Cover Image: The Darkest Star

The Darkest Star

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Member Reviews

I absolutely loved this book! The character development really sold the book for me! There were many moments where I could barely see past the page because I was so enthralled in the story.

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Okay, okay….Phew…Breathe in, Breathe out……*hyperventilating*


Sheldon hyperventilating Big Bang Theory

I think I am okay now…My brain is all fuzzled after reading this book…I am having major trouble gathering my thoughts…..


I am ok

We all adore Daemon Black, well Luc could honestly give him a run for his money…and a little secret…we get small glimpses of our favorite alien in this book too!!!! *squeeeee*


Girl fan crying

Evie is a great character…but, she reminds me a little of all the other characters…stupid! Every time Luc told her to do something, what do you think she did? Yup, she did the exact opposite! And of course, got herself into trouble at which she needed saving. *sigh, will they ever learn?*


Going to bed thinking it is Monday again

I loved getting back into this world and I loved Luc! I wasn’t sure if I would because my heart is with Daemon but JLA knows how to write those smexy men that we all know and love, so yeah, I was able to fall head over heels for him straight away!


Bruno Mars Winking

I must admit that I felt that the book dragged a wee bit.#sorrynotsorry But I kept on plugging along. Hence the 4 star rating but, I am a firm believer that the first book in a series is always like this because the author needs to explain the world and what not, so yeah, I am sure the next book will be even better!

Even though I thought the pacing was a bit slow, I still adored the book! The ending was amazing and full of action! The way everything pieced together was awesome and we are left with a wee bit cliffhanger…of course.

I cannot wait for the next book in this series and seriously, if you are a fan of The Lux Series, than you need this book in your arsenal! You will not be disappointed! Then please come back and chat with me about it…BECAUSE I AM DYING TO TALK TO SOMEONE!!!!!!

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I received an ARC copy from netgalley for my honest review, so thank you netgalley and publishers for offering me this book! ♡
The cover and title is what originally drew me to this book.
#1 New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout brings her trademark drama and intrigue to a new romantic YA science fiction series with The Darkest Star. A girl pulled into in a world she doesn't understand finds herself confronted by long buried secrets, a betrayal that could tear her life apart...and Armentrout's most swoonworthy book boyfriend yet.
Seventeen-year-old Evie Dasher knows firsthand the devastating consequences of humanity's war with the aliens. When she's 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...
This was my first book by this author. It was alltogether an easy read. ♡ I give this book a
4.5 star rating!

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I think this is a clear example of author’s writing evolving over time. It is by far the best book I have read by Armentrout and I will preorder it. I cannot wait for the next book!

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The Lux Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout is one of my all-time favorite series. While I don’t read much science fiction, the combination of the storyline and the characters of Kat and Daemon made this series unlike anything I had ever read before. It was refreshing and exciting and incredibly addictive, ensuring I was a loyal fan throughout the series. Getting to return to the world of the Luxen several years later with a new hero and heroine at the helm therefore made The Darkest Star one of my most anticipated reads of the year. And once again, Jennifer L. Armentrout does not disappoint, delivering an action-packed thrill-ride. With so many secrets, so many unknown threats, and so much mystery surrounding protagonists, Luc and Evie, The Darkest Star is riveting page-turner from start to finish.

For those that read the Lux Series, The Darkest Star picks up four years after the Luxen invasion. Not only is the existence of alien life common knowledge, but the government is regulating the Luxen to eliminate potential threats. As seventeen-year-old Evie Dasher soon discovers, there are beings too powerful to be controlled or contained. It’s when Evie meets Luc, a handsome and mysterious young man, that her world is turned upside down, making her question everything and everyone she’s known. Though Evie and Luc clash from their first meeting, there’s an undeniable connection between them that keeps bringing them together.

Between Evie’s interactions with Luc, rising tensions between Luxen and humans, and Evie’s discovery that she’s far from the ordinary girl she believed herself to be, The Darkest Star is filled to bursting with drama, action, and suspense. The narrative starts off at full speed ahead and only increases in momentum with each chapter, leading to a jaw-dropping finale. And let’s not forget the potential romance between Luc and Evie, which will set your pulse racing in an entirely different way. Their snarky-filled, flirtatious banter and reluctant attraction provides endless entertainment as well as comic relief. Like Evie, I was both intrigued and perplexed by Luc’s enigmatic persona and veered between swooning over him and wanting to strangle him. There’s really no in between. But I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

At the end of The Darkest Star, I was left shell-shocked and wanting more. While some of my questions were answered and part of my curiosity was satisfied, I have a feeling that things are only going to get more complicated. If this is just the beginning of the Origin Series, I can’t wait to see what else is in store for Evie and Luc.

*complimentary copy provided by author for an honest review

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This unbiased review is based on an ARC received from Netgalley.

"The Darkest Star" is a YA novel that is designed to amuse--nothing more, nothing less. And frankly, the world being what it is today, I appreciated a bit of frothiness in my Kindle.

The plot in a nutshell: Heroine lives a quiet life, goes to a ~dangerous~ club where she spots an alarmingly attractive young man (of course). Both live in an earth that is much like ours, except for the teeny fact aliens have invaded and for the most part live and breathe like human beings. Heroine doesn't have much to do with the aliens (there aren't many in her school). While at the club, she's exposed to a police raid for undercover/illicit alien activity--and that naturally sets her on a path for adventure.

You can probably guess the rest, or approximate it. Nonetheless, the book is fun, light, and reads quickly. All in all, while "Darkest Star" isn't the most groundbreaking work I've read, it's a lot more enjoyable than some others, so I give it three stars.

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I was so extremely excited to jump back in to the Lux world! I have two problems with this book- 1. Holy crap Evie needs to get with Luc already why is she taking so long?!?! 2. Evie gets a bit annoying about 2/3 of the way through.Even with Evie being a tad annoying I still really enjoyed this book! I hope we get to see more of Emery and Heidi in the next book. Sincerely hoping it's this action packed in the second book of the series, I absolutely love how energetic this book was. This book was done way too quickly and I will be impatiently waiting for book 2!!!

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I have to start off by saying you can read this book if you haven't read LUX yet! If you've read LUX though, you do read about some familiar characters and you will recognize some events!

The Darkest Star takes place a few years after the Luxen tried taking over Earth. Things are kind of peaceful, but it's still there's still a lot of tension between some humans and Luxen. This starts growing when a few people go missing and turn up dead. It's clear something is going on and I have a feeling we will build up to the main event of this trilogy.

Evie is our main character in this book and she's more of a laid back and relaxed character. She enjoys sitting around reading, taking pictures and hanging out with friends. Except one night she ends up at a club she wasn't supposed to be at and meets Luc. There's an instant connection that neither of them will admit.

The Darkest Star started out a bit slower for me than I expected. I can understand that though. It's the first book of a new storyline and things have to build up. Even though it was a bit slower, I did love learning more about Evie and Luc. He was the mysterious one in LUX and knowing we were getting to know him more was one of the reasons I needed this book!

That being said, this book takes off about halway through! There are so many different plot twists that you do not see coming!! I was actually pretty shocked how things turned out! I couldn't put it down after that and was really sad it's over and angry I didn't have the next book!

The Darkest Star is a lot of fun for LUX fans, because some characters we come to love make an appearance in this story! Even though it's a different story, this world definitely feels the same. I remember Jennifer saying Luke could kick Daemon off his throne, but I have to disagree. I love Luc, but Daemon is still my number one in this world!

I did love learning more about Luc though. In LUX he's rather arrogant, but this book makes you understand him so much more. He's even more than that! He's definitely sweet, sarcastic and just may come in a close second to Daemon!

If you're looking for a new paranormal/fantasy series with great worldbuilding, fun characters, humor, hot aliens and a little romance, The Darkest Star is for you!

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I really enjoyed this story. I’ve heard a lot of good things about Jennifer L. Armentrout’s books, but I hadn’t read one before. Now I’m going to look for more of her books.

This world was like ours, but there was an alien invasion. The aliens can take the form of humans, so it can be difficult to tell the difference, unless the Luxen (the aliens) wear a bracelet which signals what they are. The main character, Evie, becomes immersed in the Luxen world, after going to a Luxen club called Foretold.

I guessed the twist in the story fairly early on. It was the same twist as another book I read recently, so I was able to figure it out. I won’t tell you which book it was, but if you have read both books, you will know what I’m talking about.

I’m curious to see where this series goes, but I guess I’ll have to wait a while for the next book!

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I feel like this book and I could have gotten along better, had I known more about its background and context. Or maybe not, because in essence, this kind of paranormal YA romance is generally not my bag at all. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize what kind of book this was until after I started; nevertheless, I still gave it my best shot, but in the end, I simply couldn’t connect to either the characters or story.

The Darkest Star, while being the first book of a new series, is a spin-off marking Jennifer L. Armentrout’s return to her Lux universe, and one of her side characters from it, called Luc, gets the spotlight in this one. Co-starring with him is our narrator, seventeen-year-old Evie Dasher. The story begins as Evie and her friend sneak into a club that’s known to be friendly to both humans and the alien Luxen. Although it has been several years since the end of the war between the two species, some of the tension and hostilities are still there.

At the club, Evie meets Luc, whom she is sure is a Luxen, since he is by far the most beautiful boy she has ever seen. But as it turns out, he is much more—and to Evie’s confusion, he appears to know a lot about her and her family. No matter what she does, everything seems to lead back to him. And now there is a murderer on the loose, and among the victims is one of Evie’s classmates. The manner of death suggests that the perpetrator may be a Luxen, which is causing no small amount of fear and anti-alien sentiment at Evie’s school.

To the author’s credit, she has written a spin-off that can be enjoyed on its own without having read the main series. I knew nothing about the Lux universe before I started, but at no point did I feel lost or out of my depth, despite the frequent references to characters from the previous books or events in the past. That said, I got the impression that world-building wasn’t too deep to begin with, which was why learning the ropes was so easy. Character development also felt perfunctory, as nothing really sets Evie apart from your generic female teen protagonist from any number of YA paranormal romance novels. Luc fared even worse. I didn’t have the advantage of knowing him from the original series, but something tells me that if I had, I probably wouldn’t have even picked up this book. Luc was a grade-A asshole from the moment he meets Evie, but apparently, she’s okay with forgoing all her self-respect and dignity as long as the dude is hot as sin.

Books like this and Twilight are reasons why I tend to stay away from this genre, it’s just not my cup of tea. Everywhere I turned, I seemed to encounter another pet peeve, including the dreaded annoying pet nickname that the guy gives the girl, despite her repeated protestations to not call her that. I mean, how hard is this to understand? It’s not cute. It’s harassment. But again, now we’re back talking about Evie, whose policy when it comes to guys seems to be “you can get away with being a cad as long as you look great without your shirt.”

The plot was also ludicrously contrived. It’s got one of those third-act twists that’s not actually a twist because anyone even mildly paying attention could have predicted it coming a mile away. The murder arc with the mysterious killer also felt tacked on, because it was clear that Evie and Luc’s burgeoning romance was the only story this book wanted to tell.

So if you enjoy YA paranormal fiction where the romance is the focus, then The Darkest Star is a book you might want to take a look at. Unfortunately, it was just not to my personal tastes. Even if I were to find myself in the mood for this kind of novel, I would have preferred a bit more originality and better characters beyond the usual cookie-cutter variety. This was good for a light read, but nothing about it really stood out or helped it be memorable. I’m disappointed, because Armentrout is an author I’ve wanted to try for a while, but now that I know more about her writing style, I probably won’t seek out any more of her work.

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This is such a beautiful story. When Evie and her best friend Heidi go to the night club foretoken her life and all she knows will change when she meets Luc. At first Evie thinks he's One of the luxen who are aliens who once tried to take over the world,but their's something more different about Luc then just his purple eyes, there is a feeling of a connection when their eyes meet and though Evie is drawn to Luc, something inside her is warning her to leave and forget about this strange and beautiful boy.

While you don't have to read The Lux Series first, because Jennifer does an amazing job of catching you up, I highly recommend you do. This book took place a few years after The Lux Series ended and I have to confess that I literally screamed out loud every single time we saw or heard about a character from the past. I loved the familiarity of it all, but at the same time, so many things were different. It was now known that aliens lived among humans, a percentage of the population was lost in the war and there were new laws and regulations put in place for the aliens that lived among us. I was fascinated seeing what the world now looked like.

The Darkest Star is hands down one of the best YA books I’ve read this year. It’s reignited my love for this genre and the Lux Series. I still have some burning questions and am super excited to see where this story is going to go next!

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Jennifer L Armentrout is one of my favorites and I will read everything she writes. This was just a delight to read and if you love her books, you will read this (or already have!) Great characters, descriptions and devoured it quickly! Thank you netgalley for an arc!

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Oh my god I’m in love!!! I had to go back and read the whole lux series and I so fell in love with this book and all the characters! This whole series

The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Good golly miss molly I'm in love!!! I can't even fathom waiting until the next book is out, it's gonna kill me!! You for sure thought I was team Daemon but now I'm totally for Lux!!! Wow I can't wait to read more I need more!!!
5 Stars

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I really wanted to like this book, I just couldn't. Luc was a mildly likeable character in the Lux series, and I adored that series to pieces and jumped at the opportunity to read more from that world. But this fell flat for me. Luc comes off as creepy and possessive (which was a major thing in the Lux series with Daemon), more insta-love as well. The entire relationship was just poorly done IMO. This book felt like a cheap copy, and had a few parallels between the two stories and felt utterly predictable. It featured a lot of the teenage cringe that you might have had a love/hate relationship with in the Lux series. xD

But, yeah, this book wasn't for me.

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As a massive Jennifer Armentrout fan i was stunned that i had yet to read any of her YA sci-fi fiction books. I had always loved her YA/NA romance books and couldnt wait to get into The Darkest Star.
Wow....just wow ! I loved every moment of this book and finished it within two days. I never thought i would find myself rooting for an alien/human love affair but i did. I can not wait to read the next book in the series and this has become one of my top reads for 2018.
Thank you for the ARC :D

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The Darkest Star, the first book in the romantic sci-fi Origin series, introduces 17-year-old Evie, whose father died in the Earth's successful war against the invading space aliens called Luxen. (detailed in the Lux series) When Evie joins her friend at a nightclub patronized by Luxen, who now wear armbands that neutralize their powers, she meets Luc, who is an Origin, a Luxen with heightened abilities. In the days that follow, girls begin disappearing from her school and Luc keeps turning up, whenever Evie is in danger. As the reader ultimately discovers, Evie and Luc's lives are inextricably linked and the suspense as to how and why makes this a real page-tuner.

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The Darkest Star is Jennifer L. Armentrout’s YA return to the world of Luxen, taking place just a few years after the end of the original Lux series. It follows a new character, Evie, whose family is tied closely with the government and its secrets, but doesn’t know what political leaders have decided to hide behind closed doors about Luxen and the invasion. It’s a book with aliens, mystery, and romance, and follows the same addictive style of the original Lux series.

When I saw that more books were going to be released in the world of the Lux, I was overjoyed. Then I saw I had been sent an advanced copy of that same book, and that joy turned to pure excitement. It’s been a year or two since I last read Armentrout’s Lux series, but this book brought me right back into the world of awesome aliens and passionate romances, even if I didn’t remember everything that happened in the original series. I’m really intrigued by where this world and series seems to be going, and already cannot wait for the sequel to The Darkest Star!

The main thing I remembered from the Lux series was how addicting the romance was, and The Darkest Star is no exception there. The love interest, and thus romance, is introduced almost right away, in the very first chapters of the book no less, but it didn’t put me off of it at all. While it originally seemed to move quickly and irrationally, it slows down quickly while also later explaining why things transpired like they did at first. Additionally, the early introduction allows for the romance to become intertwined with the plot itself, and the two seem to be equally important and intriguing in this book!

The plot itself isn’t too complex, but I found that didn’t really negatively impact the book or my enjoyment of it. The book mainly revolves around things that happened before this book takes place. I guess you could call it a background book. Most conversations and actions are based around giving information to Evie and the reader, specifically about her own individual past as well as the truth behind Luxen and the invasion. The main issue here was that a lot of the secrets about the world and Luxen were things readers of the original Lux series will know already, making some big reveals pretty disappointing. The present plot itself mainly follows a murder mystery, though this almost seems to act as a background plot of sorts, mainly used as a way to push information to the main character, and thus to the reader. Even though I normally wouldn’t enjoy a book like this, as it would feel too repetitive or slow, Armentrout managed to make it extremely entertaining regardless, due to both the romance and the characters themselves. However, my last main “issue” with the plot, if you can call it that, would have to be how obvious the main twist is. From about 20%-30% in, I realized what was going on and the main secret of the book and characters, and was stuck waiting until 70%-80% for that twist to come to light to everyone else. In the end, that coupled with the regurgitation of old secrets from the Lux series made nothing in the book really shocking, though I did still enjoy it in its entirety.

Overall, The Darkest Star felt like a solid beginning to a new addition to the world of Luxen, though I do feel it relies heavily on its romance and past success to fully carry the simple plot of this particular book. However, I don’t think this will last, as now that both the reader and main character are caught up to speed the rest of the series should be packed full of twists and turns, as well as tons of action. I’m excited to see where this world continues to go, and cannot wait for the sequel!

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I absolutely loved this book! I purchased a couple of copies for my classroom and I know my girls will definitely enjoy reading about this incredible world! I loved all the characters and the storyline. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to read this amazing book!

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I am not gonna lie, when I was approved for this through Netgalley I yelped a little in a happy surprise. I have been dying to get my hands on it and I devoured it in one go.
It is sooo good. It is so worth picking up. I honestly don't know where to start with how much I loved this book. I don't think there is one thing I would change or do differently. It is that good of a book.

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Disclaimer: I received a free digital Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of The Darkest Star from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I finished The Darkest Star, by Jennifer L. Armentrout a while back, and am just now coming up for air and posting my review. This book’s release date was October 30 so if it sounds good to you, it’s available! As usual, this review is spoiler-free!

Unlike most people who will probably read this book, I have not actually read much by Jennifer L. Armentrout before this. In fact, this book is actually set in the Luxen world, in which a previous series of books by Armentrout was set, but which I had not read. So for those of you wondering if you can read this book without having read those, the answer is: YOU ABSOLUTELY CAN! However, I will warn you that you will probably be totally sucked into the world like I was, and well, then you’ll want to go back and read the previous series, starting with Obsidian, and I can’t be held responsible for what that does to your TBR.

So without further ado, here are my thoughts on The Darkest Star.

The Good: I loved the pacing of the story. It never dragged along or got too slow, but there was enough backstory and explanation for those of us new to this world. It was just a great combo of detail and description, so I could totally picture characters and places, but then lots of action and surprising moments to keep me intrigued. Evie (the main character) has powerful emotions and big reactions, as well she should (a lot of crazy sh*$ is coming to light), and these are all handled quite well–I felt like I really got into her brain, and I liked the complexity of her feelings. She changes her mind a lot, and can’t quite decide who to trust or what to think, and that made her easy to relate to. There’s a fairly good wrap-up in the ending (no spoilers though) but with enough stuff left open that I’ll be waiting eagerly for the next installment!

The Less Good: Honestly, this is one of those books where I pretty much liked everything. I did feel that sometimes the writing was a bit choppy, as in one sentence didn’t always flow into the next. but that might be more about personal taste than any kind of flaw in the style. I will also say that, as much as I really liked Luc and was totally intrigued by him, he was a teeny bit too *perfect* for me at times. Like, he always had the perfect witty comment and he always seemed to be one step ahead of Evie, and that got a little frustrating. Couldn’t he be just a little less on top of things and falter sometimes? However, I love his broody, dangerous persona, and I can’t wait to get to know him better in the next book.

Wrap Up: If you like YA paranormal romance, then you really should read this book. It is kind of like candy. You have just a little, and then you just want more, more, more.

Full review including graphics on my blog at:
http://ohanacascadia.com/2018/11/28/book-review-the-darkest-star/

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