Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Storm
SERIES: Inescapable (Book 1)
AUTHOR: A. M. Rose
PUBLISHER: Self Published
LENGTH: 266 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 22, 2022
BLURB:
Since the dawn of time, the Kriila have lived among humans. Winged, mysterious, beautiful, and privileged.
As their leader, Kiran has seen just how big the divide between the two species is. And he wants nothing more than to bring harmony and equality between them.
He didn’t plan for his human mate to be the catalyst that shakes up their world when he chose him. But will that be the change they need? Or will it cost Kiran everything he’s worked for?
Jude has lived his entire life watching adoration being heaped upon the Kriila. As a human, he believes they are to be resented, not revered.
They fly high above humans and perch in positions of power while everyone else struggles. The Kriila pay little attention to the struggles of humans and Jude has no expectation that will ever change.
But then Kiran chooses him as his mate, and everything Jude believes in shifts. Was every opinion he ever had a prejudice? Or is Kiran just using him to push his own agenda?
REVIEW:
A new-to-me author that has captivated my attention.
Jude is a human living in the Kriila-dominated world. His opinion of these mystical being isn’t very positive. He watch as his fellow humans struggle to survive while the Kriila leadership seems to thrive and flaunt their extreme wealth. The flower shop that he works at is preparing the floral arrangements for the annual The Showing, an event to find your suitable mate. The entire event is garish and so over-the-top it makes your head spin. When Jude accidentally forgets his most treasured possession, a soft wool sweater his mom had handmade for him before she passed, he rushes back to the event to retrieve it. Kiran Castillo is the council leader of the Kriila Circles, the leadership of their world. He is up for re-election against the worst of the worst, Circle Leader Dwight Landon, a bigoted man with no ability to lead but just further his own agenda of putting the lowly humans down in their place. Kiran knows he has to attend The Showing because his numbers in the pools are a little to close for comfort. His shock at finding his mate when leaving the event is overwhelming. Even more shocking is the fact that his mate is human and scared to death of the sudden turn in his life.
Jude and Kiran had so much to overcome. First there was Jude’s preconceived views on the Kriila and their entitle leadership and dominance. Then there was his loyalty to his best friend Levi and his family that took him in when he was orphaned. I can’t wait to learn Levi’s story in the next book in the series. Next was the whole mate thing. Even though it was obvious, by Kiran’s obvious reaction to first seeing Jude, Jude didn’t recognize or realize what was happening right away. I loved that Kiran was so patient with his mate even though it was so taxing on him. And watching Jude learn to not only listen to Kiran but to really get to know him and start to trust him. I’m really thankful the author didn’t rush their relationship. They let the men got to know each other, discover and learn their uniquenesses, and learn to trust and lean on the other for support and ultimately love.
I can’t help but be drawn to the fact that Circle leader Landon and a certain past president in the US seemed to bear many similarities to be ignored down to the spiral flying from his outgoing when he becomes outraged. I don’t know if that was the author’s plan but it sure rushed forward several times in my mind.
I will say that this book pushed my usual reading boundaries a bit. It took a bit for me to understand the nuances of Kiran and his species. I’m just scratching the surface of fantasy writing and will say that the author did a wonderful job in creating and describing the universe they have built. It took a bit to understand the whole winged part of Kiran and the Kriila but I became just as fascinated with it as Jude did. Must be the human curiosity in us both.
I can’t recommend this book enough. It was fascinating and I didn’t want to put it down. I was discovering a whole new world created and my inquisitive mind needs to know more. I can’t wait to read Levi, Jude’s friend that took him in, and his story of why he and his family went into hiding. And Arne, Kiran’s best friend and body guard, will play a big part in Levi’s life too I’m certain.
RATING: 
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