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Stormbringer #1
The Stormbringer
The Witcher goes fiercely feminist in this gripping paranormal romance from noted author Isabel Cooper.
Raised to be weapons against the darkness, Sentinels spend their lives fighting the monsters that prey upon humanity. Their hands will shape the world, and their swords will seal its fate.
A warrior lost to time…
Pursuing her latest quarry deep into the wilderness, Sentinel Darya finds herself in an ancient city that should no longer exist. There she comes upon a handsome warrior in ancient clothing, held in a deathlike sleep—Amris, hero of the last great battle against the Traitor God. His discovery, and the weakening wards about the city, can only mean one thing: the Traitor is gathering his armies again, and the storms are returning.
Amris has been trapped in dreamless sleep since the final battle raged centuries ago. Now he is awake…and so, it seems, is humanity's greatest threat. Determined to save the world from being swallowed by the oncoming storm, Amris and the fiercely beautiful Darya must learn to trust each other—and the powerful bond that's formed between them—as they fight their way through a land swarming with monsters in a last desperate bid to get word back to their allies before it's too late…
Raised to be weapons against the darkness, Sentinels spend their lives fighting the monsters that prey upon humanity. Their hands will shape the world, and their swords will seal its fate.
A warrior lost to time…
Pursuing her latest quarry deep into the wilderness, Sentinel Darya finds herself in an ancient city that should no longer exist. There she comes upon a handsome warrior in ancient clothing, held in a deathlike sleep—Amris, hero of the last great battle against the Traitor God. His discovery, and the weakening wards about the city, can only mean one thing: the Traitor is gathering his armies again, and the storms are returning.
Amris has been trapped in dreamless sleep since the final battle raged centuries ago. Now he is awake…and so, it seems, is humanity's greatest threat. Determined to save the world from being swallowed by the oncoming storm, Amris and the fiercely beautiful Darya must learn to trust each other—and the powerful bond that's formed between them—as they fight their way through a land swarming with monsters in a last desperate bid to get word back to their allies before it's too late…
352 pages, Unknown Binding
First published December 29, 2020
39 people are currently reading
371 people want to read
About the author
Isabel Cooper
24 books163 followersIsabel Cooper lives in Boston, Massachusetts with her boyfriend and a houseplant she's managed to keep alive for over a year now—a personal best. By day, she's a mild-mannered editor at a legal publishing company. By night, she's really quite a geek: polyhedral dice, video games, and everything. She only travels through time the normal direction, and has never fought any kind of demon, unless you count younger sisters. She can waltz, though.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
December 27, 2020
2 stars
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
I couldn't get into this fantasy/romance book. The story didn't interest me. The book goes from one fight scene to another, with little story in between. The writing is clunky and stilted. There is probably an audience for this book, it just wasn't for me.
Darya is a Sentinel, a person trained from youth to be a fighter against storm-born monsters that prey on people. There are several gods, and one of them, called the Traitor God, turned on the others and waged war. Amaris was a fighter over a hundred years ago and helped freeze the Traitor God, freezing himself as well. The Traitor God is now free. Darya finds Amaris during her patrol and wakes him from his deep sleep. Darya's sword has the soul of Amaris's former lover instilled in it, and she can communicate with the soul. (confused yet?) The book is basically a description of Darya and Amaris fighting the monsters created by the Traitor God. Oh, and there is an awkward romance story between the two characters.
There isn't much worldbuilding, so I didn't really understand why the world was the way it was. I felt like the book started in the middle of the story. Again, maybe others will enjoy this book. I just couldn't get into it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the free digital copy of this book.
You can read all of my reviews at Nerd Girl Loves Books.
I couldn't get into this fantasy/romance book. The story didn't interest me. The book goes from one fight scene to another, with little story in between. The writing is clunky and stilted. There is probably an audience for this book, it just wasn't for me.
Darya is a Sentinel, a person trained from youth to be a fighter against storm-born monsters that prey on people. There are several gods, and one of them, called the Traitor God, turned on the others and waged war. Amaris was a fighter over a hundred years ago and helped freeze the Traitor God, freezing himself as well. The Traitor God is now free. Darya finds Amaris during her patrol and wakes him from his deep sleep. Darya's sword has the soul of Amaris's former lover instilled in it, and she can communicate with the soul. (confused yet?) The book is basically a description of Darya and Amaris fighting the monsters created by the Traitor God. Oh, and there is an awkward romance story between the two characters.
There isn't much worldbuilding, so I didn't really understand why the world was the way it was. I felt like the book started in the middle of the story. Again, maybe others will enjoy this book. I just couldn't get into it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the free digital copy of this book.
March 1, 2021
This premise is a lot of fun and I'm always happy to see a bisexual, queernormative world. Unfortunately, the world events overshadowed the romance and the love triangle with the wizard trapped in the sword (yes, that's what you just read) pushed the romance to late in the book, after the MCs got approval from the wizard. I wanted more development there, more evidence that the two MCs were compatible in the long term.
The battle magic was interesting, if gross. Overall it reads like a shorter, less rape-filled version of Milla Vane's books crossed with The Witcher.
The battle magic was interesting, if gross. Overall it reads like a shorter, less rape-filled version of Milla Vane's books crossed with The Witcher.
December 17, 2020
The Stormbringer
Isabel Cooper
http://shop.sourcebooks.com/author/in...
Release date 12/29/2020
Publisher Sourcebooks Casablanca
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
The Witcher goes fiercely feminist in this gripping paranormal romance from noted author Isabel Cooper.
Raised to be weapons against the darkness, Sentinels spend their lives fighting the monsters that prey upon humanity. Their hands will shape the world, and their swords will seal its fate.
A warrior lost to time...
Pursuing her latest quarry deep into the wilderness, Sentinel Darya finds herself in an ancient city that should no longer exist. There she comes upon a handsome warrior in ancient clothing, held in a deathlike sleep—Amris, hero of the last great battle against the Traitor God. His discovery, and the weakening wards about the city, can only mean one thing: the Traitor is gathering his armies again, and the storms are returning.
Amris has been trapped in dreamless sleep since the final battle raged centuries ago. Now he is awake...and so, it seems, is humanity's greatest threat. Determined to save the world from being swallowed by the oncoming storm, Amris and the fiercely beautiful Darya must learn to trust each other—and the powerful bond that's formed between them—as they fight their way through a land swarming with monsters in a last desperate bid to get word back to their allies before it's too late...
𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Will they be able to hold back the dark forces in league against them ...
This was my first read by the author and even if it was noted as a first in a series, the beginning confused me a lot.
Yet, over the pages, this unknown world to me is slowly explained. It is quite complex and different, a real fantasy land bordering horror with the creatures born and altered by the forces ruling it.
I can not fault the author’s talent, her vivid description of fights, it was like being part of them. Nor her many characters rendered flesh and blood by her words.
Part of what bothered me was as Amris had been asleep/dead for the world for over a century, so he never mourned the loss of his lover, so entering a new relationship so soon after been awaken and upon learning the death of his paramour, it was too fast a move for me.
Even more peculiar when said departed lover is haunting the sword of his new love interest.
I do not know in fact if it was a threesome or a love triangle.
Darya is the one holding back with reason, she is the holder of the sword with Gendar’s spirit, Amris’ late lover. She is a strong woman, taking matter in hand, not afraid to go for what she wants but she too has her limits.
I liked Gendar, he is fun and moving, older too as he lived a full life before his next step.
And while I labored to enter this book, it has great elements for lovers of epic tales and fantasy worlds.
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars .
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 : one detailed onscreen lovemaking scene.
I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher Sourcebooks Casablanca, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
Isabel Cooper
http://shop.sourcebooks.com/author/in...
Release date 12/29/2020
Publisher Sourcebooks Casablanca
𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯
The Witcher goes fiercely feminist in this gripping paranormal romance from noted author Isabel Cooper.
Raised to be weapons against the darkness, Sentinels spend their lives fighting the monsters that prey upon humanity. Their hands will shape the world, and their swords will seal its fate.
A warrior lost to time...
Pursuing her latest quarry deep into the wilderness, Sentinel Darya finds herself in an ancient city that should no longer exist. There she comes upon a handsome warrior in ancient clothing, held in a deathlike sleep—Amris, hero of the last great battle against the Traitor God. His discovery, and the weakening wards about the city, can only mean one thing: the Traitor is gathering his armies again, and the storms are returning.
Amris has been trapped in dreamless sleep since the final battle raged centuries ago. Now he is awake...and so, it seems, is humanity's greatest threat. Determined to save the world from being swallowed by the oncoming storm, Amris and the fiercely beautiful Darya must learn to trust each other—and the powerful bond that's formed between them—as they fight their way through a land swarming with monsters in a last desperate bid to get word back to their allies before it's too late...
𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Will they be able to hold back the dark forces in league against them ...
This was my first read by the author and even if it was noted as a first in a series, the beginning confused me a lot.
Yet, over the pages, this unknown world to me is slowly explained. It is quite complex and different, a real fantasy land bordering horror with the creatures born and altered by the forces ruling it.
I can not fault the author’s talent, her vivid description of fights, it was like being part of them. Nor her many characters rendered flesh and blood by her words.
Part of what bothered me was as Amris had been asleep/dead for the world for over a century, so he never mourned the loss of his lover, so entering a new relationship so soon after been awaken and upon learning the death of his paramour, it was too fast a move for me.
Even more peculiar when said departed lover is haunting the sword of his new love interest.
I do not know in fact if it was a threesome or a love triangle.
Darya is the one holding back with reason, she is the holder of the sword with Gendar’s spirit, Amris’ late lover. She is a strong woman, taking matter in hand, not afraid to go for what she wants but she too has her limits.
I liked Gendar, he is fun and moving, older too as he lived a full life before his next step.
And while I labored to enter this book, it has great elements for lovers of epic tales and fantasy worlds.
3.5 rounded up to 4 stars .
𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 : one detailed onscreen lovemaking scene.
I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher Sourcebooks Casablanca, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272...
November 30, 2020
A hundred years ago, General Amris saved the world from the inexorable advances of the dark sorcerer Thyran’s horrifying army of monstrous constructs and undead soldiers by using a spell created by his lover Gerant to freeze both Amris and Thyran in time.
Now, Amris has been awakened from his long sleep by Dayna, a Sentinel warrior hunting a cockatrice through the ruined city. But Thyran is already gone, unfrozen from time and free to wreak havoc once more. It’s a race against time for Amris and Dayna to get warning out, to try and prepare their people for the horrors that will soon be descending on them.
There’s an added complication in that the soul inside the soulsword bonded to Dayna belongs to none other than Gerant - Amris’ lost love. Both Dayna and Amris are battling against an attraction to each other from the beginning, both convinced they’d be wronging Gerant by acting on it - until Gerant intervenes in a rather amusing and unexpected way. You’ll find a couple of fairly explicit sex scenes here which might be unexpected if you were just expecting ‘fantasy’ rather than ‘fantasy romance’. The series looks like it will have a different couple as the focus of each even as the overarching plot focuses on the battle against Thyran and his minions.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. The worldbuilding is excellent and we are plunged right into the action from the first moment, riding along with Amris as he plunges into a battle he knows he cannot win. Both he and Dayna are intriguing characters, with a lot of backstory to explore. Battle scenes in particular are very well done, with steadily escalating foes and stakes until a climactic confrontation which sets up nicely for the next in the series while still giving this one a good completion point. No doubt if you follow along with the series, you’ll be seeing Amris and Dayna again as I’m sure they’ll both have big parts to play before it’s all over.
Five stars for a tremendous start to a fascinating new fantasy romance series. I’m looking forward to Book 2.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
Now, Amris has been awakened from his long sleep by Dayna, a Sentinel warrior hunting a cockatrice through the ruined city. But Thyran is already gone, unfrozen from time and free to wreak havoc once more. It’s a race against time for Amris and Dayna to get warning out, to try and prepare their people for the horrors that will soon be descending on them.
There’s an added complication in that the soul inside the soulsword bonded to Dayna belongs to none other than Gerant - Amris’ lost love. Both Dayna and Amris are battling against an attraction to each other from the beginning, both convinced they’d be wronging Gerant by acting on it - until Gerant intervenes in a rather amusing and unexpected way. You’ll find a couple of fairly explicit sex scenes here which might be unexpected if you were just expecting ‘fantasy’ rather than ‘fantasy romance’. The series looks like it will have a different couple as the focus of each even as the overarching plot focuses on the battle against Thyran and his minions.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. The worldbuilding is excellent and we are plunged right into the action from the first moment, riding along with Amris as he plunges into a battle he knows he cannot win. Both he and Dayna are intriguing characters, with a lot of backstory to explore. Battle scenes in particular are very well done, with steadily escalating foes and stakes until a climactic confrontation which sets up nicely for the next in the series while still giving this one a good completion point. No doubt if you follow along with the series, you’ll be seeing Amris and Dayna again as I’m sure they’ll both have big parts to play before it’s all over.
Five stars for a tremendous start to a fascinating new fantasy romance series. I’m looking forward to Book 2.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
October 5, 2020
This book had everything I didn't even know I needed. LGBTQ rep, feminism running wild (I mean this in the very best way because it was epic), fighting toxic masculinity (a male warrior not afraid to cry? Sign me up!), and MAGIC. Non-binary characters were flawlessly incorporated, sexuality talked about freely, literally a dream. The romance was HAWT and smoothly sewn into an epic tale of magic, very bad bad guys and war themes. Loved this book so much and can't wait to have a physical copy in my hands!
March 30, 2021
DNF. It's just a draggy Witcher ripoff. One of the characters is literally named "Gerant."
September 22, 2021
Stormbringer is a paranormal fantasy world steeped in battle. Over 100 years ago Thyran and Amris froze in time in the middle of battle. Now, Amris is awoken by Darya, a sentinel warrior woven with powers of a deceased mage. It’s clear that Thyran is also back and so Amris alongside Darya must prepare to fight again.
This was a complicated fantasy world - I felt much of the book was world building as it was battle. There was little explanation so the reader needed to pay attention and intuit a lot of what was happening.
There was romance in this, but it wasn’t anywhere near the central plot of the novel. Ladies, if you have any males in your life who only like books with battles, this might finally be a book for them.
It was well done, but not the paranormal romance I thought it to be. Overall, I enjoyed it, and will still read the next in the series.
This was a complicated fantasy world - I felt much of the book was world building as it was battle. There was little explanation so the reader needed to pay attention and intuit a lot of what was happening.
There was romance in this, but it wasn’t anywhere near the central plot of the novel. Ladies, if you have any males in your life who only like books with battles, this might finally be a book for them.
It was well done, but not the paranormal romance I thought it to be. Overall, I enjoyed it, and will still read the next in the series.
November 21, 2021
Fascinating world built here, and it's done in such a fashion that it feels like part of the story. Which is to say you're given the info you need as you go rather than spending half the book introducing you to a whole new world.
The h is...human...but has undergone some sort of ritual that gives her divine gifts. She has a sword with a gem carrying the soul of a mage.
The H is human, frozen in time by a spell crafted by said mage. They were an item. The h frees him with the help of the gem, and well...
Much of the book was variously getting safely back to civilization, setting up a defence, a battle...
The pacing was as such that approximately 2 weeks passed but you aren't sure, and you don't feel like you missed something important (or even interesting). I appreciate that more than anything - some authors I've read recently have taken to spending too much time on the intro and skipping a lot of story development.
The h is...human...but has undergone some sort of ritual that gives her divine gifts. She has a sword with a gem carrying the soul of a mage.
The H is human, frozen in time by a spell crafted by said mage. They were an item. The h frees him with the help of the gem, and well...
Much of the book was variously getting safely back to civilization, setting up a defence, a battle...
The pacing was as such that approximately 2 weeks passed but you aren't sure, and you don't feel like you missed something important (or even interesting). I appreciate that more than anything - some authors I've read recently have taken to spending too much time on the intro and skipping a lot of story development.
Read
April 8, 2021I'm about 60% thru and putting it down for now. This book has great potential but the author should have gone the fantasy route. Too much going on for a smaller PR type series. Love the relationships to a point, where I stopped it was getting awkward. If you read it you will know what I mean.
Its very Witcher like which I'm totally on board for but a lot of missed opportunites in this. I'll come back to it at another time.
Its very Witcher like which I'm totally on board for but a lot of missed opportunites in this. I'll come back to it at another time.
July 20, 2021
This was a very dark and grizzly paranormal romance. And it was very very light on the romance aspect.
The world building was very clever, and I could easily imagine the scenes described by the author.
The world building was very clever, and I could easily imagine the scenes described by the author.
Read
May 2, 2021DNF at 26%
July 23, 2020
This book is an epic adventure. There is really no other way to describe it. From start to finish - it has everything you could want in a great, epic fantasy story. Love, Adventure, Swords, Magic, and Love (it is worth mentioning twice). It really brought to mind the Lord of the Rings (minus the hobbits, singing, and much more inclusive for women).
Darya is a Sentinel - a special type of person who has been reformed by magic and has special gifts from the gods. She works alone, primarily, and is magically connected to a soulstone in her sword. the soul stone contains the essence of a mage. The mage can still do magic and protects the sentinel. Darya's soulstone was once a mage named Gerant. Gerant was deeply in love with General Amris. Amris led the battle against the seriously evil Thyran more than 100 years ago. Amris was able to stop Thyran's reign of terror by putting himself and Thyran into a form of stasis until somehow one of Thyran's minions woke him up. Darya finds Amris and wakes him by accident. From there they work through a lot of serious danger - and try to resist their attraction for each other.
There is s much to love and enjoy about this book. The story is first rate, as is the world building. I also adored the inclusiveness of the book. Women are no less warriors than men and it is clear that there is no problem loving who you love. Or being who you want to be - there is even at least one nonbinary character. In that way - this book bucks a lot of the traditions that fantasy writers stick to. I adored that.
I do have soooooo many questions though. I am looking forward to reading more - because I can't imagine this is the last we will see of Thyran. I can't wait to learn more about Olvir and hopefully see more of Amris and Darya. So many intriguing characters!
Loved it!
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.
Darya is a Sentinel - a special type of person who has been reformed by magic and has special gifts from the gods. She works alone, primarily, and is magically connected to a soulstone in her sword. the soul stone contains the essence of a mage. The mage can still do magic and protects the sentinel. Darya's soulstone was once a mage named Gerant. Gerant was deeply in love with General Amris. Amris led the battle against the seriously evil Thyran more than 100 years ago. Amris was able to stop Thyran's reign of terror by putting himself and Thyran into a form of stasis until somehow one of Thyran's minions woke him up. Darya finds Amris and wakes him by accident. From there they work through a lot of serious danger - and try to resist their attraction for each other.
There is s much to love and enjoy about this book. The story is first rate, as is the world building. I also adored the inclusiveness of the book. Women are no less warriors than men and it is clear that there is no problem loving who you love. Or being who you want to be - there is even at least one nonbinary character. In that way - this book bucks a lot of the traditions that fantasy writers stick to. I adored that.
I do have soooooo many questions though. I am looking forward to reading more - because I can't imagine this is the last we will see of Thyran. I can't wait to learn more about Olvir and hopefully see more of Amris and Darya. So many intriguing characters!
Loved it!
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.
October 21, 2020
I had read a novel by Isabel Cooper before and, 2020 having me craving all the fantasy romance there is, was especially eager to give her newest release The Stormbringer a try. Unfortunately, though the world-building is intricate & unique, this one falls flat for me.
Amris, a General, has been locked in time for 100 years, a magical effort that he & his lover Gerant undertook to try to contain an evil sorcerer named Thyran.
Darya, a sentinel who makes use of her special gifts in service of defeating evil creatures, discovers Amris, & thanks to her magical sword (through which the aforementioned wizard Gerant speaks) knows who Amris is & how to free him.
Darya & Amris soon realize that someone came & released Thyran earlier & he’s likely figuring out a way to amass his evil army again. They decide to travel to the city they believe will be attacked in an effort to warn the forces there and help bring Thyran down.
The Storm Bringer is an inventive romance that feels different from anything I’ve read before. The battle descriptions are detailed & fast-paced, often filled with visceral imagery.
While I was impressed from a world-building perspective, I was disappointed by the romance storyline. The relationship between Darya, Amris, & Gerant is layered & interesting, but Gerant—the spirit that speaks through Darya’s sword—takes on a big role in the story and in the leads’s relationship itself.
This made me particularly uncomfortable for a couple of reasons: (1) Amris processes these big events so quickly; he was frozen, awakened & learned his partner Gerant has died, & then decides he wants to kiss Darya, and for him, it feels like the moment before he froze was recent. (2) Add to that that Gerant is still able to “see” & “hear” & “sense” what’s happening most of the time...
It just seems as if there would have been more emotions to unpack before Amris rushed into a physical/romantic relationship with someone else. & some of the relationship dynamics—the question of whether what Darya & Amris are doing from a physical standpoint is crossing a line since Gerant is still part of their lives—unsettled me.
So in the end, it seems that I warmed to the fantasy aspect of this novel; the romance, not so much.
Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.
Amris, a General, has been locked in time for 100 years, a magical effort that he & his lover Gerant undertook to try to contain an evil sorcerer named Thyran.
Darya, a sentinel who makes use of her special gifts in service of defeating evil creatures, discovers Amris, & thanks to her magical sword (through which the aforementioned wizard Gerant speaks) knows who Amris is & how to free him.
Darya & Amris soon realize that someone came & released Thyran earlier & he’s likely figuring out a way to amass his evil army again. They decide to travel to the city they believe will be attacked in an effort to warn the forces there and help bring Thyran down.
The Storm Bringer is an inventive romance that feels different from anything I’ve read before. The battle descriptions are detailed & fast-paced, often filled with visceral imagery.
While I was impressed from a world-building perspective, I was disappointed by the romance storyline. The relationship between Darya, Amris, & Gerant is layered & interesting, but Gerant—the spirit that speaks through Darya’s sword—takes on a big role in the story and in the leads’s relationship itself.
This made me particularly uncomfortable for a couple of reasons: (1) Amris processes these big events so quickly; he was frozen, awakened & learned his partner Gerant has died, & then decides he wants to kiss Darya, and for him, it feels like the moment before he froze was recent. (2) Add to that that Gerant is still able to “see” & “hear” & “sense” what’s happening most of the time...
It just seems as if there would have been more emotions to unpack before Amris rushed into a physical/romantic relationship with someone else. & some of the relationship dynamics—the question of whether what Darya & Amris are doing from a physical standpoint is crossing a line since Gerant is still part of their lives—unsettled me.
So in the end, it seems that I warmed to the fantasy aspect of this novel; the romance, not so much.
Thanks to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.
December 29, 2020
The Stormbringer by Isabel Cooper is the first book in her new Stormbringer series. This is an epic fantasy adventure series filled with magic, sword fighting, epic battles, creatures and an evil god. Sentinels, who start training as a young child, protect the world against a traitor god and his minions who threaten to destroy the world.
Darya, one of the best sentinels, and our heroine, accidently wakes up an infamous warrior, who was locked in statis for 100 years. Amris, our hero, is a General, who battled the Traitor God all those years ago, with both of them awakening, bringing chaos and destruction. Amris is a bit lost, but knows he needs to help defeat the evil Thyrad, who is now awake and creating monsters to destroy cities. Amris also learns that his friend and lover all those years ago, is magically connected to Darya’s soulstone sword; Gerant is a mage spirit that protects, uses spells to help Darya. Amris knows everything about Thyrad, who does the bidding of the Traitor god, is a sorcerer creating the enemy horrendous magical creatures that are almost impossible to kill.
What follows is a wild, nonstop action filled battles that has you on the edge of your seat the entire book. Amris and Darya work closely together to use their experience and magical skills, along with Gerant, to bring together all the sentinels, mages, warriors in trying and stop the onslaught. What I really liked was how women, were equally as strong and savvy as the men. Cooper has created some very good secondary characters who were part of the overall team effort. I also like the slow build romance between Amris and Darya, with Gerant’s approval (he is dead, with his soul as part of the sword).
The Stormbringer was well written by Isabel Cooper, with great characters, in a very good fantasy adventure that was non stop action. I look forward to seeing where Cooper will take us next.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
Darya, one of the best sentinels, and our heroine, accidently wakes up an infamous warrior, who was locked in statis for 100 years. Amris, our hero, is a General, who battled the Traitor God all those years ago, with both of them awakening, bringing chaos and destruction. Amris is a bit lost, but knows he needs to help defeat the evil Thyrad, who is now awake and creating monsters to destroy cities. Amris also learns that his friend and lover all those years ago, is magically connected to Darya’s soulstone sword; Gerant is a mage spirit that protects, uses spells to help Darya. Amris knows everything about Thyrad, who does the bidding of the Traitor god, is a sorcerer creating the enemy horrendous magical creatures that are almost impossible to kill.
What follows is a wild, nonstop action filled battles that has you on the edge of your seat the entire book. Amris and Darya work closely together to use their experience and magical skills, along with Gerant, to bring together all the sentinels, mages, warriors in trying and stop the onslaught. What I really liked was how women, were equally as strong and savvy as the men. Cooper has created some very good secondary characters who were part of the overall team effort. I also like the slow build romance between Amris and Darya, with Gerant’s approval (he is dead, with his soul as part of the sword).
The Stormbringer was well written by Isabel Cooper, with great characters, in a very good fantasy adventure that was non stop action. I look forward to seeing where Cooper will take us next.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
December 15, 2020
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I was excited to read The Stormbringer, because not only was it another Isabel Cooper book, but it was also pitched as a a “fiercely feminist” twist on The Witcher, a series I had mixed feelings about trying for various reasons. And while it was different from what I’d previously tried from Cooper, being more epic fantasy romance than historical paranormal, Cooper navigates the genre fairly well.
The world is intriguing and unique and one I enjoyed exploring. While I did worry about lacking context at first, the relevant history as it impacts the present storyline is well conveyed.
The cast of characters is also really intriguing and fresh. I liked the diversity, with inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters I’d love to get to know more about, tearing down toxic masculinity with the sensitive male warrior not afraid to cry, and, of course, compelling lead characters dealing with high stakes.
I did feel the romance was a bit underwhelming and even disconcerting. Amris was bonded with Gerant, but was frozen in time, comes back to life, finds out Gerant died, and is very quickly ready for a new relationship with Darya. But Gerant’s also happens to reside in Darya’s sword, so he’s still around? I guess in a way, it’s kinda a poly thing, and that’s fine if that’s what Cooper wanted to do, but I think it should have been made that way more explicitly, rather than being like, “Amris and Darya are the main couple, but hey, Gerant’s still here and I don’t know what to think!”
While the romance is a bit weird, I still enjoyed it and can’t wait to read the next two books. If you’re looking for an epic fantasy romance, I think you’ll enjoy this one.
I was excited to read The Stormbringer, because not only was it another Isabel Cooper book, but it was also pitched as a a “fiercely feminist” twist on The Witcher, a series I had mixed feelings about trying for various reasons. And while it was different from what I’d previously tried from Cooper, being more epic fantasy romance than historical paranormal, Cooper navigates the genre fairly well.
The world is intriguing and unique and one I enjoyed exploring. While I did worry about lacking context at first, the relevant history as it impacts the present storyline is well conveyed.
The cast of characters is also really intriguing and fresh. I liked the diversity, with inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters I’d love to get to know more about, tearing down toxic masculinity with the sensitive male warrior not afraid to cry, and, of course, compelling lead characters dealing with high stakes.
I did feel the romance was a bit underwhelming and even disconcerting. Amris was bonded with Gerant, but was frozen in time, comes back to life, finds out Gerant died, and is very quickly ready for a new relationship with Darya. But Gerant’s also happens to reside in Darya’s sword, so he’s still around? I guess in a way, it’s kinda a poly thing, and that’s fine if that’s what Cooper wanted to do, but I think it should have been made that way more explicitly, rather than being like, “Amris and Darya are the main couple, but hey, Gerant’s still here and I don’t know what to think!”
While the romance is a bit weird, I still enjoyed it and can’t wait to read the next two books. If you’re looking for an epic fantasy romance, I think you’ll enjoy this one.
February 14, 2022
3.5
Having read this, I can now say that I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected. I thought both Amris and Darya were lovely characters. They were just so unfailingly kind to one another and those around them—good people. Plus, they’re both well into adulthood. I also very much appreciated being given a bisexual hero (without it being any drama) and several LGBTQ side characters. Similarly, Darya and Amris had different skill-sets, but both were allowed to excel together and apart. (And they do fight apart, even after getting together.) So often, us readers are given a ‘badass heroine’ who goes limp in the presence of the hero. Cooper didn’t do that to us. Darya stays just as competent and dangerous after meeting Amris as she was before and I loved that.
I did feel a bit thrown into the story. The book starts at the re-ignition of a magical war and there is a lot of history to absorb quickly. I never felt like I got a real feel for the villain. For that matter, I don’t really feel like I got to know Darya and Amris particularly deeply either. I liked them, but they are on the go for the entirety of the book and I didn’t feel like there was ever a chance to pause, breathe, and get to know them outside of the circumstances of the story.
All in all, however, I can’t wait to jump into book two. Though I do want to make a quick point about the cover. One presumes that is Amris, the male lead. He spends the entire book in plate armor. He briefly takes it off to bathe, sleep, and for the single (very mild) sex scene. But he is notably in armor the whole book. So, why are we given a shirtless cover? It’s not that I dislike the cover, or that I’m a prude about skin. But I do feel like it misrepresents the sort of story one will find under that cover. Just, sayin’.
Having read this, I can now say that I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected. I thought both Amris and Darya were lovely characters. They were just so unfailingly kind to one another and those around them—good people. Plus, they’re both well into adulthood. I also very much appreciated being given a bisexual hero (without it being any drama) and several LGBTQ side characters. Similarly, Darya and Amris had different skill-sets, but both were allowed to excel together and apart. (And they do fight apart, even after getting together.) So often, us readers are given a ‘badass heroine’ who goes limp in the presence of the hero. Cooper didn’t do that to us. Darya stays just as competent and dangerous after meeting Amris as she was before and I loved that.
I did feel a bit thrown into the story. The book starts at the re-ignition of a magical war and there is a lot of history to absorb quickly. I never felt like I got a real feel for the villain. For that matter, I don’t really feel like I got to know Darya and Amris particularly deeply either. I liked them, but they are on the go for the entirety of the book and I didn’t feel like there was ever a chance to pause, breathe, and get to know them outside of the circumstances of the story.
All in all, however, I can’t wait to jump into book two. Though I do want to make a quick point about the cover. One presumes that is Amris, the male lead. He spends the entire book in plate armor. He briefly takes it off to bathe, sleep, and for the single (very mild) sex scene. But he is notably in armor the whole book. So, why are we given a shirtless cover? It’s not that I dislike the cover, or that I’m a prude about skin. But I do feel like it misrepresents the sort of story one will find under that cover. Just, sayin’.
December 31, 2020
This is true urban fantasy with a very light touch of romance. The story could have existed without the romance factor as it would have worked just as well as friends between Amris and Darya. This was a disappointment to me because I'm a romance reader first. I've read other books by Isabel Cooper and they were romance and highland type stories and I expected that again.
For those who like urban fantasy it might be a good introduction to the series. It was an intriguing story full of gruesome bad guys that were worthy of a horror story. Darya is a Sentinel, a warrior trained since childhood and given special giftings from the gods. She's armed with a soul sword that has the soul of the wizard Gerant who aids in her quests. It sets up the characters for the upcoming books pretty well. Amris is a General from 105 years ago who with his lover Gerant's help trapped Thyran (the bad guy) in an enchanted sleep with him. Darya wakes Amris and they discover Thyran has been awakened several days to weeks before.
My biggest problem with the story was that it just moved so slow. The first third plus of the book was an unexpected rescue and journey home filled with deadly foes that had to be kill to get past. The center of the book was preparation for the probable coming battle. The last quarter of the book was the unending battle with the evil wizard-warlord Thyran of Heliodar.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
For those who like urban fantasy it might be a good introduction to the series. It was an intriguing story full of gruesome bad guys that were worthy of a horror story. Darya is a Sentinel, a warrior trained since childhood and given special giftings from the gods. She's armed with a soul sword that has the soul of the wizard Gerant who aids in her quests. It sets up the characters for the upcoming books pretty well. Amris is a General from 105 years ago who with his lover Gerant's help trapped Thyran (the bad guy) in an enchanted sleep with him. Darya wakes Amris and they discover Thyran has been awakened several days to weeks before.
My biggest problem with the story was that it just moved so slow. The first third plus of the book was an unexpected rescue and journey home filled with deadly foes that had to be kill to get past. The center of the book was preparation for the probable coming battle. The last quarter of the book was the unending battle with the evil wizard-warlord Thyran of Heliodar.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 10, 2020
General Amris ap Brannon faced down the sorcerer Thyran over a hundred years ago, he ended the war with an enchanted rose created by his lover, sorcerer Gerant. The world a hundred years later is still dealing with Thyran's and the traitor god's creatures and the destruction they caused.
Darya is a Sentinel for the Order of the Dawn, with her soulsword companion Gerant. Except for her soulsword companion she's used to hunting and handling missions alone.
Upon Gerant's death he chose to continue on with his spirit imbued into a soulsword. When they are hunting down a vicious cockatrice they discover Amris in stasis and free him but Thyran is gone and they realize he is once again gathering his forces to 'purify' the world.
In their race to warn everyone they must face creatures perverted by the traitor god's magic and discover an attraction for each other they try to suppress for Gerant's sake.
I really enjoyed this fantasy adventure, the battles, the openness in relationships, the interesting twists on the various magic and how the gods bestow gifts to help the people fight the traitor god's minions. There's a little something for everyone here, can't wait for book two.
I received a free copy of this book and I'm voluntarily leaving a review. If you like my reviews I hope you will follow my blog. https://wyldheartreads.wordpress.com/
Darya is a Sentinel for the Order of the Dawn, with her soulsword companion Gerant. Except for her soulsword companion she's used to hunting and handling missions alone.
Upon Gerant's death he chose to continue on with his spirit imbued into a soulsword. When they are hunting down a vicious cockatrice they discover Amris in stasis and free him but Thyran is gone and they realize he is once again gathering his forces to 'purify' the world.
In their race to warn everyone they must face creatures perverted by the traitor god's magic and discover an attraction for each other they try to suppress for Gerant's sake.
I really enjoyed this fantasy adventure, the battles, the openness in relationships, the interesting twists on the various magic and how the gods bestow gifts to help the people fight the traitor god's minions. There's a little something for everyone here, can't wait for book two.
I received a free copy of this book and I'm voluntarily leaving a review. If you like my reviews I hope you will follow my blog. https://wyldheartreads.wordpress.com/
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 26, 2021
Stormbringer is the first book in the Stormbringer series by Isabel Cooper.
Darya is a Sentinel. A Sentinel who was created to fight the monsters that prey upon the humans of the world. She and her sword defend and fight against those who would destroy life. During one such pursuit, she stumbles across a man frozen in time. A man, a warrior who is not from her time, but the history that is passed down through generations.
His name is Amris. Amris is a warrior, a leader who sacrificed his life to freeze, and he hoped, defeat the Traitor god. Darya has a weapon that has a soul. A soul which knows Amris intimately, and through the knowledge of her sword, Darya releases Amris.
Amris and Darya have to work together to defeat an enemy that seems to be everywhere and has creatures that seem to multiply and are invincible. They have to defend and protect a city that is vital to keeping the Traitor god out of the land.
At first it took me a while to visualize the world the author created since the creatures are a part of their imagination. After I opened my mind to “see” the world, I almost wished I wouldn’t have. The world Isabel Cooper created is out of my worst nightmares, but the way she wrote the characters and their lives and hopes drew me in. The battle was a little long, but we needed to know what happened to the characters of Darya and Amris.
Darya is a Sentinel. A Sentinel who was created to fight the monsters that prey upon the humans of the world. She and her sword defend and fight against those who would destroy life. During one such pursuit, she stumbles across a man frozen in time. A man, a warrior who is not from her time, but the history that is passed down through generations.
His name is Amris. Amris is a warrior, a leader who sacrificed his life to freeze, and he hoped, defeat the Traitor god. Darya has a weapon that has a soul. A soul which knows Amris intimately, and through the knowledge of her sword, Darya releases Amris.
Amris and Darya have to work together to defeat an enemy that seems to be everywhere and has creatures that seem to multiply and are invincible. They have to defend and protect a city that is vital to keeping the Traitor god out of the land.
At first it took me a while to visualize the world the author created since the creatures are a part of their imagination. After I opened my mind to “see” the world, I almost wished I wouldn’t have. The world Isabel Cooper created is out of my worst nightmares, but the way she wrote the characters and their lives and hopes drew me in. The battle was a little long, but we needed to know what happened to the characters of Darya and Amris.
January 12, 2021
I wanted so badly to like this story, but I just didn't. I had to force myself to finish it which surprised me because the blurb was so intriguing to me. So let me just say, this book almost feels like it starts in the middle of the series. You're thrown in right in the middle of a fight scene, with no real back story on anything that is going on. So I was already confused right from the start. And it never truly went over anything that the story around to that, not in my opinion anyway. So there are several gods, and the main character has been trained to fight against these monsters that fight for the traitor god. On one of her patrols she comes across someone who was frozen in time while also freezing the traitor god, who is now also loose (see what I mean about it gets very confusing?). Her sword also has the soul of this other fighter's previous lover. I normally love PNR and sci-fi romances, and all of it. I honestly did not even like this one, and I really wanted to. I am sure some people will really love it, and they may understand more than I did. But it left me more confused after reading the whole thing than when I started. I doubt I would read any more in the series or even by this author because of it, unfortunately.
May 18, 2024
3.5/5
I don't remember ever reading anything from this author before though I may have. The spine classified the book as paranormal romance. This was probably my biggest sticking point. To be sure I guess there was some romance. Virtually none though. I honestly think there is more in the Weiss and Hickman Chronicles series (Dragonlance). By my take this is a fantasy book set in a post apocalyptic world containing magic. The setting is on the fringe of civilization after society was devastated first by a ruthless death mage, and then by violent storms that ravaged after the mage was gone. There are cities and there is technology of some form though it is magic based. We have two protagonists and a very strong supporting character as a third. There were some very good descriptions of battle and the tactics within it. But I never felt a sense of urgency. I am intrigued by the world and think there is a lot of potential. Unless there is a lot more romance this series is far better off purely listed as fantasy.
I would recommend this for people who enjoy pure fantasy. It is not overly complex and does not make the reader think. Also, due to the fallen nature of the world those who enjoy this sort of world may find this a good choice.
I don't remember ever reading anything from this author before though I may have. The spine classified the book as paranormal romance. This was probably my biggest sticking point. To be sure I guess there was some romance. Virtually none though. I honestly think there is more in the Weiss and Hickman Chronicles series (Dragonlance). By my take this is a fantasy book set in a post apocalyptic world containing magic. The setting is on the fringe of civilization after society was devastated first by a ruthless death mage, and then by violent storms that ravaged after the mage was gone. There are cities and there is technology of some form though it is magic based. We have two protagonists and a very strong supporting character as a third. There were some very good descriptions of battle and the tactics within it. But I never felt a sense of urgency. I am intrigued by the world and think there is a lot of potential. Unless there is a lot more romance this series is far better off purely listed as fantasy.
I would recommend this for people who enjoy pure fantasy. It is not overly complex and does not make the reader think. Also, due to the fallen nature of the world those who enjoy this sort of world may find this a good choice.
December 31, 2020
Isabel Cooper created magic when infusing this book with the perfect mix of paranormal, fantasy, and romance. It hits all the good spots of all three in such an organic way that the plot flows perfectly from one element to another. Plus the battle at the end is a total page-turner that totally had my heart racing.
Both Darya and Amris are engaging characters with believable personalities and quirks that make the bizarre situation they find themselves in somehow make perfect sense. The fact that they're surrounded by characters whose own stories I would love to know more of only adds to the appeal of this book.
It's definitely a very strong beginning to what is sure to be an action-packed series that I can't wait to read more of.
Many happy thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the introduction to a great series!
Both Darya and Amris are engaging characters with believable personalities and quirks that make the bizarre situation they find themselves in somehow make perfect sense. The fact that they're surrounded by characters whose own stories I would love to know more of only adds to the appeal of this book.
It's definitely a very strong beginning to what is sure to be an action-packed series that I can't wait to read more of.
Many happy thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the introduction to a great series!
May 9, 2021
Romance book club pick, April 2021
This is maybe a 2.5, but that’s pushing it. Story & plot was interesting but pacing was way off. It should’ve been spread out over weeks/months — they’re in a horse powered society! And they’re walking! It could take them 3 weeks to get back to civilization and then it seems less like proximity sexy times but actual love.
Ratio of romance to battle is skewed (like, 2 pages vs multiple chapters 🙄)
Weirded out by the mind meld with your dead lover ensconced in your new lover’s sword that also lets you mind meld said new lover. Like, no thanks.
I do think this is has an entertaining vibe overall and I might read more (or might not) — but they’d be library books for sure, not a purchase.
This is maybe a 2.5, but that’s pushing it. Story & plot was interesting but pacing was way off. It should’ve been spread out over weeks/months — they’re in a horse powered society! And they’re walking! It could take them 3 weeks to get back to civilization and then it seems less like proximity sexy times but actual love.
Ratio of romance to battle is skewed (like, 2 pages vs multiple chapters 🙄)
Weirded out by the mind meld with your dead lover ensconced in your new lover’s sword that also lets you mind meld said new lover. Like, no thanks.
I do think this is has an entertaining vibe overall and I might read more (or might not) — but they’d be library books for sure, not a purchase.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2023
I really enjoyed the creative world building in this fantasy romance. Amris has been trapped in a magical sleep for a hundred years when Darya wakes him (with the help of her magical sword) and he finds the world both strange and familiar. It takes a deft hand with world building to make that kind of time shift make sense in terms of culture and technology, and the contrast between the new and the old is handled very well in this novel. Aside from the top-notch world building, including some horrific monsters and interesting deities, I found the characters in this story very compelling and sympathetic in their reactions to the unique position they are in. The side characters are interesting and complex and I can't wait to read more stories in this world.
August 11, 2020
The Storm Bringer drops readers immediately into a world where evil has awoken and humanity must unite to fight it off...again. Having believed that the enemy was defeated generations past, the remnants of human civilization are unprepared for the battle they face.
This was my first Isabel Cooper story and I really enjoyed it, especially the romantic relationship between Amris, Darya, and Gerant. The fight scenes were magnificent and the bad guys were truly horrifying! The world-building was complex and unique, but I never felt overwhelmed or confused by its strangeness. I can't wait to read more in this series!
This was my first Isabel Cooper story and I really enjoyed it, especially the romantic relationship between Amris, Darya, and Gerant. The fight scenes were magnificent and the bad guys were truly horrifying! The world-building was complex and unique, but I never felt overwhelmed or confused by its strangeness. I can't wait to read more in this series!
August 17, 2022
Delighted to read a book that was not advertised as LGBTQA, but definitely celebrates having a bisexual character. As the blurb on the back of the book makes clear you’re still looking at a generally cis heterosexual relationship, but the fact that it was a non-issue that the man was bisexual, and had sexual history with other men, was just such a relief from other romance novels.
I’m not sure I felt too strongly about the characters or that they were developed quite enough for me to care strongly about them, but the world building was really creative and pretty good. I read it in two nights so I’ll probably read the next in the series.
I’m not sure I felt too strongly about the characters or that they were developed quite enough for me to care strongly about them, but the world building was really creative and pretty good. I read it in two nights so I’ll probably read the next in the series.
January 9, 2023
The book looks good, sounds promising. Mostly though, it’s confusing. It goes back and fourth between an old war and a new war in time. While it sounds like a good love between man and women, it’s more about man and man, which is fine for some but it’s not really my thing.
I wish they would put some kind of description on this book that would let you know it’s got gay scenarios in it.
I read a few chapters, but decided, the type of book and the choppy writing combined wasn’t enough for me to finish, which is bad because I always finish books.
I wish they would put some kind of description on this book that would let you know it’s got gay scenarios in it.
I read a few chapters, but decided, the type of book and the choppy writing combined wasn’t enough for me to finish, which is bad because I always finish books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2024
Creative premise meets good fantasy. I liked the romance between the three main characters. The main two downsides of this book were a mythology that is referenced constantly but not ever fully explained, and a writing style that had me rereading sentences over and over to try to understand what was being said. So many commas and dashes surrounding compound/complex sentences making you do a grammar double take to grasp where the preposition ends and the adjectival phrase begins. It was an excellent story, it just took a lot of linguistic concentration to read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2020
Darya is a sentinel on a mission. When she runs across an ancient warrior who was given up for dead 100 years ago, she frees him from the magic that put him to sleep. To prevent one of the greatest foes of his time from killing all Amris uses a enchanted rose to end his reign of terror. When Darya and Amris are faced with that foe once again can they defeat him?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
January 22, 2021
I enjoyed this a lot. There was a little bit of confusion on my part as to Garant, but that was sorted out quickly. No hiccups or stumbles. The characters, Amris and Darya, and the storyline are engaging and intriguing, drawing the reader along. The tension builds steadily, coming to a satisfying conclusion - although there's enough thread left unwoven for the next book. Not a cliffhanger, fortunately.
Well done.
Well done.
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