Review: Obsidian

Title: Obsidian

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Book Summary:

“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.”

Moving is always hard, but moving right before your senior year?  That just sucks.  Katy moves with her mom to West Virginia.  Things seem pretty boring until she sees her hot new neighbor, too bad he acts like a jerk!  Luckily, his sister is super sweet and willing to risk her brother’s wrath to befriend Katy.  As events unfold, Katy learns her mysterious new neighbors’ deepest secret… they are aliens, and the problems are only just starting.

It’s not so much the premise of Obsidian that attracts my interest.  No, it’s the raving reviews, comments from friends, and all out fanfare surrounding Armentrout’s work, and the Lutz novels in particular, that catches my attention.  With all of the excitement buzzing around Obsidian, I know that I cannot pass this book by without reading it!  So that’s what initially hooks me… and then I actually read the premise.  I really like the summary for the book; it is intriguing and completely captures my attention! 

When I first start reading the book, I am really happy that Katy has a book blog because from that point on in the rest of the story I just picture her as me.  Throughout the story, I read about a lot of memes that I already know of and participate in -- which is a really cool experience, almost like when someone writes about my hometown.  I know everything about it so I know just where that shopping mall is that they’re talking about, and it deepens my connection to that story.  So, it is like that for me when I “overhear” Katy talking about posting reviews, juggling time, and that euphoric feeling when the mail arrives.  Having that connection with Katy really makes the story evolve into something extra special.

When Katy first meets her new neighbors, it’s very interesting.  I am very disappointed though when she first meets Daemon, the eldest of her two neighbors.  She acts like a love struck idiot, and it diminishes her character for me.  In the two minutes it takes to read the scene, she’s just staring and awkward and girly… which is not the impression that I have of her up to this point.  Fortunately, the story quickly rights itself when she stands up for herself, doesn’t let Daemon push her around or intimidate her and just starts acting like the type of person that I think she is. 

Daemon is obviously smoldering, mysterious, and a complete prick.  He is completely unique, and I can’t figure him out.  In the beginning, he’s all over the place: one minute he’s nice, and then he’s not.  He runs very hot and cold.  This makes the story intriguing because I am constantly thinking:

“You and Katy should be together.  And,I want you together.  But, I don’t know how that is ever going to happen because you’re both jerks to each other.”

 So, this creates a very interesting plotline for me to try to figure out, and it’s a HUGE page turner.

             I really like how Armentrout establishes the relationships and not just with Katy and Daemon.  Most of the relationship-building is between friends and family with Katy working to balance everything so it fits.  I like the interaction between Katy and Daemon’s twin sister, Dee.  It’s obvious they have a close relationship, and Katy doesn’t let anyone else deter that relationship.  When Daemon tries to warn her off, her whole attitude morphs into a “screw you buddy, NOT happening” stance.  Now I like her even more!  Katy also makes other friends who I encounter through out the story.  I’m glad that I don’t meet them and then never hear about them again.  They are a part of her life, and I can clearly see that. 

Overall I think Obsidian is fantastic, and the story is a decently paced.  The relationship aspect is hard to figure out, and I still don’t know where it’s going.  It’s definitely progressing, but I don’t know to what end.  The ending is good, but definitely a cliffhanger(which is bad.)  But, it’s not an insta-love book )(which is good.)  Overall, I just can’t wait for book two!

The Cover.

             I really like this cover!  I heard that this is not the original cover and that the first one was “off”, but I like this one.  I think the girl not looking forward makes it more dramatic and intense!  This cover is a winner. 

I give Obsidian 5 out of 5 hearts: I LOVED it!!

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