Storm- ♥♥♥

D.J. MacHale- Storm

Storm added some layers to the mystery, which overall is a good thing, I just can’t get passed the writing missteps that keep this book from being great. I still love the concept. The plot is what has kept me here this long. The drive across the country made me feel a little closer to the main characters… until something ridiculous happened.

What happened at Fenway was definitely interesting. I can’t really come up with a purpose for the structure they were building before Sylo blew it up. Since I am usually pretty good at figuring out plot twists and nailing down mysteries way before you are supposed to, I’ve been wondering if MacHale is really good at crafting plots or if the poor writing just masks the full intent pretty well. I’m leaning toward the latter. I have to say though, the amount of times Feit comes back from the dead is mildly annoying (same with Granger). There has to be a reasonable explanation for this somewhere. If not, then it’s too over the top and another strike against this series. Fenway is also what made me no long trust Jon, or Kent for that matter. I didn’t have a problem with how that was written. At least not much of one. Tucker is in his head way too much, but aside from that, the way that sanctuary toppled not only felt authentic but gave you a better idea of the scope of this war.

My opinion on Sylo has changed about four times. I think this time it might be solidified. I think I am on their side in this war. What Tucker found inside the fog was kind of eye opening for me. They felt like they were just trying to protect what they could. It wasn’t the same vibe I got from them in most of the first book. Granger also came across as more real and not just an ice cold villain. Tucker being a vigilante bothered me though because I felt like I came out of nowhere in this book. He had always talked about staying together with the group and all that, then he all of a sudden decides he needs to run off on his own? I wasn’t a fan. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve even used that tactic in my writing, the difference is it didn’t go against the grain of my character to do it.

I have to talk about the weird love…. Square? Olivia is all over Tucker one minute, then all over Kent. Tori is reserved and guarded, and then she is making out with Tucker one day and Kent the next. Its way over the top, reads as forced, and just makes me roll my eyes. I get it, they are young teens, the world is ending, they’ve been through a lot, but this just isn’t how natural relationships happen. It probably doesn’t help that I’m not a huge fan of love triangles either.

The anger everyone felt toward Tucker when he came back from the Sylo camp was somewhat understandable, but also a bit over the top. It reminded me of the disclaimer on some TV shows, “dramatized for TV.” It wasn’t awful, just an observation. It seems like they all come through it relatively ok. It takes some time, but if it was instant I would have had major problems with it.

Las Vegas. Las Vegas was a whirlwind of emotions for me. This is where the pace of the books changed. I liked the vibes this camp had, and this is where we finally find out that Jon really isn’t someone we can trust. I felt connected to Charlotte almost immediately. There was just something about her I liked. Plus, she didn’t automatically dismiss Tucker and his friends for being kids. Too many things I read and watch let that happen and it’s a little infuriating after you know what they have been through.

When the time came to plan the attack against the Retro base, I was really happy with how it all was planned out. Cutter surprised me a little with the C4, but finding out later he’s with Sylo cleared that up. Meeting up with the Native American right by Area 51 was also entertaining. It was also a little satisfying to see Kent shut down like that. This is about where Oliva started to really bother me. She was too whiny, she was too scared… It just… bothered me. Her redemption was jumping in front of Tucker. I don’t know why she did it. I’m curious if she is actually a Retro that had a change of heart or is she was just a weird spoiled rich girl in over her head. I was surprised to see how much Kent cared about Oliva, I didn’t think he had that kind of intensity in him.

The overall redeeming quality of this book was in the big plane Tucker and Tori managed to board. It was the first time in the series I truly felt the sense of urgency I was supposed to. From the planting of the charges, to the brawl for control of the plane, to sprinting off the tarmac because the plane would blow soon. I was even happy to see Kent had a change of heart and come back for them. I’m not happy, however, that it was alluded that the plane Feit was on got away from all that. It isn’t plausible, and no one is that indestructible.

The encounter with Granger and Tucker’s mom really sealed the ending for me. The tour of where it all started, and ending on being shot down… It is a really good lead in to another book. I really hope he keeps up the tone he set at the end of Storm, there may be hope for book three after all!