Review: Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Published May 31st, 2013
Entangled Publishing
370 pages (eBook)

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He’s arrogant, domineering, and... To. Die. For.

Hunter is a ruthless killer. And the Department of Defense has him firmly in their grasp, which usually doesn’t chafe too badly because he gets to kill bad guys. Most of the time he enjoys his job. That is, until he’s saddled with something he’s never had to do before: protect a human from his mortal enemy.

Serena Cross didn’t believe her best friend when she claimed to have seen the son of a powerful senator turn into something... unnatural. Who would? But then she witnesses her friend’s murder at the hands of what can only be an alien, thrusting her into a world that will kill to protect their secret.  Hunter stirs Serena’s temper and her lust despite their differences. Soon he’s doing the unthinkable—breaking the rules he’s lived by, going against the government to keep Serena safe. But are the aliens and the government the biggest threats to Serena’s life… or is it Hunter? (From Goodreads)

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Hunter wears leather pants.  That is all.

This series continues on the world built in JLA's Lux novels.  It's a world I love, and Obsession gives us a fresh perspective.  I was a little leery, but it was actually interesting to see the world from the side of the Arum.  If you're already a fan of the Lux series though, a lot of this book is just refresher.  Since this is NOT a Lux novel, much of that world is explained again for new readers.

These are my type of characters.  Snarky with some serious attitude.  I didn't love Serena, but I liked her enough to enjoy her narration.  I loved Hunter, and I loved the banter between the two.  The both obnoxiously stubborn, and that really drives their relationship.  I kind of felt insta-love-y, but could have been a lot worse.  There wasn't a lot in the way of secondary characters involved here.  Most end up dead or only involved for a brief period.

I enjoyed Obsession and thought that it was a great addition to the Lux/Arum tale.  Remember, this is an ADULT title.  If you're into that, I recommend giving this book a read. 

Review: The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey

Published May 7th, 2013
Putnam Juvenile
457 pages (Hardcover)

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After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up. (From Goodreads)

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Overall, while The 5th Wave did not meet my expectations, it was a great book with an admirable originality.

This is a fresh take on aliens.  There is so much room to go when writing about aliens, but minus a couple of exceptions, I've never really gotten into alien stories.  The originality here is awesome though.  It keeps you guessing about these aliens until the very end, and that definitely draws the reader into the story.  The integration of the alien apocalypse adds another dimension to this complex story.  

I really enjoyed the alternating POVs used in this story.  Here's yet another dimension to the story.  Each character had an interesting way at looking at this world around them, and, frankly, the story is way to complex to not have multiple perspectives.  I think Ben's was my favourite perspective to read.  I found myself excited to get back to his story.  Plus, Ben is 50% action, 50% deep emotional turmoil.  I likes this.

So, why did The 5th Wave not meet my expectations?  I think this is an example of how too much hype can be a bad thing.  There was so much hype surrounding this book that I expected to completely love it.  There are slow parts though, and that discouraged me a bit.  It's a solid book, but the pace dragged it down a bit on me.

Ultimately, The 5th Wave is a great book that has the makings of being the next epic series.  If you haven't already done so, I suggest giving The 5th Wave a try!