Thin Air

Joanne’s been in tough spots before, but this is the first time she’s had her memories stolen and been left out to die in the middle of a winter storm. When Lewis and David find her, it doesn’t take long for them to figure out something’s wrong. A demon has awakened, and gained the stunning resemblance of Joanne. One could say she’s almost an exact copy.

After hearing about demons throughout the series and catching glimpses of what they can do, it was great to finally see one awakened. But despite the demon being the main antagonist, very little is seen of it until the end. I would have liked to see a build-up of encounters throughout the story. Instead, a string of events takes Joanne away from the demon, fizzling out the conflict before it truly began each time. The only way Joanne knows it is slowly gaining strength is through hearsay from other characters. And while this offered the opportunity for loose ends leftover from the past novels to reach their ends, it also made them feel like filler.

Admittedly Joanne isn’t at her best, without memories she can’t exactly use her abilities, but she’s been resourceful in the past. Those base instincts are still there, even if she doesn’t immediately realize it. This novel shows a new version of Joanne, one that needs help and is willing to take it without much of a fight. Thin Air shows her vulnerability in ways she hasn’t been before. After so many times seeing Joanne take charge and bring down adversaries, seeing her in this new light was what the story needed.

There are also a few twists I didn't see coming. The utter confusion and surprise brought to Joanne were priceless. The new directions these plot developments promise will entice readers to keep reading the series. Knowing how Joanne reacts to people who cross her, I can’t wait to see what the next book brings. Despite a few hiccups, Thin Air was another wonderful addition to the Weather Warden series.