Half-Blood has been on my radar for a while now. A ton of book bloggers really loved this book, and the cover kept popping up here, there, and everywhere. A few other things kept popping up, too. Here's what I mean:
Now tell me, if you kept seeing those buttons, wouldn't you eventually click on one of them?? Well, I did (couldn't help myself). Look at that one of Seth with the blue flames... After way too much staring, I just had to know what the pics were from.
Anyway, I finally read the book over the holidays, and I'm happy to say it lives up to the hype. Some people have knocked it for being exactly like the Vampire Academy series, but I didn't mind the similarities. I think that's just b/c I enjoy a good story *shrugs* Cliché doesn't bother me as long as it's done well, so...I just sat back and let Armentrout do her thing. And I enjoyed it. Immensely J.
Here's what you need to know first: Hematoi = children of Gods + Mortals
Pure-bloods = children of Hematoi + Hematoi
Half-bloods = children of Hematoi + Mortals
Half-blood + Pure-blood = Huge No-No!!!
Got it? (Don't worry it took me a second, too J)
The MC is seventeen-year-old Alex, a half-blood who just lost her mother in a daimon attack. She's taken back to The Covenant where she'll either become a Sentinel (aka a daimon hunter) or a mindless servant to the pure-bloods. With her so behind in her training, Alex gets assigned a mentor to bring her up to speed: The very hot, very off-limits Sentinel Aiden. He's a pure-blood after all and relationships between pures and halfs are explicitly forbidden. Good thing Alex has never been a fan of rules.
There's also an oracle, one uber-powerful/hot Apollyon named Seth, and enough mystery, action and romantic tension to keep the reader flipping through the pages to get to the end. (If you wanna know what the Apollyon is, I suggest reading the book ;D) I would recommend it to people who want an entertaining read very much in the vein of the Vampire Academy series and Isle of Night by Veronica Wolff. Personally, I think Half-blood is a nice addition to the genre. I connected with the characters (especially Alex, loved her recklessness/courage), loved the fight scenes. I was pretty impressed with the ending. Can't wait to read the next book and find out more about Seth J
Hope everyone had an excellent New Year's,
Ninja Girl
