A review by rainbowofcrazy
Elemental by Liane Mahugh, Liane Mahugh

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Elemental is a fun novel geared towards the YA crowd that are looking to dip into the sci-fi genre. The plot is refreshing and interesting and I found myself quickly invested in the story. I liked the concept of Solara, a much more advanced world that ours, with its people travelling the galaxies, and I liked Raya. She's young, with powerful abilities, with a good heart. 

While I enjoyed the concept and plot overall, I'm not the target reader and I struggled with the writing itself. It felt, well, unfinished. It lacked the emotion and heart that would have made the writing more enjoyable, and honestly writing and dialogue (human and otherwise) felt clunky, and most of the characters felt flat. The writing lacked the descriptive storytelling that would really help make it more engaging and memorable. The humour was a miss for me, and I'm not sure any readers really need a full retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. 

Despite the flaws, Elemental was still a fun read with a fun climax, and leaves you wanting more. I enjoyed the twists and turns, and I'd pick up the series to see what's in store for Raya. 

Thank you to Voracious Readers Only for this complimentary copy. All views are my own.