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The Raincatcher's Ballad #2
Wrath of Storms
A girl with terrifying powers. An assassin battling his bloodlust. And an ancient evil stirring…
Serena’s fearsome power is growing stronger. After conning her way aboard a luxury airship in search of clues about her past, she walks straight into a sky pirate’s trap. But after her powers are unleashed and apocalyptic visions invade her mind, Serena realises the greatest threat may be herself…
As Damien Fieri struggles against his bloodlust, connections in high places conspire to keep his killer instincts sharp. He’d love to confront the clandestine forces that turned him into a living weapon—but can he find a way to do it that doesn’t shed more blood?
Can Serena and Damien bend their powers for good, or will they become dangerous pawns in a much deadlier game?
Wrath of Storms is the second book in The Raincatcher’s Ballad epic fantasy series. If you like gritty adventure, dangerous magic, and page-turning battles, then you’ll love Steven McKinnon’s expansive saga.
Buy Wrath of Storms and leap into a thrilling adventure today!
620 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 5, 2019
12 people are currently reading
172 people want to read
About the author
Steven McKinnon
9 books123 followersSymphony of the Wind is Steven McKinnon's first fiction novel, and is Book One of The Raincatcher's Ballad. The Fury Yet To Come is a prequel novella set in the same world.
His first book, the true-life tale Boldly Going Nowhere, was released in 2015.
Steven is 32 years old, and was born in the bathroom of a Glasgow flat in the year 1986.
He has since moved out.
To get the Raincatcher's Ballad prequel novella -- The Fury Yet To Come -- for free, sign up to the author's newsletter at http://subscribe.stevenmckinnon.net/
His first book, the true-life tale Boldly Going Nowhere, was released in 2015.
Steven is 32 years old, and was born in the bathroom of a Glasgow flat in the year 1986.
He has since moved out.
To get the Raincatcher's Ballad prequel novella -- The Fury Yet To Come -- for free, sign up to the author's newsletter at http://subscribe.stevenmckinnon.net/
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
August 13, 2019
‘Myths. Stories. Everything has a history; the whole world’s a secret waiting to be uncovered.’
If anything gives a sense of what Steven McKinnon has created, it’s these words. This is a place layered with complexity, full of possibility. Whenever one question is answered, another twenty rush to take its place. It's worldbuilding done on a grand scale and in this second book, there’s even more room to explore. There’s travel into unknown lands, a glimpse of hidden mysteries, and an opportunity to know people that much better. Again and again, the past reaches out to shape the present, its hand offering wonder or destruction in turns. Each of the main characters, Serena, Gallows, and Damien, all look to their histories for something, and what they find may change them forever.
The whole book is a whirlwind. Like real life, it’s marked by the unexpected. If you think you know where a scene is going, just be prepared… because that’s the point right before you get bamboozled. One moment it’s a merry adventure, then it’s all blood spatter and screaming. To say that it’s action packed is a warning dangerously understated. Ancient magic and psychic powers, aerial and ground battles, terrorism and government conspiracy, genetically altered humans/monsters, pirates… McKinnon lets his imagination run wild and it makes for a genuine good time. Well, it certainly does for the readers, if not for the poor souls dying in horribly creative ways. This time round the plotting is tighter, much more focused. The reader was given a comprehensive education in the first book, with copious amounts of information and background for the world and the interwoven storylines, and the reward in Wrath of Storms is twofold. Primarily it means that its foundations are rock solid, from politics to people, everything is built on what came before. It might mean a quick refresh is needed if, like me, you read Symphony of the Wind some time ago, but there’s a handy recap guide on the author’s website so I recommend you make use of it. More gratifying is the excitement of feeling everything come together in clever or unexpected ways, threads constructed to make a pattern even better than you hoped. It's visible in the way that things only hinted about before become fully developed (Serena’s power, Damien’s past….!!!!), the ways people show who they really are, and how history offers up its own revelations. Whether by violence, guile, or accident, this uncovering of secrets is hard to resist. I had to force myself to make it last. And failed, as always.
‘Can you fight?’
Gallows struggled to stand. ‘Reckon I’d be more useful shouting words of encouragement as you run around kicking people in the face. Don’t suppose you got a gun?’
For characters, it’s all about change and growth. Everyone except Gallows, who is reassuringly himself. Not that he doesn’t have his moments of self-reflection and understanding, just that those don’t outweigh his tendency to get thrown out of windows. Ah, Gallows. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Most importantly, he doesn’t know when to shut up. Or he does, but doesn’t care. He’s the kind of guy who gets himself into a fight with odds far from in his favour and still makes time to snark about it. Pretty much every time I laugh out loud reading these books, it’s because of him. McKinnon does dialogue exactly right, with an assuredness that allows him to move from threat to humour to emotion with ease. And he’s especially good at the perfect attitudey comeback. So much so, in fact, that you really gotta wonder about him… Of course, Gallows is only one of the many great characters in the book. There are lots of old friends in attendance, with one in particular having a narrative arc so surprising I'm stunned it actually worked (but it did in spades), and some new faces too. I gotta say, when it comes to people, McKinnon doesn't do boring. While there's nuance in morality and motivation for most of them, he's also not afraid to offer pure villainy-a monster who does monstrous with relish. Damn, it's fun.
This is a more than worthy sequel to Symphony of the Wind, as fast and deadly as wildfire, full of heart and humour. All of us loved the first book at Fantasy Book Review choosing it as our finalist in the last SPFBO competition, and this is getting just as much enthusiasm. If you haven’t read the first book, I urge you to do so. It wasn’t just one of the best self-pub books I read last year, it was one of my favourites of 2018. And Wrath of Storms has easily made to on to my Best Books of 2019 list. Safe to say that I’m seriously excited for what comes next.
*https://www.stevenmckinnon.net/previo...
If anything gives a sense of what Steven McKinnon has created, it’s these words. This is a place layered with complexity, full of possibility. Whenever one question is answered, another twenty rush to take its place. It's worldbuilding done on a grand scale and in this second book, there’s even more room to explore. There’s travel into unknown lands, a glimpse of hidden mysteries, and an opportunity to know people that much better. Again and again, the past reaches out to shape the present, its hand offering wonder or destruction in turns. Each of the main characters, Serena, Gallows, and Damien, all look to their histories for something, and what they find may change them forever.
The whole book is a whirlwind. Like real life, it’s marked by the unexpected. If you think you know where a scene is going, just be prepared… because that’s the point right before you get bamboozled. One moment it’s a merry adventure, then it’s all blood spatter and screaming. To say that it’s action packed is a warning dangerously understated. Ancient magic and psychic powers, aerial and ground battles, terrorism and government conspiracy, genetically altered humans/monsters, pirates… McKinnon lets his imagination run wild and it makes for a genuine good time. Well, it certainly does for the readers, if not for the poor souls dying in horribly creative ways. This time round the plotting is tighter, much more focused. The reader was given a comprehensive education in the first book, with copious amounts of information and background for the world and the interwoven storylines, and the reward in Wrath of Storms is twofold. Primarily it means that its foundations are rock solid, from politics to people, everything is built on what came before. It might mean a quick refresh is needed if, like me, you read Symphony of the Wind some time ago, but there’s a handy recap guide on the author’s website so I recommend you make use of it. More gratifying is the excitement of feeling everything come together in clever or unexpected ways, threads constructed to make a pattern even better than you hoped. It's visible in the way that things only hinted about before become fully developed (Serena’s power, Damien’s past….!!!!), the ways people show who they really are, and how history offers up its own revelations. Whether by violence, guile, or accident, this uncovering of secrets is hard to resist. I had to force myself to make it last. And failed, as always.
‘Can you fight?’
Gallows struggled to stand. ‘Reckon I’d be more useful shouting words of encouragement as you run around kicking people in the face. Don’t suppose you got a gun?’
For characters, it’s all about change and growth. Everyone except Gallows, who is reassuringly himself. Not that he doesn’t have his moments of self-reflection and understanding, just that those don’t outweigh his tendency to get thrown out of windows. Ah, Gallows. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Most importantly, he doesn’t know when to shut up. Or he does, but doesn’t care. He’s the kind of guy who gets himself into a fight with odds far from in his favour and still makes time to snark about it. Pretty much every time I laugh out loud reading these books, it’s because of him. McKinnon does dialogue exactly right, with an assuredness that allows him to move from threat to humour to emotion with ease. And he’s especially good at the perfect attitudey comeback. So much so, in fact, that you really gotta wonder about him… Of course, Gallows is only one of the many great characters in the book. There are lots of old friends in attendance, with one in particular having a narrative arc so surprising I'm stunned it actually worked (but it did in spades), and some new faces too. I gotta say, when it comes to people, McKinnon doesn't do boring. While there's nuance in morality and motivation for most of them, he's also not afraid to offer pure villainy-a monster who does monstrous with relish. Damn, it's fun.
This is a more than worthy sequel to Symphony of the Wind, as fast and deadly as wildfire, full of heart and humour. All of us loved the first book at Fantasy Book Review choosing it as our finalist in the last SPFBO competition, and this is getting just as much enthusiasm. If you haven’t read the first book, I urge you to do so. It wasn’t just one of the best self-pub books I read last year, it was one of my favourites of 2018. And Wrath of Storms has easily made to on to my Best Books of 2019 list. Safe to say that I’m seriously excited for what comes next.
*https://www.stevenmckinnon.net/previo...
August 8, 2019
How do you describe Steve McKinnon’s Wrath of Storms, the sequel to FantasyBookReview’s SPFBO4 finalist Symphony of the Wind? I’ve tried comparing it to everything from “a fantasy Die Hard” to “Indiana Jones with airships, siege battles, and psychic powers,” and all the comparisons I use end up sounding reductive and leaving out so many interesting aspects to this story. I’ve settled on calling it a high-octane, action-fantasy adventure laced with dry humor, a diverse cast of heroes and villains, and an infectious case of ‘just-one-more-chapter’ syndrome.
Five weeks have passed since the events at the end of Symphony of the Wind. Dalthea is struggling under its new government, and the Raincatchers have split up. Damien has elected to face his inner demons, while Gallows and Serena use their newly acquired knowledge to attempt a journey to a place that can help Serena with her gifts. But the chaos sown by rebels and warring kingdoms poses dangers from above and below. New threats emerge, old enemies rear their ugly heads, and unlikely heroes are forced into the spotlight. McKinnon deftly juggles the already-large cast from book one and somehow adds several more wrinkles to the mix in book two, but it never feels like too much of a burden to follow. I recommend reading the refresher page on the author's web site before starting Wrath to catch yourself up.
One of the greatest strengths of these books are how well the large action set pieces are described in so few words. They help me conjure easy visualizations without the need to bog us down with every detail. and help the pages fly by at an incredibly brisk pace. McKinnon also has a knack for making each scene feel fresh (although you figure that Gallows is going to be thrown through a window or kicked off a mountain every chapter or two, because, Gallows.) Everything else about the set pieces feel unpredictable, like the tide could turn at any moment. And it usually does.
After reading Wrath, I’m convinced McKinnon would be a great candidate to write a screenplay for an action film. He understands pacing, movement, working with a large cast, visualization, and evoking emotional change while being economical with the word count. All these traits combine to make this series pure fun; I didn’t want it to end. If anything mentioned above sounds the least bit appealing to your tastes, you owe it to yourself to pick up this series.
Five weeks have passed since the events at the end of Symphony of the Wind. Dalthea is struggling under its new government, and the Raincatchers have split up. Damien has elected to face his inner demons, while Gallows and Serena use their newly acquired knowledge to attempt a journey to a place that can help Serena with her gifts. But the chaos sown by rebels and warring kingdoms poses dangers from above and below. New threats emerge, old enemies rear their ugly heads, and unlikely heroes are forced into the spotlight. McKinnon deftly juggles the already-large cast from book one and somehow adds several more wrinkles to the mix in book two, but it never feels like too much of a burden to follow. I recommend reading the refresher page on the author's web site before starting Wrath to catch yourself up.
One of the greatest strengths of these books are how well the large action set pieces are described in so few words. They help me conjure easy visualizations without the need to bog us down with every detail. and help the pages fly by at an incredibly brisk pace. McKinnon also has a knack for making each scene feel fresh (although you figure that Gallows is going to be thrown through a window or kicked off a mountain every chapter or two, because, Gallows.) Everything else about the set pieces feel unpredictable, like the tide could turn at any moment. And it usually does.
After reading Wrath, I’m convinced McKinnon would be a great candidate to write a screenplay for an action film. He understands pacing, movement, working with a large cast, visualization, and evoking emotional change while being economical with the word count. All these traits combine to make this series pure fun; I didn’t want it to end. If anything mentioned above sounds the least bit appealing to your tastes, you owe it to yourself to pick up this series.
June 29, 2019
Steven McKinnon is just as complex and dastardly in his machinations as Pyron Thackeray. He has created a vast, varied world that feels totally believable with a ton of history and culture, and I was fascinated every time we got to learn more about it, as well as thoroughly engaged with all the action and narrative revelations.
Fans of the first book will find a lot to love here, as McKinnon's writing is as exciting and engaging as ever, and the twist and turns of the narrative will surprise you as the crew travels to several different cities, while a few stay behind in Dalthea in an attempt to rebuild after the events of book 1. The breadth and depth of the world McKinnon has crafted is on full display here; in the first book, we were relegated to Dalthea for the duration of the story, while this time around it's only one of several major cities we get to visit. Each one is as unique as the last, with its own dazzling architecture and fascinating history and culture that McKinnon doesn't shy away from.
His aptitude for plotting complex political storylines is on full display in the Dalthea portions of the book, while the rest is a full-on quest, following the cast on an exciting adventure in search of answers about the source of Serena's power. Like in the previous book, there's a lot to grasp here and a lot of spinning plates, so you definitely need to be on your toes and paying attention to everything going on, because as we come to find out, every detail matters. McKinnon has cleverly and tightly plotted this series, planting seeds in book 1 that finally start coming to fruition in book 2, where I'm sure he's already planted even more.
Those who are worried that the book is juggling too many threads (as some said about book 1), don't worry here. There's certainly a lot going on, but after becoming acquainted with the world and its rules, McKinnon is able to throw us right into the thick of it this time around, knowing that we're already up to speed with what's going on and trusting that we're along for the ride. The narrative is a lot more streamlined than book 1 in the sense that we're not jumping around between a ton of different ideas/genres; there are really only two major storylines here, and each one is tightly focused and chugs along at a good pace.
And once again, the book wraps up in a satisfying way, bringing a close to the immediate conflicts of the book while still setting up major elements to be addressed in the next entry but not leaving you with the feeling that this is an incomplete book.
Wrath of Storms delivers on the promise of book 1's ending by increasing the scope, getting the characters wrapped up in a conflict much bigger than they knew and delivering endless action, drama, and fun. There are a ton of puzzle pieces that seem like they all came from different boxes, but by the end they fit together perfectly and form a picture you didn't even know they were making.
Fans of the first book will find a lot to love here, as McKinnon's writing is as exciting and engaging as ever, and the twist and turns of the narrative will surprise you as the crew travels to several different cities, while a few stay behind in Dalthea in an attempt to rebuild after the events of book 1. The breadth and depth of the world McKinnon has crafted is on full display here; in the first book, we were relegated to Dalthea for the duration of the story, while this time around it's only one of several major cities we get to visit. Each one is as unique as the last, with its own dazzling architecture and fascinating history and culture that McKinnon doesn't shy away from.
His aptitude for plotting complex political storylines is on full display in the Dalthea portions of the book, while the rest is a full-on quest, following the cast on an exciting adventure in search of answers about the source of Serena's power. Like in the previous book, there's a lot to grasp here and a lot of spinning plates, so you definitely need to be on your toes and paying attention to everything going on, because as we come to find out, every detail matters. McKinnon has cleverly and tightly plotted this series, planting seeds in book 1 that finally start coming to fruition in book 2, where I'm sure he's already planted even more.
Those who are worried that the book is juggling too many threads (as some said about book 1), don't worry here. There's certainly a lot going on, but after becoming acquainted with the world and its rules, McKinnon is able to throw us right into the thick of it this time around, knowing that we're already up to speed with what's going on and trusting that we're along for the ride. The narrative is a lot more streamlined than book 1 in the sense that we're not jumping around between a ton of different ideas/genres; there are really only two major storylines here, and each one is tightly focused and chugs along at a good pace.
And once again, the book wraps up in a satisfying way, bringing a close to the immediate conflicts of the book while still setting up major elements to be addressed in the next entry but not leaving you with the feeling that this is an incomplete book.
Wrath of Storms delivers on the promise of book 1's ending by increasing the scope, getting the characters wrapped up in a conflict much bigger than they knew and delivering endless action, drama, and fun. There are a ton of puzzle pieces that seem like they all came from different boxes, but by the end they fit together perfectly and form a picture you didn't even know they were making.
July 16, 2019
I loved Symphony of the Wind, in my view it should have been the winner in SPFBO4. But Wrath of Storms is even better. It is a masterpiece in storytelling and establishes Steven McKinnon as the heir to Joe Abercrombie’s throne. So, why a masterpiece in storytelling?
First of all, the characters. Without them being vulnerable, without caring for them deeply, without them being real, you cannot create tension. The threat level won’t be high enough. In Book 1 we got to know Serena, Gallows, Damien and the others, understood some of what drove them. Now, Serena and Damien are forced to confront those motivations head on. They are dangerous, destructive and have the power to destroy many others. Yet they are lost if they don’t confront them. It’s a wonderful, terrible ethical conundrum.
People who were minor characters before are given more of the spotlight this time. Characters like Buzz, Valentine, Tiera are flawed in different ways but also normal in their attempts to do what seems right at the time, often finding those priorities change as the world changes around them. And then having to deal with the consequences of those actions. These are character studies of people suffering trauma – and we see it through their eyes. Trauma that is always visceral.
Then there’s the world building. What some might label a steampunk genre (I don’t think it is but what do I know?) has, at its foundation, geology. We’re introduced to variations on the ignicite mineral and discover they represent greater dangers but also potential benefits. Except the ambitious and powerful are using it for all the wrong reasons – where have we heard that before? The filaments of these resources stretch and penetrate all aspects of society, not just in Dalthea, where Book 1 began, either.
I mentioned threat levels earlier and this is where the world building ramps up the storytelling by introducing so many more threats to all the characters mentioned here. The best stories have strong, powerful villains who are evil, ruthless, cruel and without any ethical dilemmas in committing crime. Steven McKinnon has cornered the market in Villain Making. Here’s an example, where the mayhem, murder and misfortune prompts Korvan to say, “I’ll sit upon the throne until I get bored, which won’t be for at least a fortnight.”
Put these things together and you have a story that never eases up, the foot remains firmly pressed down on the accelerator. To give you some idea, the final 25% of the book is the climax. Where an action set piece a third of the way through is what other writers would use as a climax! It is relentless, visceral, exciting beyond words. What more could you want?
First of all, the characters. Without them being vulnerable, without caring for them deeply, without them being real, you cannot create tension. The threat level won’t be high enough. In Book 1 we got to know Serena, Gallows, Damien and the others, understood some of what drove them. Now, Serena and Damien are forced to confront those motivations head on. They are dangerous, destructive and have the power to destroy many others. Yet they are lost if they don’t confront them. It’s a wonderful, terrible ethical conundrum.
People who were minor characters before are given more of the spotlight this time. Characters like Buzz, Valentine, Tiera are flawed in different ways but also normal in their attempts to do what seems right at the time, often finding those priorities change as the world changes around them. And then having to deal with the consequences of those actions. These are character studies of people suffering trauma – and we see it through their eyes. Trauma that is always visceral.
Then there’s the world building. What some might label a steampunk genre (I don’t think it is but what do I know?) has, at its foundation, geology. We’re introduced to variations on the ignicite mineral and discover they represent greater dangers but also potential benefits. Except the ambitious and powerful are using it for all the wrong reasons – where have we heard that before? The filaments of these resources stretch and penetrate all aspects of society, not just in Dalthea, where Book 1 began, either.
I mentioned threat levels earlier and this is where the world building ramps up the storytelling by introducing so many more threats to all the characters mentioned here. The best stories have strong, powerful villains who are evil, ruthless, cruel and without any ethical dilemmas in committing crime. Steven McKinnon has cornered the market in Villain Making. Here’s an example, where the mayhem, murder and misfortune prompts Korvan to say, “I’ll sit upon the throne until I get bored, which won’t be for at least a fortnight.”
Put these things together and you have a story that never eases up, the foot remains firmly pressed down on the accelerator. To give you some idea, the final 25% of the book is the climax. Where an action set piece a third of the way through is what other writers would use as a climax! It is relentless, visceral, exciting beyond words. What more could you want?
July 25, 2019
Full review is here, on my blog!~
This is the continuing story of a few people from the city of Dalthea. Serena is a young woman who has just found out that she has some pretty awesome powers. Tyson Gallows, a former soldier turned bounty hunter is traveling with her, as is Myriel, the guildmaster of the Mage’s guild. Damien Fieri is living out in the forest he once trained in, trying to battle the bloodlust inside of him that makes him lose control and become a near-unstoppable killing machine. But circumstance brings them all into the country of Ryndara.
Admittedly, most of my attention went directly to the same person it went to in the last book: Damien Fieri, the mysterious man who is very, very good at what he does, and what he does is murderkill all of everything, ever. Well, I mean he tries not to, mostly successfully! But, nonetheless he has been honed pretty well as a weapon, and part of him really, really wants to. He can regulate his own temperature, hear the heartbeats of others, and generally kick all kinds of ass. This volume has more of his backstory, and I can tell you that I was super excited to find out his deal. And we do. We find out who he really is, and a little of how he became what he is.
I also really liked Serena in this volume. More, I think, than I did the in the last volume. She’s not quite sure at first if she wants the power she has, and so when she finds out that she might be able to get rid of it, she goes for it. Shenanigans abound on her quest. She does not take anyone’s shit though, and I love it. She is so fucking snarky, and basically me when I was 16 only with… like, magical powers.
Just like Symphony, this book was very well written and flowed really well. I love the dialogue between characters, as many of them (not just Serena) are quite snarky towards each other. It wasn’t a short book, but I still found myself sitting down with it for as long as I could to get as much of it in my face as I could at a time. There was always something going on to keep it interesting, and there were plenty of twists and turns along the way. The ending kept me on the edge of my seat. So damn good.
I love how unique this world it. It’s industrial-revolution-with-magic setting is really interesting to me, and I never get bored of hearing about the airships or the clockwork machines that the King of Ryndara has in his palace or anything like that. We get a pretty good look into the past shenanigans of this world too in this volume, which was neat.
So, all told, I liked this one just as much as I liked Symphony, and I think that anyone else who really enjoyed the first volume is going to like this one as well. I honestly really hope this series gets made into audiobooks someday, because I think that with the right narrator they could be bonkers-amounts-of-amazing. It’s pretty safe to say that I’m very excited for the next volume!
This review is based on a review copy. Thanks to the author for the review copy! :)
This is the continuing story of a few people from the city of Dalthea. Serena is a young woman who has just found out that she has some pretty awesome powers. Tyson Gallows, a former soldier turned bounty hunter is traveling with her, as is Myriel, the guildmaster of the Mage’s guild. Damien Fieri is living out in the forest he once trained in, trying to battle the bloodlust inside of him that makes him lose control and become a near-unstoppable killing machine. But circumstance brings them all into the country of Ryndara.
Admittedly, most of my attention went directly to the same person it went to in the last book: Damien Fieri, the mysterious man who is very, very good at what he does, and what he does is murderkill all of everything, ever. Well, I mean he tries not to, mostly successfully! But, nonetheless he has been honed pretty well as a weapon, and part of him really, really wants to. He can regulate his own temperature, hear the heartbeats of others, and generally kick all kinds of ass. This volume has more of his backstory, and I can tell you that I was super excited to find out his deal. And we do. We find out who he really is, and a little of how he became what he is.
I also really liked Serena in this volume. More, I think, than I did the in the last volume. She’s not quite sure at first if she wants the power she has, and so when she finds out that she might be able to get rid of it, she goes for it. Shenanigans abound on her quest. She does not take anyone’s shit though, and I love it. She is so fucking snarky, and basically me when I was 16 only with… like, magical powers.
‘I will usher in a new period of—’
‘Gods above, we get it. Reckon you’ll bore me to death before you get close enough to use that knife.’
Just like Symphony, this book was very well written and flowed really well. I love the dialogue between characters, as many of them (not just Serena) are quite snarky towards each other. It wasn’t a short book, but I still found myself sitting down with it for as long as I could to get as much of it in my face as I could at a time. There was always something going on to keep it interesting, and there were plenty of twists and turns along the way. The ending kept me on the edge of my seat. So damn good.
I love how unique this world it. It’s industrial-revolution-with-magic setting is really interesting to me, and I never get bored of hearing about the airships or the clockwork machines that the King of Ryndara has in his palace or anything like that. We get a pretty good look into the past shenanigans of this world too in this volume, which was neat.
So, all told, I liked this one just as much as I liked Symphony, and I think that anyone else who really enjoyed the first volume is going to like this one as well. I honestly really hope this series gets made into audiobooks someday, because I think that with the right narrator they could be bonkers-amounts-of-amazing. It’s pretty safe to say that I’m very excited for the next volume!
This review is based on a review copy. Thanks to the author for the review copy! :)
August 8, 2019
What a wild ride, this book is awesome!
I really enjoyed Symphony of the Wind and was looking forward to the further adventures of some really great characters in what may be one of my favorite fantasy worlds.
Let's start with the characters, my favorites are Gallows, Serena and Damien. Serena is a young woman who recently discovered she has some kick ass powers over other peoples minds. Super dangerous stuff, especially when it doesn't come with a user guide. Gallows is an ex soldier turned bounty hunter but most recently turned protector of Serena. Damien another extremely dangerous one, he has some hardcore inner demons that need wrestling and he does his best but he is always one kill away from becoming a murderous lunatic.
Some of the other characters include Myriel the mage's guildmaster, Enoch a near unstoppable man with stone like skin who is untold years old, Buzz a drug addict who is trying to turn his life around, Morton a bad ass mercenary pilot, General Fallon who is trying to put the pieces of his kingdom back together again.
There are other great characters, too many to mention them all. What they all have in common is how real they along with their lives, problems and choices feel. I have grown quite attached to many of them and can not wait to see how the rest of their story plays out.
The world building is top notch, as the characters adventures took me to new places I felt a sense of wonder at the varying cultures and personalities they encountered. I wish they had gotten to spend more time in certain areas just so I could have experienced them deeper, in particular Frosthaven.
The story I will leave up to you to discover. If you are looking at reviews for this you have hopefully read Symphony of the Wind. If you have then you already know Mr. McKinnon is an excellent writer and should need no convincing that this is a must read. If you are yet to start series then you need to get on it because you are missing out.
I really enjoyed Symphony of the Wind and was looking forward to the further adventures of some really great characters in what may be one of my favorite fantasy worlds.
Let's start with the characters, my favorites are Gallows, Serena and Damien. Serena is a young woman who recently discovered she has some kick ass powers over other peoples minds. Super dangerous stuff, especially when it doesn't come with a user guide. Gallows is an ex soldier turned bounty hunter but most recently turned protector of Serena. Damien another extremely dangerous one, he has some hardcore inner demons that need wrestling and he does his best but he is always one kill away from becoming a murderous lunatic.
Some of the other characters include Myriel the mage's guildmaster, Enoch a near unstoppable man with stone like skin who is untold years old, Buzz a drug addict who is trying to turn his life around, Morton a bad ass mercenary pilot, General Fallon who is trying to put the pieces of his kingdom back together again.
There are other great characters, too many to mention them all. What they all have in common is how real they along with their lives, problems and choices feel. I have grown quite attached to many of them and can not wait to see how the rest of their story plays out.
The world building is top notch, as the characters adventures took me to new places I felt a sense of wonder at the varying cultures and personalities they encountered. I wish they had gotten to spend more time in certain areas just so I could have experienced them deeper, in particular Frosthaven.
The story I will leave up to you to discover. If you are looking at reviews for this you have hopefully read Symphony of the Wind. If you have then you already know Mr. McKinnon is an excellent writer and should need no convincing that this is a must read. If you are yet to start series then you need to get on it because you are missing out.
September 9, 2021
I was sent a digital copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Steven McKinnon!
Wrath of Storms continues the story which began in Symphony of the Wind a couple of weeks after the action left off, with Serena and her found family Tyson Gallows, Myriel and Enoch now travelling by airship towards the skyport where they hope to meet up with songstress Genevieve Couressa on the pleasure cruise airship The Queen of the North and then to travel with her to Ryndara.
It isn’t long before the action we’ve come to expect from Steven McKinnon kicks in and they are beset by sky pirates led by the fearsome Scalpel, otherwise known as Helena tal Ventris, who Serena’s old crew mate, Tiera Martel, used to run with and is once more a member of their crew. Bring on the swashbuckling!! As in Symphony, the action goes from strength to strength and you will be kept on the edge of your seat for most of the book, with McKinnon’s skillful writing.
We finally get to find out more about indestructible Damien who was a bit of an enigma in Book 1 – I really enjoyed discovering his back story, which was told partly via flashbacks from four years prior to the main story.
Serena is coming into her powers and getting better at controlling them. She is becoming quite the scary monster herself.
The action flits between our heroes and the city of Dalthea they left behind, where a mysterious group called the Lightbearers has come into being and are committing acts of terrorism and then killing themselves, apparently at the behest of a shady character called The Judge.
Valentine is back – she was a favourite of mine in Book 1 and is still a great character, with her southern drawl and soldierly instincts. She has a strong moral compass and is very brave. She needs to be, as she is up against an old enemy in the form of the undead wraiths and her lover’s murderer – the monster known as Korvan is back too – albeit with a new identity. Another old enemy, Pyron Thackeray is also back. Dalthea is drowning in corruption, water supplies are poisoned and a new outbreak of deadly bloodlung is upon the city.
Themes of class inequality and sexism are rife within this book. The pirates are mostly women and aim to kill the King of Ryndara, raze his palace to the ground and start a new republic where women are equal to men. Girl Power to the Max! Unfortunately they have an increasingly insane leader in Ventris and are rather too violent, so that most of them have to be put down by Gallows and gang. Such a shame – a society led by female pirates sounds rather appealing to me…
There were sequences in this book that reminded me of Mission Impossible with both Damien and Gallows seeming like indestructible superheroes and then in other sections I was reminded of Indiana Jones – particularly in Musa’s temple where they had a kind of riddle to solve to find their way forward.
If you enjoyed Symphony of the Wind I would urge you to continue the journey with Wrath of Storms – it is equally exciting, well-written, and there are more interesting geographical locations to discover and intriguing characters to get to know. I can’t wait to read the final installment in this trilogy: Choir of the Damned.
Wrath of Storms continues the story which began in Symphony of the Wind a couple of weeks after the action left off, with Serena and her found family Tyson Gallows, Myriel and Enoch now travelling by airship towards the skyport where they hope to meet up with songstress Genevieve Couressa on the pleasure cruise airship The Queen of the North and then to travel with her to Ryndara.
It isn’t long before the action we’ve come to expect from Steven McKinnon kicks in and they are beset by sky pirates led by the fearsome Scalpel, otherwise known as Helena tal Ventris, who Serena’s old crew mate, Tiera Martel, used to run with and is once more a member of their crew. Bring on the swashbuckling!! As in Symphony, the action goes from strength to strength and you will be kept on the edge of your seat for most of the book, with McKinnon’s skillful writing.
We finally get to find out more about indestructible Damien who was a bit of an enigma in Book 1 – I really enjoyed discovering his back story, which was told partly via flashbacks from four years prior to the main story.
Serena is coming into her powers and getting better at controlling them. She is becoming quite the scary monster herself.
The action flits between our heroes and the city of Dalthea they left behind, where a mysterious group called the Lightbearers has come into being and are committing acts of terrorism and then killing themselves, apparently at the behest of a shady character called The Judge.
Valentine is back – she was a favourite of mine in Book 1 and is still a great character, with her southern drawl and soldierly instincts. She has a strong moral compass and is very brave. She needs to be, as she is up against an old enemy in the form of the undead wraiths and her lover’s murderer – the monster known as Korvan is back too – albeit with a new identity. Another old enemy, Pyron Thackeray is also back. Dalthea is drowning in corruption, water supplies are poisoned and a new outbreak of deadly bloodlung is upon the city.
Themes of class inequality and sexism are rife within this book. The pirates are mostly women and aim to kill the King of Ryndara, raze his palace to the ground and start a new republic where women are equal to men. Girl Power to the Max! Unfortunately they have an increasingly insane leader in Ventris and are rather too violent, so that most of them have to be put down by Gallows and gang. Such a shame – a society led by female pirates sounds rather appealing to me…
There were sequences in this book that reminded me of Mission Impossible with both Damien and Gallows seeming like indestructible superheroes and then in other sections I was reminded of Indiana Jones – particularly in Musa’s temple where they had a kind of riddle to solve to find their way forward.
If you enjoyed Symphony of the Wind I would urge you to continue the journey with Wrath of Storms – it is equally exciting, well-written, and there are more interesting geographical locations to discover and intriguing characters to get to know. I can’t wait to read the final installment in this trilogy: Choir of the Damned.
July 28, 2020
All of us have read at least a couple of book series that start off great and fade as the pages roll, and the longer a book is, the higher are the chances of it falling into this deadly trap. Fortunately for you, this isn’t the case.
With Wrath of Storms, Steven Mckinnon not only gives the perfect follow-up to the previous books (The Fury Yet To Come, and The Symphony of the Wind), entices the reader with riddles and mysteries, pumps our blood with descriptive action, puts our nerves and emotions to the test but also answers the many questions left to answer in the previous chapter, and, opens up the Pandora Box, literally. If you have read the previous books and you think you saw chaos, well, think again.
This book is NOT for the weak of heart, or the sentimental, and if you are one of the above, I assure you, you will cry and throw your reading device/book to the wall in fury at least 7 times.
If you have read our previous reviews on the books of this series, you know how much we praise Steven Mckinnon for his crafting ability, and we don’t want to repeat ourselves, but, just as any first reader, we at this point, expected to get comfortable with the authors narrative. We were wrong.
This title isn’t “static”, but it evolves as if its happenings were at mercy of the randomness of the universe itself. Characters that were on the background start assuming important roles as the circumstances call for them, mainly because many main characters die horribly out of the blue. The author puts plot twist, after plot twist, after plot twist, pulling them from side stories, loose ends several chapters back inside the novel, and in the previous novels as well, all in a masterful, subtle and unpredictable manner. It’s beautiful. Nobody knows it all, and you cannot, in any moment of the book predict the next event.
As readers, we are being guided like pawns and shown just enough for us to stay curious and wanting more. No clichés, no plot holes and no moments of rest.
Although The Wrath of Storms focuses on Serena , that travels alongside Tyson Gallows (known by now for trying to kill himself, or get himself killed but failing miserably every time), Myriel “The Mage” (that lies as well as she breathes), Enoch (the Zen Stone man) and Flicker and Scruff, this story isn’t entirely about her. The author reveals more about characters like Damien (our favorite), Valentine, A. Fallon and even Buzz Fitangus.
Yes, our beloved Tiera Martelo will be back in the series, but with a very different and unexpected roll this time.
The villain of the year, Korvan (he is so funny, it will kill you), will be back as well, big time, alongside many interesting new characters, kingdoms and gods.
A must-read book, and a must-read series.
Pros:
The plot continues flawlessly and effortlessly.
The author makes you miss certain characters on the plot, and then hits you at full force.
Several plot twists that take away all that you have known so far, massive, successive shifts on the whole story notion and facts that blast you away, but still make sense, adding to the feeling of reality and connectivity to us readers.
Heart pumping action and very emotional scenes.
Backgrounds and past experiences from several of our favorite and most mysterious characters.
New and very exciting characters.
As if it was possible, even more gore.
Amazing character development.
Incredible plot dynamic.
Very relatable characters.
In this chapter, the author gets deeper into the gods, shows more kingdoms, kings and opens several possibilities for the next book.
A very promising ending.
Cons:
More people die. Yes. More people will die. I know, I know.
Favourites:
Favourite characters: Damien Fieri and Buzz Fitangus.
Favourite villan: Korvan.
Final score: 9.3/10
Originally posted on Scribble's Worth Blog (Scribblesworth.wordpress.com)
With Wrath of Storms, Steven Mckinnon not only gives the perfect follow-up to the previous books (The Fury Yet To Come, and The Symphony of the Wind), entices the reader with riddles and mysteries, pumps our blood with descriptive action, puts our nerves and emotions to the test but also answers the many questions left to answer in the previous chapter, and, opens up the Pandora Box, literally. If you have read the previous books and you think you saw chaos, well, think again.
This book is NOT for the weak of heart, or the sentimental, and if you are one of the above, I assure you, you will cry and throw your reading device/book to the wall in fury at least 7 times.
If you have read our previous reviews on the books of this series, you know how much we praise Steven Mckinnon for his crafting ability, and we don’t want to repeat ourselves, but, just as any first reader, we at this point, expected to get comfortable with the authors narrative. We were wrong.
This title isn’t “static”, but it evolves as if its happenings were at mercy of the randomness of the universe itself. Characters that were on the background start assuming important roles as the circumstances call for them, mainly because many main characters die horribly out of the blue. The author puts plot twist, after plot twist, after plot twist, pulling them from side stories, loose ends several chapters back inside the novel, and in the previous novels as well, all in a masterful, subtle and unpredictable manner. It’s beautiful. Nobody knows it all, and you cannot, in any moment of the book predict the next event.
As readers, we are being guided like pawns and shown just enough for us to stay curious and wanting more. No clichés, no plot holes and no moments of rest.
Although The Wrath of Storms focuses on Serena , that travels alongside Tyson Gallows (known by now for trying to kill himself, or get himself killed but failing miserably every time), Myriel “The Mage” (that lies as well as she breathes), Enoch (the Zen Stone man) and Flicker and Scruff, this story isn’t entirely about her. The author reveals more about characters like Damien (our favorite), Valentine, A. Fallon and even Buzz Fitangus.
Yes, our beloved Tiera Martelo will be back in the series, but with a very different and unexpected roll this time.
The villain of the year, Korvan (he is so funny, it will kill you), will be back as well, big time, alongside many interesting new characters, kingdoms and gods.
A must-read book, and a must-read series.
Pros:
The plot continues flawlessly and effortlessly.
The author makes you miss certain characters on the plot, and then hits you at full force.
Several plot twists that take away all that you have known so far, massive, successive shifts on the whole story notion and facts that blast you away, but still make sense, adding to the feeling of reality and connectivity to us readers.
Heart pumping action and very emotional scenes.
Backgrounds and past experiences from several of our favorite and most mysterious characters.
New and very exciting characters.
As if it was possible, even more gore.
Amazing character development.
Incredible plot dynamic.
Very relatable characters.
In this chapter, the author gets deeper into the gods, shows more kingdoms, kings and opens several possibilities for the next book.
A very promising ending.
Cons:
More people die. Yes. More people will die. I know, I know.
Favourites:
Favourite characters: Damien Fieri and Buzz Fitangus.
Favourite villan: Korvan.
Final score: 9.3/10
Originally posted on Scribble's Worth Blog (Scribblesworth.wordpress.com)
February 3, 2020
I love this series. McKinnon’s world of airships, gods, stone men, corrupt politicians and a siren, has always gripped me by the throat. I’m lucky enough to have been asked to review his books from the beginning, and have never been disappointed. His style and engagement are exquisite, and I wonder if (PSA: tooting one’s own horn) my fangirl attitude and reviews are what led to me being thanked in the acknowledgements of Wrath of Storms. Thank you.
There’s much of the same stuff good stuff here as in Symphony of the Wind. McKinnon brings back the characters we became so invested in, and continues to display their complex yet heart-rending relationships. He’s the type of author who will take a scythe to his characters, and although I hated him for this, it really propels the plot and lodges your heart somewhere alongside your intestines. His world-building is still glorious, and we learn more about the wars between communities, the histories, and the grudges. And I love a good grudge. It’s all becoming very intriguing and completely maddening all at once.
What’s different? This one is absolutely fucking relentless. There is constant action, eternal violence, and persistent disturbance. When you think you’re finally being given a break, McKinnon smacks you with bullets, knives, shortswords, all over again. I thought Symphony was fast-paced, and I now realise I was a fool. The pace is utterly unreal, and did well to convey the utter horror and chaos his world has become. Books that make you theatrically gasp in public are always good ones (albeit upon reflection and not at the time).
There’s a huge cast of characters, which is something I generally feel is unneccessary and confusing, however McKinnon’s skill allows him to render each of them individual and memorable. Back stories and motivations of even the smallest of characters were explored, and I loved it. There’s some particularly good commentary on collective hysteria giving comfort to the morbid and horrid, making me consider our current political climate (before eating a wee bit of cheese and pretending it’s all okay).
Nothing is predictable here. You honestly cannot fathom in your head what’s about to happen next. It’s so intricate, so expertly planned, that all you can do is allow yourself to be dragged into the fray and hope like hell you’re prepared.
Once again, I’m so intrigued to find out the fates of my beloved characters in McKinnon’s next instalment. Although I’ve abandoned all hope for the safety of my favourites.
There’s much of the same stuff good stuff here as in Symphony of the Wind. McKinnon brings back the characters we became so invested in, and continues to display their complex yet heart-rending relationships. He’s the type of author who will take a scythe to his characters, and although I hated him for this, it really propels the plot and lodges your heart somewhere alongside your intestines. His world-building is still glorious, and we learn more about the wars between communities, the histories, and the grudges. And I love a good grudge. It’s all becoming very intriguing and completely maddening all at once.
What’s different? This one is absolutely fucking relentless. There is constant action, eternal violence, and persistent disturbance. When you think you’re finally being given a break, McKinnon smacks you with bullets, knives, shortswords, all over again. I thought Symphony was fast-paced, and I now realise I was a fool. The pace is utterly unreal, and did well to convey the utter horror and chaos his world has become. Books that make you theatrically gasp in public are always good ones (albeit upon reflection and not at the time).
There’s a huge cast of characters, which is something I generally feel is unneccessary and confusing, however McKinnon’s skill allows him to render each of them individual and memorable. Back stories and motivations of even the smallest of characters were explored, and I loved it. There’s some particularly good commentary on collective hysteria giving comfort to the morbid and horrid, making me consider our current political climate (before eating a wee bit of cheese and pretending it’s all okay).
Nothing is predictable here. You honestly cannot fathom in your head what’s about to happen next. It’s so intricate, so expertly planned, that all you can do is allow yourself to be dragged into the fray and hope like hell you’re prepared.
Once again, I’m so intrigued to find out the fates of my beloved characters in McKinnon’s next instalment. Although I’ve abandoned all hope for the safety of my favourites.
January 2, 2025
Did I…did I just now realize this may be my all time favorite series? How in the world do I go from not really reading steampunk at all to falling in love with this brutal, vicious steampunk fantasy. It tore me apart, it made me cry, scream, puke, and I am so in love with it. Steven McKinnon is a genius I’m sure.
August 11, 2021
Absolutely incredible
Easy 5 stars, such a cinematic and frankly.enormous book. Wonderful fleshed.out characters and a.strong simple.plot with plenty of threads.
Amazing.
Easy 5 stars, such a cinematic and frankly.enormous book. Wonderful fleshed.out characters and a.strong simple.plot with plenty of threads.
Amazing.
January 5, 2023
I appreciate how action packed these books are, but sometimes I think it's too much and there's no room to breathe.
April 20, 2021
I read the first of The Raincatcher's Ballad as a finalist SPFBO4 and fell head over heels for the 3 main characters; Serena - a young Raincatcher's who job is to travel on airships to collect water for the dying city of Dalthea; she also is noticeable due to her green hair and the fact she carrys within her a power that can control the minds of people. Then there is Tyson Gallows who with his friend Damien Fieri are bounty hunters. Even though they become friends of Serena they know it might come down to killing her.
Also in book one finds others are trying to kill her too - non humans created by the enemy Idari.
Now in book 2 Civil war has come to Dalthea and a power struggle over who can provide water and food ensur, Fallon, the man now in charge is fight a losing battle against the followers of the Lightbearers.
Serena wants to find out her history - who and what are the green haired Sirens and who and what is happening in her ongoing nightmares. So she, Gallows and the Mage Myriel travel north to find a temple to find the original Goddess Musa and the origins of Serena.
Damien takes off and tries to come to terms with his upbringing and his story has one of the best twists ever.
This 2nd book in the series has brilliant airship battles, a bunch of insane pirates, a lost tomb with unrelenting constructs, a trip back to the past when God's and Goddess ruled and ruined the world and a trip into the radiation ravaged land of Palthonhelm. If you like a book full of action, fights to near death, thieves assains, war machineswith elements of steampunk then this series is for you - looking forward to book 3.
Also in book one finds others are trying to kill her too - non humans created by the enemy Idari.
Now in book 2 Civil war has come to Dalthea and a power struggle over who can provide water and food ensur, Fallon, the man now in charge is fight a losing battle against the followers of the Lightbearers.
Serena wants to find out her history - who and what are the green haired Sirens and who and what is happening in her ongoing nightmares. So she, Gallows and the Mage Myriel travel north to find a temple to find the original Goddess Musa and the origins of Serena.
Damien takes off and tries to come to terms with his upbringing and his story has one of the best twists ever.
This 2nd book in the series has brilliant airship battles, a bunch of insane pirates, a lost tomb with unrelenting constructs, a trip back to the past when God's and Goddess ruled and ruined the world and a trip into the radiation ravaged land of Palthonhelm. If you like a book full of action, fights to near death, thieves assains, war machineswith elements of steampunk then this series is for you - looking forward to book 3.
September 1, 2019
I enjoyed the book but am unable to articulate why I didn't enjoy it more.
In comparison to Raincatcher's #1 it was a more cohesive story but multiple points through the book I felt the story was wrapped up. With each climax and natural conclusion of the bad guy the story would shift, locations would change and it would continue again.
Fewer characters helped with each transition but I'm not sure that was enough to make me enjoy the the story further.
If you enjoyed Raincatcher's #1 then #2 won't disappoint. McKinnon continues to deliver this unique fantasy/science fiction blend of space pirates and magic and while that description seems intriguing it may not be the genre for me.
I will likely read Raincatcher's #3 when it's released unlikely to make it a priority when the release date is announced.
In comparison to Raincatcher's #1 it was a more cohesive story but multiple points through the book I felt the story was wrapped up. With each climax and natural conclusion of the bad guy the story would shift, locations would change and it would continue again.
Fewer characters helped with each transition but I'm not sure that was enough to make me enjoy the the story further.
If you enjoyed Raincatcher's #1 then #2 won't disappoint. McKinnon continues to deliver this unique fantasy/science fiction blend of space pirates and magic and while that description seems intriguing it may not be the genre for me.
I will likely read Raincatcher's #3 when it's released unlikely to make it a priority when the release date is announced.
August 27, 2021
I liked it mostly
This was an ok book to read but not remembering things that happened in the first book it took a while to get into really. Some people would definitely enjoy reading this book. It has action, intrigue and reads at an easy pace. A lot of useless violence but then that reflects people in general at times. Will want to read them in order when the third book comes out to enjoy fully.
This was an ok book to read but not remembering things that happened in the first book it took a while to get into really. Some people would definitely enjoy reading this book. It has action, intrigue and reads at an easy pace. A lot of useless violence but then that reflects people in general at times. Will want to read them in order when the third book comes out to enjoy fully.
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