Unknown (Outcast Season) [Mass Market Paperback]

I've said it before but I'll happily say it again - I'm a massive fan of Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series, in fact I'd rate it right up there amongst my all time favorite urban fantasy series for it's fast paced, action packed, unique story lines and fantastic well drawn out characters. Of course I was expecting to like the spin off Outcast Season series but what has surprised me is the fact that I think I'm growing to love these books even more than I love the Weather Warden ones. Although I would recommend reading the Weather Warden series first I think you can probably pick up this series first if you prefer - I would say it's vital to read each series in order though so don't read Unknown unless you've already read the first Outcast Season book Undone.

Cassiel was one of the old Djinn, one of the first who was created and has been around since before humans even existed. She has been cast out by her leader Ashan after refusing to obey his order to destroy humanity and is now in human form. Cut off from her own source of power she has been forced to work with the Weather Wardens so she can use them as a link to gain the power she needs. This isn't easy for Cassiel who has never had any interest in humans before but living among the Wardens has started to change her in ways that she would never have expected. She has found herself growing to care for some of them, Luis and his niece Ibby in particular. With Weather Warden children going missing, seemingly taken by an old enemy that Cassiel believed was dead, it is up to Cassiel and Luis to try and figure out what is happening and find a way to get the children back.

Jo (from the Weather Warden series) is one of my favorite fictional heroines and in a lot of ways Cassiel is her complete opposite but I love her just as much. I love the way Rachel Caine has captured her personality and made her thought process feel so alien. From everything we know of the Djinn from the previous series the majority of them come across as cold and uncaring and this shows through in Cassiel. As much as they don't sound like great qualities to have in a heroine it is the way that you see Cassiel change as the books progress that make her such a lovable character. Watching her come to care for those around her has been really interesting but I also love the way that she still does or says things that prove she still has more to learn.

I'm also really liking Luis and the way things are developing between the two of them. There was no trust between them in the beginning but they are slowly coming to rely on each other. The chemistry between them is great but their romance has a slow build to it that I'm enjoying. Things between them are both sweet and funny (especially Cassiel's thoughts about Luis and the effect he has on her) but I'm expecting the heat levels to go through the roof when they finally get their acts together.

If you're already a fan of the Weather Warden series then you'll know to expect a action packed thrill ride when reading any of Rachel Caine's adult books (I'm sure this is probably the case in her YA Morganville vampire series too but I've not read any of them yet so I can't comment) and Unknown will not disappoint. If you liked Undone then you're sure to love this installment to the series and if you haven't started reading the Outcast Season books yet then you should definitely give them a try.

I love Rachel Caine's Weather Warden series - well, at least the first four or five books which I have read - but hadn't read any of her more recent offerings. When I picked up 'Unknown' I assumed it was a different series than the Weather Wardens, which indeed it is, but it has many links to that previous series and mentions many of the same characters.

I haven't read the first in the Outcast Season but that didn't appear to matter too much; I think I'd have found this book much more confusing if I didn't know of the basic structure of the Weather Warden series and some of the people in that. This book was rather darker and less character-driven than the others, focusing on Cassiel, a Djinn who is now something approaching a human, and who, with Earth Warden Luis Rocha, is trying to stop another ancient Djinn, Pearl, from destroying humanity (what else!)

This book is very fast-paced, like the Weather Warden series, with our heroine dashing from problem to disaster. Lots of people are caught up in the crossfire and she leaves a trail of dead bodies, most of whom aren't her fault. The book hints at a romance but this wasn't particularly developed. It was an enjoyable read but somehow I felt the action was taking over too much and I didn't really connect with any of the characters. Cassiel is clearly developing but I wasn't entirely sure how it would play out, and I also felt that Pearl was a bit too nebulous an enemy, and not knowing the extent of her powers made it hard to gauge the real level of jeopardy for Cass and humanity.

Although I enjoyed the book I was a bit disappointed by the ending which left most of the story hanging. I will probably want to read the next in the series but I did find this book a bit too unfinished for full enjoyment.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2010

This is the second book of a new sub series spawned from the Joanne Baldwin- Weather Warden series. This book was enjoyable and fun and while you don't need to have read the original series it does help. I recommend these books and will be waiting for the next one.