Storm (Elemental (Kensington)) [Paperback]

When I first picked up Storm, I knew I would like it. I mean, FOUR BROTHERS. Those two words alone are enough to pull me in. But I was a little bi hesitant - would this just be another one of those stories about the girl who meets the guy with powers and a family full of gorgeous creatures? With that prejudice on my shoulder, I should have been more prepared. Because Storm completely blew me away. It just wasn't another YA fantasy romance. So that was Brigid 1, Hannah 0. I'd heard good things from fellow Aussie bloggers, so why not just jump right in and read it? Especially when, kid you not, we were in the middle of a storm?

I felt myself getting lost in this book. Not lost as in "Huh, WTF just happened there?" But lost to the outside world. Before I knew it I'd been reading all night and it was time to get up. Usually I'm not one for the he and she perspective - I tend to connect more with the first person "I" and "me" perspective, but Brigid had me completely enthralled. Another pet peeve of mine is changing perspectives, and in this book we got to see through Becca's and Chris' eyes. But I loved it. It didn't feel choppy, it wasn't rushed, you didn't lose the feel of the character's voices. It felt natural, and I loved it.

One of the things I loved most about this book was that the main idea behind it - people called Elementals who can use the elements to their advantage - isn't really one that you seen in YA fiction these days. Even then, I thought Brigid was able to hold her own candle against all the other books that use the same sort of idea. I don't know how to explain it, but I just loved the idea of the elements calling to you - "The rain called to him, each drop begging him to join the downpour, whispering promises he didn't quite understand yet."

Becca is hands down one of my favourite YA heroines. She was absolutely amazing - she puts Bella Swan to shame and gives Clary Fray a run for her money, that's for sure! Becca is broken and hurting after the vicious rumours spread around the school. Her mum works all hours, and her Dad is MIA. But somehow, she still remains strongs and holds on to her beliefs. And she's not afraid to just sit back and take it all. Sure, she doesn't exactly fight back against the bullies, but she's not being a wallflower about it. And that's what I loved about Becca. She's snarky, sarcastic and holds her ground. She's the type of girl I want to be.

And now. The main attraction. Yes, those boys. Oh be still my beating heart. Honestly, I don't think you could get four boys more hotter than the Merrick brothers. While I loved the romance between Chris and Becca, I have to say that my favourite brother is definitely Nick. Nick needs his own story. I'll be Nick's story. Oh he's smart, he's gorgeous, he's funny, he's witty ....help me I am melting in a puddle of my own drool. Although, I wouldn't mind him and Gabriel pulling the old switcheroo trick on me - maybe once or twice. And then there's the eldest, Michael, who's got his own story to tell.

Brigid Kemmerer weaves a fantastic story with a supernatural touch with Storm, the first in a series that has literally grabbed the blogging world by storm, thunderbolts and lightening and all. A story that holds its own, Storm is full of enough action and romance to feel like you've just hopped on a ride at Wet n Wild on the Gold Coast.

This review is kind of choppy, because my thoughts are still all over the place at the moment. What an emotional rollercoaster of a book! I've just been approved to read Spark on NetGalley (thanks Kensington!) so I'm really eager to get into reading about Gabriel.

And the best thing about this book? Well, apart from the Merrick brothers? There's still more to come. Commence happy dance now.

After wanting to read this book for ages, since reading rave reviews from various Aussie bloggers, I was so excited to have won a copy. And it turns out those Aussie reviews were right - Storm is one hell of a ride!

Despite reading the rave reviews, Storm wasn't what I expected - it was so much more! There is a large amount of emotion flying through this novel - and not just the kind you get when you suddenly have two hot guys in your life. There is emotion coming from everyone, and Brigid Kemmerer doesn't shy away from tough or serious issues. Pretty much every teenager in this book has parental issues, whether it be that they just don't get on, or there are dead parents. Anger and grief touches most people, and emotions run high. Harrassment also plays a part in people's emotions - though "harrassment" or "bullying" don't really seem strong enough. In various situations, the harrassment becomes something much more sinister and dangerous. There is no way to read this book without having your heart strings tugged at or feeling disgusted. There were moments when I felt like I wanted to put the book down because, god, I didn't want to read anymore, it was just painful. Which only goes to show the strength of Kemmerer's writing.

But it's not all bad! There are, of course, the Merrick brothers - specifically the Merrick twins, Gabriel and Nick! Anyone who fails to love those two.. well, I don't even know what to say to you. Gabriel's constant flirting, and how they both take the mick out of Chris in front of Becca, you can't help but laugh! Those boys are just awesome, the type of guys you'd want to hang out with because you'd never stop laughing. They're hot too, which helps. They just ooze sex appeal! Twice. The. Fun! Though I can't tell you who I prefer. Gabriel's the kind of guy who's attention would get you all flustered and scrambling your words, but he has a mean temper and it's kind of scary. Nick has the same effect as Gabriel, but I'd say he's more likely to look at you as a person as well as a girl. He seems real nice! But doesn't has less of that bad boy attitude that Gabriel seems to have. I can't choose!

Michael is.. wow. That guy can be scary. But having read Elemental before Storm, and finding out what happened after Elemental ended, well, I can completely understand it. Having to become parent to three young boys when you're 18 would be hard enough, but add on top of that the stress of having a bunch of people after you and your brothers for what you can do.. it's tough. The boys are teenagers, so act rashly which just adds to it all. He just wants to keep everyone safe, which is difficult with rebellious teens on your hands.

Then you have Chris. Lovely, sweet Chris, who's never entirely sure what he feels about what. About Michael, about Becca, about how he wants to deal with the situation they're in. But he can't deny the attraction he feels for this girl who saved his life. There are some real tender moments between the two, but the boy has communication issues! Although we, the readers, know how he feels and what he's thinking, he never really says it, so Becca cannot be blamed for getting her wires crossed when he's suddenly huffy with her for seemingly no reason. And well, when there's an uncomplicated guy who doesn't have a problem making it clear he's into you, and is actually real, real nice... what do you expect, Chris? What do you expect?

I actually really loved Hunter. Like really. The way he treated Becca, like she was this special, important, fragile thing! Oh my god, I may have fallen in love with him just a little bit. But Chris! Chris was also pretty damn awesome! I didn't have a team, there were no sides! I loved the moments Becca had with each guy. There was just too much hotness going on in this book, and I think Kemmerer wants to torture us all!

This book isn't all guys, no. There is Becca, our female protagonist, and she is freaking awesome! The way she deals with all the crap that comes her way is admirable. Granted, she shouldn't have to, but I'm pretty sure I would have broken if it was me. But she's so strong! Then she has to deal with he fact that people have power to control the elements, and because she saved a guy from a beating, the people that want them dead are now after her too. It's too much! But it makes for such great reading. Becca is just so relateable and normal, she's hard not to love, and you're egging her on, willing her to get through the crap that is currently her life. She's wonderful!

Then there was all the excitement! Woah. The power these Merrick guys have is unbelievable! And when the Guide comes along and is shooting ligning at them and slamming wind into cars, and oh my god, people are in danger! This is edge of your seat stuff! I flew through the second half of the book when the action really started to pick up. Oh my word, it was just amazing! This is the kind of thing that needs to be on the big screens! I want to be an Elemental! I don't care which I have, I just want to do something awesome and fight too! Hot guys with immense power? You really can't go wrong!

There were some interesting revelations towards the end that are killing me! Not exactly cliff hangers, but still! I want to know the consequences of such revelations! And I have no idea how that's going to work in the sequel, Spark; although Becca and Chris will be in that book, it's Gabriel's story, not theirs. If I had my way, this series would be split up. There would be the Water Elemental series, and then the others, because I want more! I feel so sad to be leaving Chris and Becca's point of views behind. And sad to have finished the book so quickly after wanting it for so long.

An absolutely amazing debut! After riding the Storm, I'm eager to feel the burn of Spark!

So many of my friends have been raving about Brigid Kemmerer's Elementals series and I really enjoyed the prequel short story Elemental so I had high hopes when I picked up Storm. Thankfully the story lived up to my expectations and this is a great debut novel. I loved the fact that it was a YA paranormal book that has moved away from vampires and shapeshifters and come up with something different. Here we have people with the ability to control the elements which is definitely a power I've not seen much of but can't wait to learn more about.

The Merrick brothers are all very powerful elementals each with control over a different element. Because they are so strong they are considered dangerous by the other families in the area who have less power than they do. The others worry that the Merrick's will expose them all and they will stop at nothing to keep their secret. The boy's parents made a deal with the other families though, a deal that should have kept them protected. As long as the Merrick's don't expose their powers or harm others then the other families must leave them alone but the younger generation don't agree with the deal that their parents made and they have spent years attacking the brothers trying to get them to break the pact first.

Michael is the oldest and most powerful brother, he is an earth elemental and has had to take over the role of breadwinner and surrogate parent to his siblings since their parents were killed. I loved Michael in the prequel short story and at first couldn't understand why he was so different in this book, he comes across as very moody and uncaring but when I found out why I was completely heartbroken for him. His attitude was completely understandable and he is under so much pressure trying to keep his brothers safe, he really has the weight of the world on his shoulders and I hope we get to see things become easier for him as the series continues.

Next we have the twins Nick, an air elemental, and Gabriel who has power over fire. Nick is the peacemaker in the family, he is always trying to smooth things over between Michael and Gabriel and he is also the most easy going of the brothers. Gabriel is the troublemaker, he resents the fact that Michael is always telling them what to do and he hates the fact that he refuses to stand up for them against the other elemental families. Gabriel is an expert at flirting and has a way with the ladies but he also has a quick temper and you wouldn't want to get on his bad side. Last but by no means least you have the youngest brother Chris. Chris is a water elemental and he is only just beginning to learn the extent of his abilities, he still finds it difficult to control his powers and is the one most at risk of exposing them. Chris is a really sweet guy and I loved the way we got to see part of the story from his point of view.

Becca has been in the same class as Chris for years but they never really spoke until the day she sees him being attacked by two other students in the parking lot. Becca may be half the size of the boys attacking Chris but she can't leave him there helpless and alone and rushes to his aid. You have to admire Becca, she has been through hell at school thanks to the bullies who are making her life miserable but she refuses to let them see her cry. She holds her head up high and does her best to rise above them, it isn't easy for her but she is tough and has survived things that would have broken most people. Thanks to Becca's bravery in coming to Chris's aid she soon finds herself in a whole heap of trouble though and the bullies are now the least of her problems. Chris's whole family is under attack by an extremely powerful elemental and if she isn't careful Becca could find herself hurt in the crossfire.

I don't want to say more about the plot so you'll just have to read the book yourself to find out. With four hot brothers, a selection of kick ass characters with unusual powers, fast paced edge of your seat action and a different romance with every story this is a series to watch out for and one I can't recommend highly enough. Now I'm off to pick up my copy of Fearless!