My universe has been turned upside down. Not only am I no longer human, I’m also the most powerful elemental the world has seen in centuries. And I have no idea how to wield the power coursing through my veins.

Did I mention I also have four fated mates? The charmer, the gentle giant, the psychopath, and the cruel prince who would rather kill me than kiss me. Throw in mean girls, assassins, and kings out for our blood, and I’m having a rough freshman year.

Just as I feel like things might be coming together, a secret is revealed that changes everything. And I’m left wondering if there’s anyone I can trust at all…

I was determined to read this book today. I didn’t want to leave it half-finished with a busy weekend ahead, and I didn’t want to risk forgetting what was happening. The book flowed well; the plot crackled with energy, and the characters evolved as the drama unfolded.

Aura – I think she had a lot of growing up to do in this book in terms of where her power lay and what she was going to do about it. In the genre, she lands in the middle. She’s a lost power without being too vulnerable or icky – I’ve tried so hard to put what I don’t like about certain FMC into words to explain things, and the best I can come up with is either they’re pigeonholed into inescapable vulnerability, incapable of doing anything without their men, and undeservedly become the underdog, OR they’re overly powerful, with no elements of trust, are defensive to a fault and winning their heart becomes some kind of achievement. Those FMC are my ick.

So, Aura ISN’T icky. She is her own person. She is weak; that’s clear. She hasn’t had the training the others have, and she is woefully unaware of the world she now finds herself in. However, she is proactive; she seeks knowledge, and, to her detriment, pushes her body to the breaking point. But she does have a point: it is fine for her men to come charging in, but she needs to be able to stand up for herself; she needs to be able to put these bullies down to prove to everyone who is watching, and she commits herself to doing that despite how much her men argue against it. I can see both sides of these characters, but Aura deserves more credit for being willing to improve herself in the game rather than leave the battling to her men.

Aura also learns a few truths in this book that, honestly, I definitely wouldn’t have coped with so well if they’d been sitting on my shoulders. It shows her strength: how she can adapt to the revelations, sit with her emotions, work through what she’s learned, and keep living her life. It is very inspiring.

Kai has kept his lovable golden-retriever attitude. Honestly, his humour was the balm to this story because so many elements could drag not just Aura down, but the plot itself, and his remarks and actions always added warmth and laughter for those around him. We understand more of Kai’s past now, and it’s refreshing to see him not letting it hold him back. I had expected to see more of a fight in him, so it was interesting to see his transition from panic to adoration to love. It rounded out his character nicely. He can’t just be heralded as a golden retriever character, though, because plenty of muscle and anger run through his veins whenever Aura is hurt. I think his flashes of power while protecting Aura set people on edge, reminding them how powerful he is because they’re so used to him being friendly and joyful.

Phoenix deals with a lot in this book through his brother, Aiden. Aiden is definitely a seedy character and someone I want to learn more about. Phoenix has a lot of rage building up inside him. Only Aura seems able to calm that rage, but beyond that, he needs to take action to feed the rage boiling beneath the surface. Elements of the plot have forced him to go hunting, and from a reader’s perspective, I’m not sure how it will play out for him or how he will be when he returns. He burns brightly for Aura and helps teach her how to fight. He understands what it feels like to be broken, and that has always been a strong bond between Aura and him. We haven’t had much interaction with his father, the king, so I am keen on learning more about that relationship.

Atlas will always be the gentle giant. There is such a high level of empathy swirling around inside of him, and it’s honestly so rewarding to see it come out, especially after being introduced to his disgusting father. Atlas will always be Aura’s safe space, and she tends to seek him out when she is struggling. He’s a powerhouse in his own right, his earth element obliterating enemies as they appear. He is the voice of reason in the group, their leader, and the one who keeps everyone in line. He takes his job seriously; he just wants everyone to be happy and safe and become the family they all want to be. I am curious whether there will be any verbal or physical altercations with his father, King Terra, in the next book because, with such clashing personalities, it could be explosive.

And now we come to Riven. In my previous review, I said Riven wasn’t ready to fall yet. I was right in the first book, and to be fair, it takes him a good half of this book to realise what he wants and what he should stand for. I understand his hesitancy; his father isn’t a nice man and, as it turns out, has probably been hunting aethers to death his entire life. What I wasn’t expecting when Riven finally joined the group was the secrets that were let out. I definitely sided with Aura here, feeling her betrayal and inability to trust him. It may or may not be a steep climb for him to earn Aura’s trust; I think the way the two characters have danced in this book has laid the groundwork for them to move forward. Riven has had more than the world on his shoulders, and the effort he’s put into keeping Aura safe is a little overwhelming, and yes, stalkerish. I don’t expect his father to take his disobedience well, so I imagine the next book will have more twists.

I now understand this story is a three-book series, and I am anxious to see whether everything will be completed and wrapped up neatly by the end. Aura has 4 years left at the academy, so I am unsure how quickly the last book’s plot will move, whether it will survive, or whether mistakes will be made.