Review copy was received from Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Storm by Elizabeth Hunter Series: Irin Chronicles #6
Published by Indie on April 17, 2018
Genres: Fantasy Romance
Pages: 235
Format: eARC
Source: Author
Goodreads
Amazon, Barnes & Noble
On the darkest night of winter, can he bring light to her wounded heart?
Scarred by loss, Irina warrior Renata has held the world at a distance. Fighting the Grigori and protecting humanity are her goals, but her heart remains frozen to the bonds of family and love. Only one scribe, Maxim of Riga, has managed to see through Renata’s armor.
On the darkest night of winter, in the halls of her ancestral home, Renata is forced to face her past. Can a fierce storm and a stubborn scribe coax her back to life, or will she retreat into duty forever?
with bonus novella SONG FOR THE DYING
When a letter arrives from a remote scribe house in Latvia, Leo and Max must return to their childhood home to face the father and grandfather who raised them.
The past is inescapable, but can it be overcome? Is it possible to build a future of happiness from a foundation of pain?
I was lucky enough to review the Amid the Winter Snow anthology which included the novella The Storm. Now The Storm has been released on its own and has an added novella, Song For The Dying, which almost doubles the length to that of a regular book. There is also a preview for The Seeker which releases next month!
The Storm
A colorful blend of locations in the world of The Irin Chronicles series, I would only read this in order with the series. Because the series is excellent, and having all of it for background and development of the characters make this novella all the more special. There was a bit of couple communication issue, but The Storm avoids my problems with insta-love by covering many years in the couple’s life. The world and the plot here are a striking tapestry along with the romance evoking a wealth of feelings.
I could have used even more time with Max and Renata, so I was happy to get the next story chronologically in Song For The Dying. I enjoyed so much having a view of the life they have built together over the last couple years, as well as updates on the rest of the brothers.
Max and Leo, along with Renata and Kyra, go back to the farm where they spent their childhood to visit their father and grandfather. These men are all that remains of their family which were killed in the Rending when they were babies. Max and Leo have not been back since their childhood when they left to become warriors.
I love the history and connection this story provides. The trip gives Max and Leo a more adult view of their childhood and new memories to carry them forward as they build their own families. They learn about their other family members, including their mothers, as there was too much grief to hear about it as children. While The Seeker will bring the story of Rhys, I hope we will continue to see vignettes of the families of his brothers.
About Elizabeth Hunter
Elizabeth Hunter is a contemporary fantasy and romance author. She is a graduate of the University of Houston Honors College and a former English teacher.
She currently lives in Central California with her husband, son, very ineffective canine assistants, and a pitifully empty fish tank.
ELIZABETH HUNTER is a ten-time USA Today and international best-selling author of romance, contemporary fantasy, and paranormal mystery. Based in both Central California and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, she travels extensively to write fantasy fiction exploring world mythologies, history, and the universal bonds of love, friendship, and family.
She has published over forty works of fiction and sold over a million books worldwide. She is the author of the Glimmer Lake series, Love Stories on 7th and Main, the Elemental Legacy series, the Irin Chronicles, the Cambio Springs Mysteries, and other works of fiction.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
- Series on Saturday: HGTV Edition @katecarlisle @JulietBlackwell #CallieCarpenter @dianekellybooks @bennett_jenna @mstessabailey #SeriesOnSaturday - September 14, 2024
- 🎧 Death at the Sanatorium by Ragnar Jónasson @ragnarjo#SamWoolf @MinotaurBooks @MacmillanAudio #LoveAudiobooks - September 12, 2024
- 🎧The Swimmer by Loreth Anne White @Loreth @rebabuhr #BrillianceAudio #LoveAudiobooks #KindleUnlimited - September 10, 2024
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2018 New Release Challenge
Oh this sounds interesting. I am off to look up book one.
I think they are all on KU right now. This is one of my favorite indie authors. I really enjoy all her series. In this series, be prepared to read book 2 right after book 1 or you will want to die. Also, my favorite series is the PNR series Cambio Springs but it is her least successful commercially. Still my favorite though.
Stunning cover art. This sounds good and a new author for me too.
Elizabeth Hunter is fabulous. Everythng she writes is top notch. She has several series now. The first was the Elemental Mysteries which is UF with vampires of a sort. It has 2 spin-offs, the Elemental World and the WIP Elemental Legacy. Elemental World is more PNR but Legacy is back to UF. Cambio Springs is PNR with shapeshifters. The Irin Chronicles started UF but now PNR with sort of angels, fallen angels. ( UF being one couple, PNR with a different couple in each book) Usually the first book in some series is free. Right now the Irin Chronicles in KU
I haven’t read Elizabeth Hunter before but I do like the sound of this one. I will have to check out the series.
She’s one of the best indie authors I know. Everything she does is very, very good. I read all of her series. I do suggest you start at the beginning because this novella is #6 in the series.
Elizabeth Hunter is an author I’ve been meaning to read for about, um, 6 years! Gah!! I’m happy you were satisfied with these two stories, Anne, and I *will* crack open Hunter’s books soon!
You should Brandee they are all so good. There is quite a genre range of options. She even has a new contemporary romance. Some of the books have the first one free from time to time. Right now The Irin Chronicles is on KU. Plus one of my libraries (my brother’s) has them all, even every novella so there must be a Hunter-loving librarian there.