Review -- Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Onyx
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: The Lux (2)
Publisher:
Release Date:
Date Read: Jan 2013
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 are 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…

A million times better than Obsidian, which I didn't think was possible.

Everything was brilliant, even the crappy frustrating things at the beginning. I'll just get the frustrating stuff out of the way before I start gushing on about the rest of the book.

I ended up reading this for a considerably long time and that's mostly because I was so angry during the first 100 pages that I could barely read the damn book. Seriously. Katy was pissing me off. Daemon was being an over=protective jerk. Then there was Blake, wedging himself like a rock between Katy and Daemon's relationship, and it was already rocky enough. Katy was being the usual annoying teenage girl, making excuses, being in denial. She kept leading Bob on and there was so much love triangle angsty crap. Argh!

Ok that's all. On to the great stuff.

There were some great character development both with Katy and Daemon. Katy was even more kickass in Onyx than in Obsidian. She's stronger, more independent and more sarcastic than ever. Daemon's character had the biggest turn-around. He was determined to prove to Katy that his feelings for her were his own, and not just the result of the alien linky-link between them. Over-protectiveness aside, he became sweet and endearing and it was fun seeing them be super cute with each other. I really liked the direction Armentrout took in regards to their relationship. It was natural and realistic in terms of Daemon and Katy's personalities. That doesn't mean they didn't make mistakes though. Because they did- a craptonne of them. But they were mistakes they have to had made to get to the place they were now. They were able to discover and know each other, be friends and earn each others' trust. And let's not forget the hot and heavy scenes. Super sexy.

So many things happened as well. I feel like all of this couldn't have happened in just one book. The pacing was good and there wasn't a boring part in the whole book. Armentrout amped up the plot and the stakes of the story to a whole new level. The new elements of the story- Boris, the DOD, the super powers- they all worked together to keep me on toes.

With the ending of Onyx, this series has become so much more than Daemon and Katy's love story and I'm sure Opal will hold more surprises and excitement and amazingness than both Obsidian and Onyx.

P.S.
I would pay lots of money to see that In My Mailbox video.

Read More

Ramblings -- Spoiled by the Synopsis

I don't read synopsises/synopsii/synopsis. Especially if they are books that have captured my attention and I really want to read them.

But, Katrina, how exactly does a book capture your attention if you don't read the synopsis?

Easy. Judge the book by its cover. 

Calm it down, General Shang. Put away the torches and the pitchforks. Take a deep breath. Now are you sure you're not going to bite my head off? Yes? Awesome. Let's proceed.

If someone recommends me a book (if that someone is someone I trust), most of the time, I take it, no questions asked. If I'm at my library and I see a pretty spine or stunning cover, it gets checked out faster than you could say 'overdue'. If I'm running around on Goodreads and I see a book that looks interesting, the cover and the title, it goes straight to my to-read pile. Sometimes I take a peek at my friends ratings, maybe read a paragraph of their review and if its funny/interesting enough, I read the whole thing (but that rarely happens). Anyway, you get my point. I don't read the synopsis.

Why? Because it's misleading as hell.

I know covers can be just as misleading, if not more but you can blame my hatred for synopses on The Thirteenth Child. I read the book a while ago but it has forever scarred me. I expected this whole amazing story with fast paced plot, magic, discovery and characters I can love. What I got was an annoying, whiny protagonist and an almost non-existent plot with the pace of a snail. Those two paired together ruined the book more than anything else. Anyway, after I realized that I got burned by the synopsis, I shied away from reading it.

Not to mention the fact that synopsises/synopsii/synopsis contain a lot more spoilers than you would imagine. I remember after I read The Maze Runner, I turned to the book jacket to judge the synopsis and I got so angry that they included that bit about Teresa turning up in the all-male inhabited Glade. When I got to that part, I gasped so hard it seemed like I sucked all the air out of the room.  Some books even summarize what happens up until the middle of the book. Where's the fun in THAT? I knew then that my decision not to consult the synopsis was a good one.

Which brings us to now. I've been doing this no-synopsis thing for quite some time now. I'm content. There have been some covers that tricked me but I wouldn't go back to the old ways. Anyway, against my better judgement, I read the synopsis for Onyx by Jennifer L Armentrout. I was only on chapter 2 but I HAD to find out if the new guy whatsisface. Wait, let me check what his name is... Blake! Blake from Santa Monica. I had to find out if Blake from Santa Monica was going to be all flirty (of course he is) with Katy, thus resulting in a love triangle. I don't really know what I was hoping to achieve by checking the synopsis. It's not like I would've stopped reading it if there was a love triangle, no matter how much I hated it. It brings physical pain, usually caused by me as I yank my hair out, reading about the indecisiveness and the drama and <snooty voice>oh, I love Edward ever so much. But Jake doesn't own a shirt. But Edward sparkles. But Jake turns to a furry dog. However shall I choose?! </snooty voice>Ugh. Spare me. So see? I had to find out, if only to end the suffering anticipation.

And I read it. Was it a good idea? Fuck no. It seemed like synopsis already gave away half the book's surprises. I can just see myself bugging my eyes out when I find out. The DOD knows about Katy knowing The Luxen? 

Blake knows about Katy and Daemon's linky thing?

He's going to help Katy understand the linky link, thus spending time with Blake and she isn't going to tell Daemon about it?

Someone who shouldn't be is alive??!!! *cough* Daemon's brother *cough* *cough* Daemon's brother's girlfriend *cough* 

Granted, my interest shot to the edge of space and the synopsis was only doing it's job by peaking my interest. But I still would have liked to find out about all of it by myself. And I HATE spoilers. Even more than love triangles. Surprise, not anticipation please. (I realize that the reason I spoiled myself was so that I could anticipate the love triangle. Shut up.) It's all part of the reading experience. I really should've just stuck to my vow. Sigh...

That's all. I just wanted to rant.

Feel free to comment about your outrage at my approach to finding books or my stupidity or whatever. Or you know, don't. I won't mind either way, truly. But it would be nice to know that I'm not having a conversation with myself although I do make a habit of it in real life.

Oh my God, Katrina. Stop creeping out everyone. You are so weird.

I know, shut up. Whatchu gonna do about it?

Nothing. I'm you.

Remember how the post is called 'Ramblings'? Yeah...

Read More