Somewhat torn on this one. On the one hand I started yesterday during a hair appointment, and quite enjoyed the beginning, then I read the rest in an afternoon. The way the magic was explored with the three main characters was really good, refreshing and original to see aspects from different religions playing into magic use. Very well written and engaging.

The plot was reasonably fast paced, and for a YA novel focused on magic, no real romantic subplot, which was slightly surprising. My main issue with the novel was I didn't particularly like the main character Shayna. She came across to be as being obnoxious and something of a know it all. And too powerful. And even though she and her two friends were supposed to be in the magic thing together she did a lot on her own without bothering to get their input and that annoyed me. And she was rather rude to the new guy she was trying to pretend she didn't have a crush on several times. And she kept referring to her home town as "my city" "my town". Particularly when dark magic rituals were showing up. I can understand being pissed off at dark magic when you're a white witch, but from her tone it was like she and her friends were the only ones who had the right to be doing any magic and having her talk about her town came across as stuck up for a seventeen year old.

Also, over use of the word "dude". Do seventeen year old girls really use that word in every other sentence?

But the plot itself was compelling enough for me to read the bulk of the novel in an afternoon. I would definitely like to read more by this author, but I don't know if I'll be reading the rest of this particular series. ( )

I could use the excuse that I read YA books because my 13 year-old is reading them and I want to know what she is reading. But, in this case, I just told her she had to read this book. I did caution her there is some language that she should not repeat out loud.

What did I love about this book? First, the relationships. The featured relationships between the three main characters (Shayna, Jodi and Steven) are solid. They have their issues, but they stick with each other. At times, I wished there was a little more exploration of the friendship between Shayna and Jodi. I felt the attachment between Steven and Shayna. And it was deep. They loved each other, held each other accountable and protected each other. There were moments when I wished Shayna wasn’t quite so emotional, but hey, they’re teenagers. Who wasn’t emotional at 16 and 17?

Shauna Granger, the fabulous author, further distinguishes her books with the use of elemental magic. I’ve read a few YA books about magic and “Earth” was different. It was fascinating to read about the connections each character had with each element. I loved when Shayna described how the earth felt both pain and healing. I hope to learn more about how Jodi controls air or Steven fire. And who will be water? I’m sure that’s coming in the future books.

And, probably one of my favorite things about this book, the lack of a serious love interest. Although, there was hint of one and it may emerge in the future books, this book really focused on the friendships and the crisis at hand.

Bottom line: a fun YA read that blazes its own trail.
( )

Shayna and her two close friends have a very special bond. They can work with the elements ti do amazing things. Shayna's particular element is earth. While they are learning to master theses forces though, someone rocks their town with dark magic and sacrifices. Shayna and her friends know they have to do something about it. As they learn more information, they realize they may be more closely tied to these events than they thought. On top of that, Shayna keeps having dreams where something is after her. They are so real that she wakes up injured. Someone is trying to tell her something, and Shayna knows she's going to have to take a risk to help other people.

This was a great book! I feel like it was a more "realistic" paranormal fiction than many. The magic was very earthy and natural. Shayna and her two friends were an awesome trio, and they were very smart. This wasn't like a horror movie where the characters are in danger because they are doing things that make no sense. Their actions and reactions were normal. That's almost a breath of fresh air. Another breath of fresh air was getting a little bit of diversity in this book. Having one of Shayna's partners in crime be a secure and confident gay teen was awesome to see. There was a fairly interesting mystery and a tiny hint of romance.

The ending was a tiny bit of a let-down for me as I wanted a little bit more closure. However, I can see why it was done this way. There is clearly room being left for the sequel, and I can't wait to read it. This book is fun, smart, and full of action. This book will appeal to people who like paranormal book and even some who don't normally like them. The more realistic nature of the plot makes everything very believable. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.

Book provided for review. ( )

Honestly, self published books often have a negative connotation. They are seen as not good enough to be published with a publisher.

This book was just as good, if not better than some of the books that have a big name publisher. This book was easy to read and had a great story. I didn't get hung up on any awkward dialect or situations. Congrats Shauna for a fabulous debut novel.

This book is full of adventure and mystery. The main character, Shayna, and her two best friends, Steven and Jodi, are all able to manipulate elements of nature. They are fledgling witches. They do their best to not enter into the darker sides of witchcraft and are dismayed when someone starts to use blood sacrifices in their town.

On top of that, Shayna has nightmares where she is being chased by a beast and wakes up in the morning with claw marks and bruises on her body. Something is not right and the three of them have to figure out what is happening before midnight on Halloween.

There is a little bit of a love interest for Shayna in this book. I hope to see more of the interplay between them in the next book which comes out soon. ( )

Earth is a very fresh read that mixes a young adult romance and imaginative magical twist. While witchcraft has been a common experience in the paranormal genre; this book seems to take on a deeper understanding of their abilities and beliefs. Much of this story is detail and character building which gives the story an overall slower pace than what I have come to expect. Although, I feel that this novel laid a very strong basis for the following books to come. The potential is evident in the last eighty pages when the story began to flow and the characters were actively unraveling the mystery laid before them. This also opened the door for the romance that seemed to be missing in the beginning of this novel. The amateur talent that is so common in a first novel was lacking in Earth; creating a detail ridden story that attempts to bring readers to the characters level of knowledge. I look for the next novel to overcome is slow and steady pace bringing an action packed and thrilling ride. Earth is a very inventive and unique story that readers will appreciate, but it will offer some pace and interest obstacles that will require focus to overcome. ( )