ARC Review: Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

 

Onyx

(Lux #2)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

My love for this series knows no bounds. Armentrout has completely sucked me in with Lux and I have no intention of ever escaping its grasps. ONYX, the second installment in the Lux series is just as addicting and thrilling as its predecessor! ONYX starts off a little slow. After the epic ending of OBSIDIAN, I was eager to jump back right into the action, however readers find Katy and Daemon back at school, trying to live their lives without being noticed by the Arum and the DOD. Unfortunately, Katy is still encased in this massive glow left over from the trace and Daemon is more than willing to assist her in getting rid of it since his helping hand – or should I say – happy hands worked out so well last time.

As usual, Daemon is his wicked self and we see quite a bit of him in this book. Readers will be thrilled to note that Daemon is still the teasing, sometimes domineering, always possessive and loyal alien we have come to love. However, Armentrout shows a different side of Daemon in this book. He has shed the jerk skin and has become someone that Katy can rely on. Their relationship is sometimes rocky, but it continues to bloom in a way that is undeniable.

``Kitten,` he said again, voice strained. `You don`t get to do that and then stop. That`s not how it works. I stared at him, my breath stalling in my lungs. `Not when you`re mine.`Daemon backed us up and slid down the wall, pulling me onto his lap so I was straddling him.`And you`re mine`.

 Another side of Daemon is displayed nicely when a new character is introduced in this series and makes a run for Katy. At first, I liked Blake`s presence only because Daemon saw his competition and readers get to see the possessive side of him. But I knew right off the bat that there would be something more to Blake. He really stirred things up!

I also have to mention Dee, whom I kind of missed in this book. Katy doesn`t spend too much time with her and I missed Dee`s presence and her constant chattering about candid things. She really brought some comedic relief in the last book so I definitely noticed her absence in this one. My heart was crushed for her.

There`s one last thing I have to mention and it`s the action of this series. I can`t recall a series that has been so addicting and all-consuming as this one. When I thought the book would start winding down after a particular action-packed scene, Armentrout takes you in for another round. And then another one. It was fantastic, thrilling and hands-down one of the better YA books I`ve read this year. I can`t wait to get my hands on OPAL.

 

 

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

 

Obsidian

(Lux #1)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Although I haven’t read as many YA titles this year, I know that OBSIDIAN is a gem. First off, I want to thank Miss Vain from Miss Vain’s Paranormal Fantasy for recommending this book to me. She was livid about it, absolutely obsessed with the series and I wondered why. When she told me it was about aliens, I made a sour face because aliens just aren’t sexy. And I like sexy. But Miss Vain reassured me that Daemon and the rest of the Luxen weren’t your typical aliens and what do you know, she was right! I’m so glad I read this book because now I can ugly cry with Miss Vain until the next book in the series comes out.

When Katy moves to a new town, she immediately notices the hot guy next door. With otherworldly green eyes, dark tousled hair and a wicked grin, Daemon Black is the hottest thing to hit Katy’s retinas. But what she doesn’t know is that Daemon and his sister, Dee harbor a deadly little secret. And Daemon does everything in his power to keep that secret from being exposed to anyone.

Unfortunately, events lead to Katy and Dee becoming best friends and suddenly, Daemon is all up in Katy’s grill, warning her to back off and stay away from his sister. Now, I have to admit that I found Daemon to be a complete jerk to Katy. He says and does things to her that are humiliating and unforgivable, but Armentrout writes Daemon in such a way that you don’t want to immediately bitch slap him in the larynx for the things he does. The reason is because dangers lurk in every corner and as a being of light, a trace is left on humans if they have too much exposure to their kind. Daemon is just protecting his family, especially his sister Dee. So while a part of me wants to yell at him for being a jerkoff, another part of me can understand why he acts the way he does. In the prequel to the series, SHADOWS, you get to see the exact reason why he is protective of his kin.

Armentrout does a fantastic job with Daemon’s character. She is able to straddle the line, making him seem like a jerk one second, causing you to get red in the face with anger, but the next second, that redness turns into a blush because Daemon is a charmer. I have to give kudos to any author who is able to make me love and hate their hero in equal measures.

Speaking of loving characters, I have to mention just how much I adore Katy. As a seventeen year old, she is open-minded and smart, but just like any teen, she also wants to fit in. I loved that despite the fact that she was the victim of bullying, she didn’t stand down. She used that smart mouth on her and stood up for herself. I also love the fact that she held her ground against Daemon, who can be just a PITA. Another thing I loved about Katy is that she is a book blogger, so automatically she is in the cool club. Because, yeah, book bloggers are AWE-SOME. I’m not biased. At. All.

There’s a great amount of action and suspense that really drove the plot forward and I found myself devouring this book. And when I wasn’t reading, I was texting Miss Vain messages about how I was devouring this book.

 Some of you probably want to know how sexy this book is compared to others. Since it is YA, it’s not overly sexual, but Daemon is a stud and he oozes his sex appeal that is undeniable. There are a couple of hot and heavy scenes that would probably fog up the windows. So yeah, take that how you will.

The only thing I wished there was more of was the explanation of the Luxen and how they are able to manipulate light. The author explains it briefly, but I felt like she just said, “This is how it is and that is that.” But I guess if you’re a YA reader, you don’t care about the scientific stuff.

In the end, I loved this book. It was serious brain candy. Give me some more horny aliens!

 

 Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Review: Shadows by Jennifer L. Armentrout

 

(more like 4.5 feathers!)

Shadows

(Lux #0.5)

by Jennifer L. Armentrout

SHADOWS is the prequel novella to the Lux series but even though it’s the prequel, I would suggest you read this AFTER OBSIDIAN. The reason being is because there are details in OBSIDIAN that will help you understand the world more. I don’t think the world is explained as thoroughly in SHADOWS as it is in OBSIDIAN.

However, I will say that SHADOWS really compliments OBSIDIAN well because in the novella, you learn of the reason why Daemon sometimes acts like a jerk. It just gives you better insight into Daemon’s character.

 In SHADOWS, readers meet Dawson, Daemon and Dee’s twin brother and Bethany, another new girl. I must say there’s something special about these Black brothers because they are just hot. While Daemon says all the wrong things, Dawson says everything right. He’s a charmer and he wormed his way right into my heart.

I loved the progression of the romance in this book. It was well-done and I was surprised to remember that it was novella. Armentrout was able to convey a believable romance in just a few short pages.

Simply put, I am thoroughly enjoying this series. I will never think of aliens as ugly green oompa loompas anymore.

 

 

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes and Noble