There is need. And then there is Fate...
Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn’t exactly awesome—especially when Alexandria’s 'other half' is everywhere she goes. Seth’s in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom—so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do—and sacrifice—for her.
When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies—lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon... and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn’t blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude... or killing her.
When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.
The world is against Alex, she's sure of it. Ever since she returned to the covenant, fellow students either stare at her in awe... Or avoid her like the plague. Everyone knows that Alex's mother was a daimon, so when the covenants are infiltrated by what seems to be half blood daimon, all fingers point to Alex.
Alex is depressed. She can't shake the nightmares that only Seth can help starve. The bond between The First and his little Apollyon in training strengthens, Seth can feel what Alex feels, he can also feel the way Aiden makes her feel. Alex knows how wrong it is, he's a pure blood after all, but why does something so wrong feel so right?
When sneaking around the grounds on a drink run, Alex and Caleb are attacked by a turned sentinel with daimon sidekicks, and her whole world turns to dust. The pure bloods are now avoiding all half bloods, especially Alex. So when she is asked to attend a council hearing over the incident, she knows something is amiss. She's already been through so much, but the council would like nothing more than to send her into servitude, but that isn't her only problem... Someone wants her dead.
Alex needs to survive those wanting to end her life before her eighteenth birthday, marked as the second coming. When the furies are released, will any of them live to fight another day?
Pure is explosive, emotional and edgy. Alex Andros is a kick ass heroine. She's strong and isn't afraid to stand up for what she believes in. She is irrational though and that can be her downfall, and hurt those around her. Well written. It's brilliant how the back story of the covenants, pure and half bloods and gods are woven throughout each book, it only tells you what you need to know at that particular point, so there are no long drawn out lectures. A step up from Half Blood by far. Itching to start Deity.
Pure
(Covenant Series: Book Two)
Written By Jus Accardo
Published 12 / 03 / 2012
320 Pages
320 Pages
The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi, pure-bloods, have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals, well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.
Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:
Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden.
Unfortunately, she’s crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn’t her biggest problem—staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.
Alex is a half blood, the result of a mortal father and pure blood mother. Up until three years ago, Alex was a gifted student at the covenant, a school in which pure and half bloods train to fight daimons, who are he'll bent on draining the life out of bloods.
After being in the run for three years, Alex is returning to the island after a daimon attack, Alex finds that things have changed. There is a movement who want to change the breed rule so half and pure bloods can marry, her uncle is how dean of the academy, and her estranged step father now head of the council, who will ultimately seal her fate. With the help of Aiden, the sentinel pure blood training her, she has mere months to prove she is worthy, or face a life of servitude, at the disposal of her pure step father.
Alex is angry and wants revenge. A Daemon took her life from her and she is being punished for her mothers mistakes. She needs to prove that she can destroy a daimon, but not just any daimon, the person she cares for most. Training with aiden is frustrating and exhilarating. Why would a pure blood go out of his way to help her? As Aiden and Alex grow closer, both understanding the ramifications for Alex if they ate caught in what the council and gods deem as forbidden.
When it is revealed that Alex is a very unique half blood, is it too late to change her fate?
I've been a fan of Jennifer L. Armentrout since reading Obsidian, she has a way with words, but I enjoyed the Lux Series far more. Both series' are supernatural in nature, with attractive male main characters, a dime a dozen villains willing to fight to the death, and one of the main characters with a sarcastic and cheeky attitude, but the Lux Series is far superior.
It didn't feel original and reminded me of a cross between Divergent, Hex Hall and The Vampire Academy. It was entertaining, but I'm hoping Half Blood was a basic introduction to the series and that it can only get better from here. Alex is a spunky heroine and on the bad girl side. She constantly fighting her own inner demons and already by the end of Half Blood, there is realistic character development.
And Aiden? Oh yes. Enough said.
Half Blood
(Covenant Series: Book One)
Written By Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published 19 / 09 / 2011
304 Pages
304 Pages
Some things are worth waiting for…
Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn’t need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s building for herself.
Some things are worth experiencing…
Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that’s just so… so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.
Some things should never be kept quiet…
But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she’s has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?
And some things are worth fighting for…
Avery is fresh out of high school and starting college across the country. All alone, away from her family, her home and her small town... She needed to leave, she was suffocating, she was scared and the taunts and gossip were never going to let her forget.
It's been years since Avery has had a friend and although weary, she finds herself becoming accustomed to collage life... That is until she is swept off her feet by Cameron, literally. Being with Cam is... Easy. He's thoughtful, polite, and comes in a packaged deal with Rafael, his pet turtle. Soon Avery finds that her friendship with Cam feels foreign as she starts to develop feelings for him. She can't trust him, and her secret could destroy any relationship she has with Cam, even before it begins. Can Avery overcome her past and heal? It's time she faces the fears that hold her back, beginning with her parents.
It was a touching story of how friendship can be the basis of a beautiful and loving relationship. It's far more realistic than most New Adult books and the character development didn't feel rushed. Avery is a strong character who really does survive a harrowing experience and shows that, with help, that she deserves to be happy and free of her past. My only complaint is that I was hoping for an epilogue... I really needed an epilogue! Unless there may be a new series on the horizon f0r Jennifer L Armentrout fans.
Wait For You
Written By J Lynn (Jennifer L. Armentrout)
Published 26 / 02 / 2013
332 Pages
332 Pages
Please note, before reading Ethereal Knights, read the original book that started it all. Ethereal, book one in the Celestra series. You can download Ethereal free from Amazon and Smashwords
A point of view novel: Ethereal (Celestra Series Book 1) rewritten through Logan and Gage’s perspective.
Angels still roam the earth through Nephilim bloodlines. The battle for power between angelic factions intensifies when a new girl moves to Paragon Island.
Logan and Gage Oliver are captivated by Paragon’s newest resident, Skyla Messenger. Logan believes she is the Celestra destined to grow to a ripe old age with him, and Gage believes she’s the girl prophesied to be his.
The battle lines are drawn as both Olivers vie for her attention while danger lurks around every corner, and they must work together to keep Skyla safe. Logan fights to keep his new relationship with Skyla, but destiny alters his plans and he must make a decision that might cost him Skyla forever.
In Ethereal Knights, we are transported back to Paragon in the retelling of Ethereal, from Logan and Cages dual points of view.
Skyla arrives on the island and both boys are infatuated. Skyla and her family have moved into the house of former resident Chloe, who was found dead after a strange disappearance. It soon becomes apparent that Skyla is the girl Cage has been dreaming of for years, the only problem being Logan. He quickly cements himself into her life and Cage can't help but second guess his visions. Skyla is the girl he will marry one day and the relationship between the boys becomes strained. If only Logan would step aside.
Logan is besotted, especially now that he can claim Skyla as his girlfriend. They discover that she's a Celestra, a pure higher being. The two share a connection. But their days are numbered. How can two hunted Celestra stay together against all odds? There is only one other person he trusts to protect Skyla. It seems Cages's prayers have finally been answered.
The Celestra is ridiculously entertaining. It can't be taken seriously, it's fun, flirty and completely and utterly ridiculous... But I still adore it. The Oliver boys have a cult following and now it seems by popular demand, we have Ethereal Knights, from dual points of view from both Cage and Logan.
The two boys are polar opposites, Cage is strong and seemingly the alpha male of the two, but in Ethereal Knight, we see his sensitive side. His unrequited love for Skyla and the poems she inspires. Logan shows that he isn't always the sensitive, quiet soul, his inner dialogue is nothing more than a lust filled teenage boy.
The point of view from both boys can be a little out of context at times, one minute they will describe the weather on the island as poetic euphemism of making love, the next they are talking about having a painful erection thinking about Skyla. It can be a little awkward.
I love the Oliver boys, they really are the guilty pleasure of many women around the world. I would highly recommend this for fans of Celestra, who have read all previous eight books in the series.
Ethereal Knights
(Celestra Series) Written By Addison Moore
Published 27 / 02 / 2013
480 Pages
480 Pages
Warning, contains spoilers from book one in the series, Fallen too Far.
He had held a secret that destroyed her world.
Everything she had known was no longer true.
Blaire couldn’t stop loving him but she knew she could never forgive him.
Now, she was back home and learning to live again. Moving on with life… until something happened to send her world spinning once again.
What do you do when the one person you can never trust again is the one that you need to trust so desperately?
You lie, hide, avoid, and pray that your sins never find you out.
Never Too Far begins shortly after the explosive cliffhanger that was Fallen Too Far, the first in the series. Blaire has returned to Alabama, needing to find her own two feet, without the complication that is Rush Finlay. Blaire's life is about pulled out from under her feet.
Blaire is alone with only the help of her ex - boyfriend Cain and his grandmother, and has just discovered she's pregnant, with Rush's baby. She's broke, homeless and now has someone else who will be depending in her. When Beth shows up in her little town begging her to return, Blaire reluctantly agrees, until she is able to move on and make it on her own.
Rush has been an empty she'll since they parted ways in the hotel room, but now that she has returned, he will do anything to prove to Blaire that she can trust him. He's the only girl he's ever loved... But how will he react when he finds out he's going to become a father?
His mother doesn't approve of their relationship and Nan is livid with jealousy that the brother that has always taken care of her, is willing to let his family take a back seat to Blaire. The odds are against them, Claire doesn't need complications, she needs to create a future for her child and a loving home... Will Rush be part of the picture?
This series is my guilty pleasure and I can't pinpoint why I find it irresistible.
Blaire is a character that either you will loathe for being so naive or love her innocence, although innocence is used loosely, not sure how one goes from virgin to sexpot so quickly. I secretly love Abbi Glines novels, it's the words she creates between her characters. No matter if the plot is terribly unrealistic, or her characters are about as interesting as watching paint dry, the emotion she shows throughout her novels is realistic, it's raw, it's frustrating and can leave you on the edge of your seat.
So, I heart you Abbi Glines. This series is a great emotional release. It's sexy, very emotional and you're guaranteed to want to slap someone with a wet fish every few chapters.
Never Too Far
(Too Far: Book Two) Written By Abbi Glines
Published 25 / 02 / 2013
Riley Thomas has a best friend, the best friend a girl could ask for, he's supportive, loyal, honest, trustworthy, kind and thoughtful. He's also the schools biggest player.
Their relationship has always been easy and affectionate, but after Riley's month away on holiday things become a little strange.
I don't feel I can be objective writing a review for Always You, as I couldn't continue reading. From the book synopsis, it sounded like just what I needed, a light fluffy teen read...
But it was anything but.
I don't often strongly dislike characters, but Riley Thomas is unbearable. A supposed virgin. she is best friends with the boy next door, Clay. Clay is supposed to be a junior womaniser, a playboy of young impressionable women, and let me add that he is the likable one in this story. He's in love with Riley.
As Riley starts to develop feelings for Clay, she meets Blake, an older, bad tempered playboy as well. He likes Riley and tension develops between the two boys...
Oh stuff it, I honestly don't care about this review. The book firstly came across as something perhaps early teens might read, with Riley announcing every page, 'Your my best friend in the whole world', because the reader was wondering if she did in fact have acquaintances on other planets. A virgin who had done little more than kissing, she starts a semi sexual relationship with Clay, while dating Blake.
The hypocritical Riley, beautiful, apparently intelligent, although I couldn't see evidence, is what I would call a tart. Best friend or not, no one jumps into the arms of a best friend and wraps their legs around him, sleeps beside him and rubs against his erection and allows him to go down on her, all while dating someone else. She is a more annoying version of Amber from The Boy Who Sneaks in my Bedroom Window. This book has the same theme, childhood friends, the token abusive person who wants to hurt the main female character and the over protectiveness. While I did enjoy The Boy Who Sneaks in my Bedroom Window, this one, not so much... Well, not at all.
It's written clearly as a young adult novel, but with sexual situations, the main character doesn't seem to have any morals and is terribly unrealistic. Kudos to the author who has produced another popular romance novel, but sadly not for me.
Always You
Written By Kirsty Moseley
Written By Kirsty Moseley
Published 31 / 10 / 2012
Before the Evolution there was TorBane: technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter. It had the ability to grow new organs and limbs, to heal the world. Until it evolved out of control and spread like the common cold. The machine took over, the soul vanished, and the Bane were born. The Bane won't stop until every last person has been infected. With less than two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction.
Eve knows the stories of the Evolution, the time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. But she doesn't need memories to know this world is her reality. This is a world that is quickly losing its humanity, one Bane at a time.
Fighting to keep one of the last remaining human colonies alive, Eve finds herself torn between her dedication to the colony, and the discovery of love. There is Avian and West – one a soldier, one a keeper of secrets. And in the end, Eve will make a choice that will change the future of mankind.
The Bane is The Terminator meets The Walking Dead with a heart-twisting romance.
Previously published as Eden, due to reader demand it has been revamped and re - released as The Bane: book one in The Eden Trilogy.
Originally known as Eden, The Bane is seen through the eyes of Eve. The world is in a post apocalyptic ruin, humans or organics as they are known, are a dying and hunted breed. Eve remembers nothing of her life before joining Eden, but would do anything to protect those around her.
The Bane are essentially former humans. Through transplants initially, those needing medical intervention for failing organs, diseases or illness, were infused with scientifically developed robotic parts. Slowly the wiring spread throughout the hosts body, making the human faster, stronger, without reason or emotion. Soon it was discovered that a Bane only need to have come into contact with am organic, and the 'infection' was passed on.
Eve is a hunter and fighter, spending her time between protecting the camp and with Avian, the appointed and unqualified doctor. While hunting, Eve stumbles across West. He is on the run with a woman and young boy. West is proven to be organic, but he's hiding something.
With two boys out to win Eve's affections, she doesn't need a distraction. The Bane are evolving, getting smarter. Camp Eden is on the move, but are they the last of their kind left in the world?
I thoroughly enjoyed The Bane. It was a strange mix of a science fiction, post apocalyptic, coming of age romance, that Keary Taylor has woven together to produce this addictive series, that I found extremely difficult to put down. Eve is a strong female character and takes you on the journey to her own self discovery, while she discovers what it feels like to fall in love for the first time. Well written and was thankful there were no long speeches dating the back story of the world they now live in, it was scattered throughout a few chapters, so it didn't become monotonous. My only one complaint that not one character swore or cursed, with the age group of the majority of the characters, the end of the world setting, violence, I was surprised.
This first book in the Eden Trilogy will leave you with more questions than answers, equating to a hunger for the next in the series. I'll be eagerly anticipating book two.
The Bane
(The Eden Trilogy: Book One) Written By Keary Taylor
Published 05 / 03 / 2013
Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs back into his life—dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows.
After their all-nighter ends and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues—and they’re for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees of the girl he thought he knew
Paper Towns is seen through the eyes of Quentin, or Q as he is known to his friends. Q's life changes the night his former childhood friend and girl next that he's in love with, Margo, climbs through his bedroom window in the middle of the night. Free spirited and slightly batty, Margo has a night of fun and revenge planned for a few friends that have lost Margo's loyalty recently. Against his better judgement, Q tags along as the getaway driver... And let the games begin.
From using depilatory cream to remove a bullies eyebrow while he sleeps, breaking into Sea World, to taking penis photos of a naked ex - boyfriend, Q can't remember the last time he felt so free. But when Margo disappears, everyone assuming she is on another adventure, Q needs to find her.
Leaving cryptic clues to mark her trail, Q enlists the aid of his friends to track her down. The clues becoming far harder to decipher. How will he find the one girl who clearly doesn't want to be found?
This book started out really enjoyable, I found myself suppressing snorting laughter at the dialogue between Quinton and his friends, the second largest black Santa collection, one eyebrow bullies, miniscule penises, urinating in bottles and balls... Yes... Balls. It was immature but perfectly timed.
Half way through, what started as a light hearted comedy suddenly became very serious. Discussing mental health, self esteem issues and the pressure of being a teen on the cusp of adulthood. I was bitterly disappointed. I'm not shallow, but I was thoroughly enjoying Paper Towns up until that point and realised how similar it felt to one of his other works, Looking for Alaska.
With all three John Green novels I've finished, they all have the same sense if fun adventure, at least one eclectic character, an underlying social message and no ending. His novels are read to incite discussion, make us ponder life and those around us and leave you to draw your own conclusions on what happens after you read the final page.
It was witty, intelligent with brilliant banter and memorable characters, but for once I need John Green to give me a final, not up for interpretation, happy and satisfying ending, not the usual fence sitting.
Paper Towns
Written By John Green
Written By John Green
Published 16 / 10 / 2008
332 Pages
332 Pages
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