Review: The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Darkest Star (Origin #1) 
Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publication date: October 30, 2018
Genres: Young Adult, Sci-Fi/Paranormal, Romance
Source: Tor Teen and NetGalley

When seventeen-year-old Evie Dasher is caught up in a raid at a notorious club known as one of the few places where humans and the surviving Luxen can mingle freely, she meets Luc, an unnaturally beautiful guy she initially assumes is a Luxen...but he is in fact something much more powerful. Her growing attraction for Luc will lead her deeper and deeper into a world she'd only heard about, a world where everything she thought she knew will be turned on its head...

Me: when I heard that Jennifer L. Armentrout was returning to the Lux world.

Me: after reading The Darkest Star

YES!!! The Darkest Star was just what I wanted and just what I needed.

The Darkest Star takes place 4 years after an alien invasion and subsequent war that wiped out cities and left many dead. Evie’s own father was killed in the fighting and she has few memories of what life was like before the invasion. There’s now an uneasy peace between humans and the Luxen but even so, 17-year-old Evie is nervous to accompany her friend to a club known to be a Luxen hangout. There she meets Luc: gorgeous, cocky, mysterious and decidedly other-worldly. Spending time with Luc has an odd sense of déjà vu and leaves her with questions – especially since she’s positive there’s plenty that Luc’s not telling her. When classmates go missing, when everyone around her has secrets, Evie is thrust into danger and those closest to her are not always who (or what) they seem.

The Darkest Star came complete with all the lovable characters, great banter, action, friendships and romance in Armentrout's signature style. Readers who have not read the original Lux series have nothing to fear since the exposition provides all the background necessary to understand the who, what and why. And those who are already Lux fans will love the cameos (and mentions) of favorite characters.

Me: at each scene with Daemon Black

Main character Evie was a down to earth girl, dealing with bizarre circumstances as best she could, with an internal dialogue that was both relatable and hilarious. And then there was Luc, that oh so intriguing secondary character from the Lux series who I was dying to know more about. He was here in all his enigmatic glory, with his snappy comebacks, less than humble demeanor, and non sequiturs that always made me laugh. But another side of Luc was revealed in The Darkest Star - one that showed a vulnerability and a sense of humanity that was as surprising as it was endearing.

This was a total page-turner and Armentrout kept the story moving with plenty of action, plenty of twists, and plenty of delicious tension between Evie and Luc. Yes, there were a few cringey bits of dialogue, and I really, really would have loved to also had Luc's POV, but overall The Darkest Star delivered big time. All I could think after turning the last page was: I want more!  

As one of my most anticipated books of the year, The Darkest Star totally delivered and was everything I was hoping for. Whether you’re a longtime Lux fan or new to this world, you’ll love this epic start to the Origin trilogy!

Favorite quotes

"You're- you're trying to kidnap me."

"I wouldn't say I'm trying to kidnap you. I would say that I'm actively offering you a place to stay for an undetermined amount of time."

That made me feel a little better, knowing I hadn't been kissed by a killer alien from outer space. It was the small things that made one's crappy life choices easier to deal with.

"I don't think we've formally met. You're Evie. I'm Kent. I like long walks in dark cemeteries and I want to have a pet llama before I die."

4.5/5 STARS

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. This does not my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.