A big thanks to INK & INCENSE PRESS for the ARC!
The Overview
All right, so I originally reviewed this book back in October of 2022—the now first edition.
As a lover of magic-infused modern settings, this was an urban fantasy of weird pseudo-witches that tipped me straight into a gritty world of fame, fortune, and finding a name for yourself that I couldn’t help but fall for.
I loved the introduction of Nikkeah as a cocky main character soaking up the limelight, his relationships with his siblings, his backstory that slowly unfolds alongside his current-day downfall, and his run-in with a certain Halfsleeper who I look forward to seeing more of in book two.
Cara Nox’s STORMBRINGER Goodreads Review • October 8th, 2022
This version is a revamp, which ripped me from the high of finishing book 3, but oh man was it worth it.
So take a quick trip with me into an urban fantasy with a genderqueer main character, friction between casters and non-casters, tournament gladiator sports, and nefarious covens with ulterior motives.
The Back Cover
The vengeful vibes of Vicious meet the gritty urban flavors of Arcane in this dreampunk take on adult urban fantasy.
NIKKEAH TARANIS is a Stormcasting superstar.
Having ascended to the lofty rank of champion at Spectrum Stadium, Nikkeah enjoys a life of stardom high above his caster kin. The next step in his conquering the annual Invocation tournament, in which two dozen elite casters pit their magic and wit against each other for the chance at ultimate fame and fortune.
In the days before the tournament, Nikkeah’s magic is sabotaged under suspicious circumstances, trapping him in the threads of a dark plot that dismantles his glamorous life and sets him against his beloved city. Armed with little more than his outrage and wild Stormcasting, Nikkeah charges down the road to retribution. But what he discovers at the end may leave him with more questions than answers.
The Characters
Nikkeah is an absolutely amazing main character. A genderqueer he/him Mx. icon who shines on the page even brighter than the first edition from his attitude to his gut-wrenching backstory to his empathy for the other characters he runs into along the way.
Micah’s role as mentor and coach was fleshed out so much more and was handled wonderfully as Nikkeah’s counterbalance. Seeing him care so much for his protégé was honestly heartwarming.
Gahera, Nikkeah’s older sister, is a gem, and I will always love her. We love supportive siblings in this house.
Vision. Oh, Vision, my precious Dreamer, I look forward to seeing more of you in the next releases. (Not me fawning over his page time over here or anything.)
The rest of the cast was balanced wonderfully, and while I’ve left out some key names, they absolutely stand out even sharper in my mind than before. I’m excited to see how vividly they’ll stand out on paper as the next volumes trickle out.
The Setting
This was the piece that drew me to the book in the first place. I love urban fantasies that stray from the typical vampires, werewolves, and witches narrative. Honestly, dreampunk—as it’s described by the author—is the best name for it, since it weaves between realities in a world that feels like a futuristic take on Legend of Korra.
You have a bustling city; non-casters being Karens over casters using fire magic to cook their food at fancy restaurants; magical steroid usage in sports matches. It’s all got a touch of familiarity to it with distinctively fantasy elements that cause the right amount of friction for an amazing story.
The Plot
The story itself deals with the rise and fall of Nikkeah’s fame through the unraveling of unfortunate tournament events and dips into his past, when he started his training to become a Spectrum champion. But that’s only where things start.
Because that also really heaps on that pressure to win, and when some of Nikkeah’s opponents turn out to have drugs in their systems, it seems like a play of desperation at first. Then things start to domino from potential scandal to scandal until much more ends up on the line.
The shift from Nikkeah’s teenaged flashbacks to his championship to the absolute mess of a situation he’s in during the latter portion of the book is a twisting maze of a mansion. Everything from the past to the present and the characters’ connections were well thought out and illustrated masterfully.
The Verdict
Stormbringer was incredibly enjoyable. The pace pushed me through a little quicker than I expected, and even though I already expected most of the twists and turns, it was absolutely worth the re-read with polished prose and grittier details about such a wonderfully different urban fantasy I need more of.
Go add this book to your reading list and nab yourself a copy when it re-releases on February 7th, 2024!
