Obsidian (Lux #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout (2011)
YA Fiction | Sci-Fi | Romance
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.”
–Goodreads
pooled ink Review:
Well who woulda thunk it? I’m hooked.
I’ve heard about the Lux series for a long while now but it never really spoke to me no matter how much praise it got from fellow readers (also I freely admit I judge book covers and I’m not a fan of these lol they’re a tad lame and cliché, for my taste anyway). But then I read an advanced copy of The Darkest Star, the first book in a companion series to Lux, and I realized that what my Kindle needed most of all was for me to hop on board this Lux train haha.
Similar to her Origin series (The Darkest Star) this is very CW as in lots of attractive cast members, super powers/supernatural (in this case aliens), and a hot ‘n cold slow burn but very intensely built up romance. Oh and high school. Because they’re always somehow in high school. But unlike most CW shows this book didn’t annoy me. Or maybe the series will eventually but for now I’m craving the sequel.
I’d be lying if I said the tension/romance between Katy and Daemon didn’t pull me in, and Dee is basically a poster child for an awesome fun friend, but what really intrigues me is this world of aliens Armentrout has managed to create because it’s just enough “out there” that it’s fascinating but not so “out there” that you’re rolling your eyes and popping on a tin hat. Aliens for me are very hit-or-miss but I’m into this. (I think if you’re into I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore you might also be intrigued by this. Badass battles, cool powers, but more romance).
Katy is a character I think I could be friends with. She’s snarky and is a total fangirl over books (she’s a book blogger too haha). Dee is high energy, tons of fun, and I loved that this book included a best friend relationship and not just a romantic relationship. Daemon is mostly an infuriating jerk but it’s obvious it’s a defensive tactic and it was a little bit fun watching how easily he could wind up Katy. Watching Katy and Dee team up to knock him down though was more fun to witness haha.
So yeah, overall I’m here for it. There were some really great quotable moments (mostly from Daemon on the rare occasion that he wasn’t trying to incite a verbal sparring match with Katy), I loved the characters, the alien concept was unexpectedly cool, and yeah I’m here for it. Is it super deep or mind blowing? Nah, but it’s a good read, it had me staying up way late into the night binge-reading, and I look forward to reading more. What more could one want from a book?
Area 51 or, uh, West Virginia? Obsidian unveils a world beyond what we see, one filled with aliens who not only look like us but have been living amongst us for a very long time. What starts out as a story on new girl in school anxiety quickly escalates when Katy’s neighbors turn out to be hiding some pretty heavy secrets. And the sexy boy next door doesn’t help much either. Exciting, dark, and brimming with romantic tension, Lux is a series that will have you binge-reading from start to finish.
Cheers.
Purchase Here: Obsidian
Check out the companion series! The Darkest Star (Origin, book 1)
Similar Recommended Reads: I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer, V Games by Caroline Peckham, Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Meet Jennifer L. Armentrout!
# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Charles Town, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. In early 2015, Jennifer was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and death of cells in the retina, eventually resulting in loss of vision, among other complications. Due to this diagnosis, educating people on the varying degrees of blindness has become of passion of hers, right alongside writing, which she plans to do as long as she can.
She is the owner of ApollyCon and The Origin Event, the successful annual events that features over hundred bestselling authors in Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult Fiction, panels, parties, and more. She is also the creator and sole financier of the annual Write Your Way To RT Book Convention, a contest that gives aspiring authors a chance to win a fully paid trip to RT Book Reviews.
-Author Website
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