Shiirleyy's Bookshelf has migrated to Dear Shirley ! I will continue to post book reviews but there will also be a lot of personal and travel-related posts :)

Review: Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer

4 Jun 2013


Spirit (Elemental #3)
by Brigid Kemmerer 
Publisher: Allen & Unwin 
Release Date: May 22nd 2013
Format: Paperback, 294 pages

Hunter Garrity just wants to be left alone. He has 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, spoiling for a fight. The Merrick brothers, who think he ratted them out. Calla, the scheming psycho who wants to use him as bait. 

 Then there's Kate Sullivan, 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 - which means he'll have to find someone he can trust. 

 POWER. ENEMIES. EVERYWHERE.

If I remember correctly I was once Hunter Garrity’s biggest anti-fan. He annoyed me in the Storm because he was the other guy in the love triangle who was competing for Becca; and he annoyed me in Spark because well…if memory serves, he was untrustworthy. So basically, I didn’t like Hunter, and I definitely didn’t care for his story.  Though I never once considered not reading Spirit, I was a little apprehensive when I started reading it and for the first few pages I treaded with caution. HOWEVER, (and a hugeeeee however here), I shouldn’t have worried because several pages in, I started LOVING Hunter. (And possibly hating all the other characters in the book…but I’ll go into that later!)

After reading Spark and Spirit, I have one question that I can never get my head around – What is it with these guys always hiding what they’re actually feeling? I mean guys aren’t as expressive as girls (I think??) but seriously, why do they always have to hide the fact that they’re actually concerned for those around them and actually give a crap about the people they love. Why purposely pretend they’re the bad guys and have everyone misunderstand them? It’s exactly because of this that I didn’t like both Gabriel and Hunter. Luckily though, through Hunter’s perspective we got to see a different side of him. I don’t care how untrustworthy he seems to everyone else, I’LL ALWAYS SUPPORT YOU HUNTER<3

I felt so sorry for Hunter throughout the whole book. I can never understand how a mum can treat her child the way Hunter’s mother treated him. I don’t care what her reasons were, her actions were unforgivable. AND HUNTER’S GRANDFATHER NEEDS TO GET BEATEN UP ONE DAY SO HE KNOWS WHAT IT FEELS LIKE. I hated how everyone just automatically assumed the worst of Hunter just because of his piercings and overall appearance. I’ll admit that had I been one of the students from his school, I probably would’ve believed the rumours too, but reading everything from his POV just made me want to scream at the entire school to shut the hell up and stop judging Hunter. At one point, I even started having negative feelings towards Chris and Gabriel since they wouldn’t leave poor Hunter alone, and as for Becca…well…I’ve never really liked her much. As for Kate, the love interest, I definitely didn’t like her. She drove me up the wall with her blatant displays of slutty actions. Yes, that’s exactly how I’d describe her behaviour. I didn’t care for her much and I’m glad I didn’t have to endure her for long.

Spirit is distinctly different from the previous too books. It’s much bolder, more intense and there’s a lot more action. What Storm lacked, Spirit compensated. A little warning though, there’s violence and shooting and there’s no holding back when it comes accomplishing one’s goals. Spirit is an impressive addition to the Elemental series, and I can’t wait for the next book <3 

A massive thank you to Kensington and Allen & Unwin for providing a copy of Spirit for review!

This post is also part of the Spirit Blog Tour hosted by The Midnight Garden. 


For the full schedule, click HERE



7 comments:

  1. I agree with you.... i too didn't like Hunter before but with Spirit it was like his inner feelings where simply barred before us...... definitely much more intense..

    do check my review of the book too if you get the chance here
    Aparajita @Le' Grande Codex

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  2. Shirley you're back!!!! Yay and you've come back with an awesome review too. I too was really wary when I went into this book, I didn't like Hunter at all and thought he didn't deserve anymore chances, but I loved how Kemmerer flipped everything around for us and I wanted to be there for Hunter throughout. I'm so glad that you decided to give this book a try too! :)

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  3. I'm definitely someone who's a little unsure about Hunter Shirley! It's so nice to know you were as well going in but you ending up absolutely loving him. I can't wait for that to happen. Brigid writes such amazing characters, I know I shouldn't have doubted:) I need to get my hands on this one immediately!!!!!!

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  4. Hello you... I haven't seen you around in ages... Its so good to have you back! I have to say I haven't read this series yet. But I have heard brilliant things. I do actually have this book though from Netgalley, so I do need to get around to this series! Brilliant review, Shirley! Come visit me! I missed you on Twitter as well! :)

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  5. I'm glad you overcame your issues with Hunter, Shirley. I didn't find it that easy to do in this one. I'm still on the fence with him and really don't know how anyone could trust him after his behavior in Spirit. I actually kind of liked Kate, because she progressed and changed her opinions when new information came to light. Also, she let her conscience guide her in the right way especially in regards to her mother. I love this series but this was my least favorite installment. Great review, Shirley. :)

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  6. Eeep! Shirley, I agree with almost everything you said in this review! I was quite apprehensive too when I started this since I wasn't a big fan of Hunter too but seriously, it took me by surprise by how much I actually liked and supported Hunter's character in this story. I'm so glad you enjoyed this too. Fantastic review, Shirley. :)a

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  7. SHIRLEY! It's so great to see you blogging again. I really missed you! <3

    So thrilled you enjoyed this book too. I do agree that it's a lot bolder than the previous instalments, especially with what happened near the end, but I love what Brigid did with Hunter's character. Really amazing review. :)

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