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

A tiny Irish island serves as the link between complex souls. Some are salvageable while others wreak havoc in attempts to repair themselves. Imagination spills from the page and with fascination we understand how water, earth, fire, and air, frames each section.

Streamlined prose and perfectly placed flashbacks forge this gripping literary experience. Perspective is always in first person and the author is able to reflect race, creed and gender as if he shouldered it for a lifetime. Clear writing is paired with succinct character crafting. Backstory is artfully blended, scene feels as if they are all told in present tense and foreshadowing is dabbed with a light and mysterious touch.

Boyne proves it is possible to tackle intensely seriously themes and create a narrative that moves with the power of hundreds of horses. Readers will be stunned how a thrilling page-turner is able to addresses such important topics.

Highly recommended! David Mitchell is about the only other contemporary writer I've encountered able to offer such complex and thoughtful stories that defy physics and soar under its own weight.

Thank you Netgalley and Henry Holt and Co. for the review copy.

"The Elements" consists of four outstanding novellas woven together by invisible threads of trauma and characters. In spite of the fact that each of the four stories contains disturbing sexual assault, it would be reckless to classify this book as trauma literature. It goes much deeper than just trauma, however. First, we meet a woman who is forced to rebuild her life. The second story deals with victim blaming, celebrity worship, and unbalanced justice. During the third story, I found myself holding my breath as I turned the pages. Forgiveness and generational trauma are the themes of the fourth story.

This is not the kind of book you want to read at the beach during the summer. It is serious. It is important. It is necessary. Like no other author writing today, Boyne treats his characters with empathy and truthfulness. The reader will not like some of the characters in this book. However, he has written characters that force the reader to look at them. This is such a gift of Boyne's, and despite how difficult the stories are, we are so fortunate to have him write them.

Thank you to Henry Holt & Co for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I devoured and loved The Hearts Invisible Furies so as soon as I saw this title I jumped on it and it did not let me down. This is the story of many interlocking characters and storylines telling the tale of abuse from many different viewpoints, it is such a difficult/uncomfortable topic but it is told so well. Each section tells a different character's story and the character's stories are intertwined in some way. In each section, a character is either the perpetrator, family member, or victim of abuse. Although it may be a hard book to read it is done very well.

What a spectacular work of fiction. Boyne presents four novellas that are interconnected in ways that you don’t expect. The writing is sublime, the character development is strong, the story lines are fascinating. The setting of the stories and the way the last novella goes back to the beginning location is masterful.

“The Elements” is the latest novel by acclaimed Irish author John Boyne. In this book, he weaves together four compelling stories that revolve around crimes, each told from the perspective of a specific role involved in the crime: Water (Enabler), Earth (Accomplice), Fire (Perpetrator), and Air (Victim).

While each crime is distinct, the characters are interconnected, and their narratives overlap. It’s important to note that an individual may play the role of an accomplice in one story, but they might have previously been a victim, highlighting the complexities of life, trauma, guilt, innocence, and healing.

I recommend checking the content warnings beforehand, as the novel includes themes of molestation and rape. While these topics are not depicted graphically, the book is heavy and emotionally intense. It is well-written, but it may not be suitable for all readers. Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for the advance reading copy (ARC).

John Boyne is one of my go to authors and when he has a new book out I don’t even read the blurb before purchasing it. The Elements is an absolute masterpiece and I devoured this book in one sitting. An emotional and disturbing read at times but one which completely blew me away. This is one book that will stay with me for a very long time.

This is the story of many interlocking characters and storylines telling the tale of abuse from many different viewpoints. I don't want to give too much away here, but this is a John Boyne book so you're in good hands! The story takes us from remote islands of escape and recluse in Ireland, to courtrooms and soccer pitches in London, to hospitals and apartments and to the beaches of Sydney...and somehow, in the way that only Boyne can, everything comes together. The way that he sets up plot and develops characters lent itself perfectly to such heavy topics, and it all came together so perfectly in the end. I highly recommend this book, and while I liked some segments better than others (trigger warnings galore for rape and abuse!) the ending made all the hard moments so worth it. He's done it again, and I'll read anything that he writes!

Wow. John Boyne takes us on a JOURNEY through the enabler, the accomplice, the perpetrator, and the victim. He explores guilt, blame, and the longtime effects of trauma. Water starts us off with a bang. I cried at the end. Earth made me a little angry, Fire made me VERY angry, and Air healed all those things and left me with chills. Read this.

This was a very difficult read in many ways in regards to subject matter, but also incredibly honest and ambitious in regards to examining trauma and the human spirit. Boyne creates 4 separate stories representing the elements (water, earth, fire, air) and in each story, the narrator is involved in a horrific crime in a particular role (enabler, accomplice, perpetrator, victim). These crimes are all sexual in nature, and include assault, rape, grooming and pedophilia, etc..... so readers should be aware before embarking on this story. It's both dark and clever in regards to how Boyne weaves together the 4 stories with their characters' roles and how they all connected throughout the years, though many of the characters are unlikeable. But Boyne doesn't shy away from this; in fact, he uses this to explore why cycles of abuse occur and how children deal with this as they grow into adulthood, and embark on relationships of their own. I am grateful to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!