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Rayne Hall
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Storm Dancer: Dark Epic Fantasy Novel Kindle Edition

by Rayne Hall (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 150 ratings
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At twenty-five, warrior Dahoud has a conscience heavier than a bricklayer's tray and more curses on his head than a camel has fleas. He fights to protect his people - but how can he shield them from the evil inside him?

The only woman who can save him is the courageous weather-dance magician Merida - if he does not destroy her first.

Enter a world of magicians and rebels, bellydancers, warriors, diplomats and demons. Journey into a besieged fortress, a palace harem, a nomad camp, a flaming inferno. Immerse yourself in duels, battles and daring escapes.

Storm Dancer is a big book, providing many hours of reading pleasure and excitement. A short trailer video is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI5oxeOziQM. Caution: contains violence. Not recommended for readers under 16.
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  1. Print length
    494 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    September 11, 2011
  4. File size
    2.7 MB
  5. Page Flip
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  6. Word Wise
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rayne Hall is the author of over sixty books in several genres, mostly fantasy and horror, published under several pen names in several languages.
She lives on the south coast of England and writes with a black cat snuggling between her arms.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B005MJFV58
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rayne Hall (September 11, 2011)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 11, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.7 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 494 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 150 ratings

About the author

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Rayne Hall

Rayne Hall

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Rayne Hall MA is the author of over 100 books, mostly Dark Fantasy and Gothic Horror, e.g. The Bride’s Curse: Bulgarian Gothic Ghost and Horror Stories. She is also the acclaimed editor of Gothic, Fantasy and Horror anthologies (e.g. Among the Headstones: Creepy Tales from the Graveyard) and author of the bestselling Writer’s Craft series for advanced-level writers, including and the bestselling Writer’s Craft series e.g. Writing Gothic Fiction Writing Scary Scenes, Writing Vivid Settings, Writing Vivid Dialogue, Writing Vivid Characters, Writing Deep Point of View.

Born and raised in Germany, Rayne Hall has lived in China, Mongolia, Nepal and Britain. Now she resides in a village in Bulgaria, where men perform the annual demon dance, ghosts and sirens beckon, and abandoned decaying houses hold memories of a glorious past.

Her lucky black rescue cat Sulu often accompanies her when she explores spooky derelict buildings. He delights in walking across shattered roof tiles, scratching charred timbers and sniffing at long-abandoned hearths. He even senses the presence of ghosts… but that’s another story.

Rayne has worked as an investigative journalist, development aid worker, museum guide, apple picker, tarot reader, adult education teacher, belly dancer, magazine editor, publishing manager and more, and now writes full time.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
150 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story compelling and thought-provoking. They find the characters complex, solid, and colorful. The book is described as an amazing, fun read with excellent writing quality. Readers appreciate the vivid world and fast pacing. Overall, they find the book gripping and enjoyable.

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Suspenseful storyCharacter developmentReadabilityWriting qualityVisual qualityPacingViolence levelDark tone
72 customers mention "Suspenseful story"52 positive20 negative

Customers find the story captivating and thought-provoking. They describe it as an entertaining dark fantasy epic with a rich adventure. The book blends magic, evil, and fantasy elements in an immersive setting. Readers praise the author's ability to captivate them through her imaginative writing style.

"...She is head-strong and superior, but also well-meaning and curious, when she arrives in the Queendom, and couldn't dream that the gift of rain to..." Read more

"...But there's more. It's the `more' that makes this book thought-provoking and sometimes uncomfortable. It's a story about redefining ethics...." Read more

"...So, in conclusion: Pros: Well written and edited. Lots of action. Compelling and interesting. Cons: Unlikable characters...." Read more

"...There was significant social commentary, about race, cultural appropriation, gender, wealth, class, family, nationalism, and rape culture...." Read more

40 customers mention "Character development"35 positive5 negative

Customers find the characters complex, solid, and flawed. They describe the story as an exciting adventure with tortured heroes and brave heroines. The book features a dark fantasy world filled with despotic rulers and political jockeying.

"...Storm Dancer is a fast-paced, character-driven journey on the dark side of what it means to be a good person (by your own standards) with at least..." Read more

"Storm Dancer is a dark fantasy full of despotic rulers, political jockeying, and poetic language. But there's more...." Read more

"...fantasy set against a richly developed locale and a society populated by well-drawn characters, each with their own strong personalities and..." Read more

"...The author continuously knocked them down yet the characters remained determined, making me wonder how they would get through the trials, deceptions..." Read more

37 customers mention "Readability"33 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find the story engaging and well-written. The world is vivid and the author does an excellent job engaging the senses. While the story is a bit dark, it's better than most independent works they have read. It's a wonderful escape from the humdrum of life and worth the price.

"...She is head-strong and superior, but also well-meaning and curious, when she arrives in the Queendom, and couldn't dream that the gift of rain to..." Read more

"...So why did I read it through to the end? It was a compelling book, and sometimes it was really gruesome, which made it a different sort of read...." Read more

"...It's not a happy read. It just happens to be a great read. Phillip T. Stephens is the author of Cigerets, Guns & Beer and Raising Hell." Read more

"...Overall, this was a phenomenal read. I was actually really sad when I got to the end and saw there was no sequel...." Read more

34 customers mention "Writing quality"27 positive7 negative

Customers appreciate the writing quality of the book. They praise the thoughtful prose, rich imagery, and personal struggles. The book offers the best in independent writing and is a literary oasis. Readers enjoy the deep worldbuilding and precise descriptions. It's a fun read and a model for indie writers who want to learn their craft.

"...She is head-strong and superior, but also well-meaning and curious, when she arrives in the Queendom, and couldn't dream that the gift of rain to..." Read more

"...a dark fantasy full of despotic rulers, political jockeying, and poetic language. But there's more...." Read more

"...When it comes to scene setting, the writing is so deft that you're immersed in a scene without being aware of the craftsmanship that put you there...." Read more

"...So, in conclusion: Pros: Well written and edited. Lots of action. Compelling and interesting. Cons: Unlikable characters...." Read more

20 customers mention "Visual quality"20 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the vivid world and rich details in this book. They appreciate the Middle Eastern setting and vivid characters. The descriptive language is colorful and reminiscent of Persian poets. Overall, readers find the story engaging and set in an immersive environment.

"...The descriptive language is colorful and in the style of the Persian poets...." Read more

"...a good deal to like in this book: exquisite writing, a huge and marvelous landscape filled with believable cultures, and a lot of action...." Read more

"In Storm Dancer, Rayne Hall has created a rich and vibrant world that rings with intensity...." Read more

"Storm Dancer is a lush, complex tale of the internal growth of two very different characters: Dahoud, a former siege commander who once reveled in..." Read more

12 customers mention "Pacing"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's pacing fast and gripping. They say the dialogue controls the pace well, and the book starts fast and keeps going until the end. The pages are intense and riveting, with a real-world feel achieved with telling details. Readers appreciate the author's deft hand with characterization, making even minor characters vivid.

"...Storm Dancer is a fast-paced, character-driven journey on the dark side of what it means to be a good person (by your own standards) with at least..." Read more

"...Suffice it to say that I found the novel gripping enough to hold my interest through two broken Kindles and my own series of adventures this fall..." Read more

"...hear lizards scurry, smell the sweat of dungeons, and feel the grit of windblown sand...." Read more

"...Every character no matter how small was made real and palpable...." Read more

12 customers mention "Violence level"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book has a good amount of violence. They describe it as a twisted tale of fighting, magic, betrayal, and multiple levels of treachery and revenge. The book is full of political intrigue, war, religion, tradition, evil, and fantasy mixed together. Readers appreciate the intriguing characters and dangerous situations that force them to fight.

"...There's action, there's scheming, there's a nation of people, fighting to remain independent in the face of constant war and the threat of..." Read more

"...Politics is wonderfully Byzantine...." Read more

"...empires, two planets, generations of history and multiple levels of treachery and revenge. The level of detail is rich and compelling...." Read more

"...a depth and richness to the rollicking adventure, sword play, animal attacks, battles and sieges, lifting the book above the usual tepid..." Read more

12 customers mention "Dark tone"6 positive6 negative

Customers have different views on the book's tone. Some find it compelling with complex characters and romantic tension, while others say it's boring and touches on dark themes that could disturb some.

"Storm Dancer is an epic fantasy filled with dark, grisly passages and complex characters who must make difficult decisions...." Read more

"...The character desires and rampant sexism are certainly horrifying and dark...." Read more

"...There's even romantic tension, albeit tinged with a darker side, to capture those looking for the next brooding hero and outspoken, strong heroine...." Read more

"...(in places this is a very dark book, but it is life-affirming overall)...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Donna Johnson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fire + Water = Combustion (Who knew?)
    Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    Sit back, and grip the armchair: Welcome to the Queendom! (But make sure you've got a strong stomach as well as strong arms and bring a bottle of fresh water 'cause we ain't in ye olde Europe anymore!) Meet a cast of complex characters who will inspire, disgust, thrill, horrify, and teach you a thing or two in the process, all in a Persian-like desert world of drought, rebellion, shifting alliances, and war. Get to know mystics, healers, seers, magicians, royals, politicians, warriors, nomads, servants, and rebels who refuse to take it anymore. But be forewarned: these aren't elves and orcs but real people with genuine struggles and motivations.

    Storm Dancer is a fast-paced, character-driven journey on the dark side of what it means to be a good person (by your own standards) with at least one fabulous fatal flaw. How can we integrate our dark selves, which we need to survive, and transform ourselves into the heroes/heroines we were meant to be?

    Former siege commander, Dahoud of the Desert, once known as the Black Besieger, is a decent man beset with a cruel djinn... but this is not a clever beast from an ancient cave or a foreign world. This djinn eats inside him, a hunger he cannot sate. Nor escape. Like all real people, he fights the hardest battle against himself. He is a skilled warrior who yearns for battle and hungers for raping a strong woman who will give him the fight of his life. On the other hand, he knows his need is wrong and must defeat his djinn. He faked his own death and has removed himself from the victories that feed it. He wants to be a respected satrap living happily with the lordsdaughter he loves. But is he willing to risk feeding the djinn again to have both his wife and a lordship? When the sadistic Queen's consort, Kirral, dangling the carrot of what Dahoud most wants, sends the former besieger to vanquish rebellious and drought-stricken Koskara, it's time to find out if Dahoud can make amends for his past and win the people over rather than return to his old life and destroy them. The question is: who can he trust when the people he hopes to save don't want him to save them?

    While Dahoud is born of the fiery desert, Merida comes from the water, ready to "baptize" all into right living by her shining presence. Riverian by birth, she is the product of a refined northern culture of repressive virtues and individual value points-- a world where she has never completely measured up. She is head-strong and superior, but also well-meaning and curious, when she arrives in the Queendom, and couldn't dream that the gift of rain to save their drought-stricken world might be unwelcome. She has been assigned to bring rain with her magical dance, and this she does-- despite breaking a few serious rules. When Kirral decides to keep his successful rain dancer in his harem and break all ties with Riverland, Merida not only has to compromise but also let go of all she has valued in order to survive. She even escapes Kirral's harem only to be tracked down by Dahoud himself, little improving her situation. The question is: can she set all her virtues and preconceptions aside to see a greater world beyond herself that is worth saving?

    With the luscious stage set for insurmountable obstacles of both body and spirit and an epic conflict for this pair of fire and water, Dahoud and Merida must face both intrigue and betrayal before they inevitably collide. Their paths crisscross through personal struggle, political ambitions, animal attacks, battles and sieges, and tragic devastation until they are able to entwine for a greater goal: to save Koskara. Black and white may bleed into a beleaguered gray, but Merida and Dahoud's battered souls will mature and attempt to conquer their own fatal flaws with both courage and love. If you haven't read it yet, what are you waiting for?
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Debra Dunbar
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great dark fantasy with a thought provoking theme
    Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Storm Dancer is a dark fantasy full of despotic rulers, political jockeying, and poetic language. But there's more. It's the `more' that makes this book thought-provoking and sometimes uncomfortable. It's a story about redefining ethics. It's a story that explores the very personal question of when the needs of the many outweigh the needs, or even rights, of the individual.

    Dahoud is a man with a demon. He's an ethnic Samili, discounted and despised. He's also the child of a prostitute, abandoned in youth by not only his mother, but by every woman he's ever met. His desperate childhood fueled an ambition that allowed him to rise to the level of a General, but there was a price. He's had to give himself over to the djinn inside him, and this djinn has bought his success on the bloody ground of terrible deeds. Terrible deeds that Dahoud has actually enjoyed. In Storm Dancer, Dahoud tries to starve out his djinn, to weaken the darkness inside him. He vows to protect and defend women, to trust them and give them kindness instead of pain and humiliation. He strives to lead a nation by using diplomacy and cunning rather than the might of his sword. But right and wrong are never black and white, and he discovers there are times when the fury of violence is inescapable. He discovers there are some women not deserving of trust or kindness.

    Merida is a diplomat with a humanitarian mission. She will work her magic to bring rain to a backward and barbaric people, and perhaps lead them by example to embrace her enlightened path. Her condescension crumbles when she finds herself kidnapped by a sadistic tyrant and tossed into his harem. Merida finds she must bend and break the rules that are the very foundation of her morals to survive. And then she must break them further to ensure the survival of others. A seer advises her to lose her scruples, but Merida's journey is more about choosing her scruples. The choice her family makes in the beginning of the book to put the needs of the group above the needs of the individual is the very choice Merida makes for herself in the end. Because there are some things worthy of sacrifice.

    Don't be put off by all this heavy stuff though. You can still enjoy Storm Dancer and not delve into the intricacy of philosophy. The descriptive language is colorful and in the style of the Persian poets. There's action, there's scheming, there's a nation of people, fighting to remain independent in the face of constant war and the threat of starvation. There is some romance, but it's more about trust and partnership than fireworks and roses. There is violence, and sometimes that violence might not be in keeping with what some readers expect in terms of moral values from a hero. It wasn't excessive or overly graphic, and I felt it was necessary in terms of the overall plot and theme.
    9 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Anne Herries
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great characters!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 15, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Compelling and dangerous and that's just the heroine! The hero is what every woman dreams of - a man who could break and force her but surrenders to love. This is different but absorbing, highly imaginative and well worth reading. I would love another adventure/romance in this style to read now.
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars This is Dark, Dark, Dark Fantasy
    Reviewed in Australia on March 31, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I shouldn't like Dahoud, but I do. He's got history, a dark, dark, dark side, and I loved the story generally, except that I didn't see enough of the Djinn. That's the only reason it's 4* and not 5*
    This is not a fantasy romance, this is a man bedevilled by his actions, and yet ...

    I'd recommend this story to readers who like to see the torture of a soul as he reaches toward redemption. Even if it kills him. Well-paced, well-written, and hard to put down.
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  • Leetah Begallie
    4.0 out of 5 stars Worth a Read, Just Not a Reread!
    Reviewed in Canada on January 21, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Storm Dancer is an addicting story about a man named Dahoud who has a personal demon (literally) that he must overcome and a woman named Merida who is completely out of her element and must learn to cope. Although the story was addicting, I found many typos and some of the transitions were awkward. There were times in the story that I was confused and/or shocked to find a character in an unexpected place. This made it feel a bit jumpy and hastily put together at times.

    If rape is a trigger for you, or just a topic you do not want to read about, this book is not for you. Rape is brought up many times throughout the book and seems to always be an underlying topic of the story. Although, I do think that the topic is used well and is not just used for shock value.

    Although the story is quite addicting, I do not think that I will reread it. Not only because of the typos and awkward transitions, but also because there does not seem to be any extra depth that would make the story rereadable. (I find rereadability to be very important in a novel. Especially a fantasy novel.)

    I do recommend this novel but, as I said before, rape is a major topic. It is worth a read, just maybe not a reread!
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Sucked me right in
    Reviewed in Canada on May 26, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This is not my kind of read but though a fantasy, I stayed the course. Couldn't help it.
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  • Eleanor Povey
    4.0 out of 5 stars which is great to see
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 22, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    I'd been meaning to read this for a while, and I was expecting a run-of-the-mill kind of narrative but I was pleasantly surprised! The characters are all complex and different, which is great to see, and Rayne handles and discusses the darkness of some characters and themes brilliantly. Few novels go as in-depth into the political aspects of this kind of story as Storm Dancer does, which was a breath of fresh air. Loved it!
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