Welcome to My Monday Minis Reviews where I share short reviews of books I’ve read. For today I’ll be sharing my thoughts about the audible book A Human Element, the first book in Donna Galanti’s Element Trilogy. I read the eBook and was excited to listen to it too. I know this is supposed to be a short review but I got carried away.
A Human Element
The Element Trilogy #1
by Donna Galanti
Narrated by Chase Bradley
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Format: Audible
My Review
Ben is hiding from his parents on the shore of Coopersville Lake when it happens.
A meteorite crashes into a group of cabins, one of which contains his parents, and all that remains is a huge crater of steam and fire. In one bright green flash, Ben’s life is forever changed, and for another, it has just begun.
No one could know the long-reaching consequences of that fatal night.
Some months later.
A young girl struggles to bring her child into the world. She came to the doctor in secret.
The doctor doesn’t know why the mysterious man waiting outside wants the baby, he just cares about getting paid.
In a rush, the baby enters the world. Sadly, the young mother does not survive. But wait, there is another baby fighting to be born, a beautiful baby girl.
An exchange is made, but the doctor doesn’t mention the baby girl, he will give her to the Armstrongs to raise.
This is an especially dramatic scene in the audible book. I read it and got a good feel for it in the eBook, but listening to it makes it much more chilling.
Many years later, that baby girl, Laura, is all grown up and back home trying to find out why the people closest to her are being slaughtered. The answers lie here. She has always had the headaches and nightmares and she knows everything is coming together – the monster chasing her in her nightmares, the mysterious man in black who has always been on the periphery of her life, and whatever happened the night of the meteorite crash. It’s all connected.
This part of the story is also very powerful when narrated. I was anxious even though I knew what was going to happen.
Laura and Ben are thrown together as death races towards them. They need answers about that fatal night if they’re to survive what is coming.
Two babies were born that night, Laura and the boy child called X-10. One looked human in every way and the other looked like a monster.
From the first page to the bittersweet end, I was completely immersed in this book. A story of love, humanity, and absolute evil. And now, listening to the audible, I’m even more full of feels for this series.
Donna Galanti’s debut novel has an energy, an essence, that gives it life.
With a superb plot and a thrilling all- out race to the end, A Human Element is excellent.
5 Stars
~~~~~
Narrator Chase Bradley
I enjoyed this audible edition as much as reading the book. Chase Bradley did a great job, his enunciation is strong and he’s keeps the story always moving forward. Donna made a wise choice using him to tell her story and I’ll be keeping an eye out for more books read by him.
~~~~~
Synopsis
Evil comes in many forms…
One by one, Laura Armstrong’s friends and adoptive family members are being murdered, and despite her unique healing powers, she can do nothing to stop it. The savage killer haunts her dreams, tormenting her with the promise that she is next.
Determined to find the killer, she follows her visions to the site of a crashed meteorite in her hometown. There, she meets Ben Fieldstone, who seeks answers about his parents’ death the night the meteorite struck. In a race to stop a madman, they unravel a frightening secret that binds them together.
But the killer’s desire to destroy Laura face-to-face leads to a showdown that puts Laura and Ben’s emotional relationship and Laura’s pure spirit to the test. With the killer closing in, Laura discovers her destiny is linked to his, and she has two choices-redeem him or kill him.
AMAZON
~~~~~
Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!
For a list of my reviews go HERE.
For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE
To see all of my giveaways go HERE
Well, that’s a good sign that you liked it so much you couldn’t keep the review short. Sounds promising!
It’s a great series. And it was fun to listen to it after having also read it.
Thanks so much for having me back on and reviewing the audiobook!! I agree that Chase did an amazing job – I totally got lost in the voices and characters myself (and I knew what was going to happen – LOL).
It was an exceptional experience Donna. I hope you use Chase when you do more audibles. I’d love to listen to them.
That sounds like an interesting one!! 🙂
It’s a really good series.
Sounds like a good read and that cover is awesome. Glad you liked it so much!
I love the cover. It’s perfect for the story.
Thanks so much Barb! I love this cover too and for book 2, A Hidden Element. I can’t wait to see what book 3 looks like!
Loved this book and forgot to get the audible for review. I’ll have to go through my emails. I have not read and reviewed an audible before and someone suggested listening to a book I had already read. This would be perfect seeing I love it so much.
sherry @ fundinmental
It sure adds to the whole experience, Sherry.
Sherry, thanks for your interest! I absolutely can gift you a copy – you are such a big supporter! I had never listened to an audio book either and really found myself sucked in. I just finished writing book 3, the final book in the trilogy – A Healing Element. It should be out this year! 🙂
wow Laura this one gives me the creeps. A young mother [that’s sad] DIES [omg] giving birth and there is a am waiting for the baby outside??? two babies born, one looks like a monster??? WHOHOOOO This sounds like a great read, Especially because it’s audio book. Must be SO FREAKING SCARY!
And all of that was just the beginning!