Rating: 
Summary: Deliciously fun novel
Review: I picked this book up based on reviews from Amazon; and boy am I glad I did! This book is the first in Caine's Weather Warden series, a fantasy/romance blend that is sure to please. Joanne is a great, fun protagonist; a strong independant female character with an eye for gorgeous men and a weakness for a hot outfit, and fast cars. She's obviously not perfect, but her weaknesses endear her to the reader instead of annoying us like those of many other romance heroines.
The writing itself is flawless - fast-paced and very witty at many points. I didn't get bogged down at the middle/end like you normally do with books, the "FX" were wild and memorable. (This will make a killer movie someday!) Some people have complained about the flashbacks - I don't mind them at all. It's much more suspenseful written the way it is, beginning en media res, and making us have to guess and wait to find out exactly WHY things happened the way they did. In addition, the book has just enough romance to be spicy, but doesn't buck the plot for explicit sex scenes. And if you think this book is great, just try reading the sequels!!
Rating: 
Summary: Creative and fun
Review: I picked this one up due to Jim Butcher's testimonial on the front cover. If you like his stuff (e.g., Dresden Files) this one will be right up your alley. This is another alternate America where magic actually works genre where wardens (e.g., weather, fire, etc.) keep Mother Nature from wiping humanity off the face of the earth. The concept is reasonably creative but the real strength lies in the interesting, original characters and the authors refreshing wit. The writing style is truly engaging and fun. In this one, our hero Joanne Baldwin is on the run from the wardens who believe that she murdered her boss, hoping to find the one person who can protect her from false accusations and, more importantly, save her from the Demon Mark that is slowly destroying her. There are hot women, fast cars, and all kinds of fun twists and turns in the plot. It's great fun. Heartily recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Wow! Fun!
Review: I picked this up based on a good review from RT, and it really delivered! Fun, fast, with a kick-ass strong woman protagonist who's not afraid to be sexy and powerful at the same time. And I loved the weather in this book -- it was a character in its own right.And David? Yum! What a babe! Can't wait to read the next one!
Rating:
Summary: Forecast calls for a surprisingly engaging read!
Review: I picked up this book because I have wanted to read a sci-fi/fantasy novel from a new female writer of said genre (or at least an author that is new to me). Not only did this novel satisfy my thirst for a cool new author, but it has also been added into my list of not-to-be-missed serials. What a fun, action-packed, engaging read Ill Wind turned out to be! The Wardens Association helps protect humankind from being devoured by mother nature. There are Wardens who control either the weather, the fire or the earth. After a Warden has worked a certain amount of time, he or she is given a Djinn -- a genie of sorts who possesses incredible powers and is there to obey and protect its master. Joanne Baldwin is a Weather Warden in trouble. She is accused of murdering a senior Warden and is now escaping from punishment, which may include death. To make matters worse, she has the mark of a demon inside of her, something that will not sit well upon her superiors. Her only company is the road and Delilah -- her vintage Mustang convertible. She hopes that Lewis, the most powerful Warden in the world, who controls all elements of mother nature, will help with her plight. But luck isn't on her side. The Wardens are after her; a storm is chasing her, controlled by an unknown enemy; Lewis is missing; and the demon within her is becoming more difficult to control. An attractive and independent Djinn comes along and decides to help her, but will Joanne be able to free herself from all of her dilemmas? She has far more problems than controlling the weather in her hands. There are many twists throughout the novel.
This novel had a slow start for me, but I couldn't put it down after the story began to take off. Ill Wind has action from beginning to end. The whole weather angle is very interesting. This is one of the most creative fantasies I have read in quite some time. The plot goes into overdrive at times, especially toward the end, but that is precisely what keeps the reader turning the pages. Joanne is a great heroine. She is young and spunky and loves cars. Her narrative is sharp and crisp as she regales you with stories from her past and present. David and Rahel are also great characters. David is adorable and sounds yummy and Rahel is a very cool, no-nonsense Djinn. But the other characters are underdeveloped. In fact, that is the biggest flaw in this book -- insufficient characterization. I hope Caine delves deeper into some of the secondary characters in her next book. Other than that, I loved Ill Wind. The first installment's conclusion was one of the best I have read and I cannot wait to read Heat Stroke. Rachel Caine is an awesome author. I recommend Book One of the Weather Warden series most highly. If you love fantasy, action, mystery and some romantic tension, then you will love this one. I assure you that Ill Wind calls for a surprisingly engaging read!
Rating:
Summary: A Fun Ride (Read)!
Review: I picked up this quick read and devoured it. It's highly entertaining, especially when it pulls away from its genre roots. Its premise is the existence of a secret society of Weather Wardens who make sure that Mother Nature doesn't get out of hand. The cosmology of this alternate world allows the Wardens to tap directly into the meteorological ether of the four elements of nature to protect the rest of us. Unfortunately, Joanne, the Buffy the Vampire Slayer reminiscent (at least to me), heroine has overstepped the bounds of the Warden society and is now on the run to avoid capture and is fighting for her life because of a crippling Demon Mark she received. There's a great deal of suspense as she tries to discover who, and where (and what) her real friends are. I think this could turn into a really good series. The framework of the universe is original and who among us hasn't at some point thought it was raining just because we're sad? (Okay, maybe I'm more egocentric than most). I look forward to Ms. Caine fleshing out the details of this world and exploring some of the issues she raised in the first book (the nature of service and sacrifice for example, as embodied by the Djinn). Buy it and read it when you want to have some fun!
Rating:
Summary: Wild Weather
Review: I really enjoyed the weather descriptions in this book. The story moved along quickly throughout and was enjoyable. But I'm not sure if I like Joanne or not, and the relationships between her and the other characters didn't make me feel much about them either, other than David. It was a good set up for an interesting new world. The whole idea of the weather, specifically storms, being sentient and out to kill us, was fascinating to me. I'm looking forward to reading the next books in the series and I'm sure Joanne will develop more in them.
Rating:
Summary: If you don't have it, GET IT.
Review: I'm a writer, and I'm jaded; I've read 2-3 books a day for 26 years. Few authors can catch and keep my attention. Rachel Caine put her hands around my throat and she squeezed. This went way beyond can't-put-the-book-down, she induced a state of reader coma so deep that I was sure if I stopped reading the story would go on without me and I'd never know if the characters survived. I finished it, then I re-read it. Do yourself a favor, ok? Buy it.
HJ
Rating:
Summary: An Unexpected Treat
Review: I'm always looking for something new in the whole paranormal/supernatural genre and so I picked up Ill Wind after I'd seen people talking about Rachel Caine online. I must admit to an initial hesitance, I read the back and was slightly interested. I'm so glad that I forged ahead and picked it up to read because it's so much better than the back cover makes it out to be. Weather wardens, Earth Wardens, Fire Wardens - I wasn't overly interested by the cover and yet, Caine introduces us to these wardens who protect the rest of us from the weather and the earth and other natural disasters with a really unique and interesting spin. That they are aided bu djinn only adds something else. Joanne Baldwin is a weather warden who is on the run from a murder wrap, oh and she's bearing a demon mark too. Knowing that the only way to get rid of the demon that's been forced into her body is to force it on another human, which is against her moral code, or a djinn, who are rare but she knows who might have a spare or two. Jo drives all over the eastern seaboard and into the south with djinn, friends, foes and killer storms all popping in and out. The results, rather than seeming scattered or disconnected, actually create a tight story and a macro universe from which many other stories can come (and I hear she's working on two more books now). The story has a few good twists that you don't see coming and lots of action and a bit of sexual tension. All in all, a great recipe and a very readable book.
Rating:
Summary: Harry's female alter-ego
Review: If you are looking for an entertaining book to help you pass a dragging afternoon, this one might be it. Don't expect deep meanings or complicated character introspection, just lots of action-packed fun, lots of magic, a decent mystery and a very likable lead character -- which is better than I could say about many urban fantasy stories out there. Joanne is a Weather Warden with a big problem: she is running a race against time to rid herself of a Demon Mark inflicted on her by her former, corrupted boss. The mark is like a parasite: if she doesn't get rid of it fast, it will pervert her power and turn it into something impossible to control. If the other wardens get to her first, she will lose all her power, if not her life. The alternative is to pass the mark on to somebody else, preferably a djinn, and condemn him or her to a life of eternal torment. She thinks she knows her choices, but in fact she has no idea what her choices really are. As the story unfolds, friends and enemies become no longer easily distinguishable, even more so when willing friends are forced to turn into unwilling enemies. The one person that might have the key to it is nowhere to be found and doesn't seem that friendly after all. If the plot structure sounds well-known to you, is because you've already encountered it (Jim Butcher's "Dresden files" series springs to mind, to give but an example). Hopefully, that won't prevent you from checking out the book: it makes good on its promises, with a nice twist at the end. If Harry Dresden charmed the readers with his dry wit and inborn talent of making a mess of just about everything, Joanne will appeal to the readers (some readers, anyway) with her disarming honesty about her likes and dislikes. Frankly, I found it quite refreshing to come across a female character that fantasizes freely about men, enjoys fast cars and sexy cloths, and is not ashamed to admit it. The djinns are a nice and less explored alternative to vampires, werewolves and fey creatures (all of which seem to me quite over-used nowadays). Generally, the characters of the story didn't have too much "texture" and appeared a bit too simplistic for my taste - but hey, there's plenty room for future development. On the whole, the action is very nicely paced, with just the right amount of suspense and magical deeds. In short, a promising beginning and a definite page-turner.
Rating:
Summary: Different, Fast, Fun
Review: If you are looking for something that is very different, lots of action & fun to read, try this new series. I loved it. The magic is highly entertaining & the characters are great. I enjoy books that are off the beaten path so to speak, & this new series is awesome. I just finished the second one & can hardly wait for the next. The whole new twist on the weather is really cool.
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