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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2025:
The story doesn't feel like it ends. I love Michael's character and it's great to see things from his perspective. I love seeing who he is without his brothers. I guess I miss all the side characters that I've come to love. This book doesn't feel like a finale, but a middle book. (if that makes sense) and the "final boss fight" felt flat. Like it was written very quickly, or something. The rest of the series makes up for this one and I still enjoyed the overall story. There are a lot of unanswered questions, though.
Original thoughts:
I thought that the writing in this book was off somehow. It just didn't hold up to the others. I love these boys, they are written beautifully, but it seemed like this story was very rushed and one sided. Maybe that is because Michael always does things on his own? The big fight scene was okay, and it hit a nerve b/c I wasn't happy with it (as intended). The other characters that were so colorful in the other books didn't seem to have much personality here. I did like the progression of the story and am happy I read it.
The story doesn't feel like it ends. I love Michael's character and it's great to see things from his perspective. I love seeing who he is without his brothers. I guess I miss all the side characters that I've come to love. This book doesn't feel like a finale, but a middle book. (if that makes sense) and the "final boss fight" felt flat. Like it was written very quickly, or something. The rest of the series makes up for this one and I still enjoyed the overall story. There are a lot of unanswered questions, though.
Original thoughts:
I thought that the writing in this book was off somehow. It just didn't hold up to the others. I love these boys, they are written beautifully, but it seemed like this story was very rushed and one sided. Maybe that is because Michael always does things on his own? The big fight scene was okay, and it hit a nerve b/c I wasn't happy with it (as intended). The other characters that were so colorful in the other books didn't seem to have much personality here. I did like the progression of the story and am happy I read it.
I liked this one the best out of the series -- full of action.
Several more disasters follow three Guides trying to murder the Merricks. Their house burns down. A bar explodes. Their house burns down again. Then, the group home the younger brothers are forced to stay in explodes. Lots of random people die. One of the last Guides ends up being Hunter's uncle, Jay. Apparently, he revived after his funeral and decided to get murder-y on Hunter too because he fell in with the Merricks. Why didn't Casper, the uncle's dog, out him. Dogs don't have morality...
Hannah's new coworker, Irish, is non-Guide Spirit.
I'm not sure why Becca and Quinn don't get any screen time in this book. Supposedly, it's because Becca's dad has them on lockdown, but it's weird. It feels like when an actor leaves a show.
Bonus Content: Elemental #0.5 (short story) - 3/5 - Michael and Emily. The events leading to Emily's death. So sad.
Bonus Content: Fearless #1.5 (short story) - 3/5 - Hunter and Clare. The events leading to Hunter's father's death.
Bonus Content: Breathless #2.5 (short story) - Read earlier. Bundled with Spirit.
Spoiler
Mike and Hannah. The love triangle fake out was unnecessary. I can't believe it just ended, and that Hunter died so suddenly. I still don't buy Tyler not being a dick.Several more disasters follow three Guides trying to murder the Merricks. Their house burns down. A bar explodes. Their house burns down again. Then, the group home the younger brothers are forced to stay in explodes. Lots of random people die. One of the last Guides ends up being Hunter's uncle, Jay. Apparently, he revived after his funeral and decided to get murder-y on Hunter too because he fell in with the Merricks. Why didn't Casper, the uncle's dog, out him. Dogs don't have morality...
Hannah's new coworker, Irish, is non-Guide Spirit.
I'm not sure why Becca and Quinn don't get any screen time in this book. Supposedly, it's because Becca's dad has them on lockdown, but it's weird. It feels like when an actor leaves a show.
Bonus Content: Elemental #0.5 (short story) - 3/5 - Michael and Emily. The events leading to Emily's death. So sad.
Spoiler
Their burgeoning relationship was like less than a week old.Bonus Content: Fearless #1.5 (short story) - 3/5 - Hunter and Clare. The events leading to Hunter's father's death.
Spoiler
It's interesting seeing the events happen before they're colored by Hunter's interpretation. Like, how he said his father admitted to using his mother; it's more his father had a transactional view on life, and likely, he adhered to it less than he thought he did.Bonus Content: Breathless #2.5 (short story) - Read earlier. Bundled with Spirit.
I couldn't think of a better end to this series which I literally grew up through high school and university with. You can read my full thoughts here: https://amy-rosenfeldt.com/2021/09/10/sacrifice/
Oh my heart why did it have to end so abruptly? I love this series I love what Brigid Kemmerer did. I love the brothers. I love their relationship together. I just love them all so so much
The Merrick brothers are my guilty little pleasure.
This one wasn't long enough and certainly didn't satisfy my thirst.
Very open ending. Leaves the brothers with mostly tidied edges, but with plenty left to explore if Kemmerer decides to pick up the series again at some point.
This one wasn't long enough and certainly didn't satisfy my thirst.
Very open ending. Leaves the brothers with mostly tidied edges, but with plenty left to explore if Kemmerer decides to pick up the series again at some point.
I really really like this series and I was super excited to read the last book and now that I have I can honestly say I'm kinda disappointed.
I guess the author gave us clues but we just didn't see them but it makes perfect sense what she did and what happened but it broke my heart and I'm really mad.
Another thing is that I want more I feel like the story isn't over and I hope she writes at least one more book because I still have some questions...
One thing that surprised me was that I didn't like Hannah as much as I did in the other books she pissed me off a lot :/
I really like the Merrick brothers specially the twins <3 Michael is an amazing brother and I love what he does for his brothers and that he doesn't like to put anyone in danger so he always sacrifices himself.
I don't know what else to say I had lots feels in this book and I need more!!!
I guess the author gave us clues but we just didn't see them but it makes perfect sense what she did and what happened but it broke my heart and I'm really mad.
Another thing is that I want more I feel like the story isn't over and I hope she writes at least one more book because I still have some questions...
One thing that surprised me was that I didn't like Hannah as much as I did in the other books she pissed me off a lot :/
I really like the Merrick brothers specially the twins <3 Michael is an amazing brother and I love what he does for his brothers and that he doesn't like to put anyone in danger so he always sacrifices himself.
I don't know what else to say I had lots feels in this book and I need more!!!
The fifth book in The Elementals series, Sacrifice is Michael's story. He stepped up to take care of his brothers after the death of their parents, he works too hard to provide for them, he's constantly stressing himself out worrying about them. His girlfriend Hannah has her own child and she gets it. They could be really good together. Except Michael's secret of his powers and the constant danger has him pulling away to keep her safe. Michael's been doing his best to keep his family and friends safe for years but this time, the danger might be too great.
It's here! Well, okay only in e-book form as an e-ARC so there's still the wait for the wonderful physical copy that will complete the collection on my shelf, but it is available to read and I did and I loved it. So much about Michael gives me the same feels I get from Darry from The Outsiders(and any time a book gives me The Outsiders feels, it's always a good thing) and there were times while reading this book that my chest was tight and it was actually hard to breathe due to the emotion and pain Michael was being put through.
I would definitely say this was the most intense book of the series, which it feels like I say that about every new book in the series. They've definitely gotten more intense as the series has gone on. And with each new book, it feels like I have a new favourite character from the series.
Michael was always a good guy, that was evident in the previous books, and he did make mistakes but it was always easy to tell that his brothers were his first priority. That was never more apparent than in Sacrifice. There were so many little moments that proved how well he knew them and how much he loved them. His relationship with Hunter was understandably a little rockier, not having known each other that long, but it was still obvious Michael felt responsible for him as well.
The other POV in the book was Michael's girlfriend Hannah. I really enjoyed her parts too. I liked her when she first appeared in Spark but seeing so much more of her in Sacrifice, how strong she was and all she had to go through as a woman fire fighter and a single mother, she was amazing.
I was prepared going into this book that I would cry. The title was Sacrifice after all. I definitely was not prepared for the intense emotions. This book should come with chocolate. Everything about the book, the action, the pacing, the characters, the emotions, were all reasons why I kept reading until the last page, all in one night. I was finishing it no matter what.
I'm not ready to say goodbye to the Merrick family or the world of Elementals. Until there's official word that there will be no more, I'll keep hoping.
*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion.
It's here! Well, okay only in e-book form as an e-ARC so there's still the wait for the wonderful physical copy that will complete the collection on my shelf, but it is available to read and I did and I loved it. So much about Michael gives me the same feels I get from Darry from The Outsiders(and any time a book gives me The Outsiders feels, it's always a good thing) and there were times while reading this book that my chest was tight and it was actually hard to breathe due to the emotion and pain Michael was being put through.
I would definitely say this was the most intense book of the series, which it feels like I say that about every new book in the series. They've definitely gotten more intense as the series has gone on. And with each new book, it feels like I have a new favourite character from the series.
Michael was always a good guy, that was evident in the previous books, and he did make mistakes but it was always easy to tell that his brothers were his first priority. That was never more apparent than in Sacrifice. There were so many little moments that proved how well he knew them and how much he loved them. His relationship with Hunter was understandably a little rockier, not having known each other that long, but it was still obvious Michael felt responsible for him as well.
The other POV in the book was Michael's girlfriend Hannah. I really enjoyed her parts too. I liked her when she first appeared in Spark but seeing so much more of her in Sacrifice, how strong she was and all she had to go through as a woman fire fighter and a single mother, she was amazing.
I was prepared going into this book that I would cry. The title was Sacrifice after all. I definitely was not prepared for the intense emotions. This book should come with chocolate. Everything about the book, the action, the pacing, the characters, the emotions, were all reasons why I kept reading until the last page, all in one night. I was finishing it no matter what.
I'm not ready to say goodbye to the Merrick family or the world of Elementals. Until there's official word that there will be no more, I'll keep hoping.
*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion.
the HURT i felt throughout this last part of the series. i love pain.