Double Review: Storm and Elemental by Brigid Kemmerer

Storm

(Elemental #1)

By: Brigid Kemmerer

Pub. Date: April 24, 2012

Publisher: K Teen (Kensington)

Pages: 353

Source: ebook

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

Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her, Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys—all the ones she doesn't want. 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.

 When I first heard about Storm, I knew I had to get myself a copy the second it released, and I was not disappointed at all! Storm had secrets, romance, humor, and most of all five amazing hotties (four in which are brothers) that you could not help but fall in love with!

Chris Merrick is 16 and can control the element of Water. One night he is getting beat up, when Becca chases the attackers off with her car. From that point on, Becca is caught in the crazy life of Chris and his brothers. I really liked Chris. He felt lonely within his family, and kind of kept to himself at school. It was hard not to feel for him. I loved Becca! She was definitely able to hold her own again Chris' brothers, especially Michael who was always a jerk to her.

I loved all of the supporting characters as well. Chris' brothers are Michael, who can control the Earth, and twins Gabriel and Nick, who can control Fire and Air. There is no denying that the Merrick brothers are damaged, but the lengths they were willing to take to protect each other was admirable. I am so looking forward to the next books in the series to see more of these guys! Then there is the new boy at school, Hunter. He was a very interesting guy and it was very hard to figure him out. I am looking forward to more Hunter as well.

The characters weren't the only good thing about Storm. I thought the storyline was very original and the writing kept my attention the entire time. It took me a little bit to get into, but once I was there I couldn't put the book down.

Overall, I thought Storm was an amazing start to what I feel is going to be an awesome series!

Elemental

(Elemental #0.5)

By: Brigid Kemmerer

Pub. Date: March 27, 2012

Publisher: K Teen (Kensington)

Pages: 50

Source: ebook

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.

 Elemental is set five years before the events of Storm and this short novella is set around Michael, the oldest brother. Michael can control the element Earth, but he wants nothing to do with this power. All he wants to do is be a normal 17 year old boy, but he does what he has to do so hopefully his younger brothers never know what it is like to have these kinds of powers.

I read Elemental before Storm and it ended up leaving me confused, but in love with Michael. I wished that I would have read it after Storm. I think it would have made more sense to me if I have. In Storm, Michael is a no-nonsense 23 year old guardian to his three brothers, but here his parents are still alive. It was interesting to see how much he had changed in the past five years.  

Overall, Elemental is worth picking up. I think whether you read it before or after Storm, it will leave you wanting more Michael and more of the Merrick brothers!