Monday, August 18, 2014

What I Love Mini Reviews:
Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead &
Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Silver Shadows
by Richelle Mead
Read: July 28 - 29, 2014
Published: July 29, 2014 by Razorbill
Source: Hardcopy Purchase
Category: Fantasy, Vampires, YA

Series: Bloodlines #5
Find: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository 


Book description: Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

In The Fiery Heart, Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists.

Now in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other. But first, they have to survive. 

For Sydney, trapped and surrounded by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity and the memories of those she loves. Meanwhile, Adrian clings to hope in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle proves daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him. . . .

Their worst fears now a chilling reality, Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour in this heart-pounding fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where all bets are off.
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Note: Silver Shadows is book 5 in the Bloodlines series. My thoughts may contain spoilers for the previous books. See previous reviews: BloodlinesThe Golden LilyThe Indigo SpellThe Fiery Heart

What I love - Mead has completely convinced me of Sydrian as a couple. 

I was very unsure of Sydney and Adrian as a pair when I began the Bloodlines series, but with each book I've been more convinced of how right they are for each other. Silver Shadows has managed to up all of my Sydrian feels. It is probably the toughest of the books in terms of what these two have to face, but I was surprised by the level of swoon in here as well. Speaking of surprises Mead is the master of that as well. There are several things in this book that I did not see coming - some bad and some good - and she certainly kept me on the edge of my seat, biting my nails as I read, desperate to know the fate of these two. 

In Silver Shadows, we (finally) see Adrian stepping up and fighting for what he wants. Sydney's inner will of steal and convictions are as strong as ever, and I am so proud of her for how far she's come from our first meeting with her in Russia back in the Vampire Academy series. I also appreciate so much that this couple is not the standard guy/girl dynamic. Sydney is far from being a damsel in distress, and is usually the one with the plan and doing the saving. But it is Adrian's determination and willingness to take action that we've needed to see from the beginning. After some faltering, that made me very nervous, I was thrilled to see him do just that. But in mostly, I love how these two have truly rescued each other. 

Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: Medium - This conclusion was far less stressful than the last one was. But it's clear that there's still a lot these two are going to have to face. 


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Opposition
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Read: August 4 - 7, 2014
Published: August 5, 2014 by Entangled Teen
Source: Paperback Purchase
Category: PNR, Aliens, YA

Series: Lux #5
Find: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | The Book Depository 


Book description: Katy knows the world changed the night the Luxen came.

She can't believe Daemon welcomed his race or stood by as his kind threatened to obliterate every last human and hybrid on Earth. But the lines between good and bad have blurred, and love has become an emotion that could destroy her—could destroy them all.

Daemon will do anything to save those he loves, even if it means betrayal.

They must team with an unlikely enemy if there is any chance of surviving the invasion. But when it quickly becomes impossible to tell friend from foe, and the world is crumbling around them, they may lose everything— even what they cherish most—to ensure the survival of their friends…and mankind.

War has come to Earth. And no matter the outcome, the future will never be the same for those left standing.

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NOTE: Opposition is the final book in the Lux series. My thoughts may contain some spoilers for the previous books. Previous books are Obsidian, Onyx, Opal, and Origin.

What I love - Jennifer Armentrout is not afraid to write longer series and keep her couples together throughout them. I also know that I don't need to fret about her finales. They will be filled with action and tension, but also swoon and ultimate happy making. 

In the Lux series, Katy and Daemon go through ups and downs, but we get to see them as a powerful team through several books. There are no weird breakups or love triangles in this series. I feel like I know Katy and Daemon individually and as a couple, and can truly understand why they are a great match. I loved the way this particular book began - I was definitely freaking out, but it led to some of my favorite scenes between these two. 

It's true that I'm more interested in the characters than anything else in this series. Not just Katy and Daemon but their entire entourage - Dawson, Beth, Archer, Dee, Luc and a few others. But I also very much enjoy how much Armentrout has expanded the Lux world and mythology from when Katy discovered aliens living next door in Obsidian. Now this alien civilization is taking over the world, and Katy and Daemon must work together with their friends and some unlikely allies before the invasion and destruction is complete.  Opposition has Katy and Daemon, lots of action, some freak out moments and is all together a solid, satisfying JLA approved conclusion. 

Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: Series conclusion 

*If I were doing a Six Degrees of Separation post, I would have said that Silver Shadows reminded me a great deal of the last Lux book Origin. The overarching plot is quite similar. 

12 comments:

  1. I'm happy to hear that Silver Shadows was a success for you, Lauren. I'm excited to read The Fiery Heart and Silver Shadows when the final book comes out. I've always loved Sydney's strength and I'm happy that she doesn't suddenly become a damsel in distress. As for her and Adrian, they are never a couple I imagined in the VA series, but they are perfect for each other when you think of it.

    That's great that the Lux series ended well for you. I was never invested in the series for some reason. I liked the first book, but the second book was such a disappointment, I didn't bother to read the rest of the books. The author just isn't the author for me. A lot of readers seem to love it though, so I'm happy you fans got a worthy conclusion.

    Lovely reviews!

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  2. These are two of my favorite series so I'm glad you love them too! And yes, SYDRIAN!!!! They are one of my favorite couples, in part because they weren't an obvious couple at all. And it was such a slow progression and not one of those, oh he's hot but a jerk type of story lines (that's Katy and Daemon, which I love but Sydney and Adrian are just so different). I was a bit upset at Adrian for backsliding in this book, but at the same time, that was consistent with his character. And I know Sydney is strong, but after what she went through, she didn't seem to be affected by it much at all. I'm wondering if that will play a part in the next book.

    And JLA…she writes the best series enders. I know I don't have to worry about not loving the last book, she has yet to let me down! Have you read the Covenant series? I may even love that one even more than the Lux series, but it's a close call. And yes, I completely agree with your review. One of the best things about this series is that the couple works together. They have issues and things to get through, but we get plenty of time in the books to watch them as a team, which I love. ~Pam

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  3. " I also know that I don't need to fret about her finales. They will be filled with action and tension, but also swoon and ultimate happy making."

    That's what I like to hear Lauren! She's a cruel, cruel woman with her cliffhangers sometimes, but I love that she gives readers satisfying conclusions to her series with an HEA in place. I need that HEA. I can't deal with a series otherwise. After all the time I've invested, I need everything to work out as best as possible!

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  4. Great reviews sweetie. <3 I'm glad you enjoyed both of these books :D And hah. I have yet to start reading these series :p But I own all the Lux books. I just haven't started them, as I'm not sure I would enjoy them. Sigh. One day, though :D Thank you for sharing Lauren. <3

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  5. Lauren! I Loved Silver Shadows so so smuch!! You are right, it's absolutely amazing how much Sidney grew especially in this book. My heart broke so much for what she had to endure, but I admire her strength! And this ending??? Didn't see that coming, but it was very welcome :)))

    I still have to read the last LUX book... I love this series too and.. of course I'm highly in love with Katy and Damon.. :)

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  6. I'm so glad you've enjoyed both these series recently, Lauren. I was never too keen on the VA spin-off, having been so fed up of VA by the time it finally ended, but I'm glad that Mead really made you fall for this couple. I might binge-read this entire series once the last book is out but...we'll see. As for Lux, I enjoy JLA but have grown to not exactly gravitate towards her books anymore. I didn't read the previous installment in Lux and I don't know if I will be finishing up the series (I'm so bad at finishing series I'm not 100% invested in!) but, again, we'll see. Fantastic mini-reviews, Lauren, and I can't wait to see what series you tackle next. :)

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  7. Both of these authors have really grown and completely impress me with their romance choices. I haven't picked up either of these but I do love both of these authors and, yeah, they're both on my wishlist (especially since you love them! That's a strong rec right there.).

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  8. You have me feeling like an underachiever because I wanted to see the Lux series from strat to finish this summer but i just couldn't make the time *sigh* AND i promised myself I would read Silver Shadows ASAP the minute I got home from my trip but I still haven't :( *sigh* Your reviews make me want to drop everything and read them asap!PLus— you're finally convinced of Sydrian as a couple—that's a huge feat! I remember some of your thoughts on them so now i'm majorly intrigued!

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  9. I didn't read everything in your review for Silver Shadows because I haven't read The Fiery Heart yet. I was one of the few who loved Sydney from the beginning and I've been rooting for their romance the whole time. Nice to see your more on board for that than ever. That being said, I'm so very nervous to read TFH & SS, because I know it's gonna be tough.

    I'm a book or two? behind with the Lux series as well. I just got to the point where cliffhangers are not my cup of tea and so I put off these sequels until more or all the books were out. Lovely to hear you were happy with the series ending. Great reviews, Lauren! :)

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  10. Great reviews, Lauren! I love that you posted these together. :) I mean, two OTPs, what can be better? I couldn't agree more with you about both reviews. We've talked in length about both series, and I know we'll have a lot to discuss once The Ruby Circle is released (thank goodness we can count on a happy ending, at least). The Lux series was always about Katy and Daemon for me too, and it's so great that for 3 1/2 books they are together without any love triangles, break ups, unnecessary angst, etc. I'm hoping JLA will give us more couples just like them (I really think that will be the case with Seth/Josie in The Return). Enough of that love triangle business in White Hot Kiss. :P

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  11. I've still not read any Richelle Mead novels, so I don't have anything in particular to say about Silver Shadows just yet. Opposition, on the other hand, is a series ender I'm very much looking forward to! I really like Daemon, Katy and the other characters in that world a whole lot, and I'm glad to hear that you liked the way Armentrout wrote this final novel. Cannot wait to read it for myself (when I can finally get it back from my sister)!

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  12. Aw! Adrian and Sydney really have rescued each other. AND HOW ABOUT THAT ENDING? I am still excited about it. :D

    Wendy @ The Midnight Garden

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