Author: Tere Michaels
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Pages/Word Count: 240 Pages
Rating: 4 Stars
Blurb: In a dystopian near future, New York City has become the epicenter of decadence—gambling, the flesh trade, a playground for the wealthy. And underneath? Crime, fueled by “Dead Bolt,” a destructive designer drug. This New City is where Nox Boyet leads a double life. At night, he is the Vigilante, struggling to keep the streets safe for citizens abandoned by the corrupt government and police. During the day, he works in construction and does his best to raise his adopted teenaged son, Sam.
A mysterious letter addressed to Sam brings Nox in direct contact with “model” Cade Creel, a high-end prostitute working at the Iron Butterfly Casino. Suspicion gives way to an intense attraction as dark figures from Nox’s past and the mysterious peddlers of Dead Bolt begin to descend—and put all their lives in danger. When things spin out of control, Cade is the only person Nox can trust to help him save Sam.
Review: I was excited to get Who Knows the Storm because it was written by one of my favorite authors, Tere Michael, and it’s sci-fi! After reading it, I’m a bit disappointed because I had very high hopes, and the book left me a little unsatisfied.
The plot is a bit convoluted, so I’m not going to go into great detail. I myself was lost at times, but the gist is this: In the near future, Manhattan has been devastated by rainstorms of biblical proportions. Thousands of people are dead, and the island is virtually destroyed. The people that are left exist on the margins of survival, slowly taking back the island. To rejuvenate Manhattan, the island has been divided into sections, with the district being a sort of Las Vegas where gambling and sex are the main attractions.
Nox Boyet is a survivor of the storm. His previous life was a life of privilege but with an unstable mother and a workaholic father, it was lonely. So after the storm, he becomes a vigilante that keeps drug dealers out of his neighborhood. He also has a brother who thinks he’s Nox’s father. I was totally confused with this plot line. There were a whole bunch of questions that didn’t get answered or even come close to any kind of resolution. And honestly, I felt like all these elements were thrown together and there was no coherent way to pull them off. It was confusing to read, and I kept asking myself why is this happening? I get that the story will probably continue in the next book but still, a couple of answers would have helped.
Then we have Cade Creel, a “model” who works at the Iron Butterfly, the most famous and exclusive of the casinos/brothels. He’s your typical pretty boy who knows how to use his face and body. A chain of events leads Cade to Nox, and they become embroiled in even more confusion. There is a phantom bomber, a drug lord, and a ghost from Nox’s past that round out the story. Again, too much happening and not enough of a coherent thread.
Okay, so I had issues with the plot but one thing I didn’t have a problem with was Nox and Creed’s relationship. Nox’s past made him the man he is. He’s protective and controlling, a typical alpha male, but he’s also very caring and loving to his brother Sam. He has lots and lots of baggage, and most importantly he’s hot as hell. Cade loves his job as a prostitute, but he’s very much in control of his life. He’s perfect for Nox because he’s more emotionally stable and can be that rock for him. Their chemistry is undeniable, and they totally worked for me and made me want them to succeed as a couple.
I liked the world building and the whole Storm and after the storm concept, but again I though the plot needed to be more understandable. Who Knows the Storm is set in a post-apocalyptic Manhattan that mirrors some current events. It had its moments and for something different, it’s worth a read.
You can buy Who Knows the Storm (The Vigilante: Book One) here:
