Early Review: Storm by Brigid Kemmerer

Review

Brigid Kemmerer’s new paranormal YA Elementals series is like a baby Black Dagger Brotherhood or Lords of the Underworld series.  We’ve got four supernatural brothers with big time alpha blood running in their veins and more than a few chips on their shoulders.  They have volatile personalities connected to their elemental powers which is tempered by fierce loyalty and protective streaks, all of which gives each of them a distinct scary but sexy vibe that I always fall for.  Throw in a smart, resourceful girl who unwittingly gets caught up in a long standing elemental feud you get an almost perfect storm of a book.

The relationship dynamics between the brothers is so believable as a family.  They fight with each other almost violently, but when one of them is hurt they lash out as one against the attacker.  And the writing is very well done, especially the scenes involving all four brothers.  Group scenes are notoriously challenging, but you’d never know it reading STORM.  All four brothers feel distinctive and present in the scenes (and without exception, they are totally crushable). Beyond the brothers, the supporting cast is also very strong, and the worldbuilding comprehensive but simply explained.

I hate having to bring this up since I was having a blast reading STORM until one particularly sensitive subject was brought up: rape. *SLIGHTLY SPOILERISH* Paranormal fiction is no stranger to the topic of rape, but it’s not as common in YA, nor is it usually gang rape.  Becca has a slut reputation at school thanks to an incident involving her ex and the soccer team.  We find out that she got drunk and let him pass her around at a party…she said she let them at first, but there were so many of them that they couldn’t tell when she started to fight back…she vomited just before someone got to home base. She never told anyone or pressed charges. She goes to parties with these guys and even foolishly goes off with one when he says he wants to apologize which turns into an ambush where the entire soccer team tries to gang rape her. They are stopped, but not nearly soon enough in my opinion.  Throughout all this, Becca doesn’t respond at all the way I would expect the victim of this kind of sexual assault would. It’s not just that she keeps quiet(I understand that reaction), but it’s like the whole thing is just a minor issue.  It doesn’t effect her beyond crude sexual taunts at school and having to prove to any guy that she’s interested in that she’s not a whore.  I couldn’t get past how this monumentally huge issue was treated