The Storm

Oh goody, goody. In "The Storm" by Jean Johnson, Ryder gets his woman! This is book five from the 'Sons of Destiny' series. The series follows eight brothers, four sets of twins who are under a curse and were banished to an island. Each book tells the story of one of the brothers, all mages, finding love in accordance with the prophecy and the curse.

Rydan is the antisocial one. He's always known that he felt better when he was apart from other people, he just didn't know why. He's also the Guardian of a magic Fountain and if he's interpreting the prophecy correctly, then to get his woman he will have to give up Guardianship of his fountain...something he has absolutely no intention of doing.

Rora's magic is unusual in that she doesn't show more 'perform' magic, she 'carries' magic. The end result is that she and her sister were forced to flee from their homeland, chased by mages trying to steal or use Rora's power. She can also 'see' emotions as colors, and she's astonished to realize that Rydan's problem is he cannot shield himself from his own and others' emotions. With Rora's help, he is getting better and she is more attracted every day. But will he be willing to sacrifice what he treasures most to have Rora?

Another fascinating book in this series. Before I read it, I was sure I wasn't going to like Ryder as he was so cold and uncommunicative. But knowing why? Well, that changed everything. Johnson's handling of the physical and emotional issues around Ryden and Rora's relationship was really touching. And there's plenty of heat here too. If you enjoy your romances in series form, you really need to check this one out. It has a very historical feel to it, even though at least two of the 'brides' are from 'our' world. Magic, hot sex, shapeshifters, and ordinary humans. Good storyline, excellent plotting and beautiful writing. show less

Much less erotic than Trevan's story - for good reason, Rydan isn't anything like his brother. Still an excellent romance, but Rydan has major reasons - at least two - for warding off his Destined bride, so things go a lot slower. And then his verse comes true, and he barely notices - far more important things are happening at the time! As I said in reviewing The Cat, there's some advancement of the series story-arc, but not a lot, because these two books run simultaneously. Interesting overlaps and the same scenes from a different perspective, too. Rora is much more straight-forward than Amara; she trusts her powers to tell her true, and asks them what to do frequently. So she's very seldom uncertain of her path, and even less often show more uncertain for long. So when she decides she is Rydan's proper bride, and he gives up fighting - some external forces come into effect and hold them apart just a little while longer. Then, in the part of the story that doesn't overlap The Cat, we get some serious progress towards the Convocation - though it's three steps forward and two steps back. It also becomes even more strongly evident that the aim of this whole thing - both curses and all the events pertaining thereto - are aimed at reactivating the Convocation. Kelly was needed to think of it, Rora is needed to make it happen, Serina found out what was necessary...Alys and Mariel seem less directly necessary, at the moment, but they were needed to keep the rest of them alive and healthy so the next steps could be taken. Amusing - and very well done, there's no author fiat here. It all fits together.
Latest reread:
This time I noticed more of Rydan's reactions - he's clearly desperate for companionship, though he doesn't dare spend time with his brothers. Rora has an easier time of it than she might have because of that. We also learn a lot more about Nightfall's Fountain and how Rydan came to it.
Reread:
Yeah - for all his surliness, Rydan and Rora are more interesting to me than Trevan and Amara. This pair of books overlap; they begin at the same(ish) time, and present several different viewpoints of (some of) the same events. This goes on longer than The Cat, the end of that one is about 3/4ths through The Storm. And while it's focused, of course, on Rydan and Rora's courtship, the series arc also advances by leaps and bounds. Once reason I really like this one is that while there's a lot of physical attraction, and a couple actual sex scenes, the far more important side of their relationship is emotional and intellectual. Rora helps Rydan figure out the problem that has forced him into increasing isolation; Rydan (among others) gives Rora answers about the problem that drove her and her sister into exile. That's at least as strong a connection as their attraction to each other, and that makes this one of the better stories in this series, for me. show less

Eight brothers, born in four sets of twins, two years apart to the day—they fulfill the Curse of Eight Prophecy. Though no longer trapped in exile, their growing family faces new problems. Now Rydan, the tormented sixth-born son, must find a way to trust his Destined bride, Rora, a woman who possesses her own secret power—one that could bring them together or annihilate their world forever.

Rydan lives for the night. Seldom seen during the day, his brothers usually leave Rydan alone. He craves the silence. What his brothers do not know is the emotional affliction he carries. When someone feels emotions, Rydan feels them too. Sometimes they pound at him and his "beast" roars in anguish.

When he violates his destined bride, Rora, he show more feels disgusted and shamed. But being near her silences his beast, and he craves the presence of another, one that doesn't stir up his beast. Rora enjoys being with Rydan. Before long, the two are inseparable. But Rydan is the Guardian of the Fountain, and Rora possesses her own mystical magics. Can they trust one another completely to save their world without destroying it?

This sixth in the series was highly anticipated. A wonderful thing about this series is that even though its a certain characters story, the others still play a role. You don't see them fading into the woodwork. As the Island of Nightfall gets ready to name their diety, we are left with anticipation for the next story of the seventh brother. I love this series! show less

Eight brothers, born in four sets of twins, two years apart to the day—they fulfill the Curse of Eight Prophecy. Though no longer trapped in exile, their growing family faces new problems. The sixthborn son must find a way to trust his Destined bride…

First, his most heavily guarded refuge is breached. And now, the worst of all crimes against Rydan of Nightfall: Rora, a pesky, privacy-invading foreigner, likes him and won’t leave him alone! Rydan knows he’s as appealing as a rosebush stripped of its blooms, so why does she persist? Any normal maiden should be seeking less thorny company than his.

But Rora isn’t normal. She alone sees the secret of what torments Rydan. And only she can persuade him to put it right before it show more destroys him. But Rora has her own secret as well—one of such vast power that other mages have killed in order to possess it. It once drove Rora and her sisters into exile, and, in the wrong hands, its power could annihilate their world. In the right hands, it could change her and Rydan’s fate forever. show less

I've been anticipating this book from the very first book. Rydan was the mysterious anti-social brother. And there was something about him that made me just want to read more. The rest of his brothers and their mates are all pretty open, but Rydan shunned their presence and when he did reluctantly show himself, he was all growly and rude. So of course that makes the reader curious about him. And for nintey percent of the book he didn't disappoint. He first meets 'his mate', Rora, when she sneaks into his lair. He's under some potion his trouble making younger brother, who's story will be the last one, drugged his drink. He's dreaming of a woman and when Rora turns up in his room, Rydan makes his move. He is horrified when he realizes show more what he's done, but Rora is intrigued. She has a superpower of her own and she alone realizes what makes Rydan so anti-social. She works on helping him overcome his problem.
Rora is the opposite of her prickly twin sister. She realizes that this island of mages is the perfect place for her to be and they can protect her from all those seeking her power.
In the meantime, Rydan is the Guardian of his own source of power - the Fountain, one of a group of fountains located throughout this world.
I loved both Rydan and Rora. Rydan is the reluctant suitor - he realizes that Rora is his intended mate and Rora is the eager young miss who falls in love with this troubled mage.
But I'm not sure what happened towards the end of the book. It somehow seemed to come derailed with Rydan giving up his Guardianship to save Rora from the evil doers who want her power. The explanations were hard to understand and I found myself confused as to what was going on. It just seemed that Rydan's change of heart happened way to fast.
One thing I did like about both The Cat and The Storm is they happened simultaneously - from two different viewpoints. One book filled in the missing pieces of the other and I thought it an interesting thing for the author to do. show less

This is a series I started reading years ago then kinda lost track of. When I saw this book it reminded me how much I had enjoyed reading the others in the series and decided to pick up where I had left off. Now that I have once again been in nightfall I am definitely going to finish this series. This story takes place at the same time as The Cat but from a different prospective.
( Rydans Twin's) I Liked this book very much. Rydan is an interesting character, he tends to be a loner keeping away from family, yet he cares very much for his brothers. When Rora comes to Nightfall she alone is able to see what torments Rydan, and she is determined to help him.

Eight brothers, born in four sets of twins, two years apart to the day they fulfill show more the Curse of Eight Prophecy. Though no longer trapped in exile, their growing family faces new problems. Now Rydan, the tormented sixth-born son, must find a way to trust his Destined bride, Rora, a woman who possesses her own secret power one that could bring them together or annihilate their world forever. show less

Rydan and Rora's story seemed to just flow along. She had a fairly easy time getting him to adjust to her being around, especially once he found out she's a living fountain. Nice continuation of the overall storyline. Even have a bet on who Koranen's destiny will be.