Magic can’t be real, right? Tell that to the werewolf glaring at me with his near-black eyes or the handsome vampire in the corner. Did I enjoy growing up rejected by everyone I encountered because of my physical abnormalities? Hell no! The only thing I ever wanted was to be accepted by someone. Not everyone, just anyone. A normal job and one solid meal a day would’ve been nice too. You know that old saying, “Be careful what you wish for?” Yeah, that one really sucks. After a vampire kidnapped me, I suddenly become wanted by all the wrong people. Why would those blood sucking fiends want a deformed, malnourished woman who looked more like a little girl? I only get more questions when an elemental mage steals me from the vampires and thrust me into a role I wasn’t prepared for. I thought I wanted to know the answers, but discovering the truth forced me into a fight for my life. One I wasn’t sure I could win.

I thought discovering magic would be the hardest part of my new life. Add that to the list of things I keep getting wrong. Some wise idiot once said, “With great power comes great responsibility.” But what if I don’t want either one? Finding out I’m a dual elemental mage was hard enough, and I definitely don’t want the responsibility and political power that apparently comes with the territory. How am I supposed to stop a crazy vampire from outing the supernatural community I didn’t know existed until a few weeks ago? I have no idea, but my new partner and elementals seem to think I should have all the answers. Every time we come up with a plan to keep the peace in the supernatural world, something else just gets in the way. This time it’s an ogre and elder vampire whose motives are beyond my comprehension. I just hope I figure it out before the lunatic announces our magical presence to the world. Humanity will react the only way they know how: with violence. Magic and nuclear weapons don’t mix, no matter how hard we stir.

I really thought at some point my life would be my own, that I’d gain a little control over the chaos. I desperately hoped allies would be allies and enemies would be obvious. No such luck. When I’m forced to ally with Braden, the man I hate more than anyone else in the world, I only do so out of desperation. But I couldn’t see a way to win without Braden’s help, especially once my father showed up. Another man who was supposed to love me but decided my death was better. Who’d of thought? As if nothing else could go wrong. And where are my elementals in all of this? Aren’t they supposed to be keeping me from making stupid decisions? Decisions that could affect the outcome of the battle against a crazed vampire. They’re conspiring with an enemy I didn’t know existed. In the midst of a literal whirlwind, I’m forced to choose between the life I want to keep and the one everyone else needs me to embrace. Can I put aside my selfish desires and sacrifice everything to protect the supernatural community? Maybe it won’t matter in the end.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire. I never imagined that stupid saying would apply to me. The fae – my people – agreed to take me in and teach me how to be one of them. Just like the vampires, the fae do nothing for free. Braden got me in the door, but the price to stay gets steeper every day. Typical of my life, there are too many players in the game and none of them want to play nice. As each one shows their hand, I realize my elementals aren’t the only ones good at manipulating my future. The Woodland Fae want me to overthrow their queen. The Mountain Fae want me dead. The Oceanic Fae want my secrets. So where does that leave me? Balancing on the edge of a civil war and once again wondering who my allies really are.

Why can’t my choices ever be simple? It’d be nice to wake up and my only decision be ‘eggs or cereal.’ My life hasn’t been easy since the day magic fell in my lap. Between the mages, shifters, and vampires my entire world was turned upside-down. So, I expected drama when I went to the fae to learn how to control that part of my magic, but I got way more than I bargained for. Yes, I learned the truth about so many things and very little of it was pretty. Now, I’m forced into yet another decision that will affect the fate of world. Should I follow my heart and stay with Braden to help him rebuild and protect his empire? Or should I join the fae civil war? The war to protect their realm from an evil that should only exist in my worst nightmare. Eggs Benedict, please!

What do you find at the end of a dead-end road? I guess that depends where you’re going. All the roads I’ve traveled since I discovered magic have led to one place. Here I stand at the end, staring into a pit so dark it shouldn’t exist. At least I’m not alone. At least I have true allies and loyal friends, which is more than I ever expected. The only question remaining - can we win or will everything I’ve sacrificed have been for nothing? This is not the last book in the Call of the Elements series, but it does finalize the trials AJ endured in the first five books. Don’t miss out on the exciting conclusion to AJ’s first jaunt into the world of magic. Stay tuned for round two.

I finally got my cake, and no one will stop me from eating it! Famous last words? Probably. Honestly though, after all the battles, all the loss, and all the heartache, I finally have what I’ve always wanted. A place to belong. I found my people, my home, and even someone who loves me without a magical bond. Sounds to me like I get to eat the cake. Until the Elemental Council comes up with a devious plan to put Neònach in her place once and for all. All they need is someone to be the bait for their trap. I can’t imagine who that’ll be.