Tempest Rising

Back cover summary

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.

Review (warning spoilers!)

Written from the point of view of the heroin, Jane True, Tempest Rising is the first novel in the "Tempest" series by Nicole Peeler. Every element of what I like in a good fantasy book is present in Tempest Rising: A heroin who has a sense of humor, a handsome love interest, an interesting make-believe world full of strange creatures, and a dramatic location.  I really don't know what my problem is because I did not find Nicole Peeler's Tempest Rising a very interesting read.

I found the romance between the leads flat, out of place and annoying.  I frequently skipped through them. The heroin, Jane True, is a hybrid between Ally McBeal, Harry Potter, and Sookie Stackhouse.  Where Ally McBeal is charming in a self-depreciating but "comes out the winner all the time" way, Jane True is just plain self-depreciating.    Sookie is loveable as a perky, and sarcastic " I am hiding my superpowers" waitress, Jane True is simply a perky whiner.  Since I have no idea what Harry Potter is actually thinking, Jane may have more in common with him.  Both were out of place in the human world and found more acceptance in fantasy land.  What makes Sookie and Ally effective is that women can identify with them.  How they talk to themselves in their heads is sometimes exactly how we talk to ourselves in our heads.  Unfortunately, I don't talk to myself like Jane True. Ally and Sookie are similar because their intelligence and strength of character always eventually save the day. Jane True is more concerned about her libido than saving any day. She comes out whiny in an air-headed sort of way.   What I can commend though is the author's knack for describing food.  I swear, I had to get a midnight snack after reading about what Jane and Ryu were having for a picnic by the beach.

I saw a lot of good reviews for Tempest Rising in Amazon, so I guess my problem with this book is due to personal tastes.

Rating: **** 

Tempest rising Nicole Peeler Jane True Ryu

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