Whirl by Emma Raveling

Title: Whirl
Series: The Ondine Quartet
Author: Emma Raveling
Independently Published
September 15, 2011

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Synopsis:

 Seventeen-year-old Kendra Irisavie is an ondine, a water elemental caught in the middle of an ancient war with the Aquidae, immortal dark demons who will stop at nothing to destroy the fragile balance of the Elemental world.

Fierce and independent, Kendra has always played by her own rules. Gifted with the powerful magic of Virtue and trained to be a deadly fighter, she has spent her life breaking hearts and getting into trouble.

When her life explodes one violent night in a northern California city, a dark stranger appears, promising answers to her mysterious past. Alone and with no one to trust, she must now navigate through a dangerous new world, face the temptations of a forbidden romance, and remain true to her duty and destiny.

All while the Aquidae continue to hunt her down, in the hopes of eliminating her forever…

An edgy YA urban fantasy/paranormal romance, Whirl is recommended for older teens and mature readers due to strong language and mild sexual situations.

Every book I have read about elementals has been phenominal; Whirl is no exception. While this wasn't a unique story line, I loved the fierceness in the characters. Kendra is independent and broken. Her mother raised her in the mortal world and taught her to fight for her life; sadly, Ondines are not meant to fight. They are meant to wield magic and sometimes that just isn't enough. Kendra's mom dies tragically, leaving Kendra alone in the mortal world...until...

Tristan, powerful and skilled, arrives in the nick of time, escorting Kendra back to a home her mother had removed her from long ago. Kendra is from a royal line of Ondines and holds the power to change the world...just not as soon as she would like. Her mom kept numerous secrets from Kendra, leaving her angry and weary of those around her. Returning home is no easy task. Kendra knows little of the magic she possesses and will be forced to learn how to use it...and the quicker the better; however, all Kendra really wants is to be allowed to fight the Aquidae, the demon equivalent.

I sincerely enjoyed Whirl, written in first person, you get up close and personal with Kendra's feelings. Feelings of hate, frustration, and love. The book is filled with angst, deception, and intensity. For those of you who enjoy some romance, never fear, there is plenty of that too. A fast paced read that keeps the pages turning. The characters are complex and lovable, giving you every reason to become invested in their well-being. Kendra is quick-witted and snarky, making her just my kind of heroin. The world building of Lumiere Academy and it's surroundings pulls you into another world. The only thing stopping me from giving it 5 Stars is it's lack of uniqueness in storyline.

Whirl is definitely worth a read (or two). Emma Raveling wrote a wonderful and intriguing debut. I cannot wait to see what the rest of this series holds for us.

*I was provided a free e-copy of  Whirl by Emma Raveling in return for my honest review.