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Storm (Elemental #1)

by Brigid Kemmerer (Goodreads Author)

4.09 of 5 stars 4.09 · rating details · 6,301 ratings · 1,016 reviews

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...more

Paperback, 353 pages

Published April 24th 2012 by Kensington (first published 2008)

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Storm (Elemental, #1)
by Brigid Kemmerer (Goodreads Author)

Empat bersaudara Merrick memiliki anugerah empat elemen berbeda-air, angin, api, dan tanah. Mereka selalu berusaha agar tidak mencolok dan tidak menar…more

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2012 Debut Authors (Young Adult & Middle Grade)

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Jul 02, 2012 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult

"You keep saving me," she said.
"Yeah, well." He stroked the hair down her back. "I think we might be close to breaking even on that."

Even though the covers fail to impress me, the books are quite good! I have to give Storm a 4.25 to 4.5 rating. I truly enjoyed this book, probably more than I have any YA PNR in a while.

It had all the key elements of a cute romance type book I'd want to read :

~ multiple hot guys (jackpot!)
~ lots of action & conflict aside from the romance itself
~ cool power...more

48 likes · like · see review

May 30, 2012 Whitney rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: lick-this-cover, own, 2012-favorites, all-time-faves, just-loooooved-it, neat-plot, okay-heroines, okay-heros, that-ending-omg

Read the full review here. :]

This book definitely made me want to bend some elements. (That's putting it in avater the last airbender terms. ;p) I think, after reading this book, I'd want to have the element of fire. I've actually always wanted to have a fire element after watching ATLA. And this totally made me want it more. If I couldn't have it, then definitely water. There was totally a connection with water, since it was Chris's ability. c:

description

This is just too much hotness on one cover.

64 likes · like · see review

Apr 29, 2013 Steph Sinclair rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, kensington, 2012-release, 2-am-or-later, 2013-reads, alternating-povs, cool-author, could-have-been-better, guilty-pleasures, i-totally-saw-that-coming, it-wasn-t-all-that-but-enjoyable, original-and-creative, addictive-read

Occasionally, my husband and I will discuss books that I am reading at the time. It mostly depends on if the cover sparks his curiosity enough to find out what it's about. In this case, he saw me putting together the Elemental Virgins post a few weeks ago (which may or may not have led to a few awkward questions. "So you're a virgin, huh?"), so he knew this was one of the books in the series. One day, I was minding my business, cracking up in my little Reading Corner at some witty banter between...more

36 likes · like · see review

Jan 01, 2013 Emily May rated it 2 of 5 stars

Recommended to Emily May by: Young Adult Book Club December 2012

Shelves: ya-na, paranormal-uf, pnr, 2012, wtf-sexism, love-triangle

2.5
Me and this book went on a strange journey together and the end result was very conflicted feelings.

It all started when I decided I wanted to become more involved in one of my goodreads groups and actually pay attention to the monthly book reads. In the past, I used the group for challenges and recommendations but didn't participate in the group read-along, so I decided that I would read every book voted for except the ones that a) I had already read or b) I couldn't obtain for whatever reas...more

38 likes · like · see review

Jun 04, 2012 Maja rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-favorites, annoying-love-triangle, favorites, i-have-superpowers, just-another-book-crush, moments-of-great-frustration, alternating-povs, never-saw-it-coming, ya, reviewed-in-2012

It should take me no more than three words to convince you to read this book. They are the same three words that convinced ME to read it, and I haven’t regretted it at all. Those three words are… are you ready?
Four hot brothers.
That’s all you need to know.

*sigh* Oh, okay. I suppose I should write a “proper” review. Here it goes:

Four Merrick brothers have a very strong connection to the elements: Michael controls earth, twins Gabriel and Nick control fire and air respectively, and the youngest...more It should take me no more than three words to convince you to read this book. They are the same three words that convinced ME to read it, and I haven’t regretted it at all. Those three words are… are you ready?
Four hot brothers.
That’s all you need to know.

*sigh* Oh, okay. I suppose I should write a “proper” review. Here it goes:

Four Merrick brothers have a very strong connection to the elements: Michael controls earth, twins Gabriel and Nick control fire and air respectively, and the youngest, Chris, controls water. All four of them are far more powerful than they should be which causes the other Elementals to fear them and attack them at every opportunity. The brothers can’t use their elements to defend themselves because they’re all young and untrained and loss of control on their part could mean the loss of many innocent lives.

When two older boys ambush Chris and beat him almost to death, a girl from school comes to his rescue. She somehow chases them away and gets him home but Michael, his legal guardian since their parents died, practically chases her out of the house. Chris doesn’t really know her, even though she’s in some of his classes. He’s heard about her, though, everyone has. People say that she sleeps around with anyone who asks nicely enough. But Becca isn’t like that at all. She’s been through a lot and she’s just trying to keep her head down and avoid being noticed. Then, suddenly, she is in the middle of Chris’s drama, and a gorgeous new boy is showing a real interest in her.

You probably figured out from that last sentence that there is a love triangle in this book. In my humble opinion, there’s no such thing as a good/interesting love triangle, but I can tell you that this one is less painful than most. It made sense in a strange kind of way and it kept me in suspense because, unlike with other love triangles, I actually wasn’t sure which boy Becca would end up with.
Another thing worth mentioning is Brigid Kemmerer’s writing – it is much better than I expected when I first heard about this book. Her style doesn’t draw attention from the story itself, it is straightforward, clean and very easy to read.

Storm doesn’t end with a cliffhanger, but it has a pretty open ending. So many things are unresolved and I can’t wait for Gabriel’s book to be out. This is the type of not-quite-cliffhanger I can live with: everyone is safe, but there are a lot of questions that need answers.

If you are going to read Storm, definitely read the short story prequel first. It takes place about 4 years earlier, and it helped me understand why Michael is the way he is.
My recommendation: go read it. Just keep those smelling salts near – these boys will make you swoon!

Also posted at The Nocturnal Library
(less)

48 likes · like · see review

Apr 21, 2012 Giselle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, own, paranormal

~~Four~~ Five hot guys and one girl. Does anybody have a problem with this?

As if all this testosterone running rampant isn't enough, these four brothers can control the elements: Water, air, earth and fire. The seriousness of these powers is made clear several times throughout this novel. It's a powerful ability to have to be able to control anything from tsunamis and earthquakes, to the spread of diseases; all without raising an ounce of suspicion. Basically, easily becoming an unstoppable, invisi...more ~~Four~~ Five hot guys and one girl. Does anybody have a problem with this?

As if all this testosterone running rampant isn't enough, these four brothers can control the elements: Water, air, earth and fire. The seriousness of these powers is made clear several times throughout this novel. It's a powerful ability to have to be able to control anything from tsunamis and earthquakes, to the spread of diseases; all without raising an ounce of suspicion. Basically, easily becoming an unstoppable, invisible killing machine. I wasn't sure how exciting a story about element control could be, so I was happily surprised by the constant sensation of danger that I felt while reading this novel. Surround this with a fast pace and intense action scenes, and we've got ourselves a pretty riveting plot.

The brothers. Oh boy. They're quite the eclectic bunch. Each one unique and imperfect, these guys are all exceptionally well developed characters that will grow on you and make a lasting impression. I enjoyed their brotherly banter which never ceases to amuse me. I also found them all endearing even though sometimes I wanted to punch them. Along with these four brothers, we've got Hunter - the New Guy - which was my personal favorite of the boys, then Becca's friends, classmates and parents. Overall, it's a pretty big cast that Kemmerer incorporates impressively inside the story, giving them each charming personalities and important roles that contribute to the story.

Now on to Becca. Becca has to deal with all this ~~hotness~~ raucous. For a change, it's the girl who gets to save the day at the beginning, by coming to Chris's aid and saving his life - which is essentially how she gets sucked into his. Then of course, soon afterwards, she meets Hunter; giving us a love triangle that, even though I'm not a big fan of usually, I quite enjoyed in Storm. First, it's hard not to like these two well-rounded guys who are both pining for Becca. Second, it's very rare that I can feel chemistry from both love interests like I did in this novel. I constantly felt torn on who I wanted her to end up with. While I was happy about the straightforward relationship growth with Hunter, I found myself cringing when we got Chris's reaction to it. Nothing felt forced for the sake of a cliché triangle, it's truly a well written and complex romantic mess.

Full of constant twists and exceptional characters, Storm proves to be a fantastic debut that lives up to its cover. You'll find the perfect amount of romance, action, and suspense for a great start to a very promising series.

--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads (less)

39 likes · like · see review

Apr 05, 2013 Vilda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: PNR/YA lovers!

Recommended to Vilda by: Amanda (Letters Inside Out)

Shelves: young-adult, read-in-2013, didn-t-want-to-put-down, e-book, emotional-roller-coaster, men-that-make-me-swoon, the-favorites

Rating: 4,5 stars

'"My mother believes everything in existence has a consciousness," he said. "An awareness. As in, maybe it's not what you like." He reached out and touched her finger, which was still resting on the hematite. "Maybe it's what favors you."'

I seriously can't believe I waited this long to start this one! I've been desperate to read it since even before it came out, and I don't even have a good reason for not starting it sooner. It was GOOD, and I mean real good! From the moment I p...more

20 likes · like · see review

Apr 17, 2012 Sarah (saz101) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: paranormal, young-adult, favorites

Four brothers, each a powerful elemental, a community at war, and one girl caught in the middle, Brigid Kemmerer brings her A-game in her electrifying debut. Storm should come with a cautionary notice. Something like: “Severe Weather Warning: This book will blow you away.”

The Story:
When Becca Chandler saves a boy from a brutal beating in her school’s parking lot, chasing off his attackers, she has no idea what her good Samaritan act is getting her caught up in. The boy is Chris Merrick, who, al...more

13 likes · like · see review

Apr 26, 2012 Wendy Darling rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, 2012-publication, april, kensington, paranormal-general, male-pov, crush-worthy-boys, heroines-butt-kicking, read-2012, 2012-favorites

This book is so much fun, and a terrific start to a promising series. I am far too behind on reviews I have to do to write one for this, but I did write a spoiler-free review of book two here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

If you enjoy sarcastic quips and hot boys with your YA urban fantasy, you'll definitely want to pick this one up, though!

21 likes · like · see review

Jun 23, 2012 ♥Rachel♥ rated it 4 of 5 stars

After all the glowing reviews for Storm, I was a little afraid that it may not live up to my expectations. Looks like I didn't need to worry!

Let's just get this confession out of the way: I heard "four hot boys" and I just knew I had to read this. The four we're talking about are the Merrick brothers, born with special elemental abilities, able to draw up power and control the forces of nature. Each brother has a specialization: air, fire, water, earth (and yes, they are all HOT!). Because of t...more

17 likes · like · see review

Feb 22, 2012 Brodie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, favorites

It's late night in an abandoned parking lot, but Becca Chandler can't just stand there and watch Chris Merrick be cruelly beaten upon by two older guys. From the moment she saves his life, she unwittingly marks herself as a target. The Merrick brothers are not ordinary. They're Elementals, each with a strong power over an individual element - water, earth, fire and air. They are dangerously powerful and those that know of their abilities want them very dead.

Allow me to take a moment to express...more

30 likes · like · see review

Aug 17, 2012 Ariana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, series

3.5 stars

I had my eyes on this book for a while because most of my friends have read it and loved it, so when I got a copy of Spark (the second book in the series) for review I thought that it was time for me to start reading this series too.

Don't be fooled by the 3 and a half star-rating, the book is quite good and if you don't usually over-think the paranormal worlds (like I seem to do) you will definitely love it more.
This is a refreshing story about 4 boys with powers way too strong for the...more

11 likes · like · see review

Jul 05, 2012 Zuleeza rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: debut-author-read-in-2012, paranormal, ongoing-series, series-i-havent-finished

This review is also available on my blog, Qwerty

Okay, it's a challenge to write a review after half a month I finished with this book. Ha-ha! It's what you got when you chose to read a book right before a major exam starts.

One thing I vividly remember though...

This book haz it.

Where do I begin...how about THE FIVE HOT GUYS! (Actually, Becca's dad was actually kind of cute until I actually found out his secret).

Well, it didn't reach the point where I found my ovaries were exploding. But, close en...more

17 likes · like · see review

Jun 02, 2012 Katya rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, teen-lit, dramarama, horrible-best-friends, katya-s-mouth-runs-away-again, kudos-for-the-worldbuilding, oh-come-on, so-so, wtf, the-ya-project

I don't know what to write here. I know I usually start my reviews that way and then churn out essays the length of my arm, but honestly, this book is a paradox: Because I really, really liked it. And yet I didn't.

It's not the idea. It's not the execution. The concept - of four brothers with an affinity to the elements struggling to survive in a world that is hostile to them, is fantastic. The writing is great - the dialogue zings and I often found myself really cheering the characters on. They'...more

23 likes · like · see review

May 01, 2012 Mimi Valentine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: authors-i-want-to-meet, finished-copy-for-review, best-of-2012, boys-i-wish-were-real, pure-awesomeness, reviewed

I was pressured, brainwashed, and totally convinced to go into this book with high expectations, and even then it still blew me away! So. Darn. AMAZING!

Storm starts on a dark night when our awesome heroine Becca literally saves Chris Merrick's life. Everything quickly goes to hell from there when she realizes that Chris and his brothers aren't normal — they're Elementals, targeted because of how powerful they are. And now that she knows the truth, Becca isn't so safe either.

Becca is the perfect...more

15 likes · like · see review

Apr 28, 2013 Faye (The Social Potato) rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm giving away the three Elemental books! Click HERE to enter :)
Warning: there's a bit of rant up ahead. It's still PG-13, promise!

Final rating: 3.5

When I was younger, I was a bit obsessed with stories and cartoons that involve a group of teenagers being able to control the elements. I loved watching Captain Planet (shame it's not on Cartoon Network anymore!) and reading this girly comic book called W.I.T.C.H. There were a couple of mangas about it, too, and some that were slightly similar such...more

7 likes · like · see review

May 13, 2012 Eunice rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Eunice by: Mimi Valentine

Shelves: damn-gorgeous-males, cool-covers, multiple-pov, out-2012, paranormal, urban-fantasy, ya-romance, young-adult

3.75 stars

I would be honest that the main reason that caught my interest to read this book was that I heard that there were quite a number of hot swoon-worthy guys in this one. Then I was surprised to learn that they were not just your typical gorgeous guys but also very cool people who have super natural powers that can control the elements! And so I was sold!

The characters were awesome and very fascinating. Becca Chandler was a very real and compassionate character. She did a poor decision in...more 3.75 stars

I would be honest that the main reason that caught my interest to read this book was that I heard that there were quite a number of hot swoon-worthy guys in this one. Then I was surprised to learn that they were not just your typical gorgeous guys but also very cool people who have super natural powers that can control the elements! And so I was sold!

The characters were awesome and very fascinating. Becca Chandler was a very real and compassionate character. She did a poor decision in the past that made her flawed and vulnerable but still she faced and dealt it with her best. I didn't like her right away though but she eventually grew one me as the story went on and as I learned more of her. Chris Merrick on the other hand, I like right away! Haha! Although sometimes his reactions on some things were a bit offending but still he was a very good person, having his POV helps a lot understanding his character. Hunter, the first time I met him I was like, Uh-oh. Not that I find him bad, he was in fact a very kind and caring character but when he showed up I known there'd be love triangle coming and he'd be a threat! Haha! And I just can't seem to like him. Don't hate me alright, I saw all the good in him and I know lots of people loved him but I just...can't. The other Merrick brothers - Michael, Nick and Gabriel were all equally hot and sexy. Gabriel was funny and very fascinating, he's my personal favorite among the brothers.

What I enjoyed the most in this story was discovering each brother's elemental powers. I also had fun learning how it worked and how people get to have those abilities and stuffs. I was also moved by the relationship of the brothers especially after discovering what their family has been through. Growing up without parents who most understand their situation was hard. Brigid Kemmerer did very good job in handling and capturing the conflicts and issues within the relationship of the brothers. As for the love-triangle, worry not because it wasn't the kind that gives you headaches or had you pulling your hair out of your scalp. It was actually pretty good and I did quite enjoy most parts of it.

Storm was very entertaining and fun read, fast paced and action-packed. This book is more than just the boys (even though they were the main reason I read this), there's a lot more in this book that I'm sure you'll enjoy as much as you will enjoy the boys! LOL! Looking forward for the next book, Spark, because it's gonna be Gabriel's story! Yay! :))

This review is also posted at Book Overdose (less)

9 likes · like · see review

Oct 23, 2012 Elle! rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, teens, trash-fiction-3, romance, paranormal, or-lovers-of-twilight, not-my-style, high-school, action, melodrama, arc-advanced-reviews-copy

The cover looks like what I call a "Weeping Porn Novel".The cover tells the whole story.... Barf!
Imagine this! Five handsome mysterious disturbed men and one teen girl. A lot of body ogling and a highschool dance. So Storm (Elemental #1) is basically about the Merrick brothers and one sexually frustrated girl. As usual , just another poorly written teen book with love triangles on every page and man gawking. The book was like a combination of Outsiders and Supernatural but written in a teenybopp...more The cover looks like what I call a "Weeping Porn Novel".The cover tells the whole story.... Barf!
Imagine this! Five handsome mysterious disturbed men and one teen girl. A lot of body ogling and a highschool dance. So Storm (Elemental #1) is basically about the Merrick brothers and one sexually frustrated girl. As usual , just another poorly written teen book with love triangles on every page and man gawking. The book was like a combination of Outsiders and Supernatural but written in a teenybopper way... Teenybopper? No not the fun kind of kick ass teen way, it was written in the ramble on for one thousand hours about events that just do not matter teen way.

Sadly, I didn't find Becca necessary at all.
*mile long sigh*

All Kemmerer did was "sexify" (yes I made up my own word) every damn male character! That was sooooooooooo annoying. Almost as annoying as how frustratingly long I stressed the word so. I would have rather read this novel from the brothers point of view. Why? At least it would have been a story, not a lonely girl with her head spinning like a top at the sight of each males luscious face...

Who is this irritating character? Becca...(insert her last name here) I didn't understand Becca! She almost was "beat up" at the house by the brothers during the first chapter and comes back. Becca was like a boomerang, she would not get the fuck away! She annoyed me highly. The other characters were way more interesting than the Mary Sue chick ahem....Hunter. The story premise could have been so great if the author just killed Becca. Just get it over with and make my day.

I can see how some people love this book with it's blah blah, teenage fiction melodrama. Lightning hitting the ground and a girl ogling guys who have better lives than she does in her own book. Sexy troubled men and galore! I will certainly not get the second book. This book sucked!

(I'd like to thank Goodreads for allowing me to read the advance copy) But that will not influence my review in any way shape or form... Hahaha as you can see). (less)

7 likes · like · see review

Apr 07, 2012 Shirley rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-releases, arcs, own, favourites, read-in-2012, for-review

The Merrick Brothers are hot. I remember thinking when I finished reading this book a while back, that after meeting the Merrick Brothers, you’ll be sure to forget ALL your previous YA boy crushes! Nick and Chris were my favourites in this installment (hmm…I may have changed after reading Spark!) but honestly, ALL 4 brothers, and even Hunter were swoon-worthy J

Love Triangles (and insta-love) are the bane of my existence. Usually anyway. However, the love triangle in Storm was tolerable; even tho...more

5 likes · like · see review

Jan 14, 2013 Booknut rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-love-dearly, down-to-earth, strong-heroine, elemental-powers

Re-reading this book was like digging into a tub of your favourite ice-cream.

Fulfilling, yummy, wonderful...and leaving you with a slightly guilty feeling (e.g. like you should have been doing schoolwork instead of reading it but who cares, life's short, YOLO). :D

_______________________________
First read:

Love, love, LOVED it!! The Merricks are definitely a band of brothers I would give anything to meet - from the stoic Michael, to the troublesome twins (Gabriel is my fave!) and to the youngest,...more

6 likes · like · see review

May 13, 2013 Bieke {Istyria book blog} rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-own, best-books-ever, favorites, reread-worthy

Okay, just wow. This book is just... wow! I loved it! I can't say anything else about it. I just loved it. It's romantic, full of action, friendship, humor,... The complete package! I want more Hunter, Chris & Becca! It's a bit stupid that the sequel isn't about them, though... Their story isn't finished yet. :C

“You and me,” she said. “How much was real?”
He turned. “Time will tell.”

Yeah, this a very very VERY short review, but I just don't have anything else to say. It's awesome and everyo...more

3 likes · like · see review

Jul 20, 2012 Mandee rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: allen-unwin, ya-lit, for-review, i-have-a-copy, may2012release, paranormal, review-on-the-blog, eye-roller, usa, dramarama, annoying-main-character, aggressive-main-characters

Storm by Bigid Kemmerer is set in Maryland, USA. The story revolves around high school student Becca Chandler. She's on the way to her car, parked at school, when she sees two boys beating up another boy. She scares them off to find the boy she just saved is Chriss Merrick, a fellow classmate who is a bit of a loner with a bad rep. After saving him and driving him home, Becca finds herself caught up in Chris' life and the trouble he and his brothers are in. She's also dealing with her father com...more Storm by Bigid Kemmerer is set in Maryland, USA. The story revolves around high school student Becca Chandler. She's on the way to her car, parked at school, when she sees two boys beating up another boy. She scares them off to find the boy she just saved is Chriss Merrick, a fellow classmate who is a bit of a loner with a bad rep. After saving him and driving him home, Becca finds herself caught up in Chris' life and the trouble he and his brothers are in. She's also dealing with her father coming back into her life as well as her feelings for new boy, Hunter.

I have been hearing about Storm for months, I feel like one of the last YA bloggers to have read it and while I didn't LOVE it, I did enjoy it and I can see why others enjoyed it more.

Becca was a typical teen girl, she goes to school, has a best friend and lives at home with her mum. Her dad, who has been absent from her life, shows up in town, claiming that work has brought him back. Her best friend, Quinn, often stays at her house, preffering it to her own. And now Becca has gotten herself tangled up in Chris' life, meaning that the people who are out to get him, are now watching her too.

I couldn't connect with Becca even though she seemed like a nice enough girl, she was quick to act and help Chris out, she doesn't mind Quinn being at her house (for the most part) and she's dealing with rumours about her being spread around school and I felt for her, I really did. Also, she blushes a lot, I don't know anyone who blushes that much and over such trivial things! Her friend Quinn was ok, a little annoying at times, but she too was dealing with family problems.

I know everyone is swooning over the Merrick boys, and I did see their appeal. The boys are Elementals, regular humans with the power to control the elements and in their case, their powers are very strong which poses a threat in the eyes of The Guides (sort of like their council or police). I read Elemental (the novella prequel) and I quite liked Michael (he's connected to Earth) but in Storm he's angry and his aggressiveness got boring real fast. Chris was ok, he's connected to Water, and as the youngest in the family he's only got his brothers as role models. Gabriel is connected to Fire and I didn't like him at all, he was so quick to judge Becca and helped spread the incorrect rumours by warning Chris away from her. Nick was probably the best, that might be because his element is Wind - he was calmer than the others and seemed like a much nicer guy than the other three. All of the brothers tended to act first and think later (or not at all) but they have been through a lot (their parents died and people want to kill them) so I'll cut them some slack.

I had the Captain Planet theme song running through my head as I read this book because all the talk of Earth, Fire,Wind, Water as well as Heart, er, I mean Spirit, reminded me so much of the tv show! I liked the idea of having people with these powers and thought it worked well in this book and it's quite unique compared to other YA out right now.

I felt like there was a lot going on plot-wise, Becca has a lot of people to deal with - her mum, Quinn, Chris, the other Merrick brothers, her dad, Hunter, the idiots at school and part of me felt like it was too much. Towards the end I realised a few of these people we introduced because they had a bigger part to play, and I was slightly surprised with how the ending played out, in a good way.

I think fans of paranormal YA will get a kick out of Storm and don't forget to grab a copy of Elemental as well!(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Jul 22, 2012 Ferdy rated it 2 of 5 stars

The first book in the series, which focus on the Merrick brothers, who each have the power to control a different element. The oldest Michael controls earth, the youngest Chris controls water and the twins Nick and Gabriel control air and fire respectively.
The youngest brother, Chris takes centre stage in Storm. The story starts with Becca Chandler saving Chris from being beaten to death by two guys, outside of her school. Becca soon finds out that no good deed goes unpunished when she's pulled...more
The first book in the series, which focus on the Merrick brothers, who each have the power to control a different element. The oldest Michael controls earth, the youngest Chris controls water and the twins Nick and Gabriel control air and fire respectively.
The youngest brother, Chris takes centre stage in Storm. The story starts with Becca Chandler saving Chris from being beaten to death by two guys, outside of her school. Becca soon finds out that no good deed goes unpunished when she's pulled into the fight between the Merrick's and the people who want them dead.
Chris was a great hero, I always enjoy heroes that aren't sarcastic, cocky, alpha-hole players. Chris has power over water, it was refreshing to see that he wasn't all powerful and all knowing, he was still struggling with his powers and learning control. I found it endearing that Chris was a little nervous and unsure around Becca. I did enjoy his strained relationship with his brother, Micheal, more than his relationship with Becca.
The heroine, Becca was kind of blah. I found myself getting irritated with how she didn't stick up for herself more, she also came across as quite Mary Sueish towards the end. I wish they had been more interaction between Becca and her dad, she had more personality around him, whereas with every other character she was quite dull.
I thought Becca's best friend Quinn was a far more interesting character, she has a tough home life and relies on Becca for help. I lost a bit of respect for Becca when she pushed Quinn away when it was clear that she needed help. I did notice that the few times Quinn and Nick interacted that there was some sort of vibe between them. Out of the brothers, Nick and Chris were by far the best. I am hoping that Quinn is Nick's heroine.
I didn't like that the only male characters that weren't rapey, sexist pigs or complete douche's were Chris and the future love interests of the series. Really author??..that's the only way you can make your heroes swoonworthy and desirable by making all the other male characters villains and bast**ds.
What pissed me off the most was the slut shaming that went on in this book. Yes, I'm aware that slut shaming does happen in real life but the extent of slut shaming that certain characters experienced was beyond ridiculous..it felt like I was reading the attitudes and actions of people from the early 1900's. I was really disappointed and angry with one of the brothers attitude, Gabriel, who is a future love interest. He brags about what a player he is and then when he hears that Becca's slept around he talks down to her and acts like she's not worthy to date his brother..so it's ok for him to sleep around but if a girl does it must mean she's evil, dirty, lowlife scum. He only gives his approval to Becca when he finds out that Becca hasn't actually slept around and that it was all just vicious lies. I anticipate that Gabriel will meet some shy, virginal, wide eyed girl that he falls for (because, of course sexually experienced girls aren't good enough for him), he'll stop his playboy ways and live HEA.
I did enjoy premise and some of the side characters introduced, I'll probably read how good the reviews are before deciding whether or not to continue with the series. (less)

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Apr 11, 2013 Anna (Bobs Her Hair) rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: YA/PNR/UF

Shelves: young-adult, urban-fantasy, ebook, paranormal-romance

4 - 4.5 Stars ... A YA Paranormal Romance I Want to Read

There is angst, but it's all well-done. The four Merrick brothers are easy to become addicted to. Their parents are dead. They resent being raised by their older brother Michael. So much anger, bitterness, and cruel words exchanged. It felt real, sincere.

Michael drew himself up, as if readying for another fight.
But Gabriel didn't move. "You're not our father." His voice was low, even, puntuated by the rain. Lightning flashed somewhere in

...more 4 - 4.5 Stars ... A YA Paranormal Romance I Want to Read

There is angst, but it's all well-done. The four Merrick brothers are easy to become addicted to. Their parents are dead. They resent being raised by their older brother Michael. So much anger, bitterness, and cruel words exchanged. It felt real, sincere.

Michael drew himself up, as if readying for another fight.
But Gabriel didn't move. "You're not our father." His voice was low, even, puntuated by the rain. Lightning flashed somewhere in the sky.

Michael flinched -- almost imperceptibly, but Gabriel saw it and smiled.

Nick went to his twin's side. "Stop. Just--come inside."

Gabriel shrugged him off and started for Michael, stopping right in from of him. "You'd make a shitty father, anyway," he said. "But that's okay. That's not what you're supposed to be."

Michael held his ground. "Yeah? Just what am I supposed to be?"

Gabriel gave a humorless laugh and turned for the house. "Come on, guys."

"Hey!" Michael's tone was sharp. "Just what am I supposed to be?

Gabriel turned in the doorway. "..."

There is also a love triangle. Boy likes girl. Girl likes New Kid. New Kid seems to like the girl, too. Yet the girl seems drawn to the Boy. It wasn't annoying, especially since the boy, Chris, ran hot and cold with Becca. Hunter, the New Kid, gave her the right signals. You could feel how Becca was being tugged in different directions and it's easy to sympathize.

"Becca couln't sort out the sudden emotion - she felt as if her heart had started scattering butterflies through her abdomen, then he'd kicked her in the stomach and pissed them all off."

Overall, this is a series recommended for readers who enjoy YA/PNR/UF. Also, this novel is enhanced if you read

first. You'll see a different Merrick family, especially the difference in Michael. A time when their parents were alive. Michael wasn't always the jerk you see in Storm. He was the strong big brother that stopped the twins (Nick & Gabriel) from spitting in his little brother's mouth. The world-building is solid. The Elemental talents and use of their 'powers' are tied to their emotions, and being pretty angry teenagers there's a lot of harm they can do. Then there are the people who want to kill them. What's not to like?

Verdict: Read it!

[I read this in one day. I didn't want to put it down. Stayed up until 1:30 in the a.m. And, for the love of all that's chocolate, I was supposed to buddy read this with new_user!!! Sorry!!!!]

(less)

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Feb 17, 2013 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favs

This is just a quick note to thank this author for writing how and what she does. It is rare to find positive role models for teenagers in popular fiction. I cannot praise these books highly enough. Please, keep up the excellent work.

3 likes · like · see review

Dec 09, 2012 Jenna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: great-reads, own-kindle, favorites-read-2012

Okay... I am definitely a fan.
The reason I liked this book is because it is like The Outsiders meets Captain Planet, and that is amazing. Only this book has more cussing (unless you watched The Outsiders movie, then that is a different story entirely). Anyway, let me tell you that I love both the Curtis brothers and use to pretend to be a planteer...so this book was right up my alley. I thought this book was the bomb (dot) com. And yea..I just said that.

"You're probably thinking I owe you my l...more
Okay... I am definitely a fan.
The reason I liked this book is because it is like The Outsiders meets Captain Planet, and that is amazing. Only this book has more cussing (unless you watched The Outsiders movie, then that is a different story entirely). Anyway, let me tell you that I love both the Curtis brothers and use to pretend to be a planteer...so this book was right up my alley. I thought this book was the bomb (dot) com. And yea..I just said that.

"You're probably thinking I owe you my life."
"No." she snapped. "Just sixty bucks."
"You charge for the hero act?"

Boys will be Boys....and I want to be their friend!
Yes, some parts of the plot were a tad predictable, but not all. Some moments still got me. But it didn't matter either way because the characters and their individual personalities were the best part. They were so interesting and each of them had their own baggage or problems that they were sorting through. And that made what was happening...far more interesting then just another YA novel. I mean I loved the action packed scenes but also loved when they were just sitting in the bedroom talking. Let's just say, when I want to actually be friends with book characters (especially the brothers...swoon alert!)... then they are some pretty awesome characters. And trust me, I want to join the: I am an elemental club.

Sarcasm with a smile.
And the lead lady, Becca, she cracks me up. Like seriously, she had me laughing and cheering for her throughout the book. And do not think she is not without her own problems even before all the craziness starts. But she is definitely one of my favorite YA heroines. She really learns to hold her own around these guys...and I respect her for that.

"To whom it may concern: I’m not involved. Honest. Hugs, Becca”

Stay Gold, Ponyboy.
So there you have it, a brief gush about this book and the reasons I enjoyed reading it so much. So if you pretended that...your grandma's old ring could unite powers to bring out Captain Planet or if you walked around saying stuff like "Stay Gold, Ponyboy" (like I sometimes still do) then you will love this book. Take if from a fellow geek and trust me... Read this.
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Dec 25, 2012 ◕ ◡ ◕ Arooj rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, books-i-fell-hard-for

So, so good!
Well worth the long wait I had to endure to read this book.
Also - why can't I ever have an encounter with a bunch of hot supernatural guys? So not fair.

This was one of those books that I wasn't really interested in reading at first. But then I saw all the positive reviews and learned how it's about a bunch of people who have the power of one of the 5 elements. I find books like these really fun to read, because it's sounds so damn cool, doesn't it? But I was still a bit skeptical abo...more So, so good!
Well worth the long wait I had to endure to read this book.
Also - why can't I ever have an encounter with a bunch of hot supernatural guys? So not fair.

This was one of those books that I wasn't really interested in reading at first. But then I saw all the positive reviews and learned how it's about a bunch of people who have the power of one of the 5 elements. I find books like these really fun to read, because it's sounds so damn cool, doesn't it? But I was still a bit skeptical about reading it.

That is, until I found out that there were a bunch of hot brothers in the book.

Now, I don't usually read a book just because it has hot guys in it. I mean, I do like reading about hot guys of course, but I care more about the story and what kind of book it is. But with this book, I got all excited and giddy thinking about the hot brothers.

This book was awesome. There was a lot of action, mystery, and some good ol' awesome romance. If you love all things supernatural, You'll love this book. I loved the author's writing, the way she described the powers and how dangerous they can be. And the ending knocked me out. I also loved how the story was told in different POV's, like I'd be reading from Becca's POV and after it ended, it would continue off in Chris's POV. It let me see the story from both sides, which was exciting.

Oh, and the Merrick brothers? Super hot. Some of them were a bit scary and acted like jerks, but I still loved them. Seriously, where do I have to move to find brothers like them?

There were a couple things that I wasn't so happy about. One of the things was how all four brothers had an elemental power. Chris describes the Elementals as 5 different points on a circle. Everyone in the world is on the circle. The closer one is to one of the points, the more connected they are to that element. If you fall directly on the point, you are an Elemental. Sounds simple, right? What I didn't get was why each of the Merrick brothers fell on an element. Isn't that too big of a coincidence? I mean, what are the chances everyone in a family would be an Elemental? There was some talk of it being hereditary, but still. I wished the author explained it more.

The second I had a problem with was Becca. For the most part of the book, she was moody, angry, and bitchy. To be fair, she has a reason to be like that. Her life wasn't exactly all sunshine and rainbows. Being harassed and bullied at school, having a Dad who went AWOL, and trying to keep up with a crappy best friend (I did not like Quinn - she gets mad at Becca before even talking to her!) would probably make anyone bitchy. But who likes reading about a main character who's so moody all the time? Not me. It's not that I didn't like Becca - she did have some good points like bravery and learning to stand up for herself - I just would have liked it if she didn't bitch at everyone. I mean, she fought with practically every character in the book.

Anyways, in conclusion, I liked this book. A lot. I was so excited to read it, and it did not disappoint me. The second book seems to have Gabriel as the main character, which I'm really excited about. I guess this is like the Benedict series, where each book focuses on a different brother. I liked Gabriel so I can't wait to get to his story!(less)

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Jun 17, 2012 Katy rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5 stars - I've been wanting to read this book for a long time now, but after seeing mixed reviews, I was a bit hesitant to start it. My verdict? I ended up liking this book a lot. But I did have some problems with it, especially Becca and her bitchiness.

I thought this book was well paced with a good mix of action, mystery solving and romance. The first chapters with Becca's bravado and Chris' determination had me hooked, and I knew I was going to enjoy reading about some kickass characters. I...more 3.5 stars - I've been wanting to read this book for a long time now, but after seeing mixed reviews, I was a bit hesitant to start it. My verdict? I ended up liking this book a lot. But I did have some problems with it, especially Becca and her bitchiness.

I thought this book was well paced with a good mix of action, mystery solving and romance. The first chapters with Becca's bravado and Chris' determination had me hooked, and I knew I was going to enjoy reading about some kickass characters. I wouldn't say the story wasn't totally unpredictable since Kemmerer dropped really big hints here and there, but the twists did somewhat keep me on my toes.

I did like the overall concept, and it's a refreshing change from your typical paranormal books. I've always been into supernatural powers dealing with elements, and I liked that Kemmerer kept it simple. (view spoiler) Having said that, I was disappointed Kemmerer did not elaborate more on what Elementals can do. Before you think I'm contradicting my previous statement, I meant I like that the concept is simple, but I would have liked to know a bit more of how or why they were different. Obviously, there was more to it because you have different levels of affinity and you have Guides to somewhat regulate, and I would have wanted a simple explanation that goes into it a bit more - not a lot, but enough to understand the overall picture. And I really want to know more about the Fifth, which I felt was just glossed over.

Yes, Chris was adorable with his baby brother innocence and clueless, but he had somewhat of the badboy charm. Hunter was intriguing - there's not really another way to describe him. And the Merrick brothers had generated enough interest that I'm definitely willing to read future books in this series.

Now to Becca. The book started with nasty rumors floating around school, and I can understand why she has a bit cautious when it comes to dealing with other people, especially interesting boys who may make her wonder what their intentions are. But she had such a chip on her shoulder that she was just standoffish. I also hate how self-absorbed she was that she totally blew Quinn off. And I totally understand that she has daddy issues, but she was just downright nasty. After finishing the book, I can sympathize with her a little, but it still gave her no excuse for being the way she was because she was left in the dark almost as much as I was.

But despite its flaws, I admit this book just had a way of sucking you into the story, and I don't hesitate in bumping it up.(less)

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Aug 13, 2012 Kay rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Kay by: Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity

Shelves: 2012-reads, uf-or-paranormal, young-adult

I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down!! I liked how there was humor in some dialogue but it wasn't overbearingly forced. I liked the way the story flowed so naturally. The action wasn't lacking and the characters have me so intrigued for more!! I can't wait to read the next book!

4 likes · like · see review

May 09, 2013 Fani rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, romance-pnr, high-priority, emotional, 4-half-stars, angsty, cliffhanger-ending, happy-for-now, heroine-is-feisty, love-triangle, mystery-suspense, part-of-a-series, secrets-and-misunderstandings

4.5 stars and one amazing start to a series. If only all YA books were so well written...

The only reason I didn't rate it with 5 stars, is that it was largely lacking in the romance department, with the heroine spending more time with the third party of the love triangle than the main hero. Still, the world building with the Elementals, their powers, their weaknesses, the Guides and all that was interesting enough to prevent me from putting this down. And even though it was obvious from the midd...more

3 likes · like · see review

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Rated YA-MA: Elemental series by Brigid Kemmerer	105	158	May 14, 2013 10:03pm
Do you think this book would be too girly for me?	11	87	May 09, 2013 09:46am
Possible Nick and Gabriel's	7	58	May 09, 2013 09:45am
Addicted to YA: Win the three books of the Elemental series by Brigid Kemmerer + $10 GC!	1	7	Apr 13, 2013 10:28am
Books are my life...: Storm (Elemental #1) ~ Young Adult	1	5	Apr 01, 2013 07:08pm
Čeští a slovenští...: Storm od Brigidy Kemmerer (duben 2013)	1	23	Apr 01, 2013 04:42am
Crazy for Young A...: Storm by Brigid Kemmerer	5	37	Feb 21, 2013 07:24pm

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About Brigid Kemmerer

Brigid Kemmerer finds the time to write somewhere between caring for her family and working at her day job, but sometimes she ends up mothering her coworkers and managing her family. Storm: The Elemental Series is her first novel.

I love friends on Goodreads, so don't hesitate to hit me up with a friend request! I don't review a lot of books out of respect for other authors, but I will have discus...more

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Quotes from Storm

“If you want me to fix your homework, you need to leave me alone.” Then he spotted her. “You’re back.”
“Yeah.” She glanced between him and Gabriel. “You do his homework?”
“Just the math. It’s a miracle he can count to ten.”
“I can count to one.” Gabriel gave him the finger.” — 115 people liked it

“Nick,” he said. “I think I’m going to need you to bite my arm.”
“I think I’m going to need you to run that by me again.” — 105 people liked it

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Storm (Elemental #1)

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