[Previous entry: "Lee and Miller's BALANCE OF TRADE -- Suzanne's and Edith's Opinions"] [Main Index] [Next entry: "Catherine Asaro and Laura Resnick Up for RITA Awards"] 03/27/2004 Entry: "ILL WIND by Rachel Caine -- Preeti's Take" What a fun read. ILL WIND is about Joanne, a car-mad, full-of-attitude, mid- level weather warden in trouble and on the run. Looping flashbacks explain her history with all the story's characters and the events that led up to the current situation. I skipped around and read the book completely out of order, so I have only myself to blame for sometimes being confused. The story had me itching to get back to it whenever I put it down, though. I loved the whole magic system Caine created. The weather, fire, and earth wardens are part of a bureacracy that keep earth habitable for humans. The powers of many high-level wardens are augmented by enslaved djinn, while some others are tempted to seek unsanctioned power through opening themselves up to demons. There might be a religious underpinning to all this somewhere that isn't explained in ILL WIND--demons and (briefly) angels and a One God are referenced--but, hey, that's what sequels are for. There's also a love story that's integral to the plot. To say more might ruin some of the pleasure in discovering the surprises in the story for yourself. I really liked this enough to look forward to more.--Preeti --More ILL WIND
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