Book Review: Blizzard Warning by JR Tate (Damaged Climate #3)

Ryan’s predictions of the weather in the Harper Springs area have all been accurate so far – when he realizes they are in for an early winter, everyone must work fast to get the crops harvested and their shelter ready for the arctic air headed their way. Due to the lack of winter clothing and supplies, they can’t prepare for the heavy snowfall, high winds, blizzards, and sub-zero temperatures that leave them exposed to hypothermia, frost bite, and common colds that are now turning deadly.

The weather isn’t their only problem – an imminent threat from a band of looters circles the perimeter of Harper Springs, halting their plans of rebuilding the small town. Ryan grows leery of people he once trusted and begins to investigate the possibility of a traitor among their group. He secretly follows the suspicious person toward the badlands of New Mexico to gather evidence and prove that his suspicions are justified.

Throughout the constant changing weather, Ryan has asked the same question – why has this happened? Tracking the traitor might get him the answers he needs – or it could reveal a problem so massive that there is no coming back from the damage that has already taken place.

My Review: 
Ryan starts to believe that an early winter is coming and it is going to be a rush to harvest everything before the frost and snow destroys everything that they have worked to achieve. The danger from the looters is still there as winter starts to close in on Harper Springs but Ryan is preoccupied with the behaviour of a couple of people at camp and wonders if there is anyone he can trust if there could be a traitor in their midst. 

Again, I found it interesting to see the change of weather once again bringing a whole new set of problems for the survivors. Everyone is relieved that the weather has started to cool and give them some relief from the heat but that soon becomes a concern that winter could be coming early. Now there is a panic to get the crops harvested before the snow comes and kills it. When the snow comes it hits suddenly, trapping everyone in the town and preventing any chance of gathering more supplies to see them through. With a shortage of winter clothing, there is a fear that the cold could become a killer. 

It doesn't seem to stop Ryan. Yet again he is out risking his life in dreadful conditions just to follow someone who might be suspicious. I'm not surprised that his wife gets so mad at him for his frequent undeclared trips behind her back that put his life in danger. His hero complex is even more out of control at this point and it leaves me rolling my eyes. We are constantly being told that everything Ryan is doing is for the good of his family and to save mankind, that he is just trying to keep everyone safe and hearing that so often gets pretty repetitive. It is also annoying that he refuses to trust Steve and Darryl with his suspicions and just wanders off into danger without alerting them to what he suspects. It is reckless behaviour especially in this deadly weather. He is the only person he believes capable of keeping watch, looking after the crops and every other required task. It is frustrating to read at times.

Ryan's behaviour in this book is weird and often childish. He suddenly decides to stop calling Mike 'Chief' as Mike is no longer his boss and Ryan thinks he is just as good as Mike and his equal, so there is no need to give him a title. I found this to be so childish and immature. Mike has always been Chief to everyone in the town and I could understand him getting annoyed by Ryan's sudden determination to be rude and stupid. He also seems to have decided that nobody can be trusted, even Steve, yet moments later he is sneaking off in the deep snow to follow the suspected traitor, feeling ok about leaving his wife and child behind because good old Steve will look after them! Make your mind up Ryan!

I'm really annoyed with the author's plot choices in this book, considering what has happened to two characters that I really liked. I was totally invested in Doug's story, turning from bad guy to enigma and then becoming a part of the community when he saves Ryan's life in the wildfire. I loved seeing him turn into a good guy and become friends with Ryan as well as Darryl. Then without warning, Ryan suddenly decides that Doug is acting suspicious because he has been a bit quiet-and what happens next in the plot left me feeling pretty cheated. Why go to the trouble of having Doug's redemption and integration and then do THAT???!!! I was really annoyed about it! 

The whole plot of the traitor was a bit annoying for me too. Ryan has constantly wondered what happened to cause all of this sudden extreme weather and now he becomes sure that someone in his community has actually been involved in it and he has his first and only suspect. now, this traitor has been in all three books and until the start of this one, there was nothing in their behaviour to suggest that they were dodgy or that they were anything but committed to helping out in the community. But suddenly this person is an evil person involved in a big conspiracy to control the weather for profit. Right. I feel as if I have read two books in a series and then been handed book three from a different series to read next. I was lost by the sudden change in Doug and this other character and it totally threw me!

The ending was all a bit sudden too. I didn't mind the actual weather conspiracy story as I find that school of thought pretty interesting. I just feel that there could have been a bit more on it. Cal then tells Ryan that shutting off all the machinery will actually send the weather into a dangerous tailspin that would be very dangerous. Yet Ryan decides to do just that without a second thought and declate the emergency over. Um what just happened? Was that the big climax? I found it pretty underwhelming to be honest. 

This series started off so well for me but it did gradually go a bit off over the next two books. I really enjoyed the actual story about the wild weather and the consequences of mankind trying to meddle with it. I liked most of the characters in the books. I just really disliked the MC and a couple of plot choices. I did find the first book in the series to be the best and despite Ryan, they were decent reads. 

Read July 2019
3 stars.