A Minxy Post : Why I love Dragons (Incl. 5 Star Review of Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler)

Why I love dragons? I know, it’s a bit of an odd title, especially for a book series which isn’t strictly about dragons, so why give it that title? What I am hoping to do with these posts is to introduce some of the fantasy and PNR series which I love. Series which may be new to you and whilst they may not be as widely read as say the Black Dagger Brotherhood, the Dark Hunters, the Night Huntress or the Psy-changeling series, they are DEFINTELY worthy of your consideration. For me, one of the iconic emblems of fantasy and the whole fantasy and paranormal genre is the dragon. It crops up so much, hence my title… Why I love dragons! Clear as mud! Heheheheheheeee. 

So where to begin? I am beginning with The Jane True series by Nicole Peeler, I just finished the sixth and final book in this series today and I loved it. I gave it 5 stars and yes I will probably review it soon; and yes dragons do feature in the later books; (I love dragons!) but why did I love it so much?

The answer is simple, the characters and they way they have developed and bonded since the first book. The main character is Jane True, an unusual and withdrawn girl who finds out she is not a girl at all but a ‘halfling’ half human and half selkie. The series follows 6 iconic events in Jane’s life: finding who she is; finding how to use her powers; finding out about her destiny; manifesting that destiny; battling for that destiny and then rescuing it. She is not alone: she comes with a rag tag group of ‘supes’ as she likes to call them, not to mention her family and friends. (I love Tracey and Grizzie) And it is the growth of Jane and these secondary characters which I love most about these books. She changes, they all do, people aren’t always what they seem and sometimes they are exactly that. You never know what might happen. But what I love most are the fact these books are FUN and funny! In book 5 when Jane ends up in London and watches repeats of Taggart and goes round mumbling ‘there’s bin a muh-duh’ I knew my love for this series would be ever lasting. (The books start in the USA but do end up travelling around the world)

Is there romance in these books? Yes and like the main character it grows and changes over the years. As I say in the review below is, is he Mr Right or Mr Right Now? I know the answer…. But I’m not telling! 😉 Is there an element of sex and sexy scenes, yup! As Jane and the books grow as characters, so does the sex and the relationships. But these books are about more than that. 

What follows is my original review of the first book Tempest Rising. I will review the last at some point, but I thought it would be nice to start at the beginning. So if you are looking for something new to pass away the summer months, try Jane True, 6 books, a complete series you can read back to back!

For my final thoughts all I am going to say is Anyan Barghest…… Raaaaaaawr! 😉 

One of the first people I met at AAD was Nicole Peeler and I didn’t even know it, I was nervous and chatting away unknowing that I was talking to an author whose book I’d wanted to read for ages and then I looked in my swag bag and there it was! SQUEEEE!

It is true I have been wanting to read this book since I saw across twitter and bloggerverse how much people were enjoying it and when I got a copy it went straight to the top of the pile. I read it sat mostly in Philadelphia airport waiting for a delayed plane and the rest sat round a pool in Las Vegas and I loved it! (FYI if you read books round the pool in Vegas be careful, the glue starts to melt! Don’t worry, both mine are safe)

I was totally invested in Jane’s world when I read this, you knew from the start she was different and whilst the book introduced her life and friends you were waiting for the supernatural reality to hit, and hit it did, with a BANG! Jane is an intriguing character, quiet and shy because of her past but you know there is a light waiting to shine and those who love her know this. Don’t be mistaken and think just because she is quiet she is a wimp, she isn’t and when she is given a chance to get what she needs/wants she grabs it with both hands. Much to Ryu’s delight. 

Ryu is fun, a vamp with a hinted at past, gorgeous and hypnotic, his interest in Jane is not purely professional but we do sense that as much as he cares for her there is something else happening. Not between them, don’t get me wrong, just in general, will Ryu be Mr Right or Mr Right now I do not know. But I do know he will defend Jane as best he can from those out to kill her because layered over this paranormal/urban fantasy romance is a good thriller, a who dunnit! Who is out to kill Jane and why? And I quite like the whole will it last forever quandry, it is like life!

Ryu is not her only help, she finds out her best friend is also supernatural and that there are a lot of supernatural beings who live near her under the protection of Nell the Gnome. But it is character Anyan who intrigues me and I wonder what his involvement will be in future books.

 

A great book which developed a new supernatural world for me, one I want to throw myself into completely, soon as I get back I will be getting book 2! I give Tempest Rising by Nicole Peeler 4.5 stars out of 5.

Ok Nix, you can give it 5! Minxy =P