Storm Born

Fascinating! I couldn't put "Storm Born" by Richelle Mead down! I read her 'succubus' series, but this is so much more. More fantasy, more characters, more worlds, and WAY hot fae, humans, and shifters (kitsune).

Eugenie, Odile, Dark Swan...she's all these, and now she's about to find out that she's also so much more she never knew. Eugenie is a powerful shaman who banishes spirits and fey out of the mortal world into either hell or back to their world, depending on their crime. She's never actually made a trip physically into the otherworld, but when she takes the case of a kidnapped teenager who's being held by a fae, she decides the only way is to go in physically, grab the girl, and get out! What she finds instead is a legacy she show more never knew about, the guy she recently slept with isn't totally human, and one of the fae kings is into bondage...and Eugenie! To make matters worse, she's being sought by just about every creature imaginable who wants to breed a child on her, willing or unwilling, to fulfill a prophecy. She needs the fae king's help to learn how to control her magic and she's pretty sure about what he will want in return. How in the heck is she gonna get out of this one?

Fast paced, high energy urban fantasy. "Storm Born" and Eugenie's story is one of the best new urban fantasy/romance/paranormal stories I've read in quite a while. Now I'll have to wait an entire year for "Thorn Queen", the next book in this series. I'll keep reading Richelle Mead's succubus stories, but if the next book is anything like one, this new series is destined for my keeper shelf. show less

Enjoyed the book very much. It’s the prophecy that gets the story rolling and I liked that it was a new approach to the- prophecy/reluctant hero who’s going to change the world, story. Eugenie is the mother of the hero to be (or the villain to be, depends on who you are) that makes her a prize or a corps, either way she’s screwed. Nice.

The submission/domination conflict – great take on relationships. I thought it was a fresh way to address the issue (bondages included) to have Eugenie wandering what it means for her to enjoy submission and how to deal with the power she’s discovering. It was very interesting and I would like to see the developments as she becomes more and more powerful.

As for Dorian vs. Kiyo. Kiyo is a fine show more hero, handsome, brave, sense of humor, saves the heroin and great sex too, so what’s not to like? That’s just it; we’ve seen heroes like him before, no surprise. But Dorian, that’s a different story, literally. Handsome and powerful, yes and great hair too but he’s not your typical hero not tortured/angry/looking for redemption/hiding a broken heart there for can’t commit hero. He’s eccentric and a show off with an everything is a joke facade and he’s willing to share in the name of love. I loved him! We saw glimpse of his inner feelings and I really want to see more.

I did feel at times, that Richelle Mead can do more for details. She creates a somewhat flat world, same goes for the characters. I would like to see more depth or layers to unfold. Maybe some analyzing a la Cassie? (: show less

Eugenie, who is a shaman tells the story. Her "specialty" is banishing spirits, fey, and creatures of the Otherworld that cross into the human world intent on causing harm. Basically, the book is about faeries, that Eugenie refers to as "gentry", so it was easy to sometimes forget what the primary part of story was actually about. Storm Born is a sexy story with a fairly good mixture of love and action. Actually, there is a love triangle, as well as hidden powers and secret heritages which do add depth to the story....and it really needed it. I can honestly say the book was "entertaining" even though it was really weird at times. The events that follow Eugenia after finding out about who and what her father is, was also a bit show more disconcerting. A lot more secrets are revealed as the story goes along...most were just over the top...but this is a fantasy, so I guess that was to be expected. I read M/M romances, so erotica is not something that bothers me at all, but those that it does bother, should be aware that there are several scenes that border on very erotic. You probably won't want your kid reading it. I don't think I will be continuing this series, not because it's badly written or not an okay story...but it's just not my "cup-a tea". Anyone that likes fantasies will more than likely be a lot more tolerant than I was...just remember that it's not all G-rated. show less

This is a decent start to a series. Solid world building and interesting charcters are introduced. It is a very sexy book - shockingly sex almost. But for me, something kept it from being great. I did not connect with the heroine and I almost didn't care what happened. I enjoyed her interactions with Kiyo and Dorian and then her interactions with her imprisoned spirits, those were the highlights for me. I listened to the audio and the narration is decent.

I may just be all Meaded out as I just finished the Georgina Kincaid and Vampire Academy series. I do like how she pushes boundaries with her female characters. Mead's adult female characters are not chaste and have no regrets about that. This Mead theme is definitely refreshing in the show more urban fantasy/paranormal genre. I likely will read #2 eventually. show less

Holy cow. I can’t believe I let this sit on my bookshelf for a couple of months. This is absolutely amazing! I absolutely adore the characters, and this book definitely tweaks my love of faery stories. Eugenie is a very well-developed, likable protagonist, and the supporting characters are not flat at all, but all have distinct personalities of their own. I freaking love that.The plot is fantastic. While deceptively simple on the surface (rescue a kidnapped teenage girl from the Otherworld), underneath it’s an intricately woven story threaded through with Mead’s signature humor. Much like with her Georgina Kincaid series, I found myself laughing throughout this book.Seriously, I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s one of show more the best urban fantasies I’ve ever read. Go! Buy it now! show less

Quality writing and some witty dialog plus some very erotic sex scenes. Yet, the story itself wasn't all that appealing to me. I gave it a listen (on audio book) because I absolutely LOVED the Vampire Academy series. I was hoping for more of that Richelle Mead magic. But it wasn't to be. I will say I loved the character of Volusian, a dark spirit bound to Eugenie who would love any chance to kill her if she released him. And Eugenie herself was pretty badass. Kind of like Rose Hathaway of Vampire Academy is. Still....it will be some time before I step back into the Dark Swan world and read the second book, Thorn Queen.

Richelle Mead is really damn good at what she does. She always does her female protagonists well, and Eugenie (with the exception of maybe her name) is no exception. She kicks ass and doesn't put up with nonsense, yet can have a sense of humor when it comes to telling her story. More plusses in her favor: she doesn't fall to pieces and have to be rescued by the love interests. Better and better.

Richelle Mead also does some great world-building. Drawing upon the lore of the history of humanity, she creates a believable set of characters (the shamans) who can guard and protect the gateways between the human world and the faerie world. I quite enjoyed the unique faerie world that she has created, with its convoluted paths, different lands, show more and distinct and memorable faerie rulers.

I was less impressed by the love triangle. One of the males seemed to have been better developed and more likable than the other, with the result being that you're left wondering if the love triangle was put in because, oh, any book that sells these days needs to have a love triangle. Egads.

Overall, an easy and enjoyable urban fantasy read. It doesn't stand out in any particular way, but neither is it bad. I will continue this series when I'm in the mood for this kind of fantastical book. show less