5 of 5 stars to ‘Darken the stars’ by Amy Bartol (And a spot on my best series list!)

Darken the stars

What an epic epilogue!

Kricket Hollowell is a pawn. She’s the piece that catapulted the planet Ethar into war and she’s the piece that will end it. The very people she has trusted with her life have handed her over to the enemy. Now, she belongs to Kyon Ensin, the power hungry Alameedan who is determined to make Kricket his in every way. But Kricket refuses to be owned, nor will be allow her destiny to be determined by those who claim to be her family, friends or enemies.

This book had me quite torn by its ending. The story itself was powerful, with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I absolutely loved the shifting dynamics between Kyon and Kricket and found myself falling in love with the abrasive, arrogant, and yet decidedly passionate enemy. When the book ended, I was unsatisfied. I felt there was no resolution.

And then came the epilogue…

In those last few words, Bartol changed my entire perspective on this series. She opened up new storylines and raised questions I hadn’t even considered. What was once a cute, sci-fi love story became so much more. This novel is about the indomitable human (or not so human!) spirit. It’s about the ability to love, more than once, the goodness in every once of us and the darkness too. It breaks down the fictional rule that ‘true love is worth any sacrifice’ and promotes the importance of being true to oneself instead. It tackles the sad truth that in a world of self-serving, power-hungry individuals, it’s each man for himself, sometimes even when it comes to those we love and trust most. But it also leaves us with the hope that love can change even the darkest heart.

This epilogue is amongst the most ‘epic’ I’ve read. Wow! What a series. This one makes my top series list.

Sea of stars

Action-packed fantasy!

Kricket Hollowell is not just in the middle of an Etharian war, she is the reason for it. As the most sought after commodity, she is hunted by all sides who believe that she will be the ultimate winning tool. But Kricket is determined that she will never belong to anyone – except the man she has given her heart to, who will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. Kyon, however, has other ideas.

As time frames go, this second installment covers a very short time span following on from the first novel. But what an action packed nail-biting time that is! I absolutely loved this book! The fantasy world created by Bartol in the first book follows through beautifully from the weapons and surveillance equipment to the transport and wild-life that populate this planet amongst a sea of stars. The action is non-stop from the first sentence to the very end. It’s an emotional roller-coaster.

Character wise, there’s a lot to fall in love with. Trey and his team are loyal, funny and bad ass. The interaction between Kricket and Trey, and the development of their relationship is romantic, hot and tender at once.

But there’s one character who surprised me quite a bit in this installment. At the end of book one, I was completely convinced that Kyon was evil incarnate. Now, I’m not so sure. There’s something very wrong about the way he obsesses over owning Kricket, but his complete dedication and tenderness toward her is kind of sexy too!

I’m completely in love with this series!

5 of 5 stars to ‘Opposition’ by Jennifer Armentrout

Opposition J Armentrout

Smashing end to fantastic series

The world as they knew it has changed and there will be no going back for Katy and Daemon. The Luxen have arrived in their hoards, and peace with mankind is the furthest thing from their alien minds. Nothing can stop the wide-spread destruction they bring with them. Can Daemon resist their brain-washing? Will he and Katy survive this apocalypse. Are they the only hope left for humankind and who can they trust in this war?

What a journey Kat and Daemon have had. From the school-room to the military bunker, they’ve survived it all – and come out stronger. The growth in their relationship and the maturing of their characters has been a delight to follow. Every time I finished one novel in the series and began the next, I wondered how on earth (or in this universe!) Ms Armentrout would be able to top that and move to another level. Yet she did not disappoint.

I love that Daemon kept his sassy, sexy arrogance throughout, and his sense of humor brought a bit of lightness to come seriously tense moments. His tenderness and ‘die-for-you’ passion has seriously made him one of my favorite book boyfriends of all time. The action in this installment, the suspense and the passion was fantastic, as usual. The writing was easy going, true Armentrout style, and the plot flowed nicely, making this one of those novels I put my own writing and studying aside to finish!

When I picked up the first novel in this series, I never expected I would get so drawn in or to fall so hopelessly in love with Daemon and Katy. I’m going to miss these characters!

5 of 5 stars to ‘Origin’ by Jennifer Armentrout

Origin

“I’ll burn the world down to save her.”

Katy is in the hands of Daedalus and Daemon will do anything to get her back, including putting himself at the complete mercy of her captors. But neither Katy nor Daemon could ever have guessed what was really going on in the fortified Daedalus compound, nor could they ever have imagined the things they would be forced to do. Will they survive? Will they escape? How far will Daedalus go to keep the existence of the Luxen secret from the world?

Jennifer has created a believable, extensive world and filled it with characters that are larger than life. From book one, I’ve been a steadfast Katy and Daemon fan and this installment is no exception. Daemon’s arrogance and passion keeps bringing me back for more and I particularly enjoyed his POV. The introduction of some other great characters and the stepping up of the stakes make for a successful sequel. I can’t wait to find out what happens next!