Obsession

                Hello happy readers!  I hope you all had a good weekend.  I worked and thus I'm off today facing the daunting task of having to mow which is a very long and tiring process for numerous reasons.  But before I even think about going out there, I wanted to share with you my thoughts on a stand-alone spin-off novel of a series I read a couple years back and LOVED.  The novel in question, Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout.  It is an adult novel in the same Lux universe but you don't have to read the series to enjoy this it can stand on its own, though it does have a link to the series.  I have been thrilled to know a new book/series is coming out in this world and this was perfect to get me back in the zone/world as it has been a bit.  So thoughts ahead but remember this is an adult book.

Rating:  4 Stars

                Hunter is an Arum.  He isn't what you would call a good guy or hero.  He works for the DoD I that they leave him be and he gets to kill bad Luxen for them.  Not the worst job.  Until they saddle him with babysitting a human who has Luxen trying to kill her.  Serena thought her best friend was having a mental breakdown talking about aliens but now she's stuck with a man who is most definitely not human and other not human things trying to kill her, so maybe she's the one having the breakdown.  Mutual attraction is instant for the duo but tempers flare as they are forced into a life and death situation.  She stirs something new inside of him, breaking his rules, and he may be an alien but he is to die for.  Can he keep her safe and at what cost?

                I was a bit sketchy on some of the finer points in the Luxen world when I dove in and was a bit nervous but that was not at all important.  It tells you everything you need to know in the story.  It was different getting to know things from an Arum side though which was cool.  But as a whole the story is easy to follow in the universe and if anything just made me want to re-read the Lux series lol. 

“But when friendships begin with cupcakes, chocolate at that, no truer bond develops.”

                That said this books had me confused on how to rate it for a while.  Hunter is not the guy you root for the happily ever after.  He is not just a "bad boy" but he has moments of being so much worse.  In the end I ended up enjoying the story and characters as a whole understanding the way things came about and such.  Being in both of their heads for the alternating POV's was key I think.  I loved the story in the end I was so excited but there were moments in the story that held me in pause and made me rethink Hunter towards the start.  He has some serious moments doing things that are NOT okay in any way of thinking and normally I'd condemn a character for that but in this, knowing what both were thinking at the time it kind of smoothed it over.  Still part of my brain is thinking that is not cool dude like ever.  So I went back and forth and is ultimately why I didn't rate it a 5 stars because right after finishing it I LOVED it and I still really enjoyed it but there was some things that were played as sexy, and hindsight for them could be, but are not okay.  Still given my slight concerns there, again the dual POV really saved this for me because it's kind of hard to call someone out for doing something when the other character is really into it, I had to factor that in.

                Other than that which I feel had to be addressed, I still really ended up loving this book.  The chemistry between Serena and Hunter was there.  A bit of insta-lust which I think most people can relate to.  I also loved that she questioned her sanity on numerous occasion from aliens to her desire for one given her precarious situation.  It grounded it.  I wanted more for each of them as the story progressed.  Seeing from an Arums perspective on the Luxen both current and their history I really can see the war between them in a new light.  The way Serena is slowly let into the world and what he tells her not just about the whole alien thing but about him was sweet.  Then you of course have some seriously sexy times.  Again this is an adult story so there is lots of swearing and sexy times.  I enjoyed them for sure but more I liked the progression and how each builds and expands not only the sexy time itself but the connection between them. 

                The story and action were so much fun and despite some flaws in the beginning with Hunter and consent I love his "I will kick you a$$" attitude because more than anything he has what it takes to back it up.  I even like his cocky sexy attitude because yeah he kind of is.  Serena has been through a lot and she managed to roll with everything pretty well, probably in a constant state of shock given everything, and she has a good head on her shoulders.  She is also strong in that she will go after what she believes or wants and even if it isn't the safe option or the option.  I like that she isn't afraid to disagree or argue with Hunter even at the start when she is afraid of him.  There is plenty of sexy times, action, suspense and some good laughs in there as well!  It was dark and dangerous.  Overall I enjoyed the book and kind of wish it wasn't a stand alone because there is more story that can be told to be sure.    

                Until next time…

Obsidian and Lux series review by Jennifer L. Armentrout

                Hello!  I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Also I have to say it because I’m proud of myself; I am a 2014 NaNoWriMo winner!  Yep I did my 50K words in less than 30 days.  My first draft of my book is not finished but a major bit of it is and I’m one step closer to finishing it.  More on that soon though, promise.  Now on to the review!

                As with my Delirium review I’m going to split my reviews into two sections.  The first part I’ll be discussing the first book in the series in detail spoiler free, then I’ll add a warning before diving into the rest of the series so those not caught up can still enjoy part of the review and have something to come back to.  I read the Lux series prior to YALLfest so that I would be able to discuss the book with the author if I got the chance and I am glad that I did. 

               

                First, let me explain that I LOVE this series.  I give it 5 Stars right off the back.  The series contains 6 books*, 5 in the original and then a prequel novel.  Also in case you haven’t heard of these books yet, don’t let any cover confusion fool you, they were put out recently as bind-ups with the first 2 books, Obsidian and Onyx in Lux:  Beginnings and books 3 Opal and book 4 Origin in another bind up Lux:  Consequences.  That was done, in my opinion, to match the final book in the series Opposition, which has the prequel Shadows as the last quarter of the book.  I ordered them with the new covers, for obvious reasons.  If it isn’t obvious please check out my Bookish Pet Peeves post to understand. 

Matching series covers!  And they are sparkly!

          

                Obsidian starts us out on this journey following Katy.  I have to say I adore this character; she might be one of my all-time favorite characters.  She is a total book nerd, she has a blog and her passion is reviewing books.  I was in love with her within a page.  She was so normal and real to me.  She’s starting over in a new town, her mother deciding they needed to move to West Virginia before her senior year to get a fresh start in a new place.  She’d resigned herself to be bored, focused mainly on getting online and I can relate.  Then she saw the hot neighbor, Daemon, and things started to look promising…until he spoke.  Yep for every ounce of sexiness he had, and there was a lot, there were equal parts arrogant and stab-worthy.  A rocky stay to say the least, but as she becomes friends with his sister, who is thankfully much friendlier than her twin, things continue to get weirder.

                 It’s a battle with him she didn’t even realize she had started by simply moving next door.  As if she had any say in that.  They don’t get along at all.  But when she’s attacked by a stranger Daemon saves her life by literally freezing time.  Yep.  All those paranormal books she loves to read and review are spilling into her life because the hot arrogant guy next door and his sister are, aliens or Luxen.  If that wasn’t strange enough for her to process, saving her life left a mark; a mark that attracts another form of alien, Arum, who want to find them and steal their powers.  So now she’s stuck with Daemon until the mark fades and she and by extension Daemon and Dee are safe.  Then again can they be near each other for long without killing each other?

Original covers and random note I learned at YALLfest, the cover models for these used to date in real life.

                 This was my first ‘alien’ book.  At least the only one I know I’ve read.  And it was a slam dunk.  If I wasn’t hooked on the main character being a book blogger who references books I have or plan to read in the near future then there was Daemon.  He is the quintessential bay boy we love.  He seems all distant and rude but he has his moments that mess with a girls head and heart where he has a soft side.  He has his reasons and even knowing that Katy calls him on his crap.  Another reason to love her, she is strong and determined, not easily pushed around.  She takes in everything and then makes up her own decision.  Stubborn.  Katy and Daemon are both stubborn.  But man when they are together, even hurling insults, they sizzle.  You can’t wait for something more to happen, for a wall to come down, and you can’t put the book down until it happens, and then you can’t put it down because it happened. 

                Another great thing is that although Katy and Daemon do take up a large portion of the story other characters add to the story and develop the story and each of the characters.  I love Dee almost as much as I love Katy.  She is beyond spastic and adorable.  I could easily picture her in my head and I wanted to be her friend.  Oh and did I mention the action.  There is constantly something going on.  There is a lot of fighting and accidents and such that you find yourself constantly clutching the book waiting for another blow.  There are a lot of battles to fight in not only the first book but the series.

                *****Series notes so spoilers ahead*****

                First I have to say this.  Daemon and Katy are so sexy they literally blow things up with them connect.  Okay that’s out there.  Even though they have that connection, its undeniable, I liked her doubt.  She is a normal girl who he’s made fun of in the past, sure for his own reasons, but she isn’t able to just say ‘okay that’s great we’re perfect’, she has doubts and she questions his motives.  She made him work for it, which is a nice change of pace for him. 

 

                The love triangle-ish thing.  I almost got concerned for a moment worried they were going to mess up a perfectly good story for no reason but as it developed I found it feel into my loop holes.  Katy isn’t looking to lead people on but she is confused and looking at all of her options to figure out the truth in how she feels.  Plus when you have two guys pursuing you and you have questions about ones motives, why not test out your own feelings as well.

                But the thing I love most about this series is that is brings up the same truth.  It doesn’t matter what you are, there is good and evil it isn’t contained to a species.   You have both good and bad in everyone and no one is better or without fault.  That is flushed out.  Even more that you can do bad things but still change; there is always the choice, the option of doing good.  Dee had a long journey of her own and she developed substantially, at one point I was scared I would lose her as someone I rooted for.  She was dealing; they all were in their own way, with deaths.  Because let’s be honest there is a lot of death in this series and it is horrible and sad and it brought on a serious case of the feels.

                *****Spoilers Ended*****

                I highly suggest you pick up this series and give it a read.  *Also while working on this review I found out something interesting, apparently there is an adult spin-off stand alone in the Luxen world Obsessed.  I have no idea how I am just now hearing about this but I have bought it by phone and will be downloading it to my kindle as soon as I get home.  So I can’t speak on that one but I’m sure it’s just as amazing as the others.  Please share your thoughts on the series, the blog, reading, writing, whatever below.    Also in the spirit of the holidays share what you are most thankful for in our bookish world.