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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
slow-paced
3,5 stars
Sacrifice is an accurate portrayal of the saying: when it rains, it pours. Everything that could go wrong for the Merrick family takes place at the same time. Kemmerer is not afraid to put her characters through the most.
Michael's character development throughout the series has been amazing. He started off seeming like a jerk in the beginning of Storm, but with each book in the series, he proved that he's a decent person who's trying to do the right thing and protect his family from separation and danger. His PoV is heartrending, because he had to grow up fast and take on a lot of responsibilities, and his fears, emotions, doubt and insecurities are interesting to read about, especially because he's one of the most logical characters in the series.
I never had strong feelings towards Hannah, but I thought she was a cool character and expected to like her in Sacrifice. Unfortunately, her PoV didn't do much for me. Her story and issues don't have much of a role to play in terms of the overall plot, her personality is all over the place and there's something lacking, but I can't put my finger on what it is.
While romance isn't the focus of Sacrifice, I didn't care about Michael and Hannah's relationship and the chemistry between them is barely there. I'm also not a fan of the weird hints at a possible love triangle that ended up dissolving into nothing.
I'm sad that the Merrick brothers don't have a lot of page time in the finale, but the scenes they're in are so powerful. Then there's Hunter, Adam and Tyler who really step up and come through. Adam is a great guy, Tyler becomes almost fully redeemable and Hunter literally does the most.
I love elemental powers and while the Elemental series is light on the paranormal aspect, it's well-written and seamlessly interwoven into the plot. It's extremely interesting to read about how Michael's element manifests.
The plot is action-packed and the Merrick's are in constant danger. They literally don't have a chance to breathe. Unfortunately, the plot feels rushed and the world seems to have become too much for the author. The ending is also a little unrealistic, but I'm saying this about a series that deals with real-world issues extremely well.
I have mixed feelings about the open-ending of this series. There are two plot threads that are followed through until the end. I'm sort-of satisfied with one of them. I'm not happy about the other because it's still unresolved. I hope that Kemmerer comes back to this series at some point to tie up the loose ends mostly because I want more content from this series.
Sacrifice is a solid finale, but I'm a little disappointed because it wasn't what I was expecting. I'd still highly recommend the Elemental series though. It has realistic and flawed characters, awesome family relationships, elemental powers and it deals with paranormal and contemporary issues. I'll probably read every single bit of content that Kemmerer writes for this series and I hope she comes back to it in the future.
"He'd spent so many years worrying about everyone else that it was a shock to hear someone express worry over him."
Sacrifice is an accurate portrayal of the saying: when it rains, it pours. Everything that could go wrong for the Merrick family takes place at the same time. Kemmerer is not afraid to put her characters through the most.
Michael's character development throughout the series has been amazing. He started off seeming like a jerk in the beginning of Storm, but with each book in the series, he proved that he's a decent person who's trying to do the right thing and protect his family from separation and danger. His PoV is heartrending, because he had to grow up fast and take on a lot of responsibilities, and his fears, emotions, doubt and insecurities are interesting to read about, especially because he's one of the most logical characters in the series.
I never had strong feelings towards Hannah, but I thought she was a cool character and expected to like her in Sacrifice. Unfortunately, her PoV didn't do much for me. Her story and issues don't have much of a role to play in terms of the overall plot, her personality is all over the place and there's something lacking, but I can't put my finger on what it is.
While romance isn't the focus of Sacrifice, I didn't care about Michael and Hannah's relationship and the chemistry between them is barely there. I'm also not a fan of the weird hints at a possible love triangle that ended up dissolving into nothing.
I'm sad that the Merrick brothers don't have a lot of page time in the finale, but the scenes they're in are so powerful. Then there's Hunter, Adam and Tyler who really step up and come through. Adam is a great guy, Tyler becomes almost fully redeemable and Hunter literally does the most.
Spoiler
The title fits the story because all the characters sacrifice something in some way or another, but Hunter is the true sacrifice. His death is so abrupt though. He deserves better.I love elemental powers and while the Elemental series is light on the paranormal aspect, it's well-written and seamlessly interwoven into the plot. It's extremely interesting to read about how Michael's element manifests.
The plot is action-packed and the Merrick's are in constant danger. They literally don't have a chance to breathe. Unfortunately, the plot feels rushed and the world seems to have become too much for the author. The ending is also a little unrealistic, but I'm saying this about a series that deals with real-world issues extremely well.
I have mixed feelings about the open-ending of this series. There are two plot threads that are followed through until the end. I'm sort-of satisfied with one of them
Spoiler
, Michael getting custody of his siblings. While Michael doesn't yet have custody, there is hope that it will happen. He also still gets to see his brothers, who are living together and have a comfortable roof over their headsSpoiler
, which is the threat of the Guides. Just because the Guides were killed doesn't mean that more Guides aren't going to come looking for the Merrick's again. Irish mentioned that there is change coming with the Guides way of thinking, but who knows when that might happen. Being a full elemental still means being in danger and the finale didn't deal with this issueSacrifice is a solid finale, but I'm a little disappointed because it wasn't what I was expecting. I'd still highly recommend the Elemental series though. It has realistic and flawed characters, awesome family relationships, elemental powers and it deals with paranormal and contemporary issues. I'll probably read every single bit of content that Kemmerer writes for this series and I hope she comes back to it in the future.
"Things happen, and we deal with them."
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for allowing me to read and review an ARC of this book.
I have really enjoyed reading all of the books in the Elemental series - it is probably my favourite YA paranormal series. But having said that, "Sacrifice" is definitely not my favourite book of the five.
In "Sacrifice", we finally get Michael's story. I was really looking forward to Michael's point of view - being that he's in his twenties, I thought there would be some super steamy scenes between him and Hannah. Alas, my dreams were not even close to realized in "Sacrifice". Honestly, the two of them barely spoke - most of their communication was through texts, and very brief ones at that. I was also hoping to see a lot more of Michael's brothers, Nick, Gabriel, and Chris, than what was delivered here, too. I did get to see some more of Hunter, Adam, and Tyler, which was great, but as for the girls we got to meet in the first four books of the series? They barely get a mention. (I think Quinn's name was brought up once, and I was watching for more of her because despite all her flaws, I have a bit of a soft spot for her.) This aspect of the book really disappointed me. I really needed more from everyone, and I didn't get it, and that sucked!
Hannah and Michael themselves as characters are pretty great. Kemmerer writes them in such a way that they seem real, like people you might know and hang out with in real life. I enjoyed getting a view into their thoughts and feelings, but again, I wanted more. I NEEDED more, from both of them and from their relationship. I never felt all those gushy, angsty feelings I felt with the other books in the series. Like, if Hannah had decided that, yeah, maybe she should just move on from Michael and date her coworker, Irish, I would not have been devastated with that decision. And I should NOT feel that way, at all!
Which brings me to my lack of feelings when it came to the big EVENT. You know, the climax of the book. An event which should have had me in tears left me kind of confused. Flummoxed. It happened, and I thought it was a joke, but then the book ended. Done. Fini. Huh? That can't be it? Sorry folks, that's all she wrote.
So yeah, I was disappointed overall. But, if you're a fan of this series, you definitely still need to read this book. Even if you end up disappointed like I was, you still need to read it just so you know what happens to this amazing family of fictional boys. I still love them, no matter what! P.S.- wouldn't this make a fabulous TV series?
I have really enjoyed reading all of the books in the Elemental series - it is probably my favourite YA paranormal series. But having said that, "Sacrifice" is definitely not my favourite book of the five.
In "Sacrifice", we finally get Michael's story. I was really looking forward to Michael's point of view - being that he's in his twenties, I thought there would be some super steamy scenes between him and Hannah. Alas, my dreams were not even close to realized in "Sacrifice". Honestly, the two of them barely spoke - most of their communication was through texts, and very brief ones at that. I was also hoping to see a lot more of Michael's brothers, Nick, Gabriel, and Chris, than what was delivered here, too. I did get to see some more of Hunter, Adam, and Tyler, which was great, but as for the girls we got to meet in the first four books of the series? They barely get a mention. (I think Quinn's name was brought up once, and I was watching for more of her because despite all her flaws, I have a bit of a soft spot for her.) This aspect of the book really disappointed me. I really needed more from everyone, and I didn't get it, and that sucked!
Hannah and Michael themselves as characters are pretty great. Kemmerer writes them in such a way that they seem real, like people you might know and hang out with in real life. I enjoyed getting a view into their thoughts and feelings, but again, I wanted more. I NEEDED more, from both of them and from their relationship. I never felt all those gushy, angsty feelings I felt with the other books in the series. Like, if Hannah had decided that, yeah, maybe she should just move on from Michael and date her coworker, Irish, I would not have been devastated with that decision. And I should NOT feel that way, at all!
Which brings me to my lack of feelings when it came to the big EVENT. You know, the climax of the book. An event which should have had me in tears left me kind of confused. Flummoxed. It happened, and I thought it was a joke, but then the book ended. Done. Fini. Huh? That can't be it? Sorry folks, that's all she wrote.
So yeah, I was disappointed overall. But, if you're a fan of this series, you definitely still need to read this book. Even if you end up disappointed like I was, you still need to read it just so you know what happens to this amazing family of fictional boys. I still love them, no matter what! P.S.- wouldn't this make a fabulous TV series?
Very good, but I felt like it didn't come to a conclusion so much as just...stopped. I think part of what threw me off--and maybe I just need to turn this feature off--was that apparently all of the novellas are included in the Kindle version, so at the point that the book ended, my Kindle said I was only at 66%. So I think mentally I was expecting there to be more when there wasn't? I guess?
Or maybe I'm just not ready for the series to end. That's always possible too. But I felt like there was a lot left unfinished in the overall story, and particularly in the events of this book. I like the characters and want to know what happens to them all, dammit. :P
edit 2/11/2015: she's said that she wants to write more for the series, so that's good.
Or maybe I'm just not ready for the series to end. That's always possible too. But I felt like there was a lot left unfinished in the overall story, and particularly in the events of this book. I like the characters and want to know what happens to them all, dammit. :P
edit 2/11/2015: she's said that she wants to write more for the series, so that's good.
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
"Your Hunter. Michael had to put a hand over his chest, the ache was so strong and sudden."
I'm so sad. I don't think I can do a review to this one. My baby...
"The morning after the fire, Adam told me that it was okay to let other people take care of me. The problem is that I've forgotten how."
I'm so sad. I don't think I can do a review to this one. My baby...
"The morning after the fire, Adam told me that it was okay to let other people take care of me. The problem is that I've forgotten how."
A brief review to avoid spoilers!
This was a really great ending to one of my favorite series. The Merrick brothers (& Hunter) are a great group of guys, and it was a pleasure getting to know them.
For reasons this is different than the other books in the series, but all in all a very appropriate conclusion.
<3
This was a really great ending to one of my favorite series. The Merrick brothers (& Hunter) are a great group of guys, and it was a pleasure getting to know them.
For reasons this is different than the other books in the series, but all in all a very appropriate conclusion.
<3
Brigid Kemmerer does a fantastic job of making you feel - so much so that you understand exactly what her characters are going through. I think this is particularly awesome given that all of the Elemental series are written in third person POV. Feeling like I'm in the story is one thing that I struggle with whenever I read from this POV. However, Kemmerer is one of the best authors I've seen that can easily overcome this.
And Sacrifice did not disappoint. I was sad to see the Elemental series come to an end. Kemmerer has said a few times that this may not be the end and I really hope it isn't. It was great getting to read a story from Michael and Hannah's POV. It was also nice to see some issues get resolved that have been haunting the boys throughout the series. There were a few things that I didn't like, but that has to do more with where the story went vs. the actual story itself (if that makes any sense).
If you haven't read the Elemental series, I highly recommend it. While I'm not big on series myself (usually they get dragged out and bore me), the Elemental series is unique as it follows a different set of characters with each book. There's no chance to get bored since you get to see inside the various character's minds.
Here's hoping this isn't the last one!
And Sacrifice did not disappoint. I was sad to see the Elemental series come to an end. Kemmerer has said a few times that this may not be the end and I really hope it isn't. It was great getting to read a story from Michael and Hannah's POV. It was also nice to see some issues get resolved that have been haunting the boys throughout the series. There were a few things that I didn't like
Spoiler
Hunter dying!If you haven't read the Elemental series, I highly recommend it. While I'm not big on series myself (usually they get dragged out and bore me), the Elemental series is unique as it follows a different set of characters with each book. There's no chance to get bored since you get to see inside the various character's minds.
Here's hoping this isn't the last one!
My review will be posted very soon. If you love the first 4 books in this series, then you'll love this one. It was great.