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4.24 AVERAGE
4.24 AVERAGE
I have been provided with a review copy of The Burning Shadow through Edelweiss for an impartial review. This is the second book in the brand-new Origin series and oh my gosh I just absolutely loved getting to reenter this world. I just absolutely had so much fun getting to go along on Luc and Evelyn’s journey. I was just swept away and I just absolutely can’t get enough of this series or it’s wonderful characters. This author just has a way of drawing you in with her wonderful stories and you just can’t get enough of them. I hope there are many more wonderful stories to come in this series.
I have been provided with a review copy of The Burning Shadow through Edelweiss for an impartial review. This is the second book in the brand-new Origin series and oh my gosh I just absolutely loved getting to reenter this world. I just absolutely had so much fun getting to go along on Luc and Evelyn’s journey. I was just swept away and I just absolutely can’t get enough of this series or it’s wonderful characters. This author just has a way of drawing you in with her wonderful stories and you just can’t get enough of them. I hope there are many more wonderful stories to come in this series.
The Burning Shadow by Jennifer Armentrout is the second book in a spinoff of her Lux series. We pick up right where we left off in book one. Evie is back in school, grows closer with her friends, and ends up entangled in her relationship with Luc. Things are escalating with Luc, but he’s only giving her information on an as-needed basis, so Evie is still clueless as to what is really going on around her. The tension between Sylvia and Evie is constant - partly from Evie and partly from her distrusting group of friends. Evie finds out information about herself and has an internal struggle to really figure out who she is, and that’s a theme most young adult readers can identify with.
I love that there are more Arum in this book - I was really curious about them in book one and they become integral to the plot in this one, but in a different way from what you’d expect. The characters become more complex and well-rounded as they face challenges and some of their lives and mindsets get flipped on their heads. The main villain, other than Daedalus, is April, who goes to school with Evie and has a much bigger role asl well. Without giving anything away, she is the foil for Evie in the novel.
The pacing of the novel was fantastic. It was one crisis after another, whether physical or mental. I was always kept wondering what was going to happen next and who I could trust. I love the twists that Armentrout put throughout the book.
My one complaint is that the novel hinges on The Sage archetype and it comes at the VERY end. The Sage is someone who knows everything - is like a walking encyclopedia. Think Hermione Granger, Dumbledore, Gandalf, Yoda. People who have the knowledge to help the hero or in this case heroine figure out how to maneuver their journey. I love all those characters and I appreciate that they were there feeding knowledge throughout the whole book. This book, on the other hand, has a knowledge dump right at the very end where we find out EVERYTHING. I would’ve liked to hear some of that earlier and try to piece it together as I go.
All in all, it was a great second round to the novel and I can’t wait to see where this goes in the next book. There has to be one - that was a mighty big cliffhanger!
I love that there are more Arum in this book - I was really curious about them in book one and they become integral to the plot in this one, but in a different way from what you’d expect. The characters become more complex and well-rounded as they face challenges and some of their lives and mindsets get flipped on their heads. The main villain, other than Daedalus, is April, who goes to school with Evie and has a much bigger role asl well. Without giving anything away, she is the foil for Evie in the novel.
The pacing of the novel was fantastic. It was one crisis after another, whether physical or mental. I was always kept wondering what was going to happen next and who I could trust. I love the twists that Armentrout put throughout the book.
My one complaint is that the novel hinges on The Sage archetype and it comes at the VERY end. The Sage is someone who knows everything - is like a walking encyclopedia. Think Hermione Granger, Dumbledore, Gandalf, Yoda. People who have the knowledge to help the hero or in this case heroine figure out how to maneuver their journey. I love all those characters and I appreciate that they were there feeding knowledge throughout the whole book. This book, on the other hand, has a knowledge dump right at the very end where we find out EVERYTHING. I would’ve liked to hear some of that earlier and try to piece it together as I go.
All in all, it was a great second round to the novel and I can’t wait to see where this goes in the next book. There has to be one - that was a mighty big cliffhanger!
Yo durante todo este libro fue como: QUE? QUE? QUE? QUE ESTA PASANDO
Pero lo amé igual que el anterior, además salieron mis bebes de la saga Lux<3
TE AMO LUC KING
Pero lo amé igual que el anterior, además salieron mis bebes de la saga Lux<3
TE AMO LUC KING
This book literally took me forever to read. But it wasn't because it was a bad book. No, there has just been so much else going on.
I rather enjoyed it, Jennifer Armentrout sure knows how to throw plot twists at you.
I rather enjoyed it, Jennifer Armentrout sure knows how to throw plot twists at you.
okay, but why is everyone like, "oh, Evie, you're so brave, you've dealt with all this wonderfully. how brave you are" okay, okay, maybe it was just Luc...telling her that only, like, A BAJILLION TIMES!!
also, god, pleaaaaaaasssseeee, FOR THE LOVE OF ALL HOLY ALIEN BABIES, someone needs to tell Evie to control her thoughts around Luc because they are just so...so CRINGEY & EMBARRASSING & he's literally always listening!
*sighs* now that that is over, we can move on to the good things :) like, how Evie went completely TROJAN! that was so cool, xD! she was 'bout to kill Luc!... okay, but why do i laugh at these things?... i'm not a villain. also, that cliffhanger was CRUEL!!
also, god, pleaaaaaaasssseeee, FOR THE LOVE OF ALL HOLY ALIEN BABIES, someone needs to tell Evie to control her thoughts around Luc because they are just so...so CRINGEY & EMBARRASSING & he's literally always listening!
*sighs* now that that is over, we can move on to the good things :) like, how Evie went completely TROJAN! that was so cool, xD! she was 'bout to kill Luc!... okay, but why do i laugh at these things?... i'm not a villain. also, that cliffhanger was CRUEL!!
The second novel in the Origin series picks up exactly where The Darkest Star left readers. Evie is exploring her own identity after the revelation that the life she’s been living isn’t truly her own, and when glimpses of her past come bubbling to the surface, she realizes that the cure that gave her life came at a heavy price. With Luc at her side, Evie starts questioning whether her ever-growing feelings for Luc are truly her own or if they’re just remnants of her former self. Meanwhile, a Luxen-esque illness is spreading through the country and fueling anti-Luxen sentiments. Illnesses, untimely deaths, and a fugitive couple are only some of the of events in The Burning Shadow that left me wanting more.
While I did thoroughly enjoy this book, it did have some slow building parts that took me a bit longer to power through, but it did pay off. Overall, I really did like the character development and can’t wait to see what comes next for Evie and how she copes with the hand she’s been dealt.
While I did thoroughly enjoy this book, it did have some slow building parts that took me a bit longer to power through, but it did pay off. Overall, I really did like the character development and can’t wait to see what comes next for Evie and how she copes with the hand she’s been dealt.
HOLY LLAMA BABIES EVERYWHERE! HOLY MOTHER OF LLAMAS! WHY HADN’T I READ THIS SERIES SOONER?!
My mind is all over the place. Oh my god! If i was obsessed with the Lux series before and have doubled maybe even trippled that obsession. OH MY GOD! This second book legit almost made me throw it against a wall. I wanted to scream. It’s been a while for me since a read a JLA book. I forgot how stressful it is. TOTALLY WORTH IT!
Luc and Evie’s story. I have no words. Honestly they just became one of my favorite JLA couples. I honestly have no words to describe them, just WOW. They’re story and journey truly took me off guard. It’s like a dark twisted fairytale. The trials and tribulations that it took for them to find they’re way back to each other and practically fall in love all over again.. i’m a complete sucker.
I still can’t get over the fact at how Daemon, Katy and the rest of the gang just show up like it’s nothing. Older, mind you but still. Seeing them again is just otherworldly (no pun intended). I missed they’re banters and how well they all come together.
This series is just too good. It is so worth it. I should’ve picked it up sooner but alas
My mind is all over the place. Oh my god! If i was obsessed with the Lux series before and have doubled maybe even trippled that obsession. OH MY GOD! This second book legit almost made me throw it against a wall. I wanted to scream. It’s been a while for me since a read a JLA book. I forgot how stressful it is. TOTALLY WORTH IT!
Luc and Evie’s story. I have no words. Honestly they just became one of my favorite JLA couples. I honestly have no words to describe them, just WOW. They’re story and journey truly took me off guard. It’s like a dark twisted fairytale. The trials and tribulations that it took for them to find they’re way back to each other and practically fall in love all over again.. i’m a complete sucker.
I still can’t get over the fact at how Daemon, Katy and the rest of the gang just show up like it’s nothing. Older, mind you but still. Seeing them again is just otherworldly (no pun intended). I missed they’re banters and how well they all come together.
This series is just too good. It is so worth it. I should’ve picked it up sooner but alas
Like with all JLA's books, The Burning Shadow left me wanting more. Holy Cliffhanger batman. I loved this book so much, you get to see the growth of Evelyn's and Luc's relationship and how hot it can get *wink wink* while still staying YA. This book was packed with action and left me on the edge of my seat multiple times, always needing to know what happens and made me miss so much sleep.
We get to see some of my fave characters from the original Lux series and it made me realize I need to do another reread! I highly recommend this book, really all her books! I received this book in exchange for a honest review.
We get to see some of my fave characters from the original Lux series and it made me realize I need to do another reread! I highly recommend this book, really all her books! I received this book in exchange for a honest review.
”You,” he spoke. “It’s only ever been you. Before. Now. Later. There’s been no one else. There…just can’t be.”
3,5 stars
I was doubting for a while about what rating I should actually give this book. When looking at the overall picture, I decided to tick off 3 stars instead of 4 stars.
In hindsight, there’s just not a lot of ‘WOW’ factor present for me. It was super entertaining, don’t get me wrong. The characters, their dialogues and in between banter is super awesome. I really like the friendships present and the steam between Luc and Evie is really well done and the mystery and fantasy/paranormal elements were great! There’s more than enough action present and the writing is, as always with an Armentrout book, super engaging and addictive - like: my pink marker couldn’t keep up with me when marking all the awesome quotes I came across!
”Real strength does not exist in muscles or deadly skill. It exists in your ability to pick yourself up and keep going after the shit hits the fan. That’s strength.”
But, in general, a lot elements also feel a like it’s a lot of ‘the same’ regarding story-line development and things we’ve read before - this was something I had a bit of an issue with in the Darkest Star as well. For most part of the book I also felt things between Luc and Evie dragged on a bit. The not really making up her mind part was partly understandable seeing the history of Evie and her still learning to cope with the fact that she doesn’t have any memory of Luc BEFORE and it’s now like her falling in love with him anew, but it just went a bit too much fort and back for my taste.
The last part of the book had a very good build up towards the end. Not shocking or surprising mostly, but it was super engaging and I couldn’t flip the pages fast enough at one point. I’m excited to find out how everything’s going down in the final installment. And Luc has to be mentioned separately as well because I LOVE HIM TO DEATH. Wether he’s the fierce-some, badass Origin that we got acquainted with in the Lux books, or how he’s with Evie and how he softens up then. My heart does funny things in my chest when he’s going ‘all out’ on showing his emotions and feelings. Siiiiigh.
“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for us to get to this point. I’ve fantasized about it. Dreamed about it. Had nightmares over it. There were times that I believed we would never get to this moment, but I never, ever gave up on wanting this- wanting you.
I want you so badly it hurts to breathe sometimes. You are all I’ve wanted for what has felt like forever.”
“If I give you what you want, there’s no going back. Are you ready for that?” His hand slid up my waist, stopping just below my breast. “Because I’ve already waited forever for this- for you. If I kiss you, if I touch you again, I will not be able to go back to the way things are now.” The next breath he took trembled as much as I was. “I won’t be able to pretend you aren’t my everything.
Conclusion
It was a descent enough and really fun follow up to The Darkest Star, but nothing spectacular or surprising regarding story-line development. It’s more of the same of what we’ve read before in this world, which isn’t necessarily a negative thing because it’s a super interesting world and it’s exciting to read about, but it’s also not exactly what you’re hoping to get in a spin-off sequel.
But…If you fell in love with Luc and Evie’s story in the Darkest star, this is definitely going to be an entertaining book for you as well. The friendships and presence of the minor characters was truly great, as well as that it’s so easy to get engaged with Luc and Evie. The writing itself is as always super addictive… So bottom line: definitely worth reading if you liked the Darkest Star and if you go into this one without too much expectations!
”I like to think that there is no bad time to tell someone they’re beautiful,” he said quietly. “Especially when oftentimes people, no matter if they’re human or not, tend to run out of time before telling someone that.”