Lux Beginnings: Obsidian & Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

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Review of Obsidian:
Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout is a great example of a YA Science Fiction novel that doesn't require a lot of brain power. The writing is simple, the characters are funny, but it's not the kind of book that wins awards. However, that doesn't mean it wasn't entertaining as hell, and a series I will recommend in the future. It just means if you are looking for a YA book that's going to change your outlook on life or make you feel this ineffable wonder about the world that surrounds you, look elsewhere.

Obsidian is the first book in the Lux series, which is obvious from how this one ended. It follows snarky, book blogging protagonist Katy, who has moved from sunny Florida to Nowheresville, West Virginia. Luckily, she is welcomed to town by her inhumanly beautiful neighbor Dee, who seems immensely happy to have a new friend. Unluckily, Dee's sexy, infuriating brother Daemon is a total ass hat and wants nothing to do with Katy--aggressively so.

It turns out that the reason they are so inhumanly beautiful is simple: They aren't human. They are aliens. A Light species who's planet, Lux, was destroyed and who have the ability to hide their alien form, making them look like humans. No one is supposed to know they exist, for it would put them all in danger. Except, Katy finds out. And they have to put their trust in her; trust that she won't tell a single soul.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It took me about sixty pages before it really hooked me, but then I blew through it in basically two days. Katy is smart and sassy and isn't afraid to speak her mind. She doesn't take shit from anybody, which is especially important when the love interest is such an antagonizer. If you are going to write an aggressive, rude boy like Daemon, the female character has to be able to stand up for herself and bicker back, or it's going to look and feel like the guy is verbally abusive. But Jennifer L. Armentrout was incredible at battling that stigma. Katy is no Bella Swan; she's not just going to let her man tell her what she can and can't do.

Like I said earlier, it isn't very intellectually stimulating; but it was a fun read and I'm without a doubt going to continue the series.


Review of Onyx:
Onyx was definitely a satisfying sequel. And I am undoubtedly excited for the next one--which unfortunately I can't purchase until I get back from my vacation in a week (damn!).

I don't know if I could say this enough, but I love sequels that start without a lot of summary of the previous book. It's boring when an author goes on and on about the plot of the previous book in the first few pages, and it takes me out of the story. Especially if you are like me, and you've literally just read the previous book again or for the first time. But Onyx assumed we weren't morons and caught the reader up subtly and not excessively. It was greatly appreciated.

In Onyx, Katy is thrown into even more alien weirdness when she discovers that a side effect of Daemon healing her is that she's adapted his alien powers. Permanently. And not only that, but she has no control over them, exploding windows and creating electric storms when her emotions go haywire. Enter new, cute, but suspicious, Blake who can help her control her powers. Who's instantly interested in Katy--who now wants something non-alien to date and to get her mind of Daemon. So of course, delicious drama ensues.

The only problem I had with this book was very minor: DAEMON AND KATY JUST NEEDED TO GET TOGETHER ALREADY. Like seriously. Enough with the BS and just be together when it's obvious that you have feelings for each other and that's where the series is headed anyway. Yes, I admire that Katy wanted to put off being with Daemon until she was sure his feelings were real, but sometimes it felt like the author was delaying the inevitable just for the sake of drama, and that was annoying.

However, all together I really liked this book. It's obvious that there is more to this story--the author isn't just making up plots on the spot, continuing the series to make more money. It's genuine and well thought out. And I'm immensely excited to discover what's gonna happen next!


Review on Bonus Content:
I'm not a huge fan of Bonus Content most of the time. It's similar to how I feel about Epilogues or deleted scenes in movies: if it was important enough they would have kept it in the book/movie itself and not as an afterthought.

But I did read this Bonus Content and it was quite fun. Daemon is hilarious and Jennifer L. Armentrout writes him amazingly. It's fun to read scenes from another character's point of view.

My Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★


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