Synopsis
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…#1 New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout returns to the universe of the Lux in this brand new series, featuring beloved characters both new and old.
Review
4 stars
It will be somewhat hard to write the review without giving away any spoiler but let’s try.
The Darkest Star was a quick and gripping read. I postponed chores to finish this book in one day as it was really easy to read, mixing some favorite characters from the old series (Daemon, Luc) and new ones. Jennifer included many twists in the plot and the right amount of mystery as we have a killer on the lose and we don’t know who he or she is.
Evie’s past is also mysterious even if it was not really hard to guess as Jennifer left big clues to have the reader being able to piece it all together.
I also really liked going back to the Luxen world and seeing the world “after” the aliens failed to invade the world. Jennifer brushed a realistic portrait of a world having lived a huge war and having to make peace with some Luxen. In some aspect it reminded me of the post Wolrd War II where the vanquished are excluded and shunned, where trust takes time to build back. Some actions the US government intends to take even reminded me of the pre-WWII with the Jews being contained in ghettos.
Luc was a good male main character, with some charisma even if he is not Daemon (but who could equal Daemon right?). He has an inflated ego, wears nerdy T-Shirt with weird quotes “MUGGLE IN THE STREETS, WIZARD IN THE SHEETS.” Is cool like a cucumber except when Evie’s life is threatened.
“I could do a lot of things. I have done a lot of things, and sometimes, I do hurt people.” He said quietly, softly. “But I could never hurt you.”.
We already met him in the Lux series and know that he is an Origin so very powerful. The most powerful of them.
“We were all dark stars, but Luc …he was the darkest”.
Evie was a likable heroine too, easy to relate to.
She lost her father and lives with her mom who works in research. When she follows her friend to a nightclub known to allow Luxen and humans to mix, the night will not go as planned and she’ll meet Luc in unusual circumstances. Evie can hold her ground faced with Luc and she will soon be unwillingly entangled in his dangerous world.
The main interest of the book was to unveil the many secrets surrounding not only Evie but also this new world “after” the war. All is not said as I suspect there is more to Alice than it seems and some character hinted at a huge threat to come.
To sum it up: it was easy to read, entertaining, gripping but something was missing compared to the Lux series for me to give it 5 stars. Maybe it’s the characters who needs more edge? Maybe it’s the drama, present but not extreme? Maybe ….
Recommend it? Of course if you are a fan of the series like I am. I can’t wait for the second book as I need to know what will happen next.
Now let’s talk: have you read the Lux series? Or this one?
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
I reread Lux a little while ago but I haven’t had a chance to order this one yet.
I hope you will get the chance Jamsu 😉
Great review, Sophie! I haven’t finished the Lux series yet but I’m planning to get back to it in 2019. I’m so glad you enjoyed this spin off!
Thank you Raven!
Great review, Sophie!
I adored this book so much, it was great to be back in the world of Lux!
Thank you Kayla and yes it was so much fun!!!
I’m sorry to hear this was not as exciting as the Lux series! I have read neither of them so far but this sounds like an indulgent read indeed 🙂 I might give it a go when I’m in the mood for this type of romance.
Great review, Sophie!
Thank you Sophie!
Great review, Sophie! So glad you enjoyed this one! I agree that this one didn’t quite have that same magic as the Lux series. For me I think it was mostly the character aspect. I *truly loved* the cast of characters in the Lux series. But maybe that will happen in time with this series, too. I also didn’t feel the stakes were quite as high, for some reason (?). But none of that means I didn’t thoroughly enjoy this one! Evie was a great character and easy to like. But it was Luc that stole the show, of course. 🙂 I’m definitely intrigued by the comments Micah made toward the end! Great set-up for the next book. *claps hands gleefully*
I agree with everything you say Tanya! I am happy to see I am not the only one feeling content yet not as happy as I was with the Luc series. That said I will certainly go on reading it!
Cool that this was a quick, gripping read 🙂 That’s fair about it missing something from the lux series. Great review!
Thank you!!!!
I read the first two book of the Lux series but didn’t enjoy it since I hated how Katy kept having to be saved all the time and Daemon was just plain stalker mode. The Darkest Star does sound like it’s better though? I’m going to love Luc’s shirts and I may give this one a chance despite not continuing the Lux series.
Hahaha yes Luc’s T Shirts are amazing. Well Evie is protected and saved but she can hold her ground and has sass and spunk!
I order the book box for this one and I am still awaiting it’s arrival…WTH is with that! I am glad you enjoyed it and I look forward to reading it myself!
Mary
There was a book box???? How didn’t I know this Mary??? Anyway I hope your book arrives soon!
I’m glad you enjoyed The Darkest Star as much as I did. I hadn’t read the Lux series prior to reading this one, but now I’m eager to go back and read it.
Suzanne I think you’ll find the Lux series even better!
I’ve never read this author though this does sound like a good story!
Oh Trisy I promise if you begin with Obsidian, Lux etc you’ll love them!
Yay I’m glad you enjoyed this one, too! Did you find parts of it to be really similar to Obsidian? It’s been a little while since I’ve read this now so I can’t think of specific examples, but I remember thinking that some of the scenes seemed almost identical to what happened between Daemon and Katy before?
It’s somewhat similar to Obsidian but kind of “watered down” in my eyes because it’s hard to beat Daemon’s cockyness and the banter in Obsidian!
I do have the first Lux book but haven’t got to it yet. I know it gets lots of great reviews. My goal for the new year is to get started on some anticipated reads that have been waiting too long. Thanks for the fun review, Sophie:)
You are welcome Laura! And good luck for reading your books!
I love the Lux series! I loved this one. I’m so happy that JLA has returned to the world of the Luxen! Plus, I know it’s a bit weird considering how young Luc was in the Lux series, but I loved him back then and hoped he’d grow up and get his own book and he did and he gets 3! *squees*
Yes I am excited to have three books now!!!