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mclay0487's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
acex's review against another edition
5.0
All I can say is this was the start to my most prized enemies to lovers series and it can only go uphill from this book on! Highly recommended.
the_bookeater's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ac223's review against another edition
4.0
So I wasn't sure about the whole alien thing.. Of course I never thought of vampires as being sexy until about 1000 books ago. Did you see Daemon on the cover.. not exactly short, green and round! Armentrout definitely pulled aliens into the lustable category. Katy and her mom moved from Florida to Virginia to start over. Since her dad died of cancer they needed a new place without all of the memories. They just happen to move in next door to Dee and Daemon. Daemon is hot, but a total jerk. Katy and Dee quickly become friends, even though Katy is kind of thrown off by the fact that the most beautiful girl she has ever met is a little desperate for her friendship.
***Spoilers***
Dee isn't able to get too close to humans for fear of exposing herself and her kind. The only other girl alien around is Ash, and she is a royal bitch. (hence the reason she is desperate for female friendship) Ash and Daemon used to date but when Ash gets word of Kat being in Daemons sights she sinks in her claws. Funny how even alien girls behave that way.. Daemon is a jerk to Kat to keep her away from his sister, humans are a liability, and Dee is the only family he has left. Their other brother Dawson fell for a human and they both ended up dead. He can't even think about losing his sister, or getting too close to Kat and something happening to him, leaving his sister alone. The Arum are from the same galaxy as the Luxen, but they are the dark to the Luxens light. Anytime the Luxen use their powers near a human, the human is left with a trace. They light up for other aliens to see, and the Arum use the trace to find the Luxen and steal their powers. At the end of the book one of the Arum have almost defeated Daemon after stealing most of Kat's essence, and injuring Dee. While she is dying Kat can hear Daemon pleading with her not to die, that he can't lose her. Somehow their power is connected through Kat and she is able to defeat him. Dee was knocked out and didn't see what happened, and Kat and Daemon agree to keep it to themselves. Immediately after, Daemon disappears for a few days to search the area for any remaining Arum. When he returns she is hoping things will be different, but he basically says they are stuck together because of what is going on and their connection. She tells him she doesn't want anyone to be with her because of obligation, he says he does like her, but she tells him it isn't enough. Then we get a few paragraphs from Daemon's point of view, and it's obvious he feels the same for her as she does for him but he has to protect her and his family. UGHHH always the same thing in every one of these books. It's for her own good... blah. Another thing, please don't think if a guy treats you like shit he may really like you but can't for some reason admit it.. We are not aliens, if a guy treats you like shit, move on and find one that won't.
***Spoilers***
Dee isn't able to get too close to humans for fear of exposing herself and her kind. The only other girl alien around is Ash, and she is a royal bitch. (hence the reason she is desperate for female friendship) Ash and Daemon used to date but when Ash gets word of Kat being in Daemons sights she sinks in her claws. Funny how even alien girls behave that way.. Daemon is a jerk to Kat to keep her away from his sister, humans are a liability, and Dee is the only family he has left. Their other brother Dawson fell for a human and they both ended up dead. He can't even think about losing his sister, or getting too close to Kat and something happening to him, leaving his sister alone. The Arum are from the same galaxy as the Luxen, but they are the dark to the Luxens light. Anytime the Luxen use their powers near a human, the human is left with a trace. They light up for other aliens to see, and the Arum use the trace to find the Luxen and steal their powers. At the end of the book one of the Arum have almost defeated Daemon after stealing most of Kat's essence, and injuring Dee. While she is dying Kat can hear Daemon pleading with her not to die, that he can't lose her. Somehow their power is connected through Kat and she is able to defeat him. Dee was knocked out and didn't see what happened, and Kat and Daemon agree to keep it to themselves. Immediately after, Daemon disappears for a few days to search the area for any remaining Arum. When he returns she is hoping things will be different, but he basically says they are stuck together because of what is going on and their connection. She tells him she doesn't want anyone to be with her because of obligation, he says he does like her, but she tells him it isn't enough. Then we get a few paragraphs from Daemon's point of view, and it's obvious he feels the same for her as she does for him but he has to protect her and his family. UGHHH always the same thing in every one of these books. It's for her own good... blah. Another thing, please don't think if a guy treats you like shit he may really like you but can't for some reason admit it.. We are not aliens, if a guy treats you like shit, move on and find one that won't.
shelivesinthepages's review against another edition
5.0
So I am rereading the lux series and I just finished this book again. I am amazed at Jennifer L. Armentrout's writing. I love Daemon & Katy. I don't see very many good aliens love series. This is one of my favorite series I have ever read. I just love the feeling it gives you while you are reading her words and the images that it creates in your mind.
betwixt_the_pages's review against another edition
3.0
Starting over sucks.
When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring… until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.
And then he opened his mouth.
Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something… unexpected happens.
The hot alien living next door marks me.
You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.
If I don’t kill him first, that is.
- - - - -
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was reading Twilight again?; pretty slow start; lots of snark, agnst, and teenage drama; aliens...sort of?; fast-paced second half; some pulse-pounding, sexy moments
Anyone else out there find the first ½ of this book annoyingly like Twilight? No? Just me? Well.
So don't get me wrong—this wasn't what I'd call a bad read. But when I started this the other day, I guess I was expecting something a bit more...unexpected. I feel like this was Twilight rewritten with aliens (although their sense of “alienness” is something I found lacking overall)...and I'm not sure it worked for me in the end.
Let me get into the specifics. The characters are well-rounded. It's clear from the get-go that Katy isn't your “average” teenager (though what IS average, really?) Daemon I loathed immediately—with his attitude, who wouldn't? But none of them really stood out to me, to be honest—they were all thrust into their roles, but given no space to really breathe. They didn't go above and beyond; they didn't really tug at my heart or knock me on my butt. They were like actors who'd lost passion for their craft—some witty lines, some epic banter, but overall flat.
The action, as well, was pretty run-of-the-mill. Despite a few weird blips on the supernatural radar, the beginning of this book was just like every other YA read I've come across lately: the unusual new kid (a “bright and shiny new toy” for the rest of town); a hyper, instant best friend; a few prickly bullies; and one sexy guy the protag knows she couldn't possibly have...yet wants anyway. Yawn, yawn, and double yawn.
It wasn't until about the 60% mark things began getting interesting—and straying away from the heavy Twilight influence. The last few chapters of this book were pretty awesome, in fact! Fast-paced with action, some intriguing and different ideas at play, a few twists and turns I hadn't expected. If the first part of this had relied more on the story to tell the story, instead of fulfilling the “average teenage love story—with ALIENS!” vibe, this probably would have gotten a higher rating from me honestly; the second part of this was more what I was looking for when I picked up this read.
The plot isn't bad, overall—besides a slow start, things pick up pace and kept me enthralled enough to want to see what happened next. There's a twinge of paranormal mystery throughout. In fact, after the halfway mark, even the characters seem like totally different people. The dialogue wasn't as heavy-handed, forced, or awkward; the characters were more believable and realistic in their actions/reactions. I finally started feeling something other than frustration for them. Too bad it came a bit late in the story.
I don't know if this just wasn't the right book for me, or if the timing was off, or if the heavy Twilight influence is what caused the scrupples...but I didn't like this as much as I hoped I would. I'd still recommend to lovers of sci fi/fantasy, aliens, and the paranormal—the characters are snarky and quirky once you get past the awkward. So someone tell me: how's book two? If it's better than this one, there might be hope for this series with me yet.
When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring… until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.
And then he opened his mouth.
Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something… unexpected happens.
The hot alien living next door marks me.
You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.
If I don’t kill him first, that is.
- - - - -
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: I'm sorry, I didn't realize I was reading Twilight again?; pretty slow start; lots of snark, agnst, and teenage drama; aliens...sort of?; fast-paced second half; some pulse-pounding, sexy moments
Anyone else out there find the first ½ of this book annoyingly like Twilight? No? Just me? Well.
So don't get me wrong—this wasn't what I'd call a bad read. But when I started this the other day, I guess I was expecting something a bit more...unexpected. I feel like this was Twilight rewritten with aliens (although their sense of “alienness” is something I found lacking overall)...and I'm not sure it worked for me in the end.
“You don't look like an alien!' It seemed important to point that out.
He arched a brow. 'And what do aliens look like?'
'Not...not like you,' I sputtered. 'They aren't gorgeous--'
'You think I'm gorgeous?' He smiled.
Let me get into the specifics. The characters are well-rounded. It's clear from the get-go that Katy isn't your “average” teenager (though what IS average, really?) Daemon I loathed immediately—with his attitude, who wouldn't? But none of them really stood out to me, to be honest—they were all thrust into their roles, but given no space to really breathe. They didn't go above and beyond; they didn't really tug at my heart or knock me on my butt. They were like actors who'd lost passion for their craft—some witty lines, some epic banter, but overall flat.
The action, as well, was pretty run-of-the-mill. Despite a few weird blips on the supernatural radar, the beginning of this book was just like every other YA read I've come across lately: the unusual new kid (a “bright and shiny new toy” for the rest of town); a hyper, instant best friend; a few prickly bullies; and one sexy guy the protag knows she couldn't possibly have...yet wants anyway. Yawn, yawn, and double yawn.
“Doesn’t he own a shirt?” I asked, grabbing a spade.
“Unfortunately, I don’t think so. Not even in the winter. He’s always running around half-dressed.” She groaned. “Its disturbing that I have to see so much of his…skin. Yuck.” Yuck for her. And hot damn for me.
It wasn't until about the 60% mark things began getting interesting—and straying away from the heavy Twilight influence. The last few chapters of this book were pretty awesome, in fact! Fast-paced with action, some intriguing and different ideas at play, a few twists and turns I hadn't expected. If the first part of this had relied more on the story to tell the story, instead of fulfilling the “average teenage love story—with ALIENS!” vibe, this probably would have gotten a higher rating from me honestly; the second part of this was more what I was looking for when I picked up this read.
The plot isn't bad, overall—besides a slow start, things pick up pace and kept me enthralled enough to want to see what happened next. There's a twinge of paranormal mystery throughout. In fact, after the halfway mark, even the characters seem like totally different people. The dialogue wasn't as heavy-handed, forced, or awkward; the characters were more believable and realistic in their actions/reactions. I finally started feeling something other than frustration for them. Too bad it came a bit late in the story.
“Is this what you do with your spare time?” he asked me, ignoring his sister.
“What—are you deciding to talk to me now?” Smiling tightly, I grabbed a handful of mulch and dumped it. Rinse and repeat. “Yeah, it’s kind of a hobby. What’s yours? Kicking puppies?”
I don't know if this just wasn't the right book for me, or if the timing was off, or if the heavy Twilight influence is what caused the scrupples...but I didn't like this as much as I hoped I would. I'd still recommend to lovers of sci fi/fantasy, aliens, and the paranormal—the characters are snarky and quirky once you get past the awkward. So someone tell me: how's book two? If it's better than this one, there might be hope for this series with me yet.
lilys_bookshelf_nr30's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
phoenixprestige's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
It has the perfect balance of action and emotion without getting too stuck in the main character's head. All of the supporting characters are lovely. The ending is also one of my favorites. It resolves without any sort of cliff hanger, but the attachment to the characters has grown so much that I can't wait to dive into the next book. The relationship between the two leads is a banter filled, nearly enemies to lovers, slow burn.
The only thing I don't like is how cartoony the villains of the book end up looking since their motivations for being evil are so weak, but the rest of the book is so strong I don't really care by the end of it. It doesn't help that I'm far from being in the YA demographic, so I can't hold that against the book. High school me would have eaten this book up entirely.