Thunderbird (Miriam Black)

I was tragically not feeling this one. The story chugged along fast enough. Chuck Wendig makes it easy to plow through every page with Miriam in all her acidity and bullishness. But I wasn't really with her. Miriam wants to get rid of her ability, and she has discovered a woman who might be able to help her - Mary Scissors. Not only that but she's trying to be...better. Healthier, less awful. Normal people stuff, you know. But somehow, instead, Miriam discovers a plot of domestic terrorism and a militia built around people with abilities like hers.

No one will rival Miriam Black in character magnetism, but her stories typically work best when the supporting cast gives it their best shot. From Louis to Ingersol to Ashley Gaines, whether they are better, worse or try to be her equal, they are characters worthy of a Miriam Black story. But this time? Gabby was mostly an obligation to Miriam, a sexy obligation, but not much more. The bad guys were mostly a bland mix of new abilities, no matter how snarky they could be. There's nothing really that caught my attention. The action and plot beats felt haphazard and disjointed, and while I was interested in Miriam's quest to get better, it was so obviously futile. Not just because you know she's not supposed to get rid of her ability, but because of every disaster she encounters and creates along the way.

At the end of The Cormorant, Wendig teased bringing Louis back into the story. That tease is almost immediately tossed out the window in Thunderbird, only to be essentially repeated at the end of the book. Unsurprisingly, I'm a little wary now of getting excited. Though Miriam is at a much different point at the end of this story, and I think there's a lot of potential for the next book. But unfortunately this one fell way short for me.