Review: Counteract (The Resistance Series #1) by Tracy Lawson

Counteract (The Resistance Series #1) by Tracy Lawson

ebook

Published by Buddhapuss Ink, LLC. on August 6, 2014

Rating: 4.5 stars

Summary (Goodreads): Two strangers-their destinies entwined-must work together to thwart a terrorist the country never suspected.

The Office of Civilian Safety and Defense has guarded the public against the rampant threat of terrorism for the last fifteen years with the full backing of the US government. Their carefully crafted list of Civilian Restrictions means no concerts or sporting events, no travel, no social media, no cash transactions, and no driver's licenses for eighteen-year-olds Tommy and Careen. The OCSD has even outlawed grocery stores, all in the name of safety.
Now, there's a new threat-airborne chemical weapons that could be activated at any time. But the OCSD has an antidote: Just three drops a day is all it takes to stay safe. It's a small price to pay for safety.
Or is it...

My Thoughts: 
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

I really enjoyed getting the chance to read this book. The novel is based in the United States in the not so distant future. There's a new thing in the government, the Office of Civilian Safety and Defense (OCSD), which was created to help fight against terrorists and keep the people of the US safe from them.

The story seems to jump right into something from the first page. There's an alert, and people find out that there are toxic poisons in the air released from terrorists and they needed to get the antidote, CSD, and take it daily or they would risk death. They talk about it being a "small price to pay for your safety." This is when I knew something wouldn't be right about this, and it drew me into the story even more.

This novel is very intricate with a variety of characters. The perspective changes throughout the novel between several of them This gives the reader a full view of all that is going on. As a reader, I learned so much about the OCSD from both the inside and out, and I got to see the way each of the characters' thoughts changed throughout the novel which helped me understand all of their actions, regardless of my thoughts about them. 

The two main characters were interesting to get to learn about. I enjoyed seeing their changes throughout the novel. Careen is a feisty girl, but when she does what she is told, take her CSD, there's a complete change in who she is. It's honestly crazy that the OCSD has enough power in the novel to incorporate something like this into the daily lives of the entire population, and it's scary to think of it happening to our country.

Tommy on the other hand is pretty down in the beginning of the novel, having lost his parents and injuring his leg, but he seems to get a grasp on himself as the novel progresses. Seeing both Careen and him on CSD made me angry at their government, and I was ecstatic when things went awry and they couldn't take any for a few days. They were able to clear their heads, and they realized what was going on. This is when I feel the story really picked up because they sprang into action.

The other perspectives I found really intriguing were Kevin and Trina. I loved getting to see the inner workings of the OCSD and the corruption throughout it. They learn about the awful things their director is planning on doing, and they begin discretely working toward eradicating this issue before it's too late. 

It was really interesting getting to see all the changes that Lawson made to the US throughout her novel. It takes place much sooner than most novels, only about 20 years, and because of that, all that was happening in her world resonated with me on a different level than most dystopian novels located in the US. Some things are definitely the same, kids go to college, they have cell phones to communicate, etc, but there were also drastic changes that shocked me. People stopped shopping outside of the home entirely, and air travel became restricted. It's a little difficult for me to picture this happening now, since in the novel it happens in 4 years. Then again, I can also understand it in this circumstance to a level because the nation does crazy things when threatened by terrorists. 

Overall, Lawson created a terrifying concept that shows the epitome of corruption and the thirst for absolute power over an entire population. I honestly can't wait to get the next book in this series. I hope certain things happen in the next novel that are good for the characters, though I also know there will be plenty more things that don't go the way I want them to for Careen and Tommy. 

★★★★½

Review: City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments #4) by Cassandra Clare

City of Fallen Angels (The Mortal Instruments #4) by Cassandra Clare

Paperback; 424 pages

Published by Margaret K. McElderry on October 2, 2012 (first published on April 5, 2011)

Rating: 3 stars

Summary (Goodreads): The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She’s training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And—most importantly of all—she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering Shadowhunters, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second, bloody war. Clary’s best friend, Simon, can’t help her—his mother just found out that he’s a vampire, and now he’s homeless. When Jace begins to pull away from her without explaining why, Clary is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: she herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

The stakes are higher than ever in the #1 New York Times bestselling fourth installment of the Mortal Instruments series.

My Thoughts: 
I honestly went back and forth with this book. I both enjoyed it and didn't enjoy it. 

In the beginning, the story started out strong and held my interest rather well. As the story progressed however, it slowly started to disappoint me. I just wasn't interested in the direction Clare wanted to bring this story. I believe the decline really started to show around the halfway point of the book.

With the different perspectives of each of the characters, there was able to be several different stories that were all connected but also separate. I enjoyed this, because when I wasn't enjoying a perspective of one of the characters, I knew that soon enough I would be back with another.

When the book starts out, I enjoyed everyone's perspective. I didn't care much for one thing Simon was doing that Clary knew about, but that's not something that would make me dislike the story or anything at all. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed reading about Simon and his life now as a vampire, even though he was trying to be as normal as possible. I also really enjoyed reading from Clary's perspective and seeing her training, as she is now going to be a shadowhunter. Jace's perspective was interesting as well, as he has issues he is personally dealing with that revolve around his family.

Then comes his dreams.

I didn't like this part of the book at all. It made me kind of sad, because I really like reading about Clary and Jace, but in this book I found myself dreading their sections in the book. I just didn't like the plot that Clare was making between them, and I didn't like how Jace didn't want to tell Clary what was wrong. That's literally the worst thing you can do, not tell someone what is wrong when there is something going on, and then start to completely ignore and avoid them. It just really annoyed me.

I will say this though, while it did annoy me when it came to Jace's actions, I did enjoy having him around when I was reading about Simon. When the story wasn't filled with Jace's angsty problems, I found myself liking what I was reading. Even when things like Jace's appearance were brought into play and the issues that came from that, when it wasn't from his perspective I didn't mind it much.

Simon really was the only person that kept me happy with this novel. His storyline was more captivating to me since he was learning more about the consequences of being a vampire, and he also was learning the consequences about the mark of Cain that Clary placed on him. The mark was really interesting to me, and while it was awful how it worked, I also found myself fascinated with it. 

Really I don't know what direction I should take this review in. By the end of the book, I felt like I was going to be happy with the turn of events, as it began to go in a direction I liked, but then, in the final pages, that was squashed. I don't like the way the series seems to be going, but we'll have to see. My close friend told me she loved the fifth book, so I'm hoping I do as well. I also don't want people to think I disliked this book, I did enjoy the read at some points, but I didn't like not being happy with the turn of events the way I was. Either way, Simon was the saving grace of this novel and I hope to see more of him in the next book!

★★★

Review: Night of Cake and Puppets (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2.5) by Laini Taylor

Night of Cake and Puppets (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2.5) by Laini Taylor

ebook; 89 pages

Published by Little, Brown Books on November 26, 2013

Rating: 5 stars

Summary (Goodreads): In Night of Cake & Puppets, Taylor brings to life a night only hinted at in the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy—the magical first date of fan-favorites Zuzana and Mik. Told in alternating perspectives, it’s the perfect love story for fans of the series and new readers alike. Petite though she may be, Zuzana is not known for timidity. Her best friend, Karou, calls her “rabid fairy,” her “voodoo eyes” are said to freeze blood, and even her older brother fears her wrath. But when it comes to the simple matter of talking to Mik, or “Violin Boy,” her courage deserts her. Now, enough is enough. Zuzana is determined to meet him, and she has a fistful of magic and a plan. It’s a wonderfully elaborate treasure hunt of a plan that will take Mik all over Prague on a cold winter’s night before finally leading him to the treasure: herself! Violin Boy’s not going to know what hit him.

My Thoughts: 

Oh my God I loved this ebook to pieces! It honestly is so cute and amazing. I would love for a first date to be like this (no matter how unrealistic its possibility really is!). 

I love the alternating point of views and the uncertainty each one of them feels even though they both clearly like one another. Zuzana is the same spit-fire girl she always is, but she is still so sweet as well and I honestly love her idea of making a treasure map to herself. It was so clever!

Mik is also interesting to read about, and it's cool to see the way he reacts to all of the things Zuzana does for him, especially since she has some magic to use. I love how, even though the night was supposed to be a bunch of surprises for him from Zuzana, he jumps at the chance to make a surprise of his own, even if it's last minute and he has to think on his toes.

There's honestly not much to say about this because it's just a short little story, but it was so magical! Even the parts without the magic. I was so curious to see each new event unfold, as Zuze and Mik both were as well.

I also really love the way that Zuzana relies on texting Karou and seeing their interactions because it's so normal, even though Karou is supposedly in South Africa looking for wishes. They just show such an amazing friendship, and you can really see how they help one another out no matter what it's about. 

Overall, this is not a necessary story to read in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy, but it is definitely a memorable one that I'll no doubt be rereading in the future! It adds a new perspective to Zuzana and Mik and makes my love for their characters so much more than it was before, even though I didn't think it possible!

★★★★★

Review: Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2) by Laini Taylor

Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2) by Laini Taylor

Hardcover; 517 pages

Published by Little Brown Books on November 6, 2012

Rating: 5 stars

Summary (Goodreads): Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.

This is not that world.

Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

My Thoughts: 
Wow! What an amazing book. I will admit that I wasn't as refreshed with the world as I would have liked to be, as it has been two years since I read the first book, but I was able to remember a decent amount of information and a lot of things were refreshed in my memory while I read the novel.

I loved the different perspectives we got to see throughout the whole novel. It was interesting getting to look at the way everyone read different situations and how they were doing when they weren't in the same area as another character happened to be. I really felt connected to each and every character, and as new ones were introduced, I felt for them just as much as I felt for those who had been there from the start.

Karou is honestly such a strong and amazing character. My favorite parts of the book were when they were from her perspective. She was faced with a horrible tragedy, and yet she was pushing on and works through hardships no one should have to face, all while knowing she was not safe. She was really aptly named though, as she became the hope for the chimaera, even if they didn't believe in her or particularly like her. Without her though, where would they be? She became their resurrectionist, and without her, they would be gone. She did everything for her people even though they didn't care or respect her in return. I felt like I saw a lot of growth in her character and she was rather cunning when she needed to be. She learned more of the situation she was facing and did what was in her power to change it for the better. 

Akiva also was a main character throughout this novel. He's devastated, thinking Karou is dead, and it doesn't help the matter when he finds a thurible with her name on it. I was honestly not as interested in his part of the story line for a while, but as the book went on, I began to have an increased interest in what happened to him. I liked the way that he changed and showed mercy to the chimaera, and I loved seeing interactions with him and Liraz and Hazael. Though this ultimately led me to be more sad in the end, it was nice to see their relationship as his brother and sister. They really rely on and care deeply for one another, and they truly make a family. Things with his story, in my opinion, really pick up as the story goes on, and while I don't want to mention things to spoil it, I began to look forward to his sections of the story more and more.

Zuzana and Mik were amazing to read about. I love the first chapter that starts with them, it brought a grin to my face. Zuze is so spunky and her personality is the best. She's an amazing friend to Karou and does whatever she can to talk to and find her to help her out however is necessary, even if the work is way out of her league. Mik is pretty much the same way. He has come to care for Karou as well, since she is such a big part of Zuze's life. They are honestly so cute together and I love the way they interact with one another. Their point of view always made me happy and they're definitely the icing on the cake of this novel. The story is there without them, like cake is without icing, but they make it so much better than it is on its own!

There are other characters' perspectives we see things through, and I loved each and every one of them. They showed the war and the things going on through new eyes, and it really gave the reader a view of the world as a whole, rather than just through the original main characters' eyes.

There's honestly so much I can say about this novel, as it's jam-packed with information. It took me a while to read it, but I'm actually glad it did because I was able to soak it all in and really get a good idea of the story. I would fall asleep at night thinking of the world Laini Taylor created and going over the new things I had read in the past day, reliving the moments through the images created from her writing in my head. This series really is amazing, and I'm so glad that I went out to get the last book to read soon!

★★★★★

Review: Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth

Divergent (Divergent #1) by Veronica Roth

Paperback; 487 pages

Published by Katherine Tegan Books on February 28, 2012

Rating: 5 stars

Click here to read my review of the movie

Summary (Goodreads): In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

My Thoughts:
The first time I read this book was nearly a year and a half ago, and at the time, I read the book within a day or two. This time around, it took me much longer, but I loved and appreciated the story just the same.

I love the way the story is pieced together. The world is interesting, and while it's obviously corrupt by this time, I think it would be neat to see the way everything ran before all of the corruption. Regardless of that, the world itself drew me in, especially the way things went in Dauntless. I personally would never make it in Dauntless, but I loved seeing Tris there.

Tris went through such a transformation throughout this novel. Sure, she starts out brave, and the things she does at the beginning of the book to show this bravery is outstanding, but as the story progresses, she becomes a much stronger person in both mind and body. This only serves to make her braver than ever, and she is able to do things that she would never have imagined in her wildest dreams with no thought to it anymore. The transformation in both her character and in her physical aspects is really impressive, and I feel like she was able to discover herself more as well.

Seeing Four in this novel is amazing as well. I love his standoffish behavior and the way he responds to the initiates. Even more than that, I love the way that he interacts with Tris and the little hints at his attraction to her are thrown in here and there for both Tris and the readers to swoon over. I love seeing the layers of the walls he built around himself peel away as Tris gets closer and closer to him and we get to see him in a new light. He's still that guy he was in the beginning, but he has so much more to him when he is unguarded.

I honestly love reading about initiation in Dauntless and the way that it all is put together. It's brutal and harsh, but it really helps build up the strength in every single one of the initiates, even if there are some that shouldn't be trained that way. Those who read the book should know exactly who shouldn't be trained to use knives and fight. It's terrifying how they have to face their fears day in and day out, and I'm sure it's even worse when they aren't Divergent like Tris is. I personally thought it was bad enough when she was in the simulations, so I can't even imagine how it would be in the mind of someone who isn't Divergent. I wish we were able to get more of a peek at all the other factions' initiations, I think it would be really interesting to really know how it went. I'm glad we got a little information on this through Tris and Christina.

The romance between Four and Tris had me at the edge of my seat, even the second time around. I could feel their attraction oozing out of the pages and was anxiously awaiting their first kiss. I love the way they both are able to work together and bring out whatever is needed for the other to either be their best or get through something difficult that required a little extra strength and push. I don't think Four sees her as a little girl or anything like that, I think he sees her as an equal, even though he is her instructor. I like this, because while he is her instructor, he really is only two years older than her. Sure, this gives him a higher position of power and a little bit more maturity, but not enough for him to act too superior over her. 

The ending of this book is both intense and heartbreaking, and I couldn't turn the page fast enough to get to the next page. There's barely a chance to catch a breather or take too much time to process one horrific event, because a second later something new and just as awful is happening. The way Tris handles everything is spot on, and while it's agonizing that she has to go through what she does, she stays true to herself and the people she loves. 

★★★★★

Review: Falling for her Soldier (Perfect Kisses #3) by Ophelia London

Falling for her Soldier (Perfect Kisses #3) by Ophelia London

ebook; 219 pages

Published by Entangled: Bliss on January 13, 2014

Rating: 4.5 stars

I received this book through a giveaway hosted by Rainy Day Ramblings. This by no means is influencing my review, all my thoughts are honest and true. Big thanks to Heidi and Ophelia!!

Summary (Goodreads): She fell for the nice guy, but will she fall for the real guy?

Ex-ballerina Ellie Bell has twenty-four days left until her self-imposed man-less year is up. No more falling for the wrong kind of guy—charming, sexy, bad. Why can’t she find someone sweet like Charlie Johansson, her soldier pen pal? His e-mails meant the world to her, and she can’t stop thinking about him…until she meets Hunter, whose muscles and cocky smile threaten to have her relapsing.

Before Charlie “Big Game Hunter” Johansson’s last tour of duty, he’d gone through women like crazy. But after connecting on a real, emotional level via letters with his best friend’s sister, Charlie’s ready for a relationship—with Ellie Bell. But then her brother introduces him as Hunter. Proving he’s no longer a player by becoming Ellie’s dance partner for an Army benefit seems like it could convince both siblings he’s changed, but the harder he falls for Ellie, the harder it is to come clean. Can he convince her to fall for the real him before it’s too late?

My Thoughts:
When I first saw this book, it was through the giveaway on Rainy Day Ramblings. I was interested in the premise, and loved the extra information given by the author, so I entered the giveaway, and I didn't leave empty handed!

The personalities of both Ellie and Charlie really drew me in. I loved seeing them interact with both one another and with others. Each one of them had their own unique voice when it came to their perspectives too, and I really loved that.

 Both characters had quite a few things they needed to overcome in the book, and you can see how they both are gradually helping one another with this. Ellie became a workaholic after her injury that ended her professional dance career and her mother's passing. This is what mostly distracted her from her problems. Charlie "Big Game Hunter" was a player, but since the last mission he was on, he feels changed, even if most don't believe him. With one another though, Ellie is able to break away from her workaholic tendencies and live a little more freely, and Charlie is able to show and prove to others and himself that he isn't womanizer "Hunter" anymore, he found someone to love.

While the romance in this book seems to move super quickly, I feel it has a justified reasoning behind this. While Ellie doesn't know for a while who Hunter really is, Hunter knows who she is and how much they connected through months of emails before they met in person. Ellie still feels this connection with Hunter though, but she fights back and forth with herself mentally because she thinks Charlie is someone else. Throughout the book, I just wanted to yell at Charlie to just tell her who he was! There was literally tension because of the secret on every page, as you never knew when she would finally find out his true identity. 

Though the pace of the romance may seem quick in some senses, I remember reading and feeling the sexual tension between them from the first moment Charlie laid eyes on Ellie. As their relationship progressed, I just wanted them to kiss already, and kiss they did! The writing of this is really spot on, because it's able to pull off being well written and sexy without being too overpowering or like the author was trying too hard. There was literally just the right amount of romance mixed in.

Another big thing that I respected a lot about this book was how Charlie wanted to help Ellie keep up her goal, even if it wasn't ideal for him. It showed that he wanted her to do things for her even if they inconvenience him. That to me is one key to love, because you want your significant other to be happy and fulfilled.

Honestly this story was breathtaking and left me smiling through most of the story. I love the chemistry between the two characters and the way the story fits itself together. I'm definitely a fan of Ophelia London now, and while I haven't read the other Perfect Kisses novels yet, they will be a new addition to my bookshelf soon enough!

★★★★½

Review: The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater

The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater

Hardcover, 439 pages

Published by Scholastic Press on September 17, 2013

Rating: 5 stars

Summary (Goodreads): Now that the ley lines around Cabeswater have been woken, nothing for Ronan, Gansey, Blue, and Adam will be the same. 

Ronan, for one, is falling more and more deeply into his dreams, and his dreams are intruding more and more into waking life. 

Meanwhile, some very sinister people are looking for some of the same pieces of the Cabeswater puzzle that Gansey is after...

This review may contain spoilers for The Raven Boys, the first book in the series.
My Thoughts:
I honestly hate how long it took me to read this book. It had nothing to do with the book itself, it was just that life happened to get in the way of my reading. Besides that, I absolutely loved this book. I couldn't get enough of it!

The way that Maggie writes always captivates me in ways other writers don't. It's not that I don't love their stories just as much, but Maggie has such a way with words and I could see her thoughts and reasoning behind each and every one of them.

I thought it was interesting getting to learn so much more of Ronan. He's obviously able to take things out of his dreams, as we've seen with Chainsaw, and we get to learn a lot more about that. His "gift" or curse as some might see it, is definitely explored at great lengths, and so many secrets about him and his life are brought out to the open to the readers. It was very interesting getting to learn more about his family and all that happened. 

Another thing I found interesting was the Gray Man. I initially didn't like him, as I had a bad vibe, but that's to be expected from his profession. It turned out that I actually really did like him, and I loved how the people at 300 Fox Way treated him as well. It was definitely a different approach to a new person than most people would take, and it was intriguing to get to experience.

This leads me to the people at 300 Fox Way. I absolutely adore them all. They have so many quirks and different ways at life than most, but it all works and they all live like a family. Though it can be chaotic, they all love each other and work well together. This was something that was interesting to see through different eyes, as we usually see them through Blue, but we got to see them with the Gray Man, who was a complete outsider. I loved his perspective though, it just made me love all the inhabitants of 300 Fox Way that much more.

Now I'll go to Gansey. I know there are people who don't like him, but I'm one of the people who really do. I don't know why exactly, but I do. I feel like he has a hidden quality to him that shows up every so often. I love the way he interacts with Blue, and I think it's cool how she knows if he calls her Blue instead of Jane, then something is up. I thought the concern he had for Adam was interesting to see as well, since it shows how much he cares for his friends, though he sometimes does have a hard way of showing it.

Adam on the other hand, I always feel so bad for him. He honestly has the worst of luck when it comes to anything, and he doesn't want to accept any help from anyone. He really grows throughout the book, and he learns a lot more about the sacrifice he made in the previous book and how it affects him now. I honestly don't see Adam as the same Adam he was in the beginning of the first book, but I still care for him and enjoy reading about him just the same. It just shows how much strength of character he has and how much he's evolving as a person. 

I also really liked the whole thing with Cabeswater. It has a lot of significance to everyone, much more than originally expected. Both Ronan and Adam have some kind of connection to it, and there are some issues because of this. There's also controversy about it because of the ley line, but I'll leave this for those who read the book to figure out. 

One other person that really caught my eye was Kavinsky. He is definitely much more important in this book than the last, and though I personally don't like him, we learn a lot about him and his character. 

I found it interesting how invested I was in the car aspect of this book as well. I know nothing about cars at all, but I felt an odd thrill whenever the Camaro was brought into the story again, and it was definitely interesting seeing how issues with it come to play with Ronan, and the way he fixes them.

Overall, I felt this book had an amazing story line and I couldn't believe how well Maggie delivered her characters and showed their growth throughout the novel. I'll definitely be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series, and I hope I read it at a time I'm not so busy so I can read it more often! It was almost torture when I wanted to read and couldn't get my hands on the book, it's that good. Sadly, the ending is a cliffhanger, but all it does is make me itch for the next book to come out! Props to Maggie Stiefvater, as that shows how good of a writer she is. She's able to bring the one book to a close and wrap it all up while making you still want more. I feel that this is a hard thing to do, but Maggie pulled it off well. 

★★★★★

White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

ebook, 384 pages

Published by Harlequin on February 25, 2014

Rating: 5 stars

Summary (Goodreads): 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.

My Thoughts: 
This was my first full length novel of Armentrout's, and let me tell you, I can't help but stay up all night to read her books! It all started with this novel, as the characters and storyline drew me in. 

Layla is a half Warden half Demon hybrid. She's living among the Wardens in Washington D.C., though most of them are wary and hesitant to approach her. Unable to transform into the gargoyle state that all Wardens are able to achieve, she really only has a few Wardens who don't mind being around her, as others fear her demon side, or even loathe her for it. This includes Zayne, her previous mentor in school until she reached an age where it would begin to be too difficult for her to be taught. Zayne is 4 years older than Layla, and she has a huge crush on him. The only problem? If she gets close enough to kiss him, she'll suck out his soul. This would make him as good as dead.

So with almost no hope at a relationship with Zayne, Layla goes about her days doing what she knows best. She goes to school and interacts with people who think of her as a normal human - except for her living situation, as they know she lives with the Wardens. After school though, she does something entirely non-human. She goes around finding demons and tags them. This makes it so at night, when the Wardens go hunting to eradicate the city of as many demons as they can, it's like the demons have big glowing signs on them that say "I'm a demon!!!" This makes it super easy for them to hunt, and it makes Layla feel helpful to them, so she enjoys it.

Then it all goes wrong. She follows a demon that disguised itself as a lesser demon, and ends up in an alley with it. All she hears is it say "Gotcha!" before she is attacked by it. Surprisingly, an Upper Level Demon, the most dangerous kind, comes and saves the day. She runs away though, terrified of what damage could be done to her if he got a hold of her. She doesn't tell the Wardens as she doesn't want to be told to stop the tagging, so she goes along as if nothing is wrong.

Then he shows up at her school the next day. It seems it's inevitable for them to meet and talk, and slowly, Layla begins to warm up to him. His name is Roth, and he has a snake tattoo named Bambi. She can come off of his skin and help him fight when needed. Also, since Roth is a demon, he has no soul. This means that Layla can kiss him with no repercussions. They get close, and Roth begins to reveal some interesting stuff to Layla about her and what's going on around her that make her question her whole existence both in general and living with the Wardens. She doesn't know who she can trust anymore, and her whole world is thrown upside down.

This book keeps you on your toes constantly, as you don't know who you can trust and who is telling the truth. Nothing is black and white, everything is in shades of grey. The demons vary from good to evil, and the Wardens vary as well. you can't tell who is honest and truthful to Layla, and I honestly sympathized with her, because while she was able to live where she was and interact with those around her, she never truly would fit in. The twists and turns this book takes had my mind spinning, and I couldn't get enough of the story. When you finally thought you had everything figured out, Armentrout threw another curveball and something new was revealed. 

It was really interesting getting a story about Demons without angels involved. The Wardens were a nice spin on them, where they weren't angels but they had powers to level out the playing field between themselves and the demons. I also thought it was interesting how the humans knew about them, even if they didn't know about the demons, because normally humans are kept in the dark about anything supernatural in stories. 

I honestly wish I didn't come across this book when I did, because now all I want to do is read the next one. The ending is amazing but sad, and it's not at all what I want to leave off on! Hopefully as time passes, this book stays in the forefront of my mind, and I'll be able to pick up the next one when it's released!!

★★★★★

Bitter Sweet Love (The Dark Elements, #0.5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Bitter Sweet Love (The Dark Elements, #0.5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

ebook, 116 pages

Published by Harlequin Teen on December 1, 2013

Rating: 4 stars

Summary (Goodreads): 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...

My Thoughts:
Jasmine is a Warden, a gargoyle-like protector of the world from demons. Of course, she isn't allowed to go after the demons with the other Wardens because she's a female. They want the females to stay safe and have children, because their race has seen better days. Because of this, Jasmine must sneak out when she wants to go flying, and that's exactly what she does.

Then one day, as she is coming home from her unsupervised flying trip, her father returns home. She knows he isn't happy about it, but he has news he thinks will make her happy.

Dez is home.

Dez is her long lost best friend. His clan of Wardens was completely destroyed by an Upper Level demon. He was the only one left. Because of this, he was brought to another Warden clan to live with and be taken care of. He was not happy, and he didn't really speak much to anyone, but he eventually caved with Jasmine, as she was persistent. After this, they became inseparable, even with their 3 year age gap.

Then Dez turned 18, and he was to be mated to Jasmine. The next day, he left. Jasmine had no idea where he was or what he was doing. She questioned their entire friendship, and always feared the worst. She believed he left because he didn't want to be mated with her, and this was the easiest way for him to escape it. 

She was wrong, because he's back now, and he's ready to mate with her. She isn't ready to mate with him though, as she wants and needs an explanation, and honestly doesn't feel she will ever want to mate with him, even if she can't deny his attractiveness.

She gives him seven days to complete certain tasks with her, and he agrees. Only then will she consider mating with him. 

This novella was definitely interesting. I loved the introduction into the world of Wardens and Demons, and getting to understand the aspects of the different ways they live as a community from the humans, who also know about them. Though I opposed the first kiss Dez and Jasmine had, as I felt a more appropriate response from her would be to slap him, besides that, I loved the way their chemistry was and how she did her best to avoid falling into his trap, even if in the end it was futile. 

I honestly felt like this was a great way to ease into this world, and I liked how we got a glimpse at the main character of the main series through someone else's eyes. We got to see what it was like as an observer instead of in the head of the main character, and while she was younger than she is in the main series, you still got a handle on her and her unique powers from the views of an outsider. It was also interesting to see her interactions with Zayne and to be introduced to the Upper Level demon that Jasmine notices watching her. 

Overall, by the end I felt like most of the point of this story was to introduce those three characters, Layla, Zayne, and the Upper Level demon, because it adds a curiosity to the upcoming story. The story of Dez and Jas was fun to see unfold, but I honestly felt it was cut way too short. I think there should have been a lot more to it, but then again, it wouldn't be a novella if that happened. Because of the fact that I felt it was too short, I only gave it a four star rating. Besides that, I enjoyed the story and started reading White Hot Kiss almost immediately after finishing, as it made me want to experience more of the demons and Wardens. 

★★★★

Obsidian (Lux, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Obsidian (Lux, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

ebook, 271 pages

Published by Entangled Publishing on May 8, 2012

Rating: 5 stars

Summary (Goodreads): When seventeen-year-old Katy Swartz moved to West Virginia right before her senior year, she'd pretty much resigned herself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring, but then she spotted her hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up...until he opened his mouth. Daemon Black is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. It's hate at first sight, but when a stranger attacks her and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens. The hot guy next door? Well, he's an alien. Turns out that Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities and Katy is caught in the crosshairs. Daemon's touch has lit her up like the Vegas Strip and the only way she's getting out of this alive is by sticking close to him until her alien mojo fades. That is if she doesn't kill him first.

My Thoughts:

Though I had already read and loved the last book I read by Jennifer L. Armentrout, I was still somewhat skeptical about this book. The alien premise seemed interesting, but I wasn't sure how I would feel about it when I read it. Thankfully, my doubts were put aside after I began reading.

Katy Swartz has moved from Florida to an in-the-middle-of-nowhere town in West Virginia. She just wants to be unpacked and able to blog about her books, as she runs a book blog, but they didn't have everything set up yet so she couldn't. Her mother encourages her to introduce herself to the neighbors, as she spotted them and thinks they're about Katy's age. 

Not really wanting to but needing directions to get to the store, Katy knocks on the neighbors door, only to be answered by an incredibly hot, shirtless guy named Daemon who immediately catches her eye. Her thoughts of him are squashed seconds later when he opens his mouth. He's arrogant and cocky, and just an overall asshole to her. Still, she gets given her directions and is on her way.

As she's shopping in the store, an astonishingly beautiful girl approaches her and starts talking. She's Dee, her other neighbor. A complete contrast to her brother Daemon, Katy and Dee hit it off and make plans to hang out together.

Even though Dee loves being friends with Katy, Daemon is strongly against it, being hostile and rude to Katy at every chance he gets, that is, until Dee makes him play nice. He helps Katy with washing her car, and then he invites her to go swimming. She reluctantly accepts.

This is when she begins to notice things are wrong. She could have sworn that Daemon was under water for at least ten minutes, though he denies it. He also begins to break down some of his walls, and you start seeing a little bit of a different side of him. He still keeps his distance though, as he has his reasons.

They all go out the window when Katy is attacked by someone and later almost gets hit by a truck. After this, she finds out all about the Luxen, as she has experienced their powers. She's also got a trace on her, which means Arum, the Luxen's enemy, will be drawn to her. Because of this, she has to stick by Daemon's side, regardless of how much she doesn't want to. This is when the story really begins to pick up, and we see more and more events unfold before our very eyes. I was glued to the page the whole time!

I loved getting to experience the interactions between Daemon and Katy. I liked how he called her Kitten and Kat, even though she claims not to like it. They're both witty and are an able match for one another with their snarky comments. Not to mention the chemistry! Though they're not together at all really in the book, there is a moment where they kiss, and it's literally explosive!

In the end, it was amazing to get to experience this new world with beings that were completely unique from any I've read about before. I absolutely adore this series, and I'm so glad I was willing to give it a try, even with my hesitance. I read this book in one day! It kept me up well past my bedtime, as I had to be up at a decent hour the next day. Totally worth it though. As I'm writing this review after I've read most of the books, I'm going to await anxiously for the last book in the series to be released!

★★★★★

Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout

ebook, 271 pages

Published by Entangled Publishing on May 31, 2013

Rating: 2 stars

Summary (Goodreads): This is a stand alone novel that is an adult spin-off of the Lux Series You do not need to read a Lux book to read Obsession and vice versa.

He’s arrogant, domineering, and... To. Die. For.

Hunter is a ruthless killer. And the Department of Defense has him firmly in their grasp, which usually doesn’t chafe too badly because he gets to kill bad guys. Most of the time he enjoys his job. That is, until he’s saddled with something he’s never had to do before: protect a human from his mortal enemy.

Serena Cross didn’t believe her best friend when she claimed to have seen the son of a powerful senator turn into something... unnatural. Who would? But then she witnesses her friend’s murder at the hands of what can only be an alien, thrusting her into a world that will kill to protect their secret.

Hunter stirs Serena’s temper and her lust despite their differences. Soon he’s doing the unthinkable—breaking the rules he’s lived by, going against the government to keep Serena safe. But are the aliens and the government the biggest threats to Serena’s life… or is it Hunter?

My Thoughts: 
I really wanted to like this novel more than I did. It begins very promising, and I was attached to it immediately. I wanted to see the world from a different perspective, where the Arum where who you were cheering on, rather than the Luxen. As it began, you hear about crazy things from Serena's friend, Mel, and she's completely freaked. As they go to leave the place they were at to go to Serena's place, Mel is attacked by a Luxen and killed. This is traumatic to Serena because only a few hours before she had no inkling of aliens of any kind existing. 

The DOD (Department of Defense) is called and they ask Serena some questions. After this, thinking she might remember other things later on, they have Hunter, an Arum take her in to keep her safe from the Luxen. This is shocking for Hunter that they would even ask him, as he's nearly as dangerous to her as they are.

He goes and gets her anyway, and he fights off a Luxen to do so. Along with this, he feeds off of her, which renders her unconscious for several days. As time goes on, they begin to be romantically involved, and this is mostly where my issue came in. I know this is an adult book, but it just seemed too focused on sex sex sex rather than a story or a build up to their romance. It got to the point where I almost put the book down, because I was tired of the plot being disregarded for chapters just so you could read about them doing it over and over. Okay, some people might go for that, but I would have been happier without it. I feel as though Armentrout should have kept writing Young Adult rather than write this an Adult novel. I understand why it is because of the Arum personality, but it got too much and I started to even dislike the characters because there wasn't as much character building. All of it was just sex. 

Even though at that point I almost put the book down, I struggled on through it, skimming several chapters until the plot returned and the romance dulled down to being present in a way that wasn't overbearing or like the two adults in the story were horny teenagers with nothing but sex on their minds even when there's a possibility of someone coming to kill you at any moment. Once the plot returned more though, it was rather interesting, and I enjoyed getting a sneak peak at some characters I've seen previously in the Lux series. Though they're not that significant, they caught my attention because I absolutely adored them!

The ending - minus the sex cause I skimmed and completely skipped paragraphs of - was very satisfying. I enjoyed seeing the lengths Hunter went to, and the strength that Serena had even as a human. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book, though I say this regretfully because I really wish I would have been able to. It just didn't own up to what potential it had, and I felt like it lost its purpose about a third of the way through, only to pick up the scattered pieces at the end.

★★

Opal (Lux, #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Opal (Lux, #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

ebook, 323 pages

Published by Entangled Publishing in December 2012

Rating: 5 stars

Summary (Goodreads): No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it

**Note: This review contains spoilers for all previous books in the series**

My Thoughts: 
I liked this one better than the last! It was very engaging. It starts out where Onyx left off, about a week after to be exact. Dawson is back, but he's really only a shell of who he was. He misses Bethany, and there's so much that has happened to him that even if he wanted to, he could never be the same. As much as we may not like it, people, or in this case Luxen, change every moment. Everything that happens changes the path you'll go on, the experiences you'll have, and the personality you'll adopt, alter, and live with. 

Anyway, Dawson's only wish is for him to be able to get Beth away from the DOD. Daemon wants no part of that, and does what Daemon does best - protect and hold people back. He basically keeps a watch on Dawson constantly so that he doesn't go storming into the DOD and getting himself recaptured all for nothing. In the end, on the one day that Daemon leaves Dawson in the care of someone else - Dee - Dawson makes a run for it. Daemon chases after him and begins fighting him, and while he told Katy to go home, she didn't listen. She makes a deal with Dawson that if he stays home and tries not to run away on his suicide mission, then they will help him find a more logical plan and help him out with it. Dawson agrees.

As time goes on, more events begin to unfold. Blake comes back, and he's sorry, but not in any way that I could find redeemable. Blake, while wanting to get his friend out and claiming that is all he is there to do, blackmails Katy and Daemon. No one wants to trust him, but they have to make a deal with him. Some of the time, I could see how people could start wanting to sympathize and have the characters go easier on Blake, but I haven't liked him from the start, and I personally didn't this book either. I understood his presence, but he always made my skin crawl. Regardless of whether he meant to kill Adam or not, I felt that he must have had something else up his sleeve, even if it isn't shown throughout the story. 

As they work on breaking out Beth and Chris, they run into a problem. There's Onyx there that is airborne. This means that they cannot breach the place. Sadly, they have to leave, but they formulate a new plan. This plan takes time, but they do what they can to work up towards being able to go back. 

Not only that, but we discover something else - something that can be both helpful and deadly. There's another thing that affects Luxen and their mutated humans - Opal. Opal is able to increase their powers. This adds new twists to the already looping story. 

Among other things throughout the story, Katy has also lost her best friend. Dee no longer wants to talk to Katy, upset over the death of Adam and all the lies Katy told in the previous book. Dee really takes on a new personality that I never expected to see. She's more rash and is constantly angry, wanting to lash out and get revenge. She becomes much closer to the Thompson twins as well, grieving over Adam. It's the one thing that really connects them all and brings them to become friends. It's strange to see Dee with them more so than with Dawson and Daemon, but it's completely understandable. I also liked Andrew a lot more in this book. He wasn't the asshole he was in the previous ones at all. While he definitely still is Andrew, he's Andrew as if he didn't hate Katy just for being a human. He's a boy who is broken over the loss of his brother.

Then there's Katy and Daemon. Hot Damn. They're definitely together in this book, and together is what I've been waiting for! Though they don't seem to get much time alone together because of all the problems going on around - and getting interrupted whenever they are alone - they still have that steamy relationship that we all love. It's great getting to see both Daemon's cocky side and his sweet side. As a reader, I could really see his love for her, even if he didn't say it. I couldn't wait to read more and more about them and their time together. 

Really an amazing novel! Bought the next one to read, and the adult novel companion book, Obsession, because I truly cannot get enough of this world. I'm dreading the day I finish Origin as I know there's going to be a long wait until the last book is released!

★★★★★+

Onyx (Lux, #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Onyx (Lux, #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

ebook, 328 pages

Published by Entangled Publishing on August 14, 2012

Rating: 5 stars

Summary (Goodreads): Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarre connection. I’ve sworn him off even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But against all common sense, I’m falling for him. Hard.

Our relationship issues aren’t out biggest problem…

The Department of Defense is here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we’re linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And when a new boy shows up a school with a secret of his own, things get complicated fast. I need to choose between my own instincts and Daemon’s.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. Daemon’s never going to stop searching until gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies.

**Note: This review may contain spoilers for Obsidian**

My Thoughts:

Wow. What a whirlwind of a ride this book took me on! I couldn't put it down. Of course, it seems that with all of Armentrout's books I'm that way, but even more so when it comes to the relationship between Daemon and Katy. 

The book starts out with Katy trying her best to resist her growing feelings for Daemon, and Daemon being Daemon, trying his best to get her to react to him in some way. It was nice to see a protagonist attempting to resist the allure of the male character in the story, but it also at times was somewhat annoying to me, mostly because I just wanted to push them into a room and tell them to just kiss each other already!

Not only is the relationship that isn't a relationship always a constant presence throughout the book, there's also a new character to bring tension to the novel. Blake Saunders is a new student at the local high school, and he is placed next to Katy in her Biology class. They hit it off instantly, becoming fast friends, and in Katy's mind, there's a possibility of there being more. I personally didn't care for Blake that much, I felt that the story didn't need the love triangle as the connection between Katy and Daemon along with their personalities was plenty to keep me sucked in. However, as the story progressed, I began to understand his presence more, and while he never grew on me, I partially blamed this on being a complete Daemon girl. 

Soon after the story begins, Katy gets extremely ill and ends up in the hospital for a few days. This part had me glued to the page, wondering how Katy was being affected by what was almost certainly an after affect of the healing from Daemon from the last book. I was on the edge of my chair, wondering what would happen and how things would change. I got my answer soon after. When Katy's back to normal, she starts to adopt powers - Luxen powers. They would be used at random intervals unintentionally, like opening her locker and attempting to get a glass of something to drink. The story progresses with us learning about what has happened to Katy and what it all means, giving us an even deeper insight into the world of the Luxen.

The whole story had me biting my nails, not sure who to trust or when something bad would happen. I was suspicious of everyone who wasn't Daemon, Dee, or Katy's mom, because those are the only people I felt Katy could trust completely with all the suspicion and other events occurring. Then, when I felt like I could finally trust more people again, my hope was squashed and another character revealed their true intentions. It was a very exciting read and one that I won't be forgetting soon. The only thing I have left to say is that I only hope the character that appears at the end of the novel isn't too different than what they were like before. 

★★★★★