Elementals: The Prophecy of Shadows

I'm very old but I'm very much enjoying reading this series of books.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Greek mythology or magic. The book is very fast paced and easy to follow making it a great option for readers of many ages ranging from middle grade to adult. I really loved how the author brought the characters to life and made them relatable. The plot is very interesting, and I found the book hard to put down! I look forward to jumping into the rest of the series to find out what happens to Nicole and her friends.

I’ve always been interested in Greek mythology, and reading this story has re-awakened that interest. Nicole learns that she’s a witch and that she was born one but she’s just getting her powers since moving. She also learns that some of her classmates are witches also, but they’ve known who and what they are since they were born. Nicole has never met her biological father and since her mom never mentioned the witch thing, she guesses that her mom didn’t know that her biological father was a witch before he disappeared from their lives. This story gives us a look at how Nicole deals with the great gift she just learned she has, and how she and a few of her classmates have a destiny to complete together. I can’t wait to see how Nicole and her friends grow and what they accomplish in book two.

This was an ok book, had to give it only 4 stars because it was dragging quite a bit, probably could have done with some revisions to make it more interesting. Otherwise, it did have a solid plot with some minimal holes where even with a fantasy read contained some super unrealistic plot lines. I’m not sold on reading the rest of the series. I barely limped to the finish line. Props to the author for trying her best.

It is unfair to hold a young adult fantasy to adult standards, but there are many young adult books that do meet those standards. This book is not one of them. That is not to say that this book is substandard. But it seems simplistic and predictable. The fact that much of the fantasy is structured around gods, legends, and creatures from Greek Mythology was also not attractive to me. The premise is that Nicole arrives at a new school and discovers that she has been assigned to the secret class track for witches. In short order she begins to make friends and discoveries of a previously hidden world. The school becomes a very small part of this story as her team is swept into a quest. There is a lot of fantasy violence, some teenaged angst, and some teenaged romance with complications. The pacing is brisk, and the pages turn quickly. The story did not seem fresh or new. The characterization was also thin. Since I was not captivated by the magic, the world building or the characters, it is unlikely that I will read anymore of the series. Too many books, too little time.