I’ve had my ups and downs with Nisha J. Tuli, but this has to be my second favorite of hers! This YA debut is bringing back the dystopia and Divergent vibes! And it’s a series! Keep reading this book review of Storm Breaker for my full thoughts.
Summary
For nineteen-year-old Poet Graves, New Manhattan has always promised safety―if she obeys. Raised within the ruling Houses and betrothed to a powerful heir, she enters Amery Academy knowing her future has already been decided.
But Amery is nothing like she imagined. Its trials are brutal, its loyalties conditional, and its rules designed to expose weakness. As Poet struggles to survive, she must hide the truth that could get her executed: the storms don’t fear her―they answer back.
When a dangerous outsider from beyond the city walls enters the academy, Poet is drawn to him despite everything she’s been taught to believe. He threatens the life she’s been promised. And choosing him could cost her not just her future, but her freedom.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Storm Breaker immediately delivers trials, a dystopian world, and secrets. If you like this blend of contemporary and dystopian. There are elements you’ll recognize of our world mixed with this dystopian futuristic vibe and also fantasy in the form of this electrifying force. There’s a dash of climate fiction commentary in the world, but the world is one of the earliest favorite elements of mine. While it’s book one, and there’s plenty of room for more world, I just wish we had gotten a smidge more of it to really solidify the dystopian vibes. BUT Storm Breaker is an action packed story with trials and plenty of social upset.
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Storm Breaker is about choices, lies, and sacrifice. The world has these expectations of us and what we want, but what happens when we decide for ourselves? While I was a bit on the fence about the actual romance arc – nothing against Rook who I did like as a character – I am open to this sequel. I feel like just towards the end is really when I locked in about this plot and so it was the most invested I was in the actual movement of the story. But I think it’s always hard with book ones to balance the hook, the reveals, and the cliff hangers. Find Storm Breaker on Goodreads, Storygraph, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.