Book Review: The Selection (Sapient Salvation Book 1) by Jayne Faith

Title: The Selection
Author: Jayne Faith
Series: Sapient Salvation #1
Pages: 282
My Rating: ❤❤❤❤

Twice a year, the alien Lord Toric demands a selection of human women between the ages of 18 and 20 to compete for a place in his harem. Maya must get through just one more selection and then she can marry the man of her dreams. She should have been safe, but when a young woman who was supposed to compete dies the day of the selection, Maya is forced into the competition.

Thrown into the fight of her life with no preparation, Maya must shed her innocence and win Lord Toric’s favor. And there is only one winner in the competition. The losers will be sacrificed. Will she survive the first round, or will she pay the ultimate price for her inexperience?

I have previously read The Selection by Kiera Cass and absolutely loved it! I found that both books are extremely similar, except Faith's is geared towards a more mature audience and includes aliens. In addition to Cass' series, this book also tends to incorporate some elements from The Hunger Games. Overall, I would say that Jayne Faith's novel is The Hunger Games meets The Selection (Cass) meets aliens.

It may seem like there is a lot of different elements being thrown into this book, but somehow Faith manages to make it all mesh seamlessly. I really enjoyed how their is a bi-annual culling of both men and women, who then must compete in various survival scenarios. However, the real competition is within both groups, for there can only be one male victor and one female victor. This makes for an interesting dynamic between "obligates."

The story was really enjoyable, but ended too abruptly. I hate when books do that! I felt like after such a slow start (background stuff) that the story was finally getting to some action, and then "wham!" The end. I just wasn't prepared for the story to end, even though the status bar at the bottom of my kindle indicated it's upcoming end.

"May we all find what peace we can, collect as many moments of happiness as possible, and know gratitude in every breath."

Book Review: The Awakening (Sapient Salvation Book 2) by Jayne Faith

Title: The Awakening
Author: Jayne Faith
Series: Sapient Salvation #2
Pages: 200
My Rating: ❤❤❤

Maya survived the first Tournament challenge only to learn that new and powerful enemies lurk in the Calistan palace. Even Lord Toric’s affection and guards aren’t enough to keep her safe, and she's still on her own in the Tournament--the alien lord is forbidden from interfering. As the list of deadly foes grows, Toric and Maya must uncover the traitor in the royal family who aims to murder Maya and destroy the Calistans' chance at reclaiming their homeland. Will Maya summon the strength and luck she needs to meet her highest destiny?

I enjoyed the first book in this series and was a little saddened to see that the second book didn't really live up to my expectations. It started off good, but then started to lag when I got towards the middle of the book. However, after a while it picked back up again, and then once again, it ended abruptly.

One thing that I absolutely loved about The Awakening was how we were able to get more points of view than just Maya and Toric's. I wasn't expecting the perspective change, but am so thankful that Lunaria's point of view was thrown in. Turns out, I really like her character!

Despite the slowness towards the middle of the book and the cliffhanger, I still like the overall story and am extremely interested to see where Faith takes it. I just have way too many questions that I desperately need answered!!

Book Review: Origin (Lux Series Book 4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Origin
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: Lux Book 4
Pages: 364 
My Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on?

And will they even be together? 

Okay, so I know I said I already had a favorite Lux book, but I may have spoken too soon. Origin is amazing!!! This was one of my favorite ones yet! Origin switches back and forth between Daemon's and Katy's point of view, and you can clearly tell which point of view you are reading.

The last book, Opal ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, and Origin picks up right where it left off. At first the book was a bit slow, but it picked up fairly quickly. There is so much that Katy or even Daemon don't know about, but are a big part of it all nonetheless. So many things were brought to light in this book, but it left me with way more questions than answers. I just kept coming to one bombshell after another, and I loved it!!

I recently saw a post from Jennifer L. Armentrout saying how Obsidian made it on the top young adult books of all time list, and it without a doubt deserves to be on there! This is a great series, and I am so glad that she has decided to write a book completely in Daemon's point of view!!

"Daemon Black could be as prickly as a hedgehog having a really bad day, but underneath all that spindly armor, he was sweet, protective, and incredibly selfless."

"I don't have all day, guys. I have things to do. A nap I want to take this afternoon. There's a new movie out on Netflix I want to watch, and a goddamn coupon for a free Whopper Jr. that's calling my name."

"We're stuck between a mountain and a volcano about to explode."

"While you're deep in something, you never say or do what you need to. It's always after the fact, when it's too late, that you realize what you should've said or done."

Book Review: Opal (The Lux Series Book 3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Opal
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: Lux Book 3
Pages: 382
My Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn't fooling around. Doubting him isn't something I'll do again, and now that we've made it through the rough patches, well... There's a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can't protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I'm no longer the same Katy. I'm different... And I'm not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I'm capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won't turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we're stronger...and they know it.

What if I told you that Daemon gets even better? You're probably thinking no way that's impossible. But, in Opal, Daemon does just that. He is full of surprises that make you wish you had your very own Daemon more and more.

In Opal, Katy learns even more about the secret organization that has interest in the Luxen and their healing abilities. She has to learn all she can and prepare herself for what is to come to truly protect those she cares about. Along the way, she, Daemon, and the other Luxen finds themselves working alongside an unlikely character. The stakes are high and everyone is on edge, but Katy is no longer the timid person she used to be.

Usually when I read a series, the first book automatically becomes my favorite, but while reading Opal, I discovered that when it comes to the Lux series, that is definitely not the case. The things that Katy has went through have left their mark and she is no longer the same person that she previously was. She now knows that she will do anything to keep her loved ones safe, which actually kind of frightens her. So, in addition to seeing this new fierce Katy, you also get to see a different side of Daemon. He still has his jerk moments, but he has this gentler side that only those he truly cares about gets to see. I loved how much depth this gave his character. There is so much more to him than just the protective jerk you have come to know and love. He has a huge heart that only a select few get to see.

The fact that Armentrout made a reference to Dean Winchester just solidified Opal as my favorite. When I saw that name in the book I had to put the book down, pick it back up, do a double take, and then proceed to just repeat "Oh my God!" over and over again. Until I get my hands on Origin (the next book in this awesome series) I can only wonder how Armentrout is even going to top this book!

"Daemon was beautiful but prickly, like a Christmas cactus."

"Andrew never liked me. I don't even think he liked people in general. Or puppies. Or bacon."
"I preferred ones with cute kittens and llamas. And Dean Winchester." (there was no way I was not putting the Dean Winchester sentence on here!)

"Thought she said to leave the door open."
"It is. It's cracked. That's Open."

Book Review: Onyx (Lux Series Book 2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Onyx
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: Lux Book 2
Pages: 366
My Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

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 is 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…

If all aliens were easy on the eyes, and strangely both arrogant and caring, then I really don't think that I would object to an invasion. In other words if there is a group of aliens that are exactly like Daemon, then I would say come on in!

In Obsidian, Daemon was mostly the jerk that we all loved, and we rarely (just like Katy) got to see the more caring/sweeter side of him. But now, Daemon and Katy have some alien connection that Katy thinks could explain certain feelings. Daemon does like a challenge though, and will just have to prove Katy wrong!

Then a new guy with surfer good looks comes to town, and Katy thinks he may just have the normalcy that she craves, much to the dismay of our favorite jerk alien. But, normal may be just what Katy needs, because the big bad DOD has come to town, and their black Expeditions are everywhere.

There is no way you can go wrong with such a great plot, and Armentrout certainly does not. She instead goes one step further and completely knocks it out of the park! In addition to the great book that is Onyx, I was surprisingly blessed with a bonus scene! It's not really an extra scene, but at the end of the book, one of my favorite parts was retold...in Daemon's view! That right there only made me love this book that much more!

"Dog-eared pages were Antichrist of book lovers everywhere."

"Are you cold? Where's your jacket?"
"I don't like jackets."
"Did they do something terrible and unforgivable to you, too?"

"You have anger management problems. It's like a disease."
"There's a cure and it's called kicking your ass."

Book Review: Obsidian (Lux Series Book 1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Obsidian
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: Lux Book 1
Pages: 335
My Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

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.

After a lengthy discussion with a girl in my Anatomy class, I decided I had to read Obsidian again. We talked about that book for a while, and I asked her if the rest of the series was good, and she said that it was pretty great. Over Christmas break my freshman year, I read both Obsidian, and the second book in the series, Onyx. I remembered that I really enjoyed it, it's just for some reason I never got around to finishing the series. And after talking to her about it, I knew that I had to. So, while I am still on hold for Just One Drop at the library, I decided to pick up and start Obsidian again.

Obsidian involves Katy, a girl who has just made the move from sunny Florida to some one stoplight town in West Virginia. Her mom decided that it was finally time to have a fresh start. After a very interesting encounter with one of her new neighbors, Katy is left fuming and decides that Daemon is practically the spawn of satan. As luck would have it though, he is one of the most attractive guys she has ever seen, and cannot help but become best friends with his sister, Dee. The more Katy gets to know them, the more she starts to think something is off about them. Turns out Katy is not as crazy as she thought, and they are actual aliens, from a galaxy far far away...

I cannot give enough praise for this book!! Armentrout created a very kick-ass character that is absolutely without a doubt one of my favorite characters...ever. Not only does Katy love books, but she is very witty and not afraid to put Daemon in his place. She stands up for what she believes in and will do whatever it takes to save the people she cares about. The tension between her and her favorite jerk, Daemon is undeniable. They have some major chemistry! I loved how they got under each other's skin and was often left laughing at their little arguments. I cannot be more disappointed in myself for not having this series as a priority and finishing it when I read Obsidian the first time. Oh well, I just had to re-read it again. Hmm, the things I do for good books...

"The day my internet was hooked up was better than having a hot guy check out my butt and ask for my phone number."

"Yeah, it's kind of a hobby. What's yours? Kicking puppies?"

"To Daemon, my arrival was the beginning of the end. The apocalypse. Kat-mageddon."

"Oh, you're an expert in crazy people now?"
"A month with you and I feel I have a master's degree in the subject."

Book Review: Defiance Rising (The Rising Trilogy Book 1) by Amy Miles

Title: Defiance Rising
Author: Amy Miles
Series: Rising Trilogy Book 1
Pages: 328
My Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Illyria has never known a life without the Rebellion.
Instinct.
Survival.
Nothing else matters…until she ventures out into unknown territory and is faced with an enemy that proves even more fierce and determined than she ever thought.

Bastien is infuriating, dangerous and annoyingly gorgeous. Eamon is familiar, comforting and turning into a man before her eyes. Both want her heart...but she is torn between duty and desire. When her choice affects all of mankind, how can she allow herself to be selfish? There is a power within her that can change everyone’s fate…but she underestimated the most potent force on Earth—love. Illyria must discover if she has the strength to sacrifice her heart to save mankind.

I love it when a book that I got for free turns out to be something that I would have willingly paid for. I get carried away sometimes and will just sit at my computer and buy a ton of free books. Days later, some of the purchases are actually appealing. I consider these appealing free books "little gems" (corny...I know). Defiance Rising by Amy Miles turned out to be one of these.

Post apocalyptic worlds are very popular at the moment, and it is in such a world where Miles chose to tell the story of Illyria. After being raised in the resistance, Illyria has learned to be a warrior. Not only is she skilled with a blade, but she is also very curious and defiant. She does not know much about what the world use to be like before the aliens invaded. Now though, the world is overrun with these aliens, Caldonians, who are hunting down the remaining humans. Illyria was born into the resistance and she wants to defeat the Caldonians, but is it possible? Can her friends defeat a whole army?

This book was amazing!! There were several twists and turns that I was not expecting, and each one had me going "What does this mean? What is going to happen now?" Illyria is such a strong person and endures so much. I know I would have cracked under the pressure, but she truly is a warrior. Miles does a fantastic job of creating these characters with many different sides. The book is only 344 pages, but in that amount of writing, I felt that characters were able to develop and grow.

Bastien has to be my favorite character. There is so much more to him than meets the eye. He is definitely not just the tough handsome guy that everybody sees. Books do not always make me cry, but there were times where I actually started to tear up (the part with the teddy bear, if you read it then you'll understand).

I cannot stress enough just how descriptive Miles' writing is! One review I read actually said all the description was a bad thing, but for me it just made everything seem so real and it was perfect! I highly recommend this book and am so thankful that I came across it!!