The Elements

The Elements #1-4

by John Boyne, Niamh Cusack (Narrator), Anna Friel (Narrator)

From bestselling author John Boyne, a gripping and profound exploration of guilt, blame, trauma, and the human capacity for redemption.

In The Elements, acclaimed Irish novelist John Boyne has created an epic saga that weaves together four interconnected narratives, each representing a different perspective on the enabler, the accomplice, the perpetrator, and the victim.

The narrative follows a mother on the run from her past, a young soccer star facing a trial, a successful surgeon grappling with childhood trauma, and a father on a transformative journey with his son. Each is somehow connected to the next, and as the story unfolds, their lives intersect in unimaginable ways.

Boyne’s most ambitious work yet, The Elements is both an engrossing drama and a moving investigation of why and how we allow crime to occur. With masterful, spellbinding prose, he navigates this complex subject with extraordinary empathy and unflinching honesty. The story resonates on a deeply emotional level, challenging readers to confront their own conceptions of guilt and innocence at every step. Amid the wildly engrossing storytelling, the book ultimately What would you do when faced with the unthinkable?

15 hr. 24 min.

Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Ireland, Thriller, Relationships, Book Club, Irish Literature

16 pages, Audiobook

First published September 9, 2025

About the author

I was born in Dublin, Ireland, and studied English Literature at Trinity College, Dublin, and Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia, Norwich. In 2015, I was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by UEA.

I’ve published 14 novels for adults, 6 novels for younger readers, and a short story collection. The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas was a New York Times no.1 Bestseller and was adapted for a feature film, a play, a ballet and an opera, selling around 11 million copies worldwide.

Among my most popular books are The Heart’s Invisible Furies, A Ladder to the Sky and My Brother’s Name is Jessica.

I’m also a regular book reviewer for The Irish Times.

In 2012, I was awarded the Hennessy Literary ‘Hall of Fame’ Award for my body of work. I’ve also won 4 Irish Book Awards, and many international literary awards, including the Que Leer Award for Novel of the Year in Spain and the Gustav Heinemann Peace Prize in Germany. In 2015, I was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of East Anglia.

My novels are published in 58 languages.

My 14th adult novel, ALL THE BROKEN PLACES, a sequel and companion novel to THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS, will be published in the UK on September 15th 2022, in the US and Canada on November 29th, and in many foreign language editions in late 2022 and 2023.

Reviews

[Canadian Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published as 4 individual stories and is now one and interconnected.

The elements represent different perspectives on crime: the enabler, the accomplice; the perpetrator and the victim.

A woman has run away to hide from the media and the heinous crimes her husband committed. Did she ignore what was going on? Deny it? Water can cleanse one’s soul; but it can also take one’s life.

A boy with a talent but doesn’t like the sport. He runs away and lives a duplicitous life. When one thinks they are doing something for someone they love but know to their core it is wrong. The Earth can be suffocating when lies become the truth. But, it also can also offer the strength to redeem oneself.

Fire is a disturbing story. How patterns of evil are perpetuated. How trauma, when not dealt with, can create the cycle of abuse. Revenge becomes a driving force to ensure righting a wrong against others who may commit the same offences. But it can be a dangerous one and when one plays with fire, they will get burned.

Air. It gives us life. It allow us to breathe and can save us from the suffocation people in our lives have put us through. The trauma caused. It can give us the space to redefine ourselves as who we are, rather than by their actions.

This was an exploration of human behaviour. The extents one will go to - to fit in; to be loved. The costs it has on those who are surrounded by it. Boyne masterly crafts these 4 narratives to which we bear witness. It’s not always comfortable, but sometimes, it’s a chance to heal from the elements that have hurt us the most.
5⭐️

[Angela M · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I had no desire to read these stories because I most times shy away from reading about sexual abuse, especially in children. Even though they were written by an author I have come to admire , I still didn’t think I could read them. But I couldn’t ignore the glowing reviews and the fact that I loved Boyne’s writing. Then I was given the opportunity to have an Advanced Copy of this. So I started reading and really couldn’t stop even though these are among the most disturbing stories I’ve ever read. In spite of the brutal nature of the novellas, they are beautifully written by one of the master storytellers of our time.

The way the reader is made privy to the intimate thoughts and feelings of the characters, the way Boyne connects the stories through character and theme, the way he takes the reader full circle to and from this island off the coast of Ireland is nothing short of stunning. From complicity and actual committing of the heinous acts by the perpetrators to the impact on the victims, their depression, dysfunction trying to move forward from the trauma, at least for those who could - Boyne has done it all. All of this making me glad I read these in spite of the gut punch I experienced.

Since these were published individually before they will be published together in this compilation, I reviewed them individually .

Water : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Earth : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Fire : https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Air: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


I received a copy of this from Macmillan through Edelweiss.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOWZA! This book which is made up of four novellas (Water, Earth, Fire, Air) that are inter connected and have ties to a small island off the coast of Ireland. . This book was gripping, thought provoking, emotion evoking and raw. The Elements deals with some heavy subjects and will not be for everyone. This book deals with trauma, sexual assault, guilt, sexuality, abuse, and relationships. This book is so well thought out it's amazing!

John Boyne's writing is beautiful and exquisite. He is a master storyteller, and his skills are on full display with The Elements He takes readers into the minds of an enabler, an accomplice, the perpetrator, and the victim. Whew! These novellas will stay with me for some time. They are raw, powerful, make an impact and will make readers uncomfortable. This book looks at a mother trying to run away from her past, a soccer player on trial for a heinous crime, a surgeon with a traumatic past who becomes a perpetrator, and a father and son on a healing journey.

This is a book you do not want to read fast. I sat with the stories and felt their impact. Masterfully told, they are beautifully raw and as I mentioned, deal with heavy and triggering subject matter. Boynes takes readers into the minds of the characters, and we get a bird's eye view of the characters inner thoughts/beings.

Beautifully written, gripping, thought provoking, and well thought out. Highly recommend.

Thank you to Henry Holt & Company | Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖

[Doug · Rating 5 out of 5]

UPDATE: This review (obvs.) was written prior to the dust-up over Boyne's inclusion on the Polari Prize longlist for LGBTQ+ works for Earth, the 2nd novella in this tetralogy. I abhor and am DEEPLY saddened/disappointed that Boyne has chosen to side with the despicable JK Rowling on trans issues and even go as far as to self-identify as a TERF (Trans-Exclusionary Radical Feminist - a misnomer on several counts!).

However - THIS book is still an amazing piece of fiction - the controversy DOES give me pause and has tarnished my enthusiasm a fair bit - but I'd still list it as one of the best books I've read this year. It's always very difficult to try to separate the art from the artist (e.g., I can no longer read Philip Roth, knowing him to have been a despicable excuse for a human being) and I can well understand anyone choosing NOT to support Boyne's writing over this issue.

Original review:
My sincere and heartfelt thanks to the author and Henry Holt & Company for providing me with an ARC of this magnificent book through Netgalley, in exchange for this honest and enthusiastic review.

Boyne's latest is a truly astonishing, though at times, difficult read. Four novellas, each with a different narrator, but all weaving together to tell a compelling story of abuse, culpability, complacency and ultimately, redemption. Amongst its many strengths are fully developed characters, accomplished prose, and some really shocking and unexpected twists and surprises.

One thing I particularly admired is that each narrator had their own distinct style of speech and disclosure; so often when you have multiple narration, it all tends to sound exactly the same - so kudos to Boyne for not falling into that trap.

Also, two of the narrators (all of whom, to some extent, are unreliable), are female - male authors rarely even attempt to cross the gender divide in their MCs, and few are able to create such complex women as Vanessa/Willow and Freya.

The books DO need to be read in order, and as I composed individual reviews for each, I will link to them below, if anyone is interested further:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Still, I highly recommend this, and am sure it will be in the top of my reads for 2025!

[Debbie H · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️ I could not put this one down! Told in 4 different stories, the Elements, that each connect with the next, Water, Earth, Fire,and Air. Each narrator, 2 females and two males, some unreliable, some unlikeable, tells a story.
There’s Vanessa/Willow, the enabler, Evan the accomplice, Freya the abuser, and Aaron the victim.

Beautifully written, the stories touch on some difficult subjects of sexual abuse, child rape, suicide, and murder. Each story connects with the next until the last comes full circle with a beautiful ending.

I will be looking to add more books by this author to my TBR list. Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt Co for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Shantha (ShanthasBookEra) · Rating 5 out of 5]

'From bestselling author John Boyne, a gripping and profound exploration of guilt, blame, trauma, and the human capacity for redemption."

In this magnificent literary saga, John Boyne examines heinous crimes in the most brilliant way. The Elements consists of four parts: Water, Earth, Fire, and Air. Each part looks at a crime from a different perspective: the enabler, the accomplice, the perpetrator, and the victim. What is profound is that each person may have played a different role at a different time in their life. The characters in each story are connected and it wraps up in a beautiful and hopeful way. There is an element of suspense threaded throughout each story that is propulsive and captivating.


This is one of the most impactful and thought-provoking books I have ever read. It is easy to condemn criminals for heinous acts towards their fellow man and rightfully so. These stories examine the layers and complexity of those in each of these roles. Juxtaposed with the dark nature of the crimes are joy and the hope of redemption and healing. There is a fine line between guilt and innocence, right and wrong, complacency and complicity. This book is a masterpiece of human nature woven in with the tapestry of elements that surround all of us.

⚠️CW: sexual abuse, child abuse, rape, murder. There is some heavy material that can be difficult to read.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Henry Holt and Company, and John Boyne for an advance reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Summer]

When I requested to listen to and agreed to review The Elements, I was unaware of the recent controversy surrounding the book and its Polari Prize nomination. John Boyne’s The Heart’s Invisible Furies is one of my all time favorite books so it saddens me to learn that the author describes himself as a TERF- trans-exclusionary radical feminist.

I love too many people who are not gender conforming and because of this, it’s impossible for me to read The Elements without feeling angry with the author. There are too many authors in the world who are striving to make this world a more inclusive and peaceful place so I am choosing not to pick up books by authors who spread division and ignorance.

[Louis Muñoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. Another brilliant and deeply moving book from John Boyne, although, for a while, I actually thought I wasn't going to like it as much as I did. It took me quite a while to figure out how ambitious this novel is, how deep and dark and disturbing it really is. No spoilers, but the book is divided into four stories and they're more connected than they appear to be. There are some major themes that Boyne explores here, two of them being guilt, both direct and by association. Again, no spoilers, but the author has us face many important issues in this book, but never didactically; the book engages you from the first and makes you care, even about people who are doing seriously bad things. Seriously recommend this book.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publishers for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

[Ryan Davison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Published by Open Letter Review - https://openlettersreview.com/posts/t...

Richly woven scenes are threaded with dark connective tissue in John Boyne's stunning new collection, The Elements.

In Water, Vanessa Carvin arrives to a tiny Irish island and immediately changes her name to Willow Hale. She’s fleeing a family scandal and burrows into an off-the-grid cabin for isolation and reflection. Vanessa might be a victim or co-conspirator of deeply tragic events, and the reader is invited to judge as she assesses herself. Boyne immediately kidnaps our attention:

My next task is to shave my head. I’ve kept my hair shoulder length and blonde for as long as I can remember but I purchased an electric razor before leaving Dublin and plug the device in to charge for half an hour before easing it around my skull, experiencing a feverish delight in watching clumps tumble into the sink or fall on the floor around my feet. Standing in the cascading tendrils of my femininity, I decide…

Earth introduces Evan Keogh, a young man in possession of enough footie skill to be a generationally masterful soccer player. But Evan’s passion is paint, and he wants nothing more than to succeed as an artist. Largely due to paternal pressure, he’s boarded up his real self with so many lies that he lives in conflicted agony. His story begins after a tailspin, the gripping details we learn as he awaits the verdict of his high-profile sexual assault trial.

Dr. Freya Petrus, the protagonist of Fire, is a skilled skin surgeon who grafts burn victims most in need. Her life should overflow with wealth and happiness but is shrouded in evil acts and darkness. Freya’s tumultuous upbringing forces questions of nature vs nurture with innovative cruelty and sick twists. Might some monsters deserve sympathy?

Finally, Air begins at 30,000 feet and Aaron Umber is at a crossroads. It’s his 40th birthday and instead of sitting on Bondi Beach drinking beer and being teased about his receding hairline, he’s taking his 15-year-old son on a flight halfway around the world to see a woman not expecting them. Aaron hopes to confront life-long traumatic demons and write his own amazing father/son redemption story. As it progresses, we see the possible destruction of every meaningful relationship in his life and hold our breath turning the final pages.

These four slim standalone works (published by Doubleday between 2023 and 2025) forge a comprehensive 500-page narrative brimming with powerful synergy. Characters and plot points from each section are linked through emotionally charged bonds and the author uses the tiny Irish island to connect complex souls in spectacular fashion. Some are salvageable while others wreak havoc attempting to repair themselves. Imagination spills from the page and it is fascinating to witness how each element frames its respective part.

Streamlined prose and perfectly placed flashbacks make the book an immersive literary experience. Perspective never waves from first person, and the author reflects race, creed and gender as if he shouldered each for a lifetime. Rarely is such elegant writing paired with succinct character crafting. Boyne dabs backstory artfully, and scenes feel as if they are all told in present tense. Foreshadowing is hinted at through restrained, mysterious touches. This is a masterpiece that proves it is possible to tackle intensely serious themes and still serve up a thrilling page-turner.

John Boyne became a sensation with his 2006 Holocaust historical drama The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. It reached number one on the New York Times Bestseller list, was made into an award-winning movie and sold a total of seven million copies. Its notoriety is well merited as it is a daunting, moving novel. But, while The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is effective though magic realism and creating a realistic fable, The Elements is a much starker, more literal book. Fans of Boyne’s previous work, and hopefully many new readers, will fully embrace this collection of his work. Read as a whole, as intended, this is easily one of the best books of the year.

Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for a review copy.

[Kasa Cotugno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having been a fan of John Boyne for years, I was beyond thrilled to receive an early edition of his latest. As in his other books, he approaches his subject with depth and humanity and not a little humor, but overall with a seriousness that the subject demands. Four interlocked novellas with four distinct protagonists present a history of sexual abuse with an unconventional slant. Yes, there is the familiar situation of an older man preying on young women, but also the woman who rapes teenage boys as a distorted method of revenge. What Boyne has managed to provide are reasons without doling out sympathy, and the reader is more aware of the long terms effects of these crimes on not just the victims, but also those associated with them. I cannot recommend this book highly enough with the caveat that it is powerful and pulls no punches.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Boyne’s The Elements is an amazing creation, a novel of four interconnected stories, each centered on a person whose life has been ripped apart by someone’s act of abuse, emotional, physical or sexual abuse. Each of these people, two women, two men, have led very different lives but the course of each life has been influenced by such an act. In Boyne’s signature prose, we learn of each person’s history, present life and attempts to resolve their inner struggles.

Sections of this book were difficult to read, in part because they felt so real. These people become real as you read their thoughts and words. Boyne relates each person’s story to one of the four elements, a technique that works well. While I hesitate to write too many details about the individual stories, not wanting to say too much, each story grows out of the story before it, developing the life of a minor character in the prior tale. It works so well.

This may well be the best book I will read this year. I do highly recommend it while acknowledging that some might be emotionally triggered by this subject matter. All who read The Elements will read a tour de force of both prose and story. I am glad that I have.

Thank you to Henry Holt and Company and NetGalley for an early copy of this book.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so cleverly written. It is essentially four separate short stories but they interact with each other in a small way. it is a compelling read to find the dangling item from the prior chapter. The stories were very interesting to me. Completely based on psychology and mental health issues. There are some challenges due to the setting being in Ireland, England, and Australia, however, we can extrapolate and form a thoroughly satisfying story. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

[Lizzy Brannan · Rating 4 out of 5]

John Boyne does not shy away from the most difficult of topics in this full-circle compilation of four stories: Water, Earth, Fire, and Air.

Each of these books deals with the topic of child sexual abuse from four perspectives: the enabler (Water), the accomplice (Earth), the predator (Fire), and the victim (Air). Separately, each of the element books contains a minor character tied to the other three books. Together, they function in one universe to create four stories in one.

There is no doubt about it - John Boyne is a poignant writer. He is also extremely bold. I almost walked away from this while reading Fire. While I viscerally despise writing that focuses on childhood sexual experiences (which is why I cannot give this a five), I am willing to feel slightly uncomfortable knowing that Boyne is writing from his own childhood trauma. I don't generally gravitate to John Boyne's books because much of his writing focuses on the awakening of sexuality in children, but I will admit that the framing of this work is genius. It is a mayday reminder that hardly any choice we make is ever truly private. Our public and private choices ripple out to others, sometimes for generations.

The voice actors in this audio read are stellar. Anna Friel, Colin Morgan, Dane Whyte O'Hara, and Niamh Cusack captured these characters PERFECTLY. I was completely caught up, moved, and emotionally invested in each story because of these narrators' attention to characterization and storytelling that draws in the listener.

Thank you NetGalley, John Boyne, and Macmillan Audio for this audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0. Wow! A truly amazing and extraordinary novel! John Boyne is one of my favorite novelists and he has not disappointed in his latest, The Elements, four novellas titled Water, Earth, Fire and Air. Although four separate stories, Boyne masterfully weaved all elements together and makes it one work of art. His writing is simply breathtaking. His characters were extremely well defined, and attention to detail and settings were so realistic. As in many of his novels, he takes on controversial topics, in this one, sexual assault, and its profound and tragic impacts on all, victims, family members, loved ones, and society, among other things. In parts it was so painful to read as he truly captured the essence of the human condition, but the writing kept me going, so much that I could not put it down. What he did in this novel is just unbelievable by tying together so many truly disparate parts, and in a way you didn’t even know he was doing it. I always rate an author on their endings and frankly many authors do not have successful endings in my opinion, whether too contrived, predictable, nonsensical, etc, but this ending was very well executed. I cannot wait for his next one. Boyne is an incredible writer and many, many thanks to Netgalley for providing me an advance copy in exchange for an unbiased and candid review.

[NILTON TEIXEIRA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific audiobook!

I listened to it while simultaneously reading the hard cover copy of each book: Water, Earth, Fire and Air.

I have posted my review for each book, separately.

All 5 stars.

A superb writer!

The audiobook includes all four books and is narrated by Anna Friel, Colin Morgan, Dane Whyte O’Hara, Niamh Cusack: 17.8 hours (unabridged)

[Douglas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Elements is a timely and important book. I don’t normally gravitate towards the didactic, but John Boyne is a masterful storyteller and one of the great writers of our time.

Elements is made up of four novellas - Water, Earth, Fire, and Air. Each novella focuses on a character facing a moral reckoning. The stories explore themes of guilt, shame, denial, and complicity, often involving people who have been judged or cast out by society. While I didn’t enjoy the subject matter, especially the parts dealing with abuse, I did appreciate Boyne’s psychological depth and his ability to give humanity to people most would rather turn away from.

I think I liked Water the most, which was the opening novella. If I’m going to read something centered on moral failure, I usually prefer a redemption story, and Water offers that in a quiet way. It follows a woman exiled by the actions of her ex-husband. She finds redemption in the simple life and innocent acceptance of others in her exiled community. She’s eventually held to account for her complicity, but even in that, there is some redemption. It’s a moving look at grief, motherhood, and forgiveness.

Boyne doesn’t give easy answers or clean resolutions. Instead, the reader is sort of forced to sit with discomfort and see the complexity behind the character’s choices.

This reminded me a bit of Russell Banks’ Lost Memory of Skin, which also tries to create empathy for ostracized people. I do think Banks did a better job of exploring the complexities of these kind of characters - guilty and unlikable, but both books push you to reconsider who deserves compassion.

This isn’t a fun read, but it’s thought-provoking, especially if you’re drawn to stories that challenge assumptions and focus on the psychological turmoil of humanity.

Boyne’s writing and observations are on par with the other Irish greats like Colum McCann and Colm Toibin.

Thanks to Holt and Goodreads for review copy.

[Gail Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a John Boyne fan for years! Absolutely loved this one! Wonderful characters, thoughtfully intertwined. Don't miss this one!!

[Bonny · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Boyne delivers yet another emotionally astute and quietly devastating novel in The Elements. Known for his ability to delve into the moral complexities of human behavior, the book is composed of four deeply introspective novellas, "Water," "Earth," "Fire," and "Air," with each providing haunting, confronting, and moving investigations into sexual abuse and its consequences from different viewpoints. Each of the novellas is from a different perspective - the enabler, accomplice, a perpetrator, and a victim. The lives of the characters intersect across stories in intriguing ways. By linking the novellas and characters, the author shows us how the cycle of abuse can cause people to shift from one role to another.

Boyne’s prose is as elegant and restrained as ever. He doesn’t overwrite emotions—he trusts the reader to feel what’s not being said, which is exactly what makes this novel so moving. The book is steeped in melancholy because of Boyne's unflinchingly honest writing, but there are also flickers of hope and grace that make the stories feel like redemption may be a possibility.

What I appreciated most is Boyne’s refusal to offer neat resolutions. Many of the relationships in The Elements, between parents and children, between teammates, and even between physicians and those who should trust them, are fractured in ways that feel painfully real. There’s an authenticity in the way Boyne portrays long-term consequences of personal failings and the difficulty along with the hardship of forgiveness.

If you’re already a Boyne fan, The Elements will feel like a natural continuation of his thematic explorations. If you’re new to his work, it’s a beautifully self-contained introduction to his sharp insight into flawed humanity. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy introspective fiction, literary family dramas, and stories about reconciliations that don’t come easy. It was hard to read because of the subject matter, but because it was written by John Boyne, it was even harder to put down.

Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley. This book will be published on September 9, 2025.

[Liz Hein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be a near perfect book if Boyne could have added just a bit of nuance to the female characters rather than making them (particularly Freya) the most despicable I’ve ever read. Boys/men dealing with SA is real, and I know Boyne could have highlighted that without turning this into…this.

(Just reread the 4 as one book after previously reading/rating them as standalones as they released in the UK).

[Beth]

I know the writing is beautiful but I can’t bear it…..it’s awful and I can’t handle the scope of the sexual abuse to children. I don’t want to read about the people complicit in it, the perpetrator’s account or the impact on the victims and their families. I feel very upset. Also very early on in the first novella the white female narrator says something about a black man that was so offensive to me I had to quit.

[Mary Lins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d already read (and reviewed) the first three elements in John Boyne’s new novel “The Elements” when they were published separately over the past few years. But I was excited to finally read “Air”, the last element, and having enjoyed the first three I didn’t mind re-reading them to get to “Air”.

In each section there are acts of true evil, there are characters experiencing deep trauma, there is withering guilt, and there are attempts at atonement.

Each “element” is fast-paced and compelling, but also harrowing and horrible.

The four novellas are loosely connected. Each story has a first-person narrator, who knows the protagonist of the next story, some well and some slightly. This structure serves to remind us of our shared human condition and the choices one makes that have consequences on others, large and small.

Boyne PERFECTLY and beautifully completes these stories with a full circle ending that is thoroughly satisfying and unforgettable.

[Audrey Martel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravo !

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

There probably can’t be enough trigger warnings. This artfully crafted but, at times, brutal novel explores sexual abuse/assault and trauma from many angles.

The first the interwoven stories was my favorite - an engrossing, a vivid depiction of the direct and indirect impact of an abuser on his family, and an enabling spouse coming to terms with where she might have turned a blind eye. The other three stories were also gripping, full stories of characters with complex histories, showing how the world can’t be so easily parsed into distinct categories of perpetrators and victims. The were more difficult to get through with some of the brutality depicted.

I usually don’t like short stories but I have to admit they were long and immersive enough to stand on their own as complete stories that will stay with me.

None of us can be held responsible for the things that lurk in the darkest parts of our minds. But in our lives? Yes, we can. So whether something happened to [him] when he was a child or not, I genuinely do not fucking care. If it did, he could have chosen to break the cycle. If it didn’t, he could have chosen not to start one. But he did do what he did. He made that decision. So fuck him. Let him rot. I’ll open a bottle of champagne when he dies.”

Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Maggie McDermott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible book.

[Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! How have I not read any of John Boyne’s novels before now? I am an instant convert.

The Elements, Water, Earth, Fire, and Air, is a book of four intertwined novellas. The novellas follow characters that are equally worthy of pity and hatred. There is Vanessa, the mother who moves to an isolated island to outrun the media after her husband is convicted of a terrible crime; Evan who is accused of taking part in an assault, while being blackmailed with with some salacious past choices; Freya, a burn surgeon who holds a terrible secret; and Aaron trying to balance being a good father with coming to terms with past trauma.

I loved the way the author weaves the stories together. It was brilliant how he made the stories interrelated, though not in the ways you expect. Each of the stories COULD be read separately, but the ways he ties them to the previous stories gives it great background. There were times I audibly gasped as I was reading because of the ties back to the other sections of the book.

These are not lovable characters. They all have pasts that in some sense cause them to make terrible choices or alter their lives because of one decision. In many ways, this book is about the characters trying to justify the choices and to recover from the consequences of those choices. It was brilliantly done.

As a warning, this book deals with some really heavy subjects - pedophilia, incest, sexual assault, prostitution, child abuse. But while the characters are grappling with these issues, the book is also about parental love, friendship, coming of age, forgiveness, and ultimately coming to terms with the past.

I loved this book so much. It’s already on my list for favorite 2025 reads. 5⭐️s from me!

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Publishing for an advanced copy of the book. It is scheduled to be published on September 9, 2025.

[Colleen Olinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is like four novels in one-four different stories that are interwoven. While normally I'm not a fan of shorter stories, this doesn't read that way. The character development is incredible, & you get bits & pieces of the characters from previous stories. I'd probably give this 4 stars just for having a hard time getting through a few of the stories because the characters were so unlikeable-but John Boyne is simply a genius, so this has got to be 5 stars.

[Estibaliz · Rating 4 out of 5]

First things first, thank you to Goodreads and Henry Holt for providing me with an Advance Reader's Edition of 'The Elements', by John Boyne, which publication is expected to happen on 9 September 2025; so roughly in one and a half months.

I do strongly recommend this to basically anyone, but mind you, given the main topic on all four of these stories (sexual abuse) this book is not really for the faint of heart.

Boyne proves himself, once more, as the wonderful narrator that he is, with an unexpectedly beautiful prose, and a collection of broken characters that won't leave anyone indifferent.

Not to mention the way these stories interconnect is really genius at times, often surprising, each offering a different perspective on the big topic, in what really are multiple crimes. The enabler, the accomplice, the perpetrator, and the victim, all of them are quite fairly represented here; what sometimes can be slightly annoying or even infuriating, since one doesn't necessarily want to empathize with all of them, but Boyne surely does a great job when it comes to offering a great amount of food for thought and debate.

There is a point in this book where they are talking about a novel someone wrote in the final story, and I thought that was actually the author describing pretty accurately 'The Elements' itself: "But they've all been hurt themselves in the past so, somehow, we forgive them. In the end, the reader just wants everyone to survive and be happy. And of course there's the unreliable narrator, which is what everyone talks about." Talking about moral ambiguity...

All in all, an extremely solid book, that doesn't get the five full stars from me (final rating is 4.5) just because I felt slightly disappointed with the direction the last story took, which made it my least favorite over all. That being the case, probably, because the third one was, in turn, my favorite, and because after what felt like a constant crescendo with every new narrative/element being more engrossing than the previous one, 'Air' just didn't completely hit the mark for me...

But that's really a very small but after all, so... look for this when is out if you enjoy profound stories, ambiguous characters, and some unexpected twists.

[Dana K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for gifted access to this audiobook. All opinions below are my own.

The Elements is a compilation of four stories that center on sexual abuse and its impact. The four characters are connected in unexpected ways. You start each story building a rapport with each character and as the story progresses their life has been touched by tragedy in unexpected ways and their responses are all very different. It is one of those books that leaves you debating how you feel about the character or what you might do in their shoes. I feel like my answer was never in line with what the character did and yet I could empathize with a lot of their choices. Except Freya, OMG. This is a great read for a book club, if you can deal with the subject matter. I have not read Boyne before, although I have a few of his books on my shelves waiting for me. But now I am sure I will read him again. I think I will be thinking about this story and these characters for a long time.

[Salty Swift · Rating 4 out of 5]

Made up of four separate (but highly interconnected stories - published previously as stand alone books), The Elements is a tour de force that focuses on multiple themes. There's a heavy child abuse element that's intertwined with death and suicide. There's revenge that lives next door to more sexual abuse and finally a story of a challenging father-son-mother relationship. Intense and disturbing stories that pull the readers in and keep you fascinated until the very end.

[Onceinabluemoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like to read books cold, going in blind I thought with water, earth, fire and air it would be some kind of nature book... OMG, it is nature alright, the very worst human nature one can imagine. It was horrifying, I absorb books when reading, it was so disturbing I just couldn't breath at times. EXCELLENT writing, to be honest I couldn't put it down. Not for the squeamish, which is actually me, 5 riveting stars.