Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Fallen Power #1

Storm Unbound

Rate this book

Can a washed-up recruit find himself and his way home?

Tristan never wanted to be a Bolstered soldier. He wanted the easy city life.

Now he is stuck in a land filled with wild women, exotic magic, and dark dangers. His beautiful commander—his only way back and the one person with any faith in him—has caught the eye of a freakish crime lord backed by shadowy powers.

Tristan has his own magic, but to save them both, he'll need to confront his doubts and bind willing women brandishing destructive Fallen powers to his cause.

If he succeeds, will Tristan even want to return? It's a question as unsettling as his enemy, and one he can only answer after defeating the rising tide of foes.

To win he will need to do more than ride a bound storm—he has to unleash its fury himself.

This story contains graphic violence, eager women, and explicit harem relationships. Only vanquished foes fade to black.

312 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 31, 2020

264 people are currently reading
138 people want to read

About the author

Leo Hull

10 books35 followers
Leo writes pulp fantasy and science fantasy adventure novels. He lives with his wife and dog. In his spare time, he digs in the earth and climbs things.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
195 (48%)
4 stars
119 (29%)
3 stars
55 (13%)
2 stars
19 (4%)
1 star
10 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
2,648 reviews70 followers
March 18, 2021
I have never hated a book this quickly before.

The main character is an awful person, you despise him from the first paragraph. When his expedition leader was screaming out and he ran up to find her beaten, strung up and stripped and he just spent time ogling her I was done. I have no desire to read about a drunken idiot without any morals.
Profile Image for Steve Naylor.
2,579 reviews125 followers
November 25, 2020
Rating 3.0 stars

This was okay. With harem fantasy books there is always the balance between the story and the sex. Does the sex make sense in the setting provided? Do the relationships? What about the timing? Then there is the difference between the act itself and talking about the act. It is somewhat of a balancing act between a fantasy book and erotica. The difference in my mind between those types of books is that in erotica, the whole point is about sex and the story is just there to deliver those sexual scenes. In the fantasy books the point should be the story and the sex should be there to elevate the material. For the most part this book did a good job with those questions. The relationships made sense. The one thing that I thought was overboard was the description of sex versus the act itself. I know as a guy it is impossible to not look at a beautiful woman or her body. The main character in this book Tristan, took this to a new level. It didn't matter the situation, he spent way too much time ogling women. There was scene early on where his partner was captured and could have been killed but the first thing he noticed was a complete description of her body and how hot she was, followed by a description of the woman that had attached her. Even during the fight he ended up by his partner and when he looked over he saw her glistening sex. That's taking things too far for me.



I am interested in where this story is heading, so I will be looking for the next book in the series.
Profile Image for John #Audible.
373 reviews
July 9, 2021
Wow this is a complete shit show of a book. First thing it's a 3rd person and you get to see the author use Tristan's name about a billion fucking times.

Second, Tristan is a piece of shit of a person and a mind of a teenager that can't even focus on rescuing someone without perving out and over sexualizing every god damn event. .

But seriously, stop with the god damn Tristan this, Tristan that, Tristan took a shit, the author can't have Tristan wipe his ass without saying his fucking name.
40 reviews4 followers
October 18, 2020
Nope

Before even finishing the first chapter I hate the MC. The dude is childish, good for nothing drunkard that thinks he is funny and charming. Nope. Peace out.
Profile Image for TB.Rem.
7 reviews1 follower
July 30, 2022
So 2 stars because I didnt like the book but I'm giving it a bit of leeway due to the fact that I didnt know Harem was a genre outside of Anime when I first bought this and since I dont like Harem shows or stories in general I dont wanna judge it based on that specifically.
That being said I really did dislike the flow of the story. It seemed like at every corner the characters libido was ALL that mattered even in life or death situations.
A friend is being attacked the MC is like "Damn I wanna fuck her."
We're doing a stealth mission:
"Well this random chick wants to grind against my cock for no reason."

The tone of the story is really inconsistent, it tries to take itself seriously but the constant need to interject sexuality into literally every moment of every scene really takes me out of the more intense moments.
And like from research I guess Haremlit is supposed to be erotica but at the same time I have seen things saying it's not so I'm not sure.

Regardless I do think outside of that the story is poorly executed in alot of ways

Instaromance
It's hard to get a feel for the setting due to poor descriptions
At no point is there a sense of urgency when characters are in danger

There is alot more honestly

On the plus side I did REALLY LOVE the MCs character journey from being a useless drunk to loving life again and I like the world building alot, and how the cultures differ in a noticable way.
Profile Image for Steve.
1,658 reviews67 followers
October 17, 2020
This one had a rough start, with the MC wallowing in misery and drunken incompetence, which nearly led to me giving up on it very early on.

Fortunately that was merely the start state to get the story where it was going, and I found the rest of it quite engaging. I found myself caring what happened to these characters, and if you can do that in a well-written story I'll stick with it. Probably a 4.5 as it wasn't quite great, but the rounding up is justified based on my engagement with the story.
147 reviews2 followers
December 28, 2025
A Solid, Stormy Entry into Fantasy Romance (3.5/5 Stars)

Looking for a fantasy romance with a lightning-charged enemies-to-lovers vibe and a protagonist who just wants to be left alone? Storm Unbound, the first book in Leo Hull's Fallen Power series, might be the next addition to your TBR pile. This book introduces us to a world where certain individuals are born with volatile, magical "Gifts" that mark them as outcasts—or weapons. Our heroine finds her quiet life shattered when her own dangerous power surges, drawing the attention of a relentless, storm-wielding enforcer from a powerful, shadowy order. It's a familiar but fun recipe of forced proximity, hidden identities, and simmering tension that delivers a satisfying, if not wholly original, read.

Key Themes
The Burden of Power: The core conflict revolves around a magical Gift that feels more like a curse. The story explores the loneliness and fear of being different in a world that seeks to control or destroy what it doesn't understand. The protagonist's journey is less about embracing glorious power and more about managing a terrifying part of herself she’s been taught to hide.

Control vs. Freedom: This is mirrored in the central relationship. The male lead represents an order that demands control and obedience, while the heroine embodies a wild, untamed power that refuses to be caged. Their dynamic is a constant push-pull between institutional authority and personal autonomy.

Found Family vs. Blood Ties: Thrust into a dangerous new world, the heroine must grapple with who to trust. The narrative questions whether safety lies with the mysterious order that pursues her or with forging new bonds with other outcasts who understand her plight.

Character Analysis
The story hinges on the two leads. Our heroine is compelling in her resilience and relatable in her desire for a normal life. Her development is a slow burn from fearful avoidance toward a tentative acceptance of her strength, though some readers might wish for a quicker embrace of her agency.

The enforcer/love interest fits the archetype of the stern, duty-bound warrior whose worldview is upended. His growth involves learning to question the rigid doctrines of his order and see the person behind the power he's been sent to control. Their chemistry is built on a foundation of friction and reluctant respect, which makes their evolving connection believable.

Supporting characters, including potential allies and unambiguous villains, are sketched clearly to serve the plot, leaving room for deeper exploration in future series installments.

Writing Style & Pacing
Hull's prose is straightforward and functional, focusing on dialogue and action to keep the story moving. The magic system, particularly the storm-based powers, is visually engaging and well-integrated into fight scenes. The tone balances moments of real peril with the growing tension of the central romance.

The pacing is the book's main point of contention. The first act effectively establishes the stakes and the heroine's predicament. However, the middle section can feel like a repetitive cycle of capture, escape, and tense conversation as the characters are literally and figuratively storm-tossed together. The plot gains solid momentum in the final act, leading to a climax that resolves the immediate threat while clearly setting the stage for a larger series-wide conflict.

What I Liked/Disliked
Liked:

The Core Concept: The idea of a dangerous, involuntary magical power is always intriguing, and the storm/lightning aesthetic is executed well.

Enemies-to-Lovers Execution: The central romance develops with a good amount of friction and believable hesitation, avoiding insta-love.

Strong Ending: The finale provides a good payoff and effectively hooks you for the next book with revealed conspiracies and heightened personal stakes.

Disliked:

Predictable Beats: The plot follows a well-trodden path in the genre. From the brooding captor to the hidden rebel safe havens, few elements will surprise seasoned fantasy romance readers.

Pacing Hiccups: The cyclical nature of the journey in the book's middle can slow the narrative drive, making parts feel like extended setup.

World-Building on the Surface: The broader politics of the orders and the origins of the Gifts are hinted at but not deeply explored, prioritizing the character drama over intricate lore.

Conclusion & Recommendation
Final Verdict: 3.5 out of 5 stars, rounded up for a strong finish and series potential. Storm Unbound is a capable debut that delivers on its core promises of magic, conflict, and romantic tension.

You should read this book if: You're a fan of fantasy romance with empowered heroines and brooding enforcer types. It's perfect for readers who enjoy authors like Sarah J. Maas or Jennifer L. Armentrout and are looking for a new series to start that focuses on character dynamics within a magical, conflict-ridden world.

You might want to skip it if: You're looking for extremely intricate world-building or a completely subversive take on genre tropes. This is a comforting and engaging execution of familiar ideas, not a groundbreaking reinvention.

Think of it as a reliable series starter: it establishes an appealing conflict, a couple you want to root for, and a world with room to grow. If you finish it wanting to know what happens next, then it's done its job.
Profile Image for James .
1,348 reviews20 followers
September 16, 2020
This was a surprisingly good read.

I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would. I really liked the MC and the secondary characters are interesting and the fleshing out of their backstory was good. The pacing was good and I enjoyed how the author worked to develop the plot and suck me into the story. Overall I enjoyed it a great deal.
40 reviews
October 29, 2021
MC is an emasculated wimp...

I really wanted to like this book. All the female characters were great. The main character was a hand wringing neurotic that didn't deserve them. I made it 60% and had to give it up.
Profile Image for Curtis.
776 reviews20 followers
January 3, 2021
Good Characters, Plot, World

This first book swiftly (and deftly) introduces you to the characters and their issues, then adds mysteries, action and “action” to that. Then it proceeds to nicely toss in a super-plot that promises some amazing things. Nicely done. It’s an action-harem to be sure, but different from similar stories. It (at least this first book) leans more on characters and story than it does the sex, which I applaud. This could be a good series. I’m heading for book two. If you’re a fan of the genre, or of fantasy in general, give it a go. Recommended (17+)
Profile Image for tester.
558 reviews5 followers
September 27, 2023
It’s mainly someone getting confused horny with magic brainwashing. The characters are contradictions, Lydia should have been told to kick rocks, she obviously was only in things for herself. The interest from the mc feels really forced. The author tried to go for a redeemable character, but you can’t toss out a bad first impression and chapters of crappy behavior with one throw away sentence and a few tears. Both characters already had mutual relationships already, so I don’t know why the author was so focused on making them work. Two for one...Cheap way to grow the “harem”.

Personally want to give it 1-2. Rationally it's a 3.
697 reviews11 followers
April 22, 2023
Interesting concept

At first I didnt care much about a ner-do-well drunk, but as the story developed it became more engaging. There is lots of action and romance. I especially like the characters of Nessa and Lydia, wheras the MC Tristan is really out of his depth and needs significant help navigating life and the new world he's been thrown into.

I was unimpressed with the world building because there isn't enough back
to additional tech and knowledge, but seem to be influential, but nefarious.
85 reviews1 follower
November 11, 2020
Example of the best in the HaremLit genre

What I love about this book is that all the characters evolve as they experience the trials and wins that occur during the story. That not every fight is won and the MC only succeeds with help from others. I like that it took the whole book for the team to come together, showing pacing and building out the world the characters live in. I will be buying the second book as soon as it comes out!
9 reviews
December 14, 2020
Exploring the world with Mc...

And companions. This is one book of what is planned to be at least 4 or 5 and it is a brilliant start. The world is an interesting one, full of intrigue and relics that grant peoples powers. The Mc Tristan is introduced to a whole new world, coming from a place where there is only one power without knowledge of the others. A great read if you have the time.
Profile Image for Lawrence James.
90 reviews1 follower
December 23, 2022
Very enjoyable story when you get past the MC starting off a drunk but becomes so much more

I started to stop reading after the first few chapters the MC was unbearable. I can't stand drunks and morons who pay for sex. The MC is a loser at first but a change of circumstance changes him and he becomes a hero. Definitely worth a read and fighting through the fist bit because the MC is hard to take.
35 reviews
October 9, 2020
Very good story line and characters..

Enjoyed the new direction of this book. Would liked a little background on the fallen and the powers and the overall description of the Fallen vessel, also the Horizon ...Would have led to a 5 star..Explain the Bolstered powers..can't wait for book 2, hopefully this is not a one of due to lack of reviews...
47 reviews1 follower
September 11, 2022
This is a really good interesting sci-fi story, with an original setting, quite richly defined and emerging in more detail through the series.

I see a handful of bad reviews here complaining that the hero is terrible. The start of the book is the weakest part, but it is worth carrying on -- he changes completely quite early on, and there are reasons which emerge through this book and the series.

If there are criticisms: the sex is a bit much. I know that's what a lot of people read it for, but personally I would like a little less and a little more delicacy. The antagonist characters are a bit shallow, though the main character and his harem are much more well-drawn.
209 reviews2 followers
September 8, 2020
Weak, lazy, fat MC

The 1st 3 chapters describe a weak, lazy, and fat man character. Guess what, he stays weak for 28 more chapters. The bulk of the book is him spending weeks trying to get back his kidnapped girlfriends while thinking about brothels. Lazy people stay lazy.
1,514 reviews16 followers
September 8, 2020
Great first book!!

A truly engaging enjoyable and entertaining story!! The characters and their interaction is first rate!! You can't go wrong with this adult fantasy adventure!!! More please
203 reviews
October 4, 2020
Great start to new series

Enjoyed the MC’s development. He has issues he is working through and cars for those around him. The harem premise is interesting and works with the story without being over the top. Definitely reading the sequel!
157 reviews2 followers
October 5, 2020
Neat take on magic

Well thought out story with good pacing. I liked that the hero seems quite flawed initially. The back story looks to be quite complicated but definitely thought out. Looking forward to the next book.
192 reviews1 follower
December 27, 2020
I was very surprised...

The quality of this novel, the pacing, plot and characters, where much better then I expected. It was similar to Wild Wastes in quality. Which means it was excellent!

I will definitely be continuing the series!
Profile Image for Joshua Kurtz.
447 reviews6 followers
January 1, 2021
Enjoyed this book. Tristan starts out as a loser type,but gets his head on straight pretty fast. There’s a lot of action and the opponents are easy to dislike. Tristans character build is worth waiting for. I’m looking forward to more of this series
Profile Image for Ernest Chamberlain  II.
30 reviews1 follower
January 4, 2021
Wonderful

As with most I read this type of book for the romp that they are. But in this book I found a story line that I would enjoy with just fade to blacks instead of details. If that isn't a good recommendation I don't know what is.
248 reviews
January 23, 2021
Great Read!

This book was a blast to read! The characters are interesting, each with their own backstories and goals. The mysteries surrounding Gifts had a way of pulling you in and making you want to know more.
Profile Image for CORY JERVIS.
11 reviews
August 18, 2021
ONE OF THE BEST OF IT'S KIND

Has everything you expect from a harem story, but also the well illustrated growth of the protagonist is maybe the best part of the whole thing can't wait to find more from the series.
21 reviews
September 16, 2020
Fantastic

Bring new and different powers to play in this book had me ingrossed from the first page, only sad point is I finished it in a day. Looking forward to the next book
128 reviews3 followers
September 25, 2020
Wonderful group of characters

Love the whole group makeup and how they counter each other weaknesses and I have a feeling the gang will grow even more by next book.
Profile Image for SaKen .
340 reviews
October 9, 2020
Not bad

Pretty good story.The characters were written well and defined.I love a good villain.And this book delivered well on that aspect.
586 reviews7 followers
October 17, 2020
Fun start

This is a good book. You shouldy read it. I like the story. The characters are fun. The book is a good read. i enjoyed it alot.. Download or buy it today. why not?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews