Storm Born

Since Monroe joined the ranks at BT, this is first time she and I are doing a post together. I can't wait to read with her again.
We decided to go with Storm Born by Richelle Mead. It's the first book in the Dark Swan series. We both love the Succubus series, and thought that this would be in the same hemisphere. It wasn't, not really. Nothing beats Georgina the Succubus.

As with all posts on this site, this is not so much a review as it is a discussion between friends about a book. There will be spoilers.

Storm Borm by Richelle Mead

Just typical. No love life to speak of for months, then all at once, every creature in the Otherworld wants to get in your pants...

Eugenie Markham is a powerful shaman who does a brisk trade banishing spirits and fey who cross into the mortal world. Mercenary, yes, but a girl's got to eat. Her most recent case, however, is enough to ruin her appetite. Hired to find a teenager who has been taken to the Otherworld, Eugenie comes face to face with a startling prophecy--one that uncovers dark secrets about her past and claims that Eugenie's first-born will threaten the future of the world as she knows it.

Now Eugenie is a hot target for every ambitious demon and Otherworldy ne'er-do-well, and the ones who don't want to knock her up want her dead. Eugenie handles a Glock as smoothly as she wields a wand, but she needs some formidable allies for a job like this. She finds them in Dorian, a seductive fairy king with a taste for bondage, and Kiyo, a gorgeous shape-shifter who redefines animal attraction. But with enemies growing bolder and time running out, Eugenie realizes that the greatest danger is yet to come, and it lies in the dark powers that are stirring to life within her...

Chantal: I started Storm Born. I'll try to read fast and catch up.

Monroe: I will finish tonight... I like it! Its nice to have a break from constant ROMANCE ya know?!?!

Chantal: I'm so bored reading this book. Been reading for an hour, I want to stop. You really like it?

Monroe: lmao awww... youre bored? what part are you at?

Chantal: I'm at the part where she just had sex with the guy she met in the bar. They fought that ice creature thing, and then sex guy ( I forget his name) took off.

I'll keep reading.

Monroe: I finished... did I think it was earth shaking, no. BUT by the end you can tell that they REALLY set up for a good series... or at least I think they did. It seems like they can do a lot with whats going on. Are you liking it any better?

(A few days later)

Chantal: I'm done! Don't think I liked it as much as you, though. Some parts were good, some parts I skimmed and skipped. I'm not excited to read the second book.

Monroe: What was it about the book that didn't grab you?

Chantal: It was just... boring. The world building wasn't all that interesting. I didn't care to learn about it or how things worked.
I was ready to give up pretty early on. Then Eugenie (I haaate that name) met the wolf and and they had sex--that got my attention, but it wasn't enough to make me crave reading the book when I put it down to do stuff.

Monroe: Lol I REALLY hated her name as well. I wouldn't say for me it was
totally boring.

It did take me a little bit to truly get into it and just like you when she met the fox it caught my attention. Their sex was pretty steamy but overall I thought it was a pretty decent start to a series. It was lacking in some areas like RM was ALMOST there at certain parts but not quite making the mark.

Chantal: Also, when she was learning her storm powers--I skimmed over those parts. She sat there for hours, and I felt like I was reading that one scene for hours, even though I skipped a lot of it.

Monroe: The learning portions of the book were a bit monotonous but by the end I was interested in what she learned.

Chantal: Dorian saved the book for me, though. I liked him from the start, he is what made me finish the book.

Monroe: I think I liked when she was with Dorian the most. His character is one of my fav kind. Kinda cocky in a hot way. Very blunt and to the point at times. Being in his world at his castle etc. I enjoyed better than her being back home.

Chantal: Yep, I liked it when she was with Dorian, too. The dinner scenes at his home when they were pretending to be sleeping together were ones that I enjoyed.

Monroe: What did you think about RM pulling in her family life? Like with her
relationships with her parents etc? I thought it was pretty real of her
to show the home life. And of course it played a bigger part towards the
end when you found out Eugenie's true background.

Chantal: Hmm, good question. My honest answer is that I didn't get it. I was wondering why time was spent with the parents when they didn't seem to have anything to do with the story. Then when we found out about the Big Lie it was an AHA moment.

I did like it when Eugenie showed her submissive side during sex (you know me, lol) But then when she tried to act all dominate over the fox during sex it didn't make sense to me.

Monroe: Oh yes... I do know you! Lol and you know me, therefore you know I HAVE
to agree with you! I loved her submissive side! And I was put off a bit
by her aggressive side. I don't think I really understood the reasoning
for that. I understand she wanted him to be "hers" and she wanted to
hear it but idk... normally it's the guy that does that sorta stuff so I
was just as put off by it as the Fox.

Chantal: What did you think of what Finn did? I knew he would betray her. As soon as we found out that Finn was not bound to her (WHY wasn't he bound??) I knew that he would turn on her.

Monroe: Finn upset me... ok I thought he was probably shifty I mean why else
would he stick around when he wasn't bound to her?!?! And I kinda felt
that he got dealt with a bit too easily. Maybe they should've kept him
alive a bit longer into the next book or something. And he was getting
it with her sister... SHOCK! lol

Chantal: And the other spirit.. Nandi... is that her name? What was the reason for bounding her and making her serve for 2 years before setting her soul free? She wasn't a bad spirit who haunted people on purpose--Eugenie was a bitch for not letting her pass over.
And the kidnapped girl being Eugneines sister... I wasn't thrilled with that.

Monroe: Personally I think Eugenie shouldve just killed her sister. I mean
obviously shes evil... and its not like they were bff! ;op

Chantal: Yeah, I would have been okay with her just offing Jasmine. There will for sure be more about Jasmine in the next book because that part has been totally unresolved.

Monroe: KINDA off subject but I'm wondering if RM will keep us in limbo between
the two men in Eugenie's life. Like never let her have just one... I mean the Fox (notice how we totally cant remember his name lol) got the other chick preggers (that pissed me off) yet she still wants him...yet shes drawn to Dorian. Mark my words... this will stay a triangle!

Chantal: LOL, I don't even care to remember his name. He is just The Fox to me.

You know, I'm not against a love triangle. As long as Dorian is around, then I'm happy.

As for the other gal being pregnant--that doesn't bother me. The Fox didn't know Eugenie (grrr, I even hate to type out that crazy name) when he got the chick pregnant.

Monroe: His name was something... Kiyo... Kian... sheesh idk! Lol I wish he would've been a wolf though instead of a fox... foxes are cute a wolf... now THAT'S hot! Lol

Chantal: At first I hadn't planned on reading the second book, but I liked Dorian enough that I might read it next.

What do you give this book? I'm going with a C. It was just okay. I wont ever re read this book, it's not going on my keeper shelf, but I might read the next book.

Monroe: Ya I will read the second book pretty soon. I really like Richelle Meads writing and think that like every other series (normally) the first book isn't always the strongest.

I agree and say that I give it a C. Worthy of reading... meeting the characters sometimes clouds a strong storyline to me. But I will be picking up the next one! :o)