Mia MarshallBesprekingen

full review at BookDrug

These books are not great literature, but I’m still a fan of the series.

I read and reviewed the first book in the series, Broken Elements, a little while ago and I believe my review was along the lines of it being an enjoyable piece of fiction for its genre.

My feelings on it haven’t changed. It’s not anything groundbreaking, and Marshall hasn’t taken it into that territory with book two. Instead, she’s built on what she created in book one and expanded it, adding more depth and complexity to a fully realised world.

The prose is still fairly basic, but it’s never bad writing, which is better than a lot of works in this genre. Being written in first person means it can be engaging and appealing without being difficult or pretentious, and I appreciate that.

check Books Are My Drug for more reviews.

My review copy was a free eARC provided by Red Queen Press through Netgalley.

I told you you’d get something different after the last two, didn’t I? Here it is. Broken Elements is a short-but-fun Urban Fantasy. I found it entertaining but forgettable.

There’s nothing really that special about Broken Elements – it follows a lot of the same trails that have been marked out by other writers. Even the writing is familiar. I’m not sure if it’s just that this is Marshall’s first novel, but she doesn’t really have a defined style that I can latch on to – it just reads like most Urban Fantasy novels that are already out there. You know, first person, sarcastic and witty, lots of one-liners and self-deprecation. Perhaps it’s a little better-written than most – there are no passages that make me cringe, and some that actually made me laugh.

I liked the concept – that’s fairly new in Urban Fantasy, as far as I know – and I liked the characterisation. One thing I really appreciated is that this avoided the usual technique of making the obsessive, needy man the love interest or ‘secretly a good guy’. No, he was a villain, and a stalker, and his actions were marked as solely his fault, not the fault of the woman who he was fixated on. This is rare in the genre. Another thing I appreciated was the way the MC has friendships with other women who are different to but just as capable as her. This is rare in most fiction. The MC isn’t the *one single woman* who is acceptable as a female.

The actual plot is perhaps a little obvious, but there’s nothing really wrong with that. Sometimes you just want a quick, mostly predictable read after a long day. If you;’e looking for great literature that will last the ages, that isn’t this book. But if you’re wanting something to read on the train or in the bath, you could do a lot, lot worse. It’s a fun book.

Book 2 in the Elements series will be released in April 2013, and I’ll probably pick it up.

full review at BookDrug

These books are not great literature, but I’m still a fan of the series.

I read and reviewed the first book in the series, Broken Elements, a little while ago and I believe my review was along the lines of it being an enjoyable piece of fiction for its genre.

My feelings on it haven’t changed. It’s not anything groundbreaking, and Marshall hasn’t taken it into that territory with book two. Instead, she’s built on what she created in book one and expanded it, adding more depth and complexity to a fully realised world.

The prose is still fairly basic, but it’s never bad writing, which is better than a lot of works in this genre. Being written in first person means it can be engaging and appealing without being difficult or pretentious, and I appreciate that.

A brilliantly written and intriguing paranormal mystery. With no over tone of a romantic subplot. Which worked very well. I loved the use of magic, the elemental powers were fascinating, and the murder mystery was gripping. I was completely surprised when I discovered who was responsible, never even saw it coming.

The story starts with a lone woman sat on her porch, Aidan Brook has been in hiding for ten years and dragged back into a world she had run from when her former best friend turns up asking for her help. I didn't particularly like Aidan much as a main character, she came of very distant and rather cold. As the story progresses into the murder mystery, we learn why she ran away and why she is the way she is. As she gets back into the swing of things with her former friends, the character develops well throughout as the plot grows. She's smart, she's got a brain in her head and thinks before she acts.

Even though I didn't particularly like her all that much, the novel was so well written I was able to over look that and thoroughly enjoy it.

The writing is clear and very visual, and there's well placed touches of humour as well as scary stuff and magical world building throughout. Though on the world building there's a huge info dump right at the start on how all the elementals came to be and where the power comes from which I could have done without right off the bat.

All in all, a very good read with some great twists in the plot that propel the story forwards at a fast and exciting pace. I look forward to more from this author.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to view this title.

I have been suffering a bit from series hangover. I have finished the completed novels of 2 series I really, REALLY loved (Mercy Thompson and Kate Daniels), and have really struggled to find another. And then I found this little gem.

I often find myself lukewarm about the first book in a new to me series. After all, the author has to introduce us to new characters and set up new situations and create the world within which we are going to immerse ourselves. This is no easy task. Ms. Marshall, however, manages this ably. She jumps us almost immediately into the action and unfolds the world and characters slowly throughout the novel. Therefore, I never really felt like any particular section is an ‘info-dump’ but, rather, everything actually made sense in the progression of the narrative.

Our heroine, Aidan, suffered a personal crisis 10 years before the start of our story. Since that time, she has locked herself away from the world, preferring to live isolated away from other people – not even allowing contact with those who loved her. As the story begins, her (former) best friend appears on her doorstep to tell them the deaths have started again: one of their dearest friends has been found murdered. This, then, is they mystery set to solved in the remainder of the tale. We discover exactly *what* happened 10 years previously when Aidan tells the rest of the gang so that they can understand exactly what they are facing.

I love the relationship between Aidan and Sera. The repartee between these two is priceless and frequently brought to mind my sister and my best friend. Which means that, even if the conversations were not precious in their own right, the memories they inspired were. And, I think, that is one of the biggest gifts in this story.

There is a love interest. And, there are werekin. But, nary a vampire to be seen and no love triangle – at least yet. The heroines magic is in being able to control an element. While not a totally original concept, it is the first I have seen it in this setting, so that alone makes the book stand out. It is written in the first person, which I tend to enjoy for the simple reason that it puts me in the narrators head. I like playing head games. With characters in novels. Not with people in my life.

I hate giving glowing reviews of self-pubbed books as they tend to be unhelpful to the reader because so many appear to be friends/family of the author. So, please understand I do not know, in any way shape or form, the author. I absolutely loved this book. I’d probably rate it 4.5 stars, but as that is not an option, I rounded down. I may adjust this as the book picks up more reviews.

Ok. I would just like to say that Mia Marshall simply cannot write books fast enough. To me, she is quickly joining the shelf with Lisa and Patricia as an author whose works provide me refuge to escape the trials of my life and immerse myself into another world with the company of characters I love and hate to leave. And, I dream about the characters and their worlds. They make me happy. Trust me when I say this is not an easy shelf to which to gain access and arriving here gets you a crazy, whacked out fanatic who will not let anyone say a word against you. Ok, maybe not *quite* so dramatic, but I take my fanaticism seriously. VERY seriously. (You have been warned.)

As in all my favorite stories, this has a plot, but the plot is totally immaterial to me. Ok, not *totally*, but if it passes for a plot and there is character consistency and at least an attempt to tell a new story, it is a fairly easy ride for me. I do not read this type of novel for its great value as literature, I read it to spend time with characters I love and encourage them in their adventures. And, I realize they do not require my encouragement, but they have it anyway. Just as long as I get to share the ride.

Oh, yes, the plot. In this latest adventure of Aidan and Sera, they have been ‘hired’ by their FBI cohorts from the last novel who, because of their newfound knowledge, have been transferred to a new supernatural division. The guys ask the gals to investigate a rash of shifter disappearances. This includes the disappearance of their, for lack of a better word, friend Mac’s cousin. While the relationship between the elementals and the shifters is still quite raw, because of their friendship, Aidan and Sera are allowed access by Mac’s family. Thus, the groundwork for the tale is complete and the story takes off. We still get to be in awe of Josiah, their dad, but this time around, we are treated to more interaction with Aidan’s mom, Fiona. In addition, there are shifting otters. I mean, seriously, how can you go wrong with shifting otters? Ok,*friendly* shifting otters.

My one gripe with this book is the ending. I am not completely convinced I liked the ending. Oh, I didn’t *dislike* it, it just kinda went someplace with which I am not entirely sure I am comfortable. Because of my deep and abiding love for Aidan and Sera and Mac and Simon, I am willing to ride out the transition and have faith that Ms. Marshall is ultimately taking this somewhere that will make me completely happy. I guess I just have to hope the final destination is several books down the road.

I would also like to give a shout out to the covers for these books. I didn’t really notice the first one, but open looking at the 2nd, I went back and looked. They are really quite cleverly done and tell stories in and of themselves.

I gave this book 4.5 stars and, because I rounded the last one down, I rounded it up to 5.

Oh, and, still no vampires in sight.

Amazon Description:
"Aidan Brook's world was shattered when the actions of a brutal murderer revealed long-buried secrets about her past--secrets even she didn't know. A powerful elemental, Aidan discovered she possesses the wrong kind of magic. It's a secret that could cost her sanity-or even her life. What she needs is some peace and quiet. What she gets is a phone call from a division of the FBI so secret it doesn't even have a name, asking her help with a series of shifter disappearances. Before Aidan can settle into a new routine of pancakes and evenings by the fire, the case develops claws. She quickly finds herself caught between uptight bears, deadly mountain lions, overprotective parents, and unhappy federal agents. Throw in a stalled romance with an enigmatic shifter and the slow dissolution of her chosen family, and it's hard to say which will drive her mad first: her magic, or her chaotic life."

Shifting Selves is the second book in the Element series. You will probably need to read book 1, Broken Elements, to stay up to speed with everything. The author does provide small recaps at the beginning of the novel if you do want to dive straight into this one, but I would recommend reading the first book prior to this one. Please note that the rest of this review may contain spoilers for the first book. The story focuses on shifter disappearances around Lake Tahoe, and yet again, it becomes personal with Aidan and her band of friends. They must join forces to solve kidnappings and strange magical inhibitions. Aidan is coming to grips with what she has discovered from the last book – but balance is not always so easy to achieve. It's another rocky ride for Aidan and her pals.

Characters:
As with the first book, this one follows Aidan in first person narrative. At the beginning of the book, the reader sees how Aidan is trying to find balance with her two elements/mental state. She has support from friends, but as with most novels there is some tension between them during certain points. Despite the tensions, they continue to support one another. Still not into exercise, Aidan tries to find ways to calm herself – obviously the yoga is not working for her. (If I was there I would have suggested swimming laps in a pool as her exercise attempt.) The FBI agents are also back. They hire Sera and Aidan to work on a "magical" secret case that involves the disappearance of a shifter. The reader learns more about shifters – especially those outside the bear and cat species. This begins another crime solving adventure, which not everyone is too eager about. Aidan's parents are also back and more involved than in the prior books, wanting to protect their daughter from other people finding out what she is.

Plot:
The plot moves along nicely – similar flow to the first book. Crimes that involve magical beings are the theme once again, and Aidan with her friends jumps into action to help. Shifters and elementals do not always see eye-to-eye, which brings more interest to the story when elementals are asked to help shifters retrieve their loved ones. The plot takes a few twists along the way with a surprise at the end. The book leaves room for another – which I believe is in the making as I write this.

The Bottom Line:
Overall I enjoyed this book and will look forward to the third one. If you like paranormal mysteries, you should give this series a chance.½

Amazon Description:
"It's happening again, Aidan. We didn't stop it, after all." As an elemental, Aidan Brook holds the power of water at her fingertips. A descendant of the earth's oldest magic, she can cause tides to ebb and flow, put out house fires without calling 911, and give anyone who's annoying her an impromptu shower. But even her magic has its limits. After it fails her one terrible night, she hides from the world and everyone she once loved, trying to escape the memories that haunt her. Ten years later, her exile is brought to an abrupt end when her former best friend appears on her front porch. An elemental killer is once again murdering her friends, and she must return to the scene of her own crimes. Lake Tahoe proves more than she bargained for. Between a sadistic killer, some clever FBI agents, an annoyingly attractive landlord, and way too many new roommates, she has a pretty full plate. Add in a past she's desperate to escape and her own uncontrollable powers, and Aidan Brook is having a very, very bad month.

Opinions:
Broken Elements is a paranormal mystery book. Aidan is an elemental that can control water. Ten years ago while at college with her best friend Sera (who is a fire elemental), murders started to happen. And, not just any murders but one that was more than likely caused by a power elemental. The murders targeted humans that associated with elementals. Supposedly, Aidan and Sera stopped the murderer but now there are more weird deaths back in Tahoe. Sera and Aidan had a friendship fallout after they thought they caught the murderer years before. Now, Aidan has to face her past and former best friend to help solve this mystery. They are joined by other elementals and, surprisingly for Aidan, shifters. The murders now get more personal for the girls – targeting people they know and are not completely human. This is the first book of a series.

Characters:
The story is written in first person through Aidan. Aidan, a half water elemental, has some issues with her powers. When she is nice and calm (like the water), she can do amazing things; whenever she is emotional, her powers fail her. Add to that the should-have-been-dead killer, shifters that she never knew existed, and a potential love interest, and her world turns upside down. Only wanting peace and quiet, she must learn to trust herself and others again. Aidan is a likeable character. She's not a damsel in distress or a warrior. She is fairly normal – minus the water thing; she is a multi-dimensional character. I also enjoyed the banter between the characters and a few of Aidan's thoughts (how the author phrased things) made me smile.

Plot:
The plot moved along well and kept my interest throughout the book. There were a few surprises along the way. There's action and mystery as Aidan and her friends try to figure out who the killer is and how to trap him/her. They also have to be careful with the regular cops trying to solve the murders. Humans aren't supposed to know about elementals and shifters. Who is the killer(s)? You'll find out in the book. The story ends well but the next book should pick things up that are not completely settled in this one. How's the mystery part? It's the type of mystery that takes twists and turns. For a mystery veteran, you can see the direction in which things are happening, but the exact details are a little fuzzy, so you should be entertained and have some surprises.

The Bottom Line:
Overall, I enjoyed this book. I haven't read a mystery in a while, and I like paranormal books. So, this was a good choice for me. Therefore, if you like mysteries and paranormal stories, you should give this book a try. I have the second book and will read that very soon.½

This is the second book in this series which I have read. I have enjoyed both of these books. It gives a new and different understanding to shifters and elementals and the way they interact. Again this book will keep your interest from start to finish. There will be a twist at the end.

This book was terrific! It was a tale of supernatural beings, but the author made them seem quite believable. The mystery unfolds throughout the book right until the end, so the reader is attentive at all times. I even found myself looking inward, reflecting on my own life's choices and roads chosen as the story unfolded. Yet, the entire book was sprinkled with humor & wit that just added to the characters as you got to 'know' them. I looked forward to reading it whenever I could--it just made you want to be part of the story again. This was definitely a hit for me, & I look forward to reading the sequel when it is available. Great job!

This was a very exciting and twisted plot book. Keeps your interest and then surprises you at the end. Looking forward to the next in the series.

I really enjoyed this book. It is nice to find a book that my tween can read as well. That really means a lot to me. She is only 11 and loves the inch thick books with some meat on them.

The writer also left off with some very intriguing ideas of where this story could go. I look forward to the next book.

An interesting story of paranormal romance. This book is geared toward young adults but dont be fooled it is fast paced and there is a twist in the plot you don't see coming. So it is a good read for older people also. The characters were well thought out and the storyline flowed. A thoroughly good read. I look forward to reading more in this series.

I got this book on a whim and I am so glad that I did. Once I started it I didn't want to put it down. I thought that all of the main characters in this book were enjoyable. They all had fun personalities that interacted well with each other. I especially liked Aidan and Sera. I found the story itself to be compelling and fast paced. The book had a good ending that left me excited to read the next in the series.

Reviewed for LibraryThing as an early reviewer.

Story synopsis: Aidan Brook, an Elemental with a tragic background, is enjoying her solitude next to her pond and wondering if/when she will be comfortable back in the human world. Her former best friend arrives and spirits Aidan back to the life she had fled as well as back into danger, fear, and self-knowledge. Together they must solve old serial murders that drove Aidan from the human world and new ones that threaten her sanity.

Review: Rarely do I yelp at the end of a novel, but this one brought out that reaction! This story crackles with dialog and setting that are typical of folks living in the northwest US. This is a well written story for an old hand, but from a novice, it is exceptional. Breaks within the chapters add character to the tale, and the ending leaves the reader literally screaming for the next book.

Technically, the three formats for the book (Kindle, epub and pdf) all work well. I found it harder to read in the pdf than in the other two formats.½

I'm not normally one to take on the paranormal genre - when I say that, I mean I don't like the vampires, werewolves, True Blood, Buffy style of stuff. I wasn't altogether sure whether I would have persisted with this story when I realised it was borderline.
I chose to look at this as 'alternate universe' and settled in for the ride...and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It was sharp, witty, suspenseful and engaging. Each of the characters were well developed: enough to love, hate or ignore them as irrelevant if necessary.
Excellent tale and certainly engaging enough to want to see where this series goes.½

Yep, that’s right.

I’m going for the full 5 stars for this one. There was not one single thing in this book that I didn’t like, or had me rolling my eyes, or calling “Bullshit, Mr Han, man!”. (special cookies if you get the reference there….)

I loved the characters – Aidan, the lead heroine, had spunk, snark and was broken at the same time. Her best friend Sera…oh how I wish I was Sera. I like to think I AM Sera, but that’s just me MarySue-ing myself, I think. *grin* Sera is a Fire Elemental, and that sums her up. Fiery, sarcastic, get up and go, ready to just DO IT. She takes no guff from anyone, and I just adored her.

You know that feeling you get in your gut, the butterfly one, the excitement, when you suddenly realize that by crikey, you are REALLY going to love this book? Where it hits you about page 5 or so? I get that oh so rarely – I had it with Ben Aaronovitch’s “Rivers of London” series, and have it with pretty much all of Stacia Kane’s “Downside Ghosts” books.

I got it with Mia Marshall’s “Broken Elements”. Big time. See, I knew absolutely nothing about this book or the author. In fact, I’m not even sure why I chose it – the blurb really didn’t tell me much. But I took a chance for some odd reason, and oh am I glad I did.
When you read as many books as I do, and as fast as I do, you end up with some stinkers. And when you get a few stinkers in a row, it’s enough to make you cry. I live for reading. My nose is constantly in a book, and I’m always on the lookout for the next Book I Shall Cherish and Love. It’s rare. So many books I’ll sort-of like, I’ll think that “meh, it was ok, I’ll try another one of the author’s cos it was kinda good, although I wouldn’t say I love it”; so many books are just so-so.

And then comes along a gem like “Broken Elements”. There’s not a damn thing I would change about this book. I wouldn’t change the ending, I wouldn’t change any of the characters, I wouldn’t change the mystery at the heart of it.

How bloody rare is that? How often do you stumble across a book that you enjoyed every single word of it? Not once did the pace flag, not once did I feel it dragging, not once did I think “why the heck would the character do THAT?”, not once did I want to put it down and wander away.

The writing is snappy and bloody good. The characters – ALL of them – are well fleshed out and real. The world building is brilliant. Aidan tells us the story of the origin of the Elementals, but not in an info-dump way. And yes, I was giggling when Simon added the origin of the Shapeshifters to it – which Aidan was unaware of. :D (Simon is my new Book Crush, btw)

I hate to say this, cos I know how overused the phrase is, and I know it smacks of uberhype – but seriously, I did NOT want to put this book down. There were a couple of days where I was a bit bleary-eyed at work cos I was sitting up reading.

I don’t often get so giddy and excited about a book, but I truly can’t help myself. I thoroughly enjoyed this so damn much – and y’know, there IS one thing I didn’t like…..the fact that the second book isn’t out yet!!!

I wonder if Ms Marshall would consider a bribe of Tim Tams to publish the next one RIGHT NOW??

*grin*