Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler
| Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler | |
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| Category: Fantasy | |
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Reviewer: Loralei Haylock
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| Summary: Lighter than most books in the genre but more than just an urban fantasy. | |
| Buy? Maybe | Borrow? Yes |
| Pages: 336 | Date: August 2010 |
| Publisher: Orbit | |
| ISBN: 978-1841499666 | |
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Since the death of her boyfriend, Jason, Jane True has been something of a social outcast in Rockabill. Hated by most of the general populace, who think she had something to do with Jason's death, Jane has lived her life on pause for eight years. Only Jane's clandestine nightly swim make her feel alive, at peace, normal – which is odd, because swimming in the treacherous and freezing sea waters is about as far from normal as a girl can get. But Jane's always had an affinity for the ocean.
Then a body is thrown up by the nearby whirlpool and Jane's whole life is turned on its head. She learns the reason she's never really fit in is because she's only half human. And now she has to help the dashing and oh so attractive Investigator, Ryu, to find who put the body in the ocean. But the Ryu's world, the world Jane only half belongs to, is every bit as fascinating, sexy and dangerous as Ryu himself…
If you think you can tell what's coming already from that, well, you wouldn't be far wrong. This is fairly by the numbers Urban Fantasy. Heroine discovers supernatural side after something bad happens, fortunately super sexy hero/mentor is there to hold her hand (among other things) and the heroine finds herself capable of more than she every believed. All the while she looks amazing in incredible heels and dresses.
Well, okay, it's not quite as cliché as that. Jane is a down to earth sort of heroine who face plants when she tries to walk in heels, has self-esteem issues and an ongoing inner monologue about the nature of her relationship with Ryu – all of which lend realism to both the character and the story.
It was this that kept the story from being just another Urban Fantasy, along with the fluffy humour throughout. It's lighter than most books in the genre, and though it does have its fair share of death and darkness, the humour keeps it from becoming a pity-fest.
There was an unusual cast of characters too. Peeler strayed from the now overused creatures, drawing on some different mythologies. There are kelpies, gnomes, barghests, selkies, djinn, stone spirits and many other interesting creatures populating the background and foreground of the story.
My only complaint would be the speed of the relationship development. I just didn't buy it. Ryu and Jane have barely met when they take each other's clothes off. I'm not against sex in books at all… I'm just against sex in the first few chapters between characters who've only just met. Where's the romantic tension? It might be just a personal preference, but I like the 'will they/won't they' stage of the relationship to be drawn out across at least half of the book.
Overall, this was a nice Urban Fantasy foray that was more beach read than 'dark'. Nothing particularly new in terms of general story, but enough interesting and outside the box to make it an enjoyable read and worth borrowing at least!
My thanks to the publishers for sending a copy.
Fans of Urban Fantasy might enjoy Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series, or the Jill Kismet series by Lilith Saintcrow. We also liked Purple Flame by J S Rais-Daal and Sharp Teeth by Toby Barlow.
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You can read more book reviews or buy Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler at Amazon.co.uk Amazon currently charges £2.99 for standard delivery for orders under £20, over which delivery is free.
You can read more book reviews or buy Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler at Amazon.com.
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