Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

Title: Scarlet
Author: A.C. Gaughen
Publisher: Walker Childrens (February 14, 2012)
Length:304 pages
Format: hardcover

Description from Goodreads:

Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance.

Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in.

It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.
My Thoughts:

This was one of my most anticipated books of the year. I am happy to say I wasn't disappointed. Scarlet is a retelling of Robin Hood from Will Scarlet's point of view. Will is the true thief of Robin's merry band and happens to have a few more secrets from the townspeople. Will is known as Scarlet among Robin and the other thieves after all, it's more befitting for a woman.  A.C. Gaughen was genius in making Will/Scarlet a woman of many secrets. I was sucked into the writing and world of Scarlet from the very first page and was held captive to the very last. In Scarlet you find a tough and unapologetic heroine along with a young woman who doesn't shy away from violence. I loved it! She is sassy and engaging and I couldn't get enough of her character. The rest of the band consists of Robin of Locksley, John Little, and Much. Each of these men are stand up thieves set out to save their town by any means necessary.The wasn't just a retelling of an old story, but one of duty and love at all costs. As alluded to in the synopsis Scarlet provides readers with a...love triangle. The romance between Robin, Scarlet, and John was done fantastically and believable. It added a tender and desperate side to this wild adventurous romp. This book is fairly unique in the YA world for the villains and the violence they bring to the story. They are bloodthirsty, evil, and added an extra "umph" to the book. If you have any love for strong female leads, swoon worthy men, swordplay, and legends...you shouldn't miss this. Scarlet is one of 2012's top books and gets a 5 STAR rating!

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.

Forgiven by Jana Oliver (Demon Trappers #3)

  



Title: Forgiven
Author: Jana Oliver 
Series: Demon Trappers #3
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (March 27, 2012)
Length: 386 pages
Source: Amazon.com
Format: paperback

Description from Goodreads: The days are growing darker for 17-year-old demon trapper Riley Blackthorne. With her father’s reanimated body back safely, Beck barely speaking to her because of a certain hunky Fallen angel, and a freshly-made deal with Lucifer, she has enough on her hands to last a normal teenage lifetime. Though she bargained with Heaven to save his life, her ex-boyfriend Simon has told the Vatican’s Demon Hunters that she’s working with Hell. So now she’s in hiding, at the top of everyone’s most-wanted list.

But it’s becoming clear that this is bigger than Riley, and rapidly getting out of control: something sinister is happening in Atlanta… or someone. The demons are working together for the first time ever and refusing to die, putting civilians in harm’s way. Riley thinks she might know who’s behind it all, but who’s going to believe her? Caught between her bargain with Heaven and her promise to Lucifer, Riley fears the final war is coming – and it may be closer than anyone thinks…

My Thoughts:

     Jana Oliver does a wonderful job of picking up exactly where Soul Thief left off and recaps what has happened in the previous two books in a very natural way. This installment of the Demon Trappers series finds the demons bigger and badder, the relationships more tense, and everyone questioning the very foundations their beiliefs are based on. Riley Blackthorne has a lot to deal with in Forbidden. The choices she made in Soul Thief are quickly reaching the boiling point and all Hell is about to break loose (literally). This poor girl can never get a break and as much as I love all of the fighting and drama I look forward to something positive with no strings attached (just surviving doesn't count) happening tio her. Riley and Beck's relationship is on the edge during this book and for some reason I like this, but it does get the chance to finally evolve. Forbidden shows you a bigger glimpse into the life of "Backwoods Boy". I really liked getting to know more about what makes this guy tick and the more vulnerable side he shows in Forbidden makes me love his character even more. I am very excited that there seems to be a setup to reveal even more about him in the next book. Her father, Mort, and even Ori play a large part in the book too adding even more twists, turns, and heartbreak. The one character I would like to see more of in the next book is the little klepto fiend (I think that's what he is called). He is so cute and provides a much needed comic relief! Maybe Riley could carry him in her pocket or something.
     The "magical" world of this series is absolutely spectacular! The intricacies of the relationships between Heaven and Hell, demons and angels, trappers and hunters, and good and evil are amazingly detailed and unique. They are the main thing that keeps me coming back to this series everytime. The other reason that I will always come back to this series is that in this fate-of-the-world-rests-on-the-shoulders-of-this-one-girl book the characters are believable. Riley, Beck, and everyone else are human in the sense that they screw up a lot! The things that they mess up are mistakes that everyday people make and in this world of fantasy it makes the book relatable. Riley Blackthorne is one of my favorite kick-butt heroines ever! The next edition of this series can't come soon enough for me. I give this book a completely and unabashedly biased 5 STAR rating.

Obsidian: A Lux Novel by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Bk. 1)

Obsidian: A Lux Novel by Jennifer L. Armentrout

From Yahoo:

 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.

What Did I Think?

OMG! I have no idea where to start. I don't want to sound fan girly and obsessed...but...Obsidian is amazing and I loved it! It's almost as if Jennifer Armentrout took my life, what I wish my life was, and sizzling hot aliens and baked it in a cake! Kat's book blogger nerdiness and ability to stand up for herself is the perfect combination for making an awesome heroine. Daemon...what can I say? I wish he was my next door neighbor. The chemistry between Daemon and Kat is so amazing. They sizzle on the page. In Kat's own words Daemon is a "Douchebag" and I loved it. They are mean, sarcastic, antagonizing, and completely wonderful together. I don't know how I am going to make it until the next book comes out. Let me assure you, I will be buying it the day it comes out. In case you didn't know I liked it a lot! Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout is amazing and one of my favorite/the best book I've read in  a long time. I don't do this often, but I give this book a 5 STAR rating! READ IT! 

***Obsidian Extras***
Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout has approximately 292 pages and was published by Entangled Publishing, LLC on December 6, 2011. Obsidian is the first book in the Lux series.