Thunder Peak is a work of fiction in the action and adventure subgenres and it serves as the opening installment of The Tamm Chronicles series. It is aimed at young adult readers and was penned by author Trae Stratton. Set in the Chiricahua Mountains, the book follows Jonas and Casey Tamm: a father and daughter who live in the shadows of Thunder Peak. When Casey rescues a unicorn, the two must race to get it back through a magical portal to its own world before it loses its magic forever. Pursued by a deadly creature eager to end Casey’s life, the secrets of the mountain will soon reveal themselves.

This is a thrilling series-opening story that does an admirable job of balancing and establishing the lore and characters who we’ll be joining for an eventual trilogy of books, whilst ensuring that the work stands alone as a complete adventure. Author Trae Stratton’s prose is excellent and absorbing, painting a very vivid picture of Thunder Peak and the dangers that lurk around it, and bringing Jonas and Casey to life on every page. The story is a wonderful imagining of fantasy elements occurring in the real world, and the journey that our heroes undertake throughout Thunder Peak is filled with thrilling danger and exciting escapades. The author never misses an opportunity to up the stakes as the adventure continues, and each development masterfully brings us a little bit further into the lore of the world they have built. Overall, Thunder Peak is an excellent first installment that will leave readers excited for the next in the series.

Thunder Peak is the first book of The Tamm Chronicles by Trae Stratton. It's the year 1885. Jonas Tamm, a former civil war soldier, owns the Tamm Ranch and Orchard outside Storm Town in the remote southern Arizona Territory underneath the daunting Thunder Peak, living a hard frontier life with his fourteen-year-old adopted daughter, Casey. But their lives turn upside down the day Casey brings home a unicorn youngling chased by a pack of ravenous wolves led by Nightblade, a spawn of shadow and Cree Chieftain from another realm. Soon after, Jonas and Casey barely escape with their lives after being rescued by a giant turtle named Taliko from a bunch of demonic creatures. Taliko and Jonas reveal to Casey her true origins and warn her of the danger posed by Nightblade. Will they survive the upcoming battle?

An action-packed young adult fantasy western, Thunder Peak is a wild rollercoaster of a ride you don't want to get off. The plot moves at a blistering pace from the get-go, taking unexpected twists and turns along the way to always keep you guessing as to what's going to happen next. I found the characters well-developed. Author Trae Stratton gives the characters hidden motives and agency that make their actions and dialogue all the more compelling. Casey, StarFall, Jonas, and Taliko all have realistic personalities, and you can't help getting attached to them. The action scenes are vividly described, painting crystal clear imagery in your mind. If you're a fantasy lover, I recommend Thunder Peak.