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lyndseysuzanne's review against another edition
4.0
Listen this was my first YA series and it was everything I expected it to be; an easy weekend read, fun & enjoyable but what I didn’t expect is the chokehold that these demons would have on me.
When Taylor Swift said “all these people think loves a show but I’d die for you in secret” she was describing the intense emotions you feel about Roth
Obviously I’m immediately reading the next two because if there’s one thing Ms. Girly pop Jennifer knows how to do, it’s how she gets you to willingly walk to the edge of a cliff and dangle with nothing to catch you should you let go. Like the audacity she has is nothing but utmost respect.
When Taylor Swift said “all these people think loves a show but I’d die for you in secret” she was describing the intense emotions you feel about Roth
Obviously I’m immediately reading the next two because if there’s one thing Ms. Girly pop Jennifer knows how to do, it’s how she gets you to willingly walk to the edge of a cliff and dangle with nothing to catch you should you let go. Like the audacity she has is nothing but utmost respect.
blurrypetals's review against another edition
5.0
August 25, 2020
Jennifer L. Armentrout's books have always felt like comfort food to me, and this was the first book of hers I ever read, so it's extra special in that it was my first literary bowl of mac and cheese: I know it isn't good for me, I know my body isn't really capable of digesting it, but goddamn it, yes please, I will take another serving.
Honestly, this trilogy is a bucket o' tropes but I think something Armentrout does is that she takes those tropes, recognizes their hokey nature, and gets as much fun dumb trash out of it as is humanly possible, and it's kinda great!
This series is peak guilty pleasure, and most of it lies in our main love interest, Roth, who is a wise-cracking jackass whom I adored from moment one. He is the sort of character (and, more accurately, character type) I find myself missing often. These books don't do anything new with this archetype, but it's done so well and with such charm that, at the end of the day, I just really, thoroughly enjoy myself whenever he's on the page.
I'll admit, this is one of the few book series I've bought copies of twice and I did it because I wanted to get the covers that weren't ugly. I like these books and I wanted a nice set to put on my shelf! I'm just so fond of these books and I'm really glad I decided to revisit them.
Unrelated addendum: When I first read this series back in 2016, I was deep into my now-perfect save file of Jonathan Blow's indie puzzle game, The Witness and I would listen to these audiobooks while raging at each and every failed leap in logic and wrong answer, and, now that I'm listening to them again, it is making me see those accursed puzzles behind my eyes again for the first time in more than 4 years. Thanks, Saskia Maarleveld!
February 16, 2016
This is the sort of trashy, borderline-awful, stupidly sexy stuff I used to read and I've missed it way more than I care to admit. Mediocre stuff is good stuff when there's a hot guy in it, that's just science.
Jennifer L. Armentrout's books have always felt like comfort food to me, and this was the first book of hers I ever read, so it's extra special in that it was my first literary bowl of mac and cheese: I know it isn't good for me, I know my body isn't really capable of digesting it, but goddamn it, yes please, I will take another serving.
Honestly, this trilogy is a bucket o' tropes but I think something Armentrout does is that she takes those tropes, recognizes their hokey nature, and gets as much fun dumb trash out of it as is humanly possible, and it's kinda great!
This series is peak guilty pleasure, and most of it lies in our main love interest, Roth, who is a wise-cracking jackass whom I adored from moment one. He is the sort of character (and, more accurately, character type) I find myself missing often. These books don't do anything new with this archetype, but it's done so well and with such charm that, at the end of the day, I just really, thoroughly enjoy myself whenever he's on the page.
I'll admit, this is one of the few book series I've bought copies of twice and I did it because I wanted to get the covers that weren't ugly. I like these books and I wanted a nice set to put on my shelf! I'm just so fond of these books and I'm really glad I decided to revisit them.
Unrelated addendum: When I first read this series back in 2016, I was deep into my now-perfect save file of Jonathan Blow's indie puzzle game, The Witness and I would listen to these audiobooks while raging at each and every failed leap in logic and wrong answer, and, now that I'm listening to them again, it is making me see those accursed puzzles behind my eyes again for the first time in more than 4 years. Thanks, Saskia Maarleveld!
February 16, 2016
This is the sort of trashy, borderline-awful, stupidly sexy stuff I used to read and I've missed it way more than I care to admit. Mediocre stuff is good stuff when there's a hot guy in it, that's just science.
tamanda94's review
3.0
This book was an alright read for me. I went into it expecting something amazing after the rave reviews I saw on YouTube and the fact that quite a few people had put this in their top books of 2014. However, I was not as blown away by this book as a lot of people were which is not to say I did not enjoy it.
I liked Roth's character as he was interesting to read about and I mocked the development of his character throughout the book, although there wasn't much development there. I did not however like the main character Layla as much. I thought she was whiny and felt sorry for herself a little too much. I'm not sure I will be carrying on with this series but I might do depending on how I feel later on.
I liked Roth's character as he was interesting to read about and I mocked the development of his character throughout the book, although there wasn't much development there. I did not however like the main character Layla as much. I thought she was whiny and felt sorry for herself a little too much. I'm not sure I will be carrying on with this series but I might do depending on how I feel later on.
xdarlene's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
belle2022's review against another edition
4.0
JLA has done it again. Another amazing start to a new series. Her writing is just incredible and this world is amazing! I’m glad that this world seems to be something different for JLA and for myself. Her writing is addictive really and she creates the most amazing characters. Villains and all.
In this world we have gargoyles, which I was not expecting to be introduced and written in this way. Our MC is actually half gargoyle! As well as a half demon. I knew this would be trouble for her. She can see peoples auras and see how much a person has sinned. Very cool. She also can’t kiss in case she sucks someone soul out. Again, very cool. Maybe not cool for her but for the story? 10/10.
As much as I adore the character of Zayne and how I’m glad Layla has him. Roth is just wow. I have no words for this man. You can tell this is very much a JLA male lead. Which I love and have no issues with. I mean, he has a snake tattoo that can come to life. But, that ending :( just too sad for me.
In this world we have gargoyles, which I was not expecting to be introduced and written in this way. Our MC is actually half gargoyle! As well as a half demon. I knew this would be trouble for her. She can see peoples auras and see how much a person has sinned. Very cool. She also can’t kiss in case she sucks someone soul out. Again, very cool. Maybe not cool for her but for the story? 10/10.
As much as I adore the character of Zayne and how I’m glad Layla has him. Roth is just wow. I have no words for this man. You can tell this is very much a JLA male lead. Which I love and have no issues with. I mean, he has a snake tattoo that can come to life. But, that ending :( just too sad for me.
duckett8006's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
tegan6231's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0