In Tear of God: Elements by Raymond Henri, sixteen-year-old Mink has yet to gain his Elemental affinity, something that is typically mastered by a five-year-old. It is an utter embarrassment to Mink, since it also leads to him being bullied by the others. For years, his parents - Juré and Nyam - try to figure out whether his Element is Lightning, Air, Spirit, Water, Wood, Soil, Body or Fire. Any Element would do, as long as he has one.

When Mink and his parents discover a Machinist scout who found the Tear of God, a powerful large crystal, they send Mink back to the city for aid. Octernal High Council doubts the news, but sends an army disguised as a Youth Camp to accompany him back to his parents’ camp and retrieve the crystal. It’s Mink's opportunity to prove his worth, especially to Gyov, for whom he has feelings. But the mission is highly dangerous, and Machinists are not the only enemies they have to worry about. There are also the death-worshiping Reeks, who turn the corpses of their kills into puppets.

Tear of God: Elements by Raymond Henri is highly engaging from the beginning. The characters are well-developed and authentic. It’s easy to sympathize with Mink, but he still manages to have a positive attitude about his situation, and his wittiness makes him likable. The story pace is considerably fast. Initially, I thought Henri left too little breathing space for readers to familiarize themselves with his world-building, particularly its concept of Elementalists and Machinists, and how each Element affinity works and so on. Yet, the concept isn't difficult to understand due to the straightforward terms that are used. For example, as an Elementalist, Quick Legs effect is to make someone move faster, and Hard Body is to make one’s body literally solid as a rock. Overall, Tear of God is an enjoyable read. There’s an edge of consequence and a real sense of stakes, making it perceptive and sharp.

Raymond Henri has crafted an interesting tale in Tear of God - Elements. In this science fiction thriller, a mother and father desperately attempt to discover their son Mink's special element by any means possible. Upon taking a trip, disguised originally as a vacation, they plan to explore new possibilities. You soon learn just how far this family is willing to go to uncover what most youths know about themselves far sooner. It may even seem shocking. Then Henri adds a unique twist to the tale. It is obvious from early on that the main characters are not like we are as humans. In fact, once the first plot twist arises, you come to learn that humans are most likely the Machinists and are considered evil. It seems the Machinists have found the Tear of God. Mink thought the Tear of God was just a myth, but what if it does exist? What lengths will Mink and his family be forced to go to in an effort to conserve the deeply protected secret of the Tear of God? Perhaps even taking the life of another? This darker option is disturbing to Mink, but without knowing which element he is connected to, will he be able to help his parents and his kind? Will he be interrogated by leaders about the help he does offer? Ultimately, will it be enough to save the Tear of God and his parents?

I found Raymond Henri's Tear of God to be interesting, though somewhat confusing to follow at times. With a large number of characters and the nifty, but very odd names, it was simply challenging to keep track of the storyline now and again. I also felt there was so much emphasis placed on discovering Mink's element, only to drastically shift gears towards a different focus. But as I moved through the story, I found I had it eventually all worked together. It is quite a long tale, but one that should hold your interest.