Book Review – Obsidian by Jennifer L Armentrout

Obsidian (A Lux Novel Book 1)
Yep. Squee-worthy. You all already know I *squee’d* from the last post. 😉 This one will, for sure, (I already know this) make my best of 2012 list. It had everything (well… almost everything considering it’s YA) that I love in a book. YA or not, though, this one doesn’t hold back in the romantic tension (and a few super *steamy* moments). There was so much of everything else to keep me enthralled, that  I didn’t “miss” what normally comes after all of that pent-up emotion. And the connections, the reluctant friendships, even the game-playing (and there is a lot of that)…. believable.

As I mentioned to Tina:

Maryse: “…the writing was good, and funny, and I could so relate to the girl. In YA like this, she had the tension all right and the steamy was steamy enough for me to keep me believing it. I dunno – there’s just something about an arrogant guy who is totally not into you… and yet pokes at you and tugs on your pigtails like he is… ignores you, and yet can’t stop staring at you…”

Tina: agreed

I felt an urgent need to read it when I started receiving recommendation after recommendation. Everything on my TBR list got pushed down by one…

Tess: “Have you read Obsidian by Jennifer Armentrout? I think you’d LOVE it. Daemon, the main character, is all kinds of arrogant and all kinds of hot. :)”

(Yep. He was absolutely infuriating, and yet sooooooo irresistible.)

Tina: “Obsidian was good. I enjoyed it. It kept my attention… I think you’d enjoy it. There was a lot of sexual tension”

(boy, she wasn’t kidding there…)

Sandra: “You are going to love Obsidian…I can’t wait till you finish reading it. And Maryse dare I say I think it’s squee worthy…”

Yeah.. you all were EXACTLY right.

I love when it doesn’t come easy, and these characters gave each other a serious hard time, but in a way that didn’t make me roll my eyes (okay sure, there were a few *eyerolls* but they were in good fun). Mostly, I giggled with glee, and often gasped, appalled at Daemon’s audacity.

My Facebook reactions as I read the book:

Maryse: Omg! Almost halfway in and Daemon is STILL an ass! Grrrrrrrrr!

Maryse: That whole cafeteria scene. Blew. My. Mind.

Maryse: Ohhhh you girls know me wayyyyyy too well..

Maryse: And then… It gets worse. Love it! I’m FURIOUS!!

And the book is so funny, but it’s not necessarily… comedy. The “funny” is in the internal dialogue, and the witty, yet VERY sarcastic interactions between the two main characters. Their love/hate relationship takes the reader on an emotional thrill-ride, but the emotions are not necessarily angst. Sure, there’s some of that, but what’s prevalent is the butterflies, the “crushing”, the anger, the disappointment. The fun. The intensity of the attraction. Lots and lots of that!

So I’ve been asked. Is it Paranormal?

It is, I suppose. Yep. And basically, here’s how the story starts:

Katy moves from Florida to West Virginia with her mom after her dad dies. She’s a blogger/book reviewer (I adored her already and chuckled as I read her “blogging” issues). She has neighbors (twins) that are her age. Kat goes over to introduce herself, and Daemon’s first impression doesn’t impress. Oh sure, he’s undeniably perfect. HOT. Gorgeous. But OMG his attitude and arrogant demeanor are so over the top that Kat walks away absolutely stunned.

For a moment all I could do was stare at him. He was probably the hottest guy I’d ever seen in real life, and he was a total douche. Go figure. “You know, all I wanted was directions. This is obviously a bad time.”

One side of his lip curled up. “Anytime is a bad time for you to come knocking on my door, kid.”

But over the course of the summer, she befriends his sister “Dee” (best friends actually), while doing her best to avoid Daemon. Except Daemon won’t leave her alone. No… not because he’s trying to win her affection. Ohhhhh noooo. Nothing like that (at first). Daemon’s doing his best to repel her and is insistent that she stop hanging around with his sister. Why? she wonders. What’s so wrong with her, that he hates her that much?

“She’s not welcome in our house,” Daemon snapped, turning to his sister. “Seriously.”

Surprised by the venom in his words, I took a step back.

Dee, however, did not. Her delicate hands balled into fists. “I was thinking we could work on the flower bed, which is outside – not inside – the last time I checked.”

“I don’t care. I don’t want her over there.”

“Daemon, don’t do this,” Dee whispered, her eyes filling with tears. “Please. I like her.”

The remarkable happened. His face softened.

Except that everyone in awhile, Daemon eases up on his apparent aversion of her, and it is in those moments that Kat’s little teeny tiny butterfly inducing crush on him begins to grow.

…his intense stare sent any coherent thought scattering.

Confusion flashed in his eyes as he leaned forward, his lips parting slightly. “I think I understand now.”

“Understand what?” I whispered.

“I like to watch you blush.” His voice barely a murmur as his thumb traced circles on my cheek.

But never fear, Daemon does his best to crush that crush right out of her. They can NEVER be.

“Happy?”

Daemon lost his smile and stared. “I’m never happy around you.”

“What did you say?” My eyes narrowed on his blank expression. He did not say what I thought he did.

“Nothing…”

Because you see, Dameon, his sister and a few in their entourage are… special. Different (no not vampires!!! But… something 😉 you’ll see, and it’s SO good!). And sure they are all physically perfect, but mostly, most of them, for the most part are… very unfriendly. They all sit together in the high school cafeteria while pretty much keeping to themselves, and with their haughty attitude, easily dissuading anyone from approaching.

I also knew there was something not normal about him.

About all of them.

Except Dee (Daemon’s sister) is sick of that, and wants to be friends with the other high school girls. Especially Kat. Which causes Kat a whole load of trouble (of the Daemon kind, his friends, and the paranormal world that she unwittingly finds herself mixed up in).

Okay I’m going to admit something (and by doing this, I may suddenly have fallen into a “cliché” if you will). I did have a few *flashbacks* to another book  that I absolutely adored to death, as I read this one. And as I explain this story in it’s “basic” sense to those who haven’t read it, of course, some may recognize a few similarities and raise an eyebrow at me. BUT NO!!! It’s not necessarily like that (although, if you ask me, those similar parts are what I LOVE in these kinds of stories, so I’m was totally good with it). But, okay I grudgingly say… maybe sorta in regards to those similarities, but only on a basic level.

And not everyone agrees with me. As one of my friends who has read this, pointed out:

“Yeah – but wasn’t that a classic formula for romance? The instant hate attraction?”

True. And it seems to be what sucks me into these books… so again. I’m good with that formula.

And anyway… the characters themselves, well they are I dunno… older feeling? More relatable? Sexier? It’s less “dreamy” and more “grrrrrrrr!!!” This has an older YA feel to it. A slightly more “gritty” vibe to it? But as I told my friend who asked if it was like… ?

I said:

The rhythm, and the action and the comedy (it’s not a “comedy” per se… but it’s funny and super-witty). Different enough to stand completely on it’s own. I dunno. Better? As good? Super steamy, too. This girl… has spunk, and made me laugh. And the guy… he thinks ALOT of himself and struts it. This one… well. It’s different enough to love. You’ll notice the similarities, I’m sure. But again, it was perfectly fine, because the writing was awesome. I connected to them 100%. Loved it!

Believe me, the main characters. No resemblance at all. Nope. Their energy, their banter, even their relationship (their “frenemy” status, and even the closer then they care to admit stuff) – totally it’s own thing. Totally different. Not sappy (don’t get me wrong, I love sappy) but THIS is not really sappy. NO. Nope. Daemon… not such a romantic. Nope. And yet… *sigh* (oh and… DON’T ask him if he sparkles).

Beautiful face. Beautiful body. Horrible attitude. It was the holy trinity of hot boys.

Heh. You just gotta read it, and you’ll see where I’m coming from.

MUST READ Obsidian. MUST! 5 stars!

Interested in the series? ’cause it’s gonna be one —> Lux Series Reading Order Guide