be the right read for you.
I'll definitely be picking up book 2 - I need to know what happens with Poet and Rook!
I received an advanced reading copy for free through the publisher (Mayhem Books), and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Read
March 13, 2026I devoured this book and can’t wait for it to take the world by storm (pun intended 😇)
Here’s my official blurb:
An addictive YA dystopian romance that had me counting down the minutes until I could get back to my book! Set in a world of lethal magical storms, the forbidden romance and games of cat and mouse had me eagerly turning the pages. This book grabbed me by the throat in chapter one and never let go!
Here’s my official blurb:
An addictive YA dystopian romance that had me counting down the minutes until I could get back to my book! Set in a world of lethal magical storms, the forbidden romance and games of cat and mouse had me eagerly turning the pages. This book grabbed me by the throat in chapter one and never let go!
Did Not Finish
April 23, 2026DNF @ page 146
I’m just so bored with it. There are dozens of side characters that I know are supposed to be interesting or memorable on some level but they’re so insignificant, jumbled, and forgettable that major moments where they’re dying or they’re experiencing a high stakes conflict feel hollow. I don't see or feel a connection between our main character and these people she’s supposed to love and be close to.
I’m also just really confused by how life at this academy works. When we’re not in one class getting glimpses of interactions with the MC and her love interest, we’re seeing really repetitive conflicts within her social group outside of class and bizarre hazing from the different evil dystopian frat houses that run this institution
I’m just so bored with it. There are dozens of side characters that I know are supposed to be interesting or memorable on some level but they’re so insignificant, jumbled, and forgettable that major moments where they’re dying or they’re experiencing a high stakes conflict feel hollow. I don't see or feel a connection between our main character and these people she’s supposed to love and be close to.
I’m also just really confused by how life at this academy works. When we’re not in one class getting glimpses of interactions with the MC and her love interest, we’re seeing really repetitive conflicts within her social group outside of class and bizarre hazing from the different evil dystopian frat houses that run this institution
Want to Read
March 23, 2026thank you thank you thank you entangled teen for the physical ARC!!! treasuring this forever !!!!!
im SOOOO excited to read this book like omg?!!?! wdym the hunger games/divergent meets THE CRUEL PRINCE !!!! i fear this is the dystopian of the year!
and a movie is in production !!! 👏🙂↕️ love seeing brown authors win <3
im SOOOO excited to read this book like omg?!!?! wdym the hunger games/divergent meets THE CRUEL PRINCE !!!! i fear this is the dystopian of the year!
and a movie is in production !!! 👏🙂↕️ love seeing brown authors win <3
May 10, 2026
The 2000s Dystopian Era Is SO Back ⚔️
Nothing made complete sense, but somehow it was still incredibly entertaining🤣
Everyone is constantly running around, fighting for survival, uncovering secrets, and causing chaos — and honestly, that’s part of the fun.
This was definitely very YA for my taste. If I had read this at sixteen, I probably would’ve been completely obsessed🔥
Even though I was left with quite a few unanswered questions — the logic behind the political system, the division of society, the motivations of those in power — it was still a genuinely enjoyable read.
The story is fast-paced, packed with action, danger, and constant challenges. And honestly? Early-2000s-style dystopian fiction is officially making a comeback🔥
The heroine is brave, compassionate, loyal, and genuinely easy to root for, though at times she can be frustratingly naive and makes some questionable decisions (very YA-coded, honestly).
And the male lead is exactly what you’d expect — mysterious, tall, attractive, arrogant, protective, and impossible to ignore.
I’m definitely curious to see where this story goes next because there are still so many secrets and mysteries I want answers to🕵🏻♀️
✨ TROPES ✨
⚡ Dystopian world
🗡️ Rebellion against the system
👑 Corrupt ruling class
🔥 Survival trials
🖤 Mysterious protective MMC
⚔️ Action-packed adventure
💫 Strong but naive heroine
🕵🏻♀️ Secrets & hidden truths
💥 High-stakes missions
❤️ Slow-burn romance vibes
🌪️ Found family vibes
Nothing made complete sense, but somehow it was still incredibly entertaining🤣
Everyone is constantly running around, fighting for survival, uncovering secrets, and causing chaos — and honestly, that’s part of the fun.
This was definitely very YA for my taste. If I had read this at sixteen, I probably would’ve been completely obsessed🔥
Even though I was left with quite a few unanswered questions — the logic behind the political system, the division of society, the motivations of those in power — it was still a genuinely enjoyable read.
The story is fast-paced, packed with action, danger, and constant challenges. And honestly? Early-2000s-style dystopian fiction is officially making a comeback🔥
The heroine is brave, compassionate, loyal, and genuinely easy to root for, though at times she can be frustratingly naive and makes some questionable decisions (very YA-coded, honestly).
And the male lead is exactly what you’d expect — mysterious, tall, attractive, arrogant, protective, and impossible to ignore.
I’m definitely curious to see where this story goes next because there are still so many secrets and mysteries I want answers to🕵🏻♀️
✨ TROPES ✨
⚡ Dystopian world
🗡️ Rebellion against the system
👑 Corrupt ruling class
🔥 Survival trials
🖤 Mysterious protective MMC
⚔️ Action-packed adventure
💫 Strong but naive heroine
🕵🏻♀️ Secrets & hidden truths
💥 High-stakes missions
❤️ Slow-burn romance vibes
🌪️ Found family vibes
June 3, 2026
I am bored to tears.
DNF @ pg. 285 - 67%.
The logistics of this world make no sense, all the characters are clichés, the plot lines are shallow, and there were way too many similarities to Divergent.
DNF @ pg. 285 - 67%.
The logistics of this world make no sense, all the characters are clichés, the plot lines are shallow, and there were way too many similarities to Divergent.
May 17, 2026
Dystopian romance is so back, and Storm Breaker is one of the latest additions to this sub genre revival.
🗓️ Pub date: May 5, 2026
🎁 eARC gifted to me by Entangled Publishing
💜 Upper YA dystopian romance
💜 1st person POV
💜 Forbidden romance
💜 Deadly trials
💜 Future Manhattan
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️ (not overly explicit)
I love Nisha J. Tuli's two romantasy series, so I was counting down the days until this release. The premise of this story is VERY up my alley, and, overall, it delivered vibes wise. It's fast-paced, action-packed, and angsty.
Poet's characterization is fitting given her age, upbringing, and experiences. It brought me back to my headspace at 19, and I sympathized with how transitional this moment in time was for her. Poet is FINALLY given a level of independence she's been desperately craving and takes full advantage of it.
I enjoyed the politics, magic system, and dystopia within this book. It's very fitting and realistic based on what's currently happening in the world, and I think Nisha J. Tuli did a good job at developing these aspects.
The romance in Storm Breaker was hit or miss, but I think it came down to not fully knowing/understanding our MMC. While I love our FMC and a forbidden romance, I struggled a bit with how their romance progressed. Based on the ending, we're definitely going to learn more about him in book 2, and I'm looking forward to it.
The plot was a little too predictable for me, at times, which brings me to my next point:
I think one of my biggest issues with Storm Breaker is it's not consistently marketed as YA/upper YA. In some places I see it being marketed as "upper YA dystopian romance"/"YA dystopian romance" and in others it's just called "dystopian romance." This book reads upper YA (MAYBE new adult) mainly due the writing style, coming-of-age characters, level of predictably, and monologue (casualness & lingo). I went into this book thinking it was adult and had to rewire my thinking. Once I did, I ended up enjoying the story more in the second half.
I'm excited to continue this series, especially after that ending!
A sincere thank you to Entangled Publishing for gifting me an eARC ahead of its release!
🗓️ Pub date: May 5, 2026
🎁 eARC gifted to me by Entangled Publishing
💜 Upper YA dystopian romance
💜 1st person POV
💜 Forbidden romance
💜 Deadly trials
💜 Future Manhattan
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️ (not overly explicit)
I love Nisha J. Tuli's two romantasy series, so I was counting down the days until this release. The premise of this story is VERY up my alley, and, overall, it delivered vibes wise. It's fast-paced, action-packed, and angsty.
Poet's characterization is fitting given her age, upbringing, and experiences. It brought me back to my headspace at 19, and I sympathized with how transitional this moment in time was for her. Poet is FINALLY given a level of independence she's been desperately craving and takes full advantage of it.
I enjoyed the politics, magic system, and dystopia within this book. It's very fitting and realistic based on what's currently happening in the world, and I think Nisha J. Tuli did a good job at developing these aspects.
The romance in Storm Breaker was hit or miss, but I think it came down to not fully knowing/understanding our MMC. While I love our FMC and a forbidden romance, I struggled a bit with how their romance progressed. Based on the ending, we're definitely going to learn more about him in book 2, and I'm looking forward to it.
The plot was a little too predictable for me, at times, which brings me to my next point:
I think one of my biggest issues with Storm Breaker is it's not consistently marketed as YA/upper YA. In some places I see it being marketed as "upper YA dystopian romance"/"YA dystopian romance" and in others it's just called "dystopian romance." This book reads upper YA (MAYBE new adult) mainly due the writing style, coming-of-age characters, level of predictably, and monologue (casualness & lingo). I went into this book thinking it was adult and had to rewire my thinking. Once I did, I ended up enjoying the story more in the second half.
I'm excited to continue this series, especially after that ending!
A sincere thank you to Entangled Publishing for gifting me an eARC ahead of its release!
Did Not Finish
May 28, 2026DNF
I tried. I really did. I went into this book optimistic, hopeful even, because the premise sounded INSANE in the best way possible. A flooded dystopian Manhattan? Violent storms? Elite academy? Dangerous trials? Broody mysterious man? Oh this should’ve been crack to me. This should’ve had me foaming at the mouth. Instead this book and I entered a psychological warfare match and at exactly the 50% mark I lost. I tapped out. White flag raised. Medics called. Put me on the stretcher because I cannot do this anymore.
This world makes absolutely no sense and I feel like I’m being gaslit into believing it does.
We���re told Manhattan is flooded, society collapsed, storms are constantly destroying everything, this is supposedly one of the last functioning civilized places on earth, and people travel around in boats and gondolas because there are no streets anymore. Cool. Fine. Interesting visual. But then WHY IS THERE ALSO A SUBWAY SYSTEM??? UNDERGROUND??? UNDER THE WATER??? WHO IS MAINTAINING THE TRAINS??? WHO SAID “yes let’s continue operating subterranean transit systems beneath our drowned apocalypse city”? I genuinely started laughing because every new detail contradicted the last one.
And the thing is, I can forgive unrealistic worlds if they FEEL immersive or emotionally convincing, but this world feels like it was assembled from random dystopian Pinterest aesthetics without any connective tissue holding it together. The storms are supposedly the defining feature of this universe and after HALF THE BOOK I still couldn’t tell you what they are, how they work, why they happen, or what the actual consequences are besides “wow scary lightning.” Some people get struck by lightning and survive apparently. Cool. Why? No clue. What does that mean? Unknown. What are the rules? Don’t ask questions apparently.
Or what storm breakers actually do besides aggressively train and act cryptic. The FMC keeps reminding us every seven seconds that becoming a storm breaker is her life’s purpose, her destiny, her everything, but the actual JOB remains a mystery. Are they meteorologists? Soldiers? Human lightning rods? Fitness influencers? Nobody knows.
There’s no paper anymore apparently. THAT’S the apocalypse consequence we’re focusing on. Everything is digital now. Phones. Tablets. Screens. Okay??? But HOW??? You’re telling me civilization collapsed, resources are scarce, they’re isolated from the outside world, half the city is underwater, and somehow Apple manufacturing remains untouched? Where are they getting materials? Electricity? Infrastructure? Servers? Replacement parts? WiFi apparently survived the apocalypse harder than the human race did. You’re telling me civilization collapsed, Manhattan is drowning, everyone lives in isolated chaos, but the iPads are fully charged and operational? Bezos survives all timelines apparently.
Nobody explains ANYTHING. How do they get food? What kind of economy exists here? What jobs do people even have besides being rich assholes at murder school? What can they realistically produce in a city that’s literally drowning? What happened to the rest of the world? Who are the Hollows? What are the wastelands? Who are the Solitudes? Why does society function this way? What jobs even EXIST here besides “storm breaker” and “vaguely rich bully”? Why does nobody seem concerned about literally anything?
And don’t even get me started on the academy because I still have no clue what anyone is studying there. Seriously. What is the curriculum? What jobs exist in this world? What are the actual responsibilities of these houses? The story just keeps throwing around terms and titles expecting them to sound important enough that nobody notices there’s no substance underneath them. The school feels less like an institution and more like a collection of evil frat houses run by rich bullies with a murder kink. The four houses run society somehow, but the book explains absolutely none of it in a meaningful way. The trials are genuinely stupid too. One challenge involves killing someone to join the political class and I’m supposed to take this seriously as intelligent societal structure??? What exactly is the lesson here? “Congrats, you committed murder, you’re qualified for government now”? And if you’re physically weaker than the other person you just deserve to die? Incredible educational model.
And because the worldbuilding is so underdeveloped, all the emotional moments fall completely flat. There are SO MANY side characters too. Like an actually absurd amount. Every chapter introduces another person I’m apparently supposed to care deeply about and they all immediately blur together into one giant soup of names, outfits, vague attitudes, and forced drama. Every time there was some emotional scene where someone died or got hurt or betrayed somebody I felt nothing because the book never gave me a reason to emotionally attach myself to any of them. It’s like the story expected emotional investment to happen automatically because technically these characters are “friends.” Everyone blended together into one giant blob of dramatic teenagers with interchangeable personalities.
Poet especially tested my patience because she spends the entire book recycling the exact same thoughts over and over again. We GET IT. Your family sucks. Your friends suck. You’re conflicted. You feel betrayed. We did this chapter already. And dear GOD the characterization style almost broke me mentally because every single new character introduction followed the exact same formula like the author had a preset Sim generator running in the background. Hair color. Skin tone. Body build. Outfit. DONE. Next. Every person walked onto the page like they were being described for a police sketch instead of an actual story. Rinse and repeat. Meanwhile we learn absolutely nothing meaningful about who these people actually ARE, but god forbid we don’t learn about their hair color....
I finished 50% of this book knowing the exact clothing description of seventeen side characters but not understanding the basic structure of society.
The relationships were somehow even worse because none of them felt earned. Her friendships felt hollow, the emotional bonds felt forced, and the romance?? Rook is probably the most interesting character in theory but he’s barely IN the book. The man who appears approximately every 70 pages to stare intensely, rescue Poet, beat up her ex-boyfriend, and then disappear back into the shadows like dystopian Batman with western footwear.
This man’s entire personality at the halfway mark consists of:
cowboy boots
randomly appearing to save her
humiliating the ex-boyfriend repeatedly
That’s it. That’s the man. We know more about his footwear than his motivations.
And honestly the ex-boyfriend got more page time than the actual love interest, which is insane considering even HE barely had a personality beyond “gets punched by Rook periodically”, this man keeps getting his ass handed to him by the same dude over and over again and STILL keeps showing up. Stand up king I guess. The romance has absolutely no depth because we spend no meaningful time with these people outside repetitive tension scenes.
And the female characters being written so meek and emotionally flimsy drove me insane too. Everyone feels passive until the plot suddenly requires them to become irrationally hostile for manufactured drama. Poet’s indecisiveness alone gave me emotional vertigo. There’s literally a scene where her best friend assumes she’ll join one house, Poet joins it, and then later the friend acts shocked and upset that she joined it. WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE. Conversations happen like everyone’s reading different scripts.
And the worst part is that I WANTED to care. I kept waiting for the moment where everything would click into place and the lore would finally come together and the characters would develop and Rook would become an actual human being instead of Cowboy Boot Man™ but at 50% I had to admit defeat because this book was giving me absolutely nothing except confusion and irritation.
By the halfway point I felt like I knew more about everyone’s jawlines and outfits than their actual motivations.
So yeah. DNF at 50%. This book won. Congratulations. I’m free now.
But if ANYONE wants to spoil the second half for me PLEASE do because I refuse to suffer through the rest of this personally but I AM still nosy enough to want answers. Also I am calling it right now: the “best friend” is absolutely betraying her at some point because that girl has “future backstabber” energy radiating off her like nuclear waste. If I’m wrong I’ll apologize publicly ,but I need to know if my suffering at least made me psychic.
I tried. I really did. I went into this book optimistic, hopeful even, because the premise sounded INSANE in the best way possible. A flooded dystopian Manhattan? Violent storms? Elite academy? Dangerous trials? Broody mysterious man? Oh this should’ve been crack to me. This should’ve had me foaming at the mouth. Instead this book and I entered a psychological warfare match and at exactly the 50% mark I lost. I tapped out. White flag raised. Medics called. Put me on the stretcher because I cannot do this anymore.
This world makes absolutely no sense and I feel like I’m being gaslit into believing it does.
We���re told Manhattan is flooded, society collapsed, storms are constantly destroying everything, this is supposedly one of the last functioning civilized places on earth, and people travel around in boats and gondolas because there are no streets anymore. Cool. Fine. Interesting visual. But then WHY IS THERE ALSO A SUBWAY SYSTEM??? UNDERGROUND??? UNDER THE WATER??? WHO IS MAINTAINING THE TRAINS??? WHO SAID “yes let’s continue operating subterranean transit systems beneath our drowned apocalypse city”? I genuinely started laughing because every new detail contradicted the last one.
And the thing is, I can forgive unrealistic worlds if they FEEL immersive or emotionally convincing, but this world feels like it was assembled from random dystopian Pinterest aesthetics without any connective tissue holding it together. The storms are supposedly the defining feature of this universe and after HALF THE BOOK I still couldn’t tell you what they are, how they work, why they happen, or what the actual consequences are besides “wow scary lightning.” Some people get struck by lightning and survive apparently. Cool. Why? No clue. What does that mean? Unknown. What are the rules? Don’t ask questions apparently.
Or what storm breakers actually do besides aggressively train and act cryptic. The FMC keeps reminding us every seven seconds that becoming a storm breaker is her life’s purpose, her destiny, her everything, but the actual JOB remains a mystery. Are they meteorologists? Soldiers? Human lightning rods? Fitness influencers? Nobody knows.
There’s no paper anymore apparently. THAT’S the apocalypse consequence we’re focusing on. Everything is digital now. Phones. Tablets. Screens. Okay??? But HOW??? You’re telling me civilization collapsed, resources are scarce, they’re isolated from the outside world, half the city is underwater, and somehow Apple manufacturing remains untouched? Where are they getting materials? Electricity? Infrastructure? Servers? Replacement parts? WiFi apparently survived the apocalypse harder than the human race did. You’re telling me civilization collapsed, Manhattan is drowning, everyone lives in isolated chaos, but the iPads are fully charged and operational? Bezos survives all timelines apparently.
Nobody explains ANYTHING. How do they get food? What kind of economy exists here? What jobs do people even have besides being rich assholes at murder school? What can they realistically produce in a city that’s literally drowning? What happened to the rest of the world? Who are the Hollows? What are the wastelands? Who are the Solitudes? Why does society function this way? What jobs even EXIST here besides “storm breaker” and “vaguely rich bully”? Why does nobody seem concerned about literally anything?
And don’t even get me started on the academy because I still have no clue what anyone is studying there. Seriously. What is the curriculum? What jobs exist in this world? What are the actual responsibilities of these houses? The story just keeps throwing around terms and titles expecting them to sound important enough that nobody notices there’s no substance underneath them. The school feels less like an institution and more like a collection of evil frat houses run by rich bullies with a murder kink. The four houses run society somehow, but the book explains absolutely none of it in a meaningful way. The trials are genuinely stupid too. One challenge involves killing someone to join the political class and I’m supposed to take this seriously as intelligent societal structure??? What exactly is the lesson here? “Congrats, you committed murder, you’re qualified for government now”? And if you’re physically weaker than the other person you just deserve to die? Incredible educational model.
And because the worldbuilding is so underdeveloped, all the emotional moments fall completely flat. There are SO MANY side characters too. Like an actually absurd amount. Every chapter introduces another person I’m apparently supposed to care deeply about and they all immediately blur together into one giant soup of names, outfits, vague attitudes, and forced drama. Every time there was some emotional scene where someone died or got hurt or betrayed somebody I felt nothing because the book never gave me a reason to emotionally attach myself to any of them. It’s like the story expected emotional investment to happen automatically because technically these characters are “friends.” Everyone blended together into one giant blob of dramatic teenagers with interchangeable personalities.
Poet especially tested my patience because she spends the entire book recycling the exact same thoughts over and over again. We GET IT. Your family sucks. Your friends suck. You’re conflicted. You feel betrayed. We did this chapter already. And dear GOD the characterization style almost broke me mentally because every single new character introduction followed the exact same formula like the author had a preset Sim generator running in the background. Hair color. Skin tone. Body build. Outfit. DONE. Next. Every person walked onto the page like they were being described for a police sketch instead of an actual story. Rinse and repeat. Meanwhile we learn absolutely nothing meaningful about who these people actually ARE, but god forbid we don’t learn about their hair color....
I finished 50% of this book knowing the exact clothing description of seventeen side characters but not understanding the basic structure of society.
The relationships were somehow even worse because none of them felt earned. Her friendships felt hollow, the emotional bonds felt forced, and the romance?? Rook is probably the most interesting character in theory but he’s barely IN the book. The man who appears approximately every 70 pages to stare intensely, rescue Poet, beat up her ex-boyfriend, and then disappear back into the shadows like dystopian Batman with western footwear.
This man’s entire personality at the halfway mark consists of:
cowboy boots
randomly appearing to save her
humiliating the ex-boyfriend repeatedly
That’s it. That’s the man. We know more about his footwear than his motivations.
And honestly the ex-boyfriend got more page time than the actual love interest, which is insane considering even HE barely had a personality beyond “gets punched by Rook periodically”, this man keeps getting his ass handed to him by the same dude over and over again and STILL keeps showing up. Stand up king I guess. The romance has absolutely no depth because we spend no meaningful time with these people outside repetitive tension scenes.
And the female characters being written so meek and emotionally flimsy drove me insane too. Everyone feels passive until the plot suddenly requires them to become irrationally hostile for manufactured drama. Poet’s indecisiveness alone gave me emotional vertigo. There’s literally a scene where her best friend assumes she’ll join one house, Poet joins it, and then later the friend acts shocked and upset that she joined it. WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE. Conversations happen like everyone’s reading different scripts.
And the worst part is that I WANTED to care. I kept waiting for the moment where everything would click into place and the lore would finally come together and the characters would develop and Rook would become an actual human being instead of Cowboy Boot Man™ but at 50% I had to admit defeat because this book was giving me absolutely nothing except confusion and irritation.
By the halfway point I felt like I knew more about everyone’s jawlines and outfits than their actual motivations.
So yeah. DNF at 50%. This book won. Congratulations. I’m free now.
But if ANYONE wants to spoil the second half for me PLEASE do because I refuse to suffer through the rest of this personally but I AM still nosy enough to want answers. Also I am calling it right now: the “best friend” is absolutely betraying her at some point because that girl has “future backstabber” energy radiating off her like nuclear waste. If I’m wrong I’ll apologize publicly ,but I need to know if my suffering at least made me psychic.
June 21, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
there is so much to love about this book, the dystopian mix of magic made for such an interesting and captivating read. super easy to read and very pacy.
i didn’t fully adore the FMC and sometimes the plot felt a touch predictable but the ending left me reeeeeling and i can’t wait for more!
there is so much to love about this book, the dystopian mix of magic made for such an interesting and captivating read. super easy to read and very pacy.
i didn’t fully adore the FMC and sometimes the plot felt a touch predictable but the ending left me reeeeeling and i can’t wait for more!
June 15, 2026
What a Dystopian Stunner!
I thought this was SO cool!
Academic vibes with energy power⚡️Set in future NYC!
This book definitely had me hooked the entire time, it’s fast paced and definitely action packed with also a forbidden romance.
This is set to be a TV show and I can definitely see that!
I’m excited for book 2 🫶
I thought this was SO cool!
Academic vibes with energy power⚡️Set in future NYC!
This book definitely had me hooked the entire time, it’s fast paced and definitely action packed with also a forbidden romance.
This is set to be a TV show and I can definitely see that!
I’m excited for book 2 🫶
May 13, 2026
I enjoyed this book! Storm Breaker definitely provides a vivid dystopian environment. The young female protagonist struggles against the chains of familial and societal expectations while finding her strength to pursue her own goals and needs. I was cheering her on!
Thank you to Entangled Teen/Mayhem for the gifted physical ARC of this book to read and review.
Be aware, important triggers: This book explores parental abuse of a child through late teens, as well as abuse and humiliation of the FMC by her fiancé.
Poet, the FMC, is physically and emotionally abused by her father throughout her life, and by her betrothed, Knox. She is told what her future will include and how she’s expected to behave and succeed at Amery, their version of a college. She has no choice in the matter, and she feels trapped. Once she arrives at Amery, Poet starts to pave her own course and choose herself over the expectations of others. She is strong but for a girl raised in this society, she seems naive and blindsided by the consequences of her actions. The MMC, Rook, is a Solitude, a person from outside the bounds of New Manhattan, and an unlikely ally. Their relationship is slow burn, with good tension. We don’t learn much about Rook throughout this book, so I didn’t feel very connected to him as a character.
I like how this book explores the fragility/frailty of young people’s friendships and relationships.
The plot was medium paced with fast paced action scenes. I liked the writing style and highlighted several quotes.
The world building for this story is interesting. New Manhattan is supposedly the only thriving area left in the world. Their population and survival are closely guarded and monitored. The four societal houses are detailed in their assigned tasks and allegiances. I like the layering of the differing lives of society citizens, the cogs, the hollows, and the solitudes, and the clashes and biases associated to this structure. The setting is clearly presented. The impact of the storms and the use of Spark as a resource is also interesting.
My one issue is with the magic system. I don’t understand the infection process, types of Keepers, and actual power of Keepers, like why and how? Keepers are people who have evolved to be immune to the Empire Storm’s plasma arcs, called Spark. The Keepers take this Spark into their bodies and become euphoric and almost addicted to it. But they don’t do anything with it? How many types of Keepers are there? The Keepers can become “infected” and lose their minds and go on killing rampages. So to avoid this, all Keepers are hunted down by Extinguishers for testing/assessment, and if they fail, receive execution or exile. But there is a job called a Storm Breaker where they literally use wands to attract and funnel Spark through their bodies and into the tower/ground. But if you’re a Keeper, they don’t want you to be a Storm Breaker. Why? And General Sol can do all of this and it’s OK? I’m confused. I am hoping for some clarity in book 2.
This book has steam and light spice (no actual sex).
Overall, this book was interesting and compelling. I will continue the series.
Thank you to Entangled Teen/Mayhem for the gifted physical ARC of this book to read and review.
Be aware, important triggers: This book explores parental abuse of a child through late teens, as well as abuse and humiliation of the FMC by her fiancé.
Poet, the FMC, is physically and emotionally abused by her father throughout her life, and by her betrothed, Knox. She is told what her future will include and how she’s expected to behave and succeed at Amery, their version of a college. She has no choice in the matter, and she feels trapped. Once she arrives at Amery, Poet starts to pave her own course and choose herself over the expectations of others. She is strong but for a girl raised in this society, she seems naive and blindsided by the consequences of her actions. The MMC, Rook, is a Solitude, a person from outside the bounds of New Manhattan, and an unlikely ally. Their relationship is slow burn, with good tension. We don’t learn much about Rook throughout this book, so I didn’t feel very connected to him as a character.
I like how this book explores the fragility/frailty of young people’s friendships and relationships.
The plot was medium paced with fast paced action scenes. I liked the writing style and highlighted several quotes.
The world building for this story is interesting. New Manhattan is supposedly the only thriving area left in the world. Their population and survival are closely guarded and monitored. The four societal houses are detailed in their assigned tasks and allegiances. I like the layering of the differing lives of society citizens, the cogs, the hollows, and the solitudes, and the clashes and biases associated to this structure. The setting is clearly presented. The impact of the storms and the use of Spark as a resource is also interesting.
My one issue is with the magic system. I don’t understand the infection process, types of Keepers, and actual power of Keepers, like why and how? Keepers are people who have evolved to be immune to the Empire Storm’s plasma arcs, called Spark. The Keepers take this Spark into their bodies and become euphoric and almost addicted to it. But they don’t do anything with it? How many types of Keepers are there? The Keepers can become “infected” and lose their minds and go on killing rampages. So to avoid this, all Keepers are hunted down by Extinguishers for testing/assessment, and if they fail, receive execution or exile. But there is a job called a Storm Breaker where they literally use wands to attract and funnel Spark through their bodies and into the tower/ground. But if you’re a Keeper, they don’t want you to be a Storm Breaker. Why? And General Sol can do all of this and it’s OK? I’m confused. I am hoping for some clarity in book 2.
This book has steam and light spice (no actual sex).
Overall, this book was interesting and compelling. I will continue the series.
May 4, 2026
05/02/2026-05/03/2026
Thank you to Mayhem Books (Entangled Teen) for the gifted digital proof copy of “Storm Breaker” by Nisha J. Tuli 🤍
⭐️⭐️⭐️
(Coming 05/05-2026)
So, let me start by saying I did enjoy this one.
Honestly she would’ve been a five star… if I thought it wasn’t a complete Divergent rip off.
I see everyone say this book is like Divergent and Fourth Wing having a baby. With Fourth Wing, I can understand because of the academy system and the MMC with tattoos. ⚡️
However, with Divergent it is a completely different story:
💜 We have an FMC who has a father that’s the lead of their dare I say faction aka Poet.
💜 Poet decides to leave her safe “faction” (I know they use another term but tbh in my head after a while I just started calling it this) for the less safe sort of enemy “faction.”
💜 Once leaving her “faction” her family basically is no contact (because the “faction” is your new family.)
💜 Poet has to jump to an unknown (except hello? It’s a secret net at the bottom of darkness) - Divergent initiation??
💜 She goes through three (in Poets case two) trials to secure her spot as a first year… sound familiar? (*whispers* Fourth Wing.)
💜 Poet isn’t like everyone else she’s basically “Divergent” in this world (which means she’s got special immunity powers)
💜 She’s being hunted and also there’s special testing technology for this “divergent” issue.
💜 The MMC (Xaden coded) also has these special abilities but also is working in secret with the wastes (somehow both Xaden and Four?)
💜 They sneak out of their dorms and find a solace spot aka room to share (*cough* Divergent.)
I really wanted to hash this one a two 🌟 but I enjoyed the concept of the storms and what this could’ve been. And also I was a sucker for Rook regardless (hello jeans, cowboy boots, tattoos and overall yummy men!)
Thank you to Mayhem Books (Entangled Teen) for the gifted digital proof copy of “Storm Breaker” by Nisha J. Tuli 🤍
⭐️⭐️⭐️
(Coming 05/05-2026)
So, let me start by saying I did enjoy this one.
Honestly she would’ve been a five star… if I thought it wasn’t a complete Divergent rip off.
I see everyone say this book is like Divergent and Fourth Wing having a baby. With Fourth Wing, I can understand because of the academy system and the MMC with tattoos. ⚡️
However, with Divergent it is a completely different story:
💜 We have an FMC who has a father that’s the lead of their dare I say faction aka Poet.
💜 Poet decides to leave her safe “faction” (I know they use another term but tbh in my head after a while I just started calling it this) for the less safe sort of enemy “faction.”
💜 Once leaving her “faction” her family basically is no contact (because the “faction” is your new family.)
💜 Poet has to jump to an unknown (except hello? It’s a secret net at the bottom of darkness) - Divergent initiation??
💜 She goes through three (in Poets case two) trials to secure her spot as a first year… sound familiar? (*whispers* Fourth Wing.)
💜 Poet isn’t like everyone else she’s basically “Divergent” in this world (which means she’s got special immunity powers)
💜 She’s being hunted and also there’s special testing technology for this “divergent” issue.
💜 The MMC (Xaden coded) also has these special abilities but also is working in secret with the wastes (somehow both Xaden and Four?)
💜 They sneak out of their dorms and find a solace spot aka room to share (*cough* Divergent.)
I really wanted to hash this one a two 🌟 but I enjoyed the concept of the storms and what this could’ve been. And also I was a sucker for Rook regardless (hello jeans, cowboy boots, tattoos and overall yummy men!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2026
First I would like to thank NetGalley and Entangled Teen for this ARC and would like to note that all opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Storm Breaker. A new YA Dystopian that I would definitely label as dark due to a few themes of physical abuse.
I love that dystopian is making a comeback (even more so ironic that the FMC mentioned one of her favorite stories was hunger games). I think this book would be a good introduction for YA transitioning into more adult themes. We have the “good girl”, dark theme set, touch her and die, all great themes popular in more adult rated novels.
The idea behind the background of the collapse of society, and their way of harnessing storm power is unique and I loved that. I was super excited to start another dystopian theme, but unfortunately most of this book fell a bit flat for me. It was easy enough to read, but I would’ve preferred a more confident, less immature FMC. The ideas of the different houses also very much gave “faction before blood” vibes. The different plot lines also felt a bit shallow and I was constantly waiting for the dark underbelly of this society to show its face, but it never happened.
Overall it was a decent book, just not for me. I was craving something a little more deep and I had a hard time connecting with the FMC. Though I did enjoy the MMC. I would say this book also borders the edge of YA with darker themes and just a sprinkling of smut that I would deem inappropriate for a 14 year old.
I don’t see myself rereading it, nor continuing the series, though I am a bit curious about the MMC’s background.
Storm Breaker. A new YA Dystopian that I would definitely label as dark due to a few themes of physical abuse.
I love that dystopian is making a comeback (even more so ironic that the FMC mentioned one of her favorite stories was hunger games). I think this book would be a good introduction for YA transitioning into more adult themes. We have the “good girl”, dark theme set, touch her and die, all great themes popular in more adult rated novels.
The idea behind the background of the collapse of society, and their way of harnessing storm power is unique and I loved that. I was super excited to start another dystopian theme, but unfortunately most of this book fell a bit flat for me. It was easy enough to read, but I would’ve preferred a more confident, less immature FMC. The ideas of the different houses also very much gave “faction before blood” vibes. The different plot lines also felt a bit shallow and I was constantly waiting for the dark underbelly of this society to show its face, but it never happened.
Overall it was a decent book, just not for me. I was craving something a little more deep and I had a hard time connecting with the FMC. Though I did enjoy the MMC. I would say this book also borders the edge of YA with darker themes and just a sprinkling of smut that I would deem inappropriate for a 14 year old.
I don’t see myself rereading it, nor continuing the series, though I am a bit curious about the MMC’s background.
May 20, 2026
Thank you so much Entangled Teen for the ARC
5 ⭐️ 1 🌶️
Brb gotta go scream from the rooftops about how much I loved this book!!!!
This was truly a dystopian dream! The political intrigue, the society created post-apocalyptic destruction of the planet… you know because we destroy everything 😵💫
Poet’s journey throughout this book was amazing. I love how she grew into her own and said a big fuck you to her shitty family!!
Don’t even get me started on Rook. That man?? GIVE HIM TO ME RIGHT NOW. I can’t wait to learn more about him and why he’s so broody!! Ugh I need book 2 asap
5 ⭐️ 1 🌶️
Brb gotta go scream from the rooftops about how much I loved this book!!!!
This was truly a dystopian dream! The political intrigue, the society created post-apocalyptic destruction of the planet… you know because we destroy everything 😵💫
Poet’s journey throughout this book was amazing. I love how she grew into her own and said a big fuck you to her shitty family!!
Don’t even get me started on Rook. That man?? GIVE HIM TO ME RIGHT NOW. I can’t wait to learn more about him and why he’s so broody!! Ugh I need book 2 asap
June 16, 2026
4.5 rounded up. September is much too far away for book 2! Nisha J. Tuli is slowly becoming a favorite author of mine. Definitely recommend!
June 13, 2026
#Review: *Storm Breaker* - Nisha - ARC [YA]
5/5✨
0.5/5🌶️
Poet Graves has been keeping a huge secret from the world, including from her own family, one which could put her in jeopardy. When she enters Amery Academy, this secret would be even harder to hide, being a true challenge for Poet to tame her hunger for the storm. But besides that, Poet had to pass some really tough trials and, at the same time, she needed to figure out what she really wanted from her life, if she was willing to leave everything behind in order to feel fulfilled. Things got even more complicated when an outsider (a student who came from beyond the city's walls) caught her attention and the pull towards him would become impossible to control. What path will Poet choose? The one her family has dutifully planned for her or the dangerous one, where she chooses her freedom and betrays her own family?
Ohhh, God!! This book was sooo nerve-wracking and all consuming!! Only the beginning was a little slower, introducing this new world Poet was joining, but after the craziness has started, it didn't stop until the end of this book🤯. Everything became more alert and intriguing with each passing chapter. That connection between Poet and Rook was so beautiful, these two being so different from each other, but still so similar at the same time. I liked so much their firsts encounters, Rook being such a cute weirdo 🤭. All those stolen glances and that forbidden feeling made what they secretly felt to be much more intense and so mesmerizing. Something else I loved about this story was the strength and determination Poet had, to follow the things she wanted and loved in her life, in spite of what her parents have strictly planned for her entire life, without offering her any choice.
Darn, this book was soooo, sooo good, being completely immersed into this story, feeling all that adrenaline which came with all those events that kept on happening in here. It was tough at times, but that showed how powerful these characters were and how resilient they were. An inspiring story, about hidden secrets and a forbidden love which could change everything. Maybe you were aware, but this was only the beginning, because of course that this book has ended in a pretty intense cliffhanger.
Thank you so, so much to the Entangled team and to Nisha for accepting me for this amazing e-copy! 😍 I adooored it! 🩵
✨Tropes
▫️Forbidden Love
▫️Dystopian
▫️Elite Academy
▫️Brutal Trials
▫️Found Family
▫️Opposites Attract
▫️Romantasy
▫️Young Adult
5/5✨
0.5/5🌶️
Poet Graves has been keeping a huge secret from the world, including from her own family, one which could put her in jeopardy. When she enters Amery Academy, this secret would be even harder to hide, being a true challenge for Poet to tame her hunger for the storm. But besides that, Poet had to pass some really tough trials and, at the same time, she needed to figure out what she really wanted from her life, if she was willing to leave everything behind in order to feel fulfilled. Things got even more complicated when an outsider (a student who came from beyond the city's walls) caught her attention and the pull towards him would become impossible to control. What path will Poet choose? The one her family has dutifully planned for her or the dangerous one, where she chooses her freedom and betrays her own family?
Ohhh, God!! This book was sooo nerve-wracking and all consuming!! Only the beginning was a little slower, introducing this new world Poet was joining, but after the craziness has started, it didn't stop until the end of this book🤯. Everything became more alert and intriguing with each passing chapter. That connection between Poet and Rook was so beautiful, these two being so different from each other, but still so similar at the same time. I liked so much their firsts encounters, Rook being such a cute weirdo 🤭. All those stolen glances and that forbidden feeling made what they secretly felt to be much more intense and so mesmerizing. Something else I loved about this story was the strength and determination Poet had, to follow the things she wanted and loved in her life, in spite of what her parents have strictly planned for her entire life, without offering her any choice.
Darn, this book was soooo, sooo good, being completely immersed into this story, feeling all that adrenaline which came with all those events that kept on happening in here. It was tough at times, but that showed how powerful these characters were and how resilient they were. An inspiring story, about hidden secrets and a forbidden love which could change everything. Maybe you were aware, but this was only the beginning, because of course that this book has ended in a pretty intense cliffhanger.
Thank you so, so much to the Entangled team and to Nisha for accepting me for this amazing e-copy! 😍 I adooored it! 🩵
✨Tropes
▫️Forbidden Love
▫️Dystopian
▫️Elite Academy
▫️Brutal Trials
▫️Found Family
▫️Opposites Attract
▫️Romantasy
▫️Young Adult
May 19, 2026
This felt like a nostalgic trip back to my teens when the dystopian genre was at its peak. And this fondness definitely contributed to my enjoyment of the story. I had a fun time and it was easy to get through.
It’s not without its problems though. While it’s clear that this book is inspired by Divergent, I feel like the dystopian aspect weren’t really explained enough. There wasn’t any thorough explanation to how we got from today’s society to what was featured in the story. We got to know that there were too many cars and then boom, we have supernatural storms and people that can wield them. While this ability was interesting, I would’ve appreciated a backstory for how this developed.
I also felt like the suppressive regime was also missing. I felt like this story could’ve been better as a pure fantasy. Having the story taking place in Manhattan didn’t contribute anything.
But still had fun and what to see what happens next.
It’s not without its problems though. While it’s clear that this book is inspired by Divergent, I feel like the dystopian aspect weren’t really explained enough. There wasn’t any thorough explanation to how we got from today’s society to what was featured in the story. We got to know that there were too many cars and then boom, we have supernatural storms and people that can wield them. While this ability was interesting, I would’ve appreciated a backstory for how this developed.
I also felt like the suppressive regime was also missing. I felt like this story could’ve been better as a pure fantasy. Having the story taking place in Manhattan didn’t contribute anything.
But still had fun and what to see what happens next.
April 25, 2026
If you loved reading the Divergent series, read this book!
Poet Gaves is nineteen when she enters Amery Academy. There are four Houses and she needs to choose one and fulfill some trials to either that House. It’s brutal and she struggles to survive, especially with her parents having a high status in this society. An outsider from beyond the city walls enters too, everyone got told that people from there are very dangerous. So obviously Poet is drawn to him. Maybe she doesn’t want the life her parents have mapped out for her. She has to make some big decisions…
This book is literally everything I want a dystopian story to be. It’s so well written! I was completely captivated by this book. Suspense and dialogue alternate in a balanced way, so that there is not a single dull moment to be found in this story.
Poet is a strong female character, she struggles to find her place in the Academy, but she’s fighting really hard against the future plans her parents have written out for her. The dynamics between all of the characters in this book, really shift because of the decisions Poet is making. Which makes this book in its entirety really dynamic.
Furthermore, the world-building is simply amazing. You gradually receive more information about how everything works in this world. It is very well explained, and you really get drawn into this world.
There’s also some romance in this story. I totally lived for the romance in this book too, even though it’s not the main focus of it. That’s why I’m already longing for the sequel! I hope to see more of the romance developing in the next book.
In any case, Stormbreaker is a story you must read. I really have nothing negative to say about this book, except that I already need a sequel NOW to move on with my life. But anyway, this book is truly already the best book of 2026 for me. Five stars!
Poet Gaves is nineteen when she enters Amery Academy. There are four Houses and she needs to choose one and fulfill some trials to either that House. It’s brutal and she struggles to survive, especially with her parents having a high status in this society. An outsider from beyond the city walls enters too, everyone got told that people from there are very dangerous. So obviously Poet is drawn to him. Maybe she doesn’t want the life her parents have mapped out for her. She has to make some big decisions…
This book is literally everything I want a dystopian story to be. It’s so well written! I was completely captivated by this book. Suspense and dialogue alternate in a balanced way, so that there is not a single dull moment to be found in this story.
Poet is a strong female character, she struggles to find her place in the Academy, but she’s fighting really hard against the future plans her parents have written out for her. The dynamics between all of the characters in this book, really shift because of the decisions Poet is making. Which makes this book in its entirety really dynamic.
Furthermore, the world-building is simply amazing. You gradually receive more information about how everything works in this world. It is very well explained, and you really get drawn into this world.
There’s also some romance in this story. I totally lived for the romance in this book too, even though it’s not the main focus of it. That’s why I’m already longing for the sequel! I hope to see more of the romance developing in the next book.
In any case, Stormbreaker is a story you must read. I really have nothing negative to say about this book, except that I already need a sequel NOW to move on with my life. But anyway, this book is truly already the best book of 2026 for me. Five stars!
May 5, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dystopian dark academy, a girl coming into her own and again a sequel I now have to wait for!
Poet, that first name time some time getting used to, enters an elite academy for future leaders, shaped by a father who treated her as less than a commodity, including an arranged marriage to an ally’s insufferable son. Her main struggle - obedience vs. autonomy -drives the story, and refreshingly, her choices remain entirely her own.
Rook, the outsider or „solitude“ (dark hair, hazel eyes, scent of green grass and apples), adds tension without overshadowing her agency.
Great start, with most mysteries still unresolved. I will probably never learn to only read finished series!
At least a star for Teddy 🧸 and his caretaker!
Dystopian dark academy, a girl coming into her own and again a sequel I now have to wait for!
Poet, that first name time some time getting used to, enters an elite academy for future leaders, shaped by a father who treated her as less than a commodity, including an arranged marriage to an ally’s insufferable son. Her main struggle - obedience vs. autonomy -drives the story, and refreshingly, her choices remain entirely her own.
Rook, the outsider or „solitude“ (dark hair, hazel eyes, scent of green grass and apples), adds tension without overshadowing her agency.
Great start, with most mysteries still unresolved. I will probably never learn to only read finished series!
At least a star for Teddy 🧸 and his caretaker!
Read
April 29, 20262.5 stars
This was sadly not for me. The premise was promising, and I did really enjoy the storm concept - it felt atmospheric and genuinely magical to read about at times.
However, I struggled to connect with the book overall.
Firstly, it felt very clearly inspired by other popular dystopian stories, to the point where it lacked a sense of originality. While familiar tropes aren’t necessarily a bad thing (I love them!), here they didn’t feel reimagined in a way that made the book stand out.
Secondly, the characters fell completely flat for me. This applies to both the main and side characters. Character building is probably the most important element in a book for me, and if I don’t care about the characters, I don’t really care what happens to them. Poet, in particular, felt like a very typical YA dystopian/fantasy heroine. A “not like other girls” girl which I personally struggle with. Rook, our MMC, was even less distinct; he was simply… there? I never felt like I got to know him in any meaningful way, and I just did not get their connection at all. There was zero tension or chemistry to me. The side character which are supposed to add some fun and lighthearted vibes also failed in doing so.
Thirdly, I found the setting and overall worldbuilding confusing. The academy, which is such a central part of the story, never fully made sense to me. The structure of the academy (with houses, military-style training, and then basic academic classes) felt inconsistent, and I couldn’t quite grasp its purpose within the world. Because of that, it was difficult to feel grounded in the story.
Overall, this was an easy and fast read, and I can appreciate the core idea behind it. The atmosphere had potential, and the concept itself is intriguing. However, the execution, especially in terms of character depth and world building, left a lot to be desired. Despite spending 430 pages on this book, I ultimately I felt very disconnected from the story and characters.
Huge thank you to the publisher for the proof. Thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was sadly not for me. The premise was promising, and I did really enjoy the storm concept - it felt atmospheric and genuinely magical to read about at times.
However, I struggled to connect with the book overall.
Firstly, it felt very clearly inspired by other popular dystopian stories, to the point where it lacked a sense of originality. While familiar tropes aren’t necessarily a bad thing (I love them!), here they didn’t feel reimagined in a way that made the book stand out.
Secondly, the characters fell completely flat for me. This applies to both the main and side characters. Character building is probably the most important element in a book for me, and if I don’t care about the characters, I don’t really care what happens to them. Poet, in particular, felt like a very typical YA dystopian/fantasy heroine. A “not like other girls” girl which I personally struggle with. Rook, our MMC, was even less distinct; he was simply… there? I never felt like I got to know him in any meaningful way, and I just did not get their connection at all. There was zero tension or chemistry to me. The side character which are supposed to add some fun and lighthearted vibes also failed in doing so.
Thirdly, I found the setting and overall worldbuilding confusing. The academy, which is such a central part of the story, never fully made sense to me. The structure of the academy (with houses, military-style training, and then basic academic classes) felt inconsistent, and I couldn’t quite grasp its purpose within the world. Because of that, it was difficult to feel grounded in the story.
Overall, this was an easy and fast read, and I can appreciate the core idea behind it. The atmosphere had potential, and the concept itself is intriguing. However, the execution, especially in terms of character depth and world building, left a lot to be desired. Despite spending 430 pages on this book, I ultimately I felt very disconnected from the story and characters.
Huge thank you to the publisher for the proof. Thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 27, 2026
Thank you Entangled Teen for the gifted ARC!
I absolutely devoured this book and finished it in two days. I was staying up way too late and ended up reading until almost midnight because I could not put it down.
The dystopian world was so immersive and exactly the kind of vibe I love. The storm magic felt fresh and different, and the academy setting kept me hooked the whole time. There were so many secrets, betrayals, and moments where I just had to know what happened next. Watching everything Poet believed get flipped upside down made it even harder to put down.
Poet was such a strong FMC and I loved watching her start questioning everything she had been taught and choosing herself instead of the life everyone else expected from her. Her growth felt so real, and I was rooting for her the entire time.
And Rook… yeah, I’m obsessed. Mysterious, protective, and giving major touch her and die energy? Absolutely. Every scene with him had me hooked, and I already need more of his story. I am not so patiently waiting for book 2 now.
If you love bingeable dystopian romance, hidden secrets, strong character growth, and a man who would burn the world down for her, you need this on your TBR.
I absolutely devoured this book and finished it in two days. I was staying up way too late and ended up reading until almost midnight because I could not put it down.
The dystopian world was so immersive and exactly the kind of vibe I love. The storm magic felt fresh and different, and the academy setting kept me hooked the whole time. There were so many secrets, betrayals, and moments where I just had to know what happened next. Watching everything Poet believed get flipped upside down made it even harder to put down.
Poet was such a strong FMC and I loved watching her start questioning everything she had been taught and choosing herself instead of the life everyone else expected from her. Her growth felt so real, and I was rooting for her the entire time.
And Rook… yeah, I’m obsessed. Mysterious, protective, and giving major touch her and die energy? Absolutely. Every scene with him had me hooked, and I already need more of his story. I am not so patiently waiting for book 2 now.
If you love bingeable dystopian romance, hidden secrets, strong character growth, and a man who would burn the world down for her, you need this on your TBR.
May 17, 2026
I'm sorry, Nisha. How dare you end this book that way.
May 5, 2026
This book is just the beginning to what I feel will be an epic series. The author created such a compelling dystopian world with the location, the government, the hierarchy and the different types of storms. I was sucked in immediately and then wanted to scream when the book ended on a cliffhanger. That ending has opened up so many possibilities for this series. Obsessed with the names of the MCs. Rook and Poet. A chess piece and dreamer.
Poet is tenacious and will not let society change her morals. This character goes through so much and it is just the beginning. Hiding her secret for so long and finding out the truth about her family. Poet finds some solace in Rook who in his own way, has had her back at the academy. The Solitude who is supposed to be the monster enemy is more empathetic than the people of New Manhattan. These people in Society are the monsters. Poet finds out who her true friends are. Rook and Poet have much in common and still more to figure out about what they really are. Very curious to find out what all Rook is hiding and to see how Poet deals with her new circumstances.
💜Elite Academy
⚡️Two Houses, One Choice
💜Post-Apocalyptic Venice Vibes
⚡️Forbidden Romance
💜Found Family
⚡️Deadly Initiation Trials
Thank you to the author, @entangledteen @mayhembooks and @netgalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Poet is tenacious and will not let society change her morals. This character goes through so much and it is just the beginning. Hiding her secret for so long and finding out the truth about her family. Poet finds some solace in Rook who in his own way, has had her back at the academy. The Solitude who is supposed to be the monster enemy is more empathetic than the people of New Manhattan. These people in Society are the monsters. Poet finds out who her true friends are. Rook and Poet have much in common and still more to figure out about what they really are. Very curious to find out what all Rook is hiding and to see how Poet deals with her new circumstances.
💜Elite Academy
⚡️Two Houses, One Choice
💜Post-Apocalyptic Venice Vibes
⚡️Forbidden Romance
💜Found Family
⚡️Deadly Initiation Trials
Thank you to the author, @entangledteen @mayhembooks and @netgalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
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