Review: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout (Lux #1)

Title: Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Published: November 23^rd, 2011

Source: Purchased for Kindle

Format: eBook

Group age: Young adult

Genre: Paranormal / SciFi

Challenge: 2013 eBook

Grade rate: A

Starting over sucks. When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up. And then he opened his mouth. Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens.
 The hot alien living next door marks me. You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.
 If I don't kill him first, that is.

 My Review

*Slaps forehead* HARD. 

That’s how I feel for taking so long to read this book.  It has been sitting in my Kindle for a long time, and I finally decided to check for myself what all the fuss was about.  Well, now I know that Obsidian is an amazing book!

**At this point I have to make a quick side story.  A few weeks ago I had to travel for business and of course, my trip took place on the first day of the FAA furlough.  I was supposed to arrive at my destination at 2:00 and instead got there at 9:00!  Anyway, I read the whole book and started another one (thank goodness for the longevity of my iPad’s battery!). End of whining (seriously one of the worst traveling experiences ever!) **

Did I mention that this book is amazing?  The characters alone deserve a standing ovation. I mean Katy and Daemon together are a thing of beauty, I could actually see the sparks fly when they were close to each other.  Katy is loyal, smart, well grounded, and brave.  On the other hand, Daemon can be a bit abrasive and off putting (and gorgeous of course) but you can tell that he is a good guy deep down.  I think he really enjoyed his babysitting duty. What do you think?  Apart from them, we meet Dee and a few other high school friends and some of the other Lux that live close. 

The plot is awesome! Did I mention that this book is about aliens? Such an incredible imagination! The story is full of discovery, twists and turns and even mystery.  I’m not sure if I would have acted as cool as Katy did with all the strangeness going on, but I understand the allure. The writing is splendid, and goes hand in hand with the characterization.  The story is action packed, even though we are introduced to a new sort of being and alien culture.  I really don’t know what else to say about this incredible book, it’s a good thing I had all the time in the world to read it because I couldn’t put it down :)

Ms. Armentrout will be at the Frederick Book Festival on May 18^th and I cannot wait to meet her!  I must start reading Onyx, book #2 soon; I need me some more Daemon.