Nicole M. King

“ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What the Storm Broke by Nicole M. King
Published June 1, 2026
First of all, thank you to Nicole and InsideStory for allowing me to get completely lost in thought with this one.
Writing this review turned out to be harder than reading the book. Not because it’s bad—absolutely not. In fact, I loved it. There was something about the carefully chosen words and the writing style that pulled me in immediately. I flew through the beginning like a madwoman because I was completely there.
Now, if you know me, you know I have a complicated relationship with slow burns. Slow everything, really. My brain likes to sprint while books sometimes prefer a leisurely walk through the countryside. Usually that’s a problem. Strangely enough, it wasn’t here. The pacing felt slower than my usual goblin-speed reading habits, but I didn’t mind it at all.
Where I did struggle was near the end. For me, the story could have comfortably ended around chapter 40. Everything that needed to be said felt like it had already been said, and what followed felt a little like an old VCR tape stuck on a loop. Sometimes the mystery and the emotional depth lie in what isn’t explained, and I personally felt some of that magic was lost.
Please put the pitchforks down for a second. I know this is just my opinion, and I’m also fully aware this book wasn’t written specifically for me. If I had judged it purely on my personal reading preferences, the rating probably would have been lower. But I also know there are plenty of readers with far more patience than I have who will appreciate exactly what the story is doing and enjoy letting it sink in slowly. That’s why I genuinely feel it deserves four stars.
If you’re ready for a journey through blocked memories, buried emotions, and everything painful—and sometimes beautiful—that comes with uncovering them, then this book is definitely for you. Just close your eyes every now and then, take a deep breath, and don’t be surprised if you find yourself mentally feeding those farm animals twice a day, just like I did.”

“The book will pull you right in to the storyline from the very first page! The author's writing takes you along as Alora or Myla moves though the emotions and learns how to work through them on her own. It truly feels like your right there in cedarwood going through the motions of her days with her and feeling what she feels! Truly a great read and I can't wait for more about her story or from the author either!”

“I finished this so quickly and I loved every minute of it! The pacing was just right and very tense, the atmosphere just feel very eerie the whole way through. It actually felt like it was very dreary and stormy the whole time. Myla just felt out of place and like she didn't belong at her hometown anymore. I thought I knew what the big mystery was, but boy was I wrong. I was very surprised by it and I understand why she left. She also forgot everything because it was so traumatizing. Nicole did an amazing job with this story and it had a great ending too!”

“It was a small town with big secrets. Slow build up but once a clue has been released, it started pouring like rain. Then you’ll want to read more..and more… and more. And you’ll realize that it’s the end of the novel. This has really made me awake for 2 nights in a row coz I can’t stop until my body says “sleep”.”

“I got the ARC from Nicole M. King. This book was great and full of mystery. Myla's mom passed away and she had to come back to this town after 16 years of never returning. She is learning all of the mysteries behind what happened to the bones that were found on the edge of her mom's property. But she cant seem to remember it all.
Definitely kept me up at night and had to make myself go to bed but had to finish it tonight and I'm glad I did. What The Storm Broke was a great book and I'm glad i got the Chance to read it! Nothing better than a mystery that no one can figure out and if they do, then we find out where it goes from there......”

“I would’ve finished this book a lot quicker if life didn’t keep getting in the way. It kept me hooked and needing to know what happened.
This isn’t psychological thriller in the sense of jump scares at every turn. This is deeper… more psychologica You really get into the main character’s head. What she’s thinking, how she’s processing. You really feel for her, and want answers as much as she does.
I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for more stories from Ms. King.”

“Thank you to Nicole M. King and Inside Story for an advanced copy to review.
The ending destroyed me. I have been sitting with this book for days and I'm still thinking about it.
If you want something with a nice neat ending that answers all your questions, don’t read this. But if you do, you will fall in love with Myla and her tenacity.
I expected something a bit different out of this thriller. But the quiet burn, the silent searching she did, it was better. It felt like a fresh psychological thriller.
This was a return home after years and then stay longer than planned story. Myla is a podcaster, which makes the long stay believable. She was a bit of a professional in the world of cold cases so her research and involvement didn't feel forced. Especially because she didn't jump right in. She resisted becoming a part of the story.
Cedarwood came alive. The setting was important and I felt like I was there. That is something that can be challenging and can detract from a story, so I appreciated how real it felt.”

“What the Storm Broke is one of those debuts that makes you sit up a little straighter and think, oh, Nicole’s going to be an author to watch.
I genuinely enjoyed this book from start to finish. For a debut, it’s impressively controlled, twisty, and emotionally grounded, and I’d absolutely read more from this author without hesitation. Nicole proves she can build suspense, craft layered characters, and keep you questioning everything until the final pages. A fantastic first novel, and I’m already excited to see what she writes next.
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