There are people born in this world with a powerful connection to the earth itself. They have an unbreakable and extraordinary bond. Every seven years, five people are born on the same day, at the exact same time. The elements bind them; earth, fire, wind, water, and spirit. They call them, Elementris. Ava Vangeretta is seventeen years old and different. Unlike most born of the element, she was born alone. She has the power of all five elements. Ava is the first True Elementris to be born in many years. As her eighteenth birthday approaches she is faced with a choice. Give up this rare gift and live the normal life she has always craved or accept it and challenge the current True Elementris in a battle to the death. Ava's past haunts her as she struggles to decide. In her present, the seasons are colliding together, storms are destroying lives, and love is a dangerous curse. The current True Elementris is behind it all and she will do whatever necessary to keep Ava from making it to her eighteenth birthday. Ava’s decision threatens the lives of the two people she cares about most. Can you choose between love and friendship? Get ready for the storm…
Christina Mobley is a married, mother of four, who spends her days caring for her children and their family home. She grew up in Florida, living on the banks of the St. Mary's river, and as a child always had a fascination for storms and the power they wield. The Vangeretta Curse series was inspired by that fascination.
This book was so different from my recent reads. I would classify it under a paranormal genre which is right up my alley. However, the story line of people being born with power over the elements and having a person as the embodiment of "mother nature" is a completely new story line for me. I loved how the author took time to show the bond between various characters - Ava & her aunt, Ava & Brea, etc. Although some were secondary characters, they were so well written I felt I knew so much about them. I do however wish that bond between Ava and Alec was a bit more detailed. I realize this could also have been classified as a young adult novel, and therefore there were no hot & heavy love scenes. I personally was really hoping for something a wee bit steamy. Given the age of the characters though… Overall, I thought this was a well written book with an original storyline that pulled me in. The book did not end with a major cliff hanger (which I don’t like). It did however leave me wanting to find out more about what would happen to Ava and the Clutch. After finishing this book, I did go and get the next installment for my kindle. I would recommend this book for early teens and up. There is no foul language or “lustful acts”. This was a clean, well thought out, and well written book. *spoiler alert* I enjoyed seeing Ava’s character gain strength throughout the book. I found myself getting frustrated with her, as Alec did, when she kept appearing to waver - should I accept my gift? Shouldn’t I accept my gift? One major thing that didn't sit well with me was how easily Draken and Troy were killed off. I would have loved to see one of them survive to come back in a later book as the "bad guy". I just felt if Draken was so powerful, Alec shouldn't have been able to take him out so easily. I expected a bit more of an epic battle or that when Draken attacked his own son, that during that distraction, he made a getaway only to reemerge and cause trouble another time.
Ava is magical, she has been able to call on magic since she was born, usually by accident. But she isn't a witch, she's an Elementris, she's Mother Nature. An Elementris being someone born every seven years on the exact same date, exact same time as four others. The five are bound through their gift, the gift of earth, fire, wind water and spirit. Only rarely is a true Elementris born, one with the gift of all five elements. Ava is a true Elementris, but it isn't a gift when all you want is normality, it's a curse
I was given a copy of Elementris from Christina for review, and wasn't sure what to expect as I hadn't heard of the The Vangeretta Curse series previously, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was quite good. The storyline flowed and I'm a big fan of basic writing, without lengthy descriptions and explanations, so this book was just what I needed. It was engaging and perfect for younger teen readers, and adults alike.
This really is a case of not judging a book by it's cover. With a more attractive cover, The Vangeretta Curse series could be as popular as a Hex Hall or Darkest Series by Kelley Armstrong, it's really endearing. I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next in the series.
I recently read Elementris by Christina Mobley by complete accident. I had seen the cover for the book and absolutely had to have it. I didn't even care what the book was about. The cover sold the book and certainly gained a new follower because I loved the story if Ava who had to choose to be the next True Elementris. Typically the Elementris are people born in sets of 5 at the same time and day each having control over one of the elements. On very rare occurrences there is a person born with an affinity for all 5 but they must accept the gift and challenge the current True Elementris to the death. But at the age of 18 is that a decision easily made. For Ava, the love of her family and friends made it easier. But it is a battle and not much time to learn to control the elements. Plus being a teenager is difficult enough with boys added into the mixed. I truly loved the way the author captured me on page one till the very last page but knowing book 2 comes out in 3 days makes it so much easier to deal with. The author vividly described the scenes where you could really picture the battle. Is love enough to break a long family curse regarding love. Is soul mates something if truth ir fairytales. I would highly recommend this series to anyone my 11 year old niece would be welcome to read this book.
This book had been in my kindle for about a month before I got to it, now I wish I had read it sooner.
Ava is 17 and has known she could do magic from a very early age. Her mother could not take it and dumped her with her aunt. Now she will have to choose on her eighteenth birthday if she wants to keep her magic or give it up and become "normal". But Ava is not just an ordinary Elemental who has magic over only one of the elements, she has control over all five. She could be queen of the Elementals.
Because of this the current queen is looking for her to kill her before she turns eighteen and inherits her power. She is also being hunted by a group of black magicians who want to turn her power. Ava just wants to go to her prom and graduate high school.
She also will have to choose between the boy she's had a crush on for years who has finally noticed her and a man who saved her and comes to her in her dreams.
The story flows wonderfully and is well written. A few of the "surprises" are easy to figure out before they are revealed but it does not take away from the book.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
UPDATE: It's not every day that a book has you so wrapped up in the story that reading it deprives you of much needed sleep. There were so many times when I knew I needed to put it down and go to sleep last night, knowing I had to get up early. I kept telling myself after this chapter or section, and kept on till I was about 85% done and couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. Today was no different, on a total of three hours of sleep, I got up, took care of business and put off everything else to finish this amazing book!
The characters were great! I guessed a few parts and was completely floored by others. I loved Ava from the beginning with the author grabbing my attention and holding it throughout the entire story. There were a few parts where I wanted to scream, others where I teared up, and times when I questioned my current theory or thought. Ava's relationship with her best friend, Brea was an amazing bond. The emotions the two showed throughout the story is one of an amazing character bond that not many authors can pull off. Then there is Alec, oh with my imagination is running wild, he's gotta be the sweetest, most caring male character I've read about in a while. His story, his history and his family, just amazing and told with just enough information to want to know more. I couldn't help but peg a few answers to questions right on the nose before the author allowed me to find out for sure. It's a habit I must confess, the mystery and unanswered questions in a story gets me every time!
The connection to Ava was amazing, feeling her emotions, when she was happy and sad, frustrated or scared, the connection I felt to her was awesome. As main characters go with a lot of stories, the reader doesn't always feel that pull, or connection or whatever it may be to the characters of the story. The author has to make that connection with his or her writing. Christina did that for me with Ava and I was grateful that she did. I want to know what's next and continue with this book series just because I want to continue Ava's journey with her into the next book.
I got this book for review, and I am grateful that I did. It was a good read. As soon as I saw the cover I wanted to read it, the cover is so beautiful. Ava Vangeretta’s an elementris . Which means she had a connection to the elements. Usually elementris’ are born in group of 5 and share the elements one having a connection to each element, and together they form an elemental circle. But Ava is special she is a true elementris which means she has a connection to all the elements. They don’t come around very often. The last one is currently ruling over the elementris’. She is seventeen, and on her eighteenth birthday she will have the choice to either accept her powers fully or let them go forever. It should be an easy choice. All she’s ever wanted was to be normal, but the more she learns about who and what she is the harder the choice becomes. The current raining True elementris isn’t what she appears to be, and she hurting people. It’s up to Ava to stop her; she’s the only one who can. But is she really ready to give up her chance to be normal and possibly her life? Even for the alluring Alec? Ava’s someone you can relate to, she had some hard choices to make, and instead of just going “its best for everyone else that’s obviously the right choice.” In the first 5 minutes she took her time and made the choice for herself. Alec is her love interest and they have a connection, and I like him a lot as well. This book is in third person perspective, so you can see his POV at times also. Which is pretty cool, that doesn’t happen in enough books. I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next. It was fast and kept me interested throughout the whole book. The ending might have been a little predicable, but I liked it anyway. It got better and better as the book went on, and it got to the point that I couldn’t put it down and had to finish it right away. It was an entertaining book with interesting characters and I can’t wait to read the next one.
First of all, I would like to say thank you to Christina Mobley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review!
In the expanding market of Fantasy and Paranormal fiction, it's becoming more difficult to find fresh, original stories that stand out from the others. I believe that Christina Mobley has etched out a place for herself in this genre of writing and her first book Elementris is a pleasure to read.
At seventeen-years-old, Ava Vangeretta blames her gift for everything that's wrong in her life. In fact, it's the very reason why her own mother abandoned her. Once submerged into her world of magic and mystery, the reader is allowed a glimpse at both the good and bad that comes with the gifts of the element. The good: Ava's able to perform magic that can help others and conjure up a rain cloud when she needs one. The bad: Learning her magic and accepting her role as True Elementris is a deadly undertaking. I would have to say that Ava's character is more true to real-life teenagers than most fictional heroines we come across in YA fiction. Though not your cliché, self-sacrificing heroine, she's very brave in the face of tremendous pressure and danger.
I love strong female characters like the ones in this book. Ava and her Aunt Avalene are both forces to be reckoned with; forces of nature, that is! The dynamic between Ava and her aunt was fun and add a lot to the story. There are some interesting sub-plots going on with Ava's best friend Brea, as well. This book packs major "girl power", as even the primary antagonist is a female! I thought this was a fresh approach to this time of book and enjoyed that aspect very much,.
Magic gift not wanted by teenage girl, April 13, 2013
Ava wants to be a normal girl and have her mother's love. Her mother calls her evil and drops her off to live with her aunt when she is 5. Ava wants to be a typical teenager. She has a best friend, Brea, and a crush on the football star Troy. The only problem is she can do magic. Brea thinks it is awesome and tries to get her to use it all the time. Her aunt wants her to accept her magic also. Ava just wants it gone. Troy has started noticing her and she wants to be normal. Just shy of her 18th birthday, she disobeys her Aunt and uses magic on the night of the full moon. That starts the ball rolling! Enter Alex. Ava now learns she must decide if she wants her magic or not on her birthday...and it is more magic than she expected. It also comes with a price, she must challenge the reining True Elementris. Her relationship with Troy takes a strange turn and her best friend Brea is caught in the middle. I won't give any more away!
I was drawn in to this story immediately!!! Loved it. Ava reminded me of my own daughter, same attitude! I can't wait for the sequel!!!
Well-written with characters you can relate to easily.
This book was fantastic. I really enjoyed reading it from start to finish. I always love when fantasy is mixed in with the modern world. It makes it all that much more believable. Christina did an excellent job making this book into something that anybody can read. There isn't an overload of one genre, but many mixed in very well. It made for a delightful read. All the characters were really well developed and they were all great. Ava was an amazing lead character. She was strong, and young, and just coming into her own. I liked that she had to really struggle with the choices she made and had to learn to believe in herself. There were some really surprising moments in this book that made me go "OH". I liked that the author included some difficult life situations as well, like Ava's mom and Brea's mom's struggles. It made it easier to relate to both Ava and Brea. The final battle was amazing. I could see it happening in my head like I was watching a movie. i enjoyed it immensely. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series, Exposure. It's a good thing I bought it already. ;)
Prosecution: Honestly, I didn't know what to think. Some areas were a little dry and the beginning was hard to get into. I don't handle a lot of information well, especially with Ava being so wishy-washy (though it was obvious what she would choose).
Defense: But ohhh lawdyy, that twist! I for one, didn't see that one coming!! Usually, I pick out the twist pretty well. But Mrs. Mobley certainly crafter a great one! I loved the sucker punch that it was. The book itself was a quick read, especially for someone like myself who doesn't pick up fantasy or paranormal as a first choice. But that cover grabbed my attention, and I sure am glad she offered up this little bit of wonder! The twists and turns, the scenery, and descriptions were definitely something. Alec and Ava had chemistry, while the elements gave it a little bit of The Last Airbender vibe.
This was an enjoyable YA paranormal romance story, and if I have time I will read the sequels.
I felt quite sorry for Ava at times, and I also felt sorry for her friend Brea, who seemed to have a pretty rough time of things herself.
The storyline in this was enjoyable, although I did find it a bit information-heavy at points. Once I’d gotten through the info and world-building, it was a bit of an easier read though, and I liked it. There was a love triangle, although I thought it quite clear who Ava should have been with.
The ending to this did seem a bit of a long time coming, and I did get a bit bogged down again. If I can fit them in I will try to read the sequels, but as my KU subscription ends tomorrow I might not get the chance! 6.5 out of 10
“Elementris” was such a great read. I finished the book in two days. This book will definitely hold your attention from beginning until the end. This is a must read and you will absolutely love it. You will fall in love with the characters in the book and hate some of them at the same time. The bonds of love and friendship will be tested. This book has it all; romance, friendship and drama, you will laugh, smile, scream and want to pull your hair out. I highly recommend everyone giving this book a try, I am sure you will love it as much as I have. I cannot wait for the next book in the series and future books by Author Christina Mobley.
I received a free copy of this book for an honest and unbiased opinion. I loved loved loved this book and can not wait for the next one to come out. This book will have its claws in you from page one. I had a hard time putting it down for dinner. Lol. I loved Ava and could understand her struggles with everything. Brea is the best friend anyone would want. Troy is the typical male (haha) and I couldn't stand him from the start. And Alec was just DREAMY. He was freaking hot and the sweetest guy going threw his own struggles with lose and love. Everything about this book was Amazing and I highly recommend it to everyone. I will be patiently waiting for book 2.
I am done..I love the book..I'd have to say out of the 3 I've completed in my life this is the most amazing story ever..i couldnt put it down..part 2 is wat im wanting now..Chrissy Mobley u r an amazing person with soo much talent..im glad to have u in my family..i love u..i have always been about watching movies verses reading but today i have a new outlook on reading and its all because your imagination has caputered my attention and find myself wanting to read more of your books...may god truly bless you and your family..thank you so much for writting this book!!
This story is about a girl names Ava that has always known she was different but never understood still her mom abandoned her with her aunt. Ava is 17 years old and has never been a social person do to her powers until she helped her one and only friend out by switch a price on a price tag at the mall. That is when her world came caving down on her. She meets a boy named Alec that keeps calling her Princes? Who is he? What does he know about her? Will she find out what her destiny is?
This author knows how to tell a story and knows how to do it well. When you first start reading, and find Ava in high school, you think this is going to be a YA read. But as you go, it's hard not to get wrapped into the story. This author has a way of bringing you into it, and making a story that is enjoyable for all ages. The age old question of what will become of you when you grow up. You would think it can be nice to know what your choices are ahead of time, but every choice comes with a price, as Ava finds out. I eagerly anticipate the next book in this series.
I was drawn to this book because of the beautiful cover. The cover did not disappoint the book was great. I loved Ava's story and how she is a true elementris. The book kept my attention from the first page and I couldn't put it down until it was done, because I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. I can't wait to read the next book in this series. If you like paranormal, a little romance, and suspense then you need to read this book.
A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.
The book started out slow. But when it finally gets moving and she starts to learn her magic. She comes to another delemma. Choose Troy the guy she has had a crush on since elementary school, or Alec who saves her from The Clutch. One of them is out to hurt her, the other to save her. The ending did end in a good place, and made me want to know how things with her new life, and the guy she chose continue. I look forward to reading the next book. But if you are looking for something a little steamy, this is not the book you want.
This is the first book that I have read by Christina Mobley, but it definitely won't be my last. :)
This was a very unique story and I absolutely LOVED it. Christina has a way of telling a story that pulls you right in, and you will find it impossible to stop. I can't wait to read book 2 in the series, to see how the story continues.
Thanks again Christina for writing an amazing book, and for creating a fan for life. :)
Such a great little read! I thoroughly enjoyed this. Not normally a fan of YA, this book actually held my interest. I appreciate the vividness of the authors detailing as well as the fantastical story line.
I say Bravo and encourage you to pass this to your older children. I'm a huge fan of any book that inspires our youth to read, and I feel this book has that! I find myself wanting to read the next in line... Can't wait.
I cannot say enough good things about this book!I really loved the main charcter Ava I was in her corner right from the start.The storyline is amazing this is so much more than another (witch) book.I highly recommend you read Elementris you won't be disappointed.I can't wait for the next book to see where it all leads for these amazing characters.
Great book that held my attention, and caused some anxiety which every good book should. My only complaint is a few parts near the end felt a little rushed. Definitely finishing this series.
The synopsis actually gives you a lot of information and I am terrible with not giving away spoilers, so read on at your own risk. I received the book in exchange for an honest review so here goes:
In summary, I did get pulled into the story and read it in less than 24 hours. Did I love it? No, but I did love parts of it. And to be really honest, I don't rate many books above 4. I have to REALLY love a book or author's style to do that. Would I recommend the book, yes, but I don't think the book is going to appeal to all age groups.
What I loved about the book...Alec, Aunt Avalene, and Brea. Don't get me wrong, I liked Ava, but as is typical with the main character she made me sigh more often than not. Why? Well, she has a gift...yes, a gift...just because her mother did not want her living with her does not mean it is a curse. She can control elements...how awesome is that? Raising the dead, nope, that is a curse. So really? She is a teenager!!! What teenager would not want a gift of magic? That is what I loved about Brea, among other things. She understood how cool it was to wish for things and the wishes come true. Unfortunately, you don't learn more about Ava's mother's history to understand why she did what she did until later in the book, but even then, I still think she was being selfish. Rape is not a pretty thing, but how you overcome it says a lot about you. Ava assumed being gifted was the reason she was dumped on her aunt. And learns that yes, in part that is true, but she also learns that it is her heritage and that her mother knew she could choose to walk away from the magic once she turned 18 (just as she did), yet her mother still walked away from her when she was 5.
Why I loved Brea, Avalene, and Alec...Brea was Ava's friend through thick and thin. Even when she was being held in the cell and going to die, she stayed with her. She worried about her mom, and she was tough. Aunt Avalene was just plain cool. She practiced her magic and encouraged Ava to do so also. She wasn't overly strict with the girls and had cool friends too. I honestly could not see what Ava saw in Troy. I knew something was off about him from the minute he dumped his girlfriend suddenly. And he played her well. The book did have a few twists that I did not see...like who Troy's father and mother were. although that would explain why Ava was attracted to both Troy and Alec. Now for Alec...loved him. There really wasn't anything to NOT like about Alec. He was one of the Queen's guards, who became disillusioned with his role and was trying to orchestrate finding the True Elementris to overthrow the Queen. He learns that Ava is that person after dreaming about her since he was a child. He also knows he is bound to her, but fights it while still trying to do the right thing for all Elementris/Elementors. He does eventually fall in love with her and helps convince her to accept her magic and fight the Queen. All around good guy. So yes, I liked / loved the characters and the story line was good with some interesting twists.
What didn't I love...well, at times the magic parts were a little cheesy...hey, I was a fan of Charmed and lord knows they did cheesy too, but still loved the show. In the book, didn't love it so much, but I still liked the book. There were also times when it read a little off to me. Some areas too rushed. Not enough to seriously detract from the story, but enough to be noticed. And it could have just been me. I'll definitely read the next book to see what does happen with the true V curse and to follow up with Bianca, Shawn, Alec, Ava, and Brea.
Actual rating: 1.5. I liked the storyline. But I hated everything else. I have many issues with this book that I don't even know where to start... The writing was aweful. It was way underdeveloped, no emotions. Like, you find out you are meant to change the world, how are you going to react?? I have no idea how you can be so calm and take it so easy... I have no clue how she truly feels about anything! Changing point of view 3 times in the same chapter makes no sense. It breaks the flow. The nonexistant flow. But still. By the end of the book, I still don't have any idea on the timeframe. You're in the middle of something. Author presses enter on her keyboard. And we are into a new scene. Pure magic! Everything was just thrown at the reader, even if it didn't make sense. Without any link or explanations. Ava isn't ready to face the battle yet, but has now decided to accept her gift, 2 minutes of practice and she is now the strongest girl they have ever met! She is soooo ready! *insert sarcasm here* Alec is being fed the most important information by his worst enemy? There is a rule not to use wind in the battle, yet they use it constantly? I just felt like I was being treated like an idiot... This was a horrible reading experience. I have no idea how many times I rolled my eyes. Or told myself I was done reading this crap but I didn't give up because I thought the story was quite unique and interesting, I was still curious to know what would happen... And I am glad there is no cliffhanger at the end. I get to stop this series right there. I'm not reading the next books, sadly. The author need to edit her book better, or find a proper editor to do it because this felt like a very rough copy. Like first draft copy. Just throwing her ideas on paper without really adding any emotions or without creating a natural flow. I am very sorry that I am so harsh, especially to a self-published book, but I am just very disappointed because this story had huge potential. It has also so many great reviews... I don't understand why. At all. Next!!!
The book was so awesome! Ya, if I was Ava I would have freaked out at first too but I would've wanted to practice it so I knew what I was doing before she picked. The one character I hated the most was Ava's mom. She was never there for Ava and just made Ava feel like she was nothing and she knew what Ava was going through. The character I really liked was Ava's aunt. Her Aunt was always there for her and acted like her mother most of the time. She let Ava choose what she wanted to do with her power. Instead of pushing her into one side and telling her this is what she had to choose. I can't wait to read the next one!!!
I feel like this book was a lot of "that person has a lot of information...i wonder if it will come in handy later on". And it did but the way a lot of it comes out seems a little forced and not believable as dialogue. That being said i liked the actual storyline. The girl being thrust into a world she doesn't know and being the most important person in that world. I thought Ava's reaction to the events was pretty relatable which is a little difficult considering the subject matter.