THE ELEMENTALISTS

This teen fantasy debut begins the Tipping Point Prophecy, a new series about awakened dragons and the end of humanity’s dominion on Earth.

In Charlottesville, Virginia, 15-year-old Chloe McClellan is a passionate nature lover who enjoys time alone at her favorite pond watching animals and contemplating life. Tenth grade at Charlottesville High proves gloomy since she’s not interested in flashy clothes or chasing boys. Life does get brighter when, during lunch, Chloe meets solemn new student Kirin Liou and proves herself an amazing runner in gym class. While Chloe is swimming at the pond one night, a freak lightning storm arrives, followed by an upheaval from beneath the water. A massive creature rises, and its chilling blue gaze pierces Chloe. After lightning strikes her, she wakes in the hospital, having been dropped off by a mysterious stranger. Unbelievably, the news of her accident boosts her popularity at school, and she’s befriended by Ezra (the handsome superjock) and Stan (the stoner). Driving home from a party, Stan and Chloe are assaulted by another storm and careen off a cliff—until something with wings and claws saves them. As Chloe’s memories of her recent traumas sharpen, she decides to research dragons. Kirin’s father, Dr. Edward Liou, helps by mentioning the Tipping Point Prophecy, which says that “when…the world begins its decline at the hands of human arrogance and neglect, the elemental powers of the earth will rise.” Debut author Sharp masterfully blends fantasy, teen drama, and a strong message of environmentalism into a white-hot narrative. Chloe, as the sarcasm-fueled outsider, wins readers’ hearts in nearly every scene; for the homecoming dance, she tries on a dress that makes her “look like a flower girl from an eighties-themed wedding.” Romance blossoms wonderfully because, once together, Chloe and Kirin “felt more like the individuals they’d always wanted to be.” Sharp also paints his fantasy elements (including the shady Daedalus Group, which researches alternative energy sources) in tantalizing brush strokes that gear up the audience for Volume 2.

Sharp’s high school drama is just as searing as his fantasy action.