A
Human Element is written by Donna Galenti and is the first book in the
Element Trilogy. The book revolves around 3 main characters, Laura
Armstrong an adopted girl who exhibits amazing healing abilities, Ben
Fieldstone, a boy whose past links to the site of her birth, and X-10 or
Charlie who has a darkness within and has been fueled to anger and an
obsession with Laura that has turned to black hatred as he is forced to
watch her from afar.
A Human Element covers a span of time
periods as we watch the characters grow and develop into whom they are,
shaped by forces around them. Each of these characters knows loss in a
painful way. Donna was not afraid to face painful and REAL issues head
on. There are definitely some areas that graphically deal with
encounters such as rape, addiction/depression and death that seem to
follow each character. If you are overly sensitive to any of these
issues you may find some parts are painful to read.
Galenti did
an amazing job of bringing each character to life, whether ancillary or
main, they will all be as if before your eyes. I also must commend her
on adding in the realism and “humanity” aspect so that no character is
100% perfect or 100% evil.
This book is one of many dark twists
and turns and leaving you with many questions that cause you to pass
through the pages wanting to know more. Galenti is a superb storyteller
and is one that we will see more from in the future. She has the gift
of bringing her story to live, the visualization and attention to detail
in both character and setting make her rise above many other
independent authors that do not devote the time to show a true love for
their story as it is transformed into the written form.
Overall,
I award this book 4/5 stars. This is an amazing story in the stages of
development, although it could definitely be cleaned up a bit (at least
on the Kindle copy that I read). This would help eliminate any break
in flow. Otherwise, the story was really great and definitely worth the
read. This is definitely a story unlike any you have read before. If
you are into sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, suspense, romance, fiction, young
adult, etc you will definitely want to check this one out!
*I received this book for free in exchange for a fair and honest review.
If you are interested in viewing the author spotlight that I wrote on the fabulous Donna Galenti, check it out here: Spotlight on Donna Galenti
Blurb:
A HIDDEN ELEMENT:
Evil lurks within…
When Caleb Madroc is used against his will as part of his father’s plan to breed a secret alien community and infiltrate society with their unique powers, he vows to save his oppressed people and the two children kept from him. Seven years later, Laura and Ben Fieldstone’s son is abducted, and they are forced to trust a madman’s son who puts his life on the line to save them all. The enemy’s desire to own them—ordestroy them—leads to a survival showdown. Laura and Ben must risk
everything to defeat a new nemesis that wants to rule the world with their son, and Caleb may be their only hope—if he survives. But must he sacrifice what he most desires to do so?
Excerpt:
She trembled beneath him. Color rushed back into her. Her bruises faded. She arched her back and gasped.
He held her to him. Her breath infused his neck with warmth.
“I just wanted to set you free,” he whispered.
“Caleb,” she whispered. “How did you save me?”
He pulled her up and put his robe on her. He would pay for losing it later. He had stowed his extra one nearby. “It doesn’t matter. You must go. Head to the road and away from town. You must reach another town andask for help. Before night comes. Tell no one about this. Pretend you have no memory. Find a church. Someone will help you.”
She looked at him with watery eyes. “My children.”
He grasped her arms. “I will watch over them. You need to go. Now.”
She just stared at him. He shook her. “We’ll both die if you don’t.”
She nodded and hung her head. Caleb lifted her hair away from her face. It shone dark gold in the sun flickering through the trees.
She pushed her hands in his robe pockets and then drew out a piece of paper. He watched her unfold it and read it. He knew it by heart, this last poem he could give her like he’d once given her his love.
She read the last two lines aloud. “Wrapped up in my heart with no place to go. Come, unwrap my heart and set me free in you.” She looked up, a solitary tear rolled down her cheek. “You unwrapped my heart too, Caleb Madroc.”
He pulled her close. Pine cones plunked around them. The wind blew a sweet, mournful song through bare branches. Yellow swirled down. The last dying leaves of autumn. In that moment he believed they were together, out for a walk in the woods before heading home to mate by the fire. A normal life. Somewhere else. Not here. He bent down and kissed her. At first, she didn’t move and then she pressed herself into him. He stroked her hair and took her mouth as a token then he let go and
pushed her off him.
“Go. Now. Be free!”
She stared at him with wild eyes and stumbled away, his poem clutched in her hand. Then she turned and ran. His cloak flowed behind her, protecting her. He watched her go. He unraveled his full heart and sent it with her. It did him no good in this place.
He wanted to leave with her, but he had to think of their sons. If he left, his father would kill them. The sun faded behind clouds. He still had work to do. He headed for the tree line to dig a fake grave. He pushed the image of the hand in the bog away. He didn’t want to know why it was there—or who put it there. There was just one person who would, but he couldn’t face that now.
It was time for his punishment for saving Thomas from humiliation.
His father would add to Caleb’s scars.
Those scars Caleb could suffer with.
The scars of Rachel and his sons seared his heart forever.
Buy Links:
Purchase Book 2 in the Element Trilogy, A Hidden Element
Purchase Book 1 in the Element Trilogy, A Human Element
About Donna:
Donna Galanti writes murder and mystery with a dash of steam as well as middle grade adventure fiction. She is the author of books 1 and 2 in the paranormal suspense Element Trilogy, A Human Element and A Hidden Element, the short story collection The Dark Inside, and Joshua and The
Lightning Road (Books 1 and 2, 2015). She’s lived from England as a child, to Hawaii as a U.S. Navy photographer. She now lives in Pennsylvania with her family in an old farmhouse. It has lots of writing nooks, fireplaces, and stink bugs, but she’s still wishing for a castle again—preferably with ghosts.
Connect With The Author:
Website
Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Goodreads
Giveaway:
Giveaway through end of 9/30. U.S. only.
- 1 (#) winner(s) will receive [(1) Grand Thriller Prize: Bundle of 10 e-Books donated from these bestselling thriller authors David Morrell, Allison Brennan, M.J. Rose, Steve Berry, Eric Van Lustbader, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Doug Preston, Alan Jacobson, Allan Leverone, Jenny
Milchman] (approximate retail value or “ARV”: $100)
- 1 (#) winner(s) will receive [(1) Super Get Mind Blown Prize: 2 signed paperbacks by NY Times best selling author Heather Graham, The Following Season 1 on DVD, Book on Conspiracies & Secret Societies, Inception on DVD] (approximate retail value or “ARV”: $100)
- 1 (#) winner(s) will receive [(1) $100 Amazon Gift Card] (approximate retail value or “ARV”: $100)
- 1 (#) winner(s) will receive [(1) Bundle of 5 Thriller e-Books from Imajin Books authors] (approximate retail value or “ARV”: $100)
- 1 (#) winner(s) will receive [(1) Paperback of Donna Galanti's A Human Element, Book 1 in Element Trilogy] (approximate retail value or “ARV”: $100)
- 1 (#) winner(s) will receive [(5) e-Book copies of Donna Galanti's short story collection The Dark Inside] (approximate retail value or “ARV”: $100)
