Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
adventurous
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Ok, so the cover does not fit this book in my opinion. This is so much fun. GARGOYLES! I am in absolute love.
So I read this because it was a prequel to the Dark Elements series by Jennifer Armentrout. I've been meaning to read the series for quite some time but just never got around to it. So I figured I should just start at the definite beginning to get a feel for the series. I have to admit, I really hope the rest of the series isn't like this heaping load of sexism. Am I alone here? I see so many reviews here just "swooning" over the romance. The romance was fine... but what about literally everything else?
Jasmine is the "heroine" here. I'm using the term "heroine" loosely because she, frankly, sucked. She starts off wanting independence from a society that basically considers females as brood mares. Women are supposed to stay home and raise babies while the men folk go out and save the day. This doesn't take place in the past where that kind of thinking was common. IT TAKES PLACE IN MODERN TIMES! What. In. The. Actual. Fuck? But ok... Jasmine is different right? She wants to be a warrior and independent! She's someone I can root for, right? NO. In the end she basically just gives up all her aspirations for a man because she loves him. What. In. The. Actual. Fuck? Seriously. she just accepts Dez's claim to be her mate and says she's had enough experiences in the outside world. UGH... barf forever! I will still try out the Dark Elements series just to see if it gets any better. Layla can't suck more than Jasmine right?
However, besides the crippling sexism, the romance was actually pretty sweet. Here's one line from Dez that was actually pretty wonderfully romancy:
Jasmine is the "heroine" here. I'm using the term "heroine" loosely because she, frankly, sucked. She starts off wanting independence from a society that basically considers females as brood mares. Women are supposed to stay home and raise babies while the men folk go out and save the day. This doesn't take place in the past where that kind of thinking was common. IT TAKES PLACE IN MODERN TIMES! What. In. The. Actual. Fuck? But ok... Jasmine is different right? She wants to be a warrior and independent! She's someone I can root for, right? NO. In the end she basically just gives up all her aspirations for a man because she loves him. What. In. The. Actual. Fuck? Seriously. she just accepts Dez's claim to be her mate and says she's had enough experiences in the outside world. UGH... barf forever! I will still try out the Dark Elements series just to see if it gets any better. Layla can't suck more than Jasmine right?
However, besides the crippling sexism, the romance was actually pretty sweet. Here's one line from Dez that was actually pretty wonderfully romancy:
"I loved you the night you brought me pudding and stayed with me until I fell asleep. That was eleven years ago and my love for you has never faded, Jas. Not for one second."
I’ve read all the other books in this series and the spinoff series bailable and I finally got this book and I loved every damn second of it. I wanted more. I want more. I love them. I love their banter and all their history!
Great start
I didn't think gargoyles could ever be sexy, but Miss Armentrout has pulled this one off easily. I'm excited to start this new series when it comes out.
I didn't think gargoyles could ever be sexy, but Miss Armentrout has pulled this one off easily. I'm excited to start this new series when it comes out.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a nice addition to the series. It was especially fun since I've already read all of the main trilogy, so I knew how things were going to end up with the characters of this novella. And it still wasn't as predictable as I expected it to be.
Bitter Sweet Love is a brilliant start to the Dark Elements series. Jas is still in love with Dez even though he disappeared years ago without a word to her. When he returns with the intention of being mated to Jas she's determined not to just open her heart again without an explanation. Dez has seven days to win her over and in those seven days Jas wants to see the world and have experiences she's never had before.
The idea of gargoyles is quite new to me and I absolutely loved how JLA presented them. What the gargoyles do is hunt and fight demons of to keep them from wrecking havoc in the human world. As well as the purpose of the gargoyles though is how their society works. There are fewer females than males so the women are protected and kept away from the outside world. Jas has been kept pretty cut off from "civilisation" for most of her life so when Dez provides her with the opportunity to see the world she grabs it. The way the females are treated annoyed me but in a way where I just supported Jas in her little rebellions against the rules :)
Dez was just so sweet. Don't get me wrong - he's hot as he'll - but as well as being extremely good looking he is also Jas's best friend, despite their time apart. He does his best during the seven days to change Jas's mind and I loved him the whole away.
Bitter Sweet Love is short and sweet (no pun intended) and it definitely prepares you for the first full novel of the series. We see the main characters of White Hot Kiss in Bitter Sweet Love and I can't wait for a whole book on them :). And seriously - sexy gargoyles. What's not to like? ;)
YA
4/5 stars
The idea of gargoyles is quite new to me and I absolutely loved how JLA presented them. What the gargoyles do is hunt and fight demons of to keep them from wrecking havoc in the human world. As well as the purpose of the gargoyles though is how their society works. There are fewer females than males so the women are protected and kept away from the outside world. Jas has been kept pretty cut off from "civilisation" for most of her life so when Dez provides her with the opportunity to see the world she grabs it. The way the females are treated annoyed me but in a way where I just supported Jas in her little rebellions against the rules :)
Dez was just so sweet. Don't get me wrong - he's hot as he'll - but as well as being extremely good looking he is also Jas's best friend, despite their time apart. He does his best during the seven days to change Jas's mind and I loved him the whole away.
Bitter Sweet Love is short and sweet (no pun intended) and it definitely prepares you for the first full novel of the series. We see the main characters of White Hot Kiss in Bitter Sweet Love and I can't wait for a whole book on them :). And seriously - sexy gargoyles. What's not to like? ;)
YA
4/5 stars
Jasmine returns home to find that Daz, the man she has loved for years, is back after three years of no contact. Everyone expects her to just accept his proposal and mate with him but she has other plans. She has seven days to decide if she will mate and she is going to make the most of them.
This is my first Armentrout book. I don’t usually love YA books so I was leary of starting this one but I actually enjoyed it. This world with gargoyles acting as wardens for demons is fascinating and captivating. Jasmine and Daz were good solid characters as well. While I liked Jasmine Idid get annoyed with her constant denial of her feelings for Daz.
Overall, this was a very fascinating world filled with fascinating creatures. I can’t wait to read the next book.
This review was originally posted at Red-Haired Ash Reads.
_______________________
Romanceopoly 2020 Sun - The Vault
This is my first Armentrout book. I don’t usually love YA books so I was leary of starting this one but I actually enjoyed it. This world with gargoyles acting as wardens for demons is fascinating and captivating. Jasmine and Daz were good solid characters as well. While I liked Jasmine Idid get annoyed with her constant denial of her feelings for Daz.
Overall, this was a very fascinating world filled with fascinating creatures. I can’t wait to read the next book.
This review was originally posted at Red-Haired Ash Reads.
_______________________
Romanceopoly 2020 Sun - The Vault