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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
I honestly was not expecting to like this as much as I did. After searching for books similar to “Kingdom of the Wicked,” someone recommended this and I can’t say I’m disappointed. It definitely filled that need for me, and although the similarities are stark, “White Hot Kiss” stands on its own. I forgot just how much I enjoy reading urban fantasies that take place in high school settings, and this one was super bingeable and really gave me “City of Bones” vibes. Can’t wait to read the next story!
I really enjoyed this book. It was a random suggestion from kobo based on my other reading and I decided to give it a shot. It has the usual paranormal YA vibe that I love. I immediately bought the sequel and I am going to start reading it the instant I finish this review. The characters are interesting and the plot is quick moving and engaging.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
August 25, 2020
Jennifer L. Armentrout's books have always felt like comfort food to me, and this was the first book of hers I ever read, so it's extra special in that it was my first literary bowl of mac and cheese: I know it isn't good for me, I know my body isn't really capable of digesting it, but goddamn it, yes please, I will take another serving.
Honestly, this trilogy is a bucket o' tropes but I think something Armentrout does is that she takes those tropes, recognizes their hokey nature, and gets as much fun dumb trash out of it as is humanly possible, and it's kinda great!
This series is peak guilty pleasure, and most of it lies in our main love interest, Roth, who is a wise-cracking jackass whom I adored from moment one. He is the sort of character (and, more accurately, character type) I find myself missing often. These books don't do anything new with this archetype, but it's done so well and with such charm that, at the end of the day, I just really, thoroughly enjoy myself whenever he's on the page.
I'll admit, this is one of the few book series I've bought copies of twice and I did it because I wanted to get the covers that weren't ugly. I like these books and I wanted a nice set to put on my shelf! I'm just so fond of these books and I'm really glad I decided to revisit them.
Unrelated addendum: When I first read this series back in 2016, I was deep into my now-perfect save file of Jonathan Blow's indie puzzle game, The Witness and I would listen to these audiobooks while raging at each and every failed leap in logic and wrong answer, and, now that I'm listening to them again, it is making me see those accursed puzzles behind my eyes again for the first time in more than 4 years. Thanks, Saskia Maarleveld!
February 16, 2016
This is the sort of trashy, borderline-awful, stupidly sexy stuff I used to read and I've missed it way more than I care to admit. Mediocre stuff is good stuff when there's a hot guy in it, that's just science.
Jennifer L. Armentrout's books have always felt like comfort food to me, and this was the first book of hers I ever read, so it's extra special in that it was my first literary bowl of mac and cheese: I know it isn't good for me, I know my body isn't really capable of digesting it, but goddamn it, yes please, I will take another serving.
Honestly, this trilogy is a bucket o' tropes but I think something Armentrout does is that she takes those tropes, recognizes their hokey nature, and gets as much fun dumb trash out of it as is humanly possible, and it's kinda great!
This series is peak guilty pleasure, and most of it lies in our main love interest, Roth, who is a wise-cracking jackass whom I adored from moment one. He is the sort of character (and, more accurately, character type) I find myself missing often. These books don't do anything new with this archetype, but it's done so well and with such charm that, at the end of the day, I just really, thoroughly enjoy myself whenever he's on the page.
I'll admit, this is one of the few book series I've bought copies of twice and I did it because I wanted to get the covers that weren't ugly. I like these books and I wanted a nice set to put on my shelf! I'm just so fond of these books and I'm really glad I decided to revisit them.
Unrelated addendum: When I first read this series back in 2016, I was deep into my now-perfect save file of Jonathan Blow's indie puzzle game, The Witness and I would listen to these audiobooks while raging at each and every failed leap in logic and wrong answer, and, now that I'm listening to them again, it is making me see those accursed puzzles behind my eyes again for the first time in more than 4 years. Thanks, Saskia Maarleveld!
February 16, 2016
This is the sort of trashy, borderline-awful, stupidly sexy stuff I used to read and I've missed it way more than I care to admit. Mediocre stuff is good stuff when there's a hot guy in it, that's just science.
Surprisingly enjoyed this! The thing about reading is, sometimes you have to be in the right mood. I was definitely in a angsty love story mood.
I have read this series back in 2014, I thought I reviewed it but I guess I didn’t so I am rectifying that now.
I loved these books then and I like them now. I do love to revisit a series that I can’t remember much but a few key things because it feels like your reading it all again for the first time.
Layla is probably a favorite character of mine. She is dealt with this cruddy hand but she worked to see the good in it. She doesn’t belong but she tries so hard. You really can’t fault the girl for feeling that way either because the Warden’s most of them don’t treat her like one of them and yeah ok she isn’t but she is too.
Zayne, ooh this boy, I want to shake him. If he truly has the feels for our girl Layla then why does he make her feel bad about herself? I mean he tries I will give him that.
And Roth oh boy do I like a “bad boy” but what I loved the most was how he made Layla feel. That she wasn’t wrong for what she felt. He steers her in the right direction for the most part. (haha ;) )
But he is looking out FOR HER, and I think or I should say I wished Zayne was like that sometimes I think he does but I also think his father gets in his head and he doesn’t speak for himself. That is truly sad.
I can’t wait to see where the series will take us, I love the good/bad theme going on it makes for an interesting listen.
I looooove Saskia’s narration she gives voices to characters in a way that isn’t hokey and you can distinguish who is speaking. I wish more narrators did this but with the experience to know when too much is too much.
I loved these books then and I like them now. I do love to revisit a series that I can’t remember much but a few key things because it feels like your reading it all again for the first time.
Layla is probably a favorite character of mine. She is dealt with this cruddy hand but she worked to see the good in it. She doesn’t belong but she tries so hard. You really can’t fault the girl for feeling that way either because the Warden’s most of them don’t treat her like one of them and yeah ok she isn’t but she is too.
Zayne, ooh this boy, I want to shake him. If he truly has the feels for our girl Layla then why does he make her feel bad about herself? I mean he tries I will give him that.
And Roth oh boy do I like a “bad boy” but what I loved the most was how he made Layla feel. That she wasn’t wrong for what she felt. He steers her in the right direction for the most part. (haha ;) )
But he is looking out FOR HER, and I think or I should say I wished Zayne was like that sometimes I think he does but I also think his father gets in his head and he doesn’t speak for himself. That is truly sad.
I can’t wait to see where the series will take us, I love the good/bad theme going on it makes for an interesting listen.
I looooove Saskia’s narration she gives voices to characters in a way that isn’t hokey and you can distinguish who is speaking. I wish more narrators did this but with the experience to know when too much is too much.
Die Dark Elements Reihe ist eine meiner liebsten Reihen von Jennifer L. Armentrout. Ich liebe den tollen Schreibstil der dafür sorgt, dass ich das Buch keine Sekunde aus der Hand legen kann. Es ist spannend, emotional und mit einer guten Prise Humor. Ich habe das Buch innerhalb von ein paar Stunden verschlungen. Die Idee mit den Dämonen und den Gargoyls find ich klasse und Jennifer L. Armentrout hat das alles super umgesetzt. Es lag immer eine gewisse Spannung in der Luft und ich hatte oft das Gefühl, dass ich mitten im Geschehen dabei bin.
Die Charaktere waren sehr gut ausgearbeitet und man konnte sich gut in alle hineinversetzten und die jeweiligen Handlungen und Verhaltensweisen gut nachvollziehen. Layla ist eine unglaublich taffe Persönlichkeit und ich fand es toll, wie sie mit allem umgegangen ist und sich nicht hat unterkriegen lassen. Roth und Zayne fand ich beide sehr faszinierend. Die beiden sind wie Tag und Nacht und dennoch haben sie ein paar Gemeinsamkeiten (auch wenn sie es nie zugeben würden). Die Dynamik zwischen allen drei war toll und das ganze Knistern und die Kabbeleien haben mich mehr als nur einmal laut auflachen lassen. Auch die Nebencharaktere haben mir gut gefallen und sie haben die Handlung gut abgerundet. Bambi und Stacy sind ihr definitiv meine Favoriten.
„Dark Elements - Steinerne Schwingen“ ist ein sehr gelungener Auftakt und ich freue mich schon auf die weiteren Teile. Fans von Jennifer L. Armentrout sollten sich die Reihe nicht entgehen lassen. Von mir gibt es eine klare Leseempfehlung.
Die Charaktere waren sehr gut ausgearbeitet und man konnte sich gut in alle hineinversetzten und die jeweiligen Handlungen und Verhaltensweisen gut nachvollziehen. Layla ist eine unglaublich taffe Persönlichkeit und ich fand es toll, wie sie mit allem umgegangen ist und sich nicht hat unterkriegen lassen. Roth und Zayne fand ich beide sehr faszinierend. Die beiden sind wie Tag und Nacht und dennoch haben sie ein paar Gemeinsamkeiten (auch wenn sie es nie zugeben würden). Die Dynamik zwischen allen drei war toll und das ganze Knistern und die Kabbeleien haben mich mehr als nur einmal laut auflachen lassen. Auch die Nebencharaktere haben mir gut gefallen und sie haben die Handlung gut abgerundet. Bambi und Stacy sind ihr definitiv meine Favoriten.
„Dark Elements - Steinerne Schwingen“ ist ein sehr gelungener Auftakt und ich freue mich schon auf die weiteren Teile. Fans von Jennifer L. Armentrout sollten sich die Reihe nicht entgehen lassen. Von mir gibt es eine klare Leseempfehlung.
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes