In The Storm

Feb 26, 2011 J. rated it 4 of 5 stars

In the storm is an emotionally deep short story that deals with issues that are dark yet not overwhelmingly so. The situation of abuse is dealt with in a tactful way appropriate for most readers. The reader is allowed to know that the characters feel threatened but is never made to see graphic, gory details or anything like that. The emotions of the characters are the main focus, and they are expertly depicted. Carly's emotions are very realistic given her situation.

The idea of the storm world t...more

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Apr 21, 2011 Leah (The Kings and Queens of YA) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

I wasn't really sure what to expect with book. The synopsis is frustratingly vague. I was very pleasantly surprised though, and quite frankly I LOVED it!

Carly was a smart and easy to read protaganist. Her life literally sucks in this book, she has to take care of her five year old brother, her step father abuses her, and her mother ran out on her, and Metcalf wrote in a way that made me feel very sympathetic towards her. Usually when I read books about protaganists who have a hard home life I do...more

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Apr 14, 2011 Majanka rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: novella, fantasy

In The Storm is a short story of roughly 90 pages long. In a gripping display of emotions, our protagonist Carly sketches her life at home, under the ‘care’ of her stepfather Richard – a drunk, abusive and malicious man – and the way she and her younger brother Mitchell try to deal with this in their day-to-day life. When she hears her stepfather coming up the stairs to enter her room in the middle of the night, Carly has had enough. With a clicking sound, she leaves her human body behind to tra...more In The Storm is a short story of roughly 90 pages long. In a gripping display of emotions, our protagonist Carly sketches her life at home, under the ‘care’ of her stepfather Richard – a drunk, abusive and malicious man – and the way she and her younger brother Mitchell try to deal with this in their day-to-day life. When she hears her stepfather coming up the stairs to enter her room in the middle of the night, Carly has had enough. With a clicking sound, she leaves her human body behind to travel to a world beyond our own: an imaginative place only Carly can access, and which is inhabited by her guardian angel. Said angel appears in the form of a gorgeous-looking teenage boy who listens to the name of Morgan. He explains to her the very nature of his place sprung from her imagination, and its purpose, as well as his own purpose. To save her, to make her reach a certain life goal. But Carly has yet to realise that this goal comes at great expense…

For a short story, In The Storm certainly covers a lot of topics, ranging from child abuse, loneliness to fantasy worlds, alternate dimensions, guardian angels and destiny. At some points in the story, I wished the author had chosen to cover less topics, and maybe focus more on explaining some loose ends: for instance, the explanation of the different dimensions left me sort of confused, we never got to know why Carly’s mother left them in the first place, or why Carly gets to have an imaginative world at her dismay, whereas some other children in comparable circumstances (like her brother Mitchell) don’t get one. I wish some of these topics were explained more in detail. And although I could relate to the characters, I would have liked to get to know them better. Therefore, in my opinion, this book would have been better suited as a full-length novel than as a novella, considering the depth and complicity of the story, and the development of the characters.

On the other hand, I have to admit that it was nice reading a short story for once, and briefly blinking in and out the lifes of te main characters. I liked Carly as a person: I thought she had a very strong personality, a lot of courage and a very caring heart for her younger brother. I loved the interactions between Carly and her brother Mitchell, because they were so honest and sweet, and so remarkably loving and caring for people in such abusive circumstances. I wish we had a greater insight in Mitchell’s personality though, because he seemed like an interesting person as well. I also ‘liked’ (since ‘like’ isn’t the appropriate word) the way Karen Metcalf sketched stepfather Richard’s personality. An abusive man who spends more time drunk than sober, with a passion for hurting the children left in his care, and an obsession for sick mind games. Naturelly, I detested his personality, but I do admire the way the author described his personality so well, and really portrayed him as the sick man he was. It isn’t easy to do something lik that, especially not in a novella. But whenever the name ‘Richard’ was mentioned, I felt really sick in the pit of stomach and I got the urge to go hit him on the head with a rather large axe. Mission accomplished, I would say, because I really did hate this guy, who is sort of ‘the villain’ in this story. I would have liked to know more about what exactly made Richard turn into a blazing madman though, because I’m curious like that.

What I absolutely loved about this book, is the world building. The world Carly creates from her imagination, the world she can only access once something inside of her goes CLICK, is simply amazing. The way Karen Metcalf describes the looks and feel of this world, the way she makes the giant trees come to live, and the way she makes the storm so vivid and terrifying as if they were real, is very impressive. I also loved the entire background story about why this world was created, and why one can only access it now and then, and the story about Carly’s other lifes, her previous lifes, and her connection with the supposed-to-be’s. I thought these notions were very original, well thought-through, and they got me to do a fair share of thinking myself. Although a fantasy story at the core, I believed the basic ideas to be rather realistic and perhaps even plausible. Who knows where the feeling of déjà-vu really comes from, and who knows there aren’t a ton of other us’s out there, living the exact same life as we have – or something slightly different – in other dimensions? I know that these thoughts crossed my mind before when I was younger and in the whole doubting-life-and-everything-in-it phase, but I outgrew this as I grew older. I’m glad this book reminded me of this, as it’s really an interesting subject matter to think about. Who knows? Maybe in some other life, I’m Queen of the World and everyone bows down for me. Now that would be something.

I also liked the addition of ‘destiny’ and ‘fate’ in this novel, as it was ultimately destiny that brought the characters to where they were, and that no matter how many times Carly’s guardian angel Morgan, had tried to alter the course of destiny; he eventually failed every time. I thought the idea of a world based on our own choice or opinions but ultimately determined by a fixed destiny, was very appealing and intriguing.

It still surprises me how much originality, character development, topics and themes and great life-altering questions Karen Metcalf managed to address in this less-than-one-hour-long read. It leaves me yet again with the thought that this novella could have been life-changing and the next best thing in YA fantasy, had it been longer, and had the topics been covered more thoroughly. I have to hope that Karen Metcalf decides to write a sequel to In The Storm, because this is a story truly deserving of a sequel; and I cannot wait to read more about Carly and Morgan, as their entwined destinies enfold. An excellent read, that I would recommend to every fan of Young Adult Fantasy novels, or even just Fantasy novels, or to everyone who has an hour to spare and wants to read something fresh and original. Try In The Storm – it will not dissapoint.

Read the review on my website.(less)

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Apr 06, 2011 Naomi rated it 5 of 5 stars

In The Storm by Karen Metcalf, is a moving novella that delves into the realms of fate, what if’s and anger.

Poor Carly has had a tough upbringing, dealing with an abusive step father and caring for her younger brother, Mitchell. No wonder her anger gets the better of her. Eventually her rage takes over and transports her to this beautiful purple storm world. This is her only escape from reality.

In her storm world, Carly meets a boy, his name is Morgan. He is her guardian, sort of. He tries to e...more

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Apr 05, 2011 Lacey Weatherford rated it 3 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this from the author for an honest review. This story sounded very intriguing to me and I was looking forward to reading it. I wish I'd have known how quick of a read it is, because I kept having to delay my reading because of a busy schedule. This is a very short novella at 88 pages in length, but those 88 pages packed a lot of emotion.

I'm actually glad of the shortness of the tale because it deals heavily in the issue of child abuse, something that tears at my heart greatl...more I received a copy of this from the author for an honest review. This story sounded very intriguing to me and I was looking forward to reading it. I wish I'd have known how quick of a read it is, because I kept having to delay my reading because of a busy schedule. This is a very short novella at 88 pages in length, but those 88 pages packed a lot of emotion.

I'm actually glad of the shortness of the tale because it deals heavily in the issue of child abuse, something that tears at my heart greatly. To live with the children of this story in those moments were uncomfortable and made wish to be able to protect them somehow.

When Carly finds herself sucked into a different dimension, I actually feared she'd finally broken, that this was her means of escape while she was being brutally assaulted or something. But it appears that this world serves a realm where the millions of different branches of her life are controlled from. Oh, and there is a mysterious keeper/helper in this realm too. In the form of a young adult male.

I tried really hard to follow all the explanations of the tale as they were told, but I often felt just as confused as Carly at times, so I finally gave up on the science of it all and just let the story fall into a natural flow. There were many heart gripping moments involved and flashes and hints of internal turmoil as well. However, nothing in the story is ever explained. Why is the world dying that has lived this long? The characters guess at this, but there is never any concrete evidence. What is Carly's mission? No one knows. Why is Carly supposed to save her brother if he doesn't even exist in some realms?

Things quickly rush toward an ending that is fastly contrived with no time for adjustment for Carly. The very last page was predictable but hoped for as well. When I closed the book I honestly had so many conflicting emotions that I wasn't sure if I liked it or not, but it did make me feel empathy with its characters, so that is good.

High points: Intense delivery of emotion, realism of situations, fast-paced, good character relation.
Low points: Often confusing when in the other dimension, no resolution to any of the story. (I don't know if that is because more is to follow, or if this was it.)

Note: This story contain abusive situations with children, brief verbal sexual references, foul language, and murder.(less)

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Apr 14, 2011 Andrea rated it 3 of 5 stars

In the Storm is a novella that almost reads as a diary. I felt as if I was being told, not shown what was happening. That is not the style of writing that I particularly love to read. Therefore, I had a difficult time becoming engaged in the story. Having said that, as I got further along, I found it harder and harder to stop reading. I don't know if that is because I became invested in the story or that I was determined to hash through the confusing details of Carly's "storm world". And believe...more

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Apr 02, 2011 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am still reeling from just finishing this novella, and let me tell you it's going to stick with me for a while. In the Storm is a book like no others. The 88 pages flew by and I'm left with a feeling somewhere between exasperation at the fact that there is no more left for me to read, and total awe at the whole concept behind the story. This was definitely one of a kind.

Although this is a shorter novella, the characters really come to life. The sheer fact that Karen Metcalf was able to fit so...more I am still reeling from just finishing this novella, and let me tell you it's going to stick with me for a while. In the Storm is a book like no others. The 88 pages flew by and I'm left with a feeling somewhere between exasperation at the fact that there is no more left for me to read, and total awe at the whole concept behind the story. This was definitely one of a kind.

Although this is a shorter novella, the characters really come to life. The sheer fact that Karen Metcalf was able to fit so much character development into these pages is what really blew my mind. In a matter of pages I was one with Carly and the immense anger that bubbled underneath her surface. Anger at her life, anger at the circumstances surrounding her, anger at the fact that she couldn't seem to control anything. Carly is definitely not a happy girl, and it shows both in her actions and her words. However despite her deep anger, you can see that there is a wounded Carly there who just wants to reach out to someone. She craves someone in her life to hold onto. Despite my short stint of reading her, I'm happy to say that I really did feel for Carly.

I don't want to give anything away, but the plot of this story is truly what blew me away. In beautiful dialogue between Carly and the mysterious Morgan, Karen Metcalf weaves a story that made me stop and think. Hard. Fate is focused upon heavily in this story, as Carly navigates the reality of the dream world she has so recently found. There were portions of the story that I found myself re-reading and blinking at in amazement. Somehow despite my confusion initially it all clicked into place. Now I can't keep myself from mulling over what my eyes have been opened to. Fiction or not, the way fate is discussed in this book is definitely something to think about.

My one qualm? I want more. I want to know more about why Carly was so important, why her dream world was so vividly created, and why Morgan was so essential to her. Truth be told if the book had been 400 pages I would have read ravenously. The questions that hang in the air at the ending are deliciously maddening.

Long story short, I truly loved this novella. I give it the highest recommendation I can and urge you to pick it up! Perhaps it might have been one that you would glance over normally in favor of books with more buzz, but let me tell you In the Storm is one that you don't want to miss.(less)

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Apr 02, 2011 Jennifer (Fictitious Musings) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Carly and her younger brother, Mitch, are living a life of fear. Their stepfather, Richard, is a total jerk that takes pleasure in causing them pain. Everything comes down to a game with this man…if we can even call him that. Carly looks after her brother, protecting him as much as she can. One night she gets angry and - CLICK - she’s transported to another world, a storm world where she is safe from Richard. The downside to Carly’s escape into this world is that she cannot bring her brother wit...more

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Mar 21, 2011 Yani rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-kindle, own

This is one short story that packs a lot of punch! Karen was nice enough to send me a copy ages ago, but with all these hyped up books coming out recently I didn't get the chance to read it until this weekend. Wow did I miss out. It just goes to show you, never underestimate the little people. Because of this I am actually going to try to do a special each month for smaller publishing companies with great authors such as Karen to get the word out about their books. Now enough babbling and on to...more

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Mar 01, 2011 Moonlight Gleam rated it 4 of 5 stars

After the death of their father and their mother long gone, Carly and her younger brother Mitchell are left to live with their step father, a man who insists on making their lives miserable. Richard, their step father, has a drinking problem and often goes after Mitchell to hurt Carly even more. One time Carly reacts to his violent behavior but, ‘CLICK’, she enters a storm world where she meets a boy named Morgan. Carly is not supposed to believe the storm world is real and by her knowing it is...more After the death of their father and their mother long gone, Carly and her younger brother Mitchell are left to live with their step father, a man who insists on making their lives miserable. Richard, their step father, has a drinking problem and often goes after Mitchell to hurt Carly even more. One time Carly reacts to his violent behavior but, ‘CLICK’, she enters a storm world where she meets a boy named Morgan. Carly is not supposed to believe the storm world is real and by her knowing it is affects everything and everyone around her.

Carly has so many questions, yet each time she finds herself in the storm world and faces Morgan, she cannot seem to remember them all. Morgan tries his best to explain the other world dimensions that exist. They involve alternate paths that Carly directly influences with each decision she makes. Although this storm world seems beautiful and safe at first, Carly soon learns that this world is not as stable as she thought and those she cares for are in danger, including herself.

Carly’s emotions are the focus of the novel and from the very beginning she is portrayed as a well-defined and strong protagonist. Although at times she lets her emotions get the best of her, she learns to overcome her fear and does everything she can to protect her little brother.

In The Storm is a short story with emotional depth that will stay with you long after reading the very last words. This novel deals with a lot of heavy issues such as alcoholism, abuse, love, and sacrifice. I believe there are many lessons readers can learn through Carly’s actions, one being that with each choice there are consequences which must be accepted, good or bad.

Karen Metcalf has presented a wonderful concept of unique worlds that are represented by people’s emotions that will leave you wanting to create and enter your very own. I also appreciate that readers can easily relate to the emotions portrayed by the characters and can understand each threat involved without any use of graphic details.

This novel is appropriate for most age groups and I would definitely recommend this to all who enjoy YA Fiction with more depth.

4/5 – An Enjoyable Read, Well Written, Recommended(less)

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Mar 08, 2011 Lily rated it 4 of 5 stars

In the storm by Karen Metcalf
Reviewed by Moirae the fates book reviews

Abandoned by the world around her, Carly believes she is fated to a life of torment at the hands of her stepfather and is desperate for an escape. When she can bear the abuse no longer and gives in to a thunderous rage, she suddenly finds herself in an unfamiliar, yet beautiful, storm world. This limbo between dimensions appears to be her private sanctuary, but it may just be her purgatory.
No one escapes fate without sacrifice...more

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Feb 23, 2011 Lunamoth rated it 5 of 5 stars

In the Storm is short, you can read it in one sitting if you have the time. however, just because it is not a lengthy book does not mean it lacks in the emotional department or lacks a solid story with twists and suprises.

Carly is a 16 year old girl living a very crappy life, no parents and living with her abusive stepfather and innocent little brother she has to put up with a lot of horrible things. Then one day, and i can only put it this way: she snaps. Shes gones from her world and thrown...more

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Apr 04, 2011 Ashley - Book Labyrinth rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-books, ebook, for-review, from-author, dac-2011

In the beginning I was confused about what exactly was actually happening in this book, but it was okay, somehow, because the main character, Carly, was confused as well. What’s so great about this novella is that in a short period of time you really grow to care about Carly and her little brother, Mitchell. You want Carly to find out answers about this strange storm world she’s been transported to, but you also desperately want her and Mitchell to be able to escape the abuse of their stepfather...more

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Mar 02, 2011 Jenny rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2011

One of the main criticisms of Jane Austen is that she wrote mostly in prose and as a rule, stories written either mostly in prose or mostly in dialogue are no-nos. However, I think Ms. Metcalf is allowed to break the rules with this novella of mostly dialogue between Carly and her seeming guardian angel Morgan because of the rest of the bits of action and non-verbal interaction between the characters. It is indeed mostly made up of conversations and explanations between Carly and Morgan but in t

...more

One of the main criticisms of Jane Austen is that she wrote mostly in prose and as a rule, stories written either mostly in prose or mostly in dialogue are no-nos. However, I think Ms. Metcalf is allowed to break the rules with this novella of mostly dialogue between Carly and her seeming guardian angel Morgan because of the rest of the bits of action and non-verbal interaction between the characters. It is indeed mostly made up of conversations and explanations between Carly and Morgan but in the conversations, with clever precision, we are given clues to what is happening around the two as well. We are shown things by being told about them in a more unique way than I have seen in a while. And if you've read any of my reviews, I have an aversion to being told rather than shown. I suppose I now have to make an exception!

The characterization of this novel was brilliant. I didn't feel that any of Carly's responses to what life threw at her or what she learned were out of character or against the psychology of someone going through what she had to endure with her stepfather Richard and desiring to protect her little brother. I found her response to Morgan's explanations and her realizations about life in general based on them to be very realistic without needless angst or melodrama -- something rarely found in today's YA books. The only hysterics come at a very appropriate places in the novella and with appropriate depth and layers of the myriad feelings that make up the emotion that is grief.

This was a visceral, tear-jerking read that I found myself lost completely in after my initial reticence. I enjoyed the chemistry between the characters and felt what they felt. It wasn't a long read and for that I was a bit sad. By the time the story wraps up, with a bit of a surprise ending that I really liked, I was involved with Carly and Morgan and wanted to continue to eavesdrop on their conversations and plans to change Carly's world for the better. I wished the story was longer but looking back at it, I'm not sure how it could have been. It accomplishes everything it sets out to say and communicate to the reader. It brings up, examines, and completely saturates the reader in an issue so heart-rending that it made me personally want to be part of the solution.

When you read this novella, and I do mean when because I believe everyone should, I challenge you not to put it down and say, "Yeah, that was a good story." But rather grab your computer and figure out a way to help people like Carly and Mitch. Somehow there has to be a better solution. Bravo to Ms. Metcalf for not treating this with kid gloves but using a full color, bold approach that apologizes for nothing but begs to be heard and felt.

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Mar 02, 2011 Kai (Amaterasu Reads) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, arc, teens

Review posted at Amaterasu Reads

I'm a little bit in-between this book.

What struck me the most was the realism. It's very obvious and powerful, and its what really urged me to read through it all. I loved and hated the emotions it roused in me while reading. A very strong sense of hate for what happens to the children, fear for their lives amd pity for Carly and Mitch.

What Carly and her younger brother Mitchell experienced is horrifying and disturbing to say the least. No child should ever exper...more Review posted at Amaterasu Reads

I'm a little bit in-between this book.

What struck me the most was the realism. It's very obvious and powerful, and its what really urged me to read through it all. I loved and hated the emotions it roused in me while reading. A very strong sense of hate for what happens to the children, fear for their lives amd pity for Carly and Mitch.

What Carly and her younger brother Mitchell experienced is horrifying and disturbing to say the least. No child should ever experience what they went through. I instantly hated the parents that brought them into this world and left them in the hands of Richard. The guy was a lunatic! It was no wonder Carly felt abandoned and resigned to a life of torment. What can a teenage girl and a five year old boy do?

I instantly sympathized with the characters as soon as I read the first page. But it took me time to understood Carly. I could not fully comprehend the reason why Carly had to "click". Even the explanation confused me a little, which made the somewhat paranormal angle of the book lost to me.

What I did love though, was reading the entire book through Carly's point of view. It was scary seeing all of it from her side, but its like a tangible thing that you can feel. All of it. Her emotions, her thoughts, her constant worry over Mitchell.

In a way, it was depressing. I thought with all the beating and emotional torture Carly went though, she'll deserve to have something better, and she did eventually, but not fully. Morgan is the one bright spot that added a touch of romance into it, a welcome feeling for a book with such a sad theme.

As I said, I love the emotions that In the Storm invoked in me, and I always loved reading books that made me feel. The worst way to feel for a book is apathy, and I'm always wary of reading books with powerful themes and not feeling anything for it, but that did not happen for In the Storm. I think adding a few more pages and turning this into a full length book will allow the plot, as well as the characters, develop for a clearer, stronger story with a more solid foundation.(less)

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Feb 03, 2011 Jess Bierschied rated it 5 of 5 stars

IN THE STORM, by Karen Metcalf is a fresh new look on a girl with a complicated life, an abusive step-father, a little brother she must protect at all costs...oh and whole new dimension that offers her an escape from everything. This is a fast pace story that will leave you begging for more.

I started this short little novella not quite knowing what I was getting into but from page one I was instantly hooked. Metcalf goes into such beautiful detail and really know show to set a scene, I felt like...more

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Apr 13, 2011 Novels On The Run rated it 5 of 5 stars

MICHELLE'S REVIEW:

Big thankyou to Karen Metcalf for letting me read this incredible, incredible book. I was totally blown away with it. It’s only 88 pages, but, WOW!!!! The writing was deep and intriguing and very sad and emotional even spiritual. Very mature writing for somebody only 24 years old. At times the content is very hard to read with the life these 2 kids were living as it would be real to a lot of families. It’s not a fun , relaxing read. You are swept up into their story of violence...more MICHELLE'S REVIEW:

Big thankyou to Karen Metcalf for letting me read this incredible, incredible book. I was totally blown away with it. It’s only 88 pages, but, WOW!!!! The writing was deep and intriguing and very sad and emotional even spiritual. Very mature writing for somebody only 24 years old. At times the content is very hard to read with the life these 2 kids were living as it would be real to a lot of families. It’s not a fun , relaxing read. You are swept up into their story of violence/abuse, at the hand of their stepfather by a 10ft wave. Some readers may find it hard to read.
Granted it is a short read, it feels like you have been a part of the book for a lot more pages. Her words are not wasted. The story could end for me now, but I think I want to see Carly happy.
Carly is 16 years old and her little brother, Mitchell, is 5 years old. Their life with their alcoholic stepfather, Richard, is horrendous. The mind game abuse etc is appalling. How will a 5 year old ever come back from that?
The mindset that Karen gets the reader in is incredible. I was pulled into this story very quickly . It was like nothing I had read before. The Light of Asteria by Elizabeth Issacs, comes close, with the power, spirituality and depth, of her writing, but, the stories are completely, completely different. Elizabeth has a way with words using light and wind and so does Karen.
I loved how the ‘storm’ was used in this book, incredibly creative and the use of the dimensions of Carly’s life, it really blew me away her writing.
When Karen writes /takes Carly to this other dimension and the boy she meets, the knowledge she gains in this dimension is like nothing I personally have ever read before.
Karen is a very inspiring writer. I can’t say anymore as I don’t want to give away story as it is a short book, but packs a powerful message and at times the abuse is hard to read.
Congratulations Karen, you surprised and shocked the socks off me with this book. Many emotions I felt when reading , ‘In The Storm’. It felt very real.

You can find my interview with Karen on our blog.(less)

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Feb 17, 2011 Alissa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Unique concept meets forceful descriptions and dialogue.

As the main character, Carly is well-defined; she’s got it rough, but has her footing in the world. Her voice is somewhat distinct, particularly in the beginning. But as the story moved along, I felt that I lost a bit of that which made Carly who she is. Suddenly her emotions were fickle and abrupt, and I much preferred the strong, fearless Carly that was first introduced.

The concept of Carly entering her own storm world is so detailed and...more

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Feb 27, 2011 Lauren rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-book

Startling, mind-boggling, unique, and enthralling, Karen Metcalf's In the Storm is the perfect read for one stormy, rainy afternoon.

In the Storm tells the story of Carly, a girl who has never had an easily life. For one, her mother deserted Carly and her brother Mitch a few years ago, leaving them stranded and with only one house to go to- their abusive and frightening stepfather's. There they face punishment like no other- punishment that Carly and Mitch don't know how to escape from or stop. T...more

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Mar 09, 2011 Vicki (The Wolf's Den) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, scifi, fantasy, e-book, the-wolfs-den-reviewed, author-requested, novella

I won't lie, this was a bit hard to get into at first. You have a girl and her brother being tortured by their stepfather in a town where apparently no one cares. Definitely not puppies and sunshine, but surely things can only get better from here. Right? Well, yes and no...but I will say that I grew to enjoy the story much more as I went on.

There were some mechanics in this piece that didn't always work for me. The narration felt a bit robotic sometimes, too technical or specific—not how I pict...more I won't lie, this was a bit hard to get into at first. You have a girl and her brother being tortured by their stepfather in a town where apparently no one cares. Definitely not puppies and sunshine, but surely things can only get better from here. Right? Well, yes and no...but I will say that I grew to enjoy the story much more as I went on.

There were some mechanics in this piece that didn't always work for me. The narration felt a bit robotic sometimes, too technical or specific—not how I picture a 16-year-old thinking. There were a lot of "this/that" instead of spelling it out or separating with dashes. And yet, there were also flashes of genuine teenage outbursts, like wondering "what the hell...?" when something unexpected happens. It's a strange dynamic between the two sides, but it didn't hinder my enjoyment of the story.

Even though the plot isn't action-packed, there's no doubt that Carly is a strong yet sympathizing character. Being subjected to psychological and physical torture day in and day out, yet remaining strong enough to care for her little brother and put his needs before her own...is hard to read, but easy to admire. She's a problem-solver and a strategist, always looking before she leaps, but never hesitating or second-guessing herself either.

Ultimately, I wanted more! The time-frame felt a little disjointed and rushed, and I was eager for more exploration, more reflection on what was happening. Some of the explanations turned into exposition which I feel was only due to the shortened length. I loved the overall idea and the characters and would have loved to have had them fleshed out a little more, especially the mysterious Morgan and the "they" he refers to. Honestly, I think this plot could have easily filled 200+ pages, and I would have loved reading it.

Overall, this is a story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Though this novella runs only around 80 pages, it hooks you and won't let you go until it's through—and even then you're begging for more. If you've an interest in fate or alternate dimensions and enjoy strong female characters, then I'd definitely check this out. There are a few instances of strong language (specifically the F-bomb) and allusions to rape, so do use some discretion in picking this up for younger readers. As for me, I'm looking forward to seeing what Karen has in store for us in the future.

Approximate Reading Time: 2 hours

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Mar 15, 2011 Michelle novelsontherun rated it 5 of 5 stars

Big thankyou to Karen Metcalf for letting me read this incredible, incredible book. I was totally blown away with it. It’s only 88 pages, but, WOW!!!! The writing was deep and intriguing and very sad and emotional even spiritual. Very mature writing for somebody only 24 years old. At times the content is very hard to read with the life these 2 kids were living as it would be real to a lot of families. It’s not a fun , relaxing read. You are swept up into their story of violence/abuse, at the han...more Big thankyou to Karen Metcalf for letting me read this incredible, incredible book. I was totally blown away with it. It’s only 88 pages, but, WOW!!!! The writing was deep and intriguing and very sad and emotional even spiritual. Very mature writing for somebody only 24 years old. At times the content is very hard to read with the life these 2 kids were living as it would be real to a lot of families. It’s not a fun , relaxing read. You are swept up into their story of violence/abuse, at the hand of their stepfather by a 10ft wave. Some readers may find it hard to read.
Granted it is a short read, it feels like you have been a part of the book for a lot more pages. Her words are not wasted. The story could end for me now, but I think I want to see Carly happy.
Carly is 16 years old and her little brother, Mitchell, is 5 years old. Their life with their alcoholic stepfather, Richard, is horrendous. The mind game abuse etc is appalling. How will a 5 year old ever come back from that?
The mindset that Karen gets the reader in is incredible. I was pulled into this story very quickly . It was like nothing I had read before. The Light of Asteria by Elizabeth Issacs, comes close, with the power, spirituality and depth, of her writing, but, the stories are completely, completely different. Elizabeth has a way with words using light and wind and so does Karen.
I loved how the ‘storm’ was used in this book, incredibly creative and the use of the dimensions of Carly’s life, it really blew me away her writing.
When Karen writes /takes Carly to this other dimension and the boy she meets, the knowledge she gains in this dimension is like nothing I personally have ever read before.
Karen is a very inspiring writer. I can’t say anymore as I don’t want to give away story as it is a short book, but packs a powerful message and at times the abuse is hard to read.
Congratulations Karen, you surprised and shocked the socks off me with this book. Many emotions I felt when reading , ‘In The Storm’. It felt very real.
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Feb 26, 2011 Izzy G. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Carly's life, to put it plainly, sucks. She lives with her innocent younger brother and would do anything to protect him from the abuse of their stepfather. But there's only so much the sixteen-year-old girl can do, and one day she's so overwhelmed with fear and anger that she snaps. She wakes up to find herself in a strange and beautiful storm world with Morgan, a guardian angel of sorts. And what he has to tell her changes everything.

Carly is a stoic girl who cares deeply for her little brothe...more Carly's life, to put it plainly, sucks. She lives with her innocent younger brother and would do anything to protect him from the abuse of their stepfather. But there's only so much the sixteen-year-old girl can do, and one day she's so overwhelmed with fear and anger that she snaps. She wakes up to find herself in a strange and beautiful storm world with Morgan, a guardian angel of sorts. And what he has to tell her changes everything.

Carly is a stoic girl who cares deeply for her little brother, willing to sacrifice herself to help him. However, her stepfather, a disgusting creature, knows to play on her vulnerabilities, and that means hurting her five-year-old brother in order to hurt her. I found myself admiring how strong and brave Carly could be even while dealing with such strong fear and hatred, and she was still a realistic portrayal of someone suffering that kind of living situation. I was able to believe her strength.

She was my favorite character in the book, but even her brilliant characterization pales in comparison to what I feel is the strong point of the book - the gorgeous description. The storm world was described so perfectly, I felt like I was actually there, witnessing the strange and terrible beauty of it. Karen Metcalf used words to create a tangible world that made the entire story come alive.

My only quibble with IN THE STORM is that I feel it really could have been long enough. I wanted to learn more about the world and find out more about how everything works, because the eighty-eight pages of this novella weren't enough to satiate my curiosity. The romance between Morgan and Carly moved too quickly for my tastes, and I feel like if this was longer, it could have been slower and more developed.

Other than that, I enjoyed IN THE STORM more than I expected to! Carly is such a brave, strong character while remaining a realistic teenage girl that anyone can relate to, and I admired her efforts to shield her brother from the abuse. This novella is worth reading just for the amazing descriptions of the storm world, which can be at times so chilling they sent a shiver down my spine. I recommend this to anyone searching for an original read!(less)

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Feb 15, 2011 Trisha Wolfe rated it 5 of 5 stars

Every now and again, a story comes along that shakes up your world. Something that you didn’t expect, or see coming. When I opened my review folder this morning, my coffee in hand, I clicked on In The Storm. Settling in for a short and easy read-a read to keep me occupied while I played on Twitter or sent emails back and forth, I was soon mistaken, and gladly so. Quickly forgetting my cup of coffee and Twitter, I lost myself in Carly’s world. As she was pulled away from her reality, I was pulled...more Every now and again, a story comes along that shakes up your world. Something that you didn’t expect, or see coming. When I opened my review folder this morning, my coffee in hand, I clicked on In The Storm. Settling in for a short and easy read-a read to keep me occupied while I played on Twitter or sent emails back and forth, I was soon mistaken, and gladly so. Quickly forgetting my cup of coffee and Twitter, I lost myself in Carly’s world. As she was pulled away from her reality, I was pulled right along with her, to a fierce and frightening new realm. I lost myself in her story; I lost myself in her emotions. And I found myself reaching, just as Carly did, for Morgan to ground me and bring me to a safe haven. Carly is a wonderful character. I related to her on deep level. Many times I would think something and in the next line she would do or say just that. Her emotions and reactions to her little brother, Mitchell, were so believable it’s as if I was watching someone’s personal moment. Spying in on them. I loved how she desired to protect him, wanting a new world and life for him. And Morgan, so different from most male leads we see in YA lately, is mysterious-truly mysterious. We have to fight to figure out just what his part in all this is. But I found myself enchanted by him. I wanted to know more and more about him as I clung to his every word, my head reeling. In The Storm was just simply amazing. Ms. Metcalf’s writing is edgy, powerful, and passionate. One scene in particular where she describes the ocean, I caught myself holding my breath. I could feel the rush of the waves, the torment of the sea battling, raging. I’m just in awe of this story. It evoked emotions, asked difficult questions, and made me take notice of things in my own life. It’s just that powerful. A book like this is why I read YA!

With its beautifully haunting description, heart-wrenching, and utterly fantastic characters, and thought provoking scenes, I give In The Storm 5 flames! (less)

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Jan 31, 2011 Rebecca added it

In the Storm is a novella that while is short still contains a lot of information and is quite a heavy read. In the Storm starts off in quite a sad way with Carly and her brother Mitchell being in a household with a horrible stepfather. From there things move quite quickly and we are thrust into the main focus of the story.
In the Storm is a science fiction novella and it is the kind of science fiction that I really love. It’s the kind where it talks about parallel universes and infinite possibil...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Sarah (blissbubbley) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-for-larissa-s

I was intrigued by the synopsis although I was aware that the abuse side of this story could cause a few emotions in my reading experience. Yes it did and I felt sorry for Carly straight from the off and the story is told in more of a diary format so you can feel the emotion that she is going through. You also don't want her Stepfather to come to her room and I found myself shuddering at the thought. I wanted her to escape and her escape comes in the storm world where she meets Morgan. Carly is...more

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Mar 17, 2011 Brandi Kosiner added it

In The Storm captured me from the first page and kept my attention. Yes, it is a short story, but it is a well written one with well developed characters.
This is very emotional and it deals with tough issues, but it's woven with fantasy. Carly is a great main character, she has a great voice and she has a personality that I gravitate towards. I really liked the relationship between her and her brother, it was sweet and I could feel the emotion there. Morgan is a great interest with mystery, a...more

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Apr 01, 2011 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Novella is beautifully written and I was hooked from the first page. The author made the characters come to life and the description of the scenes made me feel that I was right there among the characters. Cary and Morgan were my favorite characters in the book but the other characters played a big part in the plot of the story. Cary lives an abusive life and when she finds herself in the beautiful storm world she meets Morgan. Cary is intrigued by Morgan and finds comfort when she is with hi...more

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Mar 21, 2011 Aine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-ebook

Debut author Karen Metcalf offered me the chance to read and review her novella, In the Storm. Carly finds herself in a new world when just moments before, she was in her normal one. The one where she lives with her sweet little brother and evil stepfather. They don’t exist in this new world… just Morgan, a boy Carly instant falls for.

I found a few things confusing at first, but Karen did a wonderful job of pulling everything together. This is one of the most unique stories I’ve read in a while....more

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Mar 12, 2013 Heather Alexander rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a short story that reads like a full length novel. Carly and Mitch are siblings that live with their horribly abusive stepfather. Carly is constantly on the alert and is always trying to protect her little brother from her stepfathers cruelty. One particularly stressful night, Carly hears/feels a "click" and is transported to a different place. Stunned she is unsure if she is dreaming or what is going on. She is brought back by Mitch calling her name. He insists she was in the room with...more

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Jul 09, 2011 Nicki Markus rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-fantasy-sci-fi

This was a lovely novella. When I began the first page, I wasn't sure if I'd like it, but I was soon drawn into Carly's world. I was keen to see what would happen to her and her brother and how the story would progress.
The characters were engaging and believable and I loved the other world of Carly's that Metcalf has created. The descriptions were beautifully done.
Not a 'happy' story as such, but a wonderful read and an author to look out for in the future.

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