After just two novels (Tempest Rising and Tracking the Tempest), why is Nicole Peeler’s Jane True saga becoming one of paranormal fantasy’s most beloved series? The short answer is that these novels are addictively entertaining. They’re lighthearted reading fare with a lovable protagonist, an interesting cast of characters, a unique setting, brisk pacing, and lots of pop culture–powered humor. Peeler is like the Janet Evanovich of paranormal fantasy…
The long answer takes a bit more time to explain. Although one of the selling points of paranormal fantasy, at least for me, has been the almost limitless potential for storylines—paranormal fantasy features an inexhaustible variety of genre blending elements (fantasy, romance, mystery, erotica, horror, etc.)—some pretty clear clichés have arisen over the last few decades. The first and foremost hackneyed narrative element is the pornstar/warrioress heroine. You know, that butt-kicking, glandularly enhanced female protagonist who works as a detective or private investigator or bounty hunter or otherworldly enforcer with multiple supernatural suitors or sex partners, who has a penchant for high heels and short skirts. I love a strong female character, don’t get me wrong, but there are only so many tattooed, sword-wielding, leather-clad heroines a reviewer can take… And don’t even get me going about the love triangles involving the aforementioned female, a lycanthrope, and a vampire—enough already!
But the biggest—and most commercially successful—subcategory is arguably the lighthearted contemporary urban fantasy, usually set in an alternate history setting like Kim Harrison’s Rachel Morgan series, the Southern Vampire sequence by Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs’s Mercy Thompson saga, etc. But as these particular series have progressed, the main characters have naturally matured and the series have (almost organically) become thematically deeper. After eight novels, Kim Harrison’s Rachel Morgan saga, for example, is much more existentially weighty than the first novel, Dead Witch Walking. And that’s perfectly okay—in fact, I love how Kim has “grown” this series and evolved its characters.
There are a lot of readers out there who gravitate towards these lighthearted contemporary urban fantasy sagas—it truly is ideal literary escapism—but with the maturation of heroines like Rachel Morgan and Sookie Stackhouse, there has been a void of sorts at the top of the paranormal fantasy food chain for a well-written, briskly paced series replete with Desperate Housewives-esque sexuality and humor, a satirical narrative voice, plenty of pop culture references, and featuring an everywoman heroine that readers can really identify with.
Enter Nicole Peeler and her Jane True series (Tempest Rising, Tracking the Tempest, and the forthcoming Tempest's Legacy, tentatively scheduled for release in January, 2011).
Set in Rockabill, Maine, the series revolves around Jane True, an unassuming twenty-something bookstore clerk who happens to be a supernatural halfling (half selkie, half human) with some powerful yet untapped magical abilities of her own. Jane is such a great character—she’s spunky, naïve, idealistic, courageous, and sexy in her own way (she rocks Converse sneakers instead of high heels). Caring for her ailing father in rural Maine and working at a bookstore isn’t exactly exciting but with a cast of characters that includes a gnome, a kelpie, a succubus, and a vampiric love interest named Ryu, the storyline literally burns rubber from the first page—there is mystery, suspense, romance, witty pop culture references (the Barefoot Contessa, Vin Diesel, Yoda, etc.), and some of the most memorable and downright funny sequences this reviewer has come across in years. Here are just a few examples:
"Distract me, I thought, fiercely blinking back my tears. Reinvent me. Get me out of my own head; rescue me from my life... For a second, I pictured myself as Mina and Ryu as Gary Oldman's Dracula. The young hot one, mind you, with the long hair, rather than the old guy with the weird boob wig." (p. 160, Tempest Rising)
“They were lobbing power at one another so fast and so furiously it was like watching a tennis match between Serena and Venus Williams.” (p. 100, Tracking the Tempest)
"Amazing sex, beautiful clothes, and a grilled cheese whenever I ask – I could get used to this life." (p. 293, Tempest Rising)
“You usurped my lentils.” (p. 170, Tracking the Tempest)
"She has seaweed pubes." (p. 44, Tempest Rising)
“My cake-and-sex fantasies were foiled, however, for neither lurked in my kitchen.” (p.17, Tracking the Tempest)
Blending 21st century humor with Scottish and Celtic mythology, the Jane True novels are like that third bowl of porridge in Goldilocks and the Three Bears—they’re just right. The humor isn’t too vulgar or corny, the sexuality is certainly hot but it isn’t over-the-top, and the characterization and story development are, well, just right. Nicole Peeler’s Jane True saga is highly palatable paranormal porridge—eat some soon.
Paul Goat Allen has been a full-time book reviewer specializing in genre fiction for almost the last two decades and has written more than 6,000 reviews for companies like Publishers Weekly, The Chicago Tribune, and BarnesandNoble.com. In his free time, he reads.
I have to agree. I have loved the characters here and the fun in them. One of my Favorite lines is from Tempest Rising...
As this would be me.
I laughed, snickered and smiled my way through 'Tracking the Tempest'. Oh, there's action, suspense and mystery and some really sever things happen during the story, but the satirical voice of Jane and intermittent humorous scenes temper everything perfectly. Plus, the book ends with just the right amount of completion. This book was one enjoyable romp! 
