Towards the conclusion of John Boyne’s new book, one of his characters, a novelist, observes, “There’s nothing else that I want to do with my life than tell stories because unlike in the real world, when a writer invents characters, we get to decide how their stories end. Happy or sad.” The individuals whom readers encounter on the pages of THE ELEMENTS are unique as they are linked by their association with sexual abuse.

"Although these characters are flawed in many ways, Boyne does attempt to find some humanity in each of them. This craftsmanship makes THE ELEMENTS both a daunting and an optimistic novel."

From 2023 to 2025, Boyne wrote a series of four novellas --- WATER, EARTH, FIRE and AIR --- that were published individually in England. In the United States, they can be found in this single volume. Each novella features a narrator whose life has been impacted by criminal behavior, whether they’re an enabler, an accomplice, a perpetrator or a victim. Each has a story to tell, and Boyne does so in an often subtle yet extremely effective manner. He has a remarkable ability to create some of the most complex, unforgettable and despicable characters you will ever encounter.

In an interview discussing THE ELEMENTS, Boyne acknowledged that he was still working on parts three and four while copies of WATER already had been published and was available in bookstores. Fortunately, it was selling well and received critical acclaim. But Boyne still had to complete the final portions of his novel and remain true to the material from parts one and two. Reading the finished product makes the connecting tissues of the four stories and their overlapping characters a remarkable literary achievement.

THE ELEMENTS spans decades, generations and adventures. It begins on a small island off the coast of Ireland populated by 400 inhabitants. In subsequent chapters, the saga moves to England and Australia. The story is told through narratives that include detailed flashbacks and an interlocking cast of characters with connections that are often surprising but also plausible. It is difficult to describe them without giving away major elements of the plot.

Although these characters are flawed in many ways, Boyne does attempt to find some humanity in each of them. This craftsmanship makes THE ELEMENTS both a daunting and an optimistic novel.