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The Elements #1-4
The Elements
From bestselling author John Boyne, a gripping and profound exploration of guilt, blame, trauma, and the human capacity for redemption.
In The Elements, acclaimed Irish novelist John Boyne has created an epic saga that weaves together four interconnected narratives, each representing a different perspective on the enabler, the accomplice, the perpetrator, and the victim.
The narrative follows a mother on the run from her past, a young soccer star facing a trial, a successful surgeon grappling with childhood trauma, and a father on a transformative journey with his son. Each is somehow connected to the next, and as the story unfolds, their lives intersect in unimaginable ways.
Boyne’s most ambitious work yet, The Elements is both an engrossing drama and a moving investigation of why and how we allow crime to occur. With masterful, spellbinding prose, he navigates this complex subject with extraordinary empathy and unflinching honesty. The story resonates on a deeply emotional level, challenging readers to confront their own conceptions of guilt and innocence at every step. Amid the wildly engrossing storytelling, the book ultimately What would you do when faced with the unthinkable?
In The Elements, acclaimed Irish novelist John Boyne has created an epic saga that weaves together four interconnected narratives, each representing a different perspective on the enabler, the accomplice, the perpetrator, and the victim.
The narrative follows a mother on the run from her past, a young soccer star facing a trial, a successful surgeon grappling with childhood trauma, and a father on a transformative journey with his son. Each is somehow connected to the next, and as the story unfolds, their lives intersect in unimaginable ways.
Boyne’s most ambitious work yet, The Elements is both an engrossing drama and a moving investigation of why and how we allow crime to occur. With masterful, spellbinding prose, he navigates this complex subject with extraordinary empathy and unflinching honesty. The story resonates on a deeply emotional level, challenging readers to confront their own conceptions of guilt and innocence at every step. Amid the wildly engrossing storytelling, the book ultimately What would you do when faced with the unthinkable?
481 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 9, 2025
2325 people are currently reading
41858 people want to read
About the author
John Boyne
89 books15.5k followersI was born in Dublin, Ireland, and studied English Literature at Trinity College, Dublin, and Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia, Norwich. In 2015, I was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by UEA.
I’ve published 14 novels for adults, 6 novels for younger readers, and a short story collection. The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas was a New York Times no.1 Bestseller and was adapted for a feature film, a play, a ballet and an opera, selling around 11 million copies worldwide.
Among my most popular books are The Heart’s Invisible Furies, A Ladder to the Sky and My Brother’s Name is Jessica.
I’m also a regular book reviewer for The Irish Times.
In 2012, I was awarded the Hennessy Literary ‘Hall of Fame’ Award for my body of work. I’ve also won 4 Irish Book Awards, and many international literary awards, including the Que Leer Award for Novel of the Year in Spain and the Gustav Heinemann Peace Prize in Germany. In 2015, I was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of East Anglia.
My novels are published in 58 languages.
My 14th adult novel, ALL THE BROKEN PLACES, a sequel and companion novel to THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS, will be published in the UK on September 15th 2022, in the US and Canada on November 29th, and in many foreign language editions in late 2022 and 2023.
I’ve published 14 novels for adults, 6 novels for younger readers, and a short story collection. The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas was a New York Times no.1 Bestseller and was adapted for a feature film, a play, a ballet and an opera, selling around 11 million copies worldwide.
Among my most popular books are The Heart’s Invisible Furies, A Ladder to the Sky and My Brother’s Name is Jessica.
I’m also a regular book reviewer for The Irish Times.
In 2012, I was awarded the Hennessy Literary ‘Hall of Fame’ Award for my body of work. I’ve also won 4 Irish Book Awards, and many international literary awards, including the Que Leer Award for Novel of the Year in Spain and the Gustav Heinemann Peace Prize in Germany. In 2015, I was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of East Anglia.
My novels are published in 58 languages.
My 14th adult novel, ALL THE BROKEN PLACES, a sequel and companion novel to THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS, will be published in the UK on September 15th 2022, in the US and Canada on November 29th, and in many foreign language editions in late 2022 and 2023.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,790 reviews
September 16, 2025
Originally published as 4 individual stories and is now one and interconnected.
The elements represent different perspectives on crime: the enabler, the accomplice; the perpetrator and the victim.
A woman has run away to hide from the media and the heinous crimes her husband committed. Did she ignore what was going on? Deny it? Water can cleanse one’s soul; but it can also take one’s life.
A boy with a talent but doesn’t like the sport. He runs away and lives a duplicitous life. When one thinks they are doing something for someone they love but know to their core it is wrong. The Earth can be suffocating when lies become the truth. But, it also can also offer the strength to redeem oneself.
Fire is a disturbing story. How patterns of evil are perpetuated. How trauma, when not dealt with, can create the cycle of abuse. Revenge becomes a driving force to ensure righting a wrong against others who may commit the same offences. But it can be a dangerous one and when one plays with fire, they will get burned.
Air. It gives us life. It allow us to breathe and can save us from the suffocation people in our lives have put us through. The trauma caused. It can give us the space to redefine ourselves as who we are, rather than by their actions.
This was an exploration of human behaviour. The extents one will go to - to fit in; to be loved. The costs it has on those who are surrounded by it. Boyne masterly crafts these 4 narratives to which we bear witness. It’s not always comfortable, but sometimes, it’s a chance to heal from the elements that have hurt us the most.
5⭐️
The elements represent different perspectives on crime: the enabler, the accomplice; the perpetrator and the victim.
A woman has run away to hide from the media and the heinous crimes her husband committed. Did she ignore what was going on? Deny it? Water can cleanse one’s soul; but it can also take one’s life.
A boy with a talent but doesn’t like the sport. He runs away and lives a duplicitous life. When one thinks they are doing something for someone they love but know to their core it is wrong. The Earth can be suffocating when lies become the truth. But, it also can also offer the strength to redeem oneself.
Fire is a disturbing story. How patterns of evil are perpetuated. How trauma, when not dealt with, can create the cycle of abuse. Revenge becomes a driving force to ensure righting a wrong against others who may commit the same offences. But it can be a dangerous one and when one plays with fire, they will get burned.
Air. It gives us life. It allow us to breathe and can save us from the suffocation people in our lives have put us through. The trauma caused. It can give us the space to redefine ourselves as who we are, rather than by their actions.
This was an exploration of human behaviour. The extents one will go to - to fit in; to be loved. The costs it has on those who are surrounded by it. Boyne masterly crafts these 4 narratives to which we bear witness. It’s not always comfortable, but sometimes, it’s a chance to heal from the elements that have hurt us the most.
5⭐️
October 12, 2025
5 ⭐️
I’m always hesitant to read books that are highly praised and surrounded by hype, as I often find myself being an outlier. Still, as a huge John Boyne fan, I knew I had to read The Elements. I’m so glad I chose to experience it as a complete novel rather than as separate novellas. While each story would have earned a high rating on its own, they wouldn’t all have reached five stars. Read together as a cohesive quartet, the stories wove together brilliantly, making the experience more satisfying and absolutely deserving of all the stars.
John Boyne is truly a master of his craft. What I love about him as an author is that he doesn’t force his messages on the reader. He presents multiple viewpoints, allowing readers to see things from more than one angle. He gives his audience enough credit to form their own judgments, recognizing that things are not always as black and white as they seem.
While this was hard to read at times given the subject matter, it was also difficult to put down. Although there is some hope, overall the book is quite dark. If you choose to read the novellas individually, be aware that Fire, which I thought was the best of the four, also contains the darkest subject matter of them all. Definitely check the trigger warnings. Highly recommend.
Trigger warnings: sexual abuse from various perspectives, rape, grooming, emotional abuse, pedophelia.
Available now. Many thanks to Henry Folt & Company and NetGalley for my digital ARC.
I’m always hesitant to read books that are highly praised and surrounded by hype, as I often find myself being an outlier. Still, as a huge John Boyne fan, I knew I had to read The Elements. I’m so glad I chose to experience it as a complete novel rather than as separate novellas. While each story would have earned a high rating on its own, they wouldn’t all have reached five stars. Read together as a cohesive quartet, the stories wove together brilliantly, making the experience more satisfying and absolutely deserving of all the stars.
John Boyne is truly a master of his craft. What I love about him as an author is that he doesn’t force his messages on the reader. He presents multiple viewpoints, allowing readers to see things from more than one angle. He gives his audience enough credit to form their own judgments, recognizing that things are not always as black and white as they seem.
While this was hard to read at times given the subject matter, it was also difficult to put down. Although there is some hope, overall the book is quite dark. If you choose to read the novellas individually, be aware that Fire, which I thought was the best of the four, also contains the darkest subject matter of them all. Definitely check the trigger warnings. Highly recommend.
Trigger warnings: sexual abuse from various perspectives, rape, grooming, emotional abuse, pedophelia.
Available now. Many thanks to Henry Folt & Company and NetGalley for my digital ARC.
May 27, 2025
At first I had no desire to read these stories because I most times shy away from reading about sexual abuse, especially in children. Even though they were written by an author I have come to admire , I still didn’t think I could read them. But I couldn’t ignore the glowing reviews and the fact that I loved Boyne’s writing. Then I was given the opportunity to have an Advanced Copy of this. So I started reading and really couldn’t stop even though these are among the most disturbing stories I’ve ever read. In spite of the brutal nature of the novellas, they are beautifully written by one of the master storytellers of our time.
The way the reader is made privy to the intimate thoughts and feelings of the characters, the way Boyne connects the stories through character and theme, the way he takes the reader full circle to and from this island off the coast of Ireland is nothing short of stunning. From complicity and actual committing of the heinous acts by the perpetrators to the impact on the victims, their depression, dysfunction trying to move forward from the trauma, at least for those who could - Boyne has done it all. All of this making me glad I read these in spite of the gut punch I experienced.
Since these were published individually before they will be published together in this compilation, I reviewed them individually .
Water : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Earth : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Fire : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Air: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I received a copy of this from Macmillan through Edelweiss.
The way the reader is made privy to the intimate thoughts and feelings of the characters, the way Boyne connects the stories through character and theme, the way he takes the reader full circle to and from this island off the coast of Ireland is nothing short of stunning. From complicity and actual committing of the heinous acts by the perpetrators to the impact on the victims, their depression, dysfunction trying to move forward from the trauma, at least for those who could - Boyne has done it all. All of this making me glad I read these in spite of the gut punch I experienced.
Since these were published individually before they will be published together in this compilation, I reviewed them individually .
Water : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Earth : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Fire : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Air: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
I received a copy of this from Macmillan through Edelweiss.
September 3, 2025
WOWZA! This book which is made up of four novellas (Water, Earth, Fire, Air) that are inter connected and have ties to a small island off the coast of Ireland. . This book was gripping, thought provoking, emotion evoking and raw. The Elements deals with some heavy subjects and will not be for everyone. This book deals with trauma, sexual assault, guilt, sexuality, abuse, and relationships. This book is so well thought out it's amazing!
John Boyne's writing is beautiful and exquisite. He is a master storyteller, and his skills are on full display with The Elements He takes readers into the minds of an enabler, an accomplice, the perpetrator, and the victim. Whew! These novellas will stay with me for some time. They are raw, powerful, make an impact and will make readers uncomfortable. This book looks at a mother trying to run away from her past, a soccer player on trial for a heinous crime, a surgeon with a traumatic past who becomes a perpetrator, and a father and son on a healing journey.
This is a book you do not want to read fast. I sat with the stories and felt their impact. Masterfully told, they are beautifully raw and as I mentioned, deal with heavy and triggering subject matter. Boynes takes readers into the minds of the characters, and we get a bird's eye view of the characters inner thoughts/beings.
Beautifully written, gripping, thought provoking, and well thought out. Highly recommend.
Thank you to Henry Holt & Company | Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
John Boyne's writing is beautiful and exquisite. He is a master storyteller, and his skills are on full display with The Elements He takes readers into the minds of an enabler, an accomplice, the perpetrator, and the victim. Whew! These novellas will stay with me for some time. They are raw, powerful, make an impact and will make readers uncomfortable. This book looks at a mother trying to run away from her past, a soccer player on trial for a heinous crime, a surgeon with a traumatic past who becomes a perpetrator, and a father and son on a healing journey.
This is a book you do not want to read fast. I sat with the stories and felt their impact. Masterfully told, they are beautifully raw and as I mentioned, deal with heavy and triggering subject matter. Boynes takes readers into the minds of the characters, and we get a bird's eye view of the characters inner thoughts/beings.
Beautifully written, gripping, thought provoking, and well thought out. Highly recommend.
Thank you to Henry Holt & Company | Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
January 4, 2026
How can you describe this novel to others?
‘What have you read lately?’
‘The Elements by John Boyne.’
‘What’s it about?’
‘Um… it’s about abuse.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You know… how some people manipulate and abuse others.’
‘Why would you want to read something like that?’
Abuse is the central theme but of course there’s more than that.
Four novellas combined into one volume - best way to read it as there are characters and loose connections that flow between them.
Confronting. Awkward. Readable, but something also difficult to describe.
‘What have you read lately?’
‘The Elements by John Boyne.’
‘What’s it about?’
‘Um… it’s about abuse.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You know… how some people manipulate and abuse others.’
‘Why would you want to read something like that?’
Abuse is the central theme but of course there’s more than that.
Four novellas combined into one volume - best way to read it as there are characters and loose connections that flow between them.
Confronting. Awkward. Readable, but something also difficult to describe.
November 5, 2025
"None of us can be held responsible for the things that lurk in the darkest part of our minds. But our lives? Yes, we can."
Goodreads, I name this book one of my favorite reads of 2025!!
WOW. Believe the hype, ladies and gents, The Elements is a force to be reckoned with! This read is dark, tragic, and heart-wrenching, all while maintaining a beautiful narrative style. It leaves you with thoughts and emotions that linger long after you’ve turned the final page. What sets this book apart is the way Boyne interconnects the four novellas—Water, Earth, Fire, and Air. Each story builds on the last, creating a rich, cohesive tale that keeps you engaged from start to finish. The threads connecting each element are cleverly crafted, showcasing Boyne's artistry in storytelling. This book may not be suitable for everyone as it addresses various traumas and challenging subject matter. Each element explores different aspects of abuse from the perspectives of the enabler, the complicit, the perpetrator, and the victim.
5 stars are not enough. WOW.
"I've written and spoken about my own experience of sexual abuse as a teenager in a school in Dublin during the 1980s. It was something that overshadowed much of my twenties in terms of my own personal growth. However, in time, I managed to deal with it through therapy and the support of my friends and family, but also through writing. It was very cathartic for me to write this novel because I was able to look at the experiences of people of abuse and try to understand them a little better." -John Boyne on writing The Elements
Goodreads, I name this book one of my favorite reads of 2025!!
WOW. Believe the hype, ladies and gents, The Elements is a force to be reckoned with! This read is dark, tragic, and heart-wrenching, all while maintaining a beautiful narrative style. It leaves you with thoughts and emotions that linger long after you’ve turned the final page. What sets this book apart is the way Boyne interconnects the four novellas—Water, Earth, Fire, and Air. Each story builds on the last, creating a rich, cohesive tale that keeps you engaged from start to finish. The threads connecting each element are cleverly crafted, showcasing Boyne's artistry in storytelling. This book may not be suitable for everyone as it addresses various traumas and challenging subject matter. Each element explores different aspects of abuse from the perspectives of the enabler, the complicit, the perpetrator, and the victim.
5 stars are not enough. WOW.
"I've written and spoken about my own experience of sexual abuse as a teenager in a school in Dublin during the 1980s. It was something that overshadowed much of my twenties in terms of my own personal growth. However, in time, I managed to deal with it through therapy and the support of my friends and family, but also through writing. It was very cathartic for me to write this novel because I was able to look at the experiences of people of abuse and try to understand them a little better." -John Boyne on writing The Elements
October 20, 2025
We talked about this before Johnny! I'm not what people call "mentally stable," I'm not a "well adjusted" adult, I don't have "coping skills." And yet you continue to put out these novels that require mental stability, to be well adjusted, and have some form of coping skills to read. You broke my heart in Water, and you crushed my soul in Earth. Then, when I was lying on the ground with a broken heart and crushed soul, you kicked me in the balls with Fire. But then you picked me up and dusted me off a little and told me to quit being such a bitch; it'll be ok with Air.
I absolutely love John Boyne. Elements will be his fourth book on my favorites list. Yes, it's utterly devastating. Yes, it'll crush your soul. Yes, you will cry. Yes, you will look like an idiot when you cry at work while you're reading it (or is that just me). Yes, it'll absorb your whole life so don't make plans for a couple weeks. Yes, you will be recommending it to everyone you know after you finish.
I can't thank you enough Mr. Boyne for the absolute soul crushing devastation that you have brought into my life for the past 2 weeks. I LOVE IT!!! It was absolutely beautiful, a F##king masterpiece, a work of GD art. You're a wizard, a wordsmith of infinite talent, a prince among men, and I will praise your writing till the day I die!
P.S. If you ever find yourself single, look me up!
I absolutely love John Boyne. Elements will be his fourth book on my favorites list. Yes, it's utterly devastating. Yes, it'll crush your soul. Yes, you will cry. Yes, you will look like an idiot when you cry at work while you're reading it (or is that just me). Yes, it'll absorb your whole life so don't make plans for a couple weeks. Yes, you will be recommending it to everyone you know after you finish.
I can't thank you enough Mr. Boyne for the absolute soul crushing devastation that you have brought into my life for the past 2 weeks. I LOVE IT!!! It was absolutely beautiful, a F##king masterpiece, a work of GD art. You're a wizard, a wordsmith of infinite talent, a prince among men, and I will praise your writing till the day I die!
P.S. If you ever find yourself single, look me up!
December 17, 2025
Wow! Damn! I'm so blown away!
This was not the time for me to be reading this book. December is for fun, relaxing, non-demanding things, not something of this magnitude. So I was a little resentful when the library informed me that my hold was ready. Two weeks to read a 500 page novel, 4 novellas really, that was painful at times and demanded full attention, during a busy and distracted time of year. No renewals if other people are waiting. But of course I could always just go to the back of the hold line, and possibly wait another 4 months. As much as I love the library, their rules can be merciless at times. So I checked it out. And began to read.
Each of these novellas, starting with Water, is a compelling story in its own right, with characters that are easy to sympathize with. Each succeeding book, Earth, Fire and Air, has a character that was met briefly in the preceding book. The way this novel wraps up is a work of sheer genius.
When I began the final element today, I decided that everything else could go by the wayside. No shopping, cleaning, wrapping, errands, no cooking or baking, just reading until I finished. Like all irresponsible readers worth their salt, that's just what I did. Hence, the first six words of this review.
Wow! Damn! I'm so blown away!
This was not the time for me to be reading this book. December is for fun, relaxing, non-demanding things, not something of this magnitude. So I was a little resentful when the library informed me that my hold was ready. Two weeks to read a 500 page novel, 4 novellas really, that was painful at times and demanded full attention, during a busy and distracted time of year. No renewals if other people are waiting. But of course I could always just go to the back of the hold line, and possibly wait another 4 months. As much as I love the library, their rules can be merciless at times. So I checked it out. And began to read.
Each of these novellas, starting with Water, is a compelling story in its own right, with characters that are easy to sympathize with. Each succeeding book, Earth, Fire and Air, has a character that was met briefly in the preceding book. The way this novel wraps up is a work of sheer genius.
When I began the final element today, I decided that everything else could go by the wayside. No shopping, cleaning, wrapping, errands, no cooking or baking, just reading until I finished. Like all irresponsible readers worth their salt, that's just what I did. Hence, the first six words of this review.
Wow! Damn! I'm so blown away!
September 22, 2025
UPDATE: This review (obvs.) was written prior to the dust-up over Boyne's inclusion on the Polari Prize longlist for LGBTQ+ works for Earth, the 2nd novella in this tetralogy. I abhor and am DEEPLY saddened/disappointed that Boyne has chosen to side with the despicable JK Rowling on trans issues and even go as far as to self-identify as a TERF (Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist - a misnomer on both counts!).
However - THIS book is still an amazing piece of fiction - the controversy DOES give me pause and has tarnished my enthusiasm a fair bit - but I'd still list it as one of the best books I've read this year. It's always very difficult to try to separate the art from the artist (e.g., I can no longer read Philip Roth, knowing him to have been a despicable excuse for a human being) and I can well understand anyone choosing NOT to support Boyne's writing over this issue.
Original review:
My sincere and heartfelt thanks to the author and Henry Holt & Company for providing me with an ARC of this magnificent book through Netgalley, in exchange for this honest and enthusiastic review.
Boyne's latest is a truly astonishing, though at times, difficult read. Four novellas, each with a different narrator, but all weaving together to tell a compelling story of abuse, culpability, complacency and ultimately, redemption. Amongst its many strengths are fully developed characters, accomplished prose, and some really shocking and unexpected twists and surprises.
One thing I particularly admired is that each narrator had their own distinct style of speech and disclosure; so often when you have multiple narration, it all tends to sound exactly the same - so kudos to Boyne for not falling into that trap.
Also, two of the narrators (all of whom, to some extent, are unreliable), are female - male authors rarely even attempt to cross the gender divide in their MCs, and few are able to create such complex women as Vanessa/Willow and Freya.
The books DO need to be read in order, and as I composed individual reviews for each, I will link to them below, if anyone is interested further:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Still, I highly recommend this, and am sure it will be in the top of my reads for 2025!
However - THIS book is still an amazing piece of fiction - the controversy DOES give me pause and has tarnished my enthusiasm a fair bit - but I'd still list it as one of the best books I've read this year. It's always very difficult to try to separate the art from the artist (e.g., I can no longer read Philip Roth, knowing him to have been a despicable excuse for a human being) and I can well understand anyone choosing NOT to support Boyne's writing over this issue.
Original review:
My sincere and heartfelt thanks to the author and Henry Holt & Company for providing me with an ARC of this magnificent book through Netgalley, in exchange for this honest and enthusiastic review.
Boyne's latest is a truly astonishing, though at times, difficult read. Four novellas, each with a different narrator, but all weaving together to tell a compelling story of abuse, culpability, complacency and ultimately, redemption. Amongst its many strengths are fully developed characters, accomplished prose, and some really shocking and unexpected twists and surprises.
One thing I particularly admired is that each narrator had their own distinct style of speech and disclosure; so often when you have multiple narration, it all tends to sound exactly the same - so kudos to Boyne for not falling into that trap.
Also, two of the narrators (all of whom, to some extent, are unreliable), are female - male authors rarely even attempt to cross the gender divide in their MCs, and few are able to create such complex women as Vanessa/Willow and Freya.
The books DO need to be read in order, and as I composed individual reviews for each, I will link to them below, if anyone is interested further:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Still, I highly recommend this, and am sure it will be in the top of my reads for 2025!
October 22, 2025
Boyne's quartet tackles the topic of sexual abuse from different angles, and the result is a tableaux that is more than the sum of its parts: This is a brave and relentless effort to talk about sexual trauma and rape culture, and it incorporates an astonishing amount of aspects. Let's take a short look at the individual parts and some of their connections:
Water
The narrator is the estranged housewife of a once powerful, now disgraced functionary in the Irish National Swimming Federation; she flees to a remote island to escape the sexual abuse scandal surrounding her husband. The main theme is her (possible) complicity as a bystander who looked away and didn't ask questions.
my complete review
Earth
The narrator is a gay young man who grew up on the island from part one; now he is a young football star in the UK who stands trial as an accessory to rape. The roles are thus reversed: While the tradwife from part one held no societal or financial power of her own, the soccer star is rich and famous, but closeted and a former victim himself.
my complete review
Fire
The narrator was the jury foreperson in the rape trial; she is a doctor in a burn unit where she helps people with severe physical trauma to survive, while in her private life, she plays out the saying that hurt people hurt people. The theme is the cycle of abuse, how victims become perpetrators, and, much like in part two, that sexual trauma knows no gender.
my complete review
Air
The narrator, a child psychologist, is a colleague of the protagonist from part three, now the ex-husband of the daughter of the swimming functionary from part one, a pilot; on a long journey via plane, he tries to break the cycle of trauma for the benefit of his fourteen-year-old son, and his whole family.
my complete review
Very impressive, and highly readable.
Water
The narrator is the estranged housewife of a once powerful, now disgraced functionary in the Irish National Swimming Federation; she flees to a remote island to escape the sexual abuse scandal surrounding her husband. The main theme is her (possible) complicity as a bystander who looked away and didn't ask questions.
my complete review
Earth
The narrator is a gay young man who grew up on the island from part one; now he is a young football star in the UK who stands trial as an accessory to rape. The roles are thus reversed: While the tradwife from part one held no societal or financial power of her own, the soccer star is rich and famous, but closeted and a former victim himself.
my complete review
Fire
The narrator was the jury foreperson in the rape trial; she is a doctor in a burn unit where she helps people with severe physical trauma to survive, while in her private life, she plays out the saying that hurt people hurt people. The theme is the cycle of abuse, how victims become perpetrators, and, much like in part two, that sexual trauma knows no gender.
my complete review
Air
The narrator, a child psychologist, is a colleague of the protagonist from part three, now the ex-husband of the daughter of the swimming functionary from part one, a pilot; on a long journey via plane, he tries to break the cycle of trauma for the benefit of his fourteen-year-old son, and his whole family.
my complete review
Very impressive, and highly readable.
November 16, 2025
Wow! Just wow! I have been through the wringer! And my pogo stick is getting a workout—I’m bouncing high all over the place! This book consists of four novellas: Water, Earth, Fire, and Air. Boyne is just so smart! Each book has something to do with the element in its title, though the symbolism is subtle and doesn’t hijack the plots or characters. Each novella is available as a stand-alone as well.
The series is about sexual abuse, so this is not a jolly read. But oh man, is it a good read! My favorite is Fire (it gives me the heebie-jeebies just thinking about it!), followed by Earth, which is super intense and sad.
The narration is first-person, and that makes it all feel so personal and authentic. Each story is told from a different perspective: There’s an enabler (in Water), an accomplice (in Earth), a perpetrator (in Fire), and a victim (in Air). In fact, all of the main characters are victims of some sort, which ratchets up the sympathy.
The stories are thought-provoking, suspenseful, and oh so well-written. I was amazed that I was on the edge of my seat even with the quieter stories (Water and Air). There’s psychological insight out the kazoo. Boyne knows how to create complex, flawed characters and he makes you “feel” them.
What the stories are about:
Water: a women hides out on an island after a family scandal.
Earth: a gay young soccer player is tortured by his upcoming trial.
Fire: a woman with a traumatic past leads a double life.
Air: a divorced man with a traumatic past travels with his teenage son.
Boyne is such a clever writer! A minor character in one story will appear as the star in the next. The last book, Air, ties all the novellas together in the end, so a lot would be lost if you read that novella as a stand-alone. The way that Boyne ties it all up is genius! If you do read each novella as stand-alone, it’s best to read them in order. It would have been hard for me to remember who was who if I hadn’t read the novellas one right after the other.
The book deals with guilt, shame, culpability. There are some evil people doing horrible things. There is a lot of suffering and you’re pulled into it; Boyne really makes you care about his characters. There are juicy twists, yum!
I’ll tell you one thing, I’ll be scrambling to fit more Boyne books into my queue! And I would sure like seeing these stories made into movies. They would be riveting! Hollywood should grab them!
Sigh, it’s over. I’m not thrilled to pick up another book just yet. I need to bask in the afterglow of this one for a while.
Thanks to Edelweiss for an advance copy.
P.s. There’s a great interview with Boyne where you hear his thoughts on The Elements—the writing process, themes, etc. I can’t add an external link, but if you’re interested, google The Book Show, John Boyne, Elements. It’s 27 minutes long.
My reviews of the stand-alones:
Water: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Earth: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Fire: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Air: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The series is about sexual abuse, so this is not a jolly read. But oh man, is it a good read! My favorite is Fire (it gives me the heebie-jeebies just thinking about it!), followed by Earth, which is super intense and sad.
The narration is first-person, and that makes it all feel so personal and authentic. Each story is told from a different perspective: There’s an enabler (in Water), an accomplice (in Earth), a perpetrator (in Fire), and a victim (in Air). In fact, all of the main characters are victims of some sort, which ratchets up the sympathy.
The stories are thought-provoking, suspenseful, and oh so well-written. I was amazed that I was on the edge of my seat even with the quieter stories (Water and Air). There’s psychological insight out the kazoo. Boyne knows how to create complex, flawed characters and he makes you “feel” them.
What the stories are about:
Water: a women hides out on an island after a family scandal.
Earth: a gay young soccer player is tortured by his upcoming trial.
Fire: a woman with a traumatic past leads a double life.
Air: a divorced man with a traumatic past travels with his teenage son.
Boyne is such a clever writer! A minor character in one story will appear as the star in the next. The last book, Air, ties all the novellas together in the end, so a lot would be lost if you read that novella as a stand-alone. The way that Boyne ties it all up is genius! If you do read each novella as stand-alone, it’s best to read them in order. It would have been hard for me to remember who was who if I hadn’t read the novellas one right after the other.
The book deals with guilt, shame, culpability. There are some evil people doing horrible things. There is a lot of suffering and you’re pulled into it; Boyne really makes you care about his characters. There are juicy twists, yum!
I’ll tell you one thing, I’ll be scrambling to fit more Boyne books into my queue! And I would sure like seeing these stories made into movies. They would be riveting! Hollywood should grab them!
Sigh, it’s over. I’m not thrilled to pick up another book just yet. I need to bask in the afterglow of this one for a while.
Thanks to Edelweiss for an advance copy.
P.s. There’s a great interview with Boyne where you hear his thoughts on The Elements—the writing process, themes, etc. I can’t add an external link, but if you’re interested, google The Book Show, John Boyne, Elements. It’s 27 minutes long.
My reviews of the stand-alones:
Water: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Earth: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Fire: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Air: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
November 14, 2025
Several months ago, I was seeing the individual stories within this book everywhere. My GR friends were reading it and giving it such rave reviews. After briefly glancing at each synopsis, I didn’t think they would be for me. Fast forward a few weeks later, it starts popping back up, this time as a full novel. Now I have a bit of FOMO! This book can’t be that good right? YES, it most absolutely can! I’m so glad I decided to purchase the novel that included the four interconnected stories taking my time to digest the tough themes the author was putting out there.
This is not an easy read from a content level, but the author has a way of drawing the reader in so that it just feels so realistic. The character development was amazing. I loved how each one of the elements/stories were seamlessly interwoven and the connections done so subtly. I do think some of the stories stuck out more than others but in reading them as a whole they balanced each other out and came full circle.
I can only do what everyone else has done and very highly recommend this book! It is one of those that I’m sure will be stuck in my memory for a very long time. How have I not known about this author previously?
This is not an easy read from a content level, but the author has a way of drawing the reader in so that it just feels so realistic. The character development was amazing. I loved how each one of the elements/stories were seamlessly interwoven and the connections done so subtly. I do think some of the stories stuck out more than others but in reading them as a whole they balanced each other out and came full circle.
I can only do what everyone else has done and very highly recommend this book! It is one of those that I’m sure will be stuck in my memory for a very long time. How have I not known about this author previously?
October 24, 2025
This book was intimidating. I had heard how dark it was and was a little scared to read it. - If it wasn’t for my two book besties pressuring me to read this, I might have passed it by. So glad I caved into peer pressure. 😏
Boyne had always been on my favourites list. One of my top books I have read is, The Heart’s Invisible Furies. I was recently in Dublin and went to Trinity University and while I was there I couldn’t help thinking. “Wow, this is where so many of my favourites authors went to school”,- Boyne included. ☘️
This has all the hallmark traits of Boyne’a writing. The book is divided into four novellas. Water, Earth, Fire and Air.
Difficult, unforgettable and the strength of the human spirit and how trauma can cause some chaos and dysfunction if not healed. I doubt I will ever forget this book.
“…. Human beings suffer on a daily basis because our skin is only so thick and our bones are only so resilient and from the moment we arrive on the planet the universe is against us, conspiring to drown us, set us on fire, bury us in the earth, our spirits floating off into the atmosphere.”
Most definitely my favourite book of the year! 🥇
Boyne had always been on my favourites list. One of my top books I have read is, The Heart’s Invisible Furies. I was recently in Dublin and went to Trinity University and while I was there I couldn’t help thinking. “Wow, this is where so many of my favourites authors went to school”,- Boyne included. ☘️
This has all the hallmark traits of Boyne’a writing. The book is divided into four novellas. Water, Earth, Fire and Air.
Difficult, unforgettable and the strength of the human spirit and how trauma can cause some chaos and dysfunction if not healed. I doubt I will ever forget this book.
“…. Human beings suffer on a daily basis because our skin is only so thick and our bones are only so resilient and from the moment we arrive on the planet the universe is against us, conspiring to drown us, set us on fire, bury us in the earth, our spirits floating off into the atmosphere.”
Most definitely my favourite book of the year! 🥇
October 28, 2025
My best book of the Year!!! Unfortunately, I'm at a loss for words when it comes to this incredible novel. All I can say is: Please... you MUST read this book!!!🤗
5 “EARTH–grows–FIRE–glows–AIR–blows–WATER–flows–Spirit–knows” stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
LBC 2025: Book 3
5 “EARTH–grows–FIRE–glows–AIR–blows–WATER–flows–Spirit–knows” stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
LBC 2025: Book 3
August 11, 2025
5 ⭐️ I could not put this one down! Told in 4 different stories, the Elements, that each connect with the next, Water, Earth, Fire,and Air. Each narrator, 2 females and two males, some unreliable, some unlikeable, tells a story.
There’s Vanessa/Willow, the enabler, Evan the accomplice, Freya the abuser, and Aaron the victim.
Beautifully written, the stories touch on some difficult subjects of sexual abuse, child rape, suicide, and murder. Each story connects with the next until the last comes full circle with a beautiful ending.
I will be looking to add more books by this author to my TBR list. Highly recommend!
Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt Co for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
There’s Vanessa/Willow, the enabler, Evan the accomplice, Freya the abuser, and Aaron the victim.
Beautifully written, the stories touch on some difficult subjects of sexual abuse, child rape, suicide, and murder. Each story connects with the next until the last comes full circle with a beautiful ending.
I will be looking to add more books by this author to my TBR list. Highly recommend!
Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt Co for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 19, 2025
Terrific audiobook!
I listened to it while simultaneously reading the hard cover copy of each book: Water, Earth, Fire and Air.
I have posted my review for each book, separately.
All 5 stars.
A superb writer!
The audiobook includes all four books and is narrated by Anna Friel, Colin Morgan, Dane Whyte O’Hara, Niamh Cusack: 17.8 hours (unabridged)
I listened to it while simultaneously reading the hard cover copy of each book: Water, Earth, Fire and Air.
I have posted my review for each book, separately.
All 5 stars.
A superb writer!
The audiobook includes all four books and is narrated by Anna Friel, Colin Morgan, Dane Whyte O’Hara, Niamh Cusack: 17.8 hours (unabridged)
August 7, 2025
5 stars. Another brilliant and deeply moving book from John Boyne, although, for a while, I actually thought I wasn't going to like it as much as I did. It took me quite a while to figure out how ambitious this novel is, how deep and dark and disturbing it really is. No spoilers, but the book is divided into four stories and they're more connected than they appear to be. There are some major themes that Boyne explores here, two of them being guilt, both direct and by association. Again, no spoilers, but the author has us face many important issues in this book, but never didactically; the book engages you from the first and makes you care, even about people who are doing seriously bad things. Seriously recommend this book.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publishers for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publishers for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
October 9, 2025
Human life is governed by the elements - water, Earth, fire and the air. These elements are not only fundamental to our existence, but they also sustain, and challenge us.
Boyne has separately published short stories for each of the elements which have now, FINALLY, been collated into one 500 page novel. Having already read ‘Earth’, I was not only excited to read the remaining 3 stories, but also feel privileged to have this masterpiece on my bookshelf 📚 This truly is an EPIC read; a story for the ages.
This is the kind of book you can’t rush. You want to treasure every page and make it last as long as possible. It requires you to sit with the stories and feel their impact. Each of them is a masterpiece in itself, yet they are interconnected. They are all so raw, real, and so incredibly powerful. But most of all, they contain individual messages that cut through you like a knife.
Water 💧
‘Water had been the undoing of me. It has been the undoing of my family. We swim in it in the womb. We are composed of it. We drink it. We are drawn to it throughout our lives, more than mountains, deserts, or canyons. But it is terrible. Water kills.’ 💦
Water brings us the story of a woman who has run away, changed her name, chopped off her hair, and is starting a new life - or is she hiding from a previous life? Her husband has been committed of heinous crimes and the media have gone wild. But what bothers her the most lies beneath the surface…did she ignore what was going on? Or was she totally ignorant to what was happening right under her nose? In this excruciating tale of a woman and her family, water can both cleanse and kill.
Earth 🌍
Please see separate review
Fire 🔥
‘After all, a doctor in the burns unit should know better than to play with fire’ 🔥
Fire is a tragic, intense and disturbing story. It is somewhat different from the others in that I felt no relatability to the protagonist. She represented the evil in people. And, when revenge comes for her - to right a wrong - the one who plays with fire, will inevitably get burned. I was just thankful to get out of this story alive 🥵
Air 🌬️
I certainly needed a breath of fresh air after reading ‘Fire’ 😮💨 Air is what gives us life. The ability to breathe, even through the difficulties life throws at us. Yet, there are moments throughout this story that sucked the air out of my lungs.
This story begins in Sydney airport, as a father and son are about to depart. We meet Aaron, once again, on his 40th birthday and instead of living it up on Bondi beach, the pair are off to visit a woman who’s not expecting them. Much of the story is told 35,000 feet up in the air, where we learn of this father/son bond. But, this story is truly depicting is how confronting life-long trauma can affect those involved. It is a story of destruction, and redemption that causes us to hold our breath until the last page.
I absolutely love this book (or these books). I honestly can’t express how impactful they are. Boyne does not beat around the bush, these are deeply cutting, raw and emotionally challenging pieces of work. He concludes all 4 stories beautifully in the final instalment, and forces you to REALLY think: What would you do when faced with the unthinkable? 💭
‘staring into the dark black depths of the water, feeling the tug of the earth, the fire within me and the air that remains in my lungs… at one with myself, at one with the universe, and finally - at one with the elements.’ 💧 🌍 🔥 🌬️
Easiest 5 stars I have given all year 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Boyne has separately published short stories for each of the elements which have now, FINALLY, been collated into one 500 page novel. Having already read ‘Earth’, I was not only excited to read the remaining 3 stories, but also feel privileged to have this masterpiece on my bookshelf 📚 This truly is an EPIC read; a story for the ages.
This is the kind of book you can’t rush. You want to treasure every page and make it last as long as possible. It requires you to sit with the stories and feel their impact. Each of them is a masterpiece in itself, yet they are interconnected. They are all so raw, real, and so incredibly powerful. But most of all, they contain individual messages that cut through you like a knife.
Water 💧
‘Water had been the undoing of me. It has been the undoing of my family. We swim in it in the womb. We are composed of it. We drink it. We are drawn to it throughout our lives, more than mountains, deserts, or canyons. But it is terrible. Water kills.’ 💦
Water brings us the story of a woman who has run away, changed her name, chopped off her hair, and is starting a new life - or is she hiding from a previous life? Her husband has been committed of heinous crimes and the media have gone wild. But what bothers her the most lies beneath the surface…did she ignore what was going on? Or was she totally ignorant to what was happening right under her nose? In this excruciating tale of a woman and her family, water can both cleanse and kill.
Earth 🌍
Please see separate review
Fire 🔥
‘After all, a doctor in the burns unit should know better than to play with fire’ 🔥
Fire is a tragic, intense and disturbing story. It is somewhat different from the others in that I felt no relatability to the protagonist. She represented the evil in people. And, when revenge comes for her - to right a wrong - the one who plays with fire, will inevitably get burned. I was just thankful to get out of this story alive 🥵
Air 🌬️
I certainly needed a breath of fresh air after reading ‘Fire’ 😮💨 Air is what gives us life. The ability to breathe, even through the difficulties life throws at us. Yet, there are moments throughout this story that sucked the air out of my lungs.
This story begins in Sydney airport, as a father and son are about to depart. We meet Aaron, once again, on his 40th birthday and instead of living it up on Bondi beach, the pair are off to visit a woman who’s not expecting them. Much of the story is told 35,000 feet up in the air, where we learn of this father/son bond. But, this story is truly depicting is how confronting life-long trauma can affect those involved. It is a story of destruction, and redemption that causes us to hold our breath until the last page.
I absolutely love this book (or these books). I honestly can’t express how impactful they are. Boyne does not beat around the bush, these are deeply cutting, raw and emotionally challenging pieces of work. He concludes all 4 stories beautifully in the final instalment, and forces you to REALLY think: What would you do when faced with the unthinkable? 💭
‘staring into the dark black depths of the water, feeling the tug of the earth, the fire within me and the air that remains in my lungs… at one with myself, at one with the universe, and finally - at one with the elements.’ 💧 🌍 🔥 🌬️
Easiest 5 stars I have given all year 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
October 21, 2025
Why was The Elements not on any of the Booker Prize lists? I just learned about the Booker this year, but I’m still aghast (at least I think I am. Not 100% sure what that word means)that it didn’t make at least the Longlist. I am sure that all four Elements novellas are better than the gold bar brick bashing brouhaha and the Kitamura meet cute/meet weird/pithy nonsense.
With that off my chest please find my Elements reviews below:
Water:
Ladies and gents, let’s get to some reviews! Sorry for the delay. I was back home to see the ‘rents and my niece, but I still did quite a bit of reading. And that started with this beautiful novella. Omg I feel so fancy even typing that word. And just wait for this. It’s part of a quartet! Those are two words I’ve said or written maybe five times in my life and all since I joined this app. This was my first novella, and damn if it’s not a classic.
I read my first Boyne, Heart’s Invisible, at the perfect time because The Elements quartet had just been released. Water starts out with a bit of mystery and morphs into discovery. I was again shocked by the oppressiveness in Ireland that soaked through the book. Rather than sexuality however, this book focuses more on feminism and the “role of the woman” in society. Boyne does such a brilliant job of defining the barriers and then satirizing them to illustrate their idiocy.
This book is about a wife who lived within the rules of the patriarchal society that is Ireland, and let’s be honest the World, until she was forced to escape, and a family that was splintered because of a father.
Will escaping help the mother and her daughter reconnect? Will the woman forgive? Who needs forgiveness? You will find out when you read this story that drips with raw emotion.
Definite trigger warnings.
Earth:
I set my tablet down and immediately lean back, aggressively rub my face, and mutter “Jesus Christ.” I’ve just finished this novella and my fingers feel like they’ve gone numb on purpose, like this novella isn’t for me to review.
But it’s Boyne so there are things I relate to so fiercely that the story feels like it’s become a part of me. The novella is appropriately titled Earth as you sink into it, feel it in your hands as you read it, and it takes root deep within you only for those roots to be ripped out without warning. I suppose that’s appropriate as we don’t give warnings to nature before the damage we cause it.
We also don’t cultivate an environment in which kids, adolescents, and adults can be free. Free to pursue who they want and what they want. Instead, just like gravity, society acts as a force to push down and discredit voices that need to be heard.
This is a brutal story for a brutal world, but also a reminder that it takes courage to be free.
Trigger warnings definitely.
P.S. I have no idea what’s to come in the next two novellas, but would love to hear what others think of Water and Earth. To me, these are stories that beg discussion.
Fire:
INTENSE
Air:
I can breathe again.
With that off my chest please find my Elements reviews below:
Water:
Ladies and gents, let’s get to some reviews! Sorry for the delay. I was back home to see the ‘rents and my niece, but I still did quite a bit of reading. And that started with this beautiful novella. Omg I feel so fancy even typing that word. And just wait for this. It’s part of a quartet! Those are two words I’ve said or written maybe five times in my life and all since I joined this app. This was my first novella, and damn if it’s not a classic.
I read my first Boyne, Heart’s Invisible, at the perfect time because The Elements quartet had just been released. Water starts out with a bit of mystery and morphs into discovery. I was again shocked by the oppressiveness in Ireland that soaked through the book. Rather than sexuality however, this book focuses more on feminism and the “role of the woman” in society. Boyne does such a brilliant job of defining the barriers and then satirizing them to illustrate their idiocy.
This book is about a wife who lived within the rules of the patriarchal society that is Ireland, and let’s be honest the World, until she was forced to escape, and a family that was splintered because of a father.
Will escaping help the mother and her daughter reconnect? Will the woman forgive? Who needs forgiveness? You will find out when you read this story that drips with raw emotion.
Definite trigger warnings.
Earth:
I set my tablet down and immediately lean back, aggressively rub my face, and mutter “Jesus Christ.” I’ve just finished this novella and my fingers feel like they’ve gone numb on purpose, like this novella isn’t for me to review.
But it’s Boyne so there are things I relate to so fiercely that the story feels like it’s become a part of me. The novella is appropriately titled Earth as you sink into it, feel it in your hands as you read it, and it takes root deep within you only for those roots to be ripped out without warning. I suppose that’s appropriate as we don’t give warnings to nature before the damage we cause it.
We also don’t cultivate an environment in which kids, adolescents, and adults can be free. Free to pursue who they want and what they want. Instead, just like gravity, society acts as a force to push down and discredit voices that need to be heard.
This is a brutal story for a brutal world, but also a reminder that it takes courage to be free.
Trigger warnings definitely.
P.S. I have no idea what’s to come in the next two novellas, but would love to hear what others think of Water and Earth. To me, these are stories that beg discussion.
Fire:
INTENSE
Air:
I can breathe again.
October 12, 2025
John Boyne wrote four superb interconnected novellas originally published as "Water," "Earth," "Fire," and "Air." They were collected in "The Elements" and should be read in the order first published. Minor characters from one novella go on to be the protagonists in the next novella forming a complete circle.
The novellas can be heartbreaking since they all deal with abuse of some form--sexual, physical, and emotional. Some of the abuse is multi-generational with a child victim going on to become an adult abuser. Other characters live with the lifelong guilt that they ignored possible signs of abuse in a family member. There are both heterosexual and LGBTQ characters with the characters and the plots seeming very real. The book ends on an optimistic note with the theme of life-giving Air, communication, and healing as the last group of characters look to the future.
Even though reading about abuse can be difficult, reading "The Elements" was a good experience because Boyne writes with so much compassion. I was impressed with the author's storytelling skills!
I received a copy of "The Elements" through Goodreads Giveaways. Thank you to the author and Henry Holt and Company for the advanced reader's copy.
The novellas can be heartbreaking since they all deal with abuse of some form--sexual, physical, and emotional. Some of the abuse is multi-generational with a child victim going on to become an adult abuser. Other characters live with the lifelong guilt that they ignored possible signs of abuse in a family member. There are both heterosexual and LGBTQ characters with the characters and the plots seeming very real. The book ends on an optimistic note with the theme of life-giving Air, communication, and healing as the last group of characters look to the future.
Even though reading about abuse can be difficult, reading "The Elements" was a good experience because Boyne writes with so much compassion. I was impressed with the author's storytelling skills!
I received a copy of "The Elements" through Goodreads Giveaways. Thank you to the author and Henry Holt and Company for the advanced reader's copy.
September 7, 2025
'From bestselling author John Boyne, a gripping and profound exploration of guilt, blame, trauma, and the human capacity for redemption."
In this magnificent literary saga, John Boyne examines heinous crimes in the most brilliant way. The Elements consists of four parts: Water, Earth, Fire, and Air. Each part looks at a crime from a different perspective: the enabler, the accomplice, the perpetrator, and the victim. What is profound is that each person may have played a different role at a different time in their life. The characters in each story are connected and it wraps up in a beautiful and hopeful way. There is an element of suspense threaded throughout each story that is propulsive and captivating.
This is one of the most impactful and thought-provoking books I have ever read. It is easy to condemn criminals for heinous acts towards their fellow man and rightfully so. These stories examine the layers and complexity of those in each of these roles. Juxtaposed with the dark nature of the crimes are joy and the hope of redemption and healing. There is a fine line between guilt and innocence, right and wrong, complacency and complicity. This book is a masterpiece of human nature woven in with the tapestry of elements that surround all of us.
⚠️CW: sexual abuse, child abuse, rape, murder. There is some heavy material that can be difficult to read.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Henry Holt and Company, and John Boyne for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
In this magnificent literary saga, John Boyne examines heinous crimes in the most brilliant way. The Elements consists of four parts: Water, Earth, Fire, and Air. Each part looks at a crime from a different perspective: the enabler, the accomplice, the perpetrator, and the victim. What is profound is that each person may have played a different role at a different time in their life. The characters in each story are connected and it wraps up in a beautiful and hopeful way. There is an element of suspense threaded throughout each story that is propulsive and captivating.
This is one of the most impactful and thought-provoking books I have ever read. It is easy to condemn criminals for heinous acts towards their fellow man and rightfully so. These stories examine the layers and complexity of those in each of these roles. Juxtaposed with the dark nature of the crimes are joy and the hope of redemption and healing. There is a fine line between guilt and innocence, right and wrong, complacency and complicity. This book is a masterpiece of human nature woven in with the tapestry of elements that surround all of us.
⚠️CW: sexual abuse, child abuse, rape, murder. There is some heavy material that can be difficult to read.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Henry Holt and Company, and John Boyne for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 14, 2025
This was originally 4 novellas, each named for an element, and there is some relationship to humans and nature to support all of that (and the ending sort of brings it all together but I won't discuss that because it would be too spoiler-y). I thought three of the novellas, each is its own story tangentially connected to all the others, worked quite well. Each fell between a 4 and 5 star on my scale. It was only the third novella where I think Boyne fumbled.
The first novella, Water, focuses on a woman's story, and I was quite impressed with how fully Boyne brought to life the character, Willow/Vanessa (she changes her name for REASONS). I hear all the time that men cannot write female characters, and I would refer all those who believe that to read Water. That story is heartbreaking and real, and I was able to feel what the character was going through and understand her frustrations, regrets, and choices. I just loved it.
I liked the second story, Earth, very much. It centers on a person Willow meets in passing in the first novella. Evan is a young Gay man finding his way. I don't want to say too much about this one, but it also felt heartbreakingly real. I was frustrated with Evan's choices, but I understood them, and they rang true. The bad guy in the second story (there is a bad guy on all the stories) was so evil it was a touch ridiculous, and the daddy issues went a bit further than I think is in keeping with real damaged people with terrible fathers, but overall this was pretty great.
Then came novella #3, Fire. Freya, the MC, made no sense to me. She is a burn doctor with many secrets. That is all I will say about the plot. Freya, like all the MC's in this book, is living with trauma that left scars that disfigured her psyche in much the same way fire disfigures the appearance of her patients in the burn unit. Again, I don't want to say how this manifests or ends, but I will say that I thought the psychology of it all was wildly oversimplified, and Freya's actions, or really patterns, were made theatrical. I also need to address one elephant in the room, because I am certain it impacted my reading of this section. Boyne has publicly pronounced himself a Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminist in interviews and social posts. I find that appalling, but where art does not incorporate the vile belief systems of the artist, I usually choose to separate those beliefs from my reading of the work. In this story, Boyne brings that gender essentialism to the page. There are many pronouncements: This is what all adolescent boys do, this is how all adolescent boys ache, this is what all women want, this is what no women want. These statements of alleged fact come up again and again. Even if Boyne was not crowing about his TERF philosophy, I would have had a problem with this, but in light of his statements, I was disgusted by much of the story. The prose is gorgeous, and the suffering of several of the characters reached inside me and wrung out my heart like it was a wet sponge, but all in all, this story ended up between a 2 and a 3 star.
Happily, Boyne returned to form with the last story, Air, which I loved. To see Aaron, whom we met in Fire, rebuild his sense of self after years of denying himself pleasure and engagement, and to have that happen through his relationship to his son and to a place that featured in two of the three earlier novellas, it was just lovely. This story brings us back to story #1 and closes a circle. It was beautifully done, truly masterful writing.
Overall, I recommend this despite my many issues with the third novella.. Please be aware that every story is shot through the tales of violence. Expect beatings, sexual and psychological child abuse, rape, suicide, murder, suicidal depression, and more. This is not an easy read, but it is an excellent one that moved me deeply.
The first novella, Water, focuses on a woman's story, and I was quite impressed with how fully Boyne brought to life the character, Willow/Vanessa (she changes her name for REASONS). I hear all the time that men cannot write female characters, and I would refer all those who believe that to read Water. That story is heartbreaking and real, and I was able to feel what the character was going through and understand her frustrations, regrets, and choices. I just loved it.
I liked the second story, Earth, very much. It centers on a person Willow meets in passing in the first novella. Evan is a young Gay man finding his way. I don't want to say too much about this one, but it also felt heartbreakingly real. I was frustrated with Evan's choices, but I understood them, and they rang true. The bad guy in the second story (there is a bad guy on all the stories) was so evil it was a touch ridiculous, and the daddy issues went a bit further than I think is in keeping with real damaged people with terrible fathers, but overall this was pretty great.
Then came novella #3, Fire. Freya, the MC, made no sense to me. She is a burn doctor with many secrets. That is all I will say about the plot. Freya, like all the MC's in this book, is living with trauma that left scars that disfigured her psyche in much the same way fire disfigures the appearance of her patients in the burn unit. Again, I don't want to say how this manifests or ends, but I will say that I thought the psychology of it all was wildly oversimplified, and Freya's actions, or really patterns, were made theatrical. I also need to address one elephant in the room, because I am certain it impacted my reading of this section. Boyne has publicly pronounced himself a Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminist in interviews and social posts. I find that appalling, but where art does not incorporate the vile belief systems of the artist, I usually choose to separate those beliefs from my reading of the work. In this story, Boyne brings that gender essentialism to the page. There are many pronouncements: This is what all adolescent boys do, this is how all adolescent boys ache, this is what all women want, this is what no women want. These statements of alleged fact come up again and again. Even if Boyne was not crowing about his TERF philosophy, I would have had a problem with this, but in light of his statements, I was disgusted by much of the story. The prose is gorgeous, and the suffering of several of the characters reached inside me and wrung out my heart like it was a wet sponge, but all in all, this story ended up between a 2 and a 3 star.
Happily, Boyne returned to form with the last story, Air, which I loved. To see Aaron, whom we met in Fire, rebuild his sense of self after years of denying himself pleasure and engagement, and to have that happen through his relationship to his son and to a place that featured in two of the three earlier novellas, it was just lovely. This story brings us back to story #1 and closes a circle. It was beautifully done, truly masterful writing.
Overall, I recommend this despite my many issues with the third novella.. Please be aware that every story is shot through the tales of violence. Expect beatings, sexual and psychological child abuse, rape, suicide, murder, suicidal depression, and more. This is not an easy read, but it is an excellent one that moved me deeply.
September 10, 2025
John Boyne’s The Elements is an amazing creation, a novel of four interconnected stories, each centered on a person whose life has been ripped apart by someone’s act of abuse, emotional, physical or sexual abuse. Each of these people, two women, two men, have led very different lives but the course of each life has been influenced by such an act. In Boyne’s signature prose, we learn of each person’s history, present life and attempts to resolve their inner struggles.
Sections of this book were difficult to read, in part because they felt so real. These people become real as you read their thoughts and words. Boyne relates each person’s story to one of the four elements, a technique that works well. While I hesitate to write too many details about the individual stories, not wanting to say too much, each story grows out of the story before it, developing the life of a minor character in the prior tale. It works so well.
This may well be the best book I will read this year. I do highly recommend it while acknowledging that some might be emotionally triggered by this subject matter. All who read The Elements will read a tour de force of both prose and story. I am glad that I have.
Thank you to Henry Holt and Company and NetGalley for an early copy of this book.
Sections of this book were difficult to read, in part because they felt so real. These people become real as you read their thoughts and words. Boyne relates each person’s story to one of the four elements, a technique that works well. While I hesitate to write too many details about the individual stories, not wanting to say too much, each story grows out of the story before it, developing the life of a minor character in the prior tale. It works so well.
This may well be the best book I will read this year. I do highly recommend it while acknowledging that some might be emotionally triggered by this subject matter. All who read The Elements will read a tour de force of both prose and story. I am glad that I have.
Thank you to Henry Holt and Company and NetGalley for an early copy of this book.
May 6, 2025
Having been a fan of John Boyne for years, I was beyond thrilled to receive an early edition of his latest. As in his other books, he approaches his subject with depth and humanity and not a little humor, but overall with a seriousness that the subject demands. Four interlocked novellas with four distinct protagonists present a history of sexual abuse with an unconventional slant. Yes, there is the familiar situation of an older man preying on young women, but also the woman who rapes teenage boys as a distorted method of revenge. What Boyne has managed to provide are reasons without doling out sympathy, and the reader is more aware of the long terms effects of these crimes on not just the victims, but also those associated with them. I cannot recommend this book highly enough with the caveat that it is powerful and pulls no punches.
September 18, 2025
Published by Open Letter Review - https://openlettersreview.com/posts/t...
Richly woven scenes are threaded with dark connective tissue in John Boyne's stunning new collection, The Elements.
In Water, Vanessa Carvin arrives to a tiny Irish island and immediately changes her name to Willow Hale. She’s fleeing a family scandal and burrows into an off-the-grid cabin for isolation and reflection. Vanessa might be a victim or co-conspirator of deeply tragic events, and the reader is invited to judge as she assesses herself. Boyne immediately kidnaps our attention:
My next task is to shave my head. I’ve kept my hair shoulder length and blonde for as long as I can remember but I purchased an electric razor before leaving Dublin and plug the device in to charge for half an hour before easing it around my skull, experiencing a feverish delight in watching clumps tumble into the sink or fall on the floor around my feet. Standing in the cascading tendrils of my femininity, I decide…
Earth introduces Evan Keogh, a young man in possession of enough footie skill to be a generationally masterful soccer player. But Evan’s passion is paint, and he wants nothing more than to succeed as an artist. Largely due to paternal pressure, he’s boarded up his real self with so many lies that he lives in conflicted agony. His story begins after a tailspin, the gripping details we learn as he awaits the verdict of his high-profile sexual assault trial.
Dr. Freya Petrus, the protagonist of Fire, is a skilled skin surgeon who grafts burn victims most in need. Her life should overflow with wealth and happiness but is shrouded in evil acts and darkness. Freya’s tumultuous upbringing forces questions of nature vs nurture with innovative cruelty and sick twists. Might some monsters deserve sympathy?
Finally, Air begins at 30,000 feet and Aaron Umber is at a crossroads. It’s his 40th birthday and instead of sitting on Bondi Beach drinking beer and being teased about his receding hairline, he’s taking his 15-year-old son on a flight halfway around the world to see a woman not expecting them. Aaron hopes to confront life-long traumatic demons and write his own amazing father/son redemption story. As it progresses, we see the possible destruction of every meaningful relationship in his life and hold our breath turning the final pages.
These four slim standalone works (published by Doubleday between 2023 and 2025) forge a comprehensive 500-page narrative brimming with powerful synergy. Characters and plot points from each section are linked through emotionally charged bonds and the author uses the tiny Irish island to connect complex souls in spectacular fashion. Some are salvageable while others wreak havoc attempting to repair themselves. Imagination spills from the page and it is fascinating to witness how each element frames its respective part.
Streamlined prose and perfectly placed flashbacks make the book an immersive literary experience. Perspective never waves from first person, and the author reflects race, creed and gender as if he shouldered each for a lifetime. Rarely is such elegant writing paired with succinct character crafting. Boyne dabs backstory artfully, and scenes feel as if they are all told in present tense. Foreshadowing is hinted at through restrained, mysterious touches. This is a masterpiece that proves it is possible to tackle intensely serious themes and still serve up a thrilling page-turner.
John Boyne became a sensation with his 2006 Holocaust historical drama The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. It reached number one on the New York Times Bestseller list, was made into an award-winning movie and sold a total of seven million copies. Its notoriety is well merited as it is a daunting, moving novel. But, while The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is effective though magic realism and creating a realistic fable, The Elements is a much starker, more literal book. Fans of Boyne’s previous work, and hopefully many new readers, will fully embrace this collection of his work. Read as a whole, as intended, this is easily one of the best books of the year.
Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for a review copy.
Richly woven scenes are threaded with dark connective tissue in John Boyne's stunning new collection, The Elements.
In Water, Vanessa Carvin arrives to a tiny Irish island and immediately changes her name to Willow Hale. She’s fleeing a family scandal and burrows into an off-the-grid cabin for isolation and reflection. Vanessa might be a victim or co-conspirator of deeply tragic events, and the reader is invited to judge as she assesses herself. Boyne immediately kidnaps our attention:
My next task is to shave my head. I’ve kept my hair shoulder length and blonde for as long as I can remember but I purchased an electric razor before leaving Dublin and plug the device in to charge for half an hour before easing it around my skull, experiencing a feverish delight in watching clumps tumble into the sink or fall on the floor around my feet. Standing in the cascading tendrils of my femininity, I decide…
Earth introduces Evan Keogh, a young man in possession of enough footie skill to be a generationally masterful soccer player. But Evan’s passion is paint, and he wants nothing more than to succeed as an artist. Largely due to paternal pressure, he’s boarded up his real self with so many lies that he lives in conflicted agony. His story begins after a tailspin, the gripping details we learn as he awaits the verdict of his high-profile sexual assault trial.
Dr. Freya Petrus, the protagonist of Fire, is a skilled skin surgeon who grafts burn victims most in need. Her life should overflow with wealth and happiness but is shrouded in evil acts and darkness. Freya’s tumultuous upbringing forces questions of nature vs nurture with innovative cruelty and sick twists. Might some monsters deserve sympathy?
Finally, Air begins at 30,000 feet and Aaron Umber is at a crossroads. It’s his 40th birthday and instead of sitting on Bondi Beach drinking beer and being teased about his receding hairline, he’s taking his 15-year-old son on a flight halfway around the world to see a woman not expecting them. Aaron hopes to confront life-long traumatic demons and write his own amazing father/son redemption story. As it progresses, we see the possible destruction of every meaningful relationship in his life and hold our breath turning the final pages.
These four slim standalone works (published by Doubleday between 2023 and 2025) forge a comprehensive 500-page narrative brimming with powerful synergy. Characters and plot points from each section are linked through emotionally charged bonds and the author uses the tiny Irish island to connect complex souls in spectacular fashion. Some are salvageable while others wreak havoc attempting to repair themselves. Imagination spills from the page and it is fascinating to witness how each element frames its respective part.
Streamlined prose and perfectly placed flashbacks make the book an immersive literary experience. Perspective never waves from first person, and the author reflects race, creed and gender as if he shouldered each for a lifetime. Rarely is such elegant writing paired with succinct character crafting. Boyne dabs backstory artfully, and scenes feel as if they are all told in present tense. Foreshadowing is hinted at through restrained, mysterious touches. This is a masterpiece that proves it is possible to tackle intensely serious themes and still serve up a thrilling page-turner.
John Boyne became a sensation with his 2006 Holocaust historical drama The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. It reached number one on the New York Times Bestseller list, was made into an award-winning movie and sold a total of seven million copies. Its notoriety is well merited as it is a daunting, moving novel. But, while The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is effective though magic realism and creating a realistic fable, The Elements is a much starker, more literal book. Fans of Boyne’s previous work, and hopefully many new readers, will fully embrace this collection of his work. Read as a whole, as intended, this is easily one of the best books of the year.
Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for a review copy.
November 26, 2025
John Boyne’s writing is so impressive in the way he tackles difficult topics, yet pulls you right in. The Elements is composed of four interconnected stories, each built around the four classical elements; water, earth, fire, and air. I listened to the audiobook and raced through the first couple stories, then purposely slowed down to give each story time to fully settle.
I thought about reviewing each section individually, but truly, each story is exceptional. They’re unsettling, haunting, and beautifully crafted. The first story, Water, grabbed my attention instantly, and somehow each novella grows more compelling.
What impressed me most is how Boyne handles difficult themes, including abuse, with clarity, sensitivity, and intention. Across these four stories he explores crime and complicity, guilt and blame, generational trauma, as well as the possibility of redemption. The novellas echo and deepen one another, and by the end, everything comes full circle that feels both inevitable and poignant.
A bold, brilliantly constructed, emotionally resonant read. I loved it!
I thought about reviewing each section individually, but truly, each story is exceptional. They’re unsettling, haunting, and beautifully crafted. The first story, Water, grabbed my attention instantly, and somehow each novella grows more compelling.
What impressed me most is how Boyne handles difficult themes, including abuse, with clarity, sensitivity, and intention. Across these four stories he explores crime and complicity, guilt and blame, generational trauma, as well as the possibility of redemption. The novellas echo and deepen one another, and by the end, everything comes full circle that feels both inevitable and poignant.
A bold, brilliantly constructed, emotionally resonant read. I loved it!
December 30, 2025
the setup…
Water…Earth…Fire…Air. These four elements are used to provide illustrative perspectives in four interconnected stories about aspects of crime, originally published as separate novellas. The enabler is about a woman fleeing from her husband’s scandal, wondering about her possible complicity, with the water element having a strong influence. The accomplice is a young man searching for love and identity who becomes a famous soccer player, the last thing he wanted to be, with a connection to the earth element. The perpetrator is a woman who weaponizes her own trauma, fire being the element with which she best embraces. Finally, a man who was victimized as a teen, on a journey with his son to find the air he needs to breathe life into his soul.
the heart of the story…
It’s impossible for me to find the words to give grace to the brilliance of the writing and the emotional thunder of these stories. Each has loose threads of connection to one another and I was spellbound as I transitioned from one to the next. I vacillated between sympathy, empathy and horror as they so emulated the true life human condition.
the narration…
Anna Friel, Colin Morgan, Dane Whyte O’Hara & Niamh Cusack delivered inspired performances, capturing their characters beautifully and giving perfect pitch to the eloquent writing.
the bottom line…
Run, don’t hesitate, and grab this book. If you ever listen to audiobooks, this is the story you want to “hear” but it will resonate deeply in any format. My 17+ hours flew by and I still wanted more, even through moments of extreme discomfort. John Boyne at his finest.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Water…Earth…Fire…Air. These four elements are used to provide illustrative perspectives in four interconnected stories about aspects of crime, originally published as separate novellas. The enabler is about a woman fleeing from her husband’s scandal, wondering about her possible complicity, with the water element having a strong influence. The accomplice is a young man searching for love and identity who becomes a famous soccer player, the last thing he wanted to be, with a connection to the earth element. The perpetrator is a woman who weaponizes her own trauma, fire being the element with which she best embraces. Finally, a man who was victimized as a teen, on a journey with his son to find the air he needs to breathe life into his soul.
the heart of the story…
It’s impossible for me to find the words to give grace to the brilliance of the writing and the emotional thunder of these stories. Each has loose threads of connection to one another and I was spellbound as I transitioned from one to the next. I vacillated between sympathy, empathy and horror as they so emulated the true life human condition.
the narration…
Anna Friel, Colin Morgan, Dane Whyte O’Hara & Niamh Cusack delivered inspired performances, capturing their characters beautifully and giving perfect pitch to the eloquent writing.
the bottom line…
Run, don’t hesitate, and grab this book. If you ever listen to audiobooks, this is the story you want to “hear” but it will resonate deeply in any format. My 17+ hours flew by and I still wanted more, even through moments of extreme discomfort. John Boyne at his finest.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
October 9, 2025
5 gobsmacked 🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠s
September 30, 2025
Brutal, beautiful, unforgettable.
In "The Elements", John Boyne weaves together four interconnected novellas - each linked to one of the four elements - exploring sexual abuse/assault and its ripple effects from every possible angle: the victim, the enabler/bystander, the accomplice, and the perpetrator. Through recurring characters and overlapping storylines, Boyne examines the way trauma echoes across lives and generations, revealing both cowardice and complicity, cruelty and resilience.
This is not an easy book to read. At times, it is unbearably raw, unflinching in its honest, painful depiction of heinous crimes and the silence that allows them to continue. For survivors, some chapters will be almost unbearable. And yet, there is power in that rawness - power in Boyne’s refusal to look away, and in his insistence on portraying not just the horror but also the rare moments of bravery, love, and hope that emerge in its shadow; a depiction of both the worst and the best humanity has to offer.
The prose is beautiful, haunting, and deliberate; the structure ambitious but deeply effective. By the time the stories come full circle, the result is as devastating as it is powerful, shattering and utterly unforgettable. "The Elements" is not a book you "enjoy," but one you endure, absorb, and carry with you. And maybe that’s exactly the point.
Many thanks to Henry Holt and Co. for providing me with a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"The Elements" was published on September 9, 2025, and is available now.
In "The Elements", John Boyne weaves together four interconnected novellas - each linked to one of the four elements - exploring sexual abuse/assault and its ripple effects from every possible angle: the victim, the enabler/bystander, the accomplice, and the perpetrator. Through recurring characters and overlapping storylines, Boyne examines the way trauma echoes across lives and generations, revealing both cowardice and complicity, cruelty and resilience.
This is not an easy book to read. At times, it is unbearably raw, unflinching in its honest, painful depiction of heinous crimes and the silence that allows them to continue. For survivors, some chapters will be almost unbearable. And yet, there is power in that rawness - power in Boyne’s refusal to look away, and in his insistence on portraying not just the horror but also the rare moments of bravery, love, and hope that emerge in its shadow; a depiction of both the worst and the best humanity has to offer.
The prose is beautiful, haunting, and deliberate; the structure ambitious but deeply effective. By the time the stories come full circle, the result is as devastating as it is powerful, shattering and utterly unforgettable. "The Elements" is not a book you "enjoy," but one you endure, absorb, and carry with you. And maybe that’s exactly the point.
Many thanks to Henry Holt and Co. for providing me with a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
"The Elements" was published on September 9, 2025, and is available now.
October 6, 2025
This book is comprised of 4 linked novellas. Sometimes the links are not obvious immediately, but characters from one novella pop up in another in shocking and often completely unexpected ways. However, the undercurrent of emotional, physical and sexual abuse of children and teenagers is always present. There are some profoundly damaged people in this book.
In part one, a woman retreats to a secluded Irish island to heal and come to grips with her enabling behavior. We see how an entire family can be victimized by the gross misdeeds of one member. In part two, a victim of multiple abusers becomes an accomplice. In part three (which I found the most disturbing because of the intentional cruelty), we hear from the point of view of a victim who has turned into an abuser. In part four, a victim opens up to his teenaged son. This book was really wonderfully written and the stories were extremely compelling.
In part one, a woman retreats to a secluded Irish island to heal and come to grips with her enabling behavior. We see how an entire family can be victimized by the gross misdeeds of one member. In part two, a victim of multiple abusers becomes an accomplice. In part three (which I found the most disturbing because of the intentional cruelty), we hear from the point of view of a victim who has turned into an abuser. In part four, a victim opens up to his teenaged son. This book was really wonderfully written and the stories were extremely compelling.
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