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Elemental Phases #3

Exile in the Water Kingdom

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Water, Earth, Fire and Air are only the beginning. Elementals support everything from Darkness to Time, secretly maintaining the processes of nature. Only now the Elementals are nearly extinct. Two years ago, the Air House released a plague that killed ninety percent of them. With their society in chaos and so many of their kind dead, they can’t find their Phase-Matches; the other halves of themselves. Without Matches they can’t have any more children and, without the Elementals, the world will end. Ty, Queen of the Water House is having a bad couple of years. Her lunatic ex-Match keeps trying to kidnap her, most of the Elementals still blame her for the Fall, she has crippling panic attacks, and she’s being forced to attend group counseling in the human realm. When Gion, of the Air House shows up and demands sanctuary in the Water Kingdom, Ty doesn’t know what to think. Gion makes her nervous. He’s too cold, too powerful, and too intense. His only hobbies seem to be scowling and killing people. Except, when Ty looks into his eyes, she feels a… The most feared assassin in the Elemental realm, Gion, of the Air House has spent his entire life being ostracized and feared. There’s a price on his head, everyone in the universe hates him, and he’s been exiled from his homeland. Gion’s tired and all he wants is Ty. For eleven years, he’s secretly been in love with the Water Queen and he’s done with hiding his feelings. His goal now is to somehow make a place for himself in the exasperatingly pastel Water Palace and to claim Ty for himself. Unfortunately, there are a few problems with his plan including the fact that Ty is terrified of him, the eccentric Water Phases keep trying to make him watch reality shows, and there are still many, many people who want Ty and Gion dead.Book three of The Elemental Phases.

339 pages, Paperback

First published August 14, 2012

84 people are currently reading
756 people want to read

About the author

Cassandra Gannon

25 books1,453 followers

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5 stars
450 (41%)
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407 (37%)
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205 (18%)
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29 (2%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
Profile Image for Rachael*Caribbean*girl*bibliophile.
2,270 reviews519 followers
December 7, 2024
Spoilers ahead



If I had to rate this book for Gion only I'd rate it 5 stars! I loved him so damn much. He saw the h years ago,11 years he's wanted her......11 years he's been celibate! He was a supposed bad guy, cold, harsh, unfeeling and more powerful than most but when he finally got his shot with the h he was so sweet ughhh I wanna have his babies

The h, whew I struggled with her tbh. One of the smartest Elementals in the entire kingdom and it didn't occur to her that maybe the asshole bad guy couldn't be her match? Especially when she started having the phasing feelings for my boy? 🙄 now I get that she was almost raped by her asshole ex match but I wanted her to be a bit stronger.....harsh but they were in the middle of a war!!!! I just didn't like her, probably because she had my man but hey 🤷🏿‍♀️😁
The plot.....🙄
Finally dipshit bad guy from book 1 met his brutal end
We see the characters of previous books and books to come
Nia and Cross and Job and Tessie are as adorable as ever
I get this author's humour but the characters having full on conversation in the middle of serious issues just dragged the plot out and had me shouting shut up and deal with the issue 😭
All in all for Gion 5 stars, everything else 2 stars.....final rating 3 stars








Thoughts while reading
From book 1 I loved Gion, even when he was a cold, unfeeling ,murdering bastard he was my favourite character and he's lived up to my high standards beautifully
Ty ugh hopefully she does something soon..... you're weighing my man down girl grrrrr. Can't wait for her to start bitch slapping folks


“I won’t give her up. Not for you or Parald or Nia or the good of the universe.” Gion waved a hand around at the fallen armies. Phases who had fought to destroy the only thing that he’d ever loved. “These deaths mean nothing to me. You want to see real destruction, Job, you try and keep me from Ty. I’ll bring creation itself to its knees before I lose her.”

#swoon

#currentlyreading
Profile Image for Sharon.
507 reviews318 followers
December 28, 2018
Here are some of my thoughts:
• Utterly sweet. Gion killed me. This book has absolutely surpassed my expectations. Gion and Ty are the cuuuutest.
• Gion is badass, but also vulnerable and dedicated. I love how hard-working he is to prove to Ty that he is worthy. It’s funny how everyone thinks he’s a villain, but he turns out to have such a soft spot for Ty and eventually owning up to being a noble, good guy.
• Ty has gone through some good character development here, gaining confidence. I love that she learns to warm up to Gion and appreciate him. She has given a home and a purpose at the Water Kingdom, and I just love how their story plays out.
• I actually really want Isaacs to get his own story. He has become a surprise to me and I feel like he deserves appreciation and redemption as well.
• It got a little annoying during the scene when Chason and Gion are fighting

This is 5 stars for me. It’s thoroughly sweet, touching, and entertaining.

Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level? Other things to note?
Tears-worthy?
Humor?
Favorite scenes?
What age level would be appropriate?
Profile Image for Duanur.
1,078 reviews72 followers
December 8, 2020
*3.5*

Very fun and cute. I already really liked Gion so I was very excited for his book. I think this was just a bit too long other than that I enjoyed Gion and Ty's story. Also, I'm loving the big cast of characters and the funny dialogues. I liked her A Kinda Fairytale series better but this is still a fun series to read especially after reading a sad book.
Profile Image for Somia.
2,071 reviews172 followers
February 2, 2024
Another good book in the series, we finally see why the plague that devasted the elementals happened and the villianness ass who caused it finally gets what he deserves. For me it is the character of Gion who makes this book. Ty is also sweet and a good fit for Gion. An enjoyable read.
Profile Image for nat. ❦.
437 reviews62 followers
April 5, 2025
4.5/5 “Since the day he’d met Ty, all other women became obsolete, which meant that Gion had close to a dozen years of celibacy under his belt.” 🥰

¿Dios, no aman a un hombre que vive y respira solo por ti, que solo te ve a ti, que renunciaría a cualquier cosa solo por tenerte y hacerte feliz y en realidad LO DEMUESTRA? ¿Qué a pesar de pensar tan mal de sí mismo y nunca haber conocido el amor, aún así nunca oculta sus sentimientos? Por hombres como Gion cree una carpeta llamada “patéticamente enamorados” y no me arrepiento 🗿💘💘💘

“Gion had only ever prayed for two things in his life: forgiveness and Ty. Maybe they were the same thing, actually. ”

Cassandra nunca me falla, sigue escribiendo libros, reina!!! (Aunque si fueran un poco más cortos y con menos personajes… también funcionaría, eh jejej)

“If I could have any woman in the universe, I’d still only want you And that’s the truth.  No one else will ever do for me.  You don’t need to worry about that, Ty. There’s only you.  For me, there is only you.”

“I believe in you. You’re the only vision I’ve ever had.  If I leave you, I won’t just regret it, it will kill me.  Literally.  I’d rather die than exist without you. ”
Profile Image for Jennifer.
47 reviews8 followers
April 17, 2023
This series and this book in particular need to be talked about more! I seriously cannot get enough, and I’m coming to the end of my Gannon spree and will without doubt have a book hangover beyond belief.

I have been obsessed with Gion since he first showed up in book one of the series, and while nothing in this particular plot was surprising (even the twists I saw two books back) that does not by any means make this any less good or satisfying. Gion is everything you want in a dark, tortured bad-but-really-good guy and I loved every minute of his story. Ty is fine, she isn’t my favorite heroine in this series, but I’m cool with her because Gion just loves her so much. They have both been so traumatized and to see them heal together is so freaking sweet. Love it love it love it.
Profile Image for Mandy J.
180 reviews47 followers
November 5, 2015
Fun read..I need more (too many elementals need stories that I need to read) :D
Profile Image for Nessa.
3,938 reviews74 followers
Read
February 12, 2025
SWEET!
I adore the whole evil villain meets shy heroine, though it wasn't quite what I was looking for at the moment. I can't believe I'm saying this but I'd rather an unhealthy dose of angst when it comes to this kind of coupling. In other words, it's too sweet I could cut my teeth on it.

Nevertheless, if you're not a fan of angst and prefer a la-di-daa kind of romance, then this would be perfect for you.
Profile Image for Helen.
78 reviews2 followers
February 26, 2018
I was so looking forward to reading Gion's book and it did not let me down at all. I loved it!

I was really curious about how the tough, cold, killing machine with hints of redeeming qualities was going to mix and meld with the young genius queen. It was truly a joy to watch them come together, to discover Gion's hidden depths and qualities and see him begin to shine as Ty's Match. It was also great to see Ty coming out of her shell a little more and finally receiving closure over the whole Parald-is-my-Match dealio.

Again, we have a mix of learning more about this world, seeing romances develop, continuing to see characters and couples we've already met before and moving forward with the whole plot about the tablets and everything, which means I was definitely left wanting to find out what happens next. So many questions I want to be answered, though no doubt I won't learn them all in the next book.

This series is a mix of romance, mystery, a quest, fantasy and humour, and I am definitely enjoying it so far.
Profile Image for Ada.
455 reviews46 followers
May 18, 2020
Exile in the Water Kingdom was a much more dynamic story than the previous book so despite not getting much from Ty, it's still held up well with Gion.

The book starts off on an expected tone and obviously it's easy to guess some things when it comes to their romance, the whole match situation was predictable but it was still a novel element than the last two books where they just straight up match. The twist in the third book creates interest and ties it together with the plot. Since romance is a key element for this plot, it flows well towards the end fight.

Ty wasn't anything remarkable for a FMC. She was decent but didn't have anything to hold my attention. Gion on the other hand was a strong character, thankfully he was less gloomy than the previous two heroes. His interactions with other side characters were fun to read with his sarcasm.

Overall, it was a better read than the second book and has a cutesy sweet romance that plays out on a decent speed without feeling too fake or rushed.
239 reviews
March 10, 2019
Well I have read all six books in this series but I am coming back to give my thoughts on my favorite book. Gion is the most misunderstood "Bad Guy" ever in my opinion. Yes he can be callous and arrogant somewhat but his love for Ty and the extremes he will go to for her protection just melted my heart. Ty is a brave heroine who goes with her heart despite what others think is in her best interest. This storyline is stimulating with some humor thrown in which I enjoyed. I hope this author decides to continue this series since there are so many characters that still need their own books. This is a fantastical fabulous series I firmly recommend!
Profile Image for Rosemary.
794 reviews6 followers
August 24, 2023
I didn’t read the books that came before this one in the series. I had no idea what I was getting or what was going on for a while. I was super confused. It was like a Loki and Last Air Bender fanfic. We bounce from the bender world to the human world and back. Each house has elemental powers. I loved the hero. I have a soft spot for good fighters and assassins. I loved his love and longing for her. He would die for her and kill for her and I was HERE for it. It’s really all I cared about, was his longing and devotion for her. It made the entire thing worth it.
Profile Image for Patti.
18 reviews
February 3, 2014
Once again, Cassandra Gannon does not fail to please. The storyline continues with Parald's backstory with Tritone revealed. What a slimeball! These characters, Ty and Gion have become some of my favorites. The humor is still fun and fresh and I can't wait for more of the story to be revealed. Keep up the incredible storytelling Cassandra!
Profile Image for DemetraP.
5,897 reviews
March 2, 2015
Gion, the hero, kept making me laugh. He wears a cape. He said that Darth Vader copied him, because he'd been wearing a cape for 300 years before him.

I liked how the heroine stood up for herself and was smart. This was the first book I read in this series but now I want to go back and read the others.
Profile Image for Judy.
48 reviews5 followers
October 28, 2012
I can't say enough about this series. This is not a paranormal story that I would typically read but I am so glad that I did. I have been completely drawn in by this story. Anyone who reads paranormal should give this book a chance.
Profile Image for Jai.
84 reviews16 followers
May 10, 2016
This is a fantastic, creative, witty series. It's worth reading, even though there are some grammatical problems. Readers need to begin with the first book, though, to fully enjoy it all.
6 reviews
April 15, 2014
Love this series. While it could use some editing, the storyline is fun and this is my favorite one so far.
Profile Image for Fibula.
70 reviews1 follower
October 19, 2018
I LOVE this novel, especially because I love Gion, one of the main characters! I highly recommend the whole series!
Profile Image for Mira Sol.
216 reviews11 followers
May 26, 2025
I was really looking forward to this book. I love the energy between these two. When you first meet Gion in book 1, he’s a bad guy. He sweeps into the jail cell in a black cape and Ty has a panic attack. She’s terrified of him. Everyone we love hates him. But there’s something off, right? For some reason, his eyes are always tracking Ty and despite being the most powerful guy in the room, he isn’t kidnapping Ty. It reminded me of the initial meetings between Rhysand and Feyre in ACOTAR. Or Kylo Ren and Rey. Some connection between these people who are on the opposite sides of the war.

Ok fast forward to book 3 and as readers, I think we are all pretty aware of the BIG SPOILER. So I was the teensiest bit annoyed while I waited around for them to figure it out. So I would say there was a bit of a drag for me about 1/3 of the way through the book. But I see that the author was trying to make a point about fated mates and free will/choice. So I forgive her.

Overall this is very fun. I loved both mains. Loved seeing Ty grow into her inner strength and overcome trauma. Loved watching Gion try to be good. It was so cute.

I think the pacing was excellent and I loved the role other characters from previous books played. There is this great scene with another side character who has been a quasi side villain for all three books, who is going insane from his grief over losing his mate. And anytime we’re in his POV, he mentions this song his match used to play and honestly I was getting annoyed by it. So finally in this last scene of his in this book, he is walking to what he believes is his death, humming this song, anxious to be with his love, and I turned it on while I read because I was like “FINE AUTHOR, I will listen to this song!” And I swear I was transported to the scene. I could see him. I could hear him. It was like being in a movie. And that is something I love about this author and keeps bringing me back to her stuff despite the many typos, and the consistently virgin heroines 🙄. Her ideas are pure gold, the vibes between her mains are very possessive, her books are safe and every once in a while she hits you with this diamond in the rough moment.

Also the “whole big world ending war and multiple threats plot” moved ahead quite a bit in this one. And a villain actually gets his horrible comeuppance, so I appreciated that.

Highly recommend but do read in order since these two interact in the two previous books quite a bit.

Safe. Hero has been celibate, waiting for FMC since the day he first saw her. Almost no information given about his past except that he wasn’t a virgin. Virgin heroine—which I say in every review of this author— this author is bad for.
Heroine has experienced an abusive quasi-relationship in the past and sexual assault (though the rape is aborted by interruption).

TW: panic attacks, some reliving of the sexual assault on page in her memories but her MMC is there with her (magically lol) and so he comforts her through the reliving of the memory.
Profile Image for Margaret Mary James.
116 reviews1 follower
February 10, 2024
Holy Gaia. This book was worth any number of books that came before it! It’s a beautiful story about Ty and Gion finally accepting each other after trying to fight the attraction between them.

When I first read reviews for this book last year, I thought we were going to spend time reading about Ty being with Parald, while Gion had to endure it. But this isn’t at all what happens. We do get flashbacks of this, but it’s all very brief. If you haven’t read the first two books, this story will absolutely not be as satisfying as if you start at the beginning. But to each their own; I personally don’t see any of these as standalones.

The spicy scenes are so well-written. The fact that quiet little Ty is so good at talking dirty and coming up with sexy romance-novel narratives while getting it on with Gion. That was a fun detail to add to the spice.

I am so ready for Chason’s book! I’m so intrigued by his character and what Raiden said about Mara being returned. I know Kingu is next, so I’m interested to see where that one leads. Each book does SO MUCH to move the overall world-plot forward, so I can’t wait to continue. I am hoping for fewer typos though, there have been quite a few in each book so far.

Now for MAJOR SPOILERS. I am someone who sometimes finds a lot of comfort in spoilers, especially if I’m having a stressful time in my real life and want reassurance that what I’m reading will end happily. Therefore, I shall provide the spoilers I couldn’t find for this novel.

However! I am ultimately very happy I didn’t read any of these spoilers beforehand. The story is low-angst, and everything turns out beautifully, if you don’t want to know more…

SPOILERSSSS…

🙈

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Because of the tablet of fate that Parald has, he is able to manipulate Matches! Ty was never his to begin with. Gion and Ty are in fact real matches and we find this out near the very end. I personally didn’t even think of this, but when Randa (Gion’s supposed real match) shows up, I started wondering. I loved that Ty and Gion found their way to each other without knowing they were in fact real matches. It made their story even more gorgeous.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jack-Jack.
370 reviews
August 11, 2024
update 10-08-2024

Okay! I went ahead and read the first book, and I'll admit, I love this world, even though I wish it had more descriptive action scenes. But now I understand a bit more. I bumped up my rating by a whole star because I couldn't get this one line that some characters use to describe the MMC out of my mind—it was just so ridiculous, hahahaha!

They used to call him ‘The Black Hole’ ‘cause so many people just disappeared around him.


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2 stars

The book had an interesting twist, but I found that the characters didn’t feel as real as I had hoped, and the writing was a bit repetitive. There wasn’t much happening in terms of major events—it took the whole book for them to fix the goddamn windows! Hahaha

Also, although the main couple’s focus could be seen as the epitome of romantic bliss, it leaned more towards a YA vibe, which felt out of place considering that most of the characters were centuries old—why did they act like teenagers?

There was also the uncomfortable fact that the MMC, who was incredibly old, had feelings for the heroine when she was "technically a minor" in their world. My concern might have been less prominent (but not forgotten) if the author hadn’t emphasized this detail repeatedly— it was mentioned multiple times, even joking about him being a lecherous man. They kept repeating that, while he refrained from acting on his feelings, it was not because it felt wrong, but because it was illegal, which gave off a predatory vibe that was hard to overlook.

Overall, the character development and world-building were there, but they felt a bit flat, like they didn’t fully come to life. The story still carried a strong sense of family and had a good ensemble of characters; there was a spark, but it didn’t quite ignite the way I expected. The occasional grammatical errors and the less polished writing style also took me out of the story at times. I think this might have been due to the many POVs, which I wasn’t entirely used to ( and this surprised me because I’ve read a LOT of reverse harem stories with multiple POVs, but here it was a lot to take in).

Honestly, I think this would have shined even brighter as a streaming series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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