From the Bookshelf of Addicted to YA…

Half-Blood (Covenant, #1)

Jennifer L. Armentrout

Start date: September 1, 2013

Finish date: September 30, 2013

Why we're reading this: It won the poll for the theme BOTM
Theme: mythology & legends
[close] It won the poll for the theme BOTM
Theme: mythology & legends

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May 30, 2012 Sasha rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, drama-romance, fantasy

Half-Blood was a book that took me a while to get into, but once I was there, I couldn’t rest until I finished the book. Alexandria has just lost her mother to daimons, and finds herself back at a school for half-blood and pureblood descendants of the gods. While there, she must train and prove herself a useful addition to the school, especially in light of recent events. Only, there’s a couple problems, and most of them have to do with the ridiculously attractive, ridiculously off-limits Aidan, Half-Blood was a book that took me a while to get into, but once I was there, I couldn’t rest until I finished the book. Alexandria has just lost her mother to daimons, and finds herself back at a school for half-blood and pureblood descendants of the gods. While there, she must train and prove herself a useful addition to the school, especially in light of recent events. Only, there’s a couple problems, and most of them have to do with the ridiculously attractive, ridiculously off-limits Aidan, a pure-blood who also happens to be her trainer.

This book started off with a bang, right in the middle of the action. We are introduced to Alex as she fights against the daimons that have attacked her and her mother. Right away, we see Alex’s quality—determined, quick on her feet, and brave in the face of danger. I personally found this a very effective way for the audience to meet Alex; rather than stumbling over a longwinded exposition in which we learn of Alex’s background and talents, instead we are shown it.

However, once this scene is over, the book begins a lengthy exposition process in which we are introduced to the Covenant and its people, as Alex returns to the place that her mother spirited her away from some time ago. While I do appreciate the background for the mythology of this world Ms. Armentrout has created, I felt like it could have been done in a slightly different way. Plus, the whole “special school for demigods” felt a little too Percy Jackson, and therefore familiar territory.

When I started to lose interest in the story, my attention was grabbed once more by two things: Alex’s unique destiny, and Aidan St. Delphi. While I won’t discuss the former to avoid spoiling anyone, I will happily discuss the latter. Aidan is Alex’s appointed trainer, a gorgeous pure-blood who, despite his bloodlines, looks at Alex like she’s actually there and believes in her abilities. I really liked Aidan because, despite his initial stick-up-rear ways, as he spent more time with Alex, the layers were peeled back to reveal a compassionate person. Give me a kind guy over a bad boy any day of the year; Aidan nailed it in terms of being the ideal guy. As he and Alex grew closer, you could practically see the steam rising off the pages. Ms. Armentrout sure knows how to write that slow-burn relationship, which I think is her forte in this particular book. While the rest of the story felt a bit weak, particularly the part about Alex’s destiny, Alex and Aidan were the book’s strength, grounding the rest of the story and effectively making me not care so much about the subplot.

Luckily, from there, the book kept up its momentum until the end, where shocking revelations and a thrilling climax scene set up for a satisfying ending that promises more trouble and excitement to come. After a rough start, Half-Blood finally found its footing, and I suppose that with the exposition out of the way, this series has a lot of interesting ground to cover. I look forward to seeing Alex and Aidan’s relationship develop (with the added complication of a certain Apollyon named Seth), and Alex’s legacy begin to take shape. For those of you who love Greek mythology, epic love stories, and fantastical elements, this book is for you.
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Aug 02, 2013 Courtney rated it liked it

Shelves: teens

I enjoyed it, but it was just too similar to the Vampire Academy series to warrant more stars. I'll probably continue the series because I want to know what will happen when Alex turns 18. I'm interested to see what happens with Aiden as well and what the consequences will be. ...more

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Jul 21, 2020 Kassie rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2020

This is another book I’ve read recently from tiktok and instagram because people said they loved the series. It felt like a copy of other books though and didn’t interest me. I finished it a few weeks ago and I’ve already forgotten most of it.

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