Review Detail

Originally posted at my book blog Concise Book Reviews By Michelle
http://concisebookreviewsbymichelle.blogspot.com

The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi—pure-bloods—have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals—well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.

Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:

Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden.

Unfortunately, she’s crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn’t her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck. (summary from book)

I was very pleased with this book, it is well written and very exciting with many quirky funny, parts. I love Alexandria (Alex for short), she is a very strong young girl. Aiden is swoon worthy, and after reading chapter one and two from his point of view on the author’s website, I like him even more.

I read the Prequel Daimon first, and was glad I did, as it just made this story flow well, and I already knew why she was where she was in the beginning. (she had already been on the run from the Daimons that killed her mom, we never read that whole scene, it’s not in this book, only in the prequel)

Alex is a half-blood (half descend of the Gods) and the Pures are Hematoi (Her mother was a pure) father a mortal human. Basically before the original demigods had died along with Hercules and Perseus, they’d all shacked up with each other in the way only the Greeks could. Those unions had produced the pure-bloods, the Hematoi, a very, very powerful race. They could wield control over the four elements: air, water, fire and earth, and manipulate that raw power into spells and compulsions.

Half-blood’s are gifted with the same strength and speed of the pures, but had an extra special gift that set them apart. They can see through the elemental magic the daimons used. The pures couldn’t. There are lots of half’s and they are used to protect the pures from daimons, since they can see them for what they are (they look all gross, and no eyes, thick ugly veins show, ugly, then the magic will kick in, then they look like a pure again)

Aiden, the one who comes to Alex’s rescue is a pure, a Sentinel. (daimon hunter) and he ends up training Alex to help her catch up so she can join the Covenant again to train to also be a Sentinel. She wants it more than anything, and she even was able to kill 2 daimon’s while fighting them off before Aiden showed up, well, one she killed after he got there. He was very impressed that she was able to do this, as she has been out of training for 3 years. He sees something special in her. And boy, is there something extra special in her all right. But I will leave that little mystery for you to find out on your own.

I love the connection Alex and Aiden have, even though it’s forbidden for a half and pure to be together, or anything of the sort, they have trouble fighting their attraction. But Aiden is a good guy, and thinks of what it will do to her future if he allows them to become close. He is a real gentleman, much to Alex’s dismay!
Here is a nice little quote, kindle location 3345 (note, this same scene, well whole chapter is at authors website from Aiden’s POV, chapter 16)

‘He moved, ever so slightly, and his lips brushed across mine once, and then twice. It was such a soft, beautiful kiss, but when the kiss deepened, it wasn’t a shy one. This was one of dangerously pent-up need, a desire that’d been denied far too long. The kiss felt fierce, demanding, and soul burning.’

We also meet Seth in this book, his interactions with Alex are quite funny at times, I won’t say who he is, or what he is there for, so not to spoil anything. But its big, and cool. Not really a love triangle or anything, it’s far more complicated than that. That will be all I say of that.

I found this story very refreshing, and the idea quite new, Jennifer is an amazing writer, up there with some of my favorites now. I look forward to reading the rest in this series, and will also go read her other Lux series too.

I highly recommend this book, it’s not a copy cat, or anything of the sort. I read tons of books, and will tell you now, this is a very well written series, and you would be missing out if you passed on it.
I have a link at my blog to get the Daimon prequel free, go get that, get yourself a taste of the story, with no expense, you will see, it’s a story worth reading.