Sunday, September 20, 2009

Chill Factor by Rachel Caine


Title: Chill Factor
Author: Rachel Caine
Publisher: Roc
Publication Date: January 4, 2005
Format: Paperback, 352 pages
Age Group: Adult
Series: Weather Warden (Book 3)

Spoiler Alert: Please do not read this review unless you have read the first two books in this series, Ill Wind and Heat Stroke. Each book in this series (so far) picks up where the last book leaves off and I would hate to give away the ending to a previous book. I posted a review of Ill Wind in July and a review of Heat Stroke in August. These are not books that can be read out of order as they are so heavily dependent on previous books.


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Chill Factor follows Joanne Baldwin, Weather Warden, as she attempt to fix the mess created at the end of Heat Stroke. Kevin, an angry teenager with a lot of power, has control of the most powerful Djinn and is keeping all the Wardens out of Las Vegas. The Djinn have been disappearing and the Wardens cannot combat the unusual weather changes without them. Joanne, who is now human again, has been sent in to try to get Jonathan away from Kevin and restore order before the world is destroyed.

As in the previous books, Joanne doesn't fully understand the situation she is placed in. She is being used by others who either have more power than she does or at least think they do. Although Lewis is weakened because Kevin stole his powers, he still feels that he has the moral high ground and can use Joanne to his own ends. The Wardens also feel that they know how the world should be and that their control over the elements is saving humans from nature instead of destroying a delicate balance.

The events of this book also tie into events from Joanne's past. This leads to sections of the book featuring her memories. The majority of the time, I was able to keep straight what was in the past and what was currently happening, although there were a couple of times when I did get confused. The addition of past events solidifies Joanne's connection to current events and gives a reason why Joanne must be the one to diffuse this situation rather than one of the other Wardens.

Joanne is feisty, impulsive, stubborn, and determined. Despite the risks to her own life, she knows she cannot walk away from the situation and leave the world in peril.

I continue to enjoy this series, although I would not say it is one of my favorites. I am certainly understanding more of Joanne's character as the books progress and am beginning to like her a bit more than I did in the first book.

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