DEITY by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I finished Deity on Sunday, and I'm still a little devastated. 0_0

Loved the book/story as usual.  Seriously, LOVED IT!  But the events that took place, the total change of character (one character in particular), and just the overall outcome…  My ninja mind just can't take it in.

*If I knew how to put in a gif, this would be where the person is crying, bashing their head against the wall, crying out "WHYYYYYYYYY" at the top of their lungs*

Anyone reading Deity--the third book in the Covenant series--most likely knows anything I'd reveal as a spoiler from previous books.  Plus, I don't know how to talk about the things I want to talk about without including at least some spoilers.  With that in mind, here are my thoughts.

First off, let's list the things I loved: Alex and Aiden's relationship, Alex's Uncle Marcus (I knew I liked you, sir!), the fast pace of the book, the writing, the Underworld scene, LEON!!!

And now, what made me so, so sad.

Team Seth took a major hit.  We're all still lying on the floor in our own tears, trying to recover from the Seth-bomb that exploded in our faces.  JLA completely flipped the script on us.  If you go into this expecting the same Seth from Pure, you're going to be disappointed (or, if you're like me, totally devastated).

I can't say I didn't see it coming.  Whenever there's a love triangle, especially in YA, the story usually takes one of two routes: 1) Make us hate one of the guys, or 2) Make one guy dull as dirt, so that no one in their right mind would choose him over the other guy.  As we know, Seth would never fit into category 2.  So, we're left with the hate option.  Why not just make the two guys different, each an equally viable love interest, and then have the girl choose?

Seth did some awful things in this book, but the one that really got me was how he mistreated Alex.  He was literally abusive to her (locking her in her room, not letting her leave, draining her life energy ON PURPOSE).  I couldn't believe it--until I remembered the Hate Rule.

In Pure, Seth was cocky and conceited (and already under the influence of Lucian and his evil ways).  But he was NOT a soiciopathic megalomaniac bent on getting power at the cost of the one girl he truly cared about.  Alex was his friend, if not the girl he was in love with.  I never got a clear answer on why he made that leap to the Dark Side.

Though I got plenty of reasons/answers for Aiden's actions.

*Sigh*  That's another thing that bugs me about love triangles.  Even when the narrator discovers that one guy did basically the same things as the other guy, the girl always sees one as the knight in shining armor and the other as doggy poo.

Or in Seth's case, a calculated, psychotic evil dude.

I'll just say this (***MAJOR SPOILER WARNING HERE***): If Aiden had had more time, he would've hunted Minister Telly down just like he did that daimon guy Eric--which, of course, we don't see on the page.  No doubt in my mind.  And Alex would've probably kissed him for it.

In short, LOVED the book.  HATED what was done to Seth's character.  Can't wait to read Apollyon in hopes that Seth will redeem himself.  Though at this point, he'll probably have to die in some incredibly brave way to do it L.

Happy Reading,

Ninja Girl

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!!

 

I have so much to be thankful for: family and loved ones, my good health and theirs, Ninja Aunt P's Thanksgiving meal (it's A-mazing!), my support system (Agent T is the best agent a girl could ask for, and my family's belief in my books never fails to inspire me).  The love and passion I have for writing.  The fulfillment I find in my job.  My awesome students, who make that job worth going to every day.  My fantastic followers.  Great music, great reads.  Speaking of...

 

I'm super thankful for whoever delivered BAM's latest book shipment!  Tonight, I'm starting Deity-- and if tradition holds, I'll be reading into the early morning hours.  Is there a better way to ring in Turkey Day than with a great book? ;)

 

Ninja Girl out!

PURE by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Pure was my first book ordered from BAM (like the actual store), and it took around 3 weeks to get here!  But it was worth the wait--and I want more.  Now, please J

Alex, Aiden, and Seth are back in this second installment of the Covenant series and the story picks up pretty much where Half-Blood left off.

If being the Apollyon-in-training wasn't bad enough, Alex now has to contend with Aiden's crazy mood shifts, Seth's ever-present presence, and the very real threat of half-daimons.  What's worse: She still carries the scars of her last meeting with the daimons, tags on her neck and arms she'd rather keep hidden.  When a student at the Covenant is attacked, all half-bloods are put on watch.  Curfew, ground restrictions, and body searches are put in place.  You'd think the strong-willed Alex would be glad to get gone.  But when she's taken to The Council--where the old rules separating Pures and Halfs are strictly enforced--she finds even more trouble.  Some would rather see Alex dead than have two Apolloyons--and if Alex's love for a certain pureblood were to be discovered it would mean both their heads.

This book was full of action and romance.  The fight scenes were definitely on point, but my favorite thing about Pure was that Armentrout takes the story where you want it to go.  If that sounds vague, I'll try and explain.

At the Covenant, tensions are on the rise.  With all those restrictions and the threat now presented by Half-bloods to Pures, how could they not?  But Armentrout takes it a step farther.  Even though Seth and Alex start to bond (a feat made easier by tragedy and Aiden's constant flip-floppery (more on that later)), Armentrout shakes things up before things can get too comfy.

Instead of lingering at the now-familiar Covenant setting, she introduces a new playing field: The Council.  The belly of the beast.  Here is the real evil, not only b/c some of the members want Alex and Seth out of the picture permanently.  The Council holds all the power and can do whatever they want.  The scene where Armentrout shows this was tragic/powerful/exactly what needed to happen.

We needed to see an example of the Council's inflexibility and power, and she gave us that visual--in vivid, horrific detail.  Here's what would happen if Alex and Aiden actually did fess up to their love.  It was great to see that.  Also, after introducing an ominous harbinger of death (i.e. the statue of the three furies *shivers*), she makes good on it.  In the final battle, Armentrout takes that story element and gives readers what they want.  It was an all-out bloodfest and those furies were oh-so-nasty.  Very well done.  I'll be having nightmares for weeks J

And also, if you think you're done with love triangles, can I recommend this one?  I can now safely state that I am Team Seth.  As much as I dig Aiden and his brighter-than-bright grey eyes, I'm all about the Apollyon.  He stayed with Alex and drove the nightmares away.  He isn't afraid to argue with her--or call her his "cuddle bunny" just to piss her off.  He always has her back, and I know Alex is all I-heart-Aiden, but I, respectfully, disagree.

Girl's off her head if she doesn't go for the mostly-flirtatious, sometimes-trash-talking, always-there-for-her Apollyon.  Which she obviously won't, but I only hope Armentrout doesn't make Seth out to be a traitor/a-hole simply to make Aiden seem better.  It's alright.  We all know she's going to go for Aiden--which is why this ninja is pulling for Seth!!! J

Happy reading,

Ninja Girl

SPRING READS AND FOLLOW FRIDAY

Hi everyone!  So, here's what I'll be reading this Spring Break :D

Ward's latest, Lover Reborn, just came out on March 27th, and Armentrout's Pure is due to hit shelves on April 3rd *jumps up and down*  Cannot wait to dig into these drool-worthy reads!

And it's Follow Friday, so that means getting to meet new (and old) friends and see how they're doing.  The FF is hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, and this week's features are Alluring Reads and Justin's Book Blog!

Q: Do you read one book at a time or do you switch back and forth between two or more?

I used to read just one book at a time, but now I seem to be a two-at-a-time person.  Usually one YA and one adult read (See example above ;)).  But if one captures my attention more, I'll probably finish that book first.

Hope you all are doing great.  One of my ninja aunts has a birthday today so...HAPPY BIRTHDAY NINJA AUNT COLLEEN!  I hope it's a great one :D  I've also gotten back into writing my 4th novel, so yay!

Have a great weekend everyone,

Ninja Girl



HALF-BLOOD by Jennifer L. Armentrout

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