What do you think?
Rate this book
Elemental Origins #5
Born of Air
In a desert full of danger, the ancient sands whisper her name.
All Petra Kara wants in life is to study Archaeology at the University of Cambridge. And she's so close. She's got the grades, she's got the ambition. All she needs now is an outrageous sum of money and experience on an Old World archaeological excavation. If only she could find a way to get rid of her annoying low-grade telepathy. There's nothing Petra hates more than a cheat and a liar and it's too easy to cheat when you can read people's minds.
When Petra spies an ad for a volunteer position on an excavation to North Africa, she knows its meant for her. But there is more waiting for her in Libya than broken pottery and human remains. A heart-pounding race through the desert under a sky full of stars with Jesse, her sexy dig-mate and newfound crush, ends when Petra slides into an ancient cave-system with strange stones embedded in the walls.
That's where her life changes forever.
As her powers manifest, there are those who think they have a good reason to destroy her before she becomes too powerful.
Will she survive long enough to learn who she is and what she's really capable of?
Born of Air is the fifth book in The Elemental Origins Novels, a series of captivating YA urban fantasy stories which can be read in any order. If you love strong female protagonists and elemental magic, then you’ll love A.L. Knorr’s mystical desert adventure.
Read Born of Air and get blown away today. Can be read as a standalone.
All Petra Kara wants in life is to study Archaeology at the University of Cambridge. And she's so close. She's got the grades, she's got the ambition. All she needs now is an outrageous sum of money and experience on an Old World archaeological excavation. If only she could find a way to get rid of her annoying low-grade telepathy. There's nothing Petra hates more than a cheat and a liar and it's too easy to cheat when you can read people's minds.
When Petra spies an ad for a volunteer position on an excavation to North Africa, she knows its meant for her. But there is more waiting for her in Libya than broken pottery and human remains. A heart-pounding race through the desert under a sky full of stars with Jesse, her sexy dig-mate and newfound crush, ends when Petra slides into an ancient cave-system with strange stones embedded in the walls.
That's where her life changes forever.
As her powers manifest, there are those who think they have a good reason to destroy her before she becomes too powerful.
Will she survive long enough to learn who she is and what she's really capable of?
Born of Air is the fifth book in The Elemental Origins Novels, a series of captivating YA urban fantasy stories which can be read in any order. If you love strong female protagonists and elemental magic, then you’ll love A.L. Knorr’s mystical desert adventure.
Read Born of Air and get blown away today. Can be read as a standalone.
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 23, 2022
528 people are currently reading
956 people want to read
About the author
A.L. Knorr
66 books701 followersA.L. Knorr is a USA Today Bestselling Author and award-winning Canadian conjurer of clean fantasy for teens and the young at heart. Her stories blend elemental magic, epic adventure, fierce female leads, and just enough romance to make your heart flutter (without needing to hide the book from your grandma).
Whether you’re chasing fire demons through Venice, swimming with mermaids off the coast of Poland, or unraveling supernatural conspiracies in ancient ruins, her immersive worlds pull you in—and don’t let go.
No explicit content. No f-bombs. Just page-turning plots, vivid magic, and characters you'll wish were real.
And if you like your fantasy with a little more grit, danger, and fallen angels? Check out Shadows of the Fallen—where secrets are deadly, powers come at a price, and trust is the rarest magic of all.
Join her VIP Reader List for secret book news, and first dibs on every new release:
www(dot)alknorrbooks(dot)com
Find her on IG @alknorrbooks
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01NBAUVKO
Facebook:
https//www.facebook.com/alknorrbooks
Whether you’re chasing fire demons through Venice, swimming with mermaids off the coast of Poland, or unraveling supernatural conspiracies in ancient ruins, her immersive worlds pull you in—and don’t let go.
No explicit content. No f-bombs. Just page-turning plots, vivid magic, and characters you'll wish were real.
And if you like your fantasy with a little more grit, danger, and fallen angels? Check out Shadows of the Fallen—where secrets are deadly, powers come at a price, and trust is the rarest magic of all.
Join her VIP Reader List for secret book news, and first dibs on every new release:
www(dot)alknorrbooks(dot)com
Find her on IG @alknorrbooks
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B01NBAUVKO
Facebook:
https//www.facebook.com/alknorrbooks
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
November 12, 2017
I’ve been reading AL Knorr’s Elemental Origins books since the first one, the totally wonderful yet horribly addictive Born of Water. But this one is special. It’s star, Petra, is actually much more than what’s indicated by the book title... but I won’t say more as I don’t want to give things away. So what we have here is a frankly superb character who develops freaking amazing powers in the course of her adventures. Action, intrigue, mystery ... and a look into a greater conspiracy that I’m sure we will see more of. A fantastic plot which hints at even more to come, a wonderful cast and the excellent writing I’ve come to expect from this author. A fantastic achievement, and of course highly recommended.
May 12, 2024
Short version of Indian Jones kind of adventure 👻
Excited to see the girls getting joined together and can't wait to see the finale where they all participate together.
As for this particular part, Jesse... Still so many questions about this character and I really hope to get them answered in the last book 🙈
Excited to see the girls getting joined together and can't wait to see the finale where they all participate together.
As for this particular part, Jesse... Still so many questions about this character and I really hope to get them answered in the last book 🙈
May 3, 2020
Omg so gripping
This is the next book in the elemental series. However, this book does not follow the friends. This book follows the story of petra. She was born an orphan and brought up in the system. She is holding a secret. She has an array of powers. However she doesnt know how to control them so she doesn't use them. She had a dream she wants to be an archiologist. She has been saving up to go to uni. One day she comes across a flyer asking for people to join an excavation abroad. She jumps at the opportunity and goes to spend the summer with some dig mates. Whilst there she makes friends and develops a crush. Normal teenage things. Then one night she stubbles into a hidden cave and awakens more of her powers. This puts her and her digmates in danger and events soon start to unfold. Can she get away? Can she help her digmates too? When she awakens her powers she also unlocks new opportunities for herself.
My favourite character is ibby. I wonder what her story is and she is good at keeping secrets
My least favourite character is Jesse, why is he being that way with petra. I feel that there is a secret there that needs to be uncovered.
I really look forward to reading the next book Ana finding answers to my questions I definately recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy books
This is the next book in the elemental series. However, this book does not follow the friends. This book follows the story of petra. She was born an orphan and brought up in the system. She is holding a secret. She has an array of powers. However she doesnt know how to control them so she doesn't use them. She had a dream she wants to be an archiologist. She has been saving up to go to uni. One day she comes across a flyer asking for people to join an excavation abroad. She jumps at the opportunity and goes to spend the summer with some dig mates. Whilst there she makes friends and develops a crush. Normal teenage things. Then one night she stubbles into a hidden cave and awakens more of her powers. This puts her and her digmates in danger and events soon start to unfold. Can she get away? Can she help her digmates too? When she awakens her powers she also unlocks new opportunities for herself.
My favourite character is ibby. I wonder what her story is and she is good at keeping secrets
My least favourite character is Jesse, why is he being that way with petra. I feel that there is a secret there that needs to be uncovered.
I really look forward to reading the next book Ana finding answers to my questions I definately recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy books
December 8, 2021
This book stepped away from the 4 friends we have been following in the past 4 books. We had a brief glimpse of recognition of a photo of Akiko in the very beginning but otherwise they weren't in the book or mentioned until the epilogue. 🙎🏽♀️(That was frustrating!)
Anyhow, in this book we follow an orphan Petra who graduated from the foster system in Saltford and really wants to go to Cambridge for a PhD in Archeology. When she is signed on for a dig she hopes that her dreams might come true but she soon realizes that the telepathy and telekinesis she has always possessed have placed her in danger while in Lybia. It was interesting but mostly I wanted to get through it to get back to the character's I'd expected to be reading about.... I guess that's the next one! 😂
Anyhow, in this book we follow an orphan Petra who graduated from the foster system in Saltford and really wants to go to Cambridge for a PhD in Archeology. When she is signed on for a dig she hopes that her dreams might come true but she soon realizes that the telepathy and telekinesis she has always possessed have placed her in danger while in Lybia. It was interesting but mostly I wanted to get through it to get back to the character's I'd expected to be reading about.... I guess that's the next one! 😂
April 2, 2023
3.5💫 I just don't get why Knorr did not make Akiko the air elemental. I mean Petra is interesting but way too overpowered. She has one tiny connection to the others and no real connection the element of air.
I get why she had to include someone outside the friend group to introduce the villains of the next book but that could have been achieved in a different way. For example Akiko's "grandfather" could have been the founder of the organization or something like that.
What I do love about the whole series is that it always starts in our main city and then continues in another country.
I get why she had to include someone outside the friend group to introduce the villains of the next book but that could have been achieved in a different way. For example Akiko's "grandfather" could have been the founder of the organization or something like that.
What I do love about the whole series is that it always starts in our main city and then continues in another country.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2025
Fantastical!
As someone who loved The Mummy and The Mummy Returns growing up, I loved this book! Petra gave me the same vibes as Evie (although Petra is much younger). She just wants to be given a chance to make her mark in the archeological world, and she definitely did in this book. Loved this new element that was brought to the elemental series, because it was not what I thought it would be.
As someone who loved The Mummy and The Mummy Returns growing up, I loved this book! Petra gave me the same vibes as Evie (although Petra is much younger). She just wants to be given a chance to make her mark in the archeological world, and she definitely did in this book. Loved this new element that was brought to the elemental series, because it was not what I thought it would be.
November 26, 2017
*****5 Stars*****
This is my favorite YA series out right now. Each book in the series is about a different character. Up until book 5, they are all friends. Each character has an interesting summer apart from the group, where new powers emerge, and an exciting adventure takes place. Can't wait for them to come together and see what's in store for these new elementals.
Highly recommend!
This is my favorite YA series out right now. Each book in the series is about a different character. Up until book 5, they are all friends. Each character has an interesting summer apart from the group, where new powers emerge, and an exciting adventure takes place. Can't wait for them to come together and see what's in store for these new elementals.
Highly recommend!
March 25, 2024
Tolles Buch!
May 12, 2024
2024 Reads #290/250
3.5⭐️
3.5⭐️
April 24, 2019
These books are definitely getting better as the series goes on. In this one we are introduced to Petra which is a bit of a surprise as we haven't actually met her before in the series. She is however the air elemental.
Petra has her whole life planned out. She knows what she wants to do and what she needs to do to get there. However that all goes to pot when she goes on an archaeological dig. It all kicks off from there. And when I say kicked off I mean it. This book was explosive. A lot happened in this book and I was also very intrigued to find out what happens with the "job". (Sorry trying to do this without spoilers...)
Its so fun watching Petra gain confidence and really grow into her own. She is Euroklydon and she is literally one of a kind. Which is also another premise that I love. I also love that we have gotten to meet a few other supernaturals who aren't a part of the group and why it is that there are so many supernaturals in the town and especially the school that they go to.
I can't wait for the finale!
Petra has her whole life planned out. She knows what she wants to do and what she needs to do to get there. However that all goes to pot when she goes on an archaeological dig. It all kicks off from there. And when I say kicked off I mean it. This book was explosive. A lot happened in this book and I was also very intrigued to find out what happens with the "job". (Sorry trying to do this without spoilers...)
Its so fun watching Petra gain confidence and really grow into her own. She is Euroklydon and she is literally one of a kind. Which is also another premise that I love. I also love that we have gotten to meet a few other supernaturals who aren't a part of the group and why it is that there are so many supernaturals in the town and especially the school that they go to.
I can't wait for the finale!
May 7, 2019
I initially only read this book because it was part of the series and I was curious as to how it would correlate with the others since this character doesn't know any of the girls but happens to have lived in Saltford at one time. The author brings everything together as we get a sneak peak into what's really going on behind the scenes.
The story was very different and for once the author made it more believable, because this character has had her abilities her whole life. It was definitely different, especially with the archaeology and all the fighting but quite interesting.
I wouldn't say Petra is my favorite character but her abilities are unique and I want to know more about her back story, are we ever going to find out about her father and more about her mother?
Also I am curious to find out if the author will be doing more stories on each individual character. I know Targa and Saxony got their own stories but I feel like they all should especially Akiko.
Anyway it's a good read and you will definitely need to know what happens in this book to read the conclusion.
The story was very different and for once the author made it more believable, because this character has had her abilities her whole life. It was definitely different, especially with the archaeology and all the fighting but quite interesting.
I wouldn't say Petra is my favorite character but her abilities are unique and I want to know more about her back story, are we ever going to find out about her father and more about her mother?
Also I am curious to find out if the author will be doing more stories on each individual character. I know Targa and Saxony got their own stories but I feel like they all should especially Akiko.
Anyway it's a good read and you will definitely need to know what happens in this book to read the conclusion.
June 20, 2022
A woman, wearing plenty of jewelry, with no ID, speaking only a foreign language is found at a hospital, dying and about to give birth. She lives long enough to name the baby, Petra Kara. Petra has known a hard life, being bounced around in the foster system, and struggling through her life with odd powers with no explanation as to how to use them or where they came from. She can read people’s minds and move objects. But over the years she has gotten good at hiding, and her real love is archaeology, especially of the Middle-East where her mother was from. When an opening for a position with a dig team going to Libya opens up, she jumps on it.
Even though this was book 5 in a series, this is a standalone story. You don’t have to have read any of the others in the series to follow this one. Like the other books in the series, this focuses on a young woman coming into supernatural powers. Yes, it has a lot of the cliched elements of the young woman being a loner, being in the foster system, having a special background unknown to her that she discovers. But rather than being the run-of-the-mill urban fantasy average girl discovers powers story, the bulk of the story follows Petra as she journeys to Libya on an excavation. I found the setting endlessly fascinating, even if it was mostly just rocks and desert. As a fan of Indiana Jones, this has sifting through sand, working in trenches, and discovering ancient relics, one which triggers the depths of Petra’s powers and unlocks her mythic history. There’s a dash of romance in this, and friends that she makes on the dig team, including Ibby who has her own spin-off trilogy Born of Metal. There were questions raised in this though, that were never answered, which I hope get answered in Book 6 of this series The Elementals, where all of the girls in these books come together (I was dragging my heels on reading it since it’s just so cliched that they’re recruited into a generic supernatural taskforce. I hate those books having an agency/organization in them with a passion). If they don’t get answered, I hope that there will be a spin-off series for Petra written eventually, since I did love her Indiana Jones style adventuring and hope it gets continued. (There is a weird jump at the end where it goes from Petra walking into the lab about to test for her powers at the end of Chapter 18 to her standing on a street at the beginning of Chapter 19. I have the kindle version and I didn’t notice any missing chapters).
Even though this was book 5 in a series, this is a standalone story. You don’t have to have read any of the others in the series to follow this one. Like the other books in the series, this focuses on a young woman coming into supernatural powers. Yes, it has a lot of the cliched elements of the young woman being a loner, being in the foster system, having a special background unknown to her that she discovers. But rather than being the run-of-the-mill urban fantasy average girl discovers powers story, the bulk of the story follows Petra as she journeys to Libya on an excavation. I found the setting endlessly fascinating, even if it was mostly just rocks and desert. As a fan of Indiana Jones, this has sifting through sand, working in trenches, and discovering ancient relics, one which triggers the depths of Petra’s powers and unlocks her mythic history. There’s a dash of romance in this, and friends that she makes on the dig team, including Ibby who has her own spin-off trilogy Born of Metal. There were questions raised in this though, that were never answered, which I hope get answered in Book 6 of this series The Elementals, where all of the girls in these books come together (I was dragging my heels on reading it since it’s just so cliched that they’re recruited into a generic supernatural taskforce. I hate those books having an agency/organization in them with a passion). If they don’t get answered, I hope that there will be a spin-off series for Petra written eventually, since I did love her Indiana Jones style adventuring and hope it gets continued. (There is a weird jump at the end where it goes from Petra walking into the lab about to test for her powers at the end of Chapter 18 to her standing on a street at the beginning of Chapter 19. I have the kindle version and I didn’t notice any missing chapters).
January 10, 2023
Best of the series!
I initially was leaning on a comfortable 4-star rating but considering how much I enjoyed all that was entailed in the reveal of the final element of Air, I figured it earned an extra star outta me. I loved the author's creativity will all the elements, but for reasons detailed in this story, Air was definitely the most intriguing. Not only that, but main character Petra and the new band of characters were very fun getting to know, which is likely because this is the first book whose characters have zero connection to the previous ones. That was a refreshing change of pace.
For some reason, this book seemed shorter than the others as I whipped through it remarkably quickly. But perhaps that's because I found the story immediately engaging and easy to get through, which can make any story seem short. The pace was smooth and consistent and there was a nice balance of narration and dialogue (unlike the previous book which was lacking in dialogue). I also appreciated the final epilogue of the tail as it was the BEST way in alerting me of the seriousness of the element of Air, and the potential it has to pack a punch.
I did have a couple minor gripes, though, nothing that ruined the story. The first is the detail being a bit too heavy for certain scenes. There were times I visualized things just fine, only to have the images in my head overly scrambled from yet another new detail. Remember, authors, sometimes less really can be more! My other gripe is what I consider to be a glaring plot hole in which the existence of the Elementals is conveniently known by another party. I kept wondering how said person would even know about them, but the answer never came.
Despite these miniscule complaints, I definitely enjoyed this entry most of the entire series and am now very eager to finally see all these girls, these. 'Elementals,' cross over at last.
I initially was leaning on a comfortable 4-star rating but considering how much I enjoyed all that was entailed in the reveal of the final element of Air, I figured it earned an extra star outta me. I loved the author's creativity will all the elements, but for reasons detailed in this story, Air was definitely the most intriguing. Not only that, but main character Petra and the new band of characters were very fun getting to know, which is likely because this is the first book whose characters have zero connection to the previous ones. That was a refreshing change of pace.
For some reason, this book seemed shorter than the others as I whipped through it remarkably quickly. But perhaps that's because I found the story immediately engaging and easy to get through, which can make any story seem short. The pace was smooth and consistent and there was a nice balance of narration and dialogue (unlike the previous book which was lacking in dialogue). I also appreciated the final epilogue of the tail as it was the BEST way in alerting me of the seriousness of the element of Air, and the potential it has to pack a punch.
I did have a couple minor gripes, though, nothing that ruined the story. The first is the detail being a bit too heavy for certain scenes. There were times I visualized things just fine, only to have the images in my head overly scrambled from yet another new detail. Remember, authors, sometimes less really can be more! My other gripe is what I consider to be a glaring plot hole in which the existence of the Elementals is conveniently known by another party. I kept wondering how said person would even know about them, but the answer never came.
Despite these miniscule complaints, I definitely enjoyed this entry most of the entire series and am now very eager to finally see all these girls, these. 'Elementals,' cross over at last.
February 25, 2018
Lots of excitement and drama!
This was an exceptional book in this series as Petra was blessed (or) cursed with many supernatural gifts and instinctively knew how to use them. Lots of drama happened to her during her geological dig including having to deal with frightening superstitious characters trying to undermine her talents. She even has a romantic experience with one of her team. And what was the significance of the dream she had several times with her father? I am so looking forward to finding out all the answers to my many questions and more in the next book in the series. I am very excited about all the girls getting together and sharing their supernatural capabilities! I’ve had a wonderful experience getting to know all these characters and sharing in the adventures they’ve had. I look forward enthusiastically to the next book and highly recommend reading this book and this series for fantasy lovers everywhere. You will not be disappointed!
This was an exceptional book in this series as Petra was blessed (or) cursed with many supernatural gifts and instinctively knew how to use them. Lots of drama happened to her during her geological dig including having to deal with frightening superstitious characters trying to undermine her talents. She even has a romantic experience with one of her team. And what was the significance of the dream she had several times with her father? I am so looking forward to finding out all the answers to my many questions and more in the next book in the series. I am very excited about all the girls getting together and sharing their supernatural capabilities! I’ve had a wonderful experience getting to know all these characters and sharing in the adventures they’ve had. I look forward enthusiastically to the next book and highly recommend reading this book and this series for fantasy lovers everywhere. You will not be disappointed!
January 18, 2022
Not your best work, Knorr. I had totally different thoughts about this book before I read it and as I read it I was extremely disappointed. The title should not be Born Of Air, it should be something else considering Petra has a ton of different powers. Her powers only affect the air if she wants, it’s not just focused around one element like the other books. The last four books, the girls either received their gift or was born with it or into it. This one she’s born with mind reading (even though it turns out to be something different to explain that), not anything involving air. And the main question I have is how or why is she born like this? We got no backstory about where this power came from. All we got is a possible “father” that she has visions of. Bottom line, there are so many twists and turns and unexplained things. I’m glad I didn’t read this one first or I wouldn’t have read the others. Glad I read them in order.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2018
Just... whoa!
Okay, this book blew me away! That ending...! I am on pins and needles here, full of anxiety to inhale the next book to see what is going to happen!!
It’s amazing when you read a book and feel a desire to have their job, their ability, their experiences. It’s even more amazing when you read a series of books that all elicit these feelings in different ways! These books are all so incredibly different yet they are all connected. And I want to BE each character! A mermaid, an earth witch, a nanny in Italy, an immortal shapeshifter, an archeologist...
also, even though many books have been written about elementals and nature witches, these gals are definitely unique and original! The concepts are detailed and so “realistic” that I am repeatedly shocked that they’ve never been written about before (that I’ve read)!
Okay, this book blew me away! That ending...! I am on pins and needles here, full of anxiety to inhale the next book to see what is going to happen!!
It’s amazing when you read a book and feel a desire to have their job, their ability, their experiences. It’s even more amazing when you read a series of books that all elicit these feelings in different ways! These books are all so incredibly different yet they are all connected. And I want to BE each character! A mermaid, an earth witch, a nanny in Italy, an immortal shapeshifter, an archeologist...
also, even though many books have been written about elementals and nature witches, these gals are definitely unique and original! The concepts are detailed and so “realistic” that I am repeatedly shocked that they’ve never been written about before (that I’ve read)!
September 11, 2018
My rating is probably unfair for the book and reflects more the way it doesn't fit into the series. Which is odd because each book could be read as stand alones...
I did not particularly like Petra, who I found to be an explicably elitist snob. She supposedly bounced around the foster system until almost a teen and struggled with a shrink and with making friends, but she claims her childhood was great, the stereotype of foster life is fake. Which is a believable character-type, I just don't think it was developed in a way that explains her. Her story doesn't fit. For all that I dislike Saxony, once we "meet" her mother, she makes sense. The other girls' characters also match their background. Petra's was so mismatched, I was expecting some great reveal to explain it...that never happened.
I did not particularly like Petra, who I found to be an explicably elitist snob. She supposedly bounced around the foster system until almost a teen and struggled with a shrink and with making friends, but she claims her childhood was great, the stereotype of foster life is fake. Which is a believable character-type, I just don't think it was developed in a way that explains her. Her story doesn't fit. For all that I dislike Saxony, once we "meet" her mother, she makes sense. The other girls' characters also match their background. Petra's was so mismatched, I was expecting some great reveal to explain it...that never happened.
November 12, 2019
She is a weapon
In this book we get to meet Petra, she is an orphan with a keen desire to get into Cambridge and learn to become an archaeologist.
I liked Petra from the moment she walked into her therapist's office. Her start in life is so sad and shrouded in mystery. The way she learned not to get too attached or trust is heartbreaking.
Descriptions were so beautiful and vivid, I felt transported into Libya with her and could almost feel the itch of sand she had to deal with. So much mystery in this one! Action and adventure all wrapped into one, and the way she got in tune with her many abilities gave me goosebumps.
Can't wait to see what happens with the organization and how they plan to use their supernaturals. I hope Jessie makes a comeback, I wonder if he was a supernatural too?
In this book we get to meet Petra, she is an orphan with a keen desire to get into Cambridge and learn to become an archaeologist.
I liked Petra from the moment she walked into her therapist's office. Her start in life is so sad and shrouded in mystery. The way she learned not to get too attached or trust is heartbreaking.
Descriptions were so beautiful and vivid, I felt transported into Libya with her and could almost feel the itch of sand she had to deal with. So much mystery in this one! Action and adventure all wrapped into one, and the way she got in tune with her many abilities gave me goosebumps.
Can't wait to see what happens with the organization and how they plan to use their supernaturals. I hope Jessie makes a comeback, I wonder if he was a supernatural too?
October 19, 2021
Interesting story
Petra is a teenager who loves all things archeological. She dreams of going on a dig and making that her career. Her mother died when she was born...well actually, before she was born. She should have died as well. She grew up in foster care, but the only foster mother she liked, died not long ago. She's pretty smart and has been saving her money to go to the best college available. She has her future planned out.
She learns of an expedition to a dig overseas and applies. She'd be the youngest one there. She's accepted. Something happens while she's there that she cannot explain. She is the one born of air, and the locals are scared to death. But a vision tells her something else. She she have listened.
It's an interesting story. Not as cool as the other four I have read, but still good.
Read on my friends.
Petra is a teenager who loves all things archeological. She dreams of going on a dig and making that her career. Her mother died when she was born...well actually, before she was born. She should have died as well. She grew up in foster care, but the only foster mother she liked, died not long ago. She's pretty smart and has been saving her money to go to the best college available. She has her future planned out.
She learns of an expedition to a dig overseas and applies. She'd be the youngest one there. She's accepted. Something happens while she's there that she cannot explain. She is the one born of air, and the locals are scared to death. But a vision tells her something else. She she have listened.
It's an interesting story. Not as cool as the other four I have read, but still good.
Read on my friends.
May 5, 2025
The newest story in the Elemental Origins series is excellent. It holds your attention ~ you don't want to put it down. You know at some point it's going to link back to the other stories, but you don't need to read the other stories to understand this -- although it does help (and those books are excellent as well!). The development of Petra through the book as she finds what she can really do and her amazing power is fascinating. She is, in spite of or perhaps because of her childhood, an extremely strong yet VERY likable character. Seeing her interact with the others in the books tells you what kind of person she is and is becoming. It will be really interesting when she meets all the girls from the prior books. I can hardly wait to see where they go. A.L. Knorr has done it again - a real page-turner - I am anxiously awaiting the next book -- already!!!
October 5, 2018
Although Akiko's aether story was my elemental origins story, I loved this one. Most likely due to the archaeological aspects of the story (I have a BA in archaeology). It started fairly slowly and Petra's powers weren't really part of the story until the end. I thought some of the other elemental origin stories were more captivating due to their powers being much more important to the story line, whereas in this book it was more that the character needed to be in the right place at the right time in Libya to gain all her powers from the cave. All together, I really have enjoyed all the origin stories. I'm going to read the last book in the series next. I assume this is where the young women finally reveal their powers to each other.
February 25, 2021
Cool powers
3.5 for me
I was more interested in her abilities and dreams than the story that set up the whole thing. I liked that the author went deeper than surface level to talk about the dig site and the country they were visiting, and I liked some of the characters during the nicer moments. The books in this series have felt shorter so I wasn’t too surprised when it ended at the time it did. I feel like a little more on the dig and what she got out of it could have been added on if the book circled her goals so many times. I’m always happily surprised when guys get introduced and they’re used for something other than romance.
Overall, a fun intro to Petra with an epilogue that’s got me pumped for the next installment.
3.5 for me
I was more interested in her abilities and dreams than the story that set up the whole thing. I liked that the author went deeper than surface level to talk about the dig site and the country they were visiting, and I liked some of the characters during the nicer moments. The books in this series have felt shorter so I wasn’t too surprised when it ended at the time it did. I feel like a little more on the dig and what she got out of it could have been added on if the book circled her goals so many times. I’m always happily surprised when guys get introduced and they’re used for something other than romance.
Overall, a fun intro to Petra with an epilogue that’s got me pumped for the next installment.
April 30, 2023
I'm torn between giving this 4 or 5 stars. The story was awesome. I loved it. There was plenty of archaeology and geology in there to make me drool. And then the characters are all interesting. I really like Petra. There was plenty of action, and the descriptions painted wonderful pictures in my mind. My attention was hooked from start to finish.
Cons: I'm left confused as to several things that I won't mention because I don't want to give spoilers. Despite the characters being interesting, there wasn't much info given on them so they seemed 2D. And then the relationships blossomed without much reason. We didn't get to see the growth. It was just suddenly there.
I've gone with 4 stars mainly for the lack of character development in the supporting cast.
Cons: I'm left confused as to several things that I won't mention because I don't want to give spoilers. Despite the characters being interesting, there wasn't much info given on them so they seemed 2D. And then the relationships blossomed without much reason. We didn't get to see the growth. It was just suddenly there.
I've gone with 4 stars mainly for the lack of character development in the supporting cast.
March 3, 2024
Sorry but this wasn’t it. I really loved the first and third book in this series but you can see how the quality declines the further you go on in this series. It has a feeling of writing this series only for the sake of quick publishing.
This was lazy writing. So many plot lines were not picked up, so many interesting things were simply grazed over. Petra was a flat character and you couldn’t really get to know her.
What was it about the dude at the airport with the tattoo, the story of the mom? The story of the stones, what about Ibby??
I really want to read about what will happen in the next book when the girls will meet again. But I’m worried that I will just have to deal with this laaaaazy writing again.
I don’t know.
This was lazy writing. So many plot lines were not picked up, so many interesting things were simply grazed over. Petra was a flat character and you couldn’t really get to know her.
What was it about the dude at the airport with the tattoo, the story of the mom? The story of the stones, what about Ibby??
I really want to read about what will happen in the next book when the girls will meet again. But I’m worried that I will just have to deal with this laaaaazy writing again.
I don’t know.
December 12, 2019
Born of Air (Elemental Origins #5), my fourteenth read from author A.L. Knorr. WOW! Extremely well written, the characters, even the minor ones, are well developed with an attention-grabbing storyline. I’m a character reader, I get into the characters. Who and what they are. Why they do the things they do. The things that make the reader get invested into the characters and thereby the story. Extremely well written. I’ll be reading more from this author! Better yet this is the fifth book in a multi-book series that I look forward to reading. Next up, Born of Air (Elemental Origins #5)! (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
September 6, 2022
Petra is a young woman who wants to study archaeology and gets a chance to go on a dig in a desert. Good for her.
Petra finds out she can do things she didn't know she could do. She finds out there are those in the desert who think she's some kind of destructive figure and want to destroy her first. Not so good for her.
Archaeology digs usually don't involved getting kidnapped, shot at and running for your life.
It actually makes for an interesting story with a young woman not looking to become some kind of power figure, just looking to learn things to be the best archaeologist she can be.
Petra finds out she can do things she didn't know she could do. She finds out there are those in the desert who think she's some kind of destructive figure and want to destroy her first. Not so good for her.
Archaeology digs usually don't involved getting kidnapped, shot at and running for your life.
It actually makes for an interesting story with a young woman not looking to become some kind of power figure, just looking to learn things to be the best archaeologist she can be.
November 18, 2017
A new character from Saltford node, a new power.
I was impressed by the force of Petra in face of her immense power and the events happening to her on this definitely important summer in supernatural history.
As for the ending, let say I can’t wait for Akiko answer to some very rude comment that was made about her (“inconsequential”? if only they knew).
Well from now on I suppose the books order is going to matter as the girls and their friends come back to Saltford and will learn more about each other.
I can’t wait to see were this new wind is blowing.
I was impressed by the force of Petra in face of her immense power and the events happening to her on this definitely important summer in supernatural history.
As for the ending, let say I can’t wait for Akiko answer to some very rude comment that was made about her (“inconsequential”? if only they knew).
Well from now on I suppose the books order is going to matter as the girls and their friends come back to Saltford and will learn more about each other.
I can’t wait to see were this new wind is blowing.
December 2, 2017
Excellent, breathtaking.
After reading the other books in the series, I was anxious to read this one and I must say I was not disappointed. Once again I was transported to a foreign land and put on the edge of my of seat as another Elemental was revealed. Petra was a beautiful young lady who was looking for the same thing as all of us, a family, purpose, a career, and adventure and she ended up getting more than she bargained for. I'm looking forward to the next book to check in on the girls and we| how they are doing.
After reading the other books in the series, I was anxious to read this one and I must say I was not disappointed. Once again I was transported to a foreign land and put on the edge of my of seat as another Elemental was revealed. Petra was a beautiful young lady who was looking for the same thing as all of us, a family, purpose, a career, and adventure and she ended up getting more than she bargained for. I'm looking forward to the next book to check in on the girls and we| how they are doing.
October 11, 2019
Wow what a fantastic read. Petras story is fantastic as you listen as she learns about her supernatural powers come about. This read captures you from the from the start to the finish. It had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. To me the Character is a heroine and I look forward to reading the other stories in this series. This is an epic read that has epic scenes where the characters seem to jump off the page as you listen. And The Narrator has done a fantastic job at telling the story. I definitely recommend this read.
Shauna Joesten
Shauna Joesten
October 17, 2019
Petra is in my opinion the strongest of the girls in the series. I know shes not the oldest but she just seems to have so much more life experience than the other girls. Her dream is to be an archeologist and she gets her chance. As shes on her dream dig she learns her true nature and falls in love. Although shes not one of the friends from Saltford she is the missing element. Her power over air surprises her and those around her. I loved this story of where she came from and her struggles. I cant wait for all the girls to meet.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews