The Brightest Night

Origin #3

by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Jeannet Dekker (Translator)

The Brightest Night van Jennifer L. Armentrout is het superspannende slot van de Origin-serie.

Evie moet in The Brightest Night van Jennifer L. Armentrout leren accepteren dat haar leven nooit meer hetzelfde wordt. Een jaar geleden was Evie een heel normaal meisje met een heel normaal leven. Dat bleek een grote leugen nu ze eindelijk weet wie ze was en wat ze is. Evie weet dat ze haar krachten onder controle moet houden zodat ze niemand in gevaar brengt, ook Luc niet. Hij kent haar als de beste en zal alles doen om haar te liegen, bedriegen én doden. Maar dan blijkt dat zelfs Luc niet alles weet...

The Brightest Night is het laatste deel van de populaire Origin-serie van Jennifer L. Armentrout. Eerder verschenen The Darkest Star en The Burning Shadow.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Aliens, Audiobook

592 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 20, 2020

About the author

Hey Guys! Please note: I don't send out ARCs for review. If you're interested in reviewing a book of mine before release date, please contact the appropriate publisher. I also do NOT check my Goodreads email.

To email me, please use the below addy.
jenniferlarmentrout@live.com

# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Charles Town, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. In early 2015, Jennifer was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and death of cells in the retina, eventually resulting in loss of vision, among other complications. Due to this diagnosis, educating people on the varying degrees of blindness has become of passion of hers, right alongside writing, which she plans to do as long as she can.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Tor, HarperCollins Avon and William Morrow, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her Wicked Series has been optioned by PassionFlix. Jennifer has won numerous awards, including the 2013 Reviewers Choice Award for Wait for You, the 2015 Editor’s Pick for Fall With Me, and the 2014/2015 Moerser-Jugendbuch- Jury award for Obsidian. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA. Her adult romantic suspense novel TILL DEATH was a Amazon Editor’s Pick and iBook Book of the Month. Her young adult contemporary THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER is a 2017 RITA Award Winner in Young Adult Fiction. She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

She is the owner of ApollyCon and The Origin Event, the successful annual events that features over hundred bestselling authors in Young Adult, New Adult, and Adult Fiction, panels, parties, and more.

Reviews

[Angelica]

I'm willing to forgive a lot. But mismatched book covers ain't among those things.

that said, I just realized this would be the third FOURTH book Jennifer L. Armentrout publishes in 2020 alone!! this woman is unbelievable and I love her!

[megs_bookrack ((struggling to catch up)) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Brace yourselves, y'all. This may get uncomfortable.



The Brightest Night is the third installment in Jennifer L. Armentrout's, Origin series. Since this is the third book, some minor spoilers may lay ahead.

I haven't hidden them, so proceed with caution.



First off, the rating for this book currently is off the charts, so please don't let the fact that I didn't enjoy it, sway you from picking it up.

I had so much fun with the first two books in this series, but this one felt completely different. I feel like I read the wrong book and with that cover, who knows, maybe I did.



For me, this was incredibly boring. Gone was the witty banter, the high body count, the twists and reveals.

Now that Luc and Evie are together, I found them insufferable.



60% of this book was them professing their love, their feelings, their attraction, their obsession with one another: You are a gift. You are amazing. How can a creature as perfect as you exist? I love you. I can't live without you. I will die for you. Have I mentioned, I love you?

30% was talking about other topics, mainly babies, making babies, giving birth to babies, raising babies and, oh yeah, every once in a while, Evie's powers.

10% was engaging plot.



Unfortunately, I had to push myself the entire way through. I was so relieved when it was finally over, and with it, my commitment to this series. Bye.

Obviously, Armentrout is a talented and successful writer, this one was just an absolute miss for my tastes.



Thank you so much to the publisher, Tor Teen, for providing me with a copy of this to read and review. As always I appreciate the opportunity.

There's a Reader for every book, and a book for every Reader, sadly this one just wasn't for me.

[jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

okay, so heres the thing. if i wasnt so obsessed with luc (anyone know where i can get my own?), i definitely would have given this 3 stars.

and thats because this book is 100% filler. which is not necessarily bad if you are already really invested in the characters, setting, writing, etc. of a story, which i am. but take a look at any other review and you will see this installment is super slow, lacking the action present in the first two books, and doesnt really add much to the series overall. which, for a 500 page book, will no doubt be disappointing for some readers.

but i enjoyed the interactions between luc and evie, even if they dont necessarily progress the plot, and loved being reacquainted with all of the characters from the lux series who popped up throughout.

plus, that ending sure is something else. i thought this was going to be a trilogy, so im pleasantly surprised to find out there will be more books!

PS. im still pretty annoyed at the person who decided to change the covers in the middle of this series.

↠ 3.5 stars

[Lia Carstairs · Rating 4 out of 5]

  “Never.” 
“Never come for me.” 
“Never look for me." 
"If you do, I will take everything from you.”

Oh wow. Wowow. So that's what The Brightest Night is.👀
I—
I'm scared.


And I didn't even think it was possible to love Luc more than I already do but it is?!?!😭💖

“I love you, Evie. I fell in love with you within the first week I met you. I loved you before I even knew what that meant, and I loved you even when you were gone, and I loved you when you became someone else,” he said— pleaded, really.
“And I fell even more in love with you when you walked through the doors of Foretoken. I’ve never stopped loving you. I never will.”

Why do I feel like bawling my eyes out?!?! Why does this hurt so much?!?! Just why?!?! WHY?!?! totally not crying rn

Aghhhh I have too many feelings to put into words, but this was seriously just amazing.🥺 Although the plot didn't really advance from The Burning Shadow , this book was definitely character-driven. I don't know about you guys, but I just loved delving deeper into Luc's character. There's SO MUCH more to Luc than what we've seen in the previous books and omg oh no im abt to start tearing up again MY HEART BREAKS FOR HIM😭

Luc thinking himself to be a emotionless monster AND THE DAEDULUS DID THIS TO HIM. They made him think there's something wrong with him, but NO THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH YOU, LUC. *sobs* Everyone loves you, even Daemon and Hunter altho they'd never admit it

I hate it when Luc says he's not worthy of Evie—if anything I'd say nobody is worthy of him.😤 this is gonna end up being a Luc appreciation review

Luc's stupid and cheesy jokes, his arrogance, selflessness, his love for Evie (& others) . . . that's what makes Luc, Luc .🥺

“But first, I have an important question for you. One that I really need you to think long and hard about. Okay?”

Knowing Luc, I had no idea where this was heading. [...]

“Are you religious?”

His question caught me so off guard that my thoughts cleared. “Uh, no? I mean, not really?”

“Well, I am.” A pause. “Because you’re the answer to all my prayers.”

I want to both laugh and cry because of ridiculous that was. And there's more—

“Tell me, Peaches, are you a parking ticket?”
“Because you have fine written all over you.”
🤦‍♀️. . .
Is your name Google?
Because you have everything I’ve been searching for.”

But still . . . I can never get enough of Luc's cheesy pickup lines xD.

Ooo and I love that Evie was finally able to crack through Luc's armor a little. He has all these feelings holed up and he's always supporting Evie & helping her through everything . . . but who's helping him?!?!😭

Evie is trying and that I love, but I do wish she'd paid more attention to Luc who's hurting a lot. There's still some trauma from what Daedulus made him do and the decisions he's had to make for Evie and asdfghjkl my heart and soul hurt so much .

Luc says Evie has a big and kind heart, but I think it's more that Luc does. He's always worrying about everyone else before himself and then after all that, he still thinks he's a monster?!?! Whyyyy Luc🥺


I mean sure, he can be ruthless whenever Evie is hurt by anyone, but that's literally every one else when someone they love is in danger. I got really annoyed when Daemon had yelled at Luc for that, but Daemon would do the exact same thing for Kat. Although, Daemon is prone to saying harsh things when he's angry . . . ahhhh I still hated that.

Okay, ranting over for now.
Seeing the old cast again was another thing I loved!!! Daemon, Kat, Dawson, Beth, Archer, and Dee. ahahhaa the fights and bonding between them all was ✨golden.✨ Well . . . it was mostly just between Daemon and Luc. One second they want to murder each other and the next they're joking around like bufoons.

“Any questions?” Daemon asked.

Luc raised his hand.

“Yes, Luc.”

“Are you sure you’re against me getting Adam a llama?” Luc asked. “Like, really sure?”

Daemon sighed. “Yes. I’m sure.”

“Life ruiner,” he muttered, lowering his hand.

Oml Luc's obsession with llamas sdfsfds and that isn't even the end of this—

“Any actual important questions?” Daemon asked.

Grayson started to raise his hand.

“Yes, Grayson, all kids are dirty, and they all smell funny,” Daemon said before Grayson got the question out there.

I actually never thought I'd ever love Grayson so much, but JLA did it. So much more to the brooding and scary Luxen who also hates human beings and especially kids. Some secrets were revealed and now a lot of things make sense. But now I'm worried . . . what if JLA made Grayson have a bigger part in this book bc he's going to die in the next one?!?! I'M GETTING ANXIETY THINKING ABOUT THAT HAPPENING. Of course JLA would make us love Grayson so much in this one, bc she's planning on something happening to him in the 4th book.

I don't trust JLA. Why else would she do that?!?! I'm telling you after certain series, I can't trust JLA with her characters anymore. or maybe i'm reading too much into this Okay, I'll calm down now.
BUT JLA DON'T KILL GRAYSON OR ELSE—

okay, i'll calm down now

Ahhh yes! Another set of old characters were also Hunter (the Arum) and Serena.
I remember them from Lux, but seeing more of Hunter in here makes me wish I read that one standalone spin-off, Obsession , especially with all the good things I've heard about it. altho it's adult and the cover is a little . . . too much Maybe one day in the future I'll read it haha.

that one scene where Evie and Luc visit his house-

Do you think he looked for the house that was already decorated in black and white? I asked, wondering how we ended up with angel-palooza.

Probably. He needed a place as deep and dark as his troubled thoughts. Arum are goth like that.

god, I love Luc sm.

Oh and another thing I noticed was super similar to what Alex and Aiden said (I think it might even be the exact words, too):

My hand balled in the front of his shirt. “Thank you—”

“Don’t thank me for that, not for doing what I needed to do.”

His features blurred. “When am I supposed to thank you, Luc?”

“When I do something worth thanking me for.”

That's exactly what Aiden would say to Alex every time she'd try to thank him. only noticed this bc of that recent reread hah

Okay, but now I'm getting the feeling that the last book isn't going to get a happy ending. *scared* Why, you ask? I don't know. But all I do know is that if she ends this like how she ended the Covenant series . . . that'll be the death of me.💀 not that it was a sad ending, but i hated it.😭

The only reason TBN didn't get a 5 stars is bc some parts were a little hard to get through and again, this was totally character-driven and not as focused on the plot as it was in the previous books. This was more of a "training & learning secrets phase". I didn't hate that though, bc in the end, we did get to be even more emotionally attached to the characters—although, maybe that isn't really a good thing, bc now if one of them dies . . .💀

AND THAT ENDING?!?!?! WTHWTHWTHWTHWTH Still freaking out over that cliffhanger, though it was a little predictable. just know that Gray was right Still . . . I'm terrified over what's going to happen next.

Please, JLA. All I ask is . . .
Don't break my heart. Give Luc, Evie, and everyone else the HEA they deserve.🥺

AND LET THE DAEDULUS BURN IN HELL🔥🔥🔥 Also, Daemon and Kat having a baby Origin named Adam . . . that was just so adorable🥰🥺

  “Even if you wake up and you don’t know who you are and you don’t know who I am, it’ll be okay. 
I’ll be here, and I’ll help you remember.”

(4.5⭐)
still despise that cover change tho

[~Calliope~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Even if you wake up and you don’t know who you are and you don’t know who I am, it’ll be okay. I’ll be here, and I’ll help you remember.” His lips brushed my forehead. “I’ve got enough love for you that I’m overflowing with it. It’ll be more than enough if you wake up and see me as a stranger.”
Luc’s next breath sounded as ragged as my heart felt.
“No matter how you come back to me, as Evie or as Nadia or someone else, I’ll still love you like I do now, like I did yesterday and the day before, and that’ll be enough.”
I’ll still love you.”

[Ꮗ€♫◗☿ ❤️ ilikebooksbest.com ❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t wait for the next book!



The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: ❤️💙💜💛🖤
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📔📙
World building: 🌎🌏🌍🌎🌎
Character development: 👤👤👤👤👤

The setting: Earth

The Hero: Luc – The “Origin” who did everything he could to save his girl. Luc is an awesome hero. He is arrogant, but funny, he wears silly t-shirts and makes stupid jokes. He likes Llama’s and hates Koala bears. He loves Evie more than anything in the world.

The heroine: Evie/Nadia – Evie is what is known as a Trojan. She was mutated and has the DNA of both the Luxen and Arum mixed in with her human DNA and is stronger than anyone else out there.

The Love Story: Luc and Evie have been through a lot and they go through a bunch more in this book. Though they love each other through it all. They both admit they will do anything for each other.

This was the first audio book I have listened to all the way through and I admit I kind of liked it. I could do other things while listening. I did a few puzzles while listening. The one thing I didn’t like is that it was a woman doing men’s voices when Luc, Greyson or Daemon spoke. I wish they would have at least one female and one male to do the voices of the two leads. It is a bit hard to listen to or imagine the steamy scenes when it is a woman doing a man’s voice. That is one thing I like more about reading the books. But I did like the woman’s voice and I think I will be trying more audiobooks after this!

Though the story was so good and the ending was great but it left things up in the air. So I hope there is another book. Also there was this side story about Greyson being in love and I kept thinking it would come out that it was Evie he was really in love with. So I want more information. I want a Greyson story where he gets his own love. The ending was not and end so I do definitely need more!

I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

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[Arini · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 out of 3, which equals . . .

4 Stars

That makes no sense, I know. Don’t @ me. 🤭 Somethin’ about Luc calling Evie peaches had me . . .



and . . .



😂😂

Luc the sexiest, funniest, most arrogant and charming (all of that but second to Daemon 🙈) alien/origin is in town! Boy, why is he verra verra irresistable? To the point where I’m considering naming my future children after him. And silly and hilarious when he’s being goofy. And hot and murderous and completely irrational but sweet and not creepy when he’s being protective. And, ugh, cheesy but also so dang romantic my heart melts.

So what if this installment is absolutely unnecessary and just a filler? So what if this book is boring and maybe a little depressing because it’s kinda like Insurgent or the pandemic right now where the characters are isolated, keeping out of trouble, and laying low? So what if the plot is stuck and nothing major happens? So what if, because of all of that, I’ve already forgotten the things that did happen? So what if my feelings for Evie just run like tepid water?



The point is how this book (Luc) made me feel, which was not boredom. I mean, some parts were a snoozefest but others were fun, steamy, endearing, and momentous. Characters were wonderful even though, honestly speaking, I felt indifferent towards Evie. Like, she was just lukewarm? Am I the only one? I’m suuuper intrigued and curious about Grayson though.

Is he in love with Luc or Evie or BOTH?! I’m feeling a vibe, but I’m not sure. I need answers and clarity!

Meanwhile, Daemon and Kat! 😭 I’m freakin’ happy for them. If you don’t know, the Lux series is like my favorite series ever. I’ve been with these characters (including younger Luc) since 2014. It was nice to catch up with how everyone was doing. I’m also glad that the Lux series characters are still actively involved in this spin-off albeit in the background, sort of. Basically, this book was nostalgic and comforting.

That Daemon bonus scene was the best gift, and that ending with Luc gave me goosebumps!

(Read as an Audiobook)

[Phuong ✯]

"No, you're the Burning Shadow and he's the Darkest Star, and together, you will bring about the brightest night."

Is this title a surprise? No, but I can't wait for Evie and Luc to f*ck shit up together!!!

[giulia ✿]

there must be a special place in hell for people who change the covers in the middle of a series.

[Booktastically Amazing · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave up.

Rating: 🥴🥴🥴🥴 4.2

I now hate the words 'I love you'. Thank you.

Honest to Hades, there was absolutely no ‘romantic’ moment in this novel in which I didn’t feel the need to taste last week's food from my esophagus. I think I tasted last year’s Thanksgiving turkey as well.

That was my mood throughout the whole story, but after 8 hours of sleep in which a Greek God visited me and basically threatened to kill me (please don't ask, I have no idea), I have come to the certain conclusion that...

I actually really liked this book.

I know, I know, the two testaments up above say the contrary, but if it weren't for the disgusting romance, I would've given this book a solid 4.5 stars. Because everything just came together so flawlessly that it left me breathless amidst all the action that was occurring. And I do not mean the action between Luc and the MC. Lord knows I saw too much of THAT to last me a lifetime. And to think there's a book after this one. Oh, Athena, have mercy.

This story continues after the last book (pfft, call me Mrs. obvious) so if you want to read this one, make sure to read the rest. And I'm not saying that to be annoying, this girl right here has started countless series from the last book because I didn't see the little number that clearly said PART OF A SERIES, YOU MORON. The moron part implied, of course.

I simply adored the plot in and of itself. The things that happened, the betrayals that left me flabbergasted (even when I saw them coming a little way off), the way some things were handled. They were absolutely wonderful. The first book in a while where the plot isn't a disappointment! Ayyyy. See, I have a massive crush on the Lux Series. Like, trample me over, and I still would sell my soul for you, type of crush. Since the starting page, everything has been so engaging and utterly intriguing, because helloooo, ALIENS. HOT ALIENS. How could I not fall irrecoverably in love? That's like handing me steak and expecting me not to devour it. Rude and unfair. The author receives a gold medal from me and the countless amount of screaming that took place when I saw certain twists at the end. THE END, Y'ALL. YOU SHOULD JUST READ IT FOR THE LAST CHAPTER.

Booksy will forever admit that the writing is amazing. I adore the way certain things are described, a minimal amount of ellipsis, understandable fight scenes in which I don't have the notion of motion sickness. It was rejuvenating to see metaphors used in a timely manner, and it made me feel extraordinarily happy that the author didn't disappoint in that. Browny points for youuuu.

I would definitely say that the characters are my family at this point. All of them connected personally with my heart and if someone kills them, I don't give a donkey's behind if I'm human, I'm pretty sure I'll find something that's cause intense damage. Don't make me smash your head in like a Chuckie Cheese's game. Oh dear goodness, how I miss that- A healthy outlet for anger issues.

But instead! Of course, they gave me the MC to vent my frustrations on. And yes, I'll start with her because oh man, I want to destroy her existence.
There was a specific point in this book in which Sarcastic Booksy really got her mojo on. And it was in every chapter in which this idiotic YA trash appeared. So basically, every chapter.

And it's not that she's useless or anything, because she totally is. But just because the chick thought everything revolved around her. Like, boo, if the sun doesn't come up. It's either because you have the blinds on and are too dumb to recognize it, or it got tired of shining on you. Also, perhaps there isn't a sun yet because it is NIGHT TIME. Voila! Mission completed. She was annoying, lacked any sort of confidence, and frankly, could've been so much better had she not been hindered by her 'soft' heart and sense of conscience that intervened in the worst moments possible. I loved how the author tried to portray her as this strong alien thingy, and of course, because why not make me more miserable, added the 'not like other aliens' trope. Seriously? This girl who has no smidgen of tolerable personality whatsoever? Her? Stronger than Luc? Pffft, no. I liked her about twice throughout it all because her 'evil' self shone and I actually appreciated that too much to be considered normal.

Now, I need to have a talk with Luc. Like, a full-fledged mature talk with an excessive amount of screaming in between lectures. Mainly, what the heck does he see in her??? I really need to know. He needs to remind her that 'baby, this is not your fault, nothing is your fault. Believe in yourself as much as I believe in you' at least a minimum of 56 times per paragraph. I think nobody taught 'Evie' that one must love oneself before trying to love someone else. Either that or my beautiful Luc got replaced by a parasitic imbecile. And I really don't want that theory to come to fruition. As always, his sarcasm nurtured my soul and his lovable, squishable personality was like... a bite of chocolate during times of duress. In other words, if someone or something tries to make him 'better' I will break them.

The rest of the characters were my life source. They kept me breathing through the tough times of the 'tub' scene and the cheesy lines that threatened my will to draw breath. All of them and some, are part of the 'Lux' universe. Which, little advice, don't read the novellas. I read one. And it um... it traumatized me. I felt like I was in a Cheese Factory. And not the good kind. I'll mention a few of the ones that marked my soul with scriptures of adoration.

Daemon was/is and forever will be absolute perfection. Unless you count the moronic decision he made.
Dawson can die already. Okay maybe not.
Archer is gorgeous in every way.
Hunter is bae/husband/ lifelong material.
Grayson is... wow. He's awe-inspiring.
Eaton is the person I never knew I needed but crave to understand.

And the girls? Well...

Kat, which I despise for the time being because of a certain decision Daemon and she took.
Beth can get run over by a truck, thrown off a cliff and basically be exiled to the afterlife for all I care.
Serena is meh.

The rest of the women were amazing, so I truly don't understand why the 'main' girls were idiots incapable of protecting themselves.

Speaking of that certain topic, I just want to say that the romance? Yeah, that thing is definitely not legal. I love how they 'love' each other, but what I do not love is the fact that the guys are always so goshdarned set on protecting the women EVEN THOUGH, they're stupidly connected. Which MEANS that if one dies, so does the other. Logic? I think the heck not.

I think that that is really one of the most infuriating things to read about. I kept expecting the ladies to be fed up with all the protective macho stuff and buy a backbone from someone. Which the MC miraculously did. Once. And it lasted for about 15 pages. I wanted to scream at all of them that yes, you want to keep them safe. But you're not doing them any favors by protecting them in each and every circumstance. Let them grow strong! Geez...

As ranted way up above, the relationship in this book was nauseating. The main reason being that they couldn't be apart. Not even for one second. Going to the bathroom? Let me help you wipe. Going outside? Let me come with you. Needing some time alone? Pfft, we don't know her. And it was so drastic watching the MC get frustrated when Luc clearly wanted some time to think. There literally was a whole chapter where she was all:

And I stayed up waiting.
How could I not?

Like, exqueeze me, someone definitely failed to mention the fact that y'all were conjoined.

This, THIS was what made everything worth it.

“Never come for me.” He slowly slid his hand out from under my head as his lips brushed the corner of mine. “Never look for me. If you do, I will take everything from you.”
(cue Booksy screaming into the void)

Continue Reading

Disclaimer: Any and all opinions said up there are my own, and please feel free to call me out for any errors or any offensive comments, so I can get right on it and get it fixed!

...............................................................
I’m too conflicted right now, and as always, especially deranged following the wonderful fact that I got interrupted 37838 times whilst reading this book.

Review to come when Booksy actually willingly decides to use her missing brain cells for something other than perpetually drowning them in bleach throughout this whole increíble experience

[booksneedcaffeinetoo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being stared at by a bunch of legit aliens like I was the weird one to be wary of was quite unsettling.

Hmmmmmm....this is a tough review to write. Another reviewer already pointed out a lot of the things I was thinking when I finished this book: we lost much of the humor from the first two books and instead got a million and one I love you, Lucs. It was mildly disappointing.

”There is humor in everything.” His gaze caught mine. “If we forget that, we lose everything.”

🙄 if that’s the case, JLA, then why was the book so much less funny than the previous two?!

In the first two installments we got hilarious shenanigans, plot twists that were wild and funny. Here, JLA just decided to bring back every dead character from the original Lux series (or at least it felt that way to me). I don’t think you had to read the previous series to understand the previous books, but with this one you kind of do. Half the main cast is from her old series and their actions make a lot more sense if you have read the original series. If I hadn’t read Lux already I would’ve felt like I was missing out on some major information!

Bringing up fertility issues in a YA book was actually kind of cool. As well as safe sex talks about contraception and STDs! And stopping when characters ask to stop with zero guilting of the person who asked to stop. Yay! (Also this book is upper YA, so the sex scenes aren’t always fade to black, but aren’t ACOTAR level)

I like how in this book we got to dive more into Luc’s psyche and how the choices he made to save Evie effect him. About how his fear is becoming a monster. It’s a new side of him we haven’t seen yet. His actions effect him even if it’s just being a bit of guilt for not feeling guilty.

I just felt like this book fell a little flat compared to the others. Evie is still having her identity crisis (we are on book three now so it’s getting a little old). There wasn’t much action. Random cameos from the original series kept popping up and did nothing for the plot. Too much ‘I love you’ talk. A lot of tell and no show. And the ending was weird. Like I 100% expected it to go that route but still. I feel like JLA is recycling some plots from her other books which was a tad disappointing. Idk. Like I enjoyed this book, but it is definitely my least favorite of the series.

Also it is weird to read a virus book during a pandemic lol.

This series isn’t a trilogy so don’t go into this book expecting it to be the final one! Like all JLA books, it ends in a cliffhanger.


The rest of this review will contain mild spoilers from the book and some major spoilers from the original Lux series that would’ve already been spoiled for you if you read this book.

I thought in the original series they found out Kat was given a different serum that made her and Daemon’s life forced not be tied together? But now they are saying their lives are tied together??? So I’m confused....

Also why would you name your baby after the guy who your actions led to his death? Especially when he was your bestie’s boyfriend at the time and she’s now with someone else? That’s an odd reminder. Dawson and Beth naming their girl Ashley makes sense since she literally saved Beth’s life!! Idk. Odd choice imo.


Content Warnings and Trigger Warnings: child abuse, implied sexual abuse by father (based on here and original series), mentions of domestic violence, mind control,




April 16, 2020:

so i have some good news and some bad news...

bad news: that cover is actually legit 😭

good news: you can read the first chapter of THE BRIGHTEST NIGHT here!!! 🤩

favorite quote from the excerpt:

“That was you in the woods. Just another part of you that I haven’t quite made friends with yet, but I will.”

Luc is adorable.

(i am, and always will be, JLA trash)

[Jenn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was slightly disappointed in this one and that makes me sad. I absolutely have been loving this series and have been waiting for this to come out but I found that it dragged in places and by the end, my excitement level was way down.

Now I'm not sure if I'm just crazy or not, but I thought that when I started to read this series, it was only going to be a trilogy. And honestly, it probably should have stayed that way. The pacing was way off in this book. Not a whole lot happened and it was mostly just talking about Evie's powers and training. All of the action happened at the end and coming off of a book that was building to something, this just took that momentum and crashed it.

Another issue I had was the relationship between Evie and Luc. I didn't love it as much as I had in the previous books. It felt extremely codependent and unhealthy. They had no real conversations save for maybe one - and in an almost 500 page book full of just talking, that's bad. It was all, I love you and you're the best and you're amazing. We get it. You love each other. Now let's move on. I miss the humor and the sarcastic banter the two had. Yes, the plot is getting more serious but this book is supposed to have taken place right after the last yet it felt like they were all completely different people.

I love Armentrout and her writing. And I do love this series. This one just didn't quite do it for me like the others. But I do look forward to the conclusion and hope Armentrout can bring it around, which I fully believe she can.



******Initial Reaction******
I am so angry at this cover. Why the hell would they just change the covers with only one book left in the series to publish? Now my hardcover set won't match AT ALL. Also I do not like the new covers. the original covers are so much prettier. So frustrating.

[thebookelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ich brauche den nächsten Teil! Was eine super spannende und fesselnde Reihe. Ich kann es gar nicht oft genug sagen, wie toll ich diese Bücher finde, generell die ganze Lux Welt. Aber dieser Teil hier hat mich ganz besonders gefesselt, es ging direkt da weiter wo der zweite Teil aufgehört hat und endete so unglaublich spannend, das ich es gar nicht abwarten kann bis ich endlich Band vier lesen kann. Ganz ganz tolle Reihe!

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

In true Armentrout fashion, The Brightest Night turns everything readers thought they knew about the world and characters on its head. Origin is a slow burn novel as Armentrout takes her time exploring Evie and Luc’s relationship as well Evie’s new powers and discovering her limits.

The Brightest Night reminded me how much I love this series and the world Armentrout has created. It’s original, exciting, and feels like coming home. Seeing all the characters from the previous novels is one of the best parts of the novel because they’re not overwhelming the story. Armentrout strikes the perfect balance between bringing back old characters into a new story.

Evie and Luc’s relationship is also a slow burn. It’s a delicious combination of sizzling angst and adorable romance. Their relationship is simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking.

“The way you say my name like that? It’s going to kill me,” he said, his tone still that strange, power-heavy, cold one, but his words? They were all Luc as he caught my lower lip between his teeth. “You have no idea.”

The atmosphere throughout the novel is foreboding as Armentrout builds to an explosive ending. I hate the throw around the word cliff hanger, but The Brightest Night left me with my jaw on the floor. It’s one of those ending that will have you questioning everything that came become and wondering if Armentrout had this planned from the beginning.

Overall, The Brightest Night will leave you desperate for the final novel. I cannot get enough of Evie and Luc.


*** I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Ashlee » libraryinthecountry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gahhh, I finally did it guys. I finally built up the courage to listen to this and be transported back to The World of Luc™ *cough* ... I mean the Origin series. (Sure, there are many reasons to read this series, but the biggest one is pretty obvious.)

With every book in this series, JLA is constantly throwing curveballs our way and dropping even more info about the Luxen, hybrids, Origins, Arum, Trojans, etc. and this book does not take the back seat in that regard. There's so much more to learn and I am really looking forward to seeing where that info takes us next!

We get to see a LOT more of the OG Lux series characters (*squeals*) and of course lots and lots of Luc + Evie romance. There's also some very surprising appearances from characters I hadn't expected to see again ... I'll let you wonder who I am talking about ... or you could just read the book.

My only caveat is that while we get lots of character interaction and lots of new info, the overall plot in this book didn't seem to move much from where it began, other than Evie learning and knowing more about herself and what she is. Nonethless, I love this series and it's difficult not to feel happy and sated whenever I return to this world. Now to impatiently wait until 2022 for book 4. *flails*

[Roobie · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️2.5 stars⭐️

If you end up remembering more down the road, you go through what you need to go through. There is nothing wrong with feeling nothing. You feel what you need to feel, whether that's feeling nothing or everything.

Oh this book made me saaaad. I love JLA and I enjoyed the first two books but this one was so slow and (please forgive me) boring. I will read the last book, obviously, but other than the ending I feel like I could have skipped this one.

[solomiya · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! I think this is my fav book in the series so far? It was the perfect mix of light and heavy and that ending! As much as I love JLA I wish I had the strength to wait until she finishes her series because this waiting a year for every book is killing me!

[Mikky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at:


Jennifer has done it again! I don't know how much more of this my poor little heart can take! This book had its rough spots but it was SO good. I can't even with that ending! Why do I love something that causes me so much pain?!

I'll be honest and say that the first 5 hours or so of this audio book almost had me DNFing. It was just way too reminiscent of the pandemic we are currently in the middle of and I want more fiction than reality in the books I read. I would have eventually made my way back to this series after everything was okay but that would have taken a few years. I'm glad I pushed through it because it was worth it in the end.

Evie was coming into her own in this book and I am here for it! I still love that she fights for what she thinks is right and how *most of the time* she doesn't take unnecessary risks or keep unnecessary secrets that could put the people she wants to protect in jeopardy for the sake of it. I can't wait to see what she's going to do to fix this ending in the next book.

Luc. Luc. Luc. I love him. He has a sweet side to him that usually, only Evie is privy to. Though he's also capable of turning into a killer in 0.000001 seconds if need be. I just want to cuddy him close and protect him from the world at this point... or is it the other way around? I just need to believe that the next book will fix all of this. It just needs to!

I've been alluding to an epic ending throughout this review and oh boy was it that and so much more. I both loved it and hated it for different reasons. I can't comment on it because of SPOILERS. That ending deserves to be devoured right along with this story. Just be warned, like a lot of Jennifer Armentrout endings, this one will also break your heart.

The Audio Book:

The narration was amazing! All the characters were distinguishable from each other and there were no weird background noises in the recording.

[Bryce Rocks My Socks · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you don't hate your favourite author are they really your favourite author??

that saying Jennifer L. Armentrout, i absolutely loathe you. i LOVED this book, don't get me wrong. It was phenomenal, the best in the series yada yada AND THEN the proverbial shit hit the high-speed fan in the last twenty pages. It was edge-of-the-seat, pull-your-hair-out, gouge-out-your-own-eyeballs-so-you-don't-have-to-read-this-torture-anymore INTENSE. the ending was just- the plot twist... and the LAST FUCKING LINE was just-

HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME????? please anyone tell me when the next book is out idk if i will last long without knowing how she fixes this.

[❁ lilyreadsromance ❁ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"We just all have a little bit of a monster inside of us. How could we not when we love someone like we do?"

Only JLA could end a book with that sort of cliffhanger. Cruelly so. Like come on. One time! Just one time could you end it with a hopeful tone and stop breaking my heart?

As for the rest of the book went, if you love book with nothing really happened until at the every end, this would be the one. This book would be the buffer/explanation book of out of the three books so far. So many expositions!

“If we need more food, I’ll get us food. It will be like caveman days. I’ll hunt and gather while you…” Luc trailed off.
I arched a brow, waiting. “I am dying with anticipation to discover which extremely sexist example you’re going to give. Tend the home? Cook the previous night’s kill? Wait patiently for my man to return?”
“I was going to say while you’ll be right there beside me.”
“Good save.”

However, since JLA is one of those 'it' authors for me, I've enjoyed the hell out of this. Every sweet and every painful moments of it.

Love took root with his cheesy, horrible pickup lines and silly gifts that really weren’t gifts at all. Love grew each time he looked at me like I was the most precious and cherished being in the entire universe. Love spread with his enduring patience that came with no ties or stimulations.

[Arceli · Rating 5 out of 5]

WE HAVE A RELEASE DATE AND TITLE! HOW LONG TILL THE COVER AND RELEASE!
306 Days! :( The countdown begins.

[Jen (jenslostinthepages) ♥Star-Crossed Book Blog♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

We just all have a little bit of a monster inside of us. How could we not when we love someone like we do?

The Brightest Night was breathtakingly emotional and beautifully captivating. From that very first page, I was pulled right into their world and couldn't put this book down. Love, friendships, action, ghosts from the past, and scenes so emotional that tears poured down my face splashed across the pages. If you’re a fan of Jennifer L Armentrout, the Lux Series or Paranormal/Sci-Fi stories then definitely add this one to your tbr! I can’t recommend this book and series enough!

We had no idea what was going to happen from hour to hour, and I just wanted the beauty of this, of him, of us together, and there wasn’t a single thing wrong with that.

The Brightest Night started exactly where The Burning Shadow ended. Evie and Luc were in Zone 3 with all of our favorites. I was shocked learning the scope of what Evie was and what the Daedalas planned to do. But I wish someone would have said, just hold on because that’s nothing. What’s to come in this book will blow your mind! I gasped multiple times, screamed NO so loud I woke up my husband and even stared at a wall because I couldn’t believe something happened. Many truths come to pass, and each one rocked me more than the previous one. The way this book unfolded was absolutely brilliant!

“Well, that’s kind of offensive. I’m totally trustworthy,” Luc argued. “And I give great gifts.”
Daemon crossed his arms. “You once tried to gift Kat and me a llama because, according to you and literally no one else, they’d make a great family pet for a baby.”
What?
Luc’s smile turned thoughtful. “They will protect a herd—”
“A lone child is not a herd, Luc,” Daemon sighed.

At the core of this story is Luc, Evie and so many people errr Aliens, Hybrids and Origins whom we love from not only this series, but The Lux Series too. The happy moments had me flying so high. I loved watching their lives unfold, catching up with everyone and I laughed more times than I can count. I even had happy tears over some of their moments together. They felt like a big family that would pull together at times for one another. It all warmed my heart. And yes we even got to hear more of Luc’s fabulous cheesy pick-up lines ha! But I’m thankful for all of these happy moments, because there were also ones that shattered my heart.

I was something they thought they could use to take over the world, then why couldn’t I be used to fight back?

I couldn’t shake this feeling that I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. So I was extremely nervous for Evie at times. I was terrified how her power would affect her, but I loved watching her grow in leaps and bounds. I was so proud of Evie for learning more about herself, her abilities and even how she interacted with Luc. She was someone I respected and could look up to. It became even more obvious how she had captured Luc’s heart so easily.

"I loved you before I even knew what that meant, and I loved you even when you were gone, and I loved you when you became someone else,” he said— pleaded, really. “And I fell even more in love with you when you walked through the doors of Foretoken. I’ve never stopped loving you. I never will.”

Luc was the ultimate book boyfriend! He was fierce, deadly, and would do whatever it took to protect those he loves. There’s literally nothing he won’t do to protect Evie. But on the other side, he could be so calm and collected with her. His patience, gentleness, and the amount of affection and love he showed her melted my heart. Luc was sexy, intense, passionate and most definitely sigh worthy. And when he was with Evie, they felt like the ultimate power couple. I loved how they talked and confided with each other. It felt like even if the world was falling apart around them, they would still be standing by each other's side.

His forehead pressed to mine. “I need to forget that we’re both stained with your blood.”
Closing my eyes on a shuddering breath, I cupped his cheeks. “You have me.”
Luc kissed me, and there was nothing slow or tentative about the way his mouth moved or how his lips parted mine. The kiss deepened, and there was an edge of desperation to it, a hint of lingering fear.

I can't say more than what I have, but just know that The Brightest Night will keep readers hooked and has a heart stopping ending! That ending was powerful and shook me to my core! So if you love fierce and loyal characters, a story line that has tons of heart, and moments that will make you laugh, smile and cry, then you definitely need to pick up this series. Now I’m patiently waiting until we can see how the series ends with the next book! I can’t wait!

He pulled out a sour apple Blow Pop. “The Daedalus have more like her, and when they decide to break up this little militia you have going on here, even someone who isn’t particularly intelligent would know what a good idea it would be to have her on their side.”
The world just stopped spinning on its axis. Pigs were flying. Santa was real. Hell had even frozen over.

PS I love Grayson's love of blow pops!

Love was the thunder in our hearts, the lightning in our veins, and it was what kept us together where we landed, even after our skin had begun to cool and our breaths had slowed.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

For more of my reviews, please visit:

[Izzie d · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good idea of world building but I did find it rambling and drawn out and very boring and to be honest I ended up skimming.
No intimate scenes other than the Hero and heroine.
Cliffhanger ending.
I was incredibly irritated as I thought it was a trilogy, I am amazed an author releases a series but readers don't know how many books to the end.
I would have waited if I'd know this one too ends on a cliffhanger and it's a doozy.

[Clau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yo aquí, que por alguna razón pensé que este libro cerraba todo el drama en las vidas de Evie/Nadia y Luc.

Le pongo esta puntuación (baja, considerando que Jennifer Armentrout es posiblemente mi autora favorita) porque me pareció bastante floja la trama. Hubo unas cuantas cosas que se me hicieron muy lentas, y otras bastante predecibles. Siento que es un libro transición, y que cuando tengamos publicados los demás libros de la saga -asumo que serán cinco-, voy a poder decir que, en retrospectiva, este fija varios elementos que son necesarios en los demás.
Sin embargo, no es mi yo del futuro el que acaba de terminar este libro, sino el yo del presente... ¿o del pasado? Bueno, da igual.

Lo que sí debo reconocer es que amé cada vez que Katy o Daemon aparecían en escena.
Honestamente, Evie/Nadia es un personaje que antes me gustaba bastante, pero en algún momento mi aprecio hacia ella empezó a decaer. No sé si se debe al momento en el que estamos, pero no puedo decir que haya disfrutado su personaje, y algo parecido me pasó con Luc. De hecho, la obsesión que tiene Luc con Evie es un poco perturbadora, lo cual es algo que nunca me ocurrió leyendo los romances que escribe Jennifer Armentrout.

Por último, me uno a los miles de comentarios que critican la portada de la edición en inglés, porque hay que decir que deja bastante que desear. Espero que cuando se dignen a publicar este en español -y el segundo, ya que estamos-, la portada no se parezca en nada a la de esta edición. Claro que la portada del primero en español no me gusta nada.

[eli ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book about a month ago on my local online library. I was literally dying to read this because when I read The Darkest Star and The Burning Shadow, I was super hype for this release. So when I could finally read this on the PGCMLS library, I nearly fell out of my seat because I waited a year for this. But when I started reading this, I was like the fuck?

I tried reading this for the plot because it sounded amazing, but I didn't finish this book because
1) Evie and Luc's relationship was hella cheesy
2) I lost interest (but we'll get into that)

So what drew me into this series was the plot, storytelling, and the romance (of course). But when I started reading Evie and Luc's dialogue, it just felt weird. I don't know how to explain it, but I just didn't enjoy reading about their relationship. It was probably because Luc was always like "It's not your fault" all the damn time. And Evie was just like "Oh really? But what about all stuff that went down because of me?". Luc would just say "It's still not our fault, we're going to get through this", which just annoyed the hell outta me.

I think I lost interest in this book because of not only Evie and Luc, but because I just matured out of it. The plot was very intriguing, don't get me wrong. But now, their story doesn't seem relatable, realistic, or interesting to me anymore. That's probably why I didn't finish this novel.

----------------------------------------------

okay, so you know how I said in my earlier review that I lost interest in this? yea, scratch that. I might decide to try and read this again just because they changed the cover. now I know that it's stupid, but that old cover looked so bad and I despised it. and the new cover looks so beautiful that I just have to try and read it again. maybe I'll like it, maybe I won't. I probably won't read this for a while, but just know, I will find my way back to this book.

[⊹ ⁺ ₊ ✧ she's book obsessed ✧ ₊ ⁺ ⊹ · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Brightest Night
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Please🙄🤚🏼, for once I thought I´d get away without crying over a book but then JLA writes THIS?!
I don't think its possible to recover after that, I´ll at least need a month...
Anyways- 🕳🏃🏼‍♀️

[sarina ༺]

What happened??? The first two covers were so beautiful and now this??? I am sad

[Patricia's Book Kingdom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished the The Brightest Night and I am no way near being okay.

The Brightest Night hooked me from the very first page and those hooks were deeply embedded in me until the very end. This book is a thrilling, emotionally-charging and incredibly captivating third installment of the Origin series.

It starts off where the The Burning Shadow left off. Evie and Luc have arrived to Zone 3 seeking refuge and they have just found out that Jason Dasher, who they believed to be dead, is in fact very much alive and is actually in charge of the newly found alien species called the Trojans. Trojans are programmed to only answer to Dasher, which is bad news for the gang because Evie has also been turned into a Trojan. Talk about fuckery of epic proportions.

"I've waited for you forever, and the only thing that scares me-that terrifies me-is that something is going to take you from me, and I won't be able to do a damn thing about it."

Evie and Luc is what you call an epic love story. Their love is so selfless, passionate and explosive. They have been through so much and life keeps on putting more roadblocks in front of them, but that does not deter them. Their love for each other is so strong and pure and they believe that as long as they have each other, they can get through anything. Their love for each other has honestly took my breath away.

"I love you." I closed my eyes, losing a breath and then two. "And every part of my heart and my soul belongs to you, Luc. You are a gift."

Evie has undergone incredible character growth in this book. So much has been thrown at her, so much has been revealed about her past, her present and her future. Some of the things have really shocked me and I had hard time believing that Daedalus could stoop so low, but no matter what information was revealed, she remained strong, fierce and courageous. She was very impressive in this book.

"I've never stopped loving you. I never will."

We first met Luc when he was 13 years old. Even back then we knew that he was something rare and unlike any other alien we have met before. Coupled with his incredibly cheesy pick-up lines and t-shirts with silly slogans, he truly is one special snowflake. There is no-one quite like him. He has done some horrible things, but he didn't do them out of malice, but out of his desperate need to save the one person he loves the most in the world. For the longest time, I had to shout at my brain that it is okay to find Luc attractive, because it had difficult time differentiating him from the 13 year old we have met all those years ago. After reading this book, my brain has finally got it. Luc is no longer the 13 year old boy, he is something more. He has grown into himself and we have witnessed him maturing and blossoming into man he is today. While he is not perfect, because no one really is, he is aware of his flaws and he does his best to prove to Evie that he is worthy of her love.

"I bet Luc wishes they were llamas," I said.
Daemon groaned.
"You have no idea, Peaches. I would've befriended one and led it back to Daemon's house-"
"Dear God," groaned Daemon.
Luc looked at me. "And then the other would miss it and they would come, too."
I started to smile.
"Before Daemon knew it, he'd have a her of llamas," he went on, and Daemon started walking. "Kat would be thrilled."

The Daemon/Luc bromance is alive and kicking. Those two have brought smile to my face on multiple of occasions. They have such a rare and special relationship. I love how they try to get rise out of the other every chance they get, but then they are there for each other when it really counts. That is what I call real friendship.

"Do you ever stop and think how incredibly lucky you are to have such a brilliant wife, Daemon?"
Daemon smiled. "Every. Single. Day."

Having mentioned Daemon, I am so happy that he played quite the big part in this book. As always he made me swoon and on multiple times he has taken my breath away. Him and Kat are such an important part of the story, and to see them getting ready for parenthood is such a privilege. Having been on the not so pleasant end of Evie's powers, it is understandable that he is a bit apprehensive about her staying in Zone 3, where all of his closest friends and family live. But I was so happy to see him stand up for Evie. It really shows what kind of person he is.

I am very curious about Grayson and I hope that we learn more about him in the next book. We also get to see little of our beloved characters from the Lux series; Dawson, Bethany, Archer, Dee, Hunter and Serena. We also get to see little Ashley and those moments have been so precious. We also get introduced to new characters that do not have the clearest of intentions. And some characters show up that left my mouth hanging open. Is it just me, or are some of these people like cockroaches? Impossible to get rid off...

The two best words to describe The Brightest Night are emotional rollercoaster. So much is revealed and so much is still left unsaid. The ending gutted me and I don't think that wound will hill until I get my hands on the last book. It is everything you expect a good book to be: soul-shattering, breathtaking, passionate, fast-paced, exciting, action-packed, emotional and a page-turner. Jennifer has really outdone herself. What a brilliant book this was!

[haniya · Rating 3 out of 5]

edit 08/28/2021: okie so the author prolly saw my review and decided to change the covers again…

edit O3/07/2021: hold up, whaaaa... the covers are back to normal...?? OMIGOD I FREAKIN KNEW IT! I TOLD YOU GUYYSSS!! I AM A PSYCHIC!! *CACKLES* HOLY...WACAMOLEEEEYYY AHHH IMMA GO MAKE A LIVING OUT OF THIS MUHAHA

i spent a good minute screaming to my heart's content the minute i finished this gosh darn book. my sister was sitting across from me, taking her zoom class as she watched me as if what i did was normal...which probably is, but i digress.

so...i want people to answer me truthfully. who put the curse on third books of a series? i'm not even joking rn - and trust me, i'm always joking, which means i'm prolly joking rn, too, but you didn't hear that from me, got it?

ugggh, this book was really slow and barely had any action. it's like that with every third book, and coincidentally, the third book is always the one i'm highly anticipating as i wait for it to come out.

like, i literally got to the end of the book where the action STARTED, and then...it just ended.



like, c'mon! just coz Luc & Evie are together now, doesn't mean the whole book is now about the numerous "i love you's" said to each other. there was still quite a few moments of the two joking around & the banter between them, but i noticed it significantly decreased in this book - which is definitely something i'm not happy about. it was something i was really looking forward to throughout the wait for this book to come out. however, i was glad that we got scenes of Evie training with her new powers - it was something, at the very least.

to put it simply, i was really disappointed with Luc & Evie and the lack of action. every time a new chapter started, i was like "this is gonna be it, this is the one"...and then, the end of the book came around *cough* last chapter *cough* & IT ENDED! that was literally the only chapter with action in it that i was waiting for, and even that ended way too fast.

it seems that this book was revolved more around the character development, and i love characters, so that is the only reason i gave this book an extra star. but i still wished we had more of a plot :(

on the other hand, it was great to be able to see old characters, like Kat & Daemon & Dee & Archer & yadda yadda, ya. i don't think you'd really understand this book if you didn't read the Lux series, what, with the sudden revival of two significant characters & a bunch of more ties back to the Lux series,,, so...

anyways,,, the virus - it actually reminds me of the circumstances society is in right now with covid-19. it makes me think: WHAT IF EVERYONE WHO GETS CORONA TURNS INTO AN ALIEN?! i'm already an alien (lol, no big deal there) but now my friends & family that don't believe me can mutate & then they'll thank me :D

anywhooo, back to the ending,,, WAT WAS THAT CLIFFHANGER?! the author cannot do this to us!!! first of all, the slow, un-action-packed (that's not a word) events led up to this?! secondly, and most importantly,,, WE HAVE TO WAIT TWO MORE BAJILLION (jdgfuwejqfrehiojwjherovur) YEARS FOR THE NEXT BOOK!

don't authors understand endings like these put us into slumps??? :(

overall, this wasn't the best book of the series and it still (like the previous two books) has major stuff in it that i don't appreciate very much. but do i still love the books with all of my heart? HECK YAH! (coz i'm an alien,,, duhhhh)

pre-review / pre-release date rambling:

OMIGOD! IT'S OUT TODAY! also, im not lying when i tell you that I HAD A DREAM THAT THE ORIGINAL COVERS WOULD COME BACK and this one would be dark purple in the original...design(?) anywho...*sighs* it was sooooooo beautiful. a lot of people don't believe me when i tell them i have dreams of the future but I'M NOT LYING! understand? capiche? i'm a psychic and now you can go be jealous. *applaud from all of you* *i bow*

[Yodamom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Narration 5 stars
Favorite Author
I have to start at the end. ARGUH !!!! Yes, that was my final word. Yes, the ending was monstrous and left me gasping, sputtering and angry. I might have been a bit emotional. Don't judge, just wait til you read it, you’ll see.
The story was a rollercoaster ride, moments of climbing to something just out of reach then, shifting away squeeing around a ship turn, then an unexpected drop, to the slow steady climb again to the top, then on to drop off a cliff ! I really loved the ride but was not always loving it. I just don’t like one of the characters.
Evie aka Nadia, I really have to try to like her. She is such an immature snowflake, still. She has been through so seriously hard moments, lived a hard life and still acts like a preteen. Oh stop hatting, I know she forgot most of her before, that’s no excuse. How can one live through that kind of act crazy and still act childish ?
Luke I like Luke, I don’t get why he’s’ so nutters in love. Oh he loves beyond a sane level There is something else there, perhaps that is the excessive draw to Evie ? He’s the perfect guy, powerful, hot, body-licious, funny, smart, attentive, and he likes lamas. Why are they never like this in real life ? I want better for him than this immature Evie. There is still at least one more book.
The rest of the characters really fit well into the story adding to the depth of the story. There were backstabbers, sneaky liars, birthing mothers, protective friends and more. I enjoy Grayson, and the time I got to spend with him. I want him. to get his story.
Well the next book isn’t out yet and I’m sitting here fretting over that ending but I have to wait. I did learn to like Evie, still not her biggest fan but she kind of won me over. Thank you Ms. Armentrout, for another winning read.

I received a copy of the audiobook from the publisher for an honest review