SPOILER ALERT! THIS REVIEW HAS MANY SPOILERS, READ IF IT DOESN'T BOTHER YOU :)
DIFFERENT really is ... different. This book is about Moira, an 18-year-old who discovers her magical powers were expanding, which was weird: they only have one element. I am going to just say it right now that I didn't like the book, but I would like to start out by pointing out some positive things:
1. the cover is nice, the girl is beautiful, and I love how her arms are on fire
2. the author finished the novel, which is amazing. Many people walk around with novels in their heads, never putting pen to paper (or finger to keyboard).
3. I liked how people with the same element could have different abilities, that was creative
Now, let's get to the unpleasant stuff...
1. I have no favorite characters, all of them irritated me
2. I don't understand why there was some sort of vague sexual attraction between Moira and Jaiden, because Jaiden is a complete douchebag
To be honest... I had to force myself to keep reading this book. I had no favorite characters, all of them irritated the shit out of me. The main character wants to be this big badass heroine, but she is so f*&%$ whiney. Judging by the cover, I expected her to be BADASS! I am still trying to figure out why we were introduced to her girlfriends at school, who kept twirling their hair, running their fingers through their hair and using too many facial expressions on one page, it made my head spin. We were introduced to so many names in this book that weren't even used again. Too many characters in the book. I also couldn't understand why Moira felt the way she felt about the characters in the book, it comes across as if even the author doesn't know. There was a line in the book that read, I can't remember which boy was Sam. Well Moira, neither can I.
Come to think of it, I can't even understand how the characters feel about one another. Sure, Kenna and Jaiden are knocking boots, that much is clear. But what do they FEEL? Why was their relationship mentioned if it had nothing to do with Moira, I mean if Moira and Jaiden weren't going to get together? How does Noah feel about Jaiden? Sometimes I could 'taste' he was not that into him being 'boss' and like he wanted to challenge his leadership... but... sigh...
If I had a penny for every single time someone in the book ran their fingers through their hair, flashed a smile, and licked their lips, I would be richer than Jack Ma. Somebody, PLEASE give the characters a f*&^&% Chapstick! Everyone in this book seems to love running their fingers through their blonde hair and giving people piercing looks with their blue or dark eyes... *yawn* Come to think of it, I don't know who annoyed me more: Moira, Paula, Kenna or Jaiden.
I think it was too slow-paced, too many chapters. Chapters 1 - 10 could have been cropped into five chapters. I can't believe I spent an entire chapter reading about how she and her parents think she might be carrying magic disease... or whatever it's called.
I also don't understand how the mother can work at one of the most advanced research centers, but she had never heard of elementals with more than one element nor that there was this organization that kidnapped gifted elementals. That just baffled me. The 'renegades' had to tell her.
I am also confused about the world/country/city/town they're living in. Which era is it? I skipped through most of the chapters, maybe it was mentioned, but I might have missed it, having too much fun skipping from chapter to chapter.
Now, when I stopped skipping chapters for a bit was when she and Jaiden fought each other. I was like, Okay, a little sexual tension, foreplay on the mat, I can actually read again to see what happens between these two. But then I ended up skipping some more. The biggest disappointment is that I think the author wanted to portray Jaiden as some sort of alpha male, but she failed miserably. At the end of the book, I thought,
WTF did I just waste my time reading?
I can tell the author is a fan of the Twilight Saga, that's so clear when Moira and Jaiden are looking at the books in his room. Reminds me of Bella looking at Edward's CD collection in his room.
Then, the author just drops a bomb that Moira her father raped her mother, they weren't in love... and then she just forgets it and goes on chapter after chapter after chapter writing about shit that doesn't drive the plot forward at all. What did Moira think of it? Did she question her identity? How did she feel about herself? Why wasn't she curious to know more about her father and his crazy side of the family? I mean, her biological daddy is a kidnapping rapist, her paternal grandfather also flew over the cuckoo's nest, I mean... what the actual fuck? And Moira doesn't want to know more? Sigh...
There is a lot of potential for a GREAT story here, but the writing is just killing me.
I am pretty sure there is a market for this book, I just won't be part of it. Thankful this was a free download.
"I must have lost a couple of brain cells during the fight," Moira said. Well Moira, me and you both girl, because I am SURE I lost a couple of brain cells forcing myself to finish this book.
I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.