VBT Review: A Fall of Water, by Elizabeth Hunter

Author: Elizabeth Hunter

Title: A Fall of Water

Series: Elemental Mysteries (#4)

ASIN: B0088A0XQK

Publisher: E. Hunter (June 5^th 2012)

Disclaimer: Copy received for review purposes

Buy your copy: Kindle | Paperback

My rating:  5 of 5 stars

““No secret stays hidden forever.”

Still grieving from their loss in the far East, Giovanni Vecchio and Beatrice De Novo discover that for them, all roads really do lead to Rome. But nothing is quite as it seems in the Eternal City. Joined by Carwyn and Tenzin, unexpected clashes greet them almost immediately, and rivalries churn beneath the glittering facade of the old Roman court. They quickly realize that allies might be enemies, and ancient rivals could hold the key to a deadly secret.

Giovanni and Beatrice will be forced to call on old alliances, ancient power, and fierce cunning to survive for the eternity they both desire. Sometimes, finding the end means going back to the beginning. Fire, Earth, Wind, and Water finally meet with devastating results in the conclusion of the Elemental Mysteries” GoodReads’ blurb

I want to complain because Gio and B’s story is over. I know it’s not original, because everyone who knows anything about them feels exactly the same way after reading A Fall of Water... but I’m still going to say that I’m sorry to say goodbye to this cast. 

As usual, I’m going to try to write this review without giving away anything... and as usual, this task is particularly difficult with Elemental Mysteries. That’s testament to how solid the story is: each thread is so tightly woven into the tapestry that pulling just one would unravel the whole thing, and spoil a thing of beauty in the process. 

By this point, you know that Elemental Mysteries is one of my favorite series and that Elizabeth Hunter has burrowed her own niche in my favorite author department. If you’ve read my reviews from her previous books (check out the review archive, up there in the menu) you know that I believe her greatest strength lies in character creation and development. Well, that still holds true. Gio and B seem to have everything sorted out by the end of book three, but they still change, adapt, and work to build their own eternity. Tenzin brings every bit of development she achieved in the previous novel, and she still fits perfectly with the other characters, those who were not around, because that’s who she is and, even though we didn’t know about her layers before, Carwin surely did. Carwin is so lovely and consistent that it’s hard to imagine he only had nominal appearances in the previous title, and while I’m still loyal to my own favorite secondary (yeah, that’s you, Baojia) there were definitely huggable moments. 

Up to this point, this is what you’d expect from a novel by Ms. Hunter. But A Fall of Water turned out to be so much more. 

For example, you know that particular villain we’ve all spent the last three books hating from the bottom of our hearts? By the end of this one, you’ll... well, you’ll probably still hate him, but you’ll also understand him, and perhaps even wonder, “what if things had been different?” 

Another example: The complexity of vampire life in Rome, the past rearing up its head in Gio’s life. You’d think after reading about the Eight Immortals, this would be piece of cake but it’s entirely different. It’s somehow more real and more twisted and... I can’t discuss that too much because it’s Spoiler Land, but trust me when I say that intrigue moved to a whole new level for me in A Fall of Water. 

And last, but not least: the mystery which is the central point for the series. You know how, sometimes, there’s a lot of hype about a secret that turns out to be too easy to guess, or not important enough in the first place? Not. Happening. Here. It’ll click into place just at the right time, and it’ll make sense, and it’ll be perfect. 

So, after what can I say to wrap up the review? That if you like paranormal in the slightest, even if you think you’re bored of vampires, you need to read this series. That every book builds up on the one before it, and somehow they get better even when you think that’s just not possible. 

And what do I want to say to wrap up the series in my mind? “Noooooo!”

No, seriously now: those spinoffs... I need them. Carwin? Ben? Baojia? You guys coming soon? Pretty please? 

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