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Elementari #1
Elementarí Rising
Winter moves like a predator, taking villages one at a time, leaving the people either dead or half mad. For thousands of years, the Elementari — spirits of the elements — have slept peacefully under the watchful eye of the Terakhein, a guardian tribe that protects them. But now that the Elementari have started to awaken, the Terakhein are nowhere to be found. In Gaelastad, where the trees never die, eighteen-year-old Jonathan is haunted by dreams of a little girl: the last of the Terakhein. Fleeing from enemies across treacherous lands, Jonathan must survive and find the girl. Fortunately, help comes in the form of Bryn, a terrible fire spirit, and Morgan, the most beautiful — and deadly — of water spirits. But are they strong enough to give him the time he needs to find the missing girl and stop the tide of destruction?
- GenresYoung AdultFantasy
370 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
4 people are currently reading
273 people want to read
About the author
Nancy E. Hightower
9 books30 followersNancy Hightower's eco-fantasy novel, Elementarí Rising, is now out in both paperback and Kindle editions 2013 from Pink Narcissus Press. She also publishes short speculative fiction and poetry which reframes mythical narratives.
She has also co-authored, along with Carrie Ann Baade, Cute and Creepy, an art book, and is one of the art columnists for Weird Fiction Review.
She has also co-authored, along with Carrie Ann Baade, Cute and Creepy, an art book, and is one of the art columnists for Weird Fiction Review.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 7, 2014
Fantasy fans, check this out. A lot of this story will be familiar--enough. The small peaceful village, threatened by powerful evilforces, great kingdoms, noble lords, dark forests and darker secrets. The natural order of the world is threatened--can it be saved? Should it?
Then, there are the Elementari, spirits of the earth, fire, water, and air (again just familiar enough). These elemental beings are present in this world, yet sleeping and guarded by the Terakhein, a guardian tribe, special and set apart, who seem to be just slightly from the rest of the humans.
The Elementari are awake and out of control. The world is in danger. Where are the guardians?
In Gaelastad, where the trees never die, in a small village, is our hero, 18-year-old Jonathan, whose dreams are haunted by what seems to be the last of the Terhakein, a little girl. He must find her; this is his quest. The world he knows and loves, his small village, his family, his best friend--are gone, destroyed. With Cadman, a wise old man, his adventure begins and there is supernatural help, as not all the wakened Elementari are evil: "Bryn, a terrible fire spirit, and Morgan, the most beautiful--and deadly--of water spirits."
Thus, this most dangerous adventure begins, and the end of this, Book One of the Elementari, I am left wanting to know happens next, how will this adventure play out.
Hightower has done her job and done it well.
Her world-building is first-rate. I was particularly struck by how GLBT-friendly this world is and how that friendliness, as it were, is woven into the fabric of things as they are in such a way that it becomes so natural, so easy, so casual. In the Prologue, at the Inn of the Three Sisters, a shady place, "off in the corner two men danced cheek to cheek (9). Tarl, the barber, who "llikes his men a bit more brooding [and]His women, too (10), bargains for a mysterious girl-child, who may be a sacrifice to save the missing Terakhein child.
In the village Jonathan wrestles with his best friend, Alec, and asks if he yields, replies, "Yes, damn you, now get off me before someone thinks we're betrothed" (34). Not out of fear, he only wishes to avoid the mistake.
Kudos are in order for this deft way of making her world GLBT-friendly.
I did wish for a list of people, places, events, terms and Elementari. The requisite map helps, especially when Jonathan's journey begins. I just found the many names sometimes confusing.
Well done.
Then, there are the Elementari, spirits of the earth, fire, water, and air (again just familiar enough). These elemental beings are present in this world, yet sleeping and guarded by the Terakhein, a guardian tribe, special and set apart, who seem to be just slightly from the rest of the humans.
The Elementari are awake and out of control. The world is in danger. Where are the guardians?
In Gaelastad, where the trees never die, in a small village, is our hero, 18-year-old Jonathan, whose dreams are haunted by what seems to be the last of the Terhakein, a little girl. He must find her; this is his quest. The world he knows and loves, his small village, his family, his best friend--are gone, destroyed. With Cadman, a wise old man, his adventure begins and there is supernatural help, as not all the wakened Elementari are evil: "Bryn, a terrible fire spirit, and Morgan, the most beautiful--and deadly--of water spirits."
Thus, this most dangerous adventure begins, and the end of this, Book One of the Elementari, I am left wanting to know happens next, how will this adventure play out.
Hightower has done her job and done it well.
Her world-building is first-rate. I was particularly struck by how GLBT-friendly this world is and how that friendliness, as it were, is woven into the fabric of things as they are in such a way that it becomes so natural, so easy, so casual. In the Prologue, at the Inn of the Three Sisters, a shady place, "off in the corner two men danced cheek to cheek (9). Tarl, the barber, who "llikes his men a bit more brooding [and]His women, too (10), bargains for a mysterious girl-child, who may be a sacrifice to save the missing Terakhein child.
In the village Jonathan wrestles with his best friend, Alec, and asks if he yields, replies, "Yes, damn you, now get off me before someone thinks we're betrothed" (34). Not out of fear, he only wishes to avoid the mistake.
Kudos are in order for this deft way of making her world GLBT-friendly.
I did wish for a list of people, places, events, terms and Elementari. The requisite map helps, especially when Jonathan's journey begins. I just found the many names sometimes confusing.
Well done.
March 18, 2014
Looking for a fun, fast paced read with mystery, imagination, and a nice tug on the heartstrings? Elementari Rising is a book you should put on your to-read list. For readers of fantasy the overall structure will be familiar, but that does not put this book in the realm of overdone cliché. Hightower has reimagined concepts and her personal flare is intriguing in all the right ways.
I must admit getting the lay of the land is initially disorienting but Hightower is a master of her world. She builds it around the characters and their quest at a superb pace and with a comfort that assures the readers that this is an establish mythos--and what a joy to read. Any turnarounds I had in the geography of the world weren’t a bother because of the closeness the narrative held to its protagonists. The cast of characters balance nicely, creating a group that made we want to fight along side them.
As for the writing itself, it is a beautiful prose with rich descriptions and accessible for anyone, including well-read young adults. It can be received as a fun fantasy novel, but tells of man's war with nature and her spirits--uncomfortably relevant for our day and age. I highly recommend this book (page turner as it is, it’s well worth the weekend sacrifice).
On a personal aside: a pronunciation guide and glossary of names/places would do wonderfully at this end of this book! An extra way to stay in the world, just a little longer.
I must admit getting the lay of the land is initially disorienting but Hightower is a master of her world. She builds it around the characters and their quest at a superb pace and with a comfort that assures the readers that this is an establish mythos--and what a joy to read. Any turnarounds I had in the geography of the world weren’t a bother because of the closeness the narrative held to its protagonists. The cast of characters balance nicely, creating a group that made we want to fight along side them.
As for the writing itself, it is a beautiful prose with rich descriptions and accessible for anyone, including well-read young adults. It can be received as a fun fantasy novel, but tells of man's war with nature and her spirits--uncomfortably relevant for our day and age. I highly recommend this book (page turner as it is, it’s well worth the weekend sacrifice).
On a personal aside: a pronunciation guide and glossary of names/places would do wonderfully at this end of this book! An extra way to stay in the world, just a little longer.
September 6, 2013
In her debut epic fantasy, ELEMENTARI RISING, Nancy Hightower has created a compelling world where Nature is fighting back against humanity's transgressions.
Powerful elemental spirits are stirring and threaten to destroy the world with their destructive hunger. We follow Jonathan on his heroic quest to to ally himself with those who can save his world; and in doing so, he experiences his own awakening, discovering secrets about himself and the past that will change his life and the very landscape of his world.
A story about sacrifice, friendship, and self-discovery, Hightower has written a beautiful novel. I look forward to the next book in the Elementari series, so that I can once more get entangled in its magic and secrets.
Powerful elemental spirits are stirring and threaten to destroy the world with their destructive hunger. We follow Jonathan on his heroic quest to to ally himself with those who can save his world; and in doing so, he experiences his own awakening, discovering secrets about himself and the past that will change his life and the very landscape of his world.
A story about sacrifice, friendship, and self-discovery, Hightower has written a beautiful novel. I look forward to the next book in the Elementari series, so that I can once more get entangled in its magic and secrets.
January 28, 2014
This book was awesome! I am eagerly awaiting the next installment. Plenty of elemental spirits, etc. An excellent start to a soon-to-be classic.
March 1, 2014
had potential but was full of groups of beings that were not defined and left too many gaps - don't know that I would choose to read the next one.
April 28, 2014
The Elements are waking up n fighting back. Great book,
kept you on the edge of your seats. And going SOB a lot.
kept you on the edge of your seats. And going SOB a lot.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews