Tuesday 29 July 2014

SERIES PROMOTION & MY REVIEW - ELEMENTRIS - THE VANGARETTA CURSE BY CHRISTINA MOBLEY

SERIES PROMOTION
THE VANGARETTA CURSE
Title: Elementris
Series:The Vangaretta Curse
Author: Christina Mobley

BLURB from Goodreads
There are people born in this world with a powerful connection to the earth itself...
They have an unbreakable and extraordinary bond. Every seven years, five people are born on the same day, at the exact same time. The elements bind them; earth, fire, wind, water, and spirit. They call them, Elementris.
Ava Vangeretta is seventeen years old and different. Unlike most born of the element, she was born alone. She has the power of all five elements. Ava is the first True Elementris to be born in many years. As her eighteenth birthday approaches she is faced with a choice. Give up this rare gift and live the normal life she has always craved or accept it and challenge the current True Elementris in a battle to the death! 
Ava's past haunts her as she struggles to decide. In her present, the seasons are colliding together, storms are destroying lives, and love is a dangerous curse. The current True Elementris is behind it all and she will do whatever necessary to keep Ava from making it to her eighteenth birthday. Ava's decision threatens the lives of the two people she cares about most. Can you choose between love and friendship?
Get ready for the storm......


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Title: Exposure
Series: The Vangeretta Curse
Author: Christine Mobley

BLURB from Goodreads
Hidden behind a continuous storm, in the heart of the Bermuda Triangle, there is a secret and powerful place. Element Island’s mysteries are as great as its beauty. Ava Vangeretta’s life changed forever after she arrived on the island; she became the True Elementris.
Now Ava is faced with a new challenge. The powerful gifts protected by those born of the element could be revealed. Temptation gives new life to an old curse, danger draws near, and the lines between friend and enemy are blurred as secrets are revealed. Ava will do whatever it takes to protect those she loves, but can she prevent exposure?


Goodreads Link


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Title: Eruption
Series: The Vangeretta Curse
Author: Christina Mobley

BLURB from Goodreads
When you love someone more than yourself, protecting them is all that matters; it is all there is... 

Snow one minute and blazing temperatures the next, horrific storms everywhere, and Ava has no idea what’s causing it. Desperate for answers, she turns to the past. An ancient diary reveals the truth about Element Island and the true origins of those born of the Element. Everything she thought she knew is wrong. Destiny is coming for her unborn child.

Ava’s fairytale has quickly turned into a nightmare. No one can be trusted. Friendships will be tested, and lives will be lost. As nature and destiny collide, a child that will change everything is born. The eruption will mark the beginning and the end, and the battle has just begun.


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MY REVIEW

Title: Elementris
Series:The Vangaretta Curse
Author: Christina Mobley

BLURB from Goodreads
There are people born in this world with a powerful connection to the earth itself...
They have an unbreakable and extraordinary bond. Every seven years, five people are born on the same day, at the exact same time. The elements bind them; earth, fire, wind, water, and spirit. They call them, Elementris.
Ava Vangeretta is seventeen years old and different. Unlike most born of the element, she was born alone. She has the power of all five elements. Ava is the first True Elementris to be born in many years. As her eighteenth birthday approaches she is faced with a choice. Give up this rare gift and live the normal life she has always craved or accept it and challenge the current True Elementris in a battle to the death! 
Ava's past haunts her as she struggles to decide. In her present, the seasons are colliding together, storms are destroying lives, and love is a dangerous curse. The current True Elementris is behind it all and she will do whatever necessary to keep Ava from making it to her eighteenth birthday. Ava's decision threatens the lives of the two people she cares about most. Can you choose between love and friendship?
Get ready for the storm......


Goodreads Link


INITIAL  THOUGHTS
Not sure whether this one is aimed at young YA or older YA. Am looking forward to reading this one, as I haven't read or heard of this author before and I love discovering authors that are new to me

MY REVIEW

I received an e-copy of this book directly from the author in exchange for my honest review.
The cover is eye catching with the close up of the face and colourful flowers. I'd say the face belongs to Ava as she also has flowing red hair. Ava is a special young woman, as she has special abilities, some see them as a gift such as her Aunt Avalene and her friend Sherri. Unfortunately for Ava, her mother believes them to be a curse. Ava's mother literally dumps Ava on Aunt Avalene and goes away and gets on with her own life. In the beginning she writes Ava letters but that soon stops. Ava is an Elementris. An Elementris is one of five people born on the same day and the same time. Each Elementris has their own power. the five powers/gifts (or "curses" according the Ava's mum!) are Earth, Fire, Wind,Water and Spirit. 
Ava has a really big decision to make by her 18th birthday. She can accept her powers, or have them taken away for good. Ava's problem is made more difficult as she is not just a "normal" Elementris, Ava is has the gift of all five elements which makes her a True Elementris. A True Elementris is rare, in fact there is only one other called Lareina, who is Queen.  Queen Lareina and her guards called "Lareina's Clutch" are not very nice. You either agree with Lareina and how she rules or you are disposed of. Lareina also has conections with The Waevern and their leader Draken.The problem is regardless of what decision Ava makes, Lareina will want to kill her, and will likely get The Waevern involved too.
Initially Ava thinks the choice is simple she can get rid of her powers and live as she always has at Aunt Avalene's house. In fact things have looked up recently in that the boy she's had a crush on for as long as she can remember has dumped his cheer leading girlfriend and turned his attentions to Ava.
There's danger, betrayal and mystery all mixed together. So Ava has realised that regardless of what she chooses as a life direction, magic or no magic she still needs to learn the magic to be in with a chance of defending herself against Lareina and her Clutch (guards).
After much soul searching, speaking with Alec (a Lareina's Clutch guard who wants to protect Ava), her Aunt Avalene and the rest of Aunt Avalene's circle of five, Ruby, Sherri, Greta and Mr John. 
It's a combination of something awful that happens in the area that Aunt Avalene's house is, and feeling helpless when her best friend Brea, asks her for help. Brea's mothers on off boyfriend has returned once again (like a bad penny) and is soon beating her mother and threatening to poison Brea. All this end's with Ava deciding to learn her powers and confront Lareina for the title of Queen. Lareina is so bad that there is a small movement within the ranks of Lareina's clutch, and those who live on Elementris Island. Then just as you think Ava has made her decision, along comes news of The Vangeretta Curse to cast doubts in her plans.
I enjoyed the book, it was interesting though I did quickly guess some of the later "surprises" before they happened. This book, and particularly the two main characters reminded me of the Seer's Series by Heather Frost. Ava and Alec and their relationship reminded me of Kate and Patrick.
The only niggle I had was a formatting/editorial one where some of the words are stuck together or in the wrong order or just extra to the sentence. Which they have probably been taken care of in the book that is available to purchase now. It didn't affect my enjoyment of the book as a whole.
So did I enjoy the book?Yes I did enjoy the book. Would I recommend the book? Yes I would recommend the book. Would I want to read more of this series?  I would like to read more in this series, to learn more about the Elementris, the island, as well as the relationship between Alec & Ava. I'd also like to learn more about The Waevern. Would I want to read other titles by this author? I would definitely take a look at any title written by this author.


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