Author: Rachel Caine
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Publication Date: 28 April 2008
Paperback: 414 pages
Original Pub. Date: Dec 2003 (ROC)
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Rating: 7/10
Summary (Goodreads)
Joanne Baldwin is a Weather Warden. Usually, all it takes is a wave of her hand to tame the most violent weather. But now, she’s trying to outrun another kind of storm: accusations of corruption and murder. So, she’s resorting to the very human tactic of running for her life…
Her only hope is Lewis, the most powerful warden known. Unfortunately, he’s stolen not one but three bottles of Djinn-making him the most wanted man on earth. Still, she’s racing hard to find him-before the bad weather closes in fast…
Review:
This is the first book by Rachel Caine I have read and I must say I enjoyed it. Ill Wind is the first book in the Weather Warden series, where the world’s weather is controlled by warden’s who each control the different elements of Earth, Wind, Water and Fire.
Joanne is a weather warden and she has the ability to control water and wind. She’s also on the run from the World Council as she’s been accused of murder. I really like Joanne. She’s certainly not a girlie girl as she likes her cars and drives a Mustang (who she talks to as though it’s a person), likes to drive fast and take a few risks. But on the other hand she does really like her purple velvet trousers… What a great combination: a feisty chick who’s not afraid to get down and dirty but who also loves to look good. I must say, I can relate!
Although I didn’t quite manage to get into the book from the first chapter due to a few passages that dragged a little, mainly the descriptions of the weather, my interest certainly piqued with the introduction of David, a very sexy hitchhiker Joanne picks up along the way and who turns out to be something totally different. There’s also great sexual tension between the two of course, and who doesn’t like a bit of that!
About two thirds of the way into the book the pace picks up considerably and battles ensue. There are lots of twists and turns, which, for me, were a little predicable as I saw them coming a mile off, but they kept my interest all the same.
I also enjoyed the flashbacks to Joanne’s past: how she became a Weather Warden, her friendship with Star and Lewis (both weather wardens) and her problems with her boss Bad Bob, who she didn’t like and is accused of killing. I felt I was getting to know her slowly but surely as the book progressed.
Verdict:
After a bit of a shaky start, I thoroughly enjoyed Ill Wind. It’s quite a fresh take on the urban fantasy as there’s no vampires or werewolves, instead we have wardens and Djinn (genie). I look forward to reading the next book in the Weather Warden series.
Thank you to Allison & Busby for sending me this book to review.
10 Comments
They get better with each book I think. David is hot LOL Jo takes a beating over and over again – I think I am looking forward to the last book just so she can have a break!
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Yay! I have been keeping a diligent eye out for this review! I would say it's very accurate. I felt the same way. I think the story drags at first when Jo is the only character on the page. Once dialog starts with other characters (especially David), the pages start to fly by! I an on the *gulp* seventh book of the series, and openly admit that I have referred back to this first book often as I have made my way through the series! In short, I am so glad you liked the book and hope you continue to read the series. The first 3 books are slower, but then the series heats up and it's extremely difficult to set down them down!
Btw…if you are interested, you could win another book in this series if you enter my giveaway: http://lillybook.blogspot.com/.....eaway.html
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I haven't yet read the Weather Warden Series, but I'm almost up to Book 8 in Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampire (YA) series. It's fantastic!! The first book was a bit shaky, but it has only gone up from there!
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I want to try this series. I love her Morganville books so I'm sure these must be good too.
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This series must have come out in the U.S. before the U.K. I remember reading the first book at least four years ago. I have the whole series, and they do get better with each book (especially in regards to the weather descriptions) but for some reason I haven't read the last book yet. It's there waiting for me.
I've got to say, I like the UK cover better than the US cover. For some reason all of you on "the other side" get prettier covers. (That's right – I'm jealous.)
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I liked this one too! I prefer her Morganville series though
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It was great to read a review of this series. I won a copy of Cape Storm which is one of the Weather Warden books and I was curious.
Thanks! They sound good.
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I LOVE this series and it just gets better with each book!
great review =)
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This series is awesome and the rest are well worth a read too.
Glad you enjoyed it
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I have this book on my list to pick up. I read Undone early last year, before I started blogging, and really enjoyed it. So, I wanted to try this series out too.
Thanks for the honest review.
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