Review: Strong Prequel Short
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 25, 2012
I have been hearing such wonderful things about this series that I took the opportunity to grab up this short prequel when it was offered for free.  It took me a while to get around to reading it, but now that I did, I'm hooked.There is not much of an explanation in this one about the world of the Elementals and it just jumps right into a short story piece that from what I understand gives background to Michael and explanation for what is to come in the rest of the series.Emily takes a job at an outdoor funland type business to help save money for her dream of getting away and off to New York.  Her first day on the job finds her encountering the angry Merrick kid who beat up her brother.  Right off the bat (pun intended, read it to see why), she jumps to conclusions and soon regrets it.Michael Merrick is a powerful earth elemental which gives him magical powers that draw from the earth.  He is considered dangerous just because of his birth and not because of anything he has done.  His family and he are treated poorly by other lesser elementals as a result of it and it makes him frustrated and angry.  He just wants to have one place where he can be left alone and just be.  He thought he found it until he runs into Emily Morgan whose brother is one of the worst of the haters.Michael and Emily tentatively take the time to reach out to each other and understand, but outside interference comes into play intent on dividing them and killing Michael.The short story ends abruptly and on a cliffhanger, but gives enough to get to know Michael and the circumstances leading up to book one.  Actually, I should point out that this is more an intro than even a short story so no one gets the wrong impression.  It was a good teaser that has me absolutely vested in reading more of the series.