Review: Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

13 September, 2012 Reviews 7 comments

Review: Onyx by Jennifer L. ArmentroutOnyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: Lux #2
Published by Entangled Teen on August 14th 2012
Pages: 366
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Sci-Fi, Young Adult
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Amazon Good BooksBook Depository
Goodreads
four-half-stars

Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…

Wow. Favorite new Paranormal Romance series, thy name is Lux. I’ve said before that from the moment I first started seeing the Lux books floating around, I avoided them. But the thing that finally convinced me to check it out was Julie’s review over at All Things Urban Fantasy, where she said, “As much as I enjoyed OBSIDIAN, ONYX was even better.” Confession time: Sometimes I start a book series just to get to a certain book in that series. The best example would have to be Julie Kagawa’s The Iron Queen from The Iron Fey series or even Richelle Mead’s Shadow Kiss from Vampire Academy. Even though I do believe that each book in a series should be able to stand on its own merit, I will often tell people to read those series just to get to that special book. And I know that there is more to come from the Lux series, but until then I’ll be saying to read this series to read Onyx. Because where Obsidian was fun, addictive and sexy, Onyx does it so much better. 

Armentrout wasn’t fooling around with Onyx. From the very beginning it seemed she had a plan to really up the ante with book two and I’m happy to say it didn’t disappoint. We have a noticeable amount of deeper character growth for both Daemon and Katy, all-around better plot, and of course, more banter & steamy scenes. So obviously that makes this a more difficult review to write without spoilers.

Onyx picks up shortly after Obsidian and we have Katy, still sarcastic as ever, and Daemon, determined to prove to Katy his feelings are true and not just the result of their newfound alien connection. In fact, the biggest change in Onyx is Daemon and his attitude for Katy. Gone is the “douche canoe” from the previous novel and let’s just say I can totally see when the dude has a Facebook page called Daemon Invasion. 😉 But Katy pushes Daemon away at every chance she gets. And while this did get a bit frustrating as a reader, I can understand her reluctance to him considering his past actions, no matter what his intentions were. Unfortunately, her stubbornness ultimately ends with devastating consequences that I honestly never saw coming. I’m not going to give it away, but I’ll say I shed a few tears.

One thing I was sad about was Dee’s character being slightly put on the back burner in this novel. I missed the relationship between her and Katy. Instead, Katy’s time in Onyx is almost completely monopolized by a new character, Blake, or as Daemon would call him: Bozo, due to his jealously that he manages to marginally hide from Katy. I wish I could tell you more about Blake, but that would give away way too much of the plot. However, I did think there was a love triangle brewing… and I’m happy that I was wrong. But the best part of this new character? Fun, fun, fun banter!

“Jesus.” Blake rubbed his throat. “You have anger management problem. It’s like a disease.”
“There’s a cure and it’s called kicking your ass.”

That’s all I’m saying about that.

The plot is so much deeper, suspenseful and complex too. I thought I had an idea where things were going at the end of Obsidian, but I was so wrong. There were so many twists in this book and not a shred of a Twilight similarity, I might add. 😉 What I once thought was simply black and white (the DOD, Dawson and Bethany’s disappearance, Katy and Daemon’s connection) was turned upside down. Just… wow.

And the steamy scenes between Katy and Daemon? I knew based on a guest post at Xpresso Reads that Armentrout didn’t plan on shying away from sex in a YA novel, because really, it’s a part of life and coming of age. But, oh, my damn.

Time stopped for us. The world and everything I’d been part of only existed outside the closed bedroom door, but in here, it was only us. And for the first time, there was nothing between us. We were open, vulnerable to each other. Pieces of our clothing disappeared. His shirt. Mine. A button came undone on his jeans… and on mine, too.

Anyway, I’m not sure what it is about the Lux series or Armentrout’s writing that has me begging for more, but I know I am now desperately waiting for Opal. And if the cliffhanger at the end of Onyx is an indication of anything, it’s that the Lux series is like a fine bottle of wine, getting better and better with age.

Steph Sinclair

Steph Sinclair

Co-blogger at Cuddlebuggery
I'm a bibliophile trying to make it through my never-ending To-Be-Read list, equal opportunity snarker, fangirl and co-blogger here at Cuddlebuggery. Find me on GoodReads.

7 Responses to “Review: Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout”

  1. Realm of Fiction
    Twitter:

    The end of Onyx left me speechless! I actually read this all the way back in April so the wait for Opal has been incredibly long for me. I can’t wait to see what happens next, and I’m sure Jennifer won’t disappoint. Brilliant review as always, Steph! 🙂

  2. sofie_hatter

    I LOVE YOU STEPHANIE!
     
    I read this during the weekend. You got me into this series and I have to thank you for that. You are right about everything in your review. It was better than Obsidian. It could have gone so horribly wrong, but it was so much better.
     
    I agree with the missing Dee and I hope that her girlfriends come back because I loved that she had friends in the first book. So many YA characters are written only with the love interest as their only interaction. It makes me think something is wrong with them. 
     
    Yes, to the steamy scenes. Completely realistic, but if they are in that situation again and it doesn’t go forward, I’m calling bullshit. So far Armentrout has done a great job of making the characters behave like teens and I think she’s too smart to mess that up now. I’m excited to see what’s next.
     
    I was terrified that it might be a love triangle too. I was begging the book not to let it happen and when it didn’t, I was grateful. I like that Katy is self aware, and for the most part, calls herself out on her feelings. I like that she’s able to admit that she may be playing Blake, Bella should take note.
     
    The plot was great. I was actually surprised by a few of the developments and I like where Armentrout is taking this. I also love that she is not keeping Katy protected and clean. She’s making her get her hands dirty and actually kick ass. I’m so tired of hearing about how awesome the heroine is without them actually DOING a thing.
     
    So, thank you  for introducing me to this series. I’m buying Opal as soon as it comes out and I can’t wait to see what happens. 😀

    • Stephanie Sinclair
      Twitter:

       @sofie_hatter Isn’t it an awesome find? I wonder if Dee and Katy’s relationship will be strained after the events in Onyx? I hope they can work things out and we can see their friendship once again. I really loved how the entire series started based on just a friendship and not instant romance by paranormal boy. 
       
      And yes to the sex! It *has* to go further now. I’m fully expecting it to happen in Opal. They have thus far avoided it due to understandable circumstances, but no more allowances! It must happen! LOL.
       
      I love what Armentrout is doing with Katy’s character. That’s what makes her feel so real and relatable. She does shitty things (like string Blake along), makes big mistakes and learns more about herself in the process because that is what people do. Especially teens. I love how she is learning from the hardships and taking responsibility for her actions. And I love that she is regretful and remorseful. There is so much character growth and I can’t wait to see where her characterization goes!

  3. Inigo Montoya
    Twitter:

    the way she writes makes it seem as though you are the character.shiver when katy shivers blow arum out of the sky when katy blows arum out of the sky.its awesome.she released a scene from the future after opposition and oh my books it rocked!

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