Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: An engaging and different paranormal read featuring Windwalkers!

Opening Sentence: “It sucks to be King.”

The Review:

Vane and Audra are back, although they spend a good half of the book away from each other. Audra is getting herself together and Vane is training and learning to be King. Audra spends a good portion of this second book in the series trying to come to grips with her mother’s betrayal and her feelings for Vane. She also stumbles upon Ashton (the great traitor) and finally learns how he was broken and what Raiden’s secret is. She also begins to understand that understanding all four winds may not save them.

Vane spends a great deal of time learning and rebelling sort of. When they finally come back together it’s non stop action and things go badly rather quickly. So much so that this book ends on a major major cliffhanger!

I am coming to the realization that paranormal, which was my go-to genre for many years is now beginning to feel like it’s not my thing. That being said, I did like the different aspect, but I do admit even from the first book, I laugh and snicker every time I see Raiden (makes me think of Mortal Kombat). *sigh* I probably really dated myself with that comment. I struggle to write this not because it was a bad book, I just think I am not as invested in paranormal as I used to be, so it all seems just okay to me. I do think some of the secondary characters like Gus, Ashton and the princess pretty much stole the show from Vane and Audra. Audra was kind of whiny and non-existent for part of the book, and when she did come back it was a like a tornado tearing through everything. In a good way though.

I do love them as a couple, although I think Vane didn’t realize that Audra held apart of herself back, and well, I can’t say the other thing so it kind of felt like again she was lying or leaving things out, and that just doesn’t make for a good relationship. Especially when you are essentially trying to save your race from being wiped out by a madman. Vane really stood out in this book, I think he grew a ton, he showed a willingness to learn, to fight (even though it’s literally against his nature) and ask for help. He faced hard decisions and did the best that he could. He really rocked it in this book, and yes, even though I have complained a bit, I am totally reading book 3. I mean how can I not. This literally ended with a super huge horrifying cliffhanger!

Notable Scene:

“A haunting melody snaps me back to the present. Whispered words with a series of dark hisses that slice through the heavy air. I can’t understand what he’s saying, but the song crawls beneath my skin, sinking into the deepest parts of me and humming with a new sort of energy.

The shit starts in my gut. A brewing storm that surges with every sound, like the words have brought some unknown part of me to life. And now that it’s been activated, it wants control.

Pain laces through my body, a ripping, tugging sensation that makes me feel like I’m being pulled apart–and I’m horrified to realize that I am. I know this feeling– I’ve lived it twice now. Both times I’ve shifted to my wind form.”

FTC Advisory: Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster provided me with a copy of Let The Storm Break. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ( )

I was disappointed with this book as "Let The Sky Fall" was such a great read. One reason was because Vane and Audra were apart for the first half of the book but spent most of their time brooding over each other. I didn't like either as much as I did in the first book although, once again, I preferred Vane's voice. In this sequel, I felt that there was too much emphasis on the romance, and not enough on the action. Parts were exciting, but others dragged. Also, the introduction of a love triangle annoyed me, why do authors persist with them? However, the ending was a cliff-hanger, and I will read the last book when it comes out in the hope that it finishes the trilogy with a bang. ( )

I wanted to read Let The Storm Break because I enjoyed the world building and Audra's character in the last one, as well as the bond they had since childhood that developed into romance. Not to mention that before I ever started the series, the beautiful covers caught my eye, and this one lives up to the first as well.
Let the Storm Break was just as action packed as the last one, filled with suspense on what monstrosities Raiden will come up with next. As well as how to keep the language of the Westerlies, the "lost" language of the West Winds, who they think Vane is the only one with knowledge of how to wield it, and then you can harness the power of the four winds together, northerlies, southerlies, easterlies and westerlies. In this book even more so than the last one, I was beginning to see how the wind is almost personified because it sings songs, and it is drawn to the people who master and have the heritage of their language. They have personalities that are similar as well.
Especially the relationship that Audra forms with some of the westerly drafts, their fierce loyalty really amazed me, and as they are known for non-violence they have their own strengths and it was neat as both Audra and Vane learned more about their natures and how to best use the westerlies. But even with the power of the four, Raiden has figured out something even worse, the power of pain. This turns into a nightmare for those who are trying to conquer him and the storm troopers, hoping for peace.
I still enjoyed the romance although this one picks up right after the last, where Audra has left for the time being, and I have to see how that hurts both of them to be apart. But it definitely serves a purpose because Audra learns things she never would have otherwise that ends up giving them an advantage. It also allows Vane to get to know some of the other Gales, the other slyphs that are helping to protect him. He is knee deep in the politics though--learning what it means to be a leader to these people he just met in this supernatural world that he is still new to. And there is also the matter of Solara. She is a complex character and I find myself feeling for her, respecting her and understanding where she is coming from, but I also get pretty angry even though I understand some of her motivations.
I think that Vane has grown a lot in this one, and really has stepped up to what needs to be done instead of being so stubborn and wasting time where he could be making advancements to protect the people that he cares about and other innocents who will be caught in the crossfire. I think that he has gained even more strength, physical as well, but mental and letting some of his refusals be firm and that is the quiet strength and balance that I think the world of the sylph needs just a bit more of.
There were a few other new characters besides the above mentioned Solara-the lost princess that Vane was betrothed to. Gus, a guard that stepped in when Audra was figuring things out and Fang, uh Feng, lol both brought elements to the story, as well as some much needed lighter humorous moments. They also brought a different sort of training for Vane that he certainly needed and smacks on the head to get some sense into him, also when needed.
There is also a betrayal/traitor that made things much more difficult, but I am hoping that somehow there will be some major redemption or at least a major butt kicking. Not sure which I want to happen more.
The pacing was amazing, and there was always something going on action wise, setting things up or allowing the characters to discover things about themselves that they need to before moving on. There were some twists, some of which I predicted but hoped wouldn't actually be the case, and other things in the plot that I never saw coming. I love the set up of this world of the sylph and didn't want to leave it. This is a series that I will definitely be continuing to know what comes next.
The ending is really haunting and something that was hinted at so much in the first book. It made me respect but also strangle because of choices made, but I totally get why she did it and respect her too. I am certainly wanting to get my hands on the next one, but for now will contemplate how I think it will go down.

Bottom Line: Haunting middle book with lots of high costs towards steps to victory. ( )

Rating: 94% (4.7 stars) ( )