Book Review: Storm and Fury (The Harbinger #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Media Type: Print Book (ARC)
Title: Storm and Fury
* Series: The Harbinger #1
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Pages: Hardcover; 512
Release Date: June 11, 2019
Source: Publisher / TLC Book Tours
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Content Screening: Mild Violence; Sexual Content
HDB Rating: 4 Keys to My Heart
Recommended to: Everyone! I’d never read the series this is a spin-off of, and it held up perfectly as a standalone!
Add it on: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N
Eighteen-year-old Trinity Marrow may be going blind, but she can see and communicate with ghosts and spirits. Her unique gift is part of a secret so dangerous that she’s been in hiding for years in an isolated compound fiercely guarded by Wardens—gargoyle shape-shifters who protect humankind from demons. If the demons discover the truth about Trinity, they’ll devour her, flesh and bone, to enhance their own powers.
When Wardens from another clan arrive with disturbing reports that something out there is killing both demons and Wardens, Trinity’s safe world implodes. Not the least because one of the outsiders is the most annoying and fascinating person she’s ever met. Zayne has secrets of his own that will upend her world yet again—but working together becomes imperative once demons breach the compound and Trinity’s secret comes to light. To save her family and maybe the world, she’ll have to put her trust in Zayne. But all bets are off as a supernatural war is unleashed…
First off, I have to give so much love to Trinity as our main character. Lady leads are hard for me sometimes, particularly in Fantasy books, because I expect so much from them in the growth department. Again, I really shouldn’t have worried. Trinity is instantly likable, and relatable, because she’s any of us at eighteen years old. She has crushes, worries about friendships, and puts herself in questionable situations. The fact that she just so happens to have special abilities that cause her to be protected at all costs? Well, that’s the icing on the cake. Even in the midst of being squashed down by those who thought they were protecting her, Trinity was brilliant. She was bold, brave, and full of so much inner light. I especially liked how Armentrout gave Trinity retinitis pigmentosa, but didn’t use it to define her. If anything, Trinity was more because of her RP, and it was fabulous.
That’s not to say that the other characters in this book are ever outshone by Trinity. Misha and Zayne had their own distinct personalities and, even though I was meeting him them for the first time, even Roth and Layla were stunningly written. I do understand why a lot of reviewers said that they felt like they were missing some previous information, but that didn’t deter me in the least. This book is written in a way that still gives the reader plenty of information about the characters who came from the first series. Roth was still full of swagger and sass, as I’ve been told he should have been. If I missed a little of who he was, all that did was give me an incentive to go back and read the first series. Not a problem, at all. This is a solid standalone.
Add in the facts that the plot moves at a manic pace, there’s sweet and sexy scenes in here, and the fight scenes are to die for, and you have my heart. I didn’t give this a full five star rating, only because there were some dialogue scenes that dragged on a little longer than I wanted, but overall this was a fantastic read. Zayne and Trinity have my attention! I’m not only planning on going back and reading the books this came from, but I’m definitely planning on reading the next one of these as well. So much fun! An excellent book to start my reading back up with after a long time away!
FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.
