Title: Elemental Hunger
Series: Elemental
Author: Elana Johnson
Genre: YA, Dystopia
Release Date: 12th June 2014
BLURB from Goodreads
Sixteen-year-old Gabriella Kilpatrick can shoot fire from her hands, which would be great if she didn’t get blamed for a blazing inferno that kills 17 schoolmates. When Gabby is commanded to Manifest her Element, everyone knows what she is: a genetic abnormality. Not to mention guilty.
So she does two logical things to survive.
1. She runs.
2. She hacks off her hair to assume a new role—that of “Gabe”, because in her world, only boys are Firemakers.
Not only does she have to act like a guy, she has to pretend to know everything a Firemaker should know. When Gabby meets Airmaster Adam Gillman, he believes her act and pledges to serve on “Gabe’s” Council. But Adam has the mark of a sentry and spent years obeying Alex, the Supreme Elemental. And Alex wants Gabby-the-genetic-freak dead and gone before she can gather the magical protection of a full Council.
With Adam’s lies that sound like truths and rumors that Alex isn’t really a Firemaker—or a man—Gabby sets out to charter a Council of her own. In order to uncover the truth, Gabby will have to learn who she can trust, how to control her own power, and most of all, how to lead a Council of Elementals, most of whom have more control over their power than she does. If she can’t, she’ll find herself just like those 17 schoolmates: burned and six feet under.
So she does two logical things to survive.
1. She runs.
2. She hacks off her hair to assume a new role—that of “Gabe”, because in her world, only boys are Firemakers.
Not only does she have to act like a guy, she has to pretend to know everything a Firemaker should know. When Gabby meets Airmaster Adam Gillman, he believes her act and pledges to serve on “Gabe’s” Council. But Adam has the mark of a sentry and spent years obeying Alex, the Supreme Elemental. And Alex wants Gabby-the-genetic-freak dead and gone before she can gather the magical protection of a full Council.
With Adam’s lies that sound like truths and rumors that Alex isn’t really a Firemaker—or a man—Gabby sets out to charter a Council of her own. In order to uncover the truth, Gabby will have to learn who she can trust, how to control her own power, and most of all, how to lead a Council of Elementals, most of whom have more control over their power than she does. If she can’t, she’ll find herself just like those 17 schoolmates: burned and six feet under.
PURCHASE LINKS
REST OF THE SERIES
Title: Elemental Rush
Series: Elemental Series
Author: Elana Johnson
Genre: YA, Dystopia
Release Date: 19th May 2014
BLURB supplied by the author
Eighteen-year-old Adam Gillman has trained for twelve years to earn a coveted spot on the Supreme Elemental’s elite sentry squad. His brother, Felix, is the commander, but Adam is still thrilled when his official assignment to serve Alexander Pederson comes.
He moves into nicer quarters and can stop getting up at four a.m. to complete his mandated work out time. He still rises early though, because he needs the solitude of early morning to practice his airmaking Element—something that Adam has kept secret from everyone, even Felix, because he can’t be both an Airmaker and a sentry.
When Alex assigns him to kill a group of rogue Elementals, he balks at completing his mission for the first time. See, his only friend is Isaiah Hawking, and he’s the Earthmover on the accused Council. When faced with the prospect of killing him, Adam finds he can’t do it.
He’s well trained in assassination, but he thought he’d be murdering bad guys—not innocents.
When Alex buries the Elemental Academy—and kills over one thousand Elementals—in a fit of rage, Adam’s loyalty cracks. When he discovers that Alex is really a woman, and his brother’s lover, he defects. He hops from city to city, from Elemental school to Elemental school, always escaping only minutes before Felix can embed a knife in his heart or a tsunami can make a classroom his watery grave.
He tries to fight back, but he’s just one Airmaster with exceptional tracking skills. He does his best to warn those in danger, but as the last Elemental school goes up in flames, he knows he needs to get some real firepower on his side.
PURCHASE LINKS
Google Play
Title: Elemental Release
Series: Elemental Series
Author: Elana Johnson
Genre: YA, Dystopia
Release Date: 12th July 2014
BLURB supplied by the author
Two months after returning to the capital city of Tarpulin with a Council of his own, Airmaster Adam Gillman is ready to start repairing the relationships in his life. Up first: his Councilman and the girl he’d like to be more than friends with, Gabriella Kilpatrick.
But first, he has to figure out how to be the Airmaster his Firemaker needs. In order to do that, Adam attends Elemental training and discovers that to truly command the air, he must first be in control of his emotions. And in order to master those, he has to grieve for the loss of Hanai, make amends with his brother, and earn the trust of Gabby.
Amidst all that, Adam must also learn how to grapple with the jet stream, because a dangerous Airmaster is loose in Tarpulin. And Adam will need to find his emotional center in order to work with the atmosphere and defeat the threat.
PURCHASE LINKS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Her self-published novels include two YA contemporary novels-in-verse, Elevated and Something About Love, as well as a YA/NA futuristic fantasy series, which includes Elemental Rush, Elemental Hunger, and Elemental Release.
School teacher by day, Query Ninja by night, you can find her online at her personal blog or Twitter. She also co-founded the Query Tracker blog and WriteOnCon, and contributes to the League of Extraordinary Writers.
AUTHOR LINKS
MY REVIEW
Series: Elemental
Author: Elana Johnson
Genre: YA, Dystopia
Release Date: 12th June 2014
BLURB from Goodreads
Sixteen-year-old Gabriella Kilpatrick can shoot fire from her hands, which would be great if she didn’t get blamed for a blazing inferno that kills 17 schoolmates. When Gabby is commanded to Manifest her Element, everyone knows what she is: a genetic abnormality. Not to mention guilty.
So she does two logical things to survive.
1. She runs.
2. She hacks off her hair to assume a new role—that of “Gabe”, because in her world, only boys are Firemakers.
Not only does she have to act like a guy, she has to pretend to know everything a Firemaker should know. When Gabby meets Airmaster Adam Gillman, he believes her act and pledges to serve on “Gabe’s” Council. But Adam has the mark of a sentry and spent years obeying Alex, the Supreme Elemental. And Alex wants Gabby-the-genetic-freak dead and gone before she can gather the magical protection of a full Council.
With Adam’s lies that sound like truths and rumors that Alex isn’t really a Firemaker—or a man—Gabby sets out to charter a Council of her own. In order to uncover the truth, Gabby will have to learn who she can trust, how to control her own power, and most of all, how to lead a Council of Elementals, most of whom have more control over their power than she does. If she can’t, she’ll find herself just like those 17 schoolmates: burned and six feet under.
INITIAL THOUGHTS
As I had read the prequel/novella 1 in this series I was looking forward to reading more about the Supremist that was hiding her gender and her faithful guard/henchman Felix, who was head of the sentries.
MY REVIEW
These books have recently been given new covers and though I did like the old covers, I have to say I love the new ones even more. The cover for this book features the rail tracks and expanse on stone and deserted surroundings that Gabby has to flee through. I like the lines that represent elements that surround the series title on the cover. So do I like the cover, and would it make me pick it up in a bookstore? Yes I do like the cover though it doesn't necessarily hint of the book being YA, Dystopian as much as I think the novella covers do. I do think I'd pick this one up in a store and want to read the blurb.
This book didn't immediately go back to the Supremist, Felix and Adam, the characters I was curious about after reading Elemental Rush. This book was based in Crylon at one of the remaining elemental schools. The main character is Gabriella Kilpatrick, a young female who is experiencing the manifestation of her fire element, but there are no female firemaker's other than the Supremacist. Gabriella knows she must keep her firemaker abilities under wraps whilst she is working in the schools kitchen. Gabriella's only hope is that her best friend, also a firemaker Jarvis will pick her as his unmanifested member of his council. Gabriella secretly loves Jarvis, and regularly runs in the forest with him. They are more than just friends. Gabriella rushes through her kitchen duties to finish stoking the fires and rushes into the ceremony of councils at the very last moment possible. Jarvis takes to the stage, as the head of his council, he then chooses his earthmover, and his water maiden . . .and the time arrives where he has to name hi "unmanifested" . . . Gabriella holds her breath waiting. . .waiting for her name to be called from the lips of a boy she considers her best friend. It's going to be amazing being part of Jarvis's council with her other friends too. When Jarvis opens his mouth to speak and say's ". . Liz". Gabriella can hardly believe her ears . . .you can visualize the paleness of her face full of disbelief, and shock, her heart literally shattering into pieces. Now Gabriella's only chance of leaving the kitchen is to become an "educator".
Then things become more complicated when someone sets fire to the school and Gabriella is being framed as the culprit. Gabriella must flee and fast! That is when Gabriella gives herself a rather drastic make over, hacking off her hair and dressing like a boy. Travelling will be much easier as a boy. A boy can be a firemaker. A firemaker can form his own council. So Gabriella transforms into Gabe and goes off in a search for her own council. It's whilst fleeing that Gabe meets up with Adam, an Airmaster who also has a secret. A dark secret that will haunt him and Gabriella and her dreams in the near future. Gabe also meet Hanai a spiritual master, that talks to spirit and have healing abilities as well as some other useful talents that come into play later in the book. Initially Hanai keeps his gifts hidden and wishes to join Gabes council as the "unmanmifested". Spirit masters are kind of as unusual and looked down on as female Firemakers. So Gabe's council is coming together well, but the Supremacist and her head henchman are closing in on Gabriella framing her for the school fire. Gabe's cover is blown and it's a race against time for Gabriella to form a council and have it chartered (recognised) as well as join in the elemental rebellion against the Supremacist too. Another two of Gabriella's friend join her council, an earthmover and a water maiden. ....And that's about all I can say without giving anything a way. This book has action, drama, betrayal, heartbreak and sacrifice as well as a love triangle going on between Gabirella and Adam and Hanai. You really hope things work out for Gabriella, and get really behind her willing her on to suceed. I really like Elana's writing style,it's so detailed and helps you visualise the things, people and places she describes really easily. To me there were three main character's, the first being Gabriella, a female who is tough she has to be to do the job expected of her. I'd say the next main character is Adam Gillman, who has quite a few dark secrets he is holding back from his new friends, Gabriella senses this and wonders whether she can truly trust him Finally the third main character is Hanai, who is a more trustworthy, safer support to Gabriella. When Gabriella realises one of her dreams, she then has to confront the councils laws she disagree's with. However Gabriella is forced to obey the rules that are distasteful to her. Gabriella intends to change a lot of the rules and laws, if she and her council survive the battle that is looming.
This book isn't all doom and gloom as within the book you have the friendships within the council that Gabriella is making and the humour they share. Then there's the ultimate fight scene, who wins? You'll have to read the book! Sadly one of the characters I adored and wanted so much more from, was killed. There are some touching scenes written around water maidens who I'd say are closer to the Spiritual Masters too.
So did I enjoy the book? Yes, it gripped my attention and held me right to the last words of the book. Would I recommend the book? Yes to all YA, Fantasy, Dystopian fans this is in my opinion a must read series! Would I like to read more in this series? Yesss! I want to read the next novella right now! The only down thing about the next novella is that it ends the series. I have so many questions and things in my head that need to play out, I'm wondering if all these things will be concluded. After just finishing Elemental Hunger I really don't want the series to end! Would you read other titles by this author? Of course yes, I already have read other titles by this talented author.
Goodreads Link
INITIAL THOUGHTS
Looking forward to this one even though I have only just finished the novel! I want to know if Gabriella forms a succesful council. I want to know if Adam can truly be trusted and lots of other questions need answering for me too.
MY REVIEW
Elana Johnson kindly sent me a free e-copy of this novella in exchange for my honest review.
So as I said previously these covers have recently been changed to the ones I have on display in this post. The cover shows a mountainous landscape and an elemental energy sparking above. Would the cover make me pick this up in a bookstore? Definitely yes.
So this novella picks up right after the action ended in elemental Hunger. Sadly one much loved character has died and the remaining members of Gabriella's council need to replace them, as well as to mourn their passing. So there is a new Supremacist, a much fairer one than Alex was. As the Elemental training schools had been destroyed by Alex and her loyal council members it leaves only one Elemental training school left standing in Tarpulin. So Gabriella and her council have a slight head start as they are given new quarters to live in during their training. They are soon joined by other Elemetals all ready for their training to commence. I found the new teacher for Adam really intriguing, when Adam failed to control the Air as his tutor requested he is sent on a vacation to make a list of things bothering and to work on making peace with whatever and whoever was causing the "blocking of his Air Master elemental powers. I'm trying to be super careful here so I do not give spoilers. I will say one of the issue's on Adam's list is his now prisoner brother, Adam still wants some recognition of his elemental powers from his brother. Adam's tutor helps organise for Adam to visit the highly disfigured burnt and broken man that Felix is. Does Adam get the support he craves from his brother? The other obvious person on Adam's list is Gabriella, does she love Adam? Does she hate Adam because of his brother Felix? Can Gabriella even trust Adam after he seemed to play both sides of the battling forces in Elemental Hunger?
We see the relationship of Cat and Isaiah become even in love with one another, which leave's Adam feeling like a third wheel, and needing somewhere else to sleep when Cat was staying over with Isaiah over night, which is happening more and more frequently. This awkwardness does end up serving Adam well when he is found out about sneaking into someone else's room to sleep in. There is still a threat to the fledgling elemental's in the form of the remaining members of Alex's council members. Will the new elemental's be strong enough to defeat the remaining evil forces? There's also the matters that Gabriella insists need changing, for example a female elementalist must marry within a year of forming a council. .. .Will the new Supremacist stay true to his word of helping Gabriella change some of the older more archaic laws and rules.
I really enjoy Elana Johnsons writing, her descriptions and attention to detail are excellent, she really makes you feel like you are literally "watching" all the action in the book as you read it. There is also a map in the books so you can understand where the different places mentioned in the book are in relation to one another. For example how long the trek from Crylon to Tarpulin is and the type of land that has to be crossed.
Elana also adds pretty chapter headers to this book that add to the enjoyment of an e-book too. Usually authors don't seem to bother adding the finishing flourishes to an ebook.
So did I enjoy this novella? Yes, I enjoyed learning more about the intricacies of a council and how it is formed and how it is meant to work. Would I recommend this novella? Oh yes, it's a must read, I had lots of questions I still wanted answering at the end of Elemental Hunger. It would be like watching your favourite TV drama and just not watching the last episode! I'd recommend the whole series. It was like a breath of fresh air. I wouldn't have normally read this specific genre but when I saw the new covers I found them so attractive, that I read the blurb and I'd already read the first novella a while ago and I decided I needed to know more. Would I want to read more in this series? Sadly this novella is the last installment in the series. That is I suppose if we can't persuade Elana to revisit these characters for a novella or two set further in the future. I'd love to revisit the characters in this series a few years into their future. Would any of them be married? Would the original council members still be together. What sort of assignments had they been doing? Maybe they could be Elemental tutors? Also there has to be more female Firemakers surely? Would I want to read more books by Elana Johnson? I already have and I always keep my eyes open for titles written by Elana. I can safely call myself an Elana Johnson fan!
These books have recently been given new covers and though I did like the old covers, I have to say I love the new ones even more. The cover for this book features the rail tracks and expanse on stone and deserted surroundings that Gabby has to flee through. I like the lines that represent elements that surround the series title on the cover. So do I like the cover, and would it make me pick it up in a bookstore? Yes I do like the cover though it doesn't necessarily hint of the book being YA, Dystopian as much as I think the novella covers do. I do think I'd pick this one up in a store and want to read the blurb.
This book didn't immediately go back to the Supremist, Felix and Adam, the characters I was curious about after reading Elemental Rush. This book was based in Crylon at one of the remaining elemental schools. The main character is Gabriella Kilpatrick, a young female who is experiencing the manifestation of her fire element, but there are no female firemaker's other than the Supremacist. Gabriella knows she must keep her firemaker abilities under wraps whilst she is working in the schools kitchen. Gabriella's only hope is that her best friend, also a firemaker Jarvis will pick her as his unmanifested member of his council. Gabriella secretly loves Jarvis, and regularly runs in the forest with him. They are more than just friends. Gabriella rushes through her kitchen duties to finish stoking the fires and rushes into the ceremony of councils at the very last moment possible. Jarvis takes to the stage, as the head of his council, he then chooses his earthmover, and his water maiden . . .and the time arrives where he has to name hi "unmanifested" . . . Gabriella holds her breath waiting. . .waiting for her name to be called from the lips of a boy she considers her best friend. It's going to be amazing being part of Jarvis's council with her other friends too. When Jarvis opens his mouth to speak and say's ". . Liz". Gabriella can hardly believe her ears . . .you can visualize the paleness of her face full of disbelief, and shock, her heart literally shattering into pieces. Now Gabriella's only chance of leaving the kitchen is to become an "educator".
Then things become more complicated when someone sets fire to the school and Gabriella is being framed as the culprit. Gabriella must flee and fast! That is when Gabriella gives herself a rather drastic make over, hacking off her hair and dressing like a boy. Travelling will be much easier as a boy. A boy can be a firemaker. A firemaker can form his own council. So Gabriella transforms into Gabe and goes off in a search for her own council. It's whilst fleeing that Gabe meets up with Adam, an Airmaster who also has a secret. A dark secret that will haunt him and Gabriella and her dreams in the near future. Gabe also meet Hanai a spiritual master, that talks to spirit and have healing abilities as well as some other useful talents that come into play later in the book. Initially Hanai keeps his gifts hidden and wishes to join Gabes council as the "unmanmifested". Spirit masters are kind of as unusual and looked down on as female Firemakers. So Gabe's council is coming together well, but the Supremacist and her head henchman are closing in on Gabriella framing her for the school fire. Gabe's cover is blown and it's a race against time for Gabriella to form a council and have it chartered (recognised) as well as join in the elemental rebellion against the Supremacist too. Another two of Gabriella's friend join her council, an earthmover and a water maiden. ....And that's about all I can say without giving anything a way. This book has action, drama, betrayal, heartbreak and sacrifice as well as a love triangle going on between Gabirella and Adam and Hanai. You really hope things work out for Gabriella, and get really behind her willing her on to suceed. I really like Elana's writing style,it's so detailed and helps you visualise the things, people and places she describes really easily. To me there were three main character's, the first being Gabriella, a female who is tough she has to be to do the job expected of her. I'd say the next main character is Adam Gillman, who has quite a few dark secrets he is holding back from his new friends, Gabriella senses this and wonders whether she can truly trust him Finally the third main character is Hanai, who is a more trustworthy, safer support to Gabriella. When Gabriella realises one of her dreams, she then has to confront the councils laws she disagree's with. However Gabriella is forced to obey the rules that are distasteful to her. Gabriella intends to change a lot of the rules and laws, if she and her council survive the battle that is looming.
This book isn't all doom and gloom as within the book you have the friendships within the council that Gabriella is making and the humour they share. Then there's the ultimate fight scene, who wins? You'll have to read the book! Sadly one of the characters I adored and wanted so much more from, was killed. There are some touching scenes written around water maidens who I'd say are closer to the Spiritual Masters too.
So did I enjoy the book? Yes, it gripped my attention and held me right to the last words of the book. Would I recommend the book? Yes to all YA, Fantasy, Dystopian fans this is in my opinion a must read series! Would I like to read more in this series? Yesss! I want to read the next novella right now! The only down thing about the next novella is that it ends the series. I have so many questions and things in my head that need to play out, I'm wondering if all these things will be concluded. After just finishing Elemental Hunger I really don't want the series to end! Would you read other titles by this author? Of course yes, I already have read other titles by this talented author.
Title: Elemental Release
Series: Elemental Series
Author: Elana Johnson
Genre: YA, Dystopia
Release Date: 12th July 2014
BLURB supplied by the author
Two months after returning to the capital city of Tarpulin with a Council of his own, Airmaster Adam Gillman is ready to start repairing the relationships in his life. Up first: his Councilman and the girl he’d like to be more than friends with, Gabriella Kilpatrick.
But first, he has to figure out how to be the Airmaster his Firemaker needs. In order to do that, Adam attends Elemental training and discovers that to truly command the air, he must first be in control of his emotions. And in order to master those, he has to grieve for the loss of Hanai, make amends with his brother, and earn the trust of Gabby.
Amidst all that, Adam must also learn how to grapple with the jet stream, because a dangerous Airmaster is loose in Tarpulin. And Adam will need to find his emotional center in order to work with the atmosphere and defeat the threat.
INITIAL THOUGHTS
Looking forward to this one even though I have only just finished the novel! I want to know if Gabriella forms a succesful council. I want to know if Adam can truly be trusted and lots of other questions need answering for me too.
MY REVIEW
Elana Johnson kindly sent me a free e-copy of this novella in exchange for my honest review.
So as I said previously these covers have recently been changed to the ones I have on display in this post. The cover shows a mountainous landscape and an elemental energy sparking above. Would the cover make me pick this up in a bookstore? Definitely yes.
So this novella picks up right after the action ended in elemental Hunger. Sadly one much loved character has died and the remaining members of Gabriella's council need to replace them, as well as to mourn their passing. So there is a new Supremacist, a much fairer one than Alex was. As the Elemental training schools had been destroyed by Alex and her loyal council members it leaves only one Elemental training school left standing in Tarpulin. So Gabriella and her council have a slight head start as they are given new quarters to live in during their training. They are soon joined by other Elemetals all ready for their training to commence. I found the new teacher for Adam really intriguing, when Adam failed to control the Air as his tutor requested he is sent on a vacation to make a list of things bothering and to work on making peace with whatever and whoever was causing the "blocking of his Air Master elemental powers. I'm trying to be super careful here so I do not give spoilers. I will say one of the issue's on Adam's list is his now prisoner brother, Adam still wants some recognition of his elemental powers from his brother. Adam's tutor helps organise for Adam to visit the highly disfigured burnt and broken man that Felix is. Does Adam get the support he craves from his brother? The other obvious person on Adam's list is Gabriella, does she love Adam? Does she hate Adam because of his brother Felix? Can Gabriella even trust Adam after he seemed to play both sides of the battling forces in Elemental Hunger?
We see the relationship of Cat and Isaiah become even in love with one another, which leave's Adam feeling like a third wheel, and needing somewhere else to sleep when Cat was staying over with Isaiah over night, which is happening more and more frequently. This awkwardness does end up serving Adam well when he is found out about sneaking into someone else's room to sleep in. There is still a threat to the fledgling elemental's in the form of the remaining members of Alex's council members. Will the new elemental's be strong enough to defeat the remaining evil forces? There's also the matters that Gabriella insists need changing, for example a female elementalist must marry within a year of forming a council. .. .Will the new Supremacist stay true to his word of helping Gabriella change some of the older more archaic laws and rules.
I really enjoy Elana Johnsons writing, her descriptions and attention to detail are excellent, she really makes you feel like you are literally "watching" all the action in the book as you read it. There is also a map in the books so you can understand where the different places mentioned in the book are in relation to one another. For example how long the trek from Crylon to Tarpulin is and the type of land that has to be crossed.Elana also adds pretty chapter headers to this book that add to the enjoyment of an e-book too. Usually authors don't seem to bother adding the finishing flourishes to an ebook.
So did I enjoy this novella? Yes, I enjoyed learning more about the intricacies of a council and how it is formed and how it is meant to work. Would I recommend this novella? Oh yes, it's a must read, I had lots of questions I still wanted answering at the end of Elemental Hunger. It would be like watching your favourite TV drama and just not watching the last episode! I'd recommend the whole series. It was like a breath of fresh air. I wouldn't have normally read this specific genre but when I saw the new covers I found them so attractive, that I read the blurb and I'd already read the first novella a while ago and I decided I needed to know more. Would I want to read more in this series? Sadly this novella is the last installment in the series. That is I suppose if we can't persuade Elana to revisit these characters for a novella or two set further in the future. I'd love to revisit the characters in this series a few years into their future. Would any of them be married? Would the original council members still be together. What sort of assignments had they been doing? Maybe they could be Elemental tutors? Also there has to be more female Firemakers surely? Would I want to read more books by Elana Johnson? I already have and I always keep my eyes open for titles written by Elana. I can safely call myself an Elana Johnson fan!
I like what I'm seeing here and enjoy this review, but I'm a little confused. This book seems like an Urban Fantasy more than a Dystopia. It could perhaps be a mash-up of the two genres; what do you think?
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