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Spirit
Spirit
Spirit
Audiobook9 hours

Spirit

Written by Brigid Kemmerer

Narrated by Graham Halstead

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

About this audiobook

With power comes enemies. Lots of them. Hunter Garrity just wants to be left alone. He's learned the hard way that his unusual abilities come at a price. And he can't seem to afford any allies. He's up to his neck in hostiles-his grandfather who's spoiling for a fight, the Merrick brothers who think he ratted them out, and scheming psycho Calla who wants to use him as bait.

Then there's Kate Sullivan. She's the new girl at school. She's not hostile. She's bold. Funny. Hot. But she's got an agenda, too. With supposedly secret powers rippling to the surface everywhere around him, Hunter knows something ugly is about to go down. But finding out what means he'll have to find someone he can trust.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateMay 5, 2015
ISBN9781494581091
Author

Brigid Kemmerer

Brigid Kemmerer is the author of the New York Times bestseller Defy the Night, the New York Times bestselling Cursebreaker series, which includes A Curse So Dark and Lonely, A Heart So Fierce and Broken, and A Vow So Bold and Deadly, and Forging Silver into Stars. She has also written the contemporary young adult romances Call It What You Want, More Than We Can Tell, and Letters to the Lost, as well as paranormal young adult stories, including the Elemental series and Thicker Than Water. A full-time writer, Brigid lives in the Baltimore area with her family. www.brigidkemmerer.com @BrigidKemmerer

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Rating: 4.061111116666667 out of 5 stars
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  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Spirit is headlined by the Merrick brothers’ “frenemy” Hunter, a Fifth who first came to town determined to eliminate the Merricks but has been distracted from his goal due to his friendship with Chris Merrick’s girlfriend Becca. I know not every reader is a fan of Hunter’s character, but I’ve always liked him so I was pretty excited to have him as the leading man this time around. After reading Spirit, I’m a bigger fan than ever, simply because my heart goes out to a character that just may be the biggest wounded bird in the series.Author Brigid Kemmerer does a wonderful job filling in Hunter’s back story and showing what an emotional mess he is. This guy is STRESSED! He has so much going on in his personal life that it isn’t surprising that he blows hot and cold with the Merricks and can’t seem to really let his guard down around them. My heart bled for him with all the challenges he is currently up against. A mother who has fallen apart at the loss of her husband and seems to have no inclination to help Hunter through his loss, a grandfather who is quick to anger, and a sudden attraction to the new girl in school (who has a major secret of her own) all have Hunter struggling just to make it through each day. Hunter’s challenges turned out to be both the biggest positive – and negative – of this story for me.On the positive side, Hunter’s clashes with his grandfather and the lack of support from his mother end up bringing him to the attention of Michael Merrick, who gets a chance to really shine in this story. I absolutely loved the interactions between Michael and Hunter. Michael’s endless patience and support of a (somewhat) hostile and (very) insecure Hunter showed once again that he is basically the best “parent” in this series. When Hunter really needs him Michael is there, providing either an assist or a restraining hand. Hunter’s family issues also allowed some rather important information about his father and their relationship with the Guides to come to light, AND hinted at some big developments to come. Spirit has all the earmarks of being the pivotal book in the series.On the negative side (and it’s not a big negative), Hunter found himself attracted to new girl Kate Sullivan, who turned out to be the first romantic interest in the series I didn’t particularly like. She is a well-written character with plenty of layers, a kick-butt attitude, and a nice chemistry with Hunter. I have no idea why I didn’t bond with her character, but something just didn’t gel for me until very late in the story. However, with all the twists and turns their relationship took (and there were some MAJOR ones), I was quite happy with them as a couple by the end even if Kate wasn’t one of my favorite characters. I was also impressed by Kemmerer’s fearlessness in taking Hunter and Kate’s romance down a non-traditional route that I didn’t anticipate, kicking things into suspense/thriller territory while setting the wheels in motion for the explosive finale.It only took three books (and a couple of novellas) for me to finally – FINALLY – understand the whole Fifths vs. Guides facet of the Elemental mythology that has been eluding me. I have always been confused by the differences between Fifths and Guides, and it looks like Kemmerer heard my cries for help. With Fifths and Guides having a strong presence in this story, I learned that all Guides are Fifths but not all Fifths are Guides, which is probably why I was confused. By the time Spirit ended, though, I had a clear understanding of the Guides and their place in the Elemental world as judges, juries and executioners. Not everyone is pleased with the power the Guides are wielding, and a rebellion is brewing that looks like it will pit Elemental against Elemental for the rest of the series. Plenty of action, revelations, and serpentine twists got my blood pumping and set things up for some major showdowns in future installments. It looks like we are in for a wild ride.Spirit is another kick-butt installment in Brigid Kemmerer’s fantastic Elemental Series. Hunter turned out to be the perfect protagonist/romantic lead as his story was used to clarify the mythology of the Elemental world and set the foundation for what will happen moving forward. Kemmerer continues to impress with her ability to provide relatable characters, unforeseeable and shocking twists, and plenty of tension-filled drama. Major reveals, suspense, action, romance and an emotionally wounded hero all combine to make Spirit an exciting – and pivotal – entry in the series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Hunter Garrity is new in school. He knows the Merrick brothers who hold the elemental powers of earth, fire, air, and water. He is different, holding the fifth power. He also has a lot of internal conflicts adjusting to his new situation. He and Gabriel Merrick are friends, sort of, but there's a love triangle that makes them rivals until Kate comes into his life. There's a lot of action in this book. There are still people after all the elementals which creates danger around them and their loved ones. The Merrick brothers do appear but this is Hunter's story and he is conflicted. I did miss the Merricks but this book fits into the series nicely.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I enjoyed this book by the end, but it made me feel frustrated throughout most of the book. Hunter's knee-jerk reactions to everyone, while somewhat understandable, got to be really, really tiring. The resolution was quite satisfactory but, damn, it was a hard row to hoe.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Ahhh I was hoping for another Merrick boy story! Spirit is Hunter's story. He's not like the Merrick brothers. He's a Fifth. He is supposed to erase the full Elementals, like the Merricks. He hasn't.Hunter is on rocky terms with the Merrick brothers and Becca. Nobody trusts him and they're not even really sure what side he's on. That's when he meets Kate - and the poor guy gets even more confused.As a Fifth, people are drawn to him and he to them. It's in his nature to want to help people. This is why I don't understand why the Fifths (or Guides, they are called as they get older) have to eliminate the Elementals. It seems like a waste of ability and potential. The Elementals control over the elements can be potentially dangerous, yes. I agree. But there's better ways to go about it. Why don't the Guides teach them to control what they can do? Use it for good? You could still get a story out of that - just considering the character profiles of Fifths, it doesn't make sense. To be fair, maybe they've realised it (a little late) and thats the reason for the 'rebellion' (if you could call it that).I feel like there's a lot of stuff that goes down in this novel that could have been avoided if the characters weren't stupid. Hunter's switching sides and constantly not knowing what he was doing was irritating. I also couldn't stand his need to 1. storm off in a huff and 2. not explain why he was storming off in a huff, as if everyone should always know why he was grumpy at the world. It's not all about you, Hunter, and you could make life a lot easier for yourself but you choose not to. I also found the week-long whirlwind romance with Kate strange and a little unbelievable. But this author has guts! I respect that.That being said, I am still (shocking, right?) enjoying the storyline. I like the action and the secret world of the Elementals. Looking forward to book four, not sure if it will be Nick or Michael (Nick, please!)Also, Author? PLEASE stop telling me how good looking everyone in these books is! I honestly couldn't care less, tell me something real.  
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Before I get started on this review, I was supposed to review this book last year. For some reason, I read the book but never posted a review. So, here it is.Plot: Once again, this author has amazed me. I love this plot and the way it move. So much action yet filled with just the right touch of emotion. I think this story has so much more than what I thought. It really captured me and held me in the book.Hunter: Just his story in general is really intriguing yet heartbreaking. I loved learning more from his point of view as well as the other brothers. I think this guy has proven himself time and again. I’m hoping that maybe one day he will had his happy ending.Ending: This book does not end on a happy note. It ends sad yet the story is fulfilled. I can only hope that the author will release another story for Hunter or at least, give him something to make him happy. I didn’t see it ending that way. That is the reason why I held so strongly to the book.I really love this series and I think all should read it. It’s has a great plot and characters to interest any reader. Spirit is a fabulous addition.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    NOTE: I received this eARC thru Netgalley. Thanks so much!

    Goodness, I cried on this one. Real tears and all. It was sooooooooooo good!!! I can't believe what happened, honestly! And this is by far the most emotional of the books in this series. I give it to the fact that Hunter, the lead male here, controls the element of the spirit. With him everything is ever about emotion.

    There's so much anger, pain, devotion, hurt, passion and love in this novel, you have to read it for yourself to experience it all. I'm getting goosebumps right now, as I'm thinking about all the action and romance and just... everything really!

    I did laugh in some places where the irony and sarcasm were too heavy to ignore. And I cried too but I'm not telling why, when or where. I'm just going to say that you will cry too. I mean, it's impossible not to, given all the drama.

    Let me tell you, Hunter is not my favorite character in this series. Bad boy Gabriel is. But Hunter is right behind him up on the scale. It's probably because Hunter is so innocent at heart. He's being lied to by the people he considers friends and is told the truth by those he considers his enemies. I'm glad he figured out who is who in the end, because by one point I was ready to march up to him and slap him in the face. I mean, yeah it's complicated sometimes, but honestly - it isn't all that difficult to see the truth once you decide to look hard for it.

    So with the Merricks on one side (who seem to be friendly, but are still his enemies) and the Guides & his father's secrets on the other, it's no wonder Hunter ends up making wrong decisions over and over again.

    Even though Chris and Gabriel suffered a lot in books one and two, Hunter tops them both in this one. I'm not sure he'd be quite right in the heart and mind in the next book though and that scares me a little, because he sort of grew on me.

    Of course I should say a little something about Kate as well. She was so livid and unpredictable all the time, I could hardly keep up on the same page as her! I didn't know what was truth and what was lie with her anymore than Hunter did. And I'm very sure she was the right girl for him. It wouldn't have worked with Becca. Kate was (or appeared to be) dangerous and definitely not someone to trust. In the beginning I wanted Hunter to avoid her. But the more he fell for her, the more she fell for him and that made her true colors be revealed. In the end, she wasn't all that bad after all.

    I don't know which one would be the major character in the next installment of this series but I do wish it would come out sooner rather than later! I simply cannot wait!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I wasn't as much a fan of this one. I never particularly liked Hunter, so I never quite engaged here. Will still continue the series though - I like the Merrick books.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I think Spirit is a testament to what a great author Kemmerer is because she made me feel empathy for a character who previously I did not like very much. And before you start posting hate comments, please just hear me out. I didn’t like Hunter because I didn’t trust Hunter. (The following lines contain minor spoilers for Storm and Spark, so if you haven’t read them, then don’t read this). In the first book, Hunter is dishonest about who he is and why he’s really hanging around Becca and the Merricks. In book two, just when Gabriel needs a friend the most, it is actually revealed that Hunter has only been hanging with Gabriel because Bill the Guide told H to watch G. Well, way to break poor Gabriel’s heart and make me want to reach through the pages and slap Hunter in the face.Then Spirit comes along, and we find out just how awful Hunter’s home life is, how much he’s hurting inside, and just how torn he is over the decisions he faces. And what do you know, suddenly a tiny spark of empathy for Hunter turns into wanting to hug the poor guy and tell him everything is going to be okay. And to top it off, Spirit will make you fall in love with Michael Merrick if you haven’t already (and if you haven’t, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU????) I have loved Michael since the pancake scene in Storm, but the way he reaches out to Hunter in this book melted me into a gooey puddle of adoration. I can’t wait for his book. Seriously, how long until Michael’s book comes out? Can we get a countdown clock on this?
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I adore this series. It's so addicting. I'm still not a big Hunter fan. I'm just not. I prefer the Merrick's and am excited for Nick's book next year. Although I would prefer it was released already. Like now.

    I do feel the story is a bit slow. I want to know more about elementals and how everything developed. I also want the Merrick boys to come into their powers more. For pure elementals they do not seem to demonstrate the power that they supposedly have. I know three are underage and therefore not completely come into their powers yet but what about Michael?

    I liked Kate. She was an interesting character and I liked having an outsider's perspective since the other girls featured did not have that. Although did she say she was 21? And then had sex with Hunter? Who is 16? That creeped me out a bit. I was suprised that she was killed off though. It broke the pattern of the other books and I am curious to see how this will affect Hunter in the future. I'm still not convinced Emily is dead either...
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I’m not gonna lie, I was disappointed when I saw that Spirit would center around Hunter. He’s already been highlighted more than any other character in this series, and he’s frankly just not very much fun. He’s actually kind of a bummer: such a wounded bird, and so infinitely capable of screwing everything up while trying to do the right thing. The first third of Spirit is just a bunch of depressing, unfair shit falling on his shoulders and him whining about it (which he has every right to do because his life is the absolute worst, but Jesus). And then the novel hits its stride, and you realize that there is no way Kemmerer could have told this story with any other character. Because it goes to some pretty dark places, and I think it all impacted me harder than it might have had I not started out feeling ambivalent about the guy at the center of everything.

    Spirit is Hunter’s third separate outing as a love interest in this series, and it finally feels like he’s evenly matched. He and Kate, the mysterious new girl, are absolutely adorable together. Their flirtatious text messages are amazing. And please, please, please read Nick’s novella, Breathless, before delving into Spirit. Not having read it won’t ruin anything for you, but there is some really great humor built in if you know what’s going on with Nick when Kate flirts with him. It’s a lot of fun.

    The Elemental series is, on the surface, just a bunch of stories about cute, realistically-written teenage boys with super powers falling in love. And, frankly, I would devour each novel as it came out if that were all there was to it. But there’s also some really lovely stuff here about this new generation having the capacity to rise up and shake off the prejudices of those before it. What Kemmerer does better than so many other writers is… well, do you remember in X-Men: The Last Stand, when Ice Man and Pyro go home to see their parents, and their mother asks, “Have you ever tried not being a mutant?” And then you didn’t want to watch the movie anymore because with that one line, the filmmakers had stretched the basic metaphor at the core of the property to a point where it no longer literally applied to the circumstances of the film? Me, too. It felt like the writers and director were so concerned with showing how clever they were that they didn’t mind ignoring the poignancy a less on-the-nose version of the classic coming out scene could’ve had. It’s important within narrative works to tell the story as it wants to be told, even if that means straying from the strict confines of the real-life situations you’re emulating and alluding to.

    Kemmerer, by contrast, seems to have no ego tied up in her stories. Everything feels like it comes from a place of love. She writes about family dynamics and the complications between teenagers and their parents in such a beautiful, honest way. The sweet, unconditional love of these unconventional families is so refreshing, and the sacrifices they make for each other are just heartbreaking. By the end of the novel, it is clear that the Guides are getting serious and closing in on the Merricks, and it's equally clear that the family can’t run away. So they’re stuck, sitting ducks, waiting for a trap to spring that will finally overwhelm their considerable talents.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Provided with an ARC copy from Kensington Books via Netgalley in return for an honest review.

    The first day you meet, you are friends. The next, you are brothers.

    Spirit begins two weeks after Gabriel's story, where the reader learns of a growing rebellion among the Elementals against the guides. This is Hunter's story, a sixteen year old boy who has last so much in his short life. Hunter is the prime example of the importance of one's defining moment - that one event can alter one's life completely.

    Hunter's father and uncle were Guides, and their lives were lost in a car accident. Hunter had often felt that his father was the only one who could truly understand him, and the loss changes him completely. No longer is he the exuberant young boy desperate to learn and train towards his craft, the the ultimate power of the elements that had defined him for so long.

    Fast forward a few years, and Hunter has sufficiently forced himself into the lives of the Merrick brothers. While his initial plan to was venge the death of his father, he soon finds himself unsure and confused as to what right and wrong really are. The Merricks show him kindness when nobody else has. They are opposite of what he had expected for years. The confusion is deepened with the arrival of Kate and Silver, and it is only a matter of time before Hunter must choose the type of Fifth that he wants to be, and whether the greater good is something that is worth any life - even the one that he came to value without even knowing it.

    I found Kemmerer's literary choices to be quite bold considering the previous two novels in this series. Hunter's story is one of identity, redemption, and sacrifice. His loneliness captured me in the first few chapters of the book and my heart stayed with him until the very end. While I was not wholly impressed by the development of the romance - I felt it was more physically based than emotional - my heart shattered for Hunter and Kate and I had a lot of respect for the two by the end. The relationship between Hunter and the Merricks is what made the book for me, I felt the concern and loyalty that the family had towards Hunter, even if he didn't recognize it himself. I saw Hunter develop wonderfully as a protagonist, and that was what I was truly looking for while reading this.

    Spirit is the story of Hunter Garrity, and Kemmerer tells his story very well. While sharing Hunter's story, she also sets up well for the following book in the Elemental series, and I for one cannot wait to see how the story goes on.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I don't know how she did it. I have hated, strongly, passionately, with fervor, hated Hunter since this series began. I knew there would be no way I would like him or ever feel the slightest bit of empathy for him. I could not have been more wrong. While he isn't my favorite in the Elemental series, I like him. I understand him. I damn near cried for him. I felt really bad for him. And I am hoping that Gabriel Merrick finally stops hitting him because I might just have to stand in his way and tell him to grow up.If you haven't heard of Brigid Kemmerer or her Elemental Series then I'm pretty sure you've been living under a rock or in a convent. These novels are oozing with steamy scenes between the Merrick brothers and their love interests be it a girl or another guy. And then there is Hunter, the outsider. He isn't exactly an elemental, he is all the elements. And he's becoming someone I like. I really never thought I'd write that. I think I might owe Brigid some money or something. We might have made a bet.So let's break it down like I usually do-Characters-Hunter Garrity-. Well, I've never trusted him. Even in this novel, he shows that even he doesn't know how much he can be trusted, but I finally understand why that is and how he learned those lessons. I get his powers more now as well. I understand his living situation. I get what happened with his dad and uncle. I just get Hunter. The whole book is in his head and a running diatribe of how he thinks and he is terribly flawed in his thinking. But what boy in this series hasn't been? Hunter though, he has been screwed up from his father, his uncle, his mom, grandfather, girls, the Merricks, everyone he knows, he thinks. Hunter walks a shaky line not knowing who to trust, what's right, what's wrong. His head tells him the Merrick brothers are an abomination and should be killed, that's what his dad and uncle would do, that's what he was raised to believe. But yet, time and again, he can't kill them. Not only them, but people that really deserve it. Hunter feels abandoned, confused, lonely, devastated, conflicted, torn and betrayed. He's a wreck. He's got this big wall he puts up between himself and others and it is hard to break. It's still there, but it's ready to come down. It was down for a bit. I'm wondering if he'll get his own book again???Michael Merrick-This is big brother. He has a much bigger part in this novel and I am so happy to see it. I LOVE this guy. He took over raising his brothers right after his parents died at 18, gave up his dreams and has been dealing with their crap (can you imagine trying to raise Gabriel?) for a long time. He wasn't prepared to do it, but he's learned a lot about how to talk to his brothers and he's good with Hunter who needs someone to listen to him. He's not condescending. He's not fatherly. He's just quiet. Then says something totally out of the blue that Hunter needs to hear and it helps so much. Just when Hunter thinks "I'll crack if you're nice to me" Michael just sits there and doesn't say a word. Just sits there quietly. Michael is outstanding when it comes to reading Hunter. I just want to hug him and tell him what a great job he's done. He's come a long way from the first novel when he was always verbally sparring with Gabriel. He seems wiser, more at peace.Kate- Wow, she was like a hurricane coming into Hunter's life. Full of energy and life and ideas and feelings. She really changed things for him. And I think he changed things for her. I didn't like her at first because she was faking things with him and Hunter was already so beaten down. I mean, I was already feeling so sorry for him, I didn't want him to get hurt any more than he already was. But when the true Kate came out, when she admitted to how she saw things, how she viewed the Merricks, I really liked her. I wasn't sure how she'd fit in with everyone, but that didn't matter.The world- Well no need to explain that, same town, same school. Two new guides have been sent to kill the elementals who have been causing the fires.The Story- Well, there's a lot going on in this one. Since this is all told from Hunter's point of view (for the most part) we don't know what the Merricks are up to so we don't know what they are thinking or their plans. Two new Guides have been sent to town to find the elementals and eliminate them. Kate is one, who's job it is to infiltrate the school and find the Merricks as everyone as usual is blaming them for the fires. Hunter was in the library during that fire in the last book and knows it was Calla that started the fire and she confessed to causing the rock slide that killed his father and uncle. He had a gun, but couldn't pull the trigger.Now Calla is pretending that he assaulted her so he has to stay away from her and she's made it clear she can make his life hell. She wants him to call more Guides to town so they can fight them and she's not afraid to kill more people and start more fires to do it.Here's what I thought- I was stunned, I still am, that Hunter seemed so vulnerable when I got inside his head. No wonder I didn't like him, he doesn't even like himself when it came down to it. He doesn't even know who he is. But he's got a constant battle going on inside of himself fighting what he knows is right against what he was taught to believe. He deeply wants to belong, but he's afraid of putting himself out there based on past experiences. Brigid Kemmerer addressed feelings and emotions that teenage boys experience, but rarely talk about for fear of being laughed at. You see that when Hunter tries not to talk to Michael. He keeps this thing inside, this horrific thing that happened to him to himself because he's afraid he'll look weak for needing to talk about it, or worse that he'll cry. But sometimes things just have to be said. And in some instances, tears have to be shed. With Hunter, tears needed to be shed. He'd held too much in for too long.Though the ending brings easier times for Hunter, it's bittersweet. Get ready, it's an emotional story. And yeah, you're probably gonna like Hunter at the end. I would never have thought it could happen, but yeah, I do.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Having not read the previous novels in this series I was happy that Brigid Kemmerer catches the reader up on the plot. The way she does this is quite special as she weaves the previous plot in with the new so that the reader is not just reading a synopsis. The book is definitely an interesting sci-fi YA novel and is certainly unique in terms of subject matter. I became emotionally invested in the characters and shed many tears throughout the novel. Hunter is the sort of guy that everyone can relate to at some point as he goes through every emotion, particularly uncertainty. I look forward to reading the other books in the series and recommend this to those loving the modern works of young adult fiction.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    A solid 3, maybe 3 1/2, but there are teenagers in it. Hunter has been thrown a huge change in his life with the death of his father and uncle. But how much of what he has been told by anybody can he believe? It seems everyone has their own version of the truth and reasons for keeping secrets.........
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Let me begin by saying that I am a high school English teacher and I read a lot of young adult fiction. I picked up Spirit ready for the flat characters, overdramatic love, and needless action that I see in most books that teens read. However, this book is very different. It is definitely a page-turner (in fact I was late for a bridal shower because I lost track of time while reading it!). The plot is a great mix of realistic teen drama and science fiction elements. The teen issues such as abuse, bullying, and generally being misunderstood are prevalent throughout the novel and are a realistic look at what many teens experience in their lives and so the characters, especially Hunter, are very relatable. The sci-fi element of this book is that all people are connected to the elements of the Earth but some are more connected than others. Those who are pure and can control and manipulate a single element (earth, air, water, or fire) are called elementals and they can be destructive. Those who align with the fifth element of Spirit are trained as guides to fight against the destructive elementals. This concept is extremely unique and creates a fascinating world in which people can harness the natural elements for good or for evil. The action of the sci-fi plot mixed with the realism of the characters keeps me wanting to find out what happens next.This book is also part of a series which I have not read. Spirit can stand alone as it's own book because of the author's detailed explanations that keep the reader informed of what has occurred before however, it seems that it would be better to read the Elemental Series in order. After reading Spirit I plan to read the others to understand the background of the characters and situations that are presented at the beginning of the book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The wait for Hunter's book has bee agonising! I've been eager to get inside his head and figure him out. Hunter has always come across as violent and untrustworthy, but Spirit reveals that he's just a sweetheart who's very confused about what he wants, and who he can trust.I love how Spirit revolves around the idea of trust, from the inherent trust we have in our family members, to the trust of outsiders and others who have judged us harshly in the past. Hunter has  lot of trouble with the concept: he won't let anyone in, and the few time he has let his guard down, it hasn't worked out well. The surprise in this novel, for me, was the exploration of Hunter's family life. I guess I got used to the support network that the Merrick's have, and it was jarring for me to read about Hunter's family and their mistrust and disappointment in him. I love the direction Kemmerer took the relationship between Hunter and his mother, and am looking forward to seeing that developed more in the future.I also liked Kate, although I could have done without the idea that she slept around a lot - it seemed unnecessary to her character. But I think the author made her point well - that a girl can be labelled something she isn't, and it's hard for her to prove herself to be otherwise, especially in a high school setting. I liked the conflict Kate went through, but it did seem like a repetition of what Becca had been through in Storm. After reading Breathless, I was a lot more sympathetic towards Quinn, so it was really weird for me to read Kate's thoughts about the bitchy blonde cheerleader. I think it made me like Kate a lot less that she judged Quinn so quickly.Their (inevitable) romance is scorching hot, perhaps even more so than Gabriel and Layne! It was confusing at first - Kate and Hunter are supposedly extremely wary of one another and don't know if they can trust each other, but they're furiously making out every chance they get. But their motivations and feelings are explored and I think it ended up making sense. Kemmerer made some tough decisions in this book, but I loved it all, and I think she should be commended for making those choices.When I finished the book, I felt like the plot of the overall series hasn't progressed a lot, but then I remember that Spirit is set only weeks after Storm, which brings a lot of things into perspective. With the extension of the series from three books to five, we can expect things to keep developing slowly, which is great because the series has always been more character-centric than action or plot driven. Personally, I prefer the series like this, all the characters that Kemmerer writes about are amazing.So, Spirit is not to be missed by fans of the Elementals series, and those who haven't forayed into this series offering five hot guys and their elemental powers are strongly encouraged to seek it out. Spirit will not disappoint, except that it will make you desperate for the next book, Secret, told from Nick Merrick's point of view.A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review.You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I was at a bit of a disadvantage reading this book because I had not read the others in the series. However I soon was wrapped up in Hunter Garrity's story and loved the way this female writer can deal with guys. YA has a new star.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    It was great getting to be in Hunter's head and figure out where he was coming from as well as getting to meet a new character. Spirit is just as packed with action as the others, and has the emotional hook. There were several scenes where I felt so bad for Hunter. Bad things just happened to him over and over, and I can see where his confusion and not knowing who to trust comes from. I did get tired of the back and forth do I or don't I, but I did completely understand where his head and heart were. There are some smoking hot scenes in this one too, and I enjoyed them even though they were cloaked in, for the most part, head games. I mostly just loved being back in the Merrick's world and seeing what is going on with them and the trials that they bond together to overcome. I miss being in their heads though. Hunter I know is an extension of that, but still. The secrets that come to light in this one are good, and I suspected a few, but others just threw me for a loop. The pacing was good, and there was always something going on whether the action or some character development or giving a peek into the other characters we'd come to love from the previous novellas and books. The ending left me yearning for more, and I know there is yet more trouble for the Merricks and assorted characters brewing for the fourth book, that I can't wait to get my hands on.Bottom Line: Another great installment in the Elemental series.