Review: Storm by Brigid Kemmerer

Storm by Brigid Kemmerer (Elemental #1)

bought

Synopsis from Goodreads

Earth, Fire, Air, Water – they have more power than you dream.

Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her, Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys—all the ones she doesn't want. 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 . . .

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8.5/10

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 This was undeniably one of the better YAs I've read so far in 2012. The reason? The male characters were really well done, and there was such a variety of them too! 

Hugely entertaining, refreshing  in its paranormal aspects, with a decent, strong and stubborn female lead, Becca. However, there were few things I disliked about Becca I feel I have to mention:



A) Her best friend. Who the hell came up with this great idea of making a best friend an annoying and selfish b*tch? Frankly speaking, it puzzles me. Why would you want to be a friend with such a person? and yet we have a nuisance of a friend in Hush, Hush, in Fury and god only knows how many other YA books.

B) Her father. This is such a cliche especially in the light of a mystery villain as in there are only two strangers in this dinky little town, figure it out faster, people!, that I kept rolling my eyes. 

C)Attempted rape issue turned bullying. Not good, people. Becca has balls to be brave about everything else except what happened between her and her ex-potential boyfriend. Why doesn't she tell him to go f*ck himself repeatedly, why doesn't she fight? If she has this psychological trauma why does she go to the party with him present and gets drunk again? I'm sorry I fail to see consistent behaviour in her character.

Despite the drawbacks, Brigid's writing is so captivating and entertaining you can't stop yourself from reading the whole book in one go and wanting more, and in the end this is the only thing that matters.

Storm is fun, full of action, strong emotions and characters that you can't help loving or hating depending on their motives, which is so much better than boring characters. Classic setting of a small town with its horrible secrets and bloody vendettas with a paranormal twist.

If you are hungry for more of such literature, I recommend The Soulkeepers by G.P.Ching which features multicultural characters and elemental powers. 

* * *

Очень неплохая книжка со свежим паранормальным мотивом, - силы, управляющей природными явлениями на уровне четырёх элементов - воды, воздуха, огня и земли, в американском захолустье. Типичный сюжет маленького городка с его ужасными секретами и вендеттами, чрезмерной драматизацией и проблемами.

Книгу эту конечно делают вкусной главные герои мужского пола - их много и они в тельняшках, пардон, интересные.


Мало того, что у нас здесь четверо братьев с уникальными паранормальными способностями, есть ещё и пятый герой-красавец, тёмная лошадка и потенциальный злодей, хотя интрига в Шторме совершенно несуществующая, её можно вычислить с первой же попытки.


Главная героиня Бекка тоже неплоха, хотя хотелось прибить её "лучшую подругу" и саму героиню с её избирательным здравым смыслом хорошенько встряхнуть. Ну, подобные проблемы к сожалению приходят с территорией, т.е. с жанром YA.


Простить можно однако все погрешности сюжета и характеризации, так как сама мисс Кеммерер пишет зашибительно, и от книги с её стремительным действием не оторваться. Советую. Хорошая трава.