{Book Review} THE ALIEN'S FUTURE by Ella Maven

The Alien's Future

Drixonian Warrior, #0.5
by Ella Maven

Publisher: Self-Published

Release Date: February 1, 2020

Genre: Sci-Fi, Romance

Blurb:

Meet the Drixonian Warriors who are bred to fight, f*ck, and shake things up.

Space ship travel when you’ve been kidnapped sucks. I don’t get a pillow, there’s no snacks, and worst of all—the whole ship crashes. Except, it doesn’t crash on Earth, or even Mars. Nope, I’m in a whole new galaxy on a foreign planet and some body-builder-looking blue horned aliens with lots of piercings have decided I’m their new play thing. And not in a good way.

Until one alien decides he’s not going to share, and maybe I have a concussion from the crash, because I’m all about the possessive way he protects me. But there’s no way he’ll fight his whole clan for me… right?

Review:
I've seen books in genres like this before but this is the first one that made me want to check it out. I found out about this book during Virtually ApollyCon and got it free for signing up for the author's newsletter. 

I wasn't expecting much going in... like I said it's a sub-genre I haven't explored too closely yet. But I ended up loving it. It was fun, sexy, sassy, and a quick, enjoyable read. It gives you just enough of a taste and set up for the books to come and leaves you wanting more. 

I can't wait to read the full-length books in the series.               

My Rating:
🌟🌟🌟🌟
4 of 5 Stars!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - 20 April 2020

 

#IMWAYR is a weekly meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at The Book Date.

Hey Bookdragons! I unexpectedly disappeared the past couple weeks but I'm back. My dad died on April 1st (from cancer, not coronavirus related) and I've been under a lot of stress so I needed to take a step back. Understandably I haven't been reading much either but I did manage to finish a couple things. 

What I Read Last Week(s):
The Return by Rachel Harrison

This one is a serious contender for one of my favorite books of the 1st 1/2 of 2020! It's creepy and atmospheric AF with a supernatural monster that isn't so much named on the page as given the feeling of. 

The Winter Witch by Karpov-Kinrade & Heather Hildenbrand

This is a cool Beauty and the Beast retelling. It's short - only about 96 pages but it's definitely worth a read!

The Alien's Future by Ella Maven

This series was introduced to me during a chat in Virtual ApollyCon (since Apollycon was cancelled due to the virus) and I really enjoyed this novella introduction to this sexy sci-fi series!

The Mist by Stephen King

One of my goals this year is to read some of Stephen King's backlist and this was a quick, eerie book that ironically fit being in 'safer-at-home' mode lately. 

Currently Reading / Still-in-Progress
Spindle Fire by Lexa Hillyer

I'm about 30% into this one but I put it on the back burner while I listen to Aurora Rising for the read-along.

Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

 Yesterday wrapped the second week of the read-along covering chapters 10-15. I caught up on the reading listening to the audiobook while I dyed my hair yesterday.

Reborn Yesterday by Tessa Bailey

I was making great progress with this one about a week and a half ago and then I just... didn't feel like reading about corpses and funeral homes and vampires. I want to try to finish it this week. 

Up Next
I Killed Zoe Spanos by Kit Frick

I recently joined the street team for this upcoming YA thriller and I can't wait to dive into it. 

What have you been reading lately?

Book Review: The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Darkest Star (Origin, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Blurb:

When seventeen-year-old Evie Dasher is caught up in a raid at a notorious club known as one of the few places where humans and the surviving Luxen can mingle freely, she meets Luc, an unnaturally beautiful guy she initially assumes is a Luxen...but he is in fact something much more powerful. Her growing attraction for Luc will lead her deeper and deeper into a world she'd only heard about, a world where everything she thought she knew will be turned on its head...

#1 New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout returns to the universe of the Lux in this brand new series, featuring beloved characters both new and old.

My Review:

I've been excitedly waiting for The Darkest Star since I first heard it was going to happen. Luc having his own series??? Yes please! 

Luckily I was able to get a copy through a trade and I started it right away. The story hooked me right away, but it is solely told in Evie's perspective and I kind of wish it had been told in dual perspectives between Evie and Luc, or maybe even that the whole book might have been told in Luc's perspective, although now that I think about it the latter probably wouldn't have worked. 

You get a (small) glimpse of some of your favorite characters from the LUX series (hellllooooo Daemon!) but I could have done with a little more. Maybe we'll see them more in the next book?

Like I said, the beginning hooked me and the ending was great but there was a part in the middle that made me want to skim a few chapters and I thought the big reveal about Evie's past could have been revealed a lot sooner in the story. By the time it was revealed it was like, yeah I've been guessing this for what? 200 pages?

Overall, it was a good, solid read and I'm definitely up to continuing this spinoff series whether it's to be a duology, trilogy, or more but you know what they say about spinoffs: they're never as good as the original. 

My Rating:

🌟🌟🌟🌟

4 of 5 Stars!

Book Review: Oblivion by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Oblivion (Lux Series #1.5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Blurb:

Experience the epic love story of OBSIDIAN as told by its hero, Daemon Black…

I knew the moment Katy Swartz moved in next door, there was going to be trouble. Lots of it. 

And trouble’s the last thing I need, since I’m not exactly from around here. My people arrived on Earth from Lux, a planet thirteen billion light years away. Plus, if there’s one thing I know, it’s that humans can’t be trusted. We scare them. We can do things they only dream about, and honestly, we make them look weak as hell. ‘Cuz they are. 

But Kat is getting to me in ways no one else has, and I can't stop myself from wanting her—or wanting to use my powers to protect her. She makes me weak, and I’m the strongest of our kind, tasked with protecting us all. So this one simple girl…she can mean the end for us. Because the Luxen have an even bigger enemy—the Arum, and I need to stay on my game. 

Falling for Katy—a human—won't just place her in danger. It could get us all killed, and that’s one thing I’ll never let happen...

My Review:

I was eager to read Oblivion, Obsidian through Daemon's eyes and my favorite sexy alien did not disappoint. He was sarcastic, vain, and kind of a jerk - but that's what Katy, and the reader love about him most. 

This book is not identical to Obsidian and the reader should not be confused with that fact. There are scenes in Obsidian that Daemon was not present for which are not present in Oblivion, and scenes which Katy was not present for during the time of Obsidian that we see for the first time in Oblivion, making this book its own unique step away from the original. 

I loved Jennifer L. Armentrout's writing, as I have with the rest of the books in this series and it remains one of my favorite YA series and YA couplings. However, I think Daemon's attraction was blatantly obvious and it was annoying as a reader that he wouldn't/couldn't admit that for most of the book. We get it, after the Dawson/Beth situation he was extra cautious and didn't want anything to happen to himself or his sister, but come on! You don't know why you want to be near her all the time? Really?

The other thing I've found with books set in the male lead's perspective after a book is set in the heroine's perspective (like Wendy Higgins's Sweet Temptation and Abbi Glines's Rush Too Far) is that I get bored with these books easily. They're not identical to the original, but they're close enough that I feel like I've heard all this before. If I wanted to reread those events I'd just reread the original book. It makes me want to hop in a time machine and tell the author to just write that first book in altering perspectives. 

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book because it was like revisiting an old friend but it was close enough to Obsidian that I would have rather read that again instead.

My Rating:

4 of 5 Stars! 

"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #90

This "WIR"-Wednesday I'm reading another alien-themed sci-fi novel, except this week's book is less scary-take-over-the-world-and-enslave-humans aliens and more sexy-Daemon-Black type of aliens. Yes, this "WIR"-Wednesday I'm reading...

Oblivion (Lux Series 1.5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Blurb:

Experience the epic love story of OBSIDIAN as told by its hero, Daemon Black…

I knew the moment Katy Swartz moved in next door, there was going to be trouble. Lots of it. 

And trouble’s the last thing I need, since I’m not exactly from around here. My people arrived on Earth from Lux, a planet thirteen billion light years away. Plus, if there’s one thing I know, it’s that humans can’t be trusted. We scare them. We can do things they only dream about, and honestly, we make them look weak as hell. ‘Cuz they are. 

But Kat is getting to me in ways no one else has, and I can't stop myself from wanting her—or wanting to use my powers to protect her. She makes me weak, and I’m the strongest of our kind, tasked with protecting us all. So this one simple girl…she can mean the end for us. Because the Luxen have an even bigger enemy—the Arum, and I need to stay on my game. 

Falling for Katy—a human—won't just place her in danger. It could get us all killed, and that’s one thing I’ll never let happen...

Why I Chose This Book | What I Think So Far:

I love the Lux Series, so picking up this companion novel to Obsidian, told in Daemon's point of view was a no-brainer. Since finishing the Lux series I've missed Daemon's sarcastic wit and reading Oblivion solely in his perspective is even better than just seeing him in Obsidian. Daemon is protective of his loved ones, hilariously sarcastic, and naughty in the best possible way. At just a third of the way in I can already tell you that this is a must read for fans of the series! 

"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #17

                It's shaping up to be a busy week but I'm stealing every free second to disappear into the final Lux novel. This "WIR"-Wednesday I'm reading...

Lux Opposition (Lux #5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Blurb:

Opposition

Katy knows the world changed the night the Luxen came. She can't believe Daemon stood by as his kind threatened to obliterate every last human and hybrid on Earth. But the lines between good and bad have blurred.

Daemon will do anything to save those he loves, even if it means betrayal. But when it quickly becomes impossible to tell friend from foe, and the world is crumbling around them, they may lose everything to ensure the survival of their friends…and mankind.

Shadows

The last thing Dawson Black expected was Bethany Williams. To him, human girls are…well, fun. But since the Luxen have to keep their true identities a secret, falling for one would be insane. Dangerous.

Bethany can't deny the immediate connection between her and Dawson. And even though boys aren't a complication she wants, whenever they lock eyes, she's drawn in. Captivated.

Dawson can't stop risking everything for one human girl. Or stop a fate that is as unavoidable as love itself.

Why I Chose This Book / What I Think So Far:

At first, I didn't know this book existed. I though the series ended with Origin, which would have been really disappointing. When I found out this was the fifth and final book I ordered it along with my Apollycon 2016 order. Why did I choose to read it now? Well, I read books 3 and 4 together so it only made sense to read the 5th and final book before moving on to other books on my "TBR" shelf. 

Right now I could pretty much smack Dee. Is it all an act, pretending to hate Katy, hybrids, and humans overall? Or has she been brainwashed by the evil Luxens bound and determined to take over Earth? I know Daemon still loves Katy and I'm pretty sure Dawson is only pretending to go along with the Luxen's evil plot but Dee is honestly a mystery to me. I liked her in the first two books but she's lost something with me ever since book three. Once again Katy is unfortunately kidnapped but hopefully she'll find her way back to Luc, Archer, and Beth soon... although I doubt she'll go without busting Daemon out with her.

 I like this book so far but at this point, I'm ready to finish the series and move on to something else. 

"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #16

           After a brief break to read a book and write a review I'm back to my favorite alien series with... 

Origin (Lux #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Blurb:

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he's facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive. 

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don't seem entirely crazy, but the group's goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything. 

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on? And will they even be together?

Why I Chose This Book / What I Think So Far:

Obviously, you already know I love this series. The ending of Opal left me wanting to rip my hair out and I so want to kick Blake's ass.. kind of like Katy is wanting to do at the spot I left off at. Will Daemon be able to get Katy out of the Daedelus compound? Or will he be trapped there too? So far I'm feeling all the feels for Katy's character. Seriously... Daedelus and Blake are trying to tell her they aren't the bad guys? As if! 

I took a quick break from the Lux series to read and review Jordan Elizabeth's latest novel...

The Goat Children by Jordan Elizabeth

Blurb:

When Keziah’s grandmother, Oma, is diagnosed with dementia, Keziah faces two choices: leave her family and move to New Winchester to care for Oma, or stay in New York City and allow her grandmother to live in a nursing home miles away. 

The dementia causes Oma to be rude and paranoid, nothing like the woman Keziah remembers. Each day becomes a greater weight and love a harsher burden. Keziah must keep Oma from wandering off or falling, and try to convince her grandmother to see a doctor as her eyesight and hearing fail, but Oma refuses to believe anything is wrong. Resentful of her hardships in New Winchester, Keziah finds herself drawn to Oma’s ramblings about the Goat Children, a mythical warrior class. These fighters ride winged horses, locating people in need, while attempting to destroy evil in the world. Oma sees the Goat Children everywhere, and as Keziah reads the stories Oma wrote about them, she begins to question if they really exist.

What I Thought of This Book:

I received a free copy of The Goat Children in exchange for an honest review.

Seventeen-year-old Keziah decides to leave New York City and move in with her grandmother after her grandmother is diagnosed with dementia. Gone is the woman that was Keziah's best friend as a child and in her place is the often cranky and confused new version of "Oma." Keziah tries her best to care for her grandmother while her parents and younger sister remain in the city. Her uncle Jan and his wife live nearby but Uncle Jan's wife wouldn't allow Keziah's grandmother to come live with them. Keziah tries balance returning to public school after many years of homeschooling, trying to make friends, and keeping up with Oma, who keeps mentioning a group called "the goat children." Who are the Goat Children? And why does Oma want to rejoin them? As Keziah tries to unravel the truth behind her grandmother's crazy stories she learns shocking things about her family, and herself.

This book touched me in a serious way. I was raised by my grandmother and homeschooled for the majority of high school. Now my grandmother has some health problems (physical, not memory-wise thankfully) and I can definitely relate to Keziah taking care of her grandmother without a supportive family to back her up. This story sucked me in, I couldn't put it down, and I really enjoyed learning about the goat children. The ending was a bit sad and reminded me of another one of Jordan Elizabeth's novels, Escape from Witchwood Hollow. Jordan Elizabeth is a fantastic storyteller and all of the books I've read by her so far are great. The Goat Children is a wonderful story that I think readers of any age, not just young adults, will really enjoy.

My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #15

          This "WIR"-Wednesday I'm diving back into a world filled with Aliens called "Luxens" and "Arem", Luxen-Human Hybrids, and an Evil DOD (Department of Defense) group in...

Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Blurb:

No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn't fooling around. Doubting him isn't something I'll do again, and now that we've made it through the rough patches, well... There's a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can't protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I'm no longer the same Katy. I'm different... And I'm not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I'm capable. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won't turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we're stronger... and they know it.

Why I Chose This Book / What I Think So Far:

I loved the first two books in the series (Obsidian and Onyx) and after a short break, I am so happy to dive back into this story and these characters. I wasn't sure what I was expecting when Dawson came back. I didn't know how he would act, he's tormented but I like him so far. Daemon and Katy's relationship seems strained a little since the events in Onyx and Dawson's return and I hope the story will allow them to explore their relationship more despite all the problems they face. It tears me up that Dee is pulling away from Katy in this book. I hope their friendship can be mended. After all, what happened to Adam isn't Katy's fault. I like this book so far and I hope I devour it quickly. 

I struggled to get into another book since last week...

Thicker than Water by Brigid Kemmerer

Blurb:

Thomas Bellweather hasn’t been in town long. Just long enough for his newlywed mother to be murdered, and for his new stepdad’s cop colleagues to decide Thomas is the primary suspect.

Not that there’s any evidence. But before Thomas got to Garretts Mill there had just been one other murder in twenty years. 

The only person who believes him is Charlotte Rooker, little sister to three cops and, with her soft hands and sweet curves, straight-up dangerous to Thomas. Her friend was the other murder vic. And she’d like a couple answers….Answers that could get them both killed, and reveal a truth Thomas would die to keep hidden.

  

Answers that could get them both killed, and reveal a truth Thomas would die to keep hidden…

What I Thought of This Book:

This is the first book in a looooong time that I just couldn't finish. I feel terrible, and I really did try to keep at it but this book just didn't appeal to me. I won't go into specifics and I'm not interested in book bashing, I'll just say this book wasn't what I was expecting. I was expecting a mystery / thriller type novel and instead I found characters like Charlotte and her cop brothers that I didn't much care for and a paranormal element that seemed to appear from nowhere. I'm sure other people will read this book and fall in love with it... I just don't happen to be one of them. 

Because I couldn't finish this book I won't be rating it.