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
