Review: ‘Taken by Storm’ by Emmie Mears

Stripped of her Silver Scale, made a pariah by the Summit, and with a price tag the size of Kentucky on her head, Ayala is on her own. Gregor Gaskin is still missing, and when Ayala discovers he’s far outside the Mediator territory line, she will unravel more about the Summit than she ever thought possible. Finding Gregor will take her far from home, but catching him might hit her right where she lives — and Gregor’s plans may just release hell on earth before she can stop him.

Taken by Storm is the third book in the Ayala Storm series. It doesn’t stand alone, so if you like fast-paced urban fantasy set in an alternate-world USA, I recommend you start with the first book and go from there.

It’s hard to review books this far into a series without spoilers, so please forgive the rather vague review.

Book three continues to deliver on the promises the first two books made: a sassy leading lady who is struggling more and more with who she is and how she fits into her world; an awesome best friend; a hint of romance (but no “love at first sight”); and more fight scenes than you can spray a flamethrower named Lucy at. The story is so fast-paced that it leaves you breathless. Even when you think Ayala might get a bit of downtime, things inevitably go wrong. Poor girl.

Ayala becomes less of a loner, which is great to see (especially after she got schooled in the previous book for complaining she had no friends), and we also discover that she’s bisexual, though it’s not presented as a big deal, just accepted as part of who she is. I really liked that element.

Plot-wise, we get to discover explanations for a few Mediator secrets and about the world more broadly, and there is closure on some story arcs while others — primarily what the demons are up to, which is the primary meta-plot for the series — are elaborated on but not resolved.

As with the previous book, there isn’t any sex. There is situationally appropriate swearing. And I’ve preordered the next (and I believe last?) book in the series, which comes out later this month.

Waiting is hard, you guys.

In case you missed it, this week over at Aussie Owned and Read, I blogged about five new releases that are coming out to keep you warm this winter!