What do you think?
Rate this book
Light Bringer #1
Elemental
Sophia’s mother disappeared when she was six, leaving behind a broken father and sleep disturbed by silent terrors. Now twelve years later, the nightmares that plagued her youth have suddenly returned.
With dark creatures occupying her nights and a sense of restlessness consuming her days, all she wants is to finish school and get out of her small town as fast as possible. Everything changes when she is confronted with the realization that the shadowy beings from her dreams are real. The truth of this reality hits hard when someone she loves is killed. It would seem that anyone in their way is disposable.
A mysterious boy named Aiden enters her life bringing with him all sorts of complications. They’re drawn to each other, but their connection brings Aiden right into the path of her half-demon nightmares. With her father and several new friends put in the cross-hairs, Sophia must decide whether to let the shadows take her or stand her ground and fight. As the school year steadily moves closer to an end her decision may come with the cost of her life or worse—the lives of those she cares about.
With dark creatures occupying her nights and a sense of restlessness consuming her days, all she wants is to finish school and get out of her small town as fast as possible. Everything changes when she is confronted with the realization that the shadowy beings from her dreams are real. The truth of this reality hits hard when someone she loves is killed. It would seem that anyone in their way is disposable.
A mysterious boy named Aiden enters her life bringing with him all sorts of complications. They’re drawn to each other, but their connection brings Aiden right into the path of her half-demon nightmares. With her father and several new friends put in the cross-hairs, Sophia must decide whether to let the shadows take her or stand her ground and fight. As the school year steadily moves closer to an end her decision may come with the cost of her life or worse—the lives of those she cares about.
- GenresFantasy
380 pages, Paperback
First published April 16, 2013
7 people are currently reading
117 people want to read
About the author
Brandon Ax
4 books8 followersBRANDON AX fell in love with fantasy as a child after first devouring the entire Chronicles of Narnia series. Born in New Orleans, Brandon spent most of his childhood moving from state to state across the southern part of America. Gaining a love of people and their many stories, he decided to pursue a career in writing. After years of tuning his craft he finished his debut novel ELEMENTAL.
Brandon is an unapologetic geek. Beyond writing he loves to draw, paint, and sculpt fantastical creatures from clay. His movie collection is only rivaled by the number of comic books he owns and his knowledge of both could be called fanatical. His love of fantasy is lived out through the characters not only in his books but also while playing games like Elder Scrolls and World of Warcraft and Overwatch.
Currently living in South Carolina with his family, he spends his days dreaming up new worlds and fascinating characters. Hard at work on new books, he enjoys the act of molding a story to its completion.
Brandon is an unapologetic geek. Beyond writing he loves to draw, paint, and sculpt fantastical creatures from clay. His movie collection is only rivaled by the number of comic books he owns and his knowledge of both could be called fanatical. His love of fantasy is lived out through the characters not only in his books but also while playing games like Elder Scrolls and World of Warcraft and Overwatch.
Currently living in South Carolina with his family, he spends his days dreaming up new worlds and fascinating characters. Hard at work on new books, he enjoys the act of molding a story to its completion.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 28, 2013
Loved this book! Perfect for anyone who enjoys things like the Mortal Instruments series. Great YA, Urban Fantasy read with in depth characters.
Being a big fan of YA and Urban Fantasy in general, I went into this book with the mindset that it was going to be just like the rest in the genre that I have read. I could not have been more wrong! This book is the YA book that I have been searching for! This book has all of the things I love about the YA/Urban Fantasy genre. With real, relatable characters and action combined with a romance that is not overly exaggerated and the fantastical elements that you expect from the urban fantasy genre it left me wanting nothing....except to be able to read the second instalment.
I love how the author was able to create an entirely new twist on the magical element in the book that was different from anything I have ever read before! If you love the Ya genre or Urban fantasy but are tired of the typical vampire/werewolf, fairies, and fallen angels, this book is for you!
The characters in this book were so well written and so well introduced that it was impossible not to fall in love with each and every one of them. With unique personalities and dialogue that flowed naturally and was realistic the characters never got stale.
Finally!! A female lead that is strong without being overdone and made to seem snarky and irritating! My biggest pet peeve in the YA genre is most authors ability to write female leads that cower in a corner every time something goes wrong, that is not so with this book. This character has the qualities of being a girl and feminine while being strong of mind and will and was completely refreshing to read about.
I highly suggest this book to anyone, male or female, young or old. You will not be disappointed! I can't wait to get my copy of the next in the series and I am sure you will feel the same.
Being a big fan of YA and Urban Fantasy in general, I went into this book with the mindset that it was going to be just like the rest in the genre that I have read. I could not have been more wrong! This book is the YA book that I have been searching for! This book has all of the things I love about the YA/Urban Fantasy genre. With real, relatable characters and action combined with a romance that is not overly exaggerated and the fantastical elements that you expect from the urban fantasy genre it left me wanting nothing....except to be able to read the second instalment.
I love how the author was able to create an entirely new twist on the magical element in the book that was different from anything I have ever read before! If you love the Ya genre or Urban fantasy but are tired of the typical vampire/werewolf, fairies, and fallen angels, this book is for you!
The characters in this book were so well written and so well introduced that it was impossible not to fall in love with each and every one of them. With unique personalities and dialogue that flowed naturally and was realistic the characters never got stale.
Finally!! A female lead that is strong without being overdone and made to seem snarky and irritating! My biggest pet peeve in the YA genre is most authors ability to write female leads that cower in a corner every time something goes wrong, that is not so with this book. This character has the qualities of being a girl and feminine while being strong of mind and will and was completely refreshing to read about.
I highly suggest this book to anyone, male or female, young or old. You will not be disappointed! I can't wait to get my copy of the next in the series and I am sure you will feel the same.
May 8, 2017
UPDATE (MAY 2017): I have revised my original review of this after rereading Elemental because my original review mentioned editing issues, and the author has since had the book edited. Because the book was so incredibly good, I wanted to reread the edited version before continuing with the series, now that I have more time to read for pleasure, and I believe it's only proper that the review should reflect the book's current state.
***
Elemental is an exciting debut novel written by the obviously talented Brandon Ax. The characters were nicely developed and the descriptions of the action were vivid enough that I could picture it all clearly. A well-done balance on the good-v-evil thing. The "good" guys have their faults, and the "bad" guys are still interesting without being over-the-top unbelievable. The plot had depth and unpredictability that kept me on edge.
My original review removed a star due to editing issues, and I'm happy to add that star back after rereading it, post-edits. The book really is that good. Mr. Ax has taken his talent and polished it to put forth a quality piece of work.
His storytelling is exceptional, and not only am I glad I reread it, but I'm looking forward to delving into the second book in the Light Bringer series. I'm going to enjoy recommending this book to friends.
Lynda
http://www.easyreaderediting.com
***
Elemental is an exciting debut novel written by the obviously talented Brandon Ax. The characters were nicely developed and the descriptions of the action were vivid enough that I could picture it all clearly. A well-done balance on the good-v-evil thing. The "good" guys have their faults, and the "bad" guys are still interesting without being over-the-top unbelievable. The plot had depth and unpredictability that kept me on edge.
My original review removed a star due to editing issues, and I'm happy to add that star back after rereading it, post-edits. The book really is that good. Mr. Ax has taken his talent and polished it to put forth a quality piece of work.
His storytelling is exceptional, and not only am I glad I reread it, but I'm looking forward to delving into the second book in the Light Bringer series. I'm going to enjoy recommending this book to friends.
Lynda
http://www.easyreaderediting.com
April 23, 2013
The MC, Sophia, is a very likable teenager that has been haunted by nightmares from a very young age. All she wants is to finish her last year of high school and move far away to escape the darkness of the shadows that occupy her dreams. When she meets Aiden, a very attractive boy with piercing blue eyes, she starts to question her sanity... why is she the only one that seems to remember him?
Just when Sophia thought things were starting to look up she suffers a huge loss. In searching for answers, she finds out about a much different world than she could ever imagine existed. A world with Dark Ones and Elementals. A world where she seems to be the center of attention, which unfortunately not only involves her, but also the lives of those she cares about...
There are many unexpected turns of events in this YA Urban Fantasy novel. I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love with all of the characters. I was so glued to this book that I finished it in two days. The manipulation of the elements were awesome! Hard to believe this is the author's debut novel, he is a great story teller. I'm definitely a fan.
I cannot wait to read the rest of the books in the series!
Just when Sophia thought things were starting to look up she suffers a huge loss. In searching for answers, she finds out about a much different world than she could ever imagine existed. A world with Dark Ones and Elementals. A world where she seems to be the center of attention, which unfortunately not only involves her, but also the lives of those she cares about...
There are many unexpected turns of events in this YA Urban Fantasy novel. I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love with all of the characters. I was so glued to this book that I finished it in two days. The manipulation of the elements were awesome! Hard to believe this is the author's debut novel, he is a great story teller. I'm definitely a fan.
I cannot wait to read the rest of the books in the series!
Read
August 15, 2013I highly recommend "Elemental" by the very talented Brandon Ax. Definitely a treat for anyone interested in the world of YA Urban Fantasy. I thoroughly enjoyed the captivating plot and the author's touch of humor, well done!
What a journey through Sophia's mind - the unexpected twists and turns had me mesmerized. The clash of powers between the Elementals and the Dark Ones was magnificent. I read the book during my vacation and could not put it down.
Sophia is absolutely endearing and the mysterious Aiden is amazing. I was (still am) so heartbtoken for Sophia's loss. The ending took me quite by surprise and I am now impatient to know what happens. What route will Sophia take? Can't wait to read "Ashes".
What a journey through Sophia's mind - the unexpected twists and turns had me mesmerized. The clash of powers between the Elementals and the Dark Ones was magnificent. I read the book during my vacation and could not put it down.
Sophia is absolutely endearing and the mysterious Aiden is amazing. I was (still am) so heartbtoken for Sophia's loss. The ending took me quite by surprise and I am now impatient to know what happens. What route will Sophia take? Can't wait to read "Ashes".
November 5, 2013
This book has a likable heroine (which is becoming hard to find in YA fantasy >.>) and a whole cast of neat characters. It's your typical fantasy with good and evil, but with a few interesting and unique plot points added by the author. For one thing,
The ONLY reason I am not giving this book five stars was because of the grammar. I cannot tell you how many misspellings, missing and incorrect punctuation, and general careless mistakes I saw when reading this book. I honestly hope the author didn't pay out of pocket for editing services, because I would definitely demand my money back. However, I can safely say that the story itself saved it for me. I am really intrigued to find out what happens next.
The ONLY reason I am not giving this book five stars was because of the grammar. I cannot tell you how many misspellings, missing and incorrect punctuation, and general careless mistakes I saw when reading this book. I honestly hope the author didn't pay out of pocket for editing services, because I would definitely demand my money back. However, I can safely say that the story itself saved it for me. I am really intrigued to find out what happens next.
September 28, 2013
Eighteen-year-old Sophia, has been living with nightmares - shadow creatures and demons - ever since her mother's death. Sophia thinks she must be insane. Then she meets a mysterious young man named Aiden who claims to be an Elemental with special powers to fight these demons. Is she really crazy? Or are these dark creatures part of a reality where she and the ones she loves are in grave danger? You'll have to read the story to find out.
Elemental is an urban fantasy with very strong characters and a compelling plot. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way to keep the reader guessing about what is going to happen next. The voice of the protagonist, Sophia, is particularly well-done. She is a believable character and the journey through her mind with all the thoughts, feelings, and reactions, makes her seem very real.
Readers who enjoy YA urban fantasies will certainly want to take a look at this book.
Elemental is an urban fantasy with very strong characters and a compelling plot. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way to keep the reader guessing about what is going to happen next. The voice of the protagonist, Sophia, is particularly well-done. She is a believable character and the journey through her mind with all the thoughts, feelings, and reactions, makes her seem very real.
Readers who enjoy YA urban fantasies will certainly want to take a look at this book.
June 11, 2014
I only gave this 4 of 5* because of the editing. This story was amazing . The characters were strong and very likable. The story was so intriguing and unique. It will make you laugh, cry and fall in love. This author has the talent to go places in this world. He's refreshing and interesting. His worlds are not like anything in this genre. All he needs is a good editor. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys fantasy.
September 2, 2016
Elemental was a delight to read!
I was hooked from the very beginning and found myself always trying to guess what was coming around the next page. It's different than most urban fantasy that are out there and is full of twists that will keep you at the edge of your seat. This is a great book for anyone new to the YA fantasy genre or people who have been reading it for years. I enjoyed Sophia as a character and her voice is a great companion on this incredible journey.
I was hooked from the very beginning and found myself always trying to guess what was coming around the next page. It's different than most urban fantasy that are out there and is full of twists that will keep you at the edge of your seat. This is a great book for anyone new to the YA fantasy genre or people who have been reading it for years. I enjoyed Sophia as a character and her voice is a great companion on this incredible journey.
February 6, 2014
I just didn't gel with this book. I think my main issue with it was I didn't like the main character. Whilst the story around her grew better as the book went on, I still found her to be quite vain and unlikeable, which was a bit of an issue. The concept of the powers was ok but then made overly complicated, and it felt like so many loose ends we're never tied up. Just wasn't the book for me!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews