UNBROKEN (Outcast Season #4) by Rachel Caine-a review

UNBROKEN (Outcast Season #4) by Rachel Caine

UNBROKEN (released in February 2012) is the 4th book and final instalment in Rachel Caine’s Outcast Season. A spinoff of Caine’s Weather Warden series, the Outcast Season follows fallen Djinn Cassiel and her lover Luis as they endeavor to prevent the end of the world-literally.

Once again, Pearl the sadistic and power hungry Djinn has taken control of the young Wardens. With their power enhanced by Pearl’s manipulation, the children are now capable of destruction beyond human comprehension, and it is the destruction that Cass and Luis are trying to prevent. With Pearl’s ambition to rule, Mother (Earth) is angry and refusing to stop the elements of destruction. Mother is not pleased.

With the rescue of Isabel (Luis’s niece) it becomes apparent, that Pearl’s abuse inflicted on the children, has created a power too great to contain. 6 year old Isabel is convinced that she would be in a better position to help if she were older, and unleashes a power that will shock and amaze, but one that will push her growth beyond measure. And it is not only Isabel that has suffered at the hands of Pearl. Many of the young Wardens are as powerful as the Djinn themselves. But it is the black void, the emptiness that is feared above all else.

Cass and Luis find themselves on the run throughout Unbroken, and heading from one disaster into another. Plagues, fires, earthquakes and tornadoes have ravaged most of the earth, and the Wardens are powerless to save the humans or the earth. And every step of the way, Pearl’s presence and manipulation is obvious. But it is not until Cass is held ‘prisoner’ in a crystal cocoon, do we see the extent to which Pearl is willing to reap the benefits of the power of the Djinn.

Jo and David (from Caine’s Weather Warden series) return as Warden and Djinn husband and wife, but even their powers can be bottled with a little control. Bottling the powers would ultimately aid the Wardens, but escape is inevitable when the Djinn are willing to break their own rules.

Esmerelda, the serpent/warden continues to antagonize Cass and Luis but it is Es who is neither good nor evil. Befriended by Isabel, Esmerelda is capable of inflicting a quick death with poisonous fangs, but it is with the death of another that the Djinn will finally be able to send Pearl where she belongs.

UNBROKEN is a fast paced storyline with rarely a moment to catch one’s breath. The constant flow of disaster upon disaster, as well as the appearance of many of the Wardens and Djinns from Caine’s previous Weather Warden series, will culminate into a finale that will close both the Weather Warden and the Outcast Season series together.

When asked whether she was going to continue the Weather Warden/Outcast series…well, I guess you have to read our interview with Rachel Caine on May 7.

Reviewed by Sandy

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UNDONE (Outcast Season #1) by Rachel Caine -a review

UNDONE by Rachel Caine

UNDONE (Outcast Season #1) by Rachel Caine

UNDONE (Outcast Season #1) is the first novel in Rachel Caine’s urban fantasy spin-off to the Weather Warden series. Focusing on the outcast Djinn Cassiel, UNDONE follows Cassiel as she traverses the pitfalls of being almost-human in a world of vengeful beings and controlled puppets.

Cassiel fell to earth as a human. Banished by Ashan, from the Old Djinn for disobeying a direct order, Cassiel is ‘rescued’ by a group of Wardens, hoping to avoid any further complications with the Djinn. As a source of power for the Djinn, the Wardens must allow their energy to flow when a Djinn is in need. Although not entirely human, Cassiel requires a continuous refueling when she expends too much energy trying to manipulate the human world. But it is her human body that is susceptible to outside danger and pain.

Manny Rocha soon finds himself the Warden to Cassiel, but with his own wife Angela and daughter Isabel to protect, he is soon embroiled in a war between the Djinn, Wardens and a murderous gang for revenge against his brother Luis. Hoping to integrate Cassiel into the world, Manny reluctantly allows Cassiel time with his family and friends. But when both he and Cassiel are suddenly targets from both Fire Wardens and gang bangers, it is Manny’s family that will suffer the most.

Luis Rocha is Manny’s brother, a one-time member of the infamous Norteno drug gang and an Earth Warden. With his ability to manipulate and use the Earth elements, Luis is a much stronger Warden then his brother Manny. But when Manny and his wife are gunned down in a drive-by shooting, it takes everything for Luis not to place the blame in another direction-at Cassiel. The danger for everyone has escalated from the time that Cassiel descended to Earth. Knowing that these deaths are a direct result of his previous gang affiliation, Luis must somehow make amends to Isabel. Isabel’s friendship with Cassiel is further enhanced when the child ‘s distress is only eased by the fallen Djinn. But when the Isabel is abducted and the power shift leads to the Wardens, it is Luis who must now ask Cassiel for her assistance in finding his niece.

Luis and Cassiel’s hunt for the missing child covers miles of dangerous ground, catastrophes and road blocks, all manipulated using the power of the earth, weather and fire. Knowing that a war between the Djinn and the Wardens is only escalating, Luis and Cassiel push further until both find themselves prisoner at the Ranch-where more than just the discovery of Isabel Rocha will pray heavily on their minds. An enemy, once thought long gone, has resurfaced, hoping for revenge against the fallen Djinn. And a training ground for future soldiers in the war between Djinn and Wardens, is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

UNDONE is an interesting story. Although I had not read the Weather Warden series, I did not find myself lost in a world of unknowns and confusion. The story is fast paced with plenty of action and information. Like many Urban Fantasy novels, the hero and heroine are trying desperately to save the world from one disaster after another, and in the end it will take more than just two reluctant saviors, but perhaps a small child who has lost both of her parents.

Reviewed by Sandy

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