Friday, September 7, 2012

Series Review: Lux by Jennifer L. Armentrout


Title: Obsidian (Lux, #1) 

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout 

Rating: 3 Stars 

Unless you’re a hermit, you will have no doubt heard about this series by now. Not only are the cover models on over 50% of most covers these days, the cover for this novel has also become the new ‘most popular’ profile image, not to mention the fact that there are girls all over the country swooning over Daemon Black. Thus, despite the mixed ratings, I just had to pick this one up and frankly speaking, I was quite confident that I would hate it. Yet, surprisingly enough, I wound up frantically flipping through the pages of this book, laughing, having my jaw drop, and ultimately needing the sequel immediately! Obsidian, like most paranormal novels, has its fair share of flaws, but it is also a really fun story that is bound to suck you in and force you to like it, even against your better judgment.

I suppose from the surface, Obsidian can be called ‘just another Twilight’ and that would be an accurate description – from the surface. Yes, we have our classic ‘girl meets hot guy’ and ‘hot guy is a paranormal creature’ and ‘hot guy warns girl to stay away from him’ and ‘hot guy falls in love with girl anyway’ type of story arc, but there are also some major differences that make this novel better than your average Twilight. For one, Katy is an awesome protagonist. When she moves to West Virginia and befriends her neighbor, Dee, she refuses to let Dee’s twin brother, Daemon, intimidate her into staying away from their family. Furthermore, instead of being a sparkly vampire, fallen angel, hot demon, mesmerizing mermaid, or a sweaty werewolf, Daemon and Dee are aliens! (Unfortunately, they aren’t from Gallifrey, but one day my alien in a blue box will come…even though I live in America…)

I’ve said it before and it demands to be said again: Katy is awesome. Not only is she a book blogger (Woo-hoo!), but she also stands up for herself and knows how to hold her own. She’s fiercely loyal to her friends, intelligent, witty, and quick to put together the facts in front of her and accept who Daemon and Dee really are. While Katy is an incredible protagonist, Daemon is a guy I really couldn’t warm up to in this novel. I know girls are swooning over him left, right, and center, but I didn’t see the appeal. Frankly speaking, Daemon is a jerk. He does everything in his power to break up the friendship between Dee and Katy and while we do slowly begin to understand his motives, I never truly got him until I read the prequel novella, Shadows, so when I originally read this novel, it’s safe to say I hated Daemon with a passion.

Overall though, Obsidian is a great novel. It has an awesome protagonist, wonderful bonds of friendship, creepy alien battles, and a love interest who the main character isn’t swooning over. If that isn’t enough to make you pick this one up, then I don’t know what is! ;)

Title: Onyx (Lux, #2) 

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout 

Rating: 3.5 Stars  

So…remember how I said I hated Daemon in Obsidian? Well, I was more-or-less determined to continue to hate him and suddenly…I didn’t. Onyx, the sequel to Obsidian, focuses on the relationship between Katy and Daemon as Daemon tries to win over Katy and prove that he really does like her, despite their previous interactions. In the process, Daemon winds up winning over the few readers (like me) that he hasn’t already won over and you finish this novel utterly swooning over this green-eyed alien. Yet, even beyond the romance plot, the Department of Defense senses something suspicious with the Luxen in West Virginia and is out to investigate. While dealing with the Arum, the sworn enemies of the Lux, was bad, the DOD is even worse and what Katy and Daemon could uncover about them will be life-changing.

While Obsidian seems to follow the typical Twilight type of plot line, Onyx is a completely different novel. For one, the plot is much more dangerous, intriguing, and the stakes are much higher. If you thought Obsidian sucked you in, think again because Onyx is un-put-downable. I loved the overall plot of this one much more than the one in Obsidian and it had so many jaw-dropping moments that all I could do was flip the pages in awe. If the plot has a flaw, it’s the cliffhanger ending which makes me want to fast-forward to December when Opal releases, but either than that cruel, cruel, ending, Onyx is astounding.

Thus, while it is better than Obsidian plot-wise and Daemon improves drastically, completely winning over everyone, what Onyx lacks is the kick-ass Katy I fell in love with before. Katy is still as stubborn, witty, and intelligent as she was before, but her constant denial of her feelings for Daemon became extremely irritating after a point. Furthermore, the friendships that were prominent in Obsidian completely disappeared and I was so disappointed in Katy for forgetting about her friends in this installment. While Katy and Daemon had some truly phenomenal conversations where they really talked and grew to understand one another and even accepted their previous mistakes and errors, I was disappointed by Katy in this one. I still really like her, especially compared to other protagonists, but I hope we can see more of the Katy from Obsidian in the sequel.

Ultimately, Onyx is a sequel that is even better than its predecessor. It has a heart-pounding plot, an incredible romance, and characters that truly worm their way into your heart. If it wasn’t for Katy’s strange personality/priority shift, this book would definitely be receiving a solid 4 Stars from me, but regardless, I’d encourage you to pick it up. If you didn’t like Obsidian, chances are you’ll enjoy this one much better and if you did love Obsidian, I doubt I have to tell you to pick this one up. Now, if only December would arrive sooner… ;)

Title: Shadows (Lux, #0.5) 

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout 

Rating: 4 Stars 

Wow! Seriously, this novella was awesome! I liked it a lot better than both Obsidian and Onyx, so that really surprised me. First and foremost, Shadows is the story of Dawson, Daemon's twin brother, and how he falls in love with Bethany. While you should chronologically read this before Obsidian, it doesn't contain too many details, so I'd recommend reading it after Obsidian or even after Onyx like I did as it shed a lot of details on some of the plot lines in Onyx. 

Ultimately though, why I loved this story so much was because of Dawson. We all know Daemon is a jerk and we hate him inObsidian and then come to love him in Onyx, but Dawson is a real sweetheart. I loved him from the start and his kindness, courage, and determination was all so sweet. Bethany too is an awesome heroine, although she isn't quite as kick-ass as Katy was. I still really liked her though and her love story with Dawson was very different from that of Katy and Daemon, which is interesting to note as both couples are perfect for each other in their own ways. 

Yet, what really made this novel so wonderful was the sibling relationship with Daemon, Dawson, and Dee. We don't really get to see much into their lives in the Lux Series, but with the multiple POVs in Shadows, we really got to understand the depth of their love for one another. Plus, Daemon's actions in Obsidian make so much more sense after reading this, so I'm glad this was able to shed some light on that as I have a new amount of respect and even more love for Daemon now than I did before. 

Overall, if you're a Lux fan, this is a must-read. If you're on the fence about this series, it's also a must-read. If you don't like the series because of Daemon, then you definitely need to check this one out as it'll change your opinions drastically. If you haven't read this series yet...then what are you waiting for? Go! You won't be disappointed - that's for sure! ;) 

28 comments:

  1. Great reviews! :D
    I have only read Obsidian so far. Really looking forward to the other two.

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  2. I have defintiely heard about this series, I feel like one of the only YA bloggers not to have read it and I'm still not really sure if I want to to, but I did enjoy your review and now I feel like I know more about the series.

    I'm not a fan of bad boys but it is interesting how much your opinion of him changed!

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    1. Yup, my opinion of Daemon really did take a drastic 180 Degree Turn Around! I enjoyed this series though, despite my initial skepticism, so perhaps you'll like it too, Mandee! I hope you're able to give it a try soon! :D

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  3. Oh, my GOD! Never before have I agreed with someone's Every. Single. Word! You did such an amazing job reviewing this, and you pointed out exactly what I would have pointed out about Onyx, had I bothered to review it.
    I agree with you that Katy wasn't really herself in this book and I wonder how she'll be in the next one, but that means I WILL read the next one, and that's what really matters.
    I would suggest a readalong once it comes out, but it's not really a book you can read with someone. :)
    Compulsive page turning is not good for readalongs and socializing.

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    1. Aww, thanks Maja! :) Unfortunately, compulsive page turning isn't good for readalongs and socializing, but perhaps we can discuss once we finish Opal! :D

      I do agree - I will read the next book which is what matters. I was disappointed with Katy, but at least I'm on the Daemon Black is Awesome Boat, so I don't feel all alone on my island of semi-hatred anymore! ;)

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  4. I was not a big fan of Daemon either Keertana! I was thinking I was the only one that thought he was a bit of an a-hole. Now, I will say after reading the little extra scenes from his POV at the end of Obsidian he grew on me, but I'm so glad that he's better in Onyx:) I'm looking forward to seeing a more genuine Daemon proving he really does care for Katy!

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    1. I hope you warm up to Daemon in Onyx, Jenny! He won me over in that installment and I especially understood him after reading Shadows, so I'd highly recommend that one as well! :D

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  5. First of all, I love the Doctor Who reference. Every review should have one of those. ;)

    Secondly, I'm so glad you're warming to this series, Keertana! It's one of my favourites, and you know much much I love Daemon. ;) Thankfully December isn't too far away, so Opal will be in our hands before we know it! Let's hope it doesn't disappoint. :)

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    1. Yes, I know right? I'm afraid you're the only one who got it though... :/

      I'm sure it won't disappoint since Armentrout has been an author with surprises along every avenue! I'm so excited to see what the next installment in this series will bring, so I can't wait! :D

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  6. Oh my! I'm doing a happy dance right now! (Don't imagine it though, it looks really awful) So glad to see you enjoyed the series, Keertana. I totally get all your points and I do agree with some of them. It's just that I so adore this book that I didn't quite care with the flaws. LOL! Fantastic reveiw, Keertana. I rally can't wait for December to come! :D

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    1. Me neither, Eunice! I'm so glad I finally warmed up to this series as it has such a huge fan following and I can't WAIT for the sequel now, not to mention the next tantalizing cover! ;)

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  7. While I've only read Jennifer L. Armentrout's Half-Blood, I really want to read her Lux series! I've heard great things about them and the cover models are gorgeous! But wow, Katy is a book blogger? Isn't that AWESOME? She's just like us ;) Can't wait to read the series!

    Thank you for the awesome series review, Keertana! ♥ So glad you enjoyed it!

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    1. I'm so glad I enjoyed this too, Celine! I think you'll really like the Lux Series and Katy IS just like us, which I found to be SO cool! I can't wait till you pick this one up!

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  8. I feel like the Lux series is one that I just wouldn't enjoy. I don't know why, but it probably has something to do with the typical "guy tells girl to stay away because he's supernatural" thing, like you mentioned. I also kind of assumed that the book blogger part of Katy's character was just...a pull for book bloggers to review this series. *shrug* Maybe I'm too pessimistic! :P
    Glad you liked the series, though! :)
    - Lauren

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    1. Lauren, I totally understand your skepticism. I had the same worries going into this series but strangely wound up loving it. I hope you decide to give them a try someday and I'd love to hear what you think of them! :)

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  9. I ABSOLUTELY understand why you couldn't fall for Daemon. He managed to woo me over, because there's something about an asshole in fiction I find myself unable to resist (but in real life? I at least have the good sense to be all WHO THE EFF DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, rather than give them come-hither eyes). I loved Katy too! She kicked ass, not to mention her book-bloggery-ness. And, uh, ALIENS.

    *reads next review* OOOH WAIT. YOU'RE A DAEMON FAN NOW?! YAY!!! I've been hearing a lot of mixed reports on Onyx - some are unfuriated by it, others are on the fence, and some completely love. I love that Daemon is swoonier, but disappointed with the change in Katy. EVERY review I've read comments about the denial thing =\

    And wow, you liked Shadows even more than the full length books?! I am so eager to see the sibling relationship explored! Amazing reviews! I need to bump Onyx up on my TBR!!

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    1. I know EXACTLY what you mean, Brodie! Sometimes, they work in fiction for me too (though rarely!) and in real life? I'm right with you! ;) I loved Katy though, in Obsidian, so she made the book all the more awesome for me! :)

      YUP! :D I really liked Onyx, so I hope you can pick it up soon! It was awesomeee although Katy was a little disappointing. I have a feeling she'll pick up in the sequel though, so that's good! :D

      YES! Shadows was awesomeee! You definitely need to bump these up on your TBR, dear! I can't wait to hear what you think about them!

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  10. I like the series but I had rated them the same as you. I like your review.
    Though I really love the book covers.
    I also think Onyx was a bit slow. Most of my friends rated it 4 or 5 stars and I felt bad 4 rating it 3.5

    I am your new follower. please follow back.
    http://booklokcoffee.blogspot.in/

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    1. Thanks Ankita!(: I really enjoyed this series as well and I'm glad we had similar tastes regarding these books! I'll definitely be checking out your blog soon, so thank you for the follow! :D

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  11. Yay to book bloggers! :) Like what Mandee, said, I'm probably one of the few readers who haven't read this series (and am not sure if I'm planning to yet, ha). In spite of that though, I'm glad that you had fun with this series overall, Keertana! Great reviews. :)

    Eh, and I can't say that Daemon is appealing me now...

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    1. I know Daemon isn't appealing now, but I hope that if you choose to pick up this series, you warm up to him eventually. I really enjoyed it and if you ever read it, I'd love to hear what you think of it too, Leanne! :)

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  12. awesome reviews and i love how each review gets better and better and the rating goes up. I love JLA.

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    1. Thanks! I'm starting to really like her too and I'm so glad her books just kept growing on me!(:

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  13. Yeah thank you for contacting blogger and getting it fixed. Sometimes blogger just does not jive with apple software. I read this book last fall and my thoughts mirror yours. I loved Katie and all the cute bloggy references and did not get the Daemon appeal. I hate the covers as well, they look like slutty reality tv show pictures or something and they do not reflect the characters. I have not read Onyx yet, but all the reviews complain about the chsnges in Katie. Still I will pick it up at some point. Thanks for the review. I do enjoy your reviews and I am glad I can finally leave you comments!

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    1. I'm so glad you can finally leave comments again too, Heidi! :) I loved Katy in this and Daemon did eventually warm up to me which is nice, so I hope you learn to like him in Onyx too. I'm sure Katy will go back to being her usual, spunky self in Opal, so fingers crossed for that! :D

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  14. I'm sorry Keertana, Doctor Who is coming for ME first! :P Then I'll get him to come and get you, but I've made him a British citizen now, so he has to get me first.

    Well, aliens and you mentioned Doctor Who and swoony guy and paranormal-romance. How can I resist now? I love all these things. And yet I still haven't got any further than adding these books to my wishlist.

    I liked the series review and how short the reviews were to make one big one, so it wasn't too overpowering. And I really got into reading the review.

    The books do sound great and I'm glad you didn't end up hating the books like you thought you would.

    On another note, I might actually read the prequel, which I never, ever do with books. EVER. Seriously, I've read ONE out of all the series I read and that was because I didn't know it was a prequel. I thought it was the first book.

    Great review! <3

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    1. Nah, The Doctor will come for me first, dear. You're in denial I'm afraid! ;)

      EXACTLY! You can't resist! :D I hope you pick up this series, Livvy, as they were just so much fun to read! I'm also glad I'm finally getting the hand of shorter reviews! *happy dances*

      I never read prequel's either, but I was really curious about this one and wound up loving it. It was just...awesome! I can't wait to hear what you have to say about this series, Olivia! :)

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