Every Last Breath by Jennifer L. Armentrout: Review

Synopsis:

Some loves will last ’til your dying breath

Every choice has consequences—but seventeen-year-old Layla faces tougher choices than most. Light or darkness. Wickedly sexy demon prince Roth, or Zayne, the gorgeous, protective Warden she never thought could be hers. Hardest of all, Layla has to decide which side of herself to trust.

Layla has a new problem, too. A Lilin—the deadliest of demons—has been unleashed, wreaking havoc on those around her…including her best friend. To keep Sam from a fate much, much worse than death, Layla must strike a deal with the enemy while saving her city—and her race—from destruction.

Torn between two worlds and two different boys, Layla has no certainties, least of all survival, especially when an old bargain comes back to haunt them all. But sometimes, when secrets are everywhere and the truth seems unknowable, you have to listen to your heart, pick a side—and then fight like hell…

***

The big bad is revealed in Every Last Breath. To be honest, I can't really believe I have already read the last book of the trilogy. It seems like yesterday when I read the very first one. It has been a fast-paced ride full of fun and hotness and danger. I enjoy the series very much and I think Jennifer is talented with gargoyles. But despite my fondness towards the series (and this book in particular), I'm still not completely satisfied with the last installment.

It is filled with good and sweet things though, and we definitely should talk about it first. After the earth-shattering reveal in Stone Cold Touch, you'd think that was it and we should tackle the Lilin right away. But nope, not even close. Jennifer had a whole bunch of surprise waiting to be launched. Layla's true heritage and unexpected journeys are just some of those things. The book doesn't have a downtime. Non-stop action and excitement filled the 400-paged book, and I devoured it in less than a day. It feels so good to thoroughly read through a book like this. The thrill, and the fact that it reminds me of the good ol' times of actually having moments to read books. 

Jennifer has given a fair chance for both Roth and Zayne. Decision is made in the final book of the trilogy. There's no doubt who Layla ends up with, but let's keep his anonymity just for the record. But oh man, aren't their intimate moments burning bright. Seriously, they are perfect for each other. I can't even begin to describe the awesomeness of this. Let's just say the level of their moments together doing... something (wink) is off the charts, almost treading away from YA territory. I love every single thing about them and I'm so glad they finally get together.

The best thing about this series is that it is a revolution in terms of our view towards evil or goodness. Sometimes people does the worst things for the noblest (twisted) reasons. And the guys that are doing "evil" deeds might not be all bad. Compassion is a tricky thing. And people's intentions are never truly known. I guess the lesson is that you should never have prejudices for people. Strip away the shell of goodness/badness and you might just get to know the core of their being.

Despite being entirely in love with this book - and gaining some sort of knowledge from it, there are actually holes in the story. Flaws that just nags at me. 

(The following paragraph may involve spoilers. If you haven't read the book, please Please PLEASE do not read that part)

It is the last book. While I get that she might be trying to leave some open area for imagination (*cough Morris cough*), I'm dying to know what Layla truly is. But she's something that cannot be defined by human words. That's not a very satisfactory answer. What the hell is Lilith anyway? The ending is also a little bit too rushed, even though it's still fantastic in its own way. There are just too many questions left unanswered, which makes the world-building part unstable. At least, nowhere as strong and vivid as the other books written by her (namely, both the Covenant and Lux series).

It is a nice ending after all, and I'm excited about her future projects.

Rating: 8.5/10

The Return by Jennifer L. Armentrout: Review

Synopsis:

The Fates are cackling their bony asses off…

It’s been a year since Seth made the deal with the gods that pledged his life to them. And so far, the jobs they’ve given him have been violent and bloody–which is kind of all right with him. But now Apollo has something else in mind for Seth. He’s got to play protector while keeping his hands and fingers off, and for someone who really has a problem with restraint, this new assignment might be the most challenging yet.

Josie has no idea what this crazy hot guy’s deal might be, but it’s a good bet that his arrival means the new life she started after leaving home is about to be thrown into an Olympian-sized blender turned up to puree. Either Josie is going insane or a nightmare straight out of ancient myth is gunning for her.

But it might be the unlikely attraction simmering between her and the golden-eyed, secret-keeping Seth that may prove to be the most dangerous thing of all.

Because history has once again been flipped to repeat.

Book 1 in the new adult paranormal TITAN series, spin-off to the best selling COVENANT series.

***

"But these sons whom he be got himself great Heaven used to call Titans in reproach, for he said that they strained and did presumptuously a fearful deed, and that vengeance for it would come afterwards."

To my surprise, it actually takes me quite a long time to get through The Return. Ten freaking days. Seriously. I love the book, actually, but it seems like I can't get myself to read a new book after reading the Falling Kingdoms series (and I'm still fangirling over it). The book is more random than I originally thought, and ten times more funny and interesting. Jennifer always surprise me when I thought I'd seen enough surprise that I couldn't possibly be shocked anymore. It's a book I thoroughly enjoy.

Seth returns in the book. He has changed a lot since the end of Sentinel. Since the end of the great war. He's an executioner for the gods, basically at their mercy. He regrets a lot of his decisions in the past and is way more quiet than usual. He bears a lot of weight and stuff. That actually makes me a little sad, because some part of his old cocky self is gone, which is way more fun. But he's still funny and still egotistic, and I find myself enjoying his character way more than I did in the Covenant books. Josie is the way-more-innocent female protagonist in the book. She bears an uncanny resemblance to Alex. Both mentally and emotionally. Maybe nowhere as snarky as Alex, but definitely just as strong. However, I was actually hoping for a character with very different personalities. It's not exactly a disappointment, because I really miss Alex. But that's not what I was hoping for Josie either. I still like Josie though, and would like to see where her character will go.

Speaking of Alex... if you have read the Covenant books, you will know about her character really well. She doesn't appear once in The Return, and neither does Aiden. But there are some mentioning of them that makes me happy and sad at the same time. I miss both of them and their love. But they are not an essential part of the series. However, Deacon, Luke, Solos and Marcus do have a role in the series, and I love the references.

The series name is Titan. So of course this book is about Titans. After that particular unexpected event happened in Sentinel, the world is at peril. Again. Having wayward Titan gods running amuck is not exactly one's idea of safe. The situation is even more bleak than in Covenant. So of course, I'm eager to see just how this problem will resolve. Now I really want the second book.

The Return is refreshing, despite taking a long-ass time to finish it. I have fun reading it.

Rating: 8/10

Top Ten YA Novels 2014 #2: Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I would be extremely surprised when a book tops City of Heavenly Fire, let alone two. But oh man, I can't count the times I've re-read this book. It never gets old to re-read the book.

The second place belongs to:

Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Synopsis:

Katy knows the world changed the night the Luxen came.

She can't believe Daemon welcomed his race or stood by as his kind threatened to obliterate every last human and hybrid on Earth. But the lines between good and bad have blurred, and love has become an emotion that could destroy her—could destroy them all.

Daemon will do anything to save those he loves, even if it means betrayal.

They must team with an unlikely enemy if there is any chance of surviving the invasion. But when it quickly becomes impossible to tell friend from foe, and the world is crumbling around them, they may lose everything— even what they cherish most—to ensure the survival of their friends…and mankind.

War has come to Earth. And no matter the outcome, the future will never be the same for those left standing.

***

Date read: August 5, 2014

My review: 

http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2014/08/opposition-review.html

My rating: 10/10

***

Top 3 reasons why I like it:

1) It's so different from Obsidian.

Well, if it was no different from Obsidian, that would not be exactly cool. But I thought about the time when I read Obsidian. I despise the Arum. Even after reading Obsession I still have some tiny little faith in me that Luxen is good. Opposition completely changes that. Of course, not all of them are bad. But nothing is certain anymore. There's the human side and the Arum side and the Luxen side and neither sides are exactly good. I guess I should say I like the uncertainty and the grays in the book. After all, a villain is a hero in his or her own story. You can't exactly judge them fairly.

2) Daemon/Kat

After a true test of their relationship, it has solidified even further and has become more intense and fiery. They might just have to be the best couple in my YA history. They are so perfect. They will practically sacrifice anything to be with each other (well, except for sacrificing each other, of course). Kat and Daemon are really the cutest together. And super bad-ass. You can't say they don't glow with triumph when the fight. I also like Daemon's overprotectiveness. I guess I like it because it's kind of expected, so it doesn't annoy me. Anyway, it's fierce and cute and very powerful. It's impossible not to love them while reading the books.

3) It just blew my mind

A lot of stuff happened in Opposition. Oh, that's the worse understatement ever. There's no way JLA can string up so many crazy things together in one single book (that is not exactly long, by the way) and still manage to stay awesome and natural. How can you go from bad to FML territory to things-aren't-actually-that-screwed in merely 200 pages or so? This is just unbelievable. This book deserves an award for simply being fantastic.

***

Why I recommend this book or series:

I am not exactly familiar with aliens, that's why Obsidian sounds awesome in the first place. But there are so much more good stuff in the series than just glowing aliens. It has the best narrators ever. Kat is simply amazing by being strong and witty and logical. You don't even need to describe Daemon's hotness (and his smart mouth). This series wins by default. I mentioned just how crazy Opposition is. Well, the previous four books might be slightly less mind-blowing, but still really great. I enjoy every second of reading the series. I miss it.

***

Do I like the cover?

Not as much as I do with the original covers of Obsidian, Onyx, Opal, and Origin. It still looks good, but I wish they'd keep to the original covers.

***

Top 3 favorite scenes:

1) The meeting with Lotho

It's a full demonstration of just how protective Daemon is and how strong Kat is. There are also a lot of exciting moments and plot twists

2) When Daemon finally confirms his, um, sanity to Kat (I think it's in chapter 6)

Even though I know Daemon's pretending, I was seconds away from kicking his balls and setting Kat up for someone else when I read those scenes from Kat's point of view. It's a huge relief when Kat finally learns about Daemon's sanity. It's also a smoking hot scene, so I'm all over it.

3) Kat and Daemon's conversation at the Seneca Rocks

At last, the wheel comes full circle. 

I like the rememberance. I also like how the legend fits to this story perfectly and seamlessly. The whole story is masterfully written.

***

OTP: Duh, Kat/Daemon of course!

Top Ten YA Novels 2014 #6: Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Another swoon-worthy novel on my list? You betcha!

The sixth place belongs to:

Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Synopsis:

Every touch has its price

Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.

But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…

***

Date Read: November 5, 2014

My Review:

http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2014/11/stone-cold-touch-review.html

My rating: 8.5/10

***

Top 3 reasons why I love it:

1. Zayne

Okay, let's be clear about one thing. I'm actually rooting for Roth. I like Roth more and I hope Layla will be with him in the end. But Zayne... gah, I'm so torn! Stone Cold Touch is definitely Zayne's book. He reminds me SO much of Aiden. Like the fact that he still supports Layla even though she does something that most consider as, um, demonic. Or the fact that he will protect her at all costs (which is also the case with Roth... and Aiden). Or the fact that... well, he doesn't reveal his true feelings until it's almost too late (which, unfortunately, is also the case with Aiden). But Aiden is one of my favorite male characters of all time, and I can find a lot of similarities between Zayne and him. That just reminds me of good times when I read Covenant series.

2. Cliffhanger ending

Okay, I probably have mentioned before how I "hate" cliffhanger endings. I might have to clarify that. I "hate" it because I need to wait (typically) one more year for the next book, and that is totally killing me. But a cliffhanger ending is actually pretty awesome and sick as it sounds, I kinda love the feeling of waiting and let my imaginations run wild. This is the case with Stone Cold Touch. And it takes cliffhanger to a whole new level, in which pretty much anything can happen next. Everything is at stake at the end of the book. Ugh, I can't wait for Every Last Breath! 

3. My admiration for Layla

I don't deal well with people who misunderstand me for their own flaming prejudices. I usually flip out and fling them the truth before storming out. Layla's control is pretty admirable because she can hold it together when people are judging her for reasons that can kill (literally). How she manages that is beyond me. She's incredibly strong yet still manages to keep her girlish side. Come on, wouldn't you call her fantasies with Roth or Zayne girlish? Layla is the true definition of girl power, guys. I love her.

***

Why I recommend this book or series:

Some might say this is just another love triangle. First off, this is NOT a love triangle. If it was, Roth and Zayne would also be in love (or at least just love) each other, which is all kinds of awkward. The only real love triangle exists in The Infernal Devices because Will and Jem cares deeply for each other. Okay, so it might be a love "angle" (this should be a trend, by the way). And it might be your typical love "angle". But it's not making me want to crawl into the bed and pull my hair out. I know this is subjective, but it's not an annoying love "angle". That counts for something, right? I don't have a lot of experience with gargoyles, and the few moments that I have aren't exceptionally enjoyable (I'm not a die-hard The Beautiful and The Cursed fan, even though it's an interesting book). This is probably the first time I enjoy a book with gargoyles in it. 

***

Do I like the cover?

It's okay. I like the cover of White Hot Kiss more. I'm actually more curious about Layla's expression in this cover. Why does she look like she's not enjoying Zayne's gaze/touch/whatever?

***

Top 3 favorite scenes: (Spoiler Alert!)

1. Layla fighting the Nightcrawler

That scene is messed-up but really funny. Especially what happens before and afterwards.

2. Zayne's confession

It's sweet. I'd give him that.

3. When Bambi ate the Warden

Seriously, Bambi is awesome. I guess having a pet snake has its perks, huh? This is just... wow.

***

OTP: Layla/Roth. But I'm super torn now that Zayne is truly in the picture, reminding me so much of Aiden.

Wicked: Review

Synopsis:

Things are about to get Wicked in New Orleans.

Twenty-two year old Ivy Morgan isn’t your average college student. She, and others like her, know humans aren’t the only thing trolling the French Quarter for fun… and for food. Her duty to the Order is her life. After all, four years ago, she lost everything at the hands of the creatures she’d sworn to hunt, tearing her world and her heart apart.

Ren Owens is the last person Ivy expected to enter her rigidly controlled life. He’s six feet and three inches of temptation and swoon-inducing charm. With forest-green eyes and a smile that’s surely left a stream of broken hearts in its wake, he has an uncanny, almost unnatural ability to make her yearn for everything he has to offer. But letting him in is as dangerous as hunting the cold-blooded killers stalking the streets. Losing the boy she loved once before had nearly destroyed her, but the sparking tension that grows between them becomes impossible for Ivy to deny. Deep down, she wants… she needs more than what her duty demands of her, what her past has shaped for her.

But as Ivy grows closer to Ren, she realizes she’s not the only one carrying secrets that could shatter the frail bond between them. There’s something he’s not telling her, and one thing is for certain. She’s no longer sure what is more dangerous to her—the ancient beings threatening to take over the town or the man demanding to lay claim to her heart and her soul.

***

I haven't been laughing for a long time. And this got me. Every single time. It's full of humor and cute awkwardness. It's pretty intense too. However, it's definitely not as intense as I thought it would be. At least not in the action sense. This is the only reason I give it a four instead of five out of five stars on Goodreads. You can't deny the tense emotions between Ivy and Ren though, and man, wasn't that hot.

The biggest difference between Ivy and all the other heroines I've ever read about is that she has a boyfriend who is, well, dead now. It's one of the vital factors that shapes her personality that we see in the book. While I think most would be able to get over it after three years, I think a lot of them would still mourn over it and probably lose their own sense of humor. I can tell that Ivy has not. It's actually impressive, how she can string witty things together after her pain and loss. Ren is similar to Ivy in some ways. The loss they've suffered, and the sense of humor. It's cute seeing them bicker over trivial things. For some reason Ren is not as realistic as I thought. Sure, he's a nice guy and a little bossy and certainly drool-worthy. But while other Jennifer's male characters brand permanent images in my mind, it doesn't happen with Ren. Well, at least not yet. I have a feeling this will eventually happen. Anyway, I can't really connect to Ren. Maybe it's because the length of the book is really short. Or at least it feels short. I have high hopes on Ren's character, though, even though he's being transparent in this book.

I think we should also talk about the third wheel here, aka Tink. He's awesome. Tink is a brownie, which means he's from the Otherworld. Tink is full of little secrets. But he's probably the funniest thing I've ever seen in my life. He can practically string every sex-related (or genitalia-related) things in every single sentence. And he likes Amazon Prime. Seriously. A mythical creature likes to talk about sex like a drunk college chick and loves to buy things online. This is as awkward as it is funny. But like I said, Tink is full of secrets. So I guess he'll be a really good character in the book.

Wicked is a quick read for me. I've been under stress lately and this is the perfect book for me to relax a little bit. I'm really grateful and I will certainly read the next book.

Rating: 8/10

Stone Cold Touch: Review

Synopsis:

Every touch has its price

Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.

But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…

***

Stone Cold Touch reminds me of why I love Jennifer's books in the first place. Because oh, it's so good! It's a perfect mixture of humor and suspense (and a lot of heart-wrench, depending on your mental health). It seriously puts "impossible" into "impossible to guess", because a lot of things are really morbid but in a good way.

Layla is facing her biggest challenge yet: desire and rejection and mortal danger all blended into one. She has every reason to have low self-esteem. And for a little while she does. But she quickly stacks all the rage and devastation into a corner for her own good. This is actually pretty admirable, considering a lot of bad things happened to her in the previous book.

It's impossible to write this review without talking about Roth and Zayne. In White Hot Kiss I'm all about Roth, because he was, well, he was Roth. Sexy, hot, humorous, and most importantly, forthcoming. Whereas Zayne stayed in the background most of the time, even when Layla was pretty transparent with her feelings. It's hard not to root for Roth in the first book. However, Jennifer takes it further. She doesn't leave Zayne behind in this book. Of course she doesn't. She gives him a chance in Stone Cold Touch and for us to truly understand Zayne's feelings for Layla. And now I'm super torn. They are both good for Layla in their own ways (and of course, gorgeous). But I still think Roth is better for her. Roth accepts both her Warden side and demon side while Zayne struggles with her darker half. In some ways Zayne and Layla are better off as best friends because their relationship is... pretty complicated in their own way. 

NOT TO MENTION THAT IT'S HARD TO GIVE ALL THE CHARACTERS CLOSURE WHEN LAYLA CARES FOR BOTH OF THEM. SERIOUSLY ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL US?

The best part of this book is the fact that there's seriously no way to guess the outcome of the book. Like, when everything points to a direction that everyone believes so adamantly, the real evil lurks behind everyone's back. Okay, that's an understatement. The evil lurks in front of their/our eyes and still they/we can't see it. How do you even do that? That's... just unbelievable. And now everything is thrown off balance again. I can't wait to read the final book, which I know it's going to be tense and awesome.

Rating: 8.5/10

Opposition: Review

Synopsis:

Katy knows the world changed the night the Luxen came.

She can't believe Daemon welcomed his race or stood by as his kind threatened to obliterate every last human and hybrid on Earth. But the lines between good and bad have blurred, and love has become an emotion that could destroy her—could destroy them all.

Daemon will do anything to save those he loves, even if it means betrayal.

They must team with an unlikely enemy if there is any chance of surviving the invasion. But when it quickly becomes impossible to tell friend from foe, and the world is crumbling around them, they may lose everything— even what they cherish most—to ensure the survival of their friends…and mankind.

War has come to Earth. And no matter the outcome, the future will never be the same for those left standing.

***

One year of palm-twitching and toes-curling, and I'm scared of reading it. 

With all the excerpts of pain and fury, the first thing I'm going to talk about is the sanity state of our beloved Luxen (aka Daemon, Dawson and Dee). It's possible to hate them. It's also possible to hate them forever, I'd give you that. Sounds really crazy, but I think everyone who read this book hate them more or less for at least some of the time. It's up to you guys to stop hating them or otherwise, but I'm so glad that they all try to redeem themselves from the hands of the bad Luxen in the end. I'm not sure I can hold a grudge on the three of them without exhausting myself. I have done it with another series and I loved that series a lot. It's hard not to re-read those books but it's also hard to re-read those books and be reminded how the series has ended and the loss those characters have suffered, even if you love the ending.

I have a strange protectiveness towards Kat in Opposition. I always admire her character and she's one of my favorite heroines ever. But I don't love her to the point where I want to hurt someone who has hurt her, even unintentionally *cough Daemon *cough *cough. But then, she fares so well in a pre-apocalyptic world. She kind of even enjoys it. It's very bookish and cute. I bet everyone is secretly hoping for a zombie apocalypse or apocalypse of some kind, especially book nerds like us. It's very understandable and relatable. Make sense why Kat is loved by so many of us.

Opposition is even more fast-paced than Origin, which is unimaginable. A shitload of stuff happened in Origin, and my heart barely survived that. I'm not sure how I survived Opposition aside from screaming and trying not to tear my hair out of my head. A lot has happened in Opposition, and that is the worse understatement ever. Mind. Completely. Blown. I was this close from a mental breakdown. The ending is perfect, despite every new challenges that emerges throughout the book. Happily Ever Afters are perfect when they are earned. 

It's just amazing. A masterpiece of perfection. I don't understand why people hesitate to dive for Obsidian. The level of awesomeness of the series should be illegal.

Rating: 10/10 

Don't Look Back: Review

Synopsis:

Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend.

Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash.

But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?

***

I have to say I'm surprised when I first read this book. Jennifer's books are always quirky and really fun and at times... perverted in a really cool way. This is book is quite different. It's more normal and quieter. I can't get used to it at first because I'm kind of anticipating for some really nice out-snark. But this book finally grows on me simply because the tone is normal enough to be passed by as a YA novel but not too normal to be boring.

Oh yeah, this book will be anything but boring. For some reason it kind of reminds me of The Taking by Kimberly Derting (yes, I read the book. Don't hit me). A girl, trying to uncover a secret of her past and what actually happened to her. And the girl is a changed person. The two books are quite similar in these two aspects, which are what I like most about the book. A mysterious streak. Who wouldn't like it? Another part I like really much is that Cassie has to uncover a secret that can possibly ruin her life, and she doesn't even know it. The outcome is very interesting. (And that's all I'm going to tease)

Unfortunately Cassie is not as good as a character as I originally thought so. Yes, the post-anesthesia Cassie is nice enough, and I would also say this anesthesia thing is good for her just because she was kinda a bitch before the incident thing (even though she probably didn't really mean to be). But for some reason I just can't grow attached to that girl. She seems a little too far away. I think it's just me, but it kills a little of my mood. Fortunately this is not a big problem, so it doesn't matter much to the awesomeness of the book.

Do I recommend this book to you? Well, I won't recommend it like I recommend Throne of Glass series (which is one of my favorites) or something like that. But it doesn't hurt to try, because it is entertaining.

Rating: 7.5/10

Cover Reveal: Lux: Beginnings by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Yes. Lux. As in Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Lux: Beginnings is a combination of the first two books of the series, Obsidian and Onyx. And we have a cover for it.

Synopsis:

Obsidian

There's an alien next door. And with his looming height and eerie green eyes, he's hot...until he opens his mouth. He's infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, he lights me up with a big fat bulls-eye. Turns out he has a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal his abilities and the only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to him until my alien mojo fades. If I don’t kill him first, that is.

Onyx
Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro alien connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems. I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

***

Release date: June 3, 2014

Okay, the synopsis have me swooning all over again like I read the book the first time. I miss the first two books!

And the cover is very pretty (and very eerie, but in a good way). Though I must say I love the original covers of Obsidian and Onyx more (I mean, hotness leaked from the covers)

***

About the author:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer Armentrout lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

***

Find out more about Lux: Beginnings here:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Find out more about Jennifer here:

Twitter | Facebook | Website

***

We will also be raffling off two fan inspired artwork from fans of the Lux series sent from the author, Jennifer L. Armentrout, herself.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

White Hot Kiss: Review

Synopsis:

One kiss could be the last.

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever.

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul.

But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

***

White Hot Kiss is a pretty awesome book with mythological creatures like the gargoyles and demons. And with a girl in between. Literally. I like this book generally. You know, with the quick wits and the dark underlying plots, this book can be classified as a grade-A book. But to me it lacks the chemistry that actually captivates me. Yes, this book is action-packed. Yes, this book is pretty fast-paced. Yes, this book is hilarious AND steamy at the same time, which is my favorite combination. It just doesn't have that sizzle that I want, and that's why I can't give it a full 5 out of 5 for White Hot Kiss.

Layla is a little different from Katy or Alex. She doesn't have the same confidence as the two of them. While she can certainly kick butt, in some ways she's not as badass as the two of them. She's also more naive than the two of them. But that's okay, because she has the quick-wit and the smart mouth which I really love. The fact that she's forgiving is very admirable. She can still reason with them with reason and reason ALONE when others are misunderstanding her. I, myself, could do no such thing in her position. Sure, I'm a good debater, but I will totally throw out reasons soaked in venom and smart-assery. So yeah, it's hard not to respect that girl.

I was pretty excited to meet Zayne, because he seems like those guys that I can relate to and will totally like. But I find myself not really caring about him. Okay, I still like that guy, because he's nice and he obviously care about Layla (maybe more than he should, which is something I don't know how to process, for the very first time). But 1) he's pretty annoying sometimes because he thinks he has Layla's best interest in his mind and blah blah blah and 2) he just doesn't have the same edge as Roth (which I will talk about later) and 3) he just doesn't make enough appearances to make a good enough impression on his own. I'm actually a little disappointed about that because I had high hopes on his character. Maybe he'll get better in Stone Cold Touch. 

Roth... I love that guy! He's so much better than I would ever imagine! At first I didn't know what to think of him because demons are supposed to be the bad guys. But he's just so different. He has that kind of intensity that is completely swoon-worthy. Not to mention he's hilarious. He always gets the point and be witty about it. Oh, and the fact that he doesn't expect anything from Layla but be completely (well, not completely, but enough) supportive just makes him ten times hotter. I want more of him in the next book please!

Generally this is quite a nice start of a new trilogy. I'm totally waiting for the next book.

Rating: 8/10

Top Ten YA Novels 2013 #2: Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Oh, I'm still having withdrawal from this book. It's the one of the best ending ever!

The second place belongs to:

Sentinel by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Synopsis:

It's a beautiful day for a war.

As the mortal world slowly slips into chaos of the godly kind, Alexandria Andros must overcome a stunning defeat that has left her shaken and in doubt of their ability to end this war once and for all.

And with all the obstacles between Alex and her happily-ever-after with the swoonworthy Aiden St. Delphi, they must now trust a deadly foe as they travel deep into the Underworld to release one of the most dangerous gods of all time.

In the stunning, action-packed climax to the bestselling Covenant series, Alex must face a terrible choice: the destruction of everything and everyone she holds dear… or the end of herself.

***

Date Read: November 3, 2013

My Review:

http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2013/11/sentinel-review.html

My Rating: 10/10

***

Top 5 Reasons Why I Like It:

1. Seth's sanity is back

Finally! You have no idea how much I want the real him be back! Even though he's always a punk, I still like him. I'm so happy to see him back on Team Good/Team Not So Insane

2. Titan

Yep, a mother-freaking Titan. And one hell of a badass Titan. Damn, I wish I can see more of them in Sentinel. But hey, we'll see them in Seth's spin-off series. So that kind of makes it up. Nice twist, Jennifer.

3. Aiden

Well, Covenant series won't be Covenant series with Aiden here, right? In Sentinel he finally opens up completely. And it's beautiful. I miss him so much along with Alex. They're one of the best couples ever. (I guess I don't even need to list how awesome Aiden is, right? That's understood XD)

4. The ending

Ah, the comfort and sadness of the closure. Since it's the ending, I won't spoil you on it (that is, unless you've read the book, then you wouldn't need any spoiling). But I couldn't drop my satisfied and happy grin on my face when I first read that part. I still can't drop the grin whenever I re-read the part. :) I'm so sad the series is over. It's one of the best I've read so far.

5. Apollo

Yes, the surprisingly annoying god. I kinda like that guy, even though sometimes he's just so annoying I have to roll my eyes. (Sorry, Apollo. But it's the truth. Please don't strike me with a god bolt) He's funny and a little smart-mouthed. He makes the series infinitely more interesting. 

***

Why I recommend this book/series:

A lot of people say that Half-Blood is kind of like a Greek-gods version of Vampire Academy. And I can't deny it. It's a little sad, to be honest. But even though Half-Blood is like a make-over of Vampire Academy, I still think the characters are completely likable. And throughout the Covenant series Jennifer develops her own story (at least, according to some fans who read both the sequels of Vampire Academy and Covenant series. I didn't finish VA). And if you are asking my opinion, the story is badass and awesome. The humor, the romance, the stakes... they're like a magnet for brilliance. It's a series that can't be missed. The series will just get better and better until it ends with a glorious bang.

P.S. About the VA part... well, please don't hit me. But after I finished the first book, I just couldn't get on with it. And that has nothing to do with any other series that even remotely resembles VA in any way. Guess I'm just not a fan of academies (except Mythos Academy, which is pretty nice, especially the students and the creatures are like a mix of all kinds of mythological legends)

***

Do I like the cover?

I have mixed feelings about the cover. If you are judging by the beauty of it, it's quite good but it's a little bit plain. But if you are judging by the meaning of the cover, it's brilliant. The silver tulip. And tulip means eternal love. You get the rest :)

***

Top 3 Favorite Scenes: (Beware Spoilers)

1. The ending

Duh, this is like one of the best endings ever. How can I not like it?

2. The Alex/Aiden scene after Alex is free of the creepy hold of the two sons of Ares.

I don't like crap standing in a relationship's way. So I like confessions. At least the truth is out and the road is clear.

3. Killing Ares

It's glorious. Literally. And surprisingly hilarious. That humor lasts... until a certain tragedy happens. But the killing part is still awesome.

***

OTP:

Duh. Alex and Aiden of course!

Top Ten YA Novels 2013 #4: Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Ooh, another book from one of my favorite authors of all time! And this is a sexy one.

The fourth place belongs to:

Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Synopsis:

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on?

And will they even be together?

***

Date Read: August 28, 2013

My Review:

http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2013/08/origin-review.html

My Rating: 9.5/10

***

Top 5 Reasons Why I Like It:

1. How Daemon and Kat still manage to be humorous in an organization as crazy as Daedalus

Yes, this talent of theirs is jaw-dropping. I mean, after a series of "tests", crazy stuff, torture, watching your love being tortured and all the things that normal people never see, and they still manage to be a little light about it, at least on the surface? It's admirable.

2. Humor

Jennifer takes humor to a whole new level here. I'm not gonna spoil you here because there will be no fun if you don't read the book yourself. But the book had me grinning from ear to ear by the time I ALMOST finished the book (almost, because the ending... is unnerving)

3. Craziness

Unimaginable craziness. Daedalus' ways to torture, Daedalus' final goal, And the Luxen's final goal... it's just unfathomable how Jennifer can put all these crazy stuff together without seeming too awkward.

4. Daemon!

Of course, we need our swoon-worthy, sexy, cocky, caring, sweet, and a hundred other stuff Daemon here. The book will not be the same without Daemon here. <3 <3

5. The twists

You will never guess what will happen next in Origin. Every time you think you grasp a clue about what might actually happen, Jennifer will surprise you with another result. Yep, by the time I finish the book, all I can think about is, "why is this happening!? You can't end it like this!!!"

*** 

Why I recommend this book/series:

The whole Lux series is awesome. Starting from Obsidian. You can't help but fall in love with our main protagonist, Katy, and the cocky, sexy Daemon. And the whole alien concept is kinda new, not because this series is about aliens, but because of the uniqueness of how Jennifer portray this concept. And with each book, the levels of craziness just keep ascending. Onyx is the start of all the crazy poop hitting the fan, and then Opal is the sort-of peace before Origin, and now Origin is the catalyst of the big bad final battle... the series just keeps getting better and better. I wonder what will happen in the final book, Opposition. Anyway, the series is just plain awesome. You should really try it out, like right now.

***

Do I like the cover?

Hell yes I do! It's sexy and hot. And it's very different from the previous three books. The shades of the sky are lighter, much lighter than the previous three books, except the background is like the start of an apocalypse, unlike the natural backgrounds in the previous books. So yeah, it's different, and it's hot.

***

Top 3 Favorite Scenes: (Beware Spoilers!)

1. Daemon and Kat's reunion in the Daedalus (Chapter 10)

Reunion tastes the sweetest. More so when Daemon and Kat reunites :)

2. The Wedding Scene (Chapter 25)

It's like the best thing in the world. So yeah, that explains it all.

3. Daemon's proposal (Chapter 24)

This one has me going all fangirl crazy:

“I want to spend every second, every minute, every hour with you.” Part of me couldn’t believe something that cheesy had come out of my mouth, but it was also so beautifully true. “I want a year’s worth of seconds and minutes with you. I want a decade’s worth of hours, so many that I can’t add them up.” -- Daemon

That explains it all. I just freaking love this book.

***

OTP:

Duh. Daemon and Kat!

Bitter Sweet Love: Review

Synopsis:

In a sizzling prequel novella to her new series THE DARK ELEMENTS, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout draws readers into the extraordinary, irresistible world of Wardens and demons.

Dez wasn't just Jasmine's crush. A gargoyle Warden like Jas, he helped her come to terms with her destiny—fending off demons and maintaining balance between good and evil. He was her everything...right until the moment he disappeared without a trace. It didn't help that Jas's father had just announced that she and Dez would one day be mated. Hard not to take that personally.

And now he's back, three years older, ten times hotter, ready to pick up exactly where they left off. But Jas isn't taking that risk again. Dez has seven days to meet all her conditions and earn back her trust. Seven days filled with terrifying danger and sweet temptation. Seven days to win her heart—or shatter it all over again...

***

Gargoyle Wardens and demons? At first I'm not so sure because this is so new and I don't know how to process that. But damn, sign me up for more gargoyles hotness! It's impossible not to like this new world because it's so unique and irresistible and beautiful at the same time (I'm sure it can also be terrifying in some ways, but I guess we'll see more with Layla and Zayne). Bitter Sweet Love is a pre-novella destined to bring girls down because it's sizzling hot. 

It's pretty hilarious to see Jas nearly tripping on the floor when she sees Dez's return. Dez has seven days to win her heart back all over again and mate with her or leave her broken again. The seven days... well I'm not going to spoil you too much. Let's just say you will find yourself laugh out loud in places where you don't normally, well, laugh.

We also see Layla and Zayne in Bitter Sweet Love. I guarantee--- I mean guarantee --- that you will like Layla. Despite being a half demon and half gargoyle and has a dark side (this is not spoiler, by the way. Check it out on the synopsis of White Hot Kiss on Goodreads), she's a complete sweetheart in the novella. And innocent. And she goes to public school (Finally a not-so-antisocial-gargoyle! XD). I have a feeling I'm already liking where White Hot Kiss is heading. 

If you are still not sure about whether gargoyles can make a great story or not, read this novella. I'm pretty sure you will dive right into the world.

Rating: 8.5/10

Sentinel: Review

Synopsis:

It's a beautiful day for a war.

As the mortal world slowly slips into chaos of the godly kind, Alexandria Andros must overcome a stunning defeat that has left her shaken and in doubt of their ability to end this war once and for all.

And with all the obstacles between Alex and her happily-ever-after with the swoonworthy Aiden St. Delphi, they must now trust a deadly foe as they travel deep into the Underworld to release one of the most dangerous gods of all time.

In the stunning, action-packed climax to the bestselling Covenant series, Alex must face a terrible choice: the destruction of everything and everyone she holds dear… or the end of herself.

***

Okay, did I really just read Sentinel? I think I did.

And here I thought Apollyon was awesome by default. Hell, Sentinel puts Apollyon to SHAME. Sentinel has me hooked up right from the second I open the book, and it just gets better (or crazier) every page I turned. It doesn't reveal anything accidentally. I can totally see that every craziness is plotted carefully and beautifully. Trust me you will get your heart broken and mended and broken again in this book. 

I read this while I'm sitting in a bus full of people. I'm not sure how I make it without showing too much emotion or just freak out on people. I know I can't show too much expression on my face or I will totally be regarded as crazy. But damn, reading this book without freaking out is the hardest thing I've ever done these days. If it's not my awareness of the public, I'm pretty sure I can't clamp down the expletive words from my mouth. And somehow this makes every emotion I felt amplified. Surprise is the least unstable emotion out of what I felt, for gods sake. This book broke me wide open. It's crazy like that. I don't think even Allegiant broke me wide open in that way. 

Oh and here's Aiden and Seth. Aiden. Swoon-worthy, beautiful, protective, self-sacrificing Aiden. I like how he's not afraid of showing his emotions and love for Alex anymore (well, even in Apollyon Aiden hid a little of them from Alex and us). It's just so adorable that he's barely in control of what he felt. But after all, it's practically the end of the world. What's the point to hide what you feel when you're in danger of dying every second of every day? And here's Seth. Finally he makes an appearance. And not the aether-crazy version of appearance. I'm sure by the end of Sentinel, you will fall in love with Seth all over again (because I really, really do like him in Pure).

(Just a little spoiler. Avoid this if you don't even want to be remotely spoiled: I make the word self-sacrificing in the paragraph just above italic. As for what that means... well it's not as good as you think, but definitely not as bad as you think.)

But there are two catches. Hardly anything major. First, how can the book be so freaking... short! Okay, when you check Goodreads, it's actually longer than Apollyon. So in reality it's not that short. I don't know if that's because the whole 27-chapter thing being misleading or what, but it feels soooo short. I can't get enough of Covenant. Yet when you look back, the book is perfect and nothing more should be added. And second, Aiden is not making enough appearance! I know it's the whole apocalypse thing on a roll, but I actually miss Aiden. And with Sentinel being the last book of Covenant series... well I guess this missing thing is just going to get worse.

My favorite part? Of course it's the ending! To be honest, I was kind of expecting an ending like that, but never the details of it. The details of the ending is practically mind-blowing in its extreme. I almost have my mouth hanging open like no tomorrow... almost (you know, the whole not-showing-emotion-or-be-regarded-as-crazy thing). And then I want to cry in the beauty of it. It's just so finely plotted and everything I dreamed to happen (at some point, at least). This is a perfect ending for a series as awesome as Covenant series.

Looking back, it's hard to believe Alex has made so far and sacrifice so much in this book. In Daimon (or Half-Blood. They're more or less the same in terms of... Alex), Alex is a beautifully stubborn and hotheaded and reckless girl that acts on will and not on logic. Throughout the series Alex has transformed so much that I believe the Alex in Sentinel will hardly recognize the one in Half-Blood. She has become such a beautiful character throughout time. Still snarky, still stubborn, still fierce. But she is more mature than before. The course of events throughout the five books is the catalyst of all changes in Alex. 

I will miss the characters. Alex, Aiden, Seth, Caleb, and so on. Covenant is part of my life for quite some days. And although it's hard to let go all things awesome, I'd say it's a hail and farewell to the books. 

(Okay now I think of Ave Atque Vale with the whole hail and farewell thing XD)

Rating: Let me see... how about a 11 out of 10? Maybe not, since 11 is off-limits in the scale of 10. I will just stick with 10/10

Cover Reveal: Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Cover Reveal! Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout.




Publication Date: April 15, 2014

Synopsis:

Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend.

Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash.

But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?

Pre-order it on:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About the author:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.
Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture.
She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Find Jennifer L. Armentrout on:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Unchained: Review

Synopsis:

Between the pissed off creatures that want demon-hunter Lily Marks dead and the fallen angel who just...wants her, Lily is about ready to trade in forever for a comfy job in a cubicle farm.

The fact that she and Julian are civil to one another is enough to have her thrown out of the Sanctuary, but she can't shake her not-so-angelic stalker or how he brings her dangerously close to ecstasy.

Her forbidden relationship with Julian provides the perfect fuel for suspicion when a traitor is discovered to be working within the Sanctuary. Lily quickly finds herself hunted by well, everyone.

Her only hope is to discover the real traitor before she loses everything--and she'll need Julian's help. That is, if Julian is really there to help her...and not destroy her.

Yeah, being a Nephilim isn't everything it's cracked up to be.

***

Unchained is about the battle between good Nephilim and Fallen/minions/deadheads. And if you think Nephilim is divine, then you are wrong. Yes, there are the good ones, but they are all from the same origin (at least, that's what they believe). Yep, being a Nephilim isn't everything it's cracked up to be. I'm kinda surprised that Jennifer will write a story about Nephilim. Not that writing about Nephilim is anything wrong but it sounds more ordinary than Lux and Covenant if you haven't actually read the whole thing. 

I have some minor problems about this. It starts out a little bit too slow. It's still hilarious but besides the whole there-is-a-traitor-in-the-Sanctuary thing and Michael's training, there's nothing big going on. I understand the importance of those lines but that doesn't mean I'm not a little bored. And the first few parts of Michael's perspective also bores me a little until I can get the importance of his part. 

The characters are well-developed. Not as strong and lively as those in Lux and Covenant but definitely good enough. Lily is a bad-ass Nephilim, and she's strong-willed. She may not be my favorite character but she's a good protagonist. Julian... well, for some reason I don't have devotion for him. I like that guy, but only as a good character not as a swoon-worthy character. Michael's personality is a bit unclear. He's innocent comparing to other Nephilim. I'm not sure about my feelings towards him but I think he has potential to be a great character.

My favorite part? Oh yeah, a book about Nephilim is often involved with some sort of battle. And we totally get a good one. It's not as brutal as that in Apollyon (where Alex and her crew defeats those bronze bulls). But it's totally a battle with combats. Unless the fighting is damn awesome by definition, I normally don't accept battles without some sort of combats. Luckily we get a real great one. Thumbs up.

Rating: 7.5/10

Origin: Review

Synopsis:

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on?

And will they even be together?

***

Holy alien babies, can this be more crazy than Opal? Oh yes it can. I have to say I have a difficult time reading it in one time not because Origin is not good, but because it's too awesome and nuts that I have to take breaks and digest all the plots. I still can't think straight, and that's hours from I finished reading it.

Origin is very different from the previous three. The cover is a needless-to-say part (oh, and just because the cover is brighter than the previous three doesn't mean it make things any brighter than the previous three). After the events in Opal, the stakes are practically impossible to make through. Daemon, devastated, is determined to get Kat back. And Kat, being trapped in a dangerous place, is determined to survive. But things aren't that simple. There are far more sinister enemies. From the places where our favorite couple least expected. It's a book of secrets being revealed and the catalyst for the big boom in the final book, and nothing is certain in Origin... well, at least almost nothing.

I'm struck speechless by this book. It's perfect in every which way you can imagine. The biggest success is probably the setting of the whole situation. No one, I mean no one, are the innocent parties in this whole situation. There are no good guys (well, except maybe some claim that Daemon and Kat are the innocent ones, but for some reason I don't think they count). And the only choice is to choose a side where you feel like you are doing the right things, and not the side where you can actually do the right things. It reminds me of the whole messed-up situation in Apollyon, where both the Order and the... sort of revolutionaries are up to no good. I don't know how Jennifer managed to do this, but I have to say that's pretty awesome.

Another favorite part is that Jennifer can bring up humor even in the grimmest situation. Now bear in mind that things are really tense in Origin. One small mistake and shit hits the fan. Everyone was stressed and unable to pave a way through all the mess. But even in this kind of situation Jennifer are still able to make us laugh with her words. I really appreciate the humor because I think I will really snap if there aren't something balancing the craziness.

Origin is the perfect book for summer. It's enthralling, humorous, fast-paced, (really) action-packed and most importantly, unputdownable. I've probably said that a million times before, but for everyone who are still hesitating about reading this series, well you shouldn't because Lux series is something you won't even want to miss.

Rating: 9.5/10 (The full mark is always for the last book if that's awesome)

***

Oh and some information. According to Jennifer's official website, the final book of Lux series will be called OPPOSITION.

I have a really bad feeling about this... I just want Daemon and Kat together is that too much to ask?

Teaser Tuesday: Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Excuse me while I fangirl, because I FINALLY HAVE ORIGIN!!!!!

This weekly bookish meme is host by MizB @ Should Be Reading

To participate you:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random page
3.  Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
4.  BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
5.  Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

***

This week I choose Origin (Lux #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Giving in and letting them do what they wanted hadn't seemed like an option in the beginning. At first the pain was worth it, because I'd be damned if I was going to make this easy for them. Once the onyx had been washed from my skin and I could movie again, I rushed the door.













Add Origin in Goodreads:

Cover Reveal: Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Prepare to swoon all over the place, because this is the freaking ORIGIN cover by my all-time favorite author, Jennifer L. Armentrout!

Cover down here :)

Official blurb:

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything. 

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on? And will they even be together?

***

About the author:

 # 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer Armentrout lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

***

Find Origin here:

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Find Jennifer here:

Twitter | Facebook | Website

Publication Date of Origin: August 27, 2013

Teaser and Cover Reveal

Yep, more news!

1. Teaser from Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

In Obsession (Arum #1), there's a scene where "a guy with fierce green eyes" shows up with Luc in the club and that's Daemon! It's the teaser of that parallel scene in Daemon's PoV which occurs in both Obsession and Origin!

I took a step forward, rage swirling inside me.
“You broke into Mount Weather?” Hunter choked out a laugh. “Are you insane?”
“Shut up,” I said, keeping my eyes on Luc.
Hunter made a deep noise. “Our little mutual white flag of friendship is going to come to a halt if you tell me to shut up again.”
I spared him a brief glance. “Shut. Up.”
Dark shadows drifted over the Arum’s shoulder, and I faced him fully. “What?” I said, throwing my hands up in a universal come get some. “I have a lot of pent-up violence I’d love to take out on someone.”
“Guys.” Luc sighed, sliding off the bar. “Seriously? Can’t you two bro-mance it out?”

Wow, I didn't realize they want to go all bro-mance on each other that soon XD. Seriously if they aren't enemies they are going to out snark each other more and that will be whole lots of fun. Aww I'm so going to love Origin. I can't wait!

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2. Cover Reveal: Evertrue by Brodi Ashton

Everbound, the sequel of Everneath is one of the featurettes in Dark Days Winter 2013! And it's time for some more! Evertrue is the last book of Everneath trilogy and will be released in January 21, 2014! Will Evertrue make an appearance in Dark Days 2014 or The End is Here 2014? I hope so!

Okay here's the cover:

Beautiful! And we can actually get a better look at Nikki's face (if that's actually her). The swirling around her is even more torrential than Everbound. I can't wait to see how Nikki and Jack bust the whole Everneath down!