Sacrifice {by Brigid Kemmerer}

Title: Sacrifice

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

Series: Elemental #5

Genre: YA Fantasy

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Received via NetGalley

One misstep and they lose it all. For the last time.

Michael Merrick understands pressure. He's the only parent his three brothers have had for years. His power to control Earth could kill someone if he miscalculates. Now an Elemental Guide has it in for his family, and he's all that stands in the way.

His girlfriend, Hannah, understands pressure too. She's got a child of her own, and a job as a firefighter that could put her life in danger at any moment.

But there are people who have had enough of Michael's defiance, his family's 'bad luck'. Before he knows it, Michael's enemies have turned into the Merricks' enemies, and they're armed for war.

They're not interested in surrender. But Michael isn't the white flag type anyway. Everything is set for the final showdown.

Four elements, one family. Will they hold together, or be torn apart?

Michael Merrick. My favorite of the brothers, and the one who's story I wanted most. Michael has taken care of his little brothers since their parents' deaths. He has basically given up his dreams to keep his family together, and the fight against people who think he's incompetent is never-ending. Michael is close to breaking from all the pressure.

 

This one was a little more sad, as one thing after another comes against Michael and the Merricks. As if it isn't enough that Guides are after them to kill them, their house has been destroyed, DHS is after them, and Hannah's father as named Michael as a prime bombing suspect. I mean, that would be a lot for any 23-year-old.

 

Like Nick in Secret, Michael starts to learn that he doesn't need to hold everything together by himself. His brothers are growing up, and can handle themselves. I liked how the brothers came together to protect each other and themselves. Family has always been my favorite part of this series, and I'm so glad to see it showcased.

 

I didn't really like Hannah's parts. This has been the only one with any sort of love triangle, but Hannah seemed really immature for someone who was so much older than any of the other characters. It is something she realizes, and begins to change, but I could care less about her. (Is that mean? Oops.)

 

Although this one is filled with the same suspense and action as all the others, actually probably even more action, I was not satisfied with the ending. After 4 books and 3 novellas of build-up, it finished abruptly and flatly. I felt nothing was really settled or finished. While I don't need everything to be spelled out or set in stone, I feel like the ending didn't really deal with anything. Nothing was concluded.

 

Except for the ending, I enjoyed this story as it was everything I've come to expect from the Merricks.

My reviews of Elemental, Storm, Spark, Spirit, Breathless, Secret

The books:

The novellas:

 

This review can also be found on   

Brigid Kemmerer:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Secret {by Brigid Kemmerer}

Title: Secret

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

Series: Elemental #4

Genre: YA Fantasy

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Received via NetGalley

Nick Merrick is stretched to breaking point. He's trying to keep his grades sky-high or he won't get in to college. He's trying to keep his brother's business afloat or the Merricks will be out on the street. He's trying to keep the secret of where he's going in the evenings from his twin brother Gabriel - or he fears he'll lose his family. And he's trying to keep his mind off the hot, self-assured dancer who is his 'girlfriend's' partner.

And then Quinn takes to hanging around his sworn enemy, and an Elemental Guide is counting the hours until he can try again to kill the Merrick brothers. Storms are brewing. On all sides.

SECRETS IN THE WIND. DANGER IN THE AIR.

Ahh the Merrick brothers. It's been too long. The first three books were some of the first I ever reviewed on this blog. I'm not saying this was bad, because it definitely wasn't, but it didn't seem to be as amazing as I remember the rest of this series being. Maybe it's just been too long since I read the others, I don't know. But I do remember wanting Nick's story for a while, and now I finally read it.

 

Nick has a secret. He can't tell his brothers, but he's not sure he can keep it hidden for much longer. The actual event is told in his novella, Breathless, but you don't have to read that to still understand this story. Afraid he'll lose his family, Quinn agrees to continue acting as his "girlfriend" until he figures it all out. But Nick doesn't know what to do anymore. He feels the weight of everything on his shoulders: making good grades so he can get a scholarship to college, because otherwise he can't afford to go. Helping Michael out on jobs because he knows how much the family needs money. He's always done what others expect of him, but never what he wants.

 

I've always liked Nick, although we didn't get to see much of him in the other books as he is more sensitive, and often overshadowed by Gabriel. But Nick is getting to the point where he doesn't want that anymore. He doesn't want Gabe to always fight his battles. But while Nick was busy protesting the fact that he didn't need Gabel to fight for him, he forgot that he just needs Gabe to be there for him--and Gabe needs him.

 

Nick went through a lot of growth in this one, which I always like to see. Not just with allowing himself to be with Adam, but also in learning that he can say no, and that he doesn't need to carry everything by himself all the time. Its okay to let others help you. Nick struggles a lot with being weak, and how that is a reflection on him being gay, but I'm so glad that he realized otherwise. Asking for help is never a sign of being weak.

 

The only thing Nick was slightly immature about was fighting with Tyler practically every time they were within 10 feet of each other. I don't blame him, as Tyler starts a lot of it, and who can blame Nick after the way Tyler terrorized him as a child? But there were some parts that I was just like, if they would talk it out, they would realize they were actually on the same side. Imagine that.

 

I wasn't too big on Quinn either, as she was really immature and just rubbed me the wrong way. But Quinn did some of her own growing, and I loved seeing that as well. I always said my favorite part of this series was the family relationships that are showcased, between the brothers. This wasn't shown as much, as Nick was trying to spend time away from them, but the brothers did come through for each other like always, and I loved it.

 

And of course, this was filled with action and suspense, just like the rest of the series. Although I still felt something off, this was everything I've come to expect from the Merricks.

 

My reviews of Elemental, Storm, Spark, Spirit, Breathless

The books:

The novellas:

 

This review can also be found on   

Brigid Kemmerer:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

{Cover Reveal} SACRIFICE by Brigid Kemmerer

Hey guys! I'm here to help reveal the cover for Brigid Kemmerer's SACRIFICE. If you've been here long enough, you know that I love this series. Seriously. Secret was the first cover reveal this blog has ever done, and the Elemental series is the first that I've actually reviewed all the books in the series for (except Secret...yet and one novella) (okay, except for the Throne of Glass series but we can't compare).

I gotta say...I love this cover. Michael is my favorite of the Merrick brothers, and I'm so so glad to FINALLY get his book! (Also, I definitely love this cover model a lot more than the one who is supposed to be Michael on the first three.) I liked how the first three were similar, which tied them to each other, but I also like how the last two were different. But I gotta say, I really do like this last one, and how different it is as well.

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Wait for it............................................................................
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It's coming..................................................................................
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And here it is!

Title: Sacrifice (Elemental, book 5)

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

Publisher: Kensington Teen

Release Date: September 30, 2014
Add on Goodreads

The Elemental Series: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository / iBooks / IndieBound

One misstep and they lose it all. For the last time.

Michael Merrick is used to pressure.

He’s the only parent his three brothers have had for years. His power to control Earth could kill someone if he miscalculates. Now an Elemental Guide has it out for his family, and he’s all that stands in the way.

His girlfriend, Hannah, gets that. She’s got a kid of her own, and a job as a firefighter that could end her life without a moment’s notice.

But there are people who have had enough of Michael’s defiance, his family’s “bad luck.” Before he knows it, Michael’s enemies have turned into the Merricks’ enemies, and they’re armed for war.

They’re not interested in surrender. But Michael isn’t the white flag type anyway. There will be blood on the ground tonight…

Um yeah. So this sounds (and looks) amazing. Also, I love the background on this. And although I am not yet ready to say goodbye to the Merrick brothers, I am super excited for Michael's story. If you haven't read this series yet...get on it. Like, now.

And for fun, here's the Australia/New Zealand cover.

The rest of the books in the series:

See my review of the books in the Elemental series: Elemental, Storm, Spark, Spirit, Breathless

Brigid Kemmerer:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Brigid Kemmerer is the author of the Elemental seres, about a family of four brothers who control the elements, and their battle with those who want them dead. Storm, Spark, Spirit, and Secret are available now wherever books are sold. You can learn more about the Elemental boys at www.brigidkemmerer.com.

{Cover Reveal} Secret by Brigid Kemmerer

So if you follow this blog, or know me in person, you will know that I love the Elemental series by Brigid Kemmerer. And I love the Merrick brothers. So I'm very excited that our first cover reveal is helping to reveal Secret, the fourth book in the Elemental series.

And without further ado, I present to you...

Title: Secret (Elemental, book 4)

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

Publisher: Kensington Books

Release Date: January 28, 2014

Pre-Order: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound, Book Depository

Nowhere is safe. Not even home...
Nick Merrick is stretched to the breaking point.
Keep his grades sky-high or he'll never escape his hometown.
Keep his brother's business going or the Merricks will be out on the street.
Keep the secret of where he's going in the evenings from his own twin--or he'll lose his family.
Keep his mind off the hot, self-assured dancer who's supposed to be his "girlfriend's" partner.
Of course there's also the homicidal freak Quinn has taken to hanging around, and the Elemental Guide counting the hours until he can try again to kill the Merrick brothers. There's a storm coming. From all sides. And then some.
Nick Merrick, can you keep it together?

Can I fangirl now? And I love the cover. I do miss all the guys, but I think it's cool that there's a girl included, seeing as how the girls are also a big part of the story. And I love that color. Like guys, I'm just so excited. If you haven't read this series yet, just go do it. Now. Like seriously. Stop everything and read. 

See my review of the books in the Elemental series: Elemental, Storm, Spark, Spirit, Breathless

Brigid Kemmerer:

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Brigid Kemmerer is the author of the Elemental seres, about a family of four brothers who control the elements, and their battle with those who want them dead. Storm, Spark, and Spirit are available now wherever books are sold. To read the novella introducing Nick's story, be sure to check out Breathless, avalable as an e-book only from major e-book retailers. You can learn more about the Elemental boys at www.brigidkemmerer.com.

Spirit {by Brigid Kemmerer)

Title: Spirit
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Series: Elemental, book 3

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

With power comes enemies. Lots of them.Hunter Garrity just wants to be left alone. He’s learned the hard way that his unusual abilities come at a price. And he can’t seem to afford any allies.He’s up to his neck in hostiles. His grandfather, spoiling for a fight. The Merrick brothers, who think he ratted them out. Calla, the scheming psycho who wants to use him as bait.Then there’s Kate Sullivan, the new girl at school. She’s not hostile. She’s bold. Funny. Hot. But she’s got an agenda, too.With supposedly secret powers rippling to the surface everywhere around him, Hunter knows something ugly is about to go down. But finding out what means he’ll have to find someone he can trust…

Unlike some others, I never hated Hunter, but I never quite liked him either. He just wasn't my type of guy. He was sort of mysterious, as we never really undersold him or knew where he was coming from, until this book. And while he still isn't my favorite, I do like him a lot more. 

The budding bromance between him and Gabriel has obviously come to an end with the revelation at the end of Spark. With the problems at home with his grandpa and mom, Hunter is alone. Then Kate comes along, and he doesn't feel so alone. 

Hunter has trust issues. Instilled into him by his dad, it's a hard thing to forget. Which may not have been a terribly bad thing, seeing as how Kate wasn't all she seemed to be. However, it gets in the way of his relationship with the Merricks, as he is unable to realize that they truly do want to help him, no strings attached. These trust issues cause him to make decisions that ended disastrously, and could have been avoided. 

And as if I needed another reason to confirm Michael was my favorite, the way he took Hunter under his wing and gave him a place to stay and gave him work was awesome, showing a different side to the jerk he usually is. 

And let's not forget Kemmerer's ability to tell an amazing story. Not only was it told extremely well, but it held some unusual and unexpected plot twists. It was an amazing book that will keep you hooked the entire time. 

I will admit, I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I did. So I was pleasantly surprised. I would definitely recommend reading this series if you haven't already. It is seriously amazing.

The books:

The novellas:

Brigid Kemmerer:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads