ARC Review: Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Steph's Rating: 5 stars

Dani's Rating: 5 stars

Overall Rating: 5 stars

Format: e-ARC

Publication Date: August 27th, 2013

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Pages: 400

Goodreads Synopsis:

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on?

And will they even be together?

Steph's Review:

Thank you so much to Entangled Teen for providing us with an early copy in exchange for our fair and honest review. Also, to readers, be wary that there are *spoilers* for the first three books in the series.

You would not believe how ecstatic I was when I found out I got an ARC for this. I couldn't sleep the entire night after I found out about it, and I was constantly checking my email to see whether or not the ebook came in. Dani alerted me about the incoming while I happened to be sitting in a classroom, and I spazzed out. My table mates thought I was a lunatic, which I suppose I can't deny. Thinking about this book even now gives me THE FEELS.

It took me a while to absorb this book. I read it once, couldn't believe what happened, and made another savory reread in order to get the full story. Jen knows how to make magic with every word and page, and I enjoyed reading EVERY single part of this book! There were no slow moments at all, and this is the craziest ride to date with Daemon and Katy. 

Katy, as a hybrid has been captured by Daedalus, and is now undergoing the horror that Dawson and Beth had to experience. She can only endure, and there is little hope for escape. She's looking every which way for a chance to make a run for it, only to come short with nothing. Daedalus tells her about the supposed "true nature" of the Luxen, making her question everything she's discovered so far. Who should she believe?

Daemon is going insane, and that's honestly not enough to say about his simmering anger and fear. On a seemingly futile rescue mission that he makes his own--and only his, he along with Katy will have to make heartbreaking realizations about the world they actually live in.

This book is a game changer. A lot of people weren't happy with how the cover turned out, but Jen explained that this book needed a different cover style. After reading this book, I completely agree. Origin is a magnitude 9+ earthquake to the reader and to the Lux world. Nothing is going to be the same after this point. Overall, this book is very intense compared to the books before it. Katy's captivity was the saddest part to read, and makes you wonder how Beth and Dawson managed to survive in such a situation for years. The dual POV's was wonderful on Jen's part! She expertly balances both Katy and Daemon's voices, which I absolutely adored (especially that Daemon POV!)

I know I seem vague. But trust me, I do not want to spoil this book, and that is extremely difficult. I feel like every sentence in this book is going to give away something huge. Origin is a multi-jaw-dropping book that will elicit the most frustrated yet contented feelings from you. Perfect in all cases!

You didn't think I forgot about the Daemon and Katy love business, did you? GAH THIS COUPLE. They have to be my favorite book couple of all time now. They were somewhere at the top, but now they undoubtedly hold the faraway number one spot. Ack I can't say! But I really, really want to! Just be looking forward to the sweetest moment between these two in the entire series. They are just a match made somewhere beyond and better than heaven. They are both such strong characters, and despite all the tragedy they are facing, they never forget about each other. 

This book is full of right hooks. An unexpected betrayal totally blew my mind away. I did not see that part coming. I saw other people mentioning this here and there on other reviews or comment threads, and I do not know how I missed it in the previous books. I mean, my face probably looked something like this when I read the few lines with the reveal:

Jenna Marbles? You grace us with your presence.

Actually, now that I think about it, that was probably my face for the majority of the book.

The ending.
Holyfoshizzlecrapomgwhatjusthappenednononoyoucan'tjustenditthereIwon'tallowit. I think I say that "shit just got real" in every single one of my JLA book reviews. Every time I think things can't get worse, she just throws me something and shows me that IT CAN. I'm not even going to bother to say that phrase this time, because I probably will be wrong yet again. The ending wasn't as bad as Opal in my opinion, or at least it wasn't one that turned on the waterworks, but sitting tight on this one for the next at least half year is going to be tough. Very, very tough.

If you haven't started the Lux series, I do not know what you have been doing with your life these past few years. Put these books at the top of your to-read list ASAP. For those of you who have been earnestly and patiently waiting (I mean really! This book's release got pushed back twice!), it is 100% worth the wait. The suspense is a killer. The revealed secrets and revelations are mind-shattering. The romance is hot hot hot. I warn you ahead of time of a major information and sensory overload after you finish this book. It was just perfect cover to cover, and I recommend Origin to everyone.

Steph

Oh, and P.S.
You probably won't get this yet, but it's sort of my teaser to you.
Kaiden Rowe and Anna Whitt shall make an appearance. (HAHAHA--love ya Jen!)