Storm from the East
by Joanna HathawayPublished by Tor Teen on February 11th, 2020
Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure, Romance
Series: Glass Alliance - Book Two
Format: ARC
Source: Kindly provided by the Raincoast Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Summary from Goodreads:
Battles, revolution, and romance collide in Joanna Hathaway's stunning, World Wars-inspired sequel to Dark of the West
Part war drama, part romance, Storm from the East is the second novel in Joanna Hathaway’s immersive, upmarket YA fantasy series that will appeal to readers of Sabaa Tahir, Marie Rutkoski, and Evelyn Skye.
War has begun, and the days of Athan’s and Aurelia’s secret, summer romance feel a world away. Led by Athan’s father, the revolutionary Safire have launched a secret assault upon the last royal kingdom in the South, hoping to depose the king and seize a powerful foothold on the continent. Athan proves a star pilot among their ranks, struggling to justify the violence his family has unleashed as he fights his way to the capital—where, unbeknownst to him, Aurelia has lived since the war’s onset. Determined to save the kingdom Athan has been ordered to destroy, she partners with a local journalist to inflame anti-Safire sentiment, all while learning this conflict might be far darker and more complex than she ever imagined.
When the two reunite at last, Athan longing to shake the nightmare of combat and Aurelia reeling from the discovery of a long-buried family truth come to light, they’ll find the shadow of war stretches well beyond the battlefield. Each of them longs to rekindle the love they once shared . . . but each has a secret they’re desperate to hide.
Review
A World Wars inspired sequel to Dark of the West collides battles, romance, and revolution to create an amazing sequel.
Storm from the East once again centres upon Aurelia and Athan as they try to navigate the increasingly complex political world they live in from the viewpoint of opposing sides that quickly leads to a full-blown war. Throughout the novel, Hathaway deals with tough and often serious topics, such as the ever increasing reality of war and the impact of PTSD.
The action had me on the edge of my seat, the romance was absolutely swoon-worthy, and the world building as well as the characters were completely fleshed out. Between the family dynamics that keep getting more intriguing to read as the story progressed, I especially adored the relationship between Arrin, Athan, and Kalt. The writing was also occasionally so emotionally powerful that one couldn't help but sit there and absorb every moment in.
There was generally more development in Storm from the East, particularly regarding the intense plot and characters, compared to the previous book in the series. I enjoyed reading Aurelia's and Athen's point of view, especially as they began to uncover truths and secrets that have been kept in the dark. Also, their expansion in perspective was entertaining, especially as Aurelia learns more about the world outside of Etania. The romance also made this book that much more adorable to read! The letters Athan and Aurelia sent to each other were exactly what I would expect, given the historical context, and made it that much more entertaining to read.
With that being said, I did feel a sense of disconnect to Aurelia's character compared to Athen's. I think this was mostly based on how she never really committed to any action, due to her lack of conviction, despite the numerous opportunities to make a difference. When she finally does decide on a course of action, she is typically late to the party. However, besides the disconnect with Aurelia's character, the entire novel immerses its readers and takes them on a journey through the story of various characters and their exploration of not only the war but the world around them.
Overall, Storm from the East was an amazing sequel and one I definitely recommend checking out if you're a fan of action-packed historical fiction, romance, and adventure.
Rating
★★★
About the Author
Joanna was born in Montréal and is an avid storyteller who was inspired to write after reading her great-grandfather’s memoirs of the First World War. A lifelong history buff, she now has shelves filled with biographies and historical accounts, and perhaps one too many books about pilots. She can often be found reading, traveling, or riding horses.
Her debut novel, DARK OF THE WEST (Tor Teen, February 5th, 2019), is the first in a WWII-infused fantasy series of forbidden love and deadly revenge.
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