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The Frost Files #3
Eye of the Sh*t Storm
"Like Alias meets X-Men. I loved it." - Maria Lewis on The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t With Her Mind
Teagan Frost might be getting better at moving sh*t with her mind - but her job working as a telekinetic government operative only ever seems to get harder. That's not even talking about her car-crash of a love life . . .
And things are about to get even tougher. No sooner has Teagan chased off one psychotic kid hell-bent on trashing the whole West Coast, but now she has to contend with another supernatural being who can harness devastating electrical power. And if Teagan can't stop him, the whole of Los Angeles will be facing the sh*tstorm of the century . . .
For more from Jackson Ford, check out:
The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t With Her Mind
Random Sh*t Flying Through the Air
Teagan Frost might be getting better at moving sh*t with her mind - but her job working as a telekinetic government operative only ever seems to get harder. That's not even talking about her car-crash of a love life . . .
And things are about to get even tougher. No sooner has Teagan chased off one psychotic kid hell-bent on trashing the whole West Coast, but now she has to contend with another supernatural being who can harness devastating electrical power. And if Teagan can't stop him, the whole of Los Angeles will be facing the sh*tstorm of the century . . .
For more from Jackson Ford, check out:
The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t With Her Mind
Random Sh*t Flying Through the Air
512 pages, Paperback
First published August 5, 2021
123 people are currently reading
2201 people want to read
About the author
Jackson Ford
14 books448 followersJackson Ford is the author of The Frost Files series, including The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t with Her Mind and Random Sh*t Flying Through the Air). He may or may not be the alter ego of author Rob Boffard, but he is definitely 100% a jackass.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
April 26, 2022
Good thriller writing craft, as the author has demonstrated in both this urban super-hero series, and in what I have seen of his sci-fi work under his original nym, Rob Boffard. He's nailed the rhythm of the story and keeping the sensation of action going for the stretch of the entire novel.
The content here, though, didn't fully support the format. We're talking about hundreds of pages of people walking along the L.A. river. That's it. It doesn't help that all of the characters were miserable, suffering wretches for the entire book. It also doesn't help that I have not particularly cared for any of the ensemble cast beyond Teagan Frost for the whole of the series. They're okay, built to carry mild interest, but mostly they've been plain, unexciting people to read about. The result is that I haven't really cared when anyone has died.
It also repeated the child-driven antagonism of the prior book. With a different perspective, sure, but I enjoyed the vastly over-intelligent psychopathy of the earthquake boy over this milquetoast electric child, whose behaved age varied wildly depending on the needs of the plot. If you don't agree, try this experiment to test just one aspect: take any 4-year old for an 8-hour walk with no food, going well into night hours. See how well that goes.
I'm glad I discovered that there was a fourth book pending before I started, because if I was still expecting a trilogy I would have been sorely disappointed. The main series story, teased at the end of the first book, has dragged its feet, and if the series doesn't wrap up in the fourth book then I don't think I'll be interested in continuing further.
The content here, though, didn't fully support the format. We're talking about hundreds of pages of people walking along the L.A. river. That's it. It doesn't help that all of the characters were miserable, suffering wretches for the entire book. It also doesn't help that I have not particularly cared for any of the ensemble cast beyond Teagan Frost for the whole of the series. They're okay, built to carry mild interest, but mostly they've been plain, unexciting people to read about. The result is that I haven't really cared when anyone has died.
It also repeated the child-driven antagonism of the prior book. With a different perspective, sure, but I enjoyed the vastly over-intelligent psychopathy of the earthquake boy over this milquetoast electric child, whose behaved age varied wildly depending on the needs of the plot. If you don't agree, try this experiment to test just one aspect: take any 4-year old for an 8-hour walk with no food, going well into night hours. See how well that goes.
I'm glad I discovered that there was a fourth book pending before I started, because if I was still expecting a trilogy I would have been sorely disappointed. The main series story, teased at the end of the first book, has dragged its feet, and if the series doesn't wrap up in the fourth book then I don't think I'll be interested in continuing further.
April 19, 2021
The nitty-gritty: More over-the-top, batshit crazy fun from Jackson Ford, and I loved every second of it!
I knew I could count on Jackson Ford for a really good time, and I’m happy to say the third installment in his Frost Files series delivered on every level. Wow was this a blast! Now, according to the author, you can easily jump into this series in any order you want to, which I sort of agree with, because each book has a self contained story. However, in my opinion it’s better to start from the beginning because the characters have been through so much together at this point, that some of the nuances of their relationships will be lost on new readers. (Apologies to Paul, because I assured him he didn’t need to read book two in order to enjoy this. But after finishing it, I’m changing my mind.) There might be minor spoilers in this review, but I’m going to keep them to a minimum.
The story picks up a mere two months after the conclusion of Random Sh*t Flying Through the Air, when a young boy with the ability to control the earth caused several devastating earthquakes in California, turning the state to rubble and throwing everyone and everything into chaos. Teagan and her friends from the China Shop, a secret, government-run agency that operates under the radar, are still recovering from a terrible loss, not to mention the fact that Los Angeles has become a post apocalyptic wasteland and many people are homeless and out of work. Some enterprising factions have taken advantage of this fact by squatting in abandoned buildings and running illegal operations right under the noses of the police.
When the story begins, Teagan, Annie and Africa have been sent to one such place to do some undercover recon. A biker gang called the Legends is purportedly selling illegal guns, and Moira Tanner, who runs China Shop, wants the three to pretend to do business with them and scope the place out for a future raid. Not surprisingly, their operation does not go well, but there’s no time to dwell on that when Moira gives them a new mission: something strange is going on at a self-storage facility in Glendale. The entire building has been electrified, which doesn’t make sense because electricity cannot travel through concrete or wood. Something fishy is going on, and Teagan suspects that another person with abilities similar to hers is responsible. When she discovers a young boy named Leo inside the building, Teagan makes a choice that could threaten the entire operation.
That’s about all the plot I’m willing to give you, but let’s just say as soon as Teagan and her friends arrive at the storage facility to investigate, shit happens quickly and doesn’t stop until the end. The entire story takes place during one very long day and night, and I can vouch for the fact that it was hard to put the book down once I started. If you’re new to the series, I’ll give you a quick rundown about Teagan. Teagan has an ability called PK (psychokinesis) and can move inorganic objects with her mind. Thanks to her scientist parents, she and her brother and sister were all experimented on and given different abilities (think X-Men). Teagan made a deal with Moira Tanner that she would go to work for her undercover operation, in exchange for protection from a government facility that wants to get their hands on her and use her for their own nefarious purposes.
In this book, Teagan makes the decision to go rogue at one point and not follow directions, and this act fractures the entire team. I actually loved this development because it added quite a bit of tension to the group dynamic and allowed for some very emotional moments between the characters. Jackson really does a great job of balancing the action and the character development, and as much as I loved the fast-paced craziness of the plot, it was nice to see that the characters are all just regular people, trying to find connections and do the right thing. Annie is mad as hell at Teagan and grieving over Paul (from the last book), and their very uncomfortable relationship was one of my favorites. Reggie—the tech brains of the operation, an ex-military pilot who lost the use of her legs in Bosnia and is now confined to a wheelchair—is grappling over her loyalty to Moira (who saved her in Bosnia) and her desire to get the hell out of China Shop and follow her heart’s desire to become an actor. And then you have Teagan’s complicated relationship with ex boyfriend Nic, a Black man who is frustrated with Teagan’s unintentionally racist attitudes but who loves her deep down. In fact, Teagan has a complex relationship with just about everyone she knows—yes, she’s a bit hard to like. But that’s one reason I love her so much, she’s really trying to do the right thing, but she’s too young to understand that her approach is all wrong.
But let’s get to the action, shall we? I have to say, the first four chapters of Eye of the Sh*t Storm are probably the best opening chapters I’ve ever read. I think I held my breath the whole time, these scenes were off the charts ridiculous, but the most fun I’ve had in a long time. I don’t want to spoil your fun, but let’s just say there’s a hysterically funny (but also nail-biting) scene involving a stolen bag of meth and a chase sequence that takes place in the L.A. River. And that’s only the beginning. Ford takes his characters on a dangerous, exhausting journey through a devastated Los Angeles, from the famous concrete L.A. River to Dodger Stadium to Downtown LA, with stops at homeless camps and abandoned buildings along the way, not to mention a bite to eat at Howlin’ Ray’s Hot Chicken. Biker gangs with guns (and plenty of tattoos), evil mad scientists, a scary crazy person called the Zig Zag Man and more are just a few of the obstacles Teagan and her friends must face.
Jackson throws a bit of social commentary into his story to balance things out, like the plight of the homeless in L.A., racism, drug addiction and the great economic divide between the rich and the poor, but it’s all mixed into the plot in such a way as to not be preachy. We also learn more about Teagan’s past and the “School”—the secret government facility that might be responsible for the children with abilities who are wreaking havoc on the city. Jackson drops a bomb at the end—one I should have seen coming but I didn’t!—that clearly suggests that this series isn’t over by a long shot. The book ends on a cliffhanger, and I’m sad that I have to wait for the next book, although now I have time to guess the title of book #4: When the Sh*t Hits the Fan, perhaps? In any case, I can’t wait to see what bonkers scenario Ford comes up with next. I’m betting it’s going to be a good one.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.
I knew I could count on Jackson Ford for a really good time, and I’m happy to say the third installment in his Frost Files series delivered on every level. Wow was this a blast! Now, according to the author, you can easily jump into this series in any order you want to, which I sort of agree with, because each book has a self contained story. However, in my opinion it’s better to start from the beginning because the characters have been through so much together at this point, that some of the nuances of their relationships will be lost on new readers. (Apologies to Paul, because I assured him he didn’t need to read book two in order to enjoy this. But after finishing it, I’m changing my mind.) There might be minor spoilers in this review, but I’m going to keep them to a minimum.
The story picks up a mere two months after the conclusion of Random Sh*t Flying Through the Air, when a young boy with the ability to control the earth caused several devastating earthquakes in California, turning the state to rubble and throwing everyone and everything into chaos. Teagan and her friends from the China Shop, a secret, government-run agency that operates under the radar, are still recovering from a terrible loss, not to mention the fact that Los Angeles has become a post apocalyptic wasteland and many people are homeless and out of work. Some enterprising factions have taken advantage of this fact by squatting in abandoned buildings and running illegal operations right under the noses of the police.
When the story begins, Teagan, Annie and Africa have been sent to one such place to do some undercover recon. A biker gang called the Legends is purportedly selling illegal guns, and Moira Tanner, who runs China Shop, wants the three to pretend to do business with them and scope the place out for a future raid. Not surprisingly, their operation does not go well, but there’s no time to dwell on that when Moira gives them a new mission: something strange is going on at a self-storage facility in Glendale. The entire building has been electrified, which doesn’t make sense because electricity cannot travel through concrete or wood. Something fishy is going on, and Teagan suspects that another person with abilities similar to hers is responsible. When she discovers a young boy named Leo inside the building, Teagan makes a choice that could threaten the entire operation.
That’s about all the plot I’m willing to give you, but let’s just say as soon as Teagan and her friends arrive at the storage facility to investigate, shit happens quickly and doesn’t stop until the end. The entire story takes place during one very long day and night, and I can vouch for the fact that it was hard to put the book down once I started. If you’re new to the series, I’ll give you a quick rundown about Teagan. Teagan has an ability called PK (psychokinesis) and can move inorganic objects with her mind. Thanks to her scientist parents, she and her brother and sister were all experimented on and given different abilities (think X-Men). Teagan made a deal with Moira Tanner that she would go to work for her undercover operation, in exchange for protection from a government facility that wants to get their hands on her and use her for their own nefarious purposes.
In this book, Teagan makes the decision to go rogue at one point and not follow directions, and this act fractures the entire team. I actually loved this development because it added quite a bit of tension to the group dynamic and allowed for some very emotional moments between the characters. Jackson really does a great job of balancing the action and the character development, and as much as I loved the fast-paced craziness of the plot, it was nice to see that the characters are all just regular people, trying to find connections and do the right thing. Annie is mad as hell at Teagan and grieving over Paul (from the last book), and their very uncomfortable relationship was one of my favorites. Reggie—the tech brains of the operation, an ex-military pilot who lost the use of her legs in Bosnia and is now confined to a wheelchair—is grappling over her loyalty to Moira (who saved her in Bosnia) and her desire to get the hell out of China Shop and follow her heart’s desire to become an actor. And then you have Teagan’s complicated relationship with ex boyfriend Nic, a Black man who is frustrated with Teagan’s unintentionally racist attitudes but who loves her deep down. In fact, Teagan has a complex relationship with just about everyone she knows—yes, she’s a bit hard to like. But that’s one reason I love her so much, she’s really trying to do the right thing, but she’s too young to understand that her approach is all wrong.
But let’s get to the action, shall we? I have to say, the first four chapters of Eye of the Sh*t Storm are probably the best opening chapters I’ve ever read. I think I held my breath the whole time, these scenes were off the charts ridiculous, but the most fun I’ve had in a long time. I don’t want to spoil your fun, but let’s just say there’s a hysterically funny (but also nail-biting) scene involving a stolen bag of meth and a chase sequence that takes place in the L.A. River. And that’s only the beginning. Ford takes his characters on a dangerous, exhausting journey through a devastated Los Angeles, from the famous concrete L.A. River to Dodger Stadium to Downtown LA, with stops at homeless camps and abandoned buildings along the way, not to mention a bite to eat at Howlin’ Ray’s Hot Chicken. Biker gangs with guns (and plenty of tattoos), evil mad scientists, a scary crazy person called the Zig Zag Man and more are just a few of the obstacles Teagan and her friends must face.
Jackson throws a bit of social commentary into his story to balance things out, like the plight of the homeless in L.A., racism, drug addiction and the great economic divide between the rich and the poor, but it’s all mixed into the plot in such a way as to not be preachy. We also learn more about Teagan’s past and the “School”—the secret government facility that might be responsible for the children with abilities who are wreaking havoc on the city. Jackson drops a bomb at the end—one I should have seen coming but I didn’t!—that clearly suggests that this series isn’t over by a long shot. The book ends on a cliffhanger, and I’m sad that I have to wait for the next book, although now I have time to guess the title of book #4: When the Sh*t Hits the Fan, perhaps? In any case, I can’t wait to see what bonkers scenario Ford comes up with next. I’m betting it’s going to be a good one.
Big thanks to the publisher for supplying a review copy.
February 26, 2022
Ahoy there me mateys! This be a book three. While I try to post no spoilers, if ye keep reading this log then ye have been forewarned and continue at yer own peril . . .
Book one was a popcorn book of awesome but book two didn't completely work for me. However, I still wanted to read book three which ended up floating me boat. These books are crazy and over-the-top and fun. I don't normally find anything funny about meth use. Well not until Teagan gets involved anyway!
If I thought Teagan was crazy in the other two books, she ups her game in this one. The China Shop team is also fragmenting due to the stress and events of the previous books. Each book could be read as a standalone but I recommend starting from the beginning because watching the character relationships evolve is fascinating. This brings humanity into this otherwise unbelievable storyline. And I happen to love all the characters.
I can't tell ye too much about the plot other than it involves super powers dealing with electricity, the L.A. river, a biker gang, fried chicken, the aftermath of the big earthquake, sabotage, and Teagan going rogue. I can tell ye that I be excited for book four. Especially after that ending. Arrrr!
Book one was a popcorn book of awesome but book two didn't completely work for me. However, I still wanted to read book three which ended up floating me boat. These books are crazy and over-the-top and fun. I don't normally find anything funny about meth use. Well not until Teagan gets involved anyway!
If I thought Teagan was crazy in the other two books, she ups her game in this one. The China Shop team is also fragmenting due to the stress and events of the previous books. Each book could be read as a standalone but I recommend starting from the beginning because watching the character relationships evolve is fascinating. This brings humanity into this otherwise unbelievable storyline. And I happen to love all the characters.
I can't tell ye too much about the plot other than it involves super powers dealing with electricity, the L.A. river, a biker gang, fried chicken, the aftermath of the big earthquake, sabotage, and Teagan going rogue. I can tell ye that I be excited for book four. Especially after that ending. Arrrr!
April 23, 2021
As always this review can also be found on my blog The Tattooed Book Geek: https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress...
Eye of the Sh#t Storm is another non-stop thrill ride and the third book in the wildly entertaining Frost Files series following on from The Girl Who Could Move Sh#t With Her Mind and Random Sh#t Flying through the Air. I’ll say that yes, you could read Eye of the Sh#t Storm as a stand-alone, there’s enough background given to grasp in broad strokes what has previously happened, but I’d suggest starting from the beginning and experiencing for yourself all that Teagan and China Shop have been through. The action and adventure, the damage, destruction and drama that follows as they go from crisis to crisis, the madness, the loss, the hell that they have endured, and the continuing conflict-filled and fraught relationships that are present within the team.
The Girl Who Could Move Sh#t with her Mind saw Teagan Frost learning how to control her psychokinetic (PK) powers, finding out that there are others in the world with superpowers, and Teagan was also framed for murder and given twenty-four hours to prove her innocence. Random Sh#t Flying through the Air saw Teagan and China Shop taking on Matthew, a four-year-old genius earthquake-causing toddler who unleashed ‘the Big One‘ on LA causing widespread damage and devastation to the city.
Still reeling from the events and loss suffered in Random Sh#t Flying through the Air, Teagan and the rest of China Shop can’t seem to catch a break. Eye of the Sh#t Storm is a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire, and once again the stakes are high as Teagan and the team find themselves thrown into another chaotic adventure.
Starting a couple of months after the earthquake, in the aftermath and with LA still reeling Eye of the Sh#t Storm begins with a ferocious high-speed chase that sees Teagan and China Shop pursued by a gang of bikers after their latest job goes terribly wrong. The job should have been simple, acting as buyers, all China Shop had to do was broker a deal and acquire a sample to prove that the bikers were gun-running high-powered military-grade weapons in LA, easy.
However, their cover was blown and the bikers knew all about China Shop and that it is a front for a US government-run operation. Escaping, Teagan’s PK picks up something strange and the team discover a meth lab and a large amount of meth. To keep it off the streets, China Shop steal take the meth, but the detour and delay mean that on their way out they drive straight into the furious bikers who are looking for them.
Destruction and mayhem ensue as the bikers chase China Shop through the LA storm drains before a spectacular crash and a meth explosion ends the chase, and that’s just the beginning.
China Shop hasn’t even made it back to their base of operations when the team receive a call to investigate the impossible, an entire building has been electrified. It’s China Shop’s job to ascertain whether or not the electrification of the building is being caused by someone with superpowers, and if so, to stop them before they can destroy even more of the already decimated and barely hanging on LA which sees them come up against the ominous Zigzag Man, their most menacing foe yet.
Wherever Teagan Frost goes, she is a beacon for chaos and it always follows her. She’s trying to be better, to think things through, to not rush in and to be more of an adult, but whatever decisions she makes the end result is still always the same, chaos. Teagan is a sarcastic wise-ass with a superpower, but she is very much not a superhuman. She is flawed, like the rest of China Shop.
Teagan is an absolutely terrific main character with a big and bold personality that shines neon bright, but the rest of China Shop aren’t just bit-part players in what could easily be ‘The Teagan Show‘. Along with Teagan, the whole team are well-developed and a couple of her teammates have their own big personalities to rival her. Each member of China Shop shines brightly when given the opportunity in Eye of the Sh#t Storm and all add something of their own to the story.
There is a depth to the dynamics on display between Teagan and the rest of China Shop, especially between Teagan and Annie who have always had a strained relationship, but which is stretched to breaking point in Eye of the Sh#t Storm. Teagan and China Shop are a likeable and eclectic bunch who you can’t help but be drawn to, invested in and root for.
The story unfolds through Teagan in the first-person with occasional chapters by Reggie, hacker extraordinaire, tech expert and fellow China Shop member in the third-person. The pacing is fast, doesn’t ease up and goes full throttle from beginning to end. The writing is energetic, vivid, full of heart, packed with emotion and includes plenty of pop culture references. As an extra, I love the acknowledgements at the end of the book, they aren’t written by Jackson Ford, but by Teagan and they are absolutely hilarious.
Eye of the Sh#t Storm is an action movie masquerading as a book, the only difference is that action movies aspire to be this good.
Eye of the Sh#t Storm is another non-stop thrill ride and the third book in the wildly entertaining Frost Files series following on from The Girl Who Could Move Sh#t With Her Mind and Random Sh#t Flying through the Air. I’ll say that yes, you could read Eye of the Sh#t Storm as a stand-alone, there’s enough background given to grasp in broad strokes what has previously happened, but I’d suggest starting from the beginning and experiencing for yourself all that Teagan and China Shop have been through. The action and adventure, the damage, destruction and drama that follows as they go from crisis to crisis, the madness, the loss, the hell that they have endured, and the continuing conflict-filled and fraught relationships that are present within the team.
The Girl Who Could Move Sh#t with her Mind saw Teagan Frost learning how to control her psychokinetic (PK) powers, finding out that there are others in the world with superpowers, and Teagan was also framed for murder and given twenty-four hours to prove her innocence. Random Sh#t Flying through the Air saw Teagan and China Shop taking on Matthew, a four-year-old genius earthquake-causing toddler who unleashed ‘the Big One‘ on LA causing widespread damage and devastation to the city.
Still reeling from the events and loss suffered in Random Sh#t Flying through the Air, Teagan and the rest of China Shop can’t seem to catch a break. Eye of the Sh#t Storm is a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire, and once again the stakes are high as Teagan and the team find themselves thrown into another chaotic adventure.
Starting a couple of months after the earthquake, in the aftermath and with LA still reeling Eye of the Sh#t Storm begins with a ferocious high-speed chase that sees Teagan and China Shop pursued by a gang of bikers after their latest job goes terribly wrong. The job should have been simple, acting as buyers, all China Shop had to do was broker a deal and acquire a sample to prove that the bikers were gun-running high-powered military-grade weapons in LA, easy.
However, their cover was blown and the bikers knew all about China Shop and that it is a front for a US government-run operation. Escaping, Teagan’s PK picks up something strange and the team discover a meth lab and a large amount of meth. To keep it off the streets, China Shop steal take the meth, but the detour and delay mean that on their way out they drive straight into the furious bikers who are looking for them.
Destruction and mayhem ensue as the bikers chase China Shop through the LA storm drains before a spectacular crash and a meth explosion ends the chase, and that’s just the beginning.
China Shop hasn’t even made it back to their base of operations when the team receive a call to investigate the impossible, an entire building has been electrified. It’s China Shop’s job to ascertain whether or not the electrification of the building is being caused by someone with superpowers, and if so, to stop them before they can destroy even more of the already decimated and barely hanging on LA which sees them come up against the ominous Zigzag Man, their most menacing foe yet.
Wherever Teagan Frost goes, she is a beacon for chaos and it always follows her. She’s trying to be better, to think things through, to not rush in and to be more of an adult, but whatever decisions she makes the end result is still always the same, chaos. Teagan is a sarcastic wise-ass with a superpower, but she is very much not a superhuman. She is flawed, like the rest of China Shop.
Teagan is an absolutely terrific main character with a big and bold personality that shines neon bright, but the rest of China Shop aren’t just bit-part players in what could easily be ‘The Teagan Show‘. Along with Teagan, the whole team are well-developed and a couple of her teammates have their own big personalities to rival her. Each member of China Shop shines brightly when given the opportunity in Eye of the Sh#t Storm and all add something of their own to the story.
There is a depth to the dynamics on display between Teagan and the rest of China Shop, especially between Teagan and Annie who have always had a strained relationship, but which is stretched to breaking point in Eye of the Sh#t Storm. Teagan and China Shop are a likeable and eclectic bunch who you can’t help but be drawn to, invested in and root for.
The story unfolds through Teagan in the first-person with occasional chapters by Reggie, hacker extraordinaire, tech expert and fellow China Shop member in the third-person. The pacing is fast, doesn’t ease up and goes full throttle from beginning to end. The writing is energetic, vivid, full of heart, packed with emotion and includes plenty of pop culture references. As an extra, I love the acknowledgements at the end of the book, they aren’t written by Jackson Ford, but by Teagan and they are absolutely hilarious.
Eye of the Sh#t Storm is an action movie masquerading as a book, the only difference is that action movies aspire to be this good.
May 8, 2021
Another novel featuring Teagan and her randomly awesome cohorts and like the previous books in the series is crazy as hell and huge amounts of fun
This time the story is literally electric, a rollercoaster ride of madness that is uber addictive and intriguingly clever.
I really adore these and this might be a short review but the book itself packs one hell of a punch and you’ll love every minute. Eclectic characters and an action packed scenario that will have you reading long into the night.
Highly recommended.
This time the story is literally electric, a rollercoaster ride of madness that is uber addictive and intriguingly clever.
I really adore these and this might be a short review but the book itself packs one hell of a punch and you’ll love every minute. Eclectic characters and an action packed scenario that will have you reading long into the night.
Highly recommended.
May 29, 2022
Finishing this book was a chore. I was a big fan of the first two, but this one seemed so long and unnecessary. There were multiple typos and in one chapter, Leo is called Matthew and no editor caught that error?
Also, this could have been a 200 page book, not 472.
Teagan also seems to get more and more reckless and annoying and Africa has had a complete personality change once he joined the government.
Not a fan of this one at all.
Also, this could have been a 200 page book, not 472.
Teagan also seems to get more and more reckless and annoying and Africa has had a complete personality change once he joined the government.
Not a fan of this one at all.
June 10, 2021
Teagan Frost is back with Book 3 of The Frost Files and things just keeping getting more and more complicated for her.
After the events of Book 2 things were never really going to be the same again, but her job has somehow become even more stressful with one work pal taking pot shots at her all day long while another has started taking the job even more seriously leading to some tension, to say the least.
Teagan has slowly been getting more powerful over the course of the books, and with that power she has become even more…. Teagan… she has made certain deals that stop her from living her best life (in order to live at all) and her anger at not being able to do what she wants spills through, which explains a lot of her decision making here.
The book opens as the other books have, Teagan and co (China Shop) are in the middle of a job where Teagan can absolutely not show her powers. Of course, as with the start of the other books, things quickly go wrong and we are quickly thrown into the action. People are thrown from buildings, there are car chases, and lots of random ***** being thrown through the air.
In book 2 Teagan’s biggest threat was a child with powers, and this time she is faced with the same, although the child is completely different. The child in question can manipulate electricity. While the previous book was about a child who WANTED to see the world burn, our new child doesn’t want anything to do with it. In this story, rather than trying to hunt the child down, Teagan decides to protect them – very much against the wishes of her co workers.
Obviously, Teagan is not the only one who has an interest in the location of this child, and that is where the bulk of the story comes from. Teagan and child vs the world – but who can come out on top.
It’s a fantastic story that is, as usual, filled with the standard Jackson Ford humour, action, and utterly heart wrenching moments. I love this series, and I can’t wait for it to continue.
After the events of Book 2 things were never really going to be the same again, but her job has somehow become even more stressful with one work pal taking pot shots at her all day long while another has started taking the job even more seriously leading to some tension, to say the least.
Teagan has slowly been getting more powerful over the course of the books, and with that power she has become even more…. Teagan… she has made certain deals that stop her from living her best life (in order to live at all) and her anger at not being able to do what she wants spills through, which explains a lot of her decision making here.
The book opens as the other books have, Teagan and co (China Shop) are in the middle of a job where Teagan can absolutely not show her powers. Of course, as with the start of the other books, things quickly go wrong and we are quickly thrown into the action. People are thrown from buildings, there are car chases, and lots of random ***** being thrown through the air.
In book 2 Teagan’s biggest threat was a child with powers, and this time she is faced with the same, although the child is completely different. The child in question can manipulate electricity. While the previous book was about a child who WANTED to see the world burn, our new child doesn’t want anything to do with it. In this story, rather than trying to hunt the child down, Teagan decides to protect them – very much against the wishes of her co workers.
Obviously, Teagan is not the only one who has an interest in the location of this child, and that is where the bulk of the story comes from. Teagan and child vs the world – but who can come out on top.
It’s a fantastic story that is, as usual, filled with the standard Jackson Ford humour, action, and utterly heart wrenching moments. I love this series, and I can’t wait for it to continue.
June 15, 2022
2.5 stars
January 18, 2023
The book really explores the characters more in depth. You get more insight in why they act like they do and what their values are. The beginning of this book hints the reader for something which makes the tension build up towards the end of the book. I really hope the next book in the series explains some unanswered questions I’ve had since book #1. I’m excited to find out what the fuck happened and how the relationship between the characters evolves. #makethemgay
May 31, 2021
Yep, Teagan's back and she's stumbled across another kid with his own superpower - you know what this means: chaos, danger and whole lot of new sh*t flying through the air!
Just when you thought Teagan's life couldn't get any crazier, along comes Leo - a kid who can control electricity. But this time, it seems Leo isn't hell bent on destroying the world around him, (unlike Matthew) nope in fact he's trying to outrun a mysterious man known only as the 'zigzag man'. Not wanting to turn Leo over to the government, where he'll undoubtedly become a lab rat, Teagan decides to go rogue, taking it upon herself to get Leo to safety. Except of course, nothing goes to plan and both Leo and Teagan find themselves in a whole host of trouble, with the rest of Team China Shop in tow, when they find out what she's doing. They face some almighty obstacles that really test them this time around!
I knew I was in for a wild ride, when Ford's third book was finally released and boy was it worth the wait! As usual the plot is fast paced, action packed and littered with swear words, however alongside the madness, we got to see a more caring side to Teagan this time, which I really enjoyed. It ends on an almighty cliffhanger - a reveal which I was just waiting to be confirmed! Let's just say the next book is going to be JUICY!
Another cracking 5 star read! If you haven't picked this series up already, I urge you do so! 👊🏻💥
Just when you thought Teagan's life couldn't get any crazier, along comes Leo - a kid who can control electricity. But this time, it seems Leo isn't hell bent on destroying the world around him, (unlike Matthew) nope in fact he's trying to outrun a mysterious man known only as the 'zigzag man'. Not wanting to turn Leo over to the government, where he'll undoubtedly become a lab rat, Teagan decides to go rogue, taking it upon herself to get Leo to safety. Except of course, nothing goes to plan and both Leo and Teagan find themselves in a whole host of trouble, with the rest of Team China Shop in tow, when they find out what she's doing. They face some almighty obstacles that really test them this time around!
I knew I was in for a wild ride, when Ford's third book was finally released and boy was it worth the wait! As usual the plot is fast paced, action packed and littered with swear words, however alongside the madness, we got to see a more caring side to Teagan this time, which I really enjoyed. It ends on an almighty cliffhanger - a reveal which I was just waiting to be confirmed! Let's just say the next book is going to be JUICY!
Another cracking 5 star read! If you haven't picked this series up already, I urge you do so! 👊🏻💥
April 29, 2021
Not happy with this. Really liked the first one, downhill on the second, and then just not a fan at all of this one. And apparently it’s going to just keep going (which I hate because I can’t remember what happens from book to book). The ridiculous over the topness of the first book was great, but now it’s just grating on me. Teagan makes STUPID, sloppy decisions that are so aggravating. And I “figured out” the thing with Leo’s dad basically right away. Also did not appreciate the forced Black Lives Matter conflict that was shoved in to be current. So I doubt I’ll be continuing on with this series, which is a shame because it had a lot of potential in the first book.
June 5, 2021
This entry in the series felt to me like it was spinning its wheels, a little bit. Not entirely - there was forward motion both with character arcs and the overall situation - but it did feel like some of it was retreading the same ground as the previous books, and all of the important stuff hinted at in book two was mostly still kept waiting in the wings. The ending makes me think that there's going to be significant developments in the next book, though.
July 6, 2021
The descent of the main character into a less likeable version of herself continues, but now all the other protagonists are on the same trajectory, in a drudge of a story where they once again fail to achieve anything but furthering their own misery. It's frustrating that the exciting, covert ops, action-adventure of the first book has given way to this introspective, downbeat, pity party; I think this is where I leave the series.
November 30, 2025
Simply stated this book slapped my face in the best way possible so i needed to finish the fourth book in the series thanks
May 28, 2021
When we first meet Teagan Frost, way back in The Girl Who Could Move Sh*t With Her Mind, I recall she made quite the entrance. Jumping/falling from the top of a skyscraper without the aid of a parachute, never mind a safety net. Her latest adventure, Eye of the Sh*t Storm, begins with similar levels of excitement. We immediately find our plucky psychokinetic heroine in the midst of a Terminator 2-esque chase through the storm drains of Los Angles. A local biker gang is not best pleased with young Teagan and her plans for their large stash of narcotics. I’ll say this for Teagan, she has mad skills when it comes to finding herself knee-deep in trouble.
Teagan remains a bit of a mess throughout. Her power continues to grow, but this seems to be matched by her ability to make poor decisions in the heat of the moment. Don’t get me wrong, Teagan always has the best of intentions. The problem is that things don’t often turn out the way she planned. I love how Teagan has grown more and more sure of herself as a super-powered human while still retaining the vulnerability and uncertainty in every other aspect of her life. It would be so easy for her to become overconfident, but the reverse has happened. It’s almost as if the extra burden of her secret is chipping away at her already fragile mental state.
Over the course of the last three novels, the staff at China Shop have evolved to become a weird little dysfunctional family for Teagan. Reggie, Annie and Africa are the replacements for the siblings she lost as a youngster. The dynamic between Teagen and Annie is particularly well observed. There is a whole love/hate thing going on that only ever happens between those who have a genuinely close bond.
It’s not all about the characters though, Jackson Ford has a keen eye for action. Eye of the Sh*t Storm sure doesn’t drag its heels. Chases, fights, explosions, floods, lightning strikes, crystal-meth induced hallucinations and everything in between. You may find yourself having to try and catch your breath. There is a genuine cinematic quality to the writing that I enjoyed. There are set pieces that are so well defined and executed they are easy to visualise. I seem to recall reading something about the possibility of a television show based on the books. I hope this series does makes the jump to the screen at some point. There is a boundless sense of potential in Teagan’s universe. I’m sure it would be awesome.
The novel ends with a WTF revelatory moment. Any author who manages to make me exclaim “What!!!” when I get to the final page of a book deserves extra credit for their hard work. Teagan Frost had better return and it had better be soon. There are some burning questions that really need answering.
This novel, and by extension the series so far, has been great fun. Jackson Ford is clearly having a ball and his enthusiasm for the characters and plot continues to remain infectious. I find myself awaiting each new instalment with barely contained excitement. If you haven’t checked this out already, I strongly advise that you do so.
Teagan remains a bit of a mess throughout. Her power continues to grow, but this seems to be matched by her ability to make poor decisions in the heat of the moment. Don’t get me wrong, Teagan always has the best of intentions. The problem is that things don’t often turn out the way she planned. I love how Teagan has grown more and more sure of herself as a super-powered human while still retaining the vulnerability and uncertainty in every other aspect of her life. It would be so easy for her to become overconfident, but the reverse has happened. It’s almost as if the extra burden of her secret is chipping away at her already fragile mental state.
Over the course of the last three novels, the staff at China Shop have evolved to become a weird little dysfunctional family for Teagan. Reggie, Annie and Africa are the replacements for the siblings she lost as a youngster. The dynamic between Teagen and Annie is particularly well observed. There is a whole love/hate thing going on that only ever happens between those who have a genuinely close bond.
It’s not all about the characters though, Jackson Ford has a keen eye for action. Eye of the Sh*t Storm sure doesn’t drag its heels. Chases, fights, explosions, floods, lightning strikes, crystal-meth induced hallucinations and everything in between. You may find yourself having to try and catch your breath. There is a genuine cinematic quality to the writing that I enjoyed. There are set pieces that are so well defined and executed they are easy to visualise. I seem to recall reading something about the possibility of a television show based on the books. I hope this series does makes the jump to the screen at some point. There is a boundless sense of potential in Teagan’s universe. I’m sure it would be awesome.
The novel ends with a WTF revelatory moment. Any author who manages to make me exclaim “What!!!” when I get to the final page of a book deserves extra credit for their hard work. Teagan Frost had better return and it had better be soon. There are some burning questions that really need answering.
This novel, and by extension the series so far, has been great fun. Jackson Ford is clearly having a ball and his enthusiasm for the characters and plot continues to remain infectious. I find myself awaiting each new instalment with barely contained excitement. If you haven’t checked this out already, I strongly advise that you do so.
September 24, 2025
The third book in the Frost Files series, Eye of the Sh*t Storm, kept me hooked but didn’t quite reach the same high as the second installment. The writing style is still as addictive as ever: fast, sharp and full of chaotic energy that makes it impossible to put down. I love following the crew of China Shop; their dynamic and wild adventures are what make this series one of my absolute favorites.
That said, I couldn’t help but notice the same pattern of grammatical mistakes that’s been present throughout the series. It doesn’t ruin the story but it’s distracting at times. The plot itself is packed with crazy, unpredictable moments, though overall it felt a little less exciting than book two.
The ending, though? A total cliffhanger. Exactly the kind that makes you want to grab the next book immediately. Despite its flaws, I remain fully invested in this series and can’t wait to see where it goes next.
That said, I couldn’t help but notice the same pattern of grammatical mistakes that’s been present throughout the series. It doesn’t ruin the story but it’s distracting at times. The plot itself is packed with crazy, unpredictable moments, though overall it felt a little less exciting than book two.
The ending, though? A total cliffhanger. Exactly the kind that makes you want to grab the next book immediately. Despite its flaws, I remain fully invested in this series and can’t wait to see where it goes next.
May 12, 2024
“Back at the homeless camp, you told me - you literally told me right to my face - that I’m the only friend you’ve got. Well friends don’t treat each other this way. They don’t get angry and shut each other out.”
June 30, 2021
After preventing near Armageddon for Los Angeles, you’d think Teagan Frost and her team could relax a bit but far from it when another supernatural turns up. This time they have the power to harness electricity and could fry Los Angeles, Teagan is back on the case but this time she might have to go her own way and face demons that she never thought she would be exposed to.
The third book in the Frost Files series and the action still keeps coming, Teagan’s relationships continues to develop as does her powers. The series goes from strength to strength.
The third book in the Frost Files series and the action still keeps coming, Teagan’s relationships continues to develop as does her powers. The series goes from strength to strength.
March 28, 2023
Bruhhh the ending
March 25, 2024
These books never disappoint 🥰 just so good. Can’t wait to dive into the next one !!
November 20, 2024
4.5 stars.
April 21, 2025
These books are page-turners; a great way to escape from the world for a bit. I love them.
August 12, 2023
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
WHAT'S EYE OF THE SH*T STORM ABOUT?
Obviously, spoilers for the previous book are going to come into play here...if you're concerned about that, skip to the stars at the bottom and move on. Actually, I'll make it easy for you: ★ ★ ★ ★. Proceed at your own risk.
It's been two months since Random Sh*t Flying Through the Air, L.A. (and the rest of California) is still struggling to deal with the loss of infrastructure, lives, jobs, and sense of normalcy that had been ripped from them. Teagan and her team have resumed their work as best as they can.
The book opens just as a mission to uncover an illegal gun sales ring goes horribly awry—leading to my opening quotation. Before the team has a chance to recover from this debacle, they're sent to investigate a strange occurrence that is right up their alley. A storage unit complex—the entire thing, from asphalt to walls to ceilings and everything in between—has become electrically charged. Technically, that's impossible, right? But so are psychokinetics like Teagan and the earthquake-inducing little boy we met in the last book.
Teagan figures out a way to get her inside the complex and discovers the cause--another little boy. About the same age as the one she faced off with two months ago. But this boy is different—he's scared. He's not in control of his power at the moment because he just wants his dad and to get away from "the Zigzag Man" (whoever that is). Teagan knows her job is to bring the kid in and turn him over to the authorities. But she can't do that—this boy, Leo, isn't out to hurt anyone. He's not trying to fry California or anything. He just wants his dad, and Teagan can't imagine subjecting Leo to the experiments and testing that he'd be subjected to if she did her job.
So, she goes AWOL, hoping to reunite Leo with his family before she figures out what to do with her employers. She's eventually tracked down by her friends—some agree to help her, some try to apprehend Leo. Things get messy from there. And they all learn pretty quickly that Leo was right to want to get as far away as humanly possible from the Zigzag Man.
REGGIE
Of the group, the character we've spent the least amount of time with. This makes sense—she's the "woman in the chair," as Ned Leeds would put it. She's their hacker, their supervisor, the one calling the shots from home base and doing what she can to dig up information for them in the field. She's also in a wheelchair, limiting what she can do in the field (but she pushes those limits as often as possible).
This book solves the we-don't-get-to-spend-time-with-Reggie problem by giving her several point-of-view chapters. When we're not with Teagan, we're with her. And I loved it—I'd take a Reggie solo story anytime. She's just a rich character—getting to focus on her and having some of her backstory filled in are just great. She had a pretty impressive résumé already, but what she accomplishes here proves that Teagan's not the only impressive one on the team (that could be said for all of them, really, but I want to focus on Reggie).
Her future looks pretty different going into Book 4 than it has so far—but I'm looking forward to seeing what she does in this new stage of life. I predict things will look better for her within the next 400 pages than it does now.
I DIDN'T EXPECT THIS TO COME UP
There's a subplot running through all this where Teagan deals with the come down from an accidental (and large) exposure to meth and struggles to experiment with it some more. This is due to the withdrawal symptoms she's suffering, and also because it turns out that meth supercharges her abilities for a brief period and that sounds really handy right now.
Now, I don't know how realistic all the non-superpower effects of meth and the temptation to use it again so soon are. But it feels real. And the fact that I have to clarify "non-superpower" does put us outside the realm of realism already.
Teagan goes through a lot in this book (and series), but the way she looks into the temptation of great power at a great cost and cannot shake it immediately was really well depicted and—so far—the most compelling. This temptation keeps calling her name, she's able to justify/allllllllmost justify experimenting with the drug. And maybe giving herself over entirely to the addiction.
TEAGAN'S GROWTH
This is already longer than I'd planned, so I'm going to be brief here—in my post about Random Sh*t Flying Through the Air I talked about Teagan's growth in terms of power and maturity—and how far she has to go. That's still present, but she's making progress—and she's aware of her need.
I think she gives herself more credit than she deserves in this quest up to this point—but she's moving in the right direction. And who wants a perfect protagonist anyway?
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT EYE OF THE SH*T STORM?
There was a point where my eReader was at risk of flying through a window. Thankfully for the sake of marital harmony (and my poor eReader), that didn't happen (my notes read, "No no no no no no no no," and I was able to limit it to that). Frost has demonstrated that no character is safe, the status quo is not respected, and that readers should not think that anything is settled. This is not a bug, this is a feature. Not necessarily one that promotes emotional health in a reader, however, but it's a feature.
What Ford's cavalier attitude toward my blood pressure does is heighten every moment, intensify every conflict (even if it doesn't seem like it's time for a major happening), and keeps you focused throughout as you speed through the pages.
I've been annoyed with myself for not staying on top of this series since the summer of 2020—and now that I'm almost caught up—I'm even more annoyed with myself. But for now, I'm just happy I got this posted so I can move on to the next book in a few days.
If you're into super-hero-adjacent kind of stories, this series is a must-read. Could you do okay by starting with this book? Sure—Ford won't let you get lost and will help you get oriented in the midst of things. But do yourself a favor and start with the first book and do it soon.
---
And now I’m trapped under a collapsed bridge, in a burning van, having just taken a faceful of meth, while a biker gang shoots at me and my friends with automatic weapons.
We’ve all been there.
WHAT'S EYE OF THE SH*T STORM ABOUT?
Obviously, spoilers for the previous book are going to come into play here...if you're concerned about that, skip to the stars at the bottom and move on. Actually, I'll make it easy for you: ★ ★ ★ ★. Proceed at your own risk.
It's been two months since Random Sh*t Flying Through the Air, L.A. (and the rest of California) is still struggling to deal with the loss of infrastructure, lives, jobs, and sense of normalcy that had been ripped from them. Teagan and her team have resumed their work as best as they can.
The book opens just as a mission to uncover an illegal gun sales ring goes horribly awry—leading to my opening quotation. Before the team has a chance to recover from this debacle, they're sent to investigate a strange occurrence that is right up their alley. A storage unit complex—the entire thing, from asphalt to walls to ceilings and everything in between—has become electrically charged. Technically, that's impossible, right? But so are psychokinetics like Teagan and the earthquake-inducing little boy we met in the last book.
Teagan figures out a way to get her inside the complex and discovers the cause--another little boy. About the same age as the one she faced off with two months ago. But this boy is different—he's scared. He's not in control of his power at the moment because he just wants his dad and to get away from "the Zigzag Man" (whoever that is). Teagan knows her job is to bring the kid in and turn him over to the authorities. But she can't do that—this boy, Leo, isn't out to hurt anyone. He's not trying to fry California or anything. He just wants his dad, and Teagan can't imagine subjecting Leo to the experiments and testing that he'd be subjected to if she did her job.
So, she goes AWOL, hoping to reunite Leo with his family before she figures out what to do with her employers. She's eventually tracked down by her friends—some agree to help her, some try to apprehend Leo. Things get messy from there. And they all learn pretty quickly that Leo was right to want to get as far away as humanly possible from the Zigzag Man.
REGGIE
Of the group, the character we've spent the least amount of time with. This makes sense—she's the "woman in the chair," as Ned Leeds would put it. She's their hacker, their supervisor, the one calling the shots from home base and doing what she can to dig up information for them in the field. She's also in a wheelchair, limiting what she can do in the field (but she pushes those limits as often as possible).
This book solves the we-don't-get-to-spend-time-with-Reggie problem by giving her several point-of-view chapters. When we're not with Teagan, we're with her. And I loved it—I'd take a Reggie solo story anytime. She's just a rich character—getting to focus on her and having some of her backstory filled in are just great. She had a pretty impressive résumé already, but what she accomplishes here proves that Teagan's not the only impressive one on the team (that could be said for all of them, really, but I want to focus on Reggie).
Her future looks pretty different going into Book 4 than it has so far—but I'm looking forward to seeing what she does in this new stage of life. I predict things will look better for her within the next 400 pages than it does now.
I DIDN'T EXPECT THIS TO COME UP
There's a subplot running through all this where Teagan deals with the come down from an accidental (and large) exposure to meth and struggles to experiment with it some more. This is due to the withdrawal symptoms she's suffering, and also because it turns out that meth supercharges her abilities for a brief period and that sounds really handy right now.
Now, I don't know how realistic all the non-superpower effects of meth and the temptation to use it again so soon are. But it feels real. And the fact that I have to clarify "non-superpower" does put us outside the realm of realism already.
Teagan goes through a lot in this book (and series), but the way she looks into the temptation of great power at a great cost and cannot shake it immediately was really well depicted and—so far—the most compelling. This temptation keeps calling her name, she's able to justify/allllllllmost justify experimenting with the drug. And maybe giving herself over entirely to the addiction.
TEAGAN'S GROWTH
I reacted… poorly. Hey, just because I’ve been trying to think through my decisions doesn’t mean I’m perfect, OK?
This is already longer than I'd planned, so I'm going to be brief here—in my post about Random Sh*t Flying Through the Air I talked about Teagan's growth in terms of power and maturity—and how far she has to go. That's still present, but she's making progress—and she's aware of her need.
I think she gives herself more credit than she deserves in this quest up to this point—but she's moving in the right direction. And who wants a perfect protagonist anyway?
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT EYE OF THE SH*T STORM?
Over the past few years, I’ve become very familiar with the giant spurt of adrenaline you get after surviving something that should have killed you.
It always arrives around five minutes after I nearly die, beginning with a prickle on my arms, a delightful tremor in my fingers. Then a feeling of well- being, flooding through me, quickly growing to a kind of hysterical euphoria. It’s like an old friend by now. One I’ve been hanging out with for so long that I know everything they’re going to do before they do it.
There was a point where my eReader was at risk of flying through a window. Thankfully for the sake of marital harmony (and my poor eReader), that didn't happen (my notes read, "No no no no no no no no," and I was able to limit it to that). Frost has demonstrated that no character is safe, the status quo is not respected, and that readers should not think that anything is settled. This is not a bug, this is a feature. Not necessarily one that promotes emotional health in a reader, however, but it's a feature.
What Ford's cavalier attitude toward my blood pressure does is heighten every moment, intensify every conflict (even if it doesn't seem like it's time for a major happening), and keeps you focused throughout as you speed through the pages.
I've been annoyed with myself for not staying on top of this series since the summer of 2020—and now that I'm almost caught up—I'm even more annoyed with myself. But for now, I'm just happy I got this posted so I can move on to the next book in a few days.
If you're into super-hero-adjacent kind of stories, this series is a must-read. Could you do okay by starting with this book? Sure—Ford won't let you get lost and will help you get oriented in the midst of things. But do yourself a favor and start with the first book and do it soon.
May 29, 2021
You can find my full review on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Den, here.
Many thanks to Orbit and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Book three! Of The Frost Files! I’ve been dying to read this one since the moment I set down book two. This series quickly became one of my favorites, so I was super freaking excited to get an eARC of this book. I showed mucho restraint in not immediately tearing through it, okay? I deserve praise for that. Instead, like a good blogger, I waited until it was actual around the release date so I could excitedly jabber about this book with you all. What a sacrifice, right? You’re welcome.
Eye of the Sh*t Storm is an absolute roller coaster ride that immediately grabs a reader and refuses to let go. With the same sarcastic narrator, and some fun new superpowers, the third book of the Frost Files takes an introspective look at humanity and friendship and all the messy things that go with both.
For some reason, I had thought this series was a trilogy, and that made me sad? Maybe it’s because I’m so used to trilogies in fantasy right about now. Thankfully, that’s not the case, and a fourth book, at least, has already been confirmed, and I couldn’t be more excited about it! I mean, it’s obvious by the time you reach the end of this book that there will be at least one other, and thank goodness for that. I am so not ready to leave this world and these characters. If you’ve read the first two books of this series, book three ratchets the action factor up to 11 and then adds all these icky, nasty feels that will hit you in a completely different way than the feels from the second book did!
My Thoughts
- Eye of the Sh*t Storm opens with a bang (sort of literally) and the action never lets up. I couldn’t put it down! The book opens with a car chase scene involving drugs and guns … and obviously everything goes sideways, because when China Shop is involved, nothing can be easy. That’s just a given. This isn’t a “can’t come up for air” sort of action. There are plenty of snippets of downtime to catch your breath, but not enough to take off the pressure. After all, everything is sort of culminating in this book, and you should feel Teagan’s desperation and everything China Shop is going through. Ford does this exceptionally well with his pacing, where the pressure is never quite relieved and there’s always an underlying sense of urgency. Urban fantasy is often characterized by a lot of action, but if you want something that’ll hold your attention and force you to keep turning pages to find out what’s next, this book delivers on that and then some.
- Teagan Frost is back with a vengeance, and she’s the sarcastic narrator/reluctant hero we’ve all been waiting for. If you’ve read the previous two books, you’re likely already well familiar with Teagan. And if you haven’t … what are you doing here? You could be reading them! Go! Off with you! You won’t regret it! Teagan’s trademark sarcasm and witty narration is back for another run, and the minute I opened the book, I realized how much I had missed it. I’m not going to say Teagan is a great example of humanity, because she’s probably not, but you know what? She’s a freaking real example of humanity, with hopes and dreams and flaws and stupid adulting things that she’d rather not do but has to because that’s what adults do, even though adulting is waaaay overrated. I’ve always loved how relatable and realistic Teagan is, and this book was no exception to that. Teagan has been through a lot in the previous books, and you know what? This book isn’t exactly smooth sailing for her, either. She’s forced to question a lot about who she is, what she wants, and the people around her. She’s struggling with memories of her childhood—which wasn’t all terrible, now that she thinks about it—and where exactly she belongs in the world. In other words, our little Teagan is growing up! I’m really curious about where this will take Teagan in future books.
- In fact, the whole gang is back, but their dynamic is shifting, now more than ever, especially following the events in book three. It isn’t just Teagan questioning what she’s doing and where she wants to be. In fact, that’s pretty much the theme of this entire book. The team has been in situation after situation, each one seemingly more harrowing than the last, and it’s worn on pretty much everyone’s nerves. Not to mention that half of them didn’t actually choose this job. A lot of soul-searching takes place in this book. Since I’ve grown to love the characters, it’s hard watching them go through it.
- In between the action, this book is stuffed full with a deeper narrative about the nature of humanity, especially following natural disasters, about coming together and falling apart, and all the dark, squishy feels that make humans … well, human. In case you’ve forgotten, in book two, things kind of went … sideways. Sometimes literally. I appreciated the fact that it wasn’t the case that bad things happened in book two and then people just … forgot about it in book three? That sometimes happens in books, where the plot just rushes on. Instead, Ford moves the plot along just fine, but also acknowledges how things have changed, and those changes act to further shape the plot. Because big changes have happened to Teagan Frost’s LA, and the characters aren’t always sure how to grapple with them. The whole city has settled into a haze of unsurety about what the future holds and how to even get there. Being able to see that aftermath and growth is just *chef’s kiss*. As someone who has lived through several natural disasters (none as big as what happened in book two, of course, but still), it’s so refreshing to see the process portrayed with such honesty and rawness. I’m all the more eager to find out what book four has in store because of it!
Many thanks to Orbit and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Book three! Of The Frost Files! I’ve been dying to read this one since the moment I set down book two. This series quickly became one of my favorites, so I was super freaking excited to get an eARC of this book. I showed mucho restraint in not immediately tearing through it, okay? I deserve praise for that. Instead, like a good blogger, I waited until it was actual around the release date so I could excitedly jabber about this book with you all. What a sacrifice, right? You’re welcome.
Eye of the Sh*t Storm is an absolute roller coaster ride that immediately grabs a reader and refuses to let go. With the same sarcastic narrator, and some fun new superpowers, the third book of the Frost Files takes an introspective look at humanity and friendship and all the messy things that go with both.
For some reason, I had thought this series was a trilogy, and that made me sad? Maybe it’s because I’m so used to trilogies in fantasy right about now. Thankfully, that’s not the case, and a fourth book, at least, has already been confirmed, and I couldn’t be more excited about it! I mean, it’s obvious by the time you reach the end of this book that there will be at least one other, and thank goodness for that. I am so not ready to leave this world and these characters. If you’ve read the first two books of this series, book three ratchets the action factor up to 11 and then adds all these icky, nasty feels that will hit you in a completely different way than the feels from the second book did!
My Thoughts
- Eye of the Sh*t Storm opens with a bang (sort of literally) and the action never lets up. I couldn’t put it down! The book opens with a car chase scene involving drugs and guns … and obviously everything goes sideways, because when China Shop is involved, nothing can be easy. That’s just a given. This isn’t a “can’t come up for air” sort of action. There are plenty of snippets of downtime to catch your breath, but not enough to take off the pressure. After all, everything is sort of culminating in this book, and you should feel Teagan’s desperation and everything China Shop is going through. Ford does this exceptionally well with his pacing, where the pressure is never quite relieved and there’s always an underlying sense of urgency. Urban fantasy is often characterized by a lot of action, but if you want something that’ll hold your attention and force you to keep turning pages to find out what’s next, this book delivers on that and then some.
- Teagan Frost is back with a vengeance, and she’s the sarcastic narrator/reluctant hero we’ve all been waiting for. If you’ve read the previous two books, you’re likely already well familiar with Teagan. And if you haven’t … what are you doing here? You could be reading them! Go! Off with you! You won’t regret it! Teagan’s trademark sarcasm and witty narration is back for another run, and the minute I opened the book, I realized how much I had missed it. I’m not going to say Teagan is a great example of humanity, because she’s probably not, but you know what? She’s a freaking real example of humanity, with hopes and dreams and flaws and stupid adulting things that she’d rather not do but has to because that’s what adults do, even though adulting is waaaay overrated. I’ve always loved how relatable and realistic Teagan is, and this book was no exception to that. Teagan has been through a lot in the previous books, and you know what? This book isn’t exactly smooth sailing for her, either. She’s forced to question a lot about who she is, what she wants, and the people around her. She’s struggling with memories of her childhood—which wasn’t all terrible, now that she thinks about it—and where exactly she belongs in the world. In other words, our little Teagan is growing up! I’m really curious about where this will take Teagan in future books.
- In fact, the whole gang is back, but their dynamic is shifting, now more than ever, especially following the events in book three. It isn’t just Teagan questioning what she’s doing and where she wants to be. In fact, that’s pretty much the theme of this entire book. The team has been in situation after situation, each one seemingly more harrowing than the last, and it’s worn on pretty much everyone’s nerves. Not to mention that half of them didn’t actually choose this job. A lot of soul-searching takes place in this book. Since I’ve grown to love the characters, it’s hard watching them go through it.
- In between the action, this book is stuffed full with a deeper narrative about the nature of humanity, especially following natural disasters, about coming together and falling apart, and all the dark, squishy feels that make humans … well, human. In case you’ve forgotten, in book two, things kind of went … sideways. Sometimes literally. I appreciated the fact that it wasn’t the case that bad things happened in book two and then people just … forgot about it in book three? That sometimes happens in books, where the plot just rushes on. Instead, Ford moves the plot along just fine, but also acknowledges how things have changed, and those changes act to further shape the plot. Because big changes have happened to Teagan Frost’s LA, and the characters aren’t always sure how to grapple with them. The whole city has settled into a haze of unsurety about what the future holds and how to even get there. Being able to see that aftermath and growth is just *chef’s kiss*. As someone who has lived through several natural disasters (none as big as what happened in book two, of course, but still), it’s so refreshing to see the process portrayed with such honesty and rawness. I’m all the more eager to find out what book four has in store because of it!
June 9, 2021
Another great installment in the Frost Files. It's all good reading but I enjoy those chapters voiced by Teagan best. There are a number of authors who write fast-paced madcap fiction but Jackson Ford has a special talent for describing physical chaos. In an earlier novel, we had his description of what L.A. county might look like after the "big one" which I found a very convincing setting. In this novel we have more wild chases and an invocation of a flash flood in the Los Angeles river. Ford is a great scene setter.
August 3, 2021
Overall, was okay. While the plot was decent (if not somewhat recycled), the characters had waffling personalities which would always change during fights. The editors should be ashamed of themselves. There were so many grammatical errors, missing words, and even a case of using the name of a character from the previous book that made it more and more frustrating to continue reading. The story ended in a cliffhanger so chances are a 4th book will come out. Will I get it? ... Probably, just to see the story complete.
August 12, 2021
It's not bad, but for how thick the book is, not a lot really happened.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2022
The little things that annoyed me in books 1 & 2 have gotten bigger.
May 4, 2021
5+ stars. A series that just gets better and better and then better some more!
Holy effing pineapple daiquiris, what a ride! Jackson Ford's "Sh*t Storm" is an incredibly intense and visceral reading experience that will leave fans of ANY genre wanting more. Like a literary punch to the solar plexus, this one left me gasping for air as I finished in stunned silence late last night after nearly 4 straight days of first re-reading Book 2 and then diving hungrily into the 2021 chapter of this amazing series. My initial reaction? Ye gods, I can not WAIT until the next book comes out!
Really, if you're new to this Universe (and if so, stop what you're doing now and go back and start with Book 1!!), you definitely need to do what I did and revisit what happens before we get to the ending scene of this chapter (I've already read and re-read Book 1). Just reminding myself of all that happens to the West Coast and especially Los Angeles (seriously, what do Ford and Nicholas S. Smith have against that area [see "Sons of War"]?) was both overwhelming and also a bit nauseating. Then feeling again the utter revulsion caused by the psychopathetic yet incredibly constructed villain of Book 2 was breath-taking, even after already witnessing it once before. And then as if that weren't enough (it isn't), this latest episode takes that again - Ford uses L.A. in many ways as more than a location and really as another, living being in these books - as well as the on-going incredible characterizations - and sets us up for shock after shock after shock. If you saw some or any of this coming, well, kudos to you. I know though my jaw was on the floor a bunch!
There did come a point in this book - and here I think it had a lot to do with my multi-session, read-until-my-eyes-bled immersion - where these players started feeling like MY characters, or really, MY friends and/or enemies. I caught myself being so wrapped up in their struggles and their dilemmas - and there is a lot of interweaving sh*t going on here - that I even got to the point of feeling shocked at what Ford was doing to them! "Give my girl Teagan what? Oh hell no he didn't!" Well, kids, here's a spoiler: he did indeed!
But after sleeping off the incredible post book hangover, I realized something. What was done is subtle, it's clever and damned if I don't think we're in for even better stuff in the coming book(s). "Sh*t Storm" I think will be known for the way it tears this group down, tears the team apart, breaks them both physically and mentally and maybe even damages them irreparably in some ways. But from these ashes shall indeed rise a Phoenix (yes, for once, I felt the X-Men connection the cover proclaims). Teagan is growing up and certainly at least Reggie is about to unleash her full potential as well. I just want Annie to get out of bed and then we'll worry about who Africa really is later. Yeah, sure, none of that may make sense but I'm not going to ruin it for anyone. Trust me though: I can't wait to be there when the sh*t hits the fan, that's for sure!
Great stuff, kids! Enjoy!
Holy effing pineapple daiquiris, what a ride! Jackson Ford's "Sh*t Storm" is an incredibly intense and visceral reading experience that will leave fans of ANY genre wanting more. Like a literary punch to the solar plexus, this one left me gasping for air as I finished in stunned silence late last night after nearly 4 straight days of first re-reading Book 2 and then diving hungrily into the 2021 chapter of this amazing series. My initial reaction? Ye gods, I can not WAIT until the next book comes out!
Really, if you're new to this Universe (and if so, stop what you're doing now and go back and start with Book 1!!), you definitely need to do what I did and revisit what happens before we get to the ending scene of this chapter (I've already read and re-read Book 1). Just reminding myself of all that happens to the West Coast and especially Los Angeles (seriously, what do Ford and Nicholas S. Smith have against that area [see "Sons of War"]?) was both overwhelming and also a bit nauseating. Then feeling again the utter revulsion caused by the psychopathetic yet incredibly constructed villain of Book 2 was breath-taking, even after already witnessing it once before. And then as if that weren't enough (it isn't), this latest episode takes that again - Ford uses L.A. in many ways as more than a location and really as another, living being in these books - as well as the on-going incredible characterizations - and sets us up for shock after shock after shock. If you saw some or any of this coming, well, kudos to you. I know though my jaw was on the floor a bunch!
There did come a point in this book - and here I think it had a lot to do with my multi-session, read-until-my-eyes-bled immersion - where these players started feeling like MY characters, or really, MY friends and/or enemies. I caught myself being so wrapped up in their struggles and their dilemmas - and there is a lot of interweaving sh*t going on here - that I even got to the point of feeling shocked at what Ford was doing to them! "Give my girl Teagan what? Oh hell no he didn't!" Well, kids, here's a spoiler: he did indeed!
But after sleeping off the incredible post book hangover, I realized something. What was done is subtle, it's clever and damned if I don't think we're in for even better stuff in the coming book(s). "Sh*t Storm" I think will be known for the way it tears this group down, tears the team apart, breaks them both physically and mentally and maybe even damages them irreparably in some ways. But from these ashes shall indeed rise a Phoenix (yes, for once, I felt the X-Men connection the cover proclaims). Teagan is growing up and certainly at least Reggie is about to unleash her full potential as well. I just want Annie to get out of bed and then we'll worry about who Africa really is later. Yeah, sure, none of that may make sense but I'm not going to ruin it for anyone. Trust me though: I can't wait to be there when the sh*t hits the fan, that's for sure!
Great stuff, kids! Enjoy!
September 16, 2021
Everyone is a mess in this book and, I am here for it.
Eye of the Sh*t Storm is Jackson Ford's 3rd outing in the Frost Files. In this one, while the whole west coast is not going to take a nose dive into the ocean, so much else goes wrong for our beloved reluctant secret agent. You join the story as Teagan is on the run from a biker gang that has cropped up after the second book. Stuff happens; she accidentally ingests a face full of meth and gets high as a kite. Annie is a mess and is struggling with grief, Reggie is in charge, Africa is just trying to do a good job, and Tanner is still Tanner. Then, they find a young kid who can essentially control electric currents. As you can imagine, madness ensues.
As stated, the characters are messed up in this book. After the events of the second book, it is understandable that the characters would still be processing their emotions. Annie is mixed up in her grief of losing Paul that she pushes her only friend away and gives Teagan a pretty harsh ultimatum which is incredibly selfish of Annie. Reggie and Teagan's roles reverse, with Reggie thinking about life after the China Shop and getting distracted, to Teagan thinking ahead. As a reader, you get a sense that Africa is almost panicked or desperate towards the middle and end of the book. You can imagine his thought process when Teagan goes rogue; the China Shop and Moira Tanner saved his life and gave him a home, a purpose. Why would he then want to put that at risk helping Teagan when their relationship has been nothing but rocky, and Teagan thinks so little of him.
Fords writing in this is frantic and hectic, which mirrors Teagan's experience while on meth, but in some ways, it also reflects how life can be after a natural disaster has happened. Everyone rushing to try and find a way back to some semblance of a normal life when they don't know what normal is any more. As always, Ford's writing is witty and brilliant; however, the introduction of Teagan potentially having a meth problem in the novel was something unexpected; while it made for an exciting read, I wasn't sure how it would turn out, and I'm still a little undecided on how I feel about it.
The action sequences are flawless, and you can fully picture them in your mind; in my mind, I usually imagine it with some form of heavy metal music. The scenes are gripping and unique and, there seems to be no stopping or moments to catch your breath in this rollercoaster of emotion and superpowered storytelling. The book leaves you frustrated as the author leaves you frustrated as he ends the booking with two major cliffhangers. It is well written for a third instalment, but I do feel that it felt somewhat lacking after the drama of the second. However, this could be the author's way of ramping up, ready for the fourth instalment in 2022.
Eye of the Sh*t Storm is Jackson Ford's 3rd outing in the Frost Files. In this one, while the whole west coast is not going to take a nose dive into the ocean, so much else goes wrong for our beloved reluctant secret agent. You join the story as Teagan is on the run from a biker gang that has cropped up after the second book. Stuff happens; she accidentally ingests a face full of meth and gets high as a kite. Annie is a mess and is struggling with grief, Reggie is in charge, Africa is just trying to do a good job, and Tanner is still Tanner. Then, they find a young kid who can essentially control electric currents. As you can imagine, madness ensues.
As stated, the characters are messed up in this book. After the events of the second book, it is understandable that the characters would still be processing their emotions. Annie is mixed up in her grief of losing Paul that she pushes her only friend away and gives Teagan a pretty harsh ultimatum which is incredibly selfish of Annie. Reggie and Teagan's roles reverse, with Reggie thinking about life after the China Shop and getting distracted, to Teagan thinking ahead. As a reader, you get a sense that Africa is almost panicked or desperate towards the middle and end of the book. You can imagine his thought process when Teagan goes rogue; the China Shop and Moira Tanner saved his life and gave him a home, a purpose. Why would he then want to put that at risk helping Teagan when their relationship has been nothing but rocky, and Teagan thinks so little of him.
Fords writing in this is frantic and hectic, which mirrors Teagan's experience while on meth, but in some ways, it also reflects how life can be after a natural disaster has happened. Everyone rushing to try and find a way back to some semblance of a normal life when they don't know what normal is any more. As always, Ford's writing is witty and brilliant; however, the introduction of Teagan potentially having a meth problem in the novel was something unexpected; while it made for an exciting read, I wasn't sure how it would turn out, and I'm still a little undecided on how I feel about it.
The action sequences are flawless, and you can fully picture them in your mind; in my mind, I usually imagine it with some form of heavy metal music. The scenes are gripping and unique and, there seems to be no stopping or moments to catch your breath in this rollercoaster of emotion and superpowered storytelling. The book leaves you frustrated as the author leaves you frustrated as he ends the booking with two major cliffhangers. It is well written for a third instalment, but I do feel that it felt somewhat lacking after the drama of the second. However, this could be the author's way of ramping up, ready for the fourth instalment in 2022.
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