Five (Elemental Enmity #1) in Shut Up & Read

Feb 16, 2012 Sunny rated it it was ok

Shelves: reviews, own

Reading Five reminds me of my feelings about eating moving theater popcorn. When I get to the theater, the popcorn smells so tantalizing it makes my mouth water. However, once I'm into the popcorn, it soon becomes too much - I am saturated by the taste of artificial butter and the salt makes me thirsty. I was so enticed by the summary of this story. It has all the right elements of a rich fantasy - an ingenue who discovers that escaping from her sheltered life brings risks because Kayla is a Reading Five reminds me of my feelings about eating moving theater popcorn. When I get to the theater, the popcorn smells so tantalizing it makes my mouth water. However, once I'm into the popcorn, it soon becomes too much - I am saturated by the taste of artificial butter and the salt makes me thirsty. I was so enticed by the summary of this story. It has all the right elements of a rich fantasy - an ingenue who discovers that escaping from her sheltered life brings risks because Kayla is an Elemental. As an Elemental, her powers will enhance any Fae Lord’s strengths and make him the most powerful Fae Lord. She is soon pursued by a gaggle of Fae Lords who each try to compel her to his side. In the midst of this chaos, Kayla is also struggling to find her own sense of self and independence.

Author Christie Rich brings a story that is imaginative and creative. It is full of dramatic plot points. I embraced the story from the start and was constantly kept on edge. Perhaps this is also the book's weakness. With so many twists and turns, I was left wanting more - more descriptions, more explanations, more details, more development. One small example: one of the Fae Lords, Luke, makes a comment about how there is something discordant with Kayla’s name, suggesting that perhaps that is not her real name, but then the issues goes no where. It is not mentioned again. Hrmph!

My biggest disconnect in the book is the love triangle that develops between Kayla, Zach, and Luke. It is a leap of faith for me to first accept that Kayla falls in love with Zach so quickly, especially given that fact that she knows that he is hiding information from her. Sure, he is a heroic figure saving her in several points in the story, but this relationship lacks trust. I did not feel that they spent enough time or real interaction for her to give him so much benefit of the doubt. However, the speed in which Luke becomes a contender in this love triangle gave me a little whiplash. We spend most of the book with Kayla and Zach. In a span of a few hour carriage ride, Kayla develops deep feeling for Luke. (view spoiler) This lacks authenticity to me. Kayla’s a strong character, learning to make up her own mind and coming into her independence. Her “insta love” for Luke felt like a disconnect.

There are so many interesting elements in Five, it is worth the read. Like movie theater popcorn, despite the aftermath, I always go back for more....(I'll be looking for more answers in

) ...more

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Sep 19, 2011 Karla BookAddict2 rated it really liked it

Shelves: trapped-me

deleting reviews if you want to take a look at them you can do so on my blog, link on my profile

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Feb 14, 2012 Delilah rated it really liked it

Shelves: 50-2012, fantasy, young-adult, language-english

I am not very well versed in the mythology of the British/Irish islands, which is where I think some of the characteristics of this book's faeries come from. The most I know about that kind of fae comes from Disney's Gargoyles and maybe a bit from Tolkien's Lord of the Rings (this great white whale of books that I've never brought myself to finish reading and which movie version makes me fall asleep with it's gargantuan length).

Thus I come to fae lore with an open mind and a hope of great magic. ...more

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Feb 15, 2012 Bookish Michelle rated it liked it

Shelves: gifted

**I got this book though Read it & reap it.**

This book is enjoyable but a little difficult to get into the story. I'm not sure if it's because the author gave background information on the characters during the first part of the book.

Rayla Tate lives with her Aunt Grace. She defies her aunt and sneaks off to her own choice of college with her best friend Cassie. Along the way, she was frightened by something unknown that's following behind their car but she was immediately drawn to this dark str ...more

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Sep 26, 2011 Anne rated it liked it

I received this book thru the Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy Fanatics group and would like to thank them for it. I wasn't sure what to expect from this book when I received it. Although I ultimately enjoyed it, the first half of the book was a little slow. It did manage to hold my interest and keep me curious which pleasantly surprised me because it got better as the book progressed. The story was solid and different but I think the characters were not developed enough and not totally believ ...more

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Jun 29, 2012 Sheri rated it really liked it

Shelves: reviews

Rayla is pursuing her dreams by going away to college rather than staying close to home. Despite her aunt's protests, she sneaks off with her best friend, and that's when the fun begins. The whole story line of Five was different, and I appreciated that very much. The history of the Elementals and the Fae Lords was an interesting one. I really enjoyed the whole fantasy world that was created for this story. The book was action packed and fun to read. I mean really, who wouldn't want five hot Lor ...more

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