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Elemental #1
Elemental Reality
When Callie Pierce was ten, her mother disappeared without a trace. On the eve of her disappearance twelve years later, the earth seemingly comes alive. The elements speak to Callie, and that's only the beginning. Everything she has ever known was a twisted fabrication to protect her. Now the truth is set free. Callie and her sister are more powerful than any Faerie ever born. Now they have to use their powers to save their mother and family from the evil hands of fate that threaten to tear them apart. Welcome to her elemental reality.
251 pages, Paperback
First published August 21, 2011
7 people are currently reading
2979 people want to read
About the author
Cesya MaRae Cuono
3 books221 followersCesya MaRae Cuono hails from a small town in northeastern Pennsylvania. She is a graduate of Alvernia University where she majored in Business Administration and also received her certificate of Multi-Media & Production makeup from Cosmix School of Makeup Artistry. You can find any updates from Cesya on her websites. Any book inquiries please contact via email: cesya.cuono@revolutionpublish.com
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September 3, 2011With an incredibly pretty cover and a 22 year old protagonist I was sold on reading Elemental Reality. One thing I have been complaining about lately is a lack of protagonists in their early 20's. Luckily, Callie came along and I was hooked.
When I started reading Elemental Reality I didn't realize that it was about faeries so I was really excited to find that out while reading as I absolutely adore books about faeries. In saying that though, these faeries are quite different and unique which is always exciting. As I was reading through Elemental Reality I thought it to be slightly reminiscent of Violet Wings by Victoria Hanley in some aspects which made it really outstanding.
The characters were all really interesting. I loved Callie and thought she was a riot. Oli, is definitely an awesome guy and he speaks with a lot of Aussie slang which is really awesome. I also liked that there was balance between Oli using Aussie slang and speaking in a way more understandable. It was good because when reading a book I like to be able to understand what the characters are saying without spending too long trying to translate it. Callie's best friends Ady and Emery were amazing too. They were so great and I wish I had best friends like that because they just absolutely loved Callie and would do anything for her.
I really enjoyed the storyline of Elemental Reality. At first I wasn't really sure where the book was headed but once the ball started rolling it kept going and I had to keep reading on. I finished it in no time because I had to know what was going to happen next. Then the ending happened. Wow, the ending is quite the cliffhanger and now I really need to know what's going on and what will happen next.
Overall, I really enjoyed Elemental Reality. It was fast-paced and had enough of a mysterious element to keep me reading through the day. If you're looking for something unique and fantastical then I strongly encourage you to read Elemental Reality. That is, if the cover hasn't already sucked you in!
When I started reading Elemental Reality I didn't realize that it was about faeries so I was really excited to find that out while reading as I absolutely adore books about faeries. In saying that though, these faeries are quite different and unique which is always exciting. As I was reading through Elemental Reality I thought it to be slightly reminiscent of Violet Wings by Victoria Hanley in some aspects which made it really outstanding.
The characters were all really interesting. I loved Callie and thought she was a riot. Oli, is definitely an awesome guy and he speaks with a lot of Aussie slang which is really awesome. I also liked that there was balance between Oli using Aussie slang and speaking in a way more understandable. It was good because when reading a book I like to be able to understand what the characters are saying without spending too long trying to translate it. Callie's best friends Ady and Emery were amazing too. They were so great and I wish I had best friends like that because they just absolutely loved Callie and would do anything for her.
I really enjoyed the storyline of Elemental Reality. At first I wasn't really sure where the book was headed but once the ball started rolling it kept going and I had to keep reading on. I finished it in no time because I had to know what was going to happen next. Then the ending happened. Wow, the ending is quite the cliffhanger and now I really need to know what's going on and what will happen next.
Overall, I really enjoyed Elemental Reality. It was fast-paced and had enough of a mysterious element to keep me reading through the day. If you're looking for something unique and fantastical then I strongly encourage you to read Elemental Reality. That is, if the cover hasn't already sucked you in!
September 2, 2011
The start of the book is really fun and quirky and all of the characters are one’s you would want to hang out with. The best friends, who are a couple, are friends you’d want over at your place celebrating your birthday with you. The sister and dad are great family members, fun and caring. And the main character is the quirkiness to the story. Sometimes her quirkiness is a bit too obvious and off putting though. For a number of pages she goes on and on talking to herself (as if she had the angel/devil on her shoulder bantering back and forth) inside her head. Luckily it doesn’t continue throughout the book and the story gets back on track.
Midway through the book we are told that there is a war going on between the demons and the fairies. I reread that part again and again trying to figure out the actual reasons for the war, what each side was trying to accomplish, why the mom was gone. While there was a basic reason for the mom being gone, it wasn’t filled out. And I still have no idea why it’s considered a war. The story feels like it wasn’t fully fleshed out – it has really good bones…and even muscle….but the skin holding it together seems to be missing. I wish it felt more complete as the characters are very entertaining.
Reviewed by Jessica for Book Sake.
Midway through the book we are told that there is a war going on between the demons and the fairies. I reread that part again and again trying to figure out the actual reasons for the war, what each side was trying to accomplish, why the mom was gone. While there was a basic reason for the mom being gone, it wasn’t filled out. And I still have no idea why it’s considered a war. The story feels like it wasn’t fully fleshed out – it has really good bones…and even muscle….but the skin holding it together seems to be missing. I wish it felt more complete as the characters are very entertaining.
Reviewed by Jessica for Book Sake.
May 10, 2017
Worst.Book.Ever.
Please! Callie is a snarky fairy who thinks she is a human and whose mother disappeared 12 years prior. It's her birthday (the anniversary of her mother's disappearance), so she is reminiscing about her mother's disappearance for our benefit. Then, as she goes down the stairs to her surprise party, she reminisces about all of her party attendants, once again, for our benefit. Worst info dump ever!
She then goes out to a club. And, what do you know? She meets both the love of her life, and the villain of the book. Of course. But, guess what? The love of her life happens to show up the next morning and he happens to live next door!!!!
Really???
Oh, and he is from Australia, so he talks like Crocodile Dundee. Yes, he uses every single Australian slang expression that you have never heard of. But don't worry, he explains them all. Fun!?!? What a charmer he is too! He tells a penis joke within minutes of meeting her father. Good job, Dundee! You really know the way to charm a girl's daddy! Oh, but it doesn't matter, because Callie has decided that Dundee is her soul-mate within 12 hours of meeting him.
Can my eyes roll out of my head?
But, the good news is that Callie's dad has been lying to her and her sister for the past 12 years about their mother being dead! Yes, that is the good news! It was much more gentle to tell a 10 year old on her birthday that her mother disappeared and likely was dead than to tell her that her mother willingly left to protect the family and that they would be able to rescue her someday. Much better. Father of the year material. So, even though the mother sacrificed everything to keep her daughters away, and the daughters had no training or knowledge of their "special fairy powers" until this moment which usually would take a lifetime of training to learn to use; the two girls immediately learn to use their powers and need to take off to save mom. That's right. This is all within the first 24 hours of the book. I am not spoiling. This is the info in the description. It's just that bad. Really bad. So, so bad..... That's all I'm saying....
February 11, 2014
3.5 Stars
I have to start by mentioning the cover.
The cover whore in me has been aching to get my hands on this book since I first saw it.
GORGEOUS, gorgeous cover! Big ups to the cover artist for this masterful piece of sexy for the eye!
And not only is the cover smexy but each chapter page has some gorgeous elemental beauty on it too, I love it!
Elemental Reality is a faerie story.
A story with faeries unlike any you have seen before.
Fresh unseen powers with new rules, in an interesting and different world filled with dangerous demons out to stalk and kill.
The author has created a story where the old rules don't apply, her faeries don't follow the rules of the realms we have read about so many times before.
Cesya MaRae Cuono has created a brand new world with a fresh voice, full of new and exciting ideas.
And while some of those ideas might not appeal to lovers of a more traditional faerie tale, it definitely makes for a refreshing read.
However, the repetitive use of Aussie slang used could do with some work. Better research could add some credibility to the sentence structuring, as its a hard one to get right when your not familiar with the local lingo!
Admittedly a little bumpy in places, with a slightly unrefined storytelling flow, Elemental Reality is a great story for this young first time author.
Overall the writing was good and the story is an intriguing one but the ending did feel rushed. And even though I had an idea of what was coming, I liked the cliffhanger.
A good start for a new and fantastical world, 3.5 Stars ;]
I have to start by mentioning the cover.
The cover whore in me has been aching to get my hands on this book since I first saw it.
GORGEOUS, gorgeous cover! Big ups to the cover artist for this masterful piece of sexy for the eye!
And not only is the cover smexy but each chapter page has some gorgeous elemental beauty on it too, I love it!
Elemental Reality is a faerie story.
A story with faeries unlike any you have seen before.
Fresh unseen powers with new rules, in an interesting and different world filled with dangerous demons out to stalk and kill.
The author has created a story where the old rules don't apply, her faeries don't follow the rules of the realms we have read about so many times before.
Cesya MaRae Cuono has created a brand new world with a fresh voice, full of new and exciting ideas.
And while some of those ideas might not appeal to lovers of a more traditional faerie tale, it definitely makes for a refreshing read.
However, the repetitive use of Aussie slang used could do with some work. Better research could add some credibility to the sentence structuring, as its a hard one to get right when your not familiar with the local lingo!
Admittedly a little bumpy in places, with a slightly unrefined storytelling flow, Elemental Reality is a great story for this young first time author.
Overall the writing was good and the story is an intriguing one but the ending did feel rushed. And even though I had an idea of what was coming, I liked the cliffhanger.
A good start for a new and fantastical world, 3.5 Stars ;]
November 12, 2011
This is definitely not a book I would normally pick up, but it was written by a friend of a friend so I decided to give it a try. I'm really glad I did! I liked the characters, and the story moved along quickly without getting bogged down with too many details. I read the whole thing is less than a day and can't wait to read the next one!
September 3, 2011
Callista ‘Callie’ Pierce hates birthdays. They are the day when she remembers her mother’s vanishing and the growing strangeness within her . . . but her 22nd birthday is shaping up to be better than the one’s before. Her best friends and blissfully happy couple, Ady and Emery, have thrown her a surprise party, complete with a night of dancing where Callie meets the dangerously sexy Cayden, and admires from afar her lovely Australian next-door-neighbour Oliver ‘Oli’.
But these two men in Callie’s life prove to be the harbingers of change. As Callie falls for Oli’s laid-back charm, she starts to notice those changes within herself grow and alter into something strange and other, something Fae. Along with her sister, Lola, Callie will learn more about her mother’s disappearance and where she sits caught in the middle of two worlds.
‘Elemental Reality’ is the debut YA novel from Cesya MaRae Cuono, and the first in a new paranormal romance series.
Not surprisingly, the cover art of ‘Elemental Reality’ was what hooked me. It’s stunningly unique and drool-worthy – eye-catching and hinting at fabulous supernatural shenanigans within. And the cover art does not lie.
‘Elemental Reality’ is a book about Fae or ‘fairies’ (faeries). It’s YA, but leaning towards the older end of the spectrum for 17+ readers with a protagonist whose 22. I loved that the book was oriented towards older-YA readers, a group who are often forgotten when books frequently have protagonists who can’t drink or drive and for whom sex is taboo. I loved this different age-range, because straight away the book is unique. There’s no ‘meeting in biology’ clichés or stealing lust-filled glances in the hallways. Phew! Cuono and Revolution Publishing seem very readership-savvy and understanding that as much as young adult is about ‘reading up’, it’s also a genre that older readers still enjoy coming back to.
The Fae storyline is very well done. It’s not a revolutionary subject (Melissa Marr, Maggie Stiefvater, Aprilynne Pike having charted this fictional territory) but I appreciated that Cuono didn’t get bogged down in Gaelic mythology or strict legendary Gothicism. She really put the fun into the fairy subject as Callie and Lola discover the joy of their powers and take their change in stride.
Something that did grate throughout the book was the poorly written Australian love interest, Oliver ‘Oli’. As an Aussie, I started out mildly amused by Oli’s clichéd speech and Paul Hogan-esque appeal. But it did get to the point where he was so far off the mark it became a little annoying. Take the exchange below, for example.
“Would you like to come in for some tea?” The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them.
“It’s very nice to meet you too,” he said, looking like some Aussie God. “It’s a little too early for a cuppa tea isn’t it?”
“What?” I asked, confused. “It’s never too early for tea.”
“Oh.” He chuckled. “Sorry, I keep forgetting I’m not home anymore. When someone invites you over for tea in Australia it means supper. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to these Yank customs.”
He’s invited inside for some tea thinking that Callie means ‘supper’ – yet he clarifies by calling it a ‘cuppa’ tea? ‘Cuppa’ means ‘cup of’ – so he’s assuming that Callie means “come inside for a cup of supper”. Um, huh? Never mind that I, as an Aussie, would never use the word ‘supper’ (what is this, the 1800s?) I would call it ‘dinner’ – and we call tea tea over here, plus if it was eleven o’clock in the morning why would he think this crazy American girl is offering him a really early-bird dinner instead of the hot leaf-based beverage his countrymen also refer to as ‘tea’? I know, a flippant little exchange – but those trip-ups were so far off the mark that it did give me pause and took me out of the story while I sat there trying to interpret this pigeon-Aussie-English. Not to mention it had me thinking Oli was a complete moron. He also used the word ‘sheila’ (only a backwoods sheep shearer or thoroughbred bogan would use this word . . . not a young Australian male) and called Callie ‘mate’ at every opportunity (Urgh. You never want a guy to call you ‘mate’, it means he doesn’t like you as anything other than a ‘mate’). And he said ‘Ace’ a lot . . . a lot! I think he was written purely for his Aussie appeal (I get it, people love the Aussie accent, and our guys are pretty smoking!) but his characterisation was that of an Aussie parody – written by someone who has never spoken to a living, breathing person from the land down under. Mind you, all of the above could be explained as Oli being Tasmanian . . . enough said.
Okay, so the love interest didn’t really gel for me – but it’s a testament to Cuono’s dramatic storytelling that even when the very important ‘romance’ element of this paranormal romance didn’t work for me, I still came away from this book with a smile on my face.
Cuono writes high drama for her protagonists’ with a joyful supernatural bent. There are twists and turns through the plot, as Callie learns of the price she must pay for being different. I loved that this was a book for older young adult readers, who are often an after-thought in a genre that is only just starting to realize it has a varying readership!
But these two men in Callie’s life prove to be the harbingers of change. As Callie falls for Oli’s laid-back charm, she starts to notice those changes within herself grow and alter into something strange and other, something Fae. Along with her sister, Lola, Callie will learn more about her mother’s disappearance and where she sits caught in the middle of two worlds.
‘Elemental Reality’ is the debut YA novel from Cesya MaRae Cuono, and the first in a new paranormal romance series.
Not surprisingly, the cover art of ‘Elemental Reality’ was what hooked me. It’s stunningly unique and drool-worthy – eye-catching and hinting at fabulous supernatural shenanigans within. And the cover art does not lie.
‘Elemental Reality’ is a book about Fae or ‘fairies’ (faeries). It’s YA, but leaning towards the older end of the spectrum for 17+ readers with a protagonist whose 22. I loved that the book was oriented towards older-YA readers, a group who are often forgotten when books frequently have protagonists who can’t drink or drive and for whom sex is taboo. I loved this different age-range, because straight away the book is unique. There’s no ‘meeting in biology’ clichés or stealing lust-filled glances in the hallways. Phew! Cuono and Revolution Publishing seem very readership-savvy and understanding that as much as young adult is about ‘reading up’, it’s also a genre that older readers still enjoy coming back to.
The Fae storyline is very well done. It’s not a revolutionary subject (Melissa Marr, Maggie Stiefvater, Aprilynne Pike having charted this fictional territory) but I appreciated that Cuono didn’t get bogged down in Gaelic mythology or strict legendary Gothicism. She really put the fun into the fairy subject as Callie and Lola discover the joy of their powers and take their change in stride.
Something that did grate throughout the book was the poorly written Australian love interest, Oliver ‘Oli’. As an Aussie, I started out mildly amused by Oli’s clichéd speech and Paul Hogan-esque appeal. But it did get to the point where he was so far off the mark it became a little annoying. Take the exchange below, for example.
“Would you like to come in for some tea?” The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them.
“It’s very nice to meet you too,” he said, looking like some Aussie God. “It’s a little too early for a cuppa tea isn’t it?”
“What?” I asked, confused. “It’s never too early for tea.”
“Oh.” He chuckled. “Sorry, I keep forgetting I’m not home anymore. When someone invites you over for tea in Australia it means supper. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to these Yank customs.”
He’s invited inside for some tea thinking that Callie means ‘supper’ – yet he clarifies by calling it a ‘cuppa’ tea? ‘Cuppa’ means ‘cup of’ – so he’s assuming that Callie means “come inside for a cup of supper”. Um, huh? Never mind that I, as an Aussie, would never use the word ‘supper’ (what is this, the 1800s?) I would call it ‘dinner’ – and we call tea tea over here, plus if it was eleven o’clock in the morning why would he think this crazy American girl is offering him a really early-bird dinner instead of the hot leaf-based beverage his countrymen also refer to as ‘tea’? I know, a flippant little exchange – but those trip-ups were so far off the mark that it did give me pause and took me out of the story while I sat there trying to interpret this pigeon-Aussie-English. Not to mention it had me thinking Oli was a complete moron. He also used the word ‘sheila’ (only a backwoods sheep shearer or thoroughbred bogan would use this word . . . not a young Australian male) and called Callie ‘mate’ at every opportunity (Urgh. You never want a guy to call you ‘mate’, it means he doesn’t like you as anything other than a ‘mate’). And he said ‘Ace’ a lot . . . a lot! I think he was written purely for his Aussie appeal (I get it, people love the Aussie accent, and our guys are pretty smoking!) but his characterisation was that of an Aussie parody – written by someone who has never spoken to a living, breathing person from the land down under. Mind you, all of the above could be explained as Oli being Tasmanian . . . enough said.
Okay, so the love interest didn’t really gel for me – but it’s a testament to Cuono’s dramatic storytelling that even when the very important ‘romance’ element of this paranormal romance didn’t work for me, I still came away from this book with a smile on my face.
Cuono writes high drama for her protagonists’ with a joyful supernatural bent. There are twists and turns through the plot, as Callie learns of the price she must pay for being different. I loved that this was a book for older young adult readers, who are often an after-thought in a genre that is only just starting to realize it has a varying readership!
August 22, 2025
I received a signed copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book but the blurb sounded good and the cover is beautiful! So pretty, one of my favourites in a long time.
Callie is 22 and has a good life, she lives at home with her dad and sometimes her sister, she has two amazing best friends and a job she is good at. But something is missing, ever since her mother disappeared without trace or reason 12 years prior Callie hasn't felt the same and wonders what happened. As she turns 22 she starts to experience strange dreams and she feels things more closely, a lit candle on teh other side of the room heats her skin, she can smell rain before it arrives etc. When the truth about her and her sister comes out, her world is turned upside down and she must learn to control her powers to help get her mum back.
I liked Callie as a character, although she acts more like a seventeen year old in places, but then again, I'm only 23 and a lot of her behaviour reminded me of things I would still do now so I guess I'm just as immature. :D
The book is narrated from Callie's point of view and she is a great narrator, funny, sensitive, emotional, crazy, just everything you could want from a character.
Lola is a bit of a mystery to me, some scenes I would really like her and she'd come across quite sweet and sensitive but with a fiery attitude, then others she would turn and I wouldn't like her very much. The cliffhanger ending had me stumped though.
Of course there is a love triangle involved - Cayden the bad boy. I did not like him and wasn't surprised by what happens in the story.
Oli however had me melting straight away. So handsome, sensitive, strong, caring and devastatingly handsome. Can you tell which boy I'm voting for?
The story pace is good and I got through this one quite quickly, my attention has been wandering a bit lately as I have a lot going on, so this book was perfect, it wasn't too long but it captured my imagination again. So thanks for that. :D
I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would and want the next one in the series. The ending annoyed me a little bit as it's so open and a sort of 'gasp!' ending.
Re-Read 2025. Now I'm 36 this book didn't do as much for me. I had forgotten that I had ever read it and only realised I had when I came to add it to my Goodreads. Callie annoyed me, the insta-love 'im your soulmate' thing irritated me, the writing was quite simplistic but got to the point. I didn't particularly gel with any of the characters, but Ady was my favourite. I still think the book has a good premise, and the storyline has potential. Still curious enough to try and find book 2.
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book but the blurb sounded good and the cover is beautiful! So pretty, one of my favourites in a long time.
Callie is 22 and has a good life, she lives at home with her dad and sometimes her sister, she has two amazing best friends and a job she is good at. But something is missing, ever since her mother disappeared without trace or reason 12 years prior Callie hasn't felt the same and wonders what happened. As she turns 22 she starts to experience strange dreams and she feels things more closely, a lit candle on teh other side of the room heats her skin, she can smell rain before it arrives etc. When the truth about her and her sister comes out, her world is turned upside down and she must learn to control her powers to help get her mum back.
I liked Callie as a character, although she acts more like a seventeen year old in places, but then again, I'm only 23 and a lot of her behaviour reminded me of things I would still do now so I guess I'm just as immature. :D
The book is narrated from Callie's point of view and she is a great narrator, funny, sensitive, emotional, crazy, just everything you could want from a character.
Lola is a bit of a mystery to me, some scenes I would really like her and she'd come across quite sweet and sensitive but with a fiery attitude, then others she would turn and I wouldn't like her very much. The cliffhanger ending had me stumped though.
Of course there is a love triangle involved - Cayden the bad boy. I did not like him and wasn't surprised by what happens in the story.
Oli however had me melting straight away. So handsome, sensitive, strong, caring and devastatingly handsome. Can you tell which boy I'm voting for?
The story pace is good and I got through this one quite quickly, my attention has been wandering a bit lately as I have a lot going on, so this book was perfect, it wasn't too long but it captured my imagination again. So thanks for that. :D
I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would and want the next one in the series. The ending annoyed me a little bit as it's so open and a sort of 'gasp!' ending.
Re-Read 2025. Now I'm 36 this book didn't do as much for me. I had forgotten that I had ever read it and only realised I had when I came to add it to my Goodreads. Callie annoyed me, the insta-love 'im your soulmate' thing irritated me, the writing was quite simplistic but got to the point. I didn't particularly gel with any of the characters, but Ady was my favourite. I still think the book has a good premise, and the storyline has potential. Still curious enough to try and find book 2.
September 15, 2011
To be honest this is one of my favorite covers of the year, but the story fell a little short of my expectations.I had read a handful of reviews of the book loving it and the action it contained. I wanted so badly to love this book, I was lucky enough to get to interview the author on the blog tour and she is really nice and had great answers.So when I got the copy for review I jumped in with high hopes.
I am a bit of a picky person when it comes to romance in books. But when the main character exhibits love at first site and finding her soulmate within the matter of days and chapters I get a bit cynical. It was way too fast and cheesy for me. What I mean by cheesy here is that the boys are referred to as "man meat" more than once and the love interest calls Callie "kitten" whenever talking to her and sometimes she is referred to as kitten as many as 3 times on the same page and repeatedly for the rest of the book. Along with the pet names it seemed as though the main character and her sister never really took their situation seriously, more of a "hey this is cool we get to fly and have powers" lets have fun! Throughout most of the book they are tossing each other joke after joke. I appreciated it in some scenes and it did help lighten the heavy scenes but I think the humorous banter was overused and just a couple comments here and there would have had the effect it needed.
What I did love about this story is that we see a pair of sisters learning together about their past and who they are. In most novels today it's just one person having to grow and discover on their own. I wanted to see a couple more introduction chapters of their everyday lives and who they were before they find out the secret. Maybe a little more mystery to who Oliver is and what, besides being a soul mate and man meat he represents to her. I do believe in love at first site, and having a soulmate, but I also think that it's on a deeper level than Callie and Oliver represent.
It is a very fast read and there is a lot of action. I liked the story and the plot is interesting and different than anything I have read recently. The author was able to find a different twist to what is an overwhelming amount of fairy stories out there today. Even though the characters are in danger and on a quest to save their mother's life, it's told in a very light hearted And comedic tone that is carried through the whole book.
The interesting involvement of both good and evil and who and how the battle has to be fought was a very great twist. I enjoyed the training sessions and the powers that they were able to develop.
I am a bit of a picky person when it comes to romance in books. But when the main character exhibits love at first site and finding her soulmate within the matter of days and chapters I get a bit cynical. It was way too fast and cheesy for me. What I mean by cheesy here is that the boys are referred to as "man meat" more than once and the love interest calls Callie "kitten" whenever talking to her and sometimes she is referred to as kitten as many as 3 times on the same page and repeatedly for the rest of the book. Along with the pet names it seemed as though the main character and her sister never really took their situation seriously, more of a "hey this is cool we get to fly and have powers" lets have fun! Throughout most of the book they are tossing each other joke after joke. I appreciated it in some scenes and it did help lighten the heavy scenes but I think the humorous banter was overused and just a couple comments here and there would have had the effect it needed.
What I did love about this story is that we see a pair of sisters learning together about their past and who they are. In most novels today it's just one person having to grow and discover on their own. I wanted to see a couple more introduction chapters of their everyday lives and who they were before they find out the secret. Maybe a little more mystery to who Oliver is and what, besides being a soul mate and man meat he represents to her. I do believe in love at first site, and having a soulmate, but I also think that it's on a deeper level than Callie and Oliver represent.
It is a very fast read and there is a lot of action. I liked the story and the plot is interesting and different than anything I have read recently. The author was able to find a different twist to what is an overwhelming amount of fairy stories out there today. Even though the characters are in danger and on a quest to save their mother's life, it's told in a very light hearted And comedic tone that is carried through the whole book.
The interesting involvement of both good and evil and who and how the battle has to be fought was a very great twist. I enjoyed the training sessions and the powers that they were able to develop.
April 18, 2012
That ending was just wicked. Seriously evil.
Callie and Lola Pierce were born Alkuaine faeries, a rarity in the fae world, which meant their lives were in constant danger from the demons that try to wipe them out and tip the faerie-demon war in their favor. Why? Because the Alkuaine faeries can conjure and manipulate all five elements: earth, wind, fire, water and electricity, which make them hard to destroy. In order to protect their children, their parents fled the faerie world and got lost in the human world. They got a decent decade in before their mother did a disappearing act. It wasn't until they learned what they were another ten years laters did they also learn their mother was taken by a demon. Now grown up and coming into their powers, the truth comes out and the girls are determined to save their mother.
Of course Callie won't have to go through it alone, as her soul mate in the faerie world was drawn to her the moment her powers surfaced. Oli was absolutely delicious. Their interest in one another moves a little fast, as two known soul mates probably would, but it's still clean throughout the novel. That said, their connection sizzled...and their scenes are freakin' HOT!!! Poor Lola though doesn't feel any kind of pull and is left wondering what, and if, there's a soul mate out there for her.
I'm not one to spoil how the battle turns out, all I can say is the ending is absolutely wicked and has got me dancing impatiently on tiptoes until Battlescars comes out. Elemental Reality was fun, refreshing and the storyline unique, with characters that make you smile.
Callie and Lola Pierce were born Alkuaine faeries, a rarity in the fae world, which meant their lives were in constant danger from the demons that try to wipe them out and tip the faerie-demon war in their favor. Why? Because the Alkuaine faeries can conjure and manipulate all five elements: earth, wind, fire, water and electricity, which make them hard to destroy. In order to protect their children, their parents fled the faerie world and got lost in the human world. They got a decent decade in before their mother did a disappearing act. It wasn't until they learned what they were another ten years laters did they also learn their mother was taken by a demon. Now grown up and coming into their powers, the truth comes out and the girls are determined to save their mother.
Of course Callie won't have to go through it alone, as her soul mate in the faerie world was drawn to her the moment her powers surfaced. Oli was absolutely delicious. Their interest in one another moves a little fast, as two known soul mates probably would, but it's still clean throughout the novel. That said, their connection sizzled...and their scenes are freakin' HOT!!! Poor Lola though doesn't feel any kind of pull and is left wondering what, and if, there's a soul mate out there for her.
I'm not one to spoil how the battle turns out, all I can say is the ending is absolutely wicked and has got me dancing impatiently on tiptoes until Battlescars comes out. Elemental Reality was fun, refreshing and the storyline unique, with characters that make you smile.
October 18, 2011
I do not know why I did not read it right when I received this book for review because it is amazingly good!
Cesya takes you on a new Faerie adventure. I really like the idea of keeping the human world and faerie world separate because it is more interesting than having them coincide and live together in just one world. I feel like it is more exciting to get to know the two worlds.
The age of Callie and Lola was very unexpected because they do not act at all their age. They act much more younger. I would say they were in high school if age was not mentioned. However, in some parts of the book, I can see that they are pretty mature. Although some actions may seem reckless, I am pretty glad they went ahead and done what they have done.
I love the different roles of the different faeries there are as well. I am just interested in not seeing that faeries are just faeries and they are not all the same. They have different kind of “faeries” and each have different abilities to them.
My favorite part of the book was all the funny remarks that I’ve experienced and the compulsions that Callie goes through because it’s riveting to read how she has grown from it and grown from how she was exposed to who she really was. I also like the incorporated idea of soul mate because not many people believe in a soul mate and I am glad this book has something about it.
The ending made me think, “What the heck…?!” It does come with a cliffhanger ending and very surprising!
Overall, I found this book extremely engaging and made me laugh a few times here and there. If you want an awesome faerie read, Elemental Reality would be your best bet!
Cesya takes you on a new Faerie adventure. I really like the idea of keeping the human world and faerie world separate because it is more interesting than having them coincide and live together in just one world. I feel like it is more exciting to get to know the two worlds.
The age of Callie and Lola was very unexpected because they do not act at all their age. They act much more younger. I would say they were in high school if age was not mentioned. However, in some parts of the book, I can see that they are pretty mature. Although some actions may seem reckless, I am pretty glad they went ahead and done what they have done.
I love the different roles of the different faeries there are as well. I am just interested in not seeing that faeries are just faeries and they are not all the same. They have different kind of “faeries” and each have different abilities to them.
My favorite part of the book was all the funny remarks that I’ve experienced and the compulsions that Callie goes through because it’s riveting to read how she has grown from it and grown from how she was exposed to who she really was. I also like the incorporated idea of soul mate because not many people believe in a soul mate and I am glad this book has something about it.
The ending made me think, “What the heck…?!” It does come with a cliffhanger ending and very surprising!
Overall, I found this book extremely engaging and made me laugh a few times here and there. If you want an awesome faerie read, Elemental Reality would be your best bet!
August 28, 2011
Callie is at one with the elements sometimes this scares her but most the time she feels safe and whole while the elements are around.
Callie life has been Empty after her mother disappeared when she was younger now years later on her birthday thing take a strange twist.
Now Callie and her sister have to face some shocking truth and Danger is waiting around every corner for the girls.
I have to say from the very first few pages the book had me. Callie and her sister were funny and worked really well together. The story was so different from anything I had read before. I found that I was sucked into the girl’s lives like I was a part of the story I worried about the girls and at times I felt like I was facing the dangers with them.
The story was never slow the author made shore that there was something going on at all times. I really loved the way the story progressed and by the end I was shocked and I really wanted and needed to know what happens next.
There was a lot of amazing discoveries and so many funny conversions you’re just going to love this book.
The fact this was the author’s first book was not only amazing but says to me there is going to be a lot more amazing thing to come.
Over all i give the book
5 stars
Callie life has been Empty after her mother disappeared when she was younger now years later on her birthday thing take a strange twist.
Now Callie and her sister have to face some shocking truth and Danger is waiting around every corner for the girls.
I have to say from the very first few pages the book had me. Callie and her sister were funny and worked really well together. The story was so different from anything I had read before. I found that I was sucked into the girl’s lives like I was a part of the story I worried about the girls and at times I felt like I was facing the dangers with them.
The story was never slow the author made shore that there was something going on at all times. I really loved the way the story progressed and by the end I was shocked and I really wanted and needed to know what happens next.
There was a lot of amazing discoveries and so many funny conversions you’re just going to love this book.
The fact this was the author’s first book was not only amazing but says to me there is going to be a lot more amazing thing to come.
Over all i give the book
5 stars
August 17, 2011
Wow, what can I say this book is brilliant . Takes everything you think you know about the world of Faerie and Demon and totally turns it on it's head. Loved how the faerie are made of of the elements and can control up to 4 ... That is until Callie & Lola turn up. There's heartache, love, creepy boys, Aussie humour, death , life all in a neat package .... Then at the end the author throws you a blinder and you're left gasping for the sequel, please hurry ! Been waiting a while for this book to arrive , soooo worth the wait and more. Kudos to Ms Cuono for this novel , loved, loved it !
October 31, 2012
This story was an amazing read. I've been waiting for it for a while, so I was super excited to finally be able to sit down and enjoy it. Cesya's characters are completely loveable from the moment that you meet them, and they're very well written as far as personalities go.
I'm loving the story line, the way the plot is developing and am definitely excited to read more.
I guess I'll be one of those people sitting on the edge of my seat until the next book is published.
I will most likely read it again once I attain it in book form!
I'm loving the story line, the way the plot is developing and am definitely excited to read more.
I guess I'll be one of those people sitting on the edge of my seat until the next book is published.
I will most likely read it again once I attain it in book form!
April 20, 2014
I LOVE this book!! I can't wait for the 2nd book!!
When is this coming out??? I can't wait to read it! The cover looks amazing. I'm so happy for you!!
When is this coming out??? I can't wait to read it! The cover looks amazing. I'm so happy for you!!
September 15, 2015
Lang und breit
Elemental Reality beginnt vielversprechend. Da wäre vorneweg direkt das Cover. Tolle Farben, schönes Motiv, guter Lesestart.
Im ersten Kapitel konnte ich direkt Protagonistin Callie kennen lernen. Callie hat Geburtstag und wird 22 Jahre alt. Cool, dachte ich mir, endlich mal eine etwas ältere Hauptfigur in einem YA Roman. Umso mehr ich über Callie lernte, desto sympathischer wurde sie mir. Callie liebt Kuchen und ihr Stil wird als „punk rocker“ beschrieben. Dazu kommen ihre flotten Sprüche (die sie am liebsten mit ihrer Schwester austauscht) und ihre ansteckende Euphorie.
Leider hat sich Callie im Lauf der Geschichte als bunte Hülle mit nichts dahinter entpuppt. Warum die Autorin sie 22 Jahre alt gemacht hat, ist mir ein Rätsel. Callie benimmt sich wie jede andere YA-Paranormal-Romance-Heldin – also eher wie eine 16-Jährige. Sie verknallt sich Hals über Kopf, tappt in fast jede noch so offensichtliche Falle und handelt gegen Ende des Buches zunehmend naiver (wieso macht Callie zum Beispiel jemanden die Tür auf, der sie Stunden zuvor noch geistig manipuliert hat?). Viele ihrer Entscheidungen konnte ich nicht nachvollziehen, sie kamen mir übereilt und dumm vor (z.B. sich allein mit Lola auf den Weg nach Palon zu machen).
Wirklich schade. Ich frage mich, ob die Autorin mit dieser Altersangabe vielleicht anzügliche Bemerkungen zum Thema Sex rechtfertigen wollte. Ein anderer Grund fällt mir beim besten Willen nicht ein, denn Callie verhält sich leider wie ein hormongesteuerter Teenager und nicht wie eine junge Frau.
(Achtung, jetzt wird etwas mehr vom Plot verraten, wer den Roman total spoilerfrei lesen will, bitte überspringen)
Callie und ihre Schwester Lola sind so genannte Alkuaine Faeries, das bedeutet, dass sie Flügel haben und fünf Elemente (Wasser, Feuer, Erde, Luft, Elektrizität) beschwören und kontrollieren können. Den Gegenpart bilden die Dämonen, die nur das Feuer beherrschen und den Faeries gegenüber natürlich äußerst feindselig eingestellt sind.
Wie Callie und Lola ihre Elemente kennen lernen und einsetzen, war sehr lebhaft und farbenfroh beschrieben. Ich konnte die kleinen Feuerbälle und Wirbelstürme richtig vor mir sehen. Leider entpuppen Callie und Lola sich als wahre Naturtalente. Sie können alles und das auch noch besser als alle anderen Faeries. Jeden Kniff und jede Fähigkeit beherrschen sie beim ersten Versuch und das macht das ganze ziemlich langweilig und die Figuren zu glatt.
Die Instantliebe zwischen Callie und Oli wird schnell durch Seelenverwandtschaft wegerklärt. So blieb mir als Leser nichts anderes übrig als die Gefühle zwischen den beiden hinzunehmen. Keine Chance für authentische Entwicklungen.
Stichwort Kosenamen: so was hat ja so gut wie jedes Pärchen füreinander. Das Schöne an solchen Spitznamen ist, dass man sie füreinander benutzt und eher selten mit anderen teilt (ich finde das abwechselnd peinlich oder zu intim solche Namen vor Freunden und Familie zu benutzen). Oli sieht das ganz anders und nennt Callie etwa 90% des Buches über „Kitten“. Egal wer gerade dabei ist, egal, was er von ihr möchte, sie ist immer nur „Kitten, Kitten, Kitten“ als hätte sie keinen richtigen Namen. Ich hab mal eben im Suchlauf durchgezählt: Auf rund 250 Seiten kommt der Name „Kitten“ über 60 Mal vor!
Elemental Reality ist sehr jugendlich geschrieben. Es gibt zahlreiche Popkultur-Referenzen (Hermine Granger, Pepé Le Pew), die manche Leser ratlos zurücklassen könnten. Die Jugendlichkeit, die gerade in den Dialogen herüberkommt, lässt sich unterhaltsam lesen, ging mir nach der Hälfte des Buches aber auf die Nerven. Es ist unheimlich schwer in Worte zu fassen, was genau mich an dem Schreibstil gestört hat. Er war einfach zu gewollt hip, wie eine große Klappe mit nichts dahinter. Teilweise hatte ich das Gefühl eine amerikanische Sitcom zu lesen, in der das Timing manchmal nicht stimmt oder der Witz unangebracht ist.
Auffällig am Sprachgebrauch ist außerdem, dass Oli und seine Familie Australier sein sollen. Ich bin wirklich kein Sprachexperte, aber hier kam mir der Gebrauch von Australischem Slang extrem übertrieben vor. Ständig hört man die üblichen Phrasen wie „G’Day“, ein „mate“ an jeden Satz gehängt, „oldies“ für Eltern und alles, was cool ist, ist „ace“. Ja, das ist typisch australisch, aber deshalb muss doch nicht jeder von Olis Sätzen vor diesen Klischees strotzen. Sein australischer Hintergrund wirkte so eher unnatürlich und aufgezwungen.
Vom Aufbau der Handlung her, war mir die ganze Geschichte zu konstruiert. Der Anfang funktioniert noch richtig gut, die Figuren werden vorgestellt, Callie entdeckt ihre Fähigkeiten, aber danach passiert alles einfach so wie es passt (Stichwort Deus ex machina). Mir hat dahinter die Verkettung und Logik gefehlt.
Kurz und knapp
Konzept und bissige Dialoge sind da. Die Geschichte macht am Anfang noch Spaß, hat mich am Ende aber nur noch genervt. Schuld daran war Callies zunehmende Dummheit und Naivität, sowie der unstimmige Schreibstil und die unbegründete Handlung.
Könnte ich höchstens als Guilty Pleasure a la House Of Night verbuchen.
Elemental Reality beginnt vielversprechend. Da wäre vorneweg direkt das Cover. Tolle Farben, schönes Motiv, guter Lesestart.
Im ersten Kapitel konnte ich direkt Protagonistin Callie kennen lernen. Callie hat Geburtstag und wird 22 Jahre alt. Cool, dachte ich mir, endlich mal eine etwas ältere Hauptfigur in einem YA Roman. Umso mehr ich über Callie lernte, desto sympathischer wurde sie mir. Callie liebt Kuchen und ihr Stil wird als „punk rocker“ beschrieben. Dazu kommen ihre flotten Sprüche (die sie am liebsten mit ihrer Schwester austauscht) und ihre ansteckende Euphorie.
Leider hat sich Callie im Lauf der Geschichte als bunte Hülle mit nichts dahinter entpuppt. Warum die Autorin sie 22 Jahre alt gemacht hat, ist mir ein Rätsel. Callie benimmt sich wie jede andere YA-Paranormal-Romance-Heldin – also eher wie eine 16-Jährige. Sie verknallt sich Hals über Kopf, tappt in fast jede noch so offensichtliche Falle und handelt gegen Ende des Buches zunehmend naiver (wieso macht Callie zum Beispiel jemanden die Tür auf, der sie Stunden zuvor noch geistig manipuliert hat?). Viele ihrer Entscheidungen konnte ich nicht nachvollziehen, sie kamen mir übereilt und dumm vor (z.B. sich allein mit Lola auf den Weg nach Palon zu machen).
Wirklich schade. Ich frage mich, ob die Autorin mit dieser Altersangabe vielleicht anzügliche Bemerkungen zum Thema Sex rechtfertigen wollte. Ein anderer Grund fällt mir beim besten Willen nicht ein, denn Callie verhält sich leider wie ein hormongesteuerter Teenager und nicht wie eine junge Frau.
(Achtung, jetzt wird etwas mehr vom Plot verraten, wer den Roman total spoilerfrei lesen will, bitte überspringen)
Callie und ihre Schwester Lola sind so genannte Alkuaine Faeries, das bedeutet, dass sie Flügel haben und fünf Elemente (Wasser, Feuer, Erde, Luft, Elektrizität) beschwören und kontrollieren können. Den Gegenpart bilden die Dämonen, die nur das Feuer beherrschen und den Faeries gegenüber natürlich äußerst feindselig eingestellt sind.
Wie Callie und Lola ihre Elemente kennen lernen und einsetzen, war sehr lebhaft und farbenfroh beschrieben. Ich konnte die kleinen Feuerbälle und Wirbelstürme richtig vor mir sehen. Leider entpuppen Callie und Lola sich als wahre Naturtalente. Sie können alles und das auch noch besser als alle anderen Faeries. Jeden Kniff und jede Fähigkeit beherrschen sie beim ersten Versuch und das macht das ganze ziemlich langweilig und die Figuren zu glatt.
Die Instantliebe zwischen Callie und Oli wird schnell durch Seelenverwandtschaft wegerklärt. So blieb mir als Leser nichts anderes übrig als die Gefühle zwischen den beiden hinzunehmen. Keine Chance für authentische Entwicklungen.
Stichwort Kosenamen: so was hat ja so gut wie jedes Pärchen füreinander. Das Schöne an solchen Spitznamen ist, dass man sie füreinander benutzt und eher selten mit anderen teilt (ich finde das abwechselnd peinlich oder zu intim solche Namen vor Freunden und Familie zu benutzen). Oli sieht das ganz anders und nennt Callie etwa 90% des Buches über „Kitten“. Egal wer gerade dabei ist, egal, was er von ihr möchte, sie ist immer nur „Kitten, Kitten, Kitten“ als hätte sie keinen richtigen Namen. Ich hab mal eben im Suchlauf durchgezählt: Auf rund 250 Seiten kommt der Name „Kitten“ über 60 Mal vor!
Elemental Reality ist sehr jugendlich geschrieben. Es gibt zahlreiche Popkultur-Referenzen (Hermine Granger, Pepé Le Pew), die manche Leser ratlos zurücklassen könnten. Die Jugendlichkeit, die gerade in den Dialogen herüberkommt, lässt sich unterhaltsam lesen, ging mir nach der Hälfte des Buches aber auf die Nerven. Es ist unheimlich schwer in Worte zu fassen, was genau mich an dem Schreibstil gestört hat. Er war einfach zu gewollt hip, wie eine große Klappe mit nichts dahinter. Teilweise hatte ich das Gefühl eine amerikanische Sitcom zu lesen, in der das Timing manchmal nicht stimmt oder der Witz unangebracht ist.
Auffällig am Sprachgebrauch ist außerdem, dass Oli und seine Familie Australier sein sollen. Ich bin wirklich kein Sprachexperte, aber hier kam mir der Gebrauch von Australischem Slang extrem übertrieben vor. Ständig hört man die üblichen Phrasen wie „G’Day“, ein „mate“ an jeden Satz gehängt, „oldies“ für Eltern und alles, was cool ist, ist „ace“. Ja, das ist typisch australisch, aber deshalb muss doch nicht jeder von Olis Sätzen vor diesen Klischees strotzen. Sein australischer Hintergrund wirkte so eher unnatürlich und aufgezwungen.
Vom Aufbau der Handlung her, war mir die ganze Geschichte zu konstruiert. Der Anfang funktioniert noch richtig gut, die Figuren werden vorgestellt, Callie entdeckt ihre Fähigkeiten, aber danach passiert alles einfach so wie es passt (Stichwort Deus ex machina). Mir hat dahinter die Verkettung und Logik gefehlt.
Kurz und knapp
Konzept und bissige Dialoge sind da. Die Geschichte macht am Anfang noch Spaß, hat mich am Ende aber nur noch genervt. Schuld daran war Callies zunehmende Dummheit und Naivität, sowie der unstimmige Schreibstil und die unbegründete Handlung.
Könnte ich höchstens als Guilty Pleasure a la House Of Night verbuchen.
September 19, 2011
When Callie Pierce was ten, her mother disappeared without a trace. On the eve of her disappearance the elments speak to Callie, and that's only the beginning. Everything she has ever known was a twisted fabrication to protect her. Now the truth is set free. Callie and her sister are more powerful than any Faerie ever born. Now they have to use their powers to save their mother and family from the evil hands of fate that threaten to tear them apart. Welcome to her elemental reality.
So I have been wanting to read this book ever since I first saw the cover on Barnes and Noble's website around 5 months ago. So imagine my surprise when I'm actually FACEBOOK FRIENDS with Cesya and I am blissfully unaware for the entire length of time. Once I found out, of course I flipped, THEN once she asked if there was anyone interested in DRAWING the characters, I jumped on it. So this summer I was given a bit of a sneak preview as I drew them up, I almost felt like I knew them before I ever went and got the book. And of course I fell in love with all them before reading the first sentence of ER.
I'm going to start with the negatives, because I want to end on a good note. I read the word 'Kitten' a bit too many times in the chapters, I know it was a nickname, but it was a bit excessive. It was cute for a while, then in times where I think the name Callie should've been used, Kitten was used instead. It was just personal preference, honestly, and it did NOT take anything away from the story. And I know there are actually people out there who use nicknames this much in a day, so it isn't like it wasn't believable, just a bit...much. And I found it a bit hard to get through the first like 3 chapters, it was slowish, but still entertaining. I was waiting for the big...REVEAL or something huge to go down,.
So the positives? The rest of the book. Period.
I got this book yesterday at like 12, started reading it around like 3, didn't put it down until 1 in the morning, then finished the last 100 pages in like a half hour. It was so hard to put down last night because I just HAD to know what happened next. To me, every chapter ended on a cliff hanger, forcing me to read the next once, just to have to repeat the process again and again. The dialogue was extremely believable, it was like a friend of mine was just telling me a story. The humor kept me laughing in each chapter, the romance between Callie and Oli kept me wanting more and the drive that kept Callie and Lola going kept me entranced and rooting for them to find their mom. There were twists thrown in all the time that had me saying "WHAAAAT?!" and rereading the page over again to make sure I read it right. I was guessing until the last page, and don't even get me STARTED on the cliff hanger ending. It was both unfair and brilliant.
Cesya has found a good balance between serious and fun in her writing. She knows how to keep someone guessing, wanting more and fall in love with the characters. The imagination and creativity in this book is just great, since in today's world those things are in danger of being erased. She also keeps it real when she writes, putting the actual concerns of most people in the book. Instead of chaste thoughts, like most books, there is some sexuality, no much but enough to get the picture. And instead of always worrying about getting a man, Callie and Lola want to save their mom. There isn't anything in here that was too farfetched, too extreme that made me think "That would never happen."
Elemental Reality was a great first book, an amazing beginning the to Elemental series. I'm already dying for book 2. If you want romance, humor, battles and Faeries, I HIGHLY recommend this!!
So I have been wanting to read this book ever since I first saw the cover on Barnes and Noble's website around 5 months ago. So imagine my surprise when I'm actually FACEBOOK FRIENDS with Cesya and I am blissfully unaware for the entire length of time. Once I found out, of course I flipped, THEN once she asked if there was anyone interested in DRAWING the characters, I jumped on it. So this summer I was given a bit of a sneak preview as I drew them up, I almost felt like I knew them before I ever went and got the book. And of course I fell in love with all them before reading the first sentence of ER.
I'm going to start with the negatives, because I want to end on a good note. I read the word 'Kitten' a bit too many times in the chapters, I know it was a nickname, but it was a bit excessive. It was cute for a while, then in times where I think the name Callie should've been used, Kitten was used instead. It was just personal preference, honestly, and it did NOT take anything away from the story. And I know there are actually people out there who use nicknames this much in a day, so it isn't like it wasn't believable, just a bit...much. And I found it a bit hard to get through the first like 3 chapters, it was slowish, but still entertaining. I was waiting for the big...REVEAL or something huge to go down,.
So the positives? The rest of the book. Period.
I got this book yesterday at like 12, started reading it around like 3, didn't put it down until 1 in the morning, then finished the last 100 pages in like a half hour. It was so hard to put down last night because I just HAD to know what happened next. To me, every chapter ended on a cliff hanger, forcing me to read the next once, just to have to repeat the process again and again. The dialogue was extremely believable, it was like a friend of mine was just telling me a story. The humor kept me laughing in each chapter, the romance between Callie and Oli kept me wanting more and the drive that kept Callie and Lola going kept me entranced and rooting for them to find their mom. There were twists thrown in all the time that had me saying "WHAAAAT?!" and rereading the page over again to make sure I read it right. I was guessing until the last page, and don't even get me STARTED on the cliff hanger ending. It was both unfair and brilliant.
Cesya has found a good balance between serious and fun in her writing. She knows how to keep someone guessing, wanting more and fall in love with the characters. The imagination and creativity in this book is just great, since in today's world those things are in danger of being erased. She also keeps it real when she writes, putting the actual concerns of most people in the book. Instead of chaste thoughts, like most books, there is some sexuality, no much but enough to get the picture. And instead of always worrying about getting a man, Callie and Lola want to save their mom. There isn't anything in here that was too farfetched, too extreme that made me think "That would never happen."
Elemental Reality was a great first book, an amazing beginning the to Elemental series. I'm already dying for book 2. If you want romance, humor, battles and Faeries, I HIGHLY recommend this!!
August 24, 2011
Elemental Reality by Cesya MaRae Cunyo, 260 pgs, Elemental Book #1, Revolution Publishing, Inc.
"When Callie Pierce was ten, her mother disappeared without a trace. On the eve of her disappearance twelve years later, the Earth seemingly comes alive. The elements speak to Callie, and that’s only the beginning. Everything she has ever known was a twisted fabrication to protect her. Now the truth is set free. Callie and her sister are more powerful than any Faerie ever born. Now they have to use their powers to save their mother and family from the evil hands of fate that threaten to tear them apart. Welcome to her elemental reality." (story summary)
Early adulthood crests the rise of a multitude of change. Who we have aged to be at the end of childhood now confronts our life in the world beyond sheltered confines. Callie Pierce rises to the awakening of her faery powers on her twenty-second year of life, and it is with these gifts, her sister Lola, and all she knows unraveling that she starts out on a journey to save her mother’s life. So how do you tell a story that has been told multiple times across not just YA fiction, but fiction as a whole? Read on.
Otherworldly concepts are popular across the board in fiction, but what seperates Elemental Reality is the brightness of the storytelling. No over-hanging gothic cliches for Cuono! Of the two sisters, it is Callie’s voice telling the majority of the tale with the use of first person point of view. She is a heroine that is filled with humor, snark, and who’s inner battles you want to become invested in. Additional characters provide tid bits of insight, comic relief, and revelation that drive the story, and not detract. In Elemental Reality, discoveries of power were fun! The darkness presented in the twists and intrigues then became welcome additions due to the fact it wasn’t the overhanging aspect of the reading. The bonds between characters was wonderful to experience, and every emotion authentic to Callie’s experience alongside them. While listed as a YA read, it moves toward the flavor of the older audience ages 17 and upward based on the amount of life experience, and the title character being beyond the teen years herself. This, too, was refreshing. This is my second Revolution read where I find a trend I hope is up kept. It is good to have young adult heroines be actual young adults! There is a wealth of experience with having them 18+ to introduce that allows this brand of fiction to form a bridge over the reader’s earlier years, carrying them with characters to the threshold of true adulthood. There is a lack of wit, substance, and experience in heroines between 18-21 that Cuono and Revolution Publishing, Inc is filling a need for with quality writing.
On the subject of powers, the Fae myth Not only is Callie one with the elements, they bend to her will. This makes her, as well as her sister, the most powerful fairies ever born within the story universe. Pair this with traditional takes on what the reader has come to know of classic fairies from our childhood? Successful.
The one stipulation had with the story telling was feeling that the pace meant one had to go back and re-read pages so that nothing was missed. Still, once settled in, the fact that the story was so good meant that it was still a wondering of what was to come when the end was reached. Be prepared for a cliff hanger!
A rousing debut from Cuono, the Elemental series will have a fan quite happily waiting for book #2 for further immersion. Until then, book #1 will be re-read to fully ingest the mythology, and for the sake of looking at one of the most gorgeous covers in YA fiction.
Grade: A
"When Callie Pierce was ten, her mother disappeared without a trace. On the eve of her disappearance twelve years later, the Earth seemingly comes alive. The elements speak to Callie, and that’s only the beginning. Everything she has ever known was a twisted fabrication to protect her. Now the truth is set free. Callie and her sister are more powerful than any Faerie ever born. Now they have to use their powers to save their mother and family from the evil hands of fate that threaten to tear them apart. Welcome to her elemental reality." (story summary)
Early adulthood crests the rise of a multitude of change. Who we have aged to be at the end of childhood now confronts our life in the world beyond sheltered confines. Callie Pierce rises to the awakening of her faery powers on her twenty-second year of life, and it is with these gifts, her sister Lola, and all she knows unraveling that she starts out on a journey to save her mother’s life. So how do you tell a story that has been told multiple times across not just YA fiction, but fiction as a whole? Read on.
Otherworldly concepts are popular across the board in fiction, but what seperates Elemental Reality is the brightness of the storytelling. No over-hanging gothic cliches for Cuono! Of the two sisters, it is Callie’s voice telling the majority of the tale with the use of first person point of view. She is a heroine that is filled with humor, snark, and who’s inner battles you want to become invested in. Additional characters provide tid bits of insight, comic relief, and revelation that drive the story, and not detract. In Elemental Reality, discoveries of power were fun! The darkness presented in the twists and intrigues then became welcome additions due to the fact it wasn’t the overhanging aspect of the reading. The bonds between characters was wonderful to experience, and every emotion authentic to Callie’s experience alongside them. While listed as a YA read, it moves toward the flavor of the older audience ages 17 and upward based on the amount of life experience, and the title character being beyond the teen years herself. This, too, was refreshing. This is my second Revolution read where I find a trend I hope is up kept. It is good to have young adult heroines be actual young adults! There is a wealth of experience with having them 18+ to introduce that allows this brand of fiction to form a bridge over the reader’s earlier years, carrying them with characters to the threshold of true adulthood. There is a lack of wit, substance, and experience in heroines between 18-21 that Cuono and Revolution Publishing, Inc is filling a need for with quality writing.
On the subject of powers, the Fae myth Not only is Callie one with the elements, they bend to her will. This makes her, as well as her sister, the most powerful fairies ever born within the story universe. Pair this with traditional takes on what the reader has come to know of classic fairies from our childhood? Successful.
The one stipulation had with the story telling was feeling that the pace meant one had to go back and re-read pages so that nothing was missed. Still, once settled in, the fact that the story was so good meant that it was still a wondering of what was to come when the end was reached. Be prepared for a cliff hanger!
A rousing debut from Cuono, the Elemental series will have a fan quite happily waiting for book #2 for further immersion. Until then, book #1 will be re-read to fully ingest the mythology, and for the sake of looking at one of the most gorgeous covers in YA fiction.
Grade: A
August 21, 2011
Elemental Reality is a series debut that stars faeries unlike any I’ve had the pleasure of encountering before. I was utterly captivated by Callie and Lola’s ability to bend the elements to their will. These chicks possessed some seriously bad ass skills. Most of Elemental Reality is told from Callie’s point of view. She is the older sister, and the first to realize she was becoming more and more in tune with the elements around her. I really enjoyed getting inside of her head. Her inner battles over what choice to make were laced with wit and had me actually laughing out loud at times. She is a character who wields the snark with well honed expertise.
Even though Callie is the character we get to know best, there is also an array of secondary characters who help to keep things interesting. We have the initial two boys vying for her attention, but thankfully the struggle of figuring out which is trustworthy doesn’t last long. I liked that the author didn’t drag out the love triangle in this one. I won’t elaborate on who is good and who isn’t. You’ll have to figure that out on your own ;) Callie also has two longtime BFFs who were so much fun. The banter with little sister, Lola, was also hilarious. I loved the sisterly interactions. I could immediately tell this author has to have a wicked sense of humor.
Elemental Reality had so many aspects that make a book enjoyable for me. Snark filled dialogue, well developed characters, and of course super cool magic. Oh yeah can’t forget the dreamy boys *sigh* One even has an accent *swoon* I did feel the plot felt rushed at times. I felt like I’d jumped from one place to the next too quickly and actually backtracked to make sure I didn’t skip a section. I still really enjoyed reading about Callie’s adventures and thought this was a pretty good series debut.
I was hoping for a big resolution at the end, but as the pages left became slimmer and slimmer I anticipated a possible cliff hanger. And that is just what the author gave me. I will say it was well executed. Coming from a cliff hanger hater this is a compliment. If the goal was to leave me salivating for more it worked. I will pick up the next in this series as soon as I can get my hands on a copy.
I’m giving this a 3 star rating, but it is leaning precariously towards 4. I really loved what the author did with her characters, the fascinating world she built for them, and that epilogue left me dying to know what happens next. This is a series with so much promise. I look forward to seeing where the author takes us next!
FYI: I believe Elemental Reality is considered Young Adult, but it does contain humor, dialogue, and situations I’d consider more suitable for older teens.
Cover thoughts: Isn’t this cover BEAUTIFUL! I fell in love with it the moment I saw it. I think it represents Callie and her powers perfectly.
Even though Callie is the character we get to know best, there is also an array of secondary characters who help to keep things interesting. We have the initial two boys vying for her attention, but thankfully the struggle of figuring out which is trustworthy doesn’t last long. I liked that the author didn’t drag out the love triangle in this one. I won’t elaborate on who is good and who isn’t. You’ll have to figure that out on your own ;) Callie also has two longtime BFFs who were so much fun. The banter with little sister, Lola, was also hilarious. I loved the sisterly interactions. I could immediately tell this author has to have a wicked sense of humor.
Elemental Reality had so many aspects that make a book enjoyable for me. Snark filled dialogue, well developed characters, and of course super cool magic. Oh yeah can’t forget the dreamy boys *sigh* One even has an accent *swoon* I did feel the plot felt rushed at times. I felt like I’d jumped from one place to the next too quickly and actually backtracked to make sure I didn’t skip a section. I still really enjoyed reading about Callie’s adventures and thought this was a pretty good series debut.
I was hoping for a big resolution at the end, but as the pages left became slimmer and slimmer I anticipated a possible cliff hanger. And that is just what the author gave me. I will say it was well executed. Coming from a cliff hanger hater this is a compliment. If the goal was to leave me salivating for more it worked. I will pick up the next in this series as soon as I can get my hands on a copy.
I’m giving this a 3 star rating, but it is leaning precariously towards 4. I really loved what the author did with her characters, the fascinating world she built for them, and that epilogue left me dying to know what happens next. This is a series with so much promise. I look forward to seeing where the author takes us next!
FYI: I believe Elemental Reality is considered Young Adult, but it does contain humor, dialogue, and situations I’d consider more suitable for older teens.
Cover thoughts: Isn’t this cover BEAUTIFUL! I fell in love with it the moment I saw it. I think it represents Callie and her powers perfectly.
September 8, 2011
Originally Posted at: http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2...
**This Review is based on an ARC (Advanced Reader's Copy). The final text/cover may be different.**
"Faeries were a part of that reality. Of my reality"
~pg. 110
First things first...I gotta say, I am LOVING that cover. It's pretty gorgeous! That's what really drew me into the book and when I got the chance to sign up for the blog tour I was like, "HELLS YES!" and, well, here I am!
Elemental Reality is a faerie story like no other, I can tell you that. It's got faeries who can control elements. I haven't seen that in any faerie book I've read. It's also got demons (one kinda hot one as well) and again, I haven't seen that before! This book is magical– it's amazing.
Our leading lady is Callie, who as she turns 22 (or rather...21 again–it's all explained in the book) discovers that her senses have heightened. They grow stronger that she can smell her fireplace from entering the front door. She can smell the woods nearby her house when she wakes up.
I really loved her character. She's not shy, she's confident and hilarious! I love the conflicts she has with herself, it's like two completely different people battling each other...with snarky comments. Just loved her. She's a brilliant MC.
A mini-version, and probably even more hilarious version of her would be her sister, Lola. Lola reminds me of every younger sister, funny, brilliant, snappy, and yet, always there when you need her.
Now...onto the more interesting part...BOYS. I have to admit, I was attracted to Cayden when he first appeared. I didn't care for Oli at all. But then, I learnt the truth and I was like, "adios Cayden, and hola Oli!" Love, love, LOVE Oli. He's just so sweet...and so very very hot. Gotta love that Aussie accent!
Everything was described so beautifully without being overdone. I love the descriptions for Tehokas City. So pretty! I want to go there...except, you know, without the demons and other scary parts of it.
What I found cool was that even though this book would be kind of for adults, as the main character's 22, it's also very teenagerish, as Callie has some traits which make her act a bit immature for her age. I'm not sure whether it's a good thing or a bad thing for other people, but I just found it easier (as a teen) to relate to that.
Overall, Elemental Reality is the beginning of a amazing new faerie journey. Highly original, and even awesom-er that it's coming from a debut author, this book will have you hooked from beginning 'till the end...and will leave you wanting more. Can't wait for book 2, Battle Scars, this has got me addicted!
**Thank you so much to Jennifer Baker at Revolution Publishing for sending me Elemental Reality for the blog tour!**
**This Review is based on an ARC (Advanced Reader's Copy). The final text/cover may be different.**
"Faeries were a part of that reality. Of my reality"
~pg. 110
First things first...I gotta say, I am LOVING that cover. It's pretty gorgeous! That's what really drew me into the book and when I got the chance to sign up for the blog tour I was like, "HELLS YES!" and, well, here I am!
Elemental Reality is a faerie story like no other, I can tell you that. It's got faeries who can control elements. I haven't seen that in any faerie book I've read. It's also got demons (one kinda hot one as well) and again, I haven't seen that before! This book is magical– it's amazing.
Our leading lady is Callie, who as she turns 22 (or rather...21 again–it's all explained in the book) discovers that her senses have heightened. They grow stronger that she can smell her fireplace from entering the front door. She can smell the woods nearby her house when she wakes up.
I really loved her character. She's not shy, she's confident and hilarious! I love the conflicts she has with herself, it's like two completely different people battling each other...with snarky comments. Just loved her. She's a brilliant MC.
A mini-version, and probably even more hilarious version of her would be her sister, Lola. Lola reminds me of every younger sister, funny, brilliant, snappy, and yet, always there when you need her.
Now...onto the more interesting part...BOYS. I have to admit, I was attracted to Cayden when he first appeared. I didn't care for Oli at all. But then, I learnt the truth and I was like, "adios Cayden, and hola Oli!" Love, love, LOVE Oli. He's just so sweet...and so very very hot. Gotta love that Aussie accent!
Everything was described so beautifully without being overdone. I love the descriptions for Tehokas City. So pretty! I want to go there...except, you know, without the demons and other scary parts of it.
What I found cool was that even though this book would be kind of for adults, as the main character's 22, it's also very teenagerish, as Callie has some traits which make her act a bit immature for her age. I'm not sure whether it's a good thing or a bad thing for other people, but I just found it easier (as a teen) to relate to that.
Overall, Elemental Reality is the beginning of a amazing new faerie journey. Highly original, and even awesom-er that it's coming from a debut author, this book will have you hooked from beginning 'till the end...and will leave you wanting more. Can't wait for book 2, Battle Scars, this has got me addicted!
**Thank you so much to Jennifer Baker at Revolution Publishing for sending me Elemental Reality for the blog tour!**
August 27, 2011
Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Jennifer from Revolution Publishing for sending me a copy of this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: 3/5
Callie has mourned the loss of her mother for twelve years. On the cusp of her birthday, and the date of her mother's disappearance, Callie begins to feel things. She can identify with the loam under her feet, the air whistling through the trees, the electricity humming through the power lines. What she doesn't realize is that her true identity has been kept from her, and is now intent on revealing itself. When she finds out just what she is, and the control she has over the elements, she will stop at nothing to right the wrongs of her past. When all of the secrets have been revealed, it will be up to Callie to bring her family back together.
Elemental Reality brings all of the elements together and thrusts them on Callie, and her sister, Lola. With their powers coming to light and their identities revealed, they need to come to terms with who they are. As their confidence grows, so does their control over the elements. I enjoyed how the elements were woven together and tied to both Callie and Lola and I loved their foolhardy approach to figuring things out. They were true sisters and their bond was strong. When we see the darkness trying to intercept them and pull them apart, we get to see them struggle for control against said darkness.
There were quite a few characters in Elemental Reality, and I really enjoyed reading about Ady, Emery, and Oli. They were loyal to Callie, and their interactions were at times hilarious. However, I found that everything came too easily to the girls. For someone who has just learned that they are a Fairy and as such, have control over the elements; I would have thought that they would have had trouble at first with actually controlling said elements. The reasoning behind the story was sound and it does have good bones, however I felt that it needed a little more back-story, and a little more depth to make it really come to life. I had a hard time believing that things were as they were because we didn't get enough information about certain elements as they unfolded.
All in all, a unique and fast-paced read. Though there is a cliffhanger ending, one will be left wondering just what will happen in the next book, especially with how things are left. I'm intrigued to see just where Cuono is going with Callie's story and will most likely pick up the second book to see what happens next. Callie's friends make this story, as do the elements themselves.
My rating: 3/5
Callie has mourned the loss of her mother for twelve years. On the cusp of her birthday, and the date of her mother's disappearance, Callie begins to feel things. She can identify with the loam under her feet, the air whistling through the trees, the electricity humming through the power lines. What she doesn't realize is that her true identity has been kept from her, and is now intent on revealing itself. When she finds out just what she is, and the control she has over the elements, she will stop at nothing to right the wrongs of her past. When all of the secrets have been revealed, it will be up to Callie to bring her family back together.
Elemental Reality brings all of the elements together and thrusts them on Callie, and her sister, Lola. With their powers coming to light and their identities revealed, they need to come to terms with who they are. As their confidence grows, so does their control over the elements. I enjoyed how the elements were woven together and tied to both Callie and Lola and I loved their foolhardy approach to figuring things out. They were true sisters and their bond was strong. When we see the darkness trying to intercept them and pull them apart, we get to see them struggle for control against said darkness.
There were quite a few characters in Elemental Reality, and I really enjoyed reading about Ady, Emery, and Oli. They were loyal to Callie, and their interactions were at times hilarious. However, I found that everything came too easily to the girls. For someone who has just learned that they are a Fairy and as such, have control over the elements; I would have thought that they would have had trouble at first with actually controlling said elements. The reasoning behind the story was sound and it does have good bones, however I felt that it needed a little more back-story, and a little more depth to make it really come to life. I had a hard time believing that things were as they were because we didn't get enough information about certain elements as they unfolded.
All in all, a unique and fast-paced read. Though there is a cliffhanger ending, one will be left wondering just what will happen in the next book, especially with how things are left. I'm intrigued to see just where Cuono is going with Callie's story and will most likely pick up the second book to see what happens next. Callie's friends make this story, as do the elements themselves.
August 30, 2011
I've read stories with Feries in them before, and of course, like most children, I've watched Peter Pan. Meaning I've met Tinkerbell...well, the Faeries in Elemental Reality are nothing like Tinkerbell. They aren't tiny, and they don't have pixie dust. :P
That being said, Elemental Reality was incredibly unique. Cesya has created a world where Faeries are subdivided by gender. The males are Conjurers, and the females are the ones you'd call Faeries. I don't want to spoil anything so I won't tell you what the differences are, but I will tell you that they both have awesome powers where they can control either one element, or multiple elements. In this story, there are five elements, and I loved how they were described with the powers, it was awesome! :D Along with their powers, Faeries/Conjurers also have soul mates, each Faerie has a soul mate in a Conjurer and vice versa. I thought that was pretty cool. :D
Now, onto the characters. I loved Callie. Her full name was Callista, which is a bit of a mouthful, and to be honest, I think Callie suits her much better...or perhaps Kitten suits her best. You'll just have to read it to figure out about the whole "Kitten" thing though. I am sooo not spoiling that for you. I also loved Oli...oh boy am I ever a sucker for accents, and Australian ones are definitely one that I have a particular weakness for, and I loved the slang that he used, so freaking adorable! :D I also loved Callie's best friends, Ady and Emery, their relationship was so awesome, and I loved their inside jokes. I was also impressed that Cesya managed to make me feel like I was on the inside of their "inside" jokes, especially since Elemental Reality isn't that long, but in only 260 pages she managed to make me feel as if I knew them, and that I was one of their best friends too. :)
The settings were fantastic! I loved how they were described. From the bar scenes, to the scenes in the Faerie city, to the scenes in Callie's own house. They were fabulous, and once again, I felt like I was there within the story. Elemental Reality was an easy read, with a very smooth flow, and it's one of those books that you can definitely devour within a sitting or two. Cesya did a fabulous job with this story, and I, for one, am anxiously awaiting the next book! :D
That being said, Elemental Reality was incredibly unique. Cesya has created a world where Faeries are subdivided by gender. The males are Conjurers, and the females are the ones you'd call Faeries. I don't want to spoil anything so I won't tell you what the differences are, but I will tell you that they both have awesome powers where they can control either one element, or multiple elements. In this story, there are five elements, and I loved how they were described with the powers, it was awesome! :D Along with their powers, Faeries/Conjurers also have soul mates, each Faerie has a soul mate in a Conjurer and vice versa. I thought that was pretty cool. :D
Now, onto the characters. I loved Callie. Her full name was Callista, which is a bit of a mouthful, and to be honest, I think Callie suits her much better...or perhaps Kitten suits her best. You'll just have to read it to figure out about the whole "Kitten" thing though. I am sooo not spoiling that for you. I also loved Oli...oh boy am I ever a sucker for accents, and Australian ones are definitely one that I have a particular weakness for, and I loved the slang that he used, so freaking adorable! :D I also loved Callie's best friends, Ady and Emery, their relationship was so awesome, and I loved their inside jokes. I was also impressed that Cesya managed to make me feel like I was on the inside of their "inside" jokes, especially since Elemental Reality isn't that long, but in only 260 pages she managed to make me feel as if I knew them, and that I was one of their best friends too. :)
The settings were fantastic! I loved how they were described. From the bar scenes, to the scenes in the Faerie city, to the scenes in Callie's own house. They were fabulous, and once again, I felt like I was there within the story. Elemental Reality was an easy read, with a very smooth flow, and it's one of those books that you can definitely devour within a sitting or two. Cesya did a fabulous job with this story, and I, for one, am anxiously awaiting the next book! :D
August 20, 2011
Read this review and more on my blog From A to Z
I’ve been looking forward to reading Elemental Reality ever since I first saw the gorgeous cover (isn’t it absolutely stunning??), and I’m happy to say that the story doesn’t disappoint. Faeries may be a very popular subject for YA novels these days, but Cesya puts a fresh spin on it and manages to create an entirely new world.
One of my favorite things about the novel is that unlike many other faerie books, there’s no pervasive feeling of darkness and gloom. Okay sure, there are definitely bad guys and a fast-approaching possible war with Demons, but the novel is just so fun that the overall tone is much lighter and entertaining. Faerie powers! Hot Aussie boy! Wings that actually fly! Elemental Reality shows that it can actually be exciting to be a supernatural being, even when there is also serious stuff going on. I will say that I had some trouble getting into the writing style at first; I was enjoying the novel but it felt a bit unpolished (to be fair I read an ARC, so it is possible that it was not the absolute final version). But after a while I found myself enjoying the breezy tone and just completely devouring it.
The characters in Elemental Reality are all well-developed and extremely likeable, and it was such fun to watch Callie interacting with her sister and friends. Lola cracks me up, she’s so hilarious. And Callie’s interactions with Oli… I don’t really think “fun” is the right word. Probably steamy would be more appropriate. Or hot. Either one works, really. :P The tension between these two was fantastic and I am most definitely looking forward to more from them in the sequel. *waggles eyebrows suggestively*
Elemental Reality is an impressive debut novel, and I’d definitely recommend it. It’s a fun, fast-paced read with awesome characters, sizzling romance, danger, intrigue, and a gripping cliffhanger that will no doubt leave you wanting more.
*Thanks so much to Jennifer Baker at Revolution Publishing for letting me participate in the Elemental Reality blog tour and providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
**Cesya is visiting my blog today with an awesome guest post, check it out here!
I’ve been looking forward to reading Elemental Reality ever since I first saw the gorgeous cover (isn’t it absolutely stunning??), and I’m happy to say that the story doesn’t disappoint. Faeries may be a very popular subject for YA novels these days, but Cesya puts a fresh spin on it and manages to create an entirely new world.
One of my favorite things about the novel is that unlike many other faerie books, there’s no pervasive feeling of darkness and gloom. Okay sure, there are definitely bad guys and a fast-approaching possible war with Demons, but the novel is just so fun that the overall tone is much lighter and entertaining. Faerie powers! Hot Aussie boy! Wings that actually fly! Elemental Reality shows that it can actually be exciting to be a supernatural being, even when there is also serious stuff going on. I will say that I had some trouble getting into the writing style at first; I was enjoying the novel but it felt a bit unpolished (to be fair I read an ARC, so it is possible that it was not the absolute final version). But after a while I found myself enjoying the breezy tone and just completely devouring it.
The characters in Elemental Reality are all well-developed and extremely likeable, and it was such fun to watch Callie interacting with her sister and friends. Lola cracks me up, she’s so hilarious. And Callie’s interactions with Oli… I don’t really think “fun” is the right word. Probably steamy would be more appropriate. Or hot. Either one works, really. :P The tension between these two was fantastic and I am most definitely looking forward to more from them in the sequel. *waggles eyebrows suggestively*
Elemental Reality is an impressive debut novel, and I’d definitely recommend it. It’s a fun, fast-paced read with awesome characters, sizzling romance, danger, intrigue, and a gripping cliffhanger that will no doubt leave you wanting more.
*Thanks so much to Jennifer Baker at Revolution Publishing for letting me participate in the Elemental Reality blog tour and providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
**Cesya is visiting my blog today with an awesome guest post, check it out here!
October 12, 2011
I'm reposting this since it seems like my original review disappeared from Goodreads.
I came into 'Elemental Reality' with no idea what to think of it. However, once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down! What a phenomenal book! From the first page to the last, I wanted to know more about Callie and everything she's going through. I loved seeing her reactions to gaining her powers as well as falling in love with Oli (her soul mate/next door neighbor). They're such an adorable couple and their UST had me turning on the fans in my room to cool off!
A lot happens in Elemental Reality, especially since it's the introductory book to a series. After we meet Callie and her friends and family, the plot is slowly revealed. It's Callie's birthday and she's somewhat depressed, since on her birthday many years previously, her mother left the family for no apparent reason. We soon learn that all is not as it seems, and Callie's mother left to protect her two daughters. We also learn that Callie is more than human and has special powers. Quickly after learning about her powers and the truth of her mother's disappearance, Callie goes out to try and save her mother with the help of her family and several new friends, and discovers that she has some powerful new enemies...
Overall, I really enjoyed 'Elemental Reality' and could not put it down! However, I don't like where the book left off and really wish the cliff-hanger hadn't been such a harsh tone to end on. It was jarring and discomfiting to have a somewhat nice ending suddenly turn into something very dark. I feel like that was done in the style of a television show and didn't work in the medium of text.
I really enjoyed seeing Callie come into her powers, as well as her awkward first attempts to use them. It's made ever better by her two best friends who are there for her throughout the entire book. I also really loved seeing how Callie met Oli (short for Oliver) and seeing their relationship begin and strengthen. Not many writers pull off the building relationship as well as Cesya did!
As I stated above, the only thing that threw me as a reader was the jarring end to the story. It felt awkward and uncomfortable.
However, this was such an excellent read and I was so involved with this story, I easily and confidently have to give 'Elemental Reality' 5 stars. It's a fantastic story!
I came into 'Elemental Reality' with no idea what to think of it. However, once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down! What a phenomenal book! From the first page to the last, I wanted to know more about Callie and everything she's going through. I loved seeing her reactions to gaining her powers as well as falling in love with Oli (her soul mate/next door neighbor). They're such an adorable couple and their UST had me turning on the fans in my room to cool off!
A lot happens in Elemental Reality, especially since it's the introductory book to a series. After we meet Callie and her friends and family, the plot is slowly revealed. It's Callie's birthday and she's somewhat depressed, since on her birthday many years previously, her mother left the family for no apparent reason. We soon learn that all is not as it seems, and Callie's mother left to protect her two daughters. We also learn that Callie is more than human and has special powers. Quickly after learning about her powers and the truth of her mother's disappearance, Callie goes out to try and save her mother with the help of her family and several new friends, and discovers that she has some powerful new enemies...
Overall, I really enjoyed 'Elemental Reality' and could not put it down! However, I don't like where the book left off and really wish the cliff-hanger hadn't been such a harsh tone to end on. It was jarring and discomfiting to have a somewhat nice ending suddenly turn into something very dark. I feel like that was done in the style of a television show and didn't work in the medium of text.
I really enjoyed seeing Callie come into her powers, as well as her awkward first attempts to use them. It's made ever better by her two best friends who are there for her throughout the entire book. I also really loved seeing how Callie met Oli (short for Oliver) and seeing their relationship begin and strengthen. Not many writers pull off the building relationship as well as Cesya did!
As I stated above, the only thing that threw me as a reader was the jarring end to the story. It felt awkward and uncomfortable.
However, this was such an excellent read and I was so involved with this story, I easily and confidently have to give 'Elemental Reality' 5 stars. It's a fantastic story!
September 2, 2011
Elemental Reality centers around Callie – a young woman in her early twenties. One day, odd things start happening to her. Shortly thereafter, Callie finds out that her and her sister are actually fairies – a fact that has been kept from them in order to protect them. Now that Callie knows the truth, she is on a mission to find her mother who has been missing for the past 12 years.
I have a lot of mixed feelings on this book. Because of this, I'm going to do this review a little differently than I usually do. I'm going to break this up between what I liked and didn't like. I think I will start off with what I didn't like to get that out of the way.
I thought that a lot of things that happened in this book were just a little too convenient. For instance, Callie and her sister just happen to be the most powerful faeries EVER born. They can do things that no other faerie can do, even though they have no training using their powers. Also, I didn't see how not telling Callie and her sister about them being faeries protected them. I found it funny that their wings just sprouted from their backs right after they found out about what they were. Also, I just wasn't sure what category to put this book in. The main character is 22 – but it had a young adult feel to it. Callie still lives with her dad. Her soul-mate Oli still lives with his parents as well. They didn't go past kissing, and Callie acted like her dad would freak out if Oli was caught in her bedroom. The way Callie acted and talked also seemed like a high school girl.
On the other hand, I liked Callie's snarkiness. I loved the internal banter she had with herself, and also the way she interacted with her sister Lola. There were a lot of funny moments. There were a lot of well developed secondary characters as well, and I liked them all – especially Oli. He is from Australia, and I enjoyed hearing all of his Australian terms. Callie and Oli have some great chemistry together. Also, considering the fact that this is the author's first book – I think she did a great job. For the most part, I enjoyed this book. I think that most of you who enjoy YA paranormal romances would enjoy this book as well.
I have a lot of mixed feelings on this book. Because of this, I'm going to do this review a little differently than I usually do. I'm going to break this up between what I liked and didn't like. I think I will start off with what I didn't like to get that out of the way.
I thought that a lot of things that happened in this book were just a little too convenient. For instance, Callie and her sister just happen to be the most powerful faeries EVER born. They can do things that no other faerie can do, even though they have no training using their powers. Also, I didn't see how not telling Callie and her sister about them being faeries protected them. I found it funny that their wings just sprouted from their backs right after they found out about what they were. Also, I just wasn't sure what category to put this book in. The main character is 22 – but it had a young adult feel to it. Callie still lives with her dad. Her soul-mate Oli still lives with his parents as well. They didn't go past kissing, and Callie acted like her dad would freak out if Oli was caught in her bedroom. The way Callie acted and talked also seemed like a high school girl.
On the other hand, I liked Callie's snarkiness. I loved the internal banter she had with herself, and also the way she interacted with her sister Lola. There were a lot of funny moments. There were a lot of well developed secondary characters as well, and I liked them all – especially Oli. He is from Australia, and I enjoyed hearing all of his Australian terms. Callie and Oli have some great chemistry together. Also, considering the fact that this is the author's first book – I think she did a great job. For the most part, I enjoyed this book. I think that most of you who enjoy YA paranormal romances would enjoy this book as well.
September 12, 2011
Holy Moly! What can I say except...I LOVED this book! The cover was the first thing that caught my eye, can you blame me?! *winks* It's simply gorgeous and what lies inside is even more enchanting..
From the very first page I was intrigued, and the more I read the more I became captivated by Cesya's story. Her writing style is fun and awe-inspiring, she brings her characters to life in your mind with each word. Your taken on a thrilling journey, with danger around every corner, many twists and turns you'll be on the edge of your seat. Powerful faerie magic. Tingling, head of heels, passionate, love. An adventure I'll be taking over and over again.
Callie is such an awesome main character, I loved her attitude, she cracked me up alot with her snippy remarks and come backs. The fights she'd have with herself was a hoot, who doesn't do that?! lol.
Her sister Lola is simply adorable she has more of a outgoing, snarky attitude and she'll have you in fits of giggles as well. Together they are a force to be reckoned with and so much fun to read about.
Now onto our fellow Aussie Oli, wow! It was such a refreshing change to read about an Aussie character. I simply LOVED his Aussie slang! It gave him a special individual quality, you'll just fall for him. He's most definitely a true blue, mate! *winks*
I have to share with you a little quote from Callie that had me spitting out my drink in giggles, I've never heard this expression before...
"I became so entranced my eyes practically licked him, raked over him, devoured him. You get the point. Hello, Tall, Dark, and Sexy!"
"My eyes practically licked him." *giggles* I seriously love it!
Cesya has done an amazing job for her debut novel, if you haven't read it yet I'd recommend giving it a go, or even popping it onto your 'to be read' pile.
Believe me, the ending will have you coming back for more. I know I'm hanging out for book 2 "Battle Scars"
From the very first page I was intrigued, and the more I read the more I became captivated by Cesya's story. Her writing style is fun and awe-inspiring, she brings her characters to life in your mind with each word. Your taken on a thrilling journey, with danger around every corner, many twists and turns you'll be on the edge of your seat. Powerful faerie magic. Tingling, head of heels, passionate, love. An adventure I'll be taking over and over again.
Callie is such an awesome main character, I loved her attitude, she cracked me up alot with her snippy remarks and come backs. The fights she'd have with herself was a hoot, who doesn't do that?! lol.
Her sister Lola is simply adorable she has more of a outgoing, snarky attitude and she'll have you in fits of giggles as well. Together they are a force to be reckoned with and so much fun to read about.
Now onto our fellow Aussie Oli, wow! It was such a refreshing change to read about an Aussie character. I simply LOVED his Aussie slang! It gave him a special individual quality, you'll just fall for him. He's most definitely a true blue, mate! *winks*
I have to share with you a little quote from Callie that had me spitting out my drink in giggles, I've never heard this expression before...
"I became so entranced my eyes practically licked him, raked over him, devoured him. You get the point. Hello, Tall, Dark, and Sexy!"
"My eyes practically licked him." *giggles* I seriously love it!
Cesya has done an amazing job for her debut novel, if you haven't read it yet I'd recommend giving it a go, or even popping it onto your 'to be read' pile.
Believe me, the ending will have you coming back for more. I know I'm hanging out for book 2 "Battle Scars"
March 14, 2015
I really disliked this book from the minute I started reading-not because it is badly written, because it isn't. There is nothing wrong with the author's writing ability.
It is the dumb bitch MC that drove me up the wall to insanity. She was so annoying! She meets Mr Dreamy in a club and falls in love with him in that I'm hooked and I shall be your servant way until a minute later when Mr Dangerous catches her on the dancefloor and she falls madly in love with him and never wants to be parted...then she glimpses Mr Dreamy and Oh I'm in love then....*yawn* you get the message. She can't LOOK at one of these guys without loving him and wanting his babies five minutes later. I really hate this magically induced instaluv, it gets on my nerves.
Then we have Crocodile Dundee as our romantic hero which did not work for me. Having an Ausiie hero is fine-it's great, actually, but we do actually have enough imagination for the author to say that he had a soft Australian accent and we can imagine him saying normal things in that cool accent instead of having him scream out random Aussie phrases like G'DAY BRUCE!!! (then explaining it) every two minutes! I found this offputting, cliched and it made him sound really out of place and stupid.
And Callie. I could have shaken her cheerfully by the throat. As well as BEHAVING like a lovesick puppy, she tells us on every page that she is acting like a lovesick puppy complete with saying 'woof woof' every time she says it. I was at the stage of climbing into the book to kill her with each additional woof she uttered. Clever dialogue this is not. It was childish, irritating, repetitive and it was the end of the book for me.
Woof Effing Woof.
It is the dumb bitch MC that drove me up the wall to insanity. She was so annoying! She meets Mr Dreamy in a club and falls in love with him in that I'm hooked and I shall be your servant way until a minute later when Mr Dangerous catches her on the dancefloor and she falls madly in love with him and never wants to be parted...then she glimpses Mr Dreamy and Oh I'm in love then....*yawn* you get the message. She can't LOOK at one of these guys without loving him and wanting his babies five minutes later. I really hate this magically induced instaluv, it gets on my nerves.
Then we have Crocodile Dundee as our romantic hero which did not work for me. Having an Ausiie hero is fine-it's great, actually, but we do actually have enough imagination for the author to say that he had a soft Australian accent and we can imagine him saying normal things in that cool accent instead of having him scream out random Aussie phrases like G'DAY BRUCE!!! (then explaining it) every two minutes! I found this offputting, cliched and it made him sound really out of place and stupid.
And Callie. I could have shaken her cheerfully by the throat. As well as BEHAVING like a lovesick puppy, she tells us on every page that she is acting like a lovesick puppy complete with saying 'woof woof' every time she says it. I was at the stage of climbing into the book to kill her with each additional woof she uttered. Clever dialogue this is not. It was childish, irritating, repetitive and it was the end of the book for me.
Woof Effing Woof.
September 24, 2011
This was an absolutely fabulous debut novel by Cesya Cuono. One that brings readers on a journey of whit, magic, fantasy, and war that you haven't yet seen.
Callie Pierce has been struggling with the disappearance of her mother for the past twelve years. And every birthday is just another reminder. This year, though, things are different. She can sense the elements around her and two guys enter her life that invoke strong, but different feelings from her.
When Callie and sister learn the secret their parents have kept from them for years, it'll take them on a journey that's nearly unbelievable. They are faeries, and Callie and her sister are the most powerful faeries they've seen. But is their power enough to save their mom? Or to stop the threat against them all?
From the very start I loved Cesya's writing and her main character Callie. It was fun and snarky and exciting. Everything from the storyline to the descriptions was very well presented and I found it almost impossible to put down.
And after reading Cesya's guest post about the legends she used in the story, I found the background even more interesting. The world that was created was imaginative and beautiful. I haven't been too into faerie stories, but this one was unique and fresh with the elemental aspect as well.
After reading that ending, though, I'm even more anxious for the next book in this amazing trilogy, Battlescars. Cesya leaves her readers on such an amazing cliffhanger, you'll be ready to camp outside her place demanding to know what happens next.
Elemental Reality was a fun read and a new series that I'm so glad that I found.
Callie Pierce has been struggling with the disappearance of her mother for the past twelve years. And every birthday is just another reminder. This year, though, things are different. She can sense the elements around her and two guys enter her life that invoke strong, but different feelings from her.
When Callie and sister learn the secret their parents have kept from them for years, it'll take them on a journey that's nearly unbelievable. They are faeries, and Callie and her sister are the most powerful faeries they've seen. But is their power enough to save their mom? Or to stop the threat against them all?
From the very start I loved Cesya's writing and her main character Callie. It was fun and snarky and exciting. Everything from the storyline to the descriptions was very well presented and I found it almost impossible to put down.
And after reading Cesya's guest post about the legends she used in the story, I found the background even more interesting. The world that was created was imaginative and beautiful. I haven't been too into faerie stories, but this one was unique and fresh with the elemental aspect as well.
After reading that ending, though, I'm even more anxious for the next book in this amazing trilogy, Battlescars. Cesya leaves her readers on such an amazing cliffhanger, you'll be ready to camp outside her place demanding to know what happens next.
Elemental Reality was a fun read and a new series that I'm so glad that I found.
August 22, 2011
4.5 stars
Holy cow! This book was totally not what I was expecting. The first thing I noticed about this book was most definitely the cover, I mean look at it! It's gorgeous! What I wasn't expecting was an awesome story to go with the fabulous cover!
Callie Pierce is unlike the other main female characters of YA paranormal these days. She has a backbone. She also has this cute sense of style that I wish I could pull off! I adored her and her quirkiness. The side characters also held their own amount of fabulousness. Her sister had me laughing at practically every oppurtunity. (Red Bull!) And the love interest is so cute! He blushes! OMG how adorable!
Now that I'm done gushing about characters let's talk about the plot. It was nothing like I was expecting! The characters weren't what I was expecting! But I loved it! Who the heck would have thought that they'd be *******!? (No spoilers here people. ;)
I really loved Cuono's writing style and I'm excited to get my hands on a finished copy of Elemental Reality along with the next two books in this HAWT new series!
The only thing I didn't like was that Callie sounded more like a high school student than a twenty-two-year-old.
Holy cow! This book was totally not what I was expecting. The first thing I noticed about this book was most definitely the cover, I mean look at it! It's gorgeous! What I wasn't expecting was an awesome story to go with the fabulous cover!
Callie Pierce is unlike the other main female characters of YA paranormal these days. She has a backbone. She also has this cute sense of style that I wish I could pull off! I adored her and her quirkiness. The side characters also held their own amount of fabulousness. Her sister had me laughing at practically every oppurtunity. (Red Bull!) And the love interest is so cute! He blushes! OMG how adorable!
Now that I'm done gushing about characters let's talk about the plot. It was nothing like I was expecting! The characters weren't what I was expecting! But I loved it! Who the heck would have thought that they'd be *******!? (No spoilers here people. ;)
I really loved Cuono's writing style and I'm excited to get my hands on a finished copy of Elemental Reality along with the next two books in this HAWT new series!
The only thing I didn't like was that Callie sounded more like a high school student than a twenty-two-year-old.
September 27, 2011
Let me start by saying that I love the cover of this book! It’s one of my favorite covers for the year and really does fit with the story.
Callie is a very likable character. The story begins on her 22nd birthday which is always a sad day because it marks the anniversary of when her mother left the family. I love how the book starts and the relationship between Callie and her friends and her family. You really get a sense of how much they care about each other. The back and forth banter among them is snarky and funny and helps to move the story along nicely.
The story is well paced until Callie meets Oli and Cayden and then everything speeds up - her relationship with Oli, finding out the truth about herself and her family, learning to use her powers, training to use her powers – it all happens in a very short period of time. Not that I like slow stories but I would have preferred if the plot and characters had more depth, especially since we meet so many minor characters in passing.
That being said, the book has tons of action, hot romance and a nice twist at the end that will keep readers looking out for the next book in the series.
Content: Kissing, profanity and violence.
Callie is a very likable character. The story begins on her 22nd birthday which is always a sad day because it marks the anniversary of when her mother left the family. I love how the book starts and the relationship between Callie and her friends and her family. You really get a sense of how much they care about each other. The back and forth banter among them is snarky and funny and helps to move the story along nicely.
The story is well paced until Callie meets Oli and Cayden and then everything speeds up - her relationship with Oli, finding out the truth about herself and her family, learning to use her powers, training to use her powers – it all happens in a very short period of time. Not that I like slow stories but I would have preferred if the plot and characters had more depth, especially since we meet so many minor characters in passing.
That being said, the book has tons of action, hot romance and a nice twist at the end that will keep readers looking out for the next book in the series.
Content: Kissing, profanity and violence.
August 26, 2016
Was this a good book, you ask? Yes, it was - the writing style Ms. Cuono has is very enjoyable and things keep going on a fast pace. The characters were each unique and intriguing and the world built for this story was rich and vibrant.
Then why 3.5 Ravens? Well, it's like this - while Callie had been feeling this strong connection with the elements for the past few months, it wasn't until her birthday night out that she met "them" - the man who clouded her thoughts and made her weak and the man who took her breath away and she wanted to be near forever. Enter some misadventures of the stalker-y kind...and then BOOM - Callie and her sister, Lola are Faeries - and extraordinarily powerful ones at that. It was kind of sideswiping as I hadn't had the book description above to reference when I received the book for review.
If you enjoy faerie stories, like I do, you won't be disappointed! A fast paced book with a wonderful blend of romance, action, magic, sacrifice, and a serious cliffhanger that leaves you aching for book #2 in the series.
Elemental Series: Elemental Reality (1), Battle Scars (2), Rebirth (3)
Then why 3.5 Ravens? Well, it's like this - while Callie had been feeling this strong connection with the elements for the past few months, it wasn't until her birthday night out that she met "them" - the man who clouded her thoughts and made her weak and the man who took her breath away and she wanted to be near forever. Enter some misadventures of the stalker-y kind...and then BOOM - Callie and her sister, Lola are Faeries - and extraordinarily powerful ones at that. It was kind of sideswiping as I hadn't had the book description above to reference when I received the book for review.
If you enjoy faerie stories, like I do, you won't be disappointed! A fast paced book with a wonderful blend of romance, action, magic, sacrifice, and a serious cliffhanger that leaves you aching for book #2 in the series.
Elemental Series: Elemental Reality (1), Battle Scars (2), Rebirth (3)
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