Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
Sean Cunningham is another new discovery for me in urban fantasy fiction and I am absolutely loving his characters and universe I’ve found in the first story in his new Storm Herald series, Storm’s Edge.
It’s an action packed urban fantasy thriller, full of paranormal beings who battle mythical creatures, seek to obtain clients magical objects even investigating murders. All the while they are hiding their own problematic dark backgrounds.
The main character is a woman whose identity and past history is slowly being revealed over the course of the series. But who she was is a persona of enormous power and dark energy. On the wrong side of the line. Now she’s called Vanessa Montiero, not as powerful but strong enough. Vanessa works temporarily both for a coffee shop and as a courier who takes less than legal jobs. It’s a living and keeps her out of the notice of others.
Until it doesn’t.
I’m surprised by how much I’m enjoying this character and the storylines here.
First of all, no romance. She exists first as a solo character, and then, reluctantly, as perhaps someone who might consider her to think of one or two of the other characters she’s gathering around her as friends.
Not that she’d ever come out and acknowledge that.
Vanessa is a hard personality. The past is one she’s working to overcome, as well as a core that thrives on violence. As the story continues, she has to develop and adapt to her changing circumstances, and that’s means that instead of being able to always battle her way through a difficult situation, she has to learn how to handle it differently.
And Cunningham has just the other characters to assist her in this change in perspective. Including a vampire who’s not exactly the poster boy for the species himself, Leo.
With every new character, there’s a good chance they might not make it through to the end. Cunningham exhibits a willingness to take his characters out of the narrative, even when we’re getting fond of them.
Be warned.
I hope Vanessa stays romantically free, that’s a great element here. The story is exciting, fast paced and very well executed. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the next book and see what happens next.
I hope the author has more than 3 books planned for the series.
Highly recommended and yes, when I’m done reading this, I’ll head to the writer’s other series too.
Cover art © MIBLArt.com 2025
Storm Herald – An Epic Urban Fantasy Series (3 book series)
Storm’s Edge #1
Storm’s Reckoning #2
Storm’s Awakening #3
Buy link
Storm’s Edge (Storm Herald – An Epic Urban Fantasy Series Book 1)
Blurb
She just wanted to stay hidden. They had other plans.
Vanessa Montiero has spent a year keeping her head down – slinging coffee by day, running courier jobs by night. It was enough to stay off the radar of the people hunting her. It was safe.
Until a wealthy eccentric offers her more money than she’s seen in months to extract one girl from the Brotherhood: a gang of street-level warlocks who burn through their girlfriends like batteries to fuel their magic.
Simple job. Get in, get Mia, get out.
Except Freddie Wright isn’t about to let his “crucible” walk away. And the magic he wields is far more dangerous than anyone realised.
With Leo at her side – a vampire who’d rather cook you dinner than drain you, and whose strange abilities make him an outcast even among the undead – Vanessa will face necromancers, ancient vampires, and relentless warlocks, all while keeping one traumatised girl alive.
But the thing that made Vanessa so good at violence never really left her. Unleashing her old self might be the only way to save them – or it might shatter the life she’s worked so hard to build.
Storm’s Edge launches the Storm Herald series with brutal fight scenes, morally complex characters, and a London where magic hides just beneath the surface. Perfect for fans of Alex Verus, Kate Daniels, and The Dresden Files who like their urban fantasy served with found family forged in fire.
Join Vanessa on this action-packed urban fantasy adventure across London today!
Falconbrook Press
Publication date
December 6, 2025
Language
English
Print length
316 pages
Book 1 of 3
