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Black Bead Chronicles #4
Storm Child
Something is hunting the citizens of Windfall Dome.
Ten-year-old Cheobawn Blackwind, the most powerful psi adept ever made by the dome's genetic engineers, wants nothing more than to be an ordinary child, but she has an unerring propensity for finding trouble. Branded Bad Luck on her Choosingday, she wears a black bloodstone in her omeh, her honor's necklace.
Her one source of comfort is her Pack—alpha male Tam, her loyal sister Megan, clever Alain, and fierce Connor—who understand her power and have sworn their lives to protect her. But the presence of The Hunter around the dome has set up catastrophic ripple in her ambient. She checks the threads of all her futures. She dies in every one.
Meanwhile, everyone in Windfall Dome is frantically preparing for the coming Trade Fair, the once-yearly meeting of all the dome cities on Tearmann. Things must go without a hitch. Dome pride demands it. The caravans from the other domes are en route and expected any day so everyone must do their part, including her Pack.
But tragedy strikes. A leopard kills a child and drags another off to eat at its leisure and now Cheobawn stands before the High Coven, forced to defend her Bad Luck. Her Mothers give her an ultimatum. Find the source of the insanity now plaguing all the animals of the forest or be locked away in the Temple until after the Trade Fair is over, out of sight of the visitors.
In this fourth adventure of the Black Bead Chronicles, Cheobawn must save the dome . . . but who will save her as the forces of the universe shift and threaten to crush her? Not even her Pack has her back this time.
Ten-year-old Cheobawn Blackwind, the most powerful psi adept ever made by the dome's genetic engineers, wants nothing more than to be an ordinary child, but she has an unerring propensity for finding trouble. Branded Bad Luck on her Choosingday, she wears a black bloodstone in her omeh, her honor's necklace.
Her one source of comfort is her Pack—alpha male Tam, her loyal sister Megan, clever Alain, and fierce Connor—who understand her power and have sworn their lives to protect her. But the presence of The Hunter around the dome has set up catastrophic ripple in her ambient. She checks the threads of all her futures. She dies in every one.
Meanwhile, everyone in Windfall Dome is frantically preparing for the coming Trade Fair, the once-yearly meeting of all the dome cities on Tearmann. Things must go without a hitch. Dome pride demands it. The caravans from the other domes are en route and expected any day so everyone must do their part, including her Pack.
But tragedy strikes. A leopard kills a child and drags another off to eat at its leisure and now Cheobawn stands before the High Coven, forced to defend her Bad Luck. Her Mothers give her an ultimatum. Find the source of the insanity now plaguing all the animals of the forest or be locked away in the Temple until after the Trade Fair is over, out of sight of the visitors.
In this fourth adventure of the Black Bead Chronicles, Cheobawn must save the dome . . . but who will save her as the forces of the universe shift and threaten to crush her? Not even her Pack has her back this time.
418 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 20, 2017
31 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
J.D. Lakey
11 books83 followersJ.D. Lakey is an award-winning author of science fiction and fantasy stories. Her lyrical writing style and passionate connection to her characters pull you in and take you on an emotional journey of discovery in expertly-crafted worlds where futuristic technologies reside amidst primordial landscapes.
Her love of writing stemmed from growing up on a cattle ranch and farm under the endless star-filled Montana skies as far from civilization as anyone in the twentieth century could get. There, she explored the finer nuances of silence and the endless possibilities of the imagination. The shifting of fortunes finally granted her the time to gather all the stories and give them flesh. She currently lives in San Diego, California where she divides her time between her writing, commuting on the I-5 to her day job, and convincing her grandchildren that magic exists.
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Her love of writing stemmed from growing up on a cattle ranch and farm under the endless star-filled Montana skies as far from civilization as anyone in the twentieth century could get. There, she explored the finer nuances of silence and the endless possibilities of the imagination. The shifting of fortunes finally granted her the time to gather all the stories and give them flesh. She currently lives in San Diego, California where she divides her time between her writing, commuting on the I-5 to her day job, and convincing her grandchildren that magic exists.
Free story for subscribing:
https://www.jdlakey.com/subscribe/
https://www.facebook.com/JDLakeyAuthor/
https://twitter.com/darkvstar
amazon.com/author/jdlakey
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 24, 2017
Received free from author, but my thoughts are my own.
Book 4--there's enough backstory woven in that you could start here, but you'd miss a lot of cool happenings.
Cheobawn Blackwind is now 10, growing up much faster and more powerful than anyone expected from a bad luck Black Bead... Then she discovers the plot she'd always suspected behind her birth is deeper and darker than she ever feared, and the mere idea of her bad luck has spread to endanger her pack--and the whole dome. When she looks into the future, in all but one possible path, she dies--so she'll have to face down impossible odds, or lose everything she holds dear.
This series started off with smaller crises, and just the right amount of backstory, character development, and world building. Then book 3 set up this larger problem. And now, things really begin to fall apart. Secrets are revealed, harsh truths are told, and tough decisions are made. As always, the detailed (and harsh) landscape plays a big part, with eerily intelligent predators as characters in their own right, capable of making decisions. In this world, humans and nature are at odds (everything wants to eat you!) but must also work together to survive.
Despite the protagonist's age, this isn't a simple story--it has some thoughtful things to say about family, political choices/ alliances, and doing what's needed. Perhaps this is because the protagonist is close to grown by her culture's views, or because she's already shouldered a lot at her age. I really feel for Cheobawn, as she's just one person facing difficult odds. Somehow, she finds it in her to keep trying, and that's what makes me root for her the most. She isn't sure of her success, and at times feels despair, but with a little help, she's worked miracles before. And I sure hope she pulls out a miraculous last minute save again! The end of the book is a pause, the calm before the storm sweeps over the world again, and left me eager to see what's coming next.
Highly recommended for fans of strong female protagonists, excellent world building, high tension action, and scary wildlife.
Book 4--there's enough backstory woven in that you could start here, but you'd miss a lot of cool happenings.
Cheobawn Blackwind is now 10, growing up much faster and more powerful than anyone expected from a bad luck Black Bead... Then she discovers the plot she'd always suspected behind her birth is deeper and darker than she ever feared, and the mere idea of her bad luck has spread to endanger her pack--and the whole dome. When she looks into the future, in all but one possible path, she dies--so she'll have to face down impossible odds, or lose everything she holds dear.
This series started off with smaller crises, and just the right amount of backstory, character development, and world building. Then book 3 set up this larger problem. And now, things really begin to fall apart. Secrets are revealed, harsh truths are told, and tough decisions are made. As always, the detailed (and harsh) landscape plays a big part, with eerily intelligent predators as characters in their own right, capable of making decisions. In this world, humans and nature are at odds (everything wants to eat you!) but must also work together to survive.
Despite the protagonist's age, this isn't a simple story--it has some thoughtful things to say about family, political choices/ alliances, and doing what's needed. Perhaps this is because the protagonist is close to grown by her culture's views, or because she's already shouldered a lot at her age. I really feel for Cheobawn, as she's just one person facing difficult odds. Somehow, she finds it in her to keep trying, and that's what makes me root for her the most. She isn't sure of her success, and at times feels despair, but with a little help, she's worked miracles before. And I sure hope she pulls out a miraculous last minute save again! The end of the book is a pause, the calm before the storm sweeps over the world again, and left me eager to see what's coming next.
Highly recommended for fans of strong female protagonists, excellent world building, high tension action, and scary wildlife.
August 25, 2017
Captivating Fantasy/Sc/Fi Series!
I have read the first four books in two days, and will probably finish reading the fifth and final book tonight.
This story is awesome! There is only one thing I would wish to be different. A little more humor, and happiness to lighten things up now and then.
Not that the stories don't have those things. I would just like to see more.
The characters are complex, the emotions and reactions realistic, and the dialogue spot on.
I couldn't ask for a better story when it comes to, well, everything.
The authors imagination is wonderful; her world building brilliant, and her writing engrossing.
If you love epic fantasy with a bit of Sc/Fi throughout, then this series is sure to please.
If this series doesn't become a classic, it will be a crime.
I hope the author sees her way to extend the series. I can imagine a lot of future adventures for our heroine and her pack, and I bet the author can too!
I have read the first four books in two days, and will probably finish reading the fifth and final book tonight.
This story is awesome! There is only one thing I would wish to be different. A little more humor, and happiness to lighten things up now and then.
Not that the stories don't have those things. I would just like to see more.
The characters are complex, the emotions and reactions realistic, and the dialogue spot on.
I couldn't ask for a better story when it comes to, well, everything.
The authors imagination is wonderful; her world building brilliant, and her writing engrossing.
If you love epic fantasy with a bit of Sc/Fi throughout, then this series is sure to please.
If this series doesn't become a classic, it will be a crime.
I hope the author sees her way to extend the series. I can imagine a lot of future adventures for our heroine and her pack, and I bet the author can too!
January 4, 2019
Lakey's writing is lyrical and mystical. I'm enjoying the series though it seems a lot of preparation and little action is happening in the later ones.
June 20, 2025
If the measure of a good book is how deeply it makes you feel, both for the characters and the world they inhabit, then Storm Child is absolutely outstanding. Each book in this series reveals more secrets - of Cheobawn's growing psi talent, of the Coven's long-term plans, of the world itself. This fourth book in the series is a little darker than the previous ones (as evidenced by how often it made me cry) but it's necessary at this stage, because the secrets unveiled are pretty horrific even though you can see and understand the reasons for them. Everyone loves, and everyone suffers from that love - cold decisions have to be made for the good of all, but that doesn't make them easier to bear. Having come this far in the series I've fallen in love with Cheobawn and Blackwind Pack, which is why the developments touched me so deeply. No spoilers here so I won't give an outline, but this series still ranks among my top 10 in Fantasy and this book is a perfect addition to it.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews