Rootbound by Shannon Mayer

Rootbound (Elemental, #5)

by Shannon Mayer

“My name is Larkspur, and I am an Elemental.”

My people use the power of the earth to sustain life and defy our enemies. I am the half-breed bastard child of a king. I was not meant to survive the trials cast my way. Yet, here I stand.

The world has deteriorated in the years I was banished. The Elemental families are rife with deception, violence, and madness more than ever before.

A voice I know all too well calls me to do her bidding. A voice I no longer wish to hear. The mother goddess begs me to save the four families, and stop my nemesis. To do it, I must face each of the Elemental leaders and take from them the power they hold close: the stones I once entrusted to them.

Now, the secrets I unearth as I pursue the stones shatter everything I know about my world, and everything I was taught.

Yet, I am not the naïve girl I once was. If I am to see this through, I must completely embrace the new reality of my life and all its obstacles while forging ahead.

Four stones abused.

Four families broken.

A half-breed princess as their only hope.

Through it all, the one I love waits for me to find him. When I do, will he, like everything else in my world, not be what he once was?

From the WSJ and USA Today Bestselling Rylee Adamson World, The Elemental series is the perfect introduction point for new fans.

Reviewed by funstm on

5 of 5 stars

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Pure fantasy at its finest. I would say this is less urban fantasy though than the Rylee Adamson series. Even though it's set in the same world, the Elementals keep to themselves making this a lot more removed from the "normal" world. I think for some readers it will be hard to move between the series - for me personally, I'm a massive "classic" fantasy fan before all else so reading this was like coming home and gave me the same warm fuzzy feelings.

The series isn't really anything new in the genre, the same old fantasy tropes (The Chosen One, quest through different lands, evil foe who has spread through the land and must be defeated, etc) appear throughout - but Mayer hits all the right notes with her portrayal.


Rootbound follows Lark as she is sent on a quest to recollect the Elemental stones that are now in the possession of the Elemental rulers. The stones have proven to be controlling the rulers, making them paranoid and psycho and Lark is sent to get them back and make things right. This was intense. Lots of action and drama. Lark is not as forgiving as she once was, her banishment (which can be read about in Elementally Priceless) and the events of Blood of the Lost hardening her heart.

Rootbound has me questioning everything I thought I knew. Some which I had expected, other reveals - not so much. If the Mother Goddess isn't the Mother Goddess and that was foreshadowed so that wasn't unexpected - but then who the hell is Griffin then? Does he know? He's referred to as her Consort but ??? He calls her Viv.

Cactus drove me mental in this. I wish Lark had of cut him out earlier than she did.
I'm curious to know more about Talan and what Cassava has been up to. And interested to know what Raven will do now.

Peta was still awesome. She's got her work cut out for her to help Lark remember her love for the world. There were appearances by new and old favourite characters - although none from Rylee's gang this time.

I can't wait to read the next one to find out what happens to Ash.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 10 March, 2020: Finished reading
  • 10 March, 2020: Reviewed