Book Reviews | The Weather Weaver Trilogy (2 and 3)

I reviewed the Weather Weaver a couple of years ago, and loved it. I was quite surprised when a ‘third in series’ popped up on Netgalley in the spring, but applied for it. Thank you, Netgalley and the publishers, for the ARC of Winter’s Keep (even though it was too close to publication date for me to fit it in). So I bought a Gathering Storm, the second in the series. I’ll start there today.

A Gathering Storm (Weather Weaver #2)

by Tamsin Mori

Once a year, weather weavers from all over the globe come together, to trade weather magic and stories. Stella and Nimbus can’t wait to experience the Gathering, but they’re in for a frosty welcome. 
Tamar has always been a rule-breaker, but when she defies the Ice Weavers’ new laws by training Stella to become a fully-fledged weather weaver, it’s Stella who stands to lose everything.
Can Stella and Nimbus thaw the hearts of the council elders, or will winter tear them apart? [goodreads]

My Review

We are quickly brought up to speed with Stella and her family and friends on the remote island in the Shetlands. But Tamar has been keeping secrets from Stella and her magical cloud, and it seems that Stella has to go to a gathering to prove herself in a sort of rite of passage. This involves meeting other young weather weavers, and lo and behold, some of them are bullies. Teaming up with the ones who have been wronged in the past is a good way for Stella to get through this ordeal, especially as she’s a stand-out victim.

This is a long way from my favourite trope. But that’s the story, and it’s well told, with excellent magical creations and logical magical rules. Maybe a touch too much magic away from the weather weaving for my taste, but still a well-put together ordeal by fire for our heroine and her chums. Despite my doubts as the bullying came in, I did enjoy it!

Winter’s Keep (Weather Weaver #3)

“I’ll have what is mine . . .” With Velda overthrown and the Storm Laws abolished, hundreds of young Storm Weavers will be reunited with their stolen clouds. But the very first cloud taken belonged to Tamar’s last apprentice – the sea witch. When Heather returns, seeking to lay the past to rest, the first person she turns to is Stella. But how far can you trust a sea witch? Is she seeking redemption, or plotting her final revenge? With the Teran rising from the deep and the island in his icy grip, Stella and her friends will have to fight to save weather as we know it. [goodreads]

My Review

What a great story! This leads on from A Gathering Storm, and it might be confusing if you haven’t read the previous stories. There is more wonderful weather magic for Stella to learn, but she is also making her own decisions – rightly or wrongly.

This story mixes in some norse folklore to name things like the Kraken, and involves Stella’s parents in their oceanographic research, leading to a dangerous situation for all. It’s fast-moving, but takes time to smell the flowers on the way. I loved this story, and while it completes the plot laid down in the first book, I hope there will be more to come in this world, perhaps featuring the other weather weavers and cloud keepers.