Thursday, August 6, 2009

Heat Stroke by Rachel Caine


Title: Heat Stroke
Author: Rachel Caine
Publisher: Roc
Publication Date: August 3, 2004
Format: Mass Market Paperback, 352 pages
Age Group: Adult
Series: Weather Warden (Book 2)

Spoiler Alert: Please do not read this review unless you have already read the first book in this series, Ill Wind. The events of this book are strongly based on the ending of the last and I would hate to give anything away. I do have a review of Ill Wind that I posted in July.

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Heat Stroke essentially picks up right where Ill Wind left off. Joanne Baldwin was transformed from a human Weather Warden to a Djinn in order to preserve her life. Now she must learn to use her new abilities while navigating in social circles where she does not understand the rules. There is also a new, unknown rift threatening to tear the world apart.

Heat Stroke is another fast-paced book. Joanne barely has time to cope with one crisis when another strikes. She is again unable to gain her footing and often acts impulsively on whatever little information she has to go on at the time. Joanne is definitely not a big-picture girl and fails to see how all the pieces fit together until it is nearly too late. In this, she is a very flawed heroine. However, without this impulsive nature most of the action in these books would not take place.

I am enjoying the Weather Warden series as quick, entertaining reads. I am not strongly invested in the characters, although I am hoping to see some growth from Joanne in future books. Although both books in the series so far have focused on disasters of large scale significance. the books have enough light moments to keep from becoming too heavy.

3 comments:

  1. I love how you describe Joanne as "definitely not a big-picture girl." Boy, I could use that as a metaphor for life some days. I'm going to tell my daughter about this series, too.

    A suggestion for you, as I know you like YA fiction and fantasy books. Check out "Rumer & Qix," a YA fantasy read with an environmental, save-the-earth. It features a strong female teen heroine who follows her intuition, fights for what she believes in and who she loves, takes calculated risks and makes things happen. I have girls, so I enjoy books with strong female leads!

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  2. Liz, thanks so much for the suggestion. I will definitely check that book out - sounds like one I would like.

    Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. Hi Angela. Good job with the book review. I might read her in the future and keep your review in mind.

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