Reviewed by Jo on
As you may know, since the lovely Brodie over at Eleusinian Mysteries raved about Storm, the debut novel by Brigid Kemmerer, and posted this awesome interview with the four Merrick brothers, I have been dying to read Storm. So when I heard that a prequel short story was being released as an ebook, I was super excited to read it!
Elemental is set five years before Storm, and I was assured by Brodie that reading this before Storm wouldn't spoil anything. Michael is a Pure Earth Elemental, meaning he has an awesome amount of power of the earth. If he doesn't keep a reign on his power, he can cause momentus damage, and even kill. The other Elementals in his area know this, and fear for their safety. One slip up could mean their lives. Everyone would be much safer if he was dead.
Since moving to the area, Michael has grown up knowing this is the way things are, and the only reason he's not already dead is because of the deals his parents made with the others. Money passed hands with the assurance Micheal will behave and stay away from all other Elemtals. So when Emily starts a new summer job at a sports complex where Michael happens to use the batting cages, people get nervous - on both sides.
This is such a great story! A great set up for Storm to see the world these characters live in and the problems they face. The chemistry between Emily and Michael is electric, and you just want them to get together, but there are so many problems. This story is told from both Michael and Emily's perspectives, so you can see their doubts, but you can also see their home lives, and how both sets of parents try to control their children. It's a hard world they both live in, and Michael's life is on a knife edge. It's just a taster of what's to come, and I can't wait for Storm! Elemental ends on such a cliffhanger, and I want more now!
A brilliant short story, the beginning of what looks to be a fantastic series!
Reading updates
- Started reading
- 16 April, 2012: Finished reading
- 16 April, 2012: Reviewed