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"On our most honored of days, one that none have ever called their own, five will be born. Four will be the Masters of the Elements, fierce warriors, and with talents of immeasurable greatness."

Phoebe Johnson and Ethan Smith had everything they needed: loving parents, great friends, and admission letters to Ivy League schools they’d be heading to in the fall. If only they knew that they were never going to reach the end of that summer, at least, not in the world they knew. A secret waits to be revealed on the eve of their nineteenth birthday, a secret that is going to change their lives forever when it leads them to a place they never believed existed, love they could never imagine living without, and power they never suspected they possessed.

Jess Bowen expertly plunges readers into an imaginative, supernatural world that refuses to bow down to the darkness that’s all but taken over. Amidst this adventurous quest for a lost prophecy, Bowen weaves in powerful tales of love that will leave the characters and readers breathless.

Paperback

First published November 23, 2010

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About the author

Jess Jenkins

3 books84 followers
Jess was born in sunny, southern California. How her home base is now West Virginia, she’s still not sure. She spent several years moving along the southern states before landing in West Virgina when she was seven and she’s been there ever since. She started writing when she was fifteen, sure then it was all love letters to her boyfriend at the time, but they were works of art…that are hopefully now all burned in some cleansing ritual.

Since then she spent time off and on going through writing phases and reading books like they were going out of style. After having her first child and being couped up at home with a baby that never slept, she found her writing again and Breaking Point was born. It took several drafts and lots of long nights and re-writing, but she couldn’t be more proud (and bloody, freaking nervous!!) about the finished product and the next four books to come in the Order of the Elements Series. She wouldn’t be here without family and friends who tell her to shut the heck up when she starts whining and she’s thankful for every single one of them.

Jess believes that imagination and escape from reality is essential to life and there’s no better place to find that than in a good book or stretching those writing feathers of your own.

She also believes that Supernatural is the best show on earth and mirrors are evil. But that’s a matter for another time.

Now that I’m done talking about myself in third person, let’s get down to it. I’m scatterbrained, spontaneous, I’m probably certifiably insane, perpetually ridiculous and ninety percent of the time I’m pretty okay with that. When my kids are otherwise occupied or sleeping and I’m not spending time at work as a nurse, I’m a writer. Breaking Point is my baby (now that my real life babies aren’t really babies anymore) and I’m its worst critic. It’s gone through several revisions to become the version you will/are/may not read. The very first draft of the very first chapter of Breaking Point was so bad I still laugh about it to this day and I wrote it about three and a half years ago. In my defense, I was delirious with sleep deprivation when I started it due to children who decided I was better off without sleep. Despite the effect lack of sleep may have had on my sanity, I really do thank them for giving me the drive to write again.

What about this book do I love? Surprisingly, it’s not the fantasy elements, not the world I’ve created, it’s the characters. The emotional journey they go on more than anything else is what drives me to write this book and it’s sequels. They interest me, and these characters may be of my own creation, but any author will tell you that when you sit down to write, you never know what your characters could do to surprise you. Mine tend to do that to me a lot, sometimes they make me mad and other times they have better ideas than I do.

I sincerely hope that this journey is one you can enjoy with me, because I’m not done having fun yet!

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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for Lisa Sanchez.
Author 16 books332 followers
December 2, 2010
Wow! I just finished this book yesterday, and I feel like I've been on a whirlwind adventure. I will be honest and say that at first, I wasn't sure how I felt about the book. I didn't immediately connect with Ethan and Phoebe when they were still living in the mortal world. Once they journeyed to the magical realm, though (which happens quickly) I was hooked, and couldn't put the book down.

Breaking Point is a great YA romance, and contains a bevy of supernatural elements that will satisfy any fan of paranormal romance. From elemental powers, to mythical creatures, the book has it all. What I enjoyed the most was the connection between the characters. To be specific, I really enjoyed the soul connection between Ethan and Lucy, and Phoebe and Dorian.

Sigh...Dorian. He comes off as an ass at first, with his strict, militaristic attitude, and cold demeanor. But, Phoebe sees past his charade when others don't and realizes quickly that shmexy boy is quite the catch. The two share a magical, soul connection that left me breathless on more than one occasion while reading. The spark between those two characters literally leapt off the page.

The same can be said about the connection between Ethan and Lucy, who I found to be an adorbale couple. Having lived in the magical realm her entire life, Lucy knows all about the soul connection she and Ethan share, but is unable to expound on it much with him because of some type of ban. This was a little frustrating for me, as I want to know what the deal is between those two ...like now! Little snippets where left throughout, but the bulk of the explanation about connection was left unanswered, most likely to be brought up again in the future books.

Phoebe is a very strong character, who I really enjoyed, for the most part. There were a few instances when she became overly bossy and rude, but given her situation, the weight of her powers and all that she'd been through, I can understand the why of her actions.

Ethan, also a strong character, struggles with self-doubt and a slight inferiority complex throughout. It was interesting to see those struggles play out internally throughout the book, and somewhat refreshing to see a strong male character flounder a bit. Bad Boy pulls it together in the end, though, and holy heck, his powers are amazing!

The rest of the cast are as interesting as the main characters, and I can't wait to see what happens to them in the future books.

Warning: There's a major cliffie at the end that had me shouting last night. My poor puppies thought I was a crazy woman. I'll now be waiting very impatiently to find out what happens. I can only hope Ms. Bowen writes fast!
Profile Image for moonlightfairyprincess.
237 reviews16 followers
January 9, 2015
So, I am going to start this review with a few words of caution.

This book was published in 2010 and supposed to be part of a 5 part series. When I finished the first book, I went in search of the others in the series figuring that most of them should be out by now. However, I was disappointed to find out that no other books in the series have been released, nothing is available on the publisher's website regarding release, the author has all but disappeared and the author's website: www.theorderoftheelements.com is no longer functional.

These discoveries lead me to believe the series has been abandoned so if you are a completionist and hate having unanswered questions, don't start this book! There are absolutely no answers at the end of this book only a truck load of questions that will seemingly never be answered.

Now, moving on to the review of the actual book.

This book was initially incredibly slow and doesn't pick up the pace until about 150 pages in so you really have to stick with it to get to the good stuff.

The world itself isn't terribly impressive but I believe that stems from the limitation placed on the world they live in. The Haven, while very beautifully described, is where most of the story takes place and there's just not much you can do in a single setting even a magical one. The elemental powers and talents that were revealed were intriguing and creative. I enjoyed reading how each power/talent could be applied.

The characters really made this story the amazing piece that it became. I love the group of friend that form their own family without drama, back stabbing or unnecessary angst among the group. They all get along so well: they stand up for one another, argue, love and forgive one another the way that families do.

I love Phoebe's strength. She was a very impressive heroine: strong, self assured not without faults but nothing annoying. It was refreshing to read about a female heroine who didn't completely fall apart when things went awry, in fact, she was an amazing leader both compassionate and authoritative. Her relationship to Dorian, though consuming because of their soul connection, didn't keep her from being herself and performing her tasks as needed. In other words, she didn't defer or lose herself to a guy. The ability to maintain ones self as female character is rare in stories. Most females succumb to a male and sort of lose a part of themselves and that didn't happen here. Also, I loved Phoebe's flaw...it was unique but absolutely believable given her talent.

Lucy and Ethan also share a soul connection, which was actually a little nauseating, and while I loved Lucy's character because she had a silent strength and was always quietly wise, I didn't care for Ethan's character. He was frustrating and whiny in a way that is usually reserved for female characters. Half of his inner dialogue centers around his inferiority complex. So, he didn't initially know what his talents were so he wasn't the best at everything... big deal! He was still gifted with the Earth element and a strong fighter. He had Lucy and a soul connection. Why couldn't he move on a little more quickly? It's not until the last 30ish pages that he figures out that he has his own strengths and should quit comparing himself to everyone else. I understood the initial disappointment but quit dwelling on it all the time! I don't know how Lucy could tolerate it!

I loved the secondary characters as well: Evan, Jared, Cynthia and Hector all brought so much to their quirky little family.

I was disappointed with the introduction of a love triangle toward the end. Why, just why, must there always be a triangle? The relationships were going so well as they were with just enough drama to keep them interesting but not annoying. So, it was understandably annoying to have one introduced so far into the book and especially because of the people it affected.

There wasn't a lot of revelation regarding the plot as the first 3/4 of the book focused primarily on the arrival or Phoebe and Ethan and then their training. The last 1/4 of the book was the only time the group left The Haven in order to complete a quest- to find Irena and retrieve a prophecy and while that part of the book was really intriguing, when the group arrive back, there wasn't much left so all kinds of questions remain:

What does the prophecy mean? What is the role of each person in the prophecy? How does the power shifting affect Phoebe and Ethan? What was going on with Dorian and electrifying Phoebe at the end? Where is Dorian's companion? (because I truly don't think he's dead) How does the prophecy help in bringing down Petrozan and Esmeralda?

Unfortunately, I don't foresee that anyone will ever get these answers because the series seems to have come to a halt. It's too bad because the series had so much potential once the story picked up pace.

Profile Image for Jena.
609 reviews170 followers
June 20, 2011
After being pushed to read this by my awesome, bestie Alexis, I fail to understand why this book has such few reviews. This book was absolutely amazing. I loved every aspect of it. It had everything I was looking for, and I am in dire need of the next book. Needless to say I will be going into book depression now that I've finished it. Haha!

So... thank you ALEXIS <3 and Every one else.... GO BUY THIS NOW. Seriously, you will not regret it.

-- full review to come soon --
Profile Image for Andra.
13 reviews3 followers
Want to read
June 24, 2011
Finally!!!! A book where the characters aren't either 16-17 or freaking 30 year olds!!! i hope it's gonna be good....please be good!!!!
Profile Image for Carrie Ardoin.
682 reviews32 followers
August 11, 2012
Phoebe and Ethan are about to turn nineteen. They have lived their lives in a completely average way...until the day they find out they are anything but. As it turns out, they are an integral part of a prophecy in a magical world they never imagined existed.

As Phoebe and Ethan learn more about the new world, they discover it is in peril and they may be the only ones that can save it. They will need to rely on their friends, and their own inner strengths, to stop the oppressive evil forces.

My feelings were very mixed about this novel. On the one hand, it contained some original ideas and was a break from lots of other paranormal stories I've been reading lately. On the other hand, it suffered from a couple of problems I'll explain here.

The characters: Phoebe and Ethan are our main characters, of course. The narration is third person and shifts focus between both. I really, really like Phoebe. Once she discovered how powerful she was, she was strong, confident, and never backed down. She was outraged at what was happening in her native land, and itching to do something about it. She was also selfless and willing to do anything to help her friends. Ethan was a bit more difficult. For various reasons, he is sullen and withdrawn throughout the majority of the book. I didn't enjoy reading about how sorry he felt for himself. During the last few pages he perked up, and I won't say why but it was good to see.

The action: As I mentioned, this book is set in a magic universe where an evil regime is basically destroying all who live there. The characters in the book have special powers over the elements and also superhuman talents. But in spite of all that, there was not that much action or fighting--at least, not as much as I would have expected in such a long book. There are LOTS of training sessions, and a couple of fights with another girl training with them. This is a shame, because the action scenes were easily my favorite parts of the book. They were written expertly, and left me racing to finish each sentence.

The Romance: I'm somewhat split on this. I would have thought at the beginning that Ethan and Phoebe would end up together, but there is s great cast of supporting characters and thankfully this is not so. Ethan and Lucy's romance is sweet and develops over time. Phoebe and Dorian's romance is fiery but quick. Both are very intense. I guess I felt Phoebe and Dorian's was a little taboo. Also, I didn't love the way theirs developed in the way I did Ethan and Lucy's.

The Ending: Great, but way too sudden and left off with a huge cliffhanger. Obviously this book was the first in a series, so I am hopeful the questions will be answered in the next installment.

Finally, I felt this book was WAY too long. I skimmed over several paragraphs and pages. Too much description and exposition that was not at all integral to the story. Nevertheless, I appreciate the author's writing style and would be interested in seeing where the characters go from here.
Profile Image for Lydia.
287 reviews11 followers
January 19, 2012
Okay, this one was great! It took a little bit to get into it, but once I was in, I was hooked! This book had all sorts of good "fantasy" things in it. It also had some really great characters and banter and fights. This was a great YA/girly novel.

My only issue (and its a big one) is that it ends with a major cliffhanger, and there is no date in sight for the next book! So, I think all YA fans should read this one, but you might want to wait until more books come out. There are supposed to be 5 books total, and it doesn't look like they will be out anytime soon. :(
Profile Image for Emily Miller.
147 reviews9 followers
July 13, 2011
Oh were to begin!! There haven't been too many book that I have read that have been able to draw me into every aspect of the storyline, feel every emotion experienced and shed tears as the characters do. Breaking Point is one of those rare jewels! I am anxiously waiting for the second book to be released. Jess Bowen has another fan!!
Profile Image for Karielle.
330 reviews98 followers
August 5, 2012
Breaking Point (The Order of the Elements #1) by Jess Bowen
Release Date: November 1st, 2010
Publisher: Omnific
Page Count: 415
Source: Complimentary copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

Phoebe Johnson and Ethan Smith had everything they needed: loving parents, great friends, and admission letters to Ivy League schools they'd be heading to in the fall. If only they knew that they were never going to reach the end of that summer--at least, not in the world they knew. A secret waits to be revealed on the eve of their nineteenth birthday, a secret that is going to change their lives forever when it leads them to a place they never believed existed, love they could never imagine living without, and power they never suspected they possessed.

Jess Bowen expertly plunges readers into an imaginative, supernatural world that refuses to bow down to the darkness that's all but taken over. Amidst this adventurous quest for a lost prophecy, Bowen weaves in powerful tales of love that will leave the characters and readers breathless.

What Stephanie Thinks: Phoebe and Ethan are two regular kids, leading regular paths in the normal realm, when they're suddenly torn from their everyday lives and sucked into an unfamiliar, supernatural world, one that's far more dangerous than they'd ever bargained for. Here, they are known as the preordained and most powerful beings of all: the Masters of the Elements. Brought to one of these so-called Safehouses, which are meant for keeping evil out, but feel more like they're locking everyone in, the two teenagers are forced to come to terms with their abrupt possessions of power, as well as their identities, in order to fulfill their prophecies. Breaking Point is fast and thrilling, and it's exactly my kind of urban fantasy read because while it is completely idealistic and highly inventive, it takes place in a regular world in which people like you and I live in. Thus, there's a believable, human aspect to it as well, which is what makes it such an absorbing read.

I love the lush, beautiful world Bowen creates. She has a smooth, vivid voice that not only displays setting and characterization well, but also has a knack for telling the untold, the speculations of mind and the reluctances of heart. She weaves the story from different perspectives using third-person omniscient, but doesn't forget to leave out just the right parts to leave readers hanging and breathless.

The concept of Element Training is so creative. Basically, a predestined group of teenagers lives in this Safehouse to train against the evils of Petrozan, the one who destroyed their world as they know it, according to the prophecies. Each student has their own element — water, wind, earth, or fire — and is able to control it in some way. Some of them even have magical talents, such as telekinesis or shapeshifting, but the Masters are the one who bear the most power of all. Or, at least they're supposed to. Phoebe is immediately an obvious candidate to defeat Petrozan, with her multiple talents and instant control over her element, water, but Ethan — Master of Earth — struggles to discover his own, as well as compare with her, and another even more intimidating Master, Dorian. His inferiority complex plagues him throughout the book, and the inner conflict, I loved watching the development of. Eventually, it saves him when he redeems himself in a battle that may determine who will survive to fight... and who won't.

Breaking Point reminds me of Avatar: The Last Airbender in substance and The Hunger Games in social foundation — in other words, fabulous! I don't like Bowen's profuse idealistic tone, however. Everything in the fantasy world she creates is perfect, which, I know isn't supposed to be realistic, but after a while, it gets irritating too. I compare Breaking Point's magic realm to Hogwarts (seriously, that is PRAISE), but while Hogwarts has its depths and its darknesses, in Breaking Point, everything fits just right, everything tastes perfect, everyone (well, most everyone) gets along a little too well. It's uncanny, and it, even in a fantasy novel, isn't realistic. This is urban fantasy; I would have liked to see the author be a bit darker, a bit edgier. For this reason, I wouldn't recommend this one to the older audience. Even though there are some slightly mature themes (a love triangle, violence, frightening combat), nothing is ever explicit (save a few gory injury descriptions), so I this would be for the younger young adults: I'd say ages 11-15. If you're a YA aficionado like me, you'll still enjoy this one — that is, if you can get past a few eye-roll-worthy moments.

That being said, the world Phoebe and Ethan are brought into is one I want to be a part of and live in. I can't emphasize this enough! It may be unreasonably happy-go-lucky, but it's simply stunning. I absolutely love the characters in Breaking Point too. Each of them have their own pasts and their own brutal flaws — even Phoebe, who, to everyone else, seems perfect — and the journey they take to overcome, or at least control, these weaknesses makes for a gripping, consuming ride. Bowen is a master of words, especially when describing emotions; she excels in bringing her characters to life and making them lovable, even with their demons and their mistakes, and even when they lose composure and reach breaking point.

Another aspect that's engaging is the romance. Bowen creates a tingling concept of soul mates, that is, in itself, completely captivating — something I swooned over. I won't give anything away — yes, you'll have to read it yourself to find out what the big deal is! — but I rooted for the blooming couples, even those that were forbidden, and loved the complications behind each of them, during and after the entire read. Again, nothing is ever sexually explicit, which for me, was both frustrating and titillating. The romance consists mostly of smooth talk and the element of a relationship that is 100% meant to be, but just may not work out. It's heartbreaking, emotional, and once again, completely human, and further demonstrates that Breaking Point will not only quell starry-eyed teenagers, but be parent-friendly as well.

The ending... GAHH!! I hate it! But I love it! A cliffhanger for sure — highly highly annoying, but at the same time, satisfying even without the closure. I'm keen on reading the next book in The Order of the Elements — I'm a freak, I can't just not find out what happens next — but am so disappointed to discover there isn't a sequel yet!!! Not even a tentative release date ;( However, I WILL keep my eyes on both the author and publisher's sites, and will be, hopefully, reviewing the next installment(s) in the five-book series.

All 400+ pages of Breaking Point turned themselves. It's a heavy novel with yes, often superficial specificities, but overall, its story is relatable and enchanting. I love being drawn into made-up worlds like Bowen's, and combined with my affection for each of the characters, I would say I enjoyed this one a lot. Definitely recommended, especially if you're into clean, but still perilous young adult fiction with a touch of romance and an inclination for magic.

Stephanie Loves: "'Darkness is the absence of light. Happiness is the absence of pain. Anger is the absence of joy. Jealousy is the absence of confidence. Love is the absence of doubt. Hate is the absence of peace. Fear is the absence of faith. Life is the absence of death. We are all made of little absences here and there. Truth comes from which absences fill us. Strength comes from how we fill the absences.'"

Radical Rating: 9 hearts: Loved it! This book has a spot on my favorites shelf.
Profile Image for Katie K.
159 reviews
September 15, 2014

INITIAL REACTION AFTER READING THE LAST LINE:

WHA.......



THEN IT WAS:


AND WHEN I REMEMBERED I SPENT ABOUT 7 HOURS OF MY LIFE READING THIS BOOK IN ONE SITTING:


Not that I didn't enjoy this book but it had its shining moments and those that were fireball-hurling, anger worthy.

-WARNING-
May contain ranting, spoilers and puns related to the book.


Let's rip the baid-aid off and start with the PAINFUL and FRUSTRATING elements of this book haha, elements....get it? Okay, I'm done.

DEAR PHOEBE,

*Kingsley's voice*
Girl, you need to get your damn emotions in check.



In some instances, her anger was completely justified.

After being hurled into a world that you never knew existed, gurl I feel ya, I really do but please refrain from lashing out on your friends and causing a damn THUNDERSTORM.
This is taking PMSing to a whole different level here.

I kept forgetting her age and at first, I kept picturing alittle girl rather than a nineteen year old by the way her dialogue was written.

Phoebe was tough and stubborn and had the elemental power of water + super cool abilities .

She was powerful, and in turn, more unbearable as the protagonist fueled the fire of my dislike toward her. (Yay for puns in the book!)


She was unstable and when I finally tried to understand her personality, she would do something spontaneous and I was completely thrown off from her character. I think I discovered my extra talent of resisting pain (like Hectors) after bashing my head against the wall. Repeatedly.

On the positive side of her character, I liked the relationship with Dorian right from the start. She couldn't "read" him and he had that dark, mysterious and melancholic thing about him that drew me into the story.


ETHAN
He had flaws as well but he grew on me and his character development was evident throughout the duration of the novel. His relationship with Lucy blossomed and I had no doubt that their romance would prevail.



KALI
Kali was the mechanism for Phoebe's outbursts by taunting her and deliberately triggering the snap in Phoebe.

She was the one character in which I hated but stories need that one character right? This in turn, brought more drama and suspense to the story and really built on the plot.


LENGTH/STRUCTURE OF THE STORY
I know this isn't the longest book out there but what bothered me was the length of the story. There was alot of "fluffy" parts and parts where Phoebe's internal debate and emotions raged and it got too emotionally vivid, as I could understand what she was feeling without the added "emotionally descriptions"

There was alot of telepathy communication going on in this story and heck, I love this ability so much :) But I kept getting confused with third person, particular with the difference between what the individual was thinking and what they were actually communicating to one another. Eventually I got the flow of it but it took a while. Maybe adding italics would help in differentiating?


Okay, enough about the negative. Let's end with the positive parts of this book :)


TELE-MIND-READING-WATER-BENDING-FIREBALL-HURLING-SUPER-SPEED-AWESOMENESS I'm aware that this does not make any sense at all

Each elemental in the realm has celebrations and tournaments for each of the elements (earth, air, water and fire)







That was air, incase you didn't get it :P

Imagine hand-to-hand combat + elemental abilities = Super-cool ninja skills

The paranormal action was written very well and had such a great pacing that it never disrupted the flow in these action packed scenes. Anyone who loves magic/paranormal abilities will thoroughly enjoy this central aspect of the novel.


COMPANIONS
Google's definition of 'companion': a person or animal with whom one spends a lot of time or with whom one travels.

This is true in the novel where these individuals have mythical, unique companions which.. (HOLD ONTO YOUR HATS LADIES AND GENTLEMAN)

...LIVE INSIDE YOU!!!!!



Hard to explain but basically, they materialize out of your arm and become a living and breathing animal with its own heartbeat in which you can feel in your chest.

This is the most amazing, unique thing I've read and I have to admit, the prospect of this does sound wonderful.

Yay for a baby unicorn companion!!!


THE ENDING
There was a cliffhanger at the end and if you hate cliffhangers as much as I do, you should still pick up this book. It's not immensely devastating, I promise, but it definitely shakes things up and keeps it interesting for the anticipation of the next book.

Now just my quick opnions to sum up the review.
Breaking Point (The Order of the Elements #1) by Jess Bowen
Cover: Gorgeous!
Title: Humorously ironic :P just realized the significance.
Synopsis: Intriguing
Plot: Solid and developed
Characters (in a few words):
Phoebe: Meh
Ethan: Good development
Lucy: Cryptic but with good intentions
Cynthia: Flaming fireball :)
Evan: Brother to Phoebe. Arrogant but loveable :)
Jared: Realistic and reserved
Dorian: Mysterious and haunted
Hector: Interesting... (Still can't form a proper opinion.)

Overall Rating- 3/5 Stars

Would I recommend it? Yes, but it is a long read :)
Profile Image for Kelley.
99 reviews25 followers
September 29, 2011
I am giving this book 3.5 stars. I would have given it 4 if the writing had been improved in the beginning and the silly clichés were left out. I would have even given Breaking Point a 5 star rating and a giant bravo to Jess Bowen, if the ending had not ended so abruptly and if she had decided to leave the unicorn out of the book entirely.

I have to say in the beginning I was unhappy. Do not get me wrong the story is interesting and pulls you in but the writing starts off slightly weak. There is too much repeating dialogue for my taste but either one of two things happened. One I grew used to the writing as the book went on. Or option number two, Bowen's writing actually improved as the book went on. I really hope and want to believe it is the later of the two so that is why it gets a 3.5 out instead of a 3.
Now to the actual story. Breaking Point starts out in our own world known to these people of the elements as the realm of non-magic (I am with you it lacks a certain creativity in the name but she makes up for it in the story itself. The two main characters are Phoebe and Ethan. They are cousins that share an important birthday. Although they don’t know it in fact they do not even know each other. They together get thrust into thee realm of magic as masters of the elements only a few days before there 19th birthday. Together they grow and learn to use their powers. They both meet love interests along the way and there is some interesting friends and people also. My favorite is Link!
There are some what the heck moments that make you flip the pages faster to get things understood, and sometimes there is too much unnecessary dialogue to try and describe things but the story and idea were enough for me to overlook and I am highly anticipating the next one in the series. Although there is no publishing date anywhere to be found so I have no idea how long of a wait I am in for. But, still I am still excited. It is a good book to read to get your mind off another series you may be impatiently waiting to be released. When the next one comes out it will really be a make it or break to moment for me but I think I will enjoy the next one and it will all have been worth it and this book can go on my list of great young adult supernatural series.
Sorry for errors. I wrote this on my nook and it was too hard to fix them at the moment. I will fix them soon on my laptop when I get the chance.
Profile Image for Megan (magan bagan).
205 reviews66 followers
February 11, 2011
Breaking Point is Jess Bowen's debut novel, and what a debut it is. She gives us a little bit of everything: love, intrigue, action, fantasy, mystery. This was such a fun story to read and is the first book of her Order of the Elements series.

For Phoebe and Ethan, their lives have been almost perfect. They had great friends, wonderful parents, fulfilling lives and were preparing for college in the fall when it all changed. Just before their nineteenth birthday's they learned a secret their parent's had been hiding from them. They were really from the Realm of Magic and were Master's of their elements.

Their new realities leave them reeling, but they find themselves adjusting to their surroundings and friends. Who they are and what they can do is just as big a mystery to them as it is to everyone else.

So much takes place throughout this first book that I don't want to ruin it for anyone, but I will say that it is worth the wait. Phoebe and Ethan are great characters, both trying to adjust to their new circumstances and they make some amazing friends along their journey. Dorian, one of the other Master's of his element, helps train them and finds himself falling for the lovely Phoebe.

Jess shows the best sides of her characters, but also pushes them to their breaking point, showing just what they are made of. Her imagination and ability to weave a story made this just right. I wanted to take my time in getting this review out because I really enjoyed this book, even with the massive cliffhanger at the end (hint hint to anyone who doesn't enjoy cliffhangers and would rather wait for the next book). I'm impatiently waiting for the second book in the series after that and I know Jess will do what is right for her characters.
Profile Image for Tee loves Kyle Jacobson.
2,507 reviews177 followers
August 9, 2012
I would like to Thank AToMR Tours for allowing me to be a part of this tour. The YA Summer Reading Tour by Omnific is a fabulous way to get to read new and exciting reads.

Breaking Point starts out with Phoebe and Ethan. Two teenagers graduating from school who have everything they could ever ask for.They have good grades, great friends and a loving family.They both will be attending an Ivy League College in the Fall but on their 19th birthday things change drastically. Phoebe and Ethan will be thrown into a new world they had no idea existed.

When they turn 19 both Phoebe and Ethan find out they are cousins and possess a special power where in this magical world they possess all the elements. Shocked to know that they are different Phoebe and Ethan have to learn about their new powers and learn to use them. They are in a place they never knew existed and they will have to make a new life for themselves. They have a hard time at first but then they make new friends along the way and become comfortable with who and what they are.

Phoebe and Ethan will find new love interests and harness their gifts for good. This book was a great summer read and I enjoyed every page turning so fast trying to read to see what laid ahead for these two cousins thrown into a world they never knew existed. Come along for a magical ride and see where love, family, friends and power over the elements can take you.
Profile Image for Kerri.
440 reviews15 followers
December 23, 2010
This was a very imaginative, adventurous story filled with romance. It captured me right from the start. I do think it has the potential to get even better in future books in the series, however, there were times while reading this book that I found the pace slowed too much and got bogged down with too many feelings and not enough action. Having said that, I would still read the next book in the series to see where it goes and to see if the pace picks up now that all the details have been established for this new fascinating parallel world. I particularly liked the ending of this book. It definitely made me want to read on.
Profile Image for Janell.
71 reviews16 followers
September 28, 2011
It started off a bit slow, but even still it kept me turning the pages in anticipation of the greatness I was hoping of. Once the book picked up, I found myself completely in love with every aspect of the story and the heartwarming friendships of the main group of characters. The only real flaw I felt was the lack of depth of the love stories. I would have liked to see a little more of the everyday love, but I am a hopeless romantic so oh well. Overall I loved the story, great promise for what I hope is to come.
Profile Image for Kyla.
57 reviews
December 2, 2011
I wasn't sure that I would like this book, since I had to go through the trouble of ordering it since chapters doesn't have it, I was already in a sour mood. This is one of those books that once you pick it up, you just cant put it down. Phoebe and Ethan have recently just turned 19 and the world around them is changing, but not like normal high-school graduates. The are forced to leave there family behind so they can learn how to use there powers to help save another world. I can't wait to read the next book...even if I have to order it again.
Profile Image for Ramplo.
61 reviews1 follower
July 3, 2011
The quick and dirty:

Beginning is a bit messy but the story straightens itself out.

Not a lot of action, it's all about the characters and relationships.

Worth adding to your (ebook) 'to be read' pile, also worth keeping an eye out for her future work.

The long and wordy:

If you want to read more on what I thought and why I said what I did in the quick and dirty, read the full post here:
http://ramplosbrokenpieces.tumblr.com...
Profile Image for Jazmine.
3 reviews
July 16, 2014
I loved this book so much! It has everything that I love about books: fantasy, romance, magic, mystical creatures and a good storyline! The characters were amazing too and I definetely recommend reading it if you love books about magic. The only thing that I hated was the major cliffhanger. And worst of all, there isn't a release date for the second book yet. I'm really excited about the second book and I can't wait!
Profile Image for Victoria.
302 reviews2 followers
August 29, 2012
No no no cliffhanger...Ahhhh! Just when you start getting answers the book ends :(

I wasn't sure about this story when I first started it...I thought it moved slowly and I just wasn't connecting with the characters, Phoebe and Ethan. But once they journeyed to the magical realm and started training, I was hooked.

Can't wait for book 2 in this series.
Profile Image for Kristin.
36 reviews
November 3, 2011
I loved this book!! I can't wait the til the second is out!! I am on the edge of my seat waiting!!
20 reviews
Want to read
May 16, 2012
want to read, have not read yet
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews

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