I received this book for free from the library in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Source: the library
Origin
by
Jennifer L. Armentrout
romance, science fiction in Paperback edition that was published by Entangled Publishing on August 27, 2013 and has 364 pages.
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Other books by this author which I have reviewed include Obsidian, Onyx, Opal, White Hot Kiss, Opposition, The Cage, "Ice Cream", Obsession, Stone Cold Touch
Fourth in the Lux urban fantasy series for Young Adults.
Origin picks up where Opal, 3, left off.
My Take
Nothing like dropping you in and immediately ratcheting up the heart rate! And Armentrout doesn’t let you go!! She’s good. Even though I knew better, Armentrout had me questioning whether, maybe, the bad guys, weren’t the bad guys, even as they inflicted humiliation and torture on Katy. That’s really good writing.
These guys really need to look up persuasive techniques. When you want someone to agree with you, being brutal and mean is not the way to go.
I think we need to get rid of the Patriot Act. It allows for terrible actions on the part of power-mad people without any recourse for those taken. The government can come up with any excuse to arrest people and not allow them the rights we’ve come to expect. How much further will they take this? Usually, when government starts infringing on rights and properties, they simply keep going. God knows the government is comfortable enough doing illegal, black ops anyway. We need to protect ourselves — by that I mean, We the People, and not “we the power-mad, conspiracy-fearing politicians and military idiots”.
I don’t know if the Elders are a part of the Daedalus conspiracy and are sucking up to it or merely monitoring it, but I don’t like them. Of course, that could be a natural response to authority… And what is Dawson thinking?
Gawd, they really know how to push Katy’s buttons. Between the promise of a cure for cancer to the threat of invading Luxens coming to take over the earth, they’ve got me wondering. But they also have me wanting to verify with outside sources and not simply take their word for it. Because, hey, if this is all true, why was this extreme force so necessary? Why do they continue to force Katy to submit to those examinations and tests? And those tests…jesus… I’m sorry, but the word Nazi comes to mind. A-n-n-n-d, this takes me right back to the Patriot Act. Can anyone say Nazi Germany, Stalin’s camps?
Katy makes some excellent points. They want her cooperation? Tell her what she wants to know. If it’s so true, then what’s the harm? What happens to her life? Schooling? Does her mother know where she is? I mean, if it’s so important to the defense of the United States…?
I thoroughly understand Katy’s responses, but some of them she needs to stop and re-think. Why would Blake think that Katy would believe anything he said? What planet is he from?
And there it is…the truth behind what Daedalus really wants. Jesus.
Yes, I’m not surprised that there are Luxen terrorists out there. For that we should condemn an entire race? That’s like saying that all black people are on welfare, that all Muslims are terrorists, that all Christians are racists, that…you get the picture. There is good and bad in every group of people, whether that category is one of color, religion, political preferences, book readers, knitters, construction workers, policemen, priests, teachers, teenagers, people who live in a particular neighborhood…I mean, hullo.
Bloody hell, if that doesn’t tell you the truth about Daedalus I don’t know what does. After what they force, and I do mean force Katy to do, they’re manipulating how her actions are interpreted to suit themselves. Those jerks! God, they are so incredibly clueless. They believe they have the upperhand, and with the things they do to people, I almost want the Luxen to take over and destroy them. Well, the DoD anyway. And we thought those Nazi doctors were bad. We haven’t learned a damn thing.
Okay, I know I’m not a bleeding heart liberal because I’m totally cool with what Micah and the children do to the staff in Building B.
Damn it, and then Armentrout ends it with a major question. And I’ll have to wait for August to learn the conclusion to the Lux series with Opposition, 5. ARGHHHHH!
The Story
Katy wakes up in metaphorical chains — actual onyx bands — holding her to an examining table. She may be captured, but she won’t be held.
God help her, let her escape…if half of what Bethany says about what they did to her is true, oh, god…
The Characters
Katy Swartz, high school student and book blogger, became a target for Daedalus when Daemon saved her life in Obsidian, 1. But she didn’t let that hold her back.
Daemon Black is the oldest of the Luxen triplets and in love with Katy. He and his other siblings, Dee and Dawson, rescued Bethany, Dawson’s girlfriend, in Opal, the human Dawson saved.
Luc is a teenage hybrid who helped, for a price. The fact that he’s on his own and running a club has Daemon…curious. He also appears to have unprecedented power levels! Big Boy the Bouncer knows what Daemon is. Paris is a Luxen friend of Luc’s.
Daedalus, the enemy
Daedalus is a secret division of the Department of Defense, eager to exploit the Luxen for their own ends. Nancy Husher is the inhuman bitch of a director. Sergeant Jason Dasher is the concentration camp, oops, I mean the primary guard. Dr. Roth is the doctor who examines and tests Katy; he’s stupid enough to tell Daemon he worked with Dawson.
Blake Saunders works for them and betrayed Katy. Archer is Katy’s guard, one of the more considerate ones. If that’s saying anything. Mo appears briefly, and she’s bought the party line. Shawn is a Luxen terrorist captured by Daedalus.
Lori is one of their patients; she has brain cancer. The same type her dad died of. Daedalus is hoping that LH-11 will help cure cancer; it’s also supposed to speed up the mutation process. Makes me wonder if the spiel they gave Katy about a cure for cancer was true or if they were simply experimenting on kids and adults who were gonna die anyway. Hey, what’s to lose?
Micah is Origin, a new beginning for a new species. One conceived when there is true want between a female hybrid and a Luxen who are perfect down to the cellular level — now we know why they want Katy and Daemon.
Luxen
Luxen are aliens, beings of light who can assume the persona of a human and are allowed to live on earth under the radar and constantly watched by the Department of Defense. Ethan Smith is one of the Elders, their leader, and he lets slip a terrifying comment. Ash and Andrew Thompson are sister and brother and have put their hate for Kat on hold. Matthew Garrison is the “adult” Luxen who was masquerading as their biology teacher. Lyla Marie is a friend of Matthew’s who gives them refuge at her home.
Arum
The Arum are also aliens, a people of shadow, and the enemies of the Luxen, craving the energy that is the life of a Luxen. Some work for the DoD; some work against it. Hunter is working with Luc. Serena.
Minister Lincoln is empowered to wed people in Las Vegas.
The Cover and Title
The cover is determined. A hazy background that makes me think apocalypse with smoky skies, lunar ground, and fiery ground clouds as Daemon strides out to us, blue jeans low on his hips, a dark blue jacket open over his bare chest.
The title is the future, Origin, the next step.
