fantasy book reviews science fiction book reviewsfantasy book reviews Nicole Peeler Jane True 1. Tempest RisingTempest Rising by Nicole Peeler

Jane True has always been an oddity in Rockabill, Maine, what with her scandalous (and missing) mother, her secret habit of swimming at night near the dangerous whirlpool called the Old Sow, and most of all, the tragic death of her childhood sweetheart in a drowning accident. Though some of Rockabill’s residents blame Jane for the tragedy, she has stayed in town to care for her ailing father. She works in a bookstore. It’s not an exciting life, but it’s the only life Jane knows.

Everything changes when, in one night, Jane stumbles across a murder and learns that she’s half-selkie. Now she has powers to discover, a group of strange new friends, and possibly a killer on her trail. Then she meets Ryu, a handsome investigator who happens to be a vampire. Soon, Jane is caught up in a world of danger, glamour, and romance.

Nicole Peeler has created an unusual heroine in Jane. Unlike the tough, gun-toting heroines often found in urban fantasy, Jane starts out shy and mousy. Even when she develops into a more self-assured woman, she’s not physically fierce, and she has a girly streak. Tempest Rising has a definite “chick lit” flavor to it, and much of this comes from Jane’s appreciation for pretty dresses and her love-hate relationship with Christian Louboutin shoes.

The humor also adds to the chick-lit atmosphere. There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments in Tempest Rising; my favorite is the one where she gets “drunk” on the magical energy of a faerie swimming pool. The dialogue in this scene is hilarious.

What didn’t work so well for me was the romance. Jane and Ryu’s steamy scenes take up much of the middle of the book, and that wouldn’t be a bad thing if Ryu were, well, more interesting. There’s nothing wrong with him per se. He’s just sort of bland. He’s hot, he’s well-dressed, and Jane tells us he’s good in bed, but I don’t feel like I really know him. Now, that other possible love interest — I won’t say his name for fear of spoilers — he’s wonderful, and I really hope Jane gets closer to him as the series continues.

Jane True — (2009-2012) Publisher: Living in small town Rockabill, Maine, Jane True always knew she didn’t quite fit in with so-called normal society. During her nightly, clandestine swim in the freezing winter ocean, a grisly find leads Jane to startling revelations about her heritage: she is only half-human. Now, Jane must enter a world filled with supernatural creatures alternatively terrifying, beautiful, and deadly- all of which perfectly describe her new “friend,” Ryu, a gorgeous and powerful vampire. It is a world where nothing can be taken for granted: a dog can heal with a lick; spirits bag your groceries; and whatever you do, never-ever-rub the genie’s lamp. If you love Sookie Stackhouse, then you’ll want to dive into Nicole Peeler’s enchanting debut novel.

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Author

  • Kelly Lasiter

    KELLY LASITER, with us since July 2008, is a mild-mannered academic administrative assistant by day, but at night she rules over a private empire of tottering bookshelves. Kelly is most fond of fantasy set in a historical setting (a la Jo Graham) or in a setting that echoes a real historical period (a la George RR Martin and Jacqueline Carey). She also enjoys urban fantasy and its close cousin, paranormal romance, though she believes these subgenres’ recent burst in popularity has resulted in an excess of dreck. She is a sucker for pretty prose (she majored in English, after all) and mythological themes.

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