Review: Opal

Opal
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published: December 11, 2012
Paperback, 382 pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

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. 

This series just keeps getting better. Katy and Daemon are officially a couple now(!) and they continue to make me smile. If I liked them when they were always fighting, I like them more now that they're always kissing. Though they don't get much time to do that since hell has broken loose and they need to stop the DOD from experimenting on people. This book was action packed and set it up nicely for the fourth book in the series, Origin.

Opal picks up right where Onyx ended. Dawson is back and determined to rescue Beth from the DOD without thought of what might happen when he gets there. Dawson is angry (for good reason) and Katy takes it upon herself to be the voice of reason and calm him down. He's been acting recklessly and won't listen to Daemon, but Katy convinces him that they should rescue her as a team. So they start planning a way to save her when Blake comes back into the picture. Blake treated Katy awfully in the last book, but he blackmails them into cooperating with him so that he can rescue his friend as well. He helps in the training process and gives them insider information and the story builds up to the group going in to rescue Beth, not knowing for sure what's waiting for them into the institution.

Katy grows so much in this book. She's stronger, more mature and acts selflessly to her friends and those around her. As her life spirals out of control, her relationship with Daemon gets stronger and more normal and she gets to spend some quality time with her friends as they prepare for prom. She will sacrifice everything, including herself, to protect those she loves and it's a scary thought, but I love that about her. She doesn't know Dawson well, but she knows he's Daemon's brother and she will do anything to help him become the man he used to be. Katy and Daemon's relationship just keeps getting better and the few times they get to spend alone together were even more swoon worthy than before. The tension between these two is just as palpable as it was when they were fighting and I can't wait for something more to happen between them.

The ending will kill anyone who reads this. It's the kind of cliffhanger we all hate, but it certainly set us up for the next book. I'm excited to see where this book will go and what's in store for our lovers next. This series stands out among the rest of the YA Paranormal stuff that's all around us and I wish I had read it sooner, but I'm glad I'm reading it now.

"You haven't been smiling much. I missed it, so I decided to reward you for doing it."

"Reward me?" I laughed. "God, only you would think kissing someone is a reward."

"You know it is. My lips change lives, baby."

Review: Onyx

Onyx
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published: August 14, 2012
Papaeback, 366 pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Being connected to Daemon Black sucks...

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon's determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I've sworn him off, even though he's running more hot than cold these days. But we've got bigger problems. 

Something worse than the Arum has come to town...

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I'm a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who's got a secret of his own. He knows what's happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes...

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?

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

There's no denying this series is swoon-worthy. After reading Obsidian, I knew why everyone was talking about it. I love the chemistry between Katy and Daemon, the sexual tension just begging to be released. I thought I'd have to wait until the last book for some sort of relief, but I'm glad to say I got what I was looking for in this one, along with a very cool plot and a lot of paranormal activity. Armentrout knows how to write a teen paranormal romance and this one has quickly become one of my favourites.

Daemon and Katy are cnnected in more ways than one now. Since he rescued her from the car accident, they've had a mental connection, one that sends shivers down Katy's back. As much as he annoys her, she can't stay away from him. When Blake comes to town, Katy is drawn to him too. He's much nicer than Daemon and she starts spending time with him, much to Daemon's dislike. That she discovers something about him - he knows who she is and what she can do and he wants to help. He begins teaching her how to control the power running through her. When Katy sees someone who shouldn't be alive, a plan unfolds to try and save Daemon's brother, a plan that could get all of them killed. Filled with action, drama, and a whole lot of kissing. Throw in some bad guys, people who aren't who they seem and moments where I swear to Go if Katy and Daemon don't kiss I'll kill someone, you've got yourself a stellar book.

Katy and Daemon have the kind of relationship you see a lot of in YA books. They hate each other, but they can't seen to stop kissing. Daemon becomes a little more bearable in this one, but his attitude still needs some adjusting. He treats Katy well and he does some really sweet things. And those kisses could kill me from hotness! Armentrout certainly knows how to write these characters and I was completely satisfied with how this one played out. There's no denying their feelings for each other in this one and I'm really glad it happened early in the series. I didn't want to struggle through that for another book, I just need them to be together!

This series has everything and if you're looking for a swoon-worthy book packed with hot aliens, this is for you. Trust me, they are good books.

"I always liked you. From the moment you first flipped me off."

"If there is anything, there is us. You and me. No one else."

Review: Obsidian

Obsidian (Lux#1)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published: May 8, 2012
Paperback, 335 pages
5 Gold Stars

(summary from Goodreads)

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something... unexpected happens. 

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades. 

If I don't kill him first, that is

The first thing that caught my attention in this book is that Katy, our main character, is a book blogger. It's pretty awesome seeing that side of life in a novel, especially since she references blogger things like Waiting on Wednesday and reviewing books. She also talks about books throughout the novel which any book lover would love to read about. Katy and her mom just moved to a small town in West Virginia for a nursing job and Katy is starting a new school and a new life without her dad. She plans on spending her days reading and blogging until she meets her new neighbour, Daemon, a super hot guy with a horrible attitude. Suddenly Daemon is everywhere, at her school, in her backyard and pretty much anywhere that Katy is hanging out with his sister Dee. But when Katy stays at the library too late one night and is attacked by her car, Daemon does something impossible and suddenly everything Katy thought he knew about life is turned upside down. Daemon and Dee are aliens from a planet called Luxen and Katy's got alien mojo all over her from the rescue. Daemon claims he needs to stay close to her to make sure she's safe until the trace disappears, but Katy doesn't think she can survive him that long.

This is my favourite kind of story. The irritating guy that you can't help but love who turns out to be something completely different. I wasn't sure if I'd like an alien story, but I loved this! Armentrout has a way with words and she makes everything swoon worthy, especially Daemon. He may be irritating, but I can certainly get past that if it meant making out with him. Katy likes him, I mean how could she not, but she can't get past everything about him. She's not sure if he's just spending time with her because of the trace or if he actually likes her, but the moments they do spend together are laced with sexual tension and there's no denying that. These two just need to make out is all I'm saying and when they do finally kiss it's amazing and I swear there are fireworks flying off the pages. I love when I see the chemistry between characters and when I feel it too, hoping that they will end up together.

This book isn't just all kissing and swooning though. There is another race of aliens set out to destroy all the Luxens and they need to stay in hiding in order to survive. But with the trace on Katy, it causes her to light up to other aliens so they can potentially find her through the trace. The ending blow out was well written and made me want more. Katy kicked some major butt, which I love to see in books. I don't like a girl who just sits on the sidelines, get in there and save yourself girl! This is going to be a really fun series to read and I can't wait to see more Katy and Daemon. I know they won't actually get together for awhile, so I'm anticipating the sexual tension for a little while longer. I think I can handle it. Jennifer, you are amazing and I love you for creating Daemon. That is all.

“Beautiful face. Beautiful body. Horrible attitude. It was the holy trinity of hot boys.” 

“Will you show me what you really look like? You don't sparkle, do you?” 

Also, this book is so quotable!