What do you think?
Rate this book
Ayala Storme #1
Storm in a Teacup
Mediator Ayala Storme handles PR by day and kills demons by night. She avoids Mediator luncheons and a fellow Mediator who’s been trying to get in her pants for years. She does her job. She keeps her sword clean and her body count high. But when a rash of disappearances leads her to discover that Nashville’s hellkin are spawning a new race of monster in human hosts, Ayala will be the first line of defense against these day-walking killers.
That is, until one of the creatures saves her life.
Ayala's new knowledge of the hybrids' free will challenges everything she's ever known about her job. Racing the clock while trying to outrun her comrades and enemies alike, she's not sure who will catch her first...
That is, until one of the creatures saves her life.
Ayala's new knowledge of the hybrids' free will challenges everything she's ever known about her job. Racing the clock while trying to outrun her comrades and enemies alike, she's not sure who will catch her first...
424 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 3, 2015
42 people are currently reading
714 people want to read
About the author
Emmie Mears
21 books153 followersEmmie Mears writes the books they always needed to read about characters they wish they could be. Emmie is multilingual, autistic, agender, and a bad pescetarian.
Emmie makes their home with two cats in Glasgow, Scotland and hopes to keep it that way.
Emmie is represented by Sara Megibow of kt literary.
Emmie makes their home with two cats in Glasgow, Scotland and hopes to keep it that way.
Emmie is represented by Sara Megibow of kt literary.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
October 29, 2017
I had a lot of fun reading this. Ayala Storme is a sarcastic, independent, cynical and badass character with a sense of humor.
Having violet eyes marking her as a Mediator, a demon hunter, she's taken from her mother and trained to slay demons from the day she was born. Now, as a twenty-something adult, Ayala keeps a normal day job during daylight hours, but slays demons each nightfall reporting back to the Mediator home office of her kills. When Ayala comes across a powerful new crop of demon species all preconceived notions and prior education are turned on its head. Will she follow orders or trust her own code of ethics?
The shining aspect of this story is Ayala's character and how she responds to her world. And her world is Nashville, Tennessee but witches, morphs (shapeshifters), psychics, and demons are all common place.
I found the book to have good pacing, a ton of action, a decent mystery, and quite a bit of gore. In other words, it's entertaining.
I usually read books with an f/f relationship and, in this book, there wasn't one to be seen. However, I have a feeling if I keep reading the series I'll find one. In this, there's some m/f action but it's mild and fade to black. Paranormal action book this is, romance it is not.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable read and I'll continue the series.
Having violet eyes marking her as a Mediator, a demon hunter, she's taken from her mother and trained to slay demons from the day she was born. Now, as a twenty-something adult, Ayala keeps a normal day job during daylight hours, but slays demons each nightfall reporting back to the Mediator home office of her kills. When Ayala comes across a powerful new crop of demon species all preconceived notions and prior education are turned on its head. Will she follow orders or trust her own code of ethics?
The shining aspect of this story is Ayala's character and how she responds to her world. And her world is Nashville, Tennessee but witches, morphs (shapeshifters), psychics, and demons are all common place.
I found the book to have good pacing, a ton of action, a decent mystery, and quite a bit of gore. In other words, it's entertaining.
I usually read books with an f/f relationship and, in this book, there wasn't one to be seen. However, I have a feeling if I keep reading the series I'll find one. In this, there's some m/f action but it's mild and fade to black. Paranormal action book this is, romance it is not.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable read and I'll continue the series.
January 24, 2016
“It used to be easy. Me Mediator. Here sword. Mediator stick sword in bad guy.
Ugh.” – Ayala Storme, Storm in a Teacup (Ayala Storme Series, Book One)
Snork. Yeah. “Mediator.” What a sweet word for such a brutal excuse for a life. Ayala has been a ‘Mediator’ literally since birth, when she popped out of her mother’s womb and the nurses caught a look at her violet eyes. No more mamma for Ayala. Instead, she gets swords and training, blood and death, from the time she is old enough to hold her first tiny little wooden sword and poke at all the other little violet-eyed babies snatched from their mothers at birth. Nothing like losing the genetic lottery. Especially in a world overrun with demon spawn from the six and a half hells.
Stuck in Nashville and the surrounding environs, effectively leashed by the violent seizures that debilitate her should she step outside her territory, there will never be beaches or mountains for Ayala. No trips to Venice, to Egypt, to New Orleans. Instead, her life is a cycle of her day job in advertising, home, out to slaughter, back home to wash away the demon goo – maybe a bit of television, then bed, only to start the cycle all over again in the morning. Well, until she finally slips up and gets dead. It’s going to happen one day, that’s a given. And, with the way things are going, that whole ‘slip up and get dead’ thing could come sooner than she expected.
You see, things are a’changin’ – from Cincinnati to Nashville and further south, demons aren’t just nightcrawlers anymore. Nope. The critters are coming out into the sunlight. And what is happening may be more than even the Summit, the coalition of Mediators from around the world, may be able to handle. Instead, they may all get dead, in very bloody, very nasty ways.
Or is that truly the case? Because something here is truly, awesomely weird. And Ayala is right in the middle of it. Are her friends truly her friends? Or her enemies truly her enemies? The lines are changing, the world she knows turned into an acid trip of immense proportions. And only Ayala has the key to what is really going on. And if she doesn’t do something, and do it fast, well, the innocent are going to die while the evil? Well, the evil will get exactly what they want – and the Summit and its mediators could very well be guilty of willful genocide of the very people they claim to protect - the innocent. But is Ayala smart enough, strong enough, to stop the horror before it occurs?
I feel a deep and abiding admiration for Ayala. She is far from perfect. And who can blame her? You come out of your mother’s womb into a world where you are indoctrinated into a worldview of “We are right and good and all else is evil that must be eradicated at all costs” (wow, that sounds really familiar, doesn’t it?) she suddenly had to decide for herself what truly constitutes good and evil – and what she is willing to sacrifice to take a stand. She is immensely likeable overall, snarky and focused by turns, gentle and vicious, a mature woman with deeply held personal beliefs of her own, no matter the voices screaming at her at every turn, trying to hold her to their own ideals, whether good or evil. There are the common elements here of good storytelling. Pride, avarice, and the evil and downright ‘stoo-pidity’ and sheer bullheadedness of humanity in all its ridiculous glory steps front and center, handled with a deft and believable hand. Overall, highly enjoyable.
The Kindle edition has Audible Narration available if you like. Amber Benson reads, and she is always marvelous, so if you like narration I can recommend it. And narration is only $1.99, a real steal for a good listen for a cold winter evening. I read instead, and as I got to Read for Free on Kindle Unlimited. Bonus! The next is Any Port in a Storm and yes, I did just return this one and downloaded the next. Woo hoo, baby. Try it, I dare ya. Only, be prepared to stay up through the night . . .
Ugh.” – Ayala Storme, Storm in a Teacup (Ayala Storme Series, Book One)
Snork. Yeah. “Mediator.” What a sweet word for such a brutal excuse for a life. Ayala has been a ‘Mediator’ literally since birth, when she popped out of her mother’s womb and the nurses caught a look at her violet eyes. No more mamma for Ayala. Instead, she gets swords and training, blood and death, from the time she is old enough to hold her first tiny little wooden sword and poke at all the other little violet-eyed babies snatched from their mothers at birth. Nothing like losing the genetic lottery. Especially in a world overrun with demon spawn from the six and a half hells.
Stuck in Nashville and the surrounding environs, effectively leashed by the violent seizures that debilitate her should she step outside her territory, there will never be beaches or mountains for Ayala. No trips to Venice, to Egypt, to New Orleans. Instead, her life is a cycle of her day job in advertising, home, out to slaughter, back home to wash away the demon goo – maybe a bit of television, then bed, only to start the cycle all over again in the morning. Well, until she finally slips up and gets dead. It’s going to happen one day, that’s a given. And, with the way things are going, that whole ‘slip up and get dead’ thing could come sooner than she expected.
You see, things are a’changin’ – from Cincinnati to Nashville and further south, demons aren’t just nightcrawlers anymore. Nope. The critters are coming out into the sunlight. And what is happening may be more than even the Summit, the coalition of Mediators from around the world, may be able to handle. Instead, they may all get dead, in very bloody, very nasty ways.
Or is that truly the case? Because something here is truly, awesomely weird. And Ayala is right in the middle of it. Are her friends truly her friends? Or her enemies truly her enemies? The lines are changing, the world she knows turned into an acid trip of immense proportions. And only Ayala has the key to what is really going on. And if she doesn’t do something, and do it fast, well, the innocent are going to die while the evil? Well, the evil will get exactly what they want – and the Summit and its mediators could very well be guilty of willful genocide of the very people they claim to protect - the innocent. But is Ayala smart enough, strong enough, to stop the horror before it occurs?
I feel a deep and abiding admiration for Ayala. She is far from perfect. And who can blame her? You come out of your mother’s womb into a world where you are indoctrinated into a worldview of “We are right and good and all else is evil that must be eradicated at all costs” (wow, that sounds really familiar, doesn’t it?) she suddenly had to decide for herself what truly constitutes good and evil – and what she is willing to sacrifice to take a stand. She is immensely likeable overall, snarky and focused by turns, gentle and vicious, a mature woman with deeply held personal beliefs of her own, no matter the voices screaming at her at every turn, trying to hold her to their own ideals, whether good or evil. There are the common elements here of good storytelling. Pride, avarice, and the evil and downright ‘stoo-pidity’ and sheer bullheadedness of humanity in all its ridiculous glory steps front and center, handled with a deft and believable hand. Overall, highly enjoyable.
The Kindle edition has Audible Narration available if you like. Amber Benson reads, and she is always marvelous, so if you like narration I can recommend it. And narration is only $1.99, a real steal for a good listen for a cold winter evening. I read instead, and as I got to Read for Free on Kindle Unlimited. Bonus! The next is Any Port in a Storm and yes, I did just return this one and downloaded the next. Woo hoo, baby. Try it, I dare ya. Only, be prepared to stay up through the night . . .
March 30, 2015
From the outset, Ayala Storme seems like an average 20-something working a day job in PR, complete with a horrible boss, just to afford the finer things in life. As the story progresses, it's quite apparent that Ayala isn't so average after all. Born a Mediator, she also has a second job working for the Summit to eradicate the demons and Hellkin that wreak havoc in Nashville. Being a Mediator is more her primary job, although the Summit doesn't pay enough for Ayala to afford the things she favors -- luxury apartment, anything girly, expensive wine, hence the need for the crappy PR job. She also has an annoying Mediator coworker who clearly doesn't understand the word 'no'.
When Hellkin start appearing around Nashville with necklaces made from human hair, coinciding with the disappearance of several women, Ayala is handed the case to figure out exactly how these circumstances may or may not be connected. Through the course of the investigation, Ayala learns something horrific -- the demons are impregnating humans and creating a new breed of half-demons. Normal demons burn in the sun. The new breed? Not so much. Appearing as human, these demons are able to walk freely during any hours, which makes them all the more dangerous. Nashville's demonic threat is now an around the clock job. Even worse, the human-looking demons have a taste for human flesh. Most of them, anyway.
This book, at first, was quite tough for me to really get in to on a variety of levels, mostly because of Ayala. As a narrator, she takes some getting used to because she does several things that I, as the reader, am not that fond of. Ayala (and Emmie Mears) has the tendency to speak directly to the reader, which I'm never a fan of. That particular narrative style is always a bit jarring for me because I don't like being personally addressed when I read. Ayala also has a habit of going off on tangents -- speaking of one thing and getting quite off track before coming back around to make her point. I can see where this can be kind of a more creative way to avoid "info dumping" by having Ayala explain things in a more fun, conversational way, but it felt at times to be a bit much. Like I said before, Ayala's voice and style take some getting used to and by book's end, I was used to it.
One thing I wish Emmie Mears would have done differently is give all, not just some, of her secondary characters a little more dimension. Having Gryfflet be "cabbagey" and Gregor "blocky" were fun, yes, but I still have zero clue what they look like. I love to imagine characters in my head, as most readers do, and when someone isn't given depth and dimension, there's just a bunch of plain (albeit cabbagey and blocky) people running amok through my imagination. While some of the secondaries were quite plain and undeveloped, she did manage to do a super job with others -- Alamea, Mason, and Ayala as examples. Even Alice, poor lipstick-always-on-her-teeth-Alice. The demons and the different supernaturals were also quite interesting and I loved how Mears didn't go with the flow, she made things and creatures completely her own with this story. I also loved the group of Mediators and how they came to be. Some of the backstory was a little sad at times with Ayala yearning for a mother she couldn't have and I do hope Mears continues to explore that particular thread in future books. It really added a great, vulnerable element to an otherwise tough-as-nails character and I really like the contradiction.
All in all, this turned out to be a solid 4 star read. The first half is slow going, not much in the way of action, but the second half was almost enough to rock my socks off. Almost. I am very intrigued at what Mears did with this new breed of demon and I am definitely looking forward to see how that plays out in future installments in this series.
When Hellkin start appearing around Nashville with necklaces made from human hair, coinciding with the disappearance of several women, Ayala is handed the case to figure out exactly how these circumstances may or may not be connected. Through the course of the investigation, Ayala learns something horrific -- the demons are impregnating humans and creating a new breed of half-demons. Normal demons burn in the sun. The new breed? Not so much. Appearing as human, these demons are able to walk freely during any hours, which makes them all the more dangerous. Nashville's demonic threat is now an around the clock job. Even worse, the human-looking demons have a taste for human flesh. Most of them, anyway.
This book, at first, was quite tough for me to really get in to on a variety of levels, mostly because of Ayala. As a narrator, she takes some getting used to because she does several things that I, as the reader, am not that fond of. Ayala (and Emmie Mears) has the tendency to speak directly to the reader, which I'm never a fan of. That particular narrative style is always a bit jarring for me because I don't like being personally addressed when I read. Ayala also has a habit of going off on tangents -- speaking of one thing and getting quite off track before coming back around to make her point. I can see where this can be kind of a more creative way to avoid "info dumping" by having Ayala explain things in a more fun, conversational way, but it felt at times to be a bit much. Like I said before, Ayala's voice and style take some getting used to and by book's end, I was used to it.
One thing I wish Emmie Mears would have done differently is give all, not just some, of her secondary characters a little more dimension. Having Gryfflet be "cabbagey" and Gregor "blocky" were fun, yes, but I still have zero clue what they look like. I love to imagine characters in my head, as most readers do, and when someone isn't given depth and dimension, there's just a bunch of plain (albeit cabbagey and blocky) people running amok through my imagination. While some of the secondaries were quite plain and undeveloped, she did manage to do a super job with others -- Alamea, Mason, and Ayala as examples. Even Alice, poor lipstick-always-on-her-teeth-Alice. The demons and the different supernaturals were also quite interesting and I loved how Mears didn't go with the flow, she made things and creatures completely her own with this story. I also loved the group of Mediators and how they came to be. Some of the backstory was a little sad at times with Ayala yearning for a mother she couldn't have and I do hope Mears continues to explore that particular thread in future books. It really added a great, vulnerable element to an otherwise tough-as-nails character and I really like the contradiction.
All in all, this turned out to be a solid 4 star read. The first half is slow going, not much in the way of action, but the second half was almost enough to rock my socks off. Almost. I am very intrigued at what Mears did with this new breed of demon and I am definitely looking forward to see how that plays out in future installments in this series.
January 19, 2016
Brand new Urban Fantasy series? Gimme! I hadn’t heard the first thing about this book until the other day. I read the synopsis, immediately bought it, and had it read by the next day. I could hardly put it down.
Ayala Storme is a mediator, otherwise known as a demon hunter, with a wicked side of snark, and a love of bunnies(there’s a story there-I promise). In this author’s vision of the world, and America in particular, demons, witches, and psychics are real, and are known about by all humans. Demon hunters are born to it, and have the violet eyes to prove it. They are taken away from their parents at birth, and trained for a lifetime of demon killing. It’s a lonely life, but someone has to do it, so Ayala has taken to it like a duck to water. She lives alone, has no real friends, and works at a PR firm when not hunting-which is every night. Her favorite thing is her beloved sword, and she gets injured enough that she even has a special robe to wear while bleeding. Her demon hunting mentor is Gregor-the ultimate enigma. No romance there though.
When Ayala gets involved with a missing women case, one that coincides with imps wearing human hair necklaces, things get really interesting. Ayala begins living on little sleep, incurs lots of injuries, and eventually meets a new love interest. And, oh yes, writes a bunch of press releases at her PR job in the midst of everything. She takes multitasking up to a whole new level!
A new sort of creature has been introduced to the world, and I found the author’s vision of this to be very unusual. The author’s world building was fascinating even before that happens. I enjoyed some of the observations by Ayala, when she talks about a certain state being nothing but a sulfur pit, or different celebrities that are really part of the supernatural world. It caused me to laugh on more then one occasion while reading. The story is told in the first person, and at times, Ayala actually talks right to the reader. At first I wasn’t a fan of being talked to, but I got over it really fast because Ayala was such a likable character, and blessed with equal amounts of snark and spunk.
I can’t recommend this book enough. I enjoyed the characters, the demon fighting with non-stop action at times, and even hearing about all sorts of demons and how they can be killed. I found this whole read to be pretty unique when compared to other UF, I have read. This is an adult read due mainly to violence, and it’s really not for the squeamish. No details of the romance was given by me on purpose, because I don’t want to ruin it for the reader. Even though there is a romance, I don’t in any way feel this is a paranormal romance. I am really looking forward to the Fall of 2015, when the next one is released.(RabidReads.com)
Ayala Storme is a mediator, otherwise known as a demon hunter, with a wicked side of snark, and a love of bunnies(there’s a story there-I promise). In this author’s vision of the world, and America in particular, demons, witches, and psychics are real, and are known about by all humans. Demon hunters are born to it, and have the violet eyes to prove it. They are taken away from their parents at birth, and trained for a lifetime of demon killing. It’s a lonely life, but someone has to do it, so Ayala has taken to it like a duck to water. She lives alone, has no real friends, and works at a PR firm when not hunting-which is every night. Her favorite thing is her beloved sword, and she gets injured enough that she even has a special robe to wear while bleeding. Her demon hunting mentor is Gregor-the ultimate enigma. No romance there though.
When Ayala gets involved with a missing women case, one that coincides with imps wearing human hair necklaces, things get really interesting. Ayala begins living on little sleep, incurs lots of injuries, and eventually meets a new love interest. And, oh yes, writes a bunch of press releases at her PR job in the midst of everything. She takes multitasking up to a whole new level!
A new sort of creature has been introduced to the world, and I found the author’s vision of this to be very unusual. The author’s world building was fascinating even before that happens. I enjoyed some of the observations by Ayala, when she talks about a certain state being nothing but a sulfur pit, or different celebrities that are really part of the supernatural world. It caused me to laugh on more then one occasion while reading. The story is told in the first person, and at times, Ayala actually talks right to the reader. At first I wasn’t a fan of being talked to, but I got over it really fast because Ayala was such a likable character, and blessed with equal amounts of snark and spunk.
I can’t recommend this book enough. I enjoyed the characters, the demon fighting with non-stop action at times, and even hearing about all sorts of demons and how they can be killed. I found this whole read to be pretty unique when compared to other UF, I have read. This is an adult read due mainly to violence, and it’s really not for the squeamish. No details of the romance was given by me on purpose, because I don’t want to ruin it for the reader. Even though there is a romance, I don’t in any way feel this is a paranormal romance. I am really looking forward to the Fall of 2015, when the next one is released.(RabidReads.com)
January 23, 2015
Loved this book! Another solid effort from author Emmie Mears, Storm in a Teacup is fast-paced, action-packed, entertaining and brimming with heart. The compelling main character, Ayala Storme is a demon slayer with a busy work schedule, a mysterious past, a complicated love life and a soft spot for bunnies. Investigating a young woman's disappearance, leads to gruesome discoveries and more for Ayala. Fans of urban fantasy and paranormal romance, J.R. Ward and the early Laurell K. Hamilton Anita Blake series, will enjoy this new series. After finishing the book I thought, "Yay! I have a new series to read!" Followed by "I can't wait to read the next installment!" A fun read, I highly recommend it.
March 14, 2015
Loved this book....hope it is the start of a long and prosperous series!
December 10, 2015
Kindle ebook (KU) & audible versions
DNF @ Chapter 46
DNF @ Chapter 46
September 13, 2015
3.5 stars.
I really enjoyed this first in a new series (at least I think it's a series). It starts off a bit slow and hesitant for the first 30% or so and I thought it was going to be a bit of an average ho-hum kind of an UF story with the Mediators being the designated badass good guys and the demons being your typical stupid and irredeemable evil. That all changes around the half way mark when the events in the synopsis start to really kick in quite noticably. Suddenly the very orderly world and stark black and white morality that Ayala has lived with all her life gets turned on its head and it becomes a rather fast paced rollercoaster ride to the finish after that. Though some things aren't outright stated in this novel I do suspect there is far more than Ayala (and we) are aware of going on behind the scenes with the mediators .
I think the thing that (pleasantly) surprised me the most about this story is that though there's a touch of proto-romance and a fade to black sex scene, Ayala doesn't get immediately strapped in to a full on relationship with a guy she barely knows (or the "Nice Guy" Mediator she's known for decades for that matter). She even manages to remain effective at her job and doesn't turn in to a puddle of hormones with googly eyes. In the end she does get her heart broken a little bit, but it's done in a way that makes sense for the situation and characters instead of dripping melodrama and seemed almost inevitable really .
I'm definitely going to pick up the next one.
I really enjoyed this first in a new series (at least I think it's a series). It starts off a bit slow and hesitant for the first 30% or so and I thought it was going to be a bit of an average ho-hum kind of an UF story with the Mediators being the designated badass good guys and the demons being your typical stupid and irredeemable evil. That all changes around the half way mark when the events in the synopsis start to really kick in quite noticably. Suddenly the very orderly world and stark black and white morality that Ayala has lived with all her life gets turned on its head and it becomes a rather fast paced rollercoaster ride to the finish after that. Though some things aren't outright stated in this novel I do suspect there is far more than Ayala (and we) are aware of going on behind the scenes with the mediators .
I think the thing that (pleasantly) surprised me the most about this story is that though there's a touch of proto-romance and a fade to black sex scene, Ayala doesn't get immediately strapped in to a full on relationship with a guy she barely knows (or the "Nice Guy" Mediator she's known for decades for that matter). She even manages to remain effective at her job and doesn't turn in to a puddle of hormones with googly eyes. In the end she does get her heart broken a little bit, but it's done in a way that makes sense for the situation and characters instead of dripping melodrama and seemed almost inevitable really .
I'm definitely going to pick up the next one.
January 29, 2015
I don't really know how she did it, but Emmie Mears somehow managed to read my mind and write just exactly the book I have been craving lately. As soon as I picked it up, I was sucked right in and had a terrible time putting it down for silly reasons like needing sleep.
Ayala Storme is a badass, a bit of a misfit, and really easy to relate to. By day she works in an office. By night she fights demons as a Mediator. It's her job, and the job of all Mediators, to keep the balance between the demons and non-demons. At least, until her world turns completely on-end. That's when things get really interesting.
Mears writes fast, fun, action packed stories featuring women as the heroes. Her characters are compelling, relatable and realistically flawed. If you enjoy stories set in gritty, magic filled worlds filled with ass-kicking women, witches, demons and maybe even a few bunnies this just might be the book you've been craving, too.
January 23, 2016
Different. Reminded me of Crushed in some ways. Elements of the story that I didn't like / did not make sense / were confused about in this book were resolved in later books, often in really cool reveals.
The series is rather dark UF. Not in the sense of a morally ambiguous MC, which I often dislike, but in the moral quandry of what is the right thing to do / what is the wrong thing to do / what the hell is really going on here, where the consequences are high stakes, which I find much more intriguing and engaging than simple amorality.
The series is rather dark UF. Not in the sense of a morally ambiguous MC, which I often dislike, but in the moral quandry of what is the right thing to do / what is the wrong thing to do / what the hell is really going on here, where the consequences are high stakes, which I find much more intriguing and engaging than simple amorality.
May 25, 2015
I LOVE this book! In fact I love it so much I read it twice and each time I was on the edge of my seat. Ayala is a kick-ass, demon-killing hunter with a sense of humor to-boot. This novel was EXACTLY what I needed after a long string of non-fiction books. Emmie Mears has a way of getting me hooked on her characters. ;) Go read it...NOW!
February 19, 2015
Fast-paced, dark but easily digestible and not without humor, satisfyingly updates (or, better, ignores) a lot of fiction's traditional roles and archetypes. Recommended to all except the very squeamish.
June 3, 2024
Probably a 3.5 but honestly the writer does a really nice job with dialog and several of the twists were both unexpected and plausible
February 10, 2016
I got the ebook of Storm in a Teacup last year, and it kicked around on my Kindle for a while, until I began to crave a fresh new urban fantasy. And boy, does this series deliver.
Despite a couple of somewhat cheesy elements (the main character's surname being one, and the fact she and the other Mediators all have violet eyes being the other), Storm in a Teacup gave a fresh face to the idea of a society of demon hunters in an alternate USA.
The violet eyes indicate that a person is destined to be a Mediator; they are taken from their parents and trained from a young age. The means by which they get their supernatural powers -- whether they are inherent, or bestowed during the training via external means -- aren't addressed in the first book, but hopefully will be down the track. One of the side-effects of that power is quite sinister and makes me wonder if the Mediators' origins are less than pure. The "taking babies from their parents" thing is another sign, as is the euphemistic name. They don't really "mediate" anything that we see; they are basically the world's pest control, trained to slaughter any demons that stick their noses out of hell. And they don't even get paid for it, which I found even more appalling!
Ayala is a strong female lead who knows what she wants. She has a taste for luxury in the privacy of her own home, and orange hair ... although I never pictured her that way due to the book's cover. (Also, orange and violet? Poor girl!) Far and away my favourite thing about the book was Ayala's voice. She is clever, sassy and fun, and tells her story in a first-person, conversational and often hilarious style that totally drew me in. I'd recommend this book just for the voice!
As far as the plot goes, it starts out in a fairly conventional "monster hunt" way, with the demons being the usual, icky and irredeemable evil. As the blurb foreshadows, though, the results of the demons' new project aren't as black and white as all that, and Ayala is quickly thrown between the rock of her Mediator indoctrination (demons bad) and the hard place that is her moral code (don't kill the innocent). I saw the main plot twist coming, but was happy to be taken along for the ride.
Although there is a lot of violence, the sex scene is of the "fade to black" sort, making this book a fairly clean read for anyone from their late teens onwards. (I don't remember there being swearing, but I tend not to notice that as much.) The story resolves itself, so I was left satisfied, but there are enough elements and questions left that I'll be reading on to find out more about this intriguing world.
4.5 stars.
Despite a couple of somewhat cheesy elements (the main character's surname being one, and the fact she and the other Mediators all have violet eyes being the other), Storm in a Teacup gave a fresh face to the idea of a society of demon hunters in an alternate USA.
The violet eyes indicate that a person is destined to be a Mediator; they are taken from their parents and trained from a young age. The means by which they get their supernatural powers -- whether they are inherent, or bestowed during the training via external means -- aren't addressed in the first book, but hopefully will be down the track. One of the side-effects of that power is quite sinister and makes me wonder if the Mediators' origins are less than pure. The "taking babies from their parents" thing is another sign, as is the euphemistic name. They don't really "mediate" anything that we see; they are basically the world's pest control, trained to slaughter any demons that stick their noses out of hell. And they don't even get paid for it, which I found even more appalling!
Ayala is a strong female lead who knows what she wants. She has a taste for luxury in the privacy of her own home, and orange hair ... although I never pictured her that way due to the book's cover. (Also, orange and violet? Poor girl!) Far and away my favourite thing about the book was Ayala's voice. She is clever, sassy and fun, and tells her story in a first-person, conversational and often hilarious style that totally drew me in. I'd recommend this book just for the voice!
As far as the plot goes, it starts out in a fairly conventional "monster hunt" way, with the demons being the usual, icky and irredeemable evil. As the blurb foreshadows, though, the results of the demons' new project aren't as black and white as all that, and Ayala is quickly thrown between the rock of her Mediator indoctrination (demons bad) and the hard place that is her moral code (don't kill the innocent). I saw the main plot twist coming, but was happy to be taken along for the ride.
Although there is a lot of violence, the sex scene is of the "fade to black" sort, making this book a fairly clean read for anyone from their late teens onwards. (I don't remember there being swearing, but I tend not to notice that as much.) The story resolves itself, so I was left satisfied, but there are enough elements and questions left that I'll be reading on to find out more about this intriguing world.
4.5 stars.
July 11, 2015
Ayala is a mediator so when a demon pops up it’s for her to eliminate the threat it poses to normal humans. Being a mediator isn’t her only job either she also spends her days working for a PR firm but if it was up to her boss with all the days she misses she would be gone. Ayala was raised with the mediators so she doesn’t know her birth mother because the moment she was born her purple eyes set her future. However she hasn’t given up hope that she’s out there somewhere but when a lead takes a new twist Ayala finds a new species of demon.
At first Ayala thinks the new demon is a hybrid that is evil after fighting four that are killing humans but it’s the fifth one that makes her question her original thoughts. The more she gets to know Mason the more she learns about what might have happened to her mother as well as what the shades really are. Ayala doesn’t date even her fellow mediator who has a long standing crush doesn’t interested her. However with Mason she finds something she’s been looking for. As the mediators get close to wiping out the shades will Ayala be able to save them as well as her the people she cares about?
I like Ayala she doesn’t form strong friendships but when you’re an mediator it’s a risky job. She’s tough but still very girlie I liked that right away about her. I love the chemistry between Mason and Ayala it was interesting to see her get over her dislike of hybrids and find what she needed. I’m not sure how I feel about how the book ended them but I have high hopes for the next book.
I picked up Storm in a Teacup purely based on the cover it’s just telling me I need to read it. I wasn’t sure what to expect other than a quick glance told me it was going to be an urban fantasy. I instantly was drawn into Ayala’s fast paced world as a mediator she spends a lot of time slaying demons so she’s on the go. While the concept is a typical urban fantasy I think the author does a great adding her own unique twists to create an exciting new world. Storm in the Teacup is a fast paced action packed adventure that captures the heart as well as the imagination. I loved Ayala she’s unique and I found her character easy to connect with I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. I actually finished the book in one day having a hard time putting it down because I had to know what was going to happen next. I really enjoyed the story and I’m looking forward to the next one.
At first Ayala thinks the new demon is a hybrid that is evil after fighting four that are killing humans but it’s the fifth one that makes her question her original thoughts. The more she gets to know Mason the more she learns about what might have happened to her mother as well as what the shades really are. Ayala doesn’t date even her fellow mediator who has a long standing crush doesn’t interested her. However with Mason she finds something she’s been looking for. As the mediators get close to wiping out the shades will Ayala be able to save them as well as her the people she cares about?
I like Ayala she doesn’t form strong friendships but when you’re an mediator it’s a risky job. She’s tough but still very girlie I liked that right away about her. I love the chemistry between Mason and Ayala it was interesting to see her get over her dislike of hybrids and find what she needed. I’m not sure how I feel about how the book ended them but I have high hopes for the next book.
I picked up Storm in a Teacup purely based on the cover it’s just telling me I need to read it. I wasn’t sure what to expect other than a quick glance told me it was going to be an urban fantasy. I instantly was drawn into Ayala’s fast paced world as a mediator she spends a lot of time slaying demons so she’s on the go. While the concept is a typical urban fantasy I think the author does a great adding her own unique twists to create an exciting new world. Storm in the Teacup is a fast paced action packed adventure that captures the heart as well as the imagination. I loved Ayala she’s unique and I found her character easy to connect with I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. I actually finished the book in one day having a hard time putting it down because I had to know what was going to happen next. I really enjoyed the story and I’m looking forward to the next one.
June 9, 2015
I love when a book grabs me from the start and makes me not want to put it down. The only reason I didn't finish this book more quickly is because I started it right before I went away on a vacation where I had absolutely no time at all to read. I finished it the day after I got home, staying up to 1 a.m. to do so because I just couldn't put it down. I borrowed it from Amazon Prime's free library and rather than wait a month to be eligible to borrow book two, I bought it. And isn't that the goal of an author who puts their books into the Prime free library? To expose themselves to more readers who will hopefully buy their other books? It worked for me with this one.
Ayala Storme feels real, not fictional. She not "over the top" anything and she's certainly not a "cookie cutter" character. The story is fresh (at least to me) which is a huge plus in my opinion. The biggest downside to it for me, though, was that it was a little too gruesome at times. The descriptions of carnage were just a little too descriptive. I wish that had been toned down a bit but it wasn't enough to stop me from reading and loving this original and very exciting book. I have book two already queued up on my kindle.
Ayala Storme feels real, not fictional. She not "over the top" anything and she's certainly not a "cookie cutter" character. The story is fresh (at least to me) which is a huge plus in my opinion. The biggest downside to it for me, though, was that it was a little too gruesome at times. The descriptions of carnage were just a little too descriptive. I wish that had been toned down a bit but it wasn't enough to stop me from reading and loving this original and very exciting book. I have book two already queued up on my kindle.
February 4, 2015
What can I say about a book that kept me so riveted that I tried to keep reading while cooking dinner (Ayala Storme could probably multitask with sharp objects, but I can’t) and also made me dream that my cat was spending his nights fighting demons?
This one really took over my head.
Storm in a Teacup’s badass heroine, Ayala Storme, narrates with a razor-sharp voice. She spends the bulk of her time covered in demon blood, but she also appreciates silk robes, bubble baths, and bunnies. Ayala’s wit is hilarious and cutting, undeniably fun to read, but there’s much more to her than that. She’s compelling and layered, and it’s just fun to spend time with her. I hope we’ll get to read more about her soon.
Ayala’s far from being the only wonderful thing about this book. It’s fast-paced and exciting, it’s surprising enough to make you gasp out loud in restaurants (true story), and of course – if you’ve read Emmie Mears before, you’ll know this – it punches your emotional stomach pretty hard. I mean, in the best possible way.
SiaT is fresh, fun urban fantasy, with all the depth and heart I've come to expect (and love) in Emmie Mears' work. I can’t wait for the next installment.
This one really took over my head.
Storm in a Teacup’s badass heroine, Ayala Storme, narrates with a razor-sharp voice. She spends the bulk of her time covered in demon blood, but she also appreciates silk robes, bubble baths, and bunnies. Ayala’s wit is hilarious and cutting, undeniably fun to read, but there’s much more to her than that. She’s compelling and layered, and it’s just fun to spend time with her. I hope we’ll get to read more about her soon.
Ayala’s far from being the only wonderful thing about this book. It’s fast-paced and exciting, it’s surprising enough to make you gasp out loud in restaurants (true story), and of course – if you’ve read Emmie Mears before, you’ll know this – it punches your emotional stomach pretty hard. I mean, in the best possible way.
SiaT is fresh, fun urban fantasy, with all the depth and heart I've come to expect (and love) in Emmie Mears' work. I can’t wait for the next installment.
March 24, 2015
I'll start out by saying that Urban Fantasy is not really my genre -- I'm only recently discovering and growing into my sci-fi nerdiness.
That said, Storm in a Teacup is a fun frolic into another world, similar to ours but definitely not the same.
Emmie Mears writes in a way that assumes her reader knows certain things yet shows them to you anyway. It's just an accepted fact of life that there are witches in our midst and that Mediators were born to fight demons and are marked by their violet eyes, right? YupITotallyKnewThat. This is a great technique because the reader is introduced to this world without being beaten over the head with it.
Ayala Storme is a woman of routine with a strong sense of self. She fights the good fight, but also accepts that some things just are what they are.
That is, until they aren't.
And then she's the first one in line to figure things out and make them right. Yep, she's a badass.
I really enjoyed this book, and really look forward to see how the story unfolds in the next installment.
That said, Storm in a Teacup is a fun frolic into another world, similar to ours but definitely not the same.
Emmie Mears writes in a way that assumes her reader knows certain things yet shows them to you anyway. It's just an accepted fact of life that there are witches in our midst and that Mediators were born to fight demons and are marked by their violet eyes, right? YupITotallyKnewThat. This is a great technique because the reader is introduced to this world without being beaten over the head with it.
Ayala Storme is a woman of routine with a strong sense of self. She fights the good fight, but also accepts that some things just are what they are.
That is, until they aren't.
And then she's the first one in line to figure things out and make them right. Yep, she's a badass.
I really enjoyed this book, and really look forward to see how the story unfolds in the next installment.
June 22, 2016
I started this book thinking it was going to be a Kate Daniels knock off and was hyping myself up to hate it. It proved to be surprisingly entertaining though. I liked the heroine and her sass - although I thought she was managing to kill the super-demon things waaayyy too easily despite everyone, including herself, claiming it was so difficult. But besides that implausible weirdness, I enjoyed this book. There is a friendship/romance although this is not a romance novel - in fact do not enter this expecting a HEA or even a HFN. I'm not gonna lie though, I am kind of wishing that romantic element will continue into the next book but I get the feeling that that was it. Oh well - it was still a great book.
February 2, 2016
DNF @ 30%.
I tried starting this book twice. It started slow and never hooked me. World-building? What's that? Repeated sentences such as "Everyone knows you're a mediator from Birth. We're all born with violet eyes. Everybody knows what mediators do." ORLY?!
I was easily bored & distracted. The accents (narrator for that one, but the way they talked wasn't right either) were awful. The plot points were also confusing. I think I'm up to 0 for 3 this week? :(
I tried starting this book twice. It started slow and never hooked me. World-building? What's that? Repeated sentences such as "Everyone knows you're a mediator from Birth. We're all born with violet eyes. Everybody knows what mediators do." ORLY?!
I was easily bored & distracted. The accents (narrator for that one, but the way they talked wasn't right either) were awful. The plot points were also confusing. I think I'm up to 0 for 3 this week? :(
February 3, 2015
I found Storm in a Teacup difficult to put down. Ayala Storme is a wonderfully written character. She's tough without being invincible. She's flawed and admits it. The world she inhabits is very familiar to this reader, but with a some very important differences. The supporting cast are all well written with very human foibles. I highly recommend this book.
March 27, 2015
New and Amazing
The characters are original, intelligent, rich, full of depth and well written. The story line is uniquely designed. A world that's believable and combines the best and worst of humanity's 'cultural ignorance.' The language speaks to truths often overlooked. How nearsighted humanity can be. I hope there's another book in the works.
The characters are original, intelligent, rich, full of depth and well written. The story line is uniquely designed. A world that's believable and combines the best and worst of humanity's 'cultural ignorance.' The language speaks to truths often overlooked. How nearsighted humanity can be. I hope there's another book in the works.
May 4, 2016
A great urban fantasy read!
Ayala Storme juggles writing PR statements by day and killing demons by night as a Mediator. After investigating the disappearance of a young girl, she finds the demons in Tennessee have cooked up a new breed of monsters. Things aren't always black and white, and when one of the new monsters saves her life, Ayala discovers a grey area in her job as a demon slayer.
Ayala Storme juggles writing PR statements by day and killing demons by night as a Mediator. After investigating the disappearance of a young girl, she finds the demons in Tennessee have cooked up a new breed of monsters. Things aren't always black and white, and when one of the new monsters saves her life, Ayala discovers a grey area in her job as a demon slayer.
June 22, 2016
I am a fan of snarky heroines especially when they have smart internal dialogue. Also a story where a person questions everything they have ever known and gone against the grain to do the right thing. This book got me with a good intro scene that established her competence and compassion. The book got progressively better as it went.
May 14, 2015
Ayala Storme is like a female John Taylor (from the night side series). This first book by Emmie Mears has the potential to become just as successful as a series. The world she has created is close to the one we live In but different enough to have potential for many more surprising stories.
April 13, 2015
I enjoyed it, but a week later I cant remember what it was about. lost among the rest of urban fantasy, but wasn't a waste of money
February 23, 2015
Fun fast read, the dilemma with the shades sucked me in - looking forward to more
September 4, 2017
First things first: The title of this book all by it's lonesome probably deserves five stars.
Secondly, I do not usually like first person present tense narratives. There is nothing wrong with them, I just usually can't get over the awkwardness of them, even when they are done well. This book is the first time I have not had that problem - in fact, it didn't actually dawn on me that was how the book was written till a few chapters in. This was a pleasant surprise.
Third, this book held loads of other pleasant surprises. It was well thought out, well written and builds an amazing world that seems, from my point of view, relatively unique. The only thing in the entire book that I'm unsure how to feel about would be the brief...romance. The plot is not overly complicated, but it didn't need to be, either. There are still some twists and turns that might raise an eyebrow and a few moments where I thought the main character was being deliberately oblivious but I'm learning that what I think is obvious isn't always obvious to everyone so perhaps I judge her too harshly there. Overall, I liked how well thought out the character of Ayala was. UF heroines have a tendency to either be great works of art or blithering idiots - though there are many in between, it seems to go one way or the other, for the most part.
My only real gripe with this book: She refers to herself often as a very girly person. I am not really a girly-girl type and while I can easily read books written about such types, Ayala strides the line nicely as a surprisingly well balanced person for the way Mediators are raised. Neither over the top girly or determinedly butch (as some UF heroines try to describe themselves). In short, she's not actually terribly girly and it made me snort every time she described herself as such.
Enough rambling from me, you should read this. Yes, you. Go on.
Secondly, I do not usually like first person present tense narratives. There is nothing wrong with them, I just usually can't get over the awkwardness of them, even when they are done well. This book is the first time I have not had that problem - in fact, it didn't actually dawn on me that was how the book was written till a few chapters in. This was a pleasant surprise.
Third, this book held loads of other pleasant surprises. It was well thought out, well written and builds an amazing world that seems, from my point of view, relatively unique. The only thing in the entire book that I'm unsure how to feel about would be the brief...romance. The plot is not overly complicated, but it didn't need to be, either. There are still some twists and turns that might raise an eyebrow and a few moments where I thought the main character was being deliberately oblivious but I'm learning that what I think is obvious isn't always obvious to everyone so perhaps I judge her too harshly there. Overall, I liked how well thought out the character of Ayala was. UF heroines have a tendency to either be great works of art or blithering idiots - though there are many in between, it seems to go one way or the other, for the most part.
My only real gripe with this book: She refers to herself often as a very girly person. I am not really a girly-girl type and while I can easily read books written about such types, Ayala strides the line nicely as a surprisingly well balanced person for the way Mediators are raised. Neither over the top girly or determinedly butch (as some UF heroines try to describe themselves). In short, she's not actually terribly girly and it made me snort every time she described herself as such.
Enough rambling from me, you should read this. Yes, you. Go on.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews