The Tempest Knights And Me#2 (Angry Women Series Book 1)

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That has such people in't. Traditional gendered criticism of The Tempest interprets Miranda as a living representation of female virtue. As is mentioned in the main article, Miranda is typically viewed as having completely internalised the patriarchal order of things, believing herself to be subordinate towards her father. She is loving, kind, and compassionate as well as obedient to her father and is described as "perfect and peerless, created of every creature's best".

Miranda's behaviour is typically seen as completely dictated by Prospero, from her interactions with Caliban to her ultimate decision to marry Ferdinand. The traits that make the pinnacle of femininity are the same traits that disenfranchise her: However, various critics argue that those same "feminine" traits enable her to be a strong female presence with important effects on the play's outcome.

Throughout the course of the play, Miranda acts as a foil to Prospero's more violent instincts and serves as a sounding board to move the play's plot further. She is also a central figure in her father's revenge, enabling Prospero to gain political prestige through her marriage to the Prince of Naples, Ferdinand.

Furthermore, while Miranda is very much subservient to Prospero's power, some critics argue that her obedience is a conscious choice. Her decision to pursue a relationship with Ferdinand is also interpreted by critics as an indication that her marriage to him is more than a simple political match. Miranda makes a very clear decision to seek out Ferdinand and offer her assistance, all the while worrying that her father will discover them.

Critics also argue that Miranda's feminine presence is essential to the central theme of the play. Michael Neill argues that Miranda's function on the Island is that of a Christ-figure —that she is the indicator of a given character's moral status within the social hierarchy of the island and that she also serves to protect the ethical code of the Island's inhabitants and visitors. Caliban, whom she rejects, is shown to be a monstrous figure, while Ferdinand—whom she embraces—is saved by her presence, her sympathy lightening the "baseness" of his given task.

Critic Melissa Sanchez analyses Miranda in a similar light, discussing her as a representation of an "angelic—but passive—soul" caught in the conflict between enlightenment and base desire represented by Prospero and Caliban. Critic Lorie Leininger argues that Miranda fits into the colonialist interpretation of The Tempest in that Prospero's use of Miranda as an unwitting player in his political revenge is expressive of the play's sexist attitude towards women.

She states that Prospero's treatment of Miranda is in essence the same as his treatment of Caliban , describing his attitude towards both as indicative of their subjugation within the social hierarchy of the Island. Leininger also argues that Miranda's sexualisation is a weapon used against her by her father, stating that Prospero uses Caliban's attempted assault and Ferdinand's romantic overtures to marginalise her, simplifying her into a personification of chastity.

In Leininger's analysis, Caliban is treated in a similar fashion, forced into the role of an uncivilised savage without heed for his individual needs and desires—much in the same way that Miranda is expected to marry Ferdinand and reject Caliban's advances simply because her father wishes it.

While The Tempest is most frequently analysed in the modern day as a retelling of British colonial history , Miranda does not make an appearance in the majority of such criticism. As the play's only female character, Miranda functions mostly as a representation of women instead of a representation of an oppressed colonial group.

Lorie Leininger, discussed in the previous section, argues that Miranda is part of a group subjugated by colonialism due to her gender, but as far as direct connections to the British colonial process go, Miranda does not connect directly to the majority of theories. However, Miranda can be interpreted as an allegory for the softer side of colonialism, portraying the more "missionary" aspect of colonisation attempts, in that she tries to educate Caliban instead of treating him as a sub-human citizen like her father seems keen to. She also displays far more sympathy to the shipwrecked Prince Ferdinand than her father does, and is eager to make his stay on the island as comfortable as possible.

Her attitude towards the discovered peoples as well as the newly discovered castaway sharply contrasts her father's inclination to conquer and destroy, painting her not only as a compassionate figure but as one sympathetic to the colonial plight. Editors and critics of the play felt that the speech was probably wrongly attributed to her either as a printing error or due to the fact that actors preferred that no character would remain silent too long on stage.

Critics also argue that the language used by Miranda in this speech is out of character for her, given her lack of knowledge of the world that makes Caliban's behaviour so shocking, as well as the fact that her style of speaking strongly resembles Prospero's mannerisms. However, others feel that Miranda's speech here is correctly attributed. As the play progresses, Caliban refers to Miranda as his "mistress", [14] saying that it was Miranda who explained to him what the moon and stars are. Furthermore, while critics acknowledge that the language in this particular speech is stronger than expected for Miranda, it is far weaker than Prospero's form of address would be given the situation.

One of the moons of Uranus is named after her, in keeping with other Uranian moons named after Shakespearian characters. This does not end up well. Instead he ends up in different spots in the past revealing all kinds of interesting about his distant father and his supposed job. I love the time travel aspect of this story and unlocking the mysteries that surround it, but most of all I loved the relationship side to this book. I loved the relationship between Holly and Jackson.

In one of these flashbacks I wanted to scream: Julie manages to squeeze in a few nice swoon-worthy scenes to get your blood pumping always a plus in any book I read! Well, not because of the kissing, but because he starts to show how he cares well, maybe a little because of the kissing! I also loved the relationship between Jackson and his twin-sister.

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I cried at one point because of that! Liked the developments between Jackson and his father and quirky Adam too! Then there is the ending!!! Oh, what an ending!!! Bring it NOW please!!!!!! All and all, this was an amazing debut from Julie Cross. Thank you to Goodreads giveaways! View all 18 comments. Ever since it came out, Tempest has been receiving a lot of mixed reviews. Most of my friends and bloggers I usually agree with gave it a low rating, which is why I waited so long to give it a chance. But somewhere deep inside, I had this strange feeling that Tempest and I would get along, and as it turns out, we did.

As it usually happens, what I expected from Tempest and what I ended up with were two things a million miles away from each other. Boy was I wrong! In fact, Jackson approaches his relationship with Holly very maturely. Instead, this book is full of secret medical research, CIA agents, agents called Enemies of Time, parallel dimensions and guns. So in a way, I'm glad she was pretty, but not stunningly gorgeous, smart, but not a Nobel prize winner, generous, but certainly not Mother Teresa. It made the entirety of their relationship seem that much more real to me.

The usual tropes were all there: I read this book at the beach, before going to sleep, during hours of insomnia, while I was eating and pretty much everywhere else, until I finished it. Also posted at The Nocturnal Library Sep 06, Arlene rated it really liked it Recommended to Arlene by: In Tempest Jackson Meyer carries a recessive gene known as the Tempest gene.

The Tempest: A Gisborne Novel

This gene is capable of producing certain symptoms or abilities such as time travel and advanced memory. One too many twists were shoved in at the final hour, that at the last 30 pages, I was ready to call it quits. Overall, I think most people will enjoy Tempest for its constant action, plot twists, heartfelt moments, and intrigue. Jackson narrates the story in a way that has you suddenly caring about his fate. I feel Julie Cross penned a worthy first installment, and I look forward to seeing her storytelling improve with time and only get better. View all 50 comments. Jun 25, Krystle rated it it was ok Shelves: Oh, the controversy, oh the response.

I really had no idea what to think about this book before I read it after all the stuff that went down. The book has an awesome cover and a fabulous premise but, whoa, man. The main problem with this book is the romance aspect of it and the characters. So, this book, right? It basically revolves around Jackson trying to get his girlfriend back before she got murdered. Honest Oh, the controversy, oh the response. Their love, to me, seemed superficial and even though the author tried to make them have a deeper connection with each other, it came off as flat and unconvincing.

I've read Tolstoy, Hemingway, Vonnegut, and others! Someone needs to find me one of these guys in real life, ASAP, so I can fangirl the crap out of them. He spends a lot of time ruminating over his thoughts and feelings, taking notes, and being oh so lonesome for Holly. Too soft and mushy for me. Both of these problems combined make for a very dull and lacking plot. Whole chapters of this book flew by where I was completely bored and totally uninterested in what was happening. Feminists are not man haters, nor are they set out to prove their gender as better than the other.

The differences in pay between men and women. She is always regarded as something to laugh at or with disdain and it makes me upset that people think this is what feminists are or how they behave. I really loved the relationship between Jackson and his sister. I thought the writing really shone here because it was actually emotive and you could literally sense the depression and despair both parties feel at the impending loss. I felt something and it did leave me sad just for a few moments, which I think is what a book should do.

Make you feel something. I was set to give this book a lowly rating but the quick paced climax was fun and managed to keep my entertained. Wait a minute… You know what? I just realized something. This book is like the movie, Jumper! The whole jumping thing and the evil anti-jumping people, bad jumpers, and jumpers who do it for good. You may be a terrible actor, but you sure are nice to look at So my thoughts for the movie could be an accurate expression of how I feel about the book.

Despite the premise, the flashy special effects and appeal for the action-orientated audience, the movie became bogged down by the uninspiring romance and flat characters that seemed to lack depth and sincerity. A pretty face can only do so much. Aug 08, Michelle Madow rated it it was amazing Shelves: Have you ever read a book that's so amazing, and you love it so much, that you know even the best review can't give the book the justice it deserves?

Tempest was a book like that for me. I was drawn to Tempest when I saw the "broken flux capacitors" reference in the summary. Back to the Future is my favorite movie ever, so I knew Tempest was going to be a book for me! And I was right. Just like the summary of the book says, the time travel in Tempest doesn't require a DeLorean, flux capacitor, o Have you ever read a book that's so amazing, and you love it so much, that you know even the best review can't give the book the justice it deserves?

Just like the summary of the book says, the time travel in Tempest doesn't require a DeLorean, flux capacitor, or plutonium. Fusion once Doc updates the car in the future. Julie Cross has created a whole new version of time travel, and I absolutely loved it! She brings alternate time lines into the mix, which adds a cool spin on things. It also made me think and theorize, which I loved. I'm cool like that ; Jackson was a fantastic main character. He's a 19 year old guy, which we don't see much of as protagonists in YA fiction, so it was nice to read about someone different.

He only recently learned he can time travel, but nothing he does affects his time line, so he has fun with it. What I liked best about him was how much he loved and cared for the people in his life, even if he wasn't big on showing it all the time. His actions said everything. His girlfriend Holly was great as well. We got to see her in both and , and I liked seeing the two different Holly's.

It was obvious from meeting both of them how two years -- especially between 17 and 19 -- can change a person. And Adam was awesome. He's the Doc Brown of the group. I imagine Doc's teenage self, if he was a teenager in , would have been very similar to Adam! I also loved Jackson's twin Courtney, although I don't want to say much about her for fear of spoiling the book if you haven't read it yet. I'm hoping we get to learn more about her throughout the series, because I have a feeling there's more to her story than what we learned in Tempest.

And then there was the ending. I don't want to give away spoilers, but the end will tug at your heart so much. I'm just glad I know this is going to be a trilogy, because if that was really the end, I would get seriously sad. There are also so many questions and theories! I want answers to, so I can't wait to read the rest of this series. Oh yeah, Tempest has also been optioned to become a movie!

The book read very cinematically, so I can't wait to see it on the big screen. Thank you, Julie Cross, for writing such an excellent novel! I wish I could time travel into the future so I could read the rest of the trilogy without having to wait. View all 7 comments. Jul 07, Lissa added it Shelves: I do want to read this. I love the Butterfly Effect films, about time-jumpers. But I don't want to read it if it's similar to The Butterfly Effect. Everyone's saying 'this is so unique! So he'd just be getting younger and younger, right?

Cos he can ONLY jump backwards. And then re-live his life. And jump backwards again. I know, I haven't read it yet. It doesn't make sense to me. Even if he can't affect what happens I do want to read this. Even if he can't affect what happens in the past, it still sounds too much like The Butterfly Effect, view spoiler [especially with an apparently 'sad ending' which probably means he sacrifices himself for the well-being of others.

That happens in practically every single time-travel story. I'm not sure I want to risk buying the book, because with a cover this gorgeous, it's probably just going to be another hyped-up disappointment. I will however accept gifts or track it down at my library. Since I really started getting in to YA, I've wasted way too much money on well-marketed books that lack substance or have crap stories or despicable leads.

My trust has been shattered. After reading the first four chapters as provided on http: Holly's friend is a man-basher and Holly refers to her as feminist? I don't want to read this any more. Reciting classic literature makes you a freak? They stop in the middle of foreplay to recite pages of Dickens? Holly attacks a guy that I am guessing is dressed in a suit because we're never told exactly what they're wearing just because they're asking questions? Mar 30, Lola rated it it was ok Shelves: Masculin This is no Ruby Red. Though, time-travel is a complex subject that isn't easy to write of.

The characters The nineteen years old MC , Jackson, is as impulsive as one can be and becomes predictable throughout the book which gets really boring. There was Tempest Rating: There was also another thing I didn't like about him. He always does what he wants to. For exemple, he doesn't care about school so he's actually skipping it whenever he feels like to, prefering to stay in bed with his girlfriend. That isn't quite a good exemple for the teenage readers.

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Holly, the girlfriend , is the perfect type of girl. She has good grades, is gorgeous, blond, blue eyes, skinny, hard working, sporty, and even vegeterian. I have nothing against vegetarianism by the way. I couldn't even find her one single flaw. And I tried to, really. Alright, I guess she's a bit careless when it comes to Jackson but love makes us all act differently sometime.

I didn't connect with her and I just thought there were moments she was out of place. There is also Adam, the brain of the trio. He's the cute geek, always there to find an answear and helping Jackson whenever he needs it. I came to really like him actually, making him my favorite character of the story. As I pictured Adam The story There were many confusing moments. Jackson wants to save his girlfriend The thing is, since the beginning of the story, it was clear that he couldn't do any of those. The author made it very clear that whatever happens in the past, doesn't affect the people in the future.

For exemple, if he talks with someone or hits that person while being in the past, the person in question won't remember it nor fell pain. I really think you need to be quite open-minded and patient to be able to enjoy this book. The writing It was surprisingly good for a debut author we've got some talent here. Julie Cross did a great job describing actions happening and adding some suspense to them.

Other then those moments, it was slow, but the perfect amount of slow since it fitted the story. I drew in a deep shaky breath and forced myself to stop crying. You can sleep now. And I could almost see it, a clear picture in my mind: Free-falling, feeling nothing but air, no weight. Jun 24, Tatiana rated it liked it. View all 9 comments. Sep 28, Crystal rated it really liked it Shelves: This book has everything! Very action packed and I have to admit very confusing at times, but in the end all that confusion is well worth it.

Stranger of Tempest

What happens in this book is a very intense plot involving several different characters and when you read it, it is like watching a ball of yarn unwind. There are so many secrets that I lost count of how many times I thought I knew something because it turned out to be wrong. I have This book has everything! I have no idea who to trust and normally this is a bad thing but I love all the mystery involved in this unique story. Julie Cross does a wonderful job of keeping the reader on their toes and can definitely write an exciting tale.

I also appreciate that when Jackson would time jump she would start a new chapter. This helped keep all the confusion to a minimum. I am eagerly waiting for the next installment to see what becomes of every character and if Jackson can save the future from destitute. This book has already been optioned for a movie and I think it will translate to the theater wonderfully. View all 15 comments. I really wish I could have enjoyed Tempest more then I did. The concept is really actually cool and I liked most of these characters but I think the way it was delivered ruined it for me. It was erratic, confusing and moved rather quickly and eventually I lost interest and had to skim the rest of the book to finish it.

I am looking forward to seeing this on the big screen though, maybe it'll do better as a visual? Thanks Crystal for touring this out and Amber for sending it. Sorry I couldn't loved it: Mar 19, Gwynn White rated it did not like it Shelves: Great cover, great premise, poor read. I didn't even finish it. It just wasn't compelling enough. Where to start with review? Is that what those card-board cut-outs were? Jackson was tedious, Holly unremarkable and Adam stereotyped.

And I hated that Jackson refused to tell Holly - the girl of his dreams that he loved so much - about his time travel secret. That sure is the basis for a long and happy life togethe What a disappointment. That sure is the basis for a long and happy life together. The Love Maybe it's just me, but how many nineteen-year-old boys have had so much sex with so many girls that they can't remember if any of them were virgins?

And don't look back. The bad guys with the guns are not the real danger in this relationship. Dad Jackson's father was about as unbelievable a character as you will find in all of English writ. And Jackson never noticed anything remotely odd about him before he learned to time jump? Time Jumps As far as all the time jumps go I am stunned by the speed and the confusion of it all. We never settled anywhere for long enough to get the full picture of what was happening All told, I think this book should have been written as a screenplay, because that is all it is, seeing as Summit has bought the movie right.

Such a shame because it could have been a really good read. In the end all I can say about this meaninglss Apr 08, Nihan rated it it was amazing.

Nov 28, Rose rated it it was ok Shelves: Julie Cross's "Tempest" is a book I know I'm going to have a hard time discussing without feeling major pangs of guilt gripping me from the inside, because it should've been a story I enjoyed. I didn't enter the book with any major expectations. The premise seemed interesting, and while weary that the time-travel didn't note any major repercussions or system it was based upon, I jumped in headfirst anyway. I like Julie Cross; she seems like a sweet person. I would not hesitate to read further works from her in the future, but I had strong enough objections to "Tempest" that I've decided not to follow further installations in this particular series.

Giving a brief introduction to the plot - year-old Jackson Meyers has the ability to jump through time, which somewhat reminded me of the same system that Steven Gould used in "Jumper" to leap to different places. Totally cool with me, btw. Jackson's living in the year , testing the waters of his ability with friend Adam, who comes across as your typical geeky sidekick invested in Jackson's odd ability.

But she recovers quickly, saying she "can't stay mad at him" and makes him promise "no more secrets" though he never really tells her the secret he's keeping at the time. The two have a "make-up" make out session, before agents of unknown origin burst into the apartment, corner Jackson, and in the mix of a scuffle - shoot Holly, who dies in the encounter. Jackson time-jumps and winds up stuck in The story moves on from that point to describe how desperate Jackson is to find out the truth and save the girl he loves.

I guess I should have recognized the warning signs when I realized that I didn't care for Jackson as a leading character. I found his voice displaced for a male protagonist, with some odd turns in my suspension of disbelief. Citing Dickens in the middle of a make out scene? Come on now… It made it hard to connect with him. I also didn't think highly of the scene where Jackson and Holly blasted Holly's roommate as an angry feminist.

To dispel a prevalent misconception: I think that scene was intended in humor, but it wasn't in the slightest, just awkward and misguided. On the scene with the agents: I guess I could understand Jackson suddenly time jumped in a panic, but nothing in that scene made sense enough for me to connect to it. For such an important plot turn in the novel that was supposed to be the push for the start of the story, it dropped the ball quite hard.

Not to mention it didn't pull me any closer to connect with Holly just because she was - well, killed - during that scene. Jackson realizes that he's stuck in form in an effect from doing a full time jump as opposed to a half jump which doesn't affect time. He has to account for his activities and being there when he's really supposed to be overseas. He makes an active plan to incorporate himself into the "base" realm he's in. He makes the decision not to go back to his private high school, becomes a janitor at the school Holly attends at the time awkward much?

I wasn't convinced when Jackson thought his father might've been behind Holly's death - he really didn't seem impassioned enough about either her death or his father's possible betrayal. I would've thought Jackson would've gone Kamehameha on his father's rear with even the inkling of deception. His assumptions come out of thin air and don't really have any links based on information provided to us in the scene, so it feels displaced as well. Except when we figure out he's actually right in his assumptions when the scenes come to pass, but there's no toggling of threads to keep the reader guessing on their own, and I think that would've made for a more compelling story rather than the conspiracy assumptions.

I think at that point I just decided to read forward in the story just to see where it went, but to summarize - I think I would've appreciated this story a lot more if the characterization and references felt less "Hollywood" and more genuine. To repeatedly say that Jackson's ability is "not like the movies" and then make a comparison to "Groundhog Day" not one, not two, but three times in the text suggests improper worldbuilding and contradiction.

Not to mention the dumping of pop culture references throughout the text was too much. I don't mind spot references, but if it's thrown in without any sort of intimate value, it's a bust for me. There were points where I think Cross shows promise, particularly involving a scene with Jackson's deceased twin. It showed that Cross has the capacity to show emotional intimacy and do it well, but it was too far and few between in the events of the novel to redeem it for me as a whole.

The ending had me up in arms. If this is supposed to be a story that bases itself on love as much as it does, it didn't show it well enough in the interactions between Holly and Jackson for the most part. There were probably one or two scenes where it came close - but those scenes were more surface emotion than resonant. I couldn't really recommend this novel for those who like time travel stories because the time travel system is too haphazard. I couldn't recommend this for sci-fi thriller fans because it doesn't keep the pacing well enough throughout the novel to keep interest, let alone the cookie cutter cast Jackson the good looking, awkward hero, Holly the ideal damsel whose fight scenes made no sense , Adam the ubiquitously referenced smart hacker, Jackson's stern, not so mysterious father, etc.

And lastly, the love story…just doesn't deliver. I'm sure there will be people who enjoy and give more leverage to this more than I did, but there were too many times I had to suspend disbelief and push myself through in order to make it to the end. Feb 21, Blythe rated it liked it Shelves: While time travel novels and movies have always interested me and I always had that nagging feeling in the back of my mind that I'd enjoy Tempest after reading its synopsis, the negative reviews it received from trusted friends of mine discouraged me.

However, I decided to take a chance and pick up the last copy of Tempest left and see for myself if I Actual rating: However, I decided to take a chance and pick up the last copy of Tempest left and see for myself if I'd fall into the category of people who liked it, or the category of people who didn't, all while keeping my expectations relatively low. The action heavy nature of the plot makes the characters feel more like stereotypes than people but, despite all the action and how often the characters warn us about the incredible dangers, I never once felt like they were really in trouble.

I still enjoyed the book but not nearly as much as I thought I would. May 16, Roy rated it liked it. Solid and unique world building. Great characterisation with great dialogue between the mercenaries.

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Lynx isnt your typical hero, rotund not the best in his abilities but is definitely just in his decision making. Not sure the element of Cards really worked or matters that much to the overall story. My first Lloyd book and wont be my last. I got a similar vibe in some parts to Waking Fire by Rya Solid and unique world building. I got a similar vibe in some parts to Waking Fire by Ryan. Having read Waking fire 1st, maybe that influenced my review and enjoyment. What can one say about their first impression of a book cover with so much eye candy like Stranger of Tempest.

Well upon seeing the cover for Stranger of Tempest two thoughts come to mind. I think the cover artwork done by Jon McCoy is fantastic and just pure eye candy. Over the number of years I have spent reading I have learnt the hard way tha What can one say about their first impression of a book cover with so much eye candy like Stranger of Tempest.

However what Stranger of Tempest gives us is not only a great cover but it firmly represents its greatness on the inside. When I started reading this book it was immediately noticeable due to the chapter breaks that this book was going to take place in the past and present. I have read quite a few books that have attempted this in different manners, with good and bad results. I admit that I initially found it difficult to find my footing in this world and learn about it as well as its inhabitants.

However once I got used to Tom Lloyds method of story telling in this book I quickly found myself getting lost in its world, past and present. There are many books out there that are trying to carve their own version of a magic system, some of which have become more successful than others.

If you make a magic system to complicated then a reader can become either very bored or confused but if you make a to simplistic then the reader can also become either very bored or uninterested. I think Tom Lloyd has found the perfect balance between having a magic system that is simplistic but still very interesting.

This is because he sticks to the main forms of elemental magic but with a twist as it exists within certain bullet type and can these can only be used with specialist guns called mage guns. I have come across a number of books that use guns as the core of their magic system but nothing like this and due to this I thoroughly enjoyed reading about all the different bullet types and their powers. One aspect of the book that really intrigued me was how each mercenary is put into a particular part of the group through the use of whats called the mercenary deck.

This somewhat set each character into a particular set of people but you quickly find that each one is very unique in their own right and have their own personality traits which I found where very well drawn out. I also think Tom Lloyd uses this characterisation method in the best way possible as at the start of the both you can see which card group each character is assigned to.

The story of this book is certainly an interesting one, especially when you are trying to keep track of two different timelines and it also eventually splits into different perspectives. This may sound like a lot to take in but I believe this is what helps to not only give weight and depth to the story but also the world as a whole. Even with the slight pacing issues I still really enjoyed the story and was consistently intrigued by what was going on. So…did this book meet my expectations set by the cover? Stranger of Tempest has some slow points and the writing style does take some getting used to but this certainly does not detract from how good this book is.

This book is certainly the full package when it comes to a great book, pretty on the outside and great on the inside. With that in mind whether you were thinking of picking up this book purely because of the cover or because you like the sound of it I would recommend you do so. Jun 27, Dezideriu Szabo rated it liked it. A very interesting world building but the story was yet another "running trough Moria to the Bridge of Khazad-Dum". Jan 23, Bogdan rated it liked it Shelves: This was a fast read.

It has some humour, but on decent levels, the worldbuilding has appeal and the story was in the same bag, too. All good and beautiful until the second part of the book, when the interludes from the past disappear and the other two action strings were reunited in the present time. Now we have a big and long chase, not bad, but not great either and quite typical for this kind of novels.

And, surprisingly, the appealing of the book started to get lower, until it felt it was on a kind of "meh" level. Dec 19, Becky rated it it was amazing Shelves: It took me a little while to get into this, but as soon as I gave myself a decent amount of time to sit down and read rather than grab minutes here and there suddenly it flew by!

One of the first things I like is how well rounded the cast of characters appear to be. The band of merceneries is diverse and whilst you often get main characters like Lynx with traumatic back stories it is rare that a writer in a fantasy series actually reflects on how mental health would be impacted by a brutal upbrin It took me a little while to get into this, but as soon as I gave myself a decent amount of time to sit down and read rather than grab minutes here and there suddenly it flew by!

The band of merceneries is diverse and whilst you often get main characters like Lynx with traumatic back stories it is rare that a writer in a fantasy series actually reflects on how mental health would be impacted by a brutal upbringing and torture. This is also a nice change from the 'save a girl and then look after and don't expect her to do anything herself' trope we often get in fantasy. Tom's approach feels far more realistic for a bunch of merceneries.

The world-building is intriguing and much is left to be understood - again something I liked rather than having characters give unnecessary exposition to you the reader that they would never do in real life. The plot is essentially a long chase which is enjoyable and the action keeps moving. The bad guys also have an understandable justification for their actions which also makes a nice change. Overall I really enjoyed this and am definitely looking forward to the next in the series!

This was an enjoyable, entertaining read. It had a few quirks that kept it from 5 stars. For instance, I think the author needs some more wildlife experience so he'll quite comparing everything to the size of a pony. I have already purchased the follow-up. Hopefully with less ponyisms. Dec 03, JohnHooper rated it it was amazing. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I enjoyed the combination of crass humor and themes of darkness and fear. The nod to J. Tolkien near the end was just brilliant. Jun 03, Paul rated it really liked it. I warmed to Lynx immediately.

Out of shape and with a habit of waking up in jail cells, the only thing Lynx has going for him is a deeply ingrained sense of honour and an unshakeable need to do what is right. You get to learn just enough about the events that have led the man to be the way he is. That said, I get the distinct impression that there is still more to be revealed in the future. I certainly hope so. The rest of the men and women who make up the mercenary company are a suitably eclectic and rowdy bunch.

Their commander, Anatin, is a salty old sort, and Kas is a hedonist who is always ready for a fight. My personal favourties though, were Reft and Deern. Reft is a giant of a man, silent and deadly. Deern is the polar opposite, a mouthy troublemaker who causes problems just about everywhere he goes.

There is a strong sense of camaraderie between all these disparate characters. This is a group who bleed for one another, and that level of commitment forms the strongest of bonds. Turns out the mercs latest job may have been mis-sold to them slightly. The only option is to run, and the only direction they can run is towards the ruins of an ancient underground city.

What follows is a fight for survival. Good job Lynx and his new comrades are natural born survivors. A large chunk of the book takes place below ground as the mercenaries attempt to flee their pursuers. This whole section of the novel was executed perfectly. The dark caverns, and various beasts that lurk therein, are damned gruesome. I particularly liked how both groups, the pursuers and the pursued, start to fall apart after prolonged time in the dark.

The physical and psychological effects start to weigh heavy on them all. The growing sense of claustrophobia and unease that various characters start to exhibit feels almost palpable. They are attacked by horrors both real and imagined. The traumatic events they experience also acts as the perfect opportunity to once again highlight the growing bonds of comradeship between Lynx and his new friends. It is chock full of fantasy action, memorable heroes and more explosions than you can shake a fully loaded mage gun at.

Mar 15, Edward Cox rated it really liked it. Lynx is an honest man, haunted by the atrocities of his homeland, his past is nicely dark and mysterious. He is misunderstood, viewed with suspicion, and often treated as an enemy even by his mercenary comrades. Lynx is fundamentally good, he just finds getting into trouble very, very easy. Stranger of Tempest is one of those books that gives you the kind of fantasy yarn that you recognise but rarely in the way you expect.

There are magic and monsters and magical weapons, along with action and i Lynx is an honest man, haunted by the atrocities of his homeland, his past is nicely dark and mysterious. He frees Sitain, and by doing so his fellow mercenaries become unwilling participants in the deaths of every knight. This moments sows a seed that complicates what should be a straightforward mission in hideous and glorious ways. Being something of a food-loving dumpling myself, I appreciate and relate to Lynx.

He makes me believe that I can set off with my sword and mage-gun and take on the world while still being allowed to enjoy a pie or two. This is Tom Lloyd at his best, and my money is on Stranger being a standout fantasy for And just look at that cover! Jun 10, Claire rated it it was amazing Shelves: This review originally appeared on BrizzleLass Books. As the novel progresses and they rescue a mage who has been kidnapped by a band of soldiers, normal practice in this world, the novel desc This review originally appeared on BrizzleLass Books.

As the novel progresses and they rescue a mage who has been kidnapped by a band of soldiers, normal practice in this world, the novel descends into a game of cat and mouse between them and soldiers trying to apprehend them for what they have done. What we get is an adventure filled novel where questions of good vs bad and moral vs immoral come up.

Are our mercenaries the good guys for rescuing someone and doing the moral thing or are the soldiers the good guys for holding up the laws? You decide… I was also massively impressed with the mix of characters and the strong women included in the cast. Tom Lloyd has presented us with a mercenary company and soldiers that includes women who are equally strong as the men if not more so.

Lynx is a complicated character with many levels to his personality, he has trauma from his time as a prisoner and has times when this comes into play during the novel. Despite this he is clever, battle-hardened and tactical in how he approaches his job. This is a fantastic epic fantasy, with almost constant battles, some interesting new ideas for monsters, and a great introduction to a new series. Jun 27, James Barclay rated it it was amazing. It is beautifully designed and superbly executed. From the opening scene to the final words, Stranger of Tempest was gripping, funny, carried great emotional punch, was immersive and perfectly paced.

Stranger of Tempest is an outstanding and refreshingly original work of fantasy fiction; and even in a genre crowded with incredible talent and content, it will undoubtedly stand out and, I hope, propel Tom centre-stage where he clearly now belongs. By the way, yes it is my name on attached to the cover quote below Tom's name. I offered that quote because I utterly loved this book. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Jul 08, Robin Carter rated it it was amazing. Its more that the narrative and flow of the story is paced to perfection, carrying the reader, making the reading effortless, its pace increasing with the pace of fight and flight and then smoothing down to a calm laconic pace when the protagonists are at rest, tense and gripping in the dark places and light and funny at the camps fireside.

Apr 19, Neil rated it it was ok Shelves: I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review. I just did not like the way this was written, switching from the past to the present on alternate chapters. I found this to be totally disruptive to the story. The characters though were well thought out and had plenty of depth. I read the book within two days. It has been a good fantasy story with interesting characters. I would have given five stars but there was a long, long subterranean travel which I found tiresome despite the fact that there was a lot of action.

Jun 17, Aliette rated it really liked it. A fun and fast paced romp in which a mercenary company's latest job goes horrendously wrong and they have to evade pursuit. A great cast and some very good action set pieces. Mar 16, James Sundquist rated it really liked it.

Best book I've read from this author so far, and one I really enjoyed, despite a bit of a lull in the third quarter. Lloyd has always been sharp and creative with worldbuilding, and this world is his most intriguing yet, with magic providing the power for guns of various elemental flavours. There's a rag-tag band of mercenaries always popular pitted against various foes, and the characters are well drawn. The opening is brilliant, throwing you into the action in a way most will never forget, an Best book I've read from this author so far, and one I really enjoyed, despite a bit of a lull in the third quarter.

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