Storm

by Brigid Kemmerer

Elemental Series, Book One

Book Description

Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys all the ones she doesn’t want. Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They’re powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.

And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.

Secrets are hard to keep when your life’s at stake. When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who’s hiding the most dangerous truth of all.

The storm is coming.

MY THOUGHTS: 4 OUT OF 5 FLEURS DE LIS

It’s not exactly the best timing when Becca Chandler saves Chris Merrick from getting a beating in an alley behind the school. But she does, and soon enough she’s in the thick of Chris and his three older brothers, Michael, Nick, and Gabriel. Which is not great–since people at her school are already believing a vicious rumor her ex boyfriend spread about her.

Then Becca learns that Chris and his brother aren’t exactly normal. All four of them have an affinity with an element: air, fire, water, earth. And some of the people in town think it would be safer if the Merricks were dead. Becca struggles to help the Merricks–and herself–stay alive.

I’d seen so many great reviews of this book that I knew I had to read it, and I’m glad I did. I did have a couple of issues with it though.

*****SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW!*****

So, our lead girl, Becca. I’m a bit conflicted on her. At the very beginning of the book, she is taking a self defense class. And throughout, she has her tough girl moments. But unfortunately, she’s never tough where it counts. Her best friend Quinn comes off needy and bitchy at times, but Becca just kinda takes it. And then there’s the attempted rape issue.

See, Becca’s ex boyfriend Drew started spreading the rumor that she’d slept with half the school…because he tried to rape her and he was scared she’d turn him in. And she just…went with it. God, I had a lot of trouble reconciling this with myself. Becca would rather be labeled the school slut than turn in Drew and his friends for what they did to her??? THEN, they try to do it again later in the book! I don’t love what happened when it comes to the whole way Becca responded to the rape issue.

Anyway. It was cool to see characters use the elements who weren’t witches! The Merrick brothers definitely all have their own distinct personalities, but in the end they all care for one another and don’t let anything come between them.

This book has some inklings of a love triangle, and honestly, I’m not sure in which direction it’s gonna go. Both boys interested in Becca have lied to her, and yet she is drawn to them. I guess we’ll see in the next book.

I kind of had a feeling about what Becca really was, and I was right. But I still really liked this story. I look forward to learning more about the Merrick brothers.