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The Wardbreaker #2

Soul of the Storm

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I have an exceptional talent, and it's going to get me killed.

Let's be honest, things haven't exactly gone well from me ever since I stole from Becket, the red-eyed Demonologist. You could almost say that single act of dumbassery started this whole mess. But even though I'm a mage, I can't exactly reverse the course of time, so here we are.

We're hiding.

Why? Because a big-time crime-boss is out there, waiting for us to make a mistake that'll let him clamp down on us like a hungry wolf on the leg of a wounded deer. Now, hiding sounds easy, right? You get to shack up somewhere with a fireplace, a couple of books, and a whole bunch of mage friends? Not quite. You see, we've kind of been forced to shack up with Becket, and he doesn't keep a horde of cats as pets like a normal person; he keeps demons, and it's creepy as hell.

But even if I could live with the demons, I can't sit on my hands and do nothing. The scroll we retrieved from the Magister's vault is fraying, and if I don't enter the Tempest and find my Guardian soon, it'll probably turn to dust and we can kiss any hopes of learning more about the drowned Queen's treasures goodbye. I have to get my act together and do this, because I'm the only one who can. The problem is, the Tempest isn't opening its doors for me, and I'm running out of time.

The weight of the world is on my shoulders, and I don't know if I can do this, but I have to try.

The Wardbreaker Series is a fast paced urban fantasy by an author constantly praised for bringing a touch of freshness to the genre. If you're looking for great action, fantastic characters, and a twisting story that's not without it's romance, scroll up and pre-order now!

183 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 13, 2019

307 people are currently reading
192 people want to read

About the author

Katerina Martinez

93 books521 followers
Katerina Martinez is a widely known author who writes supernatural fiction with a creepy, thrilling, and romantic bent. A veteran of many years of writing, she is the author of Dark Siren, the first book in the breakout Half-Lich Trilogy which became an instant bestseller in 2016. She continues to expand her back-list with books such as Wings of Light, and Heart of the Thief, and Night Hunter - three series starters that all take place in the same world.

If you would like to keep in touch with Katerina, learn about her work, and receive an exclusive short story set in the Blood and Magick universe, just follow this link, sign up, and don't be shy to drop her an email.

https://www.katerinamartinez.com/

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5 stars
178 (37%)
4 stars
148 (31%)
3 stars
116 (24%)
2 stars
26 (5%)
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8 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
Profile Image for Seraphia Bunny.
2,115 reviews34 followers
December 26, 2019
Soul of the Storm Review
Soul of the Storm is book two in Katerina Martinez’s Wardbreaker series. This series first introduced readers to Izzy Warden, a “thief” and wardbreaker. She’s an Elemancer and good at what she does at procuring items that are harder to get for others and have been taken wrongfully. Izzy has a lot of problems to deal with and get under control but the clock is ticking. For years Izzy has ignored the call of her Guardian from the Tempest, but now…she needs to get into the Tempest and claim her Guardian if she is going to have any chance at succeeding in connection to the tasks at hand.
Soul of the Storm picks up where book one left off. Izzy is being given safe refuge by the very demonologist that she originally broke into his house and stole from him. They managed to dodge the trouble of the Magistrate for the break-in and theft of the chest that holds the scroll connected to the drowned Queen. But Izzy’s problems are just adding up. Becket has a task for her, and it ends up coming at a loss for not just her, but all of them. She needs to gain access to the Tempest, but so far she’s been trying to force her way in. If only it was that “easy.” I like that the author gives me more of Becket in this book. He doesn’t become one of the focal characters, but he does show up more and not just in passing. He is truly unique as a character, and I love that the author gives me some of his background story as well.
It’s probably wrong to say, but I found myself liking the supporting characters a lot more than the main character in this book. I hate to say it, but…Izzy really got on my nerves in this book. I didn’t like her attitude, ego, and her wanting to be so much in control. For me, she too often wanted to let her ego and pride step up and take front and center. So, when a minor character tells her that she needs to learn some humility I just about cheered and clapped. I couldn’t help but scowl quite a bit whenever she wanted to act like she was being inconvenienced or that things should be going a lot smoother for her. I honestly kept waiting on someone to give her a reality check.
While I was a bit disappointed with a certain twist in the storyline, I know that it will add to the further drama to come in the next book. Because what’s a race without a fire under your butt to get there first and succeed? All in all, I am rating this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. The storyline is well done, and I loved the new additions of characters, even if a couple of my favorites are only around briefly not to return. While Izzy does manage to test my nerves throughout the book when she mellows out and stuffs the attitude the story is overall enjoyable. If you read the first book in this series and enjoyed it then I encourage you to read this book.

Profile Image for Penny.
3,144 reviews87 followers
December 15, 2019
This is the second book, and I think I loved this one better than the first. It picks up about a few weeks from the end of the first, and we are then kicked into high gear. Izzy is trying to get her Guardian when Becket asks for a favor. It doesn’t end well, and they all need to fix what happened. I love the characters, but I still feel a tad removed from them, but it’s not too terribly bad. However, the action is great, and I was surprised at the end. I wonder what’s going to happen next?! The story flows very well, and I didn’t even want to put the book down. More, please! I was provided a copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
Profile Image for Missy Brown.
1,759 reviews30 followers
December 16, 2019
If you enjoyed the first book, you will enjoy the second one. I feel that the first was more of an introduction to the world, characters and the plot. The second one really gets into the heart of the characters and more of the plot. I personally enjoyed Soul of the Storm more.

Soul of the Storm is set a few weeks after Heart of the Thief. Izzy has a lot going on. She is trying to find her Guardian, ( yes you will find out if she does ), things do not go smoothly. But really does anything ever really go the way we want them to? Also what is a girl to do when Becket asks for a favor? Yep, she does and guess what?! Things don't go according to plan. But not all is lost, some things work in her favor. Just read and find out what!!

Overall Soul of the Storm is a great follow up for book two in the Wardbreaker series. I enjoyed the characters more, the growth of the plot, the pace was fast and smooth. That ending, sure did leave it open for book three. I am going to need that asap!!!
Profile Image for Ashley .
316 reviews20 followers
December 15, 2019
First off, the covers for this series are GORGEOUS! 😍😍

I really enjoyed Soul of the Storm!

There wasn't a single dull moment in this book. Izzy and her team go from one thing, straight on to the next and I loved every page. This book is full of action and surprises and I had trouble putting it down.
I was NOT expecting that ending but it was great! I'm excited to see what's in store for Izzy in the next book.
981 reviews11 followers
December 15, 2019
The Guardian

Izzy finally enters the tempest and gets a great guardian. The fight with Asmodeus comes to a brutal head and Becket is a welcome patron.
54 reviews
September 25, 2020
Finally a heroine!!

Le sigh ... how many excerpts have you read that tell you the heroine is “smart, sassy, and kick arse” ? If you read this genre like I do ... every single book cover. How often does it match? Not as much as it should!! Be prepared this one is real.

I have my issues like her petty qualification that she’s a “finder” when she is a thief. Seems to me she’s more ashamed of parts of herself than the story would lead you to believe. But I also see this as completely normal and human so I got past it.

Here’s the good news... she LISTENS TO PEOPLE!!! Oh My God that was so refreshing!!! Thank you to Ms Martinez for this. She wants to run off on her own to get things done and finds it difficult to hold herself back but she actually listens to the logic and reasoning of others. Once she admits the logic and reasoning are sound she doesn’t go rushing off behind their backs on her own. Even as it’s chafing the hell out of her. I have read countless books where the heroine does this constantly and you know if that was for real the heroine would’ve died before the story began.

It’s hard to give a complete example that anyone who hasn’t already read the book would understand but suffice it to say I was impressed by her tendency to listen. There’s a moment where Axel tries to tell her something about his father and she’s so convinced she can handle whatever because of her stripper days that she doesn’t really listen but I saw that as being a reflection of her arrogance rather than a mark against her intelligence.

I don’t like the fact that’s she’s so arrogant and seems to constantly overestimate herself. She seems to really not give other people their due especially the bad guy but sometimes I wonder if this would be a byproduct of her lack of proper education by another mage.

Anyway, I think I’m getting too “in my head” with the review. I didn’t want to sell her as perfect but as a genuine strong young woman, with actual talent and smarts!

***for readers who find editing to be not worth a good story you’ll likely be frustrated. It did sometimes become a distraction but it never fully disengaged me. Thought I’d throw that warning out there though.
Profile Image for J.T. Brooks.
289 reviews3 followers
March 23, 2020
This second book in the Wardbreaker series was adventurous and full of attitude. I love the tension and interactions between Izzy and all her friends, especially Axel. I’m anxiously anticipating when Axel and Izzy will finally give into their attraction to each other and do more than just kiss. The world of the Tempest was creative and Izzy’s quest to obtain her guardian was quite the escapade. I was left with a handful of questions at the end of this book, like where does Axel go when he isn’t at Becket’s place? What about RJ’s sister? She was mentioned in the first book and written like she is an important part of his life, but she is never mentioned in this time. What about Danvers’s job? It seemed like she had a really big operation set-up in the previous book, so can she really spend this much time away from it? It’s all of these little swirling questions that dropped the score for me.
Katerina Martinez's wonderful Wardbreaker world is very enjoyable and I can’t get enough of her humor and sass. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Mary Farrington.
37 reviews
October 30, 2020
Most of this book centres around Izzy’s inner turmoil and self-doubt. She finally manages to unlock more of her magical abilities and finds some ruthlessness in herself. At the same time, the second half of this book depicts her as nearly invincible, and a little too cold and calculating for my taste. Compared to the character you find in the first book, there was a huge drop off in her EQ.

Possibly more frustrating than all of that, she fails at the last second to defeat one of her big enemies and only gets one kiss with Axel. That makes a total of two, very short, kiss scenes over the course of the first two books. While this series isn’t technically advertised as a romance, I wasn’t expecting the burn to be so slow going through the story. Hopefully getting into the third book things will start to heat up a little, and we’ll see more of the likeable Izzy from book one.
Profile Image for Retta.
523 reviews
July 2, 2020
Into the tempest she goes!

Well book 2 did not disappoint! She picked up and just kept right on going! This was very good! I’m reading the books one after another. Very hard to put down. Loving this series! The characters are so interesting and fun. There is a really good story line in each book and so far there hasn’t been huge cliffhangers that have left you dying in between books. Each book has wrapped up their story arcs and just had well placed lead ins to the next book. So if you aren’t a cliffhanger person this so far is a good series! I am enjoying it! Now off to read book 3.
Profile Image for Josie.
285 reviews24 followers
September 10, 2022
The story is getting going. We see important characater development from Izzy, a development of her powers and relationships, and an unfurling of the grander plot.

I suppose I'm still a little in the dark about the whole worldbuilding in this series, and if I'm still confused by book 2, I don't think that's intentional. I still have no idea what vivimancers do (nor am I sure of what the limitations of every class of mages are), and I'm trying to figure out the significance of this whole Guardian thing. And also, why and how does Izzy have two classes of magic? I guess we will find out.
562 reviews4 followers
March 4, 2020
Enjoyable action packed story

Well written with a fast paced storyline. Full of action packed scenes and flowed at a good pace. This series is written more as a serial - starting where the last book left off and with the next book to finish the story (hopefully). Quick enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Kat.
461 reviews7 followers
May 6, 2022
Intriguing!

This installment picks up where we left off and does provide some answers to the bazillion burning questions and mysteries surrounding Izzy. However, where one was answered I swear another dozen popped up. lol. I am hooked on this series and can’t wait to see where the next book takes us!!
Profile Image for Rebecca.
4,065 reviews
April 18, 2020
Absolute must read

I can’t believe he Escaped seriously!!! I really hope Axel and Izzy get together. This book at so much crazy stuff going on I’m still trying to process it. I can’t wait for the next book.
38 reviews1 follower
May 5, 2020
Suspense throughout

She does a great job in keeping you on the edge of your seat wanting to know what happens. The fight scenes are very detailed and easy to watch in your mind's eye. Can't wait to read the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Rhiannon Chillingworth.
839 reviews221 followers
April 3, 2020
Another 3.75 for this one.

I like this series, but it's just missing something to make it a proper 4 star read. Although I couldn't tell you what it's missing.
Profile Image for LadyPan.
68 reviews1 follower
April 16, 2020
Still really like the story! Picking up book 3.
Profile Image for Sheila Ryals.
2,610 reviews13 followers
June 17, 2020
😻

This just gets more and more exciting and intense! No idea what’s going to happen next. I really want more!
Profile Image for Shammy.
425 reviews4 followers
December 17, 2021
Just when ye think you’ve figured out the plot yer thrown a curve ball ♥️
Profile Image for Vanna.
3 reviews1 follower
February 23, 2020
Strong story, love the characters but the editing is bad. There are so many grammatical errors that I can't believe someone was paid to do it. I am, however, able to get past that and really enjoy the story here. I hope the next book is edited better than the first 2.
Profile Image for Spinneretta.
2,866 reviews20 followers
February 7, 2020
Good.

Much like the first book in the series, this one was a fast paced race to the end, which was another small cliffhanger... meaning it was a setup for the next book, but not something that makes you want to scream because it was so unexpected.
The book picks up a few weeks after the end of the previous book. Izzy and her friends have to figure out the scroll, but first, she needs to enter the Tempest and find her guardian, something easier said than done!
When one of her friends is taken by Asmodeus, it becomes a race against time to save him, grind her guardian, and read the scroll.
Profile Image for Mary Cole.
24 reviews
February 4, 2020
Soul of the Storm

Here we go my friends, this second book is wow. The characters are coming along nicely in their growth. The plot, man I am loving it. Everyone is gearing up for the next big adventure. Come find out what all the Hub bub is about.
Profile Image for Heather Gilbert.
1,783 reviews85 followers
December 12, 2019
While Book 1 felt somehow reminiscent of other tales, Book 2 veers to the left and takes the story in an entirely new direction from other, more familiar, offerings. Isabella, our mage stripper turned thief, is coming into her powers, though not completely willingly. Events are such that she has no choice, and when she loses a friend to the magical equivalent of a Mob Boss, those powers are the only thing that may save her - and them all. 

It's fast, jumping from one scene to the next with little downtime, as the characters themselves are facing a literal clock of time and decay. Between fending off murderous crows, avoiding the eyes of a powerful mage, dancing with demons and finding a way into Tempest... they also have to decipher the mystery of the scroll and discover the secrets buried over a thousand years ago. But no pressure. 

This is a typical Book 2 in a trilogy, offering up answers while still laying out the mystic that will keep you coming back for Book 3. Characters grow, situations change and some secrets are revealed. It's a fun ride, and worth the read. 

*I received an ARC of this book and am happy to share my honest opinion*
Pros:

~Full on action and quite a few revelations.
~Alex is starting to come into his own and stand apart as a solid character.
~The Drowned City and The Drowned Queen... we've only heard tid-bits so far, and I want to know more.
~The Tempest.
~Great cover art!

Cons:

~Some parts are hard to follow.
~I really like the characters, but I am not invested in them just yet.
~The romantic dynamic seems to be with Alex, which rocks, but I kinda like Becket better. That's just me though.

Perspective:
First Person, Third Person, Multiple POV (limited)

Ending Type
Cliffhanger

Rating
PG-13 to R

Romantic Dynamic
M/F

Character Age Range
24+

My Final Verdict on Soul of the Storm


Profile Image for Dan.
254 reviews
February 3, 2020
Good Story

This is the continuation of Izzy’s story. It picks up right after the end of book 1. There is a lot of action and adventure with twists and turn. It is a fun read.
Profile Image for Kristan.
280 reviews7 followers
January 25, 2020
Enjoyed this as much as book 1.
There was still some grammer mistakes but i easily overlooked them as i was enjoying the story and the characters and it didn't bother me too much.
I loved the family aspect and how close they all got but id have liked to see more of them together as a group communicating and bonding and seeing them develop.
Profile Image for Denise H.
1,054 reviews54 followers
December 16, 2019
Soul of the Storm, book two in The Wardbreaker series, picks up a few weeks after the first book ends. Where the first book mostly sets the stage and introduces the characters, this book dives into the main event – the action and suspense with a touch of light romance on the side and includes several twists and turns to keep you on your toes throughout the story. I enjoyed the more in-depth dive into the characters and the new challenges and dangers they faced together as a unit (no one left behind mentality, more like a family).

Izzy is still learning and working to overcome her fears to face the Tempest and find her guardian, as well as taking on the task of retrieving an item from the enemy for Becket, saving a team member and facing off with Asimodius. And we get to find out what is on the Queen’s scroll. There is an awareness between her and Axel as they share a few small moments; but if you are looking for any kind of romantic entanglement you will not find it in this read, it is heavier on the drama and action versus romance which is not bad but hopefully there will be some evolvement in that area in the next book. Seriously she and Axel need to get together, they would make a great couple. I really enjoyed this second installment and cannot wait to see what is next for Izzy and the gang.

Profile Image for Andrea Green.
818 reviews8 followers
December 15, 2019
If you like a good urban Fantasy with plenty of twists and turns that is all about the storey and not interested in romance, then this is the book for you.
This book is set a few weeks after the last book ends and is fast paced from start to finish with action. I love the way that everyone comes together and starts seeing each other as family and although there is a love interest between Axtel & Izzy it's so slow burn it fades into virtual non-existence which is frustrating however the storey is so strong and full of action it makes up for the lack of romance.
So come Join Izzy as she takes on Asimodius, Faces the Tempest and finds her Guardian (who is a so much more than an normal Guardian i think if you read between the lines), Fights hard to retrieve one of their own who's been taken and finally finds out what is in the Queens Scroll.
Profile Image for Bianca.
108 reviews18 followers
July 29, 2020
Book 2 in this series and it did not disappoint. We all know what happens when you can’t “sit on your hands and do nothing” - TROUBLE! We get a bit of a better view of Becket and I really enjoyed the interactions with her team - I am hoping that there could be a pre-quel novel on how she met each of them, and I am interested in hearing how she met RJ.... I detest those crows I can tell you that, not to mention Asmodius - although that just tells you how well they are written. I did have a difficult time in liking Izzy and can agree I shared a view of her with one of the characters. However she did manage to redeem herself in the end. Well worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews

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