The Windweaver’s Storm

I found audiobooks good and characters developed and the book is fun of adventure magic, and culture

This an entertaining (but long) audio fantasy book. TJ Young is in the midst of his magical schooling, is old enough to notice girls but not the confidence to deal with that, still grieving his sister’s death and on top of all of that is the middle of battling Orishas. This story is set in a modern day America and Africa. I haven’t read the first book, but had no difficulty picking up what was going on. Thank you to Bandele Books, the author Antoine Bandele and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

I was excited to have the opportunity to return to the world of TJ young and I simply love that this book connects to book 1 but gives readers who may not have had the chance to join the adventure in the last book the ability to understand what is happening. One thing that makes this book so amazing is the relatability of the characters and their responses to the experiences they engage in. It often felt as though I was listening to a friend or narrating a situation myself.

Another thing that makes me excited about the series is the connection to Yoruba West African mythology. I have to admit as I read these books my world of knowledge is expanding with it.
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Never make a deal with a deity.
Promises with one are impossible to keep.

TJ Young spent last summer fighting to unlock the secrets behind his sister's mysterious death but found himself battling the magic of the ancient Orishas instead. And some of the answers he sought came with a promise he may not be able to keep: to dismantle new human construction on the coastline of Lagos, Nigeria by the start of spring.

But how does a teenager do away with decades of infrastructure in only half a year?

He’ll need to enlist the help of new allies, mortal and immortal alike. And thankfully, after surviving the grueling magical curriculum of Camp Olosa, he’s now headed to the most prestigious magic school in West Africa: Ifa Academy for Tomorrow’s Diviners.

But will that be enough as he prepares for what can only end in an all-out war between mortals and gods?

I was given an audio version of this book on Netgalley in return for a honest review.

Wow! What an adventure! I loved the frist book. Just as in the frist book I have been introduced to yet more Yurba folklore and learned more about the Orishas.

I have loved every single moment of this read. Watching TJ and his friends grow and learn has been a fantastic experience. I can't wait for the next one. That's for sure!

Just as good as the first one.

Loved going on another adventure with TJ and his crew. Just as action packed as the first and kept you hooked right from the start

The Windweaver’s Storm: An Old Gods Story by Antoine Bandele is the second book in this series. I did not realize that when I first got approved so I went and read book 1 first. After finishing that I was more then eager to dive into book 2. Ty and his companions must battle the mystical foes while trying to be students. I love the relationship dynamics of the characters and that this book incorporates West African mythology. This book is fun and adventurous!
I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. I am the sole author of all of the opinions expressed in this review.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the electronic review audiobook copy. I enjoyed the story, only later realizing that it’s book 2 in the series. I liked the plot, the action, and the pace with which the story moved along. Great series for middle grade audience that I would be sharing with my students and checking out book 1 for myself.

The Windweaver's Storm picks up with TJ preparing to attend Ifa Academy for young dividers after a life changing summer and making an impossible promise that he's not sure he'll be able to fulfill.

I'm really glad I was able to get the audio for this book because it's a thick one but it's a great read. TJs adventures in this book are just as interesting as the first. I loved watching him navigate being in a new country along with all the awkwardness that comes with being a teenager. I really enjoyed detaching his friendship with Ayo grow more throughout this story. I was unsure how I'd feel about the love triangle situation but I ended up not minding it and I appreciated how it was able to add to the story. There's a great mix of adventure, friendships, and magic and the ending was not what I was expecting in the least. Definitely can't wait to see how TJ's story play out in the next book.

I can't get over the absolute QUALITY of this narration. This story (which is excellent on it own) is made INFINITELY BETTER by the narrator and the sound effects. Nekia Renee Martin, you have my heart.

Onto the story: the first book was a great introduction to the world and its affairs, but this second one delves way deeply into all the nooks and crannies of this universe, bringing much depth and even a bit of darkness to the story. I feel so sorry for all that TJ has gone through, he has such a big heart and has experienced so much turmoil in such a little time. In this book TJ is forced to become an adult.

Meanwhile, there's a much needed levity in the form of Teenage Romance and Teenage Drama. It's heartwarming seeing our dear protagonist, who had to grow up really fast, being able to enjoy all that the teenage years have to offer: crushes, miscommunication, romances, jealousy - the whole package.

Overall, the book was really good - altough it's a long story, the pacing is befitting to the story and it never gets boring or filled with useless information. I can't wait to read book 3.

It didn’t take me long to realise that this was the second in the series – but at that stage, I wasn’t sure I would like this one enough to spend one of my precious book credits on listening to the first book. While T.J. seemed an engaging and sympathetic protagonist, initially the leisurely pace took some getting used to.

That said, the production values on this audiobook are very high – I enjoyed the sound effects at the start of each chapter, as the birdsong, in particular, served as a handy reminder that we’re in Nigeria. And Nekia Renee Martin does a wonderful job narrating this tale. Once I got used to the depth of description, I was able to relax into the story as T.J. struggles to settle into this prestigious magical school. I liked the fact that he battled in most of the lessons and didn’t find much of the magic easy to control, given his evident talent in quirky yet powerful ways. It would have been all too easy to turn him into a Gary Stu and I’m very glad that Bandele didn’t.

The tension continues to crank up throughout the story – the ongoing reminders on T.J.’s phone worked nicely to highlight the countdown to the cataclysmic event. Of course, if you build up such a catastrophe, when the hammer falls it needs to be spectacular. And Bandele’s writing didn’t disappoint. Indeed, I was shaken by the sheer extent of the devastation and some of the deaths – Bandele isn’t afraid to off some of his cast of characters that have played a significant role in the story. In fact, I stayed up later than I should to hear what happened next.

Any niggles? Well, I could have done without the love triangle. I understand that teenage romances are often messy due to the strong emotions and inexperience of those caught up in such feelings – but frankly, I wanted to shake T.J. until his teeth rattled at the upset and hurt he was causing. And he got off far too lightly, in my opinion. So I have taken off a point for that. But otherwise, it’s a cracking YA adventure with a lushly portrayed setting that is both unusual and effective. So, yes – I shall be spending one of my precious credits to read the first book in this engaging fantasy, The Gatekeeper’s Staff, as I want to spend more time with T.J. and those Orishas. While I obtained an audiobook arc of The Windweaver’s Storm from the publisher via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
8/10

I've been looking forward to this book since I finished the first and it did not disappoint. I loved being back in this world and with these characters.

I loved that we saw the characters a little bit more mature with different problems to face. The danger was definitely bigger and had me on the edge of my seat.

I'm looking forward to the next one.