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Destroyers #1
Tempest
Book 1 of the Destroyers Series Sixteen-year-old Janelle never thought the gray spiral birthmark on her arm meant anything special. That is, until she meets Gary, a boy her age with a birthmark exactly like hers. Gary's attractive, brooding, and perfectly normal...except for the fact that he materialized out of a dangerous hurricane right in front of her. Janelle's certain of only one thing. Gary's mark-and hers, too-mean something, but he's reluctant to tell her what. At last she squeezes the truth from Gary about their markings. And the truth is utterly terrifying: Janelle and Gary are more connected to the destructive power of nature than she ever dreamed possible. And learning the truth about herself is only the start of her nightmare.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 7, 2010
115 people are currently reading
3200 people want to read
About the author
Holly Hook
152 books252 followersHolly Hook is the author of the Destroyers Series, which consists of five young adult books about teens who are walking disasters...literally. She is also the author of the Rita Morse series, a young adult fantasy series still in progress, and After These Messages, a short ya comedy. Currently she is writing Twisted, a spin-off of the Destroyers Series due out in December. When not writing, she enjoys reading books for teens, especially ya fantasy and paranormal series with a unique twist.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
October 7, 2013
"Tempest" was an okay story, but i found some parts really predictable.
The issue with the phone was the most predictable thing in the book. The moment Janelle lost it, i knew exactly what would happen. It was so obvious.
The main character, Janelle, really annoyed me.
She changed her mind so often, it went past ridiculous, and it drove me crazy.
One minute, she hated her dad. The next, she'd understand. Then she went back to hating him again.
The only character that stood out to me, was Andrina.
She was absolutely ruthless. She went after what she wanted, and she didn't care who she hurt or used in the process.
She was a nasty piece of work, but she was the only character that wasn't really dull.
The issue with the phone was the most predictable thing in the book. The moment Janelle lost it, i knew exactly what would happen. It was so obvious.
The main character, Janelle, really annoyed me.
She changed her mind so often, it went past ridiculous, and it drove me crazy.
One minute, she hated her dad. The next, she'd understand. Then she went back to hating him again.
The only character that stood out to me, was Andrina.
She was absolutely ruthless. She went after what she wanted, and she didn't care who she hurt or used in the process.
She was a nasty piece of work, but she was the only character that wasn't really dull.
October 26, 2013
A fantastic story! Holly Hook has managed to take a simple idea and turn it into an action packed paranormal book. By diving straight into the drama the author grabbed my attention. The author kept the fast pace of the book from start to finish and left the reader sitting on the edge of their seat. This is a very unique and creative novel. I believe the author has done a brilliant job of keeping the readers attention throughout the book by creating a fantastic and original plot.
Janelle is a normal 16 year old girl until she moves to Florida with her dad. She starts to realise something isn't normal about her life when her dad starts acting strange and a boy appears straight from the middle of a hurricane has the same weird birth mark as her. The reader feels for Janelle's frustration when no one will give her the answers she is desperately looking for. Holly Hook has managed to create a very unique idea by taking something simple and real and turning it into a great YA book. The idea of people shifting into hurricanes is incredibly original. I especially like the way the author dealt with the naming list and also Janelle's reaction to her discovery. If janelle had been calm about the news and willing I believe it would not have fit in with her character . However Holly Hook managed Janelle's reaction wonderfully in my opinion her determination not to kill anyone fits in with her personality and actions. This book is full if twists and turns which keeps the reader on the edge of their seats.
Janelle is a normal girl until she discovers she could kill hundreds if she simply goes for a swim in the ocean. She misses her friends like any other teenager and can't understand why her dad won't answer her questions. I liked Janelle as a character she has a strong sense of right and wrong. There is an undercurrent of feelings between Janelle and Gary but this does not come to anything in this book as the story is centred around Janelle and not her love life.
Overall I enjoyed this book even though it was a bit slow the first few chapters. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Holly Hook is a fantastic author and I would definitely recommend this book.
Janelle is a normal 16 year old girl until she moves to Florida with her dad. She starts to realise something isn't normal about her life when her dad starts acting strange and a boy appears straight from the middle of a hurricane has the same weird birth mark as her. The reader feels for Janelle's frustration when no one will give her the answers she is desperately looking for. Holly Hook has managed to create a very unique idea by taking something simple and real and turning it into a great YA book. The idea of people shifting into hurricanes is incredibly original. I especially like the way the author dealt with the naming list and also Janelle's reaction to her discovery. If janelle had been calm about the news and willing I believe it would not have fit in with her character . However Holly Hook managed Janelle's reaction wonderfully in my opinion her determination not to kill anyone fits in with her personality and actions. This book is full if twists and turns which keeps the reader on the edge of their seats.
Janelle is a normal girl until she discovers she could kill hundreds if she simply goes for a swim in the ocean. She misses her friends like any other teenager and can't understand why her dad won't answer her questions. I liked Janelle as a character she has a strong sense of right and wrong. There is an undercurrent of feelings between Janelle and Gary but this does not come to anything in this book as the story is centred around Janelle and not her love life.
Overall I enjoyed this book even though it was a bit slow the first few chapters. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Holly Hook is a fantastic author and I would definitely recommend this book.
December 4, 2013
What to say, what to say. This book was alright, when it wasn't "fall asleep boring" it was "so much damn action gotta read twice." Anyway the story line was good but it was to much, like bread butter bread butter bread butter bread .... you get my point, had no juice goodness inside it just kept repeating the same bland flavoring. Let me tell yea, real old real fast. Now there is going to be some spoilers so please if you don't want to read the book in the next paragraph then don't read!!!
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August 10, 2011
Tempest is the story of Janelle, a teenage girl who discovers she is in fact, a hurricane. Janelle was a difficult character to like. I understand that she was frightened by her situation, but to me, she came off as incredibly selfish. If she would have just taken in all the facts and made a decision based on them, she could have avoided the majority of her problems. I just felt like it took her too long to just accept her life for what it is. Instead she runs around for more than half the book, avoiding the help that people are giving her.
I did enjoy the fact that the romance between Janelle and Gary was slow moving. They certainly have a connection, but at this point, that’s all it really is. The two hurricanes did not have time for a romance – they were much more concerned with saving themselves and the world. I feel like if the relationship were more developed, it would have felt forced and out of place.
In my opinion, Tempest is targeted towards pre-teens and younger teens. The storyline was incredibly over the top and grandiose. In a sense, it reminded me of the overall feel of Percy Jackson. I am not saying I did not enjoy Tempest, because I did. I just feel like the older audiences will have a harder time accepting the string of events (and reasons behind them), than a younger audience. There were a couple of instances when I was reading Tempest that I had to take a huge leap of faith with where the storyline was progressing; I caught myself thinking “that is incredibly unlikely” or “that doesn’t make any sense”. I simply had to sit back and think, is this book written for you? Would you have thought it made sense at 12? Once I did that, I was able to sit back and enjoy Tempest for what it was – an exciting and extravagant adventure story.
The same thinking can be applied to the villain of the story, Andrina. To me, she was not fleshed out and was rather one dimensional. But again, if you digress back to the state of a 12 year old, I am sure you will love her. I know I certainly didn’t care if my villains were fleshed out then. I just wanted them to be evil and for them to loose in the end.
Unfortunately, I think it is difficult for some people to look at a book like this. They cannot read as a younger self; they cannot accept it for what it is. If you read Tempest wanting a young-adult paranormal romance with tons of character development, a sensible plot and fleshed out villains, then I can tell you right now, you are not going to like it. But if you can go into it as a pre-teen and simply enjoy the ride, you will find it rather entertaining. Tempest certainly isn’t my favorite book of all time, but I did enjoy it.
I did enjoy the fact that the romance between Janelle and Gary was slow moving. They certainly have a connection, but at this point, that’s all it really is. The two hurricanes did not have time for a romance – they were much more concerned with saving themselves and the world. I feel like if the relationship were more developed, it would have felt forced and out of place.
In my opinion, Tempest is targeted towards pre-teens and younger teens. The storyline was incredibly over the top and grandiose. In a sense, it reminded me of the overall feel of Percy Jackson. I am not saying I did not enjoy Tempest, because I did. I just feel like the older audiences will have a harder time accepting the string of events (and reasons behind them), than a younger audience. There were a couple of instances when I was reading Tempest that I had to take a huge leap of faith with where the storyline was progressing; I caught myself thinking “that is incredibly unlikely” or “that doesn’t make any sense”. I simply had to sit back and think, is this book written for you? Would you have thought it made sense at 12? Once I did that, I was able to sit back and enjoy Tempest for what it was – an exciting and extravagant adventure story.
The same thinking can be applied to the villain of the story, Andrina. To me, she was not fleshed out and was rather one dimensional. But again, if you digress back to the state of a 12 year old, I am sure you will love her. I know I certainly didn’t care if my villains were fleshed out then. I just wanted them to be evil and for them to loose in the end.
Unfortunately, I think it is difficult for some people to look at a book like this. They cannot read as a younger self; they cannot accept it for what it is. If you read Tempest wanting a young-adult paranormal romance with tons of character development, a sensible plot and fleshed out villains, then I can tell you right now, you are not going to like it. But if you can go into it as a pre-teen and simply enjoy the ride, you will find it rather entertaining. Tempest certainly isn’t my favorite book of all time, but I did enjoy it.
December 31, 2012
I found this while looking for Shakespeare's "The Tempest" online, but the plot seemed interesting so I decided to go for it. A definite good decision! The book was a bit slow to pick up the pace, but once it did, it was FASTPACED. Janelle, the main character, does everything a teenager would do when faced with such difficult circumstances. While many of the books I read have a "love triangle" type of plot, this one definitely doesn't! It's all action, and the fact that Janelle obviously likes Gary is just on the side. She doesn't have time for love during her mad dash attempt to escape her destiny!
Gary tells her the truth about who she is--a Tempest, basically a human hurricane--and that she must turn into one when her time comes. The time has come but Janelle adamantly refuses to throw herself into the ocean and become a hurricane. This results in her running away from her father, being caught by the Tempest High Leader, Andrina, and attempting to escape.
Through it all, Janelle is centre-stage as our heroine, drawing on her circumstances to build herself up as a character. As I mentioned, Gary is just an aside, a love interest to add to the story. The story is totally centred on the main plot, as it should be. The fight between the Tempest Law and Janelle, her unwant to become a killer.
It kept me riveted from when Janelle met Gary to the end, which I'm not going to spoil for anyone reading this. This book is a great read, and I'd really recommend it to anyone.
Gary tells her the truth about who she is--a Tempest, basically a human hurricane--and that she must turn into one when her time comes. The time has come but Janelle adamantly refuses to throw herself into the ocean and become a hurricane. This results in her running away from her father, being caught by the Tempest High Leader, Andrina, and attempting to escape.
Through it all, Janelle is centre-stage as our heroine, drawing on her circumstances to build herself up as a character. As I mentioned, Gary is just an aside, a love interest to add to the story. The story is totally centred on the main plot, as it should be. The fight between the Tempest Law and Janelle, her unwant to become a killer.
It kept me riveted from when Janelle met Gary to the end, which I'm not going to spoil for anyone reading this. This book is a great read, and I'd really recommend it to anyone.
December 21, 2010
I’m on the fence about whether I should give this book 3 or 4 stars. This story is very original. It can be enjoyed by all ages (as long as you don’t mind your kids reading a couple of swear words). However that last plus is also a minus; it seems that the author could not decide the main audience of this book. It is written from the first person perspective of Janelle, an intelligent 16 year old girl, but Janelle’s thoughts seem more like that of a girl that is 12 or so. Even if she led somewhat of a sheltered life, I think an intelligent 16 year old would have thoughts that were a bit more mature. So it seems like this book is great for tweens as they could more relate to the main character, but then there are the few (unnecessary, in my opinion) swear words that most people don’t want their tweens reading, which, when combined with the protagonist’s age, make the book seem aimed at older teens. It also seems quite predictable to me, but perhaps a younger reader would not see it as such.
All in all it is a great book for a younger reader that is okay with a couple of swear words or an older reader that wants a quick read.
All in all it is a great book for a younger reader that is okay with a couple of swear words or an older reader that wants a quick read.
October 26, 2020
People who turn into hurricanes? Sure, why not. It's a weird but interesting concept, but it just wasn't developed well enough for me to buy into the whole thing. On the whole, this was a frustrating read. Janelle spent at least 80% of the book just being pushed around and controlled by pretty much everyone around her. That girl just had no agency at all, except for one brief, predictable moment near the end. Maybe I just really need to lay off all these indie YA paranormal freebies.
March 6, 2017
Holy wow. This was definitely one of the most unique books I've ever read. I loved it! Definitely provides a unique twist on how to perceive hurricanes...and I like the supernatural elements: hurricanes are definitely nowhere as overdone as vampires or werewolves!
July 25, 2011
Vampires? So five years ago. Werewolves? Way overdone. Hurricanes? Yes.
Tempest's are humans that turn into hurricanes when they touch sea water. How crazy is that? Hurricanes are dangerous, and often deadly, so you can see where that doesn't sit well with our main character Janelle. At first, she has no idea what's wrong with her. All she knows is that she's caught in the middle of Hurricane Gary, and that her dad is acting strangely, infuriatingly calm. Then, Janelle sees a boy her age appear from the middle of a tornado... and he has a swirl-shaped birthmark just like her. She has to get answers from him, but when she tries, she's only left with more questions. To add to it all, the name of the boy who appeared out of Hurricane Gary is... Gary. Soon, Janelle finds herself running away from everyone, including her own father, to try and avoid the inevitable: her transformation into the most powerful hurricane in history. Only problem is that she's being followed by a woman that wants to exploit her power to use it for mass destruction.
I liked Janelle, she was tough and determined, even when she was faced with life-threatening danger, and she thought she couldn't trust anyone, not even her own dad. I was a bit annoyed with her, though, on the whole dad thing, because she never gave him a chance to explain anything. She just ran away from him with Gary, who at this point had filled her in on what Tempests were and wanted to help her avoid killing people if she transformed. I felt that she at least could've given her dad a chance, but then the story would have gone a completely different way. By the end of the book, Janelle had come to terms with what she was, after fighting it for so long.
Janelle makes her journey with Gary, and throughout the novel, they grow steadily closer to each other. But, what I really loved is that they didn't immediately fall for each other. They didn't even kiss at all in the novel! They came really close once, but it didn't happen. I think they're a cute couple, and I can't wait to read how they're relationship progresses in the rest of the series. They need to kiss!
There was never a moment of boredom. The action just kept coming and coming, although towards the end, I felt like the build up to Janelle changing was drawn out a bit too long, and I found myself thinking "All right, bring on the hurricane already." But I really enjoyed reading Tempest, and I just downloaded the sequel Inferno on my Nook, so I'll be sure to read that as soon as possible. I give this novel 4 out of 5 stars.
Tempest's are humans that turn into hurricanes when they touch sea water. How crazy is that? Hurricanes are dangerous, and often deadly, so you can see where that doesn't sit well with our main character Janelle. At first, she has no idea what's wrong with her. All she knows is that she's caught in the middle of Hurricane Gary, and that her dad is acting strangely, infuriatingly calm. Then, Janelle sees a boy her age appear from the middle of a tornado... and he has a swirl-shaped birthmark just like her. She has to get answers from him, but when she tries, she's only left with more questions. To add to it all, the name of the boy who appeared out of Hurricane Gary is... Gary. Soon, Janelle finds herself running away from everyone, including her own father, to try and avoid the inevitable: her transformation into the most powerful hurricane in history. Only problem is that she's being followed by a woman that wants to exploit her power to use it for mass destruction.
I liked Janelle, she was tough and determined, even when she was faced with life-threatening danger, and she thought she couldn't trust anyone, not even her own dad. I was a bit annoyed with her, though, on the whole dad thing, because she never gave him a chance to explain anything. She just ran away from him with Gary, who at this point had filled her in on what Tempests were and wanted to help her avoid killing people if she transformed. I felt that she at least could've given her dad a chance, but then the story would have gone a completely different way. By the end of the book, Janelle had come to terms with what she was, after fighting it for so long.
Janelle makes her journey with Gary, and throughout the novel, they grow steadily closer to each other. But, what I really loved is that they didn't immediately fall for each other. They didn't even kiss at all in the novel! They came really close once, but it didn't happen. I think they're a cute couple, and I can't wait to read how they're relationship progresses in the rest of the series. They need to kiss!
There was never a moment of boredom. The action just kept coming and coming, although towards the end, I felt like the build up to Janelle changing was drawn out a bit too long, and I found myself thinking "All right, bring on the hurricane already." But I really enjoyed reading Tempest, and I just downloaded the sequel Inferno on my Nook, so I'll be sure to read that as soon as possible. I give this novel 4 out of 5 stars.
December 18, 2015
I shall try and write a decent review but I mistakenly didn't review this straight after I finished it so sadly I may miss things as I barely remember how I felt finishing this book.
So this book starts off as pretty good, its hard to pinpoint a real style that this author has to me, its pretty simply a supernatural sci-fi book. Its really focused on wind and I feel there may be some mythology introduced in this series but this book is clear of that for now.
So we first meet Janelle (ergh) in the middle of a hurricane, Hurricane Gary to be exact. Her dad is acting all weird and it sets the pace of the book really. Lots of secrets, lots of mystery and it is pretty fast pace, I was intrigued by this book as I haven't read the paranormal take on this before and so I was pretty much glued to how Holly Hook would take this seemingly normal thing of wind to something paranormal in a different way than before. Being a coastal town I was confused with why her parent would move her there, although this is sort of cleared up by deductive reasoning by myself later on... Janelle doesn't understand what is going on most of the time and although I appreciate the mystery, she is really annoying.
You're almost shown what Janelle can do in many points of the book, she is pretty terrified most of the time and I don't really like that. I wanted her to be better but she isn't.
End of this all, I didn't hate this book, I've read worse and I may carry on but I don't really care about Gary or Janelle. They're both pretty stupid and I felt the author didn't like them much either since Andrina has more to show than Janelle does.
So this book starts off as pretty good, its hard to pinpoint a real style that this author has to me, its pretty simply a supernatural sci-fi book. Its really focused on wind and I feel there may be some mythology introduced in this series but this book is clear of that for now.
So we first meet Janelle (ergh) in the middle of a hurricane, Hurricane Gary to be exact. Her dad is acting all weird and it sets the pace of the book really. Lots of secrets, lots of mystery and it is pretty fast pace, I was intrigued by this book as I haven't read the paranormal take on this before and so I was pretty much glued to how Holly Hook would take this seemingly normal thing of wind to something paranormal in a different way than before. Being a coastal town I was confused with why her parent would move her there, although this is sort of cleared up by deductive reasoning by myself later on... Janelle doesn't understand what is going on most of the time and although I appreciate the mystery, she is really annoying.
You're almost shown what Janelle can do in many points of the book, she is pretty terrified most of the time and I don't really like that. I wanted her to be better but she isn't.
End of this all, I didn't hate this book, I've read worse and I may carry on but I don't really care about Gary or Janelle. They're both pretty stupid and I felt the author didn't like them much either since Andrina has more to show than Janelle does.
September 19, 2011
This book was OK. I didn't hate it, but I definitely didn't heart it either. This was another of my .99 cent books I bought on a whim out of the Kindle store and I definitely got what I paid for. The book is about humans who turn into hurricanes and you've got your one moralistic human who tries to save the world, yadda yadda yadda. The thing that bothered me most about the book is that it just seemed too teenage. The book should not be young adult, but just young in general. The characters weren't that well developed and I really couldn't just get into the story like I do with some of my other books. I may be too hard on this book, but I fought to get through it, where as I'm usually a swift page turner and don't realize i'm at the end until the book is over. This book does have a sequel, and I seriously doubt i'll be reading that.
February 25, 2013
I loved this story! The whole storm shifter angle was new to me and a bit scary. Janelle and her dad just moved to Florida when a hurricane hits and her father starts acting really weird and doesn't think they need to go to a shelter. Janelle is flipping out scared like any "normal" person would be only poor Janelle doesn't find out until much later that she is in fact not normal at all and her world really gets turned upside down when Gary arrives on the scene wrapped up in a twister storm falling practically at her feet especially when she notices he bears the exact same birthmark as she does!
September 5, 2013
This didn't even deserve 1 star it bored me half to death and I seriously SKIPPED pages, it was horrible the authors writing was bad the characters had no emotion and personally I thought the protagonist was 1 whiny sook all she did was " I don't know who I am, Gary please tell me pretty please" and then when she finds out all she does is run away. This book didn't even engage me 1 tiny bit and if I had a time device I would go back in time and tell myself to not waste time reading this book.
May 3, 2016
You know how it is when you get a third of the way through a story and you start thinking, just shoot me now? Well, that is me and this novel. I gave it 2 stars because the idea is quite clever. Then comes the writing. If I were to take a stab in the dark, I'd say 80% of this book is dialogue. I'm sorry but Tha is a pedestrian attempt at writing. Thus made the characters one dimensional and the plot lack any depth.
October 7, 2012
didnt like that book.
the characters are really flat. the main character doesnt act her age, even after I've finished this book I still think she doesn't act like she's 16, sometimes i was really bothered by her naive way of thinking or acting.
couldn't connect to any of the characters or bring myself to feel symphatic. ugh...not my cup of tea.
the characters are really flat. the main character doesnt act her age, even after I've finished this book I still think she doesn't act like she's 16, sometimes i was really bothered by her naive way of thinking or acting.
couldn't connect to any of the characters or bring myself to feel symphatic. ugh...not my cup of tea.
February 12, 2011
The writing was a little rough but overall it was a nice unique concept. I would like to see where the author goes with the next one in the series.
April 13, 2011
Rating: 4 out of 5
There seems to be a growing trend in young adult fiction where the love story is the main crux of the plot. The main characters do grow in these instances, but their growth is charted by their feelings for the “other” in their lives. The hero or heroine therefore becomes defined by this other and fails to be a viable personality any longer. They turn into puppets on the strings of love and lust, and any real change they experience is nullified because the journey isn’t a personal one. Take the fictional example of Hannah and John. Hannah has no self-esteem. She meets John, who thinks she is a fantastic person. Hannah is now filled with pride and a sense of purpose – not because she has done anything do deserve this newfound confidence, but strictly because John says she should. It’s an artificial way to build character, the easy way out. And as it pertains to real life, it doesn’t last.
Because of this, I feel thankful any time a young adult book slides into my inbox that bucks this trend. Tempest, a wonderful slice of innovative fiction by Holly Hook, more than fits the criteria.
Tempest is the story of Janelle, a sixteen-year-old girl whose mother is long dead and whose father has recently moved them from Michigan to sunny Florida. Janelle is a brooding, generally unhappy youth. She misses her friends back home and suffers from a serious lack of communication between her father and her. She seems angry at the world, but in fact this is simply the result of being firmly tied to her convictions. Her outlook on right and wrong is solid in the usual teenage I-know-the-world-and-my-parents-don’t-see way, and she holds tight to these threads of morality like a barnacle clings to a rock.
At the beginning of the story, when a hurricane is plowing along the Florida coast, Janelle is dumbstruck by the fact her father seems wholly unconcerned. She cries out against him, asking why he should seem so cavalier in the face of impending danger, and yet her father offers her no explanation other than to say, “Trust me.” She is understandably flummoxed. His action (or lack thereof) only adds to her distrust, causing her to dive even further into the net of her own principles.
As the novel moves along, and be warned that there may be some **SPOILERS** here, Janelle comes to find out that she is descended from a long line of Tempests, which are basically human hurricanes. There is a list of names, and whenever a Tempest’s name comes up, it is their duty to jump into the ocean, become a swirling mass of destruction, and assist in the regenerative circle of life and death. In other words, these people of living forces of nature. When Janelle discovers this she is horrified – she cannot deal with the prospect of taking life and causing others hardship. So she does the only thing she can think to do – she runs away.
There is a very linear plot here. It surges forward in a straight line and doesn’t let up. We are introduced to the Tempest culture, which is pretty well thought out and quite original. Janelle meets Gary, a waifish kid of her own age and “special talent” who she naturally falls for. (Thankfully, this aspect of the story comes across naturally and is not a driving force.) We meet up with the Tempest leader, a wholly evil woman named Andrina, who has a plan for Janelle and might be much more to her than originally thought. There are attempts at mind control and unsavory plots unveiled, and everyone involved – Janelle, Gary, her father, and a whole host of other characters – must hurry to put things back in their natural order before Janelle’s time comes up.
This book deals with some very poignant issues, not the least of which is the danger of secrets. Is withholding the truth ever a good idea, especially when said truth would completely change one’s definition of themselves? When is it harmful? Do parents have a duty to their children to be completely forthright in disclosing information about their history? And, on a greater scale, would the world at large be ready and accepting if they were to find out that there’s a “different” group of people out there, folks with much more power than the normal human could ever experience?
There are no simple answers to these questions, and refreshingly, the author doesn’t try to answer them. Instead she puts the reader through scenario after scenario, showing how this lack of disclosure effect the characters at a personal level, and allows the reader to make up their own mind. This lack of pretension is a most welcomed tool for Hook to use, and allows her work to feel that much more accessible.
The other main thread that weaves through the plot is common to the genre – that of finding oneself. Thankfully, the device implied at the beginning of this review is not present here. Janelle grows on her own, makes her own mistakes, stays true to who she is, and grows naturally (or as natural as one who’s a living hurricane ever could.) Even when presented with the dire facts of her existence, she still goes through the proper channels – anger, distrust, sorrow, and finally acceptance. And it is with this acceptance that she truly shows her mettle, for Janelle is the only true hero in the entire story, the only individual that cherishes all life, even those that may wish to harm her. The others…not so much. The story goes to some surprisingly dark places and makes some very interesting observations about the human existence. One of the questions posed is one for the ages – is the life of one worth more than the life of many? There are righteous answers to both sides, and we see both here in full force.
With all these good things that went on this book, I still have one major complaint. Andrina, the big baddie in the tale, isn’t a well fleshed-out character. There were some attempts made at making her seem like a well-rounded creation, but they fell flat. She talks like a Scooby-Doo bad guy and comes across as more clownish than frightening. If the author had extended the book just a little bit, allowed us to see Andrina in a more vulnerable state, then perhaps this might be different. But as constructed, she’s a one-note character, and simply not up to the standards set by Janelle and her father.
Also, the writing is a bit off at times. The book is written in third person, but told from exclusively Janelle’s viewpoint. We’re so immersed in her that at times the story felt like it was being told in first, which threw me out of rhythm a bit. To my mind, it would have worked much better to either go the first-person route or limit the amount of character invasion into the text to italicized sections. Something that can definitely fixed later on.
And here’s where we get to the crux of the review. Later on. I say that not as if this book needs extensive editing – it so does not – but because I’d like to see this go on as a series. I’d love to see the author grow along with her characters, as she takes them on new adventures and throws new obstacles in their way. With the brilliant mythology Holly Hook invented, there is no limit to the storylines she could incorporate. Now, I’m not sure if this is going to be a series or not, mind you. But it should be.
In all, Tempest is a wonderfully brisk read full of angst and self-discovery. Most of the characters ring true and are decently realized. The innovations are fresh and invigorating. I would most certainly recommend this book to anyone, or to anyone’s teenagers. It’s a good start, and by the end we’re left with the feeling that things are just going to get better from here.
Plot - 9
Characters - 7
Voice - 7
Execution - 8
Personal Enjoyment – 9
Overall – 40/50 (4.0/5)
There seems to be a growing trend in young adult fiction where the love story is the main crux of the plot. The main characters do grow in these instances, but their growth is charted by their feelings for the “other” in their lives. The hero or heroine therefore becomes defined by this other and fails to be a viable personality any longer. They turn into puppets on the strings of love and lust, and any real change they experience is nullified because the journey isn’t a personal one. Take the fictional example of Hannah and John. Hannah has no self-esteem. She meets John, who thinks she is a fantastic person. Hannah is now filled with pride and a sense of purpose – not because she has done anything do deserve this newfound confidence, but strictly because John says she should. It’s an artificial way to build character, the easy way out. And as it pertains to real life, it doesn’t last.
Because of this, I feel thankful any time a young adult book slides into my inbox that bucks this trend. Tempest, a wonderful slice of innovative fiction by Holly Hook, more than fits the criteria.
Tempest is the story of Janelle, a sixteen-year-old girl whose mother is long dead and whose father has recently moved them from Michigan to sunny Florida. Janelle is a brooding, generally unhappy youth. She misses her friends back home and suffers from a serious lack of communication between her father and her. She seems angry at the world, but in fact this is simply the result of being firmly tied to her convictions. Her outlook on right and wrong is solid in the usual teenage I-know-the-world-and-my-parents-don’t-see way, and she holds tight to these threads of morality like a barnacle clings to a rock.
At the beginning of the story, when a hurricane is plowing along the Florida coast, Janelle is dumbstruck by the fact her father seems wholly unconcerned. She cries out against him, asking why he should seem so cavalier in the face of impending danger, and yet her father offers her no explanation other than to say, “Trust me.” She is understandably flummoxed. His action (or lack thereof) only adds to her distrust, causing her to dive even further into the net of her own principles.
As the novel moves along, and be warned that there may be some **SPOILERS** here, Janelle comes to find out that she is descended from a long line of Tempests, which are basically human hurricanes. There is a list of names, and whenever a Tempest’s name comes up, it is their duty to jump into the ocean, become a swirling mass of destruction, and assist in the regenerative circle of life and death. In other words, these people of living forces of nature. When Janelle discovers this she is horrified – she cannot deal with the prospect of taking life and causing others hardship. So she does the only thing she can think to do – she runs away.
There is a very linear plot here. It surges forward in a straight line and doesn’t let up. We are introduced to the Tempest culture, which is pretty well thought out and quite original. Janelle meets Gary, a waifish kid of her own age and “special talent” who she naturally falls for. (Thankfully, this aspect of the story comes across naturally and is not a driving force.) We meet up with the Tempest leader, a wholly evil woman named Andrina, who has a plan for Janelle and might be much more to her than originally thought. There are attempts at mind control and unsavory plots unveiled, and everyone involved – Janelle, Gary, her father, and a whole host of other characters – must hurry to put things back in their natural order before Janelle’s time comes up.
This book deals with some very poignant issues, not the least of which is the danger of secrets. Is withholding the truth ever a good idea, especially when said truth would completely change one’s definition of themselves? When is it harmful? Do parents have a duty to their children to be completely forthright in disclosing information about their history? And, on a greater scale, would the world at large be ready and accepting if they were to find out that there’s a “different” group of people out there, folks with much more power than the normal human could ever experience?
There are no simple answers to these questions, and refreshingly, the author doesn’t try to answer them. Instead she puts the reader through scenario after scenario, showing how this lack of disclosure effect the characters at a personal level, and allows the reader to make up their own mind. This lack of pretension is a most welcomed tool for Hook to use, and allows her work to feel that much more accessible.
The other main thread that weaves through the plot is common to the genre – that of finding oneself. Thankfully, the device implied at the beginning of this review is not present here. Janelle grows on her own, makes her own mistakes, stays true to who she is, and grows naturally (or as natural as one who’s a living hurricane ever could.) Even when presented with the dire facts of her existence, she still goes through the proper channels – anger, distrust, sorrow, and finally acceptance. And it is with this acceptance that she truly shows her mettle, for Janelle is the only true hero in the entire story, the only individual that cherishes all life, even those that may wish to harm her. The others…not so much. The story goes to some surprisingly dark places and makes some very interesting observations about the human existence. One of the questions posed is one for the ages – is the life of one worth more than the life of many? There are righteous answers to both sides, and we see both here in full force.
With all these good things that went on this book, I still have one major complaint. Andrina, the big baddie in the tale, isn’t a well fleshed-out character. There were some attempts made at making her seem like a well-rounded creation, but they fell flat. She talks like a Scooby-Doo bad guy and comes across as more clownish than frightening. If the author had extended the book just a little bit, allowed us to see Andrina in a more vulnerable state, then perhaps this might be different. But as constructed, she’s a one-note character, and simply not up to the standards set by Janelle and her father.
Also, the writing is a bit off at times. The book is written in third person, but told from exclusively Janelle’s viewpoint. We’re so immersed in her that at times the story felt like it was being told in first, which threw me out of rhythm a bit. To my mind, it would have worked much better to either go the first-person route or limit the amount of character invasion into the text to italicized sections. Something that can definitely fixed later on.
And here’s where we get to the crux of the review. Later on. I say that not as if this book needs extensive editing – it so does not – but because I’d like to see this go on as a series. I’d love to see the author grow along with her characters, as she takes them on new adventures and throws new obstacles in their way. With the brilliant mythology Holly Hook invented, there is no limit to the storylines she could incorporate. Now, I’m not sure if this is going to be a series or not, mind you. But it should be.
In all, Tempest is a wonderfully brisk read full of angst and self-discovery. Most of the characters ring true and are decently realized. The innovations are fresh and invigorating. I would most certainly recommend this book to anyone, or to anyone’s teenagers. It’s a good start, and by the end we’re left with the feeling that things are just going to get better from here.
Plot - 9
Characters - 7
Voice - 7
Execution - 8
Personal Enjoyment – 9
Overall – 40/50 (4.0/5)
November 22, 2011
review by Megsly
*Warning: possible spoilers ahead.*
So, after I finished Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs, I saw that this was right below it and was like, “What the hell, lets read some more tempesty goodness.” Sometimes, you shouldn’t judge a book on other’s with a similar name...
Tempest, by Holly Hook, still centers around the oceans and the turmoil within them, but it follows a totally different mythology. Actually, I’m kinda sad to say it follows any legitimate mythology, no matter how the author twisted it. The novel follows Janelle, a 15 year old midwestern girl who’s recently moved back to the place of her birth, Florida, at her father’s insistance. The opening scene is of the two of them taking shelter from within their house as a hurricane strikes. I should have known from the first pages that the book was a dud, but then again I was like, “Well, it’s hurricanes and I like hurricanes; just because the author writes a category two hurricane as being this giant monster that destroys towns and knocks down entire trees, and tears roofs off of cars and homes alike, doesn’t mean she’s completely ignorant about them...” (note: I've been through MANY hurricanes, and a category two will pretty much take down a limb or two, and dent your car in with some hail. Occasionally, you may lose some shingles or a window but that's about it.)
I was wrong.
But we’ll get to that later.
Anyways, Janelle’s rather psychopathic acting dad is all, “OMG OMG OMG THERE IS A HURRICANE! BEHOLD THE BEAUTY OF A STORM!” And as these massive wind gust destroy all the houses around them (as I said, a category two doesn’t do much damage unless your house is a bajillion years old and in bad shape. Janelle’s neighborhood? It’s pretty nice) her dad continues on sputtering nonsense about how they’re storm proof and she just needs to enjoy is and that the hurricane would never hurt them...Finally, cops come and Janelle leaps into their arms and begs them to take her to safety as their house shudders around them. Reluctantly, her less than stable father agrees to come as well, and they venture off into the horrifyingly bad storm (insert eye roll here) to find safety in a high school gym.
Then! In a movement of sheer heroism, Janelle rushes back out into the storm that terrified her only moments before, to save a small child who had rushed out into the now downgraded tropical storm to retrieve a toy from the car. And voila! We meet our hero, a scrawny kid named Gary who strangely enough gets dumped into the middle of the parkinglot by a water spout (I've never actually heard of a water spout making it as far inland as the author describes...considering that water spouts have to be over, well...water...to be called a water spout.)
Needless to say, I wasn’t impressed. And as I forced myself to read further, I became even less than impressed. Gary informs Janelle that she is a “Tempest”, and is essentially a hurricane and that if she ever fell into the ocean, she would spawn a hurricane of epic proportions. Well, immediately Janelle is all like, “I WOULD NEVER BE A HURRICANE.” And then some how, she’s splashed with water or Gary is splashed with water, or some such nonsense, and BAM! Instantaneous storm for 2.5 milliseconds. Come to find out, when a “Tempest” is born, their name is immediately logged on the hurricane name list (it’s a real thing, it’s kinda cool. You should research the hurricane name list and see when your name comes up, unfortunately, mine never will. Sigh.) and when a hurricane or tropical storm with their name approaches land, it's their turn to dive into the water to give it the necessary juice to make it a big storm. Note: This is another point in time where the author’s researching skills are obviously very lacking as the list of names for hurricanes is recycled every 6 years, they don’t add NEW names to the list unless a major hurricane hits and that name is retired. That doesn’t happen that often. There’s like...one or two major hurricanes world wide a year, and some years, there are none...so out of a list of 26 names per year, on average only one is removed every year...so...yeah...).
Getting back on track, apparently, recently Gary’s name appeared in conjunction with a small tropical storm, and therefore his guardian had dumped him into the ocean, spawning a Category 2 hurricane that killed like...9 people or something (category two killing 9 people in a community that goes through hurricanes every year? Highly doubtful. Seriously, my brain is trying to bleach itself of this book. Don’t judge me) and she was now after Janelle to do the same, because Janelle’s name was next on the hurricane list and it was her turn to wreak havoc and destruction. The villian in the book has no sound reasoning for being...well, a villian. She just spouts off the normal, “Humans hate hurricanes, so therefore we much kill them all and rule the lands.” (Odd enough, I wonder if the author ever considered that hurricanes can only happen on the coast lines...it’s hard to take over the world if you can only dominate the coasts.)
I have to be honest, and this is one of the few times I’ll be brutally so, because this book killed me to read. The characters have little to no development, they’re crudely written and for the most part, Janelle can’t decide whether or not she wants to give Gary her virginity, or if she wants to beat him with a stick. Which, keep in mind this is understandable for teenagers, BUT NOT WHEN THEY ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATIONS. Even horny teens don’t get all rambunctious and naughty when they think they’re going to die a horrible death in the next 5 minutes. The plot is just...ugh...it’s badly researched, it’s badly prepared, and has plot holes big enough to make one think a hurricane went right over the book while Hook was writing it. The writing itself is...okay. It’s nothing special, but it would pass a generic grammar and punctuation test. The best I can give this book? Your very, very, very young pre-teen or teenager might enjoy it, but that’s doubtful.
Below is my rating of Tempest by Holly Hook. These are reflective strictly of my opinion of the novels I’ve read and reviewed, and are not necessarily reflective of the other staff members of MVF.
-Story Elements (plot) – 3
-Character Development - 4
-Grammar & Punctuation - 6
-Prose – 5
-Paranormal Element - 4
Total Score: 4.4/10
(total score is derived from the average of the 5 individuals scores)
*Warning: possible spoilers ahead.*
So, after I finished Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs, I saw that this was right below it and was like, “What the hell, lets read some more tempesty goodness.” Sometimes, you shouldn’t judge a book on other’s with a similar name...
Tempest, by Holly Hook, still centers around the oceans and the turmoil within them, but it follows a totally different mythology. Actually, I’m kinda sad to say it follows any legitimate mythology, no matter how the author twisted it. The novel follows Janelle, a 15 year old midwestern girl who’s recently moved back to the place of her birth, Florida, at her father’s insistance. The opening scene is of the two of them taking shelter from within their house as a hurricane strikes. I should have known from the first pages that the book was a dud, but then again I was like, “Well, it’s hurricanes and I like hurricanes; just because the author writes a category two hurricane as being this giant monster that destroys towns and knocks down entire trees, and tears roofs off of cars and homes alike, doesn’t mean she’s completely ignorant about them...” (note: I've been through MANY hurricanes, and a category two will pretty much take down a limb or two, and dent your car in with some hail. Occasionally, you may lose some shingles or a window but that's about it.)
I was wrong.
But we’ll get to that later.
Anyways, Janelle’s rather psychopathic acting dad is all, “OMG OMG OMG THERE IS A HURRICANE! BEHOLD THE BEAUTY OF A STORM!” And as these massive wind gust destroy all the houses around them (as I said, a category two doesn’t do much damage unless your house is a bajillion years old and in bad shape. Janelle’s neighborhood? It’s pretty nice) her dad continues on sputtering nonsense about how they’re storm proof and she just needs to enjoy is and that the hurricane would never hurt them...Finally, cops come and Janelle leaps into their arms and begs them to take her to safety as their house shudders around them. Reluctantly, her less than stable father agrees to come as well, and they venture off into the horrifyingly bad storm (insert eye roll here) to find safety in a high school gym.
Then! In a movement of sheer heroism, Janelle rushes back out into the storm that terrified her only moments before, to save a small child who had rushed out into the now downgraded tropical storm to retrieve a toy from the car. And voila! We meet our hero, a scrawny kid named Gary who strangely enough gets dumped into the middle of the parkinglot by a water spout (I've never actually heard of a water spout making it as far inland as the author describes...considering that water spouts have to be over, well...water...to be called a water spout.)
Needless to say, I wasn’t impressed. And as I forced myself to read further, I became even less than impressed. Gary informs Janelle that she is a “Tempest”, and is essentially a hurricane and that if she ever fell into the ocean, she would spawn a hurricane of epic proportions. Well, immediately Janelle is all like, “I WOULD NEVER BE A HURRICANE.” And then some how, she’s splashed with water or Gary is splashed with water, or some such nonsense, and BAM! Instantaneous storm for 2.5 milliseconds. Come to find out, when a “Tempest” is born, their name is immediately logged on the hurricane name list (it’s a real thing, it’s kinda cool. You should research the hurricane name list and see when your name comes up, unfortunately, mine never will. Sigh.) and when a hurricane or tropical storm with their name approaches land, it's their turn to dive into the water to give it the necessary juice to make it a big storm. Note: This is another point in time where the author’s researching skills are obviously very lacking as the list of names for hurricanes is recycled every 6 years, they don’t add NEW names to the list unless a major hurricane hits and that name is retired. That doesn’t happen that often. There’s like...one or two major hurricanes world wide a year, and some years, there are none...so out of a list of 26 names per year, on average only one is removed every year...so...yeah...).
Getting back on track, apparently, recently Gary’s name appeared in conjunction with a small tropical storm, and therefore his guardian had dumped him into the ocean, spawning a Category 2 hurricane that killed like...9 people or something (category two killing 9 people in a community that goes through hurricanes every year? Highly doubtful. Seriously, my brain is trying to bleach itself of this book. Don’t judge me) and she was now after Janelle to do the same, because Janelle’s name was next on the hurricane list and it was her turn to wreak havoc and destruction. The villian in the book has no sound reasoning for being...well, a villian. She just spouts off the normal, “Humans hate hurricanes, so therefore we much kill them all and rule the lands.” (Odd enough, I wonder if the author ever considered that hurricanes can only happen on the coast lines...it’s hard to take over the world if you can only dominate the coasts.)
I have to be honest, and this is one of the few times I’ll be brutally so, because this book killed me to read. The characters have little to no development, they’re crudely written and for the most part, Janelle can’t decide whether or not she wants to give Gary her virginity, or if she wants to beat him with a stick. Which, keep in mind this is understandable for teenagers, BUT NOT WHEN THEY ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATIONS. Even horny teens don’t get all rambunctious and naughty when they think they’re going to die a horrible death in the next 5 minutes. The plot is just...ugh...it’s badly researched, it’s badly prepared, and has plot holes big enough to make one think a hurricane went right over the book while Hook was writing it. The writing itself is...okay. It’s nothing special, but it would pass a generic grammar and punctuation test. The best I can give this book? Your very, very, very young pre-teen or teenager might enjoy it, but that’s doubtful.
Below is my rating of Tempest by Holly Hook. These are reflective strictly of my opinion of the novels I’ve read and reviewed, and are not necessarily reflective of the other staff members of MVF.
-Story Elements (plot) – 3
-Character Development - 4
-Grammar & Punctuation - 6
-Prose – 5
-Paranormal Element - 4
Total Score: 4.4/10
(total score is derived from the average of the 5 individuals scores)
December 14, 2021
I'm going to keep this review short.
The beginning of this book was so hard to get through for me and I almost dnf'ed it. The main character, Janelle, had no backbone for most of the book and was pulled in every possible direction by everyone in this book at least once. I get that things were confusing and she was trying to figure out this new life, but this girl really didnt have a single braincell for herself until the last quarter of the book.
I was NOT planning on reading the next book but the last quarter of this book saved it and I may actually pick book 2 up. The last part of this book, Janelle finally takes matters into her own hands and defeated the big bad.
The plot of this book is actually pretty unique and I hadn't read anything like it so that is what attracted me to this. The way it was executed could have been better but after reading the end, it wasn't too bad.
The beginning of this book was so hard to get through for me and I almost dnf'ed it. The main character, Janelle, had no backbone for most of the book and was pulled in every possible direction by everyone in this book at least once. I get that things were confusing and she was trying to figure out this new life, but this girl really didnt have a single braincell for herself until the last quarter of the book.
I was NOT planning on reading the next book but the last quarter of this book saved it and I may actually pick book 2 up. The last part of this book, Janelle finally takes matters into her own hands and defeated the big bad.
The plot of this book is actually pretty unique and I hadn't read anything like it so that is what attracted me to this. The way it was executed could have been better but after reading the end, it wasn't too bad.
November 26, 2012
I promise to be brutally honest with my opinion, but it should not be taken as fact. Any reader should read it for themselves, before they decide if this book has any merit or not. Do not judge this book biased solely on my opinion. If you do, you might miss out on a great read. You never know. It could happen.
1. Strong Main Character/ Female Heroine: Janelle is a lost girl that is caught up in a life or life and death situation. She does not know who or what exactly she is, but she knows that something is not right. This novel highlights her journey in finding out about herself and what she truly is with the help of a teenaged boy named Gary, who she soon finds herself having feelings for. She pushes those feelings aside and they keep returning. Although if I were her, I would have kept those feelings away and focused more about the dangerous situation at hand. Janelle is indecisive and naïve. She believes that nothing bad can happen and this whole thing is a dream. She is not that believable of a main character and she is not much of a heroine. She does not even really save the day either. Other people have to risk their lives and even then, she is not the one to extinguish the evilness from the world. 2 out of 5 stars
2. Strong Minor Characters: Gary is the real hero of this story and I would have enjoyed it a lot better if it was from his point of view. There are so many unanswered questions about Gary’s treatment for all of those years and I am really interested in knowing those answers. He is the really rebellious one and tries to help Janelle. Even though he fails, he never gives up or loses hope. (Even when the narrator states that he does, I do not believe it. He always has a plan and he seems like a great actor to me.) His life remains a mystery to me and I would read the second book just to find out what happens to him next. The other characters in the story do not have a bigger role than Gary. They have lesser really unimportant ones. I am still confused with who is really the good guys in this book, because it seems like nothing is really black and white and maybe that is the point. If that is the point, then the author should really state that more clearly, instead of having the novel be one big goose chase with nothing really happening. The other characters were not fully developed and they lacked realism. 3 out of 5 stars
3. The Setting: Always a fun of new and exciting places, this book has it all. It has sunny Florida and a weird mysterious island. The places were very interesting and I like how some of the book took place in the middle of the ocean; however, none of the scenes and places were really vivid to me. They were not described in detail, where you could picture it in your mind. I mean, I got the basics down, but I could not really picture sinister places being dark and scary, when there was not a lot of details to go on to make that happen. 3 out of 5 stars
4. The Plot: The storyline is interesting with the hurricanes and it is unique. I have never read another paranormal novel like this before and maybe that is for a good reason. There are no real legends or mythology behind this tale or really any concrete facts that makes any sense. There is a lot of conflicting information in this novel like a category two hurricane being very destructive, when in reality it would not incur as much damage as the novel states. I also think that the whole taking over the world thing is far-fetched since they would only rule the coast lines. There would never be any real threat inland, so they would be like pirates doomed only to control the seas. Now that I think about it though, they would control all import and out port all over the world. Maybe it would not be as farfetched as I think or maybe people would actually come together and work off of the land they have. 3 out of 5 stars
5. The Artwork: The cover is breathtaking. It caught my eye to read this book and I believe that it is very misleading. You would think that this novel is very dark and brooding, but it is not. It is actually sort of light with little pinpricks of darkness that only ever really come out until the end. 4 out of 5 stars
6. The Writing: The author could use some development and maybe a mythology class or creative writing class or two or both. The writing is mediocre at best and seems very adolescent and more suited for preteens or children under the age of sixteen. It is not for true young adults aged seventeen and older, because it lacks depth and intrigue needed to keep that audience’s interest. Since I am still in the category for young adult myself, I am an expert on what I am talking about and also because I am majoring in English. This book screams debut to me and not in a good way. 2 out of 5 stars
7. The Dialogue: For some reason, the dialogue is very engaging to me and it is, among other aspects, why I kept reading the story. It is fresh and sharp with intriguing communication between everyone. I enjoy the miscommunications as well and I believe if the writing was as well as the dialogue, then this could have been a very well written and engaging novel. Too bad that it was not although I do believe that there is hope that the author will improve in the second installment. 4 out of 5 stars
Overall, I give this novel 3 stars. It was not the best that I have ever read, but it was by no means the worst. I am considering reading the second book, if and when it is ever available for free. There is no way that I would spend more than a buck on it, since I did not find the first book very good or was super ecstatic about it.
1. Strong Main Character/ Female Heroine: Janelle is a lost girl that is caught up in a life or life and death situation. She does not know who or what exactly she is, but she knows that something is not right. This novel highlights her journey in finding out about herself and what she truly is with the help of a teenaged boy named Gary, who she soon finds herself having feelings for. She pushes those feelings aside and they keep returning. Although if I were her, I would have kept those feelings away and focused more about the dangerous situation at hand. Janelle is indecisive and naïve. She believes that nothing bad can happen and this whole thing is a dream. She is not that believable of a main character and she is not much of a heroine. She does not even really save the day either. Other people have to risk their lives and even then, she is not the one to extinguish the evilness from the world. 2 out of 5 stars
2. Strong Minor Characters: Gary is the real hero of this story and I would have enjoyed it a lot better if it was from his point of view. There are so many unanswered questions about Gary’s treatment for all of those years and I am really interested in knowing those answers. He is the really rebellious one and tries to help Janelle. Even though he fails, he never gives up or loses hope. (Even when the narrator states that he does, I do not believe it. He always has a plan and he seems like a great actor to me.) His life remains a mystery to me and I would read the second book just to find out what happens to him next. The other characters in the story do not have a bigger role than Gary. They have lesser really unimportant ones. I am still confused with who is really the good guys in this book, because it seems like nothing is really black and white and maybe that is the point. If that is the point, then the author should really state that more clearly, instead of having the novel be one big goose chase with nothing really happening. The other characters were not fully developed and they lacked realism. 3 out of 5 stars
3. The Setting: Always a fun of new and exciting places, this book has it all. It has sunny Florida and a weird mysterious island. The places were very interesting and I like how some of the book took place in the middle of the ocean; however, none of the scenes and places were really vivid to me. They were not described in detail, where you could picture it in your mind. I mean, I got the basics down, but I could not really picture sinister places being dark and scary, when there was not a lot of details to go on to make that happen. 3 out of 5 stars
4. The Plot: The storyline is interesting with the hurricanes and it is unique. I have never read another paranormal novel like this before and maybe that is for a good reason. There are no real legends or mythology behind this tale or really any concrete facts that makes any sense. There is a lot of conflicting information in this novel like a category two hurricane being very destructive, when in reality it would not incur as much damage as the novel states. I also think that the whole taking over the world thing is far-fetched since they would only rule the coast lines. There would never be any real threat inland, so they would be like pirates doomed only to control the seas. Now that I think about it though, they would control all import and out port all over the world. Maybe it would not be as farfetched as I think or maybe people would actually come together and work off of the land they have. 3 out of 5 stars
5. The Artwork: The cover is breathtaking. It caught my eye to read this book and I believe that it is very misleading. You would think that this novel is very dark and brooding, but it is not. It is actually sort of light with little pinpricks of darkness that only ever really come out until the end. 4 out of 5 stars
6. The Writing: The author could use some development and maybe a mythology class or creative writing class or two or both. The writing is mediocre at best and seems very adolescent and more suited for preteens or children under the age of sixteen. It is not for true young adults aged seventeen and older, because it lacks depth and intrigue needed to keep that audience’s interest. Since I am still in the category for young adult myself, I am an expert on what I am talking about and also because I am majoring in English. This book screams debut to me and not in a good way. 2 out of 5 stars
7. The Dialogue: For some reason, the dialogue is very engaging to me and it is, among other aspects, why I kept reading the story. It is fresh and sharp with intriguing communication between everyone. I enjoy the miscommunications as well and I believe if the writing was as well as the dialogue, then this could have been a very well written and engaging novel. Too bad that it was not although I do believe that there is hope that the author will improve in the second installment. 4 out of 5 stars
Overall, I give this novel 3 stars. It was not the best that I have ever read, but it was by no means the worst. I am considering reading the second book, if and when it is ever available for free. There is no way that I would spend more than a buck on it, since I did not find the first book very good or was super ecstatic about it.
September 28, 2024
If you believe that it is not climate change causing hurricanes to grow immense then this story offers an alternate explanation. Whether you believe it or not depends upon how easily you are lead to disbelieve science but buy into fringe ideas. The author is selling a fantasy, but not all will see it that way.
Certainly a pleasant enough story to read, but with a truly evil person driving the story and controlling people that she should not have the power over. The story was longer than it needed to be to present the people at the depth the author went.
Certainly a pleasant enough story to read, but with a truly evil person driving the story and controlling people that she should not have the power over. The story was longer than it needed to be to present the people at the depth the author went.
December 1, 2020
Janelle always had this birthmark, she thought that she was the only one that had the birthmark. Janelle and her father moved to Florida and then hurricane Gary hit. After the storm she meets a boy in the school parking lot that has the same birthmark. Janelle has questions, but her father wont answer them so Gary will answer all her questions.
Good story. I think young- Adult readers will enjoy this book.
Good story. I think young- Adult readers will enjoy this book.
September 19, 2025
Hurricane? More Like Emotional Tornado.
I picked this up expecting teen drama and maybe a sprinkle of supernatural weirdness. What I got? A full-blown storm—literally. Janelle’s life goes from honor roll to hurricane-wrangling in record time, and I was hooked from the first gust of wind. The pacing is relentless, the mystery is juicy, and the whole “birthmark of doom” thing? Chef’s kiss. A strong start to a series that clearly has no chill—and I’m here for it.
I picked this up expecting teen drama and maybe a sprinkle of supernatural weirdness. What I got? A full-blown storm—literally. Janelle’s life goes from honor roll to hurricane-wrangling in record time, and I was hooked from the first gust of wind. The pacing is relentless, the mystery is juicy, and the whole “birthmark of doom” thing? Chef’s kiss. A strong start to a series that clearly has no chill—and I’m here for it.
September 28, 2025
Hurricane? More Like Emotional Tornado.
I picked this up expecting teen drama and maybe a sprinkle of supernatural weirdness. What I got? A full-blown storm—literally. Janelle’s life goes from honor roll to hurricane-wrangling in record time, and I was hooked from the first gust of wind. The pacing is relentless, the mystery is juicy, and the whole “birthmark of doom” thing? Chef’s kiss. A strong start to a series that clearly has no chill—and I’m here for it.
I picked this up expecting teen drama and maybe a sprinkle of supernatural weirdness. What I got? A full-blown storm—literally. Janelle’s life goes from honor roll to hurricane-wrangling in record time, and I was hooked from the first gust of wind. The pacing is relentless, the mystery is juicy, and the whole “birthmark of doom” thing? Chef’s kiss. A strong start to a series that clearly has no chill—and I’m here for it.
December 28, 2019
Interesting read
I enjoyed the premise of the story but I felt some of it was a little rushed. I would like to know more background on the tempest origin. Hopefully more will be in future stories.
I enjoyed the premise of the story but I felt some of it was a little rushed. I would like to know more background on the tempest origin. Hopefully more will be in future stories.
August 31, 2017
I had trouble getting into it. I didn't realize that it was a YA book when I started, but it was interesting enough that I finished it, but not enough that I would read a similar one.
April 23, 2018
I love this & I can't wait for more.
I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon.
And letting everyone know about it.
So i gave it a 5 Stars.
I will be also leaving a review on Goodreads @ Amazon.
And letting everyone know about it.
So i gave it a 5 Stars.
October 11, 2019
Very good
Tempest. So so good. Love the story and how Janelle learns about everything. Crazy way to Learn about who you and your family are. But really enjoyed it.
Tempest. So so good. Love the story and how Janelle learns about everything. Crazy way to Learn about who you and your family are. But really enjoyed it.
February 10, 2025
Very different in a great way. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
July 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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