In the Elemental world, there is a rule: Never matewith humans. But for Brooke, a Water Elemental stationed in New Orleans,following the rules can be tricky. She’s spent countless millennia protectingthe innocent from the evil fallen angels, who reap human souls and force themto do their bidding.Keeping her supernatural powers hidden–another rule–hasbegun to take its toll. When she meets Alex, … hidden–another rule–has
begun to take its toll. When she meets Alex, an intuitive police officer with
the NOPD, all bets are off. Not only does she fall in love with him, but she
conceives a half-breed child, Ella.
Universe, ruler of the Elemental World, is furious. For her
indiscretion, Brooke is forbidden to share a life with Alex, the love of her
life. Even worse, she cannot reveal her true identity to her own daughter.
When Brooke learns that the fallen angels plan to snare Ella’s
soul by Halloween, she is hurled into a war between good and evil. Brooke broke
the rules once by allowing love to interfere with her mission. Now she and Alex
must put consequences aside to break the rules again–if they wish to save their
daughter’s soul.
~~~
Water’s Blood is a paranormal fantasy romance set in New
Orleans, and is part of an elemental series. Other books in the Elemental Clan
Series by Elaine Calloway include:
-
Raging
Fire – book two - Earthbound
– book three -
Windstorm
– book four
more
A forbidden relationship between an Elemental and a human leads to a child being born a half breed whose soul a Fallen Angel requires for more power. Excellently written, Water’s Blood is a roller coaster ride full of emotions and twists and turns the reader doesn’t see coming. Impossible to put down until the final page.
The story is told from multiple, or variable, third-person point of view, as the perspective shifts among the characters with each chapter. It’s done well, and wasn’t as disruptive, for me, as when that’s done in first-person. I also appreciate that the chapters were short, and thus easy to read between doing too many things in my very busy week.
In many cultures and religions, iron is something that keeps evil at bay; in this book, the Fallen Angels/ Minare draw strength from black iron. It amused me that “sinners smell like rum and honey.”
The character I had trouble connecting with and understanding was Alex. He’s mentioned as a great father and cop time and again. But, when he knows his daughter is missing, he stops for a couple of beers and a nap, as figuring out what to do can wait until morning. The book even states that Ella feels like her dad had forgotten about her. Ella stayed with her best friend, but Alex didn’t stop there to pick her up (or even check if she was there), just went to the bar where Brooke works. Alex does later think he can handle a search for his own kid. And he tells her he never stopped scavenging the streets trying to find her.
I’m curious why “heaven” and sometimes “hell,” as locations, weren’t capitalized as proper nouns?
There was also a possible inconsistency where Cristos is punched in the face, then goes hoarse from being punched… in the gut? If the punch landed wrong, I missed it.
I was surprised how many song lyrics were used in the book. It’s an especially gray area of copyright law in which few authors dare to venture.
Brad Pitt in New Orleans! I felt the setting was well-developed and expertly woven throughout the story.
Good use of the title in the story, which is something I always appreciate.
A part that made me laugh:
It took him a moment to remember his pseudonym. How did authors do it so well? Half the time he couldn’t remember what name to answer to.
It’s nice to see Mercury as the messenger. I wonder if in the next book, where a preview indicated a certain Elemental becomes an EMT, if anyone will remark on the caduceus frequently being used as a symbol of medicine instead of the Rod of Asclepius?
Story plot is different but was lacking. I could not get into the characters and details were missing. Some was repetitive and world building seemed to only focus on some streets and restaurants of New Orleans. The powerful Elementals were not really that powerful and the main villain was not that plausible. I would have purchased the entire series if this would have been better. The covers are gorgeous! Ok read. Hope the author does a redo since the plot has possibilities.
Walking the New Orleans streets, the Elementals search for the Minare, the Fallen Angels, but Brooke, a Water Elemental has an even more important mission of her own, to save her human family, and everything about the book made me want to read it, though, I did have some trouble with Ella, until I let my mind go and the fantasy take me where it will.
See more at http://www.fundinmental.com