Sep 2 2012
REVIEW: Storm by Brigid Kemmerer
Dear Ms. Kemmerer:
Sarah Wendell told me about your book when it was chosen for the Smart Bitches Sizzlin’ Book Club. I admit some trepidation because I am not a huge fan of YA and the YA I do read is ordinarily straight contemporary. Storm is book 1 in the Elemental series. I felt like the series was reminiscent of the world building in Avatar, the Last Air Bender. There are individuals who are born on points of a pentagram and each point represents an Element such as Air, Water, Earth or Fire. The fifth element is a spiritual one who can control all four elements.
Each one of the Merrick boys is an Elemental. Elementals gone bad are responsible for all the world’s disasters (much like the Fire Lord in Avatar) and the fifth element, or spirit element, is often sent to kill the Elementals (like the Airbender). The Merricks have a background fraught with secrets and tragedy. Much of the story is about the difficult family interactions, between the brothers and between Becca.
The romance is very low key. You are reading this for the character drama more than anything and there is a lot of drama. The Merrick family is stressed to the limits by the loss of the parental units, the eldest’s attempts to keep order and the younger brothers full of anger and desire for retribution, straining at what they perceive to be their older brother’s stupid rules. These are rules that are more profound than curfew at 11. They include not showing their powers, not attacking the people along the lines of the pentagon who have power but are afraid of the Elementals, and definitely not gaining revenge for their parents’ death.
Becca Chandler is drawn into the Merricks’ circle unwittingly when she sees the youngest Merrick, Christopher, being beaten by several boys in the parking lot. She wants to run away but can’t and when Chris uses water from her water bottle as a weapon, she realizes that there is something more to Chris Merrick than his sullen attitude in the classroom.
Becca was victimized by an ex boyfriend who spread a rumor that she slept with several boys on the soccer team. The truth is more complicated and heartbreaking than a reader might initially think. But the rumors dog Becca at school and her circle of friends shrinks to one. The Merricks, save Chris, don’t welcome her with open arms. One of them even makes suggestive remarks about her based on the rumors.
One of the best things about the book was its authenticity. The Merrick boys were imperfect, full of anger and rebellion which suited their parentless state. Their eldest brother was exhausted from the effort to keep the boys together and the younger ones were confused and acted out. Becca has only one parent, a loving but often absent mother. Her father disappeared years ago but tries to reconnect in the book. Becca is desperately in need of someone on her side. The adults in this story are largely absent or ineffective.
The story introduces a love triangle when Hunter, a new kid, comes to town and provides a shoulder and seemingly uncomplicated attention. Hunter is the good guy with secret motivations and Chris is the angry guy with secret motivations. Hmm. The love triangle is resolved before the end, although, for Becca, she probably needed more time to process all the feelings she had for both characters. The love triangle did not bother me because the focus wasn’t really on the romance. How could it be when both love interests are alternatively lying to her, manipulating her, or trying to woo her.
The story moves by quickly and I was easily engaged by this band of teenagers who grappled with the mundane question of what to wear to prom one moment and whether they had to kill someone the next. At the price of $2.99, it was a good read.
Best regards,
Jane
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Sep 02, 2012 @ 20:36:07
I don’t read YA but your deal post that included this one made me go ahead and try it. Like you, I enjoyed this book as a $2.99 read. I am curious to see if the kindle price drops on the next installment – it was $8.99 or so as a pre-order when I looked after finishing storm (so I passed), now it is $7 and change…
Sep 03, 2012 @ 16:46:00
I bought this when it was the SBTB bookclub choice. I surprised myself by really enjoying it. I keep swearing off paranormal series, but I’m kind of hooked on this one. Agree with the review – I also enjoyed the authenticity.
Sep 04, 2012 @ 00:17:37
I love this book and the entire SERIES so much! Seriously, I don’t think I’ve been this fangirly over a series in a LONG time. Same as you, it’s the the authenticity of the characters that makes it so damn GOOD. It doesn’t FEEL like a paranormal, it almost feels more like a contemp? LOVE.
Sep 04, 2012 @ 09:12:44
@may: I’ve a review for the second book which is about Gabe. I wondered if Kemmerer was afraid she wasn’t going to get to finish the series because all three non paired brothers get a romance in the second book. $2.99 was a great buy in price for me.
@Sarah: It does feel like a straight up contemporary.
@cleo: The family interactions of the brothers and even the conflicted feelings of jealousy that Becca has toward her best friend rang true. Probably the only non authentic part of the book was about the Watcher.
Sep 04, 2012 @ 09:30:29
Great review, Jane!
To me it did have that Avatar element but for some reason I had captain planet in my head too. Sigh, my head is a strange, strange place to be.
Also, I found Spark to be even better than Storm. I guess it’s because Gabe has all these issues.
Such a fan of this series. And I have to be honest and say that very few paranormal YA series have really caught my eye and interest in the past 2 years, so that’s a plus.
Sep 05, 2012 @ 07:47:00
@jane_l: Ooooh, you’re reviewing Spark? When? Hehe! Can’t wait to see What you think!
Sep 05, 2012 @ 11:28:30
@jane_l: Agreed – the Watcher part seemed off. I loved the low key romance – that seemed right for high school students.
Wait – the other three brothers all get paired off in Spark? That’s kind of unexpected. Glad for the warning.
Sep 05, 2012 @ 12:45:05
Jane, thank you so much for the review!
We discussed the “smooshed” (love it! :-D) romance over email, and you asked me to share my thoughts here. In regards to everyone getting a love interest, it’s a tough balance keeping everyone’s life moving forward while focusing on each brother for the main part of the plot. A lot of people had asked for Michael to meet someone (and I agreed — the poor guy needed to catch a break), and there will be more Quinn in Nick’s yet-to-be-written novella that’s coming out next spring. Hunter does meet someone new in Spirit, due out next June. Not to mention, I’d really like to explore Michael’s relationship in a future book, so we’ll see…
Thanks again! I’m so glad you gave Storm a shot!
Daily Deals: Storm generators, comedic noir, Regency and menage
May 15, 2013 @ 14:02:17
[...] has an older YA feel to it (verging on the cusp of NA). I reviewed this book and enjoyed the story quite a bit. Chris is an angry young man and he reacts poorly, all the [...]