
Any Port in a Storm by Emmie Mears
Series: Ayala Storme #2
Published by Indie
Published on: June 2, 2015
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Pages: 309
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased





Amazon | GoodReads
After months of training a budding army of human/demon hybrids, Ayala and Carrick have worked out most of their differences. Who gets to use the bathroom first in the morning. Who’ll feed the bunny before they go out to make mayhem. Who gets to keep the jeeling claw they found in Forest Hills. You know, the important stuff. But when Gregor sends them out with their battalion of shades and the mission quickly lands on the wrong side of Ayala’s “don’t kill norms” moral line, she quickly discovers that maybe morality wasn’t the motivator behind Gregor’s pet project — or at least not when money’s involved. And when a trio of shades starts murdering the populace in Nashville again and targeting places and people significant to Ayala, her desire to help her own comrade shades stay on the good side of the Mediators will place her at their mercy again. With the Summit fracturing and demons closing in on the city, saving the shades and herself may cost Ayala everything.
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If I had any thought that my five star rating of Storm in a Teacup was just a fluke, the second book put that theory to rest really quickly. Sometimes a follow up book disappoints, but this one didn’t for one second-with one minor exception. More about that later. Just a heads up, there will be spoilers from the first book in this review.
Ayala Storme is a mediator in a world where demons have overrun whole parts of the world-literally. In this world, Alabama and Mississippi are just cesspools of demons and unfit for humans to live there. Ayala lives in Nashville, and works for the Summit, an agency that is tasked with ridding the world of demons. The Opry has already fallen victim to the demons, and it’s up to Ayala and others like her to make sure nothing else does. There’s a new sort of demon in the world now, and they are known as Shades. Shades are born of demons and human hosts-and born fully grown- so you know what happens to the hosts, and it’s not pretty. Ayala is part of a project to integrate the Shades into human life-not an easy feat since they are born ready to kill anything in their path. Gregor-her mentor- has signed off on the project and has helped implement it. To make things more interesting, Gregor has made her let one of them, Carrick, live in her home. Life gets even more complicated when a group of mediators decide they want the Shades to all die, and also want Alamea, the director of the Summit, to be assassinated.
If you love strong, kick ass heroines, Ayala is your girl. She is determined, smart, fit, and lives to kill demons. As in literally lives-people like her have been taken at birth and trained for the job. Mediators are born with violet eyes so they can never be anything else, nor can they leave a specific area surrounding where they are born. It’s all part of the fascinating world building of this series. Alamea (the director of the Summit), has a much bigger part this time around. She is supposed to be the strongest of all the mediators, but as in any large organization, there is always people wanting to usurp her power. She’s pretty unflappable, intelligent and can kick butt with four inch heels on-and never break a sweat. Ayala’s friend and fellow mediator, Mira is smack in the middle of everything with Ayala this time as well. Lots of strong women are featured, always a good thing. Of course there is still the enigmatic Gregor, and also Carrick who is a mystery to Ayala even though they live together. Lots more side characters only add more to this story-some good, some bad.
Describe this book in one word? ACTION. And plenty of it. This is definitely an urban fantasy and this time around romance takes a big leap to the back burner and pretty much stays there. And that’s the one exception that disappointed. A certain love interest was such a big part of the first book that I really missed him in this book. Hopefully he will be back in the next installment.
I think this is my favorite new series, and that’s taking nothing away from my old favorites. It was less than a day’s read for me because I pretty much read non-stop. Great main character, fascinating world building, action, thriller aspects, and a mystery, just added up to a five star read for me. Top that off with great secondary characters, snark and wonderful writing, and if I could give it more stars I would. Highly recommended to all adult urban fantasy readers!
And one more thing, if you don’t come away wanting to adopt a bunny, I would be very surprised!
My Review |

It sounds like this series will not leave readers snoring! I might have to add this to my ever-growing pile. 🙂 And 5 stars! wow.
Joy // Joyousreads recently posted…Bad Day
Yes it was a 5 star read for me-although my 5 star might not be someone else’s of course 🙂 I literally couldn’t put it down.
Lorna recently posted…Review: Any Port in a Storm by Emmie Mears
This sounds good, so I need to get my hands on that first book. 🙂
Stormi recently posted…Review of Fixed in Blood
I loved it-hope you have the same experience 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: Any Port in a Storm by Emmie Mears
I so want a new UF series to read
blodeuedd recently posted…Pure Blooded – Amanda Carlson
This might be a good one for you 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: Any Port in a Storm by Emmie Mears
WOW JUST WOW! I like the idea that they are born to their “career” (for lack of a better word). This does sound kick ass and both were a 5? WOWZER!
Felicia The Geeky Blogger recently posted…Task It Tuesday: Start planning Library Card Month (Sept)
Yes I thought so, and I have never been big on demon books-these are just a lot of fun to read 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: Any Port in a Storm by Emmie Mears
I love that this lived up to the first, second books can be so tricky and seldom do. Yay for great second books!
kindlemom1 recently posted…Review: Magic Rises by Ilona Andrews
I agree with you, and sometimes the first book isn’t that great but the next ones are better-you are right-tricky 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: Any Port in a Storm by Emmie Mears
Lorna, you are the happiest reader that I know. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you dislike a book! *bows down*
Braine Talk Supe recently posted…Liked It: Waterborne Blade by Susan Murray @pulpthorn @AngryRobotBooks #epicfantasy
Oh I have. Just a few weeks ago I had a 2.5 star book. On the other site I review for(PureTextuality) I’ve had bunches with one coming up soon. If I hate a book, I sometimes DNF it or just don’t review it 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: Any Port in a Storm by Emmie Mears
Oh this sounds wonderful, and I love that the second book delivered. You have me adding them to my wishlist!
kimbacaffeinate recently posted…The Best Medicine by Elizabeth Hayley
Oh I hope you like them!
Lorna recently posted…Review: Any Port in a Storm by Emmie Mears
Ha! Not sure what would make me want to adopt a bunny, but will take your word for it, lol
The bunny in this one sounds so sweet and I really wanted one when it was over-I am just a sucker for cuddley animals!
Lorna recently posted…Review: Any Port in a Storm by Emmie Mears
Yay! Glad that this book didn’t didn’t let you down! I love a good kick-ass girl and think I’d really like Ayala. And action packed you say? I think I am going to have to try it! Fab review girl!
Naomi @ Naomi’s Reading Palace
Naomi recently posted…Stalker by Clarissa Wild ~ Review & Giveaway
Thank you! I hope you like it as much as I did if you try it-lots of kick ass action for sure 🙂
I don’t remember seeing your review for #1, but this sins like something is really enjoy. I love a kickass heroine and lots of action. I’ll have to check into one-clicking this series, Lorna. I’m so happy you enjoyed this every bit as much as the first book. A second book being equally as good as the first is an accomplishment. Fantastic review!
Bookworm Brandee recently posted…Blogger Chick Chat ~ Enemies on Tap ~ Avery Flynn
Forgive my auto-correct…I’m commenting from my phone. This sounds like something I’d enjoy. 🙂
Bookworm Brandee recently posted…Blogger Chick Chat ~ Enemies on Tap ~ Avery Flynn
I really loved this book, I hope if you try them you like them as well. Really fun reads with mega action 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Review: Edgewood by Karen McQuestion
I’m glad this book delivered as well as the first. I didn’t read the whole review because I still want to read book one – this just sounds right up my alley! And I’m curious about the bunnies now!
Berls recently posted…Why did you start blogging? How has it changed (for) you?
Just one bunny but it made me want one. We do have some in our yard so I will have to just watch them 🙂 I hope you enjoy these books as much as I did 🙂
Lorna recently posted…Early Review: Misery’s Way by J.C. Daniels