Just beyond the human realm is a magical world and mystical peoples that could finally answer all Halle Rhoads’ questions. She knows she’s a murderer, not that her abusive father didn't deserve to die, but it did exile her from the only life and family she ever knew into the cold harsh world to exist by her wits and the seat of her pants.
Seven years later while checking on her baby sister and planning yet another murder
she’s literally run over by a guy who can finally answer some of those questions, Kale Norwood who tells her of her ancient inherent, frightening, exhilarating gifted power from a long ago race of beings. He’s a guy who may be all she’s looking for, or who could betray her. She will come to realize that even if she lets him into her heart her
loner’s existence may not be a choice at all but a path that's been set for her by ancestors and powers she’s yet but destined to discover, that is of course if she survives the trials to come.
Claire Ashgrove’s debut page-turner in her new urban fantasy series is fantastic. She creates a world that’s familiar enough to not need a codex to understand yet foreign enough to awe. Her narrative is absorbing and provocative and will captivate her audience while telling her poignant and wondrous tale and it’s evident by the last page that this is not the end of the story. Her heroine Halle is a conundrum that readers will love and be frustrated with. Her good, bad and ugly co-stars are equally imaginative. There’s a blossoming love story but this is by no means a romance and will in fact draw fans from multiple genres from adult fantasy as well as YA and new adult and of course Claire’s fans from her Templar series will be drawn in too.
So if you’re looking for something entertaining that's a little on the wild side this is your next must read! ( )

BEFORE THE STORM is the first book I have read from author Claire Ashgrove and it was a great introduction to her writing. BEFORE THE STORM starts out with Halle peeking in on the family that thinks shes dead. Just as she is about to jump in and defend the sister that is being physically and emotionally abused by her uncle a strange boy stops her. From that moment on Halle learns that she is not alone in the power she wields and she has to learn how to control it or she will never be able to protect those she cares about.

Halle comes across very hard headed, argumentative and somewhat of a loose cannon. I hate to admit it, but I didn't care for her at first. As I got to know Halle, her past was revealed and her attitude becomes understandable. Dealing with what she had and not knowing the people that she now finds herself in the company of is not easy for her. Especially since no one seems to be able to tell her the truth about anything.

The world is nicely built. I enjoy elemental type powers so I had fun learning about the powers used in BEFORE THE STORM. There was a lot of action, especially from mid book through the end. The characters seems to make their fair share of bad decisions but they all come together to help each other when needed.

The end left me feeling sad and a tad bit annoyed with Halle. Her decision process was sound, and I understand why she came to her decision, but I just felt like Halle was giving up and I don't see her as a quitter. I will have to read book 2 to find out how her decision turns out and to learn more about her story.

* This book was provided free of charge from the author in exchange for an honest review. ( )