ALA Booklist (Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Foster can direct the clouds. Tate has perfect night vision. Together, the two can control the weather at least survive a deadly tornado. How they got these powers, they don't know, but they are better and more dangerous when working together. They lost almost everything to the tornado, and they have to rely on each other when a group of strangers, who, like Foster and Tate, have mysterious power over the elements, seem intent on capturing them. The teens just barely make it to a safe house on the outskirts of Oregon, and their story doesn't end there. Safety is fleeting, and escape seems impossible as their elemental powers grow and their pasts and futures wind together. There's a wide cast of characters along for this adventurous sci-fi romance, which can be hard to follow at times. The mother-daughter writing team has a built-in audience from their phenomenally popular House of Night books. While this is less accessible than that vampire series, it's still a must-buy for genre fans.

Kirkus Reviews

Two 18-year-olds discover the elemental power that links them in this latest from the mother-daughter Cast duo (Lost, 2018, etc.).When an aberrant tornado kills Foster's adoptive mother, Cora, and Tate's parents, their worlds violently collide. Before she dies, Cora reveals to Foster how close she is to danger—the tornado, it turns out, was no act of nature, and at the center of it all is Foster's connection to Tate and their emergent power to control the element of air. In ruthless pursuit of the terrified teens are the Core Four, powerful adults who each control one of the elements and who in turn are controlled by Foster's supposedly dead foster father. As Foster and Tate hide in the safe house that Cora left them, they begin to unravel the mystery of their abilities and those of the other six teens—a pair for each element—they must work to save. Genetic manipulation, schemes for power and domination, and the ever familiar struggle of self-discovery and connection come together in a maelstrom of a plot that moves between the bewildered teens and the dangerously desperate quartet that hunts their kind. Several characters of color feature here, but all noticeably orbit around the white protagonists as either helpers or threats. As the narrative is poised to deepen in a clearly planned sequel, hopefully so too is the representation.A not-quite-hard sci-fi thrill for Avatar: The Last Airbender fans. (Science fiction. 14-18)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

For the last year, Foster, 18, and her adoptive mother, Cora, have been on the run. Foster believes that they are hunting down the people whom they believe killed fertility expert Dr. Rick Stewart, Cora-s husband and Foster-s adoptive father. But when Cora brings Foster to Homer, Mo., to meet with high school football star Tate Taylor, Foster realizes that something else is going on. A tornado hits, and after Foster and Tate manage to send it in a different direction, they discover that they have the ability to manipulate the air. The teens travel to a remote island in search of answers, but they-re pursued by others who have element-manipulating powers and want them to help carry out a nefarious plan. The mother-and-daughter authors (the House of Night series) have successfully created a fast-paced series opener, but the inclusion of black-and-white comic book-style graphics does little to further thin characterizations. Ages 14-up. Agent: Meredith Bernstein, Meredith Bernstein Literary Agency. (Feb.)

School Library Journal (Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Gr 10 Up-What would you do if you found out you were genetically altered as an embryo by your adoptive father to control Earth's elements? Foster and Tate were drawn to each other and now must survive to escape the Core Four, more superpowered beings genetically engineered by Foster's adoptive father, Dr. Rick. He is on a mission to control the world's climate and make millions. Foster and Tate fight to find the others like them and keep them safe from the power-hungry and drug-addicted doctor's grasp. Readers of the Casts' previous books will be excited for this new series opener. This sci-fi romance offers a diverse cast and an action-packed plot. It is a great choice for both new adult and young adult readers, as the teen protagonists are 18 and the villainous Core Four are in their 30s. VERDICT An engaging read highly recommended for young adult collections where the authors are popular. Kayla Casiello, Woods Memorial Library, Barre, MA