Check out my review for Trust Me, I'm Lying
Written By Mary Elizabeth Summer
Mystery, Crime
Published December 1st 2015
368 Pages
Thank you to Random House Australia
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★★★★
Staying out of trouble isn't possible for Julep Dupree. She has managed not to get kicked out of her private school, even though everyone knows she's responsible for taking down a human trafficking mob boss, and getting St. Agatha's golden boy Tyler killed in the process. Running cons holds her guilty conscience at bay, but unfortunately, someone wants Julep to pay for her mistakes... With her life.Against her better judgment, Julep takes a shady case that requires her to infiltrate a secretive organization that her long gone mother and the enigmatic blue fairy may be connected to. Her best friend, Sam, isn't around to stop her, and Dani, her one true confidante, happens to be a nineteen year old mob enforcer whose moral compass is as questionable as Julep's. But there's not much time to worry about right and wrong, or to save your falling heart, when there's a contract on your head.Murders, heists, secrets and lies, hit men and hidden identities... If Julep doesn't watch her back, it's her funeral. No lie.
Just when J. D Investigations is struggling to find evidence against The New World Initiative, a brazen murder will reveal a link between her latest case, the institute and the infamous Blue Fairy, a link to Julep's missing mother. But as her life hangs in the balance, fighting her feelings for a girl that sees her as nothing more a child who needs protecting and finding her mother becoming her main priority, something has to give. Julep hopes that this time, she won't lose anyone else that she loves.
I absolutely love this series, It's sassy, clever and incredibly entertaining. Our young heroine in sixteen year old Julep is a grifter, or con artist if you will. After her mother left her and her father behind, she followed in her father's footsteps, running schemes through her private school and fleecing wealthy teens of their spare change. In Trust Me, I'm Lying, Julep was involved in finding clues her father had left her, stumbling into a Ukrainian organised crime ring that was trafficking young girls. She's now known as the patron saint of lost girls, a title that doesn't sit well with the teen grifter. What makes this series so incredibly engaging is Julep. She's confronting, sassy and multi layered despite her calm and collected facade. What sets Julep apart from other lesser protagonists is that she isn't pretentious or vain, and certainly couldn't care less about how she's perceived by her peers.Kelly's Thoughts
The romance was heart achingly beautiful and unexpected. Julep feels so deeply but in a rare moment of vulnerability is afraid to take a chance. It added such a likability to her character and also allowed her to bond with her new foster mother, Mike's wife Angela. As the story unravels, Julep goes undercover to infiltrate what seems to be a cult organisation, linked not only to the famed Blue Fairy, but also to her mother who had abandoned her. Unlike the first installment, I found Trust Me, I'm Trouble to be far less predictable and really enjoyed the strong focus on Julep's personal life. I feel readers can now begin to understand why she attempts to remain emotionally detached from those around her. Julep has faced abandonment, the death of Tyler, losing Sam, the incarceration of her father and all while her life had been in jeopardy, not once but twice. Fans of Ally Carter will adore this series.
Sassy, intense and wonderfully written, The Trust Me series is an engaging and entertaining blend of contemporary, mystery and adventure with a surprising and bittersweet romantic storyline. Readers will enjoy Julep's character development from ruthless grifter to a girl who now isn't afraid to let others past her emotional walls. With an ending that broke my heart, I can't wait to see what's in store for Julep... Hopefully the happy ending this sassy, snarky teen deserves.The Final Verdict
Kelly is a part time crime fighter, a dairy connoisseur and possibly the best dancer the world has ever seen.
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Trigger Warning: this book contains mentions/depictions of sexual violence.
Captive PrinceCaptive Prince: Book One
Written by C.S. Pacat
Fantasy, Adult, LGBT
Published April 7th 2015 by Viking: Penguin (org Feb 4th 2012)
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★★★★½
Damen is a warrior hero to his people, and the rightful heir to the throne of Akielos, but when his half brother seizes power, Damen is captured, stripped of his identity, and sent to serve the prince of an enemy nation as a pleasure slave.Beautiful, manipulative and deadly, his new master Prince Laurent epitomises the worst of the decadent court at Vere. But in the lethal web of Veretian politics, nothing is as it seems, and when Damen is caught up in a dangerous play for the throne, he must form an alliance with Laurent to survive and save his country.
For Damen, there is just one rule: he must never reveal his true identity. Because the one man Damen needs is the one man who has more reason to hate him than anyone else . . .
Damen, prince of Akielos is betrayed by his brother Kastor. Kastor in a act of treason fakes the death of his brother in order to gain the crown - he does this by sending Damen to Vere, enemy territory as a gift to the prince. Upon the arrival to the strange country, Damen learns that nobody is aware of his identity. He's also made aware that in Vere he no longer holds the rank of a prince - but the rank of a prince's slave. Damen must act the part of a slave if he ever hopes to escape and take back his rightful place as Akielos's king. Along the way, Damen makes many enemies - other slaves who would do anything to be in his position as a pleasure slave to the young Veretian prince, Laurent.
Through the stretch of the story, Damen will find that his only chance of escaping is to join an alliance with Laurent. Laurent has his own issues; within ten months he is due to become King of Vere. All relies on proving himself to his uncle, the Regent. The two men discover that just maybe they both need each other to survive this political game of cat and mouse. Unbeknownst to Laurent, his slave is the very same man that killed his eldest brother.
Kynndra's Thoughts
After a few of my friends suggested on tumblr that I should read Captive Prince, I finally caved. First and foremost, I want to get the elephant out of the room. This book has some depictions of rape/sexual violence and physical punishments (floggings). This is a book marketed for adults, or mature young adults. If you're bothered or sensitive towards such subject matter I would not go forth and pick this book up. The book is set in a country that has a strong emphasis on pleasure slaves and frolicking with one another. Although, it's important for me to remark that these acts are viewed as barbaric by our MC, Damen. With that being said, if you're able to surpass such events, then I think you'll discover this book is very good and has a unique way of being told. I promise it is well worth reading.
Captive Prince is extremely character driven. While it's told in only one POV, we see a wide berth given to multiple other characters. If you know me, you know I need a book with a strong cast of characters - Pacat absolutely nailed the characters she created. Damen (25) and Laurent (20) are two very interesting characters. Out of the two, Laurent was absolutely my favorite. Don't get me wrong - he is a vile snake, but there is so much depth to him that I wonder if he ever ends. The two of them evolve greatly from start to end. Something I love seeing and reading.
"A golden prince was easy to love if you did not have to watch him picking wings off flies."
As it is a character based story, the plot does not take center stage. It's still there, lurking in the background but the main focus is the interactions and happenings between the two princes. Honestly, even though the story was a little slow due to there not being a whole lot of action it was forgiven. The reader knows that something is going to happen. Will Damen escape? Will Laurent discover that Damen is the man responsible for the death of his brother? Will there be war between both countries? It's all up in the air, all very unpredictable. It keeps you on your toes.
Pacat has set up book one as a direction for the potential romance that could happen between Damen and Laurent. There wasn't much for romance per say (at least not yet) but you can definitely see little sparks here and there. AND LET ME TELL YOU PEOPLE, I SHIP IT TO THE MOON AND BACK. Near the end they had moments where I was hardcore fangirling because it was such a slow burn, but a good burn. Plus Laurent's occasional quips either break my heart or make me smirk.
Pacat's writing was also beautiful and engrossing. It has a simple yet complete feel to it that was not only easy to read but had me completely immersed in the story being told. Dare I say, that Captive Prince pushes the boundaries that could have easily been done poorly; however, Pacat is an amazing weaver of words and did an exemplary job. This is probably my new favorite series to date without a doubt. Amazing in all aspects.
If you want a different and entertaining adult fantasy then this is a good place to start. Aside from the depictions of rape and violence, this book was phenomenal and had me itching to read more every night. Pacat's writing style is also quite desirable. It was descriptive and curt where it needed be. She fleshed out her characters and was never afraid to take a risk. I see so much potential for this series, and I cannot wait to begin book two. Such a great way to begin my 2016 year in reading.In Conclusion
Kynndra is currently eating some delightful goldfish crackers and trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life.
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Written by Christopher Currie
LGBTQI, Coming of Age
Published November 16th 2015
288 Pages
Thanks to Text Publishing
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★★★★★
We’re sitting there with matching milkshakes, Sasha and me, and somehow, things aren’t going like I always thought they would. We’re face to face under 24 hour fluorescents with the thoroughly unromantic buzz of aircon in our ears and endless flabby wedges of seated trucker’s arsecrack as our only visual stimulus.In a dead end town like Barwen a girl has only got to be a little different to feel like a freak. And Clancy, a typical sixteen year old misfit with a moderately dysfunctional family, a genuine interest in Nature Club and a major crush on the local hot girl, is packing a capital F.As the summer begins, Clancy’s dad is involved in a road smash that kills two local teenagers. While the family is dealing with the reaction of a hostile town, Clancy meets someone who could possibly, at last, become a friend. Not only that, the unattainable Sasha starts to show what may be a romantic interest.
In short, this is the summer when Clancy has to figure out who the hell she is.
Kelly's Thoughts
Clancy isn't struggling with her sexuality, she's aware that she is in fact gay but feels as though she'll be judged and tormented by her peers. And sadly, it's probably a real representation of what can occur in small towns where gossip reins free. Older brother Angus was a lovable idiot. University drop out, layabout and looking at ways of making money by exploring conspiracies and tall stories. Their dynamic added a lighthearted element through banter and teasing one another the way only siblings can. As Clancy's father pulled away from his family, it seemed that Clancy's character could see the same isolation in her father that she also experiences. Listening to the Cricket in their shed and bonding over melted ice cream, their relationship was truly lovely. Seeing her father reconnect with his teen daughter in the face of adversity was beautifully poignant.
The barely there romance was more of an idolised crush. Sasha's character was little more than the token attractive girl, but only made interesting due to Clancy's feelings for her, to which she seemed to exploit to suit her own interests. I appreciated that it wasn't a dramatic of love and that the author bravely had woven a romance that was flawed, awkward and made readers connect with Clancy on an even deeper level. It was emotional and Christopher Currie should be applauded for exploring not only diverse relationships, but the heartbreak of potentially unrequited love when so many other authors prefer happier endings.
The most startling aspect is how Clancy's voice was captured. It felt as though the reader was thrown into Clancy's world of what could be seen as bogan culture and small town prejudice. For those who are unaware of what a bogan is, it's a uniquely Australian term which is described as an uncouth or unsophisticated person, regarded as being of low social status.
Christopher Currie has captured the spirit of an Australian teen struggling to find her feet within judgmental, small town prejudice. Anyone having grown up in Australia will see themselves within Clancy's plight. She's relatable, likable and an incredible young woman who lends her voice to the underdog of our nation. Or in Aussie slang... She's fucking unreal mate.The Final Verdict
Kelly is a part time crime fighter, a dairy connoisseur and possibly the best dancer the world has ever seen.
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Wolf by Wolf: Book One
Written by Ryan Graudin
Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Published November 5th 2015 by Orion Children's Books
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★★★★★
The year is 1956, and the Axis powers of the Third Reich and Imperial Japan rule the world. To commemorate their Great Victory over Britain and Russia, Hitler and Emperor Hirohito host the Axis Tour: an annual motorcycle race across their conjoined continents. The victor is awarded an audience with the highly reclusive Adolf Hitler at the Victor's ball.Yael is a young girl whose fearful journey begins in 1944. Alongside thousands of others, Yael is taken to one of Hitler's death camps. When Yael arrives with her mother, she is chosen to be a subject for a series of experiments that eventually lead to her having the ability to skinshift. Yael hides her ability from the Doctors, hides their success. In turn she waits, and with the help of her friends she is able to escape the concentration camp. From there, Yael is taken in to join the Resistance
Yael, who escaped from a death camp, has one goal: Win the race and kill Hitler. A survivor of painful human experimentation, Yael has the power to skinshift and must complete her mission by impersonating last year's only female victor, Adele Wolfe. This deception becomes more difficult when Felix, Adele twin's brother, and Luka, her former love interest, enter the race and watch Yael's every move. But as Yael begins to get closer to the other competitors, can she bring herself to be as ruthless as she needs to be to avoid discovery and complete her mission?
Twelve years later, Yael is no longer a six year old terrified girl. She is eighteen, and ready to do her part for the world - for the Resistance. She is to assume the identity of Adele Wolfe, a prime example of the Aryan breed - and last years winner of the 1955 Axis Tour. She is to compete once more, with the sole purpose of winning and taking out Hitler when she reaches the end. Yael must convince all around her that she is Adele Wolfe, while riding 20,780 kilometers beginning in Germany and ending in Tokyo while fighting off twenty other competitors who want nothing more than to see her crash and burn. Everything is at stake, and Yael will do anything to cross the line first.
I was a huge fan of The Walled City when I read it last year - so I was quick to eye Wolf by Wolf up. Let me just tell you all that Wolf by Wolf exceeded The Walled City by a milestone. Ryan Graudin has outdone herself with this one. I had little to no idea what to expect when I picked this book up. I don't normally read historical fiction, so it was a new experience. But more importantly, I've never read something that was so different than what I've read before. I never sighed, or said "Oh jeez, it's like reading ~this~ book but with a few changes here and there." Not even once. Do you know how rare that is? Very. It was heartwrenchingly brilliant, and powerful.Kynndra's Thoughts
Yael is a character who broke my heart. She has suffered and bled so much throughout her short life. I felt my soul crushed at the idea of a little girl - or any human for that matter, being in such a position. Yael is also one of the strongest characters I've come across. I think because Hitler's reign of terror wasn't all that long ago, makes that bit of the story truly hit home. Because such horrendous experiments did happen to the men, women and children within the death camps. Men, women and children were subjected to starvation and gas chambers. People fell under the tyranny of Adolf Hitler, some believed in his ideals which is nothing short of terrifying.
The plot was incredibly unique. I found that it had such a different appeal that I can't seem to properly voice. It honestly takes a creative mind to be able to construct such a vivacious tale for such a dark time in our history. I can still recall my history lessons in the eighth grade when my teacher showed us images (which were extremely graphic) of the horrific results causes by the concentration camps. Even the mere idea of what if Hitler hadn't died in 1945 makes my skin crawl. That the death toll, which was already gruesome, could have been triple what it was makes me sick. But Graudin took the idea with full force and warped it into something that reminded me to be thankful that I live where I do, in a time that I do."Illegal smoke curled from their lips like dozens of phantom tongues. White-not black like the billows of Yael's childhood. The ones that poured, day and night, out of tall smokestacks. When Yael was very little, she'd thought a monster lived inside those sooty brick walls. (She knew the truth now. Saw the photos and endless lists of the dead. Rows and rows of numbers like the ones her wolves hid. There was a monster, but it didn't live inside the death camp's crematorium. Its den was much finer-a Chancellery full of stolen art, and doors with iron locks.)"
I could not predict anything. I panicked a whole lot while reading this because wow, these kids are viscious. Everyone is fighting to accomplish something. Whether it's to bring pride to their country or to kill Hitler, nobody is messing around. It's against the rules to cause harm to another rider, but as long as nobody sees it's wrote off as an accident, which racers use to their advantage. This factor combined with the idea of Yael having to convince her twin brother (Felix), and past lover (Luka) that she is who she pretends to be, made for a heart attack and a half while reading.
What I must add is that every single one of the riders was fascinating. Graudin made it so that all her characters are ones you want to know more about. I genuinely hope we get to see some of them again in the sequel. Or even in novellas. I won't give anything away, but I see some HUGE potential there. I'll be sorely disappointed if a few of them aren't more fleshed out. I need the second book now, I don't know how I'll last without knowing what happens next.
Wolf by Wolf was achingly beautiful, and crushing. Ryan Graudin writes with such elegant and vivid prose, building up a terrible and treacherous tale. This is not only one of my 2015 favorites - but also a lifetime favorite. After reading this, I am encouraged to try out other books inside its genre. I can't tell you all enough how enthralling Yael's mission was, and how heart stopping the plot that followed was. Also, bring tissues and comfort food while reading, you've been warned. I'm not easily tear jerked, but a certain scene near the last quarter of the book obliterated my soul.In Conclusion
Kynndra is currently planning for stuff in 2016 and dying of a back ache due to her terrible posture.
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Harper Lane has problems. In a few hours, she'll have to make a decision that will change her life forever. But when her flight from New York to London crash-lands in the English countryside, she discovers that she's made of tougher stuff than she ever imagined.
As Harper and the survivors of Flight 305 struggle to stay alive in the aftermath of the crash, they soon realize that this world is very different from the one they left. Their lives are connected, and some believe they've been brought here for a reason.
In addition to Harper, several other passengers seem to hold clues about why Flight 305 crashed. There's...
Nick Stone, an American on his way to a meeting with The Gibraltar Project, an international group dedicated to building a dam across the Strait of Gibraltar and draining the Mediterranean.
Sabrina Schröder, a German scientist who has unknowingly sealed the fate of half the flight's passengers.
Yul Tan, a Chinese-American computer scientist who has just made the breakthrough of a lifetime: a quantum internet capable of transmitting more data, farther, faster than ever thought possible. His invention, however, does much more than he ever dreamed possible.
With time running out to save the survivors of Flight 305, Harper and Nick race to unravel the conspiracy that crashed their plane. As they put the pieces together, they discover that their decisions have already doomed one world and will soon determine the future of ours.
A mixture of an apocalyptic science fiction, it was engaging, enthralling and breathtaking. It follows dual narratives in Harper and Nick. Both young, vibrant but with Nick being less inclined to share the personal aspects of his life prior to boarding. Harper is a young, aspiring author who is contemplating the direction her career is taking. Their attraction is undeniable, and along with Sabrina who is now posing as a medic for injured victims, Grayson who is little more than a drunken wealthy heir and Yul who refuses to be separated from his laptop, the group of unlikely heroes will need to ensure the safety of the group.Kelly's Thoughts
It's a woven story of intrigue and survival, wrapped up in an incredible science fiction storyline. Readers are thrown into the storyline just moments before the flight plummets from the sky, where Nick takes charge and finds himself sitting next to Harper, preparing her to brace for impact. Two strangers, brought together through unfortunate circumstance. Or was it.
Trying to rally survivors on the ground, it soon becomes apparent that the world they now set to explore is foreign to their own when a rescue attempt fails to arrive. I loved the dynamic between Harper and Nick. Nick was secretive, but Harper didn't pry nor did she allow herself to fall for a stranger or depend upon him. She was independent, tough and although Nick seemed to be in control of the camp of survivors, I loved her quiet determination to see herself as more than just another survivor but a woman who would rescue herself.
Without giving away the true nature of the storyline, the concept was bizarre but incredibly engrossing. I loved how each of the five main characters' lives entwined, although it seems only Sabrina and Yul may have had a former partnership before boarding when Harper catches them both in heated, whispered debates. Reminiscent of the television series Lost, Departure is more than just a fight for survival. The science fiction element has created an intricate and stunning storyline that will have readers enthralled until the final page is turned. My only complaint is that the ending felt unresolved somewhat.
A. G Riddle has crafted an engaging and enthralling read that will leave readers riveted until the final page. A stunning mix of intrigue and wonderment by a natural born storyteller. An incredible read that needs a sequel desperately. I need more. Just brilliant.The final Verdict
Kelly is celebrating three years of blogging and contemplating dying her hair blue. I'm going to morph into Karou, which should please Kristy
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Kelly's Favourites
 Kelly's Review ★★★★★ |  Kelly's Review ★★★★★ |  Kelly's Review ★★★★★ |
 Kelly's Review ★★★★☆ |  Kelly's Goodreads Review ★★★★★ |  The Bone Season Kelly's Review ★★★★☆ |
Kelly's Disappointments
 Kelly's Review ★★ |  Unfinished ★ |  Unfinished ★ |
Kelly's Best Blogging Moment
The second half of the year has been incredibly trying for me on a person level. My mother has been terribly ill and I've struggled to find the motivation to blog. I've stepped down from my duties within the Aussie YA Bloggers & Readers group that I founded along with Brittany, which was not only a difficult decision but also to those who continue to guide the group, I felt that I had let them down and pulled away from the community instead. What brought me back to my love of not only reading but social media again was published author and dear friend Rachael Craw, who surprised me with a box full of love and munchies. I've never felt more accepted as part of our community. If you want to read more about my surprise, you can find my thank you post to Melissa Keil, Rebecca James, Ellie Marney, Gabrielle Tozer, Walker Books Australia and the lovely Rachael by clicking here.
To everyone who's left a comment, tweeted us, followed us and thrown books at us. Thank you.
Kynndra's Favourites
 Kynndra's Review ★★★★★ |  Kynndra's Goodreads Review ★★★★★ | 
Golden Son
★★★★★
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 Kynndra's Review ★★★★★ | 
The Demon King
★★★★
| 
The Wrath & The Dawn
★★★★★
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Kynndra's Disappointments
 ★★★ |  ★★★☆ |  ★★★ |
Kynndra's Best Blogging Moment
Kynndra's Tumblrs
Highlights
Kynndra finally caved and joined Diva Booknerd in October. She's Canadian. Speak slowly.
Kelly has read 140 books this year with an average rating of 4.1 stars.
Kynndra has read 50 books with an average rating of 4.41 stars.
Kelly tried to live a healthier lifestyle. Then quit. She's much happier now.
Kynndra now has her license. Look out pedestrians.
Tahereh Mafi tweeted kisses to Kelly. She's now naming her first born after her.
We joined Facebook. Lord knows why. It's shithouse.
The author of Sleeping Giants loved Kynndra's review and sent her a gift.
Really, you need to move on from the Mockingjay ringtone. It's getting annoying.
Kelly's 2016 Booknerd Resolutions
Kynndra's 2016 Booknerd Resolutions
Kelly's 2016 Most Anticipated Reads
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Kynndra's 2016 Most Anticipated Reads
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Giveaway
Written by Natasha Carthew
Contemporary, British
Published December 1st 2015
320 Pages
Thank you to Bloomsbury Australia
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★★
A small boy hiding in a cupboard witnesses something no child should ever see. He tries not to look but he still hears it. And when he comes out, there's no mistaking. His mum and dad have been killed. And though he's only small, he swears that he'll get revenge one day.As a young boy, Trey had seen his family slaughtered and his older brother left with a severe disability as a result of the attack. Spending his teen years determined to avenge their death, he finds himself at his final destination, a slave labor camp run by the church offering salvation to wayward teens and a second chance at life. It's at Camp Kernow where Trey has found what he believes the brutal assassin, a man of the cloth simply known as The Preacher. Driven by the Demon who invokes his blinding rage, Trey will stop at nothing until The Preacher pays for his crime even resulting in risking his own life in the process.
Years later, Trey enters a strange camp that is meant to save troubled teenagers. It's packed with crazies, god botherers, devoted felons and broken kids. Trey's been in and out of trouble ever since the day the bad thing happened, but he's he not here for saving: this is where he'll find the man who did it. Revenge and healing, salvation and hell are a boiling, dangerous mix, and Trey finds himself drawn to a girl, a dream and the offer of friendship in the dark.
Trey constantly refers to the Demon when talking about his drive to avenge his parents. At first I assumed it was a metaphor used to describe his anger, I'm not sure whether it was part of Trey's journey but he seemed to believe the Demon was a physical being that possessed him that was never clarified. Another aspect of the storyline that I found difficult to connect with was the dialogue between the characters. The characters all had a very distinct British dialect and even being Australian, I couldn't follow it. Int (short for isn't it) was overused and was incredibly irritating after a few short chapters. To be honest, I wanted to take to the little bastards with a frying pan.Kelly's Thoughts
I loved the concept. Not being a religious person, I'm fascinated by fictional cults and religious based institutions but sadly due to the lack of world building, I just couldn't immerse myself. I felt as though I was waiting for something to happen, but it seemed to lose direction and cause.
I always write less than positive reviews with a heavy heart and although I enjoyed the rawness of the writing, this one was not for me sadly. The Light That Gets Lost is a strange journey that had the making of a truly wonderful read, but never realised. It lacked direction, much needed world building and perhaps tried to be too clever and lyrical which amounted to a disappointing read. The cover is absolutely gorgeous though.The Final Verdict
Contains spoilers for books 1-3 of the Lux series.
Lux: Book 1.5
Written by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance
1005 Pages
Published December 1st 2015 by Entangled: Teen
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★★★★
I knew the moment Katy Swartz moved in next door, there was going to be trouble. Lots of it.And trouble’s the last thing I need, since I’m not exactly from around here. My people arrived on Earth from Lux, a planet thirteen billion light years away. Plus, if there’s one thing I know, it’s that humans can’t be trusted. We scare them. We can do things they only dream about, and honestly, we make them look weak as hell. ‘Cuz they are.
But Kat is getting to me in ways no one else has, and I can't stop myself from wanting her—or wanting to use my powers to protect her. She makes me weak, and I’m the strongest of our kind, tasked with protecting us all. So this one simple girl…she can mean the end for us. Because the Luxen have an even bigger enemy—the Arum, and I need to stay on my game.
Falling for Katy—a human—won't just place her in danger. It could get us all killed, and that’s one thing I’ll never let happen..
Okay so a little backstory here: I am reading the version which includes the first three novels told in the POV of Daemon. There's another version which only has the first novel that's like 300 some pages - but I fucking LOVE the Lux series so of course I'm going to read the version that is longest because yeah.. who wouldn't? I adore this world to shreds and just had to read it from my boyfriends POV (HAH JK BECAUSE HE'S WITH KAT *sobs*) but a girl can dream, right? So what I'm gonna do is break this review up into three little subsections. I also encourage you guys to get the ebook because it has all three books, the physical copy only has the first. Here we go, lovelies.
SHORT VERSION: (because this is a long ass review) I loved it, even when I hated it, I loved it.
Kynndra's Thoughts
BOOK ONE: OBSIDIAN
Alright, so this is the one in which Katy moves into alien territory. Also the one where Daemon (an alien) does his damndest to keep Kat out of his, and his sisters life. Unfortunately, that does not happen. When Kat is 'tagged' by some kick-ass alien power, her life is in danger. Once a human is tagged they can be used by the Arum (evil aliens who want to steal the powers of the Luxen). Daemon (who aggressively denies his feels for Kat) will do anything to keep his sister, and Kat safe. It's a battle of wills as Daemon and Katy dance around their chemistry and the bond they have formed. Meanwhile, the Arum are on the prowl - needless to say, shit happens.Okay, I'll be honest I have adored the Lux series for a year or two now and I might be a little biased. Reading the first book from Daemon's POV was so different than reading the original which was in Kat's POV. It's been awhile, but I have to say I preferred seeing the story from Kat's eyes; however, I also adored being offered the chance to read Daemon's side of the story. It was hella corny, but it made me LAUGH SO DAMN MUCH. Daemon is an asshole, but a loveable one? I don't know. I think JLA's portrayal of a teenage boys thought process was spot on. Some parts had me blushing, others smirking. I loved every second. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. You read JLA's YA novels for the fun, and snarky goodness that lies within. Also the chemistry between characters is amazing. You don't read her work for some poetic masterpiece (at least not the Lux series, I haven't read her other series).
It took me a little while to re-adjust to the Luxen world, but once I did I was entranced and fell in love with Daemon and Kat all over again. If you can ignore the fact that the book is basically all about how much Daemon likes Kat and how many times Daemon has to save Kat - then I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I certainly did. JLA is one of my all time favorite authors because she's a god at making such addicting stories and characters. SO GOOD PEOPLE. SO MUCH ASSHOLERY THAT WAS AMAZING.
"Maybe I was so good at my douchebag skills, as she called them, she had no clue how I was really starting to feel about her."
BOOK TWO: ONYX
So the second book is essentially the 'rift' between Kat and Daemon. This is where Kat, having been healed by Daemon on a molecular level mutates into basically a alien human hybrid. Whoops. So this shady kid named Blake swoops on in and says he knows what Kat is - and that he too is a mutated alihuman. Blake claims he can train Kat to hone her new alien powers. Enter Daemon, who does not trust Blake at all, but Kat wants to learn how to look after herself. Kat's decision to trust Blake instead of Daemon causes shockwaves in their relationship. But one day, Kat sees someone who should be dead which causes mayhem in the Luxen's lives. Together they must find out the truth.I wasn't a HUGE fan of the second book. Mostly because I was annoyed at how Kat acted and how she snubbed Daemon. But it's understandable considering their past encounters where Daemon was kind of a dickweed to her. SO it is forgiven. We got there near the end which is really all that matters at this point. I just always feel that the second book always lacks something in nearly every series. This one in general got irksome because it was essentially all about Daemon's jealousy and Kat lying to herself about how she really felt.
I still loved all of Daemons good old sass and snark. Which there is never a shortage of. I couldn't get enough of it. I just wish there had been a little less of *ermahgurd Kat's body is perfect, ermahgurd Kat is hurt, emahgurd Kat lemme love you* but I really loved all the parts where he protects her and heals her. I'm a sucker for characters protecting/dying/hurting for another (sorry I'm a fictional character sadist). The feelings are so strong when that happens, I love watching How Daemon goes from a dick to lowkey falling in love with his Kitten. The ending had me is shambles, I knew what was going to happen but it hurt more seeing it come from Daemon's eyes.
“I knew right then I would burn down the whole universe for her if I had to. I would do anything to keep her safe. Kill. Heal. Die. Anything. Because she was my everything.”
BOOK THREE: OPAL
The last book of Oblivion in Daemon's POV is Opal, the one in which Dawson (Daemon's believed to be dead brother) has returned. This book consists of the Luxen scooby gang coming together to figure out how to get Dawson's girlfriend Beth back from the DOD (essentially the alien control squad). This task is harder than anyone could have imagined. With Kat now in control of her powers, she too assists much to Daemon's displeasure. Their mission means they must trust the untrustable in order to succeed. Lots of tragic shit goes down, hold on kiddos.The third book within Oblivion was my favorite. It was more exciting and had a larger view on the plot instead of constantly focusing on Kat and Daemon's banter. Which, don't get me wrong - I love their banter, but it does get hella repetitive after awhile. I think I enjoyed this one more because Kat could finally hold her own a bit more. Also, because I absolutely adore Dawson. He was so broken though, but I just adored the scenes where he would smile and kind of be that little ray of sunshine despite the year or so of torture he had to endure.
I can't express how much I love JLA's way of making a book seem as if it's merely pages and not an entire novel. I flew through this one not only because of the amazing characters but because of how many damn cliffhangers she can pull out of her hat. Seriously, Daemon and Kat could be having dinner and the next second they would be clutching each other as the other lay dying. IT HAD ME STRESSING EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THE OUTCOME ALREADY. Again, at the end there's a huge cliffhanger which had made me nose my way through the original fourth book just to refresh my mind on what happens.
In Conclusion
I'm a huge fan of Jennifer L. Armentrout, I think she's iconic in the YA paranormal romance department. I adored the Lux series when I read it back in 2014, and I love it now having relived it through the eyes of one (loveable) asshole of an alien named Daemon Black. I will admit that I loved it more when I first read it in its original format, but it was still extremely fun being able to go through the emotions and read more content from the Lux world. If you're a fan of this series, and are wondering if it's worth reading it - I will tell you it is. If you've never read this series before, and enjoy a fun, yet cheesy YA PNR series then start with the original series first. Also I can not wait for the Obsidian movie, which I REALLY hope happens (read more on that here).
Kynndra is currently (slowly) reading A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin and wondering what the new year will bring, hopefully good stuff.
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