Title: Storm Breaker
Author: Nisha J. Tuli
Publication Date: May 5, 2026
Publisher: Mayhem Books (Entangled Publishing, LLC)
Format Read: Kindle e-ARC
Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Teens & YA
I rather enjoyed The Hunger Games, so when I saw Storm Breaker by Nisha J. Tuli being compared to that trilogy, I knew I wanted to read it. I’m glad I did.
I was completely immersed in Poet’s life in New Manhattan almost immediately. The world, as we know it, succumbed to global warming long before Poet was born. It’s now the year 3067. Society is vastly different in many ways, yet eerily familiar in others.
Poet is headed to Amery Academy, where she will complete her education before marrying her fiancé and becoming a Society wife. But the school is brutal. She’s forced to make impossible choices, her friendships begin to fracture, and she must work even harder to hide the ability that could see her executed. And then there are the confusing feelings she’s developing for the outsider who’s arrived at the academy.
My only concern going in was whether it would feel too similar to The Hunger Games. It didn’t. There are shared elements, but Storm Breaker stands firmly on its own.
While it took me longer than usual to finish, that had more to do with life than the book. Whenever I picked it up, I was right back in it. I could see the setting, hear the voices, feel the textures.
The story is told in first person from Poet’s perspective, which makes her easy to understand, even when her choices are frustrating. There were moments I wanted to shake her and say, “You deserve better.”
Though marketed as YA, this leans older teen/young adult. The content warnings are extensive and include death, electrocution, physical and emotional abuse, graphic language, violence, blood, alcohol, trampling, accidental death, parental abandonment, classism, sexism, and on-page sexual situations.
The writing style is controlled, simmering, and slightly cold, with pressure building beneath the surface. Sentences are direct, often short to mid-length, and feel deliberate rather than spilled. The tone stays restrained, allowing emotion to surface briefly before pulling back. Tuli focuses on key moments instead of over-describing, letting implication do the work. The rhythm is steady, with small pulses of intensity that make each reading session feel sharp and intentional.
I really enjoyed my time with Storm Breaker and am eager to continue the trilogy. If you enjoyed The Hunger Games or the Powerless trilogy, this is well worth picking up.
Nerd Rating: 🤓🤓🤓🤓— survival, secrets, and sparks
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I read a digital copy made available by Mayhem Books (Entangled Publishing), and this review reflects my honest opinion.