It’s a fact that I’m not the hugest novella fan. And because of this I don’t tend to read a lot of them. But this week I’ve read not only the prequel novella, Elemental, but also the short interlude involving Hunter, Fearless – both from the Elemental series by Brigid Kemmerer.

Because the stories are short and sweet my reviews will also be concise:)

 

Title: Elemental (Elementals #0.5)
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Contemporary, Magic
Publisher: Kensington
Publication Date: March 2012 
Pages: 50
Rating: 3.5 stars

Synopsis (from goodreads):
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.

My Review:

Mini-golf and batting cages. Emily Morgan’s summer job at the sports complex could not be more boring. With an average of two customers a day, her time is filled with singing show tunes and trying to survive the intense summer heat and counting down the days until she has enough money to escape and perform on Broadway.

That is until Michael Merrick starts stopping by after his job at his family’s landscaping company to use the batting cages. After a misunderstanding involving her golf club and his head…  the two come to a somewhat uncomfortable compromise. He can get his batting practice and she won’t tell her family that she’s associating with one of the Merricks. Emily’s brother Tyler would like nothing more than Michael and people like him dead.

Whilst the Morgans have weak ties to certain elements, the Merricks are can control the Earth, Fire, Air and Water and because of this many in society consider them to be dangerous. And dangerous things need to be destroyed.

This story is one that I wish I’d read before I read Storm. This novella explains why Michael is so bitter towards the world and why he considers anyone except for family as the enemy.

The brothers interactions with each other are one of my favourite things about this series. The boys are typical teenage boys despite the supernatural abilities they have to control the elements. Fighting in the hallways and other sibling stuff that may seem mundane to some just added a sense of realism to the story for me.

I also loved the banter between Emily and Michael. The way they talk and the descriptions of each other are the stuff that make me anticipate Michael’s story – if he gets one.

It was surprising to me just how sad I found it and how attached I got to Michael and Emily’s story over such few pages. There’s a bit of a mystery at the end and I think it’s a great read for anyone who wants a little more back story to the Elemental series.

Elemental is included in the paperback copy of Storm in the US edition but can also be purchased as an ebook.

Purchase the ebook from:

Amazon

Title: Fearless (Elementals #1.5)
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Contemporary, Magic
Publisher: Kensington
Publication Date: July 2012 
Pages: 44
Rating: 3.5 stars

Synopsis (from goodreads):
Being a force of nature doesn’t keep you safe.

Hunter Garrity is used to watching his back. The kids at school sense something different about him. And they’re right.

Hunter has powers that have nothing to do with how hard he can throw a punch.

Maybe that’s what Clare Kasten is picking up. She’s shy, quiet, and intense, but she’s sought him out. There’s no telling what she wants from him.

But Hunter knows enough to sense a secret when it’s close. And getting close to Clare is a danger he’s ready to face…

My Review:

Hunter Garrity, a Spirit Elemental, is one that I adored from the first time he and his crystal bracelets and his gorgeous ex-police dog, Kasper. This is a little story that occurs before he moves and gets involved with Becca and the Merrick’s drama and it shows a different side from the character I was familiar with. He’s somewhat innocent and naive to the ways of the world.

School hasn’t been kind to Hunter and he’s used to being tormented by the other kids. So it’s a surprise to him when Clare Kasten follows him home from school one day. He’s shocked that a girl would want to get to know him but he decides to answer her questions and get to know her better.

Hunter should have listened to his father and his number one rule regarding women – use them before they can use you…

It’s interesting to see Hunter with his family. Despite having his parents and uncle in his life he’s still not happy. His mother’s business is one that he’s ashamed over and he resents having his ability but not being able to help his father and uncle with their secret missions. But – even though this novel is only 44 pages – you can see the development of Hunter from naive boy to an adult who has been jaded by the world.

Purchase the ebook from:

Amazon