What do you think?
Rate this book
Storm’s Quarry #1
The Iron Phoenix
Seventeen-year-old Nadya Gabori lives a life of secrets in the island city of Storm’s Quarry. By day, she is the dutiful Nomori daughter, but by night, she sprints across rooftops, testing her abilities of speed and strength, abilities no normal girl should have. And she keeps her growing feelings for her friend Kesali from her conservative family. If her secrets were discovered by her people, the price would be banishment.
But when a murderer strikes again and again while a prophesied storm bears down on the city, Nadya disguises herself and uses her gifts to fight the chaos that threatens her home. When Kesali’s life is put in peril by the madness, Nadya will do anything to save her, even if it means risking all and revealing she is the one the city calls the Iron Phoenix.
But when a murderer strikes again and again while a prophesied storm bears down on the city, Nadya disguises herself and uses her gifts to fight the chaos that threatens her home. When Kesali’s life is put in peril by the madness, Nadya will do anything to save her, even if it means risking all and revealing she is the one the city calls the Iron Phoenix.
240 pages, Paperback
First published May 17, 2016
About the author
Rebecca Harwell
8 books20 followersRebecca Harwell grew up in Minnesota and has since lived around the Midwest, which has given her a love of winter and the prairie. She holds a BA in creative writing from Knox College and an MS in library science from Indiana University.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 16, 2017
3 1/2 Stars. I have been wanting to read this for a while. I love fantasy novels, and don't mind if they are dark and gritty, which this is for sure at times. YA novels on the other hand, are not always my favorite, but I have had good luck with YA/NA fantasy books. With Book 2, Phoenix Rising, coming out shortly, I figured it was time to finally read this. I did enjoy this read, it just had a few issues that stopped me from rating it higher.
The main character is 17 year old, Nadya. Nadya is a Nomori. They are a nomadic race that has powers. The men are strong and good fighters, and the women are different types of psychics. But Nadya is different from all of them. She has enhanced hearing, jumping/leaping, fast healing and super strength. She must keep her powers a secret in fear of being shunned. When a civil war breaks out in the city between the Nomori and the other inhabitants, Nadya must find a way to use her powers to protect the people she loves.
I do want to say I think Harwell writes very well. I felt really immersed in this land and had an easy time picturing everything in my head. I could picture the city and the buildings, the violence and the blood. Only thing that wasn't well described is how the characters actually looked, which was surprising since how well everything else was explained.
I got into the story and was on the edge of my seat to find out what would happen next, but there still was a few things I didn't care for. The main thing was Nadya's behavior. She is so scared to be found out, that she lets horrible things happen and does nothing. So many times she could have just said a little, that would have changed so much. It was a little too much "oh she just a 17 year old, to scared and young to do the right thing". I don't like that. I like my my female characters smart and strong. It wasn't until the almost end of the book, that Nadya really started to win me over.
The other part of the book I didn't care for as much was the "romance" if you want to call it. It turned into this love triangle and I just didn't really get their connection. My biggest hope is that in book 2, someone new will come along for Nadya to loose her heart to.
Besides the few issues, I enjoyed this read. It is gritty and dark. Plenty of violence and blood and gore. This is not a light and fluffy YA novel. But it is well written and I am looking forward to reading book 2.
The main character is 17 year old, Nadya. Nadya is a Nomori. They are a nomadic race that has powers. The men are strong and good fighters, and the women are different types of psychics. But Nadya is different from all of them. She has enhanced hearing, jumping/leaping, fast healing and super strength. She must keep her powers a secret in fear of being shunned. When a civil war breaks out in the city between the Nomori and the other inhabitants, Nadya must find a way to use her powers to protect the people she loves.
I do want to say I think Harwell writes very well. I felt really immersed in this land and had an easy time picturing everything in my head. I could picture the city and the buildings, the violence and the blood. Only thing that wasn't well described is how the characters actually looked, which was surprising since how well everything else was explained.
I got into the story and was on the edge of my seat to find out what would happen next, but there still was a few things I didn't care for. The main thing was Nadya's behavior. She is so scared to be found out, that she lets horrible things happen and does nothing. So many times she could have just said a little, that would have changed so much. It was a little too much "oh she just a 17 year old, to scared and young to do the right thing". I don't like that. I like my my female characters smart and strong. It wasn't until the almost end of the book, that Nadya really started to win me over.
The other part of the book I didn't care for as much was the "romance" if you want to call it. It turned into this love triangle and I just didn't really get their connection. My biggest hope is that in book 2, someone new will come along for Nadya to loose her heart to.
Besides the few issues, I enjoyed this read. It is gritty and dark. Plenty of violence and blood and gore. This is not a light and fluffy YA novel. But it is well written and I am looking forward to reading book 2.
May 14, 2016
This book has all the ingredients for a top-notch YA fantasy--an imaginative premise, amazing world-building, vivid story-telling, gripping issues and conflicts, furious action scenes and some of the most distinctive characters I've ever read. But...and it's a rather big BUT, the sum of all the promising parts doesn't exactly equal a truly enjoyable whole.
Storm's Quarry is an island city appropriately named for always being perenially wet. Regulary buttressed by rainstorms, the inhabitants have fashioned a fortress to keep the water at bay--with massive walls, extensive culverts and non-stop steam pumps keeping things dry--or as dry as possible in the city that perpetually smells of damp and mold.
Everyone in Storm's Quarry lives in fear of the 'Big One', a once-in-a-lifetime superstorm that can literally wipe out or starve the entire population. In one such incident in the past, the city was saved with the help of Nomori--nomadic seafarers with psychic abilities--who correctly predicted the storm and its duration. Nomori have since settled down in Storm's Quarry, but the native Erevans are still wary of these gifted people. Despite their peaceful co-existence, there is always this element of distrust between the two races.
In a society on edge from an impending Big Storm, a shadowy presence feeds on the anger, jealousy and all-around antsiness to create havoc. A murder here, a riot there, a mass killing elsewhere... As the population hunkers down in the Big Storm, civil war threatens to erupt among the increasingly agitated populace.
Nadya, a Nomori teen lives a double life: dutiful daughter by day, superhuman by night. During the day, she runs errands for her jeweler mother and hangs with her bff and crush Kesali. At night, she secretly flits all over town--bounding from one rooftop to the next, employing her superhuman strength and speed to the hilt. Nomori may have many abilities, but this isn't one of them. Nadya would be a freak even in their eyes. So she keeps her powers and her nightly rooftop jaunts all to herself....until one night, she witnesses a strange, unnatural killing.
As I mentioned in my opening paragraph, this book has everything going for it. The Storm's Quarry universe the author created is rich in details and authenticity and bursting with potential. The book deals with race issues, parental issues and of course, girlfriend issues. Add to that already explosive mix murder, political intrigue and superhero angst, and you have one delicious smorgasborg of a plot that's sweeping, fantastical yet well grounded in reality.
The author's prose is visceral and very vivid. Liberal use of smells, sounds and atmosphere immerse the reader completely into the lead character's surroundings. The assorted characters who populate the book are all cleverly drawn--resulting in some really distinctive and compelling characterizations.
Except for a few scenes, the book is told mostly from the eyes of Nadya. So a lot of the enjoyment of this book rests on the reader's understanding the worldview of a confused and very naive teenager. And therein lies the rub.
The tone of the book is unrelentingly dark and gritty. Only in occasional snippets of (sadly far too little) Nadya / Kesali interactions does the mood lift a bit. Otherwise it is uniformly gloomy and depressing...just like the weather there. The mood gets progressively worse as the whole city lurches toward the seemingly inevitable self-destruction. The unabated tension, frustration and hopelessness had my stomach in knots. That's exactly what the author intended, of course. But it didn't feel very good.
The book does end on a positive note. But with many unsettled issues, I quite look forward to Book 2. But only if Nadya grows up...even just a little.
I do have to qualify that despite my irritation with the lead character, I loved how the author dealt with her naivete. She doesn't coddle the heroine like many authors are wont to do. I didn't need to strangle Nadya, cause the author did worse. :) Even though I hated that scene (it made me want to throw up) and unfavorably colored my view of the book, it was inevitable. And kudos to the author for taking us there.
Despite my rants, I highly recommend this book. There is an audience for it. Not the typical marshmallow lesfic reader, but adventurous readers who seek depth, originality and aren't turned off by the odd massacre or two or three. Just pinch your nose when the stench of blood gets too overpowering.
4.4 stars
ARC from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books
Storm's Quarry is an island city appropriately named for always being perenially wet. Regulary buttressed by rainstorms, the inhabitants have fashioned a fortress to keep the water at bay--with massive walls, extensive culverts and non-stop steam pumps keeping things dry--or as dry as possible in the city that perpetually smells of damp and mold.
Everyone in Storm's Quarry lives in fear of the 'Big One', a once-in-a-lifetime superstorm that can literally wipe out or starve the entire population. In one such incident in the past, the city was saved with the help of Nomori--nomadic seafarers with psychic abilities--who correctly predicted the storm and its duration. Nomori have since settled down in Storm's Quarry, but the native Erevans are still wary of these gifted people. Despite their peaceful co-existence, there is always this element of distrust between the two races.
In a society on edge from an impending Big Storm, a shadowy presence feeds on the anger, jealousy and all-around antsiness to create havoc. A murder here, a riot there, a mass killing elsewhere... As the population hunkers down in the Big Storm, civil war threatens to erupt among the increasingly agitated populace.
Nadya, a Nomori teen lives a double life: dutiful daughter by day, superhuman by night. During the day, she runs errands for her jeweler mother and hangs with her bff and crush Kesali. At night, she secretly flits all over town--bounding from one rooftop to the next, employing her superhuman strength and speed to the hilt. Nomori may have many abilities, but this isn't one of them. Nadya would be a freak even in their eyes. So she keeps her powers and her nightly rooftop jaunts all to herself....until one night, she witnesses a strange, unnatural killing.
As I mentioned in my opening paragraph, this book has everything going for it. The Storm's Quarry universe the author created is rich in details and authenticity and bursting with potential. The book deals with race issues, parental issues and of course, girlfriend issues. Add to that already explosive mix murder, political intrigue and superhero angst, and you have one delicious smorgasborg of a plot that's sweeping, fantastical yet well grounded in reality.
The author's prose is visceral and very vivid. Liberal use of smells, sounds and atmosphere immerse the reader completely into the lead character's surroundings. The assorted characters who populate the book are all cleverly drawn--resulting in some really distinctive and compelling characterizations.
Except for a few scenes, the book is told mostly from the eyes of Nadya. So a lot of the enjoyment of this book rests on the reader's understanding the worldview of a confused and very naive teenager. And therein lies the rub.
The tone of the book is unrelentingly dark and gritty. Only in occasional snippets of (sadly far too little) Nadya / Kesali interactions does the mood lift a bit. Otherwise it is uniformly gloomy and depressing...just like the weather there. The mood gets progressively worse as the whole city lurches toward the seemingly inevitable self-destruction. The unabated tension, frustration and hopelessness had my stomach in knots. That's exactly what the author intended, of course. But it didn't feel very good.
The book does end on a positive note. But with many unsettled issues, I quite look forward to Book 2. But only if Nadya grows up...even just a little.
I do have to qualify that despite my irritation with the lead character, I loved how the author dealt with her naivete. She doesn't coddle the heroine like many authors are wont to do. I didn't need to strangle Nadya, cause the author did worse. :) Even though I hated that scene (it made me want to throw up) and unfavorably colored my view of the book, it was inevitable. And kudos to the author for taking us there.
Despite my rants, I highly recommend this book. There is an audience for it. Not the typical marshmallow lesfic reader, but adventurous readers who seek depth, originality and aren't turned off by the odd massacre or two or three. Just pinch your nose when the stench of blood gets too overpowering.
4.4 stars
ARC from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books
June 6, 2016
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
There is a neat detailed book here set in a fantasy world. The reader is only given a view of one city on the planet but other locations are briefly named at times. Those other locations are just that though, names.
Years before the start of this book, a nomadic tribe became aware of a 'Great Storm' and sought shelter in a specific city. For various reasons the rulers of the city offered the nomadic people a new home to live in and they accepted. Their 1000+ nomadic journey had come to an end.
The book opens twenty years later. The two different people's continue to live together but with a great deal of mistrust and a certain amount of fear. There are people on both sides who wish and/or loudly comment on how things were better before the nomads came/moved into the city.
The former nomads are of dark skin. Their men are super good at fighting and many have joined the city guard. While the women have magical gifts. Important to the story: the former nomads do not have same sex relationships, while the city natives are said to have this possibility.
The story mostly follows two people. Both descendants of the nomads. A girl who is about to turn 18 (which is important because that's when she's supposed to find her man). And a man whose age is not specified. Both have strange magical abilities. One uses these abilities to create chaos, while the other attempts to do good while at the same time thinking that she is cursed and that dire consequences would occur if her nature were discovered (both the magical part and the lesbian part).
If this had been a MF book the two I mentioned above would probably have circled each other, in a potential romantic manner. Though not necessarily come together. But this is not that type of book (an MF book).
And yet there is something of a love triangle. Consisting of two of the nomad females and the son of the leader of the city.
This was a quite interesting neat book. And while there were elements of teenage angst and the like common to young adult books, it was more of a smallish element not an overwhelming one..
I'm being quite vague in this review mostly because I only have access to a phone. So - not easy to express thoughts. Long and short - good book, I liked and would recommend.
May 21 2016
There is a neat detailed book here set in a fantasy world. The reader is only given a view of one city on the planet but other locations are briefly named at times. Those other locations are just that though, names.
Years before the start of this book, a nomadic tribe became aware of a 'Great Storm' and sought shelter in a specific city. For various reasons the rulers of the city offered the nomadic people a new home to live in and they accepted. Their 1000+ nomadic journey had come to an end.
The book opens twenty years later. The two different people's continue to live together but with a great deal of mistrust and a certain amount of fear. There are people on both sides who wish and/or loudly comment on how things were better before the nomads came/moved into the city.
The former nomads are of dark skin. Their men are super good at fighting and many have joined the city guard. While the women have magical gifts. Important to the story: the former nomads do not have same sex relationships, while the city natives are said to have this possibility.
The story mostly follows two people. Both descendants of the nomads. A girl who is about to turn 18 (which is important because that's when she's supposed to find her man). And a man whose age is not specified. Both have strange magical abilities. One uses these abilities to create chaos, while the other attempts to do good while at the same time thinking that she is cursed and that dire consequences would occur if her nature were discovered (both the magical part and the lesbian part).
If this had been a MF book the two I mentioned above would probably have circled each other, in a potential romantic manner. Though not necessarily come together. But this is not that type of book (an MF book).
And yet there is something of a love triangle. Consisting of two of the nomad females and the son of the leader of the city.
This was a quite interesting neat book. And while there were elements of teenage angst and the like common to young adult books, it was more of a smallish element not an overwhelming one..
I'm being quite vague in this review mostly because I only have access to a phone. So - not easy to express thoughts. Long and short - good book, I liked and would recommend.
May 21 2016
May 14, 2016
Great story! Really liked the characters and the storyline was really interesting. I would have liked to know abit more about the Nomori and their beliefs just to understand better Drina's attitude towards the Erevan people. Hope there's more to come for Nadya and Kesali as well as the people of Storm Quarry.
February 9, 2017
It took a long time to get into this book, part of the problem was the main heroine Nadya, she didn’t excite me and to be honest I didn’t really like her. The indecision and angst just became annoying. Also the whole feel of the story was just so miserable it was depressing to read.
In the end although Nadya becomes more likable I began to like the story less and less. I really dislike plots where the hero/heroine has their mind controlled by the Villain.
In the end although Nadya becomes more likable I began to like the story less and less. I really dislike plots where the hero/heroine has their mind controlled by the Villain.
March 1, 2016
Rebecca Harwell is an amazing writer. She's created a fascinating world and deep and unforgettable characters. I love this book with all my heart and I hope everyone reading this review gets a chance to check it out.
December 25, 2019
A fantasy Jessica Jones where Jessica is an idiot.
December 2, 2020
oh my.
would have been 3 stars but I forgive the abrupt ending now that I know it's the first in a series, so 3.5 it is.
would have been 3 stars but I forgive the abrupt ending now that I know it's the first in a series, so 3.5 it is.
Shelved as 'didn-t-finish'
December 28, 2020Giving up on this book for now, just couldn't get into it at all unfortunately.
July 20, 2022
A promising series starter, but a bit too dark at times. Nevertheless, I'm intrigued enough to want to continue the series. And I have to say that I really liked Nadya's powers.
August 27, 2022
I enjoyed this series. Good to see how prejudice turn to salvation.
June 4, 2016
Storm’s Quarry is an underground city of two cultures, joined by survival needs against the huge storms that occasionally beset. The Nomori were gypsies whose people frequently come with powers. The Everan rule the city and took in the Nomori because one of them prophesied a major storm’s beginning and end. Kesali has gotten her grandmother’s powers of Prophesy and is engaged to the Duke’s son in an effort to unit the two peoples. Her best friend, Nadya Gabori, has been hiding her unusual Captain America type abilities, running over the roof tops at night while appearing a dutiful daughter by day. Then a mind controller starts causing murders, trying to destabilize the city, while a prophesied storm locks the city down. Nadya is forced to use her talents as The Iron Phoenix (paper from Bold Strokes Books) while keeping her father, the head of the Duke’s guards, in the dark. There’s a lot of female Zorro, as well as teenage angst in Rebecca Harwell’s fun tale. I’m eager from more. Review printed by Philadelphia Weekly Press
June 3, 2016
Rebecca Harwell has created such a vivid and captivating world full of rich details, interesting characters, and realistic political and social issues. I was continuously kept in anticipation throughout this thrilling story.
In the following novels, I greatly look forward to seeing how (and if) Storm's Quarry recovers from the tragedy of the Blood Sun Solstice, as well as the progression of the Nadya and her friends and family as they learn to cope with her powers. I would also love to learn more about not only the Nomori's beliefs (as another reviewer mentioned) but some more background on the Erevan people and their feelings for the Nomori as well.
This was a truly great read and one that I definitely recommend.
In the following novels, I greatly look forward to seeing how (and if) Storm's Quarry recovers from the tragedy of the Blood Sun Solstice, as well as the progression of the Nadya and her friends and family as they learn to cope with her powers. I would also love to learn more about not only the Nomori's beliefs (as another reviewer mentioned) but some more background on the Erevan people and their feelings for the Nomori as well.
This was a truly great read and one that I definitely recommend.
January 7, 2017
What a story. Our hero is plagued by the deaths she brings, terrified of her own strength. All the while she loves a girl who is betrothed to the son of the city ruler - for the peace and future of the citizens.
Confronted with machinations from the highest magistrate to the lowest outlaw. Fearing the wrath of her people if they ever find out what she is, she struggles to stop the riots without revealing herself.
I hope Nadya's story continues in the next book. Otherwise it would feel like you are left with just the antipasti.
Confronted with machinations from the highest magistrate to the lowest outlaw. Fearing the wrath of her people if they ever find out what she is, she struggles to stop the riots without revealing herself.
I hope Nadya's story continues in the next book. Otherwise it would feel like you are left with just the antipasti.
Want to read
April 30, 2016I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2016
I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
This book has great characters and is based in a wonderful world.
A really good read.
This book has great characters and is based in a wonderful world.
A really good read.
April 5, 2017
I really enjoyed this book as it was a mix of fantasy and superhero novels (without the superhero tights and other things I despise about superheros).
The world-building was very well done, honestly it seemed to be not much different from our own the way the populist/nationalist sentiments are continuing to grow. Basically Erevan -> Americans/Brits/(insert country who has inhabitants that hate immigrants here) and Nomori -> Immigrants. I'm fairly certain this was intentional and I liked the way it was done. The Nomori bring incredibly useful talents (such as the women's various psychic abilities and being a huge part of the guard because of the men's fighting prowess). The only big difference here being one of the zealots isn't in power currently in Erevan.
The actions scenes were great, even the ones that were completely out of control because they had purpose. It didn't shy away from horrendous scenes to real nail in the struggles of the characters, mostly Nadya.
One of the main reasons I looked into this book/series was because I am a lesbian and I want to read books with relationships that I can relate to. I really like the chemistry between Nadya and Kesali, but god damn I hate that there always has to be SOMETHING getting in the way. In this case, Marko. Not a bad dude, but ugh. I just hope either Nadya gets another love interest or circumstances change because Kesali cannot expect Nadya to be "the other person" because damn she's already angsty enough.
I have an arc of book two from NetGalley and will be diving into that one next!
The world-building was very well done, honestly it seemed to be not much different from our own the way the populist/nationalist sentiments are continuing to grow. Basically Erevan -> Americans/Brits/(insert country who has inhabitants that hate immigrants here) and Nomori -> Immigrants. I'm fairly certain this was intentional and I liked the way it was done. The Nomori bring incredibly useful talents (such as the women's various psychic abilities and being a huge part of the guard because of the men's fighting prowess). The only big difference here being one of the zealots isn't in power currently in Erevan.
The actions scenes were great, even the ones that were completely out of control because they had purpose. It didn't shy away from horrendous scenes to real nail in the struggles of the characters, mostly Nadya.
One of the main reasons I looked into this book/series was because I am a lesbian and I want to read books with relationships that I can relate to. I really like the chemistry between Nadya and Kesali, but god damn I hate that there always has to be SOMETHING getting in the way. In this case, Marko. Not a bad dude, but ugh. I just hope either Nadya gets another love interest or circumstances change because Kesali cannot expect Nadya to be "the other person" because damn she's already angsty enough.
I have an arc of book two from NetGalley and will be diving into that one next!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews