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The Sixth World #2
Storm of Locusts
THE SEQUEL TO THE LOCUS-AWARD WINNING AND HUGO, NEBULA AND WORLD FANTASY AWARD NOMINATED TRAIL OF LIGHTNING
'Storm of Locusts might be the rare sequel that's even better than the first' Tor.com
'A purely joyous reading experience. Roanhorse's latest is a killer' Kirkus Reviews
'A must-read for anyone interested in own-voices or speculative fiction' Booklist, Starred Review
Kai and Caleb Goodacre have been kidnapped just as rumours of a cult sweeping across the reservation leads Maggie and Hastiin to investigate an outpost, and what they find there will challenge everything they've come to know in this action-packed sequel to Trail of Lightning.
When the Goodacre twins show up at Maggie's door with the news that Kai and the youngest Goodacre, Caleb, have fallen in with a mysterious cult, led by a figure out of Navajo legend called the White Locust, she knows what has to be done. The Goodacres are convinced that Kai's a true believer, but Maggie suspects there's more to Kai's new faith than meets the eye and so she vows to track him down.
With the aid of a motley collection of allies, Maggie must battle body harvesters, new-born casino gods and, ultimately, the White Locust himself, and when the full scope of his plans are revealed, Maggie's burgeoning trust in her friends, and herself, will be pushed to the breaking point - and not everyone will survive.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 23, 2019
About the author
Rebecca Roanhorse
61 books10.5k followersRebecca Roanhorse is a New York Times bestselling and Nebula, Hugo, and Locus Award-winning speculative fiction writer. She has published multiple award-winning short stories and novels, including two novels in The Sixth World Series, Star Wars: Resistance Reborn, Race to the Sun for the Rick Riordan imprint, and the epic fantasy trilogy Between Earth and Sky. She has also written for Marvel Comics and games and for television, including FX’s A Murder at the End of the World, and the Marvel series Echo for Disney+. She has had her own work optioned by Amazon Studios, Netflix, and AMC Studios.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,618 reviews
June 19, 2019
Fast-moving, moving from a straight-forward confrontation to a search and rescue. There are a lot of similarities with the Kate Daniels series: a heroine with a predilection for violence over other kinds of problem-solving, a young woman with a case of heroine-worship, said heroine with an absence of family connections, a post-apocalyptic world that lacks centralized authority, a world where inhuman and godly walk among the humans.
Setting again plays an important role, beginning in the mountains of the Diné to the barrier of the Wall, to the first glimpse of the world outside the Wall. Roanhorse avoids the 'too powerful' phenomenon by giving Maggie an antagonist that she can't easily destroy with gun or knife.
I won’t say much more at the risk of being too spoilery, but suffice to say that like Kate, one action ends up leading to another and to another, until it ends somewhere very different from what Maggie expected when she accepted her initial job with the Thirsty Boys.
For me, shortcomings with the story revolve around focus on a person who doesn’t approach problems with reflection and logic as well as my own distance from that life stage. I do find that there are a couple of genre tropes here that I'd be happier to have forgone, and that keep me from considering it a five-star book. Overall, it’s a fun little tale if you are in in the mood for an urban fantasy, and the Dinétah setting is a treat.
My thanks to Jennifer for the buddy read!
Setting again plays an important role, beginning in the mountains of the Diné to the barrier of the Wall, to the first glimpse of the world outside the Wall. Roanhorse avoids the 'too powerful' phenomenon by giving Maggie an antagonist that she can't easily destroy with gun or knife.
I won’t say much more at the risk of being too spoilery, but suffice to say that like Kate, one action ends up leading to another and to another, until it ends somewhere very different from what Maggie expected when she accepted her initial job with the Thirsty Boys.
For me, shortcomings with the story revolve around focus on a person who doesn’t approach problems with reflection and logic as well as my own distance from that life stage. I do find that there are a couple of genre tropes here that I'd be happier to have forgone, and that keep me from considering it a five-star book. Overall, it’s a fun little tale if you are in in the mood for an urban fantasy, and the Dinétah setting is a treat.
My thanks to Jennifer for the buddy read!
April 17, 2020
Not quite as good as the first book, but still a quick read.
The usual urban fantasy trigger warnings of threat of rape, torture, and violence. This also has some bug stuff so if you are scared of locusts, this isn’t for you.
The usual urban fantasy trigger warnings of threat of rape, torture, and violence. This also has some bug stuff so if you are scared of locusts, this isn’t for you.
May 27, 2019
Roanhorse doesn't fail to entertain... again. :)
This Urban Fantasy has quickly become one of my go-to sources for popcorn fiction. It has everything I really love. A much more unique setting than I usually get, reminding me of all my old stomping grounds where I used to grow up.
Well, before the coastlines altered and the earthquakes took down the cities and the plagues wiped out everyone else, anyway... :)
This is exciting, entertaining, full of gods of native persuasion, and some really funky cool happenings. What more could I want in a popcorn fiction? Come on, Coyote, let's throw a wrench at something. :)
This Urban Fantasy has quickly become one of my go-to sources for popcorn fiction. It has everything I really love. A much more unique setting than I usually get, reminding me of all my old stomping grounds where I used to grow up.
Well, before the coastlines altered and the earthquakes took down the cities and the plagues wiped out everyone else, anyway... :)
This is exciting, entertaining, full of gods of native persuasion, and some really funky cool happenings. What more could I want in a popcorn fiction? Come on, Coyote, let's throw a wrench at something. :)
April 22, 2019
4.5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2019/04/22/...
I’ve been running around for the whole of last year telling anyone who would listen that Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse is bar one the best thing to happen to urban fantasy in years. To say I was excited to read the sequel is an understatement. And now that I’ve read it, I am pleased to report that the highly-anticipated Storm of Locusts, like its predecessor, was just as fun and action-packed, while still managing to feel new and breath fresh life into the genre.
Four weeks have passed since the events at Black Mesa that saw Maggie defeat a god and save Dinétah, but her actions have cost her greatly, including her friendship with Kai Arviso, the young medicine man with whom she had fallen in love. Back at home with a lightning sword she’s not quite sure how to use, Maggie tries to make the best out of her situation by once again taking on odd jobs. After all, following the Big Water, there’s always something monstrous that needs to be slain in the Sixth World. So when whispers of a Navajo legend called the White Locust reaches Maggie’s ears, she doesn’t think much of it at first, treating the investigation like any other as she heads out with a crew to look into the rumors. But what they find is much more troubling. Not only is the White Locust real, he has amassed himself a number of followers, creating a dangerous cult. And to his faithful, he grants them delicate diaphanous wings of metal that look disturbingly insectoid, just like his namesake.
Worse, Maggie has suddenly become the reluctant guardian of Ben, a teenage girl possessed of a strange clan power, much like herself. Ben seems to look up to Maggie just as much as she seems to fear her, but she is also young and fiery with a thirst for vengeance. So when the twins Rissa and Clive Goodacre come calling with new information on the whereabouts of the White Locust, it is no surprise that the girl wants to tag along. Maggie doesn’t like the idea, but can’t deny that Ben’s power might be useful, for the news the Goodacre siblings bring isn’t good. It appears the cult leader had paid a visit to their home, taken their youngest brother Caleb with him, and that Kai might have been complicit in the abduction. Though Maggie doesn’t want to believe that the man she loves could have been involved, the evidence against him is damning. Determined to get down to the truth, she agrees to help the twins track down the White Locust and get Caleb back—and then perhaps she can also finally confront Kai and clear the air between them.
In all the ways that matter, Storm of Locusts is the perfect sequel. All of our favorite characters are back, with a several new faces to join the fun. Once more, we are transported to a world steeped in Native American myths and culture, where indigenous characters and their lives are in the foreground of both the setting and the story. Speaking of which, the plot of Storm of Locusts was a blast, making for a quick read where the action never stopped, and the turns just kept on coming. Overall, the writing also felt tighter and more streamlined, so needless to say, the pages flew by in a frenzy.
But Rebecca Roanhorse has not been content to simply retread old ground and rehash the previous book’s ideas. For one, I loved how the gates were literally flung open to the rest of the world in this sequel, with the story taking us beyond the magical walls of Dinétah to see how other survivors of the Big Water have managed to eke out a life in this post-apocalyptic landscape. Readers are treated to a road trip (by land, by water, and even by air) of sorts as we join Maggie on a journey that includes a treacherous route through human trafficking territory, a run-in with an implacable god who still has unfinished business with our protagonist, as well as the eventual confrontation with the mysterious foe known as the White Locust. But amidst all the danger, there are moments of peace and beauty too. Not all of the country had been destroyed when the world went to hell, and we also get to see how pockets of civilization have survived in areas surrounding calm picturesque lakes and the mighty concrete dams on the Colorado River that are still standing.
Then there are the characters. Maggie is not the easiest protagonist to like, but she does grow on you after a while. In Storm of Locusts, she’s still as stubborn and combative as ever, but it’s also true that since Kai came along, her edges have softened a little. And now with the introduction of Ben, Maggie has opened up even more, to my delight. Because much like the first book, the plot of this novel is in fact very straightforward and uncomplicated, following a classic quest narrative. Ultimately, it’s the relationships that really drive the story, and in this area, the sequel has greatly outdone its predecessor. I suspect part of this is because romantic element is downplayed, allowing the story to focus on Maggie’s dynamics with Ben, Clive, and Rissa instead. These friendships have defined her personality and motivations in a way that her romance with Kai could not, and I’m glad we were given a chance to explore her character from this angle.
Overall, I loved Storm of Locusts. It’s a sequel that took all the best parts of Trail of Lightning and made them even bigger and better, while also adding fresh ideas and new adventures for our protagonists. I’m thrilled with the direction of this series and hope the trend of improvement keeps up! Can’t wait for book three!
I’ve been running around for the whole of last year telling anyone who would listen that Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse is bar one the best thing to happen to urban fantasy in years. To say I was excited to read the sequel is an understatement. And now that I’ve read it, I am pleased to report that the highly-anticipated Storm of Locusts, like its predecessor, was just as fun and action-packed, while still managing to feel new and breath fresh life into the genre.
Four weeks have passed since the events at Black Mesa that saw Maggie defeat a god and save Dinétah, but her actions have cost her greatly, including her friendship with Kai Arviso, the young medicine man with whom she had fallen in love. Back at home with a lightning sword she’s not quite sure how to use, Maggie tries to make the best out of her situation by once again taking on odd jobs. After all, following the Big Water, there’s always something monstrous that needs to be slain in the Sixth World. So when whispers of a Navajo legend called the White Locust reaches Maggie’s ears, she doesn’t think much of it at first, treating the investigation like any other as she heads out with a crew to look into the rumors. But what they find is much more troubling. Not only is the White Locust real, he has amassed himself a number of followers, creating a dangerous cult. And to his faithful, he grants them delicate diaphanous wings of metal that look disturbingly insectoid, just like his namesake.
Worse, Maggie has suddenly become the reluctant guardian of Ben, a teenage girl possessed of a strange clan power, much like herself. Ben seems to look up to Maggie just as much as she seems to fear her, but she is also young and fiery with a thirst for vengeance. So when the twins Rissa and Clive Goodacre come calling with new information on the whereabouts of the White Locust, it is no surprise that the girl wants to tag along. Maggie doesn’t like the idea, but can’t deny that Ben’s power might be useful, for the news the Goodacre siblings bring isn’t good. It appears the cult leader had paid a visit to their home, taken their youngest brother Caleb with him, and that Kai might have been complicit in the abduction. Though Maggie doesn’t want to believe that the man she loves could have been involved, the evidence against him is damning. Determined to get down to the truth, she agrees to help the twins track down the White Locust and get Caleb back—and then perhaps she can also finally confront Kai and clear the air between them.
In all the ways that matter, Storm of Locusts is the perfect sequel. All of our favorite characters are back, with a several new faces to join the fun. Once more, we are transported to a world steeped in Native American myths and culture, where indigenous characters and their lives are in the foreground of both the setting and the story. Speaking of which, the plot of Storm of Locusts was a blast, making for a quick read where the action never stopped, and the turns just kept on coming. Overall, the writing also felt tighter and more streamlined, so needless to say, the pages flew by in a frenzy.
But Rebecca Roanhorse has not been content to simply retread old ground and rehash the previous book’s ideas. For one, I loved how the gates were literally flung open to the rest of the world in this sequel, with the story taking us beyond the magical walls of Dinétah to see how other survivors of the Big Water have managed to eke out a life in this post-apocalyptic landscape. Readers are treated to a road trip (by land, by water, and even by air) of sorts as we join Maggie on a journey that includes a treacherous route through human trafficking territory, a run-in with an implacable god who still has unfinished business with our protagonist, as well as the eventual confrontation with the mysterious foe known as the White Locust. But amidst all the danger, there are moments of peace and beauty too. Not all of the country had been destroyed when the world went to hell, and we also get to see how pockets of civilization have survived in areas surrounding calm picturesque lakes and the mighty concrete dams on the Colorado River that are still standing.
Then there are the characters. Maggie is not the easiest protagonist to like, but she does grow on you after a while. In Storm of Locusts, she’s still as stubborn and combative as ever, but it’s also true that since Kai came along, her edges have softened a little. And now with the introduction of Ben, Maggie has opened up even more, to my delight. Because much like the first book, the plot of this novel is in fact very straightforward and uncomplicated, following a classic quest narrative. Ultimately, it’s the relationships that really drive the story, and in this area, the sequel has greatly outdone its predecessor. I suspect part of this is because romantic element is downplayed, allowing the story to focus on Maggie’s dynamics with Ben, Clive, and Rissa instead. These friendships have defined her personality and motivations in a way that her romance with Kai could not, and I’m glad we were given a chance to explore her character from this angle.
Overall, I loved Storm of Locusts. It’s a sequel that took all the best parts of Trail of Lightning and made them even bigger and better, while also adding fresh ideas and new adventures for our protagonists. I’m thrilled with the direction of this series and hope the trend of improvement keeps up! Can’t wait for book three!
May 14, 2019
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Storm of Locusts is the second book of the Sixth World series, following and starts about a month after Trail of Lightning ends. Maggie has been trying to keep busy working with the Thirsty Boys and hanging out with Tah, waiting for Kia. She hasn’t seen him, hasn’t talked to him and has no idea how he is doing; she also doesn’t know if he forgives her after the events of the last book. Waiting is hard.
But Maggie isn’t a damsel just waiting on Mr. Right to come along, so she is keeping busy and there seems to be a new crazy in The Sixth World, by the name of Gideon. He is the called the White Locust and is picking up followers to go with him to ‘The New Land’. The entire thing seems very cult-like and Kia might be with him. No one knows if it is voluntarily or not but it seems very suspicious. Kia even left Maggie a message that could also mean multiple things.
Normally in a book when the main characters, who could be the love interests, are separated I’m totally distracted waiting for the reunion moment waiting for the other character to show up on page. Either I’m growing out of that phase of my life or Rebecca Roanhorse (RR) wrote a great enough story that while yes, I wanted to get to Kia, I was having enough fun in the Girl Gang that I didn’t really notice.
Maggie teams up with not one, but two other very special girls and a cat. The cat is like a demigod but still a cat in all the ways that matter. Clarissa’s brother has gone missing with Kia and is also believed to be with the White Locust and Ben, well Ben is just the cutest. Ben also has clan powers and is a fantastic tracker. She also has a slight hero worship thing going on for Maggie and could totally have been her little sister. They all go off looking for Kia, Caleb and the White Locust and get into plenty of trouble along the way.
I loved the girl gang. Sure they have some issues but once they learn to trust each other a little Rissa and Maggie make an awesome team and Ben is a ton of fun and trouble as well.
In this new world, you just never know what kind of trouble, or help you are going to run into. Between compounds offering human body parts to the highest bidder, casino’s housing forgotten gods, Coyote lurking around somewhere and the White Locust and his people there is trouble around every corner as the girl gang opens up even more of this world to the reader.
I definitely enjoyed this book even more than the first. RR’s writing has much improved and the pacing is on point. Trail of Lightning felt a little choppy in places but Storm of Locusts never did and I really loved how she is able to bring the Indian culture to live in this book. I’m very much looking forward to the next book of the series, especially after what the very last chapter revealed.
Cultural Diversity Note:
I’m not a huge reader of books with Indian culture in them and the few I have read have always seemed a little bashing of other cultures sometimes and some left a bad taste in mouth. But I really like how RR is able to bring the beauty and wonder of the culture and native American mythos to life in a very positive and way that doesn’t discount the past, but also doesn’t dwell on it.
Narration:
I’m so glad I got this one on Audio. The Indian names are words I’d have no real hope of pronouncing even close to what they are, so I definitely appreciate Tanis Parenteau’s ability to bring those characters and the culture of the book to life. I feel like she also captured the tone/feel of every character in her performance.
Listen to a clip:https://soundcloud.com/audiolibrary-a...
“Your fame, Godslayer, precedes you.”
That name again. “Where did you hear that name?” I ask.
“On the tongue of a dying angel, from the mouth of a storm king. It is known.”
Storm of Locusts is the second book of the Sixth World series, following and starts about a month after Trail of Lightning ends. Maggie has been trying to keep busy working with the Thirsty Boys and hanging out with Tah, waiting for Kia. She hasn’t seen him, hasn’t talked to him and has no idea how he is doing; she also doesn’t know if he forgives her after the events of the last book. Waiting is hard.
But Maggie isn’t a damsel just waiting on Mr. Right to come along, so she is keeping busy and there seems to be a new crazy in The Sixth World, by the name of Gideon. He is the called the White Locust and is picking up followers to go with him to ‘The New Land’. The entire thing seems very cult-like and Kia might be with him. No one knows if it is voluntarily or not but it seems very suspicious. Kia even left Maggie a message that could also mean multiple things.
Kai is smart. He would know what those six words would do to me, how they would make me want to destroy worlds to reach him, how they would send me reeling toward something as terrible as hope.
Normally in a book when the main characters, who could be the love interests, are separated I’m totally distracted waiting for the reunion moment waiting for the other character to show up on page. Either I’m growing out of that phase of my life or Rebecca Roanhorse (RR) wrote a great enough story that while yes, I wanted to get to Kia, I was having enough fun in the Girl Gang that I didn’t really notice.
Maggie teams up with not one, but two other very special girls and a cat. The cat is like a demigod but still a cat in all the ways that matter. Clarissa’s brother has gone missing with Kia and is also believed to be with the White Locust and Ben, well Ben is just the cutest. Ben also has clan powers and is a fantastic tracker. She also has a slight hero worship thing going on for Maggie and could totally have been her little sister. They all go off looking for Kia, Caleb and the White Locust and get into plenty of trouble along the way.
“I thought you were turning over a new leaf,” Rissa says to me. “Trying not to kill people.”
“I was, but that was yesterday. Today, with the whole captured and drugged thing? I’m feeling pretty aggro.”
Rissa gestures to Aaron like there’s nothing she can do.
I loved the girl gang. Sure they have some issues but once they learn to trust each other a little Rissa and Maggie make an awesome team and Ben is a ton of fun and trouble as well.
In this new world, you just never know what kind of trouble, or help you are going to run into. Between compounds offering human body parts to the highest bidder, casino’s housing forgotten gods, Coyote lurking around somewhere and the White Locust and his people there is trouble around every corner as the girl gang opens up even more of this world to the reader.
I definitely enjoyed this book even more than the first. RR’s writing has much improved and the pacing is on point. Trail of Lightning felt a little choppy in places but Storm of Locusts never did and I really loved how she is able to bring the Indian culture to live in this book. I’m very much looking forward to the next book of the series, especially after what the very last chapter revealed.
Cultural Diversity Note:
I’m not a huge reader of books with Indian culture in them and the few I have read have always seemed a little bashing of other cultures sometimes and some left a bad taste in mouth. But I really like how RR is able to bring the beauty and wonder of the culture and native American mythos to life in a very positive and way that doesn’t discount the past, but also doesn’t dwell on it.
Narration:
I’m so glad I got this one on Audio. The Indian names are words I’d have no real hope of pronouncing even close to what they are, so I definitely appreciate Tanis Parenteau’s ability to bring those characters and the culture of the book to life. I feel like she also captured the tone/feel of every character in her performance.
Listen to a clip:https://soundcloud.com/audiolibrary-a...
May 20, 2019
Damn.
Rebecca Roanhorse does not pull any punches. From the very first page I was hooked again and her story keeps its relentless pace until the very end while still spending enough time with the characters for them to develop and for the scenes to hit the emotional notes they are supposed to hit. This was, quite simply, incredible. Now, I know I am far from an impartial judge, given that the first book in the series reignited my love for Urban Fantasy, but believe me when I tell you, that this second book was even better than the first and seriously impressive.
Picking back up a few weeks after the events of the first book, this book delivers on all the promise Roanhorse’s world showed. I adore the matter-of-factness of a world not based on the usual fantasy fair but thoroughly different. Roanhorse trusts her (non-Native) readers to figure out stuff on their own in a way that I found refreshing – and I am sure for Native readers this book delivers on a whole different level. The worldbuilding is as intricate and immersive as before and this time around I thought the characters were equally interesting. I loved the addition of Ben who brings out a side of Maggie we hadn’t seen before in a way that made her more well-rounded while not changing anything about what we knew of her (something that I find particularly intriguing in books). I loved the way in which Rissa and Maggie dealt with their complicated relationship and I loved the themes of found family (obviously). Kai is not my favourite but even he got some really brilliant scenes.
I thought that Roanhorse impressively plays with themes of agency and destiny in a way that makes me very excited to see where this story goes next. I am a big fan of stories that ruminate on the role of human action in worlds dominated by gods – and Roanhorse gives the reader just enough of a glimpse of what is yet to come that I am beyond thrilled by the direction she chose to take her story.
I always find reviews of five-star books difficult without falling back onto superlatives, but I really loved this in a way I haven’t loved very many books this year. If you like fantasy at all, I urge you to check out this series.
You can find this review and other thoughts on books on my blog.
Rebecca Roanhorse does not pull any punches. From the very first page I was hooked again and her story keeps its relentless pace until the very end while still spending enough time with the characters for them to develop and for the scenes to hit the emotional notes they are supposed to hit. This was, quite simply, incredible. Now, I know I am far from an impartial judge, given that the first book in the series reignited my love for Urban Fantasy, but believe me when I tell you, that this second book was even better than the first and seriously impressive.
Picking back up a few weeks after the events of the first book, this book delivers on all the promise Roanhorse’s world showed. I adore the matter-of-factness of a world not based on the usual fantasy fair but thoroughly different. Roanhorse trusts her (non-Native) readers to figure out stuff on their own in a way that I found refreshing – and I am sure for Native readers this book delivers on a whole different level. The worldbuilding is as intricate and immersive as before and this time around I thought the characters were equally interesting. I loved the addition of Ben who brings out a side of Maggie we hadn’t seen before in a way that made her more well-rounded while not changing anything about what we knew of her (something that I find particularly intriguing in books). I loved the way in which Rissa and Maggie dealt with their complicated relationship and I loved the themes of found family (obviously). Kai is not my favourite but even he got some really brilliant scenes.
I thought that Roanhorse impressively plays with themes of agency and destiny in a way that makes me very excited to see where this story goes next. I am a big fan of stories that ruminate on the role of human action in worlds dominated by gods – and Roanhorse gives the reader just enough of a glimpse of what is yet to come that I am beyond thrilled by the direction she chose to take her story.
I always find reviews of five-star books difficult without falling back onto superlatives, but I really loved this in a way I haven’t loved very many books this year. If you like fantasy at all, I urge you to check out this series.
You can find this review and other thoughts on books on my blog.
May 2, 2019
Q. Why did I read Trail of Lightning as soon as it came out and not wait for the sequel? WHY DID I DO THIS TO MYSELF???
A. Because it was so flipping good.
A. Because it was so flipping good.
June 5, 2022
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4 ¼ stars
Usually, I don't go back on DNFs (there's plenty more books in the sea and all that) but I also get that sometimes my enjoyment of a book depends on me getting to read it at the 'right time'. The reason why I'd DNFed Storm of Locusts after reading just a chapter or so was that I found a certain scene to be way predictable. And that's it. I was annoyed so I moved on to other books. Nearly two years later, I decided to give it another try, and I'm glad I did. Storm of Locusts was even more enjoyable than its predecessor and I had a really fun time reading it. There is action, character growth, and, as with Trail of Lightning, Rebecca Roanhorse seamlessly incorporates certain aspects of Native American culture or beliefs into her story and world-building.
Maggie Hoskie, our narrator and a Diné monster hunter, is still recovering from Black Mesa. She's heartbroken, having lost her only friend, and possibly more, Kai Arviso. Her latest job ends badly and Maggie finds herself taking care of Ben, a teenager who like Maggie also possess clan powers. Maggie is reluctant about her new position as Ben's 'carer' but she was entrusted to her (this scene was a wee bit predictable, I mean, when you have someone say something on the lines of "If anything happens to me" you know something is going to happen to them).
Luckily (or not) for her Maggie doesn't really have the time to adjust to having Ben around as she finds herself with twins Rissa and Clive Goodacre on a mission to find the 'White Locust' who may be responsible for kidnapping their younger brother. Although Rissa insists that Kai is in cahoots with the White Locust, Maggie refuses to believe him capable of harming the youngest Goodacre or supporting someone like the White Locust.
To find them, our gang has to travel outside the walls of Dinétah, and here they came across some dangerous people.
Maggie's characterisation is phenomenal. Roanhorse captures her conflicted feelings towards her own actions—towards Kai and others—as well as the toll of her monster hunter title. Her feelings towards Kai are also depicted with realism and depth. We can clearly see why she cares for him so much and as I was reading I found myself growing apprehensive about their inevitable reunion. Maggie is not strictly likeable but I loved her nonetheless. I think Roanhorse makes it quite clear why Maggie is sometimes aggressive or cold towards others. Roanhorse gives Maggie her vulnerabilities while also making her into a bit of a badass.
There is also a focus on platonic relationships, which was great. Rissa initially treats Maggie with open hostility and even blames her for Kai's actions. But as the two find themselves going through hell and back their feelings of enmity slowly give way to a bond based on mutual trust, perhaps even respect.
At first, Ben, being a teenage character in an adult book, acts like the classic teen brat. Thankfully, as time goes by, we see different sides to her, and I look forward to seeing more of her in the next books.
The
It’s been four weeks since the bloody showdown at Black Mesa, and Maggie Hoskie, Diné monster hunter, is trying to make the best of things. Only her latest bounty hunt has gone sideways, she’s lost her only friend, Kai Arviso, and she’s somehow found herself responsible for a girl with a strange clan power.
In her journey to find Kai Maggie becomes makes new allies, discovers how the people outside Dinétah have coped with the Big Water, lands in the territory of human traffickers, confronts a god at a casino (something about this part reminded me of American Gods, an all-time fave of mine) before, at last, coming face to face with Kai and the White Locust.
Roanhorse's prose is terrific and kept me flipping pages. After the first few chapters, the pacing is fantastic, and the shifting dynamics between Maggie and the other members of her group were engrossing.
This is probably my new favourite by Roanhorse and I can't wait to hear more from Maggie&co.
4 ¼ stars
Usually, I don't go back on DNFs (there's plenty more books in the sea and all that) but I also get that sometimes my enjoyment of a book depends on me getting to read it at the 'right time'. The reason why I'd DNFed Storm of Locusts after reading just a chapter or so was that I found a certain scene to be way predictable. And that's it. I was annoyed so I moved on to other books. Nearly two years later, I decided to give it another try, and I'm glad I did. Storm of Locusts was even more enjoyable than its predecessor and I had a really fun time reading it. There is action, character growth, and, as with Trail of Lightning, Rebecca Roanhorse seamlessly incorporates certain aspects of Native American culture or beliefs into her story and world-building.
Maggie Hoskie, our narrator and a Diné monster hunter, is still recovering from Black Mesa. She's heartbroken, having lost her only friend, and possibly more, Kai Arviso. Her latest job ends badly and Maggie finds herself taking care of Ben, a teenager who like Maggie also possess clan powers. Maggie is reluctant about her new position as Ben's 'carer' but she was entrusted to her (this scene was a wee bit predictable, I mean, when you have someone say something on the lines of "If anything happens to me" you know something is going to happen to them).
Luckily (or not) for her Maggie doesn't really have the time to adjust to having Ben around as she finds herself with twins Rissa and Clive Goodacre on a mission to find the 'White Locust' who may be responsible for kidnapping their younger brother. Although Rissa insists that Kai is in cahoots with the White Locust, Maggie refuses to believe him capable of harming the youngest Goodacre or supporting someone like the White Locust.
To find them, our gang has to travel outside the walls of Dinétah, and here they came across some dangerous people.
Maggie's characterisation is phenomenal. Roanhorse captures her conflicted feelings towards her own actions—towards Kai and others—as well as the toll of her monster hunter title. Her feelings towards Kai are also depicted with realism and depth. We can clearly see why she cares for him so much and as I was reading I found myself growing apprehensive about their inevitable reunion. Maggie is not strictly likeable but I loved her nonetheless. I think Roanhorse makes it quite clear why Maggie is sometimes aggressive or cold towards others. Roanhorse gives Maggie her vulnerabilities while also making her into a bit of a badass.
There is also a focus on platonic relationships, which was great. Rissa initially treats Maggie with open hostility and even blames her for Kai's actions. But as the two find themselves going through hell and back their feelings of enmity slowly give way to a bond based on mutual trust, perhaps even respect.
At first, Ben, being a teenage character in an adult book, acts like the classic teen brat. Thankfully, as time goes by, we see different sides to her, and I look forward to seeing more of her in the next books.
The
It’s been four weeks since the bloody showdown at Black Mesa, and Maggie Hoskie, Diné monster hunter, is trying to make the best of things. Only her latest bounty hunt has gone sideways, she’s lost her only friend, Kai Arviso, and she’s somehow found herself responsible for a girl with a strange clan power.
In her journey to find Kai Maggie becomes makes new allies, discovers how the people outside Dinétah have coped with the Big Water, lands in the territory of human traffickers, confronts a god at a casino (something about this part reminded me of American Gods, an all-time fave of mine) before, at last, coming face to face with Kai and the White Locust.
Roanhorse's prose is terrific and kept me flipping pages. After the first few chapters, the pacing is fantastic, and the shifting dynamics between Maggie and the other members of her group were engrossing.
This is probably my new favourite by Roanhorse and I can't wait to hear more from Maggie&co.
May 5, 2019
“I’m just a five-fingered girl ...and I need other people.”
Maggie has come a long way since the beginning of ‘A trail of lightening’. She has found acceptance, friendship and love. The magic and clan powers continue to be unique and different and we find out more about the Sixth World. The book is well set up for the next in series. Great read!
Maggie has come a long way since the beginning of ‘A trail of lightening’. She has found acceptance, friendship and love. The magic and clan powers continue to be unique and different and we find out more about the Sixth World. The book is well set up for the next in series. Great read!
Read
April 6, 2020Second instalment in this Native American inspired post apocalyptic fantasy series. I didn't find this own quite as effective as the first, in part because the first was really driven by a lot of chewy interpersonal relationships whereas this was more of a quest story (zooming from place to place), plus Maggie feels a lot more powerful, with her new lightning sword, and very few bad effects from using her clan powers, and her new relationships with friends are all positive. The stakes weren't as high, basically, and the feel of the story warmer, and this may be exactly what a lot of people are looking for right now in fantasy, in which case leap on it. It's a super vividly realised world and the concepts are amazing and inventive. This would be a superhero movie I'd watch the hell out of.
I have to ask, though, WTF is with the 'blurb' that's just a synopsis of the story including a spoiler?
I have to ask, though, WTF is with the 'blurb' that's just a synopsis of the story including a spoiler?
April 30, 2019
Omg! The next book is going to be fire 🔥🔥 I can't wait!
August 28, 2019
4.5 stars
Storm of Locusts is an amazing addition to The Sixth World series. I loved everything about this book. I enjoyed the first book and being introduced to all the characters, but you really see them grow in this one. Maggie is loyal, protective and good, even if she doesn't feel that way. Especially in the previous book she was dealing with a lot of darkness inside of her. But this time around she is feeling guilt about the things she had to do in the first book. I loved seeing her letting people come close to her. She is realizing that it is okay for them to rely on her and vice versa. Storm of Locusts was more action packed and I loved traveling around all the new places. There was no dull moment and the author did a great job in telling a whole story. I absolutely loved the new character Ben, it was obvious that Maggie saw a lot of herself in her. It was also great to be reunited with the other characters, but the new ones were extra intriguing. I am a huge fan of this series, and I love how original it is. The bad guys are mysterious and unique, and you never know what is going to happen next. I can't wait for the next book to release after reading the ending of this book.
October 18, 2023
Halloween Bingo 2023
Maggie Hoskie admits that she is difficult to love. When people start calling you a Godslayer, they also start to back away. Despite this, she thinks she has found a real connection with Kai, a Diné man who also has fearsome clan powers. She is torn between being hurt that he left her behind when he went outside Dinétah and vowing to rescue him from the cult leader, the White Locust.
Maggie is still learning how to use her powers and how to employ the powerful sword of Neizghani she claimed when she killed him. Can she learn fast enough to avert another apocalypse? She inherits a young “niece," Ben, another woman with clan powers, and they set off into the world outside the Dinétah to find Kai. It's a jungle out there.
It's a great adventure, giving our women suitable challenges to overcome and a creepy cult leader to deal with. His ability to split into a swarm of huge locusts (just like a vampire becoming a cloud of bats) makes him next to impossible to kill. The novel's last pages strongly suggest that Roanhorse meant to write at least one more book in the sequence, a book which has never been published. That's a shame, as there are plenty of obstacles for Maggie and Kai to confront.
I read this book for the Monsters square on my bingo card, as Maggie the monster hunter takes on the White Locust.
Maggie Hoskie admits that she is difficult to love. When people start calling you a Godslayer, they also start to back away. Despite this, she thinks she has found a real connection with Kai, a Diné man who also has fearsome clan powers. She is torn between being hurt that he left her behind when he went outside Dinétah and vowing to rescue him from the cult leader, the White Locust.
Maggie is still learning how to use her powers and how to employ the powerful sword of Neizghani she claimed when she killed him. Can she learn fast enough to avert another apocalypse? She inherits a young “niece," Ben, another woman with clan powers, and they set off into the world outside the Dinétah to find Kai. It's a jungle out there.
It's a great adventure, giving our women suitable challenges to overcome and a creepy cult leader to deal with. His ability to split into a swarm of huge locusts (just like a vampire becoming a cloud of bats) makes him next to impossible to kill. The novel's last pages strongly suggest that Roanhorse meant to write at least one more book in the sequence, a book which has never been published. That's a shame, as there are plenty of obstacles for Maggie and Kai to confront.
I read this book for the Monsters square on my bingo card, as Maggie the monster hunter takes on the White Locust.
April 28, 2019
I loved Trail of Lightning, the first book in Rebecca Roanhorse's The Sixth World series, and Storm of Locusts is an amazing follow-up! Picking up right from where book #1 left off, the story rejoins Maggie after the big fight at Black Mesa, where she battled a Navajo god and seemingly lost her only friend. Now, mere weeks later, she's healing emotionally and physically, when she's called on by a sometimes-ally to help with a bounty hunt that goes badly wrong. After the bloody incident, Maggie has a new responsibility, her ally's niece Ben, a teen girl with clan powers of her own.
Immediately on the heels of this event comes news that Kai has been kidnapped, and Maggie is soon on the trail of a cult leader whose powers include the ability to summon and control hordes of locusts. Gross. And scary. Storm of Locusts ends up as a road trip/quest kind of book, as Maggie, Ben, and Rissa, sister of the boy kidnapped along with Kai, set out to track their missing friends and get vengeance on the White Locust. For the first time in these books, their search takes them outside the walls of Dinétah and into the greater world beyond the Navajo people's protected lands, where corruption and extreme danger come in many forms, and where despite the strangeness of the new reality, the gods still have powers too.
I'm really adoring The Sixth World series, its characters, legends, and world-building, the mix of old traditions and a new post-apocalyptic landscape. Author Rebecca Roanhorse has a magical, masterful touch with her storytelling, creating a people and society that feel real and lived-in. Maggie is a terrific, layered, conflicted heroine, a total win as a lead character. I want much more of her story! The book ends with a final scene that makes it clear that Maggie's troubles are far from over, which is fine with me -- more trouble for Maggie means more excellent stories for us to enjoy.
Can't wait for #3!
Immediately on the heels of this event comes news that Kai has been kidnapped, and Maggie is soon on the trail of a cult leader whose powers include the ability to summon and control hordes of locusts. Gross. And scary. Storm of Locusts ends up as a road trip/quest kind of book, as Maggie, Ben, and Rissa, sister of the boy kidnapped along with Kai, set out to track their missing friends and get vengeance on the White Locust. For the first time in these books, their search takes them outside the walls of Dinétah and into the greater world beyond the Navajo people's protected lands, where corruption and extreme danger come in many forms, and where despite the strangeness of the new reality, the gods still have powers too.
I'm really adoring The Sixth World series, its characters, legends, and world-building, the mix of old traditions and a new post-apocalyptic landscape. Author Rebecca Roanhorse has a magical, masterful touch with her storytelling, creating a people and society that feel real and lived-in. Maggie is a terrific, layered, conflicted heroine, a total win as a lead character. I want much more of her story! The book ends with a final scene that makes it clear that Maggie's troubles are far from over, which is fine with me -- more trouble for Maggie means more excellent stories for us to enjoy.
Can't wait for #3!
April 18, 2019
Check out more reviews @ Perspective of a Writer...
The Buzz
Have you not heard of The Sixth World series by Rebecca Roanhouse? The first book is called Trail of Lightning and it developed a world with some amazing monster hunting action!! Maggie is a serious killer but she wants to change after meeting Kai...
The Premise
Storm of Locusts is exactly as advertised in the premise. Actually its amazingly accurate. TBH I missed Kai in this book. He was a welcome bit of softness in the hardness that was Maggie in Trail of Lightning. This time around we don't get to meet him but for a short time. Actually its fine though. The girl power more than makes up for it! Rissa and Maggie have problems with one another and this is the time to work it all out... It's time for a road trip!
And I wasn't disappointed with our trip beyond the Walls of Dinétah ... its a dark, dark world out there. Men like the White Locusts are just the types to take advantage. We meet some new gods, make deals with old ones, blow things up and get involved in some really hinky experiments... Then we have an explosive ending that made the entire trip MORE than worth the wild ride. And we get a tantalizing little taste of what's to come in the 3rd installment of The Sixth World... let's prepare for war!!
You love dark protagonists? Brutality is a spice of life for you? You enjoy new cultures? Post apocalyptic intrigues you? Then yeah, you'll need to read Storm of Locusts and the Sixth World series!
My Experience
I was quite shocked with how Storm of Locusts started. I didn't see that loss coming at all. To inherit a young woman... WOW! But I loved it... It's kind of what Maggie needs. She's been with this crappy god jerk, Neizghani, and what she really needs is a family, people who cares if she goes all murderer on them. And this was that start. I did find her relationship with Kai going from 0 to 60 really fast, considering things were only barely heating up in Trail of Lightning but absence does make the heart grow more willing to be frank with ones feelings.
I also found the plot a lot tighter in Storm of Locusts. We didn't meander so much. I think the road trip aspect to the story really helped give the plot focus and direction. The author really knows how to write a climax though... its the end that punctuates the story and really makes our journey with Maggie worth it. Because she spends the book struggling with trust, change and her own self worth. She's come a long way from that girl who just indiscriminately killed when attacked. Things aren't always as they seem and believing when you can't see proof isn't easy.
Cover & Title grade -> A+
The covers for this series are seriously killing me they are so good! This story is all about the girl power and it shows in the cover design. They are not there to fake you out... seriously Maggie and Rissa along with Maggie's new friend, Ben, are going on an extended road trip together. I love the idea and applaud the execution and feel like the cover is the cherry on top. Also Storm of Locusts as the title is seriously so spot on... its scary good!
Why should you get on board with The Sixth World series?
-The Gods!!
The biggest aspect of Navajo culture we get in The Sixth World series is the mythology. It's not straight up culture... its been adapted for this post apocalyptic world that these gods have reappeared in. It's new and creepy cool! To was my favorite this time around...
-The Monsters!!
In Storm of Locusts we see that in this new world order the weak will be taken in by the strong... sometimes against their will and sometimes totally with free will. Either way these monsters won't treat these people fair... they need a champion and Maggie will have to step up!
-The Dinétah!!
The clan powers are one of the most fascinating aspects in The Sixth World series. I love how we get a little more glimpse into these powers every book and really open them up and see what they can do. Then with Ben we learn about a totally new power!
-Maggie's Found Family!!
Storm of Locusts really brought home to me that Maggie is forming relationships, enduring ones. And I love that! Kai, the Goodacres, Ben, Tah, her mutts. Her list is growing... and thus the stakes are getting higher and higher.
The Writing
A couple obstacles are overcome in a rather convenient way... like our cat bik'edyeeii being in the right place at the right time and our boy Aaron being willing to make a deal. These are contrivances but given some explanation which I really applaud. The proper motivations will make the most convenient meetings all the more believable.
A strength in Storm of Locusts though were the way obstacles arose... these have the potential to be just as contrived as the solutions. Not so here! They arise so naturally that they make the solving of them more acceptable! If a problem is believable that is the first step to finding the perfect solution.
Honestly I just loved Storm of Locusts and can't scream about it enough! I thought it was a great sequel and an exciting step in Maggie's journey. The Sixth World series is a new urban fantasy that gives us a sense of what it may be like if we were Dinétah after a flood destroys most of the world. It's a perfect melding of culture and fantasy!!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Authenticity
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Writing Style
⋆ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Plot & Pacing
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ World Building
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. It has not influenced my opinions.
______________________
You can find this review and many others on my book blog @ Perspective of a Writer. See my special perspective at the bottom of my reviews under the typewriter...
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April 22, 2019
"As he stands there, he begins to vibrate. His wings open wider. The lace-like lattice ripples, begins to shimmer and flow, and a thousand locusts drop free, plopping thickly to the floor. They mill over one another before lifting into the air. He opens his mouth, and more pour out from his throat, crawling over his cheeks, his eyes. He raises his arms, and they rise from his hands. Locust song fills the room. Thick and warm and bilious, a physical thing. Like drowning in a vat of molasses."
Goddamn. Tommy Arnold strikes again! LOOK AT THAT BADASS COVER!! I love it even more than Trail of Lightning, which is gorgeous!
I read the first installment in the summer of last year and dug the hell out of it! It was this unique, brutal, diverse post-apocalyptic urban fantasy with monsters and magic! It was truly a breath of fresh air.
This sequel? Unfortunately, not so much. For the most part, it felt like just another typical urban fantasy novel.
Storm of Locusts follows shortly after Trail of Lightning. Maggie is still shook up from the prior events and the fact that she is now in possession of a lightning sword. She is searching for Kai and soon learns that he has fallen in with the mysterious White Locust, a Navajo legend. The White Locust has gained a devout, dangerous following. Along the way, Maggie becomes the guardian to Ben, a teenager with unique clan powers.
I'm not even sure how to review this, to be honest. It was a mixed bag for me. I didn't love it, nor did I absolutely loathe it. It would be easier to write a review if that were the case!
There was something different about Storm of Locusts, something I clashed with that wasn't a problem in the first book. I just wasn't fully vibing with it. For sure one of the standout issues was the dialogue.
Just one example of the cringey exchanges that took place throughout the book:
I could feel my eyeballs rolling all the way back into my head. As I've gotten older, I have less patience for clunky, boring dialogue. It's a surefire way to throw me out of the story. There just isn't a natural rhythm to it, which is vital for me in enjoying a book.
What it comes down to is that the writing seemed off this time around. The conversations were herky jerky, the romantic relationship was lacking depth, the plot bordered on cheesy.. everything I loved about the first book was almost muted. The bones were there, but it was a shell of what it could have been.
There were still some delightful scenes and I enjoyed the addition of Ben, as well as the theme of female friendship that develops. Plus I'm still rooting for Maggie! I just didn't connect with this one as much, although it does seem to be setting up for something big in the finale! At least.. I'm hoping that's the case.
(Thanks to Saga Press for the copy!)
**The quotes above were taken from an ARC & are subject to change upon publication**
Goddamn. Tommy Arnold strikes again! LOOK AT THAT BADASS COVER!! I love it even more than Trail of Lightning, which is gorgeous!
I read the first installment in the summer of last year and dug the hell out of it! It was this unique, brutal, diverse post-apocalyptic urban fantasy with monsters and magic! It was truly a breath of fresh air.
This sequel? Unfortunately, not so much. For the most part, it felt like just another typical urban fantasy novel.
Storm of Locusts follows shortly after Trail of Lightning. Maggie is still shook up from the prior events and the fact that she is now in possession of a lightning sword. She is searching for Kai and soon learns that he has fallen in with the mysterious White Locust, a Navajo legend. The White Locust has gained a devout, dangerous following. Along the way, Maggie becomes the guardian to Ben, a teenager with unique clan powers.
I'm not even sure how to review this, to be honest. It was a mixed bag for me. I didn't love it, nor did I absolutely loathe it. It would be easier to write a review if that were the case!
There was something different about Storm of Locusts, something I clashed with that wasn't a problem in the first book. I just wasn't fully vibing with it. For sure one of the standout issues was the dialogue.
Just one example of the cringey exchanges that took place throughout the book:
"You look good," I say stupidly. Because he does. He's taken off his blue jacket and the sleeves of his black button-up shirt are rolled up to his elbows, the collar loose and open despite the cold. His familiar rings glint in the light, the big turquoise one I like so much. Everything about him is elegant, even the way he holds the softly glowing cigarette between his long fingers.
"You look good too," he whispers, perfectly sincere.
"Not like you," I gesture to his party clothes.
"Your hair got longer," he says.
"So did yours."
I could feel my eyeballs rolling all the way back into my head. As I've gotten older, I have less patience for clunky, boring dialogue. It's a surefire way to throw me out of the story. There just isn't a natural rhythm to it, which is vital for me in enjoying a book.
What it comes down to is that the writing seemed off this time around. The conversations were herky jerky, the romantic relationship was lacking depth, the plot bordered on cheesy.. everything I loved about the first book was almost muted. The bones were there, but it was a shell of what it could have been.
There were still some delightful scenes and I enjoyed the addition of Ben, as well as the theme of female friendship that develops. Plus I'm still rooting for Maggie! I just didn't connect with this one as much, although it does seem to be setting up for something big in the finale! At least.. I'm hoping that's the case.
(Thanks to Saga Press for the copy!)
**The quotes above were taken from an ARC & are subject to change upon publication**
February 11, 2021
4.5 stars, rounded up, because I truly loved this book!
The first book in the Sixth World series, Trail of Lightning, really surprised me last year, and I was really excited for the sequel. I wasn't disappointed.
Storm of Locusts again is a very fast paced book and a quick read. I can even see some people reading it in one day. It starts extremely action packed, slows down a little in the second half and picks up in pace again towards the end. Especially during the first half of the book there's one thing happening after another and I couldn't put the book down. That was why in comparison, the second half sometimes dragged a little, but this isn't a complaint. It's only appropriate for a book to have both faster and slower passages. I do have a little complaint about the ending though, which felt a bit rushed. I'd imagined the final fight scene to be way more epic and outdrawn. So a few more pages wouldn't have hurt the book. The last chapter felt a bit out of place as well.
The world is interesting and I could see everything the author described in my head. I LOVE the Native American touch to the story and world. Like in the first book, here again there are indigenous names and Gods and other words and it's awesome! The clan powers (=supernatural powers some of the characters have) are super cool and interesting.
Speaking of the characters, I loved them. Maggie, to quote both the author and another character, is "a solid bitch", but she's so badass. I love her. Then there's a new character, Ben. Ben is a girl. She can be annoying, but she's badass too, in her very own way. Enough said. We also meet some characters from book one again. And again, the cover of the book matches the description of three of the characters from a certain scene in the book, and I'm asking myself, why don't more books do that? It's so cool! (Also, a girl in a ball gown holding an assault rifle? How cool is that?!)
The book focuses wayy more on the plot than the characters though, and while that didn't matter for me (I'm a plot person), it might annoy some people. You have been warned.
So even though I have some minor complaints, I loved and enjoyed the book as a whole. I love the mix of fantasy and the (post) apocalypse. I think this series is really unique and creative and I'd definitely recommend it if you like fast paced books, action, cool characters with cool powers and want to try something new a little outside of the ya range!
The first book in the Sixth World series, Trail of Lightning, really surprised me last year, and I was really excited for the sequel. I wasn't disappointed.
Storm of Locusts again is a very fast paced book and a quick read. I can even see some people reading it in one day. It starts extremely action packed, slows down a little in the second half and picks up in pace again towards the end. Especially during the first half of the book there's one thing happening after another and I couldn't put the book down. That was why in comparison, the second half sometimes dragged a little, but this isn't a complaint. It's only appropriate for a book to have both faster and slower passages. I do have a little complaint about the ending though, which felt a bit rushed. I'd imagined the final fight scene to be way more epic and outdrawn. So a few more pages wouldn't have hurt the book. The last chapter felt a bit out of place as well.
The world is interesting and I could see everything the author described in my head. I LOVE the Native American touch to the story and world. Like in the first book, here again there are indigenous names and Gods and other words and it's awesome! The clan powers (=supernatural powers some of the characters have) are super cool and interesting.
Speaking of the characters, I loved them. Maggie, to quote both the author and another character, is "a solid bitch", but she's so badass. I love her. Then there's a new character, Ben. Ben is a girl. She can be annoying, but she's badass too, in her very own way. Enough said. We also meet some characters from book one again. And again, the cover of the book matches the description of three of the characters from a certain scene in the book, and I'm asking myself, why don't more books do that? It's so cool! (Also, a girl in a ball gown holding an assault rifle? How cool is that?!)
The book focuses wayy more on the plot than the characters though, and while that didn't matter for me (I'm a plot person), it might annoy some people. You have been warned.
So even though I have some minor complaints, I loved and enjoyed the book as a whole. I love the mix of fantasy and the (post) apocalypse. I think this series is really unique and creative and I'd definitely recommend it if you like fast paced books, action, cool characters with cool powers and want to try something new a little outside of the ya range!
September 7, 2019
I’d say I enjoyed this book more than book one. I was already comfortable with the characters and the world, knowing how prickly and difficult Maggie was. So it was with real pleasure that I watched her gradually open up to Ben and to Rissa. And the story had lots of action, with Maggie needing to use her dangerous abilities often. It was also interesting to see how Ben's ability manifested, and I hope the next book continues Maggie's evolution and hers and Ben's relationship.
August 8, 2023
I enjoyed this even more than the first book I think, and it's really unfortunate we might not get more in the series. Storm of Locusts is an action-packed post-apocalyptic adventure centering indigenous characters and featuring a creepy use of bugs. This was a wild ride and I definitely enjoyed it.
June 15, 2019
I waffled between a 4 & 4.5 star, but I landed on a 4 due to a few quibbles with character motivation & relationships. That being said, I had SO much fun reading this! It continues to be quite dark, but I just love spending time with Maggie and I especially love spending time with her plus Ben & Rissa. This book expanded on world building nicely and grew our vision of what is at stake for our characters. I'm so happy this did not have a sophomore slump, and I can't wait to continue on the journey with Maggie & co. Rebecca Roanhorse is one or two books away from being an autobuy author for me
August 31, 2019
I have nothing more to add to my review of the first book in this series, Trail of Lightning. Roanhorse smoothes out some of the bumps in the first book, but there is still a bit of the herky-jerky pacing extant.
Earlier review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Other than that, this is a nice little adventure tale featuring badass Navajo warrior Maggie Hoskie as she goes up against others with super clan powers, this time a dude named Gideon who has locust abilities as well as Magneto-of-The-X-Men powers over metal, for some reason.
There are two issues that I have with the book, one slight and one major — the first being that Maggie has more than a whiff of the Mary Sue about her, but I’m going to excuse that because of the Mercy Thompson/Jane Yellowrock “action girl” nature of the story, but the second, more troubling one is that
Earlier review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Other than that, this is a nice little adventure tale featuring badass Navajo warrior Maggie Hoskie as she goes up against others with super clan powers, this time a dude named Gideon who has locust abilities as well as Magneto-of-The-X-Men powers over metal, for some reason.
There are two issues that I have with the book, one slight and one major — the first being that Maggie has more than a whiff of the Mary Sue about her, but I’m going to excuse that because of the Mercy Thompson/Jane Yellowrock “action girl” nature of the story, but the second, more troubling one is that
May 19, 2019
Y'all need to read this series. Like yesterday. Just do it.
January 7, 2022
My goodness, this series is easy and fun to consume.
Please Hollywood, please put Roanhorse on speed dial.
Please Hollywood, please put Roanhorse on speed dial.
May 5, 2019
Occasionally a writer comes along who changes everything in a genre.
They make you excited again.
It's like everything is right with the world.
Mark Henwick is one of those authors. He took an old idea and made it surprising again.
And Rebecca Roanhorse is one of those authors as well.
She takes themes I've read before. Things I've seen dozens of times. But she saturates them with authenticity and somehow makes them original. She is an author that people will copy.
And most importantly for me, she's the sort of author I will queue up at the bookstore on release day for.
They make you excited again.
It's like everything is right with the world.
Mark Henwick is one of those authors. He took an old idea and made it surprising again.
And Rebecca Roanhorse is one of those authors as well.
She takes themes I've read before. Things I've seen dozens of times. But she saturates them with authenticity and somehow makes them original. She is an author that people will copy.
And most importantly for me, she's the sort of author I will queue up at the bookstore on release day for.
April 27, 2019
This book is the perfect sequel. It took everything I liked about book one and amped it up ten fold while also fixing some of the things that I found harder to understand in book one.
While there still wasn’t a glossary I feel like Roanhorse was much more comfortable giving contextual clues to the words and phrases we see in Navajo that might not roll off the tongue of anyone outside of the community. It helped me to understand better as well as made this language that’s entirely new to me more familiar.
The character growth and development here was insane and all the arcs for them were believable after the events of book one. Even when we didn’t see why they were being like this right off. Roanhorse does a good job of showing us the fall out and then tackling the why which is my favorite kind of storytelling.
The pacing was quick and engaging and those last hundred pages were bananas! Also the new characters were stupid interesting and I can’t wait to see their growth as we face down a book three now. Also eager to see the growth of those we know and love now that all the dynamics have drastically changed.
While there still wasn’t a glossary I feel like Roanhorse was much more comfortable giving contextual clues to the words and phrases we see in Navajo that might not roll off the tongue of anyone outside of the community. It helped me to understand better as well as made this language that’s entirely new to me more familiar.
The character growth and development here was insane and all the arcs for them were believable after the events of book one. Even when we didn’t see why they were being like this right off. Roanhorse does a good job of showing us the fall out and then tackling the why which is my favorite kind of storytelling.
The pacing was quick and engaging and those last hundred pages were bananas! Also the new characters were stupid interesting and I can’t wait to see their growth as we face down a book three now. Also eager to see the growth of those we know and love now that all the dynamics have drastically changed.
May 29, 2019
In STORM OF THE LOCUSTS, the sequel to TRAIL OF LIGHTNING, Maggie Hoskie must not only save her friend Kai, but she must also stop a mysterious cult from flooding the world. Maggie sets out together with allies to find out the truth about the White Locusts and find Kai. The question is, does Kai really want to be saved?
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
August 31, 2019
If you're easily grossed out by bugs, be aware there are a lot of bugs in this one. Should be obvious from the title, but be assured "Storm of Locusts" is not metaphorical. It's totally 1000% literal. I'd say skip this but I can't because there's so much from the first book that gets built on here, and it's pretty crucial. But maybe you can skip some of the bug parts.
This was a much more solid book. It expanded on the world that was introduced in the previous book, not just the mythologies of mythological monsters and gods but the relationship. Maggie, Riza and a new character, Ben, are thrown together in a road trip from hell and have to learn to depend on each other. This is especially important with Maggie and Riza, since Riza still doesn't trust Maggie. Ben is an interesting mirror for Maggie; she's what Maggie could've been with different influences in her youth, and while Ben might not have the years of experience at fighting monsters that Maggie does, she's still able to hold her own. And with Riza has plenty of reasons to distrust Maggie, I really appreciated that the women didn't argue needlessly with each other and learned how to work with each other.
On a sidenote, I want to say that the version of the Mormon church that exists in this post-Apocolyptic world is far-fetched, but...I can't. The Fundamentalists are already halfway there. Though I am curious why this bishop has so much power. What happened to the apostles and the Prophet? I have no idea if Ms. Roanhorse intends to go any further into this or not, but if so, I'm interested to see where it goes.
The narrator still isn't that good at male voices though. All the guys sound like they're sneering.
This was a much more solid book. It expanded on the world that was introduced in the previous book, not just the mythologies of mythological monsters and gods but the relationship. Maggie, Riza and a new character, Ben, are thrown together in a road trip from hell and have to learn to depend on each other. This is especially important with Maggie and Riza, since Riza still doesn't trust Maggie. Ben is an interesting mirror for Maggie; she's what Maggie could've been with different influences in her youth, and while Ben might not have the years of experience at fighting monsters that Maggie does, she's still able to hold her own. And with Riza has plenty of reasons to distrust Maggie, I really appreciated that the women didn't argue needlessly with each other and learned how to work with each other.
On a sidenote, I want to say that the version of the Mormon church that exists in this post-Apocolyptic world is far-fetched, but...I can't. The Fundamentalists are already halfway there. Though I am curious why this bishop has so much power. What happened to the apostles and the Prophet? I have no idea if Ms. Roanhorse intends to go any further into this or not, but if so, I'm interested to see where it goes.
The narrator still isn't that good at male voices though. All the guys sound like they're sneering.
September 6, 2019
4.5 stars. Such a huge improvement from the first book, though I did like that too. Mostly I think it's that the world is established now, and Maggie is a bit more accessible. I really liked her here, she's grown as a character, a lot. And she's a legit badass, one of my favorite things. :)
Absolutely looking forward to more from this world and Rebecca Roanhorse!
Absolutely looking forward to more from this world and Rebecca Roanhorse!
June 11, 2020
This was interesting, although I enjoyed the first book a bit more. It’s nice to see how the world is outside Dinétah, but I would’ve liked more world building, more descriptions. Maggie is a delight as always 😄
October 31, 2018
I received an e-ARC from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Review can also be found on *Milky Way of Books*
Brace yourselves ladies and gentleman for THIS WAS AN AMAZING RIDE!
Trail of Lightning was a big surprise for me this year. I always loved mythology, especially the stories from both the Native Americans and the civilizations in South America. And the first book of the series swept me away in a world where the Tribes have built a Wall after THE apocalypse with the help of their gods and medicine men and where a young woman Maggie becomes entangled with tricksters and heroes and one silver-eyed man.
(by the way, Kai deserves hugs and love! My beautiful, genius man!)
In the second book, a series of disturbing events, involving locusts (ugh), lead Maggie, Rissa and Ben, a new character to join forces in order to bring down, a lunatic cult leader, save Dinetah and also Kai. Also, the ladies on the book's cover? I realized from where the scene is inspired from and you really are going to agree with me when you read THAT chapter. It's a testament that humanity can become deranged after everything is lost and every human life has a literal price.
The beauty of this book was not only the amazing action, the expanded world building or even the gods. It was Maggie and how she grew as a character, making friends and having allies and trying to lean into them as they helped each other. She matures and becomes far better than the closed-off character she was in the first book.
And that made her even more lovable to me. At the same time, every scene with those bugs had me crawling and shivering and wishing I had insect repellant with me every time!
There's no doubt that this book is going to be amazing when it will be released next April. It was only I, the mad blogger, who wanted to know the sequel and now has to wait maybe until 2020 until the third book is released! *laughs with tears*
Brace yourselves ladies and gentleman for THIS WAS AN AMAZING RIDE!
Trail of Lightning was a big surprise for me this year. I always loved mythology, especially the stories from both the Native Americans and the civilizations in South America. And the first book of the series swept me away in a world where the Tribes have built a Wall after THE apocalypse with the help of their gods and medicine men and where a young woman Maggie becomes entangled with tricksters and heroes and one silver-eyed man.
(by the way, Kai deserves hugs and love! My beautiful, genius man!)
In the second book, a series of disturbing events, involving locusts (ugh), lead Maggie, Rissa and Ben, a new character to join forces in order to bring down, a lunatic cult leader, save Dinetah and also Kai. Also, the ladies on the book's cover? I realized from where the scene is inspired from and you really are going to agree with me when you read THAT chapter. It's a testament that humanity can become deranged after everything is lost and every human life has a literal price.
The beauty of this book was not only the amazing action, the expanded world building or even the gods. It was Maggie and how she grew as a character, making friends and having allies and trying to lean into them as they helped each other. She matures and becomes far better than the closed-off character she was in the first book.
And that made her even more lovable to me. At the same time, every scene with those bugs had me crawling and shivering and wishing I had insect repellant with me every time!
There's no doubt that this book is going to be amazing when it will be released next April. It was only I, the mad blogger, who wanted to know the sequel and now has to wait maybe until 2020 until the third book is released! *laughs with tears*
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