Storming

by K M Weiland

[Terri M. LeBlanc]

Is there anything more glamorous than a story about a flying ace trying to save his hometown? Set in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, Storming is a high flying adventure with a dash of dieselpunk. We follow the adventures of Robert “Hitch” Hitchcock and the mysterious Jael. Everyone has secrets, including my favorite character, Walter, who I wanted to hug and cuddle to make him feel better.

Now, I’ve been to Scottsbluff, granted it was just an overnight stop, but Nebraska is big state and I’ve driven nearly the length of it so it wasn’t hard to imagine the dry, vast prairie where the story is set. However, much of this story takes place in the air in open cockpit planes. Weiland deftly manages the scenes on the ground and in the sky. I was constantly amazed at Hitch’s skill and Jael’s bravery. It was easy to imagine what all the flyers were doing when they were up in the air. I could feel the wind in my face, my heart pounding, chewing my nails hoping they would land safely.

Walter, by far, was my favorite character. I figured that everything with Hitch and Jael would end up okay, but I was concerned about Walter from the point he was introduced in the story. I could see his potential even if he couldn’t and I was rooting for him the entire novel.

In the end, I wanted more time in Jael’s world. There was so much left unexplained and it wasn’t the language barrier holding things back. We were just never introduced to a character that could explain the technology which was disappointing as the technology holds a lot of potential.

I did enjoy reading Storming. The characters were ones you rooted for from the start. The mysterious Jael added a bit of intrigue even if her world was not fully explained. High flying adventures in small towns with a handsome Douglas Fairbanks-esque hero reminds me of home and old Hollywood. Two things I find hard to resist.



This review was originally posted on Second Run Reviews