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She Who Is Wild #1
Storm: Dystopian Romantasy
Not yet published
Expected 1 Oct 26The enemy commander has claimed her, an unworthy lightning farmer, as his wife.
In the land of Halo, Storm is just another poor slave to the chosen people, the hollows. Until they find themselves on the edge of extinction due to the war with the creatures in the neighbouring territory—a race filled with magic and possibilities Storm has always dreamed of running towards, away from the cruelty of her land.
In need of breeders, the keepers of Halo go in search of women who have enough solence to give them the offspring they desire. To Storm's dismay, she has just enough to be brought before the devastatingly handsome commander, leaving her brother and mother for dead. Instead of giving her to one of his soldiers, he declares he’ll keep her for himself.
But there’s one catch: he promises to never touch her. Not unless she asks for it—or runs.
With grief crashing over her, all Storm has left is an uncontrollable rage and lust for the man she now calls her husband. The man she proclaims she will hate until her last breath… unless she can escape him first.
In the land of Halo, Storm is just another poor slave to the chosen people, the hollows. Until they find themselves on the edge of extinction due to the war with the creatures in the neighbouring territory—a race filled with magic and possibilities Storm has always dreamed of running towards, away from the cruelty of her land.
In need of breeders, the keepers of Halo go in search of women who have enough solence to give them the offspring they desire. To Storm's dismay, she has just enough to be brought before the devastatingly handsome commander, leaving her brother and mother for dead. Instead of giving her to one of his soldiers, he declares he’ll keep her for himself.
But there’s one catch: he promises to never touch her. Not unless she asks for it—or runs.
With grief crashing over her, all Storm has left is an uncontrollable rage and lust for the man she now calls her husband. The man she proclaims she will hate until her last breath… unless she can escape him first.
386 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 1, 2026
About the author
R.A. Raine
8 books132 followersR.A. Raine is an author from coastal Australia. When she’s not immersed in epic romance stories, you can find her searching for fairy portals or spending time with friends and family.
You can find her hanging out on Instagram @r.a.raineauthor, or in her Facebook readers group (R.A. Raine Readers Group).
All enquiries can be directed to her email at raraineauthor@gmail.com.
You can find her hanging out on Instagram @r.a.raineauthor, or in her Facebook readers group (R.A. Raine Readers Group).
All enquiries can be directed to her email at raraineauthor@gmail.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
August 19, 2026
Thank you to the Nerd Fam for the early ARC!
3.5 stars!
I have some mixed feelings about this book. I had a fun time reading it, but there were definitely some things that bugged me.
I had a hard time believing the romantic aspects of Storm and Melek’s relationship. Storm is taken from everything she has ever known and isolated, with only a real connection to the man keeping her isolated and their maid. Melek doesn’t physically hurt her and does support her emotionally when she has a hard time processing her trauma. But they don’t really go on dates, he isn’t home often, and he’s pretty distant. He is basically all Storm has, so of course she is going to rely on him and start rationalizing being with him as a way to actually feel something again.
I do think there is real love there on Melek’s side, and the spice between them is great! I’m not denying that. But I didn’t really feel the romance behind it. My feelings were pretty solidified when we found out they are mates 🤮. Melek is part fae and Storm is his mate, so his obsession with her makes sense. But Storm isn’t fae, and it’s even mentioned that humans don’t typically feel the mate bond. So to me, it makes sense that Storm wouldn’t necessarily be in love with him in the same way. I just wish we had gotten more development of their relationship outside of the physical side.
Another thing that started to bug me was how often we were reminded about Melek’s differences. We’re constantly told how tall he is compared to the other men around him and how his skin tone doesn’t match the other council members. Then Adam shows up and we’re reminded again that Melek is normally the tallest person in the room, which is obviously a hint that something is different about him. I just wish the author trusted the readers a little more to put the pieces together instead of repeatedly reminding us of these differences.
That being said, I did enjoy the spice and the motherhood aspects of the story. There’s also a big cliffhanger at the end, and there is still quite a bit of conflict that needs to be resolved, so I’m definitely interested to see what happens next.
I just hope that if Melek and Storm are endgame, we get to see more than just sex and possession between them. I want there to be actual romance and a deeper connection instead of their relationship feeling like they were forced together because of their circumstances and the mate bond.
3.5 stars!
I have some mixed feelings about this book. I had a fun time reading it, but there were definitely some things that bugged me.
I had a hard time believing the romantic aspects of Storm and Melek’s relationship. Storm is taken from everything she has ever known and isolated, with only a real connection to the man keeping her isolated and their maid. Melek doesn’t physically hurt her and does support her emotionally when she has a hard time processing her trauma. But they don’t really go on dates, he isn’t home often, and he’s pretty distant. He is basically all Storm has, so of course she is going to rely on him and start rationalizing being with him as a way to actually feel something again.
I do think there is real love there on Melek’s side, and the spice between them is great! I’m not denying that. But I didn’t really feel the romance behind it. My feelings were pretty solidified when we found out they are mates 🤮. Melek is part fae and Storm is his mate, so his obsession with her makes sense. But Storm isn’t fae, and it’s even mentioned that humans don’t typically feel the mate bond. So to me, it makes sense that Storm wouldn’t necessarily be in love with him in the same way. I just wish we had gotten more development of their relationship outside of the physical side.
Another thing that started to bug me was how often we were reminded about Melek’s differences. We’re constantly told how tall he is compared to the other men around him and how his skin tone doesn’t match the other council members. Then Adam shows up and we’re reminded again that Melek is normally the tallest person in the room, which is obviously a hint that something is different about him. I just wish the author trusted the readers a little more to put the pieces together instead of repeatedly reminding us of these differences.
That being said, I did enjoy the spice and the motherhood aspects of the story. There’s also a big cliffhanger at the end, and there is still quite a bit of conflict that needs to be resolved, so I’m definitely interested to see what happens next.
I just hope that if Melek and Storm are endgame, we get to see more than just sex and possession between them. I want there to be actual romance and a deeper connection instead of their relationship feeling like they were forced together because of their circumstances and the mate bond.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2026
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
Wow! What a beautiful and clever story.
A dystopian world with a fantasy world.
If you love Dystopian-Romantasy put it on your TBR, buy the Indie copy. She will go trad with this book.
I need Book 2! This is an absolute banger!
I will come back and write more when I have processed.
Wow! What a beautiful and clever story.
A dystopian world with a fantasy world.
If you love Dystopian-Romantasy put it on your TBR, buy the Indie copy. She will go trad with this book.
I need Book 2! This is an absolute banger!
I will come back and write more when I have processed.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an eARC directly from the author and this is my honest review.
2.5 stars
This book was alright. Overall, the pacing was slow, there was a lot of telling rather than showing, and there was an abundance of repetitive internal dialogue that kept cycling through the same thoughts. I will say, I really liked the premise of the story and the world in which the story took place.
The opening chapter showed us who the MFC and her family were, the slavery they were forced into, and the depravity of their conditions. We were also shown the MFC’s emotions and her rage toward the privileged people living luxurious lives off the backs of her and people like her. I felt connected to the story. I will say, though, that the beginning was a bit slow, as these early chapters were used to build the world and establish the specific environment in which the MFC and her family lived.
Unfortunately, the overall pacing of the book stayed slow. It started to pick up near the end, but by that point, I was not that invested.
What I really loved about the story was that the MFC had a mission: to escape and do what was best for her children. She stuck to that mission, even with her waxing and waning feelings toward her husband. I appreciated her dedication and the theme that a mother will do whatever she has to do for her children.
I also loved the family connection between the MFC, her mother, and her brother.
There were some surprises and twists. The first one I saw coming, but the other one I did not. I had a suspicion about the second one, but I was still surprised when it actually came to fruition. That was fun!
Unfortunately, I don’t think the author did a fantastic job demonstrating why the MFC hated the MMC. The book started in a way that made complete sense for why she would hate him, but with the 12-year time jump, we didn’t really get to see any of the progression from hate to passion and some semblance of a connection.
We were told the MFC grew to like the MMC because he was an amazing father and a stable husband. However, we really weren’t shown many of these moments, and that was a bit disappointing. What we were shown was the MMC starting to warm up to the MFC and demonstrating his love for her, which challenged her thinking about him. The history of the MMC being her oppressor, of course, made sense as a reason for her to hate him. But again, because of the 12-year time jump, we didn’t really get to see any of the progression in her thinking or how she came to view him differently.
Because we were told that 1) she loved the intimacy with the MMC, which we were shown multiple times, 2) the MMC was an excellent father, and 3) she wasn’t sure she could leave him, the MFC constantly, and I mean CONSTANTLY, saying she hated the MMC didn’t make sense. I did not believe her. Even at the end, she essentially said, “I love him, but I hate him.” What?!
Also, because the story jumped 12 years, we had to be informed in some capacity about what happened during those 12 years. Most of this information was told through the MFC’s internal dialogue. This made the plot feel so slow, the internal dialogue became exhausting, and I got really bored. There were a few chapters that flashed back to give us some information, but those were rare and didn’t happen often.
I also found some of the MFC’s statements contradictory at times. Don’t get me wrong, I understood the ebb and flow of her being angry with the MMC, especially because of what happened at the beginning of the book, him keeping her in their home like a cage without explaining why, and him being emotionally distant from her. Yet, he demonstrated that he was a thoughtful and amazing father, which she absolutely loved because she could see that he loved their child. Despite this, she would have thoughts about how the MMC could never love anyone, saying, “he doesn’t know the first thing about loving others.” WHAT?! She had just acknowledged what an amazing father he was and how much he loved their son. This did not make sense to me and felt inconsistent.
The emotional maturity of the MFC at the beginning also felt like that of a 13-year-old. For example, the MFC called one of the guard’s dick “weeny.” Later, she called him “tiny dick.” She also said “fuck balls.” These moments just made her feel incredibly immature to me.
The introduction of the mate bond also felt really abrupt. Similarly, the magic system, overarching world, political issues, and so much more were under explained. I wish there had been some cutting of the internal dialogue that was repetitive, and there was more time dedicated to building the relationship between the MC’s as well as more time for the overall story so that the ending was not rushed.
Overall, there were aspects of the story I enjoyed, particularly the MFC’s determination to escape and do what was best for her children, as well as some of the twists. However, the slow pacing, excessive internal dialogue, and lack of showing the emotional progression between the MFC and MMC made it difficult for me to stay invested.
I do not plan to pick up book 2.
2.5 stars
This book was alright. Overall, the pacing was slow, there was a lot of telling rather than showing, and there was an abundance of repetitive internal dialogue that kept cycling through the same thoughts. I will say, I really liked the premise of the story and the world in which the story took place.
The opening chapter showed us who the MFC and her family were, the slavery they were forced into, and the depravity of their conditions. We were also shown the MFC’s emotions and her rage toward the privileged people living luxurious lives off the backs of her and people like her. I felt connected to the story. I will say, though, that the beginning was a bit slow, as these early chapters were used to build the world and establish the specific environment in which the MFC and her family lived.
Unfortunately, the overall pacing of the book stayed slow. It started to pick up near the end, but by that point, I was not that invested.
What I really loved about the story was that the MFC had a mission: to escape and do what was best for her children. She stuck to that mission, even with her waxing and waning feelings toward her husband. I appreciated her dedication and the theme that a mother will do whatever she has to do for her children.
I also loved the family connection between the MFC, her mother, and her brother.
There were some surprises and twists. The first one I saw coming, but the other one I did not. I had a suspicion about the second one, but I was still surprised when it actually came to fruition. That was fun!
Unfortunately, I don’t think the author did a fantastic job demonstrating why the MFC hated the MMC. The book started in a way that made complete sense for why she would hate him, but with the 12-year time jump, we didn’t really get to see any of the progression from hate to passion and some semblance of a connection.
We were told the MFC grew to like the MMC because he was an amazing father and a stable husband. However, we really weren’t shown many of these moments, and that was a bit disappointing. What we were shown was the MMC starting to warm up to the MFC and demonstrating his love for her, which challenged her thinking about him. The history of the MMC being her oppressor, of course, made sense as a reason for her to hate him. But again, because of the 12-year time jump, we didn’t really get to see any of the progression in her thinking or how she came to view him differently.
Because we were told that 1) she loved the intimacy with the MMC, which we were shown multiple times, 2) the MMC was an excellent father, and 3) she wasn’t sure she could leave him, the MFC constantly, and I mean CONSTANTLY, saying she hated the MMC didn’t make sense. I did not believe her. Even at the end, she essentially said, “I love him, but I hate him.” What?!
Also, because the story jumped 12 years, we had to be informed in some capacity about what happened during those 12 years. Most of this information was told through the MFC’s internal dialogue. This made the plot feel so slow, the internal dialogue became exhausting, and I got really bored. There were a few chapters that flashed back to give us some information, but those were rare and didn’t happen often.
I also found some of the MFC’s statements contradictory at times. Don’t get me wrong, I understood the ebb and flow of her being angry with the MMC, especially because of what happened at the beginning of the book, him keeping her in their home like a cage without explaining why, and him being emotionally distant from her. Yet, he demonstrated that he was a thoughtful and amazing father, which she absolutely loved because she could see that he loved their child. Despite this, she would have thoughts about how the MMC could never love anyone, saying, “he doesn’t know the first thing about loving others.” WHAT?! She had just acknowledged what an amazing father he was and how much he loved their son. This did not make sense to me and felt inconsistent.
The emotional maturity of the MFC at the beginning also felt like that of a 13-year-old. For example, the MFC called one of the guard’s dick “weeny.” Later, she called him “tiny dick.” She also said “fuck balls.” These moments just made her feel incredibly immature to me.
The introduction of the mate bond also felt really abrupt. Similarly, the magic system, overarching world, political issues, and so much more were under explained. I wish there had been some cutting of the internal dialogue that was repetitive, and there was more time dedicated to building the relationship between the MC’s as well as more time for the overall story so that the ending was not rushed.
Overall, there were aspects of the story I enjoyed, particularly the MFC’s determination to escape and do what was best for her children, as well as some of the twists. However, the slow pacing, excessive internal dialogue, and lack of showing the emotional progression between the MFC and MMC made it difficult for me to stay invested.
I do not plan to pick up book 2.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2026
3 ⭐️
This was such a fast paced and intriguing read. The first part of this book definitely reeled me in.
Our FMC lives in this dystopian world where she has to work performing maintenance on lightening rods that harvest energy for the ruling class. Her people are treated as labor slaves and can barely get enough of their essential needs. The ruling class has been struggling with infertility which leads to our FMC getting taken and forced to become the lead commander’s wife.
Now I really really liked our story up until that point, but then we got a time jump that kinda made the story feel a little disjointed to me. It kinda felt a little like a cop out to then be able to be like “okay here’s spice now between our MCs without needing any build up but it’s okay bc it’s like 12 years in the future”. There was still a bit of a back and forth dual timeline aspect that did dive deeper into the relationship between our MCs, but I would have preferred to stay in chronological order with more depth into the relationship.
Overall, I did still enjoy this story and the book was definitely fast paced and easy to get through. I think that if you love feminine rage, protective mothers, lots of “my wife” moments, and dystopian romantasy books then you could definitely really enjoy this!
Thank you so much to the author and Love & Lore PR for an ARC copy of this book. All review opinions are my own.
This was such a fast paced and intriguing read. The first part of this book definitely reeled me in.
Our FMC lives in this dystopian world where she has to work performing maintenance on lightening rods that harvest energy for the ruling class. Her people are treated as labor slaves and can barely get enough of their essential needs. The ruling class has been struggling with infertility which leads to our FMC getting taken and forced to become the lead commander’s wife.
Now I really really liked our story up until that point, but then we got a time jump that kinda made the story feel a little disjointed to me. It kinda felt a little like a cop out to then be able to be like “okay here’s spice now between our MCs without needing any build up but it’s okay bc it’s like 12 years in the future”. There was still a bit of a back and forth dual timeline aspect that did dive deeper into the relationship between our MCs, but I would have preferred to stay in chronological order with more depth into the relationship.
Overall, I did still enjoy this story and the book was definitely fast paced and easy to get through. I think that if you love feminine rage, protective mothers, lots of “my wife” moments, and dystopian romantasy books then you could definitely really enjoy this!
Thank you so much to the author and Love & Lore PR for an ARC copy of this book. All review opinions are my own.
August 25, 2026
It’s stories like this as to why I enjoy reading so much. This was such a needed story for me to read. This makes me feel strong and needed as a woman. What a great read.
Storm is amazing, I love her character. I love that she is a woman in her thirties and everything she does is for her children and the people she loves. Which eventually includes her husband, which was such a. Big sigh of relief on my part.
I wasn’t so big on Melek to begin with but as the story went on, his character and why he does things made so much more sense. Storm and Melek are very much made for eachother and their love is incredible.
And now I have to wait…
Storm is amazing, I love her character. I love that she is a woman in her thirties and everything she does is for her children and the people she loves. Which eventually includes her husband, which was such a. Big sigh of relief on my part.
I wasn’t so big on Melek to begin with but as the story went on, his character and why he does things made so much more sense. Storm and Melek are very much made for eachother and their love is incredible.
And now I have to wait…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Did Not Finish
September 10, 2026DNF’d at 40%. I really wanted to love this one considering the tropes and my love for dystopian but the unexpected shift in timeline at ~15% felt unearned. The next 15-20% was this rather detailed sexual scene that again felt unearned.. not enough build up for context. It felt like it was somewhat tossed in here to entice some readers to continue. The sudden shift just through me out of the story line and I couldn’t recover. This will be for some just not for me. 🫶🏽
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Apparently I DO Like the Pregnancy Trope?!
Thank you so much to R.A. Raine for the eARC of Storm! All opinions are entirely my own.
I need to start this review with a confession: pregnancy and breeding tropes are usually VERY much not my thing.
So imagine my surprise when Storm came along and made me eat those words.
Storm begins as a nineteen-year-old lightning farmer in Halo, essentially enslaved by the hollows who rule her world. When it is discovered that she has enough solence to potentially produce the offspring they desperately need, she is pulled from her life and brought into their breeding program—only for Commander Melek to claim her for himself.
And their relationship starts under circumstances that are, to put it mildly, COMPLICATED.
Melek tells Storm he will never touch her unless she asks him to—or unless she runs. Then the story jumps twelve years into the future. Storm and Melek are still together, they have a son, she is pregnant again, and suddenly I had approximately 800 questions about what happened between these two people.
The book gradually answers them by moving between different points in their relationship, and I loved getting to piece together how Storm and Melek went from there to the family we meet twelve years later.
But what surprised me most was how much more this story became than its initial premise.
Storm explores grief, pregnancy loss, motherhood, bodily autonomy, power, and agency in a world where Storm has spent most of her life having very little control over what happens to her. That made the pregnancy storyline work for me in a way this trope usually doesn't. It wasn't simply there to manufacture stakes or push the romance forward. Motherhood is deeply intertwined with Storm's character, her trauma, her anger, and the choices she makes.
And Storm is MESSY.
She is angry. She is grieving. She makes decisions that frustrated me. She loves fiercely. She doesn't always know what she wants, and sometimes the things she wants seem to contradict one another. I loved that R.A. Raine allowed her to be that complicated.
And then there's Melek.
Listen.
Their relationship is not uncomplicated, healthy little fantasy romance territory—and that's precisely what made me want to keep reading. There are enormous questions of power and consent built into the foundation of their relationship, and the story doesn't magically erase those simply because attraction develops between them. Watching their dynamic evolve across the different timelines was easily one of my favorite parts of the book.
There's also a much larger dystopian fantasy story unfolding around them: a corrupt society, war, slavery, questions about Storm's heritage, and a world that clearly has FAR more going on than we initially understand.
I went into Storm expecting the pregnancy/breeding elements to be the part I'd have to overlook to enjoy the rest of the book.
Instead, they became part of the reason the story worked so well for me.
If you like dystopian romantasy, morally complicated relationships, messy women, open-door spice, enemies-to-lovers tension, motherhood explored as part of a heroine's identity rather than her entire identity, and stories that aren't afraid to make their characters—and their readers—uncomfortable, put Storm on your radar.
Storm releases October 1, 2026, and after that ending, I am VERY interested to see where the She Who Is Wild duet goes next.
Apparently I DO Like the Pregnancy Trope?!
Thank you so much to R.A. Raine for the eARC of Storm! All opinions are entirely my own.
I need to start this review with a confession: pregnancy and breeding tropes are usually VERY much not my thing.
So imagine my surprise when Storm came along and made me eat those words.
Storm begins as a nineteen-year-old lightning farmer in Halo, essentially enslaved by the hollows who rule her world. When it is discovered that she has enough solence to potentially produce the offspring they desperately need, she is pulled from her life and brought into their breeding program—only for Commander Melek to claim her for himself.
And their relationship starts under circumstances that are, to put it mildly, COMPLICATED.
Melek tells Storm he will never touch her unless she asks him to—or unless she runs. Then the story jumps twelve years into the future. Storm and Melek are still together, they have a son, she is pregnant again, and suddenly I had approximately 800 questions about what happened between these two people.
The book gradually answers them by moving between different points in their relationship, and I loved getting to piece together how Storm and Melek went from there to the family we meet twelve years later.
But what surprised me most was how much more this story became than its initial premise.
Storm explores grief, pregnancy loss, motherhood, bodily autonomy, power, and agency in a world where Storm has spent most of her life having very little control over what happens to her. That made the pregnancy storyline work for me in a way this trope usually doesn't. It wasn't simply there to manufacture stakes or push the romance forward. Motherhood is deeply intertwined with Storm's character, her trauma, her anger, and the choices she makes.
And Storm is MESSY.
She is angry. She is grieving. She makes decisions that frustrated me. She loves fiercely. She doesn't always know what she wants, and sometimes the things she wants seem to contradict one another. I loved that R.A. Raine allowed her to be that complicated.
And then there's Melek.
Listen.
Their relationship is not uncomplicated, healthy little fantasy romance territory—and that's precisely what made me want to keep reading. There are enormous questions of power and consent built into the foundation of their relationship, and the story doesn't magically erase those simply because attraction develops between them. Watching their dynamic evolve across the different timelines was easily one of my favorite parts of the book.
There's also a much larger dystopian fantasy story unfolding around them: a corrupt society, war, slavery, questions about Storm's heritage, and a world that clearly has FAR more going on than we initially understand.
I went into Storm expecting the pregnancy/breeding elements to be the part I'd have to overlook to enjoy the rest of the book.
Instead, they became part of the reason the story worked so well for me.
If you like dystopian romantasy, morally complicated relationships, messy women, open-door spice, enemies-to-lovers tension, motherhood explored as part of a heroine's identity rather than her entire identity, and stories that aren't afraid to make their characters—and their readers—uncomfortable, put Storm on your radar.
Storm releases October 1, 2026, and after that ending, I am VERY interested to see where the She Who Is Wild duet goes next.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"Melek has never been a logical choice. He is pure vibes. He is a magnet, drawing me in, my power feeding off of him. There's no logic in us."
I had the privilege of reading the eARC of Storm, and OH. MY. GOD. Where do I even begin?!
I started this book immediately after receiving the ARC, and finished it in less than two days. Responsibilities? Sleep schedule? What are those?! Once I started, I refused to put it down because of how good it was. The characters? The story? The world? The last 30%? I loved everything!
Part I does an amazing job of making you connect with Storm. You feel the injustice, the helplessness, and the hatred for everything happening in her world almost as intensely as she does.
Part II is where I completely fell in love with our FMC. She is complex, stubborn, so full of rage, and so incredibly unapologetic about what she wants. Really. She is not afraid to admit her own desires or lust. She knows she is addicted to her husband, and hates him for it and for all the things he makes her feel... but she still wants him.
Storm is fierce and never gives up, she wants a better life for herself and her children, no matter how impossible it seems. She is a mother who would do absolutely anything for her children, and I loved that about her.
And Melek... God, LORD DADDY COMMANDER MELEK. THE MAN YOU ARE. He was serious, controlling, possessive, protective, and SO OBSESSED WITH STORM. I expected him to be nothing more than the infuriating enemy commander, I even kind of hated him for like, two or three chapters, but he managed to surprise me so many times throughout the story, and now I love him.
I loved the evolution of Storm and Melek's relationship. I'd love to scream about it in much more detail, but I don't want to spoil anything, so I'm just going to leave it at that and add a quote that I really liked:
"The way our souls collide is irrevocable. We are entwined. I want us, even if it's madness."
And the spice level does not disappoint. I knew we were in for a lot of spicy scenes because of, you know, Melek, but I still wasn't entirely prepared?! Not complaining, though. We love a man who has made it his personal mission to provide pleasure to his wife.
The pacing of the book was great, too. I liked how everything flowed, and I enjoyed getting glimpses of some really interesting events that happened in the past.
Part III, I love you. 🩶 From now on, you will be living rent-free in my mind. Some of the revelations that came around 70% through made me want to immediately jump back to earlier chapters and reread them, because suddenly my perspective on Melek had changed. And I LOVE when a book can make me look back at earlier scenes and see them in a completely different light.
This was an amazing book, and I highly recommend it if you're looking for:
⚡️Dystopian romantasy
⚡️Femenine rage
⚡️Enemies to lovers
⚡️Forced marriage
⚡️"Don't touch me and I won't touch you."
⚡️Fierce FMC
⚡️Scary MMC, only soft for her
⚡️Characters over thirty
Thank you so much R.A. Raine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy
4.25 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Storm by R.A. Raine
A gritty fantasy centred on Storm, a slave and lightning farmer, lives in a world where lineage and blood mean the difference between starvation and abundance. She is taken as a commanders wife against her will and stays locked away, so we as the reader are isolated along with her. As the world gradually opens up, the story shows us more of the war, systemic injustice, destroyed morality and a society that repackages cruelty as high society and more of how our characters react to and are shaped by that world. What begins as a frustratingly claustrophobic story develops into an emotionally intense journey of survival, determination, found connections and a much deeper understanding of the world.
Dystopian romantasy • enemies-to-lovers • forced marriage • magic • slavery • war • strong FMC • high stakes
My thoughts
The beginning felt like marital drama, and I genuinely didn't expect that going in. I felt a bit trapped just like Storm.
I was expecting to understand the world more. I wanted to understand what exists outside their immediate situation. Because if there is no world outside worth living for, the hope is diminished.
Then the world opens.
After the first third.
We learn how Storm spent her first years in the Halo. We see her interacting with others. We learn more about the cruelty, oppression, the destruction of morality, and the screaming injustice that has been repackaged as high society.
This was where the book began to gain much more depth for me. And I began to understand Storm differently.
I understood Storm as a mother and daughter.
She goes from destroyed to determined. She finds the power to pick herself up and act. That transformation gave her much more emotional weight for me.
I think, in retrospect, we needed to experience that initial rut with her.
We needed to feel stuck, just as she was.
We needed that feeling of having no outside world and no reprieve before the world could open up and the contrast could really land.
The point where everything changed
After around 40%, I could not move from my seat until I reached the last page.
I could not stop.
I was genuinely worried about their safety and completely invested in finding out what would happen.
The book had gone from making me feel trapped to making me unable to leave.
Getting to know Melek was unexpected.
His story wasn't obvious to me, and what we discover towards the end allowed him to come into himself as well.
That added another layer to his character and made his journey much more meaningful.
Sunny, Sera and Phoenix all hold a special place in my heart.
Suffice to say:
I sobbed.
Overall
I think this book grows in depth, meaning and world-building complexity as it progresses.
So if the beginning feels slow, confined or unexpectedly focused on the marital relationship, don't be deterred.
For me, that confinement ultimately served a purpose.
Because when that world finally opens up, you feel the difference.
And once it did, everything and everyone changed.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 STARS | STORM — R.A. RAINE 🌩️🖤
Melek has my heart. That’s it. That’s the review.
Okay, fine… I have A LOT more to say. 😂🔥
Thank you to R.A. Raine and Love and Lore PR for the ARC opportunity. 🖤
Storm gave me everything I want from a romantasy: tension, danger, chemistry, emotion, incredible characters AND an actual plot.
I genuinely could not put this book down. And when I had to—thanks, work 😐—I was DYING to get back to it.
🌩️ STORM
Resilient. Damaged. Broken. Fierce.
I absolutely loved her.
Watching Storm navigate everything she’s endured while being torn between loving and hating her own husband was deliciously complicated. She’s the kind of FMC I want to root for, and her character felt like so much more than simply one half of a romance.
And then…
🖤 MELEK.
Has there ever been a hotter man?!
Powerful. Protective. Questionable decision-making skills. Completely capable of making me forget every red flag I’ve ever identified in my life.
Apparently I have a type. 😂
But the yearning and tension between these two?! 🔥
YES.
I need romance to feel earned. I want the tension, the push and pull, the emotional development and that agonising JUST DO SOMETHING ALREADY feeling.
Storm and Melek absolutely delivered.
And what pushed this firmly into five-star territory?
THE ROMANCE DIDN’T HAVE TO CARRY THE BOOK.
There was an ACTUAL STORY HERE. 🙌
The worldbuilding.
The danger.
The unfolding plot.
The character development.
The chemistry.
The emotional moments.
I wasn’t reading just to get to the next spicy scene.
I wanted ALL OF IT.
🌩️ The plot
🖤 The characters
🔥 The tension
⚔️ The danger
❤️🔥 The romance
There were moments when I thought I knew exactly where things were going… and then suddenly I was completely sucked back in.
And that ending?!
I’m a little shell-shocked.
I’m emotionally attached.
I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with myself now.
BOOK TWO CANNOT COME QUICKLY ENOUGH. 😭🌩️
⭐ 5/5
If you love romantasy with a resilient FMC, a dangerously protective MMC, serious chemistry, delicious tension AND enough fantasy plot to keep you completely invested…
Put Storm on your TBR.
Melek has my heart. That’s it. That’s the review.
Okay, fine… I have A LOT more to say. 😂🔥
Thank you to R.A. Raine and Love and Lore PR for the ARC opportunity. 🖤
Storm gave me everything I want from a romantasy: tension, danger, chemistry, emotion, incredible characters AND an actual plot.
I genuinely could not put this book down. And when I had to—thanks, work 😐—I was DYING to get back to it.
🌩️ STORM
Resilient. Damaged. Broken. Fierce.
I absolutely loved her.
Watching Storm navigate everything she’s endured while being torn between loving and hating her own husband was deliciously complicated. She’s the kind of FMC I want to root for, and her character felt like so much more than simply one half of a romance.
And then…
🖤 MELEK.
Has there ever been a hotter man?!
Powerful. Protective. Questionable decision-making skills. Completely capable of making me forget every red flag I’ve ever identified in my life.
Apparently I have a type. 😂
But the yearning and tension between these two?! 🔥
YES.
I need romance to feel earned. I want the tension, the push and pull, the emotional development and that agonising JUST DO SOMETHING ALREADY feeling.
Storm and Melek absolutely delivered.
And what pushed this firmly into five-star territory?
THE ROMANCE DIDN’T HAVE TO CARRY THE BOOK.
There was an ACTUAL STORY HERE. 🙌
The worldbuilding.
The danger.
The unfolding plot.
The character development.
The chemistry.
The emotional moments.
I wasn’t reading just to get to the next spicy scene.
I wanted ALL OF IT.
🌩️ The plot
🖤 The characters
🔥 The tension
⚔️ The danger
❤️🔥 The romance
There were moments when I thought I knew exactly where things were going… and then suddenly I was completely sucked back in.
And that ending?!
I’m a little shell-shocked.
I’m emotionally attached.
I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with myself now.
BOOK TWO CANNOT COME QUICKLY ENOUGH. 😭🌩️
⭐ 5/5
If you love romantasy with a resilient FMC, a dangerously protective MMC, serious chemistry, delicious tension AND enough fantasy plot to keep you completely invested…
Put Storm on your TBR.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 ✨
⚡️🌩️ STORM by R.A. Raine and OH. MY. GOD. 🫠 🌩️⚡️
So apparently the recipe for making me feral is:
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Forced marriage
✨ A devastatingly hot enemy commander
✨ “I’ll never touch you unless you ask… or RUN.”
✨ SHE RUNS. HE CHASES.
✨ Enough angst to emotionally destroy me
EXCUSE ME??? WHO GAVE THIS BOOK PERMISSION?! 😭🔥
Storm is a lightning farmer living under the absolute nightmare that is Halo. When she’s chosen as a potential breeder, she’s dragged before the enemy commander expecting the worst… only for him to claim her as HIS wife.
And then this man has the audacity to promise he won’t touch her unless she asks for it.
Meanwhile Storm is grieving, furious, HORNY AF, plotting escape and trying desperately to hate the man who has somehow become the most inconveniently attractive problem in her life.
GIRL. I GET IT. 😭
The tension???
The rage???
The emotional devastation???
THE CHASE???
I was sitting there like:
RUN, STORM.
NO WAIT—DON’T RUN.
ACTUALLY RUN BECAUSE I NEED TO SEE WHAT HE DOES.
WAIT COME BACK.
OH F*CK.🫠
This book absolutely delivered on the messy, angsty, morally questionable romantasy goodness I came for. Storm is a mother fighting to survive, a woman drowning in grief and rage, and a character I genuinely wanted to see claw her way out of the world that had been built to break her.
And the commander?
🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
…unfortunately, I am illiterate when it comes to red flags.
I am emotionally compromised.
If you like your romantasy dark, messy, SPIIIIIICYYYY, emotionally unhinged and packed with morally grey people making questionable decisions, put this one on your TBR immediately.
Now excuse me while I stare into the distance and recover from the fact that I now have to wait for book 2 😭
⚡️🌩️ STORM by R.A. Raine and OH. MY. GOD. 🫠 🌩️⚡️
So apparently the recipe for making me feral is:
✨ Enemies to lovers
✨ Forced marriage
✨ A devastatingly hot enemy commander
✨ “I’ll never touch you unless you ask… or RUN.”
✨ SHE RUNS. HE CHASES.
✨ Enough angst to emotionally destroy me
EXCUSE ME??? WHO GAVE THIS BOOK PERMISSION?! 😭🔥
Storm is a lightning farmer living under the absolute nightmare that is Halo. When she’s chosen as a potential breeder, she’s dragged before the enemy commander expecting the worst… only for him to claim her as HIS wife.
And then this man has the audacity to promise he won’t touch her unless she asks for it.
Meanwhile Storm is grieving, furious, HORNY AF, plotting escape and trying desperately to hate the man who has somehow become the most inconveniently attractive problem in her life.
GIRL. I GET IT. 😭
The tension???
The rage???
The emotional devastation???
THE CHASE???
I was sitting there like:
RUN, STORM.
NO WAIT—DON’T RUN.
ACTUALLY RUN BECAUSE I NEED TO SEE WHAT HE DOES.
WAIT COME BACK.
OH F*CK.🫠
This book absolutely delivered on the messy, angsty, morally questionable romantasy goodness I came for. Storm is a mother fighting to survive, a woman drowning in grief and rage, and a character I genuinely wanted to see claw her way out of the world that had been built to break her.
And the commander?
🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
…unfortunately, I am illiterate when it comes to red flags.
I am emotionally compromised.
If you like your romantasy dark, messy, SPIIIIIICYYYY, emotionally unhinged and packed with morally grey people making questionable decisions, put this one on your TBR immediately.
Now excuse me while I stare into the distance and recover from the fact that I now have to wait for book 2 😭
Review of advance copy received from Author
I have mixed feelings about this book. The beginning didn’t really work for me. It felt like it was heading straight into the usual “heroine has superpowers” and “the hero isn’t what he seems” territory. Plus there were way too many internal monologues that sounded like they were lifted straight out of early 2000s and 2010s dystopias.
Then the author pulls an interesting move and jumps us twelve years forward. Suddenly the heroine has a son and is stuck in this codependent, extremely sex-driven relationship with her husband. That part I actually liked a lot, especially Storm’s internal struggle between her hatred for Halo and her feelings for Melek.
There’s a ton of spice in this book. The scenes are all very hot, and even though we’re given a reason why the characters are so constantly horny, by the end it starts to feel exhausting. All that sex kind of pushes the actual development of romantic feelings between Storm and Melek into the background.
Once the characters end up with the fairies, the story turns into yet another romantasy with chosen ones, prophecies, and true mates. The worldbuilding overall felt weird to me. It’s supposedly a dystopia, but with fairies. If you stripped away all the dystopian window dressing, nothing would really change. It could just as easily have been a medieval setting where humans fight the fairies and use some massively destructive spells instead of bombs.
In the end I’m not sure what to make of it. Halfway through I was convinced this was at least a solid four stars. By the finish I’d completely lost interest and was only pushing through on pure willpower. It makes me sad because I had really high hopes for this one.
Thank you to R.A. Raine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Then the author pulls an interesting move and jumps us twelve years forward. Suddenly the heroine has a son and is stuck in this codependent, extremely sex-driven relationship with her husband. That part I actually liked a lot, especially Storm’s internal struggle between her hatred for Halo and her feelings for Melek.
There’s a ton of spice in this book. The scenes are all very hot, and even though we’re given a reason why the characters are so constantly horny, by the end it starts to feel exhausting. All that sex kind of pushes the actual development of romantic feelings between Storm and Melek into the background.
Once the characters end up with the fairies, the story turns into yet another romantasy with chosen ones, prophecies, and true mates. The worldbuilding overall felt weird to me. It’s supposedly a dystopia, but with fairies. If you stripped away all the dystopian window dressing, nothing would really change. It could just as easily have been a medieval setting where humans fight the fairies and use some massively destructive spells instead of bombs.
In the end I’m not sure what to make of it. Halfway through I was convinced this was at least a solid four stars. By the finish I’d completely lost interest and was only pushing through on pure willpower. It makes me sad because I had really high hopes for this one.
Thank you to R.A. Raine for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
For all the unseen girls who grew into fiery women. Unleash your magic. Let the matriarchy rise.
When a book has you hooked from the dedication alone, you know you're in for a ride.
Featuring a FMC who is 30+ and a mother – this spicy, dystopian with fantasy elements was such a refreshing read.
Tropes:
⚡️enemies-to-lovers
⚡️forced marriage
⚡️brooding MMC, but soft only for her
⚡️ "My wife"
⚡️pregnancy (but apparently in a good way and this is the only book I don't hate it in)
I loved Storm as a character and her will and drive to protect her children. When we switch to Melek's POV, the stoic commander just melts your heart.
🌶 The spice in this book is GOOD. Though I never thought I would read the phrase "rapture by cock" 😂.
I did find the pacing a bit off, with the first 3/4 dragging with a LOT happening at the end. I do wish we had more of a flashback to take us through this enemies-to-lovers development. I also noticed a but if repetition to remind the reads of what was going on: "I hate him", "he's the talest" etc.
The plot twists and emotional cliffhanger will leave you needing more.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed STORM and can't wait for the 2nd book.
“You are my Storm. You tore into my life when I had no intentions of ever remarrying, and when I saw the fight in your eyes, I knew no one else could have you.” My heart suddenly stops beating. This is how I die. “Every day since I first met you, you have blown right through my fucking soul, and I have no idea how to pick up the shards anymore.”
I received and ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you 💙
When a book has you hooked from the dedication alone, you know you're in for a ride.
Featuring a FMC who is 30+ and a mother – this spicy, dystopian with fantasy elements was such a refreshing read.
Tropes:
⚡️enemies-to-lovers
⚡️forced marriage
⚡️brooding MMC, but soft only for her
⚡️ "My wife"
⚡️pregnancy (but apparently in a good way and this is the only book I don't hate it in)
I loved Storm as a character and her will and drive to protect her children. When we switch to Melek's POV, the stoic commander just melts your heart.
🌶 The spice in this book is GOOD. Though I never thought I would read the phrase "rapture by cock" 😂.
I did find the pacing a bit off, with the first 3/4 dragging with a LOT happening at the end. I do wish we had more of a flashback to take us through this enemies-to-lovers development. I also noticed a but if repetition to remind the reads of what was going on: "I hate him", "he's the talest" etc.
The plot twists and emotional cliffhanger will leave you needing more.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed STORM and can't wait for the 2nd book.
“You are my Storm. You tore into my life when I had no intentions of ever remarrying, and when I saw the fight in your eyes, I knew no one else could have you.” My heart suddenly stops beating. This is how I die. “Every day since I first met you, you have blown right through my fucking soul, and I have no idea how to pick up the shards anymore.”
I received and ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you 💙
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I absolutely adored this book. Storm and Melek are officially new favourites.
The enemies to lovers is intense, passionate and completely obsessive. These two are literally obsessed with each other, but in denial, and I ate it up.
The world building was one of my favourite parts. The differences between the worlds aren’t just shown through what the characters experience or how they feel. You can actually see and feel the difference in their surroundings, which made everything so much more immersive.
I also loved that I genuinely didn’t know what was going to happen next. This story felt different from anything I’ve read before.
But Storm herself really made this book for me. We get to see so many different sides of her. We see her as a daughter who loves her family, a grieving new wife, a mother and a woman trying to navigate everything that is happening around her. It made me understand her and become so attached to her.
And then there’s the passion. At the beginning I was thinking, okay… this is A LOT but as the story went on, I realised how much it actually adds to their relationship. It isn’t just there for the sake of it. That intensity is part of who Storm and Melek are together.
I also loved Storm’s little sarcastic thoughts in her head. They gave her so much personality.
If I could give this 6 stars, I would. I literally devoured it in one day and now I NEED book two.
A huge thank you to R.A. Raine and Love & Lore PR for sending me an ARC. I’m so glad I got the chance to read this one early.
The enemies to lovers is intense, passionate and completely obsessive. These two are literally obsessed with each other, but in denial, and I ate it up.
The world building was one of my favourite parts. The differences between the worlds aren’t just shown through what the characters experience or how they feel. You can actually see and feel the difference in their surroundings, which made everything so much more immersive.
I also loved that I genuinely didn’t know what was going to happen next. This story felt different from anything I’ve read before.
But Storm herself really made this book for me. We get to see so many different sides of her. We see her as a daughter who loves her family, a grieving new wife, a mother and a woman trying to navigate everything that is happening around her. It made me understand her and become so attached to her.
And then there’s the passion. At the beginning I was thinking, okay… this is A LOT but as the story went on, I realised how much it actually adds to their relationship. It isn’t just there for the sake of it. That intensity is part of who Storm and Melek are together.
I also loved Storm’s little sarcastic thoughts in her head. They gave her so much personality.
If I could give this 6 stars, I would. I literally devoured it in one day and now I NEED book two.
A huge thank you to R.A. Raine and Love & Lore PR for sending me an ARC. I’m so glad I got the chance to read this one early.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to R.A. Raine, The Nerd Farm and BookFunnel for the ARC eBook! 🖤
5 ⭐️
I loved this book!
I’m a vibes reader. I want to know: How did it make me feel? Did I devour it? Did I like the characters? Did I enjoy the plot?
And the answer to all of those things was YES!
If I’m completely honest, the writing itself is probably the last thing I’m looking at when I read. I’m much more interested in how a story makes me feel and whether it pulls me in, this one absolutely did. I actually loved how naturally this book flowed and how quickly I found myself getting completely absorbed in it.
Going into Part 3, I did feel like the flow was interrupted slightly, and the communication of a new Pink person was a little annoying at first. But honestly… who cares? 😂 It didn’t take away from the story for me at all.
And Storm?! I love Storm. I hate Storm. 😂
The same goes for Melek! These characters had me feeling ALL the feelings!
There were a few things that felt a little repetitive, and I definitely didn’t need reminding of certain things quite so many times throughout the book. But again… I don’t care! 😂
Because I absolutely gobbled this book up.
And if you don’t like spice, this is probably NOT the book for you! 🌶️🔥 There is plenty of it, so definitely go in prepared!
I read it quickly, I was invested, I enjoyed the characters, I enjoyed the story, and most importantly, I had fun reading it.
And that’s what I’m here for.
I would absolutely continue this series and I’m already looking forward to seeing where the story goes next! 📚✨
5 ⭐️
I loved this book!
I’m a vibes reader. I want to know: How did it make me feel? Did I devour it? Did I like the characters? Did I enjoy the plot?
And the answer to all of those things was YES!
If I’m completely honest, the writing itself is probably the last thing I’m looking at when I read. I’m much more interested in how a story makes me feel and whether it pulls me in, this one absolutely did. I actually loved how naturally this book flowed and how quickly I found myself getting completely absorbed in it.
Going into Part 3, I did feel like the flow was interrupted slightly, and the communication of a new Pink person was a little annoying at first. But honestly… who cares? 😂 It didn’t take away from the story for me at all.
And Storm?! I love Storm. I hate Storm. 😂
The same goes for Melek! These characters had me feeling ALL the feelings!
There were a few things that felt a little repetitive, and I definitely didn’t need reminding of certain things quite so many times throughout the book. But again… I don’t care! 😂
Because I absolutely gobbled this book up.
And if you don’t like spice, this is probably NOT the book for you! 🌶️🔥 There is plenty of it, so definitely go in prepared!
I read it quickly, I was invested, I enjoyed the characters, I enjoyed the story, and most importantly, I had fun reading it.
And that’s what I’m here for.
I would absolutely continue this series and I’m already looking forward to seeing where the story goes next! 📚✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much to the author for my earc of this book!
I didn’t know what to expect going into this, and I’m left a little speechless. I read this book in a little over a day, I’m just completely blown away. I knew I needed to read this cause of the character art the author has had made, but was unprepared for how much was going to love this. This is one of those books that will stay in the back of my mind for yearssssss!
This story is about Storm, she’s just another slave, a lightning farmer, until one day she’s taken, claimed by the enemy commander. She will be his wife for the purpose of breeding. In this world the Hollows are the chosen race, they are close to extinction because of the war with the fae and with infertility on the rise they have started breeding with their slaves..
‘I can’t be the only one out here dreaming of more. The only one angry. The only one broken.’
Storm is exactly what her name is, she’s wild, stubborn and full of rage. She never gives up on trying to escape her husband. She wants more out of her life and she’s determined to get it one way or another..
If your looking for a book that is going have your head spinning from twist and turns, jaw on the floor gasping for air, crying for characters and is SPICYYYYYYYY this is for you!
Easily one of my tops 10 books of maybe all time! This was incredible and I will be screaming about it for a longgggg time.
I wil be anxiously waiting for the rest of the series from the author !
I didn’t know what to expect going into this, and I’m left a little speechless. I read this book in a little over a day, I’m just completely blown away. I knew I needed to read this cause of the character art the author has had made, but was unprepared for how much was going to love this. This is one of those books that will stay in the back of my mind for yearssssss!
This story is about Storm, she’s just another slave, a lightning farmer, until one day she’s taken, claimed by the enemy commander. She will be his wife for the purpose of breeding. In this world the Hollows are the chosen race, they are close to extinction because of the war with the fae and with infertility on the rise they have started breeding with their slaves..
‘I can’t be the only one out here dreaming of more. The only one angry. The only one broken.’
Storm is exactly what her name is, she’s wild, stubborn and full of rage. She never gives up on trying to escape her husband. She wants more out of her life and she’s determined to get it one way or another..
If your looking for a book that is going have your head spinning from twist and turns, jaw on the floor gasping for air, crying for characters and is SPICYYYYYYYY this is for you!
Easily one of my tops 10 books of maybe all time! This was incredible and I will be screaming about it for a longgggg time.
I wil be anxiously waiting for the rest of the series from the author !
Review of advance copy received from Author
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I loved this book from the very first page. I was hooked and invested. Raines writing style flows extremely well. The story is very easy to follow and keep up with. There are time skips, however they are perfect and key to the story flow and I truly have no complains about the writing style. The descriptives of places are beautifully described. The character development is exceptional.
FMC Storm is a vengeful, lightning slave, forced to marry her enemy MMC Melek the high commander of Halo. He is possessive and protective of what is his. And make no mistake Storm is his and his alone. Should anyone hurt Storm expect the wrath of Melek.
Watching their story unfold from pure hate sex to something much more as the story builds is a beautiful sight. You can see Storms internal struggle with accepting there could ever be anything more than hate between them both.
The plot twists are shocking in the best of ways. They really do open your eyes as a reader and slowly, scenes and events start to click into place as to why characters have acted a certain way.
The final chapter with the cliffhanger has me super excited for the final book in this duology. I honestly cannot wait to see what else unfolds.
Truly this book was an incredible read. Raine handled the topic of grief extremely well in this and Storm really does pull on your heartstrings a little here and there
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I loved this book from the very first page. I was hooked and invested. Raines writing style flows extremely well. The story is very easy to follow and keep up with. There are time skips, however they are perfect and key to the story flow and I truly have no complains about the writing style. The descriptives of places are beautifully described. The character development is exceptional.
FMC Storm is a vengeful, lightning slave, forced to marry her enemy MMC Melek the high commander of Halo. He is possessive and protective of what is his. And make no mistake Storm is his and his alone. Should anyone hurt Storm expect the wrath of Melek.
Watching their story unfold from pure hate sex to something much more as the story builds is a beautiful sight. You can see Storms internal struggle with accepting there could ever be anything more than hate between them both.
The plot twists are shocking in the best of ways. They really do open your eyes as a reader and slowly, scenes and events start to click into place as to why characters have acted a certain way.
The final chapter with the cliffhanger has me super excited for the final book in this duology. I honestly cannot wait to see what else unfolds.
Truly this book was an incredible read. Raine handled the topic of grief extremely well in this and Storm really does pull on your heartstrings a little here and there
September 1, 2026
Unfortunately, Storm just wasn’t the book for me 😬
I went into this one really intrigued by the premise. A dystopian-esque world centred around misogyny, forced breeding and survival? Sign me up. There was so much potential here for a dark, uncomfortable and thought-provoking read.
Unfortunately, I really struggled with the central romance. Given the circumstances in which Storm is captured, I found it difficult to believe that she would become romantically or sexually invested in her captor. I just couldn’t quite make that transition work for me, and it ultimately made the relationship difficult to get behind.
Storm herself also felt quite juvenile at times. That may well have been a reflection of her impoverished upbringing, but it still made it harder for me to connect with her. I also found her relationship with her brother to be very intense and, honestly, it just wasn’t my vibe.
One aspect I did really appreciate was the motherhood element. It’s something you don’t often see explored in this genre, and I liked that we eventually got an older FMC. However, because of the time jump, I felt like we missed out on seeing some of that character development, which was a shame.
That said, I can definitely see this working for readers who enjoy dark dystopian romance, morally grey dynamics and a strong dubcon element. It simply wasn’t the right fit for me.
⭐️ 2/5
A huge thank you to the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! 🤍
I went into this one really intrigued by the premise. A dystopian-esque world centred around misogyny, forced breeding and survival? Sign me up. There was so much potential here for a dark, uncomfortable and thought-provoking read.
Unfortunately, I really struggled with the central romance. Given the circumstances in which Storm is captured, I found it difficult to believe that she would become romantically or sexually invested in her captor. I just couldn’t quite make that transition work for me, and it ultimately made the relationship difficult to get behind.
Storm herself also felt quite juvenile at times. That may well have been a reflection of her impoverished upbringing, but it still made it harder for me to connect with her. I also found her relationship with her brother to be very intense and, honestly, it just wasn’t my vibe.
One aspect I did really appreciate was the motherhood element. It’s something you don’t often see explored in this genre, and I liked that we eventually got an older FMC. However, because of the time jump, I felt like we missed out on seeing some of that character development, which was a shame.
That said, I can definitely see this working for readers who enjoy dark dystopian romance, morally grey dynamics and a strong dubcon element. It simply wasn’t the right fit for me.
⭐️ 2/5
A huge thank you to the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! 🤍
Review of advance copy received from Author
The opening chapters of this book where we’re introduced to the FMC, her mother, and her brother were easily my favorite chapters. It started off with so much potential, and I genuinely thought I was going to love where the story was headed. Unfortunately, that feeling didn’t last long.
The story seemed far more focused on the endless spice scenes, to the point where it felt like there was one every other chapter than the world building itself.
I really struggled to connect with the MMC. I didn’t get any romantic feelings between him and the FMC. She was essentially thrown into a relationship with a man she never had the choice to be with, and because of that situation, she immediately became dependent on him for nearly everything. There wasn’t enough development between them for me to believe in their relationship or understand why they were falling for each other.
The time jumps also completely threw me off. After their initial meeting and introductions, the story suddenly jumps ahead 12 years. By that point so many things has happened which I think would’ve been valuable to the story. We later see the chapters go back to the past so we get those crucial memories leading up to her accepting her fate but it just didn’t feel genuine. Overall, the entire story just felt disjointed and the dystopian aspect I was most excited about ended up feeling almost irrelevant.
Thank you to the author and Love and Lore for the opportunity to read an advanced copy!
The story seemed far more focused on the endless spice scenes, to the point where it felt like there was one every other chapter than the world building itself.
I really struggled to connect with the MMC. I didn’t get any romantic feelings between him and the FMC. She was essentially thrown into a relationship with a man she never had the choice to be with, and because of that situation, she immediately became dependent on him for nearly everything. There wasn’t enough development between them for me to believe in their relationship or understand why they were falling for each other.
The time jumps also completely threw me off. After their initial meeting and introductions, the story suddenly jumps ahead 12 years. By that point so many things has happened which I think would’ve been valuable to the story. We later see the chapters go back to the past so we get those crucial memories leading up to her accepting her fate but it just didn’t feel genuine. Overall, the entire story just felt disjointed and the dystopian aspect I was most excited about ended up feeling almost irrelevant.
Thank you to the author and Love and Lore for the opportunity to read an advanced copy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Wow! STORM was even better than I hoped it would be.This story is such a unique blend of dystopian society and fantasy, and I was completely captivated from beginning to end.
Imagine The Handmaid’s Tale blended with Beauty and the Beast, with a little The Dark Crystal thrown into the mix. It’s an incredibly interesting combination that somehow works so well.
Storm is a slave who collects lightning and is eventually taken and forced into a marriage with a grumpy, broody Commander for breeding purposes. She is full of feminine rage and will do absolutely anything to protect her children. I especially loved that she was a more mature FMC. She felt strong, complex, and driven by her experiences rather than simply being strong for the sake of the story.
Her relationship with the Commander is anything but simple. Their love story isn't easy or linear, and there were plenty of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. And the Commander...🥵 His utter and complete devotion to Storm absolutely stole my heart. I have a feeling he'll steal yours too.
The spice was also top notch and had me kicking my feet! 🌶️🌶️🌶️
That ending, though. 😭 I am officially begging for book two because I need to know what happens next.
Thank you to R.A. Rain for the ARC. It was an honor to be among the first readers to experience this incredibly unique story!
Wow! STORM was even better than I hoped it would be.This story is such a unique blend of dystopian society and fantasy, and I was completely captivated from beginning to end.
Imagine The Handmaid’s Tale blended with Beauty and the Beast, with a little The Dark Crystal thrown into the mix. It’s an incredibly interesting combination that somehow works so well.
Storm is a slave who collects lightning and is eventually taken and forced into a marriage with a grumpy, broody Commander for breeding purposes. She is full of feminine rage and will do absolutely anything to protect her children. I especially loved that she was a more mature FMC. She felt strong, complex, and driven by her experiences rather than simply being strong for the sake of the story.
Her relationship with the Commander is anything but simple. Their love story isn't easy or linear, and there were plenty of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. And the Commander...🥵 His utter and complete devotion to Storm absolutely stole my heart. I have a feeling he'll steal yours too.
The spice was also top notch and had me kicking my feet! 🌶️🌶️🌶️
That ending, though. 😭 I am officially begging for book two because I need to know what happens next.
Thank you to R.A. Rain for the ARC. It was an honor to be among the first readers to experience this incredibly unique story!
August 20, 2026
Is anyone really surprised that I read and loved another dystopian?? This has got to be one of the most unique takes on the genre I’ve ever seen. I was immediately pulled in by the first line.
I really, really loved the FMC, Storm. She has fight in her veins from the very beginning and there is nothing she wouldn’t do for the ones she loves. First her mom and brother, and then her babies. She lives in a very patriarchal society where women are only seen as breeders, and even when there is seemingly no way out, she is always fighting and plotting. I found that very admirable. But she’s also stubborn and bratty, and her banter with Melek and the way she constantly pushes his buttons had me laughing.
Now, our Lord Commander Daddy is a whole different story. He’s dominant, possessive, and seemingly always angry, but despite that, he’s never hurt Storm or their babies. And however misguided, he takes care of her. There was a lot of hate sex between them, but they both got off on it, so it worked.
The story was definitely fast-paced. The worldbuilding isn’t overly complicated, so it was easy to understand and get lost in. Of course, this being a dystopian means there are plenty of jaw dropping plot twists, secrets, and tension, and I was here for all of it. The ending had me staring at the wall. I need the next book like yesterday.
I really, really loved the FMC, Storm. She has fight in her veins from the very beginning and there is nothing she wouldn’t do for the ones she loves. First her mom and brother, and then her babies. She lives in a very patriarchal society where women are only seen as breeders, and even when there is seemingly no way out, she is always fighting and plotting. I found that very admirable. But she’s also stubborn and bratty, and her banter with Melek and the way she constantly pushes his buttons had me laughing.
Now, our Lord Commander Daddy is a whole different story. He’s dominant, possessive, and seemingly always angry, but despite that, he’s never hurt Storm or their babies. And however misguided, he takes care of her. There was a lot of hate sex between them, but they both got off on it, so it worked.
The story was definitely fast-paced. The worldbuilding isn’t overly complicated, so it was easy to understand and get lost in. Of course, this being a dystopian means there are plenty of jaw dropping plot twists, secrets, and tension, and I was here for all of it. The ending had me staring at the wall. I need the next book like yesterday.
Review of advance copy received from Author
STORM by R.A. Raine starts with a story that feels so emotional and heartbreakingly sad. It really sets the tone of the world and the reality of Storm’s situation and her past life 🌧️🌚.
I was 20% in sudden with a 12 year time jump kind of confused me when it happened. I had very mixed feelings after this... and apparently I am not the only one, because the FMC also has a lot of mixed feelings lol. I did love the parts about motherhood though, and how it effected the story.
Halfway we get another POV, which made it more interesting. I started to understand more, but I was also still confused about some things. Like, does she actually like him in a way, or is it just because of proximity? What was happening? Well I did get some of my answers in the end.... 70% in it starts to get interesting again. I wasn't crazy about it yet, but it was very intriguing and I wanted to read on. I liked the faster pacing and introduction of more characters. But I still was kind of confused by things, it was entertaining but also didn't draw me in as much as I would've liked throughout the whole book.
✨️ 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 | ★★★ | 3/5
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘣𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.
FIND ME HERE • @justmyfantasyworld
I was 20% in sudden with a 12 year time jump kind of confused me when it happened. I had very mixed feelings after this... and apparently I am not the only one, because the FMC also has a lot of mixed feelings lol. I did love the parts about motherhood though, and how it effected the story.
Halfway we get another POV, which made it more interesting. I started to understand more, but I was also still confused about some things. Like, does she actually like him in a way, or is it just because of proximity? What was happening? Well I did get some of my answers in the end.... 70% in it starts to get interesting again. I wasn't crazy about it yet, but it was very intriguing and I wanted to read on. I liked the faster pacing and introduction of more characters. But I still was kind of confused by things, it was entertaining but also didn't draw me in as much as I would've liked throughout the whole book.
✨️ 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 | ★★★ | 3/5
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘣𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸, 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.
FIND ME HERE • @justmyfantasyworld
August 17, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5 stars
“For all the unseen girls who grew into fiery women. Unleash your magic. Let the matriarchy rise.”
Storm has spent her life working on a lightning farm alongside her older brother Nix, risking everything to collect enough energy to keep their family alive. But then a routine trip to the markets turns Storm’s life upside down.
Taken from everything she knows and forced into a marriage with the powerful Commander, Storm finds herself trapped in a life she never chose.
What follows is a story filled with secrets, hidden bloodlines, magic, rebellion, political conspiracies, forbidden truths and a deadly threat that kept me guessing.
I really enjoyed this one! The spice was definitely 🔥, but it was the intriguing plot, hidden secrets and constant twists that truly hooked me. Every time I thought I had things figured out, another revelation had me questioning everything.
I also loved the dystopian setting and the way the story gradually revealed more about the world and its power structures. There was so much going on, and I found myself wanting to know more.
And then we get to THAT CLIFFHANGER. 🤯
Absolutely brutal. There are so many unanswered questions, and I am desperately needing the conclusion because I NEED to know how this story ends!
“For all the unseen girls who grew into fiery women. Unleash your magic. Let the matriarchy rise.”
Storm has spent her life working on a lightning farm alongside her older brother Nix, risking everything to collect enough energy to keep their family alive. But then a routine trip to the markets turns Storm’s life upside down.
Taken from everything she knows and forced into a marriage with the powerful Commander, Storm finds herself trapped in a life she never chose.
What follows is a story filled with secrets, hidden bloodlines, magic, rebellion, political conspiracies, forbidden truths and a deadly threat that kept me guessing.
I really enjoyed this one! The spice was definitely 🔥, but it was the intriguing plot, hidden secrets and constant twists that truly hooked me. Every time I thought I had things figured out, another revelation had me questioning everything.
I also loved the dystopian setting and the way the story gradually revealed more about the world and its power structures. There was so much going on, and I found myself wanting to know more.
And then we get to THAT CLIFFHANGER. 🤯
Absolutely brutal. There are so many unanswered questions, and I am desperately needing the conclusion because I NEED to know how this story ends!
Review of advance copy received from Author
**advance reader copy review: thank you BookFunnel and R.A. Raine**
while I was really taken with the story in the beginning, I sadly enjoyed it less after the 12 year time jump. I was left wanted more character development from our FMC, but for me it never really came. She seemed no more mature in her early 30s than she did at 18. We enter a world quite similar to other novels like Conform, Alchemised and A Rose in Chains, except we don't really get much history of how it got to where it is. I really had a hard time buying into the fact that her brother hadn't died, but some how a revolt happened even though there weren't even whispers it was a thing the community considered. I'm all for spice, but our FMC constantly dripping for the MMC, but also hating him and wanting to escape him, but then surprise they're mates and now everything "makes sense" even though he had her kidnapped and married her without her true consent? A huge disappointment is that when we finally make to Willow (which was extremely rushed), magic is introduced briefly and our FMC just accepts it without questions. So much time was spent on her love/hate feelings for the MMC, that world building, magic systems and character development fell to the back burner.
while I was really taken with the story in the beginning, I sadly enjoyed it less after the 12 year time jump. I was left wanted more character development from our FMC, but for me it never really came. She seemed no more mature in her early 30s than she did at 18. We enter a world quite similar to other novels like Conform, Alchemised and A Rose in Chains, except we don't really get much history of how it got to where it is. I really had a hard time buying into the fact that her brother hadn't died, but some how a revolt happened even though there weren't even whispers it was a thing the community considered. I'm all for spice, but our FMC constantly dripping for the MMC, but also hating him and wanting to escape him, but then surprise they're mates and now everything "makes sense" even though he had her kidnapped and married her without her true consent? A huge disappointment is that when we finally make to Willow (which was extremely rushed), magic is introduced briefly and our FMC just accepts it without questions. So much time was spent on her love/hate feelings for the MMC, that world building, magic systems and character development fell to the back burner.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2026
So with August coming to an end, it was a GREAT reading month but I still hadn’t found my 5 star read….UNTIL NOW!
I think I could write pages on how much I enjoyed Storm by R.A Raine! This is a Dystopian Romance unlike anything else I’ve ever read! I don’t say that lightly either!! We have a good paced story, we have high stakes, we have romance (🌶️🌶️🌶️) and there’s such a mystery in the ins and outs of this world!
The writing has such quality and it’s done in such a way that leaves you so satisfied but also curious. We follow along with our FMC and we see her upbringing and learning the dynamics between our main characters. This definitely has some strong enemies to lovers while also highlighting the way sometimes our heart betrays what our minds say is logical. It’s done so well that your feelings will reflect our characters internal back and forth. I so enjoyed it!!
Let me warn you!! Each ending of every chapter will GRIP you!!! You will forget all responsibilities and just find yourself immersed in this story!! And that cliffhanger!!! I also want to say that as a mama this story felt so empowering and eye opening!! There’s such importance and intent in storms story and everyone needs to read it!!
Thank you so much for this arc!
I think I could write pages on how much I enjoyed Storm by R.A Raine! This is a Dystopian Romance unlike anything else I’ve ever read! I don’t say that lightly either!! We have a good paced story, we have high stakes, we have romance (🌶️🌶️🌶️) and there’s such a mystery in the ins and outs of this world!
The writing has such quality and it’s done in such a way that leaves you so satisfied but also curious. We follow along with our FMC and we see her upbringing and learning the dynamics between our main characters. This definitely has some strong enemies to lovers while also highlighting the way sometimes our heart betrays what our minds say is logical. It’s done so well that your feelings will reflect our characters internal back and forth. I so enjoyed it!!
Let me warn you!! Each ending of every chapter will GRIP you!!! You will forget all responsibilities and just find yourself immersed in this story!! And that cliffhanger!!! I also want to say that as a mama this story felt so empowering and eye opening!! There’s such importance and intent in storms story and everyone needs to read it!!
Thank you so much for this arc!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Firstly, thank-you R.A. Raine for the eARC.
I am guilty of rating any book I enjoyed 5 stars, but when I legitimately finished the book in 24 hour it must be at least a 4.5 ⭐️ read.
I love supporter Aussie authors and Indie authors, so when I came across the cover for Storm I had to read it. I devoured this book, a bit like Melek devours Storm!
In a dystopian world where our FMC and her family are slaves, we meet Storm. Following a forced marriage to our MMC, Melek, we are taken on a journey through time jumps, motherhood, soo many hot spicy, dark, scenes twists (but not all unexpected) this book takes you on a journey of fierceness and it doesn’t disappoint.
Chapter 5 shook me. I wasn’t expecting the time jumps, but they helped with making the book just an easy enjoyable read. I loved the random dual perspective which gave further context into Melek’s mind and helped piece together the story.
This book had ALOT of spice and I ate it up (no pun intended).
Tropes
🌶️ hate sex
🌶️ touch her and die
🌶️ pregnant MMC
🌶️ enemies to lovers
🌶️ forced marriage
“This is your only warning. The next person to touch my wife will lose his head”
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Put this on your TBR, stat.
I am guilty of rating any book I enjoyed 5 stars, but when I legitimately finished the book in 24 hour it must be at least a 4.5 ⭐️ read.
I love supporter Aussie authors and Indie authors, so when I came across the cover for Storm I had to read it. I devoured this book, a bit like Melek devours Storm!
In a dystopian world where our FMC and her family are slaves, we meet Storm. Following a forced marriage to our MMC, Melek, we are taken on a journey through time jumps, motherhood, soo many hot spicy, dark, scenes twists (but not all unexpected) this book takes you on a journey of fierceness and it doesn’t disappoint.
Chapter 5 shook me. I wasn’t expecting the time jumps, but they helped with making the book just an easy enjoyable read. I loved the random dual perspective which gave further context into Melek’s mind and helped piece together the story.
This book had ALOT of spice and I ate it up (no pun intended).
Tropes
🌶️ hate sex
🌶️ touch her and die
🌶️ pregnant MMC
🌶️ enemies to lovers
🌶️ forced marriage
“This is your only warning. The next person to touch my wife will lose his head”
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Put this on your TBR, stat.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was truly intrigued by the premise of this book and was looking forward to Storm's journey. I also wanted to learn more lore about the lightning farmers. I was emotionally invested in the beginning of Storm's story especially with the hardships that she and her family had gone through. I definitely did not expect the time jump and thought that it might have caused a bit of a disconnect with the overall story. The majority of the book was about Storm's push and pull relationship with her husband. I truly wanted to believe in the romantic aspect of it, and I do understand the enemies to lovers trope, but the 0-100 love aspect was hard to envision.
I did initially think that the story was a mixture of dystopian with light fantasy elements, but as the story went on, it was a mixture of everything.
There were many plots introduced throughout the book which made it a bit overwhelming. I certainly did not expect the ending and was unsure about quite a few decisions made by the characters.
Perhaps in the second book, we will see more of Storm's fight and rage towards the overlords.
I will say that being privy to Storm's inner thoughts was a truly heart-wrenching experience and her pain and heartache could be easily identified with.
I did initially think that the story was a mixture of dystopian with light fantasy elements, but as the story went on, it was a mixture of everything.
There were many plots introduced throughout the book which made it a bit overwhelming. I certainly did not expect the ending and was unsure about quite a few decisions made by the characters.
Perhaps in the second book, we will see more of Storm's fight and rage towards the overlords.
I will say that being privy to Storm's inner thoughts was a truly heart-wrenching experience and her pain and heartache could be easily identified with.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you again to R.A Raine for having me on her ARC team. I am leaving this review completely for free and of my own thoughts and opinions.
I had a very mixed bag of opinions on Storm and I think it's another one of the ones where it is a bit lower on my scale than anything.
I think the ideas behind this story were quite interesting however the execution wasn't quite what I expected.
It's hard for me to discuss quite what my problems with this story are without including spoilers so I will simply say I found the fantasy elements to not feature heavily enough and the dystopian elements to not be as in depth as I would have liked.
I will say one thing I did enjoy in this book was the family dynamics. I really appreciated the choices the author made around being a mother and pregnancy.
In terms of the romance, I went back and forth a lot on whether I was invested in it or not. I didn't dislike it however it also had elements I didnt quite vibe with and found the direction it took to be a bit contrary to what I would have liked.
I think this book will work well for those who like a contentious, spice driven relationship and don't mind weaker world building elements in place of heavier focus on the characters.
I had a very mixed bag of opinions on Storm and I think it's another one of the ones where it is a bit lower on my scale than anything.
I think the ideas behind this story were quite interesting however the execution wasn't quite what I expected.
It's hard for me to discuss quite what my problems with this story are without including spoilers so I will simply say I found the fantasy elements to not feature heavily enough and the dystopian elements to not be as in depth as I would have liked.
I will say one thing I did enjoy in this book was the family dynamics. I really appreciated the choices the author made around being a mother and pregnancy.
In terms of the romance, I went back and forth a lot on whether I was invested in it or not. I didn't dislike it however it also had elements I didnt quite vibe with and found the direction it took to be a bit contrary to what I would have liked.
I think this book will work well for those who like a contentious, spice driven relationship and don't mind weaker world building elements in place of heavier focus on the characters.
September 10, 2026
WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT IS THE END??!!
What in the cliffhanger is that 😭😭 please tell me they will be safe AHHH
Incredible ride from start to finish! Just when you thought you’ve reached safe, you are not 😫 Just when you thought you’ve had your heart put together, it breaks once again 😭 So much rage, so much hate, so much trauma, and so much hurt. What a delicious treat this book has been!!
The characters were all so loveable, I can’t even pick a side. There is so much stories in each of these individuals I want a whole book to read about each of them!! Melek (MMC) was a definition of “soft only for her”… he holds so much aura 🥹 And Storm (FMC) was pure fight and hope - I love her determination and feisty personality! And don’t get me started on the other characters - Sunny, Ren, Seraphina.. gosh Sera, THE GOAT 🐐 hahaha!
The writing was easily hooking and once I started I wasn’t able to put it away (and if I can help it, I wouldn’t have!!). I had so much fun with this one!!
Thank you to the author, R.A Raine, and Love & Lore PR for gifting me this eARC. All opinions in this review are my own.
What in the cliffhanger is that 😭😭 please tell me they will be safe AHHH
Incredible ride from start to finish! Just when you thought you’ve reached safe, you are not 😫 Just when you thought you’ve had your heart put together, it breaks once again 😭 So much rage, so much hate, so much trauma, and so much hurt. What a delicious treat this book has been!!
The characters were all so loveable, I can’t even pick a side. There is so much stories in each of these individuals I want a whole book to read about each of them!! Melek (MMC) was a definition of “soft only for her”… he holds so much aura 🥹 And Storm (FMC) was pure fight and hope - I love her determination and feisty personality! And don’t get me started on the other characters - Sunny, Ren, Seraphina.. gosh Sera, THE GOAT 🐐 hahaha!
The writing was easily hooking and once I started I wasn’t able to put it away (and if I can help it, I wouldn’t have!!). I had so much fun with this one!!
Thank you to the author, R.A Raine, and Love & Lore PR for gifting me this eARC. All opinions in this review are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
[ARC Review]
Strom
By R. E. Raine
⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Guys this book was something else, very unique at first I was just confused as where the story was going, it starts off slow and there's alot of character building, then there's a time skip of 12 years and then the last 100 pages of the book are a whirlwind and so interesting. The story follows Strom who was a lightning farmer and a slave basically, she gets taken by Melek who is the commander of the people Storm hates, she ends up becoming his wife, skip 12 years and they have a son together and a baby on the way, Storm keeps telling herself she still hates her husband (she doesn't) but she is still trying to escape to protect her children.... I don't want to spoil to much but basically it's about woman being strong, the love of a mother, it beautiful in it's own way, I love the mix of dystopian and fantasy that was a first for me. The cover hooked me, the story grasped me and the love made me stay, that ending was brutal! I need book two please and thank you. ✨ "
Strom
By R. E. Raine
⭐⭐⭐⭐
"Guys this book was something else, very unique at first I was just confused as where the story was going, it starts off slow and there's alot of character building, then there's a time skip of 12 years and then the last 100 pages of the book are a whirlwind and so interesting. The story follows Strom who was a lightning farmer and a slave basically, she gets taken by Melek who is the commander of the people Storm hates, she ends up becoming his wife, skip 12 years and they have a son together and a baby on the way, Storm keeps telling herself she still hates her husband (she doesn't) but she is still trying to escape to protect her children.... I don't want to spoil to much but basically it's about woman being strong, the love of a mother, it beautiful in it's own way, I love the mix of dystopian and fantasy that was a first for me. The cover hooked me, the story grasped me and the love made me stay, that ending was brutal! I need book two please and thank you. ✨ "
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