Chasing tornadoes has nothing on the feeling Ozrik suddenly feels for quiet and introverted Gale. The photographer and atmospheric science guru couldn't care less about storms, but there's something about Ozrik that makes him want to chase them with him anyway. I loved the story—it’s stormy and passionate
From the blurb:
He was the lightning to my thunder, different in every way, yet we were inextricably linked.
A storm rages inside Gale. He’s drowning in secrets and failing at every turn. A life in the seminary didn’t work out. A degree in atmospheric science wasn’t what he had hoped. Closeted and insecure, overshadowed by his outgoing twin sister, Gale’s only happiness comes from photographing nature. Ozrik’s life is a series of lightning strikes. Suffocating under the thumb of a mother with a mental illness, he rebels by chasing tornadoes. Fearless and reckless, he risks his life simply to feel alive. When Ozrik’s chase team gets noticed by a television producer who wants to turn his hobby into a reality show, Ozrik jumps at the chance. Getting paid to chase tornadoes might be his ticket to freedom. Until he learns that his team isn’t the sole contender.
A rival group of chasers has also been selected. What was meant to be a life-changing opportunity turns into a competition that could be the end of Ozrik’s team for good.
He was born for this. As the wind begins to blow, and the season ramps up, Ozrik’s ready to prove himself.
Except that the storm he ends up chasing is unlike any he’s encountered.
It swirls inside the heart of a complicated man.
A storm with the power to destroy him.
Lesetiger's review:
I’ve read quite a few books by Nicky James by now, but nothing by stormchasers. The story is really well done. It’s full of adventure and thrills. It’s about two rival teams competing for a spot on a reality show, along with a slowly unfolding love story that’s packed with emotion and features characters who are as deep as they are fascinating.
The setting is well-crafted, the premise is gripping, and the author describes the scenes in such detail that as a reader—or in this case, a listener—you get a clear sense of just how dangerous storm chasing is, but also how much work and luck it takes to find a really good spot.
Ozrik leads the “Twisted Fates”; he’s brave and likable, and his past—or rather, his relationship with his mother—is really something else. The subject matter itself is intense, and I thought it was great how sensitively the author handled it. The flashbacks to Ozrik’s past gave me goosebumps more than once, but the older he got, the more he grew. Considering what he’s been through, he’s an incredibly strong character who can be very empathetic when it comes to Gale.
Gale is the twin brother of Ozrik’s rival—a passionate storm hunter—and was more or less talked into joining by his sister. His passion isn’t the storms, but his place behind the camera. He's rather introverted, struggles with inner turmoil, and likes to isolate himself from the outside world from time to time.
The bond between Oz and Gale grows slowly, because Gale is very shy at first. But the more time they spend together—even if it’s just by chance—the more Gale’s trust grows, and it was lovely to see how the two slowly draw closer and deliberately seek out a safe space for themselves. I love the chemistry between the two of them.
And I really enjoyed the romance—it was a calm haven amid the chaos of storms and competition, since only one team will be chosen for the second season.
The author did a fantastic job capturing the atmosphere of the film crew always being present and wanting to film even very private moments.
There were interesting discussions, thrilling chases, but also secret meetings and slowly developing feelings. I found the story very refreshing in the truest sense of the word because of its theme; it was wonderfully told and kept me captivated from start to finish.
Nick J. Russo perfectly understood how to breathe life into the characters. He was absolutely convincing and gave the protagonists fitting voices, but he also conveyed emotions like fear, despair, anger, and joy brilliantly.
Stormz Rising is currently available as an audiobook, e-book and paperback, and can be read as part of your Kindle Unlimited Subscription
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