Tag: Mythology (Page 4 of 6)

BOOK REVIEW – Elixir (Covenant #3.5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

BOOK REVIEW – Elixir (Covenant #3.5) by Jennifer L. ArmentroutElixir (Covenant #3.5)
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Now includes bonus novella ELIXIR

History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time.

Alexandria isn’t sure she’s going to make it to her eighteenth birthday—to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she’s a goner... and so is Aiden.

If that’s not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"—which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time—she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome.

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she’s caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed… and destroyed. Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate...

A Covenant novella from Aiden’s POV?? Yes, please! While Deity ended with (shocker) a brutal cliffhanger, Jennifer decided to take pity on our poor souls and write a novella that kinda eased that ache until Apollyon comes out next week. This story showed how deeply Aiden loves Alex and how he would go to the ends of the earth to save her. He goes as far to say he’d die for her, and that in itself is an admirable trait.

Throughout the story he literally does anything he can to do what Alex would want in this situation, and it’s as beautiful as it is heartbreaking. He ultimately has to make an unsavory decision, but what’s for the best. At the end we are left with one very clear point: He will fight to the death for her and will take out anyone, even a God, to keep Alex alive.

I loved Elixir, and I would suggest it to anyone who has read this series. I hate reading novellas, but I loved this story and it left me feeling a little more hopeful towards Alex’s tremulous situation. Now I can breathe a little easier and hope for the best for Aiden and Alex in the next two books to come 🙂

BOOK REVIEW – Apollyon (Covenant #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

BOOK REVIEW – Apollyon (Covenant #4) by Jennifer L. ArmentroutApollyon (Covenant #4)
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Fate isn't something to mess with and now, neither is Alex.

Alex has always feared two things: losing herself in the Awakening and being placed on the Elixir. But love has always been stronger than Fate, and Aiden St. Delphi is willing to make war on the gods—and Alex herself—to bring her back.

The gods have killed thousands and could destroy entire cities in their quest to stop Seth from taking Alex's power and becoming the all-powerful God Killer. But breaking Alex's connection to Seth isn't the only problem. There are a few pesky little loopholes in the whole an Apollyon can't be killed theory, and the only person who might know how to stop the destruction has been dead for centuries.

Finding their way past the barriers that guard the Underworld, searching for one soul among countless millions, and then somehow returning will be hard enough. Alex might be able to keep Seth from becoming the God Killer or she might become the God Killer herself.

Well. Thank Gods I checked Goodreads Saturday, or I would have missed Jen’s Apollyon early release announcement. What a shame that would have been, for I finished this amazing novel in less than 24 hours. I don’t know how much gushing is truly appropriate without becoming obsessive, so I will make it simple: Jen has done it again. She kidnapped my mind and kept me prisoner for a chunk of the weekend, making it impossible for me to think of doing anything else.

We begin where we left off at the end of Deity and Elixir. If you haven’t read Elixir, I truly feel you are missing out on some super sweet moments, and there are a few references you won’t get in Apollyon unless you read the novella.

Anyway, we start with Alex in a cage, fighting to be free so she can connect with “her Seth”. Don’t get me started on just how wrong typing that was. She struggles to both break free from those holding her and also from Seth’s voice in her head, trying to find her location.

And then we have Aiden-the sweetest, most loyal guy ever. He hasn’t given up on Alex even when everyone else has. He even goes as far as to piss off the Gods to protect her-he literally punched a God in the face in Elixir…so adorable….or at least I think so. I don’t even know what to say to do him justice. He is willing to risk it all: his life, his brother, and everyone and everything inbetween. He loves her more than his own life, and I can’t help but to fall a little more in love with him with each new installment.

Packed with suspense and peril, my eyes were glued to the pages within this novel. I love suspense in romances, I feel like it’s the perfect touch to an already perfect story in most cases. My only problem with Apollyon? I didn’t think the cliffhanger was that bad. I always complain or comment on these horrible cliffhangers, and here I am begging for a whopper that would scar me until the final installment comes out in December. I found something out about myself after I realized that I wanted more shock factor for an ending-I am apparently a masochist-at least in these action/romance novels by Jen I have grown to love. I don’t know what that says about me…

So now we wait. What will come of Alex and Aiden? Will there be an epic battle for Earth? What will come of Seth? These are all plot lines I cannot wait to find out about or finalize, and until then, I will eagerly await the release of Origin in August, Sentinel in December, and Frigid in July-all by Jen, all in the forefront of my mind for surely the whole summer. I can only hope I stay sane until at least one of these novels is released. Sigh. The wait begins.

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BOOK REVIEW – Sentinel (Covenant #5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

BOOK REVIEW – Sentinel (Covenant #5) by Jennifer L. ArmentroutSentinel (Covenant #5)
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

It's a beautiful day for a war.

As the mortal world slowly slips into chaos of the godly kind, Alexandria Andros must overcome a stunning defeat that has left her shaken and in doubt of their ability to end this war once and for all.

And with all the obstacles between Alex and her happily-ever-after with the swoonworthy Aiden St. Delphi, they must now trust a deadly foe as they travel deep into the Underworld to release one of the most dangerous gods of all time.

In the stunning, action-packed climax to the bestselling Covenant Series, Alex must face a terrible choice: the destruction of everything and everyone she holds dear... or the end of herself.

5++++++++++ stars

My heart skipped a whole beat, and then sped up in recognition. Ah, I knew that voice. My heart and my soul knew that voice.

There was a time not all that long ago when I was grappling around trying to find something awesome to read…and I was out of inspiration. I had previously read the Lux series by this very author and had fallen in love, so I thought I’d take a chance and jump-jump into a story I had no clue what the blurb was talking about and give Armentrout another opportunity to amaze me-and amaze me she did.

In the darkness, Aiden placed his hand over where mine rested on my stomach, and it stayed that way through the night.

Nine months later and here we are at the end of the Covenant series, and I’m both happy and sad to say goodbye to Aiden, Alex, and Seth-three people who have invaded my heart and haven’t let me go since I picked up the first book.

I never would have thought that her Lux series could be surpassed, and I’m not saying it has been, but it’s damn close. A world corrupted by laws that put pure-bloods on a pedestal and halfs in servitude for the smallest mistakes, we are swept into this crazy place where a young girl will strive to rise above these outdated laws and restrictions to fight for the love of her life. Isn’t forbidden love always the best?

As a pure-blood, he was untouchable to me even though I was the Apollyon, and even now he risked everything to be with me. He was my strength when I needed him to be, my friend when I needed someone to talk me down, my equal in a world where by law I would always be less than him, and honest to gods, he was the love of my life.

We have Alex, the half-blood who fell for a pure-blood and knew it could never happen. A girl who was so strong willed she:
-Made it on her own with no protection from the covenant
-After falling dangerously behind with her training and studies, she came back and rose above the odds-earning a spot at the covenant again.
-And ultimately, she became the second Apollyon; an anomaly that almost never happens. But how can there be two….?

I could read everything in his eyes. There was so much pain in them that it broke my heart, but I didn’t understand why.
Aiden had to have been such a goody two-shoes in school-the kind of kid who’d raised his hand with the answer to every question. Dork. I loved him.

And then there is Aiden, the pure who fell hard for the half, the pure who offered to train her when no one else would, who pined for that forbidden romance in secret, but wouldn’t be so selfish as to put Alex’s life in danger-because that’s what it is: a matter of life and death. Pushing her away when she needed him most, they both suffer from unnecessary heartbreak that pulls you even deeper into this amazing series and makes you beg for more. He would lay down his life to save her, risk it all with a secret compulsion, battle alongside her only to make sure she lives to see another day-even though he is the one who is really in danger of dying.

”I was selfish in wanting you, knowing what it could mean for you. I was selfish the first time I kissed you, touched you.” The shiver his words brought forth didn’t go unnoticed by him. A dimple appeared. “I was selfish the night I came to your bed when you were at my parents’ house, and I’ve been selfish every day since then. The only time I hadn’t been selfish was when I pushed you away, and that’s the day I regret most.”

Annnddd Seth, the pesky first Apollyon who waltzed into Alex’s life unannounced and charmed his way into her everyday routine. More than once I found myself wishing he would just disappear into oblivion and never come back. He was always a distraction for Alex, someone to challenge her feelings for Aiden, and I never really liked that-but it securely added another intricate layer to these stories that was so desperately needed. Looking back I realize just how much more fun his presence made everything, and I love that he was a part of the journey to where they all are now.

Car keys dangling from his fingertips, Seth passed by us. “If you two can stop making doe-eyes at each other for a few minutes, we’re all ready to go.”
Aiden straightened, his gaze narrowing on Seth’s back. “Jealous is an ugly thing.”
“So is blind ignorance,” Seth shot back, rounding the front of the Hummer.

A story of power, self-sacrifice, love, loyalty, and strength of will, I couldn’t have loved this final installment more if I tried. Redemption of certain characters and the desperate nature of each person’s willingness to save one another resulted in an even deeper love for this story that was completely unexpected and caused my heart to expand to epic proportions. A race to the finish where no one is safe, even the Apollyons, we watch the story unfold as each character seals their fate, for both good and bad. Sentinel took my breath away more than once with it’s expressive storytelling and ability to make me feel, making for an emotional finish, where nothing can ever be the same, and no one is guaranteed to survive.

It was a beautiful day for war.

There is really no way to express how much I loved this series in one review, because we saw each character grow, mature, and become what they were always destined to be. I laughed, I cried, I bawled, and I frantically wished for the best in the worst of scenarios. I was both surprised and overjoyed with the finale of the Covenant series, and I could even read it again right now. It was just that good. Forever engrained into my soul, I will never forget the joy I felt when I read each installment. For those who haven’t read the series, you are truly missing out on characters that will captivate and compel you, influence you, make you fall in love with them and consume you, and I am so glad I took a chance to find out why each and every one of them is so special-I will always love this series with all my heart and can’t wait to see what Jennifer comes out with next, because I’ll be the first in line, no matter what the blurb entails.

And he would wait forever for me, just as I would wait forever and a day for him.

BOOK REVIEW – Awaken (Daughters of the Sea #2) by Kristen Day

BOOK REVIEW – Awaken (Daughters of the Sea #2) by Kristen DayAwaken (Daughters of the Sea #2)
by Kristen Day
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

The sacrifices we make have the power to shift the very fabric of who we are, and ultimately who we are meant to be…

After learning of her true destiny as the intended Leader of the Tydes, Anastasia Whitman must now embark on a perilous quest to the Underworld before the age of eighteen in order to plant the seed of immortality and complete her essence to become a true Sea Goddess. But before she can make her legendary journey, an unexpected new student transfers to Lorelei; initiating a sequence of events that will unravel Stasia’s new life, and test the boundaries of her relationship with the mysterious, dark, and sexy Finn Morrison. The line between the Underworld and the Living begins to blur as gruesome ghosts, morbid reveries, and pure evil haunt her waking hours as well as her sanity. Once the details of Finn’s own startling destiny are revealed, the dangerous secrets he’s been hiding will threaten the very love Stasia believed to be indestructible. As time begins to run out, she will be forced to choose between the one she loves and the destiny she cannot escape.

Review:

Sometimes you click with a book and other times you don’t. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to click with this book. While it contains interesting characters, intriguing mythology and a pace that I enjoy, I just didn’t fall in love with Awaken. If I would have read this book a year ago, I know I would have loved it. I would have continued the series and gushed about it to anyone and everyone. But unfortunately and fortunately in the last year I have read some amazing books. Not only did they take a piece of my heart but they completely changed my interactions and expectations of books. Now I’m always looking for something that immerses me in the world in which I am reading and also makes the world around me disappear. I’m always looking for the next book or series that will steal another piece of my heart while I am engrossed in feeling everything the main character is feeling. While Awaken is a nice book, it just didn’t speak to me on that level.

One of the main reasons I didn’t completely connect with Awaken was because of Stasia and Finn’s relationship. I did desperately want more from them. More heart to hearts, more passion, more honesty and a little less cheesiness. I love mystery and peril but sometimes it’s bothersome when such a tight unit that is supposed to love each other more than life itself isn’t always honest with each other. A lot of times I can make myself overlook that issue. Everyone is human and has faults so why would characters be any different? But when I can’t completely love a couple then it becomes something that sticks out. The delayed conversations and hidden truths become something that I am not able to get past and therefore it taints the relationship even more.

Awaken does have a strong heroine who has a sexy boyfriend and a great group of friends. The mythology is fun and the story flows at a nice pace. I just wanted more than what it was able to deliver. More passion, more honesty, and mainly more feelings invoked in me. But even though I didn’t connect with it doesn’t mean you won’t! Here’s hoping you do!

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BOOK REVIEW – Forsaken (Daughters of the Sea #1) by Kristen Day

BOOK REVIEW – Forsaken (Daughters of the Sea #1) by Kristen DayForsaken (Daughters of the Sea #1)
by Kristen Day
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Once you’ve been touched by darkness, it never leaves you…
Abandoned by her parents as an infant; seventeen year old Hannah spent her childhood wading through countless foster families until being adopted by the Whitmans three years ago. Unfortunately, Atlanta’s high society wasn’t quite ready for Hannah…or the strange events that plague her

Chilling visions of murder, unexplained hallucinations, and a dark, mysterious guy who haunts her nightmares all culminate to set in motion a journey of self-discovery that will challenge everything she’s ever believed; not to mention her sanity.
Sent to live at The House of Lorelei on Bald Head Island, NC for ‘kids like her’, Hannah quickly realizes things are not what they seem. Her fellow ‘disturbed’ teens are actually the descendants of mythical Sea Gods and Goddesses. And so is she.
But when Finn, the ghost from her dreams, appears in the flesh; her nightmares become reality and her dark visions begin coming true. Inexplicably drawn to him, she can’t deny the dangerous hold he has on her heart. The deadly secrets he harbors will ultimately test her courage and push the boundaries of her love.
She must decide if she is ready to embrace the ancient legend she is prophesized to be a part of. The fate of all the descendants will forever depend upon it.

Review:

***Unfortunately, I will not be finishing this series. In the second book I was left wanting so much more – more passion, more honesty, and mainly more feelings invoked in me. You can read my review about Awaken (Daughters of the Sea #2) here – Awaken: 3/5 Stars***

***3.75 stars***

This was a fun book and I did enjoy it for the most part. I liked the characters, I found the potential for another BBF, the Sea God/Goddess paranormal element was fascinating and the way the story progressed was completely entertaining and had me flipping through the pages as fast as I could. But, I had two problems with Forsaken. The first being that some of the lines were way too cheesy, and I laughed because I felt so awkward for them. And the second was after 80% some events happened that seemed way too coincidental and that kept happening until the end of the book. I’m going to give the second book a try and I have my fingers crossed it’s similar to the first 4/5 of Forsaken!

I froze when the tips of his fingers brushed my neck and shoulder. The heat they evoked lingered like glowing embers across my skin.

Hannah’s parents abandoned her when she was only 8 months old. She was dumped into the foster system and moved from one horrible family to the next and each time her heart darkened a little more. In her teens, she was finally adopted by a wealthy family. After tracing her mysterious birthmark with her fingers, at one of her adopted family’s swanky events, she blacks out and it sets off a chain of events that eventually leads her to being sent to an island where she will be in school with “other kids like her”. This is where Forsaken turns fun!

A new start. Wasn’t that what I’d been wanting? A new beginning? I felt the fight go out of me and a brand new emotion took hold. It felt a lot like…hope.

Hannah was an enjoyable character. She had resolve, depth, and tries her hardest to put her faith and trust into others despite her past. For the most part, I agreed with her choices and actions. And as each chapter progressed, I found myself becoming more and more obsessed with what was going to happen to Hannah. I loved the new friends she made. They were a crazy, loving group of girls and they added so much fun to the story. And I loved when she met Fin. He is my favorite type of BBF! He has a dark past, is handsome, mysterious, cocky, wise and he seems to have a heart of gold. But there was always something brewing underneath the surface of him and he constantly has you questioning what his true motives and intentions are. Also, that boy has a ton of secrets! I always smiled when he was in the scene because I loved how he made Hannah feel and you always knew that something exciting was going to happen.

I tried my best to be mad at him. It was difficult, considering he was the embodiment of temptation and continually weakened havoc on my emotions.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t get past the cheesiness and coincidental parts of the book. Maybe I’m super-duper picky but having characters pretending to speak in British accents at what could be romantic moments had me cringing and vehemently shaking my head no, no, no. I was so embarrassed for them and I just wanted it to stop. There were other moments similar to this in the book and I questioned why it had to be in there or why they had to say something a certain way. And I know lots of crazy things can happen in books but when things keep feeling like a coincidence again and again it bugs me. This kept happening past the 80% mark and it made me lose some of my interest in the story and the characters. I’m going to try the second book because this book does have a lot of potential. The writing was enthralling, the story line was entertaining, and I always love when I find a heroine that I like and a sexy, troubled, bad-boy BBF!

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