Earth (Elemental Series) [Kindle Edition]

Shauna Granger (Author)

Book Description

Shayna and her two best friends have the abilities to manipulate and control the four elements, earth, air, water and fire. While learning to hone their growing powers, they discover a new and malicious presence in their sleepy beach town. Someone is performing blood magic and threatens to expose their small magical community. So far only small animals have been slaughtered, but then the nightmares start.

Shayna suffers nightmares of being chased and sacrificed only to wake up bloodied and bruised. She thinks her magical blood is the ultimate target for the final blood rite. When an innocent girl, Tracy, is kidnapped Shayna knows it’s only a ploy to draw her out; she can’t let someone die because of her.

Product Details

• File Size: 440 KB
• Print Length: 237 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1463603320
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004YTPBX4
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,090 Free in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Free in Kindle Store)
  • #35 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Teens > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy
  • #90 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Literature & Fiction > Fantasy > Paranormal & Urban

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 43 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars More like 2 1/2 Stars February 7, 2012

By HeaLea

Format:Kindle Edition

I was really excited to start this book since it had such good reviews and the blurb sounded really promising but overall, I was fairly disappointed.

First the good things:
1) the premise was interesting...a group of friends with special abilities that can control 3 out of the 4 elements
2) the storyline wasn't bad and despite the book's flaws, I wanted to continue reading to see what would happen.
3) I liked how the story ended with Shayna and Jensen.

Now for the bad things:
1) While the premise was good, I don't think the book delivered. There was little of Shayna actually using her "Earth" ability and more of her casting spells and being spiritual. So, like any other witch really. And the other two characters got very little magic time and when they did, they were basically just helping out Shayna and not actually doing any magic themselves.

2)The story was really predictable. I thought..."It can't be this obvious...there has to be some surprise at the end." Alas, there was not :(

3) This book could have been a lot better with the help of a good editor. Not only were there a lot of spelling and punctuataion mistakes, but there was also a lot of repetition, sentences that didn't make sense and superfluous stuff.

4) The characters aren't particularly likable. I hated Shayna in the first couple chapters of the book and then eventually became neutral. The two other characters were bland and did very little to push the story along so I don't really know why they were there.

5) People were constatnly saying "dude", "babe" and "honey". It was annoying and distracting after a couple chapters and just never ended. Seriously, everyone calls everyone one, if not all of these terms.

6) There were parts that were just really silly. For instance, hiding inside a tree for protection somehow puts Shayna on the same level of evil as a guy who's trying to kill a person? Okaaaaay.

Overall, I can't suggest reading it but I also can't suggest avoiding it. Other people clearly enjoyed it so maybe I'm just picky.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Feed you addiction to witchcraft stories April 8, 2012

By Ivana

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have very mixed feelings about this book. While there were some things that I thoroughly enjoyed, there were other things that put me off and eventually led to a lower rating. I've read a few books on witchcraft recently. I wanted to read more about Elementals and when this one popped up on Amazon I all but screamed with delight. I wasn't disappointed, I liked the book in general, but there were those few thingies that bothered me.

The final impression of this book was that Shauna spent a great deal of time researching. The rituals and the entire aspect of magic was really detailed and well-described. I loved that. The author payed much attention to how the magic works, what it feels (and tastes) like for Shayna and her friends. That was one of the main reasons why I decided to read it, so a big thank you to Shauna for making the magic come to life.

Another great thing is that the author didn't use cliches that we see too often in YA. No star-crossed lovers, no love triangles. Shauna is doing quite the opposite of what is done in many YA novels-she doesn't force the romance. The resolution of the "romance" between Jensen and Shayna was surprisingly mature and sensible.

My major complaints are directed toward the characters. I have a feeling that the author didn't succeed in capturing the voice of teenagers. They appear too paper-cut-out, too clean and un-spontaneous. (On a related note-I just saw that one reader said there was too much unnecessary cussing-really? I only found it in spot, but I'd like to see anyone not dropping the f-bomb if they were chased by a hell hound). Some of the dialogues sounded artificial and wooden and to be honest, they bored me. Shayna comes across as too bossy, and her patronizing tone was really out of place.
Much as I loved the long descriptions of rituals, they slow down the pacing tremendously and stretch out the story for far too long, so if you're looking for a fast-paced, adventure packed read, I'm not sure you'll find your thrill here.

And last-the word "dude" was far far overused, to the point it became annoying.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars YA Bound May 26, 2011

By YA Bound

Format:Kindle Edition

This was not a good for a self pubbed book... This was a great book period. Right from the first page I lost myself in the story, and more than that, the characters. I cannot stress enough, even the writers I beta for, how important it is to write your teen characters' dialogue authentically. I spend my days listening to my son and his friends talk, and this story was like being in the same room as real life teens. The writing was clean and clear, and flowed perfectly. I didn't pause once and think a sentence could have been written better. And that's a difficult thing for me not to do lol.
I loved Shayna. She was just a straight up awesome girl. I liked that she and her friends came into the story knowing of their abilities and powers. It gave the story a deeper plot as they had to figure other things out, just not about themselves. I enjoyed the youthful voice of the novel. I laughed out loud so many times as the characters bantered. It was refreshing.
My only issue was there wasn't enough of Jensen, the lead guy. He was a cool, amazing character, and I just simply wanted him to have more `screen' time. Although, scenes like the one of him and Shayna in the restaurant added so much depth to their relationship. The time they did spend together I felt was enhanced by him not being in every scene. And I loved the way they talked to each other. Although Shayna was very attracted to Jensen, she didn't let that rule her actions. She thought for herself and questions things about him. I liked this very much.
Overall, this was a well-crafted YA with a fresh, unique voice and wonderful characters. I could have used a smidge more romance, but the tension and the implied `this isn't over' there at the end, is enough to make me want to suck down the next book in hopes that I get a little steamy ;) The plot was strong, and it was a great mystery. I recommend this to anyone who likes Wiccan, witchcraft, or Paranormal novels, and is looking for something with great voice and refreshingly authentic characters in YA. Awesome read!

More About the Author

The author of the Young Adult Urban Fantasy series: The Elemental Series. Look for the fifth and final installment, Spirit, in late April 2013!

I have been working on the Elemental Series for the last four years and plan for it to be a 5 book series. It was a hard decision to self-publish but it's been an exciting and terrifying ride.

You can find me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorShaunaGranger

And to my readers (or fans of my covers), I have beautiful bookmarks that I would love to share with you. If you'd like one, drop me a note with your contact info and I'd be happy to send you one!