The Dysasters

The Dysasters #1

by P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast

Foster Stewart knows she's different. Her life has never been "normal." Talking to plants and controlling cloud formations aren't things most seventeen year olds are into. Tate "Nighthawk" Taylor is perfect. Star quarterback and all around dreamy boy next door he never thought about his "extra" abilities. What quarterback wouldn't want night vision? That's not weird, right? It's cool!

But on the night of their first meeting a deadly tornado brings them together and awakens their true abilities - the power to control the element air. Unbeknown to Tate and Foster, they are the first in a group of teens that were genetically manipulated before birth to bond with the elements. Which truly sucks for Foster, as she has to face the fact that Dr. Rick Stewart, her beloved scientist father, betrayed her and now wants to use her and the others for his own nefarious world domination plot.

Foster and Tate must stop Dr. Stewart and his minions before he destroys their lives and the world.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal, Fiction, Science Fiction, Romance, Young Adult Fantasy

320 pages, Hardcover

First published February 26, 2019

About the author

PC was born in the Midwest, and grew up being shuttled back-and-forth between Illinois and Oklahoma, which is where she fell in love with Quarter Horses and mythology (at about the same time). After high school, she joined the United States Air Force and began public speaking and writing. After her tour in the USAF, she taught high school for 15 years before retiring to write full time. PC is a #1 New York Times and #1 USA Today Best-Selling author and a member of the Oklahoma Writers Hall of Fame. Her novels have been awarded the prestigious: Oklahoma Book Award, YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Prism, Holt Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, Booksellers’ Best, and the Laurel Wreath. PC is an experienced teacher and talented speaker. Ms. Cast lives in Oregon near her fabulous daughter, her adorable pack of dogs, her crazy Maine Coon, and a bunch of horses. House of Night Other World, book 4, FOUND, releases July 7th, 2020. More info to come soon about the HoN TV series!

Reviews

[Allyce Cameron · Rating 1 out of 5]

Okay so this book is literal trash. Like, you take a break from reading and start thinking it couldn’t possibly be as bad as you’re imagining, and then it is. It really is. And it is the single most DRAMATIC book I have ever read. I’m talking 20 pages in and there are multiple tornadoes and half the town is dead dramatic. So. Much. Drama. #Drahhhhmahh. The problem is I actually wanted to know what was going to happen and so I kept reading. It wasn’t quite bad enough for me to stop. And when I finished reading it I closed it, put it down and pushed it with one finger as far from me as I could before telling myself I wanted it out of my house. But also that burning it was probably a bit extreme. And that all the drama had infected me and I needed to chill. Look, the concept is actually pretty cool, it was just really poorly written and the characters were all terrible. Foster is a straight up bitch for like three quarters of the book, and Tate really doesn’t get a whole lot of personality to be honest. Why they fall for each other is beyond me. Because they’re both attractive and happen to be stuck together in the same place? Because that’s pretty much all we’re given. It actually makes me never want to reread the House of Night series because I loved those books when I was a teenager and I don’t want to think about how they are now. Also the illustrations/comics in this were not good. I understand it’s a superhero book and it’s mean to be a homage type situation to comic books but I just did not enjoy them. They somehow managed to make very attractive characters uhhh...not attractive. Also do Americans really call their granddads G-Pa? Like is that a thing? Also there was SO MUCH swearing. And that usually wouldn’t bother me except this is meant to be a YA book so it seemed a little overdone. I think the point I was like yep that’s a bit much was when they started calling the four people chasing them the “Fucktastic Four” and then proceeded to keep calling them that throughout the rest of the book. Just awful. Alrighty, that’s me done. I am done thinking about this book and am going to do my best to sear it from the memory. I will not be continuing with this series, and about halfway through this rant I also decided I was going to downgrade this to a one-star so there you go.

[Jasmine from How Useful It Is · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading The Dysasters on 2/24/2019 and finished it on 3/9/2019. This book is an interesting read. I like the power of the elements. Tate’s grandpa is the coolest ever! I also like Mark because he cares for others. Charlotte and Bastian’s views are my favorite reads because they seem easy going and realistic. They have difficult relationships with their family members that could be easily relatable to many readers. The graphics within the story are unexpected but very much welcomed because it helps readers to imagine the story better. The main character, Foster is as bitchy as stated in the story and I don’t really care for attitudes but it’s well played on her part.

This book is told in the third person point of view following Foster, 18 as she and her adoptive mother, Cora gets ready to go to a high school football game to meet Tate Taylor. The second point of view is Tate Taylor, star football player at Homer High. A strong tornado came suddenly and wiped most of the town and its people. The third view is Mark who has the power to control the element water like rain is working with Matthew who controls wind and Luke who controls fire to search for Foster and Tate to bring them back to Dr. Rick Stewart. The fourth view is Eve who can control earth like earthquakes. Eve along with Mark, Matthew and Luke and eight others were genetically created by Dr. Stewart. The fifth view is Charlotte, a girl who was born Charles and loves the sea. The sixth view is Bastian who left fine food and money to be free near the sea. The seventh view is G-Pa, Tate’s awesome grandpa. From the sudden storm, Foster loses her adoptive mom Cora and Tate loses both of his parents; however, they discovered something about themselves that shocked them enough to go on the run.

The Dysasters is very well written and a unique read. It’s a bit overwhelming to follow so many point of views but I like to feel personal with the characters knowing what they are thinking. The story flows well and I enjoy both good sides and bad sides’ views. I like following their strategic planning as well as their challenges. I like the mad scientist-esque and especially IVF related because nowadays many babies are born through IVF. The story ends with me wanting to read more. This is my first read from the authors and it sure won’t be my last. I highly recommend everyone to read this book!

Pro: fast paced, page turner, drawings, music, powers of elements, friendship, family, some romance, diversity

Con: none

I rate it 5 stars!

***Disclaimer: Many thanks to Wednesday Books for inviting me to host a blog tour. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.

xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details

[Sophie "Beware Of The Reader" · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

Well I am caught between a rock and a hard place here.

 

I love PC Cast’s books.

I have read her House of Night series, her Moon Chosen as well as her Goddess Summoning series and really loved them.

When I learned that she was writing a new series with her daughter I requested the first book as fast as I could open my browser and click “request”.

 

Yet now that I have read I must sadly admit that this may be the one book that was not for me.

 

Let me explain my reasoning…

 

The concept of the story is really promising as you have a scientist playing god and messing with the AND of embryos. As result you get kids able to manipulated elements like air, water, fire, earth.

Of course the first experiments are not flawless and you have kids who are adults now suffering from side effects of their powers. Said side effects could make them go mad.

The scientist changed his experiments and created others but I won’t give details as I don’t want to spoil anything.

 

This idea is very interesting and leads to many action scenes, another asset of the book as you have the first kids trying to get ahold of the younger kids.

The very opening of the book was puzzling as you jump into a very intense scene with a tornado wreaking havoc on a stadium and a whole town. People flee, others die. It was action packed but also deeply puzzling because you feel that Foster and maybe Tate have something to do with the disaster but not knowing what exactly. Snippets of information are thrown here and there but you have to wait to entangled the facts and get a coherent picture of what is happening.

 

When things went wrong for me was with the main characters Foster and Tate.

I know they both are very young adults as they barely turned eighteen and that they met in dramatic circumstances

BUT

I did not like the way they interacted at all.

Foster looked down on Tate considering he was a D-bag when honestly I could not see what he had said when they met to deserve that title. Tate reacted of course and called her the “B” word. Not endearing at all!

I get that they are big teenagers and they can have attitude because I have some at home yet it was not really pleasant to read. Maybe their element was the source of the mood swings but it was hard to follow and I needed something more to really grasp who they were. Sadly I must say that I could not really connect with them and this put a damper on my pleasure of reading.

 

I must also mention the drawings in the book. If on the one hand as an amateur of art I thought they were beautiful, on the other hand as a novel reader and not a comics reader it annoyed me as it “forced” me to pictures the characters a certain way while one of the best parts of reading novels is creating the characters in your head. I loved it in Moon Chosen but the drawings were mostly of plants and animals, not herding me in one direction to picture the main characters.

 

Will I read the second book of this series? Probably not as it does not seem to be the books for me.

Will I read other books from these authors? Of course as they have proven that they are excellent writers and no one can love every books a favorite author writes.

Many thanks to St Martin's Press for gifting this book!
Let's chat! Have you read other books written by these authors? Did you like them?
 

Thanks for reading!

 
Sophie

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[Rachael Arsenault · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy for review. I will need some time to organize my thoughts and compose a proper review. For now, two words: breathtakingly bad.

Edit: Alright. Let me try to explain all the problems with this book as clearly as I can with as few spoilers as possible. I currently have a ten page word document with every problem bullet pointed, but I don't want to rant that long. I think the easiest way to do that is to break it down into categories.

Writing:
This book was not well-written. Not in the technical sense, not in terms of narrative flow, not in terms of continuity, and not in terms of sensibility. Some of the technical problems I can take with a grain of salt since this was an advanced copy, but everything else is inexcusable in a near-final draft.

Narrative flow was flawed in a few ways, but the ones that stand out the most are consistency in narrative voice and consistency in mood. When the narrators frequently use words like "zillion" and "conked out", it's jarring when a word like "fuliginous" or "susurrus" is thrown in. This is also a problem of using a million dollar word in a five dollar situation. And in terms of mood, there were just so many situations were something very serious or emotional would be playing out and we'd be given an incredibly childish or asinine metaphor. Grief is literally compared to dropping an ice cream cone at one point! It really jars you out of the moment and distracts from the story.

The continuity was an absolute mess. Fairly late into a book, there's an event with Foster and Tate's powers that is referred to as having happened earlier that day and then as having happened days ago within the same chapter. Said event actually occurred the day before. The book continually forgets what the characters do or don't know, and what they have or have not talked about. This leads to situations like Foster and Tate celebrating the idea of being superheroes like it's a new revelation when they've already had multiple conversations about being superheroes, or Foster arguing with Tate because she doesn't like a plan he's come up with when they exposited the plan to each other in-depth just a few chapters previously. It makes the story equal parts confusing and frustrating to follow because it seems like no one - from the characters to the authors - cares about what's happening.

And last but not least, a lot of things in this story straight up don't make sense. Foster accidentally uses her powers when yelling at Tate while they're pulled over on the highway. It's a very, very obvious display of control over wind - yet not one single person pulls over or reacts or does anything in response to this. A plane knowingly flies into an area with a serious hurricane warning in place. A football game is not called off during a major thunderstorm. A character who dies at the beginning of the book leaves detailed letters for Foster explaining most of what's going on, even though some of the details included are information that this person hadn't confirmed until shortly before their death. Some of it's little things that are just stupid or too convenient to be believable. Others are big holes in the narrative that kind of make the story fall apart.

Characters:
These characters are not well-written or likeable. Foster and Tate are the biggest offenders, given that they take up most of the narration, but there's no character that I particularly like in this book. Maybe Mark, but his dialogue and narration often felt hollow and robotic.

Foster and Tate spend a lot of time arguing in the beginning, which should make sense, given the circumstances. This is within the first five chapters so, while I won't go too into detail, I'm okay giving some very light spoilers. A tornado touches down in the middle of a football game at which Tate is playing and Foster is watching. A lot of people die including Foster and Tate's families. Foster knows about the Core Four and knows that she needs to run, so she forces Tate to come with her as she steals a truck and flees the state to go to a safe house. Foster doesn't 100% know what's going on, but she knows far more than Tate. And yet, in the 20-some hours they spend driving to a safe house, Foster doesn't explain things to him. Worse, she gets angry and indignant when he tries to storm off and accuses her of kidnapping him.

Foster is also incredibly petty. From calling Tate out for using past tense when he says he thought she was pretty when they first met to casually mentioning going to yoga to judge people there, Foster comes off far more strongly as bratty and judgmental than she does as introverted and independent. And, no, these aren't flaws she really learns or grows from.

Then there's Tate. His behaviour is a little more understandable, given the circumstances, but it's still hard to like him when he spends the first half of the book consistently calling Foster a bitch. This includes a painful absence of self-awareness in the narrative where he praises himself for being raised by a woke, feminist mother and then - in literally the next sentence - refers to Foster as a bitch and a pain the ass.

The antagonists in the book aren't particularly good at being villains, either. They spend most of the book doing basically nothing, their characterizations are incredibly flat, and their dialogue and interactions with each other feel stiff and robotic. I can at least say that their motivations do make sense and they aren't evil for the sake of evil, but... well, for one, the reason they're "broken" is a subject for another rant entirely, and it doesn't matter how effective their motives are if they never do anything. Even in the final confrontation, they are the most ineffectual villains ever and basically fail to do anything with their supposedly incredible power.

Charlotte is an okay character, I suppose, though she was rapidly progressing in the direction of a one-note stereotype in her few chapters. Bastien, on the other hand, is insufferable. His narration about his home life makes no sense (what the hell does "the slick and the silence" even mean?!) and immediately upon seeing Charlotte, he decides she is an angel who must save his brokenness. Because it is romantic and feminist to say that a pretty woman's job is to fix a dark and broken man, right?

Then there's Tate's granddad, who is insufferably and incessantly referred to as "g-pa". Is that a regional thing? Because I have never in my life used a term like that unironically. In any case, he's constantly bragging about how amazing and clever he is and, despite having a long conversation with Tate about respecting women and women being superior to men, he goes on at length about modern football players all being "pussies". Also, he's an example of elderly characters being written in an incredibly unrealistic fashion, referring to the internet as the "internetathon" and airplanes as "flying machines".

Worldbuilding:
The most important element of the worldbuilding in this book is the science. Too bad the science makes absolutely no sense.

Inserting organic matter into an embryo and irradiating it is not going to create night vision, mind control, and the ability to control matter. Especially not when the matter you're inserting into the cells is O2, which already exists inside cells. Also, it's not organic - organic matter is carbon based. The same holds true for inserting H2O into cells to create water powers.

The different ways the powers work doesn't make sense, either. They don't fully manifest until eighteen. Why? Hoes does that work? What happens at the age of eighteen that triggers that onset and how can you be sure it will happen precisely on the patient's eighteenth birthday? And how does power of air result in mind control or night vision - and why did Foster and Tate have these abilities well before they turned eighteen? How would the member of the Core Four who controls air be at risk of disappearing into his computer because of his powers?

Weather is a super important part of the story, too, especially as it relates to the characters' powers, and it's completely botched. Tornadoes are pretty clearly identified as the storm connected with air, but hurricanes are connected to water. Tornadoes and hurricanes are both cyclones, meaning they're both windstorms. A rainstorm, ice storm, or snow storm would make far more sense as the type of weather most strongly connected to water.

The addiction in the story also makes no sense, since it essentially amounts to an addiction to healing crystals. Moreover, discussion of a possible overdose doesn't seem feasible.

The -isms:
As far as I can confirm, there are five black characters in the book. They can be summarized as follows: the big mama, the washed up addict, the living drug, the help, and the sassy best friend. All of them are also described in increasingly ridiculous ways. They are never just black or brown or dark skinned, nor do they ever just have brown eyes or dark eyes. Instead, they're coloured with umber and deep-henna and leaf brown and Tiger Moth brown and fertile earth brown. The term "Nubian princess" is even used multiple times. Cora presents a particularly egregious example through this description of her voice: "the spicy calmness returning to her voice, creamy and rich with a little kick, like Mexican hot chocolate." (pg4)

The way this book presents gas station or rest stop clerks is... interesting. It only happens twice, but each time the message is the same and is very clear. They're fat, stupid, sexist, and gross. This is very much presented as a package deal.

And then there's the way the book handles mental illness. The Core Four are presented as basically being crazy because their powers are unbalanced. It doesn't seem like any conventional/existing treatments have been attempted. They're crazy and the only way to fix it is to get the other elemental experiments for Doctor Rick so he can do Science(tm). There are also little moments leaning into this same idea. When Foster says something that Tate can't make sense of, he offhandedly comments in the narration that maybe she needs meds and counseling. This is clearly intended as an insult. Later, when Foster is clearly struggling with dark thoughts after seeing another tornado (possibly an indicator of PTSD or a similar trauma response), she instantly has her beauty drain from her. Because mental illness is always, outwardly, and immediately ugly.

The way addiction is handled and understood is similarly terrible. A conversation on this subject can basically be summed up as suggesting that if the addict won't quit, the only solution is to kill them so you can be free of them. Yeah.

Art:
I'm not opposed to including art in a book. I think it can add an interesting dimension and could be fun to play and experiment with. This book, however, does not do this well in any regard.

First of all, the art is for the upcoming graphic novel adaptation. That means the art is specific to that graphic novel, not this book, so it has it's own continuity. This leads to things like the in-text description indicating that Foster is wearing a sweater with the name of a high school printed across it and her hair tied back in a high-top ponytail, but the art shows her in a plain zip-up sweater with a hat on.

The art is also inserted into the book terribly. At least half of the images spoil events on the next page. And the formatting problems don't stop there. Handwritten pages are included at one point and they're all split up, so it's one page of text, one picture of text, one page of text, one picture, etc., even though the three pictures represent a set of pages that are supposed to be read together. Moreover, the text on these images doesn't even match the lines drawn on the page. The pages are also smudged by rain, but it's done in such a way as to be laughably unrealistic, so that whole lines are blotted out in the middle of the page while surrounding areas are completely unaffected.

Romance:
Tate likes Foster because she's pretty. Foster likes Tate because he's hot. They have no chemistry. That's the romance. It appears that the same thing is going to happen between Charlotte and Bastien.

Plot:
It started off with a bang and then, once they reached the safe house, ground to a halt. Foster and Tate aren't really doing anything. The villains aren't really doing anything. Everyone sits around and talks for, like, a hundred pages. Half of that is spent on the forced romance between Foster and Tate. Anything that might have resembled a compelling plot is ruined by poorly written characters, terrible pacing, and nonsensical worldbuilding.


I know this doesn't seem like the brief version of my review, but trust me: It is. I could rant for days about everything wrong in this book. I've only just skimmed the surface. Suffice to say, I do not recommend this book to anyone.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved that book. I was already hooked with the synopsis... Kids that bonded with the elements? I thought of Storm in the X-Men movies, and of superheroes, and was super excited!

Well, the book delivered! It’s action-pacted, and all the characters are essential to the story. I was so sad when the book ended, I wanted it to continue!

There are also beautiful sketches throughout the story, and a letter from Cora. I loved that, it’s so different! I hope they will continue this in the next books...

I gave 4.5 stars to the book, even if I really loved it, because certains things were hard to believe, like that Tate could float 5ft in the air and didn’t notice it, or that the last page of Cora’s letter was supposely wetter and more difficult to read than the first ones but HOW CAN WATER DAMAGE ERASE LINES OF TEXT AND NOT PORTIONS OF A PAGE!

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press for my copy of the book! Can’t wait to read the next book of the series!!

[Juli · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. I love superheroes, action stories, good vs evil....I had high expectations for this story about teens with the ability to manipulate the elements.

But I'm going to be honest -- I didn't like this book. I DNF'd this story about halfway through. For me, the book seemed like a failed attempt by adults to write a book for teenagers. It tries too hard and comes off as contrived.

Teenagers can be angsty, whiny, and disrespectful. So this story overuses those traits, making the main characters almost completely unlikable. Teenagers curse. So, this book overuses curse words, sprinkling them in at the wrong time and not using them at the right time. For example, the main characters call each other names or tell each other to shut the F up constantly, but when Foster accidentally calls up a tornado and realizes she can manipulate weather, she says...."thank you"?? If I accidentally called up a tornado, you can bet your sweet bippy I would be saying WTF and most likely several other choice curse words out of complete shock and surprise. Other terms like Fucktastic Four, douchehawk, nightdouche, etc can be a great joke...once. Maybe even twice. But after multiple uses, it just gets old. Just too much....bleck.

I asked my 14 year old to read a couple chapters of this book to see what he thought. He said the same thing....adults trying too hard to write teenage characters and failing.

I struggled through half of this story, and stopped. This book is not for me.

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from St. Martins Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

[Jeann (Happy Indulgence) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Happy Indulgence Books. Check it out for more reviews!

I’m always a sucker for stories about people with special abilities, especially when it comes to elemental powers. Because who doesn’t love a good dose of Xmen?

The Dysasters follows a group of teenagers who find out they have elemental powers and learn how they can control them. We follow two characters, Tate and Foster in their search for other teenagers like themselves. As the book begins, we find out about both of their abilities – Tate has night vision and can control hurricanes, while Foster has an influencing ability that she calls her “jedi mind trick” and she can see airwaves.

Foster soon loses her adoptive mother Cora to a massive hurricane, and Cora tells her about a quartet who are after her and Tate. She tells her to escape to safety, and that her real Father is behind all of this. So the two need to navigate their way through the American countryside as they get to know one another and navigate their strange powers. These two aren’t too happy to have ended up with one another and there’s a lot of annoying bickering that will happen in their journey.

When we first meet Tate, he comes across as your typical high school jock and Foster definitely wasn’t impressed. There’s a certain amount of cheese to his character, and attempts are gradually made to add depth to his character later on, such as his connection with his grandpa (who he calls G-pa). The reader is also subjected to a long drawn out scene where he regurgitates his favourite YA and classical novels to appeal to the reader, but I just found it to be forced.

Foster herself had a little bit more depth to her, as she dealt with her loss of Cora, and recalled a lot of moments with her mother during the journey. But as Foster and Tate’s bickering gave way to romance, it just becomes a cheesy kissing fest that I wasn’t here for.

We do get alternating perspectives between the villains in the book, Eve and her group of genetically engineered brothers who also have elemental powers. They felt rather one-dimensional and I did not appreciate the dog burning scene towards the end of the book (even though the dog apparently wasn’t hurt).

The plot of the book does end up to be quite predictable as well – I feel like this is a book that I’ve read before in many different iterations. The ending of the book felt super cheesy and there was some tired slang that was used. Also the inclusion of old timey music just dated the book even more, even though Foster says it’s the music her mother listens to.

There is the inclusion of a transgender character, who is one of the teenagers with special abilities in the book. I liked Charlotte’s confidence and southern attitude, but sadly I found that the treatment of her character to be problematic and harmful.

The few scenes that she is in, she is subjected to nasty comments and attitudes from others because of her identity. One scene will have her dealing with a cruel petrol station attendant who treats her badly upon viewing her name from birth. He makes some nasty sexual comments about her which could be triggering to some. Another scene will have Charlotte dealing with her southern mother who does not acknowledge her transition. While Charlotte obviously “sticks it” to her mother, I just found the manner in which these scenes were handled to be kind of harmful.

Having a transgender character that is repeatedly subjected to verbal abuse from others simply for their identity can be harmful, as it just further illustrates the hurt and disrespect that transgendered people receive in real life. Seeing it reduced to a harmful stereotype without reflecting the nuances and sensitivities that affect them was kind of problematic. These stories can better be told by #ownvoices authors who can successfully navigate the sensitivities in more respectful manner.

WAS THERE ANYTHING I ENJOYED?
The Dysasters was easy to read and get into, and I liked the illustrations added in the book. I did enjoy the perspective of Eve and her brothers, and how there was some questions of morality by one of her brothers. Although there were quite a lot of character point of views, I was never confused with them.

Overall, the writing, characters and the plot of The Dysasters feels incredibly predictable and cheesy. Although there were some fun scenes, such as when Foster plays air music, I just didn’t find that it added much to the genre at all and it regurgitates quite a lot of tropes that have been done before. Sadly, I found it to be dated, and the treatment towards the transgender character to be problematic.

Trigger warnings: transphobia, animal cruelty, death of a relative

I received a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Brooke — brooklynnnnereads · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

This book started out with a BANG. For me, it didn't really feel like there was much of an introduction before the story was off and running. This could be a good or bad thing depending on your reading preference. Personally, I could have done with a little more background or eased into the story with a little bit more of an introduction.

One thing that truly made the story unique and something that I really enjoyed was the illustrations mixed into the story. The novel was written in a typical format but every once and a while there would be illustrations similar to a graphic novel integrated into the story. It made this novel unique and also had me excited imagining which pictures were to come.

Overall, this story kind of reminded me of a Young Adult X-Men inspired by the elements. I liked the story but felt that it was rushed from the beginning and that feeling continued throughout the rest of the novel. Again, this could be because the story started off so quickly instead of 'warming up' first.

I'm unsure whether to continue on in this series. I liked the supernatural feel of this story and the characters and I also want to know what's to come in the next book. I may pick up the second book in this series and give it another chance.

***Thank you to Raincoast Books for sending me an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review***

[Monica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me... This definitely reads as a middle school book and has illustrations. Which is great for maps or graphic novels but just not what I was expecting.

[Alana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Wednesday Books for providing a review copy of this book in exchange for a honest review and inviting me to be a part of this blog tour!

When I first heard that P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast were co-writing a brand new series for us I was over the moon. In case you don't know, the mother/daughter author duo wrote The House of Night series which was a wildly popular vampire/paranormal series in the early 2000's when vampires were all the rage (still waiting for them to make a comeback, just sayin'). So, I was excited to dive into a new series from two authors I was familiar with and loved back in the day, however, I was hoping to love this a little more than I did.

The concept of this book was EXTREMELY intriguing to me. A group of teens that were genetically modified are able to control the weather and elements, it's something that is 100% up my alley. And don't get me wrong I did enjoy the plot, but I did have a few issues with this one. First, the writing seemed extremely rushed and awkward at times. Majority of this book is told through dialogue or the characters talking out loud to themselves, because of that I found the writing could occasionally be cringe-worthy. Second, the characters themselves just weren't very likable until almost the very end, and even now I'm still on the fence of liking them. Character growth is pretty minimal in this, but hopefully we'll get to know the characters more in the following books. Third, this felt a lot more juvenile than I anticipated, so I definitely think it will appeal to the younger side of YA readers.

As for what I did enjoy, besides liking the overall concept of the book, this book definitely has all the trope-y superhero vibes. I don't read books like this very often so it was a nice change of pace. Plus, this book includes illustrations so it gives it a nice graphic novel touch without being overpowering if graphic novels are not your thing. It was definitely super cool to be able to see the characters brought to life in that way since the writing kind of stunted them. The pacing throughout this story was also done very well. There weren't really any parts of the story that dragged and once the action started it was so easy to fly through the rest of the book. As for the ending, I was pretty happy with it as well. I think it leaves a great setup for the next book without having too much of cliffhanger, I don't know how many more major cliffhangers my heart can take!

All in all, although I did struggle with the writing and liking the characters, the concept and plot of this book was definitely enough to keep me intrigued to see where the characters will end up next!


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[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars!!
🌟🌟🌟

This was a quick fun read. We follow Foster Stewart who knows she's different. Her life has never been "normal." Controlling clouds is not what normal 17 year olds do. Then there is -Tate "Nighthawk" Taylor, the jock who everyone thinks is perfect. Star quarterback who doesnt realize he has special abilities like "Night Vision."

One night, a deadly Tornado hits at a ball game and Foster and Tate are thrown into chaos together. This is the storm that will change both their lives for good. They quickly find out that a crazy scientist is after them for their " abilities." Foster and Tate must stop Dr. Stewart and his minions before he destroys their lives and the world!!



There wasn't much world building in this one since it is sort of a modern day type setting. I thought the abilities the characters had were unique. I love when weather gets used as a special control. I wasn't a huge fan of Foster at first. She really annoyed me, but toward the half way mark she started to grow on me. The poor girl was just constantly moving and super stressed out - so imagine that type of character. Tate was awesome and such a sweetheart! The side characters brought another pov to the mix.



To me this was just a light read, nothing big stood out. The writing was good and the pace moved along well. I am looking forward to the rest of the series :P I think the next book is going to be even better now that the base has been set.

[Meaghan]

I'd like to thank the author and publisher for giving an ARC of this book in exchange for being a part of the book tour as well as an honest review.

Normally I give a book a bit more time before DNFing, but I realized pretty quickly that this book wasn't for me at all.

Pretty quickly on I had some major issues with this book, so I'll outline those quickly.

1. The first 15% was already tropey as hell. We had a "girl who was not like other girls", the standard jock love interest who is secretly a nice guy, important person dies early on as a way to reveal important information to MC, etc etc

2. I couldn't stand the writing. Something about the dialogue was extremely cringy, and it made it hard to actually get into the book, even when I found the concept itself fascinating.

3. The book is almost entirely dialogue? In the 15% I read, almost 80% of it was filled with dialogue, and that was just way too much for me. I don't need lots of descriptions, but I need some to support the world and what the character is seeing. I need even more description when I'm not a fan of the characters yet, as something besides them to read, so that made it even more detrimental to this book.

4. Some descriptions of characters felt really weird. Specifically that of Cora, Foster's black adoptive mother. In one page alone they referred to her henna-brown eyes and a spicy calm voice that was creamy and smooth like Mexican hot chocolate. It just felt... off?

5. The beginning 5% made me dislike Foster way too quickly. She's 18, but she's shown to be pretty whiny and demanding, and even kind of throws a tantrum? That, and her endless talking at first, annoyed both the side characters and me.

This, and some other, smaller things, put me off of this book very quickly, and from there I wasn't able to find my way back to it. If you're a fan of P. C. Cast's writing and other books though, I'm sure you'll enjoy this one as well, since the world and concept itself seem interesting enough.

[Skyye Breeze · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was the coolest book ever!!! I love it a lot!!! The Cast team have done it again and they never disappoint!!!
I had so much fun reading this book! The concept of the story is amazing, it is unique, and I have never read anything like this before!!! It captured my attention from beginning to end! I was definitely hooked! As the story heated up I kept turning the pages faster to find out what would happen next.. it definitely takes you on a wild ride.. and as the story takes twists and turns I found myself on the edge of my seat holding my breath and cheering on the good guys!
The author did a phenomenal job! They grabbed the readers attention, gave us beautifully detailed descriptions that makes you feel part of the story, and gave us really cool and unique characters!!! The characters all have one thing in common but are so different in personality it was so much fun reading their stories, getting to know their histories and how they came to be! I love the chemistry and the new bonds of friendship that they form together!
I cannot wait to find out where the story will take the readers next!!! hurry up book two! LOL
I definitely recommend this book!!!!!

[Danyelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not amused. The characters spend so much time bickering and being angry with each other that nothing was happening. Normally with things like that I could push through but I just did not like either one of the main characters and that's usually a driving points for a book for me. I have to at least like you to want to read about you.

[Hristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Click here for my review, as well as a chance to win one of twenty hardcover books.


*Copy received through NetGalley
*Rating: 4/5 stars

[Trudy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story starts on a storm and ends with the beginnings of love and a new type of family! The ones we choose and not the ones chosen for us are just as much family if not more so as they accept us as we are. I cannot wait to see where this leads!

Foster has issues with a capital I! She has trust issues which are understandable, she cannot relate to, nor does she like people and if that wasn’t enough she has lost the only person who understands her and she’s running for her life.

Enter Tate who is the exact opposite. He is compassionate, considerate and a southern gentleman. He is shoved into Foster’s path and gets hit by devastating loss and forced to run with Foster. While most people would give up on Foster he understands that she has not had a normal, loving upbringing and he intends on getting past her harsh exterior and releasing the truth he knows lies beneath.

All the while Foster and Tate are dealing with their new discovery, the element of air and how to find the missing six with who are thought to hold the rest of the elements. Of course, the core four are also hot on their tails.

The characters are unique and quirky and peppered throughout, the Cast girls touch on very real, very important social issues in a seamless and loving way.

This story is full of action, has great world building and things should only heat up from here on out.

[Ang -PNR Book Lover Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

"When she looks at me like that she makes me feel as if I could do anything; I will do anything, to keep her looking at me like that."


How do I even write this review? I loved this book, I loved that it is the first book in a four book series. P.C Cast & Kristin Cast are back! *insert music*

THIS BOOK!

THIS BOOK IS FANTASTIC!

5/5 stars!



What I Enjoyed about this story is that it is for all ages, whether you are a young adult, a full adult which ever age you are this is perfect for everyone.



Okay, here's the list of things to remember.



Water, Fire, Earth and Air.



Four couples, that's 8 young adults.

Foster & Tate (Air)

Charlotte & Bastien (Water)

?? We do NOT know who the other couples are.



The Core 4 (Fucktastic Four)

Mark (Water)

Eve (Earth)

Luke (Fire)

Matthew (Air)



Dr Stewart, the crazy scientist! Who created them all and has a really bad addiction to Eve.



Cora (deceased)



and G-Pa, a wealthy old man, who is fit as a fiddle and who his Tate's grandparent.



I know that is a lot to remember but it the first book to a series, and I think the authors did us a solid and didn't really make it that confusing. I must be in the minority of reviewers who loved this book.



The main Characters in this first book are Foster who controls air, and Tate who also controls air so this makes them a pair. We start this adventure with Foster and her adopted mother Cora, who has taken her to Missouri (Misery) to find someone, but we don't know who. They end up at a high school football game, and that is where we meet Tate. A storm begins, and this storm turns out to be a full blown tornado, while this is happening Cora's heart gives out, and leaves Foster with little information to get out of there, but with Tate. Who is the person they were looking for. They are immediately drawn together, and he also watches his parents die in the storm that has being going on around them. Obviously more happens here but what you think is true is not, I really appreciate the story moving as fast as it did.



Now they are on the run, and know they are in danger. Before Cora died, she told Foster to take Tate and go to Sauvie Island. This is where they find out what they really are and that Cora had a safe place made for them all to live and hide of the grid.



To be honest I took so many notes reading this book, like 6 pages of notes to remind me when I wrote this review what is what and how I felt. Now looking at my notes, I can tell you thing... I LOVED this book. and that I have messy writing and can not even decipher some of my own writing to save my life.



Dr Stewart is bad, and so are some of the core four who are doing to old mans dirty work for him and trying to catch all the couples. I love that they are all going to be pairs, this is for such an important reason. So you see the good old doctor had "fertility clinics" where rich men paid him and he continued his experiments and research, until he faked his own death. Cora was his wife and he kept all this a secret from her. Until she figured things out and took Foster and went into hiding. The Dr mutated and changed the DNA in all the children.And they the core fucktastic four came out wrong or turned out wrong, they all have issues because they can not control there elements properly. But the pairs like Foster and Tate who will work together they have complete control.Although when the Dr made them all he knew then what he had done wrong I guess and did it this way. He is literally a sick SOB! He says he cares but he does not.



When they all turn 18, that is when the manifest with full blown powers. But what Cora didn't know and also the rest of the core four (her brothers) is that she is actually the bio daughter of the Dr and Cora! because he store her eggs and grew a child !!!



Straight up, I thought Foster was a bitch and it took me a little while to like her, she has some issues. I loved Tate, hes just so confused until they both learn to trust each other and learn more about there powers. I really love the dynamics with all the couples and characters, I really believe this is going to be such a fun series to re visit all the time. Maybe for me because of the nostalgic feeling. This was all my own thoughts and feelings, even with being given gifted arcs.



Which can I just say how much I really loved all the CAPTAIN PLANET vibes! That show was my life when I was growing up in the 90's. Even like just Xmen, Super powers with comic like art work... just was giving me life!



I loved everything about this book, the characters, the art art work that is throughout the book. Man the art work is visually stunning and brings so much more to the story.


So much more happens in this book, that I highly recommend. When they arrive at the Island and meet Finn and his girlfriend Sabine. I love that they are forming there own family, could they be the other couple? I am not sure. But it would be awesome.



I loved Tate and Foster together, the friendship and romance was too cute. The sinning moments, and them floating flying together... All the feels!



"The most important thing a women can give is her trust. Earn that first and then you'll earn a love that will last. Trust is based on respect. And if you don't treat her with respect, you have no business being with her."



OMG and the coolest thing is the rep we have in this new series is a young male, transitioning from male to female. I am so excited to see more of this throughout the series. Yes the book is told in alternating POV but it tells you who is who and you don't get lost, so not only do we get Tate and Fosters voices we get Eve, Mark and some of Charlotte and Bastien.



Key characters that I don't like a lot is Eve she is a nasty as her father and her brothers, I reckon Mark is the nicest and just so confused. I hope we see him come to the captain planet team. lol Seriously the core four are all in there 30's and don't give a shit about anything or anyone apart from themselves and maybe each other.



I do not like Luke, and obliviously the Dr. Now back to him, he is literally a druggy, Eve can manifest crystals on her body of all kinds and with them each having a certain quality to them, and the fine old doctor siphoned's them into his body while getting off on it. I was shook when I read them scenes. Sometimes I would think Eve is nice, but she really isn't and I that I don't like her. She is the keeper of earth.



100 pages in and I knew at this point it would be close to a 5 star read for me, and it was. I loved the writing and the setting it was in. The characters were fantastic, I think this mother and daughter due are back doing what they love doing together.



Yes this ends with a cliff hanger, but come on how could it not. This is going to be one EPIC new series and I am here for it all. I can not wait for book 2!



I cannot wait to meet the rest of the cast, I can definitely see this becoming a favourite new series for me to love and love. The one thing I did find odd though, is how quick or lack of grieving the two kids had for there parents all dying at the beginning. But in saying that they book moved so quickly, they really didn't have time to with all the danger they are facing or faced throughout the book.



Can we just say again, Captain Planet and the Planeteers VIBES!!! I squealed when there was an actual reference!


So If you are looking for something new, and not persuaded by some of the horrible reviews go and try this on your own, maybe you will love it maybe you wont. but if you are like me a 90'd child and actually know who and what planteers are you might just love this as much as I do. If you do please comment below and tell me your own thoughts.

[Aly · Rating 3 out of 5]

New series from P.C. and Kristen Cast! I like the elemental magic and the idea of a pair that are made for each other and when they get together they can accomplish insane things. I thought this played out pretty well, it did drag just a bit in the middle but not too terribly. I absolutely loved Tate's connection with his grandpa, definitely reminded me of Zoey's relationship with Grandma Redbird in the House of Night series. I appreciated that there was a transgender character in this and even though she encountered some jerks, there were people who accepted her and cared for her. I'm looking forward to the next book!

[Brittany · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first off want to thank the publishers for sending me a copy of this to review! I found the premise of the book very interesting and I adore the authors so I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to review this. Plus I love the cover and find it very eye-catching and love being able to add this to my shelf.
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So there are a few characters I would like to point out:

Foster: She is our main character. She is special and knows it to a point, but still doesn’t have all the answers she seeks. She is a very vibrant character. Newly 18 and has Strawberry Red hair as her main feature. Everyone she has ever loved has passed away so she is alone.

Tate: Foster finds him and saves him. He is also special and doesn’t really know it. He is your typical high school jock and senior quarterback. Very family oriented and determined to figure out what has happened.

Eve: Oh, what can I say about her. I feel like her character took a whole 180 flip and isn’t the same character she was when the book first started. Anyways, she and her 3 brothers are special and are searching for a group of kids (8 to be exact) who all have the affinities her father has produced. She thinks taking all these kids to her father will buy her the freedom she seeks.
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"The point is when my feelings are negative I invoke the bad qualities of air.
But when I am relaxed, or happy, I invoke the good things. "
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The Dysasters was highly enjoyable and very fast paced. Within the first few chapters we are (literally) taken on a whirlwind of events that has these kids searching for answers about themselves and the ones they love. Foster and Tate are destined to be together given their Air Affinities but grow to respect one another in regards to where got where they are in life.

Now, while I found the whole idea of the book very promising and to my interest, it is definitely for the younger crowd. Apart from some of the language used by the 18 year old kids, it is best for the younger kids in the YA genre. One thing I found very interesting was the fact that this book was filled with graphics of the characters and scenes which I found to be very unique and entertaining. Sometimes I wish more books were published like this because I find it helps kids stay interested in the book while reading it.

The Core Four (Eve and her Brothers) were very annoying and not likable. Eve was naïve and bossy. All her brothers just follow whoever says a command. Their dad is a dimensional character who is withering away and barely here but still here at the same time. Honestly, I personally had a hard time connecting or relating with any of these characters because they felt very stereotypical to who they were “playing” in this book. I personally didn’t care much for the flow of the way this book was written. It felt forced to me which made it sometimes harder to read.

I just want to point out that this book had the humor to make me laugh. I want to say that when I took the photo for this book I had no idea about the Star Wars jokes that were ahead in this novel. Being a complete fan of Star Wars and having it be a big thing in my family, I LOVED that so much! The Jedi mind trick jokes and quotes were so fun to read and brought some life and lightness into the book.
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Now, please don’t take that as a means of not to read this book. It was very unique and enjoyable. The characters are well diverse and I can’t wait to see how they develop in the coming books. I loved the idea of the fantasy and magical take on this. Very Avatar- Air Bender meets (idk…) Saved By The Bell? lol

It was a dynamic story for The Dysasters! One that will definitely entertain that younger crowd of YA readers!

Thank You Again for allowing me to review this!

Make sure you check out The Dysasters on Instagram and GoodReads !

Until Next Time,
Brittany @DauntlessReading

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Dysasters” is a really engaging new YA fantasy/sci-fi series. We begin with Foster, whose adopted mother Cora has dragged her to Missouri (or as Foster calls it, misery) to find someone at a high school football game on her eighteenth birthday. When a storm suddenly turns into a tornado, Cora’s heart, which has been hanging by a thread, gives out. Foster and a high school football player, Tate, call out against it- the tornado listens- before splitting and wreaking havoc.

With her last words, Cora warns them away from four of her presumed deceased adopted father’s associates who are out to get them. Cora has planned for just such cases and sends them armed with a letter to a safe house. Getting there and evading the four after them are no easy task. Quickly, Tate and Foster must figure out who they are, why people are after them, and also work out how to find the other teens who are about to turn 18 and come into their powers.

The book is told from many perspectives, and beyond Tate and Foster, we also get the perspectives of Eve and Mark, who are two of the four searching for the teens. Later, we also get the viewpoints from two other teens who are about to manifest their own powers. This fast-paced book is really engaging, quickly pulling the reader into the story and different personalities. There were never a dull moment in the story. Add on to that the comicbook-style drawings that appear throughout, and this is sure to be a big hit among people who like superhero origin stories. I was completely caught up in the story and so sad when I reached the end- I need more, NOW. (Please.) I am so excited about this new series.

This new series is a great beginning that introduces the premise, the characters, and has all sorts of action. I cannot wait to see where it will go! I also really liked the diversity of characters that was beginning to appear (different ethnicities/races, transgendered, etc.). I cannot wait to meet the rest of the characters in the coming books, and I could definitely see this becoming a favorite. The only thing I found odd was how fast/passing the grief was for Foster/Tate about their loved ones dying, but I suppose they had little time to grieve considering the danger they are facing.

Overall, I think this is an exciting start to a brand new YA superhero-style story, and I can’t wait to continue it with the next book! I loved the characters (even the “bad guys” are given some sympathetic perspectives), and I love the idea. The integration of images/comicbook-style pages within the novel is icing on a delicious cake.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF’d at 66%

This was….just wow. I honestly don’t know where to even begin with this review. It was definitely not what I expected. And I went into this ARC with high hopes.

I’m a fan of the House of Night series, great books. That’s the whole reason why I requested this one for review. I sincerely thought it would be just as good.

I was wrong.

So my reasoning for the DNF as well as the pore rating is as follows:

The idea is extremely interesting, and it has promise. I don’t know, maybe the other books in the series will be better, but I just could not follow through with this story. I tried so hard to. I desperately want to know what happens at the end, but the book is just so bad imo that I just couldn’t continue to force myself to read the rest.

The idea, as I said, is cool. I think they just wrote it poorly. The authors didn’t put a lot of time into the story, it felt rushed. I mean, there are not a lot of pages in this book; it’s a short novel. Not short enough to be a short story, but not exactly long enough to be a fully fledged novel. I don’t know, it just wan’t executed greatly.

Read More

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a 1.5 stars but I thought the end slightly redeemed itself so I'll round it up to two on "my rating."

The concept of this book intrigued me and I was excited to read it. The excitement quickly dwindled into dread because I refused to DNF the book.

At the start, the reader is thrust into a scenario that seemed a little forced; it was confusing and a little frustrating.

The characters were not very likable and were cliche. They reacted in odd ways to the revelations and disasters they faced. There is a group of four other characters that get some air time but they were uninteresting.

The writing did not make up for the uninteresting characters. The swearing in this was forced and unnecessary. It made the experience even more unbearable. The writers repeated a certain phrase throughout the book to reinforce the fact that the characters are siblings. We get it.

Overall, I did not enjoy the book and it was not a pleasant experience. However, I am curious to know what happens next. I would not mind having someone spoil the next book for me.

[Lovely Loveday · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Dysasters is a young adult paranormal fantasy written by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast. A new series that begins with the introduction of the characters and the premise of the story/series. The mother-daughter duo has created a world unlike any other with diverse characters, lots of action, and a captivating storyline. The Dysasters starts with a storm and ends with a new type of family and the beginning of an amazing love story.   Throughout this fast-paced read is images or comic book style pages that are sure to draw you into the story. A true page-turner with unique characters, action, and twists and turns around every corner that is sure to leave you wanting more. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series. 

[Monica Haak · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 sterren.
Dus. Erg tof concept, toffe elementen, toffe illustraties, maar ook wel echt wtf momenten. Die personages horen elkaar niet te liken, ze haten elkaar uit het niets en ineens zijn ze een stel till death do us part. Doeg. En die liedjes tussendoor, alsof een element uitoefenen vette achtergrondmuziek opwekt. Nope. Dat voelde ik niet. Maar wel pakkend plot, al had het niet zo langdradig gehoeven.

Recensie binnenkort op My Perfect Book Life

[Norwyn Schäfer · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 Sterne
Gebieter der Elemente - Gläserner Sturm
von Sabine Schilasky, P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast
HarperCollins Germany
„Foster ist kein normaler Teenager: Sie besitzt die Gabe, Gedanken zu manipulieren. Und nicht nur das: Als ihre Adoptivmutter durch einen Tornado stirbt, offenbart sich, dass sie das Element Luft nach ihrem Willen beeinflussen kann. Aber nicht nur sie ist dazu imstande, sondern auch Tate, der ihr den letzten Nerv raubt. Und beiden wurde ihre Gabe nicht zufällig zuteil, sondern sie wurden bewusst zu Gebietern der Elemente erschaffen. Doch von wem und mit welchem Ziel? Während Foster und Tate sich näherkommen, müssen sie erkennen: Nur gemeinsam können sie ihrem Schöpfer die Stirn bieten.“
Ich bedanke mich bei Netgalley und dem HarperCollins Verlag für das Rezensionsexemplar des Buches.
In diesem Buch erleben wir die Geschichte von acht Jugendlichen, deren DNA durch Manupulation an einzelne Elemente gebunden wurde. Immer zwei der Jugendlichen an das gleiche Element. Hier in diesem Band geht es vorallem um Foster und Tate, die eine Verbindung zum Element Luft haben. Da ich schon einige Bücher der Autorinnen kenne und auch liebe, bin ich mit ihrer Art zu Schreiben bekannt und liebe sie. Auch die Weise in welcher sie ihre phantastischen Geschichten spinnen ist wieder einmal mehr als gelungen. Wer noch keine Bücher der beiden kennt, sollte dies meiner Meinung nach nachholen, denn es lohnt sich wirklich. Dieses Buch ist wieder einmal der Beweis dafür, dass sie schreiben können und den Leser zu fesseln wissen. Man lernt zwar in diesem Buch noch nicht alle Protas so wirklich kennen aber dies erzeugt auch die Vorfreude und Spannung auf mehr. Auch dass sie mit einem der Charaktere ein eher verpöntes und oft totgeschwiegenes Thema aufgreifen finde ich persönlich sehr gut. Dabei geht es um Charlotte, welche dem Element Wasser zugeordnet ist. Wobei die Person ihrer Mutter wohl die Ansicht der Durchschnittsbevölkerung darstellen dürfte und uns als Leser nochmals vor Augen führt, das es eigentlich nicht nur schwarz und weiß geben sollte, sondern eben auch die Graustufen dazwischen. Leider ist die Gesellschaft noch immer nicht ganz bereit dazu. Manche Zusammenhänge in dem Buch sind neu und überraschen den Leser, Verbindungen der Elemente und die darauf entstehenden Fähigkeiten. Familiäre Bindungen und auch resultierende Konsequenzen miteingerechnet. Das Buch wartet mit Spannung und einer interessanten Geschichte auf. Für manche Leser wird der Einstieg in das Buch vielleicht etwas abrupt sein, denn man landet sofort mitten im Geschehen und versteht einiges erst nach und nach aber das ist ja auch nicht unbedingt das Schlechteste. Dennoch bleiben am Anfang viele Fragen im Hinterkopf bestehen. Besonders weil die Handlung wirklich rasant voranschreitet und man fast das Gefühl hat überrollt zu werden. Die Charaktere haben leider auch einen gewissen Hang dazu leicht zu nerven, durch ihre Art miteinander umzugehen. Was ihnen leider beim Leser einige Punkte Abzug bringen dürfte. Erst gegen Ende des Buches hin, hatte ich das Gefühl die Spannungen zwischen den Protas würde sich lösen dadurch, dass andere Charaktere mit in das Geschehen eingebunden wurden. Durch die steigende Spannung zum Ende hin erlebt die Geschichte nochmal einen Aufschwung und dies wirkt sich positiv auf meine Bewertung aus. Da mit weiteren Büchern zu rechnen ist, denke ich dass dann ebenso spannend weitergeht wie am Ende dieses Buches. Dieses Buch hat mir leider nicht so gut gefallen wie die House of Nights Bücher. Dennoch ist es eine Leseempfehlung wert. Ich gebe 4/5 Sterne.
#youngadult #jugendbuch #fantasy #rezension #rezensionsexemplar #roman #bookstagram #sabineschilasky #pccast #kristincast #harpercollins #harpercollinsverlag #bücher #bücherliebe #booklover #reading #bookadict #gebieterderelemente #gläsernersturm #leseratte #bücherwurm #bookworm #bookaholic #lesen #lesenmachtglücklich #instabooks #booknerd #readingtime #ilovebooks #netgalley #netgalleyde #ichliebelesen #buchnerd #ichliebebücher

[Kirsti · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was never meant to be a book I would read, but I was in a bind; I'd left the house without a book, and this was basically the only thing even vaguely interesting at the store we were near. I knew I had HOURS to kill at the in-laws; so I bit the bullet, spent $12 and hoped. The first House of Night series I enjoyed as a teen/in my twenties, and it was only rereading it years later I realized how bad it actually was compared to other YA. Maybe I could enjoy this? Nope.

It was like a rewrite of every teenage superhero story I've ever read, with the exception of Charlotte- who of course only gets like two chapters. Maybe if they'd started with hers and Bastion's story I would have gotten more into it, but Foster and the jock as a love story was just not for me. I DID like his relationship with his grandfather, but I felt like everything else was forced. I like old songs as much as the next person, but that doesn't make me super special and oh so different. It SCREAMS adult writing to appeal to teens too, and pulls it off badly. Even I winced, and I'm bloody 30 myself!

I saw plenty of hype for this one, but it didn't live up to it. I DO think book two will be more interesting if they focus on Charlotte and Bastion and the other four unknown characters. I just don't know that I'd care to read it; maybe I'll get stuck again?

[Lorraine Leal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely phenomenal! P.C. and Kristin Cast are once again bringing me into a world of fantasy with this new series. I decided to write my review without spoilers because I really want people to read what I've written before they read the book. It is so well written and it keeps you interested from the second you start the book. I love the flow of the book and it contains some drawings to give you a perfect idea of the characters. I have been a fan of the Cast Clan for a very long time, the House of Night Series is what got me hooked to their novels. Whether they write together or separate, they always keep me interested. I highly recommend this book, especially if you are a fan of these two. If you have never heard of them, this is a great place to start! It's book one of what will be a fantastic series! Read away and enjoy!

[Tarissa17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest opinion*

Elemental powers meet Extreme weather what more can you ask for. This is obviously a first book in a series and it got me from the first page. The character development was fantastic and believable too. All characters are very different and yet mesh well together. I also enjoyed the issues that the different characters face, including ethical conversations around what is right and what wrong. The only down side I found in this novel was the illustrations every couple of pages. While I don't mind some illustrations in my books, I felt that there were too many, and it took away from the overall story and made it very distracting .

I highly recommend this book and can't wait for the next one.

[Nessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m just going to dive right in here: I enjoyed this book. A lot.

I said it. I’m not taking it back. Deal with it.

I read the House of Night series like everyone else and jumped at the chance to pick up the first book in a new series by this incredible mother/daughter writing duo. Even if we forget about who wrote this book, the synopsis for Dysasters alone is so intriguing, how could you not want to pick it up? Teenagers who can control the elements? The mad scientist who wants to use them to take over the world? Minions? Hell yes, I wanted to read this book! I didn’t even care that I’m probably too old to read it now. I shamelessly devoured this and was left wanting more. So much more.

The thing I love about Dysasters is that it should appeal to more than one age category and not a lot of books can do that. Is this a book that is aimed more towards the younger crowd? Absolutely. It is a YOUNG ADULT book. There are so many cheesy moments, especially when it comes to Tate and Foster, that it should come with a mirror so you can see your cringe-face while you read. Most of the conversations are on the juvenile side and the overwhelmingly universal acceptance of all the crazy happenings is almost laughable. Here’s the thing though…these are all common traits in YA books. If you can read this and keep that in mind, it is such a fun read. I mean really fun and really, really interesting.

Let’s talk about the language for a minute. Not the every day language but the sheer amount of profanity the Casts have used in this book. I know there are goin to be so many people complaining about the use of “foul language” in a Young Adult book but…come on! These are teenagers. Damn near adults, to be honest. I challenge you to show me just one 14-18 year old (probably younger actually but I’m not going to get into THAT argument) that doesn’t ramble off an entire slew of curse words on a regular basis? Just one. I’ll wait. If you honestly think your teenager couldn’t teach you a few new words, then you’re either incredible gullible or lying to yourself. ALL teenagers swear. I’m sure teenagers who just had their entire universes flipped upside down swear even more. To me, that mage the book a lot more relatable and I loved it. Curse away!

I wasn’t overly attached to any of the characters but I think that they might grow on me over time. Especially Tate. I don’t know who’s idea it was to make him a football player but he is definitely NOT a football player. Out of everyone, I think I like him the most because he has surprised me the most. I think his acceptance of how life is playing out for him is a little on the “out-there” side of things, but I have to admit….I’m getting a soft spot for the guy. He has great taste in books, a soft heart and he knows what a Planeteer is. I could adopt him. All the other characters, however, will take me some time. I liked seeing Foster’s softer side when making her wind orchestra but she is really a pretty abrasive girl so I think I still need to give her some time.

The big issue I have with Dysasters is the Core Four (or the Fucktastic Four….whichever you prefer). They just don’t make sense to me. I understand that they all have issues….big, BIG issues but these are grown ass adults. Not even younger adults, but established 30 year old adults and they all act like they are 15. This is more than likely the effect of their upbringing, but it just didn’t sit well with me.

Well, this went on a whole lot longer than I had originally anticipated but there were a few points I had wanted to bring up and I think I made them. I was thrilled to read this book and I will be looking forward to continuing with the series.

I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Thanks to NetGalley and ST. Martin’s Press for providing me with a copy of this book to read and provide my honest opinion.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publishing company. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book Series: Book 1 of The Dysasters

Rating: 4/5

Publication Date: February 26, 2019

Genre: YA Fantasy

Recommended Age: 16+ (language, crushes and love, gruesome death, terrifying powers)

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Pages: 320

Amazon Link

Synopsis: Foster Stewart knows she's different. Her life has never been "normal." Talking to plants and controlling cloud formations aren't things most seventeen year olds are into. Tate "Nighthawk" Taylor is perfect. Star quarterback and all around dreamy boy next door he never thought about his "extra" abilities. What quarterback wouldn't want night vision? That's not weird, right? It's cool!

But on the night of their first meeting a deadly tornado brings them together and awakens their true abilities - the power to control the element air. Unbeknown to Tate and Foster, they are the first in a group of teens that were genetically manipulated before birth to bond with the elements. Which truly sucks for Foster, as she has to face the fact that Dr. Rick Stewart, her beloved scientist father, betrayed her and now wants to use her and the others for his own nefarious world domination plot.

Foster and Tate must stop Dr. Stewart and his minions before he destroys their lives and the world.

Review: I thought this book was a good start to a series. The book had really well developed characters, the writing was amazing as always and the plot was very interesting. I really like the illustrations too and I felt they added something special to the book. The super power mechanics are very well done and unique. While I do feel like they are planeteers a bit, they’re also starkly different from the planeteers as well.

However, I felt like this book was so dialogue heavy. There was hardly any action in writing, most of it was through talking. The book also had an issue with repetitive sentences. I understand that they’re teens and they lost their parents, but there are ways to convey emotions and sadness without having to repeat the same sentences over and over again in your writing. The book was a bit confusing too, especially in the beginning. I was really confused about what was going on in the book until about 100 pages in. I think if I read the synopsis before I read the book it would have helped, but I personally believe that you shouldn’t have to read the synopsis before reading the book. While I nitpick at this book a lot, I do also feel that this book was a good start to an amazing series.

Verdict: A few issues, but an amazing book overall! Definitely a summer must read.