Monday 21 May 2012

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Review: Storm by Brigid Kemmerer

Storm by Brigid KemmererStorm by Brigid Kemmerer - Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread lies about her, Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys - 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.

When Hunter, the mysterious new kid in town, 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...
From Amazon US

After wanting to read this book for ages, since reading rave reviews from various Aussie bloggers, I was so excited to have won a copy. And it turns out those Aussie reviews were right - Storm is one hell of a ride!

Despite reading the rave reviews, Storm wasn't what I expected - it was so much more! There is a large amount of emotion flying through this novel - and not just the kind you get when you suddenly have two hot guys in your life. There is emotion coming from everyone, and Brigid Kemmerer doesn't shy away from tough or serious issues. Pretty much every teenager in this book has parental issues, whether it be that they just don't get on, or there are dead parents. Anger and grief touches most people, and emotions run high. Harrassment also plays a part in people's emotions - though "harrassment" or "bullying" don't really seem strong enough. In various situations, the harrassment becomes something much more sinister and dangerous. There is no way to read this book without having your heart strings tugged at or feeling disgusted. There were moments when I felt like I wanted to put the book down because, god, I didn't want to read anymore, it was just painful. Which only goes to show the strength of Kemmerer's writing.

But it's not all bad! There are, of course, the Merrick brothers - specifically the Merrick twins, Gabriel and Nick! Anyone who fails to love those two.. well, I don't even know what to say to you. Gabriel's constant flirting, and how they both take the mick out of Chris in front of Becca, you can't help but laugh! Those boys are just awesome, the type of guys you'd want to hang out with because you'd never stop laughing. They're hot too, which helps. They just ooze sex appeal! Twice. The. Fun! Though I can't tell you who I prefer. Gabriel's the kind of guy who's attention would get you all flustered and scrambling your words, but he has a mean temper and it's kind of scary. Nick has the same effect as Gabriel, but I'd say he's more likely to look at you as a person as well as a girl. He seems real nice! But doesn't has less of that bad boy attitude that Gabriel seems to have. I can't choose!

Michael is.. wow. That guy can be scary. But having read Elemental before Storm, and finding out what happened after Elemental ended, well, I can completely understand it. Having to become parent to three young boys when you're 18 would be hard enough, but add on top of that the stress of having a bunch of people after you and your brothers for what you can do.. it's tough. The boys are teenagers, so act rashly which just adds to it all. He just wants to keep everyone safe, which is difficult with rebellious teens on your hands.

Then you have Chris. Lovely, sweet Chris, who's never entirely sure what he feels about what. About Michael, about Becca, about how he wants to deal with the situation they're in. But he can't deny the attraction he feels for this girl who saved his life. There are some real tender moments between the two, but the boy has communication issues! Although we, the readers, know how he feels and what he's thinking, he never really says it, so Becca cannot be blamed for getting her wires crossed when he's suddenly huffy with her for seemingly no reason. And well, when there's an uncomplicated guy who doesn't have a problem making it clear he's into you, and is actually real, real nice... what do you expect, Chris? What do you expect?

I actually really loved Hunter. Like really. The way he treated Becca, like she was this special, important, fragile thing! Oh my god, I may have fallen in love with him just a little bit. But Chris! Chris was also pretty damn awesome! I didn't have a team, there were no sides! I loved the moments Becca had with each guy. There was just too much hotness going on in this book, and I think Kemmerer wants to torture us all!

This book isn't all guys, no.  There is Becca, our female protagonist, and she is freaking awesome! The way she deals with all the crap that comes her way is admirable. Granted, she shouldn't have to, but I'm pretty sure I would have broken if it was me. But she's so strong! Then she has to deal with he fact that people have power to control the elements, and because she saved a guy from a beating, the people that want them dead are now after her too. It's too much! But it makes for such great reading. Becca is just so relateable and normal, she's hard not to love, and you're egging her on, willing her to get through the crap that is currently her life. She's wonderful!

Then there was all the excitement! Woah. The power these Merrick guys have is unbelievable! And when the Guide comes along and is shooting ligning at them and slamming wind into cars, and oh my god, people are in danger! This is edge of your seat stuff! I flew through the second half of the book when the action really started to pick up. Oh my word, it was just amazing! This is the kind of thing that needs to be on the big screens! I want to be an Elemental! I don't care which I have, I just want to do something awesome and fight too! Hot guys with immense power? You really can't go wrong!

There were some interesting revelations towards the end that are killing me! Not exactly cliff hangers, but still! I want to know the consequences of such revelations! And I have no idea how that's going to work in the sequel, Spark; although Becca and Chris will be in that book, it's Gabriel's story, not theirs. If I had my way, this series would be split up. There would be the Water Elemental series, and then the others, because I want more! I feel so sad to be leaving Chris and Becca's point of views behind. And sad to have finished the book so quickly after wanting it for so long.

An absolutely amazing debut! After riding the Storm, I'm eager to feel the burn of Spark!

Add to Goodreads

Published: 24th April 2012
Publisher: K Teen
Brigid Kemmerer's Website

Other reviews in the series:
Elemental (Elemental Prequel)

Other reviews:
Eleusinian Mysteries
Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me
Saz101

10 comments:

  1. lol a long review
    gr8 review
    i loved it aswell

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    1. Ahh, my reviews are always long if I love the book enough! :) Thank you! It was awesome! :)

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  2. Oooh, yes yes yes to everything you said! I loved this book - I think Becca's one of my absolute favourite heroines, there was just something about her that just clicked for me. She's not all wildfire and attitude like the Rose Hathaways of the book world, but she's got her own quiet kick-ass-ness and strength.
    I thought Kemmerer did a fantastic job dealing with the issues stuff, the characters all felt so authentic in the way they responded to things.
    And UM, YES to Hunter and Chris. Impossible to choose which one I liked better.
    Did you hear that Hunter's got a novella coming out in August, I think?
    And the countdown to Spark begins!

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    1. Yes! I loved how Becca was completely un-Rose Hathaway! She was just a normal girl, who acted when others would just would away. That's just awesome!
      Authentic! That is the word! My memory is bad at times, but that's exactly how they respond! Just wonderful!
      I know about the novella, Fearless! I am excited! I am excited for both Fearless and Spark! I want more noooow! :D

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  3. You scared me a little. I was O_O OH NO when you first said Storm wasn't what you expected LOL. I'm very happy to hear you loved this! The Merrick twins have sex appeal twice over… Nice. And very true <3 I want! Great review. I totally would've gone into this much detail had I been able to <3 Hopefully everyone will see how great this book is and run to pick it up!

    Lisa | Read Me Bookmark Me Love Me

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    1. Haha, sorry for scaring you! :P Thank you! Aah, sometimes I can't help but just go on and on when I love something so much! But oooh, the Merrick twins! I do looove them! Thanks for stopping by!

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  4. I SO know what you mean about Hunter and Chris! Usually there is always a clear winner for me with love triangles - even with Rose/Dimitri/Adrian, I loved Adrian more as a swoony guy, but I was rooting for Rose/Dimka all the way - but this? ARGH! I adored BOTH guys as characters and for Becca!

    Your love and enthusiasm so shine through and it's making ME excited all over again and I want to run back and reread! Hell yes to wanting this on the big screens. I seriously hope movie people are paying attention.

    Hee, "After riding the Storm, I'm eager to feel the burn of Spark!" <3 I LOVE your review, Jo! Everything you said was on the mark (although I freaking love both twins, Gabriel managed to steal top spo). I'm beyond happy that you loved this as much as I did :D Cannot freaking wait for Spark!

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    1. How rare is it to not know who you want for the girl in a love triangle?! SO RARE! However.. I disliked certain people a wee bit at the end. Even if I understood. Pfft.

      Movie people need to be paying attention, BUT SO DO UK PUBLISHERS! Lookie, Commissioning Editors and everyone else - WE NEED THIS BOOK! Yesss we do! But omg, if it was at the cinema, I would be so there. Though... I'd have issues with casting most probably! Haha!

      OH IT WAS SO GOOD! And I love you for being so gushy and making me want to read it! Loooove! Oh Gabriel is awesome, but that temper! Scary! And Nick is sooo nice! Love! Spark Spark Spark! Needs to come quickly, please! August, hurry up!

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  5. Joooo, I am so sorry! I swear--I've had this up as a saved tab in my browser for, err... a week now? Waiting to comment, and ADKDGJAFDHLJ! I AM SO GLAD YOU LOVED THIS. Storm was just so so soooooo good!

    AND HELL YES TO MICHAEL! He was scary and awful at first... but when you know the source of his heartbreak... wow. AMAZING review, Jo! ♥

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    1. Oh, you had it as a tab! That's so cool! I never thought of doing things like that! HAha! Thank you for saving it, it's nice to know you like my blog enough to save my posts as tabs :)

      It was amazing! And Michael isn't as awful as I thought he might be. I mean, he was just being protective! and can you blame him when Gabriel would fly off the handle like he did? Pfft! Yesss, I loved this book, SO GOOD! Thank you :D

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