There's so much to say about this book. Let's start with the cast. Jacks is our MC: tough yet vulnerable, with a quick mouth and more than her fair share of stubbornness. She turns out to be a part of the Order of the Key, a shadowy secret superhero organization designed to stop alien bad-guys from ruining our days, due to her parents also being in the Order. From her parents, she's been gifted special abilities just awakening which she needs to learn to use. But this isn't just any magic school story.
For one thing, Jacks' mom and sister Gana join her in the Order, though her mom has tried to keep them out of it since she ran away with them years ago. Why? Find out by reading the book. :D
For another thing, there's not as much emphasis on training …
Jacklyn Madison is the superhero teen-me needed.
There's so much to say about this book. Let's start with the cast. Jacks is our MC: tough yet vulnerable, with a quick mouth and more than her fair share of stubbornness. She turns out to be a part of the Order of the Key, a shadowy secret superhero organization designed to stop alien bad-guys from ruining our days, due to her parents also being in the Order. From her parents, she's been gifted special abilities just awakening which she needs to learn to use. But this isn't just any magic school story.
For one thing, Jacks' mom and sister Gana join her in the Order, though her mom has tried to keep them out of it since she ran away with them years ago. Why? Find out by reading the book. :D
For another thing, there's not as much emphasis on training and studying and testing and more emphasis on rules, safety, and when and how to break those rules to keep loved ones safe. Especially when questions are raised about the worthiness of following those in charge.
The cast is well-rounded, with each side character having a clear role, from Jacks' mom to her sister to other members of the Order, to Jacks's love interest, Kyp. Questions are even raised about Jacks' father and his loyalties, and family is a running theme through the book (as is running, and the comic book mentions all throughout that had me squeeing). The plot was easy to follow, with enough twists on familiar tropes and immersion into Jacks' fantastic character that I didn't want to put the book down at all. I totally screwed up dinner because I was reading instead...
I really enjoyed the magic system, and I'm a sucker for strong female protagonists (you can be strong and vulnerable or ignorant of a brand new system at the same time, and Jacks accomplishes that without being standoffish, making her super relatable). I'm trying to leave out spoilers, so suffice it to say I love the turns the plot took and the way it ended was thrilling, struck me deep, and also was so satisfying. I'd love to read more in this universe!
Review of 'Elemental : Shadows of Otherside' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
Whitney Hill breaks out of the gate with a debut urban fantasy set in North Carolina--a North Carolina home to vampires, witches, elves, and more. Arden is an elemental, raised with the knowledge that she must hide what she is. Not just from humans, but also from the other supernatural peoples--Otherside. Arden can't keep her head down anymore when an elf comes to retain her services as a private investigator to find his missing grandmother.
Part sleuthing mystery, part walk among fantastical creatures, and part coming of age, Elemental's heart and soul is the main character, Arden. Tough yet vulnerable, Arden has to figure out how to stand on her own, trust others, and stay alive, while the threads of the missing grandmother weave a web of intrigue that goes dark and ever more dangerous.
