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Book Summary and Reviews of Tempest by K. Ibura

Tempest by K. Ibura

Tempest

by K. Ibura

  • Critics' Consensus (7):
  • Published:
  • Jun 2025, 304 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

In this lyrical and epic contemporary novel with magical fantasy elements, a girl must learn to master her powers over the wind before a sinister secret organization finds her. Perfect for fans of Legendborn,  A Song Below Water, and Vespertine.

After Veronique's parents died, her grandmother raised her on a farm in rural Louisiana. For sixteen years, it's just been Veronique, MawMaw, and an ocean of trees. That's because Veronique has a secret—one MawMaw has warned her she must always keep safe.

Veronique has the power to control the wind.

But when MawMaw falls ill, Veronique is forced to move to New Orleans to live with family she never knew she had. New Orleans is a far cry from her old quiet life, but Veronique finally gets her chance for a normal life—one with school, friends, and even love. But when her new life threatens her ability to control her powers, she quickly learns that the world is bigger and more dangerous than she'd ever imagined. Veronique must uncover what MawMaw was trying to protect her from before it's too late.

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"A promising premise and alluring protagonist propel this unevenly paced story." —Kirkus Reviews

"This fast-paced adventure will blow readers away. Lovers of superhero stories will devour this one." —Booklist

"V's conflicting romantic feelings for two local boys and keenly felt anxiety about others' perception of her—conveyed via the protagonist's personable POV—ground the high-concept premise in relatable coming-of-age drama." —Publishers Weekly

"Bursting with so much love and power and beauty! Tempest is a magnificent novel that will convince any reader that they have the strength to weather all of life's storms." —Sam J. Miller, Nebula-Award-winning author of The Art of Starving

"Reading Tempest is like getting swept into a storm--its textures, its rhythms, and its sounds swirl around you and shift the world into different shapes when you least expect it. Veronique's struggles for belonging, for self-understanding and for her own power make this magical read a can't miss." —Alaya Dawn Johnson, Nebula and World Fantasy Award-winning author of The Library of Broken Worlds

This information about Tempest was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

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Author Information

K. Ibura

K. Ibura is a writer and visual artist from New Orleans, Louisiana. The middle child of five, she grew up in a city full of music and culture, a neighborhood full of oak trees and mosquitoes, and a home full of art and activism. She has written two short story collections for adults: Ancient, Ancient—winner of the James Tiptree Jr. Literary Award—and When the World Wounds. Her debut novel and first book for young people, When the World Turned Upside Down, was published in February 2022. Find her online at kiburabooks.com.

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