Elemental, Volume 2

By: Rain Oxford

Narrated by: Todd Menesses

Devon Sanders, a private investigator known for his efficiency and discretion, is determined to unearth the secrets of the paranormal university, Quintessence. As the truth of his own past is revealed, he learns that some secrets are better left in the dark.

Furious Flames (Elemental, Book 3)

When a strange sickness spreads through the school, the evidence points to someone Devon never expected. As the university and its students are threatened, it may be time for Quintessence to redesign the rules of the paranormal community. To save the students, Devon must race against time to stop an enemy that is as elusive...as a shadow.

Insidious Winds (Elemental, Book 4)

When allies turn foe and trust becomes a commodity, Devon will have to use his instincts, detective skills, and friends to save not only the students of Quintessence, but the entire paranormal community. Amidst it all, he discovers that sacrificing what is most precious to him is a lot more than he bargained for. This time, the elementals are not on his side and Devon will learn that all magic comes at a price.

Magic is elemental.

©2015 Rain Oxford (P)2016 Rain Oxford

Started slow

If book 3 was stand alone (first half of volume 2) I would have been disappointed. It started slow. book 4 (second half of volume 2) was the best book to date and is well worth reading through the first half.

A great series

Devon, Darwin and Henry are still the go to people to save the school. Devon spends his time solving a mystery years in the making, to take down the school. Maybe it is because his family is steeped in the history or being a private detective it is his job by default, but everyone expects him and his crew to solve the mystery.

This series is rich in background information for our main characters. We learn their secrets and fears. That more than anything pulled me into the story. Why is Darwin a throwback? What is the deal with Henry and his family?

The story is rich with magic happening and species conflicts. Since many characters stay as ghost someone needs to know how to communicate with them. It makes sense our trio skill set increases to handle those pesky characters

Speciesism is an under-lining theme and drives much of the conflict. Even with Devon being older than most students while young that the teachers, it is up to him to keep the war at bay.

Great Listen

I spent about 2 weeks listening to the series. It was fun, well written with characters that are very enjoyable.

Take Two

If you could sum up Elemental, Volume 2 in three words, what would they be?

Interesting, Steady, Fun.

What did you like best about this story?

You actually never say, that can't happen. It all is just real. I think. :)

What does Todd Menesses bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He makes it like a movie in your ears.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, not many books do that for me.

Any additional comments?

Just like last time, go ahead and enjoy.

Books 3 & 4--The story is growing---must buy

Well we are getting books 3 & 4 for a credit--its a bargain.

After a sickness spreads, (surprise here), and then those, who Devon has learned to care for, are under threat. Devon stands up to show his determination and strength to save them all. And the coaster ride keeps you listening, up to the last moment where Devon finds saving the day doesn't always have the end result you might expect.

Book 5--where is it?

I like this story---the adventure is one that lets the time fly. Well written, and Todd Menesses did a great job narrating--he really gets into the characters and brings them alive with is accents, voice changes and timing. excellent job

A college age Harry Potter wizard school

What made the experience of listening to Elemental, Volume 2 the most enjoyable?

The imagery is wonderful and so well written that I feel like I'm actually there. It's awesome!

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

It most certainly did. You never know in what way Devon Sanders is going to find himself in trouble, but you know that it is coming and that it is going to be good.

What about Todd Menesses’s performance did you like?

He has the whole gumshoe detective film noir thing down pat. He's just got that perfect detached grovelly type of voice that says Hey Man I'm a super serious wizard here and I have awesome detecting skills...but deep down I really just care about those I consider family. The voice conveys it all.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Wizard school under siege

Any additional comments?

***Listened to as an audiobook***
**Received a free copy in exchange for an honest review**

Volume 2, Book 1: Furious Flames

This is book 3 in the Elemental series by Rain Oxford. It centers around a 31-year-old private investigator, Devon Sanders, who has just recently learned that he's a wizard. Devon is a good guy with strong morals, a strong sense of protectiveness, a foolhardy need to always get to the bottom of any secret he comes across and is fiercely loyal.

Devon's 2 best friends are always at his side. There's Darwin who is a goofy 20-something goofball who loves to joke around and use humor to break down the tension but who simultaneously happens to be an extreme genius that never stops thinking. Darwin is the son of a wolf shifter and a forest fae. He has the ability himself to shift. And then there's Henry - an overly studious, smart, driven young man with a sordid tale, a very odd 3 day a month love cycle (the full moon) and a basic tolerance for other humans.

Together they are a dynamic trio - Devon, Darwin and Henry. They have such a strong sense of connection that they are basically brothers that would literally do anything for each other. Whenever Devon gets the idea in his head to go searching for answers and digging to unravel secrets - he can always count on Darwin and Henry to get into trouble right alongside him.

Devon helps monitor other students - he can get into people's minds and tell them to stop and he also has a very commanding presence and voice that gets shifters to obey him. He's an extremely powerful wizard who still has a great abundance of humanity, thus he is an oddity in the paranormal community.

They aren't quite Harry Potter, Ron & Hermione - but they have that same sense of closeness and that same need for figuring things out & saving the day.

Headmaster Logan Hunt is basically the Dumbledore of this series but he is not as easily loved or trusted - the man just has too many secrets. Logan Hunt does have a great deal of knowledge, does seem to want to do the right things most of the time and is fiercely protective of his students.

Devon's uncle, Vincent, is helping to guide Devon as a wizard. He is helping to give him the knowledge, tools and history necessary for Devon to survive in the twisted paranormal community.

Each semester the wizards learn a new element until they master them all. In book 1 Devon mastered water, book 2 was earth and this book - book 3 is all about fire.

I love how in each book there are elementals. The water book had the kappa which are basically swamp things that love to eat cucumbers. The earth book had little gnomes. And this book had fire salamanders. The books really bring mythological creatures to life in the most delightful way.

There is shadow travel in these books too which uses the Shadow Pass. It is much like Seanan Mcguire's Shadow Realm in the Toby Daye series. It is a means of travel that is nearly instantaneous and negates the need for traveling by plane, car, train, etc. It's pretty cool. Only negative - you have to kill someone to be able to use the Shadow Pass. Devon killed a bad guy so he can use it.

A lot of the mysteries from books 1 and 2 get unveiled in this book. We learn more about Langrell.

It's easy to write about the characters, the secondary characters and the main characteristics. But it's difficult to write about the storyline because I never want to give anything away. I don't want to spoil something.

What I can say is that I give this book 5 stars.

The paranormal detective angle is a lot like some other book series and I'm a lover of this stuff - a huge urban fantasy genre nerd. This series reminds me of The Hollows by Kim Harrison, Toby Daye by Seanan Mcguire, Kate Daniels by Ilona Andrews and The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher.

Normally I am all about the female empowerment driven books - but I absolutely love this series. I think if you found Harry Potter easy to love - that you'll find Devon Sanders equally as easy to go on an adventure with!

Volume 2, Book 2: Insidious Winds

***Listened to as an audiobook***
***Received a free copy in exchange for an honest review***

This book is by far the best one so far in the Devon Sanders series! Like the name sounds - winds/air were a big part of this book. Think a giant tornado that just keeps moving around one small area - a crazy magic tornado. This book has creatures I love & I'm sure you do too - gnomes! Only they aren't the happy friendly little gardeners who like to lounge around on hammocks ... instead they are a bit sassy and high and mighty, but still sound so cute that they're forgiven immediately. Adesra, the undine fairy that is 5" tall usually, is back.

Keegan Langrell is once again a big part of the plot. He's the most powerful wizard ever from Dothra.

Devon finally encounters his challenge (well, a series of challenges) to attain a key.

Ghost, the cat familiar of Devon's "uncle", Vincent, saves the day once again...and, of course, does it in a way that no one can understand until it comes into play.

Logan Hunt is equally Dumbledore and that crazy old frat brother that people still talk about. He's wise and a wiseass. I never get tired of his character.

Astrid and Devon have to face that they may lose each other forever and it hurts them both in nearly irreparable ways.

Both Henry and Darwin get great gifts in this book. I won't ruin the surprise - but they are good!

I'm so excited to read the fifth book. How did I not know about this series before? I mean, really?!?! It's great!!!! Read it!

And yeah I know people may think I'm being all hyper happy about this series because I got it for free to review but that is NOT the case. I am a super hard core urban fantasy lover and this series is awesome!

is this the end?

the narration in this second collection is not so camp as in the first so the listen was a little less fun.The story meandered at times and it ended on a bit of a cliff hanger or more precisely, at the beginning of a path to a new adventure. I liked it

A really good continuation

Todd Menesses is back again with his great range of voices and I love it. The story takes up obly a month or so after the first volume so it is really easy to stay engaged if you are coming immediately from the first volume or the second book.