2,5 stars ( )

Outstanding book. A multifaceted world full of unexplored magic and traditions. Young people seeking their way in the world. A believable heroine that I identified with.

I hope the author writes all the books in the series. I want to know more about the magic and about the characters. ( )

We follow Shalia, a girl born in the desert who marries the king of the Trifectate to achieve peace. Calix, her husband, is intent on wiping out anyone that is an Elementa - someone with the power to manipulate earth, water, air or fire. Shalia's friend Kata is an Elementa and she thinks she might be too but how can she survive two worlds at war with each other?

At first, this book kind of bored me. I didn't think it was all that exciting but it got pretty interesting about a third of the way through and pretty intense in the last quarter of the book. I enjoyed the magical elements and the way the style was written - it was visual without being too overly metaphorical. I also liked that we have a strong female heroine who has some crappy circumstances but won't allow herself to become a victim - she would rather overcome and make a positive impact. This isn't something I've seen a lot yet and she doesn't spend her time whining like many of the other YA fantasy I've read recently.

Overall, not bad. Wish we had a half star rating option because I'd give it a 3.5. Will continue on with the next one when it comes out next year! ( )

Literary Merit: Okay
Characterization: Inconsistent
Recommend: To older fantasy loving readers
Level: High School
Just because a heroine demands her own independence and space in the world, doesn't make her strong. it makes her what all female characters should be. Unfortunately this one was so controlled by all of the men around her that the revolutionary acts were getting to make her own choices about who she sees and what she does. The book focuses on the arranged marriage in a way that can disconnect readers who won't understand the single minded focus of our heroine on pleasing her husband and having children. The fantasy elemental magic was interesting and different but didn't make up for the old fashioned views the heroine doesn't work hard enough to rise above and prove outdated. ( )

An arranged marriage to save her family's lives is not the stage for a successful relationship. But that is the position Shalia finds herself in when Reign the Earth opens. While her new husband is not hideous, he's also not what she had hoped for in her heart. Immersed in culture shock, she faces another hurdle when her own magical abilities begin to emerge. Knowing she must hide those powers from her new husband for her own safety, she finds herself in the middle of a rebellion, stuck between the marriage she agreed to and her true feelings. A further complication is the fact that her new husband's brother is too available and easy for her to talk to. As her feelings for her brother-in-law grow, her husband's irrational hatred of her people also grows. It soon becomes obvious that Shalia can't hide her powers (or her feelings) any longer.

I really enjoyed this book by A.C. Gaughen. Fast paced and filled with adventure and danger, it was an easy read and a nice opening book to a new series. I'll be looking for the next book when it is released. ( )