Ash’s review of Stormwalker (Stormwalker Series, Book 1) by Allyson James
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 04 May 10
I have a feeling this is going to be a hard review to write. I enjoyed the story while I was reading it, but the morning after all I kept thinking about were things that I had an issue with. It is a bit of an unusual feeling for me. It is a bit of a love/dislike book for me. I read it in a few hours, and I just couldn’t put it down. It’s fast paced, you are always wondering what is going to happen next, and waiting for more of Mick. While reading this, I didn’t have a chance to focus on what I didn’t like, because it sucked me in.
First off, I wonder why this is labeled paranormal romance. Stormwalker felt more like an urban fantasy to me. I went into it expecting romance, and that’s not really what I got. I was left wanting more. Mick and Janet spend their time together either fighting or having sex. We are told that they love each other, but I never really felt it, at least not from Janet.
Five years before the book starts they were together for six months. They pick up where they left off, but I was looking for more of a reunion. Mick does appear to be the one more invested in their relationship, while Janet is having dreams of foursomes and, to be honest, that worries me. I am not a fan of a romance that has more than two people (love triangles being another thing). I pass by those without a thought, and it looked like there is a possibility of that in this series. Mick seems to be too possessive to let that happen, but I’m not convinced that Janet loves him as much as she says.
My other problem was that some of the things just felt old. Janet gets power from storms and can to an extent control them. As soon as it’s mentioned in the first few pages, I immediately thought of another series by another author, with a heroine who controls weather.
With Mick, Janet doesn’t know what he is, while I thought it was pretty obvious. I think, or at least hope, it was supposed to be obvious to the reader. I almost wanted to shake Janet over this. I like what Mick is, it’s one of my favorite types of supernatural out there, but it’s been done by Allyson James before. I wanted something new and exciting and this wasn’t it.
I know I’ve talked about mostly bad things, but yet I gave Stormwalker a good grade. I had fun reading it, and I was sad to see that the next book is not out yet. I loved the secondary characters, much more than I liked Janet, and I want more of them.
While it might not be the freshest paranormal out there, I was able to comfortably slip into it. I have faith the series will get better and more interesting. Hopefully my dreams of a better relationship between Mick and Janet won’t be ruined.
Grade: B –
Summary:
Half-Navajo Janet Begay comes to Magellan to investigate the mysterious disappearance of the police chief’s daughter. But the people of Magellan sense that Janet is not what she seems, and they’re right.
Janet possesses extraordinary power which is tied to the storms that waft across the desert. The only person who can control her when she’s caught in the storm’s evocative power is Mick, a dark-haired, blue-eyed biker Janet can’t seem to touch with her powers. He can wield fire and not get burned, and Janet’s never sure where he goes when they’re not together.
Together they investigate mysterious disappearances, which Janet fears are tied to her mother’s people, the mythical gods from below the earth. They are helped along the way by Coyote and Crow, but these shapeshifting gods have their own agendas.
Read an excerpt.
