Thrall (Daughters of Lilith #1) by Jennifer Quintenz

MILD SPOILERS!

3.5 Stars

Date Released: 16th May 2012
Pages: 281
Author: Jennifer Quintenz
Blurb: Braedyn is a normal girl just trying to survive high school with her two devoted friends, Royal and Cassie. Together they’re doing a pretty good job of shrugging off the slings and arrows cast their way by the popular crowd when a new boy, Lucas, moves into the house next door. Suddenly Braedyn finds herself falling in love for the first time.

But as her sixteenth birthday approaches, Braedyn discovers humankind is at war with the Lilitu, an ancient race of enticing demons that prey on human souls. Her father is a member of the Guard fighting against the Lilitu - and so are the new neighbors, including her crush, Lucas.

As her world starts to unravel at the seams, Braedyn learns the right answers aren’t always clear or easy. And as for “good” and “evil” – it all depends on how we choose to act.

Inspired by the ancient Mesopotamian myths of Lilith and her offspring, Thrall explores first love, strong friendships, and taking on adult responsibilities against the backdrop of powerful supernatural forces and life-and-death stakes

*I was given a copy of this book on kindle in return for an honest review*

Thrall is just what you need if you are craving a new, unique, paranormal story with a likable main character, but also a plot filled with equal parts romance and kick-ass action.

I must admit, there are so many YA paranormal books now, that I struggle to find a story that is interesting and unique. However, I found Thrall to be a breath of fresh air - in fact it was my first time reading a succubi-related book, and I found it to be a pleasant experience.

Let's start on the main character; Braedyn.
I really appreciated that Braedyn wasn't one of those stupid, gullible characters that believed everything that they were told - I mean, let's face it, if someone came up to you and told you that demons were real, what would you think? That they were off their rocker. If you actually saw the demons? Well... maybe they slipped you something... So Braeyden had a completely normal what-the-hell response, and from then on I loved her.
Don't get me wrong, she was a bit of an idiot sometimes too. You know that you're reading a good book, if when a character does something embarrassing, it just makes you want to shrivel up and die. I also found it quite amusing when Braeyden turned out to be a better fighter than Lucas - she was a nice change to the usual Mary-Sue- type characters who just rely on the love interest all the time.

The love interest; Lucas.
Lucas was the main problem that I had with Thrall - I just didn't like his character very much, and I thought that Braeyden deserved better... He just didn't stand out to me, unlike many of the other characters, and I didn't understand his and Braeyden's relationship. Let's just say that I hope there is another love interest in the second book, Incubus.

A character I loved; Gretchen.
I must admit that I hated Lucas' (sort of) sister at the start of the book. She was mean and just plain rude to Braeyden. But over the course of Thrall, I learned to love her, and she actually turned out to be really cool (another female character who can fight brilliantly!).

Overall, Thrall is definitly worth a read if you enjoy YA Paranormal Romance books, with main characters that can actually kick butt!

By Katherine.  

Texas Gothic (Goodnight Family #1) by Rosemary Clement-Moore

SPOILER FREE!

Date Released: 7th July 2011
Pages: 416
Author: Rosemary Clement-Moore
Blurb: Amy Goodnight knows that the world isn't as simple as it seems—she grew up surrounded by household spells and benevolent ghosts. But she also understands that "normal" doesn't mix with magic, and she's worked hard to build a wall between the two worlds. Not only to protect any hope of ever having a normal life.

Ranch-sitting for her aunt in Texas should be exactly that. Good old ordinary, uneventful hard work. Only, Amy and her sister, Phin, aren't alone. There's someone in the house with them—and it's not the living, breathing, amazingly hot cowboy from the ranch next door.

It's a ghost, and it's more powerful than the Goodnights and all their protective spells combined. It wants something from Amy, and none of her carefully built defenses can hold it back.

This is the summer when the wall between Amy's worlds is going to come crashing down

Onyx (Lux #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

SPOILER FREE!





4.5 Stars

Date Released: 14th August 2012
Pages: 366 (Kindle edition 416)
Blurb: Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I've sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we've got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…

I've seen someone who shouldn't be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies...

Yet another cover that I just don't like. However it is a... nice shade of purple...
Onyx picks up pretty much exactly where Obsidian left off - Katy is still amazing and Daemon is still very hot 
annoying.
Miss Armentrout really did out do herself with Onyx, she had me laughing - out loud! I know, I know, calm yourself. Your thinking to yourself; there is no way that Onyx is better than Obsidian. There is no way that Onyx can be funnier than Obsidian or that I will magically start shipping Daemon with Katy, because, lets face it, he really is quite a douche and a jerk and a big smell poo and Katy deserves better *cries*.

Calms self.

The only way I can think to describe it is that everything just gets... so much better. And it was during Onyx that I really did start to LOVE Daemon and Katy together.
Sure their weird on-off not really a relationship relationship was frustrating, but I kind of loved it

To be honest the only thing that stopped me giving this book 5 stars was the angst. Maybe it was because I love this book so much, but I cant believe it took me reading Onyx for the third time to realize how much angst there is in this series.No joke.

Don`t worry though, near the end of the book there is a very sudden plot twist, which I did not see coming, which really helped Miss Armentrout redeem herself.

So that really bumped up the number of stars I gave Onyx (as well as the brief mention of Dean Winchester. Mmm Dean Winchester).

If you enjoyed Obsidian then definitely read Onyx.  

Quotes: 

“I could always give you a teaser. You bookish people love teasers, don't you?” 

“Maybe they’re getting some bow-chicka-pow-wow.”

I looked at him. “Ew.”

He flashed his teeth. “She’s definitely not my type.” His gaze dropped to my lips, and parts of me quivered in response to the heat in his gaze. “But now I totally have that on my mind.”

I was breathless. “You’re a dog.”

“If you pet me, I’ll—“

“Don’t even finish that sentence,” I said, fighting a grin.”

“Humping my leg like a dog in heat every time I'm around you doesn't prove you like me, Daemon.' 

Daemon clamped his mouth shut, and I could tell he was fighting back laughter. 'Actually, that's how I show people I like them.”

“Your mail could've waited." Daemon followed me into the kitchen. "What is it? Just books?"

Grabbing the OJ from the fridge, I sighed. People who didn't heart books didn't understand.”

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Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) by Tahereh Mafi

SPOILER FREE!

4 Stars.

Date Released: 2nd October 2012 (First published 15th November 2011)
Pages: 340
Blurb: Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

I spent absolutely AGES looking for a certain copy of this book. For some reason, they don't sell Shatter Me in UK bookshops, well not in any of the ones I checked. And then when I realized I could just buy it on Amazon, they didn't have the beautiful book cover they use in America. Look at it! Look at it in all of its amazing-ness (yes, that is a word now)! 

 In fact, the blurb on this review is actually the blurb from the American copy of Shatter Me. Because it is better. Again.

But seriously, the UK cover is a hint about how obsessed Juliette is over eyes. If I were to go back and check, I bet that at least half the book would be about how wonderful Adam`s eyes are.

However, I was pleasantly surprised over how much I enjoyed this book. Considering how many negative reviews I had seen about Shatter Me , mainly about the writing style, I didn't really expect to enjoy it so much. Dont get me wrong, there were so many random metaphors and similes where I was like: 

But I tried to ignore the really weird ones, and read on. 

Be warned! If you do not like romance, and are hoping for a dystopian/science fiction book, then do not read this. Sure, it is classed as a dystopian, but it is more of a romance book. 

On that note; Team Warner!

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Obsidian (Lux #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

SPOILER FREE!





4 stars

Date Released:  28th November 2011(Current cover 8th May 2012)
Pages: 294
Blurb: 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.

Can I just start by saying that I feel like the only person who doesn't like the cover? I mean, the background is nice, but the guy just creeps me out a little bit... Sorry!

Anyway.

Yay, its in first person! I found Obsidian very easy to get into and i immediately loved Katy because she always stood up for herself and was hilarious at the same time - and she blogs about books! SHE UNDERSTANDS!

Enter Daemon. Whenever I was reading Daemon`s conversations, I ended up doing one of three things: cringing, laughing or wanting to punch him in the face. I know that the whole point of Daemon was that he was supposed to be a "bad boy" type guy but... gah! He could be so annoying (yet funny), and treated Katy like crap most of the time!

I was starting to hate Daemon, but he redeemed himself at the end of the book. I really loved the second half of the book, as there was a lot more action, and the "Katy and Daemon" ending was brilliant... 

I guess Obsidian is supposed to be science fiction, what with it being about aliens and all, but I found that the main focus of the book was the romance between Katy and Daemon. So if you don't like romance, then this book probably isn't for you.

Quotes:

 “I don't think he meant to kiss me," I said finally.

"What? Did he slip and fall on your mouth? Those things are known to happen.”

“You haven’t locked yourself in any rooms or rocked in any corners, right?”

I rolled my eyes and began walking again. “No Daemon, but thanks for making sure I’m mentally sound and all.”

“Why are you such an ass?" The words came out before I could think twice.

"Everyone has to excel at something, right?"

"Well, you're doing a great job.”

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Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days #1) by Susan Ee

SPOILER FREE!

5 stars.

Date Released: 21st May 2011 (Paperback released 23rd May 2013)
Pages: 283
Blurb: It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

I love this book so much that i have three copies - two in paperback, and the other on my kindle, and I’m not ashamed to admit it! I remember when this was just a 77 p book on kindle, now it is sold in paperback with a potential movie on the way. I feel like a proud mother.

The start reminded me a little bit of The Hunger Games - a girl trying to save her younger sister - which is part of the reason why I bought it. And it didn't disappoint. After just the first few pages I was sucked in. I've found with a lot of dystopian books that they're either quite confusing because the author doesn't explain it very much in terms of world building, or they explain it too much and I get bored. But with Angelfall that wasn't the case.

Whether you prefer paranormal romance or science fiction, this book really does have the whole package. There is plenty of action to keep you interested, just a hint of romance (for now) and big dollop of comedy as well! Seriously, this book actually made me laugh out loud so many times, and I hardly ever laugh at books.

The main characters were great as well. Penryn was no Mary-Sue and was witty and a bit of a badass, while Raffe was confident and funny, but not in an annoying, cocky way. 

What I loved the most about this book was is that I got to see Penryn and Raffe’s relationship progress over the book, seeing them slowly turn from being tense allies to friends. Don`t worry, you won’t get any of the stupid insta-love that many YA books have nowadays. Penryn and Raffe’s relationship seems so real, that by the end you can’t help but root for them!

Definitely the easiest 5 stars i have ever given.

Quotes: 

“Why were the other angels attacking you?"

"It's impolite to ask the victim of violence what they did to be attacked.”

“Here, I’ll show you how to use it. Let me see your foot.”

“That’s a pretty intimate demand in the angel world. It usually takes dinner, some wine, and sparkling conversation for me to give up my feet.”

“My friends call me Wrath,” says Raffe.“My enemies call me Please Have Mercy. What’s your name, soldier boy?”

“So long as you don't bleed in the shape of wing joints, you should pass for human. Oh, and don't let anyone pick you up. They'll know you're not right as soon as they feel how light you are."

"I'll be sure not to let anyone but you carry me in her arms.”

“I'm not moping," I whisper back. 

"Of course you're not. A girl like you, spending time with a warrior demigod like me. What's to mope about? Leaving a wheelchair behind couldn't possibly show up on the radar compared to that."

"You've got to be kidding me."

"I never kid about my warrior demigod status.”

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