MAY FEATURE #3: Stormwalker by Allyson James (aka Jennifer Ashley)

[paulgoatallen]

[paulgoatallen]

Stormwalker is categorized as paranormal romance but Allyson James is the pseudonym for Jennifer Ashley, author of Pride Mates (a book that I loved) and I'm (still) curious about what exactly makes a novel either paranormal fantasy or paranormal romance. I know some of you didn't love Pride Mates as much as I did (Hi, Tig!) but many others did so that's why I thought this book could make for some interesting conversation...

...and I love the cover.

Also, the "Native American" mysticism thing has been used in numerous paranormal fantasy and mystery sagas  – C.E. Murphy's Walker Papers, Jeri Smith-Ready's Eyes of Crow, P.R. Frost's Tess Noncoire novels, etc. – and honestly, I hink it's a little over-used. I'm hoping that Jennifer will do something "new" with this...

Paul

[Nelsmom]

I just finished the book and must say it was a great read.  Within the fist page she had me hooked and I had a hard time putting it down to do things like fix supper and the other little things that life demanded.  I definitely felt that she had put a new twist in the Native American mytho's. I loved how she portrayed Coyote.  I will definitely be watching for the next book Firewalker that comes out in November 2010.  I am one of those that enjoys her Allyson James books a little more than her Jennifer Ashley books.  That just seem to have a different flow to the writing.

Toni       

[PhyllisJ]

I wasn't going to get Stormwalker but I decided to go ahead and pick it along with Pride Mates.  I am looking forward to reading both books.

[SciFiCanuck]

Looks like a few bookstores have it.  Yah!  I'll try and pick it up....not sure when I'm going to read it though.  Think I need to start trying to read a book in 4 hours....   LOL  Or maybe break my leg so I'm laid up at home and can read a lot of my TBR's...  LOL

[paulgoatallen]

Hey guys, I just finished this novel literally minutes ago. I'm going to go get some coffee and maybe write my Friday blog on Stormwalker.....

"My name is Paul. And I read paranormal romance."    

Paul

[paulgoatallen]

I just talked about Stormwalker in my Friday blog (link below). Any comments?

Paul

http://bookclubs.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Explorations-The-BN-SciFi-and/Heaving-Supernatural-Bosoms-Do-...

[paulgoatallen]

And without ruining anything for readers who have yet to read this book, I liked it – didn't love it. While Pride Mates just blew me away with its erotic intensity and really fascinating characters, this one seemed a little more "conventional."

I will say this, however – I really think that this just essentially the "intro" to the world and characters and a quick place setting for the "meat" of the story to come in the next two novels.

Paul

[3monstersmom]

Sigh...I put it on my mother's day wish list.  Kids are going to B & N to pick out books for mommy and I heavily suggested this one to daddy.  Usually they just take me to the book store and let me go crazy, but this time there are so many releases coming out on the 25th of this month that I HAVE to have we are splitting up the shopping days.  Should be cute to see what they bring home off mommies wish list.  Wish I could be there when they check out!  Three little boys with some of those covers...hmm...very interesting.  

[Katie983]

paulgoatallen wrote:

Stormwalker is categorized as paranormal romance but Allyson James is the pseudonym for Jennifer Ashley, author of Pride Mates (a book that I loved) and I'm (still) curious about what exactly makes a novel either paranormal fantasy or paranormal romance. I know some of you didn't love Pride Mates as much as I did (Hi, Tig!) but many others did so that's why I thought this book could make for some interesting conversation...

...and I love the cover.

Also, the "Native American" mysticism thing has been used in numerous paranormal fantasy and mystery sagas  – C.E. Murphy's Walker Papers, Jeri Smith-Ready's Eyes of Crow, P.R. Frost's Tess Noncoire novels, etc. – and honestly, I hink it's a little over-used. I'm hoping that Jennifer will do something "new" with this...

Paul

Don't forget the Patricia Briggs's Mercy Thompson series. She uses the pelt of a coyote in order to transform.

[jgmme]

Katie983 wrote:

paulgoatallen wrote:

Don't forget the Patricia Briggs's Mercy Thompson series. She uses the pelt of a coyote in order to transform.

No she doesn't use a pelt to change, Mercy is a Walker (one who does not need a pelt to change) Her mom 1st found out when she was a baby and would change in her crib.

[paulgoatallen]

jgmme wrote:

Katie983 wrote:

paulgoatallen wrote:

Don't forget the Patricia Briggs's Mercy Thompson series. She uses the pelt of a coyote in order to transform.

No she doesn't use a pelt to change, Mercy is a Walker (one who does not need a pelt to change) Her mom 1st found out when she was a baby and would change in her crib.

Absolutely right, Jo – but Katie is right in that the Mercy ThompSon saga is definitely another paranormal fantasy series that incorporates Native American mythology and imagery.  

Paul

[largerthanlife]

ok, so i stayed up late last night so i could get the last few chapters read.  Overall i really did like the book.  

It was sexy without turning into porn, and i like how Janet and Mick were not "the perfect couple" who spend the whole book in perfect bliss.  There could have been a little more conflict, it probably would have made their relationship seem more real.  I've never read pride mates (though i admit it is on my to buy list) but I am of the persuasion where i like my romance understated.  I have a great imagination, i really don't need to spend half of the book in bed games.  This was nice.  I got some hot sex, but didn't have to spend pages wondering when we were going to get back to the story.

I think half of my problem with the book originally was i didn't get the whole backstory till about a third of the way through.  I kind of felt like i perhaps was missing something when i first started the book, like there was a story that happend before this one.  It wasn't until i really got into the story that the feeling dissipated.  I know it is probably a great way to get a reader hooked, but it just takes me a few chapters to settle into a brand-new world, and until i do i am always a little off-center.

I am looking forward to the next in the series.  

*spoiler* (since i am not sure how many of you have got to this point yet. though it is kind of obvious)

I also have to admit that it doesn't take more than a dragon thrown into the mix to make me read on.  I admit it, i am a dragon junkie.  Mick as a dragon is just hot.  

[SciFiCanuck]

3monstersmom wrote:

Sigh...I put it on my mother's day wish list.  Kids are going to B & N to pick out books for mommy and I heavily suggested this one to daddy.  Usually they just take me to the book store and let me go crazy, but this time there are so many releases coming out on the 25th of this month that I HAVE to have we are splitting up the shopping days.  Should be cute to see what they bring home off mommies wish list.  Wish I could be there when they check out!  Three little boys with some of those covers...hmm...very interesting.  

Oh ditto!  I've got about 9 on my May 25 list being released....geeeeeeez!

[Melanie_Murray]

Hi everybody! I'm stopping by for my first ever P&UF post!

Paul, as you know I really just loved this book, but as I read the comments in this thread it got me to wondering whether I'd have liked it as much had I read other types of books that feature Native American mythology. This was part of the book that I found so fascinating. Any recommendations? (Though I loved the characters, paranormal elements, and storytelling in Stormwalker, too.)

The other thing that interests me is the fact that you loved Pride Mates. I'm a huge Ashley fan - she wrote one of the most popular historical romances of 2009 about a lord with Asperger's Syndrome. Needless to say I'm blown away at the variety she can put out as a writer. Anyway, back to my point: you loved Pride Mates but wasn't bowled over by Stormwalker, and I had the exact opposite reaction. I don't know what the greater topic is that I'm trying to get to, but something to do with the fact that the books in the genre we know better didn't excite us as much...I'm rambling. I blame my new-mommy brain. (I don't know how long I can use that excuse, but until someone tells me to quit it, I'm going with it.)

[paulgoatallen]

Melanie_Murray wrote:

Hi everybody! I'm stopping by for my first ever P&UF post!

Paul, as you know I really just loved this book, but as I read the comments in this thread it got me to wondering whether I'd have liked it as much had I read other types of books that feature Native American mythology. This was part of the book that I found so fascinating. Any recommendations? (Though I loved the characters, paranormal elements, and storytelling in Stormwalker, too.)

The other thing that interests me is the fact that you loved Pride Mates. I'm a huge Ashley fan - she wrote one of the most popular historical romances of 2009 about a lord with Asperger's Syndrome. Needless to say I'm blown away at the variety she can put out as a writer. Anyway, back to my point: you loved Pride Mates but wasn't bowled over by Stormwalker, and I had the exact opposite reaction. I don't know what the greater topic is that I'm trying to get to, but something to do with the fact that the books in the genre we know better didn't excite us as much...I'm rambling. I blame my new-mommy brain. (I don't know how long I can use that excuse, but until someone tells me to quit it, I'm going with it.)

Welcome, Melanie – and, yes, the whole Stormwalker/Pride Mates thing is interesting. It's all personal preference but for me, the emotional intensity in Pride Mates was amazing – in Stormwalker it was a different tone. I DO think, however, that the second and third installments of the Stormwalker saga will be better than the first. There was a lot of "place setting" in Stormwalker and in the future novels, I'm guessing that the pace, action, and emotional intensity will be ramped up dramatically.

Paul

[FaeryQueen]

I just started the book last night.  I'm only on Chapter 6 but far it's not bad.  

I started laughing with the coyote peed on Nash's car.

I'll probably have to re-read Pride Mates so I can compare the two.  

[paulgoatallen]

FaeryQueen wrote:

I just started the book last night.  I'm only on Chapter 6 but far it's not bad.  

I started laughing with the coyote peed on Nash's car.

I'll probably have to re-read Pride Mates so I can compare the two.  

Yeah, there is defintely some good humor throughout... reminded me a little of Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan saga.

Paul

[FaeryQueen]

I finished Stormwalker and even went back and read Pride Mates again.

Paul - I see what you mean about the sexual tension/emotional intensity.  There is more of it in Pride Mates, but I think that's a by product of the characters and plot.  You have the sparks from that first meeting that build throughout the book.  In Stormwalker, the main couple is/was already a couple.  You don't have those first meeting sparks.  Although they do have some fire between them and some issues to work out, it's not quite the same.  Also Pride Mates dealt with some heavy social issues that added to the intensity of the book.  Stormwalkers was a much lighter book with some good comic scenes throughout, mostly involving Coyote, but what else would you expect from the trickster?  

Too me the books have a totally different feel to them.  I love authors that can write such different books and keep the tone and moods separate.  There is nothing I find more annoying that reading a book and finding a character or plot that is suspiciously like one from another one of the author's series.

I enjoyed Stormwalker and the think the series will have a lot to offer.  Definitely looking forward to book 2.