Tempest's Fury (Jane True #5) Review

Tempest’s Fury (Jane True #5)

Nicole Peeler

Publisher: Orbit

 Jane's not happy. She's been packed off to England to fight in a war when she'd much rather be snogging Anyan. Unfortunately, Jane's enemies have been busy stirring up some major trouble -- the kind that attracts a lot of attention. In other words, they're not making it easy for Jane to get any alone time with the barghest, or to indulge in her penchant for stinky cheese. Praying she can pull of a Joan of Arc without the whole martyrdom thing, Jane must lead Alfar and halflings alike in a desperate battle to combat an ancient evil. Catapulted into the role of Most Unlikely Hero Ever, Jane also has to fight her own insecurities as well as the doubts of those who don't think she can live up to her new role as Champion. Along the way, Jane learns that some heroes are born. Some are made. And some are bribed with promises of food and sex.

Poor Jane! She just can’t catch a break. Ever since she discovered that her mother was a Selkie and she is a Halfling with some pretty impressive powers, Jane has been hunted, chased and intimidated by other supernatural powers. She never takes it lying down and has managed to carve out friends, powers and abilities of her own. Now she is expected to be the champion of right and unite the supernatural world as Morrigan and Jarl attempted to raise evil long thought defeated. But at least she has Anyan by her side…

Jane, Anyan and Blondie, one of the Originals leave Rockabill and head to London to tackle the growing threat and meet a variety of new supernaturals. I love the way Nicole Peeler has used London as a background to the struggle and woven in different areas of the UK. I loved Borough Market getting a high profile visit – it’s one of my favourite places in London and the amount of food on offer is always a fantastic outing for your tastebuds  - I raise some stinky cheese to Nicole for perfectly capturing the sights, sounds and tastes of the market. I also enjoyed the visits to Brighton, Paris, York and Whitby, with the atmosphere of each place being well captured. As a ‘local’ I love it when it feels like the UK has been portrayed correctly – nothing winds me up when someone misinterprets the environment or geography of somewhere I know!

The action is well paced with the plot gathering twists and turns as Jane and co race to prevent Morrigan raising an ancient evil. The fight scenes are tense and exciting while nicely balanced with character moments as Anyan and Jane figure out their new relationship – plus Jane’s libido and stomach have their say as always! One element I love with this series is how human Jane remains despite her growing powers and expanding world view. She worries about her Dad and her job and cares about protecting people who can’t protect themselves. Off many UF heroines I’ve read, Jane has remained grounded and human while still adapting to her new life and I just adore her for that.

This book moves the overall arc of the series forward significantly and rackets up the tension like never before. And that ending! Yes, there is a cliff-hanger that will leave you going “Noooo….” I feel almost lucky that I’ve been saving Tempest’s Fury for so long as it means that there’s not long to go before Tempest Reborn is out! Exciting, fun and a very relatable heroine makes this one of my favourite UF series - and I can’t wait to see how it turns out!

Recommended for fans of Patricia Briggs and Jaye Wells. 8.5 out of 10

Eye of the Tempest Review

Eye of the Tempest (Jane True 4)

-          Nicole Peeler

Publisher: UK – Orbit

Nothing says "home" like being attacked by humans with very large guns, as Jane and Anyan discover when they arrive in Rockabill. These are professionals, brought into kill, and they bring Anyan down before either Jane or the barghest can react. Seeing Anyan fall awakens a terrible power within Jane, and she nearly destroys herself taking out their attackers. Jane wakes, weeks later, to discover that she's not the only thing that's been stirring. Something underneath Rockabill is coming to life: something ancient, something powerful, and something that just might destroy the world. Jane and her friends must act, striking out on a quest that only Jane can finish. For whatever lurks beneath the Old Sow must be stopped...and Jane's just the halfling for the job.

I am a big fan of Jane True – I love the humour of these books as well as the different supernatural world Nicole Peeler has created. This world is secret from ours but fits and feels accessible while at the same time having a unique mythology and rules. Eye of the Tempest picks up where Tempest’s Legacy finishes with Jane and Anyan returning to Rockabill. This is the first book set entirely in Rockabill, but somehow manages to miss most of Jane’s day to day life with the focus very much on the supernatural mystery. Something powerful has been hidden in Rockabill and if the bad guys find it before Jane and Anyan, it could spell the end of Rockabill.

For me this was a book of two halves. The first half felt very dominated by Jane’s libido. While always vocal before, this time I couldn’t help feeling it ‘took over’ with Jane always thinking about sex – while not actually getting any! This detracted a little from the plot – especially as there was a lot going on and I wanted to focus on the threat and story rather than continually talking about peoples ‘packages’ or other word play. It was fun at first but I quickly tired of it.

The second half of the book totally raises the bar and changes everything. And I mean, everything – history, future, powers, positions in the supernatural world – it all changes. From the finding of the third lock to the last page I was just swept up in the action and the plot. Jane has changed so much since the first book as she learns to use her magic and how to fight for herself. With the introduction of Blondie and Jane’s two paramour’s taking a back seat in this story, it really does feel the start of a new series – a very different series than before. Previous Jane books have had more a mystery or detective feel to the plot, but that feels like it’s over with future stories set to be more epic and world changing. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Recommended for fans of Carrie Vaughn and Jeaniene Frost. 8 out of 10.

Tempest's Legacy Review

Tempest’s Legacy (Jane True 3)

-       Nicole Peeler

Publisher: UK - Orbit

After a peaceful hiatus at home in Rockabill, Jane True thinks that her worst problem is that she still throws like a girl - at least while throwing fireballs. Her peace of mind ends, however, when Anyan arrives one night with terrible news . . . news that will rock Jane's world to its very core. After demanding to help investigate a series of gruesome attacks on females -- supernatural, halfling, and human -- Jane quickly finds herself forced to confront her darkest nightmares as well as her deepest desires. And she's not sure which she finds more frightening.

I adore Jane True! She is a girl after my own heart. Jane has gone through a lot in the previous books – from finding out her mother was a Selkie which means she has supernatural powers to the idea that not all supernatural creatures like Halflings like herself. And it doesn’t stop there. Still torn between her sorta-former vampire beau, Ryu and her crush on the shape shifting Anyan, Jane is devastated to learn that someone is experimenting on female supernatural beings. She soon puts all she’s learnt in the last two books to good use as she swears to get to the bottom of things – and she’s not taking any crap from anyone!

A lot happens in this book – there is an investigation that allows us to explore new parts of the world – the borderlands which drops tantalising hints at another way for supernaturals to live. There is plenty of action with car chases, battles and some personal revelations. Jane has huge emotional journey, coming to terms with her mother’s abandonment at last. But despite the high emotions, there is still plenty of fun to be had  - and some romance.

I love far Jane has grown over the last two books. Here she firmly takes control of her own life and muscles in on a investigation, proving she can more than hold her own against those who keep thinking she’s weak. She is quickly proving to be one of my favourite Urban Fantasy heroines – she’s feisty, vulnerable, stubborn, sweet, funny and a lot of fun. I adore how Nicole Peeler’s created this unique world with different supernatural creatures to ‘normal’  with different rules and myths to anything that I’ve ever read before. And this world is real, fitting seamlessly with the everyday life with a history and some subtle hints at what is in store for us. With a game changing ending, I can’t wait to see what happens next to Jane – and Anyan! J

Recommended for fans of Rachel Vincent and Kelley Armstrong. 9 out of 10.

Audiobook: Tempest Rising Review

Tempest Rising (Jane True 1)

Written by Nicole Peeler

Read by Kate Reinders

Living in small town Rockabill, Maine, Jane True always knew she didn't quite fit in with so-called normal society. During her nightly, clandestine swim in the freezing winter ocean, a grisly find leads Jane to startling revelations about her heritage: she is only half-human. Now, Jane must enter a world filled with supernatural creatures that are terrifying, beautiful and deadly - all of which perfectly describe her new 'friend' Ryu, a gorgeous and powerful vampire. It is a world where nothing can be taken for granted: a dog can heal with a lick; spirits bag your groceries; and whatever you do, never - ever - rub the genie's lamp.

Tempest Rising is written in the first person and as such Kate Reinders does a fantastic job of becoming Jane and helps create a unique voice for the character. All the other characters are always seen through Jane’s eyes so Kate manages to complete inhabit Jane and portray a woman hemmed in by circumstances and discovering a world around her. Between the great writing and the performance Jane comes across as a funny, relatable and original girl – with a very healthy libido! J

Apart from being slightly surprised at first by the American accent (I’m British so when I read books no-one has an accent!), this is a great audiobook. I’d read the book previously and really enjoyed learning about Jane’s world so listening to the CD was no trouble. It was unabridged (my favourite!) so I was able to spend just under ten hours in Jane’s company and urge her on in her relationship with Ryu, laughed as she discovered what a genie really keeps in his pants and jumped when she did.  A great book, brilliantly performed that left me wanting more.

Recommended for fans of Charlaine Harris and Jaye Wells. 9 out of 10