Book Review: Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I have to admit, when I first picked up Jennifer L. Armentrout's "Lux" series, I wasn't expecting too much. I thought I'd be in for a possibly whiny, slightly pathetic heroine who falls head over heels in love with the mysterious hottie who makes her heart flutter and head swoon and yadda yadda yadda. Instead, I found myself blown away. There's something about the characters and the plot of the entire series that you can't help but go gaga over, and "Origin", the fourth and latest installment that I, admittedly, drooled over. And in the good way, at that.

Daemon will do anything to have Katy back. After the disastrous raid on Mount Weather that got Bethany back but Katy captured, all Daemon can do is think about the book-blogging, crazily stubborn girl he's in love with. Everything becomes about finding her, and he'll stop at nothing to rescue her. All Katy can do is survive. Trapped in Daedalus's headquarters with enemies, Katy knows that she has to adapt and play along--or she'll be subject to torture. But the group's goals don't seem entirely crazy, and some of their truths are frightening. Who are the real enemies? Daedalus? Mankind? The Luxen? With the walls closing in, Katy and Daemon know that time is running out.

One of the main reasons I so thoroughly enjoy reading the "Lux" series is that I absolutely, positively, 100% love the characters. With each book, I find myself becoming more and more obsessed with them. Seriously. There's just something about them that makes them endearing and exciting. Take, for example, our heroine Katy. What I love about her is that she's compassionate, but at the same time, strong, not to mention doggedly stubborn! And did I forget to mention that she's a total book nerd--just like me and probably like you! There are just so many things that the average reader can relate to in Katy, whether it's her personality or quirks or actions, and it's what makes her character so real. The same can be said about Daemon, especially since we get to see his point of view from the chapters told in his perspective. Daemon has always been an awesome character from the start: He's snarky in a way that makes me snort and giggle, but at the very core is sweet, protective and selfless. The other characters, like Dee, Dawson, Beth, the Thompson siblings, Archer and Luc (the list goes on!) are great as well; the way they interact with each other just screams 'dynamic relationship', and it's really just plain awesome.

But going back to Katy and Daemon, just wow, they are one super sexy pair! I was utterly enraptured by the development of their relationship in "Origin". There's no more denial or resistance between the two, like there was in the previous books, and now it's just all-out, fierce devotion to one another. It's especially telling that the two aren't even physically together in the first third of the story, yet you get an extremely clear picture of how they feel about each other. And when they are together--damn. The chemistry that Ms. Armentrout creates between Katy and Daemon is amazing, from the sexual tension to the sweet protectiveness, not to mention their tongue-in-cheek banter! They just work together so well, and in a way that makes their romance real. What I mean by this is that you don't get that typical sappy love story, where the sudden urges to claw at each others' clothes seems forced and almost laughable. Instead, what Katy and Daemon have is natural and believable. Which is probably why I want to be a part of their relationship. And that's not creepy at all.

The plot of "Origin" was simply breathtaking. There was never a dull moment, and everything was just fast-paced and exciting, even when there wasn't any actual action in the chapter. There's always something happening, whether it's physical or emotional, and that's what made the storyline so compelling. The twists and turns in the plot certainly help, too! My heart was racing as each of the characters unearthed all of these revelations and dealt with so many shocking things (I dare not say more lest I spoil it for you!); just trust me when I say that there's some crazy stuff going on, and you don't want to miss out. What did kind of catch me off guard, though, was the ending. It seemed a little sudden and out-of-the-blue, like, "What's going on??" I think it might've been a little less so had Ms. Armentrout orchestrated it somewhat more smoothly by creating more build-up to the final scene. Other than that, however, the storyline was intense and exciting!

All in all, "Origin" is an exhilarating continuation of the "Lux" series, jam-packed with endearing characters, a seriously sexy romance, and a thrilling plot that swept me off my feet. I strongly recommend checking out the series--I daresay it's one of my favourite YA series! It just kind of sucks big time that the next book won't be out until next year...what am I going to do with my life.

Rating: 5/5

P.S. I don't know about you, but the book trailer had shivers running down my spine!!

Book Review: Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout

It's kind of amazing how books provide an escape route from hectic everyday life. I've had mock exams the past couple of weeks, and each and every day was dedicated to studying and revising and more studying! Luckily, I had "Opal", the third book in the "Lux" series by Jennifer L. Armentrout, to keep me company when the going got tough. Not to mention that books sometime remind you that your normal life can't possibly be worse than life-risking scenarios involving aliens and seedy government agents.

Now that Daemon's finally confessed his feelings for her, shedding his arrogant, condescending facade to show Katy how he really feels about her (or at least for a few hours a day), things should be okay for Katy. But instead, her mom's boyfriend Will has run away after kidnapping her to force Daemon to heal him, and Blake, her 'friend' who also tried to kill her, has also disappeared. Not to mention Dawson's reappeared after being held captive by the Department of Defense. Now, Katy and her friends are closer to discovering the truth, putting them in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids: Daedalus.

One thing that I really like about the "Lux" series is Katy's narrative voice. It's so conversational, it's like she's really talking to you. She's funny and bookish, and I love the fact that she's a book blogger! I remember finding out that she reviews books in "Obsidian", the first installment of the series, I was a little surprised because I've never encountered a character who's a book blogger. In a way, it's a little jarring because it's kind of Inception-like... But I digress. Katy's a great heroine to follow throughout the story because she's so real and down-to-earth. I also thank the literary lords that she's not one of those whiny, weak female protagonists, which seem to appear in YA paranormals from time to time. Instead, Katy's strong and determined, even a little stubborn sometimes, and she's a really likable character.

I do have to admit that a good quarter of the book consisted of Katy and Daemon making out. While it's exciting to have a few steamy scenes sprinkled here and there, I felt like there was a little too much in "Opal". Yeah, I get that Daemon's super hot and saucy, and hormones are up and running strong and high, but a little more moderation would've been nicer. That being said, Katy and Daemon's relationship is also so unbelievably sweet! Daemon still has his characteristic cockiness and wit, but at the same time, he also shows his vulnerability and true feelings for Katy. I almost died of envy when I read about Daemon's little post-prom surprise date he set up for Katy.

Which brings me to the ending. I definitely don't want to give anything away, but THE ENDING!!! I just knew something like that was going to happen--I just hope in the next book it won't turn out that predictable story of...well you'll see. Other than the ending, the storyline remained pretty engaging throughout, even though the main focus, I think, was on the developments of the different relationships between all of the characters. Event-wise, I don't think there was too much that really happened. There were maybe around five main 'big plot points', but other than that, it was really about the various characters...and Katy and Daemon making out.

Overall, "Opal" is a great third installment to the "Lux" series, with a witty, likable narrative voice and an engaging storyline...not to mention lots of kissing. I'd definitely check it out if you've read the first two books in the series, or like unique YA paranormals that don't involve werewolves or vampires.

Rating: 4/5