Pure

A while ago I wrote a review on the first book in the Covenant series: Half-blood (Review) and then I waited around for some weeks before I got the second book in the series: Pure by of course, Jennifer L Armentrout. It'll be very hard for me to write a review that doesn't have little silent hints to things that happened in the book. I'll try but that's also why I'll just use the story line explained on the back of the book to picture what'll happen or can be expected in the book. Can't go wrong there!

There is need. And there is Fate. Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome --especially when Alexandria's other half is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom--so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do--and sacrifice-- for her. When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies--lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon--and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Alex, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude--or killing her. 

I've got one question first for the author: Why did you do this to me? You can't do this to me! Or to all the other readers! This means that I've had a very intense read and yes, that's positive! This. Book. And. Those. Feels! Argh! It was so so good, better than the first one in my opinion. I had so many hair-pulling moments but also very sad and very swoon-worthy and happy ones due to circumstances in the book. Can't spill too much...

The characters are as in the first book amazing! As the back of the book is saying there's an Apollyon and Alex, who will become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet. This book concentrates more on Seth and Alex since they're each others other half (that sounds confusing). You see their bond, connection, how ever you want to call it, grow. And I don't mean like a little, I mean huge growth. I don't know if I'm really bothered about it. I like Seth (this because I read The Return by Jennifer L Armentrout, a sequel that concentrates on Seth) but in this series he scores one moment but the other he loses again with me. He can be understanding because of the circumstances and really be there for Alex but other moments I'm ready to slap him in the face and say "this is enough, Seth!" which kind of is weird...maybe? I think all of us readers have had moments like this. He just irritated me by how he acted or what he said or by his actions but he could never really lose my support. (Sounds even weirder). In my November TBR, I said that I really wanted to know how this story would go and that I was really curious about the characters and their bonds. I really was looking forward in seeing Aiden. But as I said the book concentrated more on the bond between Alex and Seth which meant less Aiden but still, when he was there he caused many feels to hit me. Positive or negative? I don't want to tell because it might reveal too much so sorry, guys! As for Alex, you see her struggle with becoming something she is destined to be. She never knew she'd be this and after being away from the Covenant for 3 years (this is explained in Half-blood) she has a lot of training to catch on with. And more training follows because she's this special supernatural person (I'm not willing to say what she is because it could be a spoiler. That's why I use the terms used on the back of the book!) 

But there comes more pressure on her shoulders when daimons start to infiltrate in the Covenant and start asking a lot of attention and yes, they cause a lot of mayhem in all Covenants over their areas. If that isn't bad enough more bad things start happening and you can see that Alex struggles with some things and also has relapses with aspects that happened in the first book. You can feel the real and sometimes raw emotions in this character, they're not random or anything. They feel real and realistic which I appreciate in books.

Above that, as the back of the book says, there is a treat willing to do anything to get Alex out of the way. Gone. Dead if it has to. The treat comes in slowly and for me it was a real investigation. When things started to happen, I payed attention and made my own suspicions in who it could be. In some moments I even thought it was a whole secret group that was trying to eliminate her because I had so many suspects. It was really nice to after having for example, hair pulling moments with Seth, to be able to fully be in the book and try to solve this mystery which for me felt like something extra. I never thought the things that happened, would happen in this book. I thought we'd mostly concentrate on Alex in training and catching up but not on aether-sucking monsters infiltrating or this mystery the author has created. So Jennifer L Armentrout has really surprised me in this book and I can't wait to get the third book Deity! I also feel like it wasn't the end, it couldn't end like that. Those were the very first thoughts I had when I read the last sentences. I can't say it's really like an open ending but I wanted more, let's just stick to that. 

If you ask me if it's worth the read, I'd say a ten thousand times yes. I'd probably even bring you to a local bookstore so you could get it and then jump in enthusiasm. Yes, it really came that far after reading this book. I enjoyed it so much! And it's only the second book in the series. If it wasn't really clear yet because you got totally lost in my weirdness, I recommend the book! I totally do!

"When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone."

November TBR

A new month, a new stack of books! I'm the kind of girl that just buys a 'big' amount every now and then so I can read for a while (well, most times). I'll now present the books I've recently bought, although I said on Instagram  I was going to wait until I received my other books. Later I realized that I could already do it since I recently bought some books and I really wanted to update my blog. 
I'm planning on reading as much books as possible this month since I couldn't read a lot in October because of school. Let's just get started ha!

Pure by Jennifer L Armentrout

The first book I want to talk about is Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout. It's the second book in the Covenant series, the first one was Half-blood which I wrote a review on (Half-Blood Review). It's a series of 5 books and has two novella's. I started reading the series because of a good friend, Fien. She's also into the Jennifer L. Armentrout books and she said they were really good and that I should read them. And she's right! If you read Jennifer's books, read these! If not, read these! My friend also wrote a review on Half-blood but also on Pure and the review about the third book is on it's way. (Yeah, she's ahead of me. She contains so much information haha) So I recommend to go check out her blog: My Bookish Rambles by Fien. 
I'm already head into the book but school made sure I had to stop at page 37, thanks school I love you so (not). I can't tell too much about it because then I'll just spoil the fun! But I'm really excited to read on and to know what'll happen next with Alex and the others like Aiden. Mainly Aiden. But no spoilers. What does really attract me to the book is a sentence that's on the back of the book: 

"When the gods are involved, some decisions can never ever be undone."

Doesn't that sound promising? Then again Jennifer never disappoints. I like her books, easy reads, funny, some romance. What else must there be? 

Angelfall by Susan EE

Angels. It's my weakness. I... I can't explain it differently. The first book that got me into reading was about Angels. Ever since then books with Angels are my favorite ones! This series is also about Angels, logical because of the title right! It's also been recommended by Fien and I've read a lot of reviews that said it was absolutely amazing. I just went with it and bought the book and Oh Holy Alien Babies (saw what I did there? :D) the cover is absolutely stunning. I'm a person that likes to feel things, it's maybe weird. But it has these wings and they've got a feeling, like a texture or something and then I'm just totally happy. It feels good, it looks good and yes, they say it is good. It's again a series and it's the first book in a series of three. 
"It has been six weeks since the Angels returned to earth and destroyed the world as we know it. When they fly away with a helpless little girl, her sister Penryn will do anything to get her back." It sounds like it's going to be a whole adventure which I'm totally for. I've also read some bits and pieces in it because I couldn't contain myself (as usual) and from what I've read, it sounds very thrilling. I think the adventure will be underlined in this book and also finding her sister. I'm not sure if it'll be like that and I'll keep you guys posted! If anyone has some thoughts that they want to share about this book, please do!

"They have arrived..."

Because you'll never meet me by Leah Thomas

I got this book just today and it's kind of a funny story. I met up with two of my friends to go to the city so one of my friends could find a gift for his girlfriend. We went in two bookstores because my other friend likes to read too and we wanted to go inside. Nothing. Literally nothing in my hands when I came out because I said in myself: no. You just bought 3 books that are on the way. We went into another store, a media store. I'm so sorry wallet, I just couldn't contain myself. It's been on my list for some months now and I saw it, I grabbed it and I kind of screamed my friend's name. I was like: "Look! Look!" and yes, that's how I got this book. I think we've all had this before! Anyways what it's about: It's basically about two boys. One of the boys has a weak heart and now has a electronic pacemaker but the other boy is allergic to electricity. So they don't chat through WiFi or mail but just write letters to each other all the time, knowing they'll never meet because one of them would die if they did. Can you imagine? You have a friend but you can't meet because you can die or you lose your friend. But on the other hand you really want to see him! But that's not all there is to the story, their bond becomes stronger because both of them struggle with life. Losing a friend, being bullied in school. Those are things that'll come presented when you read the book. So I'm really excited because I got so many questions like "how did they meet?" "will they ever meet in real life?" "will both of them die because they think that's fair and then they did see each other before they died?" The latter doesn't sound all that logical but I'm bracing myself for a very emotional (positive or negative? I'll keep you posted!) book. But I'm so excited!

"There are truths you can only tell a stranger"

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter 

The last book I want to announce in my November TBR is Alice in Zombieland. I've never heard of the writer before, I didn't find the book on Goodreads  but also this time the book has been recommended by someone I know. My niece, Marika, is also into books and this summer she was really hyped about this book series. The third book was coming out last September so she was talking about it and read the books again. She said "hey, you should definitely read these. They're good!" so yesterday, I went to their home to pick up my brother and sister and asked if I could lend the first book. I could see she was happy that I asked! And I'm happy that I asked because I read the first chapter and it is indeed good. She says it'll only get better. I'm curious if there are similarities with the Alice in Wonderland tale like you have Cinder and Scarlet that sometimes refer to Cinderella and Red Riding Hood. 

The back of the books says: "If anyone had told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that's all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone. Her father was right. The monsters are real. To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn't careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies." So it's about Zombies and I'm curious if I'll like that because I'm not

into Vampires either so I wonder if it'll go to the "appreciated in books"-side or the "rather not in books"-side. But like I said the first chapter is really good so it might say something about the rest of the book. And also... Can I just ask you to pay attention to that cover! Darkness and then you have Alice in a blue dress! And see those details around her! The back, which you can't see on here has a white rabbit (aha, first reference to Alice in Wonderland). And if you ditch the jacket, it's so nice. I like the simplicity of the hardcover without the jacket and the insides of the book have room for details. Another thing I like is the name of the series: "The White Rabbit Chronicles". I like the sound of that! As soon as the book is done, I'll write a review about it. So stay tuned!

"Off with their head"

"Hun koppen eraf"

So those were the four books I recently bought or am lending and which I'll hopefully finish this month! But there are 3 more books coming this way and I'm very excited about those too so if they're here I will talk about those. But for now I have enough books to entertain me for this November. If you have any recommendations or you just have something to say, don't hesitate to leave it in the comments. 

Half-blood

Fans of Jennifer L Armentrout, brace yourselves for another good book. What am I saying? Excellent beginning to a series, those are the words I need to use to introduce you to Half-blood by, as I already said: Jennifer L Armentrout. A friend of mine and also a bibliophile, Fien recommended this book to me. Thanks for that, Fien! She also has a bookblog which you can find here:My bookish rambles

The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi pure bloods have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals--well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures. Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

That’s just what the back of the book says and I’m already “This is so Jennifer!” and all hyped about the story. I like Jennifer’s books, it’s not to hard to read. She writes ‘simple’, in other words my brain doesn’t need to function. I’m from Belgium so English is not my mother tongue so some books just ask my brains to work and translate, with Jennifer L Armentrout’s books it’s not like that. I can enjoy it and I do. 

Back to the book! As explained Alex is a half-blood and the one she’s crushing on Aiden, is a pure. She’s been crushing on him for a long time while living under the protection of the Covenant. Though 3 years ago, Alex’s mother has taken her away from that protection for unknown reasons. And when certain things happen, Alexandra wonders why she ever decided to take her away from that safe place she ones called home, where she ones had dreams.  

3 Years later, Alex is back on the Covenant. Training, starting from the total begin to make sure she can start the academic year with her peers. But guess who her trainer is? Yes! Yes! Yes! The guy she has a crush on, the one she should never fall in love with, a pure. Aiden St. Delphi! Make sure you’re prepared to fall in love all over again with a reincarnation of Daimon Black. But more events start to reveal themselves: problems, forbidden love, people who are supposed to be death and even more! I recommend this book to everyone who loved other books from Jennifer L Armentrout but also to the ones who have never heard of her before. It’s time for all of you to get to know her! 

As always the characters all have their own personalities, nobody is the same even though some might be the same species. With that I mean that it's not because there are two half-bloods that that means they're the same. They all have their own strengths and weaknesses, so do the pures. You fall in love with how they act and how they are. It’s not only a ‘simple’ read, it has everything. Funny moments, romantic ones, frustrating ones, thrilling parts and if the end is near you only hope that the second book is already on your bookshelves. And I really don’t want to spoil anything which is why I’m not really going deeper into certain aspects, I want you to reveal the things. Discover everything there is about Jennifer L Armentrout’s books and most importantly: to fall in love with this series. My friend is two books ahead of me and she’s so thrilled about it, I can only imagine how good the rest will be and I know it’ll be better than I expected. 

If you read the Lux-series, then you sure know what I’m talking about if I say the ending of the series destroyed me. Like I literally felt lost, it was done. Over. Finished and I know this series won’t be any different feeling. But more updates about the following books will come! 

A fact about this book is that it’s apparently really similar to the vampire academy. So if you enjoyed those books, you might want to check it out! 

“People do the damnedest things when they’re in love.”