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Elemental (Elemental Trilogy #1)

by Antony John (Goodreads Author)

3.68 of 5 stars 3.68 · rating details · 529 ratings · 110 reviews

A lost colony is reborn in this heart-pounding fantasy adventure set in the near future . . .

Sixteen-year-old Thomas has always been an outsider. The first child born without the power of an Element—earth, water, wind or fire—he has little to offer his tiny, remote Outer Banks colony. Or so the Guardians would have him believe.

In the wake of an unforeseen storm, desperate...more

Hardcover, 320 pages

Published November 21st 2012 by Dial

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Apr 04, 2013 Evie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-ya, ya, november-2012, 2012-arcs, signed-by-author

Elemental had me glued to its pages from the get-go. It's a thrilling adventure that sparkles with emotionally powerful moments, stunning visuals and eye-popping plot twists. This story really has it all: a phenomenal post-apocalyptic setting, long buried secrets, ruthless villains (that you'll just love to hate!) and characters you'll be cheering for. The best part? The unique, fresh plot line that is just as mysterious and exciting as it is thought-provoking and moving. Trust me, you won't be...more Elemental had me glued to its pages from the get-go. It's a thrilling adventure that sparkles with emotionally powerful moments, stunning visuals and eye-popping plot twists. This story really has it all: a phenomenal post-apocalyptic setting, long buried secrets, ruthless villains (that you'll just love to hate!) and characters you'll be cheering for. The best part? The unique, fresh plot line that is just as mysterious and exciting as it is thought-provoking and moving. Trust me, you won't be able to put it down!

When many years ago the Plague spread across the globe, a small group of people had taken to the ocean in a desperate attempt to escape its deadly embrace. The small colony settled down on a remote island (Hatteras). The members of the colony - the Guardians and their Apprentices - all possess the ability to read and manipulate air, water, fire or earth. They use it to find food, summon fire and predict the violent storms that often hit the island. Our lead protagonist, 16-year-old Thomas, is the only one born without an element.

When yet another storm is about to unleash its fury on Hatteras Island, the kids (accompanied by Guardian Lora) end up waiting in out on a neighboring island. Things quickly go South from there: Guardian Lora passes away during the storm, all the other Guardians disappear without a trace, and a band of pirates invades their island, burning their colony to the ground. And they are now after the kids. To survive, Thomas and his friends first need to learn the truth about the Plague, their colony and themselves.

Elemental is - quite simply - a really awesome book. The plot line is well thought out, original and captivating. Full of secrets and mysteries, it really keeps you on your toes all the way to the end. Essentially, it's a great survival story, with a splash of romance and a sprinkle of paranormal, set against a beautifully described, intriguing backdrop. I absolutely loved it!

What I really loved about this book were the characters and the intertwining relationships between them. I loved Thomas - he was such a fun character to follow! Even though he was the only one without an element - which was obviously very hard on him - he did not complain about it or feel sorry for himself. He worked hard for the colony, trying to help out in as many ways as possible. Despite growing up without a mother and being constantly pushed away by everyone, he seemed cheerful and hopeful. I genuinely liked him and thought he had a very positive attitude and good personality. Same goes for Alice. What an incredible girl she was! Fierce, sharp, resourceful, direct, kick-ass and unstoppable, she was ready to fight for the truth. She was honest, thoughtful and brave. And even though she was one tough chick, she was also sensitive to other people's needs and very caring. I absolutely LOVED the chemistry between Thomas and Alice. The air crackled with tension whenever these two were together and I thought they were made for each other!

Another aspect of the story that I tremendously enjoyed was the breathtaking premise - from the ruins of the world destroyed by the Plague to the remote island surrounded by vast ocean waters - the setting helped create a magical, eerie (often scary) atmosphere. The post-apocalyptic world was both beautiful and treacherous. Antony John's descriptions were vivid, crisp and very helpful in visualizing everything in my head.

All in all, Elemental is one of my top favorite fantasy adventures. Everything - from the great pacing to ever-present tension - was really good. I loved how the story gradually picked up speed, building up to a very emotional crescendo ending. Many questions were left unanswered, leaving me pining for more. I can't wait for the next book!

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Mar 16, 2013 Lectus rated it 5 of 5 stars

Via http://onlectus.blogspot.com/2013/03/...

I looove Avatar: the last air bender and that is why I picked this book.

By the way, is this a series? Because I'd love for more books to come.

As you know from the summary, in this colony everybody can summon an element but Thomas. Obviously, he feels like shit because of that. On top of that, the other people would never touch him as if he doesn't deserve human contact for not having an element.

One night a storm comes and the elders and the kids (age...more Via http://onlectus.blogspot.com/2013/03/...

I looove Avatar: the last air bender and that is why I picked this book.

By the way, is this a series? Because I'd love for more books to come.

As you know from the summary, in this colony everybody can summon an element but Thomas. Obviously, he feels like shit because of that. On top of that, the other people would never touch him as if he doesn't deserve human contact for not having an element.

One night a storm comes and the elders and the kids (age 16 and below) have to split. The elders, called the Guardians, stay in the colony and the kids go to a refuge one island over. On top of that, pirates show up looking for "the one" (not Neo) and burn the colony down.
The obvious pattern of thought here is to think that "the one" is Thomas because he is the only one who is different. So, why would the pirates want the one a kid who has no power/abilities/element?

Now there are just about six kids to fight the pirates and survive. Ah! But there’s something else, on this island where the kids sought refuge, their powers seems to enhance. What is about the island that help their element manifest?

In the middle of all this, there is an undercover love triangle going on. Alice and Rose both like Thomas. Who will Thomas like back? While Alice is fierce and wild, Rose is delicate.... just like her name. I liked the romance because it was very pure and sweet despite the hints and killing looks that Alice and Rose would let come out… catfight? No yet!

The book has some other interesting intrigues as well. For instance, Griffin, Thomas's brother is a seer. Also, although everybody has an element not everybody can control it as they wish which causes some friction.

I love the writing, the way the story is told, the intrigues, the way everything is waved and comes together at the end. In short, I'm in love with this book.
I wonder if this is a series because it doesn't say this is book 1 but the way it ended, there's room for more. And I hope so :-)(less)

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Mar 07, 2013 Adrienne rated it 2 of 5 stars

A small colony of 14 people lives on an island in the Atlantic Ocean where they moved after the plague wiped out large populations on the mainland. Each of the people is an elemental and works with a particular element--wind, water, fire, etc. Each of them except Thomas, who has never displayed any sort of elemental talent. When a big storm arises, the adults--called Guardians--send the children to nearby Roanoke Island to shelter in an abandoned settlement until they come for them. However, the...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Ariana d. rated it 2 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This book... was okay. The plot was interesting but not amazing, the characters were great.
THOMAS:
I think Thom was naiive. He was sweet, kind, gentle, and I guess it would hurt not being able to touch anyone. But he didn't really catch my interest and he didn't make me feel engaged.
ROSE:
I don't mean to be mean but I disliked Rose strongly. Maybe it's because she didn't get a lot to actually DO in this book, i feel. She just kinda... stayed there, and that line - "you make me feel pretty" - altho...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Danny rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books, ya

Okay, anyway Elemental is about a small society of people who all have 'elements' (hence the title). Thomas however doesn't have an element... or does he? *dun dun duuunnn* Let me just say I'm not a fan of people having 'special powers' that are so predictable like earth, water, fire and wind. The only real reason why I got the book at all was because of the pirates.

Yay! Pirates =)

Anyway, once I got around to starting Elemental it took a while to get hooked. I read the first chapter like 20 time...more

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Dec 11, 2012 WovenMyst rated it 5 of 5 stars

With a flash and boom, Antony John throws readers into a world anyone has yet to experience! Elemental captures the excitement and danger of living in a plague-ridden world where a group of individuals, isolated in a colony on the Outer Banks, possess the unique ability to harness the power of elements. This world, in which practiced Guardians command fire, wind, water and earth, resides Thomas. Thomas is the first, and only, sixteen year old to be passed over for an apprenticeship because he la...more With a flash and boom, Antony John throws readers into a world anyone has yet to experience! Elemental captures the excitement and danger of living in a plague-ridden world where a group of individuals, isolated in a colony on the Outer Banks, possess the unique ability to harness the power of elements. This world, in which practiced Guardians command fire, wind, water and earth, resides Thomas. Thomas is the first, and only, sixteen year old to be passed over for an apprenticeship because he lacks an element. He’s spent his life being treated as an outcast along with his younger brother Griffin, who is feared for one of his abilities to foresee death through touch. When an unpredicted hurricane brings ruthless pirates along with strong winds and furious waves, it’s up to Thom and the other kids of the colony to save the Guardians and fight for their survival.

John easily and cleverly builds Elemental’s world by divulging known facts about the colony and its past, and allowing readers to discover secrets along with the characters. With the arrival of the notorious pirates and their exploration of nearby ‘Skeleton Town’, Thom and his friends begin to question all they’ve been told by the Guardians. Their discoveries lead them to wonder whether there’s more to the off-limits mainland and whatever else might be left of the world. There’s a continuous sense of mystery shrouding the misfit group of kids as they dig deeper into themselves, testing their abilities against what they’ve been told they’re capable of. It’s exciting and will keep readers fixated on what could possibly happen next for Thom.

The point of interest for Elemental lies not only with in the action of the plot, but also in the characters that make the story believable. Along with Thom and his younger brother Griffin, Alice, Rose and Dennis prove to be extremely resourceful, clever, and ultimately powerful. They’re young but disciplined enough to remain determined when the odds are against them. The level of action in the plot doesn’t take away from how strong or down-to-earth these characters are, giving readers a direct look at their personalities while following an exciting story.

Antony John impressively introduces readers to a fresh exploration of the dystopian and fantasy genres! Elemental dives into the mystery of one isolated colony and shares the revealing truths made by a group of teenagers fighting for survival. This attention grabbing read will keep readers glued to their seats until the thought-provoking end!

Candace Hawkins(less)

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Dec 04, 2012 Liviania rated it 4 of 5 stars

Thomas lives on an island of fifteen people. Everyone has a power, known as an element, aside from Thomas. Then the Guardians are kidnapped during a sudden storm, leaving Thomas and the other kids to escape the pirates on their own. As they struggle to keep themselves safe, they begin to discover all the secrets the adults kept.

It took me awhile to figure out ELEMENTAL was set in the future, despite that being mentioned in the very first line printed on the back of my ARC. Clearly I didn't read...more Thomas lives on an island of fifteen people. Everyone has a power, known as an element, aside from Thomas. Then the Guardians are kidnapped during a sudden storm, leaving Thomas and the other kids to escape the pirates on their own. As they struggle to keep themselves safe, they begin to discover all the secrets the adults kept.

It took me awhile to figure out ELEMENTAL was set in the future, despite that being mentioned in the very first line printed on the back of my ARC. Clearly I didn't read what the book was about before diving in. I enjoyed trying to piece together what happened to the world, curious about the plague that left behind only a few people who had magical powers.

Some of ELEMENTAL was pretty predictable. Obviously Thomas actually does have a special ability. (I'll admit to not entirely understanding how his ability worked, but that might be because Thomas didn't entirely get it himself.) I found the love triangle tolerable, mostly because both Alice and Rose are sixteen too, and their only other romantic option is Thomas's older brother who is also a bit of an outcast because he predicts people's deaths. There just aren't enough available guys to prevent the love triangle. It's also pretty low key. The kids' focus is on getting their families back and getting away from the pirates, not making out. Rose and Alice's competition just provides a bit of tension within the group.

I thought ELEMENTAL was a standalone fantasy, so I was a bit disappointed by the obvious lead in to a sequel at the end. ELEMENTAL does contain a complete adventure, but many of the big questions remain unanswered at the end of the book. That's fine if there are going to be more books, but it wasn't what I expected when I started.

I found ELEMENTAL mildly diverting, but I was never absorbed into the world Antony John has created. It was fun enough, but I'm not driven to read the possible sequel to get answers and see what Thomas and the others do now that they know more about their world. I think the novel just felt kind of shallow. There was no spark that made me love these characters or this world. (less)

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Nov 15, 2012 Sheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: dystopian, young-adult

I was thrilled to win an advance copy of Elemental by Antony John. I got into the story and stayed up too late reading and finished it in a day and a half. The story begins with a small colony of plague survivors and centers around a teen who feels he does not fit in as he seems to lack the "elemental powers" valued in his community. I like the character development and unfolding of the story as this teen begins to know himself and understand how he has been misinterpreting what happens around h...more

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May 01, 2012 Rene Kirkpatrick rated it 4 of 5 stars

Very fast paced, great for boys who need a lot of action.

In a colony in the Outer Banks live a small group of people who all have special powers. All but one, 16 year-old Thomas, or that's what the Guardians would like him to believe.

In this time, far in the future, plague has ravaged the mainland and the people who are left have powers related to the elements, earth, wind, water and fire. Pirates range the seas, there are a few small floating villages. Some people in this colony in the Outer B...more

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Oct 17, 2012 Annabelle Marie Veronica rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, favorites, i-own, i-love-a-guy-in-this-book, arcs, paranormal

***FINAL RATING: 2.90 STARS***

CATCHALL
I really, like really really, liked this book. It was definitely something different than my usual reads. It's dystopian, but there's a fantastical element that I really liked. Though elemental magic is a fairly common aspect of today's YA literature, I really like Antony's take on it and that for me made this book so much better. It was an absolutely joy to read and I will definitely be returning to it. It was full of action with a touch of romance, and wh...more

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Nov 20, 2012 Amber (Books of Amber) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Loved the elemental parts. Thomas was kinda dull.

Full review here: http://www.booksofamber.com/2012/11/e...

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YESSSS another book about elemental powers! Have I told you how much I love those? I read Storm and Spark by Brigid Kemmerer purely because of the elemental stuff, and I am quite obsessed. The elemental stuff in this book was definitely my favourite part. I loved learning about all the abilities and their different limits.

Thomas had a really boring voice, which sent me to sleep during...more Loved the elemental parts. Thomas was kinda dull.

Full review here: http://www.booksofamber.com/2012/11/e...

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YESSSS another book about elemental powers! Have I told you how much I love those? I read Storm and Spark by Brigid Kemmerer purely because of the elemental stuff, and I am quite obsessed. The elemental stuff in this book was definitely my favourite part. I loved learning about all the abilities and their different limits.

Thomas had a really boring voice, which sent me to sleep during the parts where it was just him. Yawn. I didn't feel connected to him at all until the very end. I liked the other characters though, particularly Rose and someone who turns up halfway through the book.

Also PIRATES! They were awesome, but I wish we had gotten to see more of them up close and personally. Thomas should have been kidnapped and tortured! Yes, I'm mean to characters, but at least it might have made Thomas a little more interesting.

There's a sort of love triangle, although it was difficult to tell whether or not the two ladies - Alice and Rose - were legitimate love interests or if they were just kinda there. Alice was all right (apart from her nagging and whining), but personally I preferred Rose, despite her being underdeveloped. I hope we get to see her more in the next book.

But honestly, there was little romance anyway because it all took a back seat to the action packed plot. Aside from when Thomas was wandering around by himself and we were stuck with just him, there wasn't a dull moment.

There's an epilogue (which could have just been a normal chapter, but whatever) in which there's a shocking reveal, which I LOVED. I had thought that this book would be a standalone, because it wrapped things up pretty nicely, while also leaving a lot of mystery to interpretation. But nope, this is gonna be a trilogy (I think) and EEP! I'm definitely going to be reading the second book to see where it goes. Hopefully now that Thomas has discovered more about himself he'll be more interesting.(less)

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Nov 17, 2012 Mrs. ReaderPants rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: pub-date-2012, read-in-2012

More reviews at Mrs. ReaderPants.

REVIEW: I had high expectations when I started this book. I have always been fascinated by the story of the Roanoke Colony. Elemental is the only fiction title I know of that features Roanoke Island and incorporates the disappearing colony into a new story. Add a deadly virus, scheming pirates, a love triangle, long-buried secrets, supernatural powers, and mortal danger into the mix, and I should have been hooked. I wasn't.

I don't think this book is terrible; I...more

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Nov 21, 2012 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

In this book we follow Thom who has always felt like a failure because he had no "element" that he could either commune with or control. Plus everyone avoids even touching him. He does his best and tries to make himself as valuable as possible to the community. The community struggles but there are questions that never get answered as these kids grow into maturity. During one storm where the kids get stranded and the community gets kidnapped they find not only their own inner strength but the be...more

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Oct 17, 2012 C.S. rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: YA-fans, dystopia fans, Virginian natives, romance fans, Last Airbender/Korra fans

Shelves: first-reads-giveaways, fantasy, post-apocalypse-dystopia, science-fiction, ya

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 13, 2013 Beccie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow, what a great start to a new dystopian series! It grabs you from the very first, and I literally couldn't put it down until I finished it all in one day. It is very exciting, the plot was gripping, the characters were all really interesting and there were some electrifying plot twists. While I loved The Hunger Games and Divergent , I didn't give either one of them 5 stars because there were so many disturbing elements in those books. I didn't feel that way with this one (even though it w...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Alex rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: finished

I really really liked this book. I'm not sure if there are anymore coming out but I am sold I will read anything that has to do with Elemental as soon as it comes out. I had a fine time reading this, it was a light and quick read with plenty of action and plenty of cliff hangers to keep me wanting to continue reading.

I've always enjoyed the idea of elemental powers, they are so cool and I love the way that Anthony John spins his versions of super powers, its really interesting and I can't help b...more

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Dec 01, 2012 Kate rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, cover-love, dystopian, galley, male-pov, meh, net-galley, part-of-a-series, post-apocalypse, reviewcopies, urban-fantasy, ya, elements

For this review and more check out my blog

There is a lot to like about this book. The plot is awesome and I liked the mix of post-apocalyptic and elemental magic, it was dystopian meets Urban Fantasy. The setting was awesome the actual story line was good, for me it started a little too quickly I would have liked to be eased in a little more as there was a lot going on and a lot of information to take in all at once, but it wasn’t a major problem. There were loads of twists and turns that kept m...more

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Nov 20, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: r2r-complete, read-2012

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Penguin Young Readers Group and Netgalley.)
16-year-old Thom is unique… in a bad way; the only person ever to have no ‘element’. Everyone else has a link to one of the elements – fire, earth, wind, or water. They can catch fish, predict storms, or start fires with their bare hands, but Thom can’t do anything, and everybody thinks that he is a ‘nothing’.

During a storm, Thom, his brothers, and some of the...more (Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Penguin Young Readers Group and Netgalley.)
16-year-old Thom is unique… in a bad way; the only person ever to have no ‘element’. Everyone else has a link to one of the elements – fire, earth, wind, or water. They can catch fish, predict storms, or start fires with their bare hands, but Thom can’t do anything, and everybody thinks that he is a ‘nothing’.

During a storm, Thom, his brothers, and some of the other kids from the island where he lives head over to a hurricane shelter in an abandoned town on another island. Problem is that in the morning when the ‘Guardians’ – the older inhabitants of the island (their parents and siblings), should be coming to the hurricane shelter to collect them, they don’t arrive, and when the kids look over to the island where they live, there are huge plumes of smoke – their home is burning.

When they row back to their home island to find out what has happened, the guardians are all missing, their homes are burned to the ground, and sailing just off the island is a pirate ship.

When the pirates realise that the kids are back on the island, they come back in search of them. They believe they one of them is ‘the solution’ (a cure to the plague that has forced them to live in isolation). Now the kids must not only stop themselves from being taken by the pirates, but must also try to rescue their families.
Who is ‘the solution’ though? What do they believe ‘the solution’ can really do? And is Thom really a nothing?

This was a great story. There was plenty of mystery surrounding each of the kids and their abilities, and what the pirates wanted them for. I must say that it isn’t quite as scary as a lot of dystopian books that I have read – no zombies here, but it was still a great read.

I liked the different abilities that each of the kids had, and how they were able to use them. I hated how poor Thom was made to feel like a ‘nothing’, and how the others treated him because they thought he had no element. He was totally made to feel like a second class citizen which was really unfair.

There was a hint at romance, but no real romance storyline. There were 2 girls who both seemed to like Thom, but it never went any further than that.

There wasn’t a lot of backstory to be had, but there was enough to set the scene, and give an idea of the sort of world where the story took place.

There were also plenty of little twists in the story that I really appreciated; especially the one at the end! I totally didn’t expect the revelation at the end, but it makes me wonder if there may be a sequel to this book in the works?

Overall; a great YA dystopian – not too scary, and no romance.
7.5 out of 10.
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Jan 18, 2013 Melanie added it

In short, Elemental blew me away. For his dystopia, John used a place that most east coasters know–the Outer Banks. I vacationed at Hatteras Island one weekend and it was probably the best beach trip I’ve ever had so that paradise was set on end by John’s action/adventure story, making it even more powerful. He works to develop elemental magic though his world building is minimal, wasting no time on long info dumps, instead helps us to discover the way things work with the characters. His charac...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Daniela807 rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2013

Hmm... how to comment on this book...

This book was absolutely and incredibly BORING . The only time it seemed to become even a bit interesting was the last few chapters. At that point, I really did not even care at all.

The main character Thomas is such a weak character, it was driving me insane. Yes, he is the oddball on an island of "awesome powered people". So what? I feel that did not completely dictate how weak, naive and just plain pathetic he was the entire time.

Oh, and the so-called "El...more

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Dec 19, 2012 Sandra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Elemental was a suspenseful read and kept me up late trying to finish.

Writing

As in common practice in YA novels, this one is written in first POV. In most cases I find it unnecessary, but thought it was well suited for Elemental. There is mystery surrounding the appearance of pirates and the secrets the Guardians of the island seem to habitually distract the kids from. Seeing the story from only Thomas’ point of view helps to demonstrate that, especially when it comes to his lack of having an e...more

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Jun 11, 2013 Magicallyweird07 rated it 2 of 5 stars

....What to say about a book that I didn't really like? I thought that this book would be really awesome and "Avatar:The Last Airbender" style, but no. If you are starting this book off like that, get it out of your head really quick because that's completely wrong. Thomas really disappointed me as the main character, he didn't have much backbone at all and allowed himself to be hurt repeatedly by others without even striking back. He kind of redeemed himself in the end, but barely. I hated the...more

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Jun 15, 2013 Amelia, the pragmatic idealist marked it as lost-interest

Shelves: dystopian, paranormal, mc-guy

Yikes - apparently there's a love triangle here. Aaaand this has officially been pushed to the back-burner.

1 like · like · see review

Feb 23, 2013 Laine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, dystopia, lanies-fav, librarian-picks, young-adult

What would you do if you had the power of the wind? The power of the water? Can feel when a storm is brewing in...10 miles in the sea!! Can move rocks and find vegetables in the Earth with ease?

Yea...I would love it too!! All that power...all that respect.

But what if you were one of the unlucky ones that didn't get the power? Not an element, nor a regular? What would you do then?

Set in the future where the almost whole population of the United States is wiped out due to the plague but a few sur...more

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Nov 14, 2012 Asheley rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

You guys, I struggle with how to tell people when I find a story that I love so much. Adventure stories take up such a big place in my heart, and Elemental is such an adventure. Pirates and kidnappings and lost colonies! Survival in the harshest of nature. Secrets and lies and betrayal. People finding out things that completely change the course of their lives. I know specific people that would love this book. I want to hear this book in audio format. I want schools, especially in this region, t...more

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May 31, 2012 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Set in a dystopian future on the outer banks of North Carolina. The true state of existence has been denied the small group of protagonists - brothers and sisters (and a love triangle) with powers they don't understand. I didn't understand much either for most of the book, but got into it towards the latter part. Lots of unanswered questions left the door open for an obvious sequel. I hope there will be a map in the final printed version as that helps (I read an ARC). I would recommend it to lov...more

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Jan 06, 2013 Millie Dixon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: interesting, amazing-books

This review was originally posted over at Millie D's Words.

*A review copy of the book was provided for me to read*

While the cover isn't what originally drew me in for me to be interested in it, the synopsis did it for me this time. Something about a secret, secluded island with a small colony of element-wielding people interested me. First off, if a book's got magic in it, it's almost always a must-read for me. Secondly, pirates? There are pirates in here? Woo!

To start the review, is it just me...more This review was originally posted over at Millie D's Words.

*A review copy of the book was provided for me to read*

While the cover isn't what originally drew me in for me to be interested in it, the synopsis did it for me this time. Something about a secret, secluded island with a small colony of element-wielding people interested me. First off, if a book's got magic in it, it's almost always a must-read for me. Secondly, pirates? There are pirates in here? Woo!

To start the review, is it just me or is there a growing trend of weak, underdog heroes in books now? If so, I'm loving it! I think that there's this stereotype in books of hunky, bad boys that brood and end up getting the average-turned-courageous-and-beautiful heroine. That's not always the case, so to read books of a male MC below the average of the stereotype is great.

Thom fit the bill for the underdog hero. He was a sweetheart, and while he wasn't a leader, he did his best to stay strong for his brother and friends and really grew as a character throughout the book. Like Sam from Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride, I couldn't help but accept Thom with all his weaknesses and fall in love of him. That doesn't mean to say that he was this weakling little guy that couldn't do anything. He endures things that no sixteen year-old should have to face (i.e pirates and living with barely enough food to get by) and he handles all problems with as much courage and bravery that he can muster. And that is why I loved his character, because he wasn't perfect--he knew he wasn't perfect--but did his best to prove to others that, while he may not have the ability to wield an element, he was just as powerful as they were.

There was plenty of action and adventure in Elemental, packed full of suspense and mystery, that always kept me at the edge of my seat. I went into the book not expecting much from the book because I hadn't heard much about it, and came out thoroughly enjoying it. The pirates created perfect and scary antagonists for the small group of kids and I loved to watch those kids react to every problem thrown at them. They all had different personalities, and it was fascinating to read and learn about all of them. They all brought a different aspect to the group, yet made believable, sometimes too naive for their age, children.

Another thing I have to praise about is the familial bond and love that Thom, his brother, and their father had. I'm not used to seeing this much in YA because, most of the time, the MC either hates their parents, doesn't have any, doesn't necessarily care for them, or leaves them for the supernatural life. I'm not used to reading a book where the importance of family stayed true throughout the entire book. The whole group of kids worked and tried their best to save their parents from the pirates. It was a good quality that was added to the book.

Elemental, while missing that extra 'oomph', was a great and entertaining read. It was evenly paced and was full of action and mystery. The entire book kept me guessing until the very end. It was full of lovely surprises and had my full attention. Fans of dystopia, magical qualities, and adventure will enjoy this book. (less)

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Apr 04, 2012 Cass - Words on Paper marked it as top-wishlist

Shelves: 2012-release, dystopian

It's really hard for me to add new dystopian books to my watchlist these days since they're coming in at an insane rate. I'm really hoping that this one is fresh and isn't just hoping to hop on the trend express.

I really do wish that authors would write stories that are true to their own writing style. Pfft. Like I said though, I have hope for this one. The elements (Avatar, anyone)? Pirates? I'm in. I just hope the "near-future" aspect has a purpose rather than it just being "IN THE FUTUUUUUURE...more

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Jan 14, 2013 Whitley Birks rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, almost-good, dystopian, utterly-dull, ya-fantasy

There's not much to say about this book. It was just so utterly dull. For a book that had that amount of action, I feel like nothing happened. What we know at the end of the book isn't much more than what we know at the beginning. So many questions are brought up, and only a couple of them are answered. People keep secrets just for the sake of keeping secrets, and out of spite that other people are keeping secrets, which doesn't really make for an enjoyable read. I'm not wondering "why aren't th...more

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Jan 30, 2013 Cindy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012, teen-fantasy

Ever since the popularity of books like the Hunger Games, dystopia YA books have become all the rage. Every writer and publisher seems to be jumping on the bandwagon in hopes of making the next big dystopia novel.

Unfortunately, I don't see Elemental having the major appeal that Hunger Games had, but I do see it having a slight following mainly due to its rather unique-ish plot element that involves pirates and elemental magic and tons of adventure.

Elemental's major strength is the constant non...more Ever since the popularity of books like the Hunger Games, dystopia YA books have become all the rage. Every writer and publisher seems to be jumping on the bandwagon in hopes of making the next big dystopia novel.

Unfortunately, I don't see Elemental having the major appeal that Hunger Games had, but I do see it having a slight following mainly due to its rather unique-ish plot element that involves pirates and elemental magic and tons of adventure.

Elemental's major strength is the constant non-stop action and adventure. There was constant non-stop action literally from about the second or third chapter until the end of the book. The characters were taken on a lengthy boat ride across the bay, there were storms, pirates invading, people dying, and all sorts of things going on.

One of the benefits of having this non-stop action is that the book constantly moves. There is no real lull in the plot, no part of the book where the plot seems to drag. Instead, readers are quickly moved from one problem to the next without really dwelling on things. I honestly feel that this fast pace for the book works as a major advantage as it's hard to get bored with a book that moves this fast.

I believe the non-stop action would definitely appeal to anyone who is looking for a fast paced book or anyone looking for lots of action. However, the non-stop action comes at a price – character development.

I really didn't feel anything for any of the characters. Readers follow the main character, Thomas, throughout the whole book. However, despite Thomas being a constant the whole book I felt nothing for him. This inability to connect with the characters also sort of ruined the romance part of the book. There was romance developing and due to the fact that I didn't seem to know or care about the characters, I didn't care what happened romance wise.

Another major strength of Elemental that I really feel kept me hooked on the book is the use of pirates. No, these aren't your Jack Sparrow pirates. These are true pirates; Ones that go around scaring people, using intimidation to get their way, and just plain bullies of the sea. I don't know why pirates aren't used more in books, but I think it was a refreshing element that really set Elemental apart from the rest of the books.

A warning should be given as this entire book is a setup for book 2. In fact, it sort of ends in a cliff-hanger that will leave you waiting for the next book. I

Overall, Elemental was a delight to read. It was fast paced, filled with action, and had a unique 'elemental magic' twist that really kept me reading until the end. I am hoping the lack of character development is resolved in future books, as I really see potential with the series. (less)

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