Storm (Elemental, #1)

by Brigid Kemmerer

[Kelly]

The hype surrounding this series has been resounding, and sadly I just didn't get it. The average girl who struggles with the taunts of malicious teens, an absent father, a mother who seems to put her career first and the vivacious best friend. Yes Becca, you're Nora Grey in disguise. Becca comes across Chris being assaulted by two thugs in an empty carpark after her self defense class, when Chris recovers from being unconscious and seemingly draws strength from the water Becca attempts to provide. But Chris isn't alone.

He's one of four brothers known as the Elementals, drawing raw strength from the Earth, Wind, Fire and Water. Get your dancing shoes on.




Oh yes, that is the original Earth, Wind and Fire. But the Merrick brothers aren't a popular disco band, they're dangerous and being watched by the Guides, a group who police communities of Elementals. Currently the two opposing sides, the Merrick brothers and Guides are at a truce, but when Becca becomes involved with the family, she too becomes a target.

The Merrick brothers are snippy, sassy, sarcastic and realistic. Their use of language isn't toned down, which makes for a refreshing change. Only the four of them remain after they lost their parents when the eldest Michael was only eighteen, and he became an instant parent to the three younger boys. Twins Gabriel and Nick couldn't be more contrasting, one being the token clown and the other the quiet academic achiever. The storyline follows Chris, the youngest and the only brother who is still yet to master his Element.

There's a clear attraction between Becca and Chris, until the new kid Hunter begins to take an interest. Her affections for both boys borders on being nauseating, and it only fuels the impression her peers already label her as. At times with the sexual taunts become too much, either Chris or Hunter are always willing to save the day. Chest beating at it's finest. As Becca is mixed up in their supernatural world, it's not only the Guides who believe that she is no mere mortal. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and the Merrick boys and even Hunter, I just couldn't relate to Becca. For a girl who begun as sassy, her personality fizzled out with the introduction of anything attractive with a crotch. The constant blushing was annoying.

Personally, I can pinpoint precisely that it was almost wholly her character which let Storm down. In various situations throughout the book, she puts herself in ridiculous positions. Turing up at the Merrick house uninvited, turning up at the party hosted by the boy who started the rumours about her, only to then wander off on her own with him. At the reappearance of her father she was verging on throwing herself on the floor, not to mention the mistreatment of her supposed best friend.

It was really engaging and Brigid Kemmerer's style of writing reminded me of Victoria Scott, sassy, assertive and the banter and dialogue between each character was realistic. But the storyline felt too chaotic. Becca's failure to learn from each situation and the lack of thought behind her actions left me dismayed. I'll continue on with the series though, I refuse to allow one character to stop me from those Merrick's.