On the run with her sister, Rora Zen Ziel used her special vision to find a place where they would be safe from power hungry mages who were after her and her unique talent of harvesting magic. Never in her wildest dreams had she expect to find a mysterious island and an even more secretive man who both attracted and fascinated her. Too bad he was a mage and couldn’t be trusted.  

Rydan lived his life in solitude, not by choice but by necessity. Something inside his body has turned against him, physically tortured him, when confronted by too many emotions. The only solace he received was in guarding a magical fountain in the bowels of the island. Destiny said he would fall in love. Rydan lived in fear of that day. Not only would he lose his solitude, the curse said he would also lose his fountain. Love would rip apart his life. Then he met Rora. 

Fear and desire tangled together, battled for dominance, only to slowly fade when Rora charmed her way into his life. Her scent, her touch, stirred his passion, but it was her care that showed him he could survive the company of others. Only when he realized that he could have everything he’s ever wanted, did he understand how desperately he wanted it. But when his fountain was attacked, Rydan must face his greatest fears or risk losing his one chance for the future. 

The twists and turns of Rydan and Rora’s life made this book an enjoyable ride. The emotions of both completely immersed me in their world and urged me to read faster to find out what’d happen next. Though parts of the book seem slow and others pass too quickly, I found the overall tale to be both sweet and entertaining with a nice blend of romance and magic. The Storm is a great addition to the Sons of Destiny Series and a must read for fans of Jean Johnson.

January 9, 2009