Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Covenant #2)

Title: Pure
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press (April 2, 2012)
Series: Covenant #2
Length: 320 pages
Format: paperback

Description from Goodreads:

There is need. And then there is Fate...

Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome--especially when Alexandria's "other half" is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom--so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do--and sacrifice--for her.

When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies--lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon... and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude... or killing her.

When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.

My Thougts:
This review is so hard to write, hopefully I won't fan-girl/gush too much. Pure absolutely blew me away! I thought Jennifer L. Armentrout couldn't beat Half-Blood, well I was wrong. This book is action packed and never lets you even stop to catch your breath. All three of these characters will face life threatening situations that will change them forever. There is serious butt-kicking violence and heartbreak that had me even tearing up a little. The growth and evolution of all of the characters, not just the main ones, but the secondary characters also will keep readers interested and dying to know more. Alex has a lot to deal with in this edition of the Covenant series. Things are even more tense between her and her trainer Aiden whom she is forbidden to love, and throw in Seth her literal other half and you get fireworks. This is my favorite love triangle EVER! I was a big Aiden fan until Seth was thrown in (Team Seth). I don't want to give too much of the book away, so  there isn't as much detail as usual. However, I will leave you with this thought...Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout is one of those books that you finish, start another book, and then decide to read it again because others can't compare. The Covenant world will suck you, tie you into knots, and leave you breathlessly waiting for the next installment. This book gets a 5 STAR rating!

Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Half-Blood
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press (October 18, 2011)
Series: Covenant #1
Length: 304 pages
Format: paperback



Goodreads Description:
The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures. Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

My Thoughts:

     Despite having heard numerous wonderful things about this book I stubbornly put off reading it. I made a mistake. Half-Blood is a very unique enjoyable read and I quickly fell in love with the world of the Covenant series. Ms. Armentrout masterfully combines a new twist on Greek mythology with creatures that one could call vampires. How awesomely genius is that? This book has so many aspects that I love and number one is the characters are all seriously kick-butt. Alex is training to be a Sentinel and learning how to do some serious damage to the daimons (and some of her fellow classmates) that have made her life a living hell. You have to love a strong female lead who can take care of herself. Onto the guys! Many readers are tired of love-triangles, but I just can't get enough of them. Half-Blood doesn't really develop one, but I can see one in the future of the series. I'm torn in this book between Aiden the Pure (smoking hot and completely forbidden) sentinel who takes her under his tutelage and Seth (whom I won't give any spoilers about). I must say that I am Team Seth. Other than the characters and potential romance triad of the story is the world that is created in the Covenant. Readers are thrown into the world of the Covenant, but Ms. Armentrout effortlessly and naturally introduces this new world and is able to keep readers up to speed. This world is strongly based on a rigid class system and class systems fascinate me. I cannot wait to see the evolutions of the characters, the world, and laws as this series progresses. I eagerly await the next installment to arrive in my mailbox and give this book a 4 STAR rating.