The Elemental Series by Brigid Kemmerer

Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Publication: March 27, 2012
By: Kensington Teen
4 STARS!

Earth, Fire, Air, Water – they are more than you dream.

 

As an air Elemental, 17-year-old Emily Morgan doesn’t have much power. That’s okay—she knows what happens to kids who do.

Like Michael Merrick. He’s an earth Elemental, one with enough power to level cities. Which makes him sexy. Dangerous. And completely off limits. At least according to Emily’s family.

But her summer job puts her in close contact with Michael, and neither of them can help the attraction they feel. When forces of nature like theirs collide, one misstep could get someone killed. Because Emily’s family doesn’t just want her to stay away from him.

They want him dead.

Storm (Elementals #1)

Publication: April 24, 2012

By: Kensington Teen

4 Stars!

Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys all the ones she doesn't want. Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They're powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.

And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.

Secrets are hard to keep when your life's at stake. When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who's hiding the most dangerous truth of all.

The storm is coming.

So, a couple of weeks ago, I was on the twitter and happened to see that Val over at Stuck In Books had bought this book called, Storm.  I don't remember what it was that caught my attention more, the four intense looking guys on the cover or the summary itself, but I thought I'd give it a try.  I hopped on Nook and saw that it's part of an entire series and thought it best to start from the beginning. (If you purchase Storm on Nook, it gives you the first book, Elemental (#0.5) which is a novella, for free.)

OMGoodness!  I couldn't put these books down! They both were a surprise hit for me for several reasons...1) The series centers round the Merrick brothers and while I don't mind reading male POV's, I AM surrounded by living, breathing male POV's 24/7 and sometimes, reading about them can be testosterone overload, yanno?  2) The characters all have certain powers that they get from the elements, earth, wind, fire, water and honestly, the first image that popped into my head was "The Last Avatar". (I don't pretend to understand the bizarre workings of my brain, I just go with the flow.) I was a afraid the story would be cheesey but I didn't need to be because it's actually made of awesome!

This story is full of action, adventure, suspense, and let's not forget about the guys.  Yeah, they're hot but they're good too and hilariously funny at times.  There's also a swoon-worthy romance to balance out all of that "maleness". I enjoyed the alternating POV's which were easy to keep track of and flowed nicely from one chapter to the next and on a personal note, the author nailed the setting.  How do I know? Because it's where I grew up!  Old Mill High School was a rival of ours, and I've driven on Ritchie Highway a bazillion times and Annapolis Mall was thee place to shop. (It still is.)  

The characters were relateable and in fact, Becca and Quinn are strong females who also are a great example of true friendship.  And when I think about those Merrick brothers, I feel like this: I loved Gabriel, LOVED.HIM. I totally wanna hang out with him, exchange snarky jabs and blow stuff up. He is the one I would be BFF's with, I would've crushed on Nick, dated Chris and punched Michael in the face (or at least fantasized about it). Basically, I want them to adopt me.

Then there's New Kid aka Hunter. *sighs*  He's completely swoon worthy with just the right amount of danger mixed in.

My only complaint is that I wish this series was competed (and available) already because the books end in a cliffhanger and I want to know what happens RIGHT NOW! (is very impatient). I'm really looking forward to Spark, book 2, because it's Gabriel's story...need I say more? ;) 


Fearless (Elementals #1.5)
Publication: July 31, 2012

                                          

                                              Spark (Elementals #2) 

                                              Publication: August 28, 2012

Spirit (Elementals #3) 

Expected Publication: May 2013