Elementals: The Blood of the Hydra by Michelle Madow interview + giveaway!

Elementals: The Blood of the Hydra by Michelle Meadow
Publisher: Dreamscape Publishing
Publication Date: April 18th, 2016
Song I Played While Reading: Nocturnal by Disclosure
Rating: 4 stars
Amazon / Goodreads

A demigod who can kill with a touch. It’s an ability that must be kept secret from everyone, even from those trusted most.

Finding out that she was a witch was strange enough, but now Nicole must face the realization that she has the rare power to kill with just a touch. No one can know her secret—not even Blake, who she’s had undeniable chemistry with since first moving to town. Now Nicole, Blake, and the three others with elemental powers must stop a series of monsters that they previously believed to be dead from rising once again and destroying the mortal world. The creatures they face on this journey will be more dangerous than anything they’ve encountered yet. Will they all survive the quest? And how long will it be until Nicole is forced to use her ability to kill in front of everyone, revealing the true darkness of her powers? 


It always takes me a couple of chapters to get used to Madow's writing, but the second I do it's like I fall straight into the story. The pages fly by, and I'm fully immersed into the world, and before I know it, I'm over halfway through with the story.
Just like the first book, The Blood of the Hydra was faced-paced and action-packed. Either we're learning about Greek mythology and how it ties into the plot, or we're fighting nasty creatures. I'm not sure what it is exactly about a bow and arrow, but I think it's one of the coolest weapons out there, and I love that Nicole uses it and can whoop major ass. She's calm and collected, and doesn't doubt herself, which I really admire.
I adored the character arc with Danielle! She got on my nerves a lot in the first book, but since she's such an integral part of the story I knew something would have to happen with her and Nicole, and I'm so happy it did. I really like her snarky and no non-sense attitude. She's not afraid to call you out or be honest with you, and it's great. Blake was just his usual supportive self and I can't tell how much I LOVE supportive guys! There aren't enough of those in YA books these days, so I cherish every single one that I find. I still can't get over that kissing scene in The Prophecy of Shadows. I just... *sighs dreamily*
Kate and Chris were sweet sidekicks as well, though I wish they stood out more to me, especially Chris. I like Kate, but Chris is one I feel we don't know that much about. I hope that changes in the upcoming books! Overall, this was another exciting and fast-paced ride, and I cannot wait to see what obstacles the Elementals have to get through next!


Mini-Interview with Michelle

1. What was your inspiration behind having the characters go to Greece in correlation to the story?

I knew that in the second book of the series, I wanted the Elementals to leave their town and go on a larger adventure. After all—they’re saving the world, so it doesn’t make sense for them to be able to do that without having to travel to different places around the world. Since they’re the descendants of Greek gods, it made sense for Greece to be the first place for them to go. 

2. Who's your favorite character to write about, besides Nicole?

Danielle! She progresses a lot throughout the story, and I love writing characters who initially seem mean, but slowly become likable. It’s also important to remember that since the story is told through Nicole’s eyes, what we see is her perception of the other characters. At first, her perception of Danielle was that Danielle was a one-dimensional mean girl. But as Nicole and Danielle are forced to work together, they get to know each other better, and Nicole sees that there’s more to Danielle than she initially thought. 

3. I saw on an Instagram post that Taylor Swift inspired your first book. What was it about her song(s) that inspired you?

Yes—specifically, the Love Story music video inspired my first novel. The song mentions “flashbacks,” and the music video shows a modern-day teenage girl walking through campus who catches eyes with a guy and sees the two of them dancing at ball that appears to have taken place around the early 1800s. Seeing that gave me the inspiration for Remembrance. I go further into detail about this HERE on my website. 

4. I love the Greek mythology aspect to this story! What kind of research did you do?

I do TONS of research while I’m writing the Elementals series! While writing Elementals 2: The Blood of the Hydra, I had my copy of The Odyssey by my side the entire time. A lot of the story is inspired by Odysseus’s journeys, which was a blast to write because it’s so full of adventure! I also use Wikipedia a lot—I know that teachers always tell students not to use it, but I use it because it’s so easy to use and does a great job of explaining everything. 

5. What's your most recent favorite book you've read?

Lady Midnight by Cassandra Clare. I couldn’t put that book down, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time when I was reading!

Rafflecopter for Release Week Blitz Giveaway: Michelle is offering up a fabulous prize during her Elementals: The Blood of the Hydra Virtual Tour event. One (1) lucky winner will receive a signed paperback copy of one of Michelle’s books! To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Michelle Madow writes fast-paced YA (young adult) fiction that will leave you turning the pages wanting more! She grew up in Baltimore, and now lives in Boca Raton, Florida, where she writes books for young adults. Some of her favorite things are: reading, pizza, traveling, shopping, time travel, Broadway musicals, and spending time with friends and family. Michelle went on a cross-country road trip from Florida to California and back to promote her books and to encourage high school students to embrace reading and writing. Someday, she hopes to travel the world for a year on a cruise ship. 

Want to get some of Michelle’s books for FREE? Click here to learn how. ☺ To get instant updates about Michelle’s new books, follow her on Amazon! 

Connect with Michelle: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads