Customer Reviews

The Storm (The Sons of Destiny, Book 6)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I discovered this author last weekend, and spent a few days reading what I think overall is a great series.

Maybe if I hadn't just read The Cat, it might have been different, but I was dissapointed. The first third of The Storm, was in essence a re-write of The Cat. At times cut and pasting entire scenes from one book to the other, simply switching point of view. It seemed I'd paid good money to read a book I'd just read.

That said there were great things about the book: Rydan's isolation is explaned and solved nicely. And the continuing quest to create a new country is wonderful; I'd like to see more of the political aspects described as the series winds down. And finally, once Johnson got into fresh story-telling the book soared....

So for the cheap re-use of The Cat as the first third of The Storm, I gave one star... for the next two thirds of the book, I gave 5 stars....

Sadly this gives what could have been one of the best books in the series a 3 star...

The book is worth reading. Skim the rewritten bits and get to the meat of the story!

I really enjoyed this book. The world building here places it a step above above your standard romantic fantasy novel. I happen to love stories that show you the same thing from two different points of view and that's what The Storm and The Cat do. And I really loved the way we learned so much about Morganen - I'm much more excited about his book now. But mostly this was Rydan and Rora's story and it lived up to my expectations (which were pretty high). Ms Johnson did a very good job of explaining Rydan's behavior in a believable and sympathetic manner. Sometimes it does take an outsider to be able to see a problem clearly and that is what Rora is able to do. For those people who don't like Kelly, (she is a bit of a Hillary Clinton figure and I like her very much) she makes only a small, relatively restrained appearance in this story. The book is not perfect and I did have a few quibbles but overall I thought it was a terrific addition to this excellent series.

THE STORM: A Novel of the Sons of Destiny
JEAN JOHNSON
Paranormal Romance

Rating: 4.5 Enchantments

Arora of the Shifterai is an anomaly. Although completely lacking the shapeshifting talents of her people, she possesses immense power. Since childhood, she has struggled for control, but her powers were alien to her people, who did not inherently possess magic. The mages who could have taught her control ended up coveting her powers instead, forcing Arora to flee her homeland with her shapeshifting sister, Amara, as her protector. When shipwrecked, Arora desperately channels her powers, asking to be guided to a place where both she and her sister could find safety.

Rydan of Nightfall is horrified to find the subject of his heated dream was, in fact, a very real woman. Awakening from a drugged sleep haunted by erotic images, he is deeply embarrassed and shamed to discover that he had almost violated Arora - the woman he mistakenly thought was destined for his older brother.

THE STORM is a powerful entry in the multi-volume saga of the Sons of Destiny series. This tale explores the romance of Rydan, the sixth of eight brothers exiled to Nightfall Island because of a prophecy. Rydan is a powerful mage, who shuns daylight and interaction with others because strong emotions cause him psychic pain. He finds a lonely peace serving as Guardian of a fountain, a source of immense magic power and legacy of a fallen empire. Channeling this power into the very stones of the island, Rydan sculpts an underground labyrinth of incredible beauty as his refuge and spends much of his time in isolation. Arora's lifelong habit of hiding her power enables her to slip into Rydan's subterranean domain undetected, and when she stumbles across the sleeping Rydan, she is instantly drawn to him. His heated embrace leaves her wanting more. Dragged into the daylight and brusquely introduced to his family, Arora panics, then sees first-hand the damage that emotion inflicts on Rydan. Intrigued by him, she instinctively understands that her ability to see emotions will be the key to freeing Rydan from his emotional exile and unlocking her own magical potential.

THE STORM is a must-read for fans of the Sons of Destiny Series! Fantastically entertaining, wildly imaginative, and thoroughly engrossing - I read it at one sitting. One of the strongest volumes in the series, it is a face-paced thrill ride that successfully incorporates all the main characters from the previous novels. Arora is an engaging heroine and Rydan proves to be a deserving and unflawed leading man. Their developing romance deals with the challenge of overcoming genuine problems rather than self-imposed barriers. The author again brings elements of humor to the developing family dynamics, and ably captures the essence of the love and exasperation found in any caring family. The story stands on its own merits more successfully than some of the prior novels, but is more enjoyable if read in sequence. This is a home-run for lovers of paranormal fantasy!

Author Jean Johnston aims to write her favorite kind of books - the ones you'll enjoy reading and re-reading. Attracted to a variety of careers as a teen (rock star, writer, astronaut, writer, scientist, writer), she finally wised up and put the writing first. She also enjoys being a singer, a scientist, and a member of the Society of Creative Anachronism. Jean lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family. Visit her website at www.jeanjohnson.net


Deana W.
ENCHANTING REVIEWS
August 2008

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 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!

Rydan, the Guardian of the Nightfall Fountain, is a loner. He hates crowds, which to him is more than one other person near his space. Thus he is unhappy when the twins Arora and Amara are shipwrecked on Nightfall Island even as he is attracted to the former while his brother Trevan desires the latter (see THE CAT).

He rejects the concept that Rora is his destined mate. However she sees inside his soul and knows why he runs from emotions; feelings are painful to her beloved. She plans to heal him, but first must deal with the trouble that followed her and her sister to Nightfall Island.

Although readers know much of the events having read them in THE CAT, Jean Johnson keeps the tale fresh as the perspective of the other twins are different from those of Trevan and Amara. The story line maintains the fast pace, but new revelations occur as Rydan keeping with his overall loner persona meets his fate as one of the Sons of Destiny in the aptly titled THE STORM. Ms. Johnson keeps her romantic fantasy saga at the top bar of excellence.

Harriet Klausner

It's not the authers fault. I had very high expectations and really should have been realistic. Other than that the book was good and answerd alot of questions. I was dying to read it and just was expecting something bigger. Removing my expectations, a good read and did have unexpected moments.

I couldn't wait for this one so I could find out what was this brother's problem. It was perfect.
I love the way the author intertwined it with the last book. The romance was perfect and felt
satisfied after I read it.

Alright--I get the whole "twins" thing going on, but ultimately I need to ask "why" choose to do it this way? This author build such complex and detailed worlds that I know her efforts are well thought out. But for me I found this intriguing attempt more tiring than anything else. Although I usually dislike a glossary and maps, without those items I spent too much time flipping back and forth trying to figure out this statement or that reference. Not bad work when its with material of this quality, but I don't want to work AT ALL. I want to be entertained and sometimes enlightened, but this is not Master's thesis work. With that said, I am done with this author. IF you have a lot of time and maybe a notepad, give this series a try.

This series has been one of the best I have read. I could not wait to get the next book. Jean Johnson is very good at what she does

The Storm (The Sons of Destiny, Book 6)Ms Johnson carried book six of the Sons of Destiny in combination with The Cat (Trevan vs Princess Amara)Book 5 in her surprising series with great skill.
I though one of the books would fall short, I was wrong, boy was I wrong. Arora of the Shifterai wonders into Rydan of Nightfall's, underground home. Rydan is the guardian of a Fountain,a special water way that connects to other guardians through out many lands.
Arora or Rory as she is called, isn't interested in Rydan's fountain, she has troubles of her own. No one may touch her as she holds Magics so strong it makes most Mage's desire her only for her Magics. She can see a person's aura and know what there feeling in meeting Rydan she see's he is in pain and serious distress. Taking it upon her self, Arora sets out to help Rydan even if he doesn't want that help. He does realize his destiny is at hand and Arora could be his true mate.

I am not very good at writing a review. I can talk about them sure, so here is what I know from the first book I could not wait till I could get all of the books. It took me a while to save up for this, and I have not felt I wasted my money with any of them. Yes there is frank language, there is sex, but there is respect, love, caring, sharing, and laughter, lots of laughter between all the residents of Nightfall island.
I would suggest you read the series in order. Don't spoil the stories. Or go to Jean Johnson's sight to see what happens after the stories are over.